A Couple of Questions 98

Jodi and I were talking today that we are lacking creativity with our blogs. I'm happy there's been plenty of activities and reasons to take pictures so I don't have to think too much about what to write about. So, here we go with the third to last "A Couple of Questions" that will be coming your way:

1. What is something you are looking forward to in February? (Colie, let me guess...... =0) )

2. Any funny dreams that you've had lately that you feel like sharing?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Come On, You Can Do It!

A Family Effort

Sorry about the picture quality. I had John's camera and he later informed me that I was using the wrong lens.

Here's a sneak peak at how the Schilling "Lodge" is looking. I say "lodge" because with the warm paint tones and knotty pine casing and trim - as well as the log mantle, it really does feel as cozy as an upper-scale home in Sunriver.

Travis joined us as we braved the crazy weather on Sunday to lend a helping hand to whatever needed to be done. They are in such a tight deadline as the construction loan needs to turn over to the mortgage on Feb. 22nd - which means they need a finished house at that point.

In the beginning, most of what I did was clean up - and then I found my groove helping Michael and Travis lay tile in the master bathroom - even tried a little geometry to figure out where to cut for the odd angles. Ironically, Michele and John worked together to do part of the stair case boards - I think it might have been best that way as we all know we sometimes demonstrate more patience when we aren't working with our spouse.

Mom and Dad spent their 2nd weekend in a row up north - creating that handrail (beautiful). And the kids - well, the boys used their Heeleys all over the house and even across the street in the community park - before the snow started coming down, that is. It was refreshing to see the kids all take care of themselves and keep busy and out of the way while we tried to really make some progress.......

Syd and the Kids

Today is absolute HEAVEN for Sydney - it really doesn't get much better than this. She absolutely LOVES the snow - will choose just to stay outside and lay in it or roll in it - and if the kids are out with her - oh, the bliss. She got a hold of Mikayla's stocking cap and played chase with that for a while before I was able to replace it with a rag. She even wanted to help make snow angels. Currently, all three are now in the back yard - being just plain ol' HAPPY!!!!!

Now That's What I'm Talking About.....

Brayden's still asleep and normally he'd be loading into the car right now on the way to school. I'm very happy for the kids - such fun snow outside to go play in - and as we were in Dallas (a post yet to come on that....) yesterday - we missed out on playing yesterday.

The snow was not without its casualties, however - in the words of Scooby Doo, "Ru-Oh!". Apparently our patio set was never meant to hold 5-6 inches of wet snow on top:

Oh, So Pretty!

I know it won't last, I know it's not record amounts - I know it's not even a week day so that it doesn't even mean a delay or day off - but it's just so BEAUTIFUL! And, it makes me so happy. I heard rain all night long, but then at about 6, it occurred to me that it was eerily quiet outside...... Maybe, just maybe....... Sure enough, along with the paper out front was snowfall. YIPPEE!(I knew there was a reason we haven't taken down the Christmas lights yet!)

"The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty"

So, here you go - a look at the dirtiest, foulest, most malevolent group of outlaws you've ever seen - each of them filled with enough lies, deceit, and treachery to take out the town judge:



I won't tell you "who did it" - that just wouldn't be fun if you ever choose to play this game, but rest assured, everyone had motives, and certainly not all was what it seemed to be upon first introductions.

With that said, I can't recommend enough these sorts of games for a guaranteed good time. The only catch is that you have to limit it to 8 people, which is always a bummer as we have such fun people in our lives that we would have loved to include. As I said before, John and I have thoroughly enjoyed doing these in the past, and for years have suggested others give it a try. Nobody took our bait, though, so we decided to host again, and share the love of the game with a bunch of murder mystery rookies.

This time, though, we might have chosen our friends too well as they blew us away with their costumes and performances - making my "Helena Handcart" impersonation look downright shabby. Hats off to Lisa and Nancy for going "over the top" with their get-ups. And, as for the most exceptional use of props - the award would go to my hubby: "Chief Passing Wind" - He rented the costume and even found a "fartinator" that uses a remote control to emit the sounds of unfortunate "passing gas" accidents. I didn't even know he had it, and the first time he used it was when we were ready to take a group picture and even I was impressed with his talent of choosing just the right moment to "toot". I eventually caught on knowing that even someone as well-practiced at this bodily function couldn't time it that perfectly. What a gas!!!!!

Fun, fun, fun - if you ever get a chance to do one of these - don't pass it up!

Preparing for a Murder.....

Tonight, we'll be attending a dinner party (technically hosting it) - supposedly there will be 9 of us, but I have a sneaky suspicion some one WILL NOT make it to dinner, and will be found dead (the person who is supposed to be hosting....). At least that's how these things have worked in the past......

I'm very, very excited - this is probably the 5th Murder Mystery party I've been a part of, and perhaps the 4th one I've been a part of putting on. Tonight, I'm Helena Handcart - mother of 13 dead sons....., I'll let you know if I end up being the killer. None of us will actually know until the end of the game.

Here's a picture of how the table in our bonus room looks like - it was fun to see that it is actually possible to host a group of 8 for a sit down dinner - however, a bit expensive in that we had to rent the chairs and linens.....

Happy Birthday My Love!

It's John's 39th today. The last birthday for this decade........sigh. Actually, he's the guy that's wanted to be 40 for as long as I've known him - excited for the grey hair and to be old and wise..... He's accomplished it all, I'd say!

Here's some pics of us at Red Robin tonite. Unfortunately the mascot was there, so poor Steph felt a little terrorized (she has a phobia of people in costumes....), but the rest of us had a great time. If only one picture is up when you post, 3 more should eventually show up, but John's camera phone isn't quick to cooperate and my headache is demanding me to lay down.

In the meantime, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE - you are more than I could have ever dreamed of!

A Couple of Questions 97

Martin Luther King Day - at our house that means kids that stayed up near midnight, because Michele and the cousins didn't arrive until after 8pm and they had to make up for lost time. Today will be lots of Wii playing, book-reading, bill paying, and as little exposure to the sub-freezing temperatures as possible.

1. How are you doing with 2008 so far? How's January treating you - any success stories of new ambitions for the year that you feel like sharing?

2. How can I be praying for you?

Amy's Birthday Weekend in Black Butte

Because Lisa S. is such a wonderful person and blesses us with a girls' get-away in January - and because Amy turned 40 at the end of December - the girls thought we could use these as good excuses to splurge a bit and have a spa day.

The cabin is in Black Butte, so the spa choice was the new Shibui Spa, part of the Five Pines Resort at the border of Sisters. Here's a picture of Lisa Q. standing in front of the beautiful building.


We arrived first as we were the only two ladies to show up Saturday morning vs. Friday. (John was at a leadership retreat and Dennis is already busy in tax season so we didn't feel like it would be appropriate to leave a day early). That gave us the opportunity to lounge in the hot tub section of the spa for about 45 minutes before it became VERY obvious that all of these ladies had invaded the establishment (they are a little giggly and loud):


After the most aggressive massage I've ever had (when this gal says "deep tissue" she means it - she was determined to work every knot out - and given the state of my upper back muscles - this is not an easy accomplishment) - we relaxed and socialized a bit before all heading off for Mexican fare-

Including a birthday song to Miss Amy:


We ended up bypassing the Lodge Lounge this time and relaxed back at the cabin for the rest of the evening. We watched "Waitress" (a very good chick-flick) and watched the snow fall amidst conversations of politics, child-rearing, and finances.....

The evening eventually ended by almost the entire crew taking some sort of sleeping aid (primarily Ambien) to get to sleep (myself excluded, fortunately I'm not to that spot yet....) and then deciding to get back up and play a little bit of cards. What a crack-up of practically "stoned/drunk" women, laughing at anything that moved and particularly each other as they succumbed to the sleep-aids effects........

I'm so thankful for this January get-away - it is a good refresher to my soul and makes me especially grateful for this wonderful group of women that have blessed my life. I'm hoping that next year Michele will be able to make it again (not the greatest timing this year because of the deadline with their house) and perhaps will get Susan and Stephie over there too!

Mikayla's Cheerleading Adventure

G-O D-U-C-K-S!!!!!!!
That's what this little girl was chanting in her very special opportunity to take part in the Duck Cheer Clinic. Because our buddies Travis - and especially Stephie- love our little girl so much, Mikayla was able to attend this event while Mom took a selfish day off at the spa in Central Oregon. (See next post - it wasn't entirely selfish!)

The Whites escorted both Mikayla and Christina to Mac Court where Stephie willingly waited throughout the clinic, watching and clicking pictures as the girls learned routine moves from the Duck Cheerleaders.

Stephie reported that it was a very special time for her, and the performance that Mikayla was a part of during half-time of the Womens' Basketball game was especially wonderful. Mark and Jackson and Brayden were also in attendance to support the enthusiastic cheerers.

Prior to the event, on Friday night, I had fun braiding strands of Mikayla's hair to see if it would turn out pretty and wavy--- It kind of turned out..... Don't think I'll go to all the effort again though....



Thanks again Mark, Travis and especially Stephie - you are awesome!