Just following orders...

So tonight as I read several blogs that all ordered me to NOT post on July 4th, I think what they really meant was to not post July 4th, 5th, and not until late night on July 6th :) Really we were out of town following orders...spending time with family, taking 342 pictures, (until my camera could take it no more and my battery died) playing at the beach, enjoying the beauty of the Earth, spending time with the babies, and generally forgetting any challenge in life that may exist.

As I read a few blogs tonight (Sandi Johnson in particular) the tears streamed down my face and I was more grateful for the time to get away: to run around like a fiend taking baby pictures from every view imaginable, enjoying the PERFECT weather...I mean who ordered that? Sunny, not a cloud in the sky, light breeze and 75 degrees...are you kidding me? PERFECT!! Oh, I digress, walking instead of taking a car, celebrating this great country (despite our current challenges...(thank you Dubya), oh AN my firecracker brother's birthday. That's right, born on the 4th of July. The rest of us are wondering when there will be fireworks across the country for our birthdays! I fondly remember his daughters when they were about 3 and 4 years old driving down the street (well I guess really riding, not driving) and saying "There's a flag for Daddy's birthday!!!" At the top of their lungs in their tiny voices. Those same girls who are raising my super sweet great neice and nephew.

Yes, I tried to download the 300+ pics but to no avail. The batter is just pooped out! I will for sure purchase a new battery tomorrow to accomplish the mission. I am also committing to send these pictures into snapfish to be developed for use at our next scrapnight. I am terrible about letting my pictures sit on my never to be seen again hard drive, but am vowing to send them in once a month to get them developed. It's a fourth of July resolution.

I totally slacked off tonight when I got home, didn't unpack, didn't do laundry, didnt' check to see that we all have clean clothes tomorrow, and to top it all off...I think I'll head straight to bed and hope for the best!

I did find a new blog, that may help me in my endeavors. Check it out here...

And hey Shana...sure can't find your blog address anywhere...(I had a glitch when reformatting my blog list and poof you're gone...) please send it to me k?!?

Until next time...

So long and Hello

Today the big girl got her cast off----

I was instructed NOT to take her picture, since she hadn't showered yet today...
Time for the saw...a little bit scary, but no mistakes!
And then the scissors...almost there.
Hello hand! Haven't seen you in so long!
Aaaahhhhh! She is on her way to her first shower in 6 weeks. Oh what a relief it is!

They said that her bones healed nicely...but she has a velcro splint to wear for the next two weeks to help give her pinky some extra support. It is completely removable for showering, softball, swimming, running through the sprinkler and a million other summer time things she has missed out on so far. She has a follow up in 3 weeks to determine if she will need physical therapy, but the Dr. said it looked terrific. (Insert Mother's sigh of relief here)

As we said so long to the cast...we said hello to the latest addition to our family...Woody...

Although I wasn't in the market for another pet, my brother needed a 'foster home' for his cat while he is away. Woody was born in our dining room 10 years ago to our former cat Nala, so it is a little bit fun having him back. His mom was a peke face Persian and his dad was a tabby, so he is a little bit odd looking to say the least. He has a very sweet personality, but weighs about 30 lbs! (no joke) So definitely a diet is in order. Jake (our other cat) and Woody hate each other immensely, so they are keeping separate quarters for now. Hopefully they'll adjust in time. Until then...another cuddly one has been added to the Ruch family.

Until next time...

A little bit of this and that...

It was a bit of a tough weekend for me. I spent the weekend cleaning out my brother's house, packing his things, having a yard sale in the pouring rain and generally trudging through a very dreaded task. This is dreaded task #3 for me. The first was cleaning out Gramma Bee's house when she moved into a nursing home, and then going through her things after she passed away. (A minor task on the scale, but monumental with the grief level.) Second, cleaning out my Dad's house after sending him to a nursing home for Alzheimer's care. (A major task on the amount of work plus the grief level.) Finally, this weekend, packing my brothers things as he prepares for an extended stay in jail. (A minor task compared to the other two, yet dreaded none the less) I am pretty sure that at this point I have completed my fair share of cleaning up after others. I believe I have all of his important things packed up and things he may need when he gets out. My other brother will be storing his things in his garage (for which I am eternally grateful as one more thing in our house may have thrown me over the edge) Everything is done except moving the few boxes to my brothers. Hopefully that can be accomplished tomorrow and I can check this task off the list.

In other news...after being thoroughly exhausted on Saturday I went to scrap night with the girls. We had great carryout Italian food which was so yummy. I worked on a great acrylic album for my nephews graduation. As soon as it is done, I'll post some pics (just for you Catherine:) I'm really excited about the clear albums. So totally cool. Sarah posted on her blog inserting clear pages that are embossed. Too neat! I plan to include one of these pages too in the book.

I found myself in bed at 7:00 Sunday night and was out for the night. I desperately needed to do some catching up. Speaking of catching up...my baby girl went to Six flags yesterday. She got home about 12:30 and of course had to be up at 5 this morning. She needs some catching up too!


Tonight I work late at my internship...tomorrow, packing for the weekend. We will be spending the weekend in Kenosha with my brother his family, cousins and my Uncle Leo. I am SO looking forward to this time away, and so looking forward to a weekend on beautiful Lake Michigan. You can expect a few hundred photos from that event ;)

Tomorrow...finally...Steph gets her cast off. The can NOT come soon enough. Hope everything is healed the way it should be and all will be well!

Until next time...

Happy Birthday Gramma

Today Gramma is 70!!! Happy Birthday... we broke the news to her last night that we will be taking her to a sunny and sandy destination for Christmas. It's become a standing joke in our family when every year at Christmas when things don't go exactly right Gramma can be heard saying, "That's it! Next year I won't be home for Christmas, I'm taking a trip!" Well guess what? This year Gramma's gonna be on a trip. Hawaii? Bahamas? Mexico? We're really not sure. Of course Gramma wanted to pick something the kids will enjoy (Isn't she crazy) But we clarified that it is her trip and she gets to chose. So, we're trip shopping! How fun is that?!? Today, Gramma got these really pretty flowers from my SIL Teresa...






So pretty!!

Until next time...

Happy Birthday Honey!

Guess what, the MIL decided dinner wasn't such a bad idea after all last night :) So we dined at the Olive Garden...and man do I LOVE the Olive Garden, and then we went to Grandma's for cake... Yummy.
Birthday Boy
A slightly 'psycho' moment of cake cutting!

Garden gifts

Despite the neglect my garden is experiencing from the many hours I am working, it never ceases to amaze me with it's beauty. Nice work God...

Skywatch Friday...

This one's for you Catherine! Although it's from Thursday night...I saved it for Friday...does that count? Too bad I have wires in it and KFC :( But other than that, it's pretty awesome.