Hello....

We've been busy. A recap...
Thursday...out of school early b/c of the ice storm
Enjoyed the afternoon
Friday...no school.
I had a very small party for Laurie as a "breather" for her to get away from the boxes and boys! We had fun chatting and eating...the two best things in life:)
Saturday...we went to the BIG Frederick Christmas! Over 20 great-grand kids. Mostly 7 and under! Whew! Emma got a spin and splash that involves glitter, sand, and paint. She's in seventh heaven! Colby got a john deere tractor and 4 wheeler (toys) and a bionicles kit. Does anyone know about bionicles? If you do...please clue me in!
Saturday night...we got home just as it was getting nasty. I helped Vance do the chores and then we hunkered down for the night. What else was there to do?
Sunday....we went to church after a bit of a delay with a dead battery parked slightly behind a good battery:) we made it! then we had a wonderful dinner to send the ulrich's off in style! there was a HUGE turn out. Good for them!
Sunday afternoon....after we got home from church, Vance went up to Emma's room. We've been having trouble with her heat. It was set on 73 and it was 65! Uh oh...we started investigating...and to make a long story short-some of the insulation and fallen down. The ceilings are really steep and it must have been knocked loose. We did the insulating ourselves, so we know we did a good job of filling every nook and cranny....if only it would have stayed up there! So Vance fixed that and I vacuumed behind him cleaning up the mess:)
Then we went to Braxton's 10th birthday party and Vance went to "quickly" do the chores. Wrong...the water fountain was froze (imagine that) so he had to borrow a blow dryer to that it out!
Sunday evening...we went to Lauren's delayed birthday party. Had lots of good food and fun! and then off to try to stay warm.
Tomorrow, I'm taking Colby to the oral surgeon and then dropping him and Emma off in Bible Grove until Christmas EVE! Whoo Hooo....two nights to kick back and relax.
So, please keep us in your thoughts tomorrow as I travel to Quincy in subzero temps. with two kids and have two teeth pulled!

P.S. To all of you out there building a house, thinking about it, or just did....don't think just b/c it's new that everything will be hunky dory! We have had cold rooms, stinky smells, and now a garbage disposal on the fritz. My dad always told me that a used car is better than a new one b/c all the kinks have been worked out by some else. I'm starting to believe that. I thought we would move in and our first winter would be toasty warm with no problems. Nope, one morning we woke up and our house was 63! All it took was a visit from Peters and a small adjustment, but it was still annoying. Plus, you've read about Emma's room. Now the garbage disposal and smell...we're still working on that! OH WAIT...Vance just made it work again! YAY! It helps to have a handy husband....
Off to bed...be safe and warm!