Andrew's Hard Work

Andrew has literally been spending all his days off working on our basement and bathroom. It looks so awesome, I cannot wait to post a whole series of photos on here! I think I'll wait until it's completely done though, so no sneak previews. Check back for the finished product! There is always something that comes up though to distract him from "basement time". The above picture is of our old sump pump. He came home during a rain/ice/snow storm and found that it was not working. It had to be replaced that day, we know how bad flooding in this state was over this year and we weren't about to take any chances of letting water back into the basement!

Urbans

A group of Urbans at a Ham Jam in Cascade. Thanks for sending this Kelly!

Christmas 2008

Here is a few pictures from Christmas. Thank you Andrea for sending the picture with the back of the boys capes! The last one is a dual birthday cake since we hadn't celebrated with the boys yet.

Last Day in Florida

We had the most delicious Bairdi Crab legs that were grilled right on the beach the last day. Seriously. Best crab of my LIFE. Last picture is my poor car at the airport the night we got back. It took us awhile to get her uncovered, but she started right away. Not too bad for a 13 year old car with over 100K miles on it. Oh, and St. Petersburg was 75 degrees when we left. Three hours later we were shocked with -5 degrees in Rockford, an 80 degree difference for the day...

More and more Florida pictures

Florida Pics

Rory walking with bike

Rory's Birthday Cake

Pictures from Busch Gardens in Tampa

The most fun was all the rollercoasters. We didn't take any photos of them or while riding them....

Turtles at Busch Gardens in Tampa

Look at their legs...

How embarrassing!

Today at work I was in the maintenance shop working on a project and one of our maintenance workers asked if I had batteries for something he needed. I told him I was going to our supply closet to get more caulk, and I'd look then. As I was walking back he paged me over the radio and asked, "Abby do you have double A's?" Without thinking anything I responded "No, I have C's." I was a few steps outside of the shop and could hear them explode in laughter. Red-faced, the worker who paged me (he's new) ran out and said "I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking!" I was embarrassed, but have to say that he was probably more embarrassed...

Birthday Gift

Andrew & I got Megan a Nintendo game for her birthday. Why did I pick out the game that I did? See the pictures...

Happy Birthday Megan!

10!!!! Unbelievable!!! First pic is pretty smile, second is superstar pose and third is with gifts. (Mom & Dad's hands are showing 10!)

Cash says "Happy Thanksgiving"

I know the picture is sideways, no matter how I upload the photo it goes to this view. Just turn your head and pretend not to care...

Ok, so maybe I am....

Tonight I was heading upstairs from our basement and Andrew asked me to toss him down one of the cookies that I bought from a bake sale at work. There were two butterscotch oatmeal cookies in a baggie, and for once I thought the dog at my feet might be a convenience. I wrapped the top of the baggie around a rawhide, gave it to Cash and said, "Go downstairs." A minute later Andy laughed up the stairs, "Lazy!" Ok, maybe it was......

To Ohio

I had a course in Toledo the Saturday after Andy's surgery. I was initially very excited about it, but the timing wasn't the greatest with me leaving two days after he was discharged from the hospital and being gone for 7 days. The course went well and I learned a lot. The first picture is of me holding a 95 year old Tuatara, if you don't know what one is click HERE. The second picture is of a Wyoming Toad, the amphibian conservation project that I'm involved with. The image was made digitally out of children's drawings, and it's goal was to raise awareness for the AZA's Year of the Frog campaign and the global amphibian crisis. VERY COOL of the Detroit Zoo. For a previous amphibian post CLICK HERE. Many thanks to all of you who cooked, cleaned, brought meals, gave rides, and dog-walked while I was away! It was most appreciated!!!

More Surgery

Andrew was at the hospital for surgery today at 10:30 a.m. The surgery (like most) required him to have an empty stomach, so by the time he was up to his hospital room (5:00 p.m.) it had been 18 hours since he had eaten or drank anything. His nurse wanted him to have liquids only for the evening, but Andrew convinced her that he felt fine and could stomach the solids, so she put in an order for a meal tray. Apparently she didn't cancel the liquid tray so when food service rolled in and had two trays with his name on them Andrew announced to the confused kitchen worker, "Yep, both trays are for me." Here is a picture of him about to dive into soup, a sandwich, broth, jello, a protein shake, a lemon bar, chips, mashed potatoes..... After the meal a lullaby began playing over the PA system. Kelly U. told us that means a baby had just been born in the hospital, very cute. And the surgery itself went fine. He was in more pain and less mobile then we were led to believe, but overall successful.

November 4, 2008

Today we made history. No matter how large or small your participation was in this election, no matter how related or disconnected you felt toward the candidates, no matter if you voted weeks early or stood in line before the polls opened on Tuesday morning like us (I'm not even considering the possibility that some of you might not have voted.), there is no denying it - History was made. I've selected the above picture because the happiness seen in that picture matches the happiness we are feeling right now. Is it January 20th yet? For an older post, CLICK HERE.

Girls Night

We had a girls night at Jamie's house in Platteville. Lots of yummy food, and fun playing with the pets. Here is the latest picture of baby Evelyn. (I don't know why I didn't take a picture of all the adults!)

Out with Mel

I went to see Mel for the night. We had a fun night out and I got to meet Molly, her new puppy!

Meg and her violin

Congratulations Bree & Ben!

Alligator lives, and alligator dies

Rory & ball

I've become thoroughly disgusted with putting video on here lately. I'm not sure what's going wrong because I tried again tonight and it seems to work - and I didn't do anything different! UGH, at least it's working for the moment.... Enjoy watching Rory play!

To Chicago

Saw Sarah, Kevin & Rory - and the new house, saw Tripper smile (second picture, he kept doing it!), saw Ross & Jessica, saw Billy Williams (leaving the VIP box seats above ours) and saw the Cubs win! Fun weekend, and I now have a Cubs claw! I've wanted one for a few years...

Rory and Ryan playing

So this is the video I've been trying to upload for a couple of weeks. I would try until I was too annoyed then a day or two later try again. You could tell Ryan really wanted Rory to stand up and starting walking to get him. Next year they'll be running after each other. They are both just so cute!

Cousins Weekend 2