Homelife, Kitties, PumpkinFest, A New Hair Cut, & Other Random Things...

It's been busy since school started.

There aren't too many quiet nights at home anymore.

Oh how I miss (and savor) the quiet nights at home.

Now our evenings are filled with homework, band practice, football games, band competitions, church activities, school activities, and so much more.

I miss just sitting at home with my babies, my hubby, and my kitty.

One (rare) evening that we were home...

Oleson the barn cat came by for a visit.

He lives in the old barn behind us.

I think he can tell we're "cat people".

He's never in a hurry to leave.

Plus, he and Oreo seem to enjoy visiting each other.

There's no hissing.

Just meowing and rolling around as if they're both comforable "chatting" and catching up with each other, LOL!

Plus, I think Oleson remembers that we keep treats!

So we always share.  Teehee!

As you can see, he was in no hurry to leave!

Last Friday, Evan had a football game to play at...so Nate and I skipped out for this time...and took in PumpkinFest.

He loved these two horses made of straw!

And he made sure I had my picture taken by the scarecrow's outhouse, LOL!

Milking the tin cow!

One of our favorite things each year...is the petting zoo.

Critter Barn always sets up a mobile petting zoo area.

We love the bunnies!

But Nate's VERY favorite is the baby chicks!

They had turkeys, chickens, pigs, goats, lambs, bunnies, donkeys, and much more!

We love all the Pumpkin People they set up downtown!

Zeeland Lumber always sets up a crafting area for the kids with scraps of lumber and wood.

They let them make "creations" with wood glue.

And of course we enjoyed some cotton candy.

I love this little Pumpkin Train they put out each year!

Saturday we went to the parade, as Evan had to play/march with the band.

It was soooooooooooo hot!

We want our fall weather back!

Here comes our favorite band!

ZHS marching band!

They played Lady Gaga...and though I'm not a fan...I had the tune stuck in my head all day after that, LOL!

There's Evan in the center...see him?!?

And there they go!

The Zeeland Chix and Dux float!

We picked a bad area to stand...as we were at the end of the parade route, so many of the folks were out of candy by the time they got to us.  Nate was a little disappointed.

The giant mobile pumpkin from the New Salem Corn Maze.
Love that place!

Can't wait to go back!

I also got my hair cut on Saturday.

It's not a totally different style.

But it's quite a bit shorter.

She put a lot of layers on the sides, stacked the back, and I kept a longer bang.

So now I have three styles to choose from...straight like I used to wear it...or MESSY and TOSSLED like this!

I kinda like the messy look.

It's still not as radical as I was hoping for...maybe next time I'll go crazy!

I can also wear it tucked back, nice and sleek, with volume like this too!

I kinda like it this way.

Totally different.

And that's what's been happening!

Hopefully after football/marching band season...things will slow down a bit.

Maybe.

Nah...

Getting ready for my va-cay!

So much to do.
So little time.
One bathroom cleaned.
Living room dusted.
Keeping on top of laundry and dishes.
Grocery shopping done.

One more bathroom to go.
Vaccuuming to do.
Straightening the kitchen.

Packing.
Making lists.
Getting the boys ready.

Love this time of year.
But so much work.

Exhausted before I even arrive!
But it's a good thing. :)

My kinda day...

Today was my kinda day.

We got up and went to church.

Then had a nice lunch at Texas Roadhouse.

Our appetizer took a little longer than usual and so our serve came to our table and appologized saying they had to prepare a new one because they burnt the first order.

They were then delivered by the manager and she announced that they were "on the house" because they took so long!

Well, how about that!

That was sweet!

Honestly, it wasn't even that long!

But hey, who am I to argue with free?  LOL!

We then came home...

I couponed a bit, played around on the 'puter.

Then I took a short nap (bliss).

Got up.

Threw some peanut butter cookies in the oven...yum!

The guys were craving pizza, so they got a couple to share.

I was just feeling more "snacky".
So I picked up the ingredients for french onion dip and chips.

We all watched The Amazing Race.

And the best part...

I got me a thunderstorm!

Everyone who knows me knows I love thunderstorms!

Complete with rain, thunder, lightening, and even some hail!

Now...

All is quiet.  The boys are in bed.

And I'm headed there shortly.

Not really ready for Monday...but then am I ever? ;)

Stop and be thankful...

Through out all the day to day whining and complaining...

And worrying and fearfulness...

Sometimes we forget to stop and thank God when things are actually falling into place and going well.

Today it hit me that I need to do that more often.

Today...

I am thankful...

That I have ALL of my appointments lined up and scheduled!

That we are almost done with the boys dental appointments!

That I got my prescription straightened out with the pharmacy!

That I won a book in a drawing!  Woohoo!

That the sun is shining today!

That I have nowhere to go or nothing to do tonight!

That spring IS coming!

That I have my monthly newsletter done and out!

That I have all my e-mails caught up!

That we are all healthy!

That I got a good haircut by a great stylist last week!

That I have a small group today and am getting a little time to refresh.

It's not much...but it's these little things that I need to start thanking God for.

The little things we don't think about that are the small positives in our day.

Because when these "litle" things go wrong...

Those are the major frustrations that send our days into downward spirals.

So today...
I choose to be thankful!

It's not over, 'til it's over...

That's not rain you see on our windows.

It's still winter here...February to be exact.

Last night we got the ice storm of all ice storms!

It started out with white-out conditions.

Snowed like CRAZY!

Then came the freezing rain/sleet.

It was pelting the windows so loud that it almost became irritating after a while.

This went on from about noon-ish until we went to bed.

I took these photos of our living room windows.

We had approximately 1/4-1/2 inch thick ice on all the windows.

It was crazy.

All the schools cancelled today.

But luckily...

Our district didn't have to use a snow day up...
We were already off for "Teacher In Service" day!

Traffic seems to be moving in and out of the neighborhood better now 24 hours later.

But we still have quite a layer of ice on our windows.

Evan had a dental appointment today...and thankfully Jamie took him.

I hate driving in ANY kind of winter mess.

Thanks Jam!

I owe ya!

:)

Blizzard 2011

Usually the storms they predict aren't near the hype they make them out to be.

However...

This time, I'd say they were pretty right on par!

This top picture is taken from inside our garage where we measured 16 inches of fresh snow on top of what we already had.

Looking out into the yard.

My hubby snow-blowing the driveway.

Looking out to the parking area of the School Bus Depot.  Nothing has been plowed.  The only thing you can see is where a few pick-ups and SUVs have tried to drive through.  If you were to deviate from those tire tracks...you'd be done for!

S-T-U-C-K!!!

We witnessed a couple cars attempt it this morning, both getting stuck.

Since then, no other "cars" have attempted getting out.

Even the pick-ups and SUVs are barely making it through.

My dedicated hubby out there plowing!

EVERYTHING is cancelled or closed.

Schools.

Churches.

Businesses.

Large corporations.

For the first time in the five years we've attended our church, they even cancelled tonight's activities!

THAT IS A FIRST!

You KNOW it must be bad!

There's Jamie in the far right corner plowing.

When he came in, his hood was FILLED with snow.

He took off his coat and snow dumped all over the rug in the entryway.

His coat, pants, hat, gloves, EVERYTHING was soaked!

One of my favorite pics.

The picture above is our front door this morning.

The snow was literally higher than the door and when I opened it, it was scraping snow back into the corner of the porch.

What a mess.

The picture above is out our front window.

The snow drifted all the way up to our window panes past the flower boxes.

You can see it's midway up the window.

One last picture of my hubby out there!

(far right corner)

I have not heard ANY plows as of yet and it's 1:09pm.

I am assuming they're tackling the highways and major roads first.

The back country roads and subdivisions are last on their list I'm sure.

So even if the snow stops...

If the buses can't get through tomorrow...

I'm wondering if we'll have another snow day until the plows catch up?

We shall see!

Stay warm and stay safe!

Don't go out unless absolutely necessary!

It's nasty!

Hugs from Michigan!

A lazy kind of day...

I asked for it!

I got it!

I still wouldn't mind more!

Yup!

It's been dumping (snow) on us all day long.

It's still really not that bad.

We've had much worse.

The streets are "travelable" (if that's a word, LOL!).

But I honestly wouldn't care if we got a bunch more!

As long as I don't have to go anywhere...

I'm good with it all.

As you can see...

It doesn't bother Oreo much either.

He's taken to this spot lately.

When napping...
Across the top of the sofa-sleeper.

And when awake...
Right above him on the window sill.

He's really quite unintelligent.

He'll sit there batting at the snowflakes against the window.

It's really quite comical.

Teehee!

He picked me...

Not sure where I first discovered "Home Grown Mom"...but this is a blog I REALLY REALLY enjoy! 
She writes from the heart and is so open and honest.
I love it.
I came across this post today and as always...loved it.
Give it a read...it may be just what you need to hear...I know I enjoyed it!
http://homegrownmom.com/a-wife-to-rush-home-to/your-husband-picked-you/3222

Just this and that...

Not much new at the James house lately.
Just thought I'd do a general update on what we've been up to.
Which is really nothing, LOL!
I am jumping up and down excited that today is Friday.
After the short holiday weeks, these regular five day work weeks just about kill me!  LOL!

It's been a fairly mild winter for us here in the north compared to many years past.
As all the southern and eastern states are getting blasted, we're holding pretty steady.
I'd say there's probably 8-10 inches of snow on the ground but no major storms.
We haven't had a single snow day yet and the boys are NOT too happy about that!  LOL!

Nate has been "busy" as usual.

Don't even ask, LOL...
French fry "candles" in his double cheeseburger, perhaps?
I have no clue, LOL!

 
Modeling his new track pants from Geeg and Papa that he got for Christmas.
What a ham.
 
I volunteered to make cupcakes again this year for "Fun Night" at Lincoln.
This year I am actually looking forward to it because I now have one Wilton course completed and under my belt so I have some techniques down!
 
I have been browsing the web, looking for ideas.
 
Who doesn't want their cupcake to shine through at the cake walk and be picked first?!?  LOL!

 
We have also invited the entire fam over to celebrate mom's and my birthday in a couple weeks.
I've decided to make our birthday cake...and go with a "heart" theme since mom and I are both February babies!  I'm scoping out ideas...
 
 I'm toying with the idea of a trip layer heart cake (three different sizes) with little mini heart cakes all around it.

I am going to be brave and try a few new techniques.

If I'm moody, crying, banging things around, slamming doors, screaming...

You'll know it was a disaster.

So please...

Cross your fingers, say a prayer, and hope for the best, LOL!

Evan is...well, Evan is Evan, LOL!

He's just pluggin' along!

He has his Winter Concert Band program this Sunday afternoon and we are so excited to hear them!

I'm so anxious to see him in his tux!  Teehee!

Pictures and hopefully video to come!

Well, that's it in a nutshell for now!

We're pretty boring!

More later loves!