And the Tree is up!!!

Sunday, December 21st we finally have the tree up!!!

This Christmas season has really been like the rest of the year to me....fast! What is it about growing older and time flying faster? I remember when I was in grade school, the days were long, and summer longer. Now it seems like I turn around and I'm heading into another weekend then another work week. In October, I decided I was going to really get things all put away and officially unpacked in my house. Well it's now December 22nd at midnight-thirty and the front spare bedroom is a catch all with gifts still stacked on the hide-a-bed couch from my bridal shower and our wedding. The 2nd bedroom, where mom will stay, isn't too bad, other than the bed is loaded down with laundry to fold. Also, I need to get pictures on the wall in that room, the walls are so bare. My baseboards need to be cleaned still, the picture rails need to be dusted, I wanted to reorganize where I put things in the kitchen and I started planning for this in October!!! It just seems like it's here and I'm not as ready as I'd like. Do I wish I could put another week in between now and Christmas, No way! I love Christmas and the season and I'm so looking forward to my mom being in town! Christmas isn't about how sparkly clean my baseboards or picture rails are, it's about the birth of Christ. I think he will feel welcome in my home, with my family, regardless of the chorse on my checklist that didn't get done. Can you imagine if all those people in Bethlehem, knew what was really happening....and I mean really knew the calibur of who was about to be born in their town? Think, if they knew and understood ahead of time, how many of the women would be scrubbing and cleaning their homes, and making room. Thats similar to what I've been trying to do I guess. I'm happier with a very clean home, and I'm not the best housekeeper and my wonderful husband Jason....well....he does take out the trash and I'm grateful, but that is about the extent of his housekeeping skills. (Oh he does like to vacuum too, which is wonderful!) As I'm sitting here, I have the front entry way completely done, it tends to get bogged down with shoes, coats, keys, tools, and all sorts of misc stuff that we have set down when we first walk in the door. The living room is done, complete with Christmas tree and the tree is decorated. I started decorating the living room as well. I've turned off all the lights except the entry light and the Christmas tree lights. I love it! I can smell the tree and it makes me really feel the season! My bedroom is clean, Bathroom needs to be swept and mopped and clean the bathtub and sink, but that is pretty quick. Oh yes, and my beloved, beautiful baseboards needs to be washed. The Kitchen, I just need to sweep, mop, and finish up the dishes (I don't have a dishwasher and I HATE to do dishes.) But I have learned that my dislike for them, doesn't make them clean. Then the dining room needs to get done. I had to rearrange the furninture in the living room for the tree so the dining room has lots-o-stuff in there that does not belong there. Just a process of getting things put away. Laundry room is good, just needs to be swept and mopped. I don't know for sure if I will have work tomorrow. We have TONS of snow, so if not, I hope to get alot done. If I do work tomorrow, I'll just start on the house when I get home. I want to be completely done by Tuesday night. I will report back and all those who read this will make me feel accountable! I think I will do that with my new years resolution too! Put all the gorey details on here of the before and hopefully, once I reach the after, I wont be so ashamed of it! I'll try it out with the getting ready for Christmas and mom coming in and we'll see.
Oh I have new pics of town in the snow, but batteries are dead on my phone so I will have to post that in another one. And the picture of the tree too!! Bed time for me. Nighty Night, I hope I dream of something nicer than cleaning baseboards! lol Merry Christmas!!!!

Late November to December in The Gorge

And I woke up to....

I went to sleep to this...It looks WAY better in person, my flash went off and ruined the whole thing. We also have more to put up.

And this is what we woke up to. Just a light powdering in the yard, we have HUGE trees that caught alot of the snow, but you can see the road is snow covered. It is the dryest powder, I used a regular broom and swept the snow off the steps and the sidewalk. This is Down town. You can see the swirlies in the road since it was SO cold! The road was frozen and the snow is dry dry so it make ghost swirls on the road. Kinda cool really. On the way to Hood River, this is I-84...more ghost whispies.Chicken Charlie's Island looked SO pretty out there all on it's own. Below is a picture of the island about two weeks ago.Going up Hwy 35 to Odell where Jason's folks live. We were going up there to pick them up to go get a Christmas tree. Those trees looked so pretty, I had to get a drive by shot of them! Overlooking Odell. It's SO pretty, and this photo does not give it justice!!!

We had little luck with the Christmas tree task. We had planned to go to the Christmas tree farm and pick the tree out and cut it down. We went and no one was there. The trees had not been groomed and shaped at all. They were very inexpensive, but I'm no arborist and definately need to have one already shaped....who knows what it would end up as if I were left to do it! lol So we went on to Walmart to get a tree stand and a couple other things. After that we went to eat dinner with John and Hazel and looked around at the Christmas tree lots. I have become my mother and Hazel in so many ways....I say what I think!!!

So we went to Herman's Christmas tree lot. This guy apparently is known as a crook and not a very nice man.

Me: (Rushing over to a nice big tree) OOOHHHH look at this one!!!

Scroogy man: (Annoyed)Why is it that every woman goes directly to that one?

Me: (Happily)Because it's very nice!

Scroogy tree sales man: Or because it's the most expensive!

Me: How much is it?

Scroogy tree sales man: Well it's a 9foot noble fir

Me: And how much is it?

Scroogy tree sales man: (shakes his head like I should know) 9 foot noble fir would make it $90

Me: Oh, it is nice, how much is this tree? (pointing at a considerably shorter tree, but nice and fluffy)

Scroogy tree sales man: That's a noble fir too!

Me: OK, are all noble fir trees $90? How much is it?

Scroogy tree sales man: It is $45.

Me: Well I'm looking to spend about $25 and don't need a 9 footer, or Noble Fir, I just don't want a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

Scroogy tree sales man: (Scoffing) They're all gone, you're too late! This is what a $25 tree would look like (Picking up a 3 1/2 foot tree)

Me: Well we don't have a tree yet, and I'm not putting stilts under that shrimp! How much is this tree? ( Pointing to a 5 footer)
Scroogy tree sales man: (Shaking his head at me again) This is (some sort of) Pine. It's $35.

Me: Well that's not too bad, can you stand it up?

Scroogy tree sales man: (Stands it up and it has a huge gaping hole and wasn't pretty) Do you want this one?

Me: Nope....We are going to keep looking for our $25 tree since we can go cut it ourselves from the woods for $5 and the Christmas tree farms around are $10 for up to 6foot and $15 for over 6foot.

Scroogy tree sales man: Do you understand how long it takes to grow a Christmas tree from a 2 year old yearling?

Jason: Maybe 3-4 years?

Scroogy tree sales man: More! It takes 18 years before I can harvest.

Me: 18 years from a two year old yearling? You need to start using miracle grow!!!

Jason: Laughs!!!

Scroogy tree sales man didn't think I was funny, but oh well, he can keep his trees and we will find our $25 pretty, no holes, no Charlie Browner tree. The area we live in, we can get great prices on beautiful trees and there is just no reason or benefit in settling!

Jason and I are going tomorrow to Ellett farms...they have trees and they don't have Mr Scroogy Tree Sales Man. I'll post up what we end up with! Yeah!!! I've already cleared the spot in our living room for it!!! Wish us luck!

And hopfully we will have more snow tomorrow...I'll keep ya posted!

I'm Dreaming of a White....

Tomorrow Morning!!!

We are having a cold wave and it looks like we will have a White Christmas!!! I love it! It is now starting to snow tonight, and I hope to wake up with a beautiful white blanket of snow over everything.

Jason and I worked all day today getting things ready outside. We winterized the outside faucets, and wrapped the pipes outside and also the ones in the basement. Our home has an 1100 sq ft unfinished basement that is accessed by the outside, not the inside, and it generally stays quite warm, even without any heater down there, but we wanted to be extra cautious, rather than fix broken pipes. Cleaned off the front porch, bought a rug for the porch to catch icky stuff off of our feet and puppy paws. Raked all the leaves in the front yard and burned them. And last, we worked on Christmas lights. We hopefully will finish them tomorrow, but we got a good start on them. Our neighborhood only has a few lights up on houses and Jason thinks by far ours are the best on the block!!!

It's past bedtime, and I need to get to sleep. I'll take a picture of what I wake up too tomorrow and hopefully it's not disappointing!!!

Inexpensive Gift Ideas!!!

My sister Amy is a Mary Kay Rep and is gearing up for the Holidays. She has these really nice stocking stuffer gifts and can custom make gift treat cups with any Mary Kay products. To get more info, ask or email Amy m.amy.brown@gmail.com Santa's Foot Treat Cup
Mint Bliss™ Energizing Lotion for Feet & Legs
2 Candy Canes
2 Packs of Hot Chocolate
1 Pair of Fuzzy Socks
1 Deluxe Foot File
1 Santa Ornament (coming out of the chimney)
1 Large Christmas Mug
Price $15.00 with free shipping and no sales tax

Frosty's Hand Treat Cup
Satin Hands® Hand Cream
2 Candy Canes
2 Packs of Hot Chocolate
1 Deluxe Multi-Textured Nail File
1 Snowman Ornament
1 Christmas Mug
Price $10.00 with free shipping and no sales tax

Black Friday....A Success...but we went into the red!!!

I am going to try to make this a bit short and sweet. It is currently 10:30pm on Black Friday when I am starting this and I have been up since 2:30am....yes we were die hards this year!!! This has always been a tradition in my family and Jason has started to participate in the fun....at least that's what I call it. Jason's mom Hazel has never done Black Friday being there right as they open with the huge lines and crowds so I figured it was time.
This morning Jason and I got up at 2:30 and got the dogs all taken care of to leave for the day and headed to Hood River to get John and Hazel. We got to their house and by the time we left their house in Odell and got to Wal-Mart in Hood River right as they were opening at 5:00am. The line was HUGE. We just went right up to the front doors, waited until about the end of the line and was allowed in. Once in, we were still in so quick that there was still all the good stuff. Once I got in, I forgot everything that were in the adds! lol All I remembered was $2 movies. It was more for the fun and experience of being there. Hazel said she got some good stuff, but I didn't see it....maybe it's for me!!! lol We got out of there without much complication, Jason and I ditched the few items we wanted since we didn't want to wait in the lines and we figured they would still be there tomorrow.
Next we were off to Portland. We went to Fred Meyer's and that was a great place! I got one person on our Christmas list completed, one person started, got me a couple of 99 cent pairs of gloves, and some nice earrings for myself that were super cheap!!!
Then we went to breakfast....then to Oregon City to talk to a man about a truck....then to Kay's Jewelers to get a super deal...then to Coastal. Coastal was awesome. For Jason I got him some really nice flannels that were padded and not heavy. I thought on sale they would end up being about $20 a piece so I bought two of them. I get up to the register, they rung up at $10.81!!! SO CHEAP!!! Unfortunately they only had two in his size. I love a deal, and we really got some good ones.
Picture of my bags of plunder....not too bad I don't think.These are the earrings I got....they look better in personSo this is what we went to Oregon City for!!!! We are elated!!! Jason's 4Runner puked a motor a little bit ago and if it were a 4 cylinder, it would have been worth rebuilding. It's a 6 cylinder and it's not so we are scrapping it and we had been looking hard for another vehicle...no SUV though, Jason needed his truck back. We were so lucky to find this one. The gentleman was selling it because the wife hated to park it....so she wouldn't drive it anymore! Wow! His loss, definately our gain. It's a 1996 Ford F250 Powerstroke Diesel CrewCab with a 50hp chip and 4 inch downpipe and all sorts of other gingerbread on it!

My only question....how to you top a Black Friday like this?!?!?!?!?!

Jason is thankful...

So I was reading Jason my I am thankful post and as he is starting up the fire tonight, he says that he is happy for a family that stands with him, right beside him, not behind him. I get what he means....we are so lucky!

Thanks giving....Minus the Turkey

So the bird caught a break for sure at our Thanksgiving dinner....the pig, not so lucky!

Jason and I left The Dalles for his folks' in Hood River at about noon today. I was driving and I gave him the camera to take some pics on the way.

There are very few trees left with their leaves on, yet the evergreens are standing tall and pretty. This is the Columbia River. Across the river is Washington.

Double Bridge on the Washington side...kinda cool in person.

Bob is John's cousin and Pennie is his wife. We went to their house in Parkdale again this year. They had some really nice property with nice trees.

This is looking North towards their neighbor's place.

I can't help but imagine how the tree above would look with LOTS of Christmas lights !!! Hazel and John after dinner. I took 5 pictures of Hazel and every one but this one her eyes are closed! I don't know why this always happens, so In this picture she was holding her eyes open and I told her to put her hands down right as I took it....that's why she looks so wide eyed. lolJason and I getting ready to leave. I never get pictures of the two of us together, so I'm going to make a great effort to get more pics together. It was a good day!

Gotta get off to bed, Black Friday is coming early!!!

I am Thankful

I am thankful for...how sweet my husband is in getting up earlier than me and stoking the fire up so it's nice and warm when I wake up....for how he talks to me extra gentle when I first get up...for how warm our house is, and it's because Jason worked so hard getting all the wood we need...I'm thankful for my cellphone beep that keeps going off with new text messages from friends wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving....I'm so thankful for good friends...for most days when I get home from work, I get beeped at by someone I know going by, or they stop and chit chat a bit before they go on home...I'm thankful for my mom...and her emails and how she always refers to herself as "Mother" when we never call her that unless she is being silly....she's mom, the most endearing word there is...I love how she is the very first to call me on holidays, birthdays, etc....I love how when we are watching something funny, or at a restaraunt and start laughing so hard, she gets this laugh that you know she's a goner and it will take her a while to get back under control...I'm thankful for Jason's folks John and Hazel...they are not far from us and love having us over for dinner or just being together...they are so thoughtful and helpful and just fun...I get to have more of those really great laugh times with Hazel...I'm thankful for siblings...Each one add to my life in different ways....ways that if they didn't, I wouldn't be who I am....I'm thankful fo Amy and her new adventure to Alaska.....and another secret one that I am having SO much fun with her on....I'm thankful for Sarah in Seattle....and her phone call yesterday telling me we should do Black Friday together....I said sure, In Portland? Since it's 1 1/2 hours for me and 2 hours for her....well no she wants to go in Seattle....4 hours for me, that would make me leave my house at midnight...she was fine with that!!!! I'm thankful for the offer and might actually take her up on it....I'm thankful for her always helping and being able to email, call, and messge her....she is quite fun to be with....I'm thankful for Bob, her husband for unearthing the loving side of her....that's fun to see...I'm thankful for Katy....I think she has the biggest heart humanly possible...she is a fixer...I'm thankful for her calls to tell me when mom isn't having a great day and I should call mom, or reminding me of anniversaries, etc....our calls are ususally short, but meaningful none the less...I'm thankful how when we hang up she always says "Love you Bethy"....I'm thankful for Jason's sister Jeana....she hasa great laugh too and even though she lives in Oklahoma, she is out often and we get to hear that laugh alot....I'm thankful for the kind messages she sends me and the text I just got wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving....I'm thankful for this area of the country we moved to....how beautiful it is...even when it's getting cold like it is....it's worth it all for the people...I'm thankful for James and Lauren...how when you don't answer James' call the first time he leaves a LONG laborous message that you're screening his call....he goes on and on it's so funny....I'm thankful that he is always ready and willing to help us and knows we are always ready and willing to help him...I'm thankful for Lauren and the place that she has filled in James' life...Incredible...I'm thankful that now we both work for the County and get to go to lunch together when I'm not at a meeting and she is not in court....I'm thankful for Monday grocery shopping...it's so fun...we shop and look and talk and see people we know...it usually takes at least two hours....we have to remember to get ice cream and milk last!!! I'm thankful for my new job....I miss my co'worker and friend Courtney tremendously but I am really happy with my job change....I work for Wasco County Commission on Children and Families....mouthful I know, but I'm thankful to say it....I'm thankful for Jason's joh on the Wind Turbines....it's right up his alley with extreme heights, climbing, etc....it's like being on top of the jumgle gym at school....ok so he probably wouldn't agree with me on that but secretly and actually alot of times not so secretly he is still a little boy in his spirit....Love that...I'm thankful for the dogs, even as crazy as I sometimes am, they do some sweet things and we're quite lucky....I'm thankful for the new church we are going to...the people are so kind, and each time I feel like the message the pastor is preaching on was intended just for me...I'm thankful for health and pray that it continues and that others become well....I'm thankful that Jason has fallen asleep while I was doing this...oops...I gotta get ready for Thanksgiving, just wanted to get started with reminding myself on some of the things I am thankful for! I'm thankful....are you?

Didn't get to church today

Oops....

I set up my friend Wendy to meet this guy Jeff who is so nice. So we all went to the Vault to watch a Guns and Roses tribute band. They were very good! I invited my old co-worker Courtney to come along and she brought her friend Jenny. We had a great time and the band was really good. Look just like them! We didn't get home until 1am, so needless to say we didn't get up to early this morning. People started calling my phone at 7:30 this morning. First it was Wendy, I missed that call. Then James called wanting to do breakfast before we helped him pour concrete for his shop. Then Courtney called. Then Wendy called again. I am so thankful though for good friends. We have been so lucky to meet and spend time with a select few that have great hearts, are good people, and so fun to be with! Wendy and Jeff really hit it off, so I'm excited to see a good man in Wendy's life...stay tuned on that one. Jason and I are up at James' and Laurens' now to help with concrete. It's getting cold. I'll take some pics and post them up! Happy Sunday....maybe just being out in nature today will be my sermon!

It's feeling more and more like Christmas!!!

Christmas is probably my favorite time of year! In Arizona, when the weather started to get cold, and you felt that crispness in the air, you knew it was Christmas. So I'm a bit thrown off...I feel the crispness, the cold, but it's only the beginning of November?! It's ok, because my senses are telling my brain it's Christmas time, and that makes me happy. This year we will be here in Oregon for Christmas and mom is coming in to town to spend it with us and Jason's family. I can't wait! I put pictures of last winter in this post, I just love all the pretty white snow! Thank heaven for four wheel drive and snow tires!

Church message today

We had a great day at church today! The pastor is great, I really like him!

Today's message was Getting Organized for a Miracle. What a great day for this message... This morning was a bit rough getting ready for church. Seems like odds were really against us to get to church and I know that is because we are really making an effort in getting back to church and satan really doesn't like that a whole lot. I was trying to vacuum, sweep the floor, and do the dishes before I got ready. Earlier in the morning, Jason was putting wood in the stove and tweeked his back out of place. He had a nerve pinched BAD! So he was able to get himself ready, but I felt this crazy overwelming stress, but kept thinking of what my mom always says; Usually when you go to do something right, forces of evil try to conspire against you to prevent you from doing what is right and what you should be doing. I felt that today. I know it will get easier and easier and it was just about a miracle that after everything this morning, we made it to church and on time!
...so back to the message. It was quite fitting for today. We were more organized this Sunday than we were last Sunday and so we both got to church today! The pastor is so funny, well he adds in his moments anyways! In the beginning of his sermon, he was speaking to the congregation and was telling the story Matthew 14:13-18 of the 5 Loaves of bread and 2 Fish and Jesus feeding 5000 men, besides women and children. The Pastor pointed out that it would take alot of organization for that to happen, looking from a logistical standpoint. He then said, loud and clear, "Men, it is your job to organize your family for a miracle." The room was silent. He says again, "Men, it is your job to organize your family for a miracle." There were a few amens. Then he said AGAIN, "Men, it is YOUR job to Organize your family for a miracle!!!" Everyone clapped and acknowledged the message. If we ask for a miracle, we need to be prepared for what we are asking for! Makes sense. If we want the Lord to believe that we are worthy to receive miracles, we need to believe ourselves that we are worthy to receive miracles. So often, we ask for blessings and we've not convinced even ourselves that we have enough worth and/or value to receive what it is that we are asking for. In order for someone else to believe it, we have to believe it, live it, speak it, and practice it.
I look forward to next week, and hearing what the sermon is on. It's seems that so far, each sermon is directed right at me and Jason. Life is good, and would you believe it feels as if it's getting better daily? Incredible!

Fall is Here!

Being from Arizona, I've never seen all the colors of fall like I have here in Oregon. We live right along the Columbia River in Oregon, that separates Oregon from Washington state. When we drive to Hood River, or Portland, we have trees and mountains on one side and the Columbia River on the other side. It's called the Gorge. It's so beautiful! In the summer everything is green. Now that it is fall, the most beautiful yellows, oranges, reds, and greens. Above is a picture of my neighbor's trees

This is a picture from our porch looking out in the east front yard and part of or neighbor's yard. You can see the leaves from our big trees out front are falling. You can still see some grass through the leaves.

Here is the yard now, just a few days later! I am so happy that I had not raked yet!!!

Layers and Layers of leaves!!! Beautiful leaves and make noise everytime you walk though them. You cannot see the grass through the leaves!!! Guess what we are doing after work tomorrow? :) The leaves aren't all off yet, but you just wade through them, so it's time. This is so cool! I'm just crazy, last year I got to shovel snow, and I loved it!!! I totally like all the leaves too so I'm happy to get them up too!

Feels good to go to church

With all that has been going on, I've been finding myself missing some sort of organized relegion. Although I was never crazy about church for about 10 years, I'm finally ready to have it be a Yesterday I told Jason that I wanted to find a church. We had discussed this alot before this and are both on the same page of what we are looking for. We had gone a couple times to Jason's folks church and it's very nice, but it's in Hood River so we were hoping to find something a little closer to us. Before this, we hadn't been to church since last Christmas when we were at moms and went with her. I got online to find a church close to us and this morning I went, and it was really nice. Jason will come with me next time, but I ventured out by myself to a new church for the first Sunday.



I attended the Life in Christ Center. The people were very nice, and I was very comfortable. I didn't know all the words to the songs, but I'm learning them. The pastor was great and reminded me of my grandpa Jay. A couple funny points, yet the importance of his message rang clear!

The program had this thought and scripture in it.



--The battle is the Lord's. Still, God wants us to show up with our armor on.--



Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass Psalm 37:4-5



After some singing, the associate Pastor recognized all the veterans and service men and women and their families.

The pastor spoke on the Parable of the Patient Farmer Mark 4:26-29

(Matthew, Luke, and John do not touch on this parable, only Mark)

Seed= The word of God, the Bible; within honest and good hearts

Farmer= Each of us, Christians

Harvest= winning souls/ Patience, time



There is a limit to what we can do.

Only the Holy Spirit can produce Harvest.

Know what is our part, and what is God's part


We cannot make the seed grow, but we can hinder it's growth with improper care.

God's not going to sow, water, or reep - that is our job.


Depend on God and the power of his word


Necessity of Patience, James 5:7

Hope, Psalm 126:5-6; 1Cor 15:58


Harvest comes suddenly, John 4:35-38

Living Water, Matthew 8:37-38; Lots of Harvest, few laborers. 20% of Christians do 80% of the work.



GOD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING -- Be Ready for Harvest



Saddest words in the Bible

Jeremiah 8:20

Harvest has past, summer has ended, and we are not saved!

I feel like a bad dog mom

So Jason and I don't have kids yet, but we have dogs. Each of them have their little quirks and personalities. This post is about Diesel. Diesel was born Christmas day in 2005. He is an over achiever!! He championed out in UKC in two weekends, and it was his only two weekends we every showed him. All before he turned one. Pretty Impressive. He's pictured below for his Champion photo.

So after the UKC confirmation championship, we decided on a Friday night to take him to try a weight pull competition the following morning. He'd never had a harness on him, we bought the harness Friday night. He pulled 1740 lbs (he weighs 60lbs) and won a trophy for ultimate pull for his weightclass and a medal I can't remember what for. He totally loved it!Then we went to wieght pull championships in Snowflake. Mom came too, it was so fun! Diesel almost struts when it's his turn to go. This is him pulling,Here he's pulling a little more. That is railroad iron in 105lb bars.
Jason is hooking him up to the cart. Look at that big smile!!! These dogs LOVE this sport! Well in Snowflake he bettered his weight by 400lbs!!! He pulled 2130. Diesel weighed in at 61lbs himself.
Why do I feel like I'm a bad dog mom? Well we have been quite busy lately getting ready for winter and trying to get all the wood we need and splitting and stacking it. We've been back and forth to Portland the last few weekends getting all our vehicles new tires for winter. Also, I recently started a new job with the County and Jason's still recooping with his shoulder. So our poor dogs have not as much attention as we like to give them. Last week, Jason went down to the basement, which is accessed by outside and 1100 sq ft unfinished. We have our deep freeze down there, some boxes, and Diesel's weight pull harnesses are hung down there too. It was rainy and kinda cold so he left the door open so Diesel could be in the back yard or in the basement if he got cold. We get home from work and Jason goes outside to get something out of the basement and he hollers up to me. I got outside and Jason asked if I had taken Diesel's harnesses down; he has three. I said that I hadn't. Well Diesel ran down to Jason in the basement and was trying to put his head through the harness. He pulled down the harnesses and wanted them on! Jason put one on him and let him walk around the backyard with it, he just strut around like he was really something. He misses pulling! So we are going to have to get back into that, we've never done it in Oregon. Poor little thing, just wants to work. He's such a good boy!

Well America...You asked for it!!!

SCARY!!!

Borrowed from Amber...

DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU VOTE !!!
Sorry to bother you Mr. Obama, SirExcuse me Mr. Obama, I mean Senator Obama, sir.
Um . . know you are busy and important and stuff.
I mean running for president is very important and . . . ah . . I hate to bother you.
I will only take a minute ok, sir?See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering sir, if you couldtake time out of your busy schedule and help me out.
You know, no big deal, just some looseends and things.
I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up.
These things seem to either be'locked' or 'not available'.
I'm sure it's just some oversight or glitch or something, so if youcould you tell me where these things are?
Could you help me please find these things, sir?
1. Occidental College records -- Not released
2. Columbia College records -- Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper -- not available, locked down by faculty
4. Harvard College records -- Not released, locked down by faculty
5. Selective Service Registration -- Not released
6. Medical records -- Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule -- 'not available'
8. Law practice client list -- Not released
9. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate - - Not released
10. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth -- Not released
11. Harvard Law Review articles published -- None
12. University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None
13. Your Record of baptism-- Not released or 'not available'
14. Your Illinois State Senate records--'not available'

You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days of experience of being a surgeon.
You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't join the military and become a colonel after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
BUT....'From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After143 days of work experience, Obama believed hew as ready to be Commander In Chief,Leader of the Free World .... 143 days.We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start.AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America ?

Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!

It's a Potato Soup Day

This week so far has been cold and windy, and yesterday real rainy. It's been Hot Cocoa and Potato Soup week. We just finished with dinner, I forgot to take out meat to cook up tonight so Jason had a Hungry Man that I get him for when he gets the 11:00pm hunger pangs. Jason is finally up to 197-200lbs!!! That is great! He's 6'4" and cannot put on fat. He puts on muscle and with his climbing he definitely is putting on more muscle, but I'm trying to pump the calories to him to keep up energy and weight. I just made homemade potato soup and he will be eating that like crazy! The bread is almost done too. What is homemade soup without homemade bread? I can smell it, I love that smell. Someone should make it into a glade plug in or scented candle. Do you think it would sell?

Speaking of candles, I am so excited for the Christmas season. I LOVE the Christmas scented candles. I will watch for the after Christmas sales this year to stock up on them for the year. I know that almost every post is reverting to Christmas, I just love Christmas and this weather already is like it is in Arizona right at Christmas. This year we will be having Christmas here in Oregon. Since we don't have kids, we trade off, Arizona and Oregon every other year. Last year was in Arizona with my mom, this year will be Oregon with Jason's folks and my mom is coming up too! I'm so excited! Jason's sister will be in town from Oklahoma, so it will be nice to have more family around. It's about time to put up the lights. I don't know how I will be able to wait for after Thanksgiving!!!

Update on Jason- He is back at work, on light duty after his scapula fracture. He goes to the Orthopedic Dr on Monday. His shoulder has really been hurting him tonight, I was getting pretty worried since he has such a high pain tolerance, but now I look over and he has fallen asleep on the couch. His work has been letting him do his Internet training classes in the office and run parts. He was so sweet today. The company sent him to The Dalles Auto Parts store which is just in the next block after where I work. He came strolling in my office out of no where. I hadn't seen him cross the street and didn't know he was even in town right then. It was so nice, he just wanted to come over, say hi, and give me a kiss. I thought that was so thoughtful. I'm so lucky! I'm going to put away the potato soup, get the dogs all around for bed, put the bread away when it is done, and get Jason to bed. Night Night!

Best Baby Laughs n more

This is WILD!!! Scary really!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG5rQ3D_Zrw

What a great laugh!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wIEihDAcpU

This ones way cute too!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

Kick his Ask
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

Buhlud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9yAkBSrMk0

Scared of Shadow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtpoOdcYCYU

I don't like you mommy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8aprCNnecU

Charlie Bit my finger...again

This is my favorite youtube video to date!!! I love it! The Little England boys voice is so cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

You have to watch it more than once! Watch his little brow scrunch up!!!

Will you go with me?

When mom and Michael were talking, they were discussing their taste in music. Michael was HUGE on Jimmy Buffett, and mom was talking about a new cd she got of Josh Turner.

Mom was trying to remember the name of his new song out and Michael said he liked Josh Turner. Mom then remembered the name of the song,

"Will you go with me"

Michael's response -- "yes".

Josh Turner Will you go with me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktsHHNS07Wc

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Josh Groban Awake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5RXwhlCLOE

"Awake"

A beautiful and blinding morning

The world outside begins to breathe

See clouds arriving without warning

I need you here to shelter me

And I know that only time will tell us how

To carry on without each other

So keep me awake to memorize you

Give me more time to feel this way

We can't stay like this forever

But I can have you next to me today

If I could make these moments endless

If I could stop the winds of change

If we just keep our eyes wide open

Then everything would stay the same

And I know that only time will tell me how

We'll carry on without each other

So keep me awake for every moment

Give us more time to be this way

We can't stay like this forever

But I can have you next to me today

We'll let tomorrow wait, you're here, right now, with me

All my fears just fall away, when you are all I see

We can't stay like this forever

But I have you here today

And I will remember

Oh I will remember

Remember all the love we shared today

I love my mom! I think she is impatiently awaiting her reunion wih her sweetheart. Can ya blame her? How would you feel if you just got a tiny taste of pure bliss, and then it was moved far far away?

You Raise Me Up

What I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up...To more than I can be.

You raise me up...To more than I can be

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Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton When I get where I'm going

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Zfx5qra_g.

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Brad Paisley Waitin' on a Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYTXMMQ1Xk

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Josh Groban To where you are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baWBHZ7Fo6c

Dont forget to preheat the oven!

Breath in, Breath out, Move on

Home is where the heart is

Do you remember dreaming of your first home and what it would be like?



Do you wanna see what I imagined mine to be?



An Old home, Craftsman style, with bay windows (which is perfect for a beautiful Christmas tree), 10ft ceilings, Large mop boards and molding around door frames and windows, and all the old style charm that only comes in these old homes.



When Jason and I moved here from Arizona in November of 2007, I drove by this house. It had been for sale when I was looking online prior to our move and in October, it was pulled off the market. We had had Jason's folks drive by it and they peeked through the windows and liked it, except, from what they could see, it had a tiny tiny kitchen! Kitchens, in my mind, are probably the most expensive remodel and it sounded as if we would have to knock out walls, etc and that just wasn't in our budget. But somehow, we were never as hopeful with any other property in our price range. So when we drove by in November, there was no sign of occupancy or that it was still for sale. I contacted the county and found out the owners names and luckily, they were in the phone book and lived just a few streets over. I called the woman and she said that her husband was reflooring the house, and doing a few repairs so it was for sale, but not right now.
I was so bummed. So we looked at other properties, and were pretty unhappy with what we were coming up with. It seemed that, for the amount of money we were able to afford in a mortgage, we were going to be purchasing a home that needed TLC, yet we wouldn't have the money to do the repairs while paying a mortgage that high. Then in Mid December we get a call from the owner of the property. YEAH!!! Her husband was finished with the new flooring and paint and we could come and see it. We went right over, Jason and I and his mom and dad. These are some pictures from that day.

This is from the dining room looking out to the living room and front entryway. It was hard to capture the sizes of the rooms. From here, if you go to the entry way on the left, there is another door that goes to the first guest bedroom. It's a nice sized room and we have a hide-a-bed couch in there and will be setting up our computer desk in there too.
This is the living room still, looking at the North and East walls. I love the bay window and all the dutch windows (that's what the inspector called them). I wouldn't trade these original windows even though they are single paned, for any new vinyl window period! I love it!
So then from where I took that picture in the living room, turn around and you are in the dining room. There is a large open archway that separates the rooms, but still leaving with the feeling of openness. In the dining room on the outer wall facing east, is another bay window. The prior owners put in this Engineered Hardwood floor. Underneath it is old vinyl, but underneath that is the original wood flooring! We are thrilled to be able to restore back to original at a later time.
This is in the dining room looking along the east wall at the bay window and also on the left you can see into the living room. Behind me, on the west wall there is a doorway that leads into a hallway where you have entry to the 2nd guest bedroom, the bathroom, and the master bedroom.
This is in the dining room looking South. There is this great original built in that is accessible on the dining room side and the kitchen side. It's great! On the kitchen is nice sized!!! It wasn't what they had seen through the window. This house was PERFECT for us! It also has a full unfinished basement that we will finish which will double our square footage!

We were able to buy the house directly from the seller, without realtors and their fees. We were so excited to get such a nice house, within our budget. This is our first home! We had the inspection done and the inspector loved this house and said how well made it is. This house is in The Dalles, Oregon and we were really wanting to buy in Hood River which is about 20 minutes away, but the prices in Hood River were just out of this world! This same house in Hood River, would have been almost double what we paid for it here in The Dalles. We have a plan though. We hope to be able to live in this home, do some improvements with the down stairs, maybe finish some square footage in the attic, and then when the housing market comes back up after a few years, sell it (or rent it out) and hopefully we can find a great place in the Hood River Valley somewhere with some land.

We have been so blessed and I've heard that it takes only two things to know when looking for a house, that it is the one for you. You feel the heartbeat of the house when you come in. This house definitely is home-y feeling and had a heartbeat when you walk in. The 2nd is you know immediately where you are going to put your Christmas tree!!! I love Christmas and even though it's not even Halloween yet, I've suggested to Jason we get the lights up on the house so while the weather is good! lol

What's life without dreams?