Holiday Reflections

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

It's been an amazing holiday ... a whirlwind of fun, peace, love and excitement (well, not that much peace really)! I've got plenty to write about, but here's a little photo review. Christmas, itself, was wonderful! For the first time ever, we slept till almost 10am, unbelievable! We should have packed all mom's presents into her new deep freezer, it was like the look on her face said "OH MY HECK!! I've wanted one of these for my WHOLE life!!" Christmas morning was a bit emotional for me ... it's the first year Brandt was not home on Christmas Day. Inevitable, but hard nevertheless. {Note to self: kids grow up}

Christmas Central Odds and Ends: Connie/Pat made it, but their luggage did not. Eleanor saved the day with drugs. Harold/Viv made it a day early. Jane joined the fun! Bean soup and cornbread soothed all souls. Brandt's first flight was cancelled, but he made it later that day. We did a zillion games & puzzles! The girls helped mom celebrate her 85th B-Day at the Skyline Club - the view consisted of fog but the food was great! Andrea & company made it home after several "get sick" stops along the way. Rhegan, wrapped in a blanket, came inside grinning like it was fun to be half naked in the winter! We threw all the "sicky' clothes into the washer and all was well ... until we figured out the heating element in the dryer went out! Christmas steak dinner with the Stewarts turned into Mexican Night! The Colts game was changed from 1pm to 8pm. Kevin/Brandt decided to use the extra time to go dryer shopping. They decided on a spiffy new washer-dryer pair! Father and sons installed & washed clothes before the Colts game. Colts lost to the Titans, but we screamed and did the crowd wave and tried to get on TV anyway! Keaton's favorite player - Anthony Gonzalez - didn't play (we choose to believe they are saving him for the playoffs).

A few numbers to remember the past 11 days:

• a gazillion doorbell rings with friends & family in/out
• an inch or two of fresh snow
• fifteen degrees outside
• twelve dishwasher loads run
• fourteen loads of laundry in old & new washer-dryer
• one overstuffed trash can on trash day and more trash waiting in garage
• one thousand piece puzzle on board moved to/from/to/from dining room table
• two batches of baked french toast with twelve eggs, twelve sausage/cheese muffins
• fifty times we looked for Jane's red hat/gloves
• twelve pounds of cheesecake, chocolate fudge, cookies and m&m's
• one turkey, one ham, two batches of homemade rolls, two green bean cassaroles, one loaf of bread dressing, ten pounds of mashed potatoes, a dozen deviled eggs, four pounds of sloppy joe, one pan of chicken enchiladas, two pounds of beef taco filling, two pounds of chicken taco filling, two pumpkin nutrolls, several fried baloney sandwiches and grilled cheese, and a partridge in a pear tree
• more hugs and thank you's and love you's than I can count!

The Children's Museum Rocks!

(Visit to Children's Museum on Saturday, December 22, 2007)

Let the Revolving Door Revolve

I am excited about having 11 days off work. There are two Christmas presents upstairs. They are still sleeping but will soon be up for French Toast & Cheese Muffins! We enjoyed a fun dinner at Belle Vita last night with these two Christmas presents. Then the two Christmas presents came home and worked a puzzle and we made Christmas cookies. Keaton & Erin are SO much fun and we are SO glad they are home! Erin is delightful! She is originally from Canada and she loves chocolate. She can be cranky when she is hungry. She values family and enjoys life! (Note to DC Erin: You will enjoy meeting KY Erin-originally from Canada. It will be a kodack moment!)

Kevin is already out picking up two more little Christmas presents, and he'll be home with Clayton & Rhegan soon! We have a fun day planned at the Childrens Museum with ALL our Christmas present people. Did I mention I am excited about having 11 days off work?

It's Festive 'Round Here!

The Disney Boy is home - yay! HE is Santa's Elf because HE put the Christmas Tree up and decorated the whole house and HE is awesome! (Will HE come back in January/February and put it all away or will the house remain festive until next Christmas?) Thanks Keaton, love your guts!

Do you remember a favorite gift? I would have to say that my most favorite gift ever as an adult was the diamond ring that Kevin gave me many years ago. I've worn it every day since and love it. It means the world to me! As a child, my most favorite gift was a play kitchen and a chalkboard easel. On Christmas morning, I remember looking in the living room and seeing everything set up. I couldn't have been happier. I'll never forget that Christmas morning... among my annual new package of "day of the week" underwear (always a popular gift)!

You know, if we could find a retro silver aluminum christmas tree and a colored wheel to shine reds, blues, greens, and yellows on the tree -- I might actually do the decorating! It would be just like when I was a kid -- only mom & dad did the decorating then.

I'm SO looking forward to church this weekend and on Christmas Eve! It puts all of Christmas into perspective. And the people said - AMEN!

Countdown to Christmas

How many days is it before Christmas? It depends. Well, you can't count today because it's already here, and you can't count Christmas day because that's the day, and you can't count Christmas Eve because that's the day before. So ... technically it's just 7 days before Christmas!

7 Things I did Yesterday:

1. Talked on the phone half the day, while cooking
2. Watched Kevin shovel snow with the bobcat
3. Hosted our annual family gathering for "Santa Nite"
4. 3 loads of laundry
5. Changed my grandson's diaper
6. Played Balderdash with family, and lost
7. Rhegan & I watched Santa come/go ... from the front porch

6 Things I Need to do Today:

1. Write Christmas cards and prepare for mailing
2. Pray for Keaton's safe travel home in the blizzard
3. Upload photos and organize online
4. Tell Kevin that I love him
5. Go to Andrea's church for kids Christmas play
6. Wrap christmas gifts

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Amazing friends, like Eleanore who surprised me with a Colts wrist watch (which guarantees them into the finals)
2. My friendship and love for my daughter, Andrea
3. The safe return of Nosey the Neighbor from a year away
4. That Kevin is so kind, generous, & caring to family and friends
5. That the Walden/Stewart cousins got to spend a fun fun fun evening together

4 "fires" left before Company Starts Arriving:

1. A few scrapbook christmas projects
2. Year-end details at the law firm, and a discovery deadline this week
3. Think through & prepare for CTI payroll for my time off during Christmas
4. Prepare my guest bedrooms

3 Things I'm most Excited about right now:

1. Keaton & Brandt coming home
2. Church on Christmas Eve
3. The Squires Family Gathering

2 Things I'm Stressing over right now:

1. Keeping things simple so my health issues stay in check
2. Will my Ebay order really get here in time?!?

1 Thing that I know for sure:

1. No matter how many fires, how much or little I worry or stress or fret, Christmas will come and it will be wonderful regardless because we are all together and when it comes right down to it, that's all that really matters.

Hello Hello Hello

Hi. My name is Kay Busy. I remember Turkey Day, but then I went into a tail spin and oops, it's almost Christmas! So - let's put up a tree and get into the Christmas spirit. I like this tree. It will be "my" tree this year because "my" other tree is still in the attic.

Happy Holiday Season!

Tummy Bust Day is Over

I can still smell the turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean cassarole and yes, the pumpkin pie! And I can also still smell the day-after-Thanksgiving breakfast of french toast, chili egg pie, and potato cassarole! Thanksgiving was a time to forget about work and deadlines and just be thankful for everything and everyone in my life! So today it's back to reality, i.e. work. I always say that re-entry is tough, and this year proved no different. Tomorrow will be a less headache than today, and the next day I'll almost be back to normal (we won't define normal here in this post)! Well, I figure that if Marie Osmond can dance and flip her way to the finals, I can surely get myself to/from the office for a week! Yep, tummy buster day is over and I'm a thankful girl full of turkey and pumpkin pie and french toast.

The Eve of Surgery

This woman is having surgery tomorrow on her right shoulder. She will be one-armed for at least three months following surgery. She plays on a world renowned senior softball league. She plays Rook pretty darn well. She makes a mean pot of beans & cornbread. But most importantly, she is my fun sister-in-law Connie. Here are a few surgery tips from your loving family:

1. Wake up from surgery smiling! The nurses will like you better.

2. Do NOT tell the doctor you have gas, even if you do. Exercise the "silent but deadly" rule!

3. An hour after surgery, scream bloody murder and page the doctor to find out why your leg is in a cast instead of your arm?!

4. Don't pay any attention to the nurses chattering about you. Just yell out "What do you mean, you want a divorce?" and that will scatter the crowd.

5. When a nurse asks "How is your pain?" say: "Quick, go to surgery.com, scroll down and click on PAIN and let me know what you get!"

6. For goodness sake, keep the back end of your hospital gown closed!

7. Ask a nurse if you can see the "jello menu" for today's dinner selection.

8. Finally, and most importantly, remember to bring home the piece of glass in your arm as a souvenir from this surgery party.

GET WELL SOON!

Sunday Face

Today's Sunday Face is .... drum roll please ... none other than The Indianapolis Colts! I'm doing my part today to bring a W-I-N for the team. I have a brand new pair of lucky socks (the old ones apparently did not work last week against the Patriots). Today I plan to root my team to victory with a pair of pink/white horse shoe socks. Yes, I know it's not a real "picture" of a real "someone" for a real "Sunday Face" ... but it's MY blog and MY team and MY socks. Let's do it for the team! GO COLTS!

Atypical Monday-Erin

Erin Photographer is shown here, doing her version of a cool jump, on an Atypical Monday at home-home. It is also blog-worthy. I agree with me on that. Upon further reflection, I intend to do Erin's cool jump instead of Brandt's cool jump the next time I visit their home-home. (Note - cancel ambulance)

Atypical Monday-Brandt

Brandt was just home/here. He crashed here for the night, now on his way home home. He just "happened" to be in the neighborhood. He was on his way from DC to St. Louis to Indy to St. Louis to Indy to DC when he stopped by. Good thing he has cell phone service in a place called

"WashLoueyInLoueypolisWashDC".

We survived a FUN visit from Brandt & Art, who attended the Colts Game. Art cannot come back if he jinxed the Colts (only kidding)! I'll just have to find a new pair of lucky socks that works better for a team win! Anyway, this pic was taken by photographer Erin on Atypical Monday in DC, and Brandt thought it blog-worthy. I agree. Cool pic. Cool jump. I could do that. Next time I'm at Brandt's home home, I will do that. (Warning: have ambulance standing by)

Sunday Face - Trick or Treat - Smell my Feet

This week's Sunday Face is a cutie paTOOTie named Rosalie Helene Ritz who just happens to be my adorable neice. Rosalie is sporting a CATS costume for Halloween which also makes me think we should file this picture in the "future auditions" category for Broadway Shows, like maybe CATS?! Since we don't live close, I have had the privilege of talking with Rosalie on the telephone. Well, that might be a bit of a s-t-r-e-t-c-h but I have heard her laugh a lot so that counts! Can you even believe that I'm on the phone with Grandma Joyce almost everytime you laugh?! (I can't help but wonder if she got any snack size snickers for trick-or-treat, cuz I would trade 3 smarties for 1 of those! What do you say, deal or no deal?) Rosalie, the world is a happier place with you in it!

Parents: Dan & Laura (Dan, you are the man)

Siblings: a BIG dog named Maxx

Kay: DO you know how to blow your nose?

Rosalie: No, Grandma is trying to teach me but I just don't get it.

Kay: What is your favorite food right now?

Rosalie: Carrots, Ravioli, Watermelon, Oh Baby Yogurt (who knew?!)

Kay: Can you dance? What is your favorite song?

Rosalie: I sway to the music. The wheels on the bus go round and round, Grandma and I like to patty cake.

Kay: What does a bunny do?

Rosalie: HOp, hOp, HoP

Kay: What do you do at bedtime?

Rosalie: SLEEP!! Mommy, Daddy, or Grandma reads me a book, I drink my bottle of milk, play in my crib for awhile, then I go to sleep.

Kay: Do you play games with Maxx?

Rosalie: NO, he's too BIG (or I'm too little).

Kay: Are you Mommy's girl or Daddy's girl?

Rosalie: Neither, I'm Grandma's girl !!

Kay: Who does your hair, it's so beautiful.

Rosalie: Only my hairdresser knows for sure. I have natural curl just like Mommy so, I guess she does it!

Kay: Do you know what "shhh" means?

Rosalie: NO (I guess we can safely assume it is only quiet when Rosalie is sleeping!)

Kay: Can you say "Aunt Kay Rocks"?

Rosalie: Yes, yes, yes!!

It's All About YOU Keaton

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Keaton Chase Squires! I love you more than I did 23 years ago, but not as much as I will love you 23 years from now.

It's hard for me to know what to say to a 23 year old son who is 1000 miles away from home on his birthday. Oh yeah - but home is there not here. Okay, I get that but I still miss you. Just know that I am still, and will always be, your biggest fan.


Here's a birthday song for you. You must sing it outloud and snap your fingers to a beat and grin from nose to tail when you read it. Well, that's what I would do anyway if I were there. Hope you have a GR8 day!

Happy Wednesday Birthday to You!
Happy Wednesday Birthday to You!
Happy Wednesday Birthday Dear Disney Boy!

Happy Wednesday Birthday to You!

Love your guts! Can I just say you rock?!

Official Announcement/Today's Sunday Face

Meet Parker Thurman Stewart, born October 24, 2007, 7lb 6oz, 19 1/2" long. Andrea and Shawn are resting easier now that Parker is resting easier! The first 24 hours of Parker's life threw him a "curve ball" but he didn't give up. After being whisked away from his Mommy & Daddy to the children's hospital, he received expert specialized care and lots of prayers stormed heaven on his behalf. 4 days after his birth, he has turned the corner and is on his way to a home run! Mommy has now joined Daddy and Parker at the children's hospital where they will stay until Parker is well enough to go home and get to know his siblings. Andrea is doing very well following the C-Section, she is moving around better than me (no comments)! And all the people said - AMEN!

He's just too cute, isn't he?!

Prayers for Parker

Dear God,
I looooove you.
P-l-e-a-s-e let Parker be a kid.
Amen

(Prayer of Rhegan, Age 3, regarding her new baby brother)
And all the people said .... AMEN.

Sunday Face

Happy 8th Birthday to Clayton!

Hallelu--lu-lu-lu-yah!

Hallelujah, it's finally Fall! Halleloooooyah!! I went for a walk in my neighborhood with my fabulous fun friend Fran this morning (all good "F" words). And brushed my teeth and did laundry and made cornbread --- all before noon on a Saturday. THIS is living!

Here are some things I learned this week. (1) Did you know that at the end of the theme song from "Oklahoma" they spell out O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A? (2) I discovered size XL at Old Navy. (3) Sons can be exactly like their father. (4) The definition of "joyride" is a spin on papaw's motorcycle, as quoted by my beautiful 3-year old granddaughter. (5) It takes 1 hour to drive from Carmel to Greenfield.

Fall really makes me want to DO stuff. Like sweep the porch and laugh at the cat, wear a sweater and an extra bracelet, and drink a hot glass of fruit tea. I think the reason I SO love San Francisco is that it seems like a perfect Fall day everyday, yet the ocean is right there all the time. It's like the perfect beach vacation! A dichotomy of sorts. Okay, back to reality.

I intend to scrap a bit today, amidst laundry. I have some VERY cool projects on my plate that are calling my name. Sheesh, I'm feeling creative but not too much time for all this mojo today. Meeting Kevin for a late lunch, grocery, errunds, inbetween laundry & household chores. I wouldn't have it any other way. Color me blessed!

Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.

Sunday Face

This week's Sunday Face is .... drum roll please ... Baby Stewart!! Will it be Miss Pink or Mr. Blue? IF all goes as planned, Baby Stewart will be making his/her appearance on OCTOBER 24 in the morning. Everyone is invited to leave your comment and vote for whether it will be Miss Pink or Mr. Blue. Majority rules!

Baby Stewart: Hello out there!! I'm almost ready to come out and play. I can't wait to meet my mom & dad. I already feel a special bond with them. I want to see my brother & sister, they make lots of noise. I spend most of my time thinking or sleeping. My mommy says I have lots and lots of family waiting to hold me and love me. I think I am going to like it out there. It sounds like a fun place. See you soon!

Leave me a COMMENT and make me HAPPY

A few posts ago I wrote about Life Throwing Curve Balls and guess what? Brandt left a GREAT comment. He knew what I was thinking, but I didn't have the heart to write about it. He did. So I did. Did you? You didn't? Why not? Oh, you will? Okay. Thanks. Color me happy. (By the way, Google email accounts are FREE. FREE is good.)

CONVERSATION WITH KEATON THIS MORNING:

Mom: Hey Keaton -- are you up?

Keaton: Yeah I'm up --I'm at Disney World.

Mom: Well, there's no noise! Are you the only person at Disney World?

Keaton: No mom, I'm really here.

Mom: Are you alone in Disney World? Who is with you?

Keaton: Erin.

Mom: I Luv Erin!

Keaton: She loves you Erin.

Mom: Have you read my blog? I want you to read my blog and leave me a comment. Brandt did and I want you to.

Keaton: Yes mom, I read your blog. I love your blog. I love your blog. (to Erin -- she wants us to love her blog -- here talk to her).

Erin: I read your blog!! Song #3 doesn't work. I would leave you a comment but you wouldn't know who I am!

Kay: I figured Keaton would think I'm COOL cuz I have my own playlist. Just say from Erin/Florida --as opposed to Erin/DC. That'll do it! I hope we see you at Thanksgiving!

Keaton: Hi Mom.

Kay: BIG NEWS! Andrea is having contractions!

Keaton: Andrea's having a baby?!?!?

Kay: You ARE kidding me, right?

Keaton: (shouting) I LOVE YOU MOM! YOU ARE COOL CUZ YOU HAVE A PLAYLIST! I LOVE YOUR BLOG! BYE BYE!

Personally, I think he just wanted to go ride rides in Disney World with no people. Whatcha think?

CONVERSATION WITH ANDREA/RHEGAN THIS MORNING:

Andrea: Hello, may I speak with the Grandma that Rocks?

Kay: This is SHE - I am her!

Andrea: Rhegan, it's the Grandma that Rocks! You can talk!

Rhegan: Hello?

Kay: Is this the Rhegan that Rocks?

Rhegan: (uncontrollable laughter) YOU rock! (to her mom) She says I'm the Rhegan that Rocks!

Kay: Should I come to your house today?

Rhegan: Yeah!

Kay: What should we do?

Rhegan: Clean my room!

Kay: Then I'll wear my cleaning shoes.

Rhegan: Mom!! Grwamma has cleaning shoes!! Do I have cleaning shoes?

Kay: What should we have for lunch? Have you ever had peanuts for lunch?

Rhegan: Yeah. Bye.

Personally, I think she is still looking through her closet for cleaning shoes. Whatcha think?

Good News Bad News

Ya know what?

Good News: Kevin has more work than one human being can do.

Bad News: Kevin has more work than one human being can do.

Good News: I'm on a diet.

Bad News: I'm on a diet.

Good News: It's still in the 80s here.

Bad News: It's still in the 80s here.

Card Swap Alert --- Card Swap Alert

Today I received my cards from the Atlanta girls card swap - theme "A Beautiful Mess". They are SO beeeeeuuutiful that they FLEW ME TO THE MOON! I don't know how I am ever going to be able to keep up with the level of excellence in this group of talented paper-crafters! I just keep hearing my sister Joyce say: "If you want a perfect card, go to Hallmark!" Well ladies, I think we should stamp "Hallmark" on the back of this bunch of cards and consider them perfection! A big SHOUT OUT to the best messiest friends on this side of the moon!

Sunday Face

Hershella has been our cleaning lady at Lewis & Kappes for 17 years. She makes it her ministry to pray for each and every person in all family pictures displayed in the offices of 31 attorneys, 5 paralegals, and all support staff - BY NAME. And believe you me baby, she does!

Family: Hershella is one of 9 girls (she was #7), she has 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren

Grew up in: Evansville, IN

Age: 78 and proud of it!

Kay: How are you, Hershella Jackson?

Hershella: Blessed -- truly blessed!

Kay: What do you think of lawyers, in general?

Hershella: (after some thought) Pretty honest & helpful. Well, some of them are.

Kay: When are you the happiest, most alive?

Hershella: All the time! Well, most of the time. When I get upset about something, I don't let it last too long. Life is beautiful.

Kay: Do you still wear high heels?

Hershella: NO, but I wear a matching suit, shoes, hat & purse to church every Sunday!

Kay: If you could set everything aside in your life right now, what would you do over the next 10 years?

Hershella: Travel anywhere & everywhere - with money. I'd go back to South Africa again, that was a great trip!

Kay: Have you always been witty and have such a good memory?

Hershella: ALWAYS, I don't ever remember not having something to say.

Kay: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?

Hershella: I think about that a lot of times. I would do something for the homeless first before I would do anything for myself.

Kay: Do you have a pet peeve, does something in particular drive you nuts?

Hershella: When people lie. I hate a liar. I would smack my kids in the mouth if they lied to me. God hates a liar. Just tell the truth.

Kay: What is your favorite verse in the bible?

Hershella: God is Love.

Kay: What is the best Christmas present you got as a kid?

Hershella: A black doll. Don't know where it is now.

Kay: Is there anything else you want to say?

Hershella: Only thing I want to say is I love the Lord with all my heart and I love people with all my heart.

Sometimes Life Throws You a Curve Ball

As I see it, when life throws you a curve ball you have two choices:

• You s-t-r-e-t-c-h yourself to smack the ball, or
• You stand still and watch it go by.

I've done both this week. Have you?

This Week So Far

I'm not committed to any of these yet, but here's what I like:

• Desperate Housewives


• Brothers & Sisters (well, okay I'm committed to this one)


• Dancing With the Stars


• Private Practice


• Pushing Daisy's (cute name)


• Grey's Anatomy (How can they let Dr. McDreamy end up with Meridith's sister?!)

Kevin likes Boston Legal (but he either fell asleep or was channel surfing last night and "forgot" to watch it - don't know which)! Either way, we missed seeing the old farts smoking their cigars at the end of the show pondering life. Darn.

SO - my big deal conference that I do every year is O-V-E-R (she said with a sigh of relief). On the morning of the conference my alarm did not go off. Kevin had been worried for over a week how in the world he was going to get me outa bed to be downtown by 8am that day! Murphy's Law - I set the alarm for 6PM instead of 6AM. So instead, I awoke to this: "OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH! It's 7am. What can I do to help? I'll lay out your clothes ... no, you won't wear what I lay out. What should I do?!" God love Kevin! :) I made it downtown 1/2 hour later than I wanted to with dirty hair, not bad huh? Is it a crime to introduce the Lt. Governor with dirty hair?

Sunday Face

I saw this on another site and loved it. A spotlight on someone every Sunday, and we will call it my "Sunday Face". So this week I present Queen Flo or also known as Grandma Stiller. Love you!

Relation: My mom

Offspring: Jean, Joyce, Kay

Grew up in: Chicago

Age: 84 years young

Kay: Hi Mom, can I interview you for my blog? You are my spotlight for my new post called "Sunday Face".

Queen Flo: Ok.

Kay: What is one word that describes you?

Queen Flo: OLD!

Kay: What is your favorite possession?

Queen Flo: My faith, if that's something you can possess.

Kay: When was your first SMOOCH with dad?

Queen Flo: I don't remember, but it was the second time he came home on leaave from the Navy. The first time he came home on leave , we were getting re-acquainted.

Kay: What was your first car?

Queen Flo: The blue car we bought brand new when we lived on 6th street. Dad kept the old car and I got a new one. It was around 1955 and it was a Buick.

Kay: Do you have a life motto?

Queen Flo: Nope.

Kay: If you could trade places with anyone, who would it be?

Queen Flo: I wouldn't trade places with anyone because I would have missed my wonderful husband if I were someone else.

Granddaughter Rhegan - Age 3

Rhegan said: Grwamma, let's go swing!

Kay said: Only if we can do it for an hour.

Rhegan said: Yep, we can DO that.

Kay said: What did you say your name was?

Rhegan said: Umm, Loo Loo.

Kay said: Then I'll be Nony today.

Rhegan said: Yep, we can DO that.

Grandson Clayton - Age 8

The boy can dance!
The boy can eat chocolate!
The boy can watch movies all night long!
The boy can ride Papa's motorcycle!
The boy can stomp through mud!
Yep, he's a boy. A cute boy!

Family Matters

Let's start with my favorite family portrait. Love these guys! They ROCK my world.

One Saturday Morning

SO, here it is ... my blog. Yep, a blog. MY blog. WOW! So here I am. Now what? Let's just do LIFE together, okay? Okay.