I'm a winner...kinda sort of...but not really

I submitted a photograph for a little contest that Canon had back in January.  I received an email a few weeks ago that my photo was one of the 9 first place winners (1 grand prize and 9 first places)!  How cool is THAT?!?!

I'd guesstimate that it was a prize package worth about $600 that included a Canon Inkjet Office All-In-One wireless printer, as well as a Canon PowerShot A495 point and shoot camera, a beautiful leather carry-on/laptop bag (it has that wonderful new leather smell, mmmm) and a few other goodies.

The two large prize boxes arrived a couple of days ago and I was beyond excited about all the loot.

Before you leave a congratulatory comment or pat me on the back for having such great photography skills, I should mention that the contest wasn't really based on skills.  It was based on what was depicted in the photo.  You see, it was a contest for having the most unorganized home office.  Talk about being humiliated and embarrassed.  At least it was the first time I could tell my husband that being unorganized paid off for once, right?

Oh yeah - the other goodies that were included?  A new Franklin Planner portfolio and 2010 refill packages, along with 4 organizing books.  I am full of hope (or full of something) that I will have a wonderful "after" picture to show you.  But for now, here is the prize-winning "before" picture.  Please don't judge.

In the meantime, I'll be selling all my crap precious goods on eBay.

random craziness

Just a quick note that I haven't forgotten about you!  So crazy busy here it's not even funny.  Here are some of the things I am working on:

• remodeling part of my in-laws' house (2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms).  I love having a creative outlet doing work like this and also because we love them dearly.  We're not even halfway through the project and I'm wishing we could hurry it up so I can work on our house.  Just feeling THAT inspired!   :)
• cleaning and purging around the house (closets, cabinets, drawers, filing, etc).  Something that ALWAYS needs done and sits on the back burner until I can find some free time.
• blog posts -whew, I'm so far behind on this one. Let's see, there's Seattle from Sept. '09, then Florida, Oct. 09, (I already did Christmas) then the 2 big snowstorms, Michael skiing, then another Seattle from a week ago, project 365, oh... and there are a couple of recipes I'd like to post too.
• organizing photos, backing up computers, and all that other boring stuff that makes you feel good once it's all done.
• project 365 - I've taken a lot of pictures, but I'm having a hard time deciding which ONE photo represents that ONE day.  Anyone else working on this project having the same difficulty?
• lots of lists being made and personal projects and goals to ponder.
• then mix all this up with our normal craziness (school, laundry, lunches, seizures, homework, dinner, dishes, groceries, appointments, etc. etc.) and I'm finding there's just not enough time in the day to accomplish it all.

Okay, so as soon as I get another moment or two, I promise to post more and hopefully get my blog list whittled down!

I'm so busy, I don't even have time to add a picture to this post (what?!?!  that's pure craziness!).  Off to do some painting...   

:)

O H......I O!

One Saturday, way way back in November, I went to my first Ohio State football game courtesy of G's parents. The tickets came with grandma's babysitting services too! Wow, what a wonderful, wonderful surprise!! The only college football games I had been to before then, were two games at University of Colorado (go Buffs!). That's where my sister and b-i-l went to school. Those two games were fun and exciting, even though I didn't go to that school or live in that area. But this Buckeye game we went to....oh my God...it was completely INSANE! In a very fun way!

There was over 104,000 people in the stadium, let alone all the people that came to tailgate and party that didn't have tickets.

We were told not to miss the Skull Session that took place at St. John's arena (across from the stadium) 2 hours before the game. At promptly 1:30 pm TBDBITL showed up and put on quite a performance...their entire halftime program!

Then in walks the entire football team, dressed in suits, with Coach Tressel.  He gives a short, very short, speech about the team, the 19 seniors, and how they are going to play their hearts out for the next 3 hours.



Our seats were fabulous - 23AA - 7 rows from the field on Ohio State's 20 yard line and it was a GORGEOUS day.

Dotting the "I".

And because of this helmut-head guy next to Brutus...

...we were on TV. Well, Gary was on TV (he's in the upper left). Only my left eye made it on. No kidding. It makes me think of Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. "I was on TV", while being completely covered up by a logo. Do you see my eye?  It's beside the arm of the two younger boys.  That's me, Mike Wazowski.

This game was an important one: the winner went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (which OSU won against the Ducks on New Year's Day) and claimed a share of the Big Ten Championship. It went into overtime and the Bucks won it with a field goal 27-24.

That's when it REALLY got crazy!  (The poor cheerleaders got stuck in the crowd.)

What a great first OSU game! It'll be hard to top this one for sure!!

Testing testing. Blogging by text message. I'm sooo high tech...but only if this works.

Christmas Wrap-Up and Happy New Year

While Michael watches Deal or No Deal (one of his favorite shows) and plays with some packing peanuts (packing peanuts?? really?? after everything Santa brought him??), I thought I'd recap our Christmas and the days leading up to the New Year...which is in just a few hours now.

Lots of Christmas treats were given and received (thank you thank you Kathie and Mom!). I am blessed (and my body is cursed) to have family and friends that are such good cooks.

Christmas Eve was spent at G's parents house playing games and eating and opening presents.

It wasn't quite the same as past Christmas Eve's because G's aunt, uncle and cousins couldn't make it over.

G's uncle had his last chemo treatment that week and his immune system could not afford to be around any sick germs which seemed to be going around....can't blame ANYone for not wanting to get sick.

Christmas Day was also a little different because my mom didn't come over in the morning. She did midnight mass with her boyfriend and then spent the day with his family. They were with us last Christmas, so I said we could share her.

We slept in Christmas morning and then made our way over to G's parents for breakfast and more presents! Our niece, Christine, even made it home on Christmas Day, before being deployed to Afghanistan.

It was a Toy Story Christmas for Michael (bed linens, pillows, books, toys), a fuzzy Christmas for me (slippers, socks, blanket, etc.) and a game-theme for Gary (Wii, chess, board game, cards, football memorabilia...with some clothes thrown in for good measure).

On Saturday, my mom came over to celebrate Christmas and...

...we opened more presents.

Gifts from mom, Keni, Josh and Gabby were all ripped open with glee and enjoyed. Yes we were very spoiled this year (as we are every year).

Then it all started going to hell. I got sick that night. My ear and throat hurt so bad on Sunday morning, that I went to Urgent Care (cha-ching). Result: upper respiratory infection, ear infection (complete with a tinny steel drum/echo noise that has taken the place of our clock chimes), and tonsillitis. Sweet. Add in the antibiotics and the fun things it does to someone with Crohn's...and well, I hate being sick. OH...and then I get what looks like Michael's pink eye. Michael still wasn't acting like himself later in the week, and the result from his doctor appointment was a double ear infection. Now he's on the same antibiotic as me. Hopefully, we get all the crud out of our systems and house very soon. I'm going to have to do some serious disinfecting around here! Have I mentioned that I hate being sick?

All in all our Christmas holiday was wonderful and I hope that yours was too! Did Santa bring you everything you wanted or did you have to buy it for yourself after Christmas? What was your favorite gift? I'd have to say my favorite is the MacBook I am using right this moment...love it!! Thanks Gary!! xoxoxo :)

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to wrap up 2009 and start the new year (with much better health of course). I am SO energized and SO hopeful for an exciting and fabulous Twenty-Ten (that's how all the cool kids say 2010...so I've been told)!

Merry Christmas!!

From our house to yours...

Much love,

us

testing testing

ETA: Only the small pics can be seen in their entirety...medium and large get clipped. Hmmm, I might have to change the formatting of this little 'ol blog. One more thing to add to my "To Do" list.

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Testing out posting pics from flikr and the various sizes. :)

Pics are from First Beach, WA (any Twilight fans out there??) and part of the 10 mile Lake Ozette loop trail Keni, Noelle, and I hiked in September....and have yet to post.

testing flikr posts :)