Thanksgiving

Well, our Thanksgiving was great. It was very calm and quiet. Chris had four whole days off and we just spent them hanging out watching football. Chris told a friend at church that we were doing my favorite thing. (laying around and watching t.v.) Unfortunately, I have to disagree. I am a little burnt out on football but know that this is my lot in life and am willing to make the best of it. I did a puzzle which was nice and I worked yesterday (not nice). Today I am back at jury duty which is another word for sit in a room for undisclosed amounts of time staring at thirteen people you don't know waiting for court to begin. I was asked to be here by 8:50am but we didn't go into court until 11am. It is grueling. I don't have internet in the conference room so I have to wait until my break to connect with the real world.

Here are a few things I am thankful for.....

1. that we have a justice system
2. my family
3. my home
4. our town and church community
5. There is no football on tuesday or wednesday and not usually on fridays
6. Diet coke (got called out on that once and will never forget again)
7. Pumpkin pie
8. warm gloves
9. my fire place
10. I haven't needed a lawyer for anything........yet.

I leave you with a joke that Jonah made up this weekend.

Why can't Lewis and Clark play basketball?

Because they travel!!!

He is very clever.

Jury Duty PART 2

First let me say when I signed up to be a mom, no one told me I would be responsible for plumbing. The toilet was leaking and I had to pull it apart and replace some strange o ring...... I really ought to start paying people to fix my problems because somethings you never want to know how to do!!

As for Jury Duty, I was picked to be on the jury. The case will go on for what seems like forever (begining of Dec). It is very difficult to get the kids up and out the door by 7:30 every morning. The commute is not so fun either. I spend a lot of time locked up in a jury room with 13 people, I don't know. The testimony is long and grueling and the attorneys bicker about everything.

I do know that if I ever am in legal trouble, I am hiring a good attorney. Also, I am going to never try to break the law. I think it is a reasonable goal.

Things are crazy, I barely get home in time to make dinner and run the kids off to where ever they need to go. Tonight is alter boy training.....Fun! Until the next time.......D

Camera Crazy

So as most of you know, I don't have a camera. Chris bought me one years ago for my birthday and then he broke it in 2005 at a Seahawks playoff game with Christian. I used to be really great about taking and organizing pictures. Now, I SUCK! I am so thankful that I have amazing friends who do everything from helping me with my kids, saving us during floods, helping take tablesaws that have fallen on me off, bringing me flowers, making me cookies, helping out when one of my various family members ends up in the ER, and often times taking pictures of my children. Sarah has taken pictures of my kids on the first day of school for years, halloween, pre-k graduation. You name it she takes the pics. Nan took all of the kids first communion pics and Jeremy (Peggy's husband) has taken most of the sport photo's and a few others. I will often get a c.d. of a compilation of pictures from different points in my childrens life that I had almost forgotten. The perspective of other peoples picture taking is cool and they often capture their personalities better than I could. Jeremy sent a c.d. home with Christian (after watching the kids for Jury Duty. THANKS FURSMANS!!) The result were some fun pictures that I hadn't seen. The pictures of Jonah are from a Harry Potter party. Peggy bought Jonah book seven for his birthday and invited us to a midnight release party. She gave Jonah the first book of the night, which he will never forget. THANK YOU AGAIN! Then there are some pics of Christian playing ball in his full length cast. Chris let him play in a couple of games and he was so happy (not my favorite choice but better than when he had him on the roof in his cast). Also, there are a few pics from the boys at Ian birthday. Peggy and I took them to the Mariners and it was a lot of fun. Christian, Ian and Cooper were also bat boys for a Huskie USC game and I will be posting a couple of those as well. I often times forget why I love where we live so much. I keep talking about what a hard year it has been for my family but I would never had made it through without my "BEST FRIENDS" You know who you are.......Stop making fun of me!!!! God gave me this fantastic "collection" of friends because he knew I needed all the help I could get. If I haven't told you thanks lately sorry, but I do appreciate you!

Jury Duty

I have spent the last couple of days in Jury Duty. It has been crazy. I have been in a large pool of jurors for a criminal trial and I have yet to be booted off. I feel like I am part of a tribal council on Survivor. I have spent most of the time waiting and waiting to hear about my fate and talking with other jurors. I made a few friends (shocking). We went out to lunch and I of course drank a margarita hoping that would get me kicked off, but no, I am still there. I have to go back on Tuesday for more of their examination. As it stands now, I am on the jury unless someone veto's me. The case is expected to take a couple of weeks which is CRAZY! As if I have time to be on a jury for a couple of weeks.

Other than that, things have been pretty normal. I had a little league board meeting the other night and then met a girlfriend for a birthday margarita. Happy Birthday Kathy! Chris has to be at the summit this weekend and will be hunting again with his friend. Poor little Elk! The boys and I are planning to check out the BEE movie.

I am hoping for a relaxing weekend. I don't have to teach this weekend but the kids have pageant rehersals Sunday. They are excited. Christian is planning on playing the entrance song on the piano. He is getting really good. Jonah is angry there is no Joseph this year because he has waited his whole life to be Joseph. Its devestating, I am sure.

A year in Remberance

All right so marking the anniversary of the year from hell is probably a little dramatic. Oh well, it has been a tough year and I am so happy it has finally come to a close. 1 year ago today we flooded. With little to no rain in sight, I am counting my blessings that it is not likely to flood again this week. YEAH. We had a check up at the doctors a couple of weeks ago and Christian is not likely to break his leg again anytime soon (despite all his efforts).

The passing of my grandparents this last year was difficult. I was really blessed to have an opportunity to say goodbye to both. There was so much emotion wrapped up in all of that, it is hard to explain how the experience changed me but it did.

I am hoping for no more major power outages or illnesses but that is unrealistic. A friend of ours was just diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given just a few months. After seeing the miracle of brain surgery this last year and knowing God's grace and love, I have no choice but to hope. However, I am very well aware the miracle I am asking for may not be the one God is giving.

So here is to a new year. I hope it is a good one. If it floods, let it be a little one. If Christian breaks something, let it be a bone he doesn't need.

Here are some pics my cousin sent me. I was teaching the boys to ride the dirt bike that got stolen. Oh well, it was a fun day and the boys had a great time.

Chris and his 4x4

What an exciting weekend for Chris. After a hectic week at work Chris's buddy got him out of the house and into the woods. The two men spent the last two days hunting. Ryans wife went with them yesterday, she is braver than I. I received a phone call about 12:30 this afternoon saying they got one. Chris was very excited, it was his first Elk. He is lucky to have Ryan helping and teaching him. The boys and I hurried over to the Kolodejchucks to see the prize. The boys were excited and loved the whole process. We had a nice dinner and spent a great afternoon with their amazing family. I rushed home to put together a slide for all to see. Hope you enjoy!

Check out my Slide Show!