Women Who Eat Chocolate

making cookies on the 22nd... food at our family Christmas Eve....we do only appetizers! singing for Grandma Stutzman at Walnut Hills.....she's 94! the kids anticipating their gifts on Christmas morning... Hunter and his new gaming chair...he hasn't got off of it since he got it! Selena crying as she realized that yes...she really did get a blue Ipod! Belle and her Manchester United soccer jersey.....she couldn't believe it!

Yeah, I'm def not 18 anymore. I stayed up last night reading "Pillars of the Earth" until the wee hours and I'm paying for it! I had to work this morning, and I knew better than to stay up, but I did because it's getting so good! All I want to do now is go home and finish it.....it's like a 1000 pages long. It's rainy, so that means a good day to stay in and read. Yesterday we went to see a movie. We saw I Am Legend---awesome movie--go see it. Will Smith def knows how to put on a good movie, and this one totally surprises you. It's not what you think, and those are the best kind. It was nice going out just us as a family. We ate at the mall (duh--it was the day after Christmas!), Belle spent her Pac-Sun gift card, went to the theater, played alot of arcade games, then settled in to be entertained for two hours. I always hate it when movies are over..... :( It was a good day though. We went through Starbucks and McDonald's on the way home, an...

Christmas is almost here! All gifts are wrapped and under the tree.....appetizer ingredients have been bought and are ready to be put together for Christmas Eve....everything is ready. But are we? Have we lost ourselves in our rush to the season? Are we only worried about ourselves and what we have to do....mired in our own daily existence, unable to see past the fog of what's wrong in our lives? I've tried to do my best. It's been so hard since we lost so much in the fire. I've tried to be positive, and keep my best side showing. I've never tried to feel sorry for myself, but project an attitude of "we can get this thing done"......... When you're young, you don't see the wrong in what you do and say, or in the people around you. When you get older, you begin to see your faults and see cracks in the facades of people you always thought were right about everything. In essence, you mature and realize people are human. It's hard tho...

I finally took some pics of the house. George and I were out there last night until almost 9:30 painting and doing some other things. On Friday we have our family Christmas house tour. We go around to all of our houses checking out each other's decorations. Technically, I'm not decorated for the tour except for my star, but they wanted to see it anyway! Most of these pictures are of the kitchen. Rhonda, if you're trying to figure out how it's laid out, look at the second picture down. It's looking in from the living room to the kitchen. And the really hot looking guy is just someone who's been showing up to work until 10:30 pm every night. The only payment he requires is a backrub after he's done......I say that's pretty cheap labor!

I love snow...you all know it. I'm the one who waits for it every year. I'm the one who dodges the glazed over stares of people who think I'm crazy.....I DON'T CARE! I am waiting deliciously for the Nor'Easter to blow in on Saturday evening (after my Christmas banquet at Uncle Primo's of course!). They're forecasting over a foot of snow. I've been to Wal-Mart, and Movie Gallery. My cupboard is stocked.....bread, milk, cereal, and movies. I'm ready for the wild winds to howl and cover my world with the soft white splendor that is snow..... Bring it on.....while you're wishing you would've gone out and bought that last gallon of milk, I'll be baking cookies and watching Pirates of the Caribbean III. Hmmmmm.......I hope Dick Goddard isn't wrong..... cuz then I'll be the one with the all the food and nothing to show for it! hahahahaha

I love my island light! I stood there yesterday and watched it hanging from it's silver chain, gleaming silver and glass and I was happy. My bones are sore this morning though from all the trimming I did yesterday. I trimmed paint on all the windows, trim and doorways in the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. I realized, again, how much I hate painting--and how much I love that my husband is a professional painter. That doesn't stop him, however, from making me paint. I want to paint, so we can move in, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! I'd much rather be scouring junk stores for the perfect desk, bed, or architectural salvage to hang. Sigh. I had a moment of despair when I realized I would be painting this trim again, and that's not even counting the trim up the steps and into the upstairs bedrooms! Help! Painting with George, though, is a trip. We had 94.1 on who only is playing Christmas songs right now. He walks around singing these Christmas songs in the...

The hardwood floors in my house are in!!!!! George finished installing them last night and they look so nice! :):):) That's all I needed to say!

SNOW DAY! First snow day of the season.......right now it's 6:53 am, and the snow is gently falling outside. The roads are snow-covered and my kids are still sleeping. I can hear them snoring softly, sleeping all the better because they know that school is off. There is something about sleeping in on a snow day. It just seems like you get better rest. George got up with me at 5:30 this morning to listen to the radio for the cancellations. We made coffee (Dunkin Donuts coffee!), and just sat here to enjoy the morning. He worked at the house last night until almost 10:30, and I got mad at him because I told him he's killing himself. Then I told him I was sorry because I know he just wants to finish the house. So, he's upstairs blowdrying his hair, and when he's done we're going to drink more coffee. He just needs to sit a little bit and regain himself. Not regain his strength, but regain himself. He's been really working hard to finish a big house in ...

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Granted, it includes picking out color combinations for six rooms and a hallway, but I can see it! The downstairs is nearly finished, and next week they will be working on finishing the upstairs. Our contractor Mark, said he'll be working all next week---that means everyday all day! Yes. Our heating is finally done so it's nice and toasty in there too. Thank you God for giving me patience! I heard this morning that snow was forecast for this weekend. I always celebrate when I here there's snow coming. I know there were a few flakes flying around here earlier this week, but nothing substantial. There's something about that first snowfall. That first flake that drops gently down to nestle on the ground. I could sit and stare at snow for hours. The more it blows the happier I am! Think me crazy, but I don't care. There's something simple and beautiful in the way the flakes pile up into a soft blanket of white. It soften...

Christmas… that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance -- a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. - Augusta E. Rundel Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making." - Leigh Hunt .

We had a super Thanksgiving last week---ate entirely too much! The kids have been at home since last Wednesday. They had off Wed thru Mon. I took them out to eat and see a movie last Wednesday which was fun. We haven't done a whole lot of that since the fire. It was nice to get out and about. They head back to school today, except for Selena who is down with a nasty cold. Poor thing, she couldn't even sleep last night because of her runny nose. She's been downing aspirin and echinacea, but when I get off work this morning I'm going to see what else I can give her. I'm at work this morning, and it's definitely slowing down. I only had four rooms rented last night, with two to check out this morning. They all checked out before 7:00am! Starting in December I don't have to come in at 5:45am anymore---I can come in at 6:45! That hour will definitely be nice. The drywall is totally done in the kitchen, and the electric is in...and I'm getting ants...

Okay.....I'm officially counting down to Christmas and staying in my house. I'm doing this at my own expense because if we DON'T stay there for Christmas I'll be disappointed! It's okay though. They are officially putting in my windows as we speak, this very moment. My kitchen cabinets are in! My countertops are in! And my walls are done except for a few patches. I have officially chosen "Mark Twain House Gray Brick" for my kitchen walls. It's a very funky green so I'm not sure why it's called gray. I love it....and we're thinking about a black ceiling! Still deciding on that one. It all seems to be coming together. The floor joists that were burned through in Hunter's room are done, and the subfloor is going in tonight. My kitchen ceiling should be finished tonight too. I normally don't like to put Christmas pics on until Thanksgiving is over.....but I'm in the mood since I can't decorate my house for Christmas. ...

I'm going crazy....it's time to go home to my house! I think I've just reached that point where I need to be surrounded by my own things, my own routine, my family's routine! I've discovered that my family likes to chill. We seem to gain strength from each other by just sitting around and watching movies.....rolling around on the floor.....etc. My mom likes to work in the garden and relax out there. Not me. If you've ever seen that commercial where the guy comes home with a stack of movies to watch in one hand and looks over to his neighbors driveway where the guy is just slaving away. He's shoveling snow, and just killing himself. The guy with the movies shakes his head and walks to his door, snow piled high crunching through at least a foot of the white stuff. That would be us. We'll always be the family with the leaves piled high outside, the snow blowing drifts around our door. But there will be two tracks that have made their way out to...

Well we finally were able to round up enough people at work and go to the Trail of Terror! Deanna, Tiffany, Twila, and I headed up to Zoar to eat at the Zoar Tavern, then we headed over to the trail. It was pretty good. I probably screamed the most when the guy with the chainsaw started chasing us. I guess I didn't know I could still run that fast! It was fairly creepy for one being outside in a woods, and two it was drizzling. It all added to the atmosphere. And of course, they made me go first! We had alot of fun though. I'm so tired I can barely keep my head up here at work this morning. Rhonda and Scott arrived last night, and I was up until 12 talking to them. But it was at least 1:30 am until I heard everybody quiet down downstairs. Then when my alarm went off three hours later...I about jumped out of my skin. My eyelids felt glued to my eyes! Oh well, I guess I can take a cat nap later this afternoon........please.....!! My windows are coming next week.........

Jordan and Jena Watching the pinata break Jana, Victoria, and Braylee...George says you're never too old to hit a pinata! Hunter being himself....a little scary though! Belle and Billy.....although they've broke up now....teenagers. Dillon Callahan...him and Matt Ling hid upstairs and scared everybody silly! hmmmm.... Selena and Belle at the party

Okay...I made it to 39 and I still feel like I'm 21. Although my sciatic nerve would have to disagree. I've heard it said that we need to start acting our age as we inch closer to 40-----well I don't want too! I want to be the age I am, but still have a young heart. Just the other day I got the urge to one of those haunted houses they have up this time of year. I love to go and get the willies scared out of me. Guess what happened yesterday. As you probably know, today is Belle's birthday too. Yes, she was my gift 17 years ago. Anyway, we were planning a party for her and her friends here at mom's house. Mom and Dad are going back to Fern's to camp there for the weekend. Well, yesterday she comes home with a petition signed by all of her friends and her saying that they want to still have the party at our burned out house! They thought it would be so cool if they could have a huge bonfire and take tours through the house to get scared. Some of the g...

Okay...I seem to be having a tough time this week. My birthday is on Thursday, and I just don't want to turn 39. I never had a problem turning 30.....35.....but 39? No. Help. That means in one year I'll be 40. sigh. Short post today.

Yesterday we finally got word from the adjuster that our estimate was done, and we'd be receiving our check later this week! You can't hear me right now, but I'm screaming for joy! It seems like it took forever just for that detail to take place. George has been out at the house ripping stuff out like crazy, so now we can really get started in earnest. I'm going to take some pics as we go along, and I'll try to post them regularly. I'm so excited. It's been going well living at mom and dad's, but there's just no place like home. They gave us a timeline that the house should be finished by. They feel that with all the damages they saw, it should be finished by the end of December. If I'm in by Christmas I'll be pumped. I guess that means we really need to get busy and get this done. George is really revved up to take care of the demo, and hire people for the construction. He's been out at the house doing everything he can to ...

braylee, belle, delia, & megan looking tough! had to be number #7 selena & belle in belle's "new-to -her-car!" selena being herself Hunter & Sasha back at Fern's

Yes, all insurance adjusters have finally made an appearance at our house. I'm so sick of it! I'm ready for work to begin on my house! Lord......help me to be patient. All is well here at mom's house, though. We are all getting along fine. That business aside, Hiland homecoming was last night and Belle was so excited. Selena even got to be a flag in the ceremony at the soccer game. Belle got home today around 1:30 pm. She stayed overnight at the girl's house who had the after party. She said everything went awesome. They went to Fuji's in Canton, then to the dance at Hiland. Afterward to Guggisberg's for the party.....then sleeping in until 11:00! She dragged in the door, but was pumped about how it went. I'll grill her later for details when she wakes up! Here's a few pics!

Hiland v. West Holmes....... 2-2.....sigh. We had the game in the bag and with 38 sec. left they scored a goal! AAAAHHHH! The girls were devastated, but they played such a good game that we told them not to be upset. It was a super game. A tie is definately not a loss, although it's not a win either....but they were so good last night. Oh well, it was an improvement. Yesterday I took Lisa out to see the house. For those of you who don't know her, Lisa is my friend from Hartville. We met in VS in San Antonio, TX and she was the one who introduced me to George! We try to get together a couple of times a year. She couldn't believe what the house looked like. I'm just ready to get construction going. Then we had lunch at Farmstead, and messed around Berlin at some shops. It's nice to get my mind off of other stuff! Well, I'm at work trying to type this and this has taken me two hours to do all of this.....it's been crazy here this morning. Gotta ...

Since the fire, I've not been very good at keeping everyone informed on soccer. Belle's team is now 2-3---they've taken some pretty good drubbings.... But she's happy with her performance, especially since she's been put in as a forward. They lost Tues. night to Tri-Valley (Dresden) 7-0, but she seems to be pretty proud of the yellow card she got! She slid into another girl trying to get the ball, and they yellow-carded her.....she's nothing if not aggressive. She was upset about it at first until she realized the next day at school that everyone, including all the guys, were impressed that she got one! Go figure..... Tonight they play New Phila at home, and they should be able to win that one. Hopefully she doesn't get a red card tonight! Selena starts Wooster League Soccer on Saturday.....it'll be a full day. Selena in Wooster at 3:15, then back to Berlin for Belle's game at 7:00. Then Hunter will be starting any week now with park dist...

Hunter's closet downstairs bathroom where it started girls' room Here are a few pics of the fire. Hunter's poor room took the brunt of it. We hauled everything out of the upstairs now, and today everything else is being taken away downstairs. They need everything out of the house to start construction. We're staying at my mom and dad's house until everything is done. It's going to be a long road, and the only reason I can be okay is because my kids were not at home. You can replace things and rebuild rooms, but you can't replace your kids! Hunter's closet door...yikes the girls' room which suffered heat and smoke damage ...