Well, it has been a bit. My computer decided to completely crash on me last week. Computers dying are not good for anyone.. but when you work online it is really not a good thing. My Sony decided it liked to destroy hard drives as a hobby, and we had actually just gone through this a few months ago. And a few months before that…. so we finally decided that it was time for something new. Thankfully I had most things backed up through a service online and Matt was able to ressurect most other things off of the other broken computer using a special program. Thankfully he knows all about that kinda stuff because I have no clue. So I decided to go with a laptop this time instead of a PC. I LOVE it! I can work on the comfy couch in the family room, I can work on the other comfy couch downstairs, I can work at the dining room table, I can work in bed! (like I am right now). It is so nice to not be trapped in my office anymore when I need to get some work done. I look forward to the spring when I can work outside. I basically can work anywhere that has a wireless internet connection. So I’m still trying to figure out Windows Vista and get everything organized, but I’m happy.

Let’s see what else is happening… They started moving dirt around, digging trenches etc for our church addition project. The kids love watching the bulldozers and backhoes and other machinery that has been around. It is amazing what all they have accomplished in just a week. Unfortunately tomorrow brings a funeral. Our neighbor, who was 80 passed away suddenly. His wife is a member of our church, he was not, but Matt is doing the funeral – essentially for someone he did not know. We are praying for that whole family as there are several other issues going on as well. Hopefully this may bring them back to the Lord. My hair stylist is part of the family and last time I went in for the big chop, I asked how she was and she said “I don’t know, I’m just trying to be happy.” So do keep them in your prayers.

I think Dane is growing or something – he has taken long naps every day this week except today. Yesterday I came home from dropping the boys off at school and we both climbed back into my bed and slept from 8:30 to 11:00! I couldn’t believe it… I guess we were tired. I don’ know if it is just the cool dark fall weather, or if he is growing or what… I thought maybe he was getting sick, but he seems healthy and happy – just worn out I guess.

We launched new software over at Menu Planning Central last week so that has kept us busy. Too busy! Oh and I got my first PO Box today because we signed up with the Better Business Bureau and I didn’t want our home address on their web-site.

I got some fun news this week too. My friend Sheryl from WA is coming to visit me in March! I am so excited. We are going to the Hearts at Home Conference for two days and then will just hang out a couple days – do some girly shopping etc.

Well, I have to run – computer duty at school.

C-

I finally had my big haircut today. Here’s what I ended up with.

Before:

After:

So what do you think? I like it. Dane says he likes it, Christian says he likes it because he “doesn’t know if his mom is there or not.”, Ryan says he likes it sort of, and Matt says “I’m glad you like it.” (not exactly sure what that means… I know he generally likes it long.)

I meant to say yesterday…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Aunt Sara

and

Great-Grandma Audrey!

But I forgot… so I will say it today. We did think about you yesterday and hope you had a great day!

So Let’s see… remember that “we have nothing to do this weekend” mode I was in? Well Matt decided today that he wanted to invite friends over tomorrow to watch the Nascar race… So, in just a moment here at 10:30 p.m. I am off to clean the kitchen to get ready. I did get to relax today quite a bit. I got all my coupon clipping done and caught up on some of my newspaper and magazine reading. So that was nice. It was another 90 degree day for the kids to enjoy. Both Ryan and Dane konked out at about 5:15 until 6:00 after they both had meltdowns.

I have been working on a new blog the last couple days – It is www.smoothieblends.com and it is ALMOST done. My designer has a tad bit more work to do, but it’s really close! The main goal is to promote the Vita Mix Blender that we love (and I just happen to make a bit of commission on each time someone buys through that site…) So we’ll see how it goes!

All right, I better go clean that kitchen!

It’s a four day weekend here. So what did we do all day? It was a lovely 90 degrees out (I keep waiting for the fall weather to arrive… looks like maybe next week) so the kids played outside part of the day… but essentially we lounged around in our pajamas all day. It felt so good! Dane is off and going strong on his “YELLOW” 4-wheeler. He actually is really good at it and sooo happy! I did some work for my business, made a cantaloupe / honeydew colored hat for Dane with the Knifty Knitter (he picked the colors) It is soooo soft!, and watched T.V. The rest of the weekend calls for similar – we don’t have any major plans. I’m sure we’ll do some cleaning tomorrow, but other then that and church on Sunday there is nothing on the schedule… feels nice!

Ryan is in a bit of trouble as his progress report the last two weeks has said that he needs to work better on listening and following directions. I let it slide last week with a verbal warning, but two weeks in a row leads to priveledges removed.

I finally drug myself to the doctor yesterday (we still haven’t found a new one…) to have my ears looked at as they still feel clogged 2 weeks after my 6 week cold left. I had a mild fever, a red throat (which doesn’t hurt) and clogged ears but no infection. She said probably a new virus… LOVELY Anyway, she gave me 7 (over $1 per pill with insurance) Allegra D pills – which are allergy pills to hopefully clear up the congestion in my head. I’ve had two and I don’t think they have really done anything, but we’ll see! I seem to go every other year – one year I’m completely healthy (last year) and this year is my year to be sick. I’ve been in that pattern since high school so I guess that’s just how it goes. Dane has the cold now – he’s had it for about a week, but it only bothers him at night. He doesn’t cough in the day at all.

Matt has the hair clippers out and just got done with Christian’s hair. I told Ryan it was his choice what he wanted to do and he wants to let it grow for awhile… It seems to be the style these days. He said he wants the opposite of what Christian has. It is true that a lot of people get them mixed up from the back because their hair was similar and Christian is about the height Ryan was 2 days ago. (Okay, not really…but he is about the height Ryan used to be – He is wearing a lot of the clothes Ryan wore LAST year instead of 2 years ago like it should be…They’re all growing too fast! Ryan was pointing out to me that a lot of the 1st graders in his class are the same age or older then him since his birthday is so late. LOL Oh well. Academically he needs to be in 2nd grade. Christian on the other hand… I’m curious when things will really start to click for him – he would still much rather do pretend play then learn to read and write. He is quickly catching some things in school though. He is getting tested at the end of the month on his phone number, address and birthday so we’re trying to work on that. Ryan says “I don’t even know my phone number and address…” Although Ryan learned our phone number in about 1 minute the other night and Christian has been working on the first 3 numbers for 4 days.

Have you been watching Kid Nation? I have been letting the kids watch and we watched the third episode this afternoon together. I wasn’t too impressed with the language displayed… They bleeped out a bunch of it, but I’m annoyed they let the “B****” word come through. I guess that is just a regular word on T.V. these days, but they have to know kids are going to be watching this show. I don’t think my kids really noticed it, but I was annoyed.

Our corn is out of the field and the check is in the bank. The money will probably go towards Christmas shopping and maybe I can have that done and out of the way before Thanksgiving! How nice that would be.

Well, I guess I better get the boys in and out of the bath. Have a good weekend!

If you get into Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) shopping, then here is a fun site. It keeps you up to date on all the sales and if you register (free) you can create your customized shopping plan. http://www.bfads.net I’m hoping to maybe be done shopping before Black Friday this year… but we shall see!

Dane is three today! I can hardly believe it. We still call him baby Dane sometimes, but he isn’t so fond of that anymore… go figure! He’ll always be my baby I suppose. Where the time went I’m not sure, but he certainly is growing up to be a fun, loving, smart and adorable big boy. He’s always making me laugh, and he’s a great cuddler. Happy birthday little one!

We dropped the two older boys off at school (with their noses bent out of shape) and then headed to Bloomington to Toys R Us and Chuck E. Cheese. Dane had decided a couple month ago that he wanted a Power Wheels car for his birthday. There wasn’t anyway we were getting out of that… he was pretty confident that is what he wanted. So today we went to Toys R Us to get him one. We ended up with a 4 wheeler one, but it has one problem… it is blue… and he wants it to be yellow. So…. Matt has been busy all evening spray painting the thing yellow for him. Oh the things we do to make our children happy. We had a great time giving Dane some individual attention, but Ryan and Christian weren’t exactly thrilled with the fact that he got to go on a fun trip and they “got” to go to school. We took them all out to dinner this evening though so hopefully that made up for it a bit.

We pulled a few pumpkins out of the garden the other day and left a few out there to finish any growing they might decide to do. I hear rumors the corn will be coming out either tomorrow or Wednesday. Ryan and Christian are looking forward to that so they have more room to ride the go-cart and 4-wheeler.

We did our weigh-in this morning. We both have been doing really good on the Weight Watchers eating plan… Go figure, Matt lost 8 pounds and I gained 2! I’m not sure how that happened but I wasn’t real happy about the situation. Just keep trying I guess. I was in the doghouse a bit as well as I finally found my book today to calculate how many points we each are supposed to get. I had Matt on the women’s plan accidentally and he actually gets 6 more points then I was giving him each day. OOPS… No wonder he lost 8 pounds…

I have been on the recruiting path of church members the past month. First I was asked to teach Sunday School. After praying about that for quite awhile I turned that opportunity down (for lots of reasons…) Yesterday I was asked to run for VP of the WMF That is the women’s organization in the church for all you non-AFLC Lutheran friends. The kicker is that then the next year you are automatically president, so it is really a two year committment. (and a bit of work..) I am praying over this one at the moment and actually am considering letting them put my name on the ballet… Although Matt thinks I should turn this down as well… The deal is we have been going through our spiritual gifts at church the last few weeks (and will continue to do so for several more) and my number one gift was organization. LOL (apparently I need to work on this one a bit as I am not using that gift to its full potential at the moment because I do not feel organized at all..) Anyway, my gifts are organization, counseling, mercy, and hospitality. Anyway, point being… this position fits my gifts pretty well. So I think God is leading me towards this one.. I think Matt is just worried about the amount of work involved. Let’s just hope I don’t end up on the school board PTL next year too! That would be a bit crazy. That one they just stick you on the ballet they don’t even ask if you would like to serve…(which I do not agree with at all.. but that’s a whole other story.)

I hope everyone is well!