Life in the TreeHouse

Ryan

2009-08-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

He was God's child. He was Dale and Celeste's son. He was Amber and Lynn's brother. He was Dawn's husband. He was Caleb, Levi, Seth and Chloe's daddy. He used to live in Nairobi, Kenya. Now he lives in heaven.

His life suddenly ended at age 33. There was no warning, no long term illness, no reason to anticipate this loss. There was only an airplane flight that ended in flames. We may not know why for a long time, but someday we will know why Ryan had to go to his eternal home so soon. And because we never know when our last day is approaching, I am writing this blog to encourage everyone who reads it to live your life to it's fullest. Make your life count. Live with a purpose. Love your children. Make your actions matter. Speak with patience. Decide with wisdom. Ignore the things about your spouse that drive you crazy and love them like crazy instead. Take the risk. Go on the adventure. Leave the dishes till morning. But eat really good food. Cherish every kiss, every snuggle, every giggle. Forgive things that others have already forgotten. Release any bitterness. Say Yes more often. Assume the best. Be inspired. Know there's a Plan. And most of all, accept Jesus as your own personal Lord and Savior. Knowing Him fully will give you the wealth of joy needed to get through the times in life when despair wants to take over. We can have JOY knowing that Ryan is healed, rejoicing in heaven, having true life. We also know that when we finally make it to heaven, Ryan will be waiting at the gates for us. It's not good-bye. It's see you later. And until then, let's live!! Really Live.

Birthdays

2009-07-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are so bittersweet.

Sweet: It's the most incredible experience to watch your child grow into the person they are to become.

Bitter: Every year older is every year further away from what they used to be.

And it's because we love our children at every stage they are in that we are sad to see them leave it behind with only pics and vids to remember their bubbly faces and funny words. And it's because we love our children at every stage they are in that it is exciting to see them grow and flourish and learn new things. Birthdays.

My children have all now celebrated their 2009 birthdays. Sam is 9. ugh. We told him he's not allowed to go past 10. He still cuddles with me on the couch. He still tells me he loves me. He still holds my hand in public. Please let that never end. Elle just turned 7. SEVEN! Her independence is growing, right along with her sense of fashion. Please don't turn 16 too quickly. And Jack is 5 1/2. He's entering kindergarten in the fall. I hate that. He's my side-kick. But no longer. School is coming, along with a new job for me. Changes are everywhere and I can't stop them from happening.

Time to embrace the new normal.

My Kids

2009-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

I'm having a 'Staycation' right now. Home alone. Kids are in Michigan. Turns out I miss them. Alot. This pic was taken on the 4th of July. I hope you love it as much as I do.

The River Wild

2009-06-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Our rivers are not wild (really) but they are beautiful and so close to home. When we moved up here, we had no idea how much we would love all the nature. We are discovering that not only do we love what winter has to offer, but we are also loving summer for the rivers and lakes that run through our town. Last summer, we bought a used canoe. This summer, we added a kayak. This past weekend, we enjoyed both!

We had some great friends visit us for the weekend, and between meals and catching up on each other's lives, we hiked our mountain all the way to the top, and spent all of Sunday afternoon on the Big Rib River. Our friends brought their own canoe, and we borrowed another kayak, so between the 2 families, we had enough space for all members to be on the river together.

Most of the 4 hour trip, Sam manuevered the kayak all by himself...under fallen trees, scooching across shallow parts,and finding his way between logs. He was a natural. In the meantime, Dean was the captain of our little ship while I sat in the front of the canoe and Elle and Jack rode middle. I like to do that I have termed "Princess Canoeing". You know...I sit in the front and..well..sit. I help out Dean when he needs it, and we actually make a really good team. But then I go back to, well, sitting. It works for us. Dean doesn't mind at all. He's just happy I'm there :o)

After about 3 hours, Sam was tired of kayaking. Who could blame him? So I offered to kayak the rest of the trip. I had never sat in a kayak before, much more been in charge of my own trip down a river. But I liked it. Until the very end. I always get a little "buggy" while on a river. After 2-3 hours, I just need it to end. I feel as though the Twighlight Zone is upon me and I'm never going to get off of the winding river that doesn't seem to end. And there I sat, in a kayak, by myself, with no one to get me back but myself. The last 30 minutes was tough, but it was more mental than physical. I've always told Dean he needs to find me a river route that is no longer than 2 hours. That would be my perfect adventure.

The kids' favorite part of the river trip is getting out and playing in the river. They were finding beautiful, big healthy mussels all over the place. Some mussels even came home with us (yeah for us!) They also found a rare soft-shelled turtle, and lots of polliwogs. Sometimes they just like to get out of the canoe and walk down the river with us. They truly love it. And of course, Jack fell asleep in the canoe. I couldn't get a picture of it, but I would have if I could have!

I should also mention Dean. He has been kayaking several times already this summer, to include a moonlight adventure. He and our friend went out Saturday night at 10pm and did not return until 2:30am! According to them, it's a lot easier in the daylight. Go figure :o)

A Sprinkling of Summer (thus far)

2009-06-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Now that summer has finally decided to show up, the summer activities have begun! Here is the latest rundown of stuff that should have been blogged about and haven't been yet:

1) I should explain the gruesome pic first. Yes, that is my head. Yes, those are staples you see. Yes, it is Dean's fault. He was hanging up his new kayak in the garage and having me help him. Needless to say, while screwing the bracket in the ceiling, he missed the stud completely. So when he was raising the kayak up to the ceiling, the weight of the kayak pulled the bracket out of the ceiling and right onto my head! Tears, Blood, and a trip to the ER followed. Oh, and then a trip to Pier One too :o)

2. I've already mentioned the kayak. Dean's new favorite summer sport is kayaking. He'd gone out a couple of times with friends and borrowed a kayak everytime. He loved it so much he had to get one for himself. We have rivers all over here, and just like skiing in the winter, it's foolish not to take part in all our town has to offer! SO.. kayaking in the summer it is. In the pic with Dean and Sam, they borrowed a kayak and went together for the first time. Sam was a natural. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure my time is coming.

3. I finally got a new oven/microwave!! Thanks to the military discounts given over Memorial Day Weekend, we were able to replace the old, crusty, "only 3 burners worked and the numbers on the clock "flipover" OVEN with a new one. Heavenly.

4. The kids have been loving the warm weather with trips to the pool, a free trip to the Dells, and the slip 'n slide.

5. I got a job! In May, I interviewed for a part-time elementary music teaching position in the kids' school district and they chose me! It's such a blessing in this economy, and I am looking forward to feeling "professional" again. The great thing is that the kids will barely miss me as we will all get home from school/work at the same time. I think subbing last year really helped prepare me mentally for this transition. It's going to be tough, but it is still a blessing for our family.

Snapshots of DisneyWorld - 2009

2009-05-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Waiting...

2009-05-13T08:21:00.001-07:00

So I'm stuck. My computer will die a fatal death if I add all the Disney pics to it, so I'm at Dean's mercy for the use of his work laptop. This means that I cannot post any pics or videos until he comes home from work. I'm hoping to get some done tonite. Or maybe spend some time using my parents' computer (they have all the pics too). Either way, I have to wait until I can post pics :o(

My dad has already edited the "Reveal" video and I'm really hoping that gets posted to YouTube sometime today, and then I can post it on facebook. It's priceless. You will love it. Again, it's just a matter of waiting on other people. Sigh.

Until then, it's raining. And cold. Why did I come home again????? :o)

SURPRISE!!!!

2009-05-12T05:12:00.000-07:00

I don't like keeping fun secrets. I can do it, but it's difficult for me. I like to share in the joy, not keep the joy from someone else. BUT this year, I have kept the biggest fun secret I have ever kept.

Last June, we decided to take our kids to Disney, and not tell them. We bought the plane tickets, and "forgot" about it. As our travel date came closer, it was so hard not to tell them. But on the morning on May 3, we were packed and ready to leave for the airport. And the kids still did not know!!

We were accompanied on this trip with our good friends and their 2 daughters. Their children were also unaware of the fun that awaited them. So, on May 3, after church, and lunch...we gathered the children to show them what they thought was a "video for daddy's work"...only to have the video inform them that they were getting the car, heading to the airport, and leaving for DisneyWorld...Today!

The pic you see here is their reaction to the surprise! It was incredible. And the trip was even better!! More pics to come :o)

SideKicks and Recitals

2009-04-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Simply stated: Jack is my sidekick. He is my last child home during the day and he knows how to hang with his momma! I'm really going to miss him next year when he is in Kindergarten all day long. All of that said, I have more pictures of him simply because he is the kid I see the most! And that is why most of these are of my little sidekick. Speaking of little...the kid does not nap anymore. Or so he would say. But he obviously still needs one, and will take a nap when he can get it, wherever he happens to be at the time. This usually happens around 4:00pm, and he can easily crash until I wake him around 5:00-5:30. (and yes! he still goes to bed at 8:00pm!!) So the pic of him sleeping on the counter is real. He is sound asleep!!

Recitals: Sam and Elle are on their 2nd year of piano lessons, and the pic of them is at their spring piano recital. They did great! It does their music teacher mother's heart proud to see them learning how to read music and play the piano :o)

Enjoy!

I Hate Spring.

2009-04-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have decided once and for all that Spring is my least favorite season. It's supposed to be the season of new life, fresh buds, green grass, warmer air, and sunshine.

What it really is: ONE BIG TEASE. One sort of nice day within weeks and weeks of wintery blustery air, slush that falls from the sky, snow sprinkled over the grass after another cold night, brown grass, stickly trees without buds, and the poor birds who came back from Florida have no idea why they came back too soon. Winter sports are no longer. Mud is everywhere. And summer is no where in sight.

Spring. Bah-Hum-Bug.

And what is up with the Easter Dresses anyway??? When are they going to make a cutesy pale pink spring-like VELVET dress with long sleeves so that our daughters can actually wear a dress on Easter that they don't have to cover up with their salt-infested gross winter coat????

Spring - Schming.

A Day in the Life...

2009-03-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

Doesn't everybody have that one teacher who has affected their life in a positive way, influenced their post-high school decisions, is fondly remembered and never forgotten? I had one of those.

Mr. Buch.

He was my high school choir director, but he was more than that. He was inspirational in many ways, more than I could write in this blog. He loves his students, he loves music, and he loves God. All of that shone through his very being. He still teaches at West High. And today, I am him.

He never gets a sub when he can't be at school. He simply cancels class. But for the past 3 days, he's been in Oklahoma (dining with my brother!!) for a music conference, and it being so close to spring concert time, he called me up and asked if I would sub for him for 3 days! So here I am, sitting at his computer (literally), directing his students while gazing at the same chairs I used to sit in, the same piano, the same room, even the same choir times. It's truly surreal. Am I 18 again??? Feels like it. I just want to sit with the kids and sing with them :o)

But now I am on the other side of the choir. Aside from a few musical blunders (I've just seen the music this week, after all), it's really going well. It's fun yet challenging. I think I am learning more than they are :o) But the best part is being able to get up in front of them and encourage them in their music. To remind them of what a gift they have here at West High. That as they move on into college, they will not hear of another music department quite like the one they are privelaged to be a part of right now. And to tell them their beloved choir director hasn't changed a bit :o)

This is my last day as Mr. Buch. And yet again, even though he wasn't here, he has given me an experience I will never forget.

We Ski...

2009-02-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

...That's what we do all winter, as much as possible, even when it's too cold and especially when it's warmer...We ski. Last night, we were getting 8 inches of snow. Dean, Sam and Jack skiied. The night before it was Girl's Night Out on the ski slopes. I skiied. One Sunday afternoon, it was a whopping 2 degrees out..the boys and daddy skiied. It's our winter sport. It's fun. And we love it. Truthfully, we have a hard time making plans in the winter because we want to ski all weekend :o)

One month left. Then sadness. Cuz spring still won't be coming. And the ski hill will be closed.

Hi

2009-02-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Still no pics. Sorry.

I've worked the last 3 days in a row. In.A.Row being the key words. I haven't worked that much without a day off since Sam was born. I'm not trying to sound like a whiner. I actually feel very blessed to have been able to work that much this week. It's just a transition. It's a mental thing. When I first started subbing this year, working all day long was difficult for me. I liked the half days (still do, come to think of it) But I'm finding it interesting that as the year progresses, and I'm getting used to being a substitute teacher, reading lesson plans, walking into unknown territory, and finding my groove as a teacher again, that working all day long isn't so bad. And now I've embarked on my first week of working many days in a row. I'm so thankful to be able to contribute for the family, and I think subbing has been my gradual welcome back into the work force. Gradual being the key word this time. If I went from staying home full time to working full time, I think I would have had some sort of break down. But this gradual thing seems to be working for me. It's all good.

So as I ramble, I should tell you that today I was Sam's teacher :o) All I want to say is that when I see other children, specifically boys, his age, I am so THANKFUL that Sam is the child coming home with me! Substitute teaching has taught me to truly appreciate my own children and what a blessing they are. And having the opportunity to be in their class makes it all the more apparent that I really do have good kids :o)

A New Post!! Can you believe it!?

2009-02-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still here. For some reason, I have it in my head that I can't blog unless I have a picture to go with it. Well, with the death of our computer, and the resurrection of an old (and very slow) computer, I am at Dean's mercy to get me the pics, which, on a nightly basis, I forget to bug him about. All that being said, I'm blogging without a picture.

So, where have I been? What have we been doing? It's been almost 2 months for pete's sake.
1) Well, I have a new addiction. FACEBOOK. I really believe that facebook has taken away from my blog. It's too fun and too easy. And if you aren't on facebook, you need to get on it soon! I love posting updates there and reading everyone else's updates too.

2) Skiing. Yes, we are still skiing, and loving it. Jack has been upgraded to poles, and he skiis so well it freaks me out. Skiing keeps the winter here fun and helps me look forward to more snowfalls instead of dreading them. Sam has been racing and he's placed everytime he raced!

3)My baby turned 5! Where does time go? I know that's so cliche, but it's so true. Who ever said my baby had to grow up? At least he's still in size 4T clothes and he still isn't dry at night :o) (wait, you mean that's not a good thing????)

4)Lots of Subbing. I have been working 2-3 days a week this month and last. Seriously, I really like it! I love being with the students and leaving them at the end of the day...kind of like being a grandparent...I get to enjoy them and then give them back :o) Oh sure, I have stories, but more of them are good than bad. And I can handle anything for a day...right?

4) We just got back from a trip to MI for baby Greta's baptism. She's beautiful and itty bitty. It was so fun to hold and cuddle a baby again...and it was fun to give her back when she got fussy :o) We left MI with Sam barfing in the car. That was fun. NOT.

5) Looking ahead, the ski season has only a month left, and I have 3 classes left to take for my WI certification. I am dreading the slow and cold spring. I want to paint my mudroom. I don't want to paint my mudroom. Exciting things are happening at church. And that's about all for now....

Maybe someday I'll get my act together and have Dean give me some pics to post...

Christmas Eve Day - 2008

2008-12-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Dean took our 3 children and my sister's 3 children skiing today! The snow was gently drifting out of the sky most of the day and they were able to enjoy the fresh powder up on Granite Peak.

Pictured from left to right:
Allison, Elle, Caroline, Jack, Sam, Anna, Dean

In the meantime, I stayed home and cleaned and cooked :o) I will catch the slopes in the days to come!

Good News Of Great Joy!!

2008-12-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Actually....It's the "Good News of Greta Joy!" Our famiy's little miracle is finally here. She was born the morning of December 22 weighing 6lbs. 14 oz. Greta Joy is little sister to Grace Elizabeth. All babies are miracles, but some babies are a little more miraculous than others...and baby Greta is one of those incredible miracles! We were so excited to meet her before we had to leave the Christmas festivities in snowy Michigan. Congratulations to Aunt Deb, Uncle Matt and Big Sis' Grace!! We can't wait to get to know our little Greta :o)

The Apples of My Eye

2008-12-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

disclaimer: proud mother is about to brag.....

SO...this is the first time in 7 years that I have been in charge of a Christmas music program. Although I am not a real music teacher yet, I was asked to take charge of teaching the 1st-8th graders the music for the church's Christmas Musical. Now, this isn't just any old production. We rehearsed most Sunday afternoons since October, had a full set of actors, soloists, scenery and props. To say I was stressed out about this production is an understatement, but that is not why I write this blog.

I write to you now to say that for the first time ever, I was able to direct a program with my own children involved. I'm used to watching everyone else's kids following my lead, but to look in the faces of the choir and see my own angel faces singing back just warmed my heart. AND...the cherry on the top...Elle was given a solo!! (NO..I did not have anything to do with that...I swear!) She was so cute and sang so perfectly in pitch, it was all I could do to keep the lump in my throat from taking over my directing abilities. To top it off...she loved the microphone. The audience of 500 did not phase her one bit, not either of the 2 nights we performed it. Sam also played the part of Jospeh (non-speaking role) and he also said a bible verse on microphone. Jack was in the preschool choir, and the cutest boy up there :o)

So I share with you now, a short 3 minute version of each child doing their role. As an unbiased blog writer (yeah, right) I recommend you take a minute to watch the Apples of my Eye :o)

http://www.viddler.com/explore/RogerB1/videos/8/

Just click on the above link and it will take you to the video!

A Boy and His Dog

2008-12-06T18:33:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you a story...

There once was a boy and his dog. He loved this dog very, very much. The dog loved her boy just as much. One day, the boy layed his head lovingly on his dog. The boy felt sleepy as he layed on his dog and he found sweet dreams with his furry best friend. The dog continued to love her boy. The dog loved her boy until the heat from the boy became too much to bear(for this dog truly loves the snow!) So she left her boy to sleep alone. And although they rested alone, they continued to dream of each other, for nothing can come between a boy and his dog.

Season Opener

2008-11-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! And I don't mean the Christmas season, although it is that time of year again too...but rather, It's Ski Season! Not to mention, there is NO SNOW right now :o) I love that about skiing...you don't need snow cuz they make it for you! Notice in the picture the white snowy ski hill with the background being all brown and autumn-like. It's really quite comical.

So how did it go, our first time on the runs since last March?? It's like we never stopped skiing! Sam and Elle are considerably faster already (my nieces will appreciate that!) and Jack is just incredible. This child never ceases to amaze me with his athleticism. He is a mere 4 1/2, and his first time skiing since last season he learns how to go down from the top of the Granite Peak ALL.BY.HIMSELF. Last year, he could go from the top, but he was hooked up to a harness (fondly known as the "leash") and Dean held the reigns as he bombed his way down the hill. By the end of our ski time today, he was turning, stopping, and avoiding other skiers with complete control as he made his way down from the top of the hill, all by himself. I had a lump in my throat as I watched my baby ski like such a big boy. He is still my baby, after all.

Needless to say, we had a blast, and we are looking forward to enjoying another ski season here in the northwoods!

No Longer Livn' in the Burbs - Part 2

2008-11-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

I can't even count the ways life has changed for us since moving north 18 months ago. And one of those ways has much to do with living in our treehouse.

Gutting out our old fireplace and replacing it with a forced-air fireplace has done more for us than heat the house. It has turned my hubby (who, if you IL friends remember correctly...hated to mow the lawn!) YES - Dean...into a LUMBERJACK! My man loves to go into the woods to cut down trees! And not only does he cut them down, he splits the wood into nice burnable pieces, built his own trailer to haul the wood from the forest, admires his outdoor woodstacks on a daily basis, has cut enough wood to heat our home this winter and next winter, and has my children doing real chores!

Dean and Sam spent the whole day in the forest today cutting up fallen trees and came home with a whole trailer full of wood. Upon arrival, Dean also gathered Elle and Jack, who helped Sam stack all the wood you see in the picture above. That's right...my 3 children stacked every piece of wood you see in that picture! Dean did not help them as he was busy splitting the big pieces. I did not help them because, well, you know...I'm just that way....and it was cold out. Anyway, they worked for 3hours on that wood pile! They were so excited that they kept coming to get me to see how big the pile was getting :o)

And the rewards are amazing. It has been snowing lightly on and off for 24 hours, and we still haven't turned our furnace on. As a matter of fact, our furnace has not been on yet this fall! (except for the 2 weeks Dean was out of town on business and not here to maintain the fire) It's like the NienHouse challenge...how long can we go without turning on that gas-guzzling furnace? The fire you see in the picture was taken tonite, with the wood that Sam and Dean cut down today :o) It's a very typical scene in our home these days.

I often feel bad for not being more "green". But I am getting better at recycling, and we have replaced most of our lightbulbs with the energy effecient kind. And then I look at what Dean is trying (and really succeeding!) at doing with heating our home with wood, and I think of all the gas we WON'T be using this winter, and then I feel a little more "green" :o) More green for the environment, and more green in our pockets!

For the men out there who might be interested, Dean has cut and split 4 chords of wood. We have wood piles around the side of house, out in the woods by our house, and in our garage. It's quite amazing.

And nothing like living in the burbs!!!!!!

More Halloween PIcs

2008-11-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here you will see our 2 Captain Jacks (Jack with his best friend, Caden...who really is like a brother to Jack as they spend every morning at school together and every afternoon together at each other's houses while his mother or I are substitute teaching...)

Here you will also see our 2 good Witches (Elle with her BFF Eden)

And you will also see Darth Vader with his daughter, Princess Leah (Sam and Erin, both in 3rd grade and trying to be good friends without getting teased about it!)

And then you will see the whole trick-or-treatin' crew! My gang with Beth's gang, with the cousins to Beth's gang too!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is the first time we have gone through a fun "holiday" for a second time here in our new town. (did that make sense?) As we have been here about a year and half now, we are starting to make memories for a 2nd time around....with phrases like "remember last year when we...?" It's so good to feel so at home.

So Darth Vader, the Good Witch, and Captain Jack trick-or-treated in our pseudo-neighborhood again this year. (My friend Beth, who lives in the same neighborhood as my sister, has a home in our 2nd neighborhood) Beth's kids...who went as Princess Leah, another Good Witch, and another Jack Sparrow, trick or treated with our kids and scoured every house in the neighborhood, coming home with way too much candy. The weather was perfectly warm for the last day in October, which made the evening even more fun.

All the kids already know what they want to dress up as next year ;o) And now the candy begging begins......

Our house Rule: Let them eat as much candy as they want for a whole week...then it's gone and the begging is done. The faster it is out of the house, the better!!!

Post-Military

2008-10-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Cause I Can". It's a phrase commonly heard by Dean. But there was one thing he could never do....until now. Grow a Goatee. His military commintments wouldn't allow it, and it was the one thing he wanted to do once he became a retired Major. So if you'd ask him now...why are you growing a goatee???

He'd say "Cause I Can. Finally."

So.

2008-10-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. I have pics to show, but they are all on Dean's computer, and Dean is out of town for business, so I guess you will just have to wait to see the pics of Dean with a goatee :o)

I've been subbing a bit. I was the high school art teacher for 3 days in a row. Let me tell ya....B-O-R-I-N-G. I took the job cuz I thought it'd be easy. Well, it was. Too easy. Kids come in, I take attendance, kids work on their art, do homework, try to sneak food, try to sneak a text, I stop them, watch the clock slowly tick by and then they leave....only to have another group come in and it's more of the same. It made me appreciate the excitement and non-stop of grade school kids. The day certainly goes faster in an elementary school. Next week I'll be a fifth grade teacher and a third grade teacher. I really do love subbing. I can pick my days and the jobs. And none of it comes home with me at night!

I have to take a class this weekend, the first of 5 classes this year. It's out of town, and I'm going by myself. I'm not scared to travel and stay alone, but it's just not they way I want to spend my weekend. Oh well, I'm an adult now. I have to realize that in the real world, we can't always do just what we want to do. whine whine whine whine whine

Well, until I get the pics off Dean's computer....I'll be seeing ya.

2008-10-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

Vegas, Baby. We love it there. Our 5 day long date was just fabulous. The MGM hotel and casino with 90 degree weather, a gorgeous pool (make that 3 pools and a lazy river), dinners to die for, a show that is out of this world, and yes, a little POKER. Ok, like I said earlier, ALOT of poker :o) You win some, you lose more, but you have so much fun doing it!! Nothing beats sitting at the table, listening to the sound of chips clinking into the next pot, wondering what card the English tourist or annoying dude next to you has, while sipping on drinks on the house. Nothing. Nothing beats watching Dean put all his money in the pot only to see that the guy who bets against him has him beat....until the last card comes up to give Dean the "trip Jacks" he needs to win and take all the other guys money!! Nothing beats it.

On other fun notes, we saw the show "Le Reve". WOW. I can't even describe it to you, so I won't.

Have you ever had shrimp that melted in your mouth?? I hadn't had anything like that until we ate a place called "Simon's" (last pic shown was Dean sitting at the bar there) Again, you can't even describe it except it was out of this world!!!

Fun conversation:
Cab Driver: (to me) I like your sunglasses. What are they?? (as if they are some sort of brand name...)
Me: Ummmmm, I just got them at a store. They aren't anything. (how embarrassing)
Cabby: Well, I really like the sides of them....
(In the meantime, the cab, which is much like a minivan, stops. I pull on the handle and let myself out)
Cabby: How did she know how to do that door? No one ever figures it out.
Dean: She's a soccer mom.
Cabby: SHE'S a MOM???????
Dean: Yup. 3 kids.
Cabby: Does she....drive . a . minivan?????
Dean: You better believe it!! She's a soccer mom!!

So you see...I still got it :o) It doesn't come out often, but being in Vegas seems to bring it out. 40 is the new 30...so that makes me 25, right?????? :o)

In the pics, you will see Dean and I in front of our hotel (MGM)... Me inside of the Wynn hotel and casino (fancy schmancy) ....and the 2 of us on top of the Palms at the GhostBar, overlooking the strip at night. We won't be back for another couple years, but we have some great memories.

"You can't lose with the stuff I use". quote by annoying drunk smelly guy while playing poker...spoken at least 30 times in 20 minutes. no lie.

Away We Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

It's Vegas, Baby!! Tomorrow, Dean and I take our bi-annual trip to the grand city of Las Vegas. We board our plane at 7am only to return late Thursday evening. No kids, no dog, no leaves to rake, no homework to get done, no meetings to go to, no classes to teach for someone else, nothin'. Nothin' but 90 degree days, reading books, evening shows ...and, well, maybe a little Poker. Ok, maybe a little more than a little. BUT, it's our entertainment money, and once the set amount is lost, we are done. It's really just one big 5 day long date. The challenge is to get through dinner without talking about the kids :o)

Speaking of the little devils, they are staying home with their MI grandparents visitng and their Wausau grandparents close by to help out if needed. All is well. I'll be back later in the week....with pics :o) Until then.....I'll put a nickel in the slot machine for ya!

Sisterly Love

2008-09-05T09:57:00.001-07:00

Grindey had the opportunity to play with her litter-mate sister, Kuken. It was so fun to see the 2 dogs together. One will never know if they recognized each other, but they were certainly equally playful and excited. FYI, Grindey has the thin white blaze on her head and Kuken has the wider one.

New Beginnings

2008-09-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a big week for us. For starters, the kids began their new school year. I absolutely cannot believe that I have a THIRD GRADER in the house!!! When I taught at Lincoln, 3rd graders were at the top of the food chain and I was only pregnant with Sam back then. It baffles me to think he is that old. And Elle is in first grade, but thinks she's in high school. Every day she wants to look "fashionable". Don't ask. And Jack....he's in pre-kindergarten, everyday all morning long. He loves being at the same school as his older sibs, and I love him there too :o)

In other news this week, I had an interview to begin my substitute teaching, and was accepted. I could start as early as next week. Yikes!! How to be a teacher and a mom is yet to be determined, but I have good feelings about it. I am ready to be in front of the troops again, and after going through all my old teacher stuff, I even feel excited. Who knew???

And last, but definately NOT least...Dean has his last drill this weekend. Ever. He has served 20 faithful years to his country in the Army National Guard and now his time to retire has come. When he leaves Fort McCoy on Sunday, he will not return. God has been so good to us. His entire battalion deploys to Iraq in March, and Dean would be one of them had his retirement not come perfectly this September. Thank you, Dean, for serving your country in ways the rest of us just take for granted. Thank you, God, for letting Dean serve his country here on U.S. soil.

As for our new beginnings...onward we move.

Never Forget Where You Came From

2008-08-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

My grandma is 94. Almost 2 years ago, she suffered from a bad stroke leaving the left side of her body paralyzed. She is ready to go to heaven, but for some reason, God is keeping her here. She is a strong woman, and someone I hope to be like someday. Everyone who knows her, loves her. We cherish our times with her now, even if they are short. I had the privelage of visiting with her again this past Saturday, and sharing her with my children. She will be leaving an awesome legacy someday.

Summer Fun!!!

2008-08-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, we did do other activities this summer besides decorating! The kids and I spent countless hours at the pool, and I watched Elle turn into a little swimmer and Jack, well, you just have to be there to understand. The child does backward and frontward sommersaults in the water, perfectly round. He "swims like Michael Phelps" (so I'm told) as he propels himself 6 feet across flayling his arms all over as though he were doing the front crawl. And then there is the countless "hand stands" (again, so I'm told). The pool was warm and great fun. It closes on Friday. It's a very sad thing.

The pics you see here were taken at the sprinkler park. Gramps B took them there while I was at the dentist. Enjoy!!! I love summer.

The New TreeHouse Fireplace!!!

2008-08-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Eat your heart out, Trading Spaces!! Welcome to the new and improved great room at the treehouse!!

For your viewing enjoyment, please notice the first picture is of the new fireplace, followed by 3 BEFORE pictures, followed by all the wonderful AFTER pictures. Please notice the new carpet, the take down of the walls that separate the kitchen and living room, the stone half walls that replaced them, and the new paint colors in both rooms. Also, there is no longer an ugly white and brass ceiling fan, and the brass can lights have been painted black. The last picture of Elle showcases the fireplace insert.

Dean is making the first fire tonite. I can hardly wait.

Comments welcome :o)

Did you know...........?????

2008-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

.....that when you rip up carpet, you not only rip up the carpet and padding, but EVERY.SINGLE.STAPLE needs to be pulled up as well????????

I didn't know that. Now I know.

It's finally OUR house!

2008-08-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

I apologize if you are sick of reading blogs about the renovations to my house, but since it's my blog filled with stories from my life, I guess you must just deal with it.

Truthfully, house projects are all that's been happening in my life lately...so read on.

Yes, it is finally feeling like my house. How can that be, you may wonder?? It's true, I've been painting rooms of the house all year long...whittling away at the pink, mauve, peach, navy, more pink, darker mauve and even the IrishSpring Green walls that greeted us here when we moved in. BUT our main living area (kitchen and fireplace room) have remained pink (i.e. UGLY) until now. With the take down of some walls, the gutting of a fireplace, and now new paint in all the rooms, I can finally feel at home in my kitchen and new great room! I literally spent all weekend painting the kitchen, and it was so worth it. It's definately not a "Joel line" across the ceiling, but I don't know if anyone can ever match that. It still looks good enough for me, and I'm the one that lives here :o)

SO...this is my last housing post until the big post coming August 12...Befores and Afters of the whole shootin' match! You seriously won't believe it's the same house!!!!

Construction Update, Part II

2008-08-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of questions about when I'm going to blog OUR NEW FIREPLACE :o) Yes, that's right. It's finished!! Along with the new half walls. All real stone looking quite tuscan/european. I can't wait to show it all to you....BUT...I'm waiting patiently for the new carpet to go in on August 11! In the meantime, I have already painted the new living room and am currently dreading the kitchen that is looming in front of me. By August 11, everything should be painted, new carpet, new light fixtures...everything but new furniture. Then I will show you. I promise!!! Until then...paint on.

(Joel...I need you!!!!)

TreeHouse Life

2008-07-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Life in our new home is so different from our last home. Here we have so many trees that every window you look out of looks like we are perched in a tree (hence the blog name). Here we have a firepit made out of rocks we found on our own land. Here we have an apple tree. Here we have deer and rabbits that like to eat our apples and other such landscaping. Here we have wild turkeys that flock the yard in groups of 10 or 15. And here we have blackberries and raspberries! I don't grow a real garden (yet, or maybe never) but my children can go and pick enough blackberries to make a pie, jam, or blackberry shakes! And that is just what they did! The other night, Dean and the kids made blackberry shakes out of the freshly picked berries found right in our backyard. Too Fun!

Construction Update

2008-07-21T11:46:00.001-07:00

The stone is coming! The stone is coming!!

Tonite, Dean is driving 2 hours to pick up the stone for our new fireplace. On Wednesday, Mr. Contractor is coming to begin putting the stone on our new fireplace and half walls. The carpet samples are abiding and the paint swatches are getting ready to be taped to the wall. I can hardly wait!

Chiropractors: Skeptic or Believer???

2008-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Dean and I come from a very medical family. My sister is a nurse, and now runs the NICU at the local hospital. Dean has 2 sisters who were oncology nurses, and a brother-in-law who is a podiatrist. We are firm believers in the medical advances that have been made and the great care that comes from medical doctors.

But we have always been curious about the natural care given by chiropractors (against my family's better wishes!) We even spent a time under chiropractic care when Elle was 1 1/2 and I was pregnant with Jack in hopes of curing Elle's ear infections and taking away my pregnancy back pain. Eventually, the cost was just too high and we had to quit our appointments. Many insurances don't view chiropractic care as "valid medical care" and they won't cover any of the cost.

Today, my eyes have been officially opened to the real validity of such care....so let me tell you a little story....

About 4 months ago, my neck went out. Badly. I couldn't even turn my head. Dean called some friends of ours from church who own a chiropractic business and I found myself being adjusted the next day. A few days later, Elle was complaining of yet another ear ache, and instead of bringing her to her pediatrician for more anti-biotics, I went to take her to see Dr. Baker, a pediatric chiropractor. Dr. Baker checked her ears, but more importantly, noticed one of Elle's shoulders was higher than the other. This lead us to the Xray room where we found out that my little 5 year old was already showing signs of scoliosis! Her little spine was already quite visibly curved. Holding back the tears with a huge lump in my throat, I vowed that we would do whatever it takes to cure her of this before she reached the age of back braces and surgery.

Twice a week, then once a week...we made our appointments for Elle's adjustments. Three months later, we took new Xrays of her back. The proof is in the pudding, people. HER SPINE IS STRAIGHT! I couldn't believe my eyes. All those little clicks on her back, which truthfully seemed like it was doing nothing, moved her spine back into place!! She will need adjustments her whole life to maintain this genetic disposition, but those adjustments will be once a month, or even once every 3 months. Surely beats back braces and surgery!!!

When I think of how bad this could have gotten had we not had her checked out, I am just so thankful to God that my neck went out that day or we never would have started our chiropractic journey once again. I wish I could post the before and after pics of her Xrays. You wouldn't believe your eyes either!!

(side note: Dean's Wausau insurance DOES cover some of this care. Thank you, God!)

Top Ten Things We Do With Our Cherished Visitors

2008-07-13T16:49:00.001-07:00

Since moving to Wausau, we have discovered the many different facets to living in central Wisconsin. Although we love it here, we also dearly miss all of our friends and family from out of state. Therefore, we love visitors!! And when our friends visit, we like to share all of our favorite pieces of Wausau with them. Having just had another great summer weekend with beloved visitors, I have been contemplating all the actvities we have shared so far....in hopes of maybe enticing (sp?) more of our missed friends to come visit!!

Here is my list of the top 10 things we like to do when people spend a weekend at the TreeHouse:

10) Fun in the Tub. The hot tub, that is. And that's mostly a kid activity :o)

9) Watch the National Kayak Races! That's right, the nationals take place right here in our city.

8) Listen to a Concert in the Clouds. 4 times a summer, there are free concerts on the top of Rib Mountain. We haven't gone to one with guests yet, but it's only cuz we haven't had any on those weekends.

7) Listen to a Concert in the Park. Also a free concert, but located in historic downtown Wausau's central park square. Those of you who know and love Ravinia will find this very fun.

6) Sam's Pizza. A hometown favorite. We love taking visitors here. Parents eat while kids play!

5) Eat at our newest restaurant, The Red Eye Brewery. Urban atmosphere. Urban food. Very green and very delicious. Unlike any other restaurant in Wausau. Much like most restaurants in Chicago :o)

4) Go mountain biking. I've never done this but Dean has gone several times with Sam and various other guys. Everyone who goes just loves it.

3) Walk up to the top of Rib Mountain. This hike is great excersise, and quite scenic for the outdoorsy type. Dogs are welcome on this excursion! (as seen in above picture, taken just this weekend on our hike up the mountain!)

2) Visit the top of Rib Mountain (by car). A fun place to see the whole city from 1000 feet up. A fun place for kids to climb on the glacier rocks while the moms freak out that the kids are going to fall and crack their skull. (it's never happened, thank goodness!) For those who really love heights, you can climb 4 stories higher up the tower to really see central WI for miles and miles.

And our most favorite thing to do with our many guests........

1) Downhill skiing!!

(note on pic of Jack sleeping...the kid sleeps in the strangest places....I just had to share this pic taken by Cari this weekend....)

Where we were a year ago

2008-07-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

...as Dean and I celebrated 12 years of marraige today, I found myself reading last year's blogs. Blogs about selling our home in McHenry and living in a 2 bedroom apartment with the unknown looming in front of us. To look back to last summer and to see where we are now is to see how truly we have been blessed. Our home sold just in time to get us into our new home a week before Sam and Elle started school. Within this year, we have had a blast redecorating our new pad (mostly just new paint with some other fun projects), the kids got completely settled into their new school and have made some wonderful friends, Dean and I have made some great friends as well, we have gotten highly involved in our new church, we obtained a new pet for the family, and we learned how to downhill ski! It just amazes me as each year passes how quickly the time flies and yet so much seems to happen in that year. Just goes to prove, never take life for granted, and always have faith that everything happens for a reason. We still can't believe we are actually living here!

To highlight the "should have been written but never were" blogs of summer thus far:

*Friends from IL visited. We had such a great time with them. I actually went through a day of withdrawl after they left.
*The kids attended "College for Kids" at the local university. Fun for them, lots of carpooling for me.
*Renovations continue as the wall is torn down, the fireplace is installed and we are awaiting the stone for the fireplace.
*The fourth of July found us in Tomahawk visitng our friends' family's house on the lake. Pontoon boating all day, sunburns all-around, and water-skiing for the kids (even Jack!!) The day ended with fireworks on the lake and sleeping children in the boat :o) What a perfect day!
*Elle has begun her birthday celebrations...can you believe she is almost 6!! I certainly can't. We had our family party with Caroline and Elle sharing their July birthday celebration (as pictured above).

Last summer we had no friends and didn't know what to do with ourselves all day long. This summer we are so busy I can't even get the laundry done. It's a great feeling to be settled. It's great to feel so at home. Life is good.

Another Major Milestone

2008-07-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

OK...maybe this isn't a milestone for Elle as much as it is one for me!! I can't believe I let her get her curly locks cut off. OK...maybe her locks weren't that curly anymore, and maybe thost locks were full of old split ends, and maybe her hair looks cute and spunky and healthy now....but it is still cut off. Sigh.

Luckily, she's pretty darn cute anyway.

Busy Busy Busy

2008-06-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

Even though we are 3 weeks into summer, I feel busier than when school was in.

Week 1: Remodel began. See posts below.
Week 2: Recover from remodel, followed by 5 day trip to MI to include camping and canoing with Dean's parents and relatives. (notice pictures)
Week 3: Recover from trip to MI while carpooling loads of children to College for Kids all morning long. Also, painted the 1/2 bathroom, and got ready for company this weekend.

I am waiting for a summer day where I don't have to wake my children in the morning, clean, paint, or run children around to activities....except maybe to the pool for an afternoon of sun and splash :o)

From Reeeaalllly Mauve to Mountain Rustic

2008-06-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

My cousin Michelle Rocks. Seriously. She's a machine. She arrived Monday around 2:00, and not 48 hours later, she left my ugly mauve countertop better than I could have dreamed. She doesn't just tile. She works the tile as though an artist. No flat edge was left straight without a good filing to continue with the rustic look of real slate. Her attention to detail was of utmost importance. And we get to reap the benefits of her artistic perfectionism :o)

Please note the before picture up top as she preps the counters for mortar. She endured mud in her hair and clothing for the sake of my counter. And the finished product is amazing. These pictures don't do it justice. And still to come...oil bronzed faucets, light fixtures and new paint on walls. This was just the beginning......

Thanks so much, Michelle!!!

....what the kids did during construction....

2008-06-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

I forgot to put Jack down for a nap. He still found a way.

And the Walls Came 'A Tumbling Down....

2008-06-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

Project #1 Complete. More to come in 3 weeks when new fireplace and stone arrive.

Project #2 Almost Complete. Counter pics coming. Stay tuned...........

Madness in the Treehouse

2008-06-04T10:54:00.001-07:00

It's going to get real crazy here next week. Craaaaazy, I tell you!

It's time to make the Treehouse ours. It's time to start the demolition!!

Monday: Mr. Contractor is going to be here at 7:30am to tear down our wall between the kitchen and the living room. My cousin is coming (with her 2 sons) to tile the countertop in my 1/2 bath. I'll never have had so many people working at once to make my house pretty!

Tuesday: New Fridge arrives! And cousin will still be here laying tile in bathroom. Mr. Contractor may be coming back Tuesday too.

Wednesday: Cousin is finishing up tile work. Carpet people arrive to measure rooms for new carpet. Mr. Contractor may be coming this day as well.

Thursday: Garage Sale! Ok, the garage sale is at a friend's house, but I still have to have my stuff together, priced and to her house by Thursday. Still unsure how this is all going to happen, but everything always seems to work out.

Friday: Garage Sale Continued.

Dean and I have often dreamed about doing things to fix up our houses in the past. We have never actually realized any of those dreams. Next week we will begin to see some of these dreams become reality. It's very exciting! Please stay tuned as pics of demolition will be posted along pics of the new room as it takes shape. And let's not forget the new half bath either! My cousin is a master tiler and I'm so excited to show you the befores and afters of the half bath. Oh, I'll have so much to show you :o)

Memorial Day Weekend - 2008

2008-05-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend started early in the Nienhouse this year. It began the Sunday prior with a visit from Oma (Dean's mom) and Aunt Deb (Dean's sister) and Grace (4 year old cousin, Jack's "twin"). Oma and Deb know what they are doing within the landscape world. I was not brought up in the world of landscape and therefore, have no clue what to do with my new yard. Oma and Deb graciously helped me figure out what is a weed, and what isn't. They helped edge, pot flowers, transplant plants that are in the wrong area of the yard, trim bushes and pull weeds. They were my outdoor lifesavers. They did not leave without giving me instructions on how to care for my new yard and details as to what still needed to be done. Thanks, you guys!!!

All that to say, we also had a great time with our little cousin, Grace. She is just as smart as she is cute. And we found out that in December, she's going to be a big sister!! This was very exciting news for our family. God never ceases handing out miracles.

Friday, May 23: My baby boy turned 8! Seriously, when did that happen?? Because we are such cool parents, we let the kids skip school on that Friday, and Dean took off work. We spent the morning doing a little lawn work, but then the afternoon was all Sam. We saw "Prince Caspian" in the theater, followed by a Bowling Party with 8 of his friends from school. The party was a huge hit. Gotta love NOT having the mess at home :o)

Saturday, Sunday, Monday: Spring has finally arrived here in the northwoods. OK, maybe it's been here a little longer than that, but not much. We had 3 gorgeous days filled with more landscaping work, bonfires, friends and family. We are experiencing our new yard for the first time and are excited for summer to truly begin. I'll have pictures up soon.

Another Milestone

2008-05-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

As my children get older, the less frequent the milestones. But when a milestone is accomplished, it is so bittersweet. Elle was so excited to lose her first tooth. She talked non-stop about how I couldn't pull it out, but in the end, she was able to pull it out. She exhuberantly jabbered on and on about which friends have lost teeth and which ones haven't, the prospect of the coming toothfairy, and how surprised she was it didn't hurt.

I just smiled with her, the whole time thinking my baby girl is growing up way too fast. Way.

Lost and Found

2008-05-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago, I lost something. This weekend, I found it again.

What is that, you ask?? It's the part of me I didn't know I missed. It's the part of me known as "Mrs. Nienhuis". It's the part of me that loves to have colleagues. It's the part of me that loves to be creative. It's the part of me that loves children. It's the teacher in me.

I am seeking my WI teacher's license, and to obtain that, I must complete 6 post-grad credits of anything pertaining to education from a state approved school. My friend, Beth, is also seeking her license renewal, so we made a girl's weekend out of a trip to Green Bay to attend a class called "Cultivating Creativity in your Classroom". We picked it because it required no homework, and sounded like fun. (OK, we wanted a blow-off class, I admit it)

Well, the class was easy and fun, but I didn't know I'd come away feeling like I did. It really made me realize how much I love to create fun ways to teach music to my students. I was forced to remember some of the creative lessons I used to teach, and it saddened me how difficult it was to think of what they were. It made me really really miss my teacher friends, and caused me to remember how much I loved being friends with fellow teachers and how fun we are to be around :o) Students would never guess how much fun teachers have together!

Now don't get me wrong. Going back to work freaks me out a little. When I taught last, I had a one year old. Now I have 3 children with many responsibilities and activities. Me teaching again creates a whole new crink in our little famliy cycle. But it is a part of me and it makes me feel like I am an adult again. You know the kind...one who thinks intellectually and makes money :o) A year ago, I would have told you I wasn't ready to go back to work. Today, I can tell you that I am getting more ready everyday. And I'm quite excited about it.

Elle's New Bedroom!!

2008-04-19T11:30:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my latest (and greatest) project!! Orignally, Elle's room was a horrible, dirty, worn cotton candy pink. Now it is transformed into a retro-stripe- fun-girly room. And I did it all by myself!!

Some people don't do windows. I don't do math. So to tell you that I measured, and re-measured, and taped, and leveled, and re-measured these walls without Dean's help, is a complete accomplishment for me.
Now to say that Dean wasn't involved would be a lie. He did hold the tape for me when I was measuring and taping the lines along the ceiling.

Anyway, it isn't decorated yet, and there is still lots to do, but I just had to show you my stripes. Actually, Elle's stripes. Actually, your stripes too. If you visit me, this is where you'll sleep :o)

Gimpey, oops, I mean...Grindey

2008-04-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

My puppy has truly earned her new name...Gimpey. Only God knows how she managed to break her toe while playing in the front yard. As mentioned in an earlier blog, she'd been limping around since Monday afternoon. We finally had xrays done yesturday, to find that her hips are perfect, and she did, in fact, break her toe!! Needless to say, my fourth child now has a cast on her leg, needs to wear a vinyl covering when she goes outside, and has to wear the dreaded lampshade whenever we leave her in her kennel. All of this for the next month. Truthfully, we don't mind. We are very happy she is healthy, and she's still just as spunky as she ever was! She's truly part of the family. Our little Gimpey.

ps...She's not as big as she looks in the picture with Jack. My dad was using a wide angle lense for that pic. She's really just 27 pounds and her head is even with my knees.

What's New

2008-04-09T09:53:00.001-07:00

Lots has been happening at the Nien"house" lately...

Headliner: Jack is riding a 2-wheeler, No training wheels!! Not only can he ride a bike now, he learned it instantly. We took off the training wheels, and off he went. And not only did he learn it instantly, he continued to buzz around the school parking lot as though he had been riding for years, even trying to do wheelies!!
Accident Report: Grindey is hurt. They other day, she went outside and was fine. She came back in limping, not putting pressure on her back left hind leg. We have no idea what she did. The vet doesn't think it's broken, it may be her hips. Her pain medication doesn't seem to helping. We are currently looking into pet insurance for our Gimpey Grindey.
Health: I brought Elle to the chiropractor to see if there was anything they could do for her ear infections. I'm sick of putting her on anti-biotics. Instead, we found out, through Xrays, that she has the beginnings of scoliosis, her spine is already curved. I was sick to my stomach. Hopefully, we can help her out now so she doesn't have to suffer later.
Weather: Sucky. Up here in northern Wisconsin, there is no other word. We woke up, yet again, to another winterwonderland. It's beautiful, but NOT in April.
Home and Garden: Elle's Room, AKA the guest room, is being painted and redecorated. The base coat has been finished, but the stripes still need to go on the walls. You must come and stay sometime, you will get to sleep in this adorable room! :o) As for the garden, I'm so lost as to how to even begin the spring clean-up in my new landscaping. Need Help. Will offer food and a place to sleep!! :o)
Travel: Vegas, Baby. Thaaaaaat's right. After a one year sabatical from our yearly vacation without kids, we have made plans to return to one of our favorite places, Las Vegas. We won't be making this much needed trek until September, but it's fun to have something to look forward to.

Giggle Juice

2008-04-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Most of you know it as "laughing gas". You know, the wonderful vapors that send you to your happy place while you are getting the dreaded dental work done. Well, that was me today. After 3 years in the making, I finally got the dreaded tooth implant. Oral Surgery. Just the sound of it makes you get the heebie-jeebies.

The last time I had the giggle juice, it didn't really affect me very much. So today when I was deeply breathing the laughing gas, I wasn't anticipating what came next.

I thought to myself: Wow, I just really feel like laughing. Really, I'm not sure what is so hysterical, but can I just laugh outloud?? No, Sarah, don't start laughing. They will think you are totally nuts. No one is in here right now, you are laying in this chair with your eyes closed, you can not start laughing. don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh...

But I know I layed there with a dumb smile on my face.

Then the doc came in, and did some things to my mouth, not sure what. I continued to lay there with my eyes closed...the bed slightly spinning.

Doc: You can close now.
me thinking: My eyes are closed.
Doc: You can close.
me thinking: are my eyes open?? no, they are closed. why do they keep asking me to close my eyes??
Doc: Sarah, you can close!
me thinking: Ok, am i that out of it that I think my eyes are closed and they are really open???? i'm so confused...
Sarah: My eyes ARE closed!!
Doc: No, your MOUTH.

They don't call it laughing gas for nothin'.

Happy Birthday, Dean! (and me too!)

2008-04-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

On April 3, Dean turned 37! We celebrated as a family at a very nice restaurant, called the "Back When Cafe". This quaint restaurant takes you back in time as you dine on (pricey) delicious gourmet food. Our children do extremely well in restaurants, and like to try the different foods they prepare, so we had no problem letting them join in on our birthday party. I say "our" party because, as you may remember, I missed my birthday completely,and so this was my party too :o) I turmed 29.

Poor Elle.

She was soo tired that evening. We had a later reservation, and in nice places, it takes longer to get one's food. She could hardly keep her eyes open. But instead of whining and "losing it", as some children may have, she made fun of herself. You'll notice in the last pic...she's trying to keep her eyes open!

Dean ordered Ahi Tuna (served raw!), I had a small beef tenderloin with 2 jumbo shrimp, and Sam also ordered shrimp off of the main menu! At home, we savored the final pieces of Dean's favorite sweet dish, Butterfinger Dessert. The whole evening was just peachy!

April Fool's

2008-04-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

Has this been the longest winter EVER??!! If I thought I had a fever of 103 in March from having influenza reside in my body, my spring fever as April is now here, is about 107!! And the weather played a major April Fool's joke on us up here in the northwoods. Oh yes, the snow wasn't even half melted yet and we woke up to 4 inches of white stuff all over the ground! Ugh. Is there any end in sight?? I just needed to vent. Thanks.....

August Rush

2008-03-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

I normally don't reccomend movies. Everyone has their own opinions and why should mine matter to you? Well, this movie, which didn't get great reviews, nor was it in the theaters very long, really touched me and my family. August Rush. A movie about music, life and love. Especially music, and the wonderful emotional impact it can have in one's life. I loved it, and would love for you to love it too. So go rent it, and enjoy!

The Nienhuis' Winter - 2008

2008-03-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

So this is what we have been doing all winter long. We have been downhill skiing! And it has been a fun, wonderful, and growing experience for our entire family. We had a pool at our old house that we loved. We miss it already and it isn't even summer yet. But taking up downhill skiing has turned into our new family sport, our new family bonding time, it is our new "pool". And it has made this long northern winter a whole lot more tolerable, and yes, even fun!

The kids and I all started out on the bunny hill back in the end of November. There wasn't even snow on the ground yet, but man-made snow already covered the mountain. Not one child of mine knew how to snow plow, turn or, most importantly, stop. But the kids were troopers, and kept trying, and had willing enough hearts to learn to keep coming out and practicing. The first time I watched them "clunk" along the parking lot in their heavy ski boots, I thought "here comes the whining". But they never whined about the heavy boots, they barely cried when they fell, and they took instruction to heart and learned from their mistakes. They were truly amazing.

That was back in November. It is now Easter Sunday, almost April, and in 4 months time, they are all 3 skiing from the top of the mountain, on any run we want to take them. To include black diamonds! We have skiied 21 times. (Dean has kept a matrix of how often we skiied, for how long, who went skiing, and the weather on that day. I married a Nerd. I know this.) Sam is almost as fast as his older cousins who have been skiing for many years. Elle is right behind Sam, and can fair any run he can. Jack is a natural. He goes from the top with the harness on, with daddy holding on to him, following 6 feet behind. We call it "Jack's leash". Once they get past the steep part, Dean lets him go on his own. He can turn without snowplowing and parallel skiis already. When he stops, it is almost a hockey stop. He's just a little too young to do the steep part of the runs alone, but as long as he has daddy along, he can do anything.

We live on the south side of the mountain, which means it is easier for us to park at the top of the ski runs, and ski right down the mountain. Now that the kids can ski from the top, we never have to lug through the parking wearing our boots while holding 20 pairs of skiis. We just park, put our skiis on, and ski down. It's really that easy!

So, if you didn't get a Christmas card (which you didn't), and I haven't been blogging much (which I haven't) and you haven't gotten a call from me lately (which is probably true), you now know why. If I haven't been sick, I've been skiing.

So please come visit. We'll take you skiing and it will be great fun! This picture was taken just 7 minutes from our house!!

29

2008-03-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of spring and we still have 2 feet of snow on the ground with more in the forecast. The high temp in March was a whopping 42 degrees. But that is for another blog.

I turned 29 again this month and I missed it. Instead of going out to lunch, hanging with my family, eating birthday cake, and going out to dinner, I spent the day in bed and at the walk-in clinic. Being diagnosed with influenza A on your birthday is NOT the way you want to celebrate. (As I sit down with the receptionist at the walk-in to register, she asks me when my birthday is. I reply through a cough and a moan "today", she says "oh, I'm sooo sorry") My fever spiked that night to a mere 103 degrees. Elle made me the cutest "pop-out" birthday card and it was the highlight of my day. I cried. The other small highlight for me was the small box of Godiva chocolates I recieved from a friend. I laid in my bed upstairs and ate most of them (one is not nauseous with the influenza, thank goodness).

This wonderful flu lasted a good 4-5 days with fever, lovingly spread to Sam and Elle, and then most graciously turned into pneumonia. I have literally been sick the entire month of March. As I mentioned earlier, I missed it.

If I have learned anything from this experience, it is this. Get the Flu Shot.

And now for you, Spring. It is time to COME UP THIS WAY! If you need directions, Dean has a GPS. I'm sure he'd share it with you, although it's his favorite toy, so he'd need it back. Just COME, Spring. Please....we need you!!!!

Do you see what I see?

2008-02-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

There is a definate resemblance of Grindey to the "evil gremilin" named Stripe. Could that be why she is such a stinker??? :o)

For real...we are having so much fun with our new puppy. Her new list of tricks includes sitting, staying, coming when called and "shaking" her big fat puppy mitts. She is growing like a weed too.

Life is busy. I'm sick of the cold weather. DONE with the cold weather. I know of 4 different families on spring break this week. We were not one of them. Ugh. Mr. Sun can come and shine down on us very soon cuz if it snows one more time, I just might drive to Florida myself. If you can't find me, Call Disney.

Elle's First Date

2008-02-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Dr. James Dobson has been quoted as saying "a daughter's first date should be with her father." This past Saturday, Elle had her first date and it was with daddy! The Wausau YMCA always sponsors a Valentine Father-Daughter Dance and Dean decided to take his little girl to her first dance. It is always an extremely well attended event and it is a big deal...dads in suits and tuxes, and little girls all done up in their fanciest dress and girlied-up hair. Dean and Elle "double dated" with our good friends, Nate, Erin and Eden (Eden and Elle are best friends). They took the girls to the finest restaurant in town, followed by the dance. At the dance, each girl recieved a corsage, and a picture was taken of each father-daughter couple. At the end of the night, Elle said it was one of the best nights of her life.

I spent the night with misty eyes and a big smile thinking of the two of them spending the evening together. They rarely get to spend time together without the boys around, so it was a very special night for both of them. Sam and Jack and I enjoyed an evening of Sam's pizza, games, and grandma and grandpa.

Grindey

2008-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce you all to our newest addition...."Grindey"! She is a Bernese Mountain Dog, a breed from Switzerland. Her name comes from the Swiss skiing village of Grindewald, a place we have visited and would love to go back to someday. She is the sweetest, most loving puppy. I told Dean it was appropriate to get a mountain dog since we live near a "mountain". He quickly corrected me that our mountain is more like a "big hill". So Sam says we have a "Bernese Big-Hill Dog". Whatever the case, she is a member of our family now, and we are glad she is here!

Budding Musicians

2007-11-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Sam and Elle have started piano lessons this year. To say they are excited about it, is an understatement. I literally can't keep them off the piano! I often hear, "Mommy, can we play just one song??" They are already playing duets together, and duets with me! Sam is slightly ahead of Elle, but not by much. I'm very proud of their accomplishments in the 3 short months they have been taking lessons. Sometimes I see so much of myself in them, it makes me anxious to see where God will take their musical abilities.

Then...there is Jack. Many times I hear the piano playing and I think it is Sam or Elle, only to find out it was Jack! His musical ears are hearing what they play and he figures it out and plays it too! It freaks me out a little. Like..what do I do with this? He's only 3! Time will tell.

The picture you see above is the picture I was telling you that is going over my piano in the new red room (see previous blogs). It is enlarged to a 20 X 30 poster and framed. You can't find that picture at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Those are my 6 sweet little hands playing over the keys of our very own piano. This picture makes me smile every time I see it. If I am ever a music teacher again, I'm getting another copy to go up in my classroom!

(photography by Gramps B)

New Entry Way

2007-11-07T07:19:00.001-08:00

Picture this: You walk through the front door of a house to be greeted with cream colored walls, decorated with mauve sponge painting splashed all over the 2-story foyer. You look above the stairs only to see the most horrible brass and crystal chandlier you have ever seen. It seriously belonged in the hotel lobby of a cheesy vegas hotel in the 1980's. The sconces that lined the 2nd floor hallway were of the brass candleabra family, belonging in the same hotel as the chandelier.

That was no entry way from my imagination, no sirrrrreee. That was our entry way in our new home until we painted the 2 story foyer and replaced the chandlier and hallway sconces. Unfortunately, the before pics I have of this lovely entry way would not go on the blog. Oh well...

So. Here you see the newly painted entry way! For those of you familiar with our IL home, the paint is the same color we had in our fireplace room/entry. Doesn't it look so much greener here against the wood trim?? I still love the color. We live in a treehouse. Why not be greeted with a little green on the inside too!?

Friends

2007-11-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

Without a doubt, the most difficult thing about moving is not leaving the beloved town or house, but leaving dear friends. To my friends reading this blog, know that you are missed and thought of daily. Poor Dean, my social husband, keeps wanting to invite people over to hang out and we have but a few people to call on. I wish I could have taken all of you with me to live here with us. The lot next to us is for sale :o)

With all that being said, I'd like to introduce you to someone who I have met in the last 3 months and I would consider my first real friend in Wausau. She's the best. Sometimes I joke with her that we live the same life. Seriously. Beth, and her engineer husband who loves excel spread sheets as much as Dean...Nate, have also just moved to Wausau. They beat us here by about 6 months, and in their move, they also suffered through apartment living. Beth was a teacher until she had her children, then stayed home to be with them. Her children consist of a 2nd grade daugher, kindergarten daughter, and 3 1/2 yr. old son! Elle and her daughter are in the same class at school! The list goes on and on how similar we are, but the most important thing is that she is a genuine, real, easy going, fun-loving person who I can see going through life with for a long time. Beth and Nate have definately helped ease the pain of leaving our friends behind while creating our new life here in WI.

So...the children you see in the above pictures are her children with mine on Halloween. We trick-or-treated together and had so much fun. Both of our families bought down-hill ski passes and skis for all the kids, so we plan on doing lots of "skiing" this winter...i.e. time on the bunny hill teaching them to ski :o)

Enjoy the pics, and stay tuned for more "before and after" pics of the house!!

The Piano Room - AFTER

2007-10-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here you have it! My "crackled" piano room! It is still unfinished, as I have an awesome picture to go above the piano (you will see it posted soon!) and the other picture (currently resting on piano) still needs to go on the wall somewhere. But you get the idea. I hope you like it :o)

Check out the next blog for the great "before" pics of this room!!

BEFORE

2007-10-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here you see the piano room "BEFORE" it's makeover.

The top picture we took the first time we went through the house. Notice the pink wallpaper. love it....

The bottom 2 pictures were taken after we moved in, with our stuff in it, with pink wallpaper gone, but still not painted. (btw...the pink wallpaper came off the day we closed on the house!!)

Croup, Colds, and Crackle

2007-10-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm still here. I haven't left you.

*My absence began with Jack getting croup.

*Then, I decided to paint my dining room and do a crackle finish with it. Took a whole week. Jack still had croup.

*Then, I got the most major cold ever. EVER. Knocked me out for 2 days and I am still recovering.

So that's where I've been. I'm dying to give you a before and after of my new, fabulous dining room (really, it's a piano room) but I'm waiting for a couple finishing touches to be completed. So keep watch, the pics are coming!!

Ramblings

2007-10-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

We have the most beautiful tree across the street from our house. Seriously. Sometimes it is truly glowing.

The other night we took our first family bike ride in our new town. I guess you could say it was a family bike ride-walk. We live on top of a hill, and although it is fun to go down, it's not so fun to go back up. The weather was as crispy warm as fall gets and the smell of leaves hung in the air. We had a great time, rode about 7 miles and in the end, as we were "walking" up the hill home, Jack fell asleep in the bike trailer. Strange place #57 where Jack has fallen asleep.

There are so many trees in our backyard, sometimes as I look out the window, it appears as though it is raining leaves. Really, it's quite magical.

I painted room #2. Sam's room. No longer pink. Yippee! It is similar to his old room except 2 walls are a deep red and 2 walls are a crisp khaki. Looks great with his blue beds and pottery barn quilts.

Something happened to me during this move. I can no longer stand the beds not made and my house not clean, at the very least, picked up. I used to feel so relaxed about that and I fear I am turning into my brother-in-law. No...I'm not that bad...but the clean house sure is nice. Maybe it helps having kids in school again.

Apparently, we are now a skiing family. We just bought 5 new pairs of skis and season passes to Granite Peak. Now I just need some lessons :o) Really, I just need some cute ski clothes :o) The kids are so excited though. For a week straight, the first thing Jack asked me in the morning was "are we going skiing today??"

And how about those Packers anyway!!???? I love Wisconsin.

Words You Never Want to Hear

2007-09-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Baffling. Interesting. I've never seen anything like this before. Hmmmmmm.

As we sat in the doctor's office Monday evening, these were the words we were hearing. And you never want to be "interesting" to a doctor.

It all began on Monday morning when Elle woke up with strange markings on the palms of her hands. All the soft puffy parts on the palms of both hands were red and purple. They looked bruised, like she played too hard on the monkey bars (which she hadn't been on) I sent her to school with a note to the teacher to keep an eye on her hands. Her teacher (thankfully) called me around 1:30 to inform me that the palms looked no better and now red lines were running up her arm from the markings on the palms. I immediately called the doctor and got her in around 3:00.

"Interesting". "I've never seen an infection so symmetrical before." "Why would it be on both hands??"

Followed by a blood test. Followed by "Her white counts are too high, I want to admit her to the hospital to get her on antibiotics and figure this out." Followed by tears (those would be mine). Followed by a walk down the hall and into the hospital, into her room, into a gown with an IV into her arm. Just like that.

Now, I must add a side note here. We were in such good hands. Elle wasn't even in her gown yet and my sister arrived to whisk the boys away for a fun evening with their beloved girly cousins. A Pastor and good friend from our church arrived to pray with Elle. My parents helped with getting the boys to and from school. And my sister works just down the hall from where Elle stayed, so she was able to visit often. This is why we moved. To be closer to family, and...little did we know, so we didn't have to drive an hour to get to the hospital when necessary. The whole experience was easy, considering everything we had to do.

OK...back to Elle...she saw 3 specialists. One thinks it's bacterial, one thinks it's viral, and one doesn't know, so she does a skin biopsy on Elle's hand, taking skin to send away to Milwaukee for analysis. In the end, it seemed as though the IV antibiotics did their job as her palms went back to normal, the red streaks went away and she feels just fine. They still don't know what it was, but hopefully we get an answer soon.

Elle was a trooper! She never complained about the IV stuck in her arm, being attached to her bed, peeing in a "hat" in the toilet, or having her vitals taken all day long and all night. She did complain that she missed her brothers,and she missed her school. Did I mention yet that her teacher came up to visit her too??

In the end, we are glad she seems to be OK. We are still waiting on some results, but I am confident that whatever she had, it wasn't that big of a deal. In the end, I bet those orginal words will still ring true...Baffling...Interesting....I wonder what it was she had....

Guess What We Did This Weekend....

2007-09-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

Thaaaaaaaat's right. The Nienhouse Swimming Hole is back up for business. Ok, maybe it's not quite the same type of swimming hole, but it is a body of water nonetheless. And it just wouldn't be a Nienhouse without the pool.... of some sort....as it were. S0 - for those of you who were debating if you wanted to make the long drive up to see us, maybe this will help inspire you to set a date to come up and hang with us. AND - this little Nienhouse Swimming Hole plans to stay open all year round :o) Current temperature: 102 degrees.

Room Makeover #1

2007-09-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first of many TreeHouse Makeovers. Unfortunately, I don't have a before picture, but the room was white prior to the new paint color. I just had to decorate one room right away so I could have a place I could relax in and call my own. The TreeHouse is currently a little outdated, so the paint is going to come fast and furious, and as I have new rooms finished, you will see the progress too! Enjoy...

.....next room: Sam's room. Currently pink.

(ps....thanks to IL friend, Lisa P...I used the same blue you have in your house!)

First Day of School

2007-09-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Easily, the weirdest thing I have done since moving back to my hometown was sending my children off to school.

Renting an Apartment = Not weird, not fun, but not weird.

Buying a house = Not weird.

Changing Churches = Not weird.

Buying a Tahoe = Not weird.

Sending children to their cousin's grade school = VERY WEIRD.

We had attended many a function at this grade school while visiting my family. All of a sudden, I am walking down the hallway to see Sam and Elle's names by their coat hook on the wall. Strange. I couldn't believe they were going to go to this school now!

So the first day of school went without a hitch for the kids. I, on the other hand, did not do so well. I kept it together in front of the kids, but the minute I turned around to leave them, I started bawling. I think it was a lot of things. Moving into the house so recently, everything was different and now it was different for the kids too, Elle going to school all day long (yes, all day kindergarten) AND she's a young 5 year old who didn't have the pre-K experience all the others in her class had. Not only did I cry, but I continued to cry for 45 minutes after I got home!! Poor Jack, stuck with his sappy mother all morning long.

On his first day of preschool, Jack wanted to know if I was going to cry again. I asked him if he wanted me to, he said NO, and so I told him I wouldn't cry. I didn't. I went shopping instead :o) Alone :o)

The Fire Pit

2007-09-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

In all our years of owning a home, we have never had a firepit. One of our first projetcts at the TreeHouse was to put a fire pit in. The best part about it was that we gathered all the rocks for the pit from our own property. So....come over sometime, I'm great at making smores :o)

No longer livin' in the Burbs..........

2007-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

We've arrived! After surviving a 3 month stay in our 2 bedroom apartment, various trips between Wausau and McHenry, re-doing grandma's kitchen, packing and unpacking old house and apartment, we have arrived in our new home! To say we love this house and yard is a complete understatement. Having come used to the small apartment, this house feels like a mansion to us. And the yard showcases God's creation to us everyday. (Some day I will have to blog on the deer and wild turkeys we have living on our land!) The pics you see above were taken on our property over labor day weekend. With all the exploring there is to do, I don't think the kids will miss the pool....that much :o)

So, why the new blog name??? We definately are NOT living in any sort of suburb anymore. Although we have a neighborhood, the lots are large and the trees are many. We can be as secluded as we want, or we can take a walk and meet the neighbors. It is so different from our previous neighborhood. So...as we were sitting at the dinner table one night last week, Dean was looking around the house and said "It feels like we live in a treehouse". "That's it! That's my new blog name!" And there you have it...Life in the TreeHouse.

Never have I felt more at home so quickly in a new house. This house fits like an old baseball glove. We've only been here a little over a week and it feels like home. I love the sound of that. Home.