Thank God its PIE DAY

A friend emailed and said she had a apple tree FILLED with apples and she was not joking. Tyler and I went and picked a huge bag and today we made 2 apple pies. My mom made the best apple pies with the best homemade pie crust but I have never made pie crust before.

Well since I NEVER (and I do mean NEVER) make pies can I tell you how HAPPY my family is that I made pies. Nicholas ate A LOT of pie and has a huge piece packed to take to swim in the morning. Suzannes husband TIM was even bribed with PIE and ice cream to come fix my computer (Thank You Tim:)
I even sent Hank and Tyler over for more apples to make a few more this week. I also made Cinti chili for dinner as Nicholas keeps asking for it and homemade chicken and noodle soup for another night this week. Yes, I am top mom with my family today!!

**MONDAY update..
I am making 3 more pies tonight. I have now made more pies then I have in my life!!!

Stand Up to CANCER

I read this on another blog (thanks Krista) and I will be Standing Up tomorrow and I hope you ALL will to. As a lot of you know my mom passed away last Sept. to Pancreas Cancer that spread to Liver. My parents were married 54 years and my dad passed away this July. If cancer had not taken my mom, I know my dad would still be here also. Please support this cause.

House Updates..

I found this at Ko-hls and love it!

This phonograph was in my parents basement and
we brought it home last weekend..It makes me think
of my mom and dad each time I look at it:) The toy room
(lego room) is through the door..best thing we ever did
was a seperate toy room.

Well I FINALLY took a few pictures of the basement. I LOVE it and am sooo happy with how it turned out. We love the tile down there and love the paint color. PLUS I am sooo happy it is finally done!!!!
We also got new Kitchen counters and I am THIRLLED!! Here are pictures of my kitchen also.

Yes this was 3 post in 1 night..I have been so bad about blogging recently..Ty had a cold, he got over it, I got it and have not gotten over it and it has been a WEEK and now Nicholas has it:(
PLUS I have a LOVELY family of cold $ores under my nose that decided to move in..can I tell you how BADthey HURT plus they are sooo darn attractive. AND guess what today was at SCHOOL..PICTURE DAY. Thank GOSH we did not work today and I did not go up for it..I will do retake day!!

To Sadie and Jim

Guess where we ate at last weekend....?
Yes....It was SKY-LINE time:-)
Wish you were there!!

Hospice Concert

This was taken right before he "thought I was
talking to him....Yes, that is Denise and Bev:)

Reach out and touch someone...

Hi, my name is Jeffrey and I keep falling down!

Saturday Night we went to the Hospice concert at Mill Race Park..It was a BEAUTIFUL night and we had a GREAT time. We did a pictch in picnic dinner and had WAY to much food..chicken, Corn on the cob, fruit salad, watermelon, pasta salad and the list goes on and on...
People veiwing was at a ALL TIME HIGH..this is the kindest way I can say this..lol

The groups there were someone I can not remember..opps, Nelson twins and Jan and Dean (minus Jan).

We did "meet" JEFFREY who was more then just drunk as he was on something..I kept "trying" to get his picture and he thought I said his name..(I said BEV which sounds sooo much like Jeffrey) and he told us HOW MUCH FUN HE WAS HAVING..Long story short..Yes I got his picture, I did ask him if he drove and he said he walked as he lived right by there and danced away from us (Surfin USA..OMG can he surf..lol) and got arrested..lol
As soon as the cops came up to him he put his hands behind his back so I am thinkin he has been through this before.

My Parents House

We got a offer this week on my parents house, much FASTER then I thought would happen! We countered and she accepted so now we have a few weeks to see if the loan is approved. We are still showing it as we have been told that the buyer has A LOT of student loans so there is a chance it might not go through. We are going down this weekend to figure out we are ALL getting rid of. It is sad to go through all that my parents worked for a decide who wants it or if we are selling/donating it. You have a lot of GUILT of saying you do not want something that they loved but we both have a house of "our" stuff.

Tylers Bday Party

Wednesday was a 1/2 day so we FINALLY had Tylers Bday party (2 weeks late). It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we had 15 out of the 17 kids show up. A lot of soda, Pizza and snacks were eaten!! Maxie was in heaven as she got a lot of "dropped" food. I even had to wipe Ice Cream off her head as she knew where to be when kids were eating:)

Tyler is friends with a GREAT group of kids and it was FUN to spend the afternoon with them.

Coffee, Tea, Milk or TYLER

This is what happens when you take your 11 year old to $ams Club with you..Yes he is INSIDE the milk cooler.

WooHooo

Thanks to Suzanne for "pimping" my blog again...I love it:-)

He was SURPRISED!!

Well, Hank was SURPRISED!!!
He left around 11 to go golfing with 3 friends and got home around 6 and we were ALL in the front yard and he honest to goodness had NO idea..he said when he came around the corner he saw people and thought what are they doing. He said it took him awhile to realize it was HIS party:)
It also was our friend Barbs birthday so she is in the last pic with Hank.
Next party is Tylers Birthday party (Yes it is a few weeks late) on Wednesday since it is a 1/2 day..16 kids..and me. FUN!!

Shh it's a SECRET

Yes, this has been the email I have been sending for the last 2 weeks!!
TONIGHT is Hanksters SURPRISE 50th Birthday Party!!
It is now 1:50 and I have to pick up the cake and get ice. I am mopping myself OUT the door to get this done and then I will come home and get ready:)
He is GOLFING today and should be back between 5:30 and 6:00 and I told people to come BY 5:30 so HOPEFULLY this will work out.
Pictures tomorrow....

Happy Birthday to my MUCH OLDER then me Husband

Tomorrow, or today (depending on when you read this) Hank will be 50!!! I know..you had no idea I married someone who was SO much older then me but I did:-)
I have to say it is kinda funny as this bday is getting to him. I personally think it is pretty funny BUT I can laugh as I have 15 years to go (that my story and I am sticking to it) before I am 50.
Happy Birthday Hank..You are a GREAT husband and a Great dad. We love you!!!

2nd Day of HIGH SCHOOL

Friday Night I was having "DRINKS" at our house so Hank said he would pick Nicholas up from school as I still had a lot to do. At 330 Nicholas walks in the door and walks right up to me with the "LOOK" on his face and says "WHY did you have DAD pick me up...he got out of the car" (Insert me laughing NOW:)

Hank then walks in the door with the "look" of what did I do sooo wrong and says "I'm am sorry but I did not know I was not suppose to get out of the car". (Insert me laughing again:)
I said "YOU got out of the car" (I am now laughing and doing the HAPPY DANCE all the while looking MODIFIED)

Nicholas says "He was walking around and WAVED above his head when he saw me"
(OK now I am really laughing and am so damn HAPPY as I have just moved up to PARENT OF THE YEAR as I know you do not make eye contact with your kid till you are out of the HIGH SCHOOL Parking lot)
Hank still is standing there with the what did I do sooo wrong look on his face and Nicholas says "Please do not let dad ever pick me up again"
Ahhh it feels so good to wear theParent of the Year Crown again...and YES I am still laughing:)

Back to School

Today was the FIRST day of school here. I have to say I was not ready for them to go back even though I know Tyler was and I am pretty sure Nicholas was also. Ty is in 5th this year so we only have this year and next in Elementary school and Nicholas is in HIGH SCHOOL this year. He was JUST in Kindergarten so I have no idea what happen to grades 1-8th!!

I do not go back for another WEEK and I am THRILLED. It was nice to have the day to do wanted and when I wanted to do it:)

Spains BasketBall Team

I found this tonight and I have to say I was APPALLED. I know in the article it says it is all in fun BUT as a mom of 2 Asian sons I see NOTHING funny about it. My boys and husband have had things said about them and I find it INSULTING.

Happy Birthday Tyler

Today my BABY is 11!!! He is growing up way to fast:(
Tyler is the funnest kid ever..has a REALLY short fuse, has a answer for everything, could wear the same outfit for a week and not care and can not remember to brush his teeth. I would not change a thing about him:)
Happy Birthday Tyler..we love you.

We are BACK!!

We got back around a hour ago...
We had a GREAT time and had wonderful weather. We really liked Gulf Sho-res and actually booked for the same room next year! The kids were NOT ready to leave at ALL. They went Para-sailing and LOVED it..I took around 300 pictures and will post soon. I have NEVER seen so many DOLPHINS in the water as we did this week. It was WONDERFUL!!!

We are on VACATION

All I can say is WOOOHOOO!!!

Be back in a week!!

Hoover Floor Mate

I bought a Hoover Floor Mate a few months ago and blogged about it here. I just want to say I STILL LOVE IT!!! I would recommend it to EVERYONE. We have 2 rooms of Laminate and the rest of the main floor is tile. We just tiled the basement family room so I have a lot more tile then carpet now. Today I did a really good floor cleaning and I can not believe how nice it cleans:) The amount of DOG HAIR that came up AFTER I swept was AMAZING. I would love to say it makes Cleaning FUN but I won't go that far:)

2 days till we leave on Vacation...wooohoooo!!!

The basement is ALL painted and Hank needs to finish the baseboards as we went and bought new ones last night. It looks soo nice down there..if only my FURNITURE was back I would be a happy women. My goal was BEFORE we left on Vacation but I decided this week I could make the WHOLE house nuts or back off and finish when we get back.

We also listed my parents house this week..I know that is SOON but it will be better for both of us when we do not have it hanging over our heads that we need to clear it out. It was HARD cancelling their phone number as it was the ONLY number I had growing up and I know when it sells it will be really hard.

3 Word Sunday

We leave Friday night for Gulf Shores and can I say HOW MUCH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A VACATION!!! We have never been to GS before but have heard a lot of GOOD things about it! We have ALWAYS went to FL but thought we would "try" a different place this year. We had booked this after the first of the year and it was suppose to be my sister and her youngest, my dad and our family..We know my parents will be there is spirt!!
The only BAD thing is we get back and my kids start to school the middle of the week so this means summer is OVER for us:(
I still have not bought any school supplies BUT I did get/order Tylers BDay gifts as his Bday is the Monday we get home. My baby will be 11!!

I am sooo not ready for school and all that goes with it...(plus I go back to work then and I have not had enough "float" time.

Open Arms

Monday was my dads funeral and it was a hard day that I am glad is over. I have a EMPTY feeling now that I do not know if it will ever go away. I feel completly different then when my mom died 10 months ago. I HATE that they both are gone and my kids do not have the JOY of having them as Grandparents but I am glad they are together again.

When my sister walked into the room after my dad passed away Journey song "OPEN ARMS" was playing. We played it at the service and it is a beautiful song with a lot of meaning now. When I got there I stopped and got us both a beer and we sat with my dad and toasted them on the beach together again. We placed his little cooler and radio in with him as he ALWAYS carried it to the beach with their chairs..my mom carried snacks to feed the seagulls which ALWAYS pooped on my dad:)
Since my dad was in the service he had Taps played. My sister spoke at the service as she did at my moms and I am so PROUD of her..I could never have gotten up and say ALL she did but she did and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!

I had a lot of my friends from here drive the hour and a half to come to the service which meant SO MUCH TO ME!!! The only thing that has gotten me through this last year is MY friends and I so appreciate ALL that they have done for us!!!

Friday night I went to a outdoor concert with a group of Friends....Denise bought me the ticket a while ago and after my dad died on Thursday I was not going to go but I decided that evening that I needed to...Karen said something that night that I will NEVER forget and I do not think she realizes the IMPACT that it had on me...Wednesday night when I was coming home from Cinti there was the most BEAUTIFUL big Orange sunset which when I saw it it was there for a few seconds then dropped behond trees. I thought "that looks just like a Florida Sunset"! As soon as I said that I thought my dad is going to pass tonight..well it was the next morning. Friday night when we were at the concert there was the BIGGEST Orange Moon. Karen pointed it out and said "Your mom gave you the Sun and your dad just gave you the Moon". That sentence will be with me FOREVER!! I have wanted a tatoo for EVER on my ankle (YES I am a BIG chicken) and that is what I would want..a sun, moon and a palm tree. Now I just need to get my nerve up and GO!!!

We are leaving on vacation the beginning of August (Gulf Shores) and I have to say I am sooo looking forward to getting away. We booked this a long time ago and it was suppose to be my family, my sister and her youngest and my dad..My sister and Katlin are still going with us and we WILL be having a lot of drinks in honor of my parents.

My Dad

My dad passed away this morning..
He was a GREAT dad and WONDERFUL Grandfather and now him and my mom are together again. I am sure my mom is wearing a new swimsuit and they are sitting on a beach together again!

My dad

My parents last July!!

As some of you know my dad has not been well recently. He was in the hospital for a 2 weeks, here for a week, home for a day (with my sister), back in the hospital and then in a nursing home in the rehab part for a little over a week.

We have noticed a decline and so has the nursing home...he went back to the hospital on Friday for a MRI and they found out the spots that were bleeding in his head from his FALL over a month ago has gotten worse..(Personally, I would like to know WHY he was not given a follow up with the neurosurgeon but that is another story). His options were brain surgery and honestly he is 86 and has to much damage already from the bleeds or Hospice. Plus he has voiced his opinion before this on he will not have surgery again and we know how much he misses my Mom and wants to be with her again.

He is with Hospice and basically sleeping 24 hours. He is not in pain BUT this is so DAMN HARD. We took the kids up yesterday basically for them to say Goodbye as we did not let them see my mom near the end and I am not sure if they will see my dad again or not. It was HARD on both of them.
Please pray he stays pain free and he will be with my mom on a beautiful beach again soon.

This is the only thing that is making this any easier for me...

4H Fair

This week is the 4H fair here..we went tonight and it was a BEAUTIFUL night there. They have a "PIE" eating contest and we were trying to get Nicholas to sign up but since there is a meet this week he would not do it....

Well as we were sitting there waiting I ask Tyler if he wanted to do it he said YES!!! I was SHOCKED to say the least. Well guess who got 3rd place out of 20 something kids..YES, TYLER!!! We laughed for the who 3 minutes as he GAGGED his way through a lemon cream pie. He won $5 and got a ribbon. There were a TON of swim families and kids cheering him on and he just kept eating.

AND yes..we had to try to win a fish and YES he won one...

AND no..I forgot my camera and bought these at the fair:)

Look who came for a VISIT

Susan and "Aunt Rita" and the BuNcO Box:)

Gabi, Susan and Emily

Nicholas and 2 Beautiful Girls:-)

Susan and her BEAUTIFUL girls who grew up since we saw them last were in town for a funeral last week..I hated for this to be the reason for me to see her but it was NICE to see her again. Susan moved a few years ago to AZ and is now in Iowa and is MISSED!!!
Susan girls both swam and I did Hospitality with her at the pool for a FEW years!!! We were GOOD:)
She also was in our BuNcO group and is missed..No one can snort like her:)

June "DRINKS" aka BuNcO

For the summer we are doing "DRINKS" instead of BuNcO..It is ALL about getting together and having fun and since so many weeks this summer are meets and some are gone for vacation we decided to just meet and whoever shows up is GREAT!!! This picture was taken at Barbs and we had a nice evening sitting out on her patio in the garden by her fish pond:) It was GOOD for ALL of us as it we talked about the FLOOD we had....Tracy and Terry lost pretty much their WHOLE houses and Barb and I had damage.

The Eagle has Landed:-)

I got the "call" before and the EAGLE have landed:)
(Exact words on the phone)
The "Eagles" AKA the Diehn Family are back in the USA!!!!
WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome Back..We missed ALL of you!!!

Happy 4th of July

We are going to see my dad today at the rehab center;)
He said is is "better then he expected" so this is GOOD!!!
Last night we went to the Qm1x fireworks and they were PRETTY good..we just need to bring our radio next year.
Happy 4th of July!!!

Hoover Floor Mate

I borrowed one of these today from Mary J and I LOVED IT!!!!
So tonight I went and bought one. Our main floor is laminate and tile and now the downstairs is all tile so I know I will use it a lot!
I was amazed at how much cleaner my tile looks.

Another great thing about it is that you can use it as a wet cleaner or as a vacumn.