Okay. I've spent about an hour reviewing all of our settings and files and I still don't know why our pictures aren't posting correctly. We may need to change hosting services. Here are a couple of pictures (or Red X's if it still isn't working) to see if the one theory I had was correct.

posted by Michael 12:57 PM

A little pic of my girls before bedtime. Em has been reading Dr. Suess to us, a little every night. We also made a trip to the library, which the girls loved. We are going reading crazy. Em is getting really good at reading and it is soooo exciting!
In other news, I have to give props to Jen because last night she cooked us some Chipotle burritos. They were soooooo good! She found some recipes online for their special lime/cilantro rice and I have to say it was quite close. It was a nice treat after studying alllll day. I'm in for another long day of studying today but first I think I need to walk my doggies.

posted by Melissa 9:03 AM

Saturday, October 14, 2006

I started installing the tile in the new room. We kind of rushed to get it painted and just used the color we had picked for our bedroom, so it's a beige-fest in there with the tile down. I should be able to finish up laying most of the tile tomorrow and then grout one night this week. I haven't done tile before so it's a slow process until I learn a little more. The new ceiling fan went up today as well. So for the inside, we just have to finish the tile, put trim around the french doors and put in base board. Outside we have to put up a few trim pieces and then we are completely finished. Finally! It feels like it's been about 5 years since we started this.

posted by Michael 4:43 PM

Monday, October 09, 2006

Well, here is the new room!! Almost done, now if only it had a floor. Mike took advantage of the holiday and finished spraying the texture on the wall. Then he painted it tonight. We had bought this tan paint to paint our bedroom with, once the computer shelves are out of our bedroom! Anyway, he really wanted to paint tonight and I didn't want to slow his roll so I suggested we use the bedroom paint (we've had this paint sitting in the garage for months, just waiting to be used). We kind of decided we wanted our bedroom yellow, I just didn't want to copy Jen totally since her bedroom is yellow! Sidetracked...so he took the tan paint and started. He also painted the ceiling white, very white. I like very white ceilings anyway. Does it look too white?

To get this pic taken I had to angle the camera down, pointing towards the floor. I wanted you all to be able to see the texture glop he sprayed on the wall. The room looks brand new. I mean it is new but the walls look sweet! I told him we need to do this in the bedroom next. Next up, tiling the floor. That is also in the garage. But it hasn't been there nearly as long as the paint....
By the way, I had a great time studying today. Hopefuly I retained some info in my already packed to the brim head. I did learn a little about productions possibilites curve...back to work on Tuesday!

posted by Melissa 9:23 PM

Here is a pic I just took out back at the garden pond. It kind of puts Melissa's post about how cold it is here into perspective...

posted by Michael 1:46 PM

Here is an awesome pic my Dad took while on a trip in Alaska. He cruised around to a bunch of different places and learned lots of interesting Alaskan facts. Hopefully I will get to go there some day before George Bush melts all the icebergs....

posted by Melissa 11:56 AM

So, I don't have to work today. It is my first day off in about a month and I totally don't even know what to do. I mean, I'm going to study for my test but other than that, while I'm procrastinating, I don't know what to do. I have Paige and Soph here w/ me and Mike has a holiday. I feel all guilty for not working! And to top it off, my cup of chai tastes weird! I think I'll take the girls and dogs on a walk to get my morning started. Then mom said she would take them so I could study in peace.
In other news, it is freeeeeezing this morning! I had to wear a hoodie just to drive Em to school! Em wore pink camo pants, too cute! Also, her dad cut all her hair off. She asked him too. It looks cute but I prefer long hair, since I was never able to have long hair because Dorothy Hamil was so cool in my young dayz. You can kind of see how short it is in the carnival pics. The other girls got a trim too.
I guess that is all for now....

posted by Melissa 8:15 AM

Sunday, October 08, 2006

On our way out of the carnival. We had a great time. My half hour shift at the moon bounce went by fast. I got to talk to Em's teacher some too so that was nice. She is really cool. I saw a few kids that I knew but not too many since I hardly ever sub at Edgewater! The weather was gorgeous (of course). I told the girls to get dressed for a carnival and they wore jeans, long sleeves and a jacket even though it was 90 degrees the day before. They looked soooo cute. I love fall clothes, jeans and flops, you can't beat that.

posted by Melissa 9:13 PM

Ok, so those links are all broken I guess. I can't fix them so you'll just have to click on them and view them that way. A little less thrilling than viewing them right away I know....

posted by Melissa 9:12 PM

If you look closely you might see some butt crack so beeeee careful!

posted by Melissa 9:03 PM

Going into the carnival....I like the blurry shots! Sorry, it was dusk!

posted by Melissa 8:54 PM

Things may end up a little out of order here. Melissa has been having trouble with posting and when she updated last night the pics were all broken links for some reason. We just deleted the post and she will probably re-post it tonight. In the meantime, we went to the carnival that was put on by Emma's school last night. Melissa worked as a volunteer taking tickets at the moonbounce. While she did that I walked around with the girls. We got snow cones and then they decided they wanted to go on the moonbounce. By the time we got through the line Melissa's shift was over and she went with us to let the girls go down the giant inflatable slide. Then they did a little game where you fish for a prize. While we were walking back to the car the karaoke was going and Paige decided she couldn't keep the beat locked up inside. Here is the video of her letting the music out...

posted by Michael 5:25 PM

Monday, October 02, 2006

So am I a bad mother if I email Em's teacher and ask for more homework? Well, you know where to cast your vote...I'm sorry but she needs work everyday and she loves it anyway! It only took her 20 minutes to do the whole week's homework assignment so I asked the teacher for more.
In other news....we had a nice dinner tonight. Em loves to have "family dinners" where everyone sits together to eat instead of just the kids while mom cleans and dad is on the computer! Of course, DAD is away on businesss this week so we ate with Grandma Bobbie and Aunt Sara. I think Sara is leaving Tuesday morning. We tried to get her to stay and she stayed a nice long time to keep me company since Mike was also gone last week. The girls had a great time with her. When Sara left the house tonight to get gas in her car the girls were crying because they thought she had left for MD! After dinner Grandma, Stef and I took the dogs for a walk. Gibbs came too and he is getting so tall he is able to walk a lot further so we got in a good walk. Boda and I were doing great, jogging ahead and then running back to Stef and MOM. But then a crazy bulldog came out of nowhere and started going after her so I had to grab her and pick her up off the ground so a fight wouldn't start. Thankfully, the dog was not aggressive but still scared the crap out of Boda and I. After the walk I read some new library books to the girls and put them to bed. Mom, Sara and I watched WIFE SWAP, one of our favs and then HEROES, which was pretty weird but has promise. I'm trying to not get into any new shows though because Jen thinks I watch too much TV as it is!!! BOO! YEAH for TV!!!! YEAH for TIVO! Anyway, you know me, if a show has people with superhero qualities I'm going to watch it. I will just have to get rid of something else...Now I can't sleep so I am blogging... Both girls are in my bed since their dad is not here so I'm not sure how comfortable that bed will be...........peace!

posted by Melissa 10:42 PM

Pop question. What does Paige want to be when she grows up? Scroll down for the correct answer....

posted by Melissa 5:34 PM

posted by Melissa 5:29 PM

posted by Melissa 5:20 PM

Chris and Jen got all dolled up for the wedding they went to this past Saturday. The boys all survived staying with us for a while, so that turned out okay. Even though Melissa and Sara abandoned me with all 6 kids so they could go to Target. At least it was almost bed time and we were all watching Star Wars so I only had to have them all on my hands for about 30 minutes until it was bed time.

Chris and Jen ready for the par-tay.



Here Chris is demonstrating how he will be blowing up the dance floor. There was a Swing Dance theme at the wedding.

posted by Michael 5:07 PM

I just checked in to the hotel for my short stay in VA. Don't be jealous, but there is a Chipotle in the parking lot. And a Carrabas. And a Potbelly, but I've never eaten there. It gave Greg an upset tum tum when he ate there with his boss so I think I'll avoid it. I'm going to walk over for a delicious burrito right now. Airlines don't feed people anymore, so I've eaten nothing so far today. United didn't even give out crackers or anything. Total rip off.

posted by Michael 3:11 PM