catch-up bullets..anyone still there?

sorry for the extended leave, folks. i have been trying to really scale back and lay low to try to get myself healthy. i am off all of my meds, and now i am getting stuffed up again. ugh!

my camera batteries have died, and i haven't had time to replace them yet. so, here is a quick catch up for now. once i have the batteries, i'll post homecoming pics, new pendant designs, and tate's heart. intrigued? you'll have to check back for that one!

-yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my mom's hip! yah!

-it was also the 1 year anniversary of our house getting struck by lightning and losing our computer modem and 3 tvs, all happening while i am driving home from rochester by myself-i don't want to do that again anytime soon! scary! and, john was home by himself-yikes!

-we had such a fun and relaxing weekend last weekend! we had a campfire with our neighbor friends across the street. we made pizza burgers with pie irons (yum) and smores with peanut butter cups! super yum! it was a perfect night to sit and relax.

-the boys in the house officially kicked off the hunting season last weekend with the ducks. it was unseasonably warm here, so it was not a very successful opener.

-john started confirmation last night. he got to the car and said, "that was boring." get used to it john-only 2 more years.

-we have been asked by our neighbor (who is a credit union president) if we would be interested in also cleaning their institution. it would be the ideal hours-wednesday and sunday.(we clean the bank now 5 nights a week plus 2 hours on sundays.) about 24 hours a month. about $250 a month. we could really use the cash, and during the school year the kids can't have wednesday school activities, so we are definitely tempted. we are seriously considering this.

-we have had some work done on the van yesterday and today, so we are a one car family. this totally sucks. thanks to grandma and grandpa for helping out with ash last night and grandma norma for picking up tom. hopefully we'll be back with 2 cars later today.

-i got john's bathroom mirror painted brown and it is awesome! i'll post pics of that later too! we have ordered a fun surfer tin sign and are looking at getting a surfboard. wall words will complete this finally!

-i have a double batch of cut out sugar cookies stirred up. yum! i'll be up to my elbows in apples and leaves later! and i wouldn't have it any other way-i love it!

okay, that is all for now. i promise i won't be a week between posts again!