Couldn't resist...

"Shouldn't that read: ROAD CLOSED!"

We met this sign as we approached the Wandermere bridge this morning...and being the fans that we are, we just HAD to stop and take a picture.

The difference a year makes!

...sorry, but I'm not heartbroken about this!!

Our Truck Today:



Our Truck One Year Ago Today:




I'm just sayin'...

4th Place

I'll admit, I've never fully understood the concept of the "Wild Card" position in any team event. I don't understand how they are selected or how they qualify. I just don't get it. However I no longer care HOW it works, I'm just glad that Jacob's math team made it to Masters as a wild card team! The turkeys took 4th Place!!



Brandon received a phone call the evening before Thanksgiving with the news about making it to Masters. He didn't tell the rest of the team until the following week since they weren't going to be able to practice over the holiday anyway. They had time for 2 practices and that was it. The boys were really more excited about getting to go than they were about the thoughts of actually placing!! When told about making it to Masters, one of the boys replied, "No way! We stunk!" Obviously, however, 7th place at last month's competition was enough to make it...and apparently they deserved it!

Power Outage 101

In the 2.5 years that we've lived in this house, we've never had the power go out for more than a few minutes. Last night was our initiation night! Four hours with no power!! What an adventure!!

Luckily, I had a candle burning in the kitchen window and since I was in the middle of making dinner I was able to grab it and begin head hunting! Most of the family was already in the kitchen goofing off helping prepare dinner. We scrounged up some more candles and flashlights and hunkered down. Here's what we learned...

1. A Rubbermaid box full of candles, matches, flashlights and batteries is a must! (The part abt it being kept in an easy-to-find location goes without saying!)

2. An emergency list of phone numbers is also a must! Thank you Flylady! I keep a very complete (some might say Type-A even) list of numbers for doctors, neighbors, schools, utility companies, etc in a notebook in my kitchen. We were able to phone and report the outage...then call and check on neighbors! It was nice not having to fumble for a phone book in the dark!!

3. Mike'n'Ikes make great magical beans that keep children from being scared in the dark!

4. If you put a lid on boiling water and pasta, it will cook in 20 minutes even without power! (See mom, I do listen sometimes!)



5. Keep your cell phones charged - always!

6. It was handy having the portable DVD player charged!



7. Make sure that "Alvin & The Chipmunks" isn't the closest movie on hand when the power goes off!

8. Portable Kerosene convection heaters are WONDERFUL! (They stink, but it's worth it!)

9. Don't wait until the power goes out to try to assemble your portable kerosene convection heater!



10. Every person in your family should have a headlamp!

11. Laser pointers can't help you find the way to the bathroom in the dark.

12. Don't have pancreatitis when the power is out. Just don't have it ever...it's miserable. Yes, I am still dealing with it and No, we don't know what's causing it yet.

13. Don't wait until the night before a project is due to start it!



14. Hulu.com comes in handy when the power was out and your TiVo didn't record NCIS or The Biggest Loser!

(Disclaimer: I know these pictures are horrid! I didn't want to use the flash and spoil the magic of the darkness!!) Ü