Our family Christmas decorations.

The weekend of thanksgiving we got all our outdoor lights hung. (I think we were the first on out block!) We enjoy driving around at night up and down streets to check out every ones lights.
The first weekend of December we got our tree from a family from our church. You walk around their “tree farm” and pick out what tree you want and they cut it for you. Got it home and with in hours I had decorations on it. I enjoy the light on the tree, just sitting in the living room with them on.
This weekend Dad finished the mantel he made for us and installed it. Again it did not take long to get it decorated and stocking hung (all 4 of ours). It provides greater area to decorate that we did not have last year, which is wonderful.

Birthday Party

On Tuesday of this week (Nov 17th) Chad turned 5 years old. Of course we celebrated it with a gift, cake and a night together. First he got his gift which he open with no problem all by him self. Then Chad has his birthday cupcake which was home made and special for dogs. Which he shared with his brother Lambeau.
It was a lot of fun to watch them eat there cupcakes, after having a few over the past few days they have gotten much faster at eating them!
I just hope we have another 5+ years with Chad. Come Feb it will be 5 years that I have had Chad and also Lambeaus one year with us. Time has gone by so fast with Chad, and I have learned a great deal about him, the herding dog that he is and caring for a dog in general. I have been blessed to have such a wonderful dog (Lambeau is good too but we don't have the bond like Chad and I do).

Good cooking

This weekend I tried my hand at cooking two large meals for Steve and I all from scratch. For Sunday dinner we had a pork roast with potatoes that I baked in the oven. I’m very happy that it turned out with no hiccups and it was fantastic tasting. Also I cooked up a chicken to make home made chicken noodle soup that I will put together at the beginning of the week. No problems there. I told Steve it was so nice to have a full cooked meal.
Come Tuesday I will be making a new home made cake, its Chad’s birthday (5 years old) so he will be getting a peanut butter cake. There will be enough for Chad to share with his brother, Lambeau. Happy Birthday Chad.

Pictures

A few weeks ago we finished the paint work on the front of the house and today I just remembered to take a photo to show all of you guys.

Labor Day Weekend - Not Much Labor

I know we are still in the middle of this years Labor Day weekend but there is not much labor going on around here due to the mass amount of rain we have being getting over the past 2 or 3 days. We have gotten a few things done but not all that was on our to-do list. Still have 3/4 of the front yard left to cover in bark dust. Once it dries out really good, we can work on painting all the trim work on the house to add more color. We have just been lying around playing inside with the boys. Fingers crossed that it dries out tomorrow; I’m getting sick of not being able to do my projects. However last week we got all the bark dust in the back yard so that look really nice, but the shed is still waiting to be put together.

The Lake

The Four of Us!!

Chad needed his nap but wanted to make sure he was never left so he would guard the leashes.

This is not my 17 inch trout I got but it is a taste of what I look like when driving and fishing at night.

Steve went up the Wallowa Lake Tramway (8150 Ft). He is feeding some of the very friendly Chipmunks
Lambeau did very well the entire trip but he was very tired and when back at camp he would be curled up (or sprawled out) to take a nap.

We also went to the rodeo and all that went along with that. Play a lot of games and had fun. A very enjoyable trip!

Hike

We went for a hike this past Saturday with our young adult group in the Columbia Rive Gorge. We had fun; weather was nice and got some extra exercise.

4th of July weekend

This past weekend Steve and I drove up to his fathers house is Everett Washington. Picked up some tools his dad had for him and also a Ford Ranger. We brought it all back done the same day. Steve got some nice stuff, a rolling Craftsman’s tool box, air compressor and of course the truck. Also we sold the Jetta and the Canopy for the truck. Washed all three vehicles we have and ripped out the bed liner in the truck since it had many large cuts in from where the claps of the canopy went. Saturday night we went up to Corbett and watched the fireworks there, they set them off on the other side of a soccer field, so you are very close.
Now we have a few more projects to work on, get my quad running again, clean up and finish a shelving unit we want to use for our TV stand. The cost is perfect on this, FREE. Getting things ready for the lake, I can’t wait! A lot of young adult events and planning coming up too. Doing a hike this coming Saturday!!!!
I’m just glad it is not so hot today like this weekend, hard to stay cool when I want to be out side doing stuff.

What a Stud

Check me out!

Update

Normally all I talk about is the yard and the dogs. So here is a bit more on Steve and I. A few weeks back we bought a used Jeep Grand Cherokee, (1994) and are in the process of selling Steve's car and my quad. No one buying either just yet but one day they will both be sold. I know I’m looking forward to going to the lake; I kind of have a count down in my head, less then a month until we go.
Also we are now the leaders of our young adult group with our church. We have an event planned just about every weekend, so we find our selves always busy. The friends and connections we have made are fantastic.
Other things we have been up to or planning, we just had a yard sale here at our place with my parents and it was nice to clean a few things out. Also we are planning a day trip up to see Steve’s dad to help clean some stuff out and he has a truck he is giving us as well.
Nothing to exciting right now, but that is good though.

The boys

The story behind the picture. I took the boys to 1000 Acers, the park close to our house for our normal morning exercise and play time. Then I went to my parent’s house to check in, mow the back yard and borrow some stuff, with them in tow. On the way home just less then a mile from our house I find the boys like this. I had to get the picture because it was the first time I saw Lambeau relax in the car. For those who don't know Lambeau gets car sick (yes we still take him every where, and he only gets sick some times). Chad on the other hand likes to get in the car and sleep, it puts him to sleep, and since Lambeau was there why not use him.

*This was taken on my cell phone while reaching beind my seat at a red light and trying to get the most I could in.

Updated pictures of the on going project

The yard is coming along well. We enjoy spending as much time out there as we can when it is warm, the boys love that too. All the projects, keep us busy. Here is what it is looking like now.

We decided to have grass all the way around the tree, less dirt to worry about.

Been a while

It has been a while since an update. Not a lot going in since the last post. We have been busy with yard work, church and family events. Doing some relaxing since it is to hot to do much else. I took a few extra days off around Memorial Day to get stuff done around the house and to just relax. I got every thing I planned to do, done. Feels good to have some stuff taken care of. Can’t think of what else we have coming up besides young adult group events, a lunch and then the guys/girls night and a big kick off BBQ for the summer events. Last night for one of our events was to run in the star light fun run (only four of us ran) and then we all watch the parade. It was hot the whole time and over 3000 runners. I realized how out of shape I really am.

Back yard is looking much better

It has been 3 weeks since we put in the sod and 2 days ago we mowed it for the first time. It looks really nice. Still have a few places that need to be filled in but overall the back yard is comming together.



We will be adding more sod around the tree and a few other places in the weeks to come.

New yard

We got rid of a deck, moved the one we are keeping and put down sod, all with in a week. Here is what it looks like now.


Just have to stay off and let it grow in! We cant wait to have more yard and grass.

Some outside fun

Chad always has to be playing with his favorite ball!


Lambeau loves to roll in the grass when it is sunny out!

Grass Growing Adventure - Day 1

We started today our grass growing adventure. We have much of the yard to cover but with two dogs can only do small sections at a time. Here is our first section, cant wait for it to be all filled in.

"We love to play together." - Chad and Lambeau

We now have color!

Today we finally got the living room and hallway painted (Mom, thank you for all your help!!). We also sent most of the past week painting the vaulted ceilings what had popcorn texturing on it. That was no easy task and I will never roll paint on like that again. I do have to say that the ceiling does look a lot better. I’m so glad to have it all done now and have color in there besides the white walls and dirty ceiling. Just waiting for the paint to fully dry before decorations can go up.

Also today we started to take apart our deck out back so we can get rid of the bigger section (we are moving and keeping the smaller section). Our plan is to have a smaller deck and more grass for us and the boys to enjoy. I can’t wait to get it all done.

That is what happens when I take the day off from work, home projects that are a lot of work. I love doing it though.

P.S. Both dogs are doing great!

Introducing Lambeau.




See the boys get a long great. They can even sleep on the same bed.



Also Lambeau is doing great now; he is eating his hard food with out any problems. I still give him a bit of mashed up canned food with rice and soggy hard food as a bonus to get some meat on his bones.

The frustration and Love

Oh the frustration of having a new kid (yes I know it is a dog but to Steve and I, Lambeau is our second child). I’m learning that getting Chad as a puppy was less frustrating then getting an adult dog that we don’t have a good history on. Yes I did have to deal with house braking Chad and training him what he know along with other stuff but not having to come up with different ways to get him to eat. Lambeau has been a challenge in that department for us. He has eaten some hard dog food and now he won’t eat it. The vet gave us some different food to try and some pills to help digest the food better. Lambeau will eat canned food, (he is not throwing it up anymore) but when I try to mix rice and or hard dog food he will spit it out. It is very funny to watch him spit it out but very frustrating at the same time. We think once he gets settled in better we will eat the hard food again.
On a happier note, Chad and Lambeau are so good together, last night I got home around 7:30 and by 8pm both dogs are sound a sleep. Before Lambeau Chad would want to play ball all night, non stop. They are playing so much out side and all day that they wear them selves out. Steve and I are very happy to see Chad tired for once.
Also we can tell that Lambeau is a momma’s boy. He is attached at my hip, goes where I go, wants to sit in my lay (yes a 50 pound dog wants to be a lap dog) and loves to lay in bed with me. When Steve gets home he will tell Lambeau to get in to his own bed and he won’t move for Steve, I have to wake up and walk him to his bed and tuck in you could say.
We love him so much. It has been an eye opener to have a second dog but we love it. Good for us, good for Chad so he is not so lonely and best for Lambeau so he is no longer living in a shelter.

Worried!

Oh the worrying. Lambeau has not been eating. Between Thursday and Saturday he has only eaten about a cup of hard dog food and a hand full of home made cookies (that is all I could get him to eat). This morning I gave him some cooked ground turkey we had not used yet and rice (Thank you Aunt Claudia for the idea) and mixed his hard food in it. He ate the meat out and a bit of the rice and would spit out his hard food. I was thankful that he was eating something at least. Then I got him some canned dog food. He ate that all up and then it came back up.
Steve and I are very worried. We keep thinking maybe his month hurts and he doesn’t want to chew the hard food, but he chewed on a bone all night yesterday and has been playing tug-a-war too, and he would eat the homemade cookies. Thought oh maybe, he only had canned food up until now, but why did he eat some of the hard food. So we don’t know what to think right now. I just want him to eat something and keep it down. I’m worried with him playing so much and not eating that he is going to get even thinner.
We are going to call the vet ASAP on Monday and see what we can get him in and see what they think could be going on.

Welcome home Lambeau!

We got our second dog today. His name is Lambeau, named after “Curly” Lambeau who was one of 2 men to form the Green Bay Packers in 1919. The shelter said he is Pure Breed, Australian Sheppard, they also think he is 5 or 6 years of age. To us he looks young more toward the 5 (Chad is 4). Lambeau is a bit thin but that should not be a problem once he gets all settled. He knows some commands but we will have to work with him a lot more. Has to be on a leash at all times when out since he likes to try to run all over, a lot of work will be put in there. Was told he is house-broke and have not seen any issues with that, even with every thing smelling like Chad. He is white and Gray with a little bit of brown. He has 2 different colored eyes, one brown and one blue. Lambeau and Chad get a long just fine. They play a lot together. But need there alone time to rest, since Lambeau is still shy he wont lay down and rest yet by himself.
I will write more tomorrow and try to get a picture of him up so you all can see.

Warm, Projects, Dog

We got our new furnace in and it is fabulous! The house is warm now, no need for coats and hats in side anymore.
This past week we have been talking about plans for the back yard. To redo and move stuff, add a shed as well as getting the gate all done so we can start to search for another dog come March. Plans are in action (need the weather to bit a bit nicer) and the gate is done.
Each day we keep looking online at shelters at what Border Collies and Austrian Sheppard they have. I’m sad but very happy at the same time, we see a dog we want to go and look at and when we have the time they have already been adopted. So over all that is really good that they are finding a new hope, can’t wait to bring one to our home. Will have to take Chad with us to see how they get a long, Chad some times cares less about other dogs and does not pay any attention to them and on the other side of that he can not leave they are best friends (like Max), so we will see what happens. I would like a puppy (less than one year) but a young dog (1 to 2 years) is good as well. Will have to wait and see what we can find.

New stuff

We finally got a new washer and dryer. I’m very excited to have a dryer that can dry close in less then 70 plus min (that is what our old one took, if not longer). They are both front loaders with a clear door so you can see what all is going on inside. We splurged and got the red set instead of the white. With our plans to re-do the garage floor it will really stand out. Also a huge bonus is that they are energy efficient so we won’t be spending quite as much on electricity to run them and even better we get a so called years worth of tide. It will be 10 50oz containers and it took us over 6 months to go thought a 60 oz container. For us it will be well over a years worth.
Yes we are going to be painting our garage floor to help with the look and to really get it clean since we do our laundry out there.
This coming up week (Tuesday) we will get our new furnace in and I can’t wait for that. Some thing that is energy efficient and wont cost us an arm and leg to heat the house only to 65 degrees. We might even turn it up to 70 in the house so we don't freeze our guests and ourselves.
I think the plan is a week from Tuesday to get the new water heated installed. Trying to get every thing updated so we know it works well and is efficient. Over all we cant wait for all that to be installed and lower montly bills.

Game Night

Last weekend we had the largest group of people over yet, 17 or 18 people over from our church young adult group. We did a game night, Rock Band and Guitar Hero. We set up two TVs, a friend bought his TV and others brought the gaming systems. The TVs were turned way up and every one was having fun taking there turn at playing. I found I really liked playing the base on Rock Band and by the end of the night I think I played for about 2 hours all in all. I even tried to sing and was not so bad at it, now drums on the other had I just stink. The major negative effect was my left shoulder/neck (upper trap and rhomboid) was really inflamed due to the way I was holding the guitar but thank goodness I work at a Physical Therapy office and got some treatment. All in all people hung around for about 5 almost 6 hours and the games never stopped. It was a lot of fun for sure. We are thinking to do that again since it was such a big hit.

Major painting problem

I got the blue on the wall yesterday in the bathroom. Two coats and it was done like that, used less then half of my quart of paint. The red on the other hand is noting but a problem. Had to go and buy more paint and the color is far from being even. Not sure what to do with it, i don't think it will ever get even. Should i sponge it? Should I use cheese cloth on it? What should i use, i lost! I really wanted the sold red color but anything to get it finished. Oh and yes i did use primer on the walls and made sure to let every thing totally dry before the next coat. HELP!!!

Our Saturday

The east wind has not let up. Yesterday it was blowing all day and very strong. Trying to stay in side Steve and I got up way to early so we could go to the dog show. The two breeds we wanted to see show were of course the earliest. We watched the Border Collies and Austrian Shepherds, got to really see what Chad got from each breed to make his mix. Also we got our free dog food samples and Chad eats them like treats.
Once we got home Steve finished working on his car and got it back together while I painted out guest bathroom. It is an American Flag theme with red and blue walls; I have ideas of decorations to put in there just need to get the pain to dry first. I’m trying to get a way from the yellows and browns and explore true colors. (my first ideas as blue and you guessed it yellow)
I need to take a break from painting and fix dinner and just my luck when I was just about done cooking the meat for stroganoff and the power went out. We sat and waited for a bit, wondering when we would get power again. After about 45 min we were very hungry so we ordered a pizza. If I remember correctly this is the first time I have had a pizza delivered at a house for dinner. We thought we should start a fire, used all the cardboard we have and some wood from the last door we took out. Found out that yes both our smoke alarms do work and are very loud, so if we were to have a real fire could not miss the alarm. The alarms went off because we did not get the flu opened all the way and the smoke came in the house first. I was running around turning them off and I had to jump to do that. I fun sight to see. Over all the fire place is very nice and we got a lot of heat from it, now the house smells like a camp fire. For sure we want to get an insert so it works better next time.
Power came back on around 9 or 10, I can’t remember and we got some stuff done around the house and went to bed. I woke up this morning with no power but with in 20 min of being up it came back on. The wind is just non stop; we have branches in our back yard, thank goodness no tree limbs down like other on the street. I don’t think the wind even let up over night, still going strong this morning.

Painting

We are 99% done with the kitchen painting. I have a bit of touch up and need to paint the new doors. It looks great. I will try to post some pictures up here soon for all to see. If I forget though, Steve and I have been talking about doing an open house in or around March (when it is warmer, I hope) for all to stop by and see. More should be done by then.

Snow again

I thought we were done with the snow, but I was oh so wrong. I was just outside putting the trash and recycling at the curb and it started to snow again. I was thinking just this morning it might be dry for a bit and things can dry out. I was wrong. I’m tired of the snow, rain and just all around wetness. Believe it or not I’m very much tired of this cold weather. I want WARM weather.

To do and what has been done

Christmas is all over now for 2008, all the presents have been exchanged and opened, now heaps of garbage/recycling wait the weekly pick up. All the cookies and treats are gone (at least at our house) and now it is time to go full bore on home projects. We still have the long list of projects but we are about to check off the replacing of the last door. All the cold drafts have stopped due to the amazing spray in foam (comes in a can); it works wonders and is fun to use. This weekend our plan is to start painting the kitchen. I hope we get it done and don’t have sections to keep coming back to. The talked about order for painting is kitchen then the Greenbay office, maybe outside to the fence that needs to be moved and replaced. Will have to wait and see what gets done now.
Now on to the main reason I wanted to write this blog, which is a fun one, is to share with you all our favorite thing to do after Christmas. We enjoy shopping for next years decorations, wrapping paper and so now when things are on sale. The bigger the sale the better. Last night we went to Wal-Mart, got about 80 dollars worth of stuff for 20 dollars. There is no way I would have paid the full 15 dollars for this nice decorative wreath but when it was on sale for 3.75 you cant pass it up. We got a table cloth for 2 dollars and a ton of out door light for 1.75. That is fun shopping for me. Next year we will do the same after Christmas, but for now it will be in storage until next year. Once Christmas rolls around again we would loved to show you all what fun stuff we got and got done.