A Very Merry Christmas!

The guests are all gone, the food has been eaten, the trash has been taken out, and the dishes are clean. The kids have spent an entire day doing nothing but playing with their loot. Christmas is over (even my returns are finished!) and a VERY merry Christmas was had by all here at the Kuck cabin.

The weekend started off with the Kuck family Christmas on Saturday. Everyone was here by 12:30 for lunch and then, of course presents. The kids really made out like bandits, let me tell ya! But, as is always the case, the moment they wait all day for goes really fast...and everything is opened within 3o minutes! After we got the mess cleaned up, we just sat back and watched the kids play until our guests started filing out the door.

Then on Saturday, Mom & Joe and Jess & Luke showed up for dinner. The food was great, and there was PLENTY OF IT. We were all sitting around afterward lamenting how much we had eaten and why on earth we couldn't have been stopped! But, of course, that didn't stop us from having ice cream a little later! HeeeeHEEEEE! Kendall could barely wait to start opening her gifts again...I'll tell you what - that kid was on a roll! And of course, she is feeling pretty spoiled because she got just about everything she asked for! Noah really could have cared less about Christmas this year. He's been sick with a cold and it really caught up with him this weekend with all the excitement...he was a super snotty mess. Snot rockets every 15 minutes, a yucky phlegmy cough, red eyes...the works, you know? He just didn't feel good at all. Then after we did gifts, he started burning up while sitting on the couch with good 'ol Aunt Jess. During the night, his fever broke, but not until he finally fell asleep at 5:30-6:00 am. Yeah, you heard that right. IT'S NO JOKE, BELIEVE ME!!!! We were up all night. UGH. Merry Christmas to us!

Of course, Kendall got up at 8:00 or so, ready and willing to go. So we went ahead and let her open her gifts and decided to let the little one sleep. We knew he'd be just as happy to open his gifts after getting some rest. Kendall went crazy when she saw the Radio Flyer spring horse Santa brought for her and Noah! She and Grandma Cindy quickly found a suitable moniker for him...SHADOW. So now Kendall and Shadow are fast friends. She can hardly walk through the room without jumping up on him and taking a ride. She was even watching TV while riding him earlier today! Noah is not too interested up close yet. He has been checking out how that horse works exactly...you know, checking the springs, the hooves, even the mouth. But he is not too keen on jumping up there just yet. You see, that would require him to let go of me for 30 seconds...and THAT is not about to happen! My adorable little son will not let me out of his reach, especially now, while he is under the weather. So, give it a few days, and I'm sure he'll be fighting his big sis for a turn to ride the range with Shadow. Some other highlights of the kids' gifts....

The Shake 'n Go Racetrack...great fun for both the kids (and Daddy too!)

The 2 in 1 Saxophone-Trumpet that plays very festive songs. Kendall picked it out for Noah, and it too is a favorite for both kiddos.

The Colorforms set Kendall got. I guess it shows that kids always like the simple stuff.

All of Noah's toys that involve cars. That little boy is totally into cars right now. All we hear is "VOOM, VOOM!" as he is pushing them across the floor...

Easy Bake Oven...need I say more?

The dolls that talk on the phone and jump rope, and the light up dinosaur that roars while walking across the floor. The kids love them, and I just want to steal their batteries.

Those are just a few off the top of my head. If your gift isn't listed, it's not because the kids don't like it, it's just that I'm too fried right now to remember all of them...or because in this great room full of toys, they just haven't made their way to it yet. No worries, folks, we'll get there by the weekend! We have LOTS of playing to do!

So anyway, Mom & Joe and Luke all left on Christmas Day and then Dad & Taffy rolled in. We had more yummy food and more great gifts, and MORE playing! And, after quite a struggle with little man, some sleeping. Sleep is GOOD. REAL GOOD. We stayed up late, watched The DaVinci Code, and then we all crashed. After breakfast this morning, Dad & Taffy headed out (it IS hunting season, you know!) and Jess and I took the kids to Wal-Mart to take care of the returns/exchanges. So it's all done! And Christmas was a success! Now I am looking forward to maybe a glass of wine and getting my butt to bed. Hope your Christmas was full of family, fun, and food too!

Now it's time to get to work on that New Year's Resolution!!!

Preparations have begun!

Yep, that 's right, the holiday preparations have officially begun! I have wrapped all of my gifts, done my grocery shopping, cleaned my bathrooms, and have my list made for tomorrow. We have family coming in on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday...so it's a good thing to have a plan of action! Tomorrow I will finish my cleaning, get a couple of things made and into the fridge/freezer, and make another batch of cookies. Snack food is important at any gathering!

Then, I will turn on the tree and sit with my honey on the couch, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the last moments of peace that will exist in this house for the next couple of days. I DO love the holidays and all the preparations...but a peaceful moment to enjoy and reflect upon the season is always nice too, and I am really looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas to you and yours this holiday season! May you have a special moment of peace as well...

I Must Have Been Really REALLY GOOD!

So I must have been really, really good this year! Today when I got home from work, Barry announced that he knew it would ruin the surprise, but he had to give me my Christmas present right then...because it was going to become obvious real quick what it was.

AND GUESS WHAT???

I got the only thing I asked for! All I wanted this year was some wireless high-speed service (actually, I would have settled just for high-speed...no wireless). And unfortunately, out here in BFE, that was proving to be a little more difficult than we thought! You see, there is no cable out here, and no broadband. Basically, no nothin'! But being the diligent little worker that he is, Barry found Sprint PCS and their wireless service. Now, it's not HIGH-SPEED, per se...but it IS about 15 times faster than the dial-up crap that I had until today!

I am in heaven! Here I sit, in the great room with Barry and Kendall, just typing away! This is toooooo cooool! And I don't have to wait 5 minutes for each page to load! You see, the dial-up was getting me down, BIG TIME. At our old house we had roadrunner, and to go back to dial-up was heartbreaking! My online Christmas shopping took forever this year...and was making me crazy! Not to mention tying up my phone line! But no more!

As usual, my sweet hubby came through...and made my Christmas FANTASTIC!!!! Isn't he the best??? All girls should be as lucky as me!

In the Christmas Spirit!

The holidays are right around the corner, and we are definitely in the Christmas Spirit. Although this picture of Kendall finishing up the tree is from a week ago, it is just one part of the festivities going on around here. Presents are being wrapped, last minute shopping is being finished up, Christmas cards are almost done, and the decorating is finished. And Christmas carols are being sung all day long!

On the agenda this weekend is cookie making and getting food into the freezer for when all of our family is here over Christmas weekend. Maybe we'll even hit the lights at the zoo! We can't miss that...it's a yearly tradition! We are so excited that all of our family celebrations will be at our house again this year. We love having people in our home!

Here's hoping that all of your holiday preparations are going well and you are able to take a moment to enjoy your family and the joy that comes with Christmas....if you let it!

Your WHAT???

Just a quick Kendall story for you all.... (And yes, Miss Kathy, this is one of those that will make you smile if you are having a crappy Monday!)

The other night, Kendall needed a bath, so I told her to run upstairs and start her bathwater. When Noah and I went up to check on her, Noah was insistent that he get in the bubbly tub with her. He thinks he is big stuff when he gets to take a bath in Kendall's tub! So I figured what the heck....put the kid in the tub and let them play! One less child I have to bathe later...

So I'm cleaning up Kendall's room, watching and listening to them play, when I suddenly hear this:

"MAMA!!! Noah just put his foot on my wiener!"

(What?!?!?!?! Oh, dear God.)

"Kendall, you don't HAVE a wiener..."

" I don't???? Ummm, ok....then Noah just put his foot in my crock!"

"Your what? Your crock?! ? Do you mean your CROTCH?"

"Yeah, that's it! Noah put his foot in my crotch!"

So this is just your everyday conversation here at the Kuck house. Wieners and crocks....and lots (and I mean LOTS) of giggling!

Fat & Happy

Turkey Day is over, we are finally home, and the Kucks are all feeling fat and happy! After 3 Thanksgiving dinners in 3 days, we were definitely ready to be home. AND ready to stop eating! Don't get me wrong here...the food was fabulous! And no repeats! We had venison at my dad's, ham at my in-laws, and turkey at my mom's. So I guess you could say we had a nice variety of meats this weekend! And hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen....I, Jennifer R. Kuck, was not really down with the desserts this weekend.

YES, I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME!

But alas, it is true. I did not have one single piece of pumpkin pie. I did, however, have some pumpkin pancakes for breakfast on Thursday...and pumpkin muffins for breakfast on Friday. Hmmmmm....I guess I like pumpkin, just not the pie! At least this year, anyway. In fact, I don't think I really ate as much as usual....but never fear! I'm sure between Barry, Kendall and Noah, someone made up for my lack of appetite.

So here is how the tour of Thanksgiving celebrations went:

We went to my dad's on Wednesday late in the afternoon and had dinner and spent the night. On Thursday, we had a lazy morning and then got cleaned up and headed to Gary & Luanne's for dinner. (I suppose I should mention here, before my brother or sister does, that I managed to get completely shitfaced drinking margaritas with Taffy before we headed to Gary and Luanne's...) We had dinner at Gary & Luanne's, let the kids play and stay up late, and then we headed to my mom's. We spent the night and then had dinner on Friday around 4:00. Stayed up late watching movies and then hit the Reindog Pancake Breakfast this morning so the kids could see Santa. And of course, the Chris Cakes are always a hit! For those of you who don't know, Chris Cakes caters pancake breakfasts...and they are fun because they flip your pancakes at you and you have to catch them on your plate...a total blast for the kids, as I'm sure you can imagine!

On with the tour.....So, we came home from the pancake breakfast and Jessie, Noah and I took a walk around the lake while Mom took the girls to the parade in town. Soon after, we took off for home...tired, stuffed to the gills, and ready to be home.

So here we are. And I must say, we had a beautiful day to come home to. We actually got home and didn't even bother unpacking. We said a silent "Thanks!" for the great weather, got into our old clothes and headed outside to work and play.

Tomorrow the plan is to plant some trees, go pick out our Christmas tree, and start decorating the house. How I love to be home!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope you are all full of turkey and done with your Christmas shopping....HAH!

Pet Peeves

I don't know if it's a case of the Mondays or not, but here are some things I have found particularly annoying today...

1.) What makes certain young men think that whatever music they are listening to is so cool that EVERYONE within a 5 mile radius should hear it too? And not just hear it...NOOOO, we need to FEEL it! Seriously....do these kids not worry about their hearing??? I am sitting at Cosi today eating my signature sandwich (the TBM ...that's tomato, basil, mozzarella, for those of you who don't know) and these kids pull up and I swear, I could hear nothing but heavy bass. UGH. My van was vibrating. Whatever.

2.) People who stand in the middle of the aisle at the grocery staring at one section of food, like maybe the pasta sauces. They act totally oblivious to the fact that they are standing DIRECTLY in the middle, and no one with a shopping cart has a prayer of getting around them. And even better...they act like they don't see you! You actually have to come out and say "Excuse me" and then they don't even look up at you, or say sorry or even acknowledge you are even there....they just keep staring at the pasta sauces....because, well, really folks....pasta sauce IS that interesting! Lord have mercy....

3.) Christmas lights and music in full swing by the second week of November. It's no wonder so many people commit suicide around the holidays. By the time Christmas finally gets here, you are so sick of "Holly Jolly Christmas" you can barely take it!

So there you have it, ladies & gents....the holidays are definitely here!

Undefeated!

Yeah, that's right...The Bucks are UNSTOPPABLE!

As my dad would say...

"Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it", Michigan!

Just a few quick updates

EGGS!

We got our first eggs this week...and boy was it exciting! Really, I think we had all given up hope! Our chickens just wouldn't stay home...even after Barry clipped their wings to (supposedly) throw them off balance so they couldn't fly. Yeah, that didn't work so well. They still got out and headed over to the neighbors! So now we have a higher fence, and that seems to be working. Kendall could hardly contain herself when we found the first egg - a blue one!





BIG BOY HAIRCUT

Noah got his first haircut today. It was time. Aunt Jessie kept making fun of his mullett. I still maintain that he did not have one, but she and Danniel both insist that he did. Anyway, he would not hold still for anything! I had to have him sit on my lap, facing me and hold his head still so Danniel could safely do the cutting. And I must admit, a lot more hair came off than I thought was there! He looks so cute with his big boy cut, but I do miss the little curls in back! I guess he is growing up after all....



GO BUCKS!

The city is alive with the sound of BUCKEYES! This town is out of control! They were already preparing for the street closures yesterday...and the Johnsonville Brat grill is all set up in Dublin. That thing can grill like 1500 brats at one time...isn't that insane? Scarlett and Gray are everywhere to be seen, and all you can find on the news and the radio is talk of the BIG GAME. Will we be there?

No, we will not. We will be watching in the comfort of our own home, with beer, snacks, and the bathroom less than 20 feet away...with NO lines! And to be honest, that is just fine with me. If we had been lucky enough to have tickets, you can bet your sweet a** we would have sold those suckers!

I am Officially....

I have made yet another huge step in the life of a mother. I am now "officially" the parent of a school-age child. I had my first parent-teacher conference last night, and I was NERVOUS!

I don't know why...Kendall's teacher had already told me she was doing great, reading like crazy and getting along with the kids in her class. But one little fear I had was confirmed...

Kendall is a talker, AND a leader.

That combination is deadly in a classroom of 23 kids.

So, we had a discussion with Kendall last night about choosing to focus on her work instead of talking to the kids at her table. And even though we understand that she likes the kids and wants to be friends with them, it isn't always appropriate to be giggling and goofing off. And do you know what she said to us?

"But I can't help myself!"

Yeah. This is what we're dealing with. So, we had to get busy with some positive reinforcement. If we see major improvement in a 2 week period, she gets the Math Missions Leapster game she wants so badly. And if not...

then there is going to be some major privilege reduction going on at the Kuck house.

And if this is a sign of things to come, Kendall's teacher said that she was as good as gold today. Who says bribery doesn't work???

A Fabulous Fall Weekend

Wow! We had a great weekend, and one that was perfectly suited for some nice fall weather!

On Friday night, Kendall spent some time looking through the toy catalogs, preparing to begin her Christmas list while Barry and Noah sat on the couch and read books. I was content to sit in my chair with a nice fleece blanket and work on a secret project (Yes, it is a Christmas gift, and no, I am NOT saying who it's for!) After the little man went to bed, we had game night. Barry, Kendall and I played My Pretty Pony Memory...and it took her just one game to get her groove on, and then she was on a roll. She beat me both times! Of course, Barry is no slouch either, so she was having a tough time beating him, but she was still happy just to beat me. Friday night game night has been out of commission for a while, but I think we are bringing it back. We have a lot of fun, and when we do it regularly, Kendall really learns that it's ok to lose sometimes. And we all know how important that is!

On Saturday, we got up and made a quick trip to Wapak for a Relay for Life fundraiser that I was doing a bit of chair massage for. It was kind of a letdown, and I think we were all disappointed that there wasn't more of a crowd, but I guess we'll just take what we can get! While I was there, Barry and the kids went to his brother's house and let the cousins run around and play for a few hours...and let me tell you that they were tearing it up! I got there around 1:30 or so and they didn't even look tired yet, so we hung out a bit and then headed home so we could listen to the Buckeyes game on the radio. How sad is that? We couldn't even get the darn game on TV....maybe someday we'll come on into the 21st century! But for now, satellite would not be good for us. 100+ channels? No way, dude. We'd all be parked on our butts in front of the TV, and we DEFINITELY don't want to start that. We're doing just fine with 4, 6, 10, 28, 34, and 53, thank you very much. Six channels, and still we watch plenty of TV!

When we got back on Saturday, Sheri came out to have dinner with us...Teriyaki Salmon, rice pilaf, carrots and last but not least....Apple Raspberry pie. YUM. Sheri and Kendall went through her art box, checking out all of her latest creations, and then Sheri played the piano with both kids. Noah thinks he is big stuff while sitting on the piano bench. He just plays along like he's been doing it forever....and he never BANGS on the keys....Thank Goodness!

Sunday was just a nice morning. Both kids slept well Saturday night, and we all woke up refreshed...so I suggested brunch at First Watch (or as Kendall calls it - BIG WAFFLES) with Aunt Jessie. It was SOOOO GOOOOOD. I could eat there every week and never get tired of it. Their Belgian Waffle is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Afterward, we ran to Trader Joe's to pick up some groceries and then home to get some work done outside. When the work was done and we had eaten supper, we headed out for a nice fall walk around our property. It was really a great day for some nature immersion! Kendall found all kinds of stuff to suit her fancy, and had a million gazillion questions. I swear, she talks NONSTOP! Sometimes I just have to ask her to use her "superpowers" to be as quiet as she can. And yes, it DOES work. Just a moment of peace, that's all I ask... So enjoy the pictures of the weekend...and hope yours was fall-tastic as well!

PS... How do you like Kendall's band-aid on her nose? No, it's nothing...TRUST ME. She bonked her nose on Noah's hand, and of course...it needed a band-aid. Whatever.

More Halloween Pictures

Here are a few more Halloween pictures...for those of you who asked.

Here you see little Mr. Noah giving me some flirty eyes, Kendall with her Halloween haul, and one of our pumpkins (the only one that was ready for halloween!)

Happy Halloween!

Well, another yearly Sugar-Fest is done. We went trick-or-treating tonight, and I must say that these kids have outdone themselves. We will be on a sugar-induced high for at least the rest of the year. Anybody want to babysit????

As you can see, Kendall was a dragon this year, inspired by her beloved playstation game, Spyro the Dragon. She has been practicing breathing fire all week. No, I'm not kidding.

Noah was an elephant, and quite an adorable one at that! He didn't really want much to do with the whole trick-or-treat thing...he just wanted to run with reckless abandon! He could have cared less about the candy, but maybe that's just because he doesn't really know what it is yet! Soon enough, folks. Soon enough....

We went up to the park for a citywide costume parade and trick or treating, then over to the neighborhood behind us. We don't have to hand out candy, of course, since no one comes this far back off the road! And true to Ohio weather, we had a beautiful day yesterday, but it rained all day today! So, Beggars Night was not the best we could have hoped for...and yet the kids were done up in all their glory, traipsing around from house to house grabbing all the candy they could carry. And I will say this for them...I saw some VERY creative and gory costumes this year. I was not at all disappointed!

So another Halloween has passed. The kids are crashed out in bed, and Barry and I are preparing to sit down to Season 2, Disk 3 of The Office...and maybe a little Halloween candy to go with it! Dibs on the Snickers!

Just in Time!

Well, the party is over, and I am happy to report that we had a great turnout! And even better, we had a beautiful fall day! People were fishing, kids were playing outside and doing crafts, and of course there was much eating and drinking going on. The food was great! It really was a good party! And to make it even better, my awesome friend Alicia stayed over with her kiddos. Those kids played and played and played until they dropped. And on Sunday morning, Alicia, Barry, and I sat around in our pjs until noon, drinking coffee and tea and talking. It was a great way to end the weekend. And after Alicia and the kids left, we laid around the rest of the day too! We just let the kids do what they wanted and we were all L.A.Z.Y.!!!!! We haven't done that for so long...we didn't even remember what it felt like! AHHHHH....

But now the weekend (and the beautiful weather) is over. Yes, folks, today when I took Kendall to school, it was SNOWING! And it still is. I can hardly believe it. I must admit, it's a pretty little snow flurry....but I am not ready for it yet. Every other year, I am ready. But not this year. I still have things to do outside and things to do inside that I need to open the windows for....like painting. But I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

And all I can say for now is that I am just glad that the snow held off until the weekend was over!

Hope your weekend was full of fun and friends too!

A Boy and His Duck, Part II

I couldn't resist taking this picture.

I walked into the great room the other day, where Noah was sitting on the floor playing...and I cracked up!

I told you that this duck was his best buddy, didn't I?

Well, check it out. I walked in to see Noah playing with his busy gears, the duck pulled right up along side of him, and he's just talking to that duck and playing...busy as can be.

I'll tell you what...that duck got an earful from what I heard!

OUCH!

Look at our poor kitty.

Once we got checked into our hotel in Vegas, we called to check in with Mom & Joe and make sure Kendall got picked up from school all right. It was then that my Mom asked what had happened to Haley, our 12 year old cat. Barry asked her why, and she responded that Haley had a huge open wound on her back and that it looked really nasty. In fact, Mom wasn't sure that Haley would be alive when we got home!!! WHAT?!?!?! Talk about inciting panic!

So, on Sunday, we called our house since we knew Gary and Luanne would be back with the kids. We wanted to see if Haley was doing ok, and if it looked like she had some infection. Nope...Gary said she was doing fine, but it did look like a nasty cut.

So finally, when we got home on Monday and checked it out, we realized that she was going to need to go to the vet. It looked like someone had tried to skin her in one area of her back. The skin was cut and pulled back, exposing raw muscle tissue. YUCK! Kendall was so freaked out! So on Tuesday morning, Barry took Haley to a vet here in town and they confirmed that she was going to need to be put out and stitched up. Of course they shaved her too, so here is what our poor kitty looks like now....

They figured that she must have been crawling under something with a sharp edge that caught on her fur and she just pulled free, slicing her back right open. She will be on antibiotics this week to prevent infection, but other than that, the vet said she is as healthy as can be. In fact, she couldn't believe that Haley was 12 years old!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

As most of you probably know, Barry and I were in Las Vegas last weekend. He had a conference to attend, and I was lucky enough to have parents and in-laws that were willing to watch the kids so I could go along! What fun! And many thanks to Mom & Joe and Gary & Luanne for helping us out...the kids had a great time, and we really appreciate it!

We headed out Friday afternoon and came back Monday (leaving early from Vegas and arriving late at home!) It was a relatively "short" weekend, but we still managed to have a good time. We got in two shows, a bit of gambling, plenty of food, and for me...some r&r by the pool and in bed! Oh, and PLENTY of walking! Every time I go to Vegas, I am still amazed by it. That place is truly a different world. No pictures this trip though...I just didn't feel like it. Isn't that weird? I usually ALWAYS have my camera on!

I also need to send a belated Happy Birthday out to our friend Missy, who turned 33 on Sunday. She was in Vegas too, so I'm sure she had a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! But Vegas is a big place, filled with LOTS of people, so we didn't run into them....BUMMER.

Noah and Kendall were excited to see us , but I'm not sure if it was because they missed us or if they were just excited to see what we brought them! Although, I will say that once Noah realized we were here, he ran to me and jumped up and climbed me like a little monkey....wrapping his legs and arms around my midsection. And then he WOULDN'T let go! It was very sweet...for about 10 minutes. Then, when he still wouldn't let me put him down...not even to go to the bathroom, it wasn't so cute anymore! But alas, he is better now. Although, on Tuesday, everytime I walked out of the room he was in, he would start yelling and running after me, like he was afraid I was leaving him. I really hope this isn't the start of some separation anxiety! He's already attached to my hip!

Nothing else too exciting to report. We're going to try to make it to the pumpkin patch this weekend, and I am getting new carpet in my office on Monday (which I am TOTALLY excited about!) And really nothing else, except of course, preparing for the big party on the 21st. Lots to do, lots to do! Oh, and I may even get to make a trip to Whole Foods this weekend too! Hallelujah!

Have a great day, ya'll!

My Buckeye Cutie-Patootie!

Ok, just one more post tonight...

I love, LOVE, LOVE this picture! Barry took it while I was at work, and I was so suprised to find it on the camera.

And the only thing I can say about our littlest Buckeye is this...

Isn't he adorable? Don't ya just wanna squeeze him?

Yeah, and don't think for one single minute that he doesn't know it either!

A Boy and His Duck

Meet Noah's duck.

This is his FAVORITE toy. We got this toy totally by accident...our friend Nancy was having a garage sale and she insisted that we take it home for Kendall. Now, knowing our child as we do, we knew that the Kendall Bug would love it for about a day, and then she'd never play with it again, so we resisted....

BUT Nancy insisted! (And if any of you know Nancy, then you know that resistance is FUTILE!)

So we took it home, and this duck has been Noah's buddy ever since. First thing after breakfast, he goes running to find it and pushes it all over the house, giggling the entire time. It's little rubber feet go flap-flap-flapping and he LOVES it! And you know what makes it even better? If you grab it and push it around saying "Quack, Quack, Quack!" He chases it, squealing and giggling like mad! This goes on all day long!

And I'll tell you what, my faithful readers...THAT sound is the best sound you can ever hear. It will make the sun come out in a hailstorm, I kid you not!

Holy cow, how I love this kid!

SHE DID IT!!!

For any of you who know Shelly, you know this is a major newsflash!

Shelly is one of my best friends in the whole, wide world. We have known each other since I was in 2nd grade, when her aunt and uncle lived down the road from me. We just really got along well, even though we were different. Shelly has always made it known to everyone that it was her mission in life to corrupt me....and I always counter with the fact that it was my mission to save her from the brink of self-destruction! After many boyfriends that always mistreated her in one way or another, she finally proclaimed years ago that she would never, I repeat, NEVER get married! And furthermore, kids were OUT OF THE QUESTION!

And then Tony came along.

And thank God for that. I have never in my life seen her happier or with a guy that treated her with such respect. They are obviously two peas in a pod, and I knew the minute I met him that he was THE ONE. And dear readers, this picture proves it. It is a done deal....the girl is married! And as an even bigger bonus, she gets to be a stepmom to two adorable little girls.

And more importantly, she is HAPPY. And that is all I have ever wanted for her....she has found her soft place to fall.

Congrats Shelly and Tony! We are so happy for you! 

Now THAT'S the Buckeye Spirit!

Over Labor Day Weekend, we stayed a night with my dad and Taffy, and Dad send Kendall out into the backyard to pick up all the buckeyes that had fallen from his 2 buckeye trees. She could not have been more pleased! But what to do with her treasure?

I told her that we should make buckeye necklaces to wear on game days, and boy, was she all for that! So finally, this past Saturday, she and I had a girls day out. I had just one appointment at work, so she went with me, took her portable DVD player and watched a movie while I worked. Then we headed to Whole Foods for lunch(I love, love, LOVE that place!) and then over to Jo-Anns and the One-Stop Bead Shop to pick up supplies for our little project. She was so excited, I thought she'd pee her pants before we got home!


But alas, she made it! But we weren't in the house 5 minutes before she started begging her daddy to drill holes in the buckeyes for us. Barry was busy building some nest boxes for the chicken coop, but took 5 minutes to help us out...especially since we told him we were making him his very own buckeye necklace!
I showed Kendall the plan, and she went to work! We had so much fun stringing the beads and talking about how we should change each one. She really went to town! And they turned out awesome! She is so proud of hers, and can't wait to wear it to school on Spirit Fridays. Barry was really impressed with his as well...and I love mine too! What a fun project for a Buckeye Saturday!

So now, Kendall has decided that she needs to sell her necklaces, because they are "so cool"...they ARE cool, but I guess we'll have to see about that whole selling thing....not so sure I'm up for that!

O-H!

I-O!

GO BUCKS!!!

An Obsession with Clean!

Meet the new love of my life....my Dyson sweeper. I used to think all of my clients and friends that had one were just plain nuts, because all they could talk about was their Dyson and how much they loved sweeping! WHAT??!?!! Could there really be a sweeper out there that would make me WANT to clean 24 hours a day??? I must admit, it piqued my curiosity.

Well, the answer to that question, ladies and gentlemen, is a big, fat YES. A couple of weeks ago, Target started carrying the Dysons, and the first week they ran an ad that offered a $100 gift card when you purchased a Dyson. So I began talking about it nonstop. Of course, it was really just empty threats, because I just wouldn't make that big of a purchase without discussing it with Barry. But really, was there going to be a better deal than that? I mean , come on! It's not like I never shop at Target!


So I eventually just stopped talking about it. I knew that our Vegas trip was coming up, as well as the big party, so I figured it wasn't a good time to spend the money. And then, alas, I come home Thursday night, and Kendall is about bouncing off the walls because she "needs me to put my sweeper away, and I need to do it RIGHT NOW." So I said, "Ok, ok, what's the big deal?" When we got to the closet, I opened the door, and lo and behold....a brand spankin' new Dyson! I almost screamed...no joke! And I began sweeping right away...

So, let me just say , for all the doubters out there who think it's ridiculous to spend the money on a Dyson....IT'S NOT! That thing is worth every penny and more. It's awesome, no other way to put it. I have become obsessed with cleaning! Check out this picture....that is what I sucked up on Friday afternoon (it's FULL!) ....and get this - I had just spent the day cleaning on Wednesday! All of that nasty hair and dirt was stuck down in my carpet, even though I had just run my old sweeper. That darn thing was full! FULL! Let me tell you something...that thing has SUCTION!

I can't quit talking about it....and I can't quit cleaning. I am using it in every way possible!

Yes, folks, they're eating popsicles in hell today....thanks to me and my Dyson!

Yes, I AM still alive!!!!!

I know, I know...what the hell happened to me? I have all of these people who are wondering where I've been and if everything is ok. It is! My laptop was just off getting tuned up and cleaned up...and I hadn't had time to get in and pick it up until tonight. Unfortunately, with my desktop being in the basement, it isn't very easy for me to get logged on and get anything accomplished. With my laptop in the kitchen however, I can get logged on while I am making dinner or cleaning up the kitchen and still be able to keep an eye on the little one! So, here I am...back in the blogging world.

Not much exciting has been going on, but I do have some things to blog about and some pictures to post tomorrow...not tonight. It's late, and I'm tired. And with this darn dial-up, it would take forever to upload my pics...so I guess ya'll are going to have to wait yet another day for the goodies....Sorry!

Just know that everything here is fine and dandy. We are finally settling into a new schedule with Kendall in school (she loves it!)...and Noah will be starting his new childcare situation down at Barry's work in a couple of weeks, so things are definitely coming together. We are planning a party, as you all know, and we are looking forward to spending an evening with some of our long-lost friends! We miss you, and hope you can make it!

Jen Kuck, signing out.....

May we never forget...

Last night I was helping to lay out Kendall's clothes for school today, and being Patriot Day, the kids were asked to wear red, white & blue to show support. As I pulled out Kendall's sparkly patriotic shirt, she asked me what Patriot Day is. I struggled with the words to explain to her why this day is important. In the end, I told her as truthfully and as ambiguously as I could that 5 years ago some very hateful people attacked our country and killed a lot of innocent people. Being as sensitive as she is, she was immediately upset, though not hysterical (thank goodness). After we talked about it a bit, she seemed better and she headed to bed.

Then I came downstairs and watched the documentary on the FDNY on 9/11, which was sad, but really good....and I realized that none of us can really grasp the severity of that situation. We know in our hearts that it was horrible...but those of us who were not there will never really grasp it.

As I went to bed last night, as I'm sure most parents did, all I could do was pray that my children will never have to experience anything like it in their lifetime....and also take a moment to remember those who died and those who worked so hard to save so many.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

What Noah has Learned...

Of all the things Noah could have possibly learned from his big sister, it is this....

The Art Of Throwing a FIT!

Kendall was currently holding the crown in our house, but I think Noah is working hard on his technique. He has used such Kendall-esque options...such as:

Throwing himself on the ground as soon as he doesn't get what he wants.

Rolling around on said ground or floor until he is choking on his own saliva.

Screaming, sobbing, and reaching for you (since you are standing across the room ignoring him)...

Let me tell you, it is not something I wanted to happen so soon. But this past Friday, it did. And we've seen it once a day since. And we are still ignoring it....

Really, though....what else can you do?

11 Years??? Really???

I know it's been a while since I've posted, and I'm sorry for that! Things have just been crazy around here with school starting and us trying to get into a new routine. Barry and I have been tired in the evenings, so I've been hitting the hay before I usually do...therefore, no blogging. But today, dear readers, I am breaking THAT cycle!

Saturday marked our 11th anniversary...I truly cannot believe that we have been married that long! But then again, if I look at all the changes in us and the things we've accomplished since Sept. 2, 1995....then I guess I CAN believe it! So, anyway, we went to dinner at a little Mexican restaurant near where my mom lives. They had good food...and even better MARGARITAS! I had two, and my goodness, I could've easily had four (but then Barry would have had to carry me to the car!) Then we went to a little cookout to celebrate the upcoming marriage of our friends Shelly and Tony...and we had a lot of fun there. Lots of people we hadn't seen in a long time, and of course the alcohol flowed continuously. Let's just say I was really "happy"...

Then on Sunday evening, we headed up to Dad's for dinner and to spend the night. The kids had a ball, playing croquet (or their somewhat-twisted version of it) and taking rides on the 4-wheeler. It was Noah's first time, and he took a few minutes to warm up to it...but then he thought it was great! Of course, Kendall loved every minute of it, telling her Daddy that she "loved speed!"

On Monday afternoon, we left Spencerville and headed for our friends Beth and Chad's house. Kendall was missing their daughter Riley pretty badly, so she was chomping at the bit the entire weekend to get there. Beth and Chad built a new house this year, and let me tell you....it is gorgeous, and most importantly, not pretentious! Good job guys! Great design, good colors, and of course, really nice landscaping!

Although it is always nice to go back and see everyone, there is TRULY no place like home. We were anxious to get home and let our hair down, so to speak. And as for me personally...I couldn't wait to go to sleep in my own bed...AHHHHHHH.

Off to School We Go!

So the day has finally come. Kendall went off to her first day of kindergarten. Grandma Cindy and Aunt Jessie came last night to spend the night and see her off early this morning, after a breakfast of pancakes (Aunt Jessie's choice!).

She got up to her new Quacking Duck alarm clock and dressed with minimal whining, and then the excitement began to build. We made sure her lunch money was securely stowed away in her backpack, along with her 3x5 index cards and address card for the bus driver. We did her hair, got her shoes on, and made sure she didn't need a little jacket. Then Barry followed in his truck as I headed out to take my baby girl to her first day of school...

I was doing fine as I prepped her in the car..."Use your good manners, say please and thank you, use your listening ears and your inside voice. Be sure to wash your hands after you use the bathroom. Be kind to your new friends and treat them the way you want them to treat you. Your lunch money is in the small pocket of your backpack. Have fun and listen to your teacher and you will do great!"

Yeah, well that all went to hell when I hugged her goodbye. Out of nowhere, the tears started. My face started feeling hot and I couldn't keep the tears back. I couldn't quite let go of her yet....

"She's not ready! I need another year! Can't we do half days? I think she's sick and needs to stay home another day...She doesn't know quite how to tie her shoes yet!" My mind was racing. A couple of deep breaths before I let go of her helped me to manage so she didn't see the panic I was feeling. But alas, Barry saw it. And the moment I turned away, it started up again. I headed directly for the little girls' bathroom in the hallway. After a few minutes of really heavy (and suprising!) sobbing, I was ready to face the rest of the school. Barry and I paid her school fees and headed out to the car, where I convinced him that I was ok. And as soon as he pulled out and headed to work...

The uncontrollable sobbing started all over again. Holy Cow! What on earth is wrong with me? Shouldn't I be excited for her? Of course! She's more than ready! Won't she have a great time? Of course! It's all she's talked about for weeks! So why can't I quit crying? (By the way, the tears are back again...) I cried the whole way home. Totally unlike me...and no one was more suprised than I! I got control of myself before coming into the house, and immediately felt a little bit better seeing my darling baby boy playing on the floor and my mom sweeping my kitchen. The world is still turning, and life is moving on. I have no choice but to keep moving right along with it...

Kendall is going to come home with a million stories to tell...she will probably be hoarse by the end of the night. And by the time she goes to bed, I will be smiling and calm...knowing that we have just made a huge step and everything will be just fine.

A VERY Productive Weekend!

We had a very productive weekend, to say the least. On Friday, the kids and I went to visit my friend Heather in Centerville. Our kids play so well together! On this particular visit, they created a band of troubadors, and were soooo stinkin' cute!





While we were there, my dad and Taffy came down to help with some projects that Barry and I wanted to get done, but were having trouble getting started. First on the agenda was getting the log railings up on the front porch. It has been 2 years since we moved in, and it was time to finish up that front porch! We already had all of the lumber we needed to complete it, it was just a matter of getting the railings built, stained and attached. We knew it would dramatically change to look of the front of the house, so we were anxious to get it done. Barry and Dad got started on that right away.



The next project was the tile around my master bathtub. Up until this point it was surrounded by cement board, and let me tell you....it was NOT pretty. So the guys started on that little project Saturday late in the day and by Sunday evening had all of the tile laid and ready for grout. Of course, we won't be able to grout until at least Friday, so it isn't finished yet, but it already looks awesome! Check back next week to see the finished pictures!


Dad also tightened up my sagging clothesline, which made me happy as well! And all the while, Taffy watched and played with the kids and I worked and ran errands. We are ecstatic to have these few things done which will make such a big difference...and we are immeasurably thankful to have parents who are willing to lend a hand...

Talkin' on the phone

Noah's newest thing is talking on the phone. He LOVES our home phone and, of course, my cell phone. But yesterday, he picked up Kendall's purple Polly Pocket phone and just started babbling away.

"AHHH OHHH?"

"Dadadad bababa ah ta da ba..."

"Ahh dun"

"Buh bye"

He just sat back and talked for 10 minutes or so. Kept picking up the phone, pressing the buttons, putting it to his ear and saying, "Ahhh-oh?"

It was really cute...and then Kendall picked up another phone and started talking too...and that's when I realized that I am soon going to have 2 kids that talk nonstop!!! Well, hey...at least they can talk to each other, right????

Back in Business!

Well, folks, I am back in business! Last week we had a storm and my laptop was plugged in....and well, we think it basically fried my modem. So, NO logging on for me for almost a week! Sorry to leave you hanging! But Barry saved me yesterday by buying me a new modem...so away we go!

Really though, in all honesty, we were on VACATION...and I didn't really feel like posting anyway. But now, it is back to real life and time to get back to keeping everyone updated! So, to that end, here is how we spent our week off:

We went home the weekend of the 12th to pick up a piano. Yes, everyone, a PIANO. No, none of us play...YET! Our dear friends Bill and Sue needed to get rid of their piano and had been asking us if we wanted it. Of course we did! So, we headed home to load it up...and what an experience THAT was! We are so thankful, as Kendall cannot wait to start piano lessons, and Noah thinks it is too cool as well.


The big thing was that we picked up our niece Kayla and took she and Kendall to Kings Island on Tuesday. We had promised Kendall that we would take her this summer, and time was running out! I'll tell you what...we had the perfect day! Tuesday is definitely the day to go! The park wasn't busy at all, the weather was perfect, and the kids were in a great mood! They were game for almost anything...except the roller coasters, of course! We did Nickelodeon Central, the waterpark, even White Water Rapids (boy, did we get SOAKED there!) I was too wet to even think about getting my camera out! We rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We rode the Scrambler AND the Octopus. (And I'll tell you another thing...my stomach is not what it used to be! UGH!) All in all, it was a really fun day. And wouldn't you know, those kids made it from the time the park opened until it closed....I couldn't believe it! Real troopers, we were!

The rest of the week was basically spent working. Barry built his retaining walls out back, we stained the front porch, and we picked up our "new-to-us" entertainment center. Kendall had a sleepover at Aunt Jessie's on Sunday night, so that gave Barry and I a chance to clean out our old entertainment center and get the great room organized and arranged with the new one. What a difference that made! Now, I just need some color on the walls and 2 new chairs to replace the white sofa....

Do I feel rested?
Do I feel like I've had a week's vacation?
Am I ready to go back to work?

No, not a bit. But all in all, we had a nice week. Couldn't have asked for better weather, really. And I was just pleased to have Barry around for a whole week. That was the icing on the cake...it was really just nice doing things together!

Enjoy the pics, and look for more later in the week!