Pups and Preps

With work responsibilities increasing . . . doubling actually . . . my time seems to be shrinking! Here is a quick glimpse at some of the preparations for welcoming a houseful of company; I think the anticipation of everyone being together provides bonus energy to accomplish all the things!

1. Pretty puffy snowflakes! They didn't stick, but they did remind us it actually is winter (even though the current foggy 50 degree days make us wonder sometimes if we skipped it and went to spring :)

2. I finished the tree skirt and it was the perfect size for all the gifts that appeared under the tree! And the dogs seem to think it is pretty great for naps, too :)

3. Our giant Yeti is revived! Last year, his first year at the Manor, ice got in the fan and busted it. I found a replacement blower online, and it arrived in time for Buck to get the big guy ready for Christmas. The idea that he (Sasquatch) could just stay in the house this year was tossed about, but he ended up in the front yard instead of up by the shed (for easier assistance when needed). I think it's funny that Olive and Buck are looking the same direction in both pictures--concerned down, skeptical up :) Daisy was oblivious, sleeping on a pile of quilt scraps, lol!

4. Olive decided to put herself in the kennel--not sure why; this never happens! I wonder if this was the day we tried to use our new toenail grinder to maintain their most recent manicures. Yeah. That didn't go well.

5. My advent devotional compared Christ coming in and cleaning out all the things that overwhelm us in our lives to the blessing it would be if someone came into our messy house and made all things new and clean again. This inspired me to give G$ a helping hand with his living space. I thought he might be mad, but he surprised me and thanked me! He said, "It's been a long time since my room was this clean."  

(Just a small collection of dishes, since he had cleaned it up some for Thanksgiving recently :)

 

(I found 25 pairs of socks in various locations . . . meaning 50 locations . . . in his room. Now they are all matched up and ready for wearing. What he really needs is storage solutions, but I don't know what else to add with the amount of room that's left--like Caelan keeps telling me, "You need a bigger house." :)

6. We've been trucking through trig in preparation for graduation. Daisy didn't care if Graysen squished her during the process, as long as he was willing to cuddle through calculus, she was a happy puppy :)

7. I found several of the window ornaments Z made us many years ago and strung them up in the guestroom/office. I added a little snow scene with my window markers and viola--festive! 

8. My closet was pretty festive, too, with boxes stacked as tall as I am! I had to wrap gifts and put them under the tree in order to pack for our hunting excursion. Before that I just wore the same three sets of clothes, washed and repeat--because I couldn't get to anything else! Christmas stocking goodies quickly replaced that pile, but it's just temporary. Filling every nook and cranny with Christmas is kind of exciting . . . but, yes, Caelan, I need a bigger house ;)

Out on the Town

It's been a decade since we've attended any work parties--mostly because the guy bosses never threw any. It's been a different story having a lady at the helm. She implemented all kinds of holiday festivities and feasts to thank the employees, including this special evening for just the managers. It turns out, I'm spot on most of the time with axe throwing--but really have to chuck the thing to get it to stick. Buck is good at both aspects of this popular game. He grew up "playing it" when it was just him and trees in the woods :)

Even the gift packaging was cute from Buck's new boss! Inside was a very nice surprise--a Broncos jersey! And the gift card his boss included was PERFECT for Caelan's birthday brunch . . . to be continued on that story :)

Two nights later, Buck arrived home in time from work to pick me up (from a rushed trip to the grocery store) to attend a candlelight concert I've been wanting to see for a few years! We were both so hungry from working all day and not stopping to eat that we just grabbed Cane's chicken strips and chowed down in the parking lot on the way to the fancy concert :) We're very balanced in our bougieness.

Upon arrival, we were surprised to be taken into a little upper level theater that we didn't know existed beyond the main stage. There were 100s of happy candles set up, and somehow we ended up in the only row of seats on the floor with them! While Buck figured out which candles were flashing instead of flickering and which ones had lost their battery juice completely, I was taking in the quiet and calm of the space. Then the four musicians walked out, two violins, a viola, and a cello and from their first notes, tears were in my eyes. It was simply lovely! 

We could see the first violinist's music from where we were sitting and the Vivaldi piece basically looked like someone poured ink across page--I don't know how it's possible to follow, play, perform, read, understand, keep up with, etc. etc. that many notes in that small of a measure! But wow, could that lady make her violin sing! Only at the very end were we encouraged to record some of the music. I tried to shrink the piece down enough to load on here. Let's see if it worked . . .

This was my most favorite thing we did this Christmas season! The music ranged from classical to jazzy to folk, but all in the Christmas and wintertime genre. It was awesome! I hope you enjoy the little glimpse of our special evening out :)

Quick Hunting Weekend

Ooooooo baby am I behind! I'll never catch up if I do the many words. These are posts I started a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to try to whirlwind these blog bits that already have pictures in them. (I'm also currently trying to keep myself from taking a nap or doing work on a Sunday; this is my best plan). Here we go!!! 

Buck's work schedule was a bit more squeezy this year, but hunting with the boys is such a boost for him during this busy time that we were very happy to make it happen! It was extra special that we got to stay in my grandma's house, recently fixed up by my cousin before her wedding. She's still working on a name: "Grandma's Guest House" is what she's got so far :)

We took the two crazies! Which reminds me--I need to vacuum the van . . . Chase drove the truck, so Buck and I had the dogs all to ourselves. Yippee, lol :)

So many memories in these rooms! The new carpet is nice! No blankets on the floor for popcorn, but I still felt like we should take off our shoes. It's amazing how small all the spaces seem, when I remember how many people filled these rooms for family gatherings! It's actually quite astonishing in retrospect. I remember sleeping on the couch, not this couch, but a couch in the same spot, when I was in kindergarten and my grandma waking me up to tell me I had a baby brother :) I could go on and on, but again . . . so behind!

I got to cook on my grandma's stove for the first time--again, so small and low and so little prep space. How did they do it? Constantly we had loads of food, but the space is so limited. Kind of mindboggling! And look how we just fit around the kitchen table. I remember twice this many people eating in this space. Fascinating! Lots of card games played here, too :)

Despite having a pretty rough go of it healthwise, Aunt C seemed perky and upbeat during our visit. She even hand mixed homemade noodles for us while we waited for the icy ground to defrost enough to wander across the yard for a visit. My family makes it so easy to visit with all the meals and bedding and even a kennel (which Daisy didn't want to stay in) provided. Chase got his first taste of noodles. Liking them is mandatory, loving them is inevitable ;)

Although the few trips to the hunting blind didn't result in any deer coming home with us (there's been an illness, so the herd was down in numbers) we certainly made the most of our time in conversations and connections with my cousins and aunt. My uncle made us breakfast casseroles and helped with the meals. Oh, and we got to see my cousin's wedding pictures . . . and Lin brought cake balls. It was good to spend time with everyone!

These are the only pics Buck took; they went out three times, I think. Also, I found the silverware from my childhood in my grandma's drawer. I'm guessing it got left behind at the store, and unpacked and reused at the pre-wedding nest. Pretty fun!

Although the dogs only left the house to use the lawn, they were somehow exhausted by their experience. Buck and I had his work manager party to attend that evening, so that's next in the line-up!

Feeling Festive

After we found the tree and brought it home, Buck got it sawed off and put in water right away--I think it is still drinking a week or so later, and that's great news! I got the lights (LEDs, but with a classic glow so they don't neon out your eyeballs on Christmas morning) wrapped around the tree . . . and that's where the decorating ended for a fairly extended period of time. I think it helped the dogs acclimate to the idea of branches being in the house--because they are obsessed with the ones outside of the house! They've gnawed the lilac tree and snowball bush basically to nubs, they've chewed through the stack of firewood, and they've dug up tree roots to get to the underground goodies . . . this was not a problem before Daisy arrived. I didn't know Olive had it in her.

Brennen had a day off of work, due to the cold, and he agreed to help me with some of the outdoor decor. I was amazed to find this one little rose still bravely blooming despite the frigid weather!

Brennen was wrapped in layers up on the windy roof--it was like 65 a few days later, but the job was complete by then. He did a very nice job on the roof, it looks great :) I <3 Christmas lights!

I found this cute little heart-shaped leaf in the grass while I was raking (okay, brooming, I didn't go up to the shed to get an actual rake) the lawn. While we were working, H called and said she needed to go car shopping and wondered if I could watch Vi for a couple of hours. It worked out and we watched Bluey and played with the magnet dolls and mostly kept Daisy in her kennel. G$ came up with a solution for fixing H's current vehicle, but the part has gone missing. I need to track it down tomorrow. Come on, USPS!

Here's a night view of the decorating . . . the giant bush has three light nets stretched across it--but only on the top, so you can just see a fringe. We bought one net and thought it would fit, lol! Not even close! Even after the big trim of last year. Also, the little reindeer only lasted a few days. It was one of our older inflatables, and the wires weren't very well connected and not fixable, Buck said, so it is now retired in the garage (I'm not sure why not in the trash). Our neighbors each have four or so inflatables in their yards, too. It looks kinda tragic in the daytime when they are all deflated like melted snowman spots on our three lawns, ha!

We're waiting on a new fan for last year's giant yeti addition. I hope it works! Daisy barked at the lit up chickens for awhile, but then felt she scared them into sufficient submission (keep in mind she's not allowed to bark at all). Now she barks when the lights are off and she can see just the shapes of the ornaments. My friend S suggested we just set the lights to turn off a little later, and so far this has worked wonderfully! No barking dog, no yelling us, peace in the neighborhood at midnight--which it is nearly, now. I should wrap this up and go to bed, but I'm telling you what, a late afternoon nap does wonders in rejuvenating my night owl abilities!

The evening following the Peter Pan play, we dressed up again and attended my work Christmas party. It's so funny to say that! My brother sent me a VIP parking pass, so Buck and I got to valet like fancy people :) We sat at a table with C & K and determined Buck had traveled the farthest, so he won the centerpiece. K already had a place for it in her mind, and also won one last year, so we happily shared the prize with her! In return, when C's raffle ticket proved a winner, he reached across the table to give it to me . . . and tipped K's glass of wine in my direction. As I mopped the wet off of my phone and my lap, we looked at each other and said, "Just like when we were kids!" Lol! EVERY TIME we went to Pizza Hut, he would knock his pop over, and it didn't matter where at the table I sat or how far away from him, it always ended up on me :) Awww, some things never change, ha!

Photos of me: the first, the photographer only took one on my phone and one on her camera. I don't think we were quite ready for it--apparently I was not, anyway :) My new outfit from Amazon for $15 was very comfortable, like pajamas! I added the black scarf from the previous night as a Captain Hook inspired belt; I think it worked out okay. I wore the necklace Buck bought me from a Native American artist at one of the national parks we visited--maybe it was Crazy Horse? We've been to so many. It may have been the Grand Canyon or maybe in Colorado? One thing I do notice is that my nose looks increasingly Polish the older I get :)

A few observations about the company party--the first man to speak gave a full-on gospel presentation! It was simple and heartfelt. He prayed for the gathered staff and he prayed for the meal; Buck and I were both a bit wowed by that! I don't know many people yet at the many branches of this business, but they exist in real time! Lol, I saw faces of names I've seen 100s of times. I also learned that the numbers I enter and the quotes I write--directly affect them. Ten guys (I think it was 10) received shirts as a result of numbers I've entered after making service follow-up calls. My little role (in part) meant they got to be honored at the party, which was quite surprising to me!

The meal was tasty, the decorations very classy, and the people around the table were entertaining to visit with. I saw my boss and my second boss and had little conversations with them. The party wrapped up a little sooner than noted on the invitation, and Buck was ready to roll. We got his car from valet (the valet noted how fun his car is to drive) and we vroomed home. 

I had nursery duty the next morning, G$ had sound booth, and Buck had work. I think that's a wrap on current festiveness--I did do some decorating inside and Brennen helped, while Buck did some reconnecting outside. He can now turn the lights on with his phone even while he's at work, should they not come on automatically as they are programmed. Wow! Let's see, oh, our neighbors packed up and moved while their across-the-street neighbors got a pretty new roof installed. It was a tight squeeze getting in and out of the neighborhood, but that's the way it is when there's a lot going on in a little space :)

I'll throw in a bright photo here at the end--Caelan's festiveness is in the midst of all that yarn! She's got special orders galore for Christmas gifts, and I think she now knits and crochets in her sleep :) Her third street fair stand was the most successful yet and extra festive with horse drawn carriages, Christmas decorations, and a live band playing carols. Such a cute place they live; I just wish it was closer!