Dogs........Boys?

This is interesting, and perhaps should be posted under Wiener Wednesday, but I have already posted that for today.

I have been wanting to make a little "area" for Theodore and Winston in my office. Something that feels comfy cozy to them. I thought it would be fun to look up information for:

"Decorating dog's room". So I googled it. I typed in....

"Decorating Dog's Room", in the search bar.

Up came information for:

"Decorating Ideas for Boys Room".

I had to laugh. They obviously know my boys!!

I did eventually, through the world of blogs, come up with some very fun dog room ideas:

Is that not the cutest thing ever?

It actually looks like the Puppy Inn that Theodore and Winston stay at when we have to go out of town. It used to be a hotel that has been renovated to a puppy inn. They share a room with two doggie beds as shown above. They have their own television and VCR/DVD combo, get to watch movies, have climate control for what temperature they are most comfortable in, get doggie ice cream sundaes and twice a day they get "Yappy Hour" (which, I must add, Theodore has been kicked out of Yappy Hour twice because he was getting a little rowdy with everyone and carrying on so. They had to put him in time out.) Leave it to Theodore to take Yappy Hour a bit too far.

That photo came from this blog which has some really fun and creative ideas for painting and accessorizing the room of your dog.

I also came across this site with all kinds of different shapes and sizes of dog beds. Remember these are DOG beds:

This is such a Bud bed!

This one would actually be perfect for having out in my sun room. It even has a drawer to hold their toys or extra bedding!

Here's to happy napping to all you 4 legged family members!

Wiener Wednesday

I have been looking around at other blogs and I have noticed many have theme related days:

Make-Do Monday
Thrifty Tuesday
Thankful Thursday
Finally Friday

Every week on that day they post something related to their theme.

Well, how fun! Everyone knows I am all about themes!

I sat down with my pen and paper and thought about what day I would like to represent. Mondays and Fridays are too busy to have to commit to. Tuesday.... I'm still getting over Monday. Wednesday. That would work. Right in the middle. Now what would work with the alliteration: Let's see:

Whiskey Wednesday (No.....I don't drink, but where did that come from?!)
Wasted Wednesday
Washed Up Wednesday (What the heck? Do you see a theme developing here?) (You can tell what kind of a week I have had :) )
Wedding Wednesday (No, come summer, weddings will probably dominate most of my posts nearly every day of the week).

I know.......something dear to my heart that certainly deserves its own special day, and they always give me something to write about....................................

Wiener Wednesday!

.........and so it goes

I have been somewhat busy trying to get some holiday decorations put away. We took the tree down on Sunday. In order to get the tree down I have to move all of the stuffed animals I put around the base. I didn't have the containers out yet, and needed somewhere to contain them so I put them on the couch. They filled up the entire couch!

Well......this is where Mr. Theodore and Mr. Winston take their naps. Here it is Wednesday and I have not yet moved the stuffed animals. They have had enough. They were over the stuffed animals taking over THEIR nap spot. They took it upon themselves to do some rearranging. Moving, pushing, adjusting. I came out and found a heap of stuffed animals on the floor and Theodore and Winston where they used to be.

Before


Nap Time

Go Kyle!

Seems to be what I say most the time he is wrestling.

My mom gave me a new little video camera for Christmas. It has a memory card so I can put the videos right on my computer in one step. That is quite a handy feature for me. The difficult part is getting familiar with the camera.

I seem to do much better with still photography. Perhaps it is that I use a large bulky camera, which I love. I used to use a video camera all the time when the kids were little. It was big and bulky and manageable for me. These small, teeny, tiny things I find more difficult.

I took some video last night of Kyle's match. I won't tell you the outcome, so you will have some suspense. If you can't figure it out by the poor videography, please let me know. It is something I need to practice with. The fact that they move around a lot on the mat and I keep losing them doesn't help either. So, please forgive me while I am learning. Hopefully, I will get much better real soon.

Also, if you could. There was a terrible accident last night at the wrestling meet. During the heavyweight match of Fridley vs. St. Thomas the Fridley wrestler, Justin, took the other wrestler down and got a pin. He was ecstatic. His first pin. As everyone was cheering and jumping up and down we noticed the St. Thomas wrestler in a great deal of pain and unable to get up off the mat. The weight of both the wrestlers had come down on his forearm during the pin and snapped his forearm in half. It is amazing how they go from being the "opponent" to a child in need in a blink of an eye. It was a horrible and helpless feeling to watch him there in so much pain. It seems like time stands still and everything moves in slow motion.

He was taken by ambulance and is going into surgery today to repair his shattered forearm. Please keep him in your prayers. Pray for his strength, courage and full recovery and also pray for Justin. Pray for his ability to forgive himself. He is taking it rather hard. Please keep all of our athletes and their safe participation in your prayers. It is so easy, in a blink of an eye, for any one of them to be hurt and we do need God to watch over them and keep them safe.

Secret Sauce

Ice fishing is upon us.

The crunch of the frozen snow underneath your feet. The fog of your breath in the air. The miniature cities of ice houses that develop among the snowplowed paths of Lake Mille Lacs, all with at least 5 things in common;

1. Holes in the ice
2. Poles
3. Grill
4. Playing Cards
5. Beer

I absolutely adore ice fishing. Although, Dave and I do it quite differently and I adore my way, not his.

Dave's Way

My Way

Please note: That is carpet around that hole!

Don't get me wrong........I will do it Dave's way, if absolutely necessary and it is above zero, and the wind isn't blowing, and the sun is shining :)

Dave will also do it my way.........if absolutely necessary :)

Since we are all out there for one thing and one thing only (other than listening to music, playing games, eating snacks, watching football games (obviously taken from my way); and that is to catch fish.........Walleye fish..........we are going to share with you the Secret Sauce.

Good Luck and let us know how you do!


The Bait Recipe for a Freezer Full of Walleyes
by Andrew Martinsen

I thought you'd like to read this special report. This is an ultra-secret sauce that is the result of a lot of testing and tweaking.

It's a simple and easy ingredient mix to put together, and best of all it guarantees you to catch walleyes fast.

The Recipe:
One Tablespoon, Garlic Powder
One Teaspoon, Ground Parsley
One Cup, Vegetable Oil
1/2 Teaspoon, Salt

Mix the ingredients together in a small container. This recipe works best with live minnows. Dip the minnow into the sauce for one minute before throwing out your line.

Note: The recipe will make the minnow extremely sluggish, and since the smell of it makes ME hungry, why would a walleye like it? It truly is a mystery as to why this secret recipe works-those of us who use it religiously only know that it does.

Like so many things in walleye fishing, you can often be astonished at the level to which your success can skyrocket when you hit the water with a dramatically different approach than that taken by everybody else.

Try it yourself and see..........

Best of all, this bait recipe is simple to put together at the last minute before you head out the door to do some fishin'.

To catching the BIG ones!

Not a Walleye

Not working hard

Not Amused

Trollhaugen

We took the boys snowboarding yesterday to Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisconsin. They are all very sore today. Groaning and moaning around the house.

Justin is on the Snowboard Team at school. We will be compiling different videos from the various ski resorts they go to throughout the season and I will edit them and make one video out of them. In the meantime, I have a little video from the guys yesterday.









True Justin Form.

He thinks if he acts like he didn't fall. He really didn't fall. I love how he raises his arms at the end.......like he has had some major achievement.

He is too funny!

We Miss You Ron

It's been 6 months today that we received the knock on our door. It seems so much longer.

As we go into this first new year without you. We think of you. Your smile, your laugh, your talkative nature.

We find comfort in KNOWING you are very present and happy with God. In your passing we have learned not to take time with those you love for granted. Enjoy every minute. They can be taken quickly and too soon.

The saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye".

With Love,

Your Family

Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Marnie & Dave

Merry Christmas!

In looking at my "Countdown to Christmas" calendar here on my blog. It says 361 days until Christmas. That means........you can either take this as a little tardy in wishing you Merry Christmas for this year...............or nice and early for wishing you Merry Christmas for next!!! (Is your glass half full or half empty?)

I hope everyone was blessed and had an amazing day in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

I was very blessed this Christmas to be surrounded by loved ones. I had all my children here, my mom and brother arrived safely thru horrible snow storms from Montana and Wyoming, and Dave's family joined us for Christmas dinner. It was a day full of joy and laughter.

My heart was warmed and touched in so many ways, but none more deeply than by the true gift of reflection of the importance of being a mother and having the love of our children and other children in our lives.

I have sat for hours reading..........with laughter and tears of joy and sorrow, letters from mothers throughout the world. Their life journeys and challenges, triumphs, heartbreak and happiness have filled my heart and mind with so much and I am forever changed.

I wish to thank everyone that sent a letter to be included in the compilation. Your story and how it touched my heart was my greatest gift.

Many of you have received your gift from me and many of you have yet to receive it. I will post later in greater detail regarding this wonderful experience so as not to spoil the surprise for those of you yet to receive it.

May all the blessings of Christmas be yours throughout the year!

God bless you all with health, happiness, strength, and love.

~M

Christmas Projects

I wasn't sure if I would get to it........but I did and it's done!!

My project for Christmas 2008 (like I only had one :) ).

I made "Gift Pails". Something to put my adorable gingerbread men in and I also filled with candles, gift soaps, other goodies and even a fuzzy Christmas blanket went in one. I gave them out to teachers, neighbors and family members. I loved how they turned out and they were "buckets" of fun, a little messy, but who doesn't like to get their hands gooey and messy sometimes!

I took a paint can and different papers, tissue, napkins, (really lots of different backgrounds, some I even painted), ribbons, buttons, decoupage and EMBELLISHMENTS (my new favorite word and some of you just love it when I use it!)

I may even make them for other occasions. I think I may make one (or 5 or 6) to hold my ribbons, another for my EMBELLISHMENTS, and others for other craft do-dads. How fun to have them sitting there on my craft shelf waiting for my return when I get more great ideas!

House is Decorated for Christmas (Finally!)

With new roofs, new floors, and what seems like the "sky is falling" quite literally in our house, it has been an ongoing project to get the house dressed for Christmas. With much exhaustive relief I can say it is done!!!! I don't even mind the horse trailer out front filled with dirt and shingles or men on the roof.......... I look at them as God's helpers to assure my family keeps warm and dry and a very special Christmas gift from him to us.

This is how it began, with what seemed like hundreds of boxes from the attic

Same space....lots of hard work

Birth of a Gingerbread Man

Kathy, Kris and I spent a wonderful day making gingerbread men and rum cakes! Kathy and Kris especially enjoyed making the rum cakes!!

They were the cutest little men. I have been giving them out to everyone....pizza delivery drivers, Schwan's man, Federal Express, UPS, mail carriers, neighbors, teachers, friends, relatives, the nice man who shoveled me out after I got stuck while delivering a bucket of them to someone else :).......I have even sent one on a journey to South Dakota to see my Aunt Audrey!

It is amazing the smiles a sharply dressed gingerbread man can bring!

Oh little Gingerbread Man
Oh the joy you bring
Is it the smile on your face or the red hots on your belly
Is it that you smell so very fresh and yummy
Could it be because your dressed in your Christmas finest
Or can it be......that people can see.....
Disguised as a gingerbread man is thought, love and kindness?

~Miss Marnie

Say a Prayer for the Roofers!!

Yes.....they are still up there!

We are in the middle of a blizzard with unbelievable low temperatures and they are up there on that roof!

It's Warming Up!

The temperature is now 10 degrees above zero.........a heat wave!

It has been sooooo cold. Today the sun is shining bright and it is actually quite a beautiful day. I am planning on finishing up whatever decorating I am doing outside today.

It has been real difficult working my Christmas decorations around the roofers. Yes, they are still here. They took a few days break because of the extreme cold. Saturday they came back and were tearing things apart and continuing on with their mess. Sunday morning I woke up early to get ready to go meet a bride and groom to look at flowers at the wholesaler for their wedding. As I was in the bedroom I looked out the window and noticed it was raining outside. Yes, pouring down rain. I walked out into the hallway and then noticed it was not only raining outside........it was also raining in the hall! The roofers had not covered up any of what they had been tearing apart on Saturday and now we had it raining on the 3rd floor and leaking down into the 2nd floor of the house. I got Dave out of bed and he began running around finding whatever buckets, pans, containers he could to stop the rain from hitting the hardwood floors. What a mess!!!

We finally got a hold of the roofers and over they came. The water got into the floor on the 3rd floor, which has (had) blown insulation in it. They had to begin tearing up the floor and pulling all of that insulation out of there. Now not only is the roof torn apart, horse trailer parked in our car port, ladders hanging off of the roof.........we now have the floor torn up, missing insulation and a ruined ceiling on the second floor.

Not only is it heating up outside..........our temperatures have risen quite a bit as well!!

We really have quite a mess on the 3rd floor!

On a lighter note:

It is nearly Christmas!

Theodore waiting for Santa

We are baking at my house tomorrow. Gingerbread Men and Rum Cakes. If you care to join us........be here by 9:30.....although we are telling Kathy 9:00 because then she will be here by 9:30!

I am really wanting to do a craft project for some friends, teachers, mailman, and yes....maybe even the roofers...........(they have had a hard week!!). I am in hopes of getting the supplies this morning, if I do, and get them done, I will post pictures and show you what they are. If not, you will have to wait until next year!

Although the cold can be quite miserable, it can also be quite beautiful. Kyle and I went down to the river and stood out in the elements (and believe me, that winding coming across that river was some serious elements at -45 degrees windchill). I took some photos and thought I would share some with you.

Spring Lake Park

They have a great wrestling team is about all I can say.

We didn't win a match. The t.v. crew was there filming and the DVD's are available for purchase for $20.00. Spring Lake Park parents may be lining up to get them, but I can guarantee you nobody from Fridley is!

It was a tough night. Kyle took his match kind of hard. But we want to focus on what he did right and not what he did wrong.

It's amazing how we can always come up with all kinds of things we do wrong or should have done differently, and we often really struggle to come up with what we do or did right. They are both equally important. What we do wrong so we can recognize and attempt to make changes and what we do right so we can give ourselves the acknowledgment and praise we deserve.

Team shot after a very disappointing night

Short video of the beginning of Kyle's match. He had a great shoot. Unfortunately, it went out of bounds.

In the program there was a poem printed that I think all parents need to be reminded of and remember:

That's My boy Down There!

Please don't curse that boy down there;
He is my son, you see;
He's only just a boy you know,
He means the world to me.

I did not raise my son, dear fan,
For you to call him names;
He may not be a super-star
But these are high school games.

So please don't knock those boys down there,
They do the best they can;
They've never tried to lose a match
They're boys and you're a fan.

This game belongs to them, you see,
You're really just a guest;
They do not need a fan that gripes,
They need the very best.

If you have nothing nice to say,
Please leave the boys alone,
And, if you've forgotten your manners,
Then please just stay at home.

So please don't curse those boys down there,
Each one's a parent's son.
And win or lose or tie, you see,
To us, they're number one!!!

Winter Wedding

Saturday we did a "Winter Wedding". I love the weddings in the winter. They are so beautiful and romantic.

The colors were blues and silver. The decorations consisted of white lighted trees with ornaments, bells and snowflakes; white floating roses (that wouldn't open up so they had to be forced and ended up looking like beautiful gardenias), centerpieces with ornaments, bells and silver wire in a glass cube, white scattered candy snowflakes and bells on the tables and a cake that was jazzed up with snowflakes, beautiful silver blue beads and a rose topper. Candles were scattered throughout the room and tables and the room was completed with white organza ceiling draping with twinkle lights.

Kathy always does such an amazing job with the flowers. The bouquets were stunning as always!

There were a couple of really "cool" ideas for this wedding.

The flower girls carried "glowing snowballs".

These were made out of wire balls that were spray painted white and glittered. White tule was inserted inside. The outside was then decorated with ribbons and beads. The snowballs were made to "glow" by inserting white lights inside. One-time use lights were used here because they would last approximately 12 hours, which was perfect. You could use battery operated lights if you wanted to hang these in trees or use them for other decorations. We found that a few lights inserted in each gave off the perfect "glow".

My couples are always looking for fun, creative ideas for their card box. This is a great one!

Use 4 picture frames and glue the sides together to form a "box". Insert photos in each of the frames. For this wedding a wedding photo of the bride's parents, a wedding photo of the groom's parents, and two photos of the couple were used.

Make a top out of heavy cardboard or wood, add cushion with fabric secured to it and have a slit in the middle to insert the cards. The cards are secure and the card box is personal and unique. It really works out great!

The cake arrived fairly plain. White buttercream with little dots and a ribbon around each of its 3 layers.

Snowflakes and beads and a fresh floral cake topper of white roses, thistle and freesia were added and it came to life!

The important thing about decorating....don't be afraid to try things.

The special details make all the difference!

Gregory and I took some video at the set-up of the reception. I have a fairly new camera, which I just discovered also does video. At this point, Gregory thinks I should stick to photography. I don't know how to use this video feature very well..........and it does show!