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friends....

i'm blogging and it isn't even Monday. (see previous post)

lucky you....i'm feeling chatty. that being said, in exactly 13 mins. my sleeping pills are going to turn my now sane thoughts into mush so enough explaining....let's blog.

September 19 was my last official post. that's sad, just sad. not for you, but for yours truly who needs to get you up to speed on our life.

since the likkel family Christmas card will be in your mailbox this week, i need to sum up our last few months in a nutshell. wish me luck. nothing i do is done 'in a nutshell'. (aka: speedy.)

September always seems crazy busy. i was happy to see it end.

October brings routine. i thrive on routine. it's a good thing.

Jackson and Maxwell played football.

those who know me well, know that i don't understand OR love football.

HOWEVER, there's change a-brewin'.

i still don't really understand the game but for a girl, i follow it just fine.

love football? i don't know if i'll ever admit that but what i DO love is watching my little people out there, playing their hearts out. they LOVE the sport so since i'm their mama, i vow to you that i will learn to love it too.

you boys made me proud.

the biggest event in the past few months was trip out to Michigan in November for my cousin, Gina's (AND Scott's!) wedding. not only was the wedding beautiful but i had 6 days of vacation bliss, hanging with my sista. we agreed, it was probably one of the best get-together we've ever had. we had close to NO agenda. we slept in. we shopped. we laughed. we watched a ridiculous amounts of CSI and HGTV. oh, and Lawrence Welk. come on you 70's children, you know you LOVED Lawrence!

we ate out. a. lot. except for all the frozen oatmeal creme pies we ate while sitting in front of the tv. i think i've said just about enough about THAT.

we discovered stores we didn't know existed.

we bonded, my sista and me. yes. we. did.

we 'silently' bad-mouthed our FAVORITE consignment store that SHOULD have been opened, but was closed for remodeling. HELLO?? did they NOT know that the DenBleyker sisters come to Holland just to visit your store??? we'll call ahead next time. drat. i'm still mad about this. if i didn't love you so much, i'd boycott. (a super big threat from someone that lives 3000 miles from you. well, be afraid, be very afraid)

and family...where do i begin to brag about my Michigan family?

i am blessed. that's bragging in a nutshell. (i'm getting good at this 'nutshell' stuff)

we were able to hang out with Gram. i keep meaning to blog about my Gram. she's what my kids would call "rad". yup, she's a rad gram.

saying goodbye was lousy, as usual. i hate it. i hate every.single. thing about it.

in heaven there will be no goodbyes.

i look forward to that.

mid November we celebrated both mom and dads birthdays. (hey sibs, when are we going to take them out to the dinner we promised them?? :)) we are thankful for another healthy year for both of them. we pray for many, many more.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful, relaxing day. tim and lisa opened up their cozy home to us. our cup overflows. our blessings abound. we went around the table, saying what we were thankful for and wouldn't you know it, little miss cry baby couldn't get through it. there was so much more i would've said but really, in a matter of seconds, i would've been a sobbing mess. no one wants to see that. so, i stopped talking.

for that everyone was thankful.

December 1st brought a reality check.

ONLY 9 DAYS UNTIL THE HOME TOUR.

mercy me. stress is a great motivator. i'm the truest definition of procrastination.

back in October, we were asked to have our house featured on the Bethany Christian Services annual Christmas Home Tour. we were honored to have been asked. yet, overwhelmed at the projects that have been looming over our heads for 4 1/2 years. nothing like the potential of hundreds of people walking through your house to get my 'to do' list moving.

and it moved.

and moved.

and i have the greatest dad in the world. really, i could NOT have done it without him.

he's amazing and i'm thankful that he has not only the time, but the patience to help me complete all these little projects that seem so easy in my little head. usually not so easy in reality. (right,dad? :)) i'm so glad he's my dad. he's taught me SOO much. i love that man.

here it is, the day after the home tour and i have to say, i feel incredibly blessed to have been able to be part of this fundraiser. i am tired but in the end, it was worth it.

all projects are done. (done-um....really, are they ever ALL done?)

all beds are made. 3 bathrooms clean. dishes done. laundry done. ok, not really the laundry. it's no where near to being caught up. who am i kidding?

that's it. i'm starting to tell lies so we must call it a night. sleeping pills make me lie. i will have no part in this so goodnight.

bye.