Branson, Mom, Tannon & Kaedon
Monday, December 15, 2008
Boys & Nana
Last night we were at mom and dad's having dinner and I got this picture of Darcy's boys and mom. It was taken on my cell phone, so the quality isn't perfect. However, I thought that the picture was just perfect! The boys were in the perfect pose! Anyway, another fun night at the 'rents for dinner! We launched balloons in the air before dinner with Christmas wishes on them. Courntey wanted an American Girl Doll, Kacie wanted a yellow star, Branson wanted a 4-wheeler (remote control I think) and I'm not sure what Kaedon wanted. His name was on it and he drew a picture, but I don't know what it was...I'll have to ask him! ;-)
Branson, Mom, Tannon & Kaedon
Branson, Mom, Tannon & Kaedon
Monday, December 8, 2008
Bably It's Cold Outside!!
How much do you love that song?? Well today is COOOLLLDDD!!! There is just a little bit of snow on the ground, but it's so cold! And it's cold here in the rink today too! I went out in my car and started it up at lunch time just to warm up! Crazy!
Anyway, I was going through pictures and found some great pictures of this summer with the kids picking strawberries. It was so fun and the kids did a great job. Darcy is still pregnant with Tannon in these pictures. I believe we went on July 4th, so it WAS nice and hot then! ahh.....just 7 more months and it'll be like that again!
Just starting out
Kelly, Kacie & Courtney
Branson & Kacie
Branson hard at work!
Darcy & Kaedon
Courtney & Branson working together!
I think Kaedon liked eating them better then picking them! :)
Done for the day ~ Great Job Kids!! :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Setting Up for Christmas
I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner!! Thanksgiving was great and it was nice to see all of the kids enjoying each other. Sunday afternoon all of the kids were over to mom and dad's house and mom decides to dig out the Christmas decorations!! It was fun and the kids had a great time. Sadie and Nicolas made a gingerbread house for the dining room table and Branson, Garrett, Courtney and Kacie helped put together the reindeer.
Back when I was married, my father-in-law made these awesome reindeer out of wood. They are in pieces like a puzzle and they all fit together perfectly. Anyway, I had my father-in-law make a full set of reindeer, along with Rudolph, for my parents one Christmas. It came complete with a sleigh and Santa too. Harlan (my ex father-in-law) has sense past away so we know there will never be any reindeer to replace these….so we try to be EXTRA careful! The sleigh is down at the dance hall being repaired at the moment. Anyway, here are a few random pictures of the kids that afternoon. I think Branson thinks HE’S Santa!! Haha!
I didn't get a picture of Nicholas and Sadie making the gingerbread house....It came out great! I believe I was digging out the train to set up! Nicholas joined in and helped me set that all up too….thanks for helping me Nick!!! :)
Back when I was married, my father-in-law made these awesome reindeer out of wood. They are in pieces like a puzzle and they all fit together perfectly. Anyway, I had my father-in-law make a full set of reindeer, along with Rudolph, for my parents one Christmas. It came complete with a sleigh and Santa too. Harlan (my ex father-in-law) has sense past away so we know there will never be any reindeer to replace these….so we try to be EXTRA careful! The sleigh is down at the dance hall being repaired at the moment. Anyway, here are a few random pictures of the kids that afternoon. I think Branson thinks HE’S Santa!! Haha!
I didn't get a picture of Nicholas and Sadie making the gingerbread house....It came out great! I believe I was digging out the train to set up! Nicholas joined in and helped me set that all up too….thanks for helping me Nick!!! :)
After the reindeer are set up
(its a little blury with my camera phone)
Branson and Courntey playing
I believe Courntey is trying to set up one
of the reindeer (notice the rest of the
reindeer are behind the rocking horse) :)
Kacie is showing Kaedon how to use
my laptop. These kids are 3 & 5....NUTS!!
Well done Kacie...he's on his own now!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Dad Slaughter's the Pig! eek!
Hehe...I have to share this one! Whenever there is an event in "Recordville" it is sure to be something worth writing about.
Erland has been raising pigs and finally one was ready for the slaughter house. He loaded the pig up and took it off to be....well....KILLED! I know this sounds incredibly disgusting, however growing up as this being part of your life really doesn't bother me. My sister on the other hand HATES it!
Anyway, after church a couple of Sunday's ago, the pig was ready to be butchered. Since dad is/was a butcher, Erland asked him to help out. This brought back a lot of memories of when I was a kid. Ok, so picture this.....we've got a half of a pig slapped right on the dining room table and dad cuttin' away. Kelly & I were wrapping the meat as little Courtney was lugging it out to us. Mom was fixing supper for everyone and working around us happily. Erland was .... well .... pretty much supervising I guess. Making sure dad was doing it right maybe?? hahah! It was hilarious!!!
A lot of the grandkids were there. Dicky's 3 kids were over from next door. Of course Erland and Kelly's 2 kids were there. Darcy's 2 boys came up from their house and Darcy came up with Tannon later on. She was appalled by the WHOLE thing! It was funny how nothing changed from when she was a kid. She said at the end, "Remind me NOT to come up when there's butchering going on!". Branson, Darcy's oldest boy, kept wanting to touch or look at the scrap meat in the box. I think Darcy's blood pressure was 220 over 110! She kept yelling at Branson not to touch anything! It was funny.
I thought you'd like to see some pictures I snapped on my cell phone of the event. Courtney is smiling after delivering us some meat. Kaedon and Branson are watching grampa cut up the
meat. Kacie is taking it all in with her cute little smile.
It was a fun afternoon! Well...for some of us that is...sorry Darcy! :)
Erland has been raising pigs and finally one was ready for the slaughter house. He loaded the pig up and took it off to be....well....KILLED! I know this sounds incredibly disgusting, however growing up as this being part of your life really doesn't bother me. My sister on the other hand HATES it!
Anyway, after church a couple of Sunday's ago, the pig was ready to be butchered. Since dad is/was a butcher, Erland asked him to help out. This brought back a lot of memories of when I was a kid. Ok, so picture this.....we've got a half of a pig slapped right on the dining room table and dad cuttin' away. Kelly & I were wrapping the meat as little Courtney was lugging it out to us. Mom was fixing supper for everyone and working around us happily. Erland was .... well .... pretty much supervising I guess. Making sure dad was doing it right maybe?? hahah! It was hilarious!!!
A lot of the grandkids were there. Dicky's 3 kids were over from next door. Of course Erland and Kelly's 2 kids were there. Darcy's 2 boys came up from their house and Darcy came up with Tannon later on. She was appalled by the WHOLE thing! It was funny how nothing changed from when she was a kid. She said at the end, "Remind me NOT to come up when there's butchering going on!". Branson, Darcy's oldest boy, kept wanting to touch or look at the scrap meat in the box. I think Darcy's blood pressure was 220 over 110! She kept yelling at Branson not to touch anything! It was funny.
I thought you'd like to see some pictures I snapped on my cell phone of the event. Courtney is smiling after delivering us some meat. Kaedon and Branson are watching grampa cut up the
meat. Kacie is taking it all in with her cute little smile.
It was a fun afternoon! Well...for some of us that is...sorry Darcy! :)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Ok It's been a while!
Seriously now...I know that it's been FOREVER since I've written on here. The summer flew by so fast and now I'm getting ready for winter. It doesn't seem possible November 1st is Saturday!!!!
Life has been very busy for me this year. Some days a little too busy even for me! The dance hall is going well and we're always trying to come up with new ideas to make it grow more. The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame is now in the lower level of the Spur. There are wonderful displays of Maine's own country music legends. Dad was just inducted as the newest Hall of Fame member this summer.
The banquet hall was very busy this summer with weddings. Hopefully it'll be even busier next year. We've got several bookings for next year already...hopefully this is a good sign!
The hockey world is still the same. Some days it doesn't seem like I can ever get the work done that needs to be done, but somehow I manage to pull things together at the last minute! Our old coach, Clem was in town a couple of weeks ago. It was so great to talk with him and catch up. He is a wonderful man and I have the utmost respect for him. He's coaching in Rimouski, Canada now. He was our coach for three years and took our team all the way to the Memorial Cup. It was great experience and he taught us all a lot.
The family is doing really well. It's so great to have my sister back home. The boys love running all over the place, and it's so fun to see everyone all together. This Christmas Buster and his wife Mandy will be coming home for Christmas. I believe this is the first Christmas in five years that we'll all be together. I'm looking forward to that!!
Courtney is doing great with her diabetes. That kid amazes me, seriously! She was bummed the other night because she was going to have a substitute nurse at school. She said that this nurse calls her mom whenever they take her blood sugar....even if it's good. I guess they took it one time and it was like 140 or something and the nurse said, "I better call your mom and tell her." Courtney said, "It's 140....it's fine....that's a good number." She knows so much about it and tells us when she's feeling low, etc. She's getting ready to get the pump which will help her I'm sure. No more needles, which will be a blessing. I'm just so impressed with her and her patience with this terrible disease. Hopefully they'll find a cure for this someday!!!
Well, hopefully I won't wait another 6 months to post something! haha!
Seriously now...I know that it's been FOREVER since I've written on here. The summer flew by so fast and now I'm getting ready for winter. It doesn't seem possible November 1st is Saturday!!!!
Life has been very busy for me this year. Some days a little too busy even for me! The dance hall is going well and we're always trying to come up with new ideas to make it grow more. The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame is now in the lower level of the Spur. There are wonderful displays of Maine's own country music legends. Dad was just inducted as the newest Hall of Fame member this summer.
The banquet hall was very busy this summer with weddings. Hopefully it'll be even busier next year. We've got several bookings for next year already...hopefully this is a good sign!
The hockey world is still the same. Some days it doesn't seem like I can ever get the work done that needs to be done, but somehow I manage to pull things together at the last minute! Our old coach, Clem was in town a couple of weeks ago. It was so great to talk with him and catch up. He is a wonderful man and I have the utmost respect for him. He's coaching in Rimouski, Canada now. He was our coach for three years and took our team all the way to the Memorial Cup. It was great experience and he taught us all a lot.
The family is doing really well. It's so great to have my sister back home. The boys love running all over the place, and it's so fun to see everyone all together. This Christmas Buster and his wife Mandy will be coming home for Christmas. I believe this is the first Christmas in five years that we'll all be together. I'm looking forward to that!!
Courtney is doing great with her diabetes. That kid amazes me, seriously! She was bummed the other night because she was going to have a substitute nurse at school. She said that this nurse calls her mom whenever they take her blood sugar....even if it's good. I guess they took it one time and it was like 140 or something and the nurse said, "I better call your mom and tell her." Courtney said, "It's 140....it's fine....that's a good number." She knows so much about it and tells us when she's feeling low, etc. She's getting ready to get the pump which will help her I'm sure. No more needles, which will be a blessing. I'm just so impressed with her and her patience with this terrible disease. Hopefully they'll find a cure for this someday!!!
Well, hopefully I won't wait another 6 months to post something! haha!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Little "Court" in the Hospital
Wow...what a ride it has been the last couple of weeks! My little niece Courtney, who's 6, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It's been an emotional ride for the whole family, but that little bugger is doing so well with it! She's such a good little girl. She's a kind and sincere kid who you'd never know she was so sick!
I was on a trip to Texas at a steel guitar show with my Uncle Merle (he was playing at it) and she was scheduled to go in for an evaluation the day I left. Her school teacher suspected she may have it because of some symptoms she saw during the day. I called to get a report and mom told me she was admitted into intensive care with a blood sugar level of over 500! It was all I could do not to hop on the next flight home that very night. But I knew there was nothing I could do....so I stayed. It was the longest weekend of my life I think! While I had a wonderful time at the show visiting with friends I hadn't seen in a very long time, my thoughts were always on that kid at home and I couldn't wait to get back!
Since I've been home, I've been doing lots of reading and research. Our diets have changed (for the better!) and we're doing what Courtney's doing. Everyone should eat like a diabetic! Watching sugar intake and counting carbs...definitely a better way to live!
While coloring after supper on Sunday, she quietly said to me, "DeeDee, why do I have to have diabetes?" I didn't know what to say to her...my heart just broke. I said, "Well honey, a lot of other people had diabetes too....it's just something that some people have to go through I guess." And then she said, "What was your trial when you were a kid?" Ok....here's a kid 6 years old and she's saying this??? She's more mature then me some days! I knew she had probably asked mom because that's SUCH a mom response...."This is just your trial"....ahh the wisdom! hehe! So anyway, I proceeded to tell her some things that weren't easy to live with when I was young. But I do have to admit...I haven't gone through anything like she's had to go through! She's a special little girl! On a happy note....I hit the grocery stores yesterday on my lunch hour in search for "Courtney Food!" And low and behold I found low carb pasta. I made some last night and it's delicious!!! And I also discovered that light cream has less carbs in it then milk....GREAT for cooking! I've learned a lot as far as cooking for her goes. I made a chocolate cream pie for her last night and brought it down to her along with dinner for tonight. I had to sample the pie and dinner and it was tasty! Sugar free pudding (made with light cream not milk), real whipped cream with sugar substitute and vanilla! no crust...and for dinner I made some ziti pasta alfredo with grilled chicken and spinach. YUMMY!!
So it's a work in progress but we're learning every day!
While coloring after supper on Sunday, she quietly said to me, "DeeDee, why do I have to have diabetes?" I didn't know what to say to her...my heart just broke. I said, "Well honey, a lot of other people had diabetes too....it's just something that some people have to go through I guess." And then she said, "What was your trial when you were a kid?" Ok....here's a kid 6 years old and she's saying this??? She's more mature then me some days! I knew she had probably asked mom because that's SUCH a mom response...."This is just your trial"....ahh the wisdom! hehe! So anyway, I proceeded to tell her some things that weren't easy to live with when I was young. But I do have to admit...I haven't gone through anything like she's had to go through! She's a special little girl! On a happy note....I hit the grocery stores yesterday on my lunch hour in search for "Courtney Food!" And low and behold I found low carb pasta. I made some last night and it's delicious!!! And I also discovered that light cream has less carbs in it then milk....GREAT for cooking! I've learned a lot as far as cooking for her goes. I made a chocolate cream pie for her last night and brought it down to her along with dinner for tonight. I had to sample the pie and dinner and it was tasty! Sugar free pudding (made with light cream not milk), real whipped cream with sugar substitute and vanilla! no crust...and for dinner I made some ziti pasta alfredo with grilled chicken and spinach. YUMMY!!
So it's a work in progress but we're learning every day!
Here is a picture of Courtney in the hospital with one of the
Harlem Globe Trotters that was visiting.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Hello Everyone!
Okay so my sister conveniently reminded me it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I told her my life is like the movie Ground Hog Day! However, I guess there is SOME news I can share.
First off my sister is prego! Yup...another bambino cookin' in the oven! I'm way excited to be an aunt AGAIN! It never gets old! Someday when I have my own all of these nieces and nephews are gonna be old enough to babysit! Now, THAT'S going to be good....real good!
Well, at almost 37 years old, I've decided to enroll back in college. EEESH....I know! But I guess you're never too old to get that degree right? I'm doing it online through Penn Foster College. I'm getting my degree in Early Childhood Education. So far it's been very interesting and I've been getting good grades! So I'm way happy about THAT!
My profession in the ice hockey world is going well, but you never know when that might end. So this is a good way for me to let's say..."be prepared" for any changes that may come up in my life. I've always wanted to run a pre-school and be an aid for kids to become more prepared and ready for school. It's a great thing to watch a child’s mind work. I love it! Their eyes become so big and you can almost see the wheels turning in their little heads. Kids are just great!
The snow here in Maine has been well.....let's just say I've seen more snow this year then I can remember in years past! This is what is being called "An Old Fashioned Wintah!" Yeah...I'm ready to go someplace warm where the sun shines for more then an hour a day and it ISN'T snowing!!!
Other then that...things are going well! Hope everything is well with everyone else and everyone is healthy, happy and safe! :~)
Okay so my sister conveniently reminded me it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I told her my life is like the movie Ground Hog Day! However, I guess there is SOME news I can share.
First off my sister is prego! Yup...another bambino cookin' in the oven! I'm way excited to be an aunt AGAIN! It never gets old! Someday when I have my own all of these nieces and nephews are gonna be old enough to babysit! Now, THAT'S going to be good....real good!
Well, at almost 37 years old, I've decided to enroll back in college. EEESH....I know! But I guess you're never too old to get that degree right? I'm doing it online through Penn Foster College. I'm getting my degree in Early Childhood Education. So far it's been very interesting and I've been getting good grades! So I'm way happy about THAT!
My profession in the ice hockey world is going well, but you never know when that might end. So this is a good way for me to let's say..."be prepared" for any changes that may come up in my life. I've always wanted to run a pre-school and be an aid for kids to become more prepared and ready for school. It's a great thing to watch a child’s mind work. I love it! Their eyes become so big and you can almost see the wheels turning in their little heads. Kids are just great!
The snow here in Maine has been well.....let's just say I've seen more snow this year then I can remember in years past! This is what is being called "An Old Fashioned Wintah!" Yeah...I'm ready to go someplace warm where the sun shines for more then an hour a day and it ISN'T snowing!!!
Other then that...things are going well! Hope everything is well with everyone else and everyone is healthy, happy and safe! :~)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Hey Y'All!
Well I'm not from the south but I've been known to others as having that certain "southern charm" about me. Life in Maine is great ..... AND a great place to live! Not that I've "lived" in any other place!! Idaho for a semester of college I don't THINK qualifies me as a permanent resident...but ya never know!
For those of you who know me, my life seems to be like an overloaded bowl of spaghetti. No matter how hard you try to keep all the noodles in the bowl...some inevitably spill out....so to be the never ending tasks I try to accomplish every day! But as Martha Stewart says, "It's a Good Thing." It keeps me busy and that's good!
The Silver Spur is lots of fun and Country Music IS my life pretty much! Well my "desired" life I should say. Seeing everyone come each week and dance and have a good time is such a great pleasure for me...seeing people happy is a rare thing today I think. Plus I get to play with the family band...so what could be better? Singing and playing bass is my calling I think....among other things like church. But I can't imagine my life without music! It's a challenge to run a business full time and work another job full time...but the passion in life IS country music...so for me there is no choice! In the words of Alan Jackson, "I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream!"
Other things I HAVE to accomplish seem to get in the way of dreams....like earning a living and paying the oil bill. Oh yeah...and what is up with that anyway....OIL! UGH!!!! Is the U.S. in a shortage??? NO! Let us make our OWN and sell it to our OWN people!! HELLOOOO!!! Are we in any worse of a state then we were in World War II?? No I think not!!! So why I ask you within the last 4 years does it cost me more then double to heat my house and drive to work but I have the same pay wages? It's one of those never ending battles to keep some third world greedy leader happy in his marble palace and not blowing up something or someone else...which by the way isn't working very well. Anyway, enough venting about that! I'd never be a good President...I think I'd order a "let's blow up all of the stupid people" ordinance. So all in all....my hats off to anyone who thinks they can run this country!
Hockey with The MAINEiacs is still going strong. For those of you who are knowledgeable in the "Hockey World" we've put in a bid to host the 2009 Memorial Cup. We actually have a bid in to host it in Portland. We worked out a deal with the Portland Pirates and their ice arena to pull this together as a partnership type deal. Both teams are separate and are in separate leagues....however, Lewiston is just not big enough to house a city FULL of hockey fans and teams! When we won the President Cup in our league last year and headed to Vancouver for the 2007 Memorial Cup, it was an experience to never forget. Even though we didn't win the Memorial Cup, it was definitely worth going. I met so many influential people in the hockey world (hangin' with Gordy Howe to name a few) and got a true sense of how everything runs. If we win this bid, it is no small task. We will all have our work cut out for us, but it's an honor not many get to have. So all I can say is cross your fingers and....GO MAINEIACS!!
My church calling as 1st counselor in Young Women is lots of fun. I love any calling I serve in, but I also love the challenges too. Trying to see what make the youth "tick" is a never ending battle. But a good battle. I love making things for them and watching them learn a gospel principal that they didn't know before. Similar to primary, the Young Women are special spirits that we have an obligation to teach all WE know so they'll be even BETTER leaders. Well I'm sure this is a LOT to read...but hope everyone is happy, healthy and well! Until next time ..... "May the force be with you!" Love ya!! -DeeDee :)
For those of you who know me, my life seems to be like an overloaded bowl of spaghetti. No matter how hard you try to keep all the noodles in the bowl...some inevitably spill out....so to be the never ending tasks I try to accomplish every day! But as Martha Stewart says, "It's a Good Thing." It keeps me busy and that's good!
The Silver Spur is lots of fun and Country Music IS my life pretty much! Well my "desired" life I should say. Seeing everyone come each week and dance and have a good time is such a great pleasure for me...seeing people happy is a rare thing today I think. Plus I get to play with the family band...so what could be better? Singing and playing bass is my calling I think....among other things like church. But I can't imagine my life without music! It's a challenge to run a business full time and work another job full time...but the passion in life IS country music...so for me there is no choice! In the words of Alan Jackson, "I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream!"
Other things I HAVE to accomplish seem to get in the way of dreams....like earning a living and paying the oil bill. Oh yeah...and what is up with that anyway....OIL! UGH!!!! Is the U.S. in a shortage??? NO! Let us make our OWN and sell it to our OWN people!! HELLOOOO!!! Are we in any worse of a state then we were in World War II?? No I think not!!! So why I ask you within the last 4 years does it cost me more then double to heat my house and drive to work but I have the same pay wages? It's one of those never ending battles to keep some third world greedy leader happy in his marble palace and not blowing up something or someone else...which by the way isn't working very well. Anyway, enough venting about that! I'd never be a good President...I think I'd order a "let's blow up all of the stupid people" ordinance. So all in all....my hats off to anyone who thinks they can run this country!
Hockey with The MAINEiacs is still going strong. For those of you who are knowledgeable in the "Hockey World" we've put in a bid to host the 2009 Memorial Cup. We actually have a bid in to host it in Portland. We worked out a deal with the Portland Pirates and their ice arena to pull this together as a partnership type deal. Both teams are separate and are in separate leagues....however, Lewiston is just not big enough to house a city FULL of hockey fans and teams! When we won the President Cup in our league last year and headed to Vancouver for the 2007 Memorial Cup, it was an experience to never forget. Even though we didn't win the Memorial Cup, it was definitely worth going. I met so many influential people in the hockey world (hangin' with Gordy Howe to name a few) and got a true sense of how everything runs. If we win this bid, it is no small task. We will all have our work cut out for us, but it's an honor not many get to have. So all I can say is cross your fingers and....GO MAINEIACS!!
My church calling as 1st counselor in Young Women is lots of fun. I love any calling I serve in, but I also love the challenges too. Trying to see what make the youth "tick" is a never ending battle. But a good battle. I love making things for them and watching them learn a gospel principal that they didn't know before. Similar to primary, the Young Women are special spirits that we have an obligation to teach all WE know so they'll be even BETTER leaders. Well I'm sure this is a LOT to read...but hope everyone is happy, healthy and well! Until next time ..... "May the force be with you!" Love ya!! -DeeDee :)
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