Happy Birthday to John

I just wanted to take a moment to wish my awesome husband a very Happy Birthday!
John wears many hats in his life and here are just a few of my favorites:
Happy Birthday to the man who still looks every bit as appealing as the day I first met him, just a bit more silver.

Happy Birthday to the gentle giant grandpa who can enjoy an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony with the best of them even from these delicate cups.

Happy Birthday to the a terrific son who has always made his parents proud.

Happy Birthday to a man who is not afraid to fry the bacon as well as bring home the bacon. (Even if this frying caused some major grease stains and a few burns) The man fries a mean bacon.

Happy Birthday to the man who has such a comfortable chest. I know I have fallen asleep on it many, many times.

Happy Birthday to the man who does a lot of the heavy, hard work around our home. Shortly after this photo he used his muscle power to pull Tiz and I on the sled!

Happy Birthday who makes the trip easier for all of us.

Happy Birthday to the man that I still love to go out on "dates" with and toast our great life together.

Happy Birthday to the man who loves his country and the way it was run under great men like Raegan. A man who is not afraid to voice his strong conservative opinion.

So, Happy Birthday, John. I hope it is a very happy day and year for you!

Where Has All the Snow Gone?

As I was writing this title I was singing the words to the song, "Where have all the flowers gone?" In case you are too young to remember that song, let me fill you in. It was popular in my coffee house days (back when coffee houses weren't really a place to drink coffee, but more to smoke funny cigarettes, if you know what I mean) Anyway that was a war protest song probably sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Now back to my point. I was disappointed when our snow had all melted during the last warm spell. I am not a big fan of snow, but I do like to have some on the ground especially now that we are back in the deep freeze.
Today was my first day back to school after my Christmas break. I was happy to get back and see my little ones again. We did the best we could to bring some snow into the classroom even if there wasn't any real snow outside.
Here we are making snow angels. It is just as much fun to make them with or without snow. The kids even wanted me to pull them up so they wouldn't get footprints in their angels just like when you make them in the real snow. We also made snowballs out of stuffing. We had fun throwing the snowballs at one another. Hurts a lot less than real snowballs. The kids thought it was great to be able to take the snowballs home with them, too. I put out a box of winter things so the kids could dress up for pretend play out in the pretend snow. It was funny to see them in all the scarves, hats, and mittens.

Finally, we cut out snowflakes for our ceiling. Is there anything as much fun as cutting out snowflakes? Tiz and I cut out a bunch over Christmas break and they are still hanging from the living room ceiling swinging in the furnace air.

So even though I am missing the real snow outside, I know since it is only early January we will gets lots more snow and have lots more time to sled and play in the white stuff.

Come on snow, I am ready for you! Just don't overstay your welcome.

Packer Sunday in Wisconsin

You gotta love Packer Sundays in Wisconsin. I just got back from a shopping trip to Shopko, The Dollar Tree, and Family Market with mom-time to buy those goodie box items for John and Lis and I couldn't get over all the Packer gear. I think everyone including the store help had Packer clothes on. Yep, gotta love the Packer fans in Wisconsin.
Today is a big game and it is on as I type. This could be the last Sunday that we will watch the Packers this season if they lose to the Bears and all that Packer gear will have to packed away until next season. If they win, then we can wear it for at least a week longer. Then again, being that this is Wisconsin, most of us will wear our Packer gear right through winter, spring, summer, and back into next season, no need to pack it away!
Yep, you gotta love us Packer fans in Wisconsin!
Now, Go Pack!

Welcome 2011, Happy to See You

Well, it came and in just one small moment we went from 2010 into 2011. All that hoopla and here it is.
John and I had a very nice night last night bringing in the New Year in Oshkosh. We started with a mid afternoon trip to Penney's and to Hobby Lobby, found some necessities and non necessitees at both places. After that we stopped at Sonic for our first ever malt and float there. I had heard good things about Sonic and it was all good.
Our reservations for Vitale's were at 7:45 so we headed over there about 7:30 to enjoy a drink at the bar before dinner. We had the specials of tenderloin and shrimp for me and swordfish and shrimp for John. We were given complimentary desserts because of the wait which we didn't even think was all that long, so all in all a good deal for us.
After Vitale's we went over to Becket's where we got these handsome hats and horns. There was a blues band playing which was fine, but we could not make it there until midnight. We were full and couldn't drink anymore, so we headed back to the Van Auken B and B. We made reservations on St. George Island for our 35th anniversary in June and then in came 2011.
Check out time is pretty open at the B and B so we stayed until about 2:00 and then headed home.
Happy New Year 2011 everyone!

Organizing Tizita's new toys

John and I are up in Oshkosh to celebrate New Year's Eve. If you have followed my blog, you know how much I dislike NYE and am always looking for something new and different to do that night. So much pressure to do something to ring in the New Year. I usually like it to just come in like any other night. I don't buy the whole out with the old, in with the new business. That is hopw the idea to come to Oshkosh was born. Courtney, Paul, and Tizita are celebrating Christmas with Paul's family in Minnesota over the weekend, so the Van Auken B and B had a vacancy. In fact, we are the only guests for the next two nights.
While I was up here, I offered to organize Tizita's playroom and put away her new Christmas toys. That is what I spent hours doing today along with John's help. We like the finished product and we think Tizita will like it, too.
We put up a new full length mirror in her playroom so when she dresses up in her new dress up clothes, she can see herself. We bought her a bunch of dress up outfits for Christmas.

I moved many of her books into her bedroom into the empty areas in this piece of furniture. The girl has many, many books so it was nice to find a new place to store some of them.

I put her wigs up on top of this shelf which also houses play shoes, jewelry, baby clothes, hats, and purses.

We put up these hooks so she could easily hang up some of her dresses.

And finally, we set up this little area in the kitchen for her grocery store. She got a new cash register for Christmas and she is all about playing store. You can also see her Easy Bake Oven on the table in the background. I am excited to hear her feedback on the new look here at her house.

Tomorrow John and I are going out for dinner to an Italian restaurant here in Oshkosh and then ringing in the New Year with a few wines and some scrabble back here at the B and B. I am looking forward to our little celebration.

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Memories 2010

Tomorrow Courtney, Paul, and Tizita will leave and go home to Oshkosh, thus officially ending our Christmas celebrations. We had a full and fun five days spent with family. Here are a few of the highlights: John and I began with a lunch on Christmas Eve day at Applebee's. Here I am with my Cosmo toasting in the holiday in a fun and festive way. After our lunch we opened our gifts to one another. New underwear, cigars, a calendar, and a Rose Bowl shirt for John and a lego necklace, new homemade (not by John) purse and wallet for me. Great gifts all the way around.

We spent Christmas Eve with Kev, Mal, Mom, Lis, and Nathan at Kev's house. We started our partying earlier than previous years due to the fact that we did not go to church this year. We all agreed it was a fine decision and the day seemed much longer. We shared lots of laughs, silly memories, and good food and drinks.

On Christmas Day, Coutney, Paul, and Tizita met us at Jack and MaryAnn's. Jack was home from the nursing home for the day, so that made it very nice. He was doing well and seemed to njoy his Christmas at home. Tizita became very attached to this doorstop dog at their house.

Tizita brought this alarm clock along so we could all wake up bright and early on the day after Christmas Day to see if Santa had come.

Indeed he did come, as he always does. Here is the obligatory pajama archway picture as we all look at gifts for the first time.

Tizita inspects the carrot which the reindeer had chomped on.

After opening our gifts it was time for the second brunch with our famous donut holes. Courtney is wearing her new apron from Alissa. We exchanged names this year among the six of us and we all agreed it was the best way to go.

John and I bought Tizita a bin full of dress up clothes. Here she is in her Princess Tiana dress with her Princess Tiana doll.

All the ladies had to get in on the dress up fun, too.

On Monday, Courtney, Paul, Tizita, John, and I went into Madison to do some shopping at Trader Joe's and have ice cream at Ella's Deli. Tizita is riding the mechanical horse at Ella's. We took a tour of Lake Mills and then had pizza and beer at the Rose Garden. Another fine, fun day.

On Tuesday, today, John and I took Tizita sledding down the big hill at the swimming pool. It is a big hill, but she loved it. We also collected sticks for a roaring fire-the perfect way to end the Christmas celebrations.

Time to get the tree down now and get on with the new year.

Merry Christmas

I am sitting here in the quiet of the living room with just the Christmas tree lights on. I have been up since 5:30 getting an egg dish ready and relaxing on the computer. Tiz is sleeping in with Grandpa and everyone else is still asleep, too. As soon as Tiz wakes up she will see that Santa came last night and there are many presents under our tree for her. I cannot wait, but yet I am enjoying this last few minutes before the paper starts flying.

It has been an awesome Christmas. I will update with many pictures later so I can remember the special moments. In the meantime, Merry Christmas wherever you are!