~Happy Halloween~

Have a wonderful time, be safe, get lots of goodies, and enjoy being together. My kids and their kids are coming over, I'll make some soup, buy some bread and they can come back home with the treats. I love Halloween, it has always been the best time, now I don't have to do so much to get ready for it, except a little bit for Jess who still needs me to help stitch a thing or two. In fact this year all I did for Halloween decorations was to buy a couple of pumpkins, a scented candle and put up my little flag. Next year I will go all out, but these things pleased me enough.

Look for lots of pics after Halloween night!!

Kitchen Update

We are coming right along. I must say Barry, Aaron and I are quite the

demo team. We will have it all done and way before Monday morning.

Pics of the new cramped living space, hey, I still like this

room, but must say it looks way better in pictures. We enjoyed eating dinner together last night at a real dinner table. I should have done that years ago, it felt so nice to eat, talk and spend time together instead of everyone going their own separate ways. Lots of pluses already!

The den is empty now except for the couch. I am going to update my fireplace and may post some pics of what I like for opinions.

The rest of the kitchen will come out on Friday, except for the refrigerator, which they said they could work around. This is the last time you will see that window in that spot again.

Jess is loving this!! Really we all are, even my sweet neighbors are excited for me.

I Blade

Whew! Not as easy as I remember.

But not bad for my first time in about 15 years, no blood or broken bones

I lasted about 5 minutes before I got leg cramps and my "blades" hurt my feet,

I will have to try somemore and possibly get some better ones that fit differently??

I am not giving up, this is my sport

I'm off!

The Big Job

While I was gone today, we were tagged!!

Silly Girl signed her work!

This is the Big Job, I was completely traumatized while they took the mirrors down. At one point a piece did break from the top and Aaron caught it before it sliced through his neck. There was blood shed, Barry did get cut on his arm. After that happened...
I took matters into my own hands. I threw a hammer at the glass, thinking it would break into little pieces and all we would have to do was pick it up off of the floor. It only broke into two pieces and can I say Barry was not happy with me when he came in from the garage. Jess got it all on video tape and threatens to put it on YouTube for all the world to see. Apparently she got a lot of footage out of this portion of demolition. It wasn't pretty!!!

I will have to say, Barry was right, he could and did demo what everyone else doubted he could. Even, especially me. I thought it was worth the money to be safe, but now I am thinking of ways to spend that extra cash!! And to top it off, he worked on it before and after work. Way to go Barry, the man with the plan! And Aaron, Hey thanks, you are Barry's right hand man, you lucky guy. He couldn't have done it with out you.

Demo Time

Here's the man with the plan, the muscle and the tools. The first phase of demolition has begun. His plan is to do a few cabinets a week and put them in the trash so we avoid paying for a huge trash bin as well as the contractor's huge fee to demo. The construction will begin on Nov. 3rd. We looked at windows and sliding doors yesterday. Every single thing is so much more costly than we thought it would be. I do hope since I gave up my swimming pool that I end up with nice landscaping and a tree house. I guess we will see.

Kitchen Update

I've got boxes! Yep I am going to pack and sort my kitchen cupboards today!! I have my contractor, after I did get other bids, per Barry's request. Tomorrow we are going to go and order my windows and sliding doors. Barry wants to do the demo, so that may be done this weekend and then the work will begin on Monday. Cabinets are on order and scheduled for delivery on Nov. 14th. My mom and I went to look at granite, flooring and windows last week. I am learning so much and finding exactly what I want. I need a sample cabinet door for selecting flooring and granite, it will make a big difference as to what I choose. So very exciting and hoping to be able to bake Christmas goodies in my new kitchen this year!!

My Friends at the Storehouse

I finally got enough nerve to take some pictures of the people I serve with.

This is Sister Gomm, she is the Mission Mom, she runs a tight ship, but with a loving touch.

These two guys work there too, but I was really just trying to get a picture of Christ.
This is ? I forgot his name, but it was his last night, he was doing some community service. Very nice boy.

This is just to show what the store looks like, I stock all that stuff, canned goods on the right give you a really good workout of the arms and upper body. Girls get no special treatment here.

Produce on the left and non perishables on the right, kitchen and bath items.

I want to say how grateful I am to have this opportunity to help at the storehouse. I love the people who come in there and I try to offer them any kindness I can. Largely their lots are hard and I am so thankful to be a member of a church that puts it's love for it's members first.

"Smore" Fun

Jess got to join us for the bon fire, but missed the pumpkin patch, she was working,

thus the pink eyes and flowers in her hair, not the usual look for a cook out.

After the pumpkin patch, dinner at Casa Del Rey, relaxing and watching the kids play at Grandma Laura's, someone suggested a bon fire, smore making fun time at Grandma Pat's. So off we went for "smore" fun times together!!

The Pumpkin Patch

We took the 1st picture and realized we had missed Ethan, by then I was coming undone.

Waiting to go to the Pumpkin Patch

My Fabulous Grandkids!!

Yeah, Jacob even came, I hardly get to do anything with him anymore,

now that he is a teenager!

We had a wonderful time at the Cal Poly pumpkin patch.

It's a good old fashioned way of picking that perfect Halloween Pumpkin.

This Week's Family Pictures

Dustin in the "Under" Shirt, Designed by Two Bros, You take underwear and cut a slit in the crotch and pull it over your heads. I know you are all thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?" Boy bras! Come on you know ya were!
Laurie and Abby in my old sling I used for Jess
Ethan loves when his baby sister holds his finger.










Big Brother














Abby













Abby













Jess and Abby

Dusty and his Girl

Yep, Grandma puts 'em to work early, can't wait for new sink and counter so their lives aren't in danger while doing dishes. So cute little bodies and back of heads.