Tree Season

Usually Eric's tree season starts in Septebmer. Over the past few years we've hit some major bumps in the road. I will not go into it. If you want the full scoop, feel free to talk to Eric; but I hope you have several hours and a few beers! Ha.

Anyway, we haven't begun to cut or anything yet this year. Yesterday Eric got in touch with someone that wants 100 bundles at the end of today. That's 1,000 trees. Obviously we said yes. We need the money. However, we have nothing done. So, it has to get done, TODAY.

This morning, we are all going out in the woods! Eric, Kennedi, Lauren and I are "suiting up" to hit the swamp. Luckily for me I have to leave the woods at 10 to go to my parents and to a benefit.

I have always avoided going out into the swamp. Usually I help with tying the twine and counting things out. I am not cut out for physical labor. That is why God gave me a brain. I can't do physical stuff. But, in order to do this mini-contract, I'm willing to do anything. Lauren and Kennedi and all ready to help haul trees and apparently so am I. I have real doubts about how helpful I will be. Eric is practically giddy with the thought. I am not. But hey, what are you going to do? This needs to be done. We need the money.

So, here we are, 7:15 on a Sunday morning, heading out into the swap. What a family bonding experience. Go ahead, laugh it up. I would be if it weren't so damn sad.... ha ha ha. Oh, by the way, Madelyn is at a sleep over, or we'd be hauling her with too...

TV

I have to admit it. I like TV. A LOT.

Since we got our DVR, I like it even more! I can watch all kinds of shows that I never got to watch before. For example, Gene Simmons' Family Jewels. Ok, I know, it sounds ridiculous. But, give it a try! It is simply hysterical. The man is a riot. He seems like a pompous ass. He truly does. But his family is so funny. And Gene is a huge dork. He gets himself into the most insane situations. And, he wears footie pajamas. I kid you not. Big, red, fuzzy footie pajamas. The Demon, in footie pajamas. If for no other reason, watch it for that. It's something else.

I also love reality shows. All kinds of them. America's Next Top Model? LOVE IT. We watch that one a lot. So much, in fact, that at the end of last year, during Kindergarten Graduation, when all the little kids got up to say what they wanted to be when they grew up (most said doctor, teacher, ballerina, etc.) Madelyn said a Fashion Model! So cute. She even did a "Tyra Strut" back to her seat. Really really funny. I have the picture of that.

We also watch the Biggest Loser. I am both inspired when I watch it... as well as hungry! For some reason I always want to eat when I watch that show... hmmm. The Food Network also has some great reality shows, like Amazing Wedding Cakes and Chopped. We like Top Chef too. What is funny about the Food Network and cooking shows is that, I HATE COOKING. So, I'm not sure why I like those shows.

For dramas, I like Grey's, Private Practice, House, FlashForward, Mercy. I love Glee. That's my new fav. So fun. I also am really liking the sit com, Modern Family. Some of the lines on that show are so funny that I have to pause for laughter, rewind to hear it again, then continue.

Without DVR, watching all these shows would never be possible! But now, I can record them and watch them on my days off, when no one else is home. Thank goodness for DVR and public school!!

And, for a TV freak like me, I just got the all time greatest gift in the mail... an invitation to be a Neilsen family! Yahoo! Once when I was young, my parents got one too. For a whole week I wrote in the journal what we all watched. Although, it was very simple then. One TV, 3 channels. Well, 4 if you count PBS. I'm not sure how I'll do it this time. But the "pay" has increased. When I did it 20 years ago, they gave you $1. Now it's up to $5. But I have 3 TVs, a DVR, and cable! Oh My. I can't wait!! I am sure that they will take my suggestions to heart, and all of my favorite shows will live to see another season. LONG LIVE GLEE!!

Mom's Taxi. Flu. Snow. Oh My.

What a week!! This week has been nuts. Seriously. I don't know what it is, but it seems like every single day it's been something. I guess that keeps me busy, but for goodness sake....

First off, I need to say that I'm very sorry to my friends, Jen and Jessy, for the loss of their Grandmother. She has been battling cancer for the past few months and finally last night she lost that battle. Thankfully they were able to be with her. I talked with Jen tonight, and it's incredible the steps that all dying people take, and how it's like a checklist. Although they are all grieving, we know that she's in a better place, and was surrounded by the people that loved her. The funeral will be on Saturday and we will definitely be there.

Tuesday marked the last day of Fidgety Fairy Tales practice... thank goodness! It's been a long road. There will be performances this week... tomorrow I am driving the girls at 6:40 AM to the theater to meet the bus. We will be traveling to Barnum and Carlton for performances. Then Lauren has to perform at the theater. I was supposed to go help my friend Janelle do some work in Duluth; but my sitter is sick. (Hence the FLU statement at the top of the page).

The MOM part of the title is for all the running and mom stuff I have to do this week. Lauren is running crazy with the play. Kennedi has a party this week, gymnastics this week, and also two playdates. Madelyn has a birthday party, a playdate, and has been grounded from TV for two days. Seriously? What a week with those fools.

The goats -- they hate rain, and water, as you know, if you've been reading at all. Well, they also hate snow. I know this because it snowed here today! LOTS of snow. A couple of inches. Or so. I'm not very good at measurements..... but that's my best guess. So, the goats hate it. They are crazy fuzzy and strange looking right now. I will go get a picture of them. They look sort of scruffy. I need to go find them some hay so they can eat. I was hoping that they would be ok with grass for a while longer; but not if it's covered in snow!!

I will close this with a really funny Maddie line: I saw our old daycare provider, Amber on Sunday at the store in town. Maddie got to see her too... When we got home, Maddie said "Mom, can I go see Amber and play for a while? I dont' want to sign up for anything... I just want to play". I just cracked up. She doesn't want any committments. At age 6. What a nut. Love that kid.

Busy Times

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything! Sorry about that! Don't want to bore you all away. Ha ha.

Things have been so busy here. After the retreat I spent a few days trying to make up for being gone. Spending extra time with the girls and reading books, catching up on homework, etc. I should have been catching up on cleaning, but that didn't happen!!

On Wednesday, Lauren's play finally came to Floodwood. They did a great job. I was very disappointed, however, in the administration of the school. In fact, I am going to write them an e-mail this week. At every other location, we have been greeted by the principal or the superintedent, and have been treated like royalty. We have been welcomed, and sometimes even given free lunch. We have been introduced to the kids, and the kids have been told how to be good listeners, they have facilitated a question and answer session, it's been a big deal. When they got to Floodwood.... nothing. No one there to greet them... except me. No administrators, nothing. In fact, neither the principal nor the superintendent ever showed up. It was sad.....

Then right after the play I took the girls to Black Bear for a fun night of swimming and hanging out with Auntie Helen. It was pretty fun. I didn't get much sleep, but that's ok. Totally worth it.

I had to work on Thursday -- I dont' know what I was thinking!!! it's been crazy here.

Today we had to go to a funeral for a friend's father. It was not easy. He died of cancer. I was telling Eric that we needed to go to the visitation and the funeral because this family, the family of Tom Farrell, has been so good to us through all of our (Eric's) losses. Eric looked at me and said, "Kandi (and he NEVER says my name; always honey, or whatever), I am not going to another cancer funeral at the Hope Lutheran Church". I said, well, ok. Visitation then we're out of there.

For those of you that may not know, Eric lost both of his parents, 3 years apart, to lung cancer. Both funerals were at that church. 2 years ago, his brother died in a car accident. Same church for the funeral. So.... it's not easy for him. Needless to say, we did the visitation, hugged the family, and we left.

Today I'm going to clean. Again. My cousin Clay is giving me an elliptical machine. That might kill me. Ha. No, I want it. But, there is no place for it, so I am determined to clean until I find a place for it.... wish me luck!

Retreating

Doesn't that title sound blissful? Ha ha ha.



I'm leaving in the morning for a scrapbook retreat. I am going to a place called Waters Edge Retreat Center in Santiago (I think that's the name of it) near Princeton. I'll be meeting some of my favorite friends there. Gail, Beth and Heather. I'll be missing my great friend Karen Sharon of scrapbooking fame though. This time around, we are just guests, and not planning the retreat.



They are really pretty reasonable, as far as price goes. I paid for this one a long time ago, I think in July. It was $135. I will be staying there for 3 nights. There are 12 people at this one. We are in charge of bringing one meal, but there are 3 of us doing the meal. We stay for 3 nights, 4 days and visit, drink, scrapbook and laugh. My friend Siobain calls it a lesbian luau. She can't see the joy in it. But, I think it's awesome. I need it this week.



I have a little guilt sometimes when I leave for so long; but usually something happens with the kids or Eric that makes it very easy for me to leave. For example, as we speak (or really as I type) Madelyn is crying and throwing herself on the ground because Kennedi won't let her play Wii, Lauren is blowing her trumpet in my ear, and whining because she doesn't want to practice her piano....



Retreating.... sounds blissful, doesn't it??

Hair Weekend

As I sit here typing this my hair is covered in dye. Done by my favorite colorist of all time... Eric! Early this year, we decided that a good way to cut corners financially would be for me to give up going to get my hair colored at a salon. By we, I mean Eric. I told him that was fine, but he was going to have to color it for me. He didn't flinch. He basically said, bring it on. So, here we are, almost a year into it, and he's got the gloves on, and I'm watching the time. Crazy, huh? I think so. When I went to my last scrapbooking retreat, I scrapped a page about it, and the ladies all laughed and told me what their husbands would do to get out of having to do their wives' hair. Tonight, Eric mentioned that my hair was getting really thick again, and maybe if I bought some thinning scissors he could cut it for me. I think I'll have to draw the line there!

In other hair news, Eric no longer has any! He has been losing hair for a long time. He's always wanting Rogaine, or Hair Club for Men, or other crazy products to get it back. It's been getting so long and crazy, he was starting to look like Albert Einstein! I've been begging him to get a haircut since AUGUST. So, we're about 6 weeks past due for a haircut. On Saturday morning I told him that he absolutely HAD to get his hair cut before the employee party at the golf course. I said either a $10 haircut at Cost Cutters, or I would do it. Well, he went into the bathroom and said he'd do it. I stood there and watched him cut a strip of hair from ear to ear. BALD. With his beard trimmer. I had to leave the room! He's insane! And bald. It's crazy. The girls went nuts. Maddie can't quit rubbing his head. Lauren is mortified. Kennedi whispered that she hopes it grows back in time for the Father Daughter ball (that's in April.....). I sort of like it. He thinks he has a great head..... no self esteem problems for my husband!

So, there's how our weekend was.... hairy!!

Sunday

Happy Sunday!

I am up and getting the girls ready for church. Actually, they are finally old enough to get themselves ready. I just have to make sure that:

A: Lauren hasn't snuck any makeup on, and that she isn't wearing too puffy of a bra that she claims fits, but we all know better.

B: Kennedi is not wearing shorts, or the same pants she's worn all week.

C: Madelyn has both underwear (clean) on, as well as clothes that fit her and cover all parts of her body.

Other than that, it's not too bad! They all do a fairly decent job of getting themselves together. If they are up early enough they can eat before they go, and that's a plus. Otherwise, by the time we leave church they are starving. One Sunday Madelyn asked us all to save the communion bread for her, because she was so hungry! Umm, pretty sure that's not what communion is about sweetie.

The weather is definitely turned for fall. It's been cold and raining all week. One day I brought the girls down to the bus. Not because I wanted to, but because they guilted me into it. They were all, "Mom, it's cold, it's windy, we can't stand out there, blah blah blah". I caved. I didn't want to, but I did. I hope it's not a habit!!

Eric should be starting in the woods soon. We are waiting to hear back from some people about the numbers they want. I hope they are high, and that we can have a successful year. Ever since we severed ties with our former tree person, it's been a tough road. He didn't make it easy for us. He had us black balled from all of the connections that we previously had. So, we had to make new contacts. I did. But we weren't cutting the types of trees they liked, so we had to take a very low price for our trees. It was very disappointing. But, I hope that this year will be much better. If we could cut and sell 1500 bundles, it would be very very helpful. Eric would love to do 3000, but I could settle for 1500.

The goats are doing great. I have been letting them out of their fencing during the day quite a bit. They ate all of the good grass, and the crappy stuff too, in the first week. So, I let them out to graze, and eat for a few hours every day. Since the fence came, they haven't felt the urge to wander. Thank goodness! They are getting very fuzzy and starting to have funny winter coats. I love it! I believe that this is the week that Pete gets separated. He will be 3 months old on Thursday. We don't need any accidents! I want goat babies....lots of them. But NOT until June!

I hope every had a great weekend, and is ready for October!

Sickness

Along with school starting, comes the germs. And, Maddie got them first. That doesn't surprise any of us. She's not our most hygenic child. Eric gets so mad about that. He is obsessive hand washer, bleacher, cleaner (see previous post on cleaning). But, it happens.

On Monday I had to go get Madelyn from school because she threw up. She came home and had a 101.2 fever. By nighttime it was up to 102.5. All day yesterday she layed around and napped and watched TV. She had a fever all day that was up over 100. I did call the doctor and they said that they aren't doing any tests for influenza or H1N1 because it is so prevalent right now. Unless she becomes extremely ill, they just want me to keep her home and hydrated. GREAT.

Not that I don't feel bad for her, I do. And, keeping her home is no problem when she's feeling ill. But, this morning at 5:00, she woke up and felt PERFECT she said. No fever, nothing. So, today ought to be a real treat. She has to be away from people until 48 hours after no symptoms. So if today is a symptom free day, she can be around people on Saturday. So, it's me and Maddie today and tomorrow. DELIGHTFUL.

When you are young, and thinking of having babies, you never think of sick kids. You don't think of how they feel when they have a fever of 102. You don't think of how it feels to have them throw up on you. You don't think of how badly you feel for them when they are burning up and throwing up and pooping their pants. I wonder how teen moms do it? How in the world?

I remember coming home from college with one of my first migraines. I was 19. I hurt so badly, and the only thing I could think was that I needed my mom. So I went to my parents room and climbed into their bed. They slept in a double bed... and there I was, 19 years old, sleeping with them while my mom rubbed my head. I think that's the sign of a good mom. It might sound strange, but even now when I get sick, I just want my mommy. Thank you mom for being a good mom, and for always knowing how to take care of me when I was sick. Even if you were gagging while you cleaned up our messes. I knew you would take care of me!!