Can You Believe It?

I'm back. Just look at those last two posts. Feb 2009 & Christmas 2008!! 2 years...

Besides the normal Blog entries I thought I'd use my Blog to keep a record of the time I spend exercising ( 270 min per week) and my weight loss. Notice those Trackers? I'll update exercise min.daily and weight loss weekly. You will be my support team. Thank you in advance. So if nothing's moving on those Trackers you can shout me out!! Took me all night just to figure out how to get those trackers attached and redesign and reformat my Blog page. Now I'm too tired to come up with anything exciting. There's always tomorrow.

Ride 'Em Cowgirl!

Birthday Girl came over on her birthday. I gave O.J. her gift. Cowgirl hat and glitzy belt. She proceeded to outfit herself . Then addressing her mother says," I know, I'll be the cowgirl and you be the horse!" And of course her sweet mother agreed. It was her birthday after all. Though Kari said to me that she was counting down the hours 'til she didn't have to be her day-long playmate. But this play date was sure funny to watch.

Christmas 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's been a long time. I've enjoyed getting back to everyone's blogs and seeing all the new looks.

Highlights for posterity...
Christmas was wonderful. It was blessed. It was crazy and hectic. It was a full house. Everyone was back except Heidi (she spent Christmas with Zac's family) and Christa (had to work). Emily, Rob, Ian and Madeline flew in on Dec.20. They were a few hours late but considering they were coming from Denver it was a miracle they got here so soon. It did snow. It was sooo cold but Ian was out with coat and pajama bottoms the next morning!! A day or so later it warmed just enough to allow Ian to shovel up the mess. He was probably out for over an hour. I was amazed that he figured out how (remenber he's a Floridian with no memory of snow)to chop at the ice and make paths to clear the way. Madeline was a delight. She's got spirit. And she keeps so busy. As always she kept John busy reading her books. That's their thing. Or snugging up early in the morning.We gals all took off shopping before Christmas-Target, Kohl's. The entire clan attended St. Martin's in Douglas, NE for Christmas Vigil Mass. Father Chris was great and so patient. By candle light he had all the children join him on the floor by the Nativity scene and sing Silent Night. Then the caravan back here for Christmas Eve festivities. Dee, Wally and Terri joined us. Games, food and MUCH commotion, right Emily? Christmas day was quiet. Ian and Mads had their Santa gifts. Emily and Rob and John and I exchanged our gifts. Ate leftovers and relaxed. Rob and Emily went over to Rob's cousin Laurie's for dinner. The 26th was Emily's birthday so there was a crowd. Rob took Emily out to eat at The Oven that evening. J.R., Lexi, and Mason arrived around 8:30 that night(fri). So kids played, beds were set up. Lexi and Madeline shared a room, JR slept downstairs with Mason in 1 bed and Ian and Sam in another. Next day(Sat) was busy with play and art galore. I had colored pictures hung in a special gallery area. Now that would have been a great blog picture. Kari came but had to take off as Wyatt was under the weather. There was a very teary parting between Kari and Emily. Ask Kari. Audrey and Carley came. The little girls adore Carley, she is so kind and playful with them. Joe, Gina and girls came in the afternoon and hung out. Gina the new avid reader. Ask her. Twilight? She couldn't put it down. Molly,Steve and kids came over late in the evening after Christmas celebration at Steve's folks and hung for awhile. After everyone had taken off we watched a movie, kinda weird but good for unwinding. The new games were: The Game of Chips (Molly started out losing too often and it made her a tad upset but Zach was the overall winner,I think)and Freeze Up, battery operated and sort of like Scattergories. Even had Terri staying late on Christmas Eve. Sunday morning was Good-Bye Day. John and the Broyles left for the Omaha airport @ 9:30a.m. Sniffle. J.R. and kids took off for K.C. @ 10:30 a.m. Sniffle. Everyone arrived home safely. Thank you Lord. Know I love each of you . You are each the best and craziest ever.

My new laptop is GREAT and so is the old desktop. MANY, MANY THANKS to Rob. He discovered my modem had gone bad (after a lengthy talk with Time Warner).John exchanged and brought home the new improved model while Rob picked up needed hardware at Radio Shack. He was then able to get the old computer up and running, set up the new wireless connections, redo the printer to take on both computers, download all programs, drivers, and what-nots onto my laptop. It work beautifully. Whew. Thank you John for both the laptop and for enlisting Rob's promise to get it going.

I'm worn out now. Later

K.C. Kuchtas in Town (last weekend)

Put in a couple of shots of the pool finished. The DIRT/MUD is gone!!! This is the view from our driveway. This is the only area where you see the fence, the rest is on lower ground. It's such an open feeling.
The best for last- just look at that face. Nothing better. Mason is fearless, no shock there. John tried to get a picture of Mason going down the slide, But he's just too fast, he was in the water before John could blink. He whizes down and his little body does this half turn before he hits water. Amazing to watch.

Here they are before heading back. Love you and can't wait til next time!!

Happy Father's Day John!

Is he the best or what?! With all of you grown he has now taken to the dogs. Who knew? Actually, the grandkids top the list. Love you sweetie!

June 15, Weekly Update

The cement-like flooring was applied on Friday. No more mud hole. They finished up the drainage tile work Thursday. Cory and his team worked from 8am-8pm !! Painstaking work.
The deck was completed on Thursday. Brad came that morning and put on a gate. It can be locked. Parents will have a place to take the little ones to sit and relax without worrying. The little ones can see all the action going on in the pool without being splashed. I've purchased a baby pool for the deck so they can still have water play when not in the big pool.
Yesterday the pool crew returned and put in the 450 lb. liner! You can even see the design with John's great close-up shot. Before they left they attached a vacuum to suck out the air between the wall of the pool and the liner, put in 2 hoses and turned on the water!! We were to let it fill until the shallow end had 2" of water or turn off everything if the vacuum shorted out. Well, it shorted out with this morning's rain. It was only inches away from reaching the shallow end.
John took this picture last night. From this view it looks as though everything's done. Not so. But now I can almost believe it will be done close or on schedule. The to do list: finish the stone wall, the cement decking around pool, landscaping, fence, pergolla, set up the swing set and basketball hoop. But I've been told this will all go quickly if we have a break from rain. And we have had. This was a productive week and the workers are all phenominal!!

June 6, This Week's Progress

The upper deck's flooring and railing is on. Also the beginning of the bench framing (on the right side) The lower deck is half floored and railing are up. Yet to come are the steps connecting upper and lower decks and steps to sidewalk. From here it looks as though the deck is hanging over the pool. It's close but not that close.
Another view of lower deck. With the rain the retaining wall has not been worked on for 2 days. We're hoping for dryer weather but rain is forecast everyday next week. The cement around the pool can not be poured until the wall is done and the pool guys need the wall finished also, for drainage or what-not. Here's hoping!
The sidewalk from the deck to the driveway was poured today. The basketball hoop is down temporarily. It was where the gate will be. Where the hoop goes is anybody's guess. Input? It's all coming together and again today OJ asked if we were going to go swimming in my pool pretty soon. 33 days? This coming Monday more cement work is scheduled.!? We've also been given June 16th as the date that Campbell's is to start the plantings and our 4 trees to be returned and replanted. More later...

June 5 Update 1

Retaining wall/garden plantings will go here. See picture below to see location.
Front view of picture above. The cement decking of pool will be in front of these walls. Steps will be in the space between walls. There will be a gate to the driveway to the left of the garage. Whew!!
This picture was taken down by the cottonwood tree (pool in background). My River Birch will be replanted in that lower wall planting area. And that is right in front of the lower deck. Steps will be going in to the left there and take you to the lower yard area with the patio and swing set. The gate will be 8 ft. or so beyond these steps. This is the wall on the other side of the above picture wrapping around to the back side of the pool (highway side).

June 5, 2008 Update 2

Here's the pool, sides and steps. This is as far as they've gotten. But all the rest of the suppplies are here, just waiting for the retaining walls to be finished.
One last shot of the old deck and view beyond. A comparison view for future pictures. Cottonwood tree on the right.
New deck supports and lower deck framing.
Both decks framed out. Compare view with 1st picture. Notice retaining wall underneath. Can't see under the deck anymore!! Just a couple steps down and you're on the sidewalk. Cottonwood tree now directly behind lower deck.

April 28-May1, 2008

Be sure to enlarge the pictres w/ a click, it helps to see the detail. To give you an idea how the landscape has changed John took a picture from the treeline on the highway side. What a hill!
This view is John standing beside the cottonwood by the little patio by the basement door. There will be a gate and steps leading down to the yard where the swingset and sandbox will be. The trees are on Debbie's property alongside her pool area. The red flag is on the far left side of the pool and marks the center of the pergolla.
More of the side is in. Cory, the owner of Pool Tech said now thing slow up as they have all the levelling of the sides . I've been watching out the window and boy is that slow. Adjust and readjust the sides putting cement pavers underneath the wall "til just so.

April 23-25 2008

One of 80 truckloads of dirt brought in in 2 days!! As the dirt came in the yellow bobcat would go round and round picking up and laying down dirt and packing it down in hundreds of passovers.
Now the white bobcat from Pool Tech joins the fun and begins digging the pool hole.
Both bobcats working on the hole . Digging up, bringing up and out and dumping off the back side(highway side).
Some of the sides of the pool are in place.

Sea of Dirt

Tuesday April 22- The bobcat is making it's first swipe. Removing all of the sod.
Almost done. Dirt uncovered.
Done for the day. Clara and Chrysanthemum are checking out the destruction of their playground. The stakes behind Clara mark the location of the new sidewalk. The new lower deck will jut out to where Clara is sitting. The stake by the bobcat is the location of the gate entering the pool area.
Wednesday morning. April 23. Loading the sod and taking it away. On the hiway the city crew has come and posted a sign: TRUCKS ENTERING. We're big time now.
This scene has now been repeated for hours. Loads and loads of dirt are being brought in to raise the level of the pool area. Fun to watch. I'm beginning to get a rough idea of how it's going to be. It may be storming tonight so it may be a wash out tomorrow. Literally.

Photo Album Update

Abby and Wyatt
Grandpa reading to OJ and Makayla.
Coffee and chatting in the kitchen. Gina listening patiently. Kari caught in the act of drinking coffee. And what was I about?
Ally holding Abby, she was so excited, loves those babies.

The "Girls" Haley hamming it up big.

Holes Today

Campbell's Day. They removed 4 trees from the yard to make way for the new deck. The trees will be returned at a later time and replanted. 2 evergreen trees were also temporarily removed from down by the highway to make an entry point for all the future truck action. Ian, I'll try to get pictures of all the best looking trucks doing their thing. To view pictures in correct order, start @ bottom and scroll up.



This was a SAD day for me. This is a picture of my dear River Birch being ripped from the earth. I'd been looking forward to this spring. Year 3 my birches really shoot up. Cry a river. Or a pool.

April 8 Lincoln Electic Day

LES had to re-route the electric lines. They had been going thru the center of the yard. Refer back to the picture of the BIG tree and notice the line of red flags. There you have it.
JR these day-by day pics are for you!! Let me know when you're sick and tired of it all.

It Has Begun

The BIG tree is gone!!
...and Rascal took it away.

Queen Olivia and Princess Allison

Today Olivia got her birthday present from John and I. Sunday we went to Super Target and John had very helpful input. We had a fun time. Kari has gotten Olivia into the Fancy Nancy books, I'm told she has them memorized and can now read them herself. Well that was all the inspiration I needed. So here is OJ in her fanciest! And did she strut, Kari thought it wouldn't come off for the entire day but... After an hour or so she was ready to let Ally wear the dress for awhile ( she was all itchy from the fabric). Stay tuned for a follow up picture of Ally. This was such a hit that I have the perfect dress for Ally for her birthday in 2 days. I may have to spring for another in April for Makayla. I will consult you Gina. Molly had been thinking sand toys but after the look on Ally's face... Molly and Kari thought they'd be wearing them while pedaling down the street on their new bikes. That's girls from Panama for you.