Truly a blonde moment

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to my niece's wedding gown fitting. Although her gown is not what I would have chosen (there is not one sparkle on it you know) -- it is every bit of her, and she looks quite beautiful wearing it...it is simple and elegant, and lovely. I was pleasantly surprised that my baby Aubrey was with her so I got to see her too! She was a little sleepy, and was a bit dramatic yesterday, but precious none the less! So, Shana tried on her dress and as I said it looked quite lovely...the seamstress was adjusting the hem, which wasn't quite right, and determined that Shana would need to leave the dress there for further alterations. As they were trying to figure out what day Shana could come back for another fitting the seamstress asked, "What day is the wedding?" to which Shana replied, "Oct. 13th." (long pause on my part) "Shana, your wedding's not the 13th, it's the 20th!" (long pause on her part) "No, it's the 13th" she said. Oh my gosh! I thought, the poor girl is having so much prewedding stress, she has forgotten what day her wedding is! I calmly said, "Shana, everyone is flying in on the 17th, how can the wedding be on the 20th? They would all miss it!" She paused again, "No....it's the 13th" she said confidently. By now, the seamstress looked puzzled and went in the back room. Shana leaned over and whispered to me...I meant to tell you that I told them the wedding was the 13th, so my dress would be sure to be done on time, and I wouldn't have any stressful last minute appointments....OH!!!!!! (lightbulb suddenly appears above my head) then...ooops, sorry! I said, honey, you have to tell me those things so I can play along. She said, "I was trying to give you the look!" The look!?!? What look?!?!? Do I look like a person that would notice a look? I'm in near zombie state all the time...I wouldn't even know to look for 'the look', let alone notice the look. The seamstress reappeared and said, "So the wedding's the 13th?" Yup! We both replied. (I'm checking the mirror now to determine my true hair color!)

P.S. I have pictures of Shana in her dress, but they are top secret until after the 13th....err, I mean, the 20th. :)

It's good to have roots

This past week we recognized

the 9th anniversary of my father-in-laws death. Is the estate settled yet, you ask? Of course not, but that's a story for another day. Anyway...the Ruch side has quite a family story where their burial is concerned. My husband's great-great grandpa Ruch owned a very large farm in Monroe, Wi. He ended up losing the farm during bankruptcy in the 1800's. Greenwood Cemetery purchased the land from the bank and hence the old Ruch farm is the current Greenwood Cemetery. Part of the settlement was that the cemetery allotted a family plot to the Ruch Family. So what is interesting at least to me, is that there are 4 generations of Ruch's there. Kevin's dad, his grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents. How odd is that in this day and age, that you can go to one cemetery and see so many generations? For me personally, I don't even know the name of my grandparent's parents, let alone what cemetery they are in or their birth and death dates. As we left the cemetery I approached my husband that I think we should be buried there also, adding a 5th generation to the chain. He thought that was a pretty neat idea. (As far as ideas about burials go) So...on my list to do this week is to contact the cemetery to check into that. On an equally somber note, my Aunt Ruth is in her last days. Got the call yesterday that she is on O2 now and in organ shutdown. It won't be long now. God Speed Aunt Ruth. Everyone in our family will surely miss this wonderful lady. I am grateful that I've had two wonderful visits with her in the last 10 months. She ranks very high on my list of favorite people and will be truly missed. Until next time...

The month ahead

When I ponder the month ahead...I take a moment first of all to not be overwhelmed by the fact that there are only a few Sundays that aren't already commited. Along with this, October has many many events that I can hardly wait for. First, it's my 41st birthday :), secondly it's my Stephanie's 15th birthday, it's my dad's 76th birthday, my baby Aubrey's 1st birthday, Shana & Ryan's wedding (which means lots of out of town guests), my Mom and Larry will come to visit, a four generation family photo is scheduled, Stephanie will finish Driver's Ed and get her permit, month 2 of my internship, my friend Angie will move into her first house, and many many other things, too numerous to mention!! It is a very exciting month and I am most excited for Shana & Ryan's wedding. I love for the family to be together for a happy event. I can't wait to see my baby Aubrey in her wedding attire...(she's the flower girl :)) Another thing I love about October is fall...we had our first visit to the apple orchard over the weekend and plan to go again when Granny Smith's are fresh for the pickin' (Oct. 26th) Then, I'll have to bake lots of yummy things, apple pie, apple crisp, hot spiced cider....yummmmmm. Finally, I love fall because well...it's fall. I don't think there is any more beautiful season. Although it's been in the high 70's low 80's here the entire month of September, I know the cool crisp days of Autumn will soon be here. Because of the extended indian summer, the trees are still mostly green. When the cool days come, so does my urge to organize and to begin to prepare for Christmas. We finally got my daughter into her new room. It is super cute, and that reminds me....I should post pictures. That finally frees up the long awaited guest room/scrapbook room. My mom will finally get to have her own space when she comes to visit...and I will finally have my own space for my scrapbook belongings...all in attempt to avoid this...

You see, my girls are terrific scrapbookers, but they are NOT terrific put awayers. So, when I have my new room, I can lock the door, AND install my new non sticky computer, reserved especially for my own use. Ah yes, fall is a time for change...change for the better! Until next time...

Friends with a new baby?

My friend Sarah's husband had surgery today to reverse his vasectomy. Sarah is the best mom and wanted another baby. For month's we had waited for the upcoming surgery...and suddenly today, it was here. The surgery went well, and they have a really good chance of having a new Doyle in their family. I have prayed every day for them for the longest time. God being ever faithful, provided a successful surgery. God answers prayers. Congratulations Shane and Sarah!!
Hope my next "Doyle" update will be Doyle X 5 !!

Sure wish I had a picture for this one!

Tonight as I pulled in the driveway, it was a little (ok a lot) evident that my car desperately needed oil....as it does faithfully about once a week. Of course Kevin was in the driveway cooking on the grill, and could hear the rather dry engine sound from afar. "Turn it off!" he said, "Before it blows up!" Gee and I thought just my girls were dramatic...anyway...this that and the other thing, he asks, "Have you put oil in that lately?" "OIL!?!?!" said I..."well no, remember the other day when you had to bring a gas can to put gas in my car, so I could make it home, because really with the whole working 75 hours a week, I didn't have time to get gas, no debit card (lost it), no cash, no shell card, no gas, yada yada yada, mostly because I forgot to get gas?" NO, I had not put oil in the car. I said, I think there's some in the trunk...please take care of that. So, I went to open the trunk for him and discovered that latch was broken...again. The trunk latch works for about 2 times after it's fixed and then it breaks again. Why don't we use "the key" you ask? Well, the key hasn't worked in the lock since we got the car. So that's not an option. Anyway, I don't really sweat the fact that my trunk doesn't really open though because my back seats fold down and I can access the trunk that way. It's a little inconvenient when kids are sitting in the back seat, but I've learned to live with it. Anyway, Kevin decided to fix the trunk right then (I guess) I saw him crawling in the trunk through the back seat and assumed he was crawling in there to get the oil. So, I gathered my things and headed in the house. I went back out to talk to Kevin about dinner and there he was...most of his "self" was totally in the trunk (through the backseat) with his feet sticking up and out of the car. Evidently, he decided to fix the trunk (from the inside, through the backseat, in the driveway, while grilling chicken) and was yelling to me for assistance....Things like, "Ok, try it now! Can you get me a screwdriver? Are you there? Ok, try it again..." Funny thing was, I wasn't there. However, my neighbors were out in their front yard working, right across the street. I pondered, should I stroll over there and explain what that yelling was coming from my trunk? Nah, we'll just let 'em wonder. It's all part of the 'total experience' living across the street from 'The Ruchus' !

Where'd that little girl go?

Here it is...the first day of driver's ed for my daughter...notice the ear to ear grin on her face? I let my internship know that I couldn't make it tonight, since after all, it was my daughter's first night of driver's ed!! So, after work, I took Kristina to the dentist for a cleaning....did you get that....a cleaning? By the time we left, she had had a tooth pulled, two air abrasions, and some sealants replaced that were lifting. OK, anyway, we ate some pizza quick and were off to Driver's Ed. As I'm walking out the door, Kevin says, "Do you have the camera?" :) OF COURSE I HAVE THE CAMERA!!!! We were off to the Drive Right place, because I surely don't want her to learn to drive wrong, (bad joke I know) as we got out of the car, I said, OK, go stand by the sign so I can take your picture...The look of mortification that appeared on her face would scare even the bravest of mom's! "Stand in front of the sign! In front of everybody? MOOOOOOOMMMMM!" I guess that was a no go in her book. (Somebody raised her to believe she has choices. I have no idea who that could have been) So, we stealthily moved over to the "Drive Right" car in the back of the building to sneak a quick picture, so that all of the other pubescent kids would not know that Stephanie's mother had to take a picture of her at her first Driver's Ed class! By the time we moved to the front of the building my overbearing Mom power took over. Just stand there quick I said! (As 25 other kids were trying to get by) so I can take your picture. She stopped for a nano second, but the camera suddenly had to show me the "favorites" (no idea how this happens or how to get rid of it) so, the picture by the sign was lost! I dropped her off...(no kiss or hug in front of others--that's a high school rule too) and I was on my way home. Hmmmmm...not quite sure how I felt about that. Excited, yet a bit sad...where did the last 15 years go? Only 3 more years and she'll be off to college. More on that topic, MUCH later...She'll actually start DRIVING in two weeks! She came home and showed me her work and declared that she already knew all of that. High Schooler know A LOT you know. She was off to her pile of homework. By the way...her midterm came yesterday....All A's in her honors courses and 1 B in choir!!! Needless to say, she was a bit miffed. I just told her she was obviously too smart for choir! Until next time...

God's Glory

This is going to be my first attempt to load multiple photos, so bear with me if the typed message ends up crazy!
First of all, Brennan and I were in the car the other night, actually driving WAY out on Auburn to take my husband gas, because yes he was test driving a car and it SURELY ran out of gas!! I was so excited that Brennan wanted to go with because I haven't seen him much lately. School has been quite overwhelming for him which means he sleeps most of the time that I'm home. (More on that later) So, as we pull out of the driveway Brennan says, "Look Mom, God's Glory...Nice work God!" As my children have grown I have tried to teach them to appreciate the beauty of nature and the magnificent works that God creates for our enjoyment. So, there out of the front seat comes a result from my years of teaching an often inattentive and restless boy. (Good to know it wasn't all for naught :)) Luckily I had my camera with me and could capture it to share. So we

were off to rescue Kevin. His words of wisdom were, "The next time I test drive after 5:00 I'll drive toward the house!" I suggested he just makes sure the car has gas in it! Anyway, these other photos are the strangest thing. I believe that we are in the middle of a migrating bird pattern or something. This is the intersection of Mulford and Riverside, in Loves Park. EVERY night between 5 and 7 there are MILLIONS of birds there. The electric wires are covered, the mounting wires for the Radio Antennas are covered, and the sky is covered. I don't know what type of birds these are, but is fascinating to watch them! On this night, as the birds were flying in, Brennan and I could not see the end of the flock. For as far as you could see down Riverside, there were flocks of birds! Amazing! Last fall, they landed in our neighborhood and it looked as if we all had black lawns! We drove through a bunch that had landed in the street (ever so slowly of course) and I couldn't even see, the birds were so dense! Anyway, if you're out and about that way between 5 and 7 check it out. I don't know how long they'll be here, but it's worth seeing. The closer you are to 7 the more birds there are. Odd, isn't it?