A walk on the trail

A Proper Cut

Whenever Grandma Barbara (Paul's Mom) comes to town she brings her clippers and Thurston gets a proper cut. She is a professional dog groomer and does a smashing job! Much unlike the "supercuts" hack job that I do on Thurston with my dull scissors at the end of Spring.

(The woe is me shot)

He really doesn't mind his bath. He just has to make you feel sorry for him.

Not too shabby for an old man! He was 14 years old in September. Which is 98 in people years!

I think he looks like a puppy again with his nice new do!

Speak up!

This quote is at the end of the Holocaust exhibit in Boston. What an important thought. We all need to speak up for what is right.
(Click on the picture to read the quote more closely)

A Rockin' Christmas Day!

T'was the night before Christmas & all through the house

the excitement could be felt and bubbled right out!

The stocking were placed by the chimney with care

for they had way too great a load they did bear!

A note left for Santa, cookies, a muffin

a Diet Coke too for all of the huffin'.

Many creatures did stir all through the house

2 dogs, 2 grandmothers and 2 silly kids

all in various beds with blankets up to their heads!

When all sounds were quiet and parents could rest

Alexander bounds in and exclaims quite in fear

"that it is way too late-

we missed Christmas this year! "

When my sleepy eyes could adjust

and read the clock not so near

I discovered Christmas was

barely underway...

"it's only 3:47" I say

and sent the anxious boy back on his way!

A few hours later before the sun was up

the children were bouncing

and exclaiming GET UP!

But first a quick picture on the stairs is the deal-

so we can get ready to record all the chaos and squeals.

Down the stairs in a second and a mad dash for the tree

a loud "SANTA WAS HERE AND

LOOK WHAT HE BROUGHT ME!"

A set of golf clubs, a nintendo DS, an electric guitar, a new GPS

Rock band for Wii and socks, tennis shoes,

some sweaters for Paul, and various toys too!

The presents set up, the amp turned up loud

Alyssa strumming away with a look quite so proud!

Alexander singing about Cowboys dead and alive

Bon Jovi is the tune of the hour will we survive?

Dad joining right in with the guitar in hand

The Trueman's are rockin' with many a fan!

A wonderful Christmas was had

by all in the house!

"We'll do it again... next year" with pause in our voice

at least we have 364 more days...sigh..."rejoice!"

Silly Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A great read!

This is my favorite book! I got this book a few years before Alyssa and Alexander were born and I still continue to read it every year. For the past few years at Christmastime we have read it together. It is such a simple and beautiful story of the light of Christ in our lives as told from his burro named Meshak who serves his Master faithfully until the end.

"A faithful and loving companion, Meshak follows and serves Jesus throughout His life. In time the burro grows to understand the importance of the light that Jesus strives to kindle in people's souls. Ultimately Meshak comes to realize that Jesus is like the oil that fills a lamp, guiding our way out of the darkness... and into the light of eternal love."

When we are finished we would love to let you borrow it. It can be read at anytime of the year. It is not a Christmas story although I like to read it at this time of year to help me focus on what is really important.

SNAP, CRACKLE, POP!

A little ice storm is what they said on the news. Well once again they WRONG! SNAP, CRACKLE, POP the power went out...the trees had started breaking and crashing outside earlier, but then the wind picked up and for hours on end we heard trees crashing all around us. It got so bad at one point that I asked if he thought I was silly if we went downstairs to sleep since there is a tree line about 40 feet from our bedroom. So we went downstairs with Alyssa in tow (since she always wakes up when the power goes out). I would love to tell you that I slept soundly from then on but the trees continued to break, snap and crack all night long along with the ice and wind pelting the house! It was like what I can only imagine living in a war zone.

Everything was beautifully covered and craned over with thick layers of ice the next morning.

We went out to view the damages. So many huge limbs broken and SNAPPED off in our yard and in our forest area. One area on the side of our driveway is completely open to our neighbors. The same area where we could never see through since it was so thick with trees. (Picture below)

Thankfully Paul was able to go to BJ's and get the very LAST generator!

By this time it was a whopping 57 degrees in our home and dropping. On Saturday the temps dropped into the teens so we were so grateful to have heat! Let me tell you this was the best 600 dollars we have ever spent! Then we were enjoying the heat, the microwave, flushing toilets, TV and wii. You know the necessities in life!

The bizarre thing is you go over one town and it is like nothing ever happened! They had to drive a bobcat up and down our road to get all the trees and limbs off. We went out the next night and I really was amazed to see all the damage. The devastation was really beyond what I had imagined! The view down our street.

We FINALLY got power back on Monday night and our phone and Internet (which I missed the most!) on Wednesday. Just in time for us to be slammed by a snowstorm today. We are expecting to get 8-12 inches. Oh well at this point I say Let it snow, let it snow...LET IT SNOW! As long as the power stays on...oh and my Internet!