Murray and Ahi Wasabi

These two dogs love each other.  I wish there was audio of the video because Murray was moaning the whole time they were wrestling.

At the cabin

Badger Pass - Day after Xmas 2012

Spent the day at Badger for an awesome day of skiing - it was the most snow they have had in a few years and it was sunny all day.

Grace spent her second day of skiing ever totally shredding up the runs!  Jim and Drew said that she was amazingly awesome. I said, "she gets that from me"....no one agreed.

 We saw this coyote on our way out of Yosemite.  It was literally close enough to touch.

Morning at the cabin

After my hike this morning with the dogs, I stood on the deck and looked out into the woods while chatting with my college room mate.  Life is good!

TNDC Fantasy Football League

This was the first year of the TNDC Fantasy Football League and it was a hoot!

Some of the highlights:

1.  Mike did incredibly well in total score but came in last place because his opponent always scored higher then him!


2.  Coach Cindy and Mari crushed us all season but both were upset in the playoffs, leaving Chris and Stacheman in the TNDC Superbowl.

3.   It was a nail biter down to the last minute in the Super Bowl but Super Stache pulled it out to beat me in the end with a win of 103 to 96!  Congrats to Super Stache!

4.  Here are the final rankings:

Rank	Team	W-L-T	Pct	Pts For	Pts Against	Streak	Waiver	Moves
*1.	Stiff Upper Lip	8-6-0	.571	1373.78	1317.68	W-5	10	31
*2.	Pontoonmama's Boys	7-7-0	.500	1312.12	1318.26	L-2	1	16
*3.	Chubby Pigs	11-3-0	.786	1507.06	1314.82	W-5	2	16
*4.	Coach's Choice	11-3-0	.786	1454.68	1257.46	W-2	4	3
5.	Ahi Crushers	6-8-0	.429	1336.58	1381.44	L-1	5	13
6.	Little Screwy	6-8-0	.429	1226.70	1293.36	L-2	6	20
7.	TeamShades	6-8-0	.429	1262.44	1263.90	W-1	9	11
8.	Go Bruins!	7-7-0	.500	1300.66	1316.70	W-1	7	17
9.	Number one chaches	5-9-0	.357	1098.94	1241.12	L-5	3	9
10.	Screwtop Smashers	3-11-0	.214	1419.74	1587.96	L-1	8	14

Maturity

It is really fulfilling to watch my kids grow and mature.  When they were young, it was fulfilling to watch them do things like get dressed by themselves or buckle their own car seat.  Now I am finding the joy in watching them mature and make good decisions.

Drew has really grown in the last 6 months and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.  Here are a couple examples that I don't want to forget:

1.  The gal who is currently administering an accommodations test for the SAT provided me with the following feedback after one of their sessions:

"I just wanted you to know that I really enjoyed working with Drew this morning! As I told his dad, I do not often meet a high schooler as centered, or grounded, as Drew appears to be. It was really fun hearing him talk about your family life, as he clearly has such respect for both of you. It is clear that you have contributed greatly to his self-esteem and acceptance of his learning challenges."

2.  He said grace at xmas dinner and was so poised and genuine that it brought tears to my eyes.  He thanked the lord for the good food and the good family time we have had at the cabin. 

He is a good kid and is going to make a tremendous husband and father some day!

Grandma's got a gun!?!?

Because of the increase in crime in the world, Grandma Kathy has decided she wants a handgun to protect herself.  That statement put us into fits of laughter and gave us an idea.....the top 10 reasons why Grandma Kathy SHOULD NOT have a handgun:

11.  She will drink and shoot (see pic below).
10.  She will leave her handgun at the cabin and then have to buy another one.  Then she will leave that one at the cabin and have to buy another one.....and so on.
9.  She will be too busy to take a gun safety class.
8.  She will lose her gun....in her own house.
7.  She will lose her gun.....in her own house....and be sure that someone stole it.
6.  She will decide she doesn't need the gun anymore and give it to the thrift store....only to go back and buy it 4 days later.
5.  She will accuse the cleaning people of stealing the gun, only to find it later in the linen closet.
4.  She will argue with Grandpa Tom over the correct way to use the handgun
3.  She will accidentally back into or over her handgun!
2.  She will accidently shoot Grandpa Tom.
1.  She will on purpose shoot Grandpa Tom!

Let the record show.....Grandma Kathy will NEVER get a gun!

Not to worry - this is a bb gun and we took it away right after the pic was taken.

Xmas Day 2012

It was a great day! 

We got up and opened gifts, tried out Roy's new chain saw, took the dogs for a run at the lake, watched "Pitch Perfect", played some rummikub, ate some yummy turkey dinner and finished it off with ooey gooey pumpkin cake!

Only thing missing was Uncle B, Auntie D, Sam, Jack, Mimi and Gigi!  But we faced time them instead!

Xmas Morning 2012

We spent xmas 2012 at the cabin with Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Tom, Grandma Anna and Grandpa Roy.

Grandpa Roy got a new chain saw that extends to about 6 feet and the boys had fun setting it up and trying it out.

Then we went down to the lake and let the dogs run around.  Including Pepper who ran like a maniac!

Next we came home and at this yummy brunch of baked eggs with spinach and mushrooms.  It was delish!

Then we all sat around and watched the movie "Pitch Perfect" which is HILARIOUS!

 

All in all, a tremendous day!

Christmas Tree 2012

Check out our 4 inch xmas tree!  We got lazy and didn't feel like setting up a tree.  So I went out to the forest behind the cabin and pulled this little tree out of the ground and dragged it home!  And if you look close, we have one ornament hanging on it - our new pontoon boat ornament!

Merry Christmas from the lazy family!  It's the best xmas tree ever!

Xmas Eve Skiing

Once we finally made it to Badger we had an awesome day to ski.  No crowds and beautiful sunny weather!

Drew teaching Grace to ski

Grace had not skied since she was about 5 because she has been snow boarding but was getting bored of boarding.  So since Drew learned to ski a couple years ago and has enjoyed it so much, Grace decided to try it again.  After 2 hours it looked like she had done it her whole life!

We got loaded up to leave Badger at 4pm so that we could be home for xmas eve appetizers....only to be told that the road OUT of Badger was closed due to a downed tree!  NOW we were stuck at Badger! 

Lucky for us, we always travel with a bag of snacks, so we sat in the rig for an hour and had some appetizers in the Badger parking lot!

We got home an hour late but luckily Grandma and Grandpa were home and made all the appetizers!

Chains Required

On the day of xmas eve, the four of us went into Yosemite on a boondoggle!  We headed out at 8:30 am to go to Badger Pass for some skiing.  We knew when we left that the road to Badger was closed due to a fallen tree, but that they were working on clearing it and to check back every 45 minutes or so. 

First boondoggle stop was at the gate of Yosemite.  They told us that chains were required - even with vehicles that had snow tires and 4 wheel drive.  So off we go to put chains on the rig for the first time ever!  Jim had to do some roadside repairs to the chains but we had them on likety split!

Then it was time to help a local gal who had never had to put chains on in all her 17 years of living in Yosemite!  Apparently, there is a new Superintendent of Yosemite who is big on chains.

So off we go with our chains and head to Badger.

We get halfway up the road and get turned around - the road is still closed.

So we head down to Bridal Veil Falls for a little hike.

This allowed the dogs to get out of the car and run around a little.  Which caused us fits of giggles!  See video below:

After the hike we headed back up road towards Badger but the road was still closed.  So we stopped and had some lunch while we waited.....and we put the chains on the rig for the second time!  We asked the ranger who was blocking the road if we still needed chains to get to Badger and he said, "no".  So we promptly took them off.  Only to hear an announcement by the same ranger, 5 minutes later that chains would be required!  DOH!

We waited about 45 minutes and the road opened!  YEA - off to Badger!  All in all it took us 4.5 hours to get to Badger - normally it takes about 1.5 hours.  But it was a fun boondoggle!

Last TNDC of the year

Tyler and Jeremy made the kids t-shirts for TNDC - they are based on "thing 1" and "thing 2" but instead say "Choch 1", "Choch 2", etc.  Choch is our term for someone who is acting stupid.  They numbered them in order starting with number 1 being the least "chochy" of the kids.  And that was Bug.  And with number 10 - Jeremy - being the biggest Choch!  They were a huge hit!

And what is a holiday party without mustache lollipops!

And you may recognize this sweater.....it is my mom's old sweater that was "sold" at the soccer rummage sale and keeps making its rounds amongst the TNDC birthdays, xmas parties, etc.  Right now, Jeremy is calling it his TNDC sweater and plans to wear it to all TNDC events!  Probably with his "Choch 10" t-shirt underneath!

Speech, speech

When notified of his and Aunt Pat's award for Best Special Guest for 2012, Uncle Dave made the following speech:

"OMG........What an honor!!  Though we question our worthiness, we will carry out all duties and obligations that comes with such an accolade to the best of our ability.  As any hillbilly relative would."

Grace the Goof

Look how cute Grace's hair is.  It has gotten really long and I decided to braid it when she had this hat on today.

It looked so cute I wanted a picture.  But being that she is a chachy 13 year old, she wouldn't let me take her picture.  Next thing I knew she had all these pics on my camera.

Goofball!

Whoopie pies and gingerbread cookies

Made dessert for Drew's birthday dinner tonite - whoopie pies and gingerbread cookies!  These whoopie pies are AMAZING!  Wait til the people at work get a taste of them tomorrow!

Squid Eggs

Jim pulled all his crab pots today and brought them home.  Crab season is now over. 

When he brought the pots home, we were all fired up to see squid egg sacs all over the pots.  Gracie cut one open so we could see individual eggs.

See more info on the market squids:

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=FRD&id=1117

KK and Drew

Drew has a best friend who he has known since he was 4 months old, Kayla.  They went to daycare together until they were about 10 and even though they go to different schools they stay close and vacation together.  They are the type of friends that even if they go months without seeing each other it seems that they were together the day before.  And they are the type of friends that can be 100% themselves around - TOTAL goofballs!  Anyway....Kayla made this collage for Drew's birthday and posted it and this message to facebook.  Everyone should be so lucky to have such a great friendship.  We all love you, KK!

"A very special Happy Birthday to my BestFriend in the entire world, Drew! You're the BIGGEST Goober ever! (literally and figuratively). I'm so grateful to have had such a fantastic partner in crime like you for the last 17 years, no matter what the shenanigans may be! I love you so much, and I did my very best to portray our redneck relationship ♥ ILY a trilli gurlieee
Hope you have a fantastic 17th BigGuy because you deserve it!"

TNDC 2012 Awards

And the winners are: 

Most Memorable Birthday Celebration:  Ode to Bug poem reading

Most Memorbale Event:  Mari and Kyle's wedding

Best Outfit:  Tyler's skin tight red, white and blue outfit

Best Meal of the Year:  Drunken crab feed

Special Guest of the Year:  The Hillbilly Relatives!  Auntie Patty and Uncle Dave from Kentucky

Quote of the Year:  "I will show you small"

Chach of the Year:  Jim - for mooning the mother of the bride!

Since the Hillbilly Relatives were not here, we all accepted on their behalf!

2012 winners

Most Memorable Story Told and Re-told:

• Andee's sexy massage
• Grandma Anna doing the limbo
• Jim and all his wives at Cherry Lake
• Why Coach's parents have a bench in their shower
• How Jim mooned the mother of the bride and how fast the news spread amongst the wedding guests
• Mike leaving to pick up Kayla at a Christian school wearing his Lord's Beer Prayer shirt
• Shades thinking the Tahoe's seats were voice activated

Happy Birthday Drew

Today is Drew's 17th birthday. 

In taking a moment to reflect on the last 17 years, the following stands out:

I love that Drew is so sensitive.  He has always been a kid who feels deeply - from crying when Otis the cartoon dog was kidnapped (when he was in 5th grade) to showing deep concern for the his grandparents.  This is not a quality you can teach, rather one that he was born with.

I love that Drew is humble and down to earth.  He does not have the attitide that some kids his age do that he is the the greatest person in the world.  Don't get me wrong, he thinks he is great, but he also acknowledges that EVERYONE is great in their own way too.  And that he is no better than them.  He sees the same value in himself as every individual in the world. 

I love the Drew does not "judge".  He does not care if someone looks different, is gay, or makes choices he would not make.  He truly believes that everyone can make their own choices or be their own person and its not his place to judge them for it.

Drew is growing into a tremendous young man and I am exceedingly proud to be his mom.

Crazy time

Sorry I have been missing from the blog.  This week has been beyond crazy.  Quick update:

1.  Jury Duty  I spent half of Tuesday at jury duty -  Here is how that went down:  The case was a civil case that was going to go until Dec 21 at the earliest but it was likely that it would not be done by then and would start up again on Jan 2.  After all the potential jurors were in the court room and 16 were being considered, we took a lunch break.  At that time the judge said that he would hear hardship requests.  I went before the judge and told him I would be happy to serve until the 21st but after that I was on a two week family vacation that our family had been looking forward to all year.  I was totally honest when he asked if I could come back early and said, "anything is possible, but I prefer not to."  I can't believe it but he let me go!  Thank goodness because with what is going on at work, it would have been a disaster if I had been on jury duty all day.....I would have been working all nite.

2.  Grace appendix  Grace has had abominable pain on and off for two weeks.  It started up again on Friday and she came home from school.  Because the pain is in the area of her appendix, we went to the doc and spent 3 hours there on Friday nite getting an ultrasound.  Turns out the ultrasound was inconclusive - they could not find her appendix!  We are going to continue to watch it.

3.  Work is nuts  I can not even begin to relay the craziness that is going down at work.  But I can tell you I worked on a report yesterday morning (Saturday) from 5 am to 10 am.  Then reviewed emails for 3 hours in the afternoon and worked for another hour in the evening.

4.  Good morning Coyotes  So after being up yesterday at 5 am working, I decided that this morning, I would sleep in.  Yea right!  Today at about 5:45am, I awoke to a screeching dog that sounded like it was being attacked.  It made me sit straight up in bed!  It came from the side of the house, so Jim and I jumped out of bed to see what had happened.  I went out and started walking around the neighborhood in my camo jammies.  Right behind the house, I ran right into a coyote!  I think what we heard was the coyote yipping right outside our bedroom window.

5.  Playoffs  This week is Fantasy Football playoffs and I am in them!  So I have to make sure my team is ready to play.  I have two probable and one questionable player!

6.  Other   Also this week is Drew's birthday, anniversary party planning, holiday shopping and planning and I am still trying to get in a workout every day.  Honestly.....I need some time off.  I feel like I am crawling thru quicksand trying to get to my vacation.

Jury Duty

Off to jury duty today, because its not enough to just work full time (plus some), have two kids, have two dogs, work out 2 hours a day, have a husband, have the end of the semester with the kids, schedule ed therapy and SAT tutoring, and have the holiday season.....gotta squeeze in some more stress!

TNDC Sign

The place of honor for the TNDC sign!  I love how the reindeer is photo bombing the bottom of the pic!

2012 TNDC Awards

Please participate in the 2012 TNDC Awards survey:


Click here to take survey

TNDC Whiite Elephant Party Xmas 2012

Tyler is the proud owner of a ceramic rabbit

The 3rd annual white elephant TNDC party was a hoot! Started with appetizers and then moved on to opening our ridiculous gifts. I was the last one to choose and got left with a half empty bottle of liquid smoke and a candy cane!

Rocker nutcracker - I have a feeling we will be seeing him again!

Award for most useless gift

Jim stole this from Doug

Oh no - Grandma Kathy's sweater is making the rounds again!

Wonder Marty

Shades!

Basketball Season Summary

Grace's first year playing basketball at school was a success!  They finished the season with 10 wins and 1 loss.  And they ended up in 2nd place at the end of the season tournament (they lost both times to the same team).  Unfortunately, Grace was sick the whole week of the tournament so she couldn't play.  But managed to go to the final game to support her team.

It was really fun to watch a new sport for a change and it was fun to watch Grace learn how to play basketball.

2nd place

New hooks

Uncle B and family gave us a new hook for the cabin a little while ago and we had not hung it yet...cabin is so small that we don't have much wall space!  So I did some rearranging this morning and hung the new hook to the right of the door and the old hook to the left of the door.  The one on the right is for dog leashes, the one one the left is for head lamps.  We are ready for anything!

TNDC Sign

Our friends, Andee, Zack and Ry, gave all of TNDC unique "TNDC" signs.  This is a pic of ours!  They are all sooooooooo cool and will hang in a place of honor in our homes (and in Shade's case, in his bedroom!)