Decision Day

I remember when the hardest choice Hunter had to make was between pop tarts and cereal.  Or which plaid shorts matched the striped shirt he wanted to wear every day.  

It's never easy to make a life changing decision.  This one has taken seventeen years.  It is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and fun....all with an end goal in mind.  A double major in Accounting and Information Systems - and which school would be the best for that.

In true Hunter style, he wanted to share it with you!  Here's Hunters version of decision day......

  

Which was he going to choose?  Would it be UC?  That's been his choice all along.

Or was it going to be Ohio State?  Did they do enough to "wow" him?

Now you know how big of a decision it was!  Anyone have a guess?

And the moment you've all been waiting for......

Congratulations Hunter!!!!!  You're going to be a Buckeye!  We're all very excited for you and can't wait to share the experience.  

LOL

Ah, finally some time to show you our crazy family!

Yes, this was how we spent our Saturday night.  Yes, we all had a great time.  No, Jeff won't let me put these on  Facebook.

Short Visit, Long Day.

It's gotta be almost over, right?

The college decision making process must be coming to an end as we completed our last campus tour today. It was great that we got to sneak in a visit with Mom, Dad and the kids while we were there.  We didn't get to visit long, but any time with them is a blast!

Queen for a Day

It's a tiara...put it on me, put in on me, put it on me!!!

Yesterday was such a long day.  It started at 7:30am with the puppy and it ended at 3:30am when we got the last people safely to their rooms.  I had a great time, Jeff had a great time and the boys had the time of their lives...again.  I think it's a little more fun for them each year.  Heck, someone even offered to pick Hunter up from college next year so that he wouldn't miss the evening.  And at this rate, Will will be able to fund his snowboarding goals just from tips.

But the highlight of the night was my gift from the the kids.  Every girl needs a tiara and now I have one!  Do you think they'd mind if I wear it to the OSU visit tomorrow?

Send in the Clowns

The big night is finally here! Everyone has been a huge help. Thank you Hunter, Will and Shannon....in case I forget to say thank you later. I'm off to get ready, play games and have fun. It should be a great night!

Banquet Eve

It's banquet eve again.

Last year, we sat in in the same booth, ate the same dinner but the faces were a little different.  Now, they're a little older, a little wiser and a little more used to having their picture taken for the blog. 

I hope they're still grinning after they work all day tomorrow.

  

Classic

Puppy class.

Will's gone for evening and I had a meeting so Jeff and Hunter volunteered to take the puppy to class.  According to the vet, it would be great to socialize her.  I wonder if this was what Nick had in mind....

I Wanna Dance With Somebody

I just realized that I titled my blog after a Whitney Houston song.  Too soon?  

Anyway, it's on to another project.  Today, I found myself with a few hours in the afternoon with nothing to do.  Can you believe it?  It's three days before the banquet and I had nothing to do!  I'm pretty sure that's never happened before.  Tomorrow will be different and Friday will be all studio work for Saturday but today I had a couple of hours.  And as Jeff  will tell you....nothing to do doesn't suit me so it was time to fill my afternoon with a new project!  So just in case you're free on April 28th...come dance with us!

Step One

Everyone thought I was kidding a week or so again when I complained about the amount of static electricity I was conducting.  There was a list of things I was going to try to eliminate some of the charge.  Step one, furniture that was not made of microfiber!  The furniture was delivered this morning and funny enough, I haven't shocked anyone all day.  I'm sure it will happen tonight as it cools down, but a good start.  Next, steam clean the carpet.  Too bad the furniture seems to be working, I was looking forward to moving to Oahu.  

Angry Birds

What would a carnival be without the newest, craziest trend in apps?  Boring, of course.  This is our version of Angry Birds.  We've got a few little tweaks to make and it'll be all set.  The last game to complete...thankfully, it'll be done by tomorrow.  Nothing like cutting it a little close!

Pink Sky at Night.

It's funny the stories you remember or the sayings that pop into your head when you see something that brings back a memory.  It's even funnier when both Jeff and I have the same thought at the same time.

This was tonight's sunset.  It was beautiful.  I jumped up in the middle of dinner to capture it.

It reminded me of a night over the summer that we saw a similar set up colors in the evening sky and we had Will in tow.  Both Jeff and I blurted out "Pink sky at night, sailors delight.  Pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning".  Will looked at us like we had ten heads.  We both giggled, then explained the stories that each of us remembered from our childhood.  And while Jeff and my stories were different, the message was the same. 

Today, it made me smile again.  I love sharing memories with the boys, I just hope I can remember them all.    

Bath Time!

After a visit to the vet and a week of rain and mud, Toccoa's first bath was a must.  Unfortunately, it seems as though the boys always miss the fun stuff!  When the girls get big, bathing them is the groomers job.  But since the puppy still fits in the wash tub in the laundry room that was the plan.  As you can see, she didn't hate it.  But I'm not sure I would go so far as to say she loved it.  Nick, our favorite vet tech, prepared us for what to expect.  Who knew that huskys didn't like water?  Quite a change from the goldens who would love to have their own pool or lake!  But now she's clean, up to date on all her shots and weighs a whopping 10 lbs.  In comparison, Zoey weighed in today at 32.  Oh and by the way, Happy Birthday Zoey!   

One more toy..for the cat!

Today confirmed that I should never allow Jeff to walk into PetSmart unattended.  He's been looking at the cat "hotels" for fancy for months and this week they went on sale.  After multiple attempts, he finally managed to get it into his car to bring home - it's 5 feet tall!!  Fancy seems a little apprehensive about climbing it, but at least Willow has stopped barking at it.  I'm sure by this time next week, we'll have to peel Fancy out of it.

It's Happened Again.

About this time last year, I told the story of how to make a friend in five days.  If you remember it, it was the story of how the friendship between Willow and Zoey developed.  So here we are again, on the fifth day.  Apparently, it's how dogs work.  Day one, hide.  Day two, hide.  Day three, venture out.  Day four, bark a few times.  Day five, friends for life.  

Take a look at today...

10 Days Left...

If you wanted to know what 10 days before the banquet in our house looks like, here you go.  I'm off to label more envelopes...

My Favorite Night..

Since Hallmark says today is the most love filled day of the year, I thought I would share one of the things I love the most about Tuesdays.  Well, not every Tuesday...just one per month and today happens to be the one. 

It's Delayed Start Eve!  The one extra "weekend" night that we get each month.  Not only do we get to sleep in a little later tomorrow, but we all get to spend a little extra time together tonight.  Actually, Will gets to spend a little more time defending Skyrim, Hunter gets to spend a little extra time with his girlfriend and Jeff and I ... well Jeff and I just get a few extra minutes with them before bed.  

I love all the boys everyday.  On January 5, February 14, March 10, April 22...well, you get the point.  So on the day the world says I'm supposed to show them, I going to spend a little extra time with them just like I will next month again on Delayed Start Eve.

Puppy Love

The second full day of having an extra little one in the house.  Hunter hated to leave her this morning, Jeff called to check on her, I found Will laying on the floor with her when I finished up working and with all of that being said...I'm in love.  Willow and Zoey love her too, when she's not sleeping.   But two days, no accidents and lots of snuggling has been loved by all - especially Toccoa.

Charged.

Normally I don't use the blog to complain.  But there are some things in life that you can't ignore anymore.  This is one of those times!

Let me introduce myself.  I go by several names...Mom, Colleen and most recently "Don't touch me!".  You see, I've become the primary source of static electricity in our home.  I've got more electric charge than all of our phones and laptops combined.  I shock everyone and everything.  The dogs won't come near me, not that I can blame them.  If I set my laptop on my lap, it's like constant fireworks.  Little discharges of electricity, at a rate of a dozen or so a minute.  On a good day (or a bad, however you look at it!), the little blue bursts of energy can be seen across the room at least once an hour. 

That's it, that's my complaint.  We've already tried every room humidifier under the sun, installed a "whole house" humidifier to the furnace, taken stock out in Static Guard.  You name it, we've tried it!  In an effort to avoid complaining and screaming in pain, I have devised the following plan. Shave the dogs, shave my head, go barefoot, sell all microfiber furniture, live in the bathtub or skip all of the above and move to a warm, high humidity area. 

Aloha!

May All Your Dreams Come True...Eventually

And new puppy makes seven.  Or is it eight if you include Fancy?  Actually, it's twenty two if you include the fish.  The more the merrier, right?

Adopting a Siberian Husky has been on Jeff's short list of things to do for quite some time.  We considered one when we found Willow.  We considered it again when we found Zoey.  But the Goldens won out...Jeff would just have to wait until another time.  Who new that we'd stumble across a husky looking for a family just a year later?  Thank you, Jenny!

In hindsight, sending Jeff and Hunter to look at her today was my mistake.  Not that I would change a thing, but they'd have come back with her no matter what.  So forty four years later, Jeff's dream came true.  Hunter only had to wait seventeen, lol!

So without further ado, Meet Toccoa! 

Creative Juice

The ever elusive creativity.  It's one of those "things" that just shows up when it wants.  If I could find away to bottle it, I'd be rich.  If someone else bottled it, I'd be broke.  I don't know about you, but mine seems to show up when I least expect it and hides when I want to use it.  My new ATC obsession was fueled when I created my first card a few weeks ago.  I posted it on the website and it was traded within 2 minutes...no joke, two minutes.  Here it is...

And I got to pick the card I wanted in return.  It was here when we returned from Texas and my "collection" is now underway.  Here it is....

So today I decided to sit down and work on the next one.  I love seeing other peoples art, but without something to trade I'm out of luck.  Why is it that the harder you try, the harder it gets to come up with an idea?  Paper, colored pencils, pens, inks, chalk all cover my desk and hours later...not an ATC to be traded.  The trash can is full though.  Oh well, patience is a virtue and there's always tomorrow.  Especially since we're going to be snowed in.

Anywhere but here

You wake up, you get dressed, you work through your day.  You field issues, problems, phone calls.  You eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.  You may read the paper, catch up on news, watch a mindless television show.  Then it's time for bed, just to wake up and do it all again tomorrow. 

But what we all seem to forget is the 30 seconds of wonderful that occur in between the issues, problems, phone calls, work, cooking, cleaning and sleeping stuff.  It's the kiss from the puppy, the funny phone call that starts with "You can say no if you want....", the facebook post that a friend lost a loved one...reminding you exactly how lucky you are. 

Some days, life sucks.  Those are the days you want to be anywhere but here. Anywhere but where you are. I was thinking about that at about 35,000 feet, above the clouds, watching the sunset. I was thinking it was the perfect place to stay. No work, no phone calls, no problems, no worries.  But I remembered the 30 seconds of wonderful that were waiting for me at home. 

Life isn't always grand.  If work was fun, it wouldn't be called work.  The person you love most can be the easiest to hate.  But anywhere else comes with the same things.   I mean really, have you ever met anyone that actually found the greener grass on the other side? 

YeeHaw!

With a few non work hours on the agenda today, we decided to take off in seach of the perfect "Texas" charm for my bracelet.  That was my birthday present request.  We searched the malls, the little shops in the Stockyards...all with no luck.  Then a lovely sales lady pointed us to the James Avery Gallery.  So we lucked out and found this perfect little piece of Texas to take home with us.   

The Birthday Sign

Yes, it's my birthday.  Yes, I turned 39 today.  Yes, it is the last one that I will celebrate.  Well, maybe not.  If you ask my Mom, my sister or even Jeff, 39 is NOT old.  I didn't think so either, until we went to Fuddruckers for our quick birthday lunch and I couldn't figure out how to pour my own Diet Coke.  Either Cincinnati is way behind the times, Ft. Worth is light years ahead of the time...or most likely, I'm just old.  Do you remember when a coke was poured from two machines...one for the syrup and one for the carbonated water?  Today's machine was digital.  It had a touch screen that displayed your choice of over 100 combinations of syrup, carbonation and flavors.  It was straight out of a Star Trek movie.  Very cool but on my birthday, it just made me feel old.  Someone the boys age probably invented it.  At this rate, by the time I turn 49, we'll press a button for food, weekend on the moon and drive solar cars. 

Birthday Dinner, Texas Style

It's birthday eve. And what better way to spend it than at H3. Homemade guacamole table side, steak dinner and a great evening with Jeff. Unfortunately, Jeff will have to work the rest of the week but at least we get to spend the evenings together. It's giving Hunter the opportunity to spread his wings a little and Will a few more days to pray for snow (since I curse him doing that when I'm home)!! Maybe I'll find him a pair of boots while I'm here...but he'll have to trade the snowboard for them!

Superbowl Sunday

Superbowl Sunday.  The closest thing you can get to a sport "holiday".  The underdog vs. the veteran.  Who to cheer for, that is the question.  Must get back to the game, I'm missing the commercials!

2.4.12

A day at Hollywood.  A surprise dinner with the boys.  A nice evening at home, catching up on dvr'd television shows and warming up by the fire.  Jeff's version of a perfect day. That's what your birthday is supposed to be about - your favorite things!  Unfortunately, we couldn't spend it in his favorite place, but sometimes priorities and life get in the way of fun.  But there is no doubt he had fun today, that was the plan. 

Since we won't open birthday cards until next weekend, here's my online hallmark-esque message to you.....

Missing you is my hobby, caring for you is my job, making you happy is my duty and loving you is my life.  Happy Birthday to my better half, my best friend and the best dad I know.  I love you!

Happy Friday!

An exciting school day...not normal for a Friday, but you take them where you can get them.  Mid morning, Hunter texted from Springboro letting me know that he won 2nd place in his testing event for BPA and has advanced to State Competition.  Will came home with a permission slip to participate in Re-Do day later in the month. He'll be trained to work with others to stop bullying, stereotyping and disrespectful behaviors.  Have I mentioned how proud I am of both of the boys? 

23 Days

The countdown has begun.  Twenty three days and counting until the banquet is here.  Thankfully, we've been able to catch up and now we're actually ahead of schedule!  I don't get the opportunity to say that very often, so I thought I'd take advantage of it.  Today marked the last "design" element.  Now we're down to games, balloon artists and fun!

Heavenly.

Heavenly.  That's the only description I can give to such a warm day on the first of February.  I didn't get a chance to leave the house (although I spent a lot of time on the front porch!), but Jeff and Hunter did.  Each were so excited that they took a picture to remember it in case Will's prayers are answered and we get snowed in soon.