Dust, Dust, Dust.

There is a 1/4" coat of grayish white on everything in my house. How does drywall dust and sanded paint travel so far?!

Good news is that this means progress. As I type, the painters are putting the second coat of "Studio Taupe" on the walls. The electrician comes tomorrow to install a ceiling fan (that I have to purchase today) and put in outlets and switches. Then fingers crossed that the carpet will be installed on Thursday...or Friday at the latest. If it can't be installed by then, we will have to fill the room without carpet only to move everything out again when the carpet is ready. I REALLY don't want to have to mess with that. So as silly as it is, prayers that the carpet goes in on or before Friday!

window and door into room

tiny closet

empty corner

Successful Washing Machine "surgery"

Our washing machine has been acting really weird and hums really loudly and then doesn't do the final spin of the clothes about 1/2 time. Sweet. This thing is not even 3 years old.

Brian did a little research and said he thought it might be that the drain is clogged. Great, so how do we unclog it?

With some help from the internet, we tipped back the front loading washing machine (full of soaking wet clothes), took off the front panel to access the space under the "drum", then proceeded to take off clamps and hoses to the drain. This was a little scary for us because this is uncharted territory for us and the last thing we wanted is to have to call someone to put our washing machine back together!!

folded up laundry sheet

Well, we found the culprit. Wadded up inside was an (approximately) 6x9x.25" detergent/fabric softener sheet. that was absolutely caked with gunk, grit, lint, etc and STUNK! I previously loved using these because I am sure that I use more detergent than is needed in the HE machine and these took the guesswork out.

Not worth it if they get sucked into the drain. Seriously....huge. Connors socks are way smaller so I'm sure they probably could have

unfolded grossness

gotten sucked all the way through.

I am now confident that the washing machine was actually "eaten" things before.

the drain

Anyway, we got it. The problem was putting back one of the tubing "neck" clamps back over the hose. I tried for about 30 minutes and Brian tried for just as long. It is now being tightly held on by a zip tie instead. It still works great and we have tested it with 2 loads and have no water on the floor. :) I never thought a high spin cycle could be such a beautiful thing.

difficult to tell, but this is a successful spin cycle!

Polar Express

This is just a small tease, but we had such a wonderful time on the Polar Express last night. I took over 300 pictures and would like to edit some before I post. However, this one is now "processed" (raw on Facebook) and it is my favorite of the trip.

mixed up sentences

"I will see this at the movie feeter, I want."

He just said this 5 seconds ago and since I have my computer in my lap, I thought I'd document. He is referencing the new "Al Chipmunks" movie (Alvin and the Chipmunks) that is coming out on Friday. He was previously uninterested in these chipmunks (liked Chip & Dale) until Brian recorded the movie the other day on our DVR. Now he thinks it is absolutely hysterical and laughs out loud at the tv. :)

And TODAY is the day for the Polar Express. We plan to leave around 10:00 this morning to head to Ohio!

Connor's Christmas Gala

I have lots of pictures too....need to get them off the camera.

Looks like Christmas around here...

Now we just need a little snow. :)

 And I just took some better tree pictures....with close-ups or ornaments.... to come.

basement update.

Successful party here on Saturday night with Brian's coworkers. About 12 adults.

In honor of that event and the fact that we are hosting all of the Nealons here at Christmas, I've been "stimulating the economy"....a saying I hear from my dad frequently. :)

AND the framers are here framing the last unfinished room in the basement: Connor's new official playroom! This also means that we will put our elevated air mattress in there this Christmas when all the Nealons are here and whoever sleeps in there will have walls, a ceiling and carpet!

I took a few semi-"before" pictures shortly after the framers got started. I'm sure I can find some of the room as it was used (or NOT used) with Connor's letter mats and miscellaneous toys. The cats definitely spent the most time in there. They'll likely be in shock, but I did keep one section of Brian's bachelor couch because it is there favorite. The blue grover chair will also find a new home in this room when it is completed.

Anyway, operation basement makeover is in full swing!

A big advantage to getting lots of new, big furniture is big boxes to play in!

Whew.

Operation basement spruce-up is in full effect. I'm worn out, but it is looking good.

I know that is a big tease, but I am too tired to write/post/do anything else.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving post is a bit late....I made our little meal for 3 on Thursday morning, but after about 4 bites, that was it for me. Connor so generously shared an awesome little virus with me that suppressed my appetite and kept me running to the bathroom. I missed Black Friday entirely as I was on the couch or in my bed all day.

I am thankful for SO MUCH this Thanksgiving, including feeling better on Saturday!

Although our Thanksgiving was different since we spent it with just our little family of 3, it was nice to be together....even if I was sick. Of course we are so thankful for our families all over this great country and we look forward to being together soon.

Thank you for our health, happiness, wonderful family and friends. We are so blessed....especially with this little native American boy. (at his first school Thanksgiving feast on Wednesday...he still had the "bug" at this point and only ate a few bits of his roll...and still a bit lethargic, too)

Gingerbread Fun

We've sorta skipped Thanksgiving this year. Please don't take this as a sign that we are unthankful....we are just going all out for Christmas and would like to enjoy the decor for more than 25 days. :)

I was able to stall making the decorating the gingerbread house until November 14th.... :)

my winter {big} boy.

I did not witness this first hand, but I just had to add it here before I forget.

Last night I went to my "cardio dance" class at the YMCA. This is the first time I've gone at night. Anyway, Connor stayed home with Brian.

Yesterday was our first day of snow flurries. It was actually pretty wet stuff and being the first snow of the year, I wasn't very hopeful that it would "stick". It rained/snowed off and on throughout the day....only a trace of accumulation at all. I must say that this does not disappoint me. I am NOT ready for a big dump of snow yet. We'll have the next several months to deal with it. But I do love playing in the snow and Connor is SO excited for the fluffy white stuff that it makes the beginning of winter much more tolerable....I think I'm even looking forward to it. :)

It gets dark so early now that none of us had even noticed that the snow had picked up a little in the evening. When I left for the gym, Connor saw it and wanted to go out and "play" in the snow. Brian told him they would go outside and he went to get his shoes on. After B was all ready to go, he couldn't find Connor. He was calling his name and looking around the house....no Connor. Then he heard a faint, "Am down here." (I guess if he is talking he doesn't feel the need to say "I"!) He went downstairs (all by himself) into Brian's workout area and was bringing up a very large gray sled. He was serious about really wanting to play even though you could very easily still see the grass through the snow. :)

I'm not sure how Brian convinced him otherwise, but I'm confident they did not go sledding down the grass at 7:30 last night in the pitch dark.

However, they did build the first snowman of winter 2011. It is really a snowball snowman and was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I didn't get a great picture of Connor with it because I didn't want him sitting on the wet steps in jeans, but this will do. (will add as soon as I get it off my camera)

The second that I walked in the door Connor excitedly started telling me to look at the snowman! (what?!) In my mind I just thought he was confused. I should have known better. He doesn't get confused about much. This whole little scenario has simply warmed my heart. Of course we love our little guy, but it is situations like these that we will think about for years to come and just smile.

——

Another short Connor story.

A few days ago he was playing with his Cars cars. He picked up Fillmore and told me that it was "just like Mommy's car". Fillmore is hippie bus from the movie. Again, I thought he was confused. He brings the car over to me, "See, Mom. [pointing at the VW symbol on the front of the car] It is just like your car." My man knows his cars. He does the same thing when he sees another Volvo out somewhere...."that looks like Daddy's car". The color or model does not matter. He goes for the logo. Atta boy. ;)

Fall is coming to an end....winter is near.

I did not make this, but I do love it.

I'm wondering how many of my southern friends will know what it is. :)

I am not really ready for snow yet, but at the same time, I hope we get some today. Connor is SO excited and talked about making a snow man all the way to school today. I can forsee many hours spent outside with my little man this winter. :)

Christmas lights are going up on the house this weekend. This will be a first for me and Brian. Let's hope we don't kill each other and that no one falls off the roof! Pictures to come once they are up!

Christmas-time.

Connor informed me this morning that when we get a snow blower it will be Christmas.

He thinks that whenever it snows, Santa will be on his way.

It is supposed to snow a little on Thursday.

We are in trouble. :)

I really want to start decorating, but I'm sure that will just confuse him even more!

"I sure do."

Me: Connor, would you like some pasta for lunch?
Connor: Yes...(pause)...I sure do. Big smile & hug.

Some times it is the little cute things that make me want him to stay little for a very long time.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Are you going to be obese?

Connor consumed an entire McDouble and 6 chicken nuggets from McDonalds. (We got 1 sandwich and 8 nuggets to share and have a "picnic" at the printer on Thursday.) I know....not the greatest lunch, but it was a special treat.

I told Gramma and Grandpa Chief about his food intake.

Brian: "Connor, are you going to be obese?"
Connor: "No, I'm going to be a dragon."

Love.

son.

dinner.

I'm no chef, barely a cook at all. I'm afraid I don't enjoy much about cooking. However, I do better in the colder months. Perhaps I'm more motivated to eat something warm to heat myself from the inside out? I also like cold weather leftovers. :)

Anyway, I made my first ever chicken pot pie tonight. It was good. I basically combined about 5 different recipes and "made it my own". Glad it wasn't gross....that was a possibility, too.

Now I'll try not to burn Brian and Connor out on this one. :)

Connor: "Mom, I love it! I love pie....with chicken, too!"

Love him.

Autumn in Michigan