Snowicide!!!!!

While the children were all nestled all snug in their beds a snowman decapitator lurked around our snowmans' head. As we awoke early this morning and sprang from our bed, what to our wondering eyes should appear but a horrific scene like this...

So, to the Scrooge who took our snowman's head, hat, and other plastic accessories
WARNING:

Frosty the Snowman

After an abbreviated church service on Sunday, we came home to shovel another 4 inches of wet, heavy snow. After the drudgery of shoveling, we took some time to build what is likely our largest snowman ever. Standing at about 7' tall, here is our snowman - hopefully it will last through the rain that is on the way for Christmas eve and Day!

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

Yes, the first major winter storm has hit... The second won't be too far behind, tomorrow!

In total only about 7 - 8 inches fell in our area, but the heavy wind caused some larger drifts. Tomorrow's storm could bring another 4 - 8 inches or sleet and then rain - which would likely freeze since Monday's high temp's are going to be in the low 20's with single digit wind chills.

Here are a couple of photo's taken early in the storm & a video of the boys and neighbor kids.

At it's height, the snow was coming down at a rate of about 1 -2 inches an hour!

Christmas Traditions!

My family has always made Christmas fun for me by having many different Christmas Traditions. I have tried to continue a few of those with my family. I hope that someday they'll reflect on the added significance that this season holds by creating or continuing their own traditions.

Here are a couple of old photos:
















And here are a couple of collages of this year's activities; cookie decorating and REAL gingerbread making (not the pre-packaged or graham cracker nonsense - no offense!)

The finished product!!!

God Bless America

I typically reserve this blog for casual, superficial posts about the family and what we are doing. I recently saw this youtube video on my friend's blog and thought that it really addressed the current situation that we find ourselves in with the present state of our country. The message is prophetic, given 30 years ago by a member of the 12 Apostles, which is being fulfilled today...unfortunately.

Let it Snow!!!

Gary & Glenn Beck

Yes, I took some time and called Glenn Beck on December 3rd. You can click below to listen to the conversation, but here's a little history that might help to make more sense out of the call...

Glenn has been preaching how bad the economy is going to get and how much trouble all of the Washington politicians have caused this country. He says despite this, we'll make it through but that we should prepare and "make a difference."

All of this is good advice, but it seems to me that he should be willing to get more involved in helping "all of us make a difference." He has the microphone and the contacts that could help make a difference. As the audio proves, he didn't think that was such a great idea.

The one little remark that I made to him about "killing his dog" was a very well conceived stunt that he did on the local radio station in Tampa before he went national trying to make people aware of the double standard that many have when it comes to abortion and animal rights. (I can give you the long version some other time). He did not kill his dog, by the way.

The other remark about the symphony was in response to an earlier comment he made about his "Christmas Sweater" show currently going on. The orchestra is a union and every hour gets a 15 minute break. So he was complaining that they never get through a whole practice run because it's always interrupted by these breaks.

Finally, he was doing the broadcast from Florida hence my comment about "coming full circle."

16th Wedding Anniversary

Happy 16th Wedding Anniversary

to the love of my life!

Life Detached

So, here's the picture that I came home to yesterday......

....Yes, that is the remnants of one of our upper kitchen cabinets. You know the one with all of the plates, bowls and miscellaneous stuff that didn't have a home somewhere else. Yeah, I think it's also the current metaphor for how our life seems to feel currently; completely unhinged.

No need to wax poetic or philosophical, this too shall pass. Just kind of funny how in the midst of all the craziness with school, work and life you get these unexpected surprises that just make you laugh a little...and add insult to injury.

I just have to keep plugging away and don't sweat the small stuff!!!

Happy Halloween Part II

I typically don't post anything political here on the blog, but this comic was a MUST post.

Many thanks to my brother, Matt, who forwarded this comic to me.

Halloween 2008

Happy

Halloween

2008

No, these aren't our jack-o-lanterns. We forgot to take a picture of the 3 that our kids did this year before they rotted / the squirrels ate them!

Here in Mass. it was a beautiful fall evening for trick or treating. Not a lot of pictures, but here are the kids and their customes. Jake and Emily went out with friends in their own direction and Courtney and Harrison stayed with me and auntie Sharon while Jane stayed home and passed out the treats.

Emily was a "Goth Princess" (No, I did not help her choose this costume. She used her own money).

Courtney was the rock star with a cheesy grin

Harrison was a spooky guy with no grin

And Jake (Left) started out with a mask on his face but then took it off and went as a "Gangsta" - as he put it "cause I'm wearing a hood."

Jane's Trip to Utah

Jane recently flew to Utah to visit her family!!! What prompted the trip?

Edward Askew











Of course there were other reasons why she went to visit as well!
Unfortunately, it was a whirl-wind visit and so she couldn't see all of her friends - just family.

(click on a photo to make it bigger)




























AND Jane got to hand deliver the Edward Quilt she made for him!



and Clara had to show off her "Jane Blankey" as well!

The view from the office

Here it is, early October and if you haven't experienced the color and brilliance of a fall in New England, you are missing out on one of the great natural occurrences in nature.

Although these photos can't begin to capture the vibrancy that the naked eye can, here are a couple of photos.



I should also comment that it is nice to still have a job and an office to view these colors from. Despite the great housing depression that we are living through, we have been able to survive - so far.

Supermodel Emily

Emily has "arrived" with her first modeling debut. Dansco - a dance apparel company hired Emily for 3 photo shoots. Her whole portfolio of over 30 photo's can be seen through www.dansco.com. Here are a few sneak peaks at the photo's that have made her famous!

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