Death of the Hanging Tennis Ball

I am sure you are all aware of the hanging tennis ball trick. You know, hang a tennis ball in the garage so that it hits the windshield of your car so you know where to stop. Allows for the most perfect parking job ever!

Well, since we have a garage, and use it to park our cars, of course we'd have the hanging tennis ball. In light of the theme this week - rolling things up in the car window - I thought I'd share another story with you.

This morning I saw a tennis ball on the floor of the garage and asked Ryan where it came from. He told me a story: DEATH OF THE HANGING TENNIS BALL

It goes a little like this; From Ryan's point of view:

"I parked my car in the garage with the window down. Later in the day I was working on my bike and the tennis ball got knocked a few times, because who can resist the hanging tennis ball? I needed to leave to run some errands and so I got in my car, rolled up my window and backed out. Just after I backed up a little bit there was a pop and then a tennis ball in my lap! I had rolled the tennis ball up in my window!"

So, there you have it. The truth about the death of the hanging tennis ball in our garage...

Anyone else have a story to share about rolling up items in your window? Please do tell!

Make Me Smile!

I love to laugh! I love to watch American's Funniest Home Videos because the videos are usually hilarious! I also love to hear funny stories over and over again because they make me laugh! One of my favorites is about my cousin Erik and when Grandpa White was babysitting him. I also like the story about Grandpa White waking up Aaron one morning very early and Aaron jumping up into a Karate pose to defend himself!

I'll do my best to tell the story about Grandpa and Erik as I remember it. However, if you remember, ask Grandpa to tell you these hilarious stories because he is one of the best storytellers EVER!

So, this was back when children were not required to be in a car seat or to wear seat belts. Grandpa was driving down the road and was allowing Erik to hang out the window and feel the wind on this face. As he drove a little faster he decided it was best that he roll the window up so Erik wouldn't get too far out the window. (This was also before automatic windows). So Grandpa leaned over, while driving, and manually rolled the window up. He rolled and rolled and when it got to the top he gave it an extra hard crank. (Wanted to make sure Erik couldn't get it down...).

So, off they went down the road when Grandpa realized it was pretty quiet in the seat next to him. Upon investigation Grandpa realized he had rolled Erik up in the window! His head was outside and the window was up right over his neck! Erik's feet were even off the seat! Grandpa quickly unrolled the window to find a frightened Erik. He had a red mark across his neck to show Grandma and his parents...

Sorry to laugh at your expense Erik, but it is a funny story!

This morning, as I was leaving, I rolled down my window to kiss Ryan goodbye. Just as he came in for the kiss I accidentally hit the roll-up button on my window. Ryan's head didn't get stuck in the window but his ego may have... I love you RyRy!! It was pretty funny... ;)

The Beam is In!

This is looking into the kitchen from the family room...

Still lots to be done, but the walls are gone!

This pretty beam (the one going horizontally) is what replaced all those other studs.

Hmm... wish "beam" sounded as handsome as "stud."

Oh, well, this strong beam is what is holding our house up!

And, here we are looking from the kitchen out to the family room. Once the beam was set
the vertical pieces were removed.

It looks amazing! It is SO open and spacious! I can't believe how different it looks and feels. Can I please clean up yet???

They are done doing work this week - except for the cabinet being installed today. Monday they will the majority of the kitchen stuff - countertop, pony wall, bar, etc.

Cross your fingers on this one but they said they will probably be done by the end of next week!!! There I said it! They m ight actually get work done on time!!

Demo Day

So, yesterday they scrapped all the ceilings, and it was messy. Lucikly they cleaned up most everything, but I had to mop our bedroom floor and dust everything off before we went to bed because I didn't want to breath dust all night. (Guess I have a quirk about things being clean...) It is amazing how much bigger the rooms look without that popcorn ceiling! I was amazed!

So, today Ryan helped them demo the kitchen walls and cabinet - as you can see above. I can't believe how open it looks already. (Well, I actually haven't seen the rooms, just the photos...)

I am sure there will be more to see tonight and tomorrow. Exciting times! I already can't wait for it to be done, AND, I am really happy that we already have a maid service lined up to clean up the mess... ;)

Construction Zone

Say goodbye to our old kitchen! Construction begins TODAY! I am so excited! We are having our kitchen re-done, except for the cabinets and it all begins today. We are taking out the wall between the kitchen and the family room and extending the counter a little into the family room to make a bar. We picked out new granite, a new sink, new faucet, and new tile! YIPPEE! We are also getting new carpet! Since we are taking out the wall with our largest cabinets we are also having some new cabinets made to put opposite the sink.

They have told us it will only take 2-3 weeks, so I am REALLY hoping it doesn't go longer than that. Can't wait to see the finished product!!!

Basically we are opening up that little window - taking out that whole wall.

Our Garden

We didn't take pictures of our garden this year, but let's just say it was almost like our veggies were on steroids! We had huge tomato plants and squash plants. We had too many veggies that we had to give them away in grocery bags, DAILY! We couldn't eat everything fast enough... Until we found something that was eating our tomato plant pretty fast. Luckily one of the nieces thought it was a pretty cool pet and took it away from our house... Until next year.

Quirks...

So, I was tagged by Annie to do this quirks thing. This is hard because I don't have any! he he he... So, Here are some things I guess are MY quirks...



1. I hate it when people chew loudly... with their mouth open. I don't like to hear other people eating.



2. I don't like a messy house. It is sometimes hard for me to do anything else if my house is dirty. I have to clean up, or do the dishes before I can give my attention to anything else.



3. I don't like it when people are non-commital. I like to be able to rely on people. I guess I am too trusting or something because I always believe what other people tell me. So, when they don't do what they say they are going to do it makes me crazy!



4. I don't like foods that have a weird texture. I can't eat things that feel funny in my mouth...



5. Kind of like the first one, but I can't stand it when people eat or drink while on the phone with me, or even chew gum. It is like I have super-sonic hearing and can hear even better the smacking lips... yuck... ewe...

6. I can't think of a 6th one, but I am sure I definately have more than 6 quirks...

I tag Tiffany, Stacey and Jennifer! (LUCKY!!!)