If you're not going to SNORT, why even laugh?

I got the most hilarious birthday card from Scott, Angie & Henry today. It was a homemade version similar to some funny cards we've seen at card shops/bookstores. The picture was an outtake from the cousins photoshoot on Saturday. I laughed to the point of tears when I opened it and it makes me laugh every time I look at it!

(Double click on the card to enlarge it if you can't read the caption)

Say Goodbye...

...to the "rabbit ears"
and say hello to basic cable!

Happy birthday to me!!

October 27, 2001

Six years ago today, it was a cold & blustery Saturday morning. Matt and I were at the dunes for the last weekend of the season. At one point, Matt stopped the Bronco by the lake and wanted me to get out and stand on the shore with him for a minute. I wasn't too excited about leaving the warmth of the truck, but eventually I donned a jacket and joined Matt. I'm glad I did -- since that is where he asked me to marry him!

Tell me something I didn't know...

I am 75% Addicted to Coffee

Actually, I would have guessed 100% before I took the quiz!

I am also quite addicted to Creme Brulee flavored creamer! It makes my coffee at home taste like something from the coffee shop -- without the high price :)

Beautiful Sunset!

This was the view from our deck tonight --
absolutely gorgeous!!

Apparently great minds think alike - right Sonny?
Before I posted these pictures I was reading her blog and she had posted pictures of tonight's sunset too!

Tagged

I was tagged by my sister-in-law Sonny almost two weeks ago and consequently I haven't blogged since then - go figure! It's about time I get this tag off my back, so here it goes...

THE RULES:
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to had.
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
4. Don't forget to leave a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog for the rules.

My middle name is Marie (same as my great-grandmother's first name):

M: Married - a month ago Matt and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary!

A: Accountant - I have a degree in accounting and before I had Levi I worked as a CPA for a local public accounting firm for 5-1/2 years.

R: Relatively old - I know that age is relative and just a state of mind, but I'm turning 30 in a week and when I stop to think about that number, it makes me feel old (so I'm not going to think about it anymore!).

I: Introvert - at least that's what my Meyers-Briggs test always comes out as (ISFJ, if I remember correctly). Most of the time I am not that outgoing - I can be if I need to be, but I would rather have a few really close friends or spend time by myself than being somewhere with a lot of people making small talk.

E: Easily startled - when I am working on something, I get wrapped up in my own little world (it's more fun in my world, right Todd - family joke, sorry!), I don't notice what's going on around me and as a result, I startle easily when someone comes near me. One of my former bosses thought it was quite hilarious to see me jump 3 inches out of my chair and he pretty much made a game out of trying to come up to my desk without me noticing!

There, I did it - finally! Now I can go back to posting about the funny things Levi has been up to - like calling Matt "Matt" instead of "Daddy" (I find it funny, but Matt doesn't and we're trying to discourage Levi from doing it!).

Before I forget - I need to pass this fun onto 5 more people...I tag Brown and Green make Blue, Kreider Hen House, Heuker House, and two ladies without blogs - Jen & Lori (I think you should make this the 1st post of your new blogs!).

While the guys were away...

... the ladies went to a bridal shower! My cousin, Rebeka, is getting married to Ryan on December 28 and our aunts threw her a shower on Saturday. It was a fun afternoon and I especially enjoyed being able to have adult conversations without worrying about where Levi had run off to or what trouble he was getting into - Thanks Dad!

Rebeka got a lot of great gifts! I wonder which one Ryan picked to use prior to the wedding..? Since Ryan doesn't understand why he can't start using all of their shower gifts now, they compromised that he gets to pick one thing from each shower to start using right away. Rebeka's guess was that he would pick the blender, but she thought he should pick the clothes hamper!!

For dessert we got to eat these yummy cupcakes!

The Hunters Return Victorious!

Opening day of duck season was a success
for both of the guys:

Matt's duck is on the left (the female).
Scott's duck is on the right (the male).

1/2 More Sleeps...

The guys are packed and ready to go:

Matt is already in bed - 3:40 am is going to come quickly!

Lunch Time - Mmmm!

It's Wednesday today and that means that Henry is at our house.

Who would have guessed that mac 'n' cheese would get this kind of a reaction? Perhaps it was the fact that it was the "Premium - Thick & Creamier" version of mac 'n' cheese...

(Yes, that's Levi in the background - monkey hear, monkey do)

Sorry to report that the applesauce didn't get the same overwhelmingly positive response!

The Hunting Saga Continues...

Up to this point, Matt has done the majority of his duck hunting out of a white rowboat. Not exactly a vessel that blends into its surroundings while hunting! For this reason, Matt has constantly been on the lookout for a deal on a duck blind for the rowboat and/or a flat bottom boat (preferably green or camo) to use for duck hunting. "Helping" Matt in the pursuit lately has been my brother-in-law, Scott, and after Monday's events I'm not sure whether to thank him or never speak to him again :)

Matt came home from work on Monday and casually mentioned that Scott had called him during the day about a boat he saw for sale online. Matt told me that it was a 14 foot, green, flat bottom boat - "perfect for duck hunting" according to Matt. Then he told me the price, which I'll admit sounded like quite a deal. I was quiet for a few minutes and then I think I surprised Matt quite a bit when I said it was okay with me if he looked into buying the boat. It wasn't but a minute later that Matt was on the phone to Scott and they were making plans to drive the 45 minutes or so to look at the boat. Of course, they had to leave immediately, since they found out that someone else was also interested in the boat, was coming to look at it that night as well, and lived in the same town where the boat was located! So that left Angie and I eating our respective dinners alone with our little boys before meeting up for an improptu play date.

While at Angie's house, I got the call from Matt, saying that he had bought the boat - not for the asking price, but for less - due to the fact that there are a couple of holes that will need welding! At that point I had no idea what to expect...

Here's what I found in my garage when the guys returned home:

I found out that the other party who wanted to look at the boat had already been there by the time Matt and Scott arrived, but they needed to go and "check on a few things". Hmmm...

Only 3 more sleeps and the nights are going to be busy ones as Matt works on getting his "new" vessel sea-worthy! Scott thinks that in its current condition it will float for about 10 minutes - good thing Matt just got those new waders!

Now comes the question of what to name the boat...

p.s. In case you are wondering - the waders in my previous post cost more that the boat!

If you guessed duck hunting...

you would be correct! And this is what Matt will be wearing on Saturday morning...

Well, the waders at least - I'm not sure the coat will be necessary with the predicted 80 degree weather!

Now only 4 more sleeps...

Little "Mother" Levi

Levi and I were playing over at Angie and Henry's house tonight and the boys were in rare form. So many times we knew we shouldn't laugh, but we just couldn't help it. Case in point - the following instance:

Henry was sitting on the couch with Angie and he would stand up and walk from one end to the other. Angie would tell him that he needed to sit down on the couch - so he would for about a second and then he was back to standing and walking. Apparently Levi thought that Angie needed some help in the mothering department so he walked up to the couch and using his most stern voice said "HEN-NEY, SIT DOWN!" Not once, but a couple of times - and even when Henry was sitting down! What a hoot!!

Chubby Bunny

I was hoping to post some hunting related pictures, but Blogger and my computer are not getting along tonight (stay tuned for those soon, hopefully). Instead, I hope you enjoy the video of Levi eating his treat that he got after supper tonight...