Son2 sledding at a higher level

Me and the boys sledding

Hubby and son2 sledding

Me sledding

Hubby sledding at a higher level

A-Z Photo Challenge- T

Time for Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge for the letter T...

To Play visit Martha at Menagerie...

I started thinking about T as soon as I had finished R and found myself at a block... You would think there were a lot of things that start with T, right... I figured since I was on vacation I would find something really great but there was nothing in the house or in the yard... Of course I thought of tummy, teeth, toes, turtle... but none of them were very exciting or available to photograph... So when we decided to go to the snow for the day I told everyone to be on the lookout for T's...

Of course we weren't on the road ten minutes and son3 started naming everything that started with a T and then son2 and hubby started in also, lol...

Did you notice the sign above... It doesn't say 'Not a through road'... It says 'Not a through toad'... It's a real sign, I didn't alter it... How many times have we been on a picnic and did we never notice this sign was wrong, lol, or that it would be perfect for Martha's Photo Challenge...

So as you scroll through the slide show as we travel to Yosemite National Park for a trip to the snow in Wawona at the Yosemite Pioneer History Center; notice the palm trees, the tundra, the twisty turning roads, the trucks, the trailers, the treacherous roads, the towns of Coursegold and Oakhurst, the pine trees, the tree tops, the mountain tops, two trees, ten trees, twelve trees, twenty trees, two hundred trees, taunting, teasing, torturing, train at Yosemite railroad, picnic tables, throwing snowballs, teaching of throwing snowballs, trails, tipping trees, toppled trees, timber, telephone poles, tinkling toilets, temper tantrums, turnouts for passing, teepees and don't forget to support our troops....

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Happy Journaling...

The Secret

I know you are patiently waiting for the secret... But don't worry cause we didn't miss out on anything cause the secret didn't show... Before I left on vacation the supervisor told me that Ty was coming to our store to tape for the Extreme show here in Fresno but that we weren't supposed to know... Originally he was coming last Sunday but then they changed it to today... I was like darn, I'm gonna miss it... So after the supervisor came back from helping the other store getting ready for the VIPs coming to their store, this week we were getting ready for the VIPs coming to our store, Sears's VIPs, not just Ty... So I called the supervisor this morning to find out how it went and she said Ty didn't even come... Just personal shoppers who were supposed to come at 7am and they didn't show til 8:30am... They won't even be back til Monday to pick up their purchases and do any filming for the show... So on the up note I'll be back on Monday but Ty probably won't be coming... Meanwhile the store manager is still in a tizzy to get the store in ship shape as we are still expecting Sears's VIPs too between today and Monday... So there is the secret, sorry I got you all excited and then it was cancelled, lol...

Happy Journaling...

Son2 and Son3 sledding videos

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Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

The house is in Fresno!! I haven't seen anything on the news yet, or if they are even going to show them arriving at the house although there is directions of where the media is to park... The house is only six miles from my house... Of course we will be back to school and work, but it would be nice to get a peek one of the days.... For more details go here... http://extremedeyoung.com/location.php
and here
http://extremedeyoung.com/schedule.php
Happy Journaling...

Snow pictures

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Hubby's pictures of our trip to the snow... We usually go to Shaver Lake to play in the snow but we thought we would try Yosemite this year... So we stopped at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona where we go for picnics in the summer and we had the whole place to our selves... The hotel we were thinking of staying in is not the one there: they only had weekends available and the last time I checked most of the rooms had shared bathrooms... We want to stay at the Tenaya Lodge (http://www.tenayalodge.com/)... They have rooms and cottages and only about $120.00 a night and they are located just two miles outside the park entrance... Where we were sledding is the golf course... Since these are hubby's pictures there are pictures of me, of course he doesn't warn us that he is taking pictures, lol... Enjoy! and then I still have over two hundred of my pictures to share and more videos, ones of me and hubby sledding too....

Happy Journaling...

Chores

We had a great time in the snow yesterday... Still have more videos and lots of pictures to share... Today was hubby's last day of vacation so we did a bit of work around the house... Hubby made a big breakfast of eggs, kielbosa, hash browns and biscuits... Son2 washed the cars, I mowed the lawn and trimmed all the roses for the winter, hubby replaced the lights in the hallway as one had burned out wires, he likes the new ones much better, he also took down all the Christmas lights off the house, still have the tree left to undecorate and take down... Son3 is watching Beethoven Breaks Out and waiting for his request of Carl's Jr for dinner... So since we are all vacation today we will have a special treat of hamburgers and chicken sandwiches... The Mummy 3 last night was a bit darker than the first two and not as funny, but it did pick up in the middle and had some good special effects... Tonight we will watch Eagle Eye... Hubby is back to work the next three days and I have three days to get the boys back on track with regular bedtimes... Sunday I am back to work and Monday is back to school... Was going to do some practice homework with son3 today but got distracted with the yard work... Tomorrow I want to get back to cleaning and organizing the bookcases and cleaning off son3's desk... Maybe hang up their new posters and decide where their new shelves will go... Plus organize and post all the pictures from the snow... But now Carl's Jr is here so off to eat and have family time....

Happy Journaling...

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is coming to the valley... They have narrowed it down to five finalists and tomorrow Ty will be knocking on the winners door maybe in Fresno... Then Saturday they start work and the family returns to their home Jan, 15th... The episode will air sometime in March... I know a secret but can't tell you til Friday... No, it's not my house, lol, nor do I know who's... And I did not volunteer, but it's still exciting...

Here is the website for the builders and updates:
http://extremedeyoung.com/

And here are two news stories that I pasted in:

Valley families on ' Makeover' list
One will be picked from 5 finalists for new home
By Sanford NaxThe Fresno Bee
last updated: January 02, 2009 12:01:47 AM
FRESNO -- A local homebuilder is teaming up with a popular television show to build a house for a family in the central San Joaquin Valley.
De Young Properties will join ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to build a house in seven days. Jerry De Young said five families in the valley are finalists, and one will be surprised with a visit by show host Ty Pennington and his team Thursday.
The premise of the show, in its sixth season, is that a team of celebrity designers collaborates with a local contractor to tear down the home of a family in need of a better place to live and replace it with a home that suits their needs.
De Young has constructed more than 7,000 houses in 34 years of business, but this project is unique in two ways: its speed and the amount of volunteer commitment.
The builder's staff and nearly all of its trade partners have agreed to donate time and materials, said Paula De Young, a company principal.
The homebuilder is issuing a call for volunteers to help on the job site and in the following areas: people to serve five meals a day to people working around-the-clock; runners to supply laborers with water; crews to keep the site clean; people to keep track of supplies at the staging area; and people to fill miscellaneous roles.
Volunteers must be at least 18.
"Extreme Makeover" approached De Young to lead the project because the builder is involved in other charitable projects. Two weeks ago, De Young donated a $300,000 house as part of a fund-raiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It made a similar contribution in 2007 and also will build a house in 2009. "To build a quality home in just seven days for one deserving family is the Super Bowl of home building, and we were honored to say 'yes,' " Jerry De Young said.
City officials in Fresno say they are prepared to help "Extreme Makeover" if a resident is selected. "If it is a family in Fresno, we will get our folks together and make sure the project runs smoothly within the time frame," said Georgeanne White, Mayor Alan Autry's chief of staff.
De Young said the show is responsible for handling the necessary building permits and other inspections.
De Young said the episode will be on television sometime in March, more than a month and a half after the project is completed.



'Extreme Makeover' has enough volunteers: 3,800
Tuesday, Jan. 06, 2009
By Rick Bentley / The Fresno Bee

No more volunteers are needed for the ABC reality show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The response for volunteers for the local build for the show has been overwhelming, according to Paula De Young, executive vice president of De Young Properties, which is overseeing the project.
More than 3,800 local residents have stepped up to volunteer their time to build a home for a local family. The family selected to get the new home will be revealed Thursday.
There are so many volunteers to work on the local project that shifts will be only four hours long in contrast to the normal eight-hour shifts used on other builds. This doubles the number of locals who will get to be part of the television program.


"We thank the entire community for stepping up to the plate and appreciate everyone's involvement and patience as we coordinate this exciting build," De Young said in a news release Tuesday.
Those who will be working on the home will be notified within 48 hours with more details and their assigned times.
Demolition is slated for Saturday. The family will return to their new home Jan. 15. Information on how to visit the location during the process as a spectator is available online at http://www.blogger.com/www.deyoungproperties.com, as is how to be a sponsor.
Coordinators will keep contact information on file in case other volunteer opportunities arise with the project.

Happy Journaling...

Snow Video 3

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Snow Video 2

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Snow Video 1

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Walmart and Facebook

Last night we ended up watching Shanghai Knights, so funny with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson... The chicken I made was quite good except for I cooked it upside down, lol, hubby pointed it out... The mashed potatoes, veggies and Texas cheese toast were good too... Today I was up bright and early at 7:30am, but played on the computer til almost 11am... Hubby and the boys did not get up til 9:30am and 10am... We had a quick breakfast, took our showers, got dressed and headed out to Walmart about noon... Hubby found huge ornaments for the tree in the front yard at 75% off, new sneakers for son3 and two short outfits for son3 for the summer on clearance, jeans for son2, cat food was on sale so Raisin will be happy, got DVD-R's to see how to tape our VHS to DVD, storage container for the extra Christmas decorations we bought this year, photo paper, son2 bought the Sims 2 PC game with his Christmas money, son3 bought a couple of little figures with his, BBQ chips we ate in the car on the way home, and chicken enchiladas and lasagna that we are fixing for dinner tonight... It is cooling on the stove as I write and some more Texas cheese toast is toasting... We finally got home about 3:30pm and hubby raked leaves and put more Christmas away... Me and the boys were hungry so we heated up some chicken and now the boys have been on games ever since...

I have been playing on Facebook on and off all day... Thank you to all who have joined as friends and left a comment or two... I think today was the first day that I really felt like I knew what I was doing, lol... Still need to update my profile and see what all gadgets are available... I was putting names of people I know in the search, cause that's what you do, right, and I kinda got freaked out... I have been in touch with the old gang from junior high off and on for the last thirty years or so except for one friend that I lost touch with in 1984, her choice... Well I typed in her name and she came up as the first person still with her maiden name, I was pretty sure it was her in the picture, clicked on her friends and recognized a mutual friend... last we knew each other we lived in Texas... her location is now listed as Los Angeles Ca, just a skip and a jump up the road from me... No, I didn't click to invite her, she wouldn't know my married name anyway... I just am kinda in shock, I have always wondered what happened to her... Plus the person we had has a mutual friend, I clicked on his friends and there was the guy I had a crush on in Jr. high but he didn't have a picture just the one facebook supplies.... So I guess I could say I had a big day on Facebook today, lol...

The boys have tried on their snow boots and they still fit... Now we are just rounding up hats and gloves and making a list of everything to pack up in the car tomorrow... It rained all day here today, cause we only had a 10% chance, which means it snowed up there... they are saying carry chains, although I checked the road conditions for Yosemite and it said all clear... But we will only go as far as the van can go as we don't have chains.... So we will see what we can see and enjoy our snacks and a drive out and about...

Son2 is wanting to look up cheat codes for Sims 2, he is out of money, lol... and then we are off to eat lasagna and watch maybe something Star Wars, although son2 says no... so off to pick a movie... Tomorrow from Netflix we are getting Beethoven's Big Break, Eagle Eye and The Mummy 3... Although hubby just found the Die Hard 4 we didn't open yet but have seen before... Lots of action and him blowing stuff up...

Happy Journaling...

I am still here... DSL went down... we are so lucky we are on blogger now and it saves the entries... We have eaten the lasagna, had berry pie and Bruce Willis is almost over and the DSL finally came back on... Hubby and son2 are laughing... Bruce Willis is so funny, whether he is kicking butte or getting his butte kicked, lol... OK off to finish the movie and get the boys in bed... They will be in for a shock when I wake them at 7am...

SUNday

I did it and it was a piece of cake and now I am back on vacation... Actually this is my real vacation... Last week was my two days off, the holiday and then a vacation day since I went to work today... The hard part was getting up at 4:30am this morning since I have been sleeping in til 8 or 10am... I had to take down the old ad, put up the new ad, change quite a few tables and print new signs, so it was 11am by time I went to lunch and that was with the 10am person helping me... Then after lunch I had a few boxes to open that luckily lasted me til it was time to go home at 2:30pm... It was quieter than staying home with the boys, lol... When I left for work this morning it was way foggy but by time I got off work the sun was shining away, yay, we have blue skies again... I came home to hubby and the boys playing with Nerf dart guns, I could hear them before I even opened the front door... They continued their game while I tried to talk to hubby and made me an egg sandwich... Now I have put the chicken in the oven to heat up and have potatoes boiling on the stove and hubby and son2 went to the store to get me cola, Raisin some cat food before he eats us and some bread and such to go with dinner... Son3 is playing with his Lego's he got for Christmas... We've decided not to stay over night in the snow... I don't want to leave Holly alone in the house with Raisin just yet and plus the idea of packing and unpacking just seems like a lot of work right now, lol... But we are going to go up for the day, probably on Tuesday we'll go to Yosemite... But first tomorrow I need to check and see if the boy's snow boots and such even still fit them... Plus we'll still need to get snacks and drinks and coolers ready to go... Today hubby took down and put away most of the Christmas decorations... Still the lights on the house to get down but it has been too wet with all the fog... And the tree is still up but he has slowly started to undecorate it... He'll be done by the end of the week, I'm sure... Son2's friend called the house phone when I got home cause seems son2 did not have his phone on him all day and missed two calls, lol... Son2's bday is at the end of the month and he will be 15, wow... we have been asking him what he wants that he didn't get for Christmas and there wasn't anything he didn't get for Christmas this year that he wanted... We had originally wanted to get him fish, he still has the fish tank set up in his bathroom waiting for fish but none of us know how to take care of fish and we didn't have good luck the last time we tried... So since son1 got a hamster, son2 has been thinking of a hamster and son1 had a hamster when he was a teen so we know how to care for one... anyway we are thinking of getting him a hamster cage for his bday and then letting him go pick out a hamster and hubby has been looking at the game chairs that have speakers and you plug your system into the chair, so maybe one of those... He was wanting a party but I said no, he could pick a friend or two and go to the movies on a day that is not his bday... Other than that our biggest decision of the evening is what movie to watch with dinner....

Happy Journaling...