Just like riding a bike...

Welcome back, me! I'm a little nervous about posting again. It's been a month or more since my last post. I've been quite busy. So, with my helmet and training wheels on, I'm back at it again. I really don't know where to begin. So I'll start with the week of September 8-12: I was off to the west coast for a work conference. The conference was in Anaheim, and I was able to venture out each evening to Laguna, Hollywood Blvd, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Sunset Blvd and Malibu. It was my first trip to that part of California and it was pretty much what I expected... huge homes on the hills, lots of fancy cars, fine dining and beautiful weather. I did splurge and buy a purse on Rodeo Dr. for the mere pleasure of one day saying to my grandchildren as we sit and watch an "old" movie called Pretty Woman that I have been on that there Rodeo Drive.... and this is the purse (pulling it out of a dusty old box) I bought. All in all, it was a great and quick trip. We packed a lot of fun into a week. Next visit to CA will be to visit family in SanFran area and do some wine adventures...

While I was gone, I missed Olivia's first dance class but came to find out parents aren't aloud to watch. So, thankfully, I really didn't miss anything. She continues to have dance every Tuesday and is loving it. She wants to wear tights and bodysuits every day. You may remember a time this was "cool and in style" attire. I may even have a few of those snap crotch body suits tucked away somewhere for when the 90's attire comes back full circle! Anyway, she practices her twirls and marching all over now... even down the aisles of the grocery store. She's quite good! She enjoys the hour with her cousin Ellie... I'd love to be a fly on the wall.

Owen continues to love Kindergarden. We enjoy getting to hear all about his new friends, what fun things he learns and all the fun he has at recess! Is it abnormal that a kindergardener's favorite thing about school at this age is the two recesses? He does great at homework and always has good stories to tell. We continue to get good reports from the teachers, despite the one call we got from the Principal's office. YEP... that's right. I got back to work from lunch one day to a note stating, "call the school." When I called, the Principal asked me to hold on for a minute as she was going to put me on speaker phone with Owen. Seems he and his best buddy had an altercation in the bathroom... hmmmm! Needless to say, they learned a lesson to keep their hands to themselves and NO PUSHING AND SHOVING. It had to do with wanting to get back to the classroom first... so belts were taken off and pushing was involved. I'm pretty sure from that point on, they are kept apart when not in the classroom.

Owen's flag football started while I was in CA, so we are knee deep in football fever at our house. Monday games (high school), practice Tues-Thur, Friday games (high school), Saturday games (flag football) and then college all afternoon as we sit and take a deep breathe from the week. We (well, me between catching up on laundry and cleaning) also wind down on Sundays as we continue to fullfill our football needs with NFL.... ALL DAY. I sometimes sneak in a movie when the rest of the clan dozes off... but not usually!

Olivia turned 3 on October 9th. We had a small birthday party with the grandparents. She was bummed her cousins were all out of town, but we had a ball anyway. Her cake was Ariel from The Little Mermaid. This is her favorite Disney Princess right now, but Sleeping Beauty is a very close second. She got all kinds of fun stuff for a 3 year old... including a suitcase full of make-up, body glitter and fancy hair clips. I think my Aunt forgot she was only three... we have glitter all over the house... and my toenails this week are all different colors... blue/yellow and pink/yellow. My fingernails were blue over the weekend, but I didn't think it looked to professional so I convinced her to keep it on my toes.

Fall has crept in and we're loving it. Troy continues to keep busy getting yards ready for winter. We have started a few new projects outside at our house with some of the left over plants. It's great being in the landscaping business! As we wind down this fall, we'll keep our fingers crossed for a winter packed full of snow!

The backyard and woods are so colorful and we are having fun back at the camp fire. This past Sunday was our first day for roasting hotdogs and smores. Oh so yummy!!!! We are getting the woods all cleaned up and the paths cleared for the rest of fall and winter. Owen is our wonderful trail leader . It's spooky at night but he leads us through with his flash light... and only once did it go out! But we followed the voices from those hanging around the fire and found our way back.

This weekend is Halloween in Van Wert... trick -or-treat from 4:00 to 6:00 on Saturday. This year, Olivia is Aurora, Owen is Prince Philip and I am dressing up as Maleficent. No... Troy is not following the Sleeping Beauty theme. He is going to be a Treece Landscaper.

I'll get photos up soon. I've been taking sooooooo many. Actually, too many! I can't keep up with putting them on the computer and posting them. Oh well... winter is coming and I'll need things to do. I think...

Hope everyone out here in the blog-o-spere is doing well. All though I haven't been posting, I'm still reading all my favorites. And I admire all of you who post regularly. It's sooooo nice to read about "real" life, keeping away from all the political garbage.

Love to all ~ Le

Cosmetologist in training...

We found out what Olivia wants to be when she grows up...


Saurday morning was a delight. Olivia decided she was big enough to dry her own hair. We were getting ready to go to Daddy's football game, so I let her at it and went about dressing. We left the house, both dolled up and ready to root on the Cougars. See our stylist in action :)

Sunday... not so delightful. We got up early and were sitting at the kitchen table. Troy was doing paperwork, Owen was still half asleep watching cartoons and Olivia wanted to do her type of "paperwork." So, I got the crayons, construction paper and scissors out! Yep... SCISSORS! I helped her cut along the edges and "fringe" the sheet of paper. After a while, we had made quite a mess so I started picking up and then decided to make pancakes and bacon. Unfortunately, when I got up, there was still one sheet of paper, a red crayon and the scissors on the table. And, I won't mention Troy was sitting right beside her. I heard her repeat, "Daddy... Daddy... Daddy..." several times for attention. Then, it was "MOMMY"... and when I looked up all while pouring pancake batter in the hot frying pan, she was holding the scissors in her hand. I think I said something (really stupid) like, "Yes, honey... scissors." Before, I knew it... Troy was screaming and showing me 8 inches of hair that was on the floor! Pancake batter flying and a startled 2 year old screaming, I wisked her away to the bathroom to see the damage. Despite her Dad scarring the bejesus out of here, I got her calmed down and we looked in the mirror... See for yourself... she doesn't look too destraught, huh?

It really wasn't that bad. It's just the front part you can see in this picture. Maybe a little on the sides... like a layered effect. Thankfully, all the glitz and glitter now a days, there are some really great barrettes to help hold these bangs back while they grow out. It could have been A LOT WORSE... like..."She could have cut her finger off!" As Troy is freaking out. "Hair will grow back, honey!" He's still looking at me like I'm going to be able to fix it.

On a different note... notice the shirt she is wearing? Still loves horses!

Pizza with the Principal...

We are so proud of Owen. When going through is folder last night, we found two great big surprises: 1.) A "Just a Note" postcard from his teacher: "This is just a note to let you know many teachers have commented on what nice manners Owen has...Mrs. Tate" 2.) A "Pink Slip" from the Principal: "Pizza with the Principal: Owen Treece, for showing acts of Kindness and Good Manners." This one means because of his good behavior he gets a pizza party with his Principal.

Despite his orneriness and sometimes "macho" image he portrays at home, it was a true honor and blessing to have these notes from the school! We are so proud of our big boy :)

Love your Mom & Dad

2009 John Deere Calendar -Swimsuit Edition!

Guess who won the spot as July's John Deere Calendar Girl....





Okay... not really, but I couldn't resist the title for this professional model pose!

Little Miss Alice

All this football talk going on in the house, I had to take Olivia to the side and have some "girl" time. What better way to be "girly" than with some of Great Granny P's cherished treasures! We put on an old formal from when Granny was "Past Matron" of the Eastern Stars. We added pearls and a purse. Then, we topped it off with a hat and purple bifocals. Oh... and purple shoes, but unfortunately, the dress is pretty long. With all the material I had to work with, I might say, I tacked it up pretty well! We had so much fun! And I loved how Granny's scent is still so fragrant...

Olivia went to the "gosuree" store to buy gum, starbursts and tootsie rolls. She walked and walked and walked... clanking the purples heals all the way down the driveway and back. She'd get to the garage and hand me our pretend groceries, then say she forgot something and back at it she went...

After our "girly" time, we went into the house to take a break. She curled up in the chair with Troy and took a two hour nap... still dressed to the nines in Great Granny's treasures!

What a beautiful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

Meet Coach Treece and Owen the water boy. It is the start of football season and our house is mass ciaos. But, then again, football really isn't the cause for being unorganized. Anyway, this season brings all sorts of news and firsts. Troy was asked to be Defense/Offense lines coach for Van Wert Freshman. However, they ended up doing away with the freshman schedule this year, so Troy is now the coach for Junior Varsity. He also gets the privilege of being on the field as the Varsity games, as well. The kids love watching him coach!

Owen was asked to take on a HUGE responsibility... WATER BOY for the Junior Varsity Team. He had his first game last Saturday at Bryan. He got to ride the bus with the team. A huge deal! I was a little worried that at age 6 he would not realize the importance of complete SILENCE on the way to the game. I can remember these days when I was a cheerleader. It was very important and sometimes very hard to not say one "bleep". The ride home was a different story (well, that is if we won!). Anyway... luckily, Owen took a nap on the way there. What better way to keep a 6 year old quiet!

Olivia and I enjoy being cheerleaders... rooting the team, the coaches and the water boy on to VICTORY!

C-O-U-G-A-R-S, Cougars, Cougars, Are The Best!

Good luck Van Wert Football... we're rooting for you :)

Flip of a Switch...

Okay... so I'm blessed with a "devil child". Yep, that's right... a little crazy 2.5 year old princess who seems to have turned evil queen. Equipped with a full head of hissing snakes, a nose wort and screeching, high-pitched yelp (one the neighbors 2 miles away can hear as it stops all life existing outside of our walls). Or should I say blood curdling scream?

This morning, Olivia definitely woke up on the "wrong" side of the bed. The left side to be exact. She came staggering into the bathroom, sporting her saggy pull-up and a wild mess of a mane. She rubbed her eyes and gave me the sweet and innocent morning grin that I love so dearly. She took her "poo-up" off and put it in the trash like a good little girl. We headed to her room to get the wipes and freshen up for the day. When I told her to pick out her panties, she immediately turned devil child... I mean, instantly... like the flip of a switch. I was truly amazed at this blood curdling scream coming out of this precious little girl.

The noise that bellowed out of this child was so loud and muddled, I could not understand WHAT she was screaming about. She was pointing to the top drawer where we keep her "poo-ups" and jumping up and down. I calmly asked her... "you want a pull-up?" Her red-faced reply... "YES!"

"Oh, but honey, you are a big girl and you pee in the potty. You only wear pull-ups at night."

Woo! NOT the thing to say...

So, this literally went on for 35 minutes while trying to get out the door and make sure big brother gets to Kindergarten on time. THE GIRL HAS BEEN PEEING IN THE POTTY FOR A GOOD 12 MONTHS. I was beside myself and it was taking every bit of energy I had not to lock her in a closet and come back later!!!! (okay, you know I really wouldn't do a thing like that, right?).

Not realizing Troy hadn't left for work and was outside watering plants, I was even more taken back when he walked inside and looked at me like I'm some incapable mother. The nerve of him, in such a dumbfounded way, to ask what could possibly be making such a precious little girl act like such a ferocious BEAST. He was amazed and couldn't believe how HIS "little pumpkin" was acting. HHHHHHHAAAAAAA...UUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG! Now you see what I go through, was my reaction and an added smirk as I walked past and let him handle the situation.

I gave him a clue, whispering, "Tell her she can put the poo-up on her baby."

Needless to say, it worked. Baby got to wear the pull-up and the devil came out wearing a pretty pink dress and her pretty dress up shoes...hair tamed down and all. We got Owen to school in time, the devil in her princess costume went to the sitter and I got to work, sipped my coffee and took a very DEEP, DEEP, DEEP breath!