Tate and Papa

Tate greeted Joe tonight with a very loud and excited, "PAPA!!!!" He was so truly happy to see him that it was impossible not to stop and just enjoy being a grandparent. Very quickly Tate ran to get his new car to show Papa. His Mommy had made a big purchase (50 cents) at a garage sale today and it needed a little minor repair. Tate and Joe worked on it together.

The Back Room

13 years ago when we bought the house, we were thrilled with the "almost finshed" back room. It began as a deck, then the guy who owned it hired a contractor to enclose it. His plan was a 3-Season room.

Roof on, walls up....we figured add the ceiling, floor and drywall and we would have a very large family room. We talked about it, dreamed about it, talked about it some more and some more. We had countless offers of help to finish it, but something always got in the way.

Last week as I was washing dinner dishes I saw Joe carrying drywall in the back door. What in the world????? Yep, he was going to do it! I could not believe it. I just stayed quiet. (I know no one believes that one)

The subfloor went in pretty quickly, then the drywall began going up. I was in shock. So were the boys when Joe made them come out and help him hang drywall. They knew this "Dad Tone of Voice". It means, "DO NOT ARGUE. JUST DO IT!" Not only were Mike, Andy and Justin out there, but Cat was helping tape, mud and sand. By Friday night, Cat and Joe were painting. WOW!

We plan to hire a friend to finish the ceiling, since even Uncle Dave said "dont do it, Joe" but we are sooooo close. We still have work to do, but it looks great!

Graduation Photos

Mike found a VERY old picture of me on the day of MY Open House. It was taken in front of My Mustang with diploma on the hood. It didn't take 2 seconds before he was posed the same in front of HIS Mustang, diploma on the hood. If you notice, he had fun posing EXACTLY the same.

Puppies!

Since Alexis has chosen her puppy, we have six remaining. Deb is choosing between the 2 pictured. She had better hurry so I can show which are REALLY available. Sue wants another (she has the sister from the last litter) and wants a little boy. Hurry while they last!

Got a New Camera!!!!

The delay on my camera was driving me nuts. As I was trying to capture that perfect photo, the camera stopped to adjust....then delayed some more, then CLICK. I missed the shot again! Since I try to catch babies in action and Andy in action on a daily basis it was getting frustrating. I was pretty good at snapping before the action was going to happen in hopes of getting that shot. Last night as Joe and I celebrated our 36th Anniversary, he handed me a bag and in it was THE camera...NO DELAY! Look out, HERE COME THE PICTURES!

Summer Fun!

Today should be named "Summer Fun". I had spent the morning on boring things like checkbook balancing and bills, so Cat and Tate were a welcome sight this afternoon. Cat left Tate with me for a few minutes while she did some laundry and I decided to get out the bubbles. He knew what they were and his smile went from ear to ear as he watched me blowing bubbles. Tate's blowing was more like a big SPIT! We laughed and laughed together, practicing bubble blowing until his Mom showed up to take over the lessons. When the bubbles were getting old we went to sidewalk chalk and he enjoyed enjoyed decorating my front walk while I relaxed on the porch. That is what summer is about...rocking on the porch, enjoying the afternoon while the children laugh and play. Life is good.

Puppies for Sale!

Alexis has hers all picked out and says her name is...."Josie too". Of course, Papa has to ask her is that "Josie 2?" She screams, "NO, Papa! It is Josie...too" and around they go.

It seems everyone that wants a puppy wants Josie 2 or Josie "too". She is definitely everyone's favorite, although I think the little brown pups are adorable.


Payton and Zoey both picked one out before they left with promises to "work on Mom" (I promised to help).






Daniel got in the act, but he liked ALL the puppies.

What a Great Day

We had food galore and a beautiful day with family and friends, but when the day began we were very worried.

We got up this morning and Dave, Joe and I stood around the pig roaster. We had been told to put the pig in the roaster, pour on the marinade and close it. Do not open till Pig-Time...3pm.

We could NOT smell pig roasting. There was no grease in the drainage pan. Could it mean that the fire went out in the night and we had RAW pig? What to do? Finally, after Joe and Dave wandered around touching the roaster and debating if it was "hot enough" I decided to call the people who rented us the pig roaster. They told us to go ahead and open it.



THE PIG WAS DONE TO PERFECTION!

We also had a chocolate fondue fountain with strawberries, beans, potato salad, coleslaw and rolls. Then add Cat's (Deb's receipe) Cheddar Cheese Potatoes, Pizza rolls, Oreo Bark and Cupcakes and we had a lot of food!

We badly missed Paul, but took pictures of everyone waving to him along with a shot of Cat's plate.




We ARE freezing a packet of pork for you Paul to eat upon your return!

The Pig is ON!

Joe & Dave got some help from the boys as they loaded the pig into the roaster tonight and it smells good already! Joe & Dave pulled in with the roaster on a trailer behind the van and the pig in the back packed in ice. It should be ready by about 2pm tomorrow.

Cat went home to bake another 100 cupcakes, the baked beans are in the roaster, potato salad cooling in the fridge and we have about 200 buns on the counter waiting for that pig. Looking forward to tomorrow!

Simple Pleasures

Tonight Andy came in and asked me if I would like to join him, Mike and Justin by their bonfire. I can't imagine anything better than your teenager wanting you to join them at midnight around a fire. I grabbed my coffee and headed out.

We had worked all week and worked really hard. It has been a constant source of conversation for 13 years to talk about "when we finish the back room". They actually have it almost done! Today we shopped for 8 hours, filling the van nearly to the top with pop, food, charcoal for the pig and the various extras for the party. We ended the evening with yardwork and Joe working on getting the pool open. It was definitely time to relax!

As I sat there enjoying the warmth of the fire and the conversation of my boys I was thinking this is as good as it gets. The fire was crackling, we were all staring at it and just plain mellow. Conversation and laughter flowed easily, which is all too often something rare between parents and teens. Out came the marshmellows and it was really getting good.

Right then, Mike asked "What is it about fire and humans? We are all just staring at that fire." I don't know what it is, but it doesn't get any better.

Busy, Busy Family

The Nuthouse is extra busy right now and even though I am tired, I wouldn't change a thing! As we work together to get ready for Mike's Open House, it has been a house filled with laughter (oh, yeah there is some yelling), lots of food, lots of kids and we are enjoying being a family.

Cat and Tate are here while Paul suns himself in Afghanistan. We enjoy his daily pictures and emails, but miss him very much. We ARE enjoying Tate and he is becoming just another one of the bunch. Everyone enjoys playing with him, as you can see from the photo above, as he and Andy jump on the trampoline.

Laura and Alexis joined us last week for a rare evening of porch sitting. We all gathered at Cat's place and relaxed on her deck for a bit while the kids played. We need a few more evenings like that one. I am happy, but very, very tired!

Although the kids are usually HERE, I have to enforce curfew occasionally. I get them home by allowing them to bring whomever they choose and they DO choose to bring friends. I have to take a headcount at night to be sure what I am responsible for since usually we have Justin, Erin, Kyle and various others sleeping around here somewhere. Often, they are at computers, working with Joe or just hanging out with me, which is the best thing I could ask for. I love being with these kids, even when they do drive me nuts.

Catie and her SEVEN puppies keep life exciting, as if Paco, Josie, Frankie, Rocky and Spike weren't enough. Someone knocks at the door and you would think we have 1000 dogs waiting to eat them. Someone is ALWAYS knocking at the door!

Andrew has his driver's permit and I have turned completely grey, but we are out every single day and night, driving around, doing errands and inventing things to do. Tonight it was a visit to the car wash, the laundramat (we did Cat's laundry while she drywalled) and out for ice cream.

This has to be what summer is supposed to be about.

Open House on Saturday!

Mike took "the walk" last Sunday afternoon as we listened to Pomp and Circumstance for the first time in a few years, picked up his diploma and made Mom and Dad very happy. Cat and Tate joined us for dinner afterwards at Bennigans (Mike's choice) and we called it a night, as our REAL celebration is next Saturday.

Pictures to be seen on the side of the page include some of the work crew this week as we spiff up the house and yard. Seems like we let a lot go recently, but it is all in shape now. Joey helped with the painting last month, which got us started. The back porch is now officially drywalled, the new subfloor is in and we are in the home stretch of finally finishing that nice big room. With our growing family, it will be so nice to have an extra 400 sq ft of space.

Even Tate was swinging the hammer, Cat was taping and mudding, Mike, Andy and Justin were general labor on this crew with Joe definitely the Supervisor. Morning has brought achine muscles for the older set, the kids just lay in bed and moan "NOT AGAIN TODAY!"

Joe is roasting a pig for the crowd, the boys have built a bonfire pit for the evening and we plan to PARTY all day and night to celebrate Mike's graduation! So if you are reading this.......you are invited! Join us for a day of food, family, friends and fun!

Days and Nights Mixed Up!

For those of you who may try to call today, I have my days and nights mixed up. After having an anesthetic to have pain treatments done yesterday, I came home and slept the rest of the day. So, if you add up the sleep hours, I had 9 hours and then it was evening! Not easy to go to bed.

So it is 7:52am and I haven't been to bed since yesterday at 5pm when I woke up from my "pain relief adventure". Cat and I are going to the St. Peter Community Garage Sale and then I will probably head to bed for a while. Maybe by tonight I can be ready for a more normal Saturday night.

Now THIS is Roughing it!

So glad to hear from Paul today and know he is safe and sound in Kabul. It is hard knowing he is away from Cat and Tate, but it does help hearing from him and getting his wonderful and colorful emails.

He adds his address:

Paul H Schwartz
CSTC-A CJ5
APO AE 09356
DSN3182370957

(Snail mail takes one week, per Paul's info)

paul.h.schwartz@afghan.swa.army.mil


He is getting quite the tour, in that he has already visited Newfoundland, Ireland, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan. I couldn't pronounce, that city, muchless spell it!

Will keep you updated as we hear from Paul!

Not Exactly Roughing It!

Memorial Day Weekend for Joey, Alexis, Mike O and Catie was one big adventure. They loaded up and took off for a camping weekend in a great 5th wheel. Catie and Alexis report it was a weekend of fun complete with SomeMores every night, lots of laughter and just being together. Doesn't get any better than that!

Forgot how much fun babies are!

We went out to dinner on Friday night with Cat and Tate. It was getting pretty boring for a 2 year old to sit and wait for the food. So I decided to take Tate for a little walk outside and give Cat and her Dad some peace.

I saw the gleam in his eye when we passed the puddle. Nope, he couldn't resist!

Amazing What You can BRIBE Your kids to do!

Andy was BEGGING me to take he and Justin somewhere last week. While he was begging, he began to act up, putting on various faces and personalities. I was laughing SO hard that I finally struck a bargain. "Let me take your picture looking like that and you have a deal." Well, here's the proof!

We have Puppies!!!

Frankie Jeanne-Marie is the proud mother of 7 puppies! 2 black and 5 brown little darlings. She is a good Mom and stays right with her puppies all the time. NO ONE but Catie and I are allowed in the room as of yet, but I am sure as they get bigger we will be able to show them off.

It's been a busy week for the Chin's with Cat and Tate getting settled. They traveled light, bringing only a couch, Tate's crib, toys and a few boxes. Although Joe managed to fit in Cat's potted Lily plant, she is sleeping on an air mattress.

Carol came through as usual, with a kitchen table and chairs, end table and coffee table. She even came up with a little stool for Tate, who was using Cat's scrapbook bag as a seat. The temporary Schwartz home is looking more like home each day.

I am still in disbelief as to how long it takes Comcast to hook up. Cat is still without internet or TV, after a full week. Knowing how much she loves both, I am surprised at her good spirit. Paul has called and emailed and has reached his final destination. He has traveled in a convoy across the mountains of Afghanistan, slept in a tent with 20 guys (no air conditioning) and still seems to be in good spirits. That's our Paul!

Cat's Coming Home

Tomorrow is the day. Joe and Joey leave for St. Louis to bring Cat and Tate home. I am a bit sentimental about the idea of having all my children home. Every time someone suggests that maybe "God intended it this way to help everyone heal", I want to tell them that I am sure Paul would have gladly shipped her home, paid the rent and skipped the trip to Afghanistan!

We HAVE decided that Andy is the official family BABYSITTER this summer. Cat needs a break and we are going to make sure she gets it. Andy is the official "Baby Whisperer" and I know he is up for it. Sounds like we need a night of listening to Laura at Kareoke, at least and maybe an hour here and there for Cat to sit at the local coffee house and relax. Andy needed a summer job anyway.