While Mom's away...

I left for the weekend, and although Mark is more than capable of running this house without me for a few days, he did bring in some help.

Doug was in charge of TV dinners.

My dad and our friend Kurt were in charge of cutting drywall.

Really.

I returned to find holes in the walls and ceiling, thanks to a leaking pipe. It turns out that when the house was built six years ago, the dining room paneling was installed with some long nails. One of them entered the pipe that carries water to an upstairs shower, and that nail plugged the hole this entire time. For whatever reason, it let go just before I left for my trip. The weird outlines on the basement ceiling became something more sinister while I was gone, and by the time I was flying back home, the quest for the leaky pipe had begun.

I have to say, we had a crack investigative team. They made two large cuts in the basement to find the place from which the water was dripping, one cut in AJ's closet to find that the problem must be lower, and then, jackpot! A hole in the foyer revealed the guilty nail and problem pipe. I was impressed.



I'll let you know when I'm able to start taking some "after" shots.

Birthday Girl

Rachel's birthday - isn't that the perfect time for a surprise visit at work?!

Game Day

AJ, Cal, and Mark had their first basketball games today. I enjoy this time of year -- I can't say enough good things about the Upward Basketball program. No other sport is more organized or run as well, and the kids learn great things about God, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Plus, basketball is INSIDE -- no weather problems.

Mark is helping coach both teams, and he may even ref a game or two before the season is over. Cal had his game in the morning, and the two teams were well-matched. The tie score at the end seemed appropriate to me. Cal scored some baskets and left happy.

AJ had her first basketball game ever. She wowed everyone by going on an offensive rampage. Apparently she made more baskets in the game today than she's made in all the practices combined. Coach Rob called her his "secret weapon." Who knew? I suspect there will be scouts there next weekend.

January 7

What a sad day. I'm normally a "glass is half full" kind of girl, but I just hate the day that you put the naked Christmas tree out on the curb. It represents the end of all that fun. All that eating whatever you want and entertaining friends and having the house look extra beautiful and giving gifts and receiving gifts. Oh! And the Christmas cards...no more running to the mailbox for Christmas cards. That's my favorite part!

The good Lord did try to make it easier for me today, though, with this unbelievably beautiful day. It's 70˚ outside!

New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve re-enactment of the beach got smaller when one family couldn't shake strep throat. Despite this disappointment, a fun time was had by all. Everyone over two years old stayed up to see the ball in Times Square drop and wear the funny 2008 glasses.

On New Year's Day, our group increased a little with (hopefully) some future beach-goers as we watched our team fall in a come-from-ahead defeat. Our disappointment was tempered by the joy of passing around that brand new baby (who had obviously partied too much the night before!)

Amanda Jane 20/20

Good eyesight does not run in our family.  We're now up to 5 out of 6 of us needing corrective lenses - Bailey is the proud holdout.  AJ was fitted for glasses on Friday, and she is so excited!  Right now, they are only for distance -- reading work on the board, etc...  She's been having some headaches, and the eye doctor suggested we give it a try for a while.  She's been on the cusp of getting glasses for the past couple of visits.