Day 23

More snow.  BEAUTIFUL snow!!  It was so nice to sit & watch it snow, pretty much ALL day today.  Didn't accumulate too much which is good since I have to go to the doctor first thing tomorrow & Scott has to drive to Chicago!  Didn't do anything today but surf the net & watch the snow!

Day 22

So, Scott goes out to dig the car out from the snow.  Somehow while walking thru the garage out to the car, he doesn't notice the garage door hasn't opened all the way & runs SMACK into the bottom of it.  OUCH!!!  The thing bled & bled & bled!!  He hit the door so hard, it knocked the door off it's track!!  Luckily, he just had the cuts on his face, no brain damage.  now, if he could just explain HOW he didn't see the door wasn't open....

Day 21

I can drive THRU it!!!

This is taken at our mall, by what used to be Pasta House. 

Back story:  A few years back, we had some snow.  My parents were going to meet us at Pasta House for dinner.  Scott & I got there early (this was so long ago, we had no KIDS!)  We see my parents drive by & wait for them to come in.  And wait.  And wait.  And WAIT!!!  They don't show.  Finally, they come in.  Seems dad thought he could drive OVER the pile of snow between the parking rows & got his car stuck.  We ate dinner & then helped push dad's car over the snow.  Now, it's a standing joke whenever we see a pile of snow to announce "I can drive thru it!" 

For the record, this pile of snow is at least a 6' high.  I think even my dad wouldn't have tried to drive thru this one!!  LOL

Day 20

WOW!!!  I'm a LONG way behind.  Here's some catch-up!!!

We did get more snow than we have in YEARS!!  Lots o'snow.  Some pretty pics of the SNOW!

More pics coming!

I promise.  I've been taking pics & some are even ready to post but, my EHD (where I keep my pics, in case my computer crashes but, what do I do if my EHD crashes????) is downstairs.  I am upstairs.  I'm sick & it's tooooooo cold downstairs for me in my fevered state.  Sometime this week I'll either take the 'puter back down or bring the EHD up.  Scott's out of town so the latter is an option.  LOL

Day 19

SNOW!!!  We're supposed to get a dumping overnight tonite.  We had less than an inch at 10pm and school still wasn't closed.  But, it was falling fast & furious & I am SURE it'll be closed by tomorrow when I get up. 

And, just to let you know, Nick's new game he got yesterday?  He got GROUNDED from it today.  Gave him 3 little tasks to do before he left for school; he did NONE of them.  Not even putting the juice away!!!  Felt bad but, what's a mom to do???

Day 18

It's LITTLE BIG PLANET 2 DAY!!!

Last Christmas, when we got Nick his PS3, it came with Little Big Planet.  It looked like a lame baby game to me and I was worried Nick wasn't going to like it (at that point he was only getting 3 PS3 games so I was worried he wouldn't have enough to enjoy his new present).  Well LPB was a HUGE hit with Nick (and everyone else I guess).  It's main character is Sackboy and the COOLEST thing (I think) about Sackboy is you can dress him in costumes.  Most costumes are free, some cost money but Nick's big time into buying Sackboy cool costumes.

Anyway, LBP2 was supposed to come out in October.  But, just when Nick had saved enough money to buy it, the pushed it back to JANUARY!!!  WHAT????  Nick didn't think he'd last until it came out.  He ended up getting enough money for Christmas to buy the "Collector's Pack" thru Amazon.  It came with a small stuffed Sackboy, bookends for his games and LOTS of cool "down loadable content" that included MORE COSTUMES!!!

The UPS man didn't come before Nick got home from school.  Nick must have SENSED the brown truck before it go her 'cause he was out the door like a SHOT & the guy didn't even get a chance to get out of his truck.  Nick even had enough time to play a bit before the basketball game.  Nick was hoping for a snow day so he could play all day.  No luck.  But maybe on Thursday????

Day 17

This is Nick's tower of video games.  These are JUST the games for his PS3!  The games for his Wii & GameCube are organized in his drawers.  I don't know WHY he decided these games needed to be kept in their boxes, on his armoire, next to his tv, but he did.  I wonder if this is all?

Day 16

When we all sit around the table, Jack thinks HE belongs on a chair too.  Sunday, while we were reading the paper, Jack jumped to the only unoccupied chair & decided to sleep.  Even tho we kept putting the parts of the paper we were done with on him, he didn't care.  Of course, as soon as I got my camera, he opened his eyes.  Silly Kitty!

Day 15

Went to dinner tonite at Pasta House w/Grandma Evie.  Scott & G'ma took off for Aunt Jackie's and the kids & I headed to Best Buy & Michael's.  After we got home, Becca & I were watching TV in the living room & Nick asked to borrow my (little) camera to take a pic of his video game.  When he gave the camera back to Becca, she took this shot of him.  I don't get many pics of Nick (at least not when he KNOWS I'm taking the pics!) so I'm using it for today's pic of the day!  He's getting so grown up!!!

Day 14

GREASE FOLDER!!!  To those of you who aren't lucky enough to have a Jack in the Box restaurant in your area, this is the greatest taco ever!!!  Deep fried & greasy!!!  Beyond yum.  Right now, you can get 2 tacos, fries, a Jumbo Jack & a drink.  Love it!!!

Day 13

I threw some bread out in the backyard.  Apparently, they wanted some more & came up on the deck to ask for it.  Since I wasn't home, I guess they just walked around looking to see what might be under the snow.  (after this pic was taken MORE bird tracks appeared on my deck!)

Day 12

Winter Wonderland

Shots taken while running around after our Monday/Tuesday snowstorm.

Day 11

Scott's in Iowa this week, battling his own snow as he drives all over the state to tiny little bank branches doing audits.  Since he's not here, it's up to ME to clear the driveway & walk.  This little puppy makes it OH SO EASY!!!!  It blows snow all over ME but does a great job of moving the snow!!

Day 10

I guess Jack wanted to know if the kids' would have school tomorrow.  Wonder what happened to the "mouse"??  LOL

School finally WAS cancelled but not until 5:30am.  Alton NEVER closed.  WEIRD!!!

Day 9

The trees are down.  The living room & family room look so plain & empty now.  Well, except for the Rubbermaid tubs of decorations that HAVEN'T been put away yet.  It's so sad when it's over.  A couple of years ago, I bought these snowflake lights to put up after Christmas along w/my snowmen collections.  The hope was I wouldn't be so down after the trees were gone.  This year, it's not quite working.  I miss the glow of the tree!!!

Day 8

One of the cardinals in my back yard.  I don't know why the color is so washed out.  Maybe 'cause I zoomed too far???  There are about 4 cardinal families living out back and at least one blue jay & a woodpecker. 

Day 7

Snow!!!  Ok, it's only a dusting but it sure was pretty.  Snowed all day with NO accumulations!!!  We're supposed to get more next week.  Maybe enough to close school???  I'll leave the lights up, just in case!

Day 6

Since I dropped Scott off at the airport yesterday, it makes sense that today, I picked him up.  Lambert Airport (they don't want it called Lambert Field anymore; sounded too "hick") has a lot where you can park & wait for your party to call & say they've landed.  Saves you those exorbitant airport parking fees.  A couple of years ago, they put up a board with arrivals so you'll have an idea of when your party's plane is going to land.  Feels kinda like an old fashioned drive in.  Except that the movies REALLY BORING!  LOL

After I took this pic, Becca explained to me that she could NOT wait to get to a bathroom.  We ended up parking & paying $2.50 for the time it took to get in, go potty & discover that Scott's flight was early.  He already was off the plane & had his luggage & was ready to go. 

Day 5

Today, Scott left for Detroit.  His first trip of the year but it's not for an audit.  He's been called to be a witness in a arbitration case between his company & a terminated reps client.  Goofy & weird reasoning but he has to go nonetheless.  I'm sure there will be a lot more airports & a lot more rental cars in 2011.

Day 4

The boys have basketball practice or a game every night but Wednesday.  When they have a game, we usually just get to go home only to return an hour or so later.  But, on practice days, I still have to pick Becca up at 3 and then return to get the boys at 5.  Too little time to really drive home so we hang at McDs.  I LOVE McDs Diet Coke & Becca loves the Orange HiC.  We bring our books or computers or iPods or homework & just hang.  I actually like the forced down time.  I can't clean, cook or do laundry.  I can, if I've prepped properly work on swaps or read or surf.  It's rather nice!

Today, I was sitting around snapping pics.  What will be my pic of the day???  I took pics of the restaurant, the backs or people, the texture of the seats.  Then, I turned the camera on Becca.  I was rewarded w/half a dozen adorable shots of her.  She looks so sweet and SO GROWN UP!!!  Love you Boo!!!

Ooopsie

I Promise that pics from the 4th & 5th are forthcoming.  I forgot to download pics & then I moved my computer AWAY from the EHD & now can't access pics.  As soon as I get my act together today, I'll post both days!!!

Day 3

Yesterday was the first basketball game of the new year.  And with my new camera!  I was excited to go & see how it worked for sports.  Basketball & volley ball were the two things I wanted the camera for.  I want some decent pics of my kids!!!  Well, I took the longer lens with me and, halfway thru the game, I had to change back to the shorter one!!  The gym was small & we were sitting basically ON THE COURT!  I'm VERY happy with the pics I took and I only used the "auto" mode.  When I figure the camera out a little more, I'll try the manual modes!

Now, I could show you bb pics but, you'll get to see PLENTY of them in the future (we still have 6 weeks of games!) Instead, I'll show you more of my family!!  Scott's Aunt & Uncle live in the town we were playing.  They had been wanting to see Nick play but, as they are getting older, neither drive after dark.  This was a PERFECT opportunity to take them to the game.  There was no JV game so we told them in advance that Nick probably wouldn't play.  And he didn't.  But, Aunt Jackie LOVED the game anyway.  She got into cheering for the boys & she didn't even KNOW them!!!  Brought back memories of her son's basketball years.  It was so much fun to have them along!!!

Wow!!!  Alot of words for a picture blog!!!

Day 2

Christie's Baby Shower

Scott's sister's daughter is having a baby!  This will be the 5th great grandchild for his mom but the first grandchild for his sister.  And, it's going to be the first GIRL on either side!  Christie's cousin on her dad's side, Rhonda, hosted a lunch at her gorgeous house in Wildwood.  Gail & Wendell were stuck in Germany but we talked to them on the speaker phone so they did get to "participate".   We had a nice lunch of pasta & bread (yum!) and then cake!  Christie got some very, very cute girlie outfits (lots of PINK!)   They head back home for Virginia tomorrow morning. 

Day 1

New Year's Pancakes

Not a tradition but I was hungry for pancakes.  Nick  spent NYE with his friend Alex so it was just Becca & me (Scott only considers bacon & waffles breakfast) but it was YUM!!!  Since the kids were little, I've tried to make Micky Mouse pancakes.  Sometimes they work out, sometimes the DON'T!!!  These turned out ok.

Pics were taken with my new Canon EOS Rebel!!  On Auto mode.  LOL  Once I can figure out the different modes or, heaven forbid, the MANUAL modes, I'll let you know what I used.

Welcome to 2011!!!!

I'm going to do this again.  This time, I'm going to get past FEBRUARY!!!  LOL  I have a new camera and am DYING to take some good pics with it. At least I HOPE they will be good.  Be prepared for alot of basketball pics and junk in my backyard.