Just lying around...

Kiker loves to rest on the radiators when they aren't too hot. Monday was a lazy day, but today for me will probably not be. Here comes the weekend and I have already worked Thurs and Friday. I am looking forward to my soon long awaited time off so I can rest on the radiator too, or the beach would be just fine too!

More Snow....and a finished project!

Before. This paint color actually looks better in these photos but in real life just seemed too peachy for my liking.

This is aged beige...looks a little like a grey, more neutral and calming for me more than the peachy color. Looking forward to what this room could be.

I have officially lost track of how many snows we have had. But, this one I will remember. This one caused me to sleep at the hospital while I worked Tues evening through Friday at 0300 AM.

Next on Lost!

The Lost premiere was a significant event at our home. Our friends Tim and Jess came over with their 3 month old yellow lab, Jack. Jess and I had a blast caring for the puppies as Tim and Matt made all the connections with the secrets of LOST!

In preparation for the get together I got a few items from "the vault." These sadly are the only photos I got. The guys were so into the show, that I didn't get any photos of them, the puppies, or us girls.

P.S. I am missing the comment love! Even a smiley face would be nice :)

All your todays are in God's hands

January 23rd we found out that Grandma Howe went to her heavenly home. My cousins Adam and Amanda live in the area so we traveled back to Wtown together. I was so glad to travel with them and not alone. It was comforting to know we were all together making this journey back home. Penn State Hershey ED management and my coworkers were so kind to me during this crazy time. I am so thankful for bereavement time-I have never had to fly home to go to a funeral as an adult. Even when we lived in Manhattan, KS I could have drove home gone to the funeral and drove back home in one day. This trip took 3 days. Monday Jan 25 to fly home, Tues Jan 26 was the funeral, and then Wed Jan 27 to fly home.

At the reception after the funeral cookies from Grandma's 100th birthday were handed out. Grandma lived on this earth from Jan 9th 1910 to Jan 23rd 2010. She lived to be 100yrs and 15 days.

After the funeral, I went over to Johannah's house to see some baby stuff! She and Tim are going to find out on their little one's birthday if it is a boy or a girl-so that means 2 options for going home outfits!

January side photo-March will come soon!

Tuesday evening I had dinner with my sisters and my parents!

Wednesday Sarah and I saw my parents and grandparents off to Hawaii! They had a wonderful trip and arrived back home Feb 7th. There is a rumor pineapples from the islands are on their way to our house in PA....I can't wait! Cancer sores from the fresh acidic juices, here I come!

Pre-Christmas to mid January-Lots of photos...

We started a new tradition. We went to Gus's for Christmas Eve breakfast! Ultimate French Toast- yum!

Our new sanctuary at church with the new cross with and old wooden, rugged cross!

Karen and Rob are awesome and their kids are great! They invited us for Christmas lunch! It was wonderful. We had lunch and then I went to work.

Matt kept his promise and finished our main floors! When we bought the house, the floor molding was missing. Matt purchased the 1/4 round, sanded it, finished it, and installed it. I helped a little, but Matt did a great job!

Before

After

During

Final product!

We ordered Matt's chair in October...It came December 30th!

We went to a Hershey Bears game. My first game; but it was Matt's third game!

We received a piano and Matt found a new guitar! I think the music instruments are complete in this house, for now....

Matt with his new guitar in his new chair!

Playing catch up...December Warning...lots of photos

This is what my car looked like before I headed back home to catch a plane from philly to Wtown!

We had snow, but philly was warm enough they only had rain. We got to philly and to Wtown safely!

Once we touched down in Wtown, we began the craziness of seeing everyone we could with the limited time we had. Our beautiful niece Avery with mom and dad Joe and Ginger!

The most amazing principal John Blazek. He was my principle my Freshman through Senior year and I always felt safe going to school. After seeing him over our Christmas break, we found out just prior to the new year that he resigned. No matter what the difference of opinions between people who hated or loved John, Maize, KS has lost an amazing man who kept a school safe while it was under his watch. He encouraged me to be a good citizen and be proud of who I am.

Mickey Gomez, another man who was important in my life and Matt's. Mr. Gomez just moved his Dojo to a new location, so we had to check it out!

The best cheese fries in the country!!! The original west side location: Timberline Steakhouse Wichita, KS!!!

After our dinner with fantastic cheese fries we went to the Maize High Christmas Concert. The tradition is every year alumni go down to the stage to sing the last song, "The Hallelujah Chorus." I was so happy to be there!

We made a point to see my great grandmother Iola Howe. She became the closest person to a grandmother I would have growing up as her daughter, my grandmother died in 1983 when I was 3 yrs old. She would turn 100 yrs old on Jan 9th, 2010. I knew that this would be my last time seeing her in 2009; so I had to see her. On January 23, 2010 she was freed from this earthly body to join her heavenly family that includes he husband Henry and her daughter Jocene Love. She was so happy and looked so good the day I saw her, better than when we left for PA last summer.

Mom and dad also took us to a Shocker's Bball game! We had so much fun!

Back home in PA we began our enjoyment of living in a winter wonderland....

Regan "loves" the gift Uncle Joe and Aunt Ginger gave her!

Though we didn't get to make Christmas goodie bags to our neighbors, we did make fudge. I took some to work where it was a hit!