Build-A-Fort

This is something that I found at a local toy store. The boys have had a lot of fun playing underneath this. So have the cats.

Merry Christmas

Cat in a Frame

An Unfortunate Tumble

I was coming out of a restaurant yesterday, and while walking down about 10 concrete steps, I tripped and fell down, twisting my right foot backwards and sideways. The pain was excruciating for about 5 minutes, and all I could so was sit on the steps and catch my breath. Thankfully, the ankle and foot didn't swell up. I made it home OK (drove with my left foot) and after two phone calls to the doctor's office, decided to wait overnight to see if it would improve. Mike helped out and made dinner last night, cleaned up the kitchen, and shooed the boys to bed.

I went to school this morning and hobbled around without a shoe on. I sat as much as I could. It seemed to be doing OK with ibuprofen, but still uncomfortable in certain positions. Today I went in to the doctor's office and found out that I either just bruised it horribly, or I could have a fracture from a ligament tearing off a small piece of bone when the foot was bent backwards. I'm supposed to see if significant improvement happens by Monday, and if not, go in for an x-ray.

So...as I am only able to walk around by limping and keeping my right foot up on my toes, my Christmas shopping plans for this weekend have been cancelled. My mom thinks that this may have happened because I need to slow down. And she affirms that the ability to hurt oneself due to klutziness runs in the family. Whether or not I think that is true, I certainly appreciate the ability to walk around effortlessly more now than two days ago.

I am currently trying to find a comfortable position to sit and keep my foot elevated. It's tricky, because a pain will shoot up my foot and leg if there's pressure in the wrong spot. Arg!!!! Hopefully this will all improve by Monday, and I'll be back to normal. In the meantime, I'm going to be the couch-warmer of the family...or the window-seat warmer. I guess I'll be the one testing the new heated mattress pad that I got for the window seat!

My Semester is Almost Over

It is finals week and I have already finished grading everything for one of my classes! Final grades are calculated, and now all I need to do for that class is report them to the registrar. I'm anxious for one of my jobs to finish up so I can focus on Christmas. I get to this time of the year, realize all the things that I still need to do in the next two weeks, and start to panic. With my college classes wrapping up by Wednesday, my schedule opens up in the afternoons. On with mailing cards, making truffles, shopping for presents, and mailing presents. I really don't like going to the post office at this time of the year, but hopefully the automated machine will be available. While I don't really like chatting online or using technology to communicate (talking in person or on the phone takes so much less time), I do prefer the automated check-out lanes at grocery stores and especially at the post office where the staff is always less than cheerful. I'm not certain if that is an inconsistent view to hold on technology.

During all this pre-Christmas activity, I run the risk of viewing this season as another part-time job and turning into quite the Scrooge. I admit that last week I had the fleeting desire to just skip it and fast-forward to January. As I reflect on that feeling, I realize that I am just too busy these days. My schedule isn't conducive to partaking in the occasional leisure activity. When I do choose to ignore my nagging "To-Do" list, I fall behind and have to scramble at the last minute to get things done. I detest procrastination.

I just turned on Christmas music to lift my drooping spirits. Who can resist Bing Crosby's wishes for a Merry Christmas?

Posing Cats

The cats look like they are being affectionate, but this picture was taken while they were wrestle-fighting. With love comes conflict!

Family Picture

We were able to get a family picture taken while we were in Minnesota for the funeral of Mike's Mom. It was a difficult trip to make. We will greatly miss Pat. After about 2 months of travel back and forth to visit his Mom who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's in the late spring, Mike is getting back into a normal routine.

Homecoming 2007

Friday Night

Don't have to get up tomorrow at 6:15
Don't have to grade papers or prepare a lecture
Don't have to check the calendar to see if the kids need a sack lunch tomorrow
Don't have to shoo the kids to bed at 8:00

Wasting time on Facebook doing the "Where I've Been" map
Helping Isaac build two Mars Mission Lego sets
Oreo cappuccino drink from Baskin Robbins
Google-chatting Jeff
Talking to mom
Deciding not to go to the football game and watch the marching band
Thinking about the homily I need to prepare for Sunday, but not doing it
Watching play.blogger.com
Buying a new pair of khaki pants for work
Returning pants that were too big for Avritt
Brats for dinner
Petting the cats even though they don't want me to
Blogging

Avritt #39

Google Groups Feature

You can now sign up for email notification when I update the blog. Try it - sign up using the white box in the upper right corner. I have to approve you as a member, so it may take a couple days to go through the process.

Cats Playing

Isaac goes shopping

THANK YOU - Grandma Marcia and Grandpa Jay, Aunt Amber and Uncle Devin, and Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ted for the birthday money. Isaac had a lot of fun buying these toys.

An Oven at Last!

Football!!

Update

Emily started band camp. Practices ran all day long and three hours in the evening. She got quite the farmer tan, but has enjoyed seeing friends and having something to do. She has an intense performance schedule ahead, with events almost every weekend for a couple of months. Avritt likes playing football with pads and a helmet. He couldn't wait to tackle someone! Isaac starts swimming lessons next week. I need a taxi service.

School starts next week Tuesday for the kids and my high school job. This week has been crazy, though, because my college classes have already started. I am teaching 3 college classes and 2 high school classes. I will have a full schedule this semester. The kids aren't sure they are ready to start school, and I feel the same. We had a great summer, though, and while transitions are difficult, we are thankful for where we are compared to last year.

Mike loves his job and is performing excellently there. If you want the juicy details, you'll have to talk to him. Ask him about cyber crime and a recent conference with tech. directors across the state.

Isaac turned 7! He and three friends went to a local indoor play arena and had supper and cake with ice cream. He did have fun despite his dubious expression.

Our silly cat.

Mike and Avritt at a Tigers game in August.

Kitchen Progress

The new stools are great! The kids can sit there and chat when I am working in the kitchen. It will be where homework is completed once school starts. The wood is oak, but the stain matches the kitchen cupboards exactly!


This picture shows the cupboards across the top of the windows. We have installed clear glass in the cabinets on the side of the windows. I will eventually make stained glass for those cabinets.