Stupid nature.

So, last night we arrived home to find the drain in the basement backed up.  You can imagine about how nice that smelled.  Mike tried to snake it, and only succeeded in breaking the drain snake about 40 feet down into the pipe.  We finally gave up, and intruded on my Dad's privacy in the middle of the night so we could wash off the funkiness.

A service came out this morning with a rooter-thing (yes, that's the technical term), and they fixed it rather quickly.  Turns out it was a tree root.  Excellent.  The bad news?  Those come back over and over again.  The good news?  The company offers a reminder service to come back out in two years for preventative maintenance.  After last night's debacle, I'm thinking yes. Although, I noticed last night that one of our neighbors had recently cut down a large tree in her front yard.  Maybe that's the better solution.  Also?  Fewer leaves to rake in the fall!

And, I was talking with Mike on the phone as the guy was packing up and in the background I hear Kiwi in the background, squawking the "we did it!" theme song from Dora.  I threatened to send her down the pipe next time there's a clog to dislodge it.  We should have offered the drain guy payment in green parrot. 

A little sunday sweetness

So, this weekend has been fun.  Both Mike and I have been stricken down with nasty (and yet different) illnesses.  Today, poor Natey started complaining that he wasn't feeling well, and Brendan came home from scout camp with a cough and a hoarse voice.  Lovely.  Oh well.  Illness=lots of adorable snuggling at home.  And for once, I'll actually share it with you.  Of course, the battery charger for my camera is missing, and Mike's camera is just too much of a pain to get out and set up for a quick shot, so you're stuck with a blurry cell phone pic.  But the adorableness makes up for the fuzziness, I think.  Double bonus?  My house looks cleaner in out-of-focus pictures.

This weekend (10/19)

As usual, this one promises to be fun and action-packed.  Short answer:  No soccer.  Long answer:

Brendan is going on a zombie-themed weekend campout with the Boy Scouts.  Let's hope he comes home with his brains intact, eh?  I think he'll be gone all weekend, but I'm not honestly sure.  Should probably look into that.

Saturday morning is the Unity in our Community school pancake breakfast.  It's at the high school from 8-12.  Nate has been begging us for weeks to go.  Going to see if we can squeeze it in.  From 11am to 1pm, his den is going on a tour of the MAPS museum.  Feel free to come along!  I will probably be missing both of those events because I have a girl scout meeting that morning, and these things have recently gotten so contentious that they run for hours and hours. 

Saturday afternoon I'm hoping to make a trek out to Sunny Slope for pumpkins and apples (and maybe some Heini's cheese, mmmmmmmmmmmm).  October has really gotten away from me, but I look forward to that trip all year.  I've been battling a nasty bout of insomnia lately, so I'll probably be toasting pumpkin seeds at 2am, if you get hungry.

Sunday I'm not really sure what's going on just yet.  Hopefully we'll get to spend some time with Aunt Cindi and Jeff, who I believe will be in town this weekend.

An early Christmas gift!

Traditionally, Brendan's soccer club doesn't play games during the first winter indoor session, and just has practices.  This year they decided to do something a little different, and will be playing games during November and probably December.  The good news?  They're going to be local, at the SportDome, in Jackson Twp! 

So, for everyone who hasn't seen him play in awhile, you can, without having to schlep all the way to Lodi!  Wooohoooooo!

In other news:  is this election over yet?

Box tops

I forgot!  Natey's school is collecting box tops. 

(these little doodads)

If you have any, could you save them and give them to me to send to school?  His class is in intense competition with one of the other first grade classes, and you know how competitive my children are!  The school is hoping to put the money toward a renovation of their gym floor and maybe some new playground equipment.

Mark your calendars!

Upcoming events:

Saturday, October 20, 2012 - Time TBA - Nathan's cub scout pack is going to the MAPS museum.  This ought to be a good time, and I know we have one or two airplane buffs out there!

Nathan's class Halloween party - Thursday, October 25th from 1:45-3:00 pm.  I don't think I can make it, so substitute room grandparents would be awesome :)

Nathan's class Thanksgiving play - Wednesday, November 14 at 2pm.  Please plan to attend!


Okay, so maybe I should've titled it "Nathan's upcoming events" lol!  He's a busy boy, that one!

This Weekend (10/13)

Sorry for the hiatus.  Things have been awful.  After a long and brave fight, my beloved grandfather passed away last week.  We all miss him terribly.  Mike's grandmother has also been struggling with some health issues, so if you're the praying type, the whole family could probably use some.

But, life, and soccer, apparently go on.  This weekend Brendan has one game at lodi:

Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 12:45 pm - Field 22 - vs. NEO.

For people looking for us by striped shirts, I think this weekend they're actually wearing their brand new all-white uniforms because they're the away team!  Mike hates them.  I think they look pretty cool.  I'm open to suggestions for getting mud and grass stains out of white shorts, though.