Mini Griswald Christmas Tree

Our Christmas decorating has begun in our household. Yesterday we went to a local Christmas Tree farm called Heins Pines. At Heins Pines you can choose and cut any tree in the field for $40. I know that may seem like a lot of moolah, but for us it is well worth it. In the past we have gone to our local Wal-Mart and paid for a tree from the Kiwanis Club and that has been good. I have never actually gone out, selected a tree, cut it down, taken it home, and decorated it.

So, this year we decided it was high time we did all of that. So, off we went in the family truck to the farm. It was so hard looking for the perfect tree. They all look so small outside. the one I really really wanted was just too big. We finally settled on the tree you see above. It was a heavy one to carry, I'll tell ya that! Once home, and trimmed up we waited until tonight to decorate it. Isn't it beautiful? The only thing about it is that it takes up the biggest portion of the corner...sort of like a mini Griswald Christmas tree. Have you seen that movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Well, if you have, then you recognize one of my favorite lines in the movie "It's not going in our yard, Russ, it's going in our living room." Yea. That's kinda how I feel.

However, I can tell you that the smell of a freshly cut pine tree just permeates the entire house and it smells divine. The only thing better than the smell of pine is...apple pie. yummmm.

Anyway, after we decorated the tree, I took a few pictures. The one above is the finished product and the one below I took to use as a wallpaper on my computer. It really turned out well. Happy decorating to you and good luck finding your own mini Griswald tree.

2 Broken Mirrors in 3 1/2 Years

Is it bad if you break 2 mirrors in 3 1/2 years?

Shortly after we were married, I was backing out of the garage and successfully sent the side mirror of my car flying through the garage. Drew was standing in there and we laughed and laughed about it. Until we got the bill. It cost close to $150 to replace the dumb thing.

Drew still laughs.

Today, I hit the garage AGAIN and removed a mirror. Only this time I was in the truck. Oh no...
So, I called Drew and he and I had a good laugh over the whole thing. I guess we will see what the bill looks like in this one.

sigh.

The funniest Moment

So, we have safely returned to Nebraska and are returning to our normal working lives now that the wedding is over. I do have to share what was the funniest moment, to me at least, of the entire wedding. We were all standing at the front watching Cindy and Todd experience their wedding when the pastor started talking about the rings. All of a sudden the matron of honor turns around and quietly says to me "Oh no! I forgot the ring!" To which I said "What!? Are you kidding?" She says "I forgot the ring! Give me your ring!" So, I did as discretely as I could. We laughed and laughed about it afterwards. Todd couldn't even make my ring fit on his pinkie finger so he had to slyly place it in his pocket until the ceremony was over.

Wedding Photos

Snowflakes Gently Falling

I am sitting here at my desk the last day before Thanksgiving break staring out the window. Watching the snow fly and the wind blow. I would to say that the first snow of the year is a nice, gentle snow that beautifully blankets the objects around. BUUUUUT....that would be a total lie to you and I like you too much to make a such a bold-faced lie to you. It is blowing and cold...and yuck. Anyway, today after school we will leave to make out trek half way across the nation to watch my sister and her fiance marry. Wish us well and say a prayer for our travels. Adios for new, friends.

Waspy Woes

Did I tell you about the nasty wasp stings I received a week ago? Well, a little over a week ago actually. I didn't? Well, here's what happened...

A week ago last Monday I was at school leading a class during teacher technology days when all of a sudden I felt a small pinch on my left arm. I wiggled my arm and immediately felt another prick close by the last one..but nastier. So, I moved my right hand over to shoo away whatever was on my arm, near my elbow. At this time I realized that it was a wasp. My thoughts were "OH HOLY CRAP!" About at that moment, in it's last final ploy to prove is virility, the little sucker stung me again...the worst one yet...right on my elbow and then flew away. Jerk Wasp.

I did what you would do.

I freaked out.

No, really...I freaked out. I ran down down the hall toward the nurses office with more speed and agility than a cheetah on it's first kill in a month. The office nurse told me to calm down and gave me an ice pack. She also told me to be on the look for hives, general achy joints, headache, and lethargy. "Yeah, okay" I said "but what about the pain? What can I do?" Her response?

"Nothing. Keep ice on it and take a tylenol."

Nice.

So, later that evening my joints started hurting and I got a bad headache. OUCH. My elbow was so sore for about 4 days that I could hardly stand to bend it or lean on anything. Finally, it quit hurting and I thought it was all over. OH NO...I was very wrong.

A few days ago the three sting sites started itching like crazy. I can't scratch them enough and NOTHING stops it. NOTHING! I spend every spare minute that I can find scratching scratching scratching at my elbow.

Jerk Wasp.