Jan 26 CM delivery for Tina

The highlight of my day today was delivering Tina's Creative Memories order to her. Tina is so creative, and will put the supplies to good use! Since there are only 12 days until our annual Lake George Scrappin weekend, getting the new product made her very happy !! WHOOOO HOOOOO!

Jan 25 Liam sledding

Liam went sledding with the Cub Scouts today. They met around 1:00 behind the Wood Road School. Buddha was there, along with a few other scouts. The wind was whipping, and it was sunny but COLD. Liam had a great time, and was rewarded with hot chocolate - made from scratch the scout way - slowly simmered over a camp stove.

Jan 24 Dinner with friends

Poor Jim missed out on camping with the Boy Scouts this time, as he was sick all night long with food poisoning! So, Liam and I kept our mommy & Liam date, to give Jim some time to rest. The movie was entertaining & we enjoyed each other's company. Later in the evening, I had a chance to go to Mark & Deb Hodgkin's house for dinner. It was a good time to get to know our church's new pastor, Alan, and his wife Christine. My sister, Carol, and brother-in-law, Dale, were there also. It was an enjoyable evening, with good food and pleasant conversation.

Jan 23 Planning a movie date

Tomorrow is Liam and mommy day. We get to play together while Brendan and Jim camp with the Boy Scouts in Cooperstown. We decided we would go to the movies, so we went online to select one. Liam chose "Bedtime Stories," starring Adam Sandler. It's going to be fun!

Jan 22 We have a basement

Our basement is done. I can not believe how quickly things are progressing. I'll be blogging from my NEW bedroom before I know it!

Jan 21 Real Estate Inspection !

Kellie from ReMax came over tonight for the much awaited inspection. A few things she loved were: the new carpeting upstairs, the beautiful Berber carpeting in the living room, and our wood burning fireplace with its unique stone facade. Of course, she had a few suggestions for improvements. These included painting the trim in Brendan's room, and changing the paint color on the lower half of the living room. All very manageable changes, which we will implement. We discussed a listing price, she showed us comps, and then was on her way. YEA !

Jan 20 Our bedroom is done !

Tonight, we touched up the trim and hung our curtains and a few paintings in our bedroom. It came out GREAT ! We're all ready for the Kellie real estate inspection tomorrow ~ and thank God, because we're simply exhausted!

Jan 19 New Carpeting is installed

Our new carpeting was installed in all three bedrooms today. We chose a neutral tan color, which compliments all of the paint colors upstairs. The installation wasn't completed until 5:30. Then, we got to assemble and make all three beds, in addition to putting all the furniture back in the bedrooms. The boys had been home with Jim all day (Martin Luther King Day), and became bored with the whole process quickly. They broke in the new carpeting with a few rounds of wrestling and rolling around!

Jan 18 Painted the bedroom

Today, we finally painted our bedroom. I've only waited 5 years for this day ~ and of course, I won't be living here long enough to even enjoy it! We chose a Valspar paint called "Spearmint Shale." This picture doesn't do it justice - it's really a minty light green, with blue undertones. Jerry approves !

Jan 17 Out with the old

Today, we took down Brendan's Thomas the Tank Engine border paper. He had outgrown it years ago, but Brendan isn't one to complain, and other home projects took precedent. Brendan did a good job of cleaning up the mess!

Jan 16 Jim's IVIG treatment

Jim had another round of IVIG therapy for his peripheral neuropathy. The visiting nurse came to the house around 10:00 to start the infusion. By noon, Jim was having a reaction, so the drip had to be stopped, a shot of Benadryl administered, then the drip started back up again at a slower rate. I pray that these treatments will eventually work, and halt the progression of his disease.

Jan 15 In my mind, I'm already there

Today, I ordered a few goodies for our upcoming Lake George crop. It's been my tradition to make a goodie bag for my posse each year. This year, it's a record group: me, Carol, Diane, Nancy, The Fong, Tina, and Teresa. I hope the two newbies fit in, and everyone not only has a great time, but also gets a lot of pages done!

Jan 14 We have a foundation

I drove by the new house today. They have started digging the hole already. Seems like it's a very BIG hole! I'm so excited; I email everyone I know that we have a hole in the ground already!

Jan 13 Liam is sick

Today was my turn to stay at home with sick Liam. These are the days that, although I am thankful for the option of staying home with a sick child, that I feel guilty that I HAVE to work, and can't be home every day. I would bake cookies, and be there when they got off their buses. My house would be clean, and I would be a happier person. This is a fantasy that I will never be able to live.

Jan 12 Liam spikes a 104.6 fever

Poor little Liam was so sick today. Jim stayed home with him, as he tried to break his fever. By 5:00, he was at 104.6, despite Tylenol every 4 hours on the dot. I was surprised that his pediatrician did NOT want to see him right away, simply advising to switch over to Motrin for quicker relief. Within an hour of taking the Motrin, Liam's fever had gone down to 102, & he was beginning to feel better. Thank God!

Jan 11 Football playoffs

We spent today at the Blanchard's house watching the football playoffs. It actually ended up being most of the O'Connell's, inviting ourselves to the Blanchard's house. There was Dan Coffey (Eileen and the girls came later), Jim's brother Billy, Jim, me and the boys, and Jim's brother-in-law, Tom Hope. Kirk, Donna, and Olivia were also there, so there was fun for all.

Jim and Brendan are camping outdoors with the Boy Scouts. I don't know what would possess people to camp in a tent in Upstate New York in the middle of winter, with snow in the forecast, but that's just me! So, Liam and I spent today having a "Mommy and Liam Day." It's one of Liam's favorite times. He gets my undivided attention, and I usually have a special outing planned.

Jan 9 Swallowed half of my tooth

Imagine my surprise when I was using my tongue to get lodged food out from between my teeth, when my tongue was actually sliced open! Upon closer examination, what I was feeling was not lodged food at all, but my exposed filling. OUCH... The worst part of all is that I swallowed the missing half of my tooth. I hope the dentist won't want it back!

Jan 8 Tina's CM Show

My niece, Tina, had her Creative Memories party tonight. I would say it was a success. "The Scrappin Aunts" were there - Diane, Carol, Nancy, as was Tina's sister, Teresa. We all figured how to work our Cricuts, and everyone stocked up on CM products for our Lake George crop in Feb. Tina earned 100 free prints from the CM photo center, in addition to free CM product for being a host. In a perfect world, I would quit my Allstate job, and sell CM full time, but I find it difficult to step out of my comfort zone... Visit my site: www.mycmsite.com/maryoconnell!!

Jan 7 This stuff has GOT TO GO !!

I worked like a dog today, sorting and tossing. Who knew one family could accumulate so much STUFF? From just Brendan and Liam's closets, I ended up filling 3 trash bags for the garbage, and 4 grocery bags full of clothing for donation. In this picture, you can see one of Brendan's car slippers sticking out of the top of the bag. I always liked those slippers - the boys each had a pair that matched. You could lift a little flap on the top, and see the car's engine underneath!

Jan 6 We have Spruce Trees

It was just last night that we signed our contract to build on 204 Oak Lane, but a little birdie told me today that we have new trees on our lot! So, Jim and I each, independently, took a drive by to check it out. Sure enough, we are the proud new owners of 10 Blue Spruce Trees! They are beautiful... We're pleased that Gary Bordeau was true to his word, and didn't waste any time getting our new trees in.

Jan 5 We signed the contract

It's official. We have signed our lives away for the next 30 years! Tonight's meeting was long and very stressful. Jim and I met with Gary, his son, Joe, and our Realtor, Kellie. When all was said and done, we were the proud owners of a contract to build a house on 204 Oak Lane in Milton. WHOO HOO!

Jan 4 I love Maggie

I love Maggie. She is so furry! Maggie has gone through some rough times. Her step-brother, Jake, died almost 6 years ago. I thought Maggie was going to die of a broken heart then. But, she persevered and became the Queen of the house. Maggie was living the high life, until Jerry came into our lives. A 40th birthday gift from Jim, Jerry is a feisty grey short-haired cat with a LOT of energy. Although the kids, Jim, and I love Jerry and his boundless energy, Maggie is not so much a fan. They spend much of the day fighting and hissing at each other. I frequently think Maggie is mad at me because I brought Jerry into the house. Sorry I'm such a dissapointment, Maggie ~ your still my favorite feminine feline and I love you very much!

Jan 3 Crying at Homecrest Kitchens

Today, Jim and I went to Homecrest Kitchens and Colonial plumbing to pick out our cabinets and fixtures for the new house. Let's just say that I don't do well with random numbers and lines on a piece of paper - from High School math homework, to, say, the blueprints to my new house- I'm a visual, hand's on kind of girl. When I had Jamie from Homecrest take me to a kitchen layout in the dimensions of my kitchen, the waterworks started. It was TINY!!! Fortunately, Jamie (with the help of his CAD program) made everything better. I sacrificed my "nook" for more counterspace and a peninsula, and everything is going to be OK !

Jan 2 Back to work

It's never easy to go back to work after time off, even if it is only one day off. Today it was business as usual at Allstate. Selling insurance is difficult this time of the year, especially when the economy is in the dumps! Today was especially hard, since it is a Friday. In my opinion, if a holiday falls on a Thursday, the following day (Friday) should be a mandatory day off as well. Who REALLY wants to be sitting at a desk for one random day, just to be off for the weekend after only 8 hours? But, trudge on we must, and that pretty much sums up today!

Jan 1 Happy New Year

Happy New Year !! Last night, we celebrated my 41st birthday, and rang in the New Year with good friends. We played a rousing game of Trival Pursuit (wives kicked husband's butts), and spent the night at Tina & Bob's house. I don't think I have stayed up so late since college. It was a fun time for all. Today was spent lounging around in my PJs and watching cable with Tina. The kids played nicely, and the boys even made it up to Lake George for a round of indoor golf.

Here is a picture of my signature LL Bean slippers, and Java PJs. I literally did NOT take them off all day today. Life is good !