Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I have had a great week home with the boys! I am so happy I decided to take some vacation while they are off from school. With Grandma Rosie and cousins here it was a fun week for everyone! 

I was so happy that the boys got to be with me on Christmas morning. I realize now, that that won't always be the case. Kelly was here too to watch them open the presents that we had picked out for them together. The boys got to have the Christmas that they have always had, even though it was different for mom and dad. 

I got great news on Christmas eve when I found out that we will be able to rent a house in Daryl's same school district. I was so worried he was going to have to change schools and with all the change he is already facing I didn't want to add that to the mix. Because of that news Christmas day was a little happier than it could have been. We will move in mid January so if you don't hear from me in awhile it's because I'm packing! The yarn closet alone took six boxes....;-) 

Maybe one of my new year's resolutions should be to use more yarn!

Daryl got Pokemon cards, KD shoes, Cam Newton jersey and Mario Kart! 

That explains the big smile! 

Alex got the game Don't wake Daddy and it is a really fun preschool game!
He is doing much better with not winning all of the time. 

Finished the Christmas sweaters on December 26th! Figures!

Stiles' Cousins! Next year we will have one more!!! (Congrats Asa and Diane!)

Daryl and Charlie are Twining!

Christmas exhausted Purl! 

2016 Christmas Card

Hello All, I present you with the 2016 edition of the Christmas Card story. Back in October I decided I didn't want to do a picture this year. I wanted the boys to MAKE THE CARDS. Oh my gosh, how much fun does that sound like?! All of us, making a little assembly line, like the elves must do at the North Pole! We would sing carols, drink hot chocolate and produce perfect Christmas cards!

I found a totally doable snowman card to create. Went to Michael's and got all the supplies we would need for perfect day of family togetherness! I showed what we would be making to Daryl and Alex and received very different reactions.

Daryl-Um, Nah
Alex-Yes, scissors, glue, pens!! Oh Man, Yes!

So, the cards are mostly from Alex and I. :-) He loved drawing all the faces on and gluing all the pieces down. Some of your cards may have arrived with just one eye, shake out the envelope because the other eye might be in there!

What I was most proud of is both boys WROTE THEIR NAMES in the cards. This is why they went out in flights, because I could only get about six signed at a time. I also cut the Christmas card list down a little bit, because....after 25 snowmen we were not making any more! LOL

Merry Christmas everyone, I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Joyous New Year!

Snow Daze!

This weekend was a cold one! I'm glad I payed attention to the weather for once, because I made sure we had everything we needed for the weekend. That way we didn't have to leave the house if we didn't want to.

Since we were going to be cooped up the boys and I did go see Trolls on Friday at the theater. We all agreed it was a good movie. Now, we are just waiting for Sing to come out! 

On Saturday, I had no plans of getting out of my PJs. Once it started to snow the boys did want to get dressed to go outside. I don't know why they want to be cold and wet, but after lunch I let them go play in the trace of snow we had at that time! It was more fun to slip on the ice than anything else, and they lasted longer than I thought they would. 

On Sunday, they went out again and tried to build a snow fort. The snow was not staying together so they came in before too long for hot chocolate and microwave popcorn! 

Today makes four weeks since our household went from four to three. The boys and I are finding our routines, and can now make it out of the house in the morning in good time and spirits! Except for Monday, there is not usually a dry eye in the car on Monday morning. ;-) No change in status just wanting to thank everyone for the hugs, warm thoughts, prayers, positive words and understanding. Your encouragement really does matter to me, and I know everyone is wishing us the best. Thank You Again!

After much begging, I got them suited up to go play outside! 

Patio was a little slick! 

Had our own Meerpohl Manor skating rink!

This snow was not good snowball material! 

Eventually, I was watching from inside! Crazy kids! 

Christmas Program Numero 2!

I know that I rave and rave about our Elementary school, but it is true, it is an amazing school! Last night was Daryl's Christmas program and the songs and dances were so cute! The music teacher really outdid herself! It was just the second grade classes, but that was still 60 kids. 

They sang a song about Rudolph's blinking nose keeping them up at night. It was such a cute song! Daryl had a speaking part and did really well. 

Daryl had a small fit after the program because there were selling smencils in the lobby, but he had already bought four this week. He wanted Aunt Barb and Grandpa to buy him more. I told him no, we have to nip the hoarding instinct in the bud! 

Alex did good during the program, he sat and drew pictures. He wasn't really interested in the music, but he was quiet for 20 minutes, so that is a WIN! 

You will notice Daryl is not wearing a hand knit sweater for his program. New goal is Christmas morning. It is going to be snowy this weekend so hopefully I will get a lot of knitting time in! 

Purl is doing really well living inside. She hasn't had any accidents this week, and she told me she had to go out once by pawing at the door. What a good girl, Purl!! I'm going to have to vacuum more now that she lives inside, but it is totally worth it!! 

Happy Blogaversary!

I have been writing this blog for eight years now! I love that I get to look back at all the fun memories over the past eight years. Just last week I looked at an old blog when Daryl was in preschool. He told me he learned to draw circles and trineapples! Come on folks, that's gold!

The next eight years won't have Vinny. :-( I had to put my fourteen year old puppy down on Wednesday. I was in the room holding him when it happened. I was with him and hugging him when he passed. The boys were in the waiting room, I knew they wouldn't understand, and I didn't want to have to be strong because they were there. I wanted to cry, and I did. Collected myself and told them Vinny wasn't coming home with us.

So fast forward to about an hour later when we are breaking the news to Purl.
Daryl-"Purl, Vinny was sick but he is not sick anymore, he loves you and he wants us to tell you goodbye."
Alex (Hand on hip one hand pointing at purl in the nose)- Purl, Vinny went to the vet today and he is not coming home!
Me- Alex, you can't tell her that! She is never going to want to go to the vet again!!
Alex- But mom, it's true!

Oh geez Alex, right when Daryl was about to make me cry Al provided the comic relief. RIP Vinny Bo Binny
One more funny story from the library today. The boys were playing in a pretend bake shop that the library had set up. (Topeka has the best library on the planet, we are so lucky to have it!) It had pots and pans, plastic baked goods and a cash register.
So I walk up to be the customer.
Daryl-What would you like ma'am?
Me-I would like 3 gingerbread cookies, this sign says they are $3 a piece.
Daryl-OK here are 3 cookies. (he hands them to me)
Me-How much do I owe you for 3 cookies, I have this ten dollar bill but I will need some change.
Daryl-(Pauses for a  moment trying to crunch some numbers in his head.) It's your lucky day ma'am they are on sale 3 for five dollars. NEXT!

What a sly fox, trying to avoid doing math on a Sunday!

Deck the Halls!

So the first priority this weekend was to get some Christmas decorations up! I had other things on the list that did not get done, but by golly we have a tree up. :-)

I decided not to try and get the seven foot tree wrestled to the living room. Saturday morning the boys and I packed up to Wal-Mart in search of a tree more our size. Daryl, for some reason, really wanted a white tree. Not a flocked tree, but a white tree. The first one he found was six feet tall and I said that wasn't going to work. He very hesitantly agreed with me on the four foot pre-lit tree. I could tell he was disappointed so we went back to that aisle and looked one more time. What do you know there was ONE four foot tall, pre lit, white Christmas tree. He was such a grinning fool for the rest of the day! I just kept telling him what a great tree he found, it is his tree. It is growing on me!

Things to do this week:

• Knit the sleeves on Daryl's sweater
• No cereal for dinner this week
• Buy a new vacuum
• Use new vacuum

That sounds like enough! Merry Christmas everyone! And if not, fake it till you make it!

This is with the lights off. Such a cute/weird little tree. 

The santas are living on the mantel this year. 

My precious nativity with the Wii bar going through the middle! LOL 

It's not looking like Christmas, yet...

I'm going to make this the weekend I WILL go into the basement and drag up all the Christmas stuff! The boys have been bugging me for a week to get out the decorations, so I will do it for them! I hope I have some decorated house pictures to post next time. 

Tonight was Alex's Christmas program. That helped give me a little Christmas spirit! He did a great job with the songs and actions. Before the program I picked both boys up then had to feed them dinner. Alex wasn't really that excited about dressing up so I was pulling all of his shirts out of the closet trying to get one to appeal to him. If I thought he would go for it I would have never pulled out the shirt I made for Daryl when he was three for Christmas! But it had Santas on it, so of course that is the one he wanted to wear! It was a little small but it worked. That also means for all the work I did five years ago, it got worn for a second time. That's a plus! 

Lastly, the conversations these boys have in the car are priceless! Like I said before, it's hard for me to be sad with these two around! 

Daryl-Mom is that 24K on the radio by Bruno Mars? 

Me-It is Bruno Mars but I am not familiar with this song. 

Daryl- I think it is and I'm not going to watch that video anymore. 

Me-Why not? 

Daryl- It is inappropriate, girls are just shaking their butts. 

Alex-Oh wow....

Alex-Can you see their underwear? That makes it inappropriate, if you can see their underwear. 

Daryl- I think so, but it's inappropriate because of the shaking...

Alex-Oh.... 

I'm glad that Daryl is teaching Alex the ways of the world! :-) 

Showing me his Raccoon hat! 

Sweater progress! 

One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.

Well my Thanksgiving did not go as I had planned. My mom and sister came up to stay with me while the boys went to Holton with Kelly. Kelly is trying to figure some things out and at this time he would like some space to do so.

So right now it will be the Candi, Daryl and Alex show on Meerpohl Manor. I don't want to have to dance around this in future posts, so I'm just going to throw it out there now and if the situation changes I'll throw that our there too.

Now, I don't like Facebook and social media drama. I'm not criticizing or complaining and I'm sorry if you think my blog gets to personal. But I write, it's how I make my peace with things. Also, its really hard to tell this to people in person. I've done it about four times now and its terrible. So it's selfish but you can read this on your own and I don't have to explain it over and over again.

We don't know how this will work out but I do know our entire family has a lot of people that love us. That makes us pretty lucky.

Please don't comment anything negative if you have to comment. We all still love Kelly. He deserves to be as happy as I have been.

I'm sorry guys, I can't have a funny story every time. Life doesn't work that way. But soon, I will have a funny story again. How can I not with my two little turkeys running around. They are the smile on my face and we are doing good.

Countdown to Eating!

I can't believe that it is already Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is all about family and food. Christmas can stress you out with all the gifts and traditions but Thanksgiving is family time with none of the worry!

I'm also looking forward to getting all my Santas out of storage to decorate for Christmas. But, I will do this after Thanksgiving and not before! I used to wait until Dec. 1st,but now I just want them up longer so I can enjoy them. I need to also figure out a new decoration for the yard. Last year we added the big Christmas Tree, I'm thinking we need something new this year.

Last week Kelly and I got a date night at the Topeka's 20 under 40 banquet. It was a fun night of getting excited about the future of our community. A lot of people are doing great things to move Topeka forward and that is a fun thing to celebrate!

I also spent some quality time at Rock Springs with some of my 4-H'ers Friday to Sunday. When I got back the boys wanted to play outside, but I was done with being cold. I convinced them to play Candy Land inside and, darn it if Daryl didn't win every time. I even tried staking the deck in Alex's favor and Daryl would still draw a lucky card to put him to the castle first. Daryl likes winning but for the third game he gave me a "wink" and said he didn't want to play anymore. Alex was so happy because he could beat mom and dad and he finally got to win a game.

As much as my boys fight, they do care about each other. Makes my heart happy when they love on each other, even if it is just for a moment!

Date night! 

After dinner picture with some of our dear friends! We will miss them
especially since our kids finally stopped fighting and started playing really good! 

3 days home is enough!

Last weekend was a three day weekend for me. I had Friday off and no 4-H events on Saturday or Sunday. I enjoy a couple of days with nothing on the calendar, but three days almost drives me nuts!
On Friday, I spent TWO HOURS cleaning my kitchen. Now this was probably past due but I scrubbed the back splash, cabinets, appliances, and then scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees.

Then, I was thoroughly annoyed the next six times I had to clean it because we were all home and eating every meal at the kitchen island. If I spend so much time cleaning something, do me a favor, and stay out of that room!

I decided to invite company over on Sunday, because then the cleaning is not for my messy family, it is for my guests! That is completely OK and preferable!

On Friday, Alex's preschool went to a community display of gingerbread houses. He had fun looking at them, refused to sit on Santa's lap and got to make a graham cracker house of his own. I picked him up from school and he was so proud to show me his house. It was so cute! I got him buckled into his car seat and I sat the house next to him in the back seat. I'm driving along and next thing I hear is a crack! I look in the rear view mirror and he is dismantling his house eating all the candy off! "Alex, I wanted to take a picture of your house!"

"Sorry," he said, while shoving more house into his mouth. The next stop light I came to I got a quick picture with my cell phone of what was left of his cute little house!

Right now I'm working on making Daryl a matching sweater to Alex's. The goal is for them to wear them to church on Christmas. I'm sure they will both throw a fit if I actually try to make that happen, but what is Christmas without a few tears?! LOL :-)

I should get a lot knit this weekend as I'm chaperoning for a 4-H trip. I have great youth, so plenty of time can be spent knitting!

Start of Daryl's sweater

Not Taking a Bite out of Crime

So this really is my fault. I knew the moment I did what I did, I shouldn't have.

Two days ago, Alex was running across the living room and hurdling the side of the recliner to land on my lap. He was pretty pleased he could hurdle himself that high so he kept doing it. About the third time he did it, I realized his cute little butt was right in my face when he landed. So the fourth time he did it, I bit it! I didn't bite him hard and I don't know why I did that!

He was shocked and he cried. He, in preschool, knows that we don't bite. Between giggles I apologized and let him know if he puts his butt in my face, I just might bite it!
Now, this was not the right thing to tell him. What he heard was "Butt in my face, I bite it." Well he is four! Almost every butt is in his face!!!

Later that evening Kelly went to help move some furniture at his friend's house. Tony has a son Alex's age, so Alex went with him. When they come home I ask how everyone was. Kelly, holding back giggles, trying to look stern said, "Not well, Alex bit Tony on the butt!" Oh my goodness,  Alex must have walked behind Tony at some point, and bit the butt in his face!

Also, it was not the gentle nibble mom did, he chomped on it. Sorry Tony! When I find the appropriate gift for, "Sorry my kid bit your ass," I'll put it in the mail.

I am not going to win mother of the year for 2016. I will try again in 2017!

3 Families are Better than One!

This blog's original purpose was to keep the family across the state updated. It has turned into a place where I keep all of our family memories, and even some therapeutic writing for me.

This was one of those weeks that when it started, I didn't think I would have anything I wanted to share. On Tuesday, I attended the funeral for my Aunt Trudy. I wanted to pay my respects and hug my cousins. I keep them in my prayers and they learn to live life without her. Growing up Aunt Trudy always heaped lots of love and compliments on me, she was one of many people who made me believe in myself growing up. I wish I would have thanked her in person for that.

On my way to Dodge City to be with my family, I got the call from Kelly that his Grandmother had passed, later found out her service was on Friday. Grandma Ramirez was another woman who just loved on everyone. I met her when she was in her 80s, and she was an example of how to care for others. She left behind a beautiful family that I am so proud to be a part of. Love you Grandma Ramirez.


After all that I was kind of dreading my 4-H Achievement Night event that I had on the calendar for Saturday. I just felt like I had nothing to give. In truth I didn't, but on Saturday, celebrating our 4-H program, I received energy and joy from my 4-H'ers. They put my smile back on my face, and watching them and their families celebrate was exactly what I needed. I am lucky to have my SW Kansas Family, I'm lucky to have my Holton/Horton family and I am extremely luck to have my 4-H family! I don't do the 30 things I'm thankful for in November but I am thankful for my three families who all mean so much to me.

Thank you Kim for this picture!

Daryl had 1000 football questions for Carson after Grandma's service. :-)

The boys and I just relaxed all day today at home. 

Happy Halloween!

It has been a busy October, but I still think we nailed Halloween this year! We decorated pumpkins, had a fall neighborhood gathering, 4-H Halloween party complete with games and S'mores, Mom got to help at the school party and Trick or Treating the neighborhood! Bam!
Now, I'm exhausted, seriously going to bed at 8:30. :-)

Making Frankenstein Graham cracker at his class party

playing a very silly game at the 4-H Halloween party! 

Michael Jackson and a police officer! 

Casing the neighborhood!

For those keeping track of the knitting, it fits! 

That time I Canceled our Internet and almost broke our family....

So, the blog has been a little quiet lately, and for good reason. Last Tuesday, I was tasked by Kelly to call Cox and get a better price because whatever promotion we had had expired. Getting good deals falls into my chores in our marriage.

So I call Jason at Cox. Yes, I'm using Jason's real name. He does the let me look at your account routine when I tell him, "I had been paying $107, then $117 and now it's $129, what can we do here Jason?"

He puts me on hold and I wait for about five minutes, while he probably went to the bathroom. Jason comes back with Great News! He added a couple of loyalty discounts and my new bill will be $149 a month!

"Ummmm, Jason, how is that good news? I told you I was paying $129 and I think that is too high."

Jason let me know, that he is a really good guy and my bill was going up again next month, I just didn't know it yet. The $149 was the best he could do.

So then in my best grade school teacher voice I say, "Jason, do you understand why I'm cancelling my service today? I called for a better price and you actually made my bill go up. Jason, do you see why I might not like that?"

Jason said, very curtly, that he understood and would cancel my service right away.

Oops.

Kelly let me know on his lunch break that we didn't have cable anymore, I said yay, I kinda lipped off to Jason and he shut off our TV. Kelly then let me know that our internet was gone too. Double oops! So tomorrow, one week after Jason tried to destroy my life, AT&T is hooking up our internet. We are going to try the TV streaming trend that all the young kids are doing these days. See how that works out.

So for the last week there has been no baseball playoffs at my house, and no tablet action for the boys. Mom has been blamed with eye rolls and exasperated sighs for an entire week.

Well played Jason, well played!

We did get to go to the homecoming football game this Saturday.
The Jayhawks gave away flags at the game that Alex instantly turned into a cape!
It was a pretty day, ugly football, but pretty day!

I don't think work should be this much fun!

Today is my last day in New Orleans! I'm ready to see my boys, and sleep in my own bed. I am going to miss these girls I'm traveling with.

I've gotten a lot of great ideas for my program and also got to eat a lot of gumbo! I've eaten alligator and caught one! It was a baby, but I still had to catch it.

Between all my learning sessions and evening fun, I still finished Alex's yarn shirt. I hope it fits. Can't wait to put it on him! D's yarn shirt will be next!

Long Distance Blogging

I'm adding two new states to places I've been this week. I'm at my first National 4-H Agents conference in New Orleans, LA and came via girls road trip! New states for me are Mississippi and Lousianna.

Of course I couldn't come without some knitting! I brought Al's sweater and hopefully I can finish it this week. Ok, it's short posts for now, because I'm blogging from my phone! Hope to have more fun updates on the road. While I'm gone Kelly and the boys are tearing stuff up. Can't wait to see what I come home to! 

Daryl Cracks Me Up

Having Daryl ride his bike while I've been running is really a win for both of us. We had one of our run/rides today after school and I get ALOT of material for the blog. Here are a few of our conversations. Mind you, I'm mostly giving him yes and no answers because I'm out of breath!

Daryl: Do you remember when my passion was smelling good?
Me: Yes
Daryl: Well now my passion is Origami, I got another Origami book at the library today and I want to make all of the animals in it.
Me: Cool
Daryl: Your passion is the same as Mrs. Garrett's, you just want to buy leggings and look like you teach first grade.
Me: I can't help it, your first grade teachers are cool!
Daryl: Ya, they are.

A little while later

Me: Daryl let's run through the rose garden.
Daryl: Ok
Me: Do you know why I like the rose garden?
Daryl: Ya that is where you got married. Does being in the garden make you remember when you ran away from Dad at your wedding?
Me: What?! I didn't run away at my wedding!!
Daryl: Don't you remember, Grandpa Richard had to go get you and drag you in?
Me: Daryl, he walked me down the aisle, he didn't drag me, and I didn't run away!
Daryl: oh, ok.

That kid! He is too funny! I'm sure he said other good ones but I was running and I couldn't write this stuff down, just I was just replaying it in my head so I could remember it when we got home!

I never posted the pictures from when the boys stayed with our
friend Joyce over labor day weekend. They got to spend time with her
miniature horses! They loved their visit with Joyce and Aunt Barb!

Hello Fall!

I am so happy that it is starting to feel like fall! I'm ready to wear some sweaters, watch some football and make some fires in the fire pit! We had a pretty easy weekend with one parenting lesson learned.

On Friday, Daryl wasn't feeling good so I told him to go lay down in his bed, it was almost six o'clock. I kinda forgot about him, and at almost eight I went to check on him. He was sleeping hard, so I thought maybe he would just sleep through the night. Not so much, he got up and was wide awake at 9:30pm. Kelly and I stayed up with him for an hour but then we were ready to go to bed!
He finally agreed to go to bed if he could sleep in our bed. I said yes at the exact same time Kelly said no! You can imagine which one he heard.

So, Daryl and I slept in my bed, Kelly slept in the guest bed and at 4:30am he got up again and wanted something to eat! Did I mention I never gave him dinner?! I was off of my mom game that night. Experience is the ultimate teacher, so next time I will do things differently.

Today, was a big day for Daryl. He got to Acolyte for the first time at church! He was so excited and did such a good job. I know it is silly, but I teared up a bit watching him take the light up to the alter. I just remembered him being baptized and how it doesn't seem that long ago.

Alex also had a big day because for probably the third time ever he sat in church instead of going to the nursery. He agreed that Daryl did a good job.

Then the boys got to top off the weekend at cousin Carter's birthday party. It's not every October you can have an outdoor pool party for your birthday, but this year it was great!
Have a great week everyone, I need to get some laundry done so I have clothes to wear tomorrow!!

Daryl with Pastor Morgan, he also got excited that he got to wear the robes today! 

Did I mention Daryl is now into Origami?
He asked everyone in my office if they could make a crane. Tracy could
so she helped him make one. He was hooked! He got a book and paper on Saturday, this is a fish!

Alex doing his highlights books during church! 

Alex swimming on Oct. 2nd!