Hip Hip Hooray! The Christmas Tree Shop Saves the Day!

I've had the desire to post something for several days, but as I rack (is it rack, or wrack?) my brain for something to talk to you about, nothing comes to mind. Honestly, that's nothing new. I think...blank. I think some more...blank. I try to form a complete thought...totally blank. Oh well. But, as I was out running a few errands this morning the inspiration finally came. It came in the form of my very favorite store in all the world.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP!

Originally this store was a New England states only store, and I was introduced to it while living in Schenectady, NY, during our first years of marriage. After moving from Schenectady (an hour and a half south), I would still, on ocassion, make the trek (is it trek or trech?) back to Colonie, NY (where the mall is), and shop at the CTS.

After Julie was born, and I became a stay-at-home mom, a good friend of mine, and I would meet almost weekly with our babies and shop at the CTS. We didn't always buy much, but it became our "thing." I loved that "thing." I miss it...I miss her! She lives in PA, too, but not close to me.

So, as I was out today I saw a sign advertising that the CTS was hiring...and I thought to myself, "What? Could it be? Yes, Yes, Yes it's true, it's true, it's really true!" We have a CTS going in right next to our mall. I immediately called my husband; since he would be the only one locally, that would truly understand my excitement. His response, "oh great, we can't afford to have one this close to us." :)  But, he loves me, and I know he'll understand when I need to just go and browse.

Okay, I might be making too much out of one store - and you may have visited one and not thought it was all that great. However, for me it's the memories the store brings. When my mom would visit we would make a trip to the CTS because she fell in love with it, too.  It also is a reminder of all the days as a young, new mom, who just needed an outing with a friend, to escape the house.

Thank you Christmas Tree Shop! Thank you for coming to Erie! I can't wait until you open...someday can I do a commercial for your store?

My Little Man

Monday morning this is where I found Joel watching TV. Apparently the couch alone was not working out for him, and he needed to sit up higher.  Good to see he found a cup-holder, too.  This little guy cracks me up, and makes me want to pull my hair out, on a daily basis. I love him SO much!

The newspaper spread out all over the floor was his "doing" before watching TV.

36 Years Ago...

Thirty Six years ago today my dad married my mom. God blessed their marriage and blessed Doug & I with incredible parents.

Julie & Alayna wanted to talk about Mimi this morning, and I asked them what they picture her doing. Alayna just said, "I miss her." Julie said, "I picture her in Heaven."

I picture her laughing...I miss her so much!

Fall Fun On A Friday

Catchy title, huh?  After 260+ blog posts it becomes difficult to be creative with the titles. Sorry, I'll do better next time.

Julie was off from school the past two days due to teacher in-service. Thursday was rainy, so we spent a few hours at the McDonald's playland having lunch with two of my friends, and their kids. It's so nice now that Joel is a bit older and able to enjoy the playland with the other kids, rather than being too little where I spend the entire time pulling him off of all the things he's too little for. There are still things he is too little for, (ie., voting, driving, shaving, dating, playing with small LEGO pieces), but the McDonald's playland is no longer on that list. Yay!

Friday the weather was on the cool side, but it was sunny and gorgeous. Most of the leaves are still on the trees around our house, but they have changed color and we are enjoying the beauty of fall. I did spend quite a bit of the day indoors getting housework done, but after the kids got up from naps I sent them outside. They played in the backyard for the longest time, but then I found them out front - raking! Julie found her plastic rake and she was making a pile for them to jump in. I took the opportunity to take a few pictures of them having a great time.

The house accross the street from us is for sale....anyone interested in being our neighbor? 

I edited this one.  I love how it looks with just the mums and pumpkin color showing. 

Alayna dresses herself most days (most days that we don't have to be seen in public that is).  She wanted to wear this dress all day that Uncle Doug & Aunt Andrea bought her.  When I sent her outside she needed pants, so she wore sweatpants, a dress & a jacket.  It really was a lovely combination.  :)

His face turned out a little blurry in this one, but you get the idea of how happy he was to be throwing leaves.

Nothing Too Exciting

I haven't posted anything in about a week, and since I am trying to discipline myself to blog more often, I figured it was time for an update.

We have really been enjoying this stretch of nice weather the past several days. Last Saturday was the first time in a while that we didn't have anything planned. It was the perfect day to get outdoor projects done before the colder weather is here permanently. Dave has been working hard on our garage. We are now able to get both vehicles in (when we moved in last June we dumped everything we didn't know what to do with in the garage), and he got the garage door opener working - which was broken when we moved in. Yay Dave! We scrubbed and hosed down the pool, and it's now packed away. Julie helped me paint a couple shelves that have coat hooks, and they are now hung by the front and back doors. I spent a couple hours at dad's again, going through more things. It was a very productive Saturday. We ended the day by eating pizza and watching Beauty & the Beast with the kids. They're young, they still think we're awesome, and they want to hang out with us on a Saturday night. :)

Today Julie didn't have school, but it was Parent/Teacher conference day. Dave & I met with her teacher and she was very complimentary of Julie. She struggles a bit with spelling, but seems to really enjoy math. Her teacher did tell us though, the other day Julie really had "had it" with a kid in her class. She finally told the boy that if he didn't stop he would have to go to her dad's office, "The Principal." Her teacher said she decided to stay out of it, and let the two of them work it out. We are pretty sure that using her dad as a threat may not be the best way for her to resolve her problems...but it is funny!

Don't ask me why I decided to throw this picture in of our cat, Reggie...mostly because I am jealous of his life. The kids adore him, and are gentle with him. He can curl up in a basket of teddy bears and sleep the day away and no one bothers him. Eating when he feels like it, but not gaining too much weight, and being outdoors whenever it suits him. I really should've been a cat...

Mom's Hutch

I spent today at Dad's house.  I got there a little after 11, and left around 4. 

The task:  sorting out my mom's hutch.  Deciding what should be kept/saved, and what needs to go.  This is difficult for one person to decide.  Dad has someone interested in buying the hutch.  It is not a piece of furniture any of us can use - however sentimental it may be.  So, I sorted, became overwhelmed, and sorted some more.  I had a small list from my sister-in-law of items she was interested in (she was working out of town, otherwise she would've been my right arm on this project).  I chose some pieces for myself, I chose pieces for other people, and I boxed up things that could be donated.  I made a stop at my Grandma's afterwards to drop items off to her.  I made a stop at Doug & Andrea's to deliver stuff to them.  I came home and Dave helped me unload our items.  I still have more to do. 

This was a physically and emotionally exhausting day...


Mom's Hutch
(photo taken by Andrea this summer)