Lights Up, CHECK

Well, believe it or not, the lights are on the house. We still don't have a tree, but hey, one thing at a time.

After having the original icicle lights for more than 10 years, the time came to buy new ones. Now we have lights that don't want to hang down quite right due to being bundled, but again, they're up. The inflatable soldier is the one last thing to go up. That is always a challenge due to the fact that the front of our yard is not flat. We have to get creative with that, and I have to take a nap before work.

The plan for the next couple of days is to get the tree and decorate the inside. I just love decorating for Christmas!!!!

It's The Most Snotty Time Of The Year

Well, our house is full of snotty people. Not just attitude wise either.

The inability of the weather to make up its mind, (rain or snow in the forecast and then neither happening is not good for your sinuses) and the fact schools are just one gigantic petri dish have made us wish we had stock in Kleenex.

Michael has a slight ear infection as well as a bump on his arm that the doctor said "well, I just don't like the looks of that", and added it appears to be the start of a staph infection and put him on antibiotics. You can bet I'll be keeping an eye on that.

Sean and Noelle are in the midst of some sort of cold/respiratory stuff. Noelle doesn't like any kind of cough medicine, but too bad for her, I make her take it. Small victory for me when she heard the doctor say "good, keep her on that". Sean, well, he's a man with a cold, so the world is coming to an end.

I on the other hand am just dealing with sinus pressure/pain crap. I lucked out and don't have to work tonight, but will be working the next three nights in a row.

The lights WILL be going on the house tomorrow. If I get started early enough, maybe Sean and I will pick up a tree tomorrow. If I get the lights on the tree, we can get it decorated before I have to go to work one night.

Michael has his first soccer game Saturday. I have to work during the day, so I will miss it. He has a game almost every weekend and some weekends, he has two, so I hopefully will be able to see most of them.

Time to pass out some drugs. I might as well be at work.

Sleepy Sunday

I worked last night and had a wonderful night. For some reason, when I tried to sleep yesterday after working Friday night, I couldn't sleep very well. It could have had something do due with Sean continuing to tell the kids "hey, quiet down you guys, mommy's trying to sleep", but I'm not sure. Needless to say, I crashed today when I got home.

I told Sean to wake me up at 3:30 so we could put lights on the house. It didn't happen, I went back to sleep.

The goal for tomorrow is put up the lights and buy a tree. I'm supposed to work tomorrow night, so if we can at least get the tree I can wrap the one gift I have bought.

I did purchase two gifts online!!! That's three less I still have to get.

Pulling An "Amy"

Yep, I'm posting a day late and changing it. Give me a break. There have been days I have posted more than once.

I worked Friday and Saturday night. Friday night was, well, I'm glad it's over. It was a good night, no one died. (sick nurse joke, I know, but when you do what we do, you have to find a rainbow somewhere)

The bad thing about it getting dark early is that there are still no lights on the outside of the house. There is always tomorrow.

One Down, Several To Go

Well, after being upset that there was nothing in the ad's for shopping, Sean and I did go out and buy one present today. It's a start, a small start.

I'm working tonight and should be again tomorrow night, so the plan is to get our tree Sunday. We just have to figure out where it will go. We bought mom and dad's old furniture and there is now a large chair where the tree usually goes. We'll figure it all out.

I'm hoping to also get the lights up outside Sunday as well. I love, love, LOVE decorating for Christmas!!! I hope it warms up so my fingers don't freeze.

Happy Turkey Day!

Oh what a fun day! I got to spend it with people I love!! (especially two little blue eyed boys who call me "airwin"~heart melting)

The morning started with making green bean casserole, followed by changing our answering machine greeting during a parade commercial break.

We packed up the casserole, two pies, one pumpkin (NOT from a can thank you very much) a pecan pie and whip cream. The pumpkin is a recipe that has been in my mom's family forever. My gramma once told me she could remember making it with her gramma.

I asked her the last time I talked to her if she had any idea how old it was and said "aahh, I don't know, I just know it's old and I like to think it's a pretty good pie" with her strong South Dakota accent with a touch of Norwegian thrown on to emphasize the "aahh". I love talking to hear when she is having good funny moments like this. She tends to tell stories and laughs while telling them. I love her laugh. When you see her laugh, it's almost like she transformed in to a little girl, eyes just sparkle and in that moment, she is truly happy.

As we were heading to Jon and Amy's today, I realized that this the first time in five years I have not had to work Thanksgiving. It made the day that much more special. After feeding on the plethora of food, some took naps, some cleaned the kitchen, some watched football, some visited and four people were running and playing like crazy. After a while, two quick game of Skip-Bo were played we headed off for our traditional Thanksgiving Day Movie. This year we picked "Enchanted"

So for the first time in five years, our family was able to spend the day with extended family and see "Enchanted" all on the actual day!!!

Since I'm not working tonight, I was looking forward to being one of the crazy people out at 4am to Christmas shop. I saw nothing that caught my eye in the ads. I will however, have my shopping done early with gifts under the tree early enough to drive the kids nuts!!!!

I hope everyone was able to have an enjoyable Holiday today~I DID!!!!!

Mixed Message

Our neighbors really get in to decorating when it comes to the outside of their house for Halloween and Christmas. Actually, it's more Christy telling Ron where to hang the lights and where the large inflatable things go.

Last weekend, Ron went deer hunting (and came back empty handed) and while he was gone, Christy put up their tree. He figured it was only a matter of time before he would be up on a ladder. He was right.

Ron was putting the lights on their house Tuesday after going hunting that morning. I did a double take as I saw a deer hanging by it's hind legs off of the basketball goal. Now, I'm not quite sure what message this sends, but it sure was interesting leaving for work with their house all lit up and the shadow of a deer hanging there.

Santa and those deer better be fast.

Soccer Update And Prayer Request

Well, Michael is an official member of the Futura Futbol Club! He is very excited about this. They don't have weekly games, but weekly practices and then every once in a while will have a tournament.

Noelle is still planning on doing volleyball through the community center in December. I've left a message, but heard nothing.

We have a prayer request. This summer, Noelle went with the level 3 Truth Seekers from church to help in a mission trip in Mississippi. We just got word that one of the boys that went with her has been diagnosed with cancer. I can't imagine being a parent and having to deal with something like that.

A Boy Named Brian

Noelle had a friend over for dinner last night after going to church youth group. Our family is a bit of a strange bunch. We love each other a lot and tease each other even more.

As we were sitting around the table, being our usual (strange) selves, Noelle looked at Michael and said something like, "right Brian". The four of us start cracking up. I don't even remember what was going on at the time, but we all started laughing. Noelle's friend is looking at us like we are all two headed freaks...without the two heads.

I explained to her the story behind "A Boy Named Brian".

A couple of years ago, we got a kitten and named it TA for Trans Am. The kids and I took the kitten to PetSmart and the checkout girl asked what his name was. When I told her, she looked at me, looked at the kids and said "Oh, that's...kind of...different". I just smiled and said "thanks". (in the car, it hit me that she was NOT thinking of Trans Am) I came home and told Sean we had to change TA's name. We then picked Angus in honor of Angus Young from AC/DC. (yes, someone once asked me if we named him that because we were big beef eaters) We told the kids we were changing TA's name to Angus. Michael threw a fit. "His name is TA, I'll never call him Angus". Without missing a beat, I looked at him and said "why not, your name used to be Brian".

Noelle's friend starts laughing right along with us. I asked her if her family was strange like us. She said "I don't know". Noelle said she would say the same thing. I guess we're all strange in one way or another and in the end some will need more therapy than others.

Poor Brian.

Sleeping The Day Away

Last night was a great night at work. It was odd to have so much help. Everyone was so nice and helpful. It has been a couple of weeks since I worked a night shift, so needless to say I was a tad bit tired.

I slept all day. That's the down side of night shift, you miss a day here and there.

Michael will be trying out for a soccer team tomorrow night. Sean will have to take him, I'm working. We still haven't heard anything about volleyball for Noelle.

Time for baths around here, then bed again.

Night Shift

Well, tonight is my first night shift. It will be interesting. I'm so used to having 6-8 patients and no help that having 5 patients and a CNA (certified nursing assistant) will seem so odd.

We had a WONDERFUL night last night. We went and saw Fred Clause, very good, everyone got a new pair of tennis shoes and we went out to dinner. It was the first time in a long time that we have been able to do that.

Today, Sean and a friend put a sealant on the floor at the building. I didn't get pictures, because, lets be honest, we all know what the floor looked like before. I'll get pictures once it dries.

There IS a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

A Day Off

The phone rang this morning, (they are supposed to call you everyday to confirm that you will be working) to say that I had been cancelled but they had a 1:1 if I was interested. I said ok. While talking to Sean it hit me, "I wonder if they pay the same for me to sit on my butt all day with a patient who is confused as they do when I have five patients and am running up and down the halls?". Sean said yes, I said I'm not sure, so I called.

The answer is no, they do not pay you the same to sit on your butt. I thought about it for maybe half a second and said, "I think I'll take today off". Do you know what she said??? "Ok, have a good day". That was it. One of the many joys of working agency!!! If I don't feel like working, I can say no and it's really no big deal. (another one is that you get paid everyday)

Now, I want it to be very clear, I was up showered and ready to go because I had planned on working as a regular nurse with several patients. I would have been working as a "sitter" and really doing nothing but making sure the patient doesn't pull out things they shouldn't while watching TV. That would make for a very long 12 hours.

I understand that while working day shift, there are times where you are cancelled. When I asked if that happens at night, they laughed at me and asked if I was crazy. (no, if they do, it's beyond rare) I also found out that when you are an RN, you are never cancelled. More motivation for me to pass those boards.

BTW, the director of the place where I've been work came up to me and said "I keep hearing good things about you. When are you going to fill out an application?". Thank heavens someone came up to ask her a question so I could walk away. They can't pay what I am making right now. Besides, I like having the power to decide when I want to work instead of someone telling me.

I Can't Say No

to extra money. The phone rang this morning at 5:36. The agency asked if I would come in to work. I hesitated, they said they would pay me more than the normal rate. I said, "well, ok, but I can't be there at 7". They said they would put me down for 8 and start paying me at 7.

I just can't pass up the money...for now. I am sleeping like a rock. Maybe I'm a day person after all.

Day Nurse Part Deux

Day two as a day nurse was not bad at all. The charge nurse said she couldn't believe how past I pick up on things and said she would be saying good things about me to the director of the floor.

I was supposed to work tonight, but they called and asked if I would work a day shift instead, so I can't say no, so, I was once again a day nurse.

I'm off tomorrow and then work during the day Friday and then Saturday night.

I am NOT working Thanksgiving.

Day Nurse

I started working agency today. Yes, DAY!

I work tomorrow during the day also. I'm kind of switching back and forth between days and nights. I'm not sure how long this will last. I'm super duper tired.

Butterfinger~RIP

Bedtime was a tragic time at our house last night. I was hanging up clean clothes in our closet, because it's just wrong to hang up dirty ones, when Michael yelled "Butterfinger isn't in his cage". Sean, Noelle and I headed into Michael's room. It seems that Butter had managed to pull his water bottle down into his cage and, being the long hamster he was, managed to escape through the hole where said water bottle belonged.

Now, I have been telling Michael for weeks to clean his room. Sean and I look at each other with a "holy crap, he could be anywhere" look on our faces. Suddenly Noelle lets out a blood curdling scream. (think horror movie sound, she would be great for it) This is then followed by her yelling "there he is, there he is" while running out of the room.

Alas, it appears that Butter took a hard tumble from the bookshelf on which his cage was placed. There will be a private service on the side of the house tonight after school.

Family Day~Not So Fast

I woke up today beyond sore. After spending most of yesterday removing window gunk with a hammer and chisel and helping paint with the sprayer, I'm hurting. Sean is sore too. I also woke up with a crappy cough. I guess it's not a good idea to breath when you are spraying about 90 gallons of paint indoors. The cough is gone, the pain is not. I guess I AM getting old.

I thought we could spend the day together having "Family Time". This was then met with "but I want to play with my friends". The kids went to play, I went to Wal*Mart and Sean went to pick up "the beast".

The kids are still out playing, Sean is more than likely "car talking" with the mechanic and I'm going to start dinner, fold the laundry from the dryer, put the laundry from the washer into the dryer, wash another load of laundry, and clean the kitchen.

Oh, "Me Time".

White Haired People

For some unknown reason, (I blame Sean and the kids), I have been blessed with natural "white highlights" sooner than I should.

Since we have been painting today, I have even more than usual. The walls are now white, the ceiling is white and one window is completely ready for new windows!!! It's finally all coming together.

Now it's time to soak in the tub and get the paint out.

• All junk is gone from the front!
  

• The painting has begun.

• They work cheap.

• Ready for windows.

Paint and Windows

We are kickin' butt and takin' names!

As I'm typing, Sean is painting the inside. The kids helped and I brought them home. They worked hard, but lets face it, when you're 9 & 11, painting is fun for only so long.

I have spent most of the day cleaning off old sealant around windows and removing them. We had hoped to replace just the broken one's but the one's not broken have some sort of film etched on them and won't come clean. We decided to replace all the windows on the front and use the windows not broken on the front to replace broken one's on the back. I know, that sentence makes my head spin too.

I'm off to work on windows again. I'll post pictures when I return.

Weeds

That's the best way to describe how my kids are growing.

• Noelle, who it appears is built like her Aunt Amy, is measuring 5'3" and is now wearing between an 81/2-91/2 shoe size.
• Michael, who has allways been on the little size, unfortunately he has "growing pains" like his mom did, is as of today wearing, drum roll please...a size 10 in jeans!!!!

Noelle has the long, "Ehmke Legs". It's hard to find her pants sometimes. I'm guessing she will also be having the "Ehmke Feet". I pretty sure she will be taller than both Sean and me. He's about 5'9" and I'm about 5'7".

Michael is built like Sean, long torso and short legs. While his legs did grow, his waist didn't. (wish I had that problem) I got him some pants today at a consignment store. I a bought size 10 and Sean thought they would be way to long. NOPE!!!

It will be interesting to see just how tall the kids end up being. My dad is 6'5" and Sean's dad is about 5'4". Anything is possible.

Cute Kids

I took the kids by the building after working with mom today.

• I know it's hard to believe, but Michael has an attitude sometimes.
  


• They really DO love each other!!!
  

• Child Labor~hey, we feed them!



• Sean cleaned the walls today and we are painting Saturday. Notice the "test" spot.
  

When Anal Minds Meet

It's funny how much my mom, Amy and I are alike. We all love to read, are computer savvy, are crafty in different area's, like things a certain way, believe that those things belong there for a reason (don't ask why, just leave it there), and are list makers. We are the "Ehmke Girls".

Today I was helping mom with her biyearly cleaning because dad was at the building. It's funny what happens when you have two anal people cleaning a house that only one of them live in.

My parents have a glass/window cabinet in their kitchen. I started cleaning one side the way I would clean it if it was mine. Everything came out, was dusted, shelves and doors cleaned and all glasses replaced. I didn't pay attention to the shelf they were on because I was listening to Christmas music (one of the CD's had some kind of a problem and played a strange, sad version of "Darcy The Dragon") and put them back in a way I believed they looked good. Mom came into the kitchen, looked at the side completed with a "it looks good, as soon as you're gone, I'm putting them the way they belong" look. Recognizing the look, I decided to do one shelf at a time with the other side.

To shake things up a bit, I thought it would be a good idea to break a couple of the glasses. Upon hearing the breaking glass, my mom came out of her room and asked what happened. She came into the kitchen to see what glasses broke and said we needed to sweep up the broken glass. Did she ask if I was cut, did she ask how I was mentally feeling about breaking the special etched glasses purchased at garage sales?? No. When dad called later in the day, she told him about the glasses. He didn't care about me either, but in case you're wondering, I'm ok.

I also cleaned the pantry. I'm pretty sure things aren't where they "belong" but will be soon.

Building Pictures

Here are some before and after pictures from today:

Dad working hard:

Lights!!!!!

Soccer Tryout

Michael's soccer tryout went well. It appears that he will be playing for the soccer club, but not the team he practiced with tonight. He is ok with that because he said he felt like they were "way more advanced" than he is.

The coach said that Michael is very fast and has a natural ability. There was another boy that tried out tonight was well and it was suggested that both boys play on a step down team. The coach said that, while parks and rec is a wonderful thing, it doesn't provide the instruction needed for kids that really want to get ahead.

I took a couple of pictures:

Let There Be Light!

Today was a busy, busy day at the building:

• old electrical wire was pulled
• old lights were taken down
• styrofoam was pulled off the was
• burned out florescent bulbs were replaced

The trash pile continues to grow. I swept the floor after Sean pulled the lights down and couldn't believe the amount of dust came down.

Dad replaced the motors for the furnace, so soon there will be HEAT! Needless to say, the three of us are beyond tired.

I'm so sore! It is obvious that I am more out of shape than I thought. It's time to get serious and start working out again...Monday.

Sport's Update

Noelle's News~The guy in charge of volleyball has said he is in the process of putting together a team of 11 year old girls. They would all be from Liberty. There was a far greater turn out for try outs than he expected. He is not sure when that will all come together, but he is hoping to have it in place in the next week or two. If that doesn't come together, she will take part in the volleyball session that our parks and rec is planning on having in December.

Michael's News~Mr. Soccer will be trying out Wednesday for the Futura Futbol Club. They have some openings on two teams. I don't know how many there are. I explained that Michael has played for three seasons and that every coach has told us to get him into year round soccer. I have tried, but never been able to get in contact with anyone. As luck would have it, one of the neighbors daughter's used to play for this club and she gave me the contact name.

So, who knows, we may have to play the "you watch this one this week and next week I will" game. At least both sports are indoors!

Expanding Cheeks

Last night was "hamster cage cleaning night" here, I know, you all wish you could have been here to help!

Michael's hamster, Butterfinger, is a cute and lazy long haired hamster. This is his third one. His first hamster, Buster, we believe was the victim of dehydration. Buster lived a short, yet happy life. Buster number two also had a short, yet happy life. (as happy as one can living in a see through plastic home) No one is sure what caused Buster 2.0 to pass, but it was NOT a case of dehydration. Butterfinger was obtained from one of the neighbors. Courtney wanted another cat and her mom said she had to get rid of the hamster. Obviously, Courtney had formed no real attachment to the hamster that, according to her, never really had a name. Alas, Butterfinger is now Michael's and finds it fun to run on his wheel at all hours of the night. This hamster is ssssoooo long, when he is running in the wheel, he almost makes a complete circle.

Noelle's hamster, Mocha Almond, is also a cute long haired hamster that I believe has just a touch of OCD. Mocha will rapidly clean herself as soon as you put her back in her cage as if you have some sort of awful disease. This is Noelle's second hamster. Her first hamster, Fluffy, was with us for a year and a half. Fluffy just got sick one day and the next, he was gone. Noelle wanted another one right away and came home with Mocha. I have to say, this hamster is just way beyond cute. She is also an escape artist. One night when I was working on my cross stitch, I heard a noise in Noelle's room. I went in there to see Mocha sitting up in the tower. Somehow, she had managed to pop the lid off. She had escaped the week before, now we know how.

Anyhoo, as I said last night we, (I) cleaned the cages. After putting food down, I noticed that Mocha was putting ALL OF HER FOOD in her mouth. We give the hamsters about a quarter of a Dixie Cup. I couldn't believe just how much her cheeks expanded! I grabbed the camera and took some pictures of both.

Mocha stuffing her face...



Look at how wide her face is!


Here's Butterfinger....

The Amazing Wait

I love, love, LOVE "The Amazing Race". Noelle and I watch it together and my sister and I talk about who we want to win. Tonight it starts again!!!

However, due to football running over, it will be starting late. Noelle and I managed to get the big screen from the boys, only to find that our beloved show will not be starting on time.

Amy and I, (ok, mainly me) have talked about trying out. It would be very interesting. Amy is very smart and can think logically. I have my bright moments and am good with directions. I will try anything, although I don't think I could eat a fish eye. With twins, she has learned how to get by on little sleep and since you have to leave at all hours, now is our time to try.

Michael Has A Warning

I came downstairs to see this on the door to the basement:


When I attempted to go downstairs, Michael closed the door and pointed at me:


I "pointed out" that the note really only lists Noelle, I guess he really meant all of us.

Promised Pictures

I decided there were too many pictures to post along with the "actions of the day", so I am putting them here separately. For some reason, I only got video of the inside before it was cleaned out. As you can see, there is still A LOT of work ahead of us.

The first few are before and after shots:

Starting to look like something!

The following are inside photos where the detail and painting will take place:

Finding ways to keep people out with and without a MacGyver Lock.