Meme's (at little overdue)

Okay, Okay, I'm finally getting around to answering the tag I got from Kristina's Soapbox! Here goes:

(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

1. I love dill pickles. I eat them anytime, anywhere, any form. No, I am not pregnant.

2. I never wear shoes unless I have too.

3. I play the piano and flute, but not as often as I should.

4. Sometimes, maybe, possibly, I'm a little OCD about symmetry and organization ;)

5. I love little kids - the younger the better, from about 4 down.

6. I can't wait for the next Sara Pennypacker "Clementine" book to come out. (i.e. I love all books, children's, young adult, and adult included!)

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name).
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.)

E - Enthusiastic does not even begin to describe my hyperness at times, but other times I'm lazy as all get-out.
L - Laughter is totally and completely neccessary to survive hard times.
L - Learning throughout life is something Papa instilled in me. I loved school, would love to go back sometime, but each and every day I want to learn something new, and never let my brain go totally to mush.
E - Economics still fascinates me.
N - Never say you can't lead a good, moral life and still have fun. Trust me, I could never begin to count all the great stuff I've been able to do in just my short lifetime.

I'm not actually going to tag anyone. If you want to do these, feel free, and be sure to leave a comment on my blog so I'll know to go read all about you!

Home Improvement - Weekend One

At the beginning of January, we sat down and decided which projects in our house we were going to tackle this year, what order we would do them in, etc. It was decided the entry way would be first. The list for the entry-way went something like this:

1. Take down that ugly granny wall-paper.

2. Paint a light, neutral color to make the space seem more open.

3. Replace the old fixtures and switches - including light switches, light fixtures, electrical outlets, and the doorbell outside.

4. Tear up the cracked, moving, also ugly flooring.

5. Level the floor as much as possible without making it impossible to open the front door all the way.

6. Put in new flooring.

7. Take the door down. Sand it, stain it, fix the hinges, and put it back up. (We really love the style of the door, it just needs some work.)

So the first weekend we tackled steps one through three. It was super fun - the whole project has been. We love having something to work on together on our weekends and evenings. We still haven't gotten to step seven, but it'll happen. :)

The View from Saturday

I'm supposed to be vacumming, but I got about half way done and the motor started smoking really bad, so I'm taking a break :)

I finally got hooks put on the back of my Christmas present from Kristina, and it is proudly hanging in the hobby room.

Tony and Kurtis played games on Kurtis' Wii for a while. Kurtis is doing very well, we are all proud of him for the way he's handled the last few months. He can still use prayer, it has, of course, been very difficult for him.

Saturday morning bright and early (9:30) Tony got up and went over to help Dad smoke some brisket, which we later had for supper (yummy!)

While the guys played games and cooked, I went to Eva's personal shower (yes, she's getting married in May).

Tony also worked on his '66 Mustang for a while. It runs great, but it has a leak somewhere in the body they have to fix before we can take it out too much.

I'm surprised Tony had the emotional fortitude to make this decision, but we've decided to trade his '66 for his dad's black '66 GT. The difference is engine power, power steering, etc. Great car, just needs a new paint job - we're going to paint it blue - yay!

We also played games Saturday night - being around Tony's family made me miss my family - I'm glad I get to see at least Mom and Alex on Saturday. Until later - tata!

The View From Saturday

*I was going to write this way back on Monday, but since then the internet and my pictures have never been in the same place :) *

The View From Saturday
3/1/08

Saturday was so incredibly beautiful, we simply couldn't stay inside. So right after lunch we headed to the driving range, to finally put our golf clubs to some use other than holding down the floor for the winter.

After the driving range, it was over to the David Chancellor's house for Rusty's 18th birthday party. (Shocking I know, he's one of the "little" boys). There was, of couse, volley ball, touch football, gifts, food, and 4 1/2 hours of "Gotcha." Needless to say, I was slightly sore Sunday and Monday.

This is "Gotcha."

All the players line up, and the first two are given basketballs. As soon as the first one shoots the second one can shoot. If the first person in line makes a basket first, they're fine, and go the end of the line to start over. If the second person makes it first, the first person is out, and only the second person can go to the end of the line to keep going. The key is quickness - as soon as you make it in, you pass the ball to the next person so they can get someone out too :) Its kind of like horse on steriods.

Lindy and Ruthie - They're so sweet to each other, totally bonded... unless they're in direct competition :)

The "Out" line up.

Tony wrestling Bobby.
Typical Chancellor guys. On the ground more than standing up :)

The other team...

Bobby on the ground again. His body seems to have a communion with the earth the rest of us just don't have. Every time he moves he falls theatrically over - kind of reminds me of Tony in his younger days :)

Speaking of ;)

Well, that's about it for now. We finished re-tiling our enty-way also last weekend, but I'll get those pictures later in a home improvement sort of issue :)

This weekend is shaping up well. Last night we went to Andy's new house (Andy and Brent are living there... Brent will move out eventually, but he just sold his house and needed a place to crash for a while) and played games with some of our friends and family. It was great fun. Trust me, there are some people that you only let be on your team for pictionary because you like talking to them - NOT because of their artistic abilities. (J/K)

Where have I been since February? Well... like I said at the beginning, I just haven't really had access to the internet... sorry for the huge lapse on Chancellor Manor :)

Oldest Nephew

So here we have the oldest nephew and the youngest in posts close to each other. This is Kristina and Gary's son Gabriel. He is ten, super duper smart, and loves practical jokes.

(I'll post his younger brothers when Kristina gives me some new pictures, all mine are old enough they don't look like that anymore...)

From the Mouth of Babes

From the Mouth of Babes

Last night while we were at Mom's* helping with Karlea and Rylea, I was messing around, and snuck up behind Tony and kicked him. Of course, his immediate reaction was to kick me back, so I start hollering "He kicked me, he kicked me!" So Karlea goes running up to Mom, and starts hollering along too - and then Tony kicked her in the rear! (Gently of course) So Karlea's hollering, "Nana, He kicked me! He kicked me!" and Nana says, "Karlea, say 'Shame on you!'"

So what does Karlea do? She turns around, glowers at Tony, and says, "Shame on me!"


Update on Baby Will

Baby Will is doing much better. The valve in his heart they were concerened about closed properly yesterday, and at two this afternoon they are taking him completely off oxygen. Praise the Lord! He will still have to stay at the hospital for monitering, but he is doing infinately better. Kayla is in a lot pain right now. The doctor thinks it is just from trying to get up and around too soon, but she could still use prayer.

Tony and I have been staying with the girls a lot in the last few days, and are realizing all over again how much fun it is to be around little kids. They have behaved very well for us - its actually making us think maybe we might be ready to have kids sometime in the relatively near future. :)

We hope everyone is doing well and having a great weekend!

*Just a refresher, Mom is Tony's mother, Mommy is my mother, Papa is my father, and Dad is Tony's father.

Baby Will

Yay! Our newest baby (ok, Kayla and Jeff's newest baby - but he's our nephew) was born yesterday. He is 8lb. 1 oz. and 19 1/4 inches long. His name is William Michael Ellis Hyden. Welcome to the family Will!

He has had some trouble getting started in the world. When he was born he wouldn't start breathing, so they took him to NICU. He is breathing fine now, and his color is excellent. They are a bit concerened because a valve in his heart didn't close when he was born like it was supposed to, but the doctor said that problem usually corrects itself in a few days. Right now he is still in NICU, and we would still appreciate prayer for him, but they have reduced his oxygen and don't expect any long-term problems. He should be able to go home in a few days, and he and Mom are both doing better.

Isn't he cute?!