Nice :-) Chloe's new ear ring.

Cool socks

Brrrrrrr!

Snow

Skiing

Ice Skating

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Puzzle Time

Rib House

Lazy dog

Festive Car

Weekly Email

Hi Mom,

What to report on this week?

I guess the biggest news is that I finally got my car back on Thursday night after 3 long weeks of riding the bus.  Unfortunately - it doesn't feel like it's quite right.  It looks great, it drives pretty good, but there is a vibration at slow speeds especially when reversing.  So...  I have to call the shop tomorrow and see what I need to do.  I guess take it back in.  But I really don't want to do without it again.

I am off next week.  Looking forward to just relaxing, hanging out around the house, doing fun things with the girls, finishing up Christmas and building up to Friday.

I am playing at the Christmas eve services (5pm and 7pm) on Thursday.  Theresa and Megan will also be doing an all ages reading with a few other folks too.  I think we'll have practice on Wednesday night.

Theresa is planning to go to girls night out on Tuesday. Wednesday night music practice.  Thursday night Christmas eve services.  Friday Christmas!

Chloe wrapped finals week on Thursday and didn't have to go to school on Friday.  Megan finished on Friday.  Both girls had sleepovers on Friday night.

So, Theresa and I got to go out on a fancy date.  We went to Jax's Fish House - a fancy schmancy place.  We had a $60 gift certificate - and ended up spending an additional $66 on top of that.  $120 for two for dinner - crazy!!!!  The chef - Hosea Rosenberg - won Bravo TV's Season 5 TOP CHEF.

Chloe had a mixed bag in finals.  I think we have all learned what 9th grade is like now and we'll just move forward to the second semester and keep trying our best.

Megan didn't really have any finals.  She did have some tests that last week and then spent a lot of time an energy at Beauty and the Beast musical practice.  She also had band concert on Tuesday night that went well.



Megan has said she wants to go skiing over Christmas break sometime.  Not sure when we'll make it up to ski or where we'll go - Eldora probably.  I guess Steve and family are coming out to Vail in January to ski.  I'd like to go up for a day and ski with him/them.  Not sure if I can swing it though.  I've been looking for discount lift tickets.  Haven'

I did apply for a new position at work.  A Director of Operations on the business side.  I wasn't sure I wanted it but it was good to go through the experience and learn a little more about myself and the Intrado process.  I had interviews on Thursday and Friday.  And then got word late Friday afternoon that I didn't make the cut.  But that's okay :-)

Church was good today.  Tom looked at Mary's story in Luke 1.  After church I took the dog out for a run and gave him a bath afterwards.  He needed it badly.  I took a hot tub afterwards.  I think my hot tub is leaking.  I guess I need to call the spa service people tomorrow and have them take a look.

The fridge in the garage also seems to have sprung a leak too.  I pulled it out and tightened every thing.  It might have slowed the leak a little.  We also have a few mice in the garage.  I set 4 traps last night and killed one by this morning!  The joys of being a homeowner.

Well - that's all I can think of for now.  Have a great week.

Luv u,

Jeff

Calvary Christmas Concert

Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights

Weekly Email

Hi Mom,

First week back after a great Thanksgiving week!

We had such a great time being with everybody, playing games, watching movies, football games, basketball games, shopping, eating... it was a wonderful week. Thanks Julie for being a wonderful hostess. Mom and Dad for driving out and paying for so many meals and activities.

Can't believe Christmas is right around the corner. We started decorating this weekend. Just barely managed to get the outside angels up. We've had quite a bit of snow starting on Wednesday morning and some more throughout the day today. There was a slight break yesterday so I brushed the snow off the roof and let it melt some by late afternoon to climb up and hang the angels. That's all we could manage on the outside - the icicle lights will have to wait a bit. The tree is up but still needs to be decorated, the nativity scene, garland/lights/soldiers up the banister and garland/lights and wreath above the fireplace.



We had to move Dot's couch out of the front room to make room for the tree. He is not happy. At first he protested by lying in the middle of the living room where I was trying to set up the tree. Then he refused to get on the couch because it was in the family room. But finally he gave in and is sacked out - on his own personal couch.

Wednesday's snow was no fun for me. I crashed my new car into a curb on my way to the pool at 5:30am in the morning. Trying to take a 90-degree turn to fast and didn't make the turn at all. Folded the front left wheel under and dinged the front left quarter-panel. Undrivable :-( I did manage to get it into a parking spot at the rec center and got a ride to work. I sorted out the insurance and tow truck. So far I have the quote for body work ($1400) and am waiting for the quote for the mechanical work. At this point it doesn't matter what it is. My deductible is $1000 so I'm in it for that - Merry Christmas. It'll probably be 2 or 3 weeks before I get my car back.

The rest of the was pretty standard, normal stuff :-) BSF on Monday. Megan hip-hop dance and Theresa girls night out on Tuesday. Theresa W2W brunch and Chloe youth group on Wednesday. Chloe sleepover at the church on Friday. We did have fun with a family game night last night. We played a dice game and a card game. Today was church, Chloe babysitting and Megan youth group tonight, etc etc etc. We've spent plenty of time shoveling out too. Today we shoveled and walk the dog and then I checked on the hot tub. I think I might have a leak :-( It was half-full and the pump/heater shut off (because the water level was too low). Temperature down to 49F.



Megan tried out Wednesday for the school musical, Beauty and the Beast. She is going for the Mrs. Potts part. She had to sing a song and run some lines. She should find out on Monday if she made it or not.

Whew - that's all I can think of. It's past my bedtime :-) Good night!

luv u,

Jeff

Snow

Oh no