MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Merry Christmas from beautiful snowy Heber City Utah! We are expecting a couple of feet of snow for Christmas Day, so it will be a white Christmas for the Kanes. 

Storm update

I committed the grievous error below of not giving credit to a photographer - this angel is pretty amazing and kudos to the staff photographer EJ Hersom at Fosters Daily Democrat, the local paper, for capturing this shot! I have now updated that post to include this info.

And also, I remember well the good example the Yeagley family set by packing up and heading to the shelters in Rochester to support their dad when he was Superintendent there.

We now have 9 extra people tucked safely into bed! We're open for showers if anyone is in need.

Finally - to our friends on the 5th floor - we are happy you are safe and sound AND have wondered if your elevator was operating!

Have a great Sabbath, and again please keep our cold neighbors in your prayers!

Safe and Sound

(EJ Hersom/Staff photographer - Fosters Daily Democrat - Ice covers a religous statue outside a church in Rochester NH Friday during the ice storm.)
While it is mighty cold here in the northeast, it is warm and toasty at our house. We lost power for 12 hours, the longest we have ever gone without electricity in the 24 years we have lived here! The lights are back on, and all is well. John and Malinda brought the kids over to warm up and we had a little party. Now everyone is tucked safely in our many beds, and no one is cold.

We are among the lucky - many will be without power for days. For those who have never experienced an ice storm, it is a little hard to imagine. Ice coats everything (up to one inch in our area) and the trees bend under the weight of the ice. Many trees break and fall, blocking roads, tearing down power lines. It's quite a mess. It is beautiful, glistening ice everywhere, but also very dangerous.

Maybe the angel above is crying for those who are braving the 18 degree temps in their unheated homes. New Englanders are pretty stubborn, so there are a lot of cold people tonight toughing it out. Please keep them in your prayers!

As for me and my house: it's hot showers, warm food, good company. We're safe and sound!

The cool thing about hospitals

I just read the paperwork from the hospital after my "routine medical screening procedure for people over 50" and it warned not to sign any papers for 24 hours. Maybe I shouldn't be blogging either?

In any case, the coolest thing ever! Check this out! This was in the prep room before the procedure. (I guess they figured a having a toilet handy is a good idea)
I want one of these! Just swing the toilet under the sink and the unsightly thing is out of the way. That's right folks, this is a "Swing-A-Way model 9510", and the toilet swings! Attached to the inside of the other cabinet door: A toilet paper holder! So cool.

If Heather had one of these, where on earth would Gunner get a drink?

The Rode between Denver and Boston

Today is Rode's birthday!

I have loved this guy since the day I met him, and now that he is officially my son - well words can't express the love we feel for this man!

He is awesome! He is smart, talented, ambitious, studious, fun, loving and caring, conscientious, a wonderful son and a great father.

Truthfully, the list goes on and on. Most importantly he is a perfect fit for Katie and we are so happy to have him in our family. We love you Rode! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday

Today is my brother's birthday. You know someone is getting old when their pony tail and beard are as gray as the fur on their Siberian Husky. Happy birthday Billy.

For all chocoholics out there

I admit I stole this from Ariane and Mike's blog!

The Beach

Well, I wasn't going to post anything about this, but Larry and I have been on "the beach" for several weeks now. Let's just say that I have been diligently on "the beach" and Larish has begrudgingly gone along with this bit of whimsy in my life, sneaking the bargain candy bars at Cumberland Farms whenever he thinks he can get away with it.

It's working. I know this because of the scales, and the fit of my clothes.

Larish also knows this, but he says there is no change in what the scale says.

So how does he know this?

Remember the post "This Old House" below?

Well, he reached up to work on the ceiling, and his pants dropped to his ankles!

Right there in the bay window - for all of Milton and the world beyond to see!

Way to go, Larish!

I'm in Heaven

Puffs Plus with the Scent of Vicks combines soothing lotion with the comforting scent of Vicks.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. My life is complete.

Trip to the zooooooooooo!

Alexander and I needed a break from babies, so we headed to the zoo one day this summer. We had so much fun!
Alexander loved the snakes, but I loved the tigers! They were VERY close. They are such a beautiful animal, powerful, colorful. We had a most excellent day!





















Look at this guy!

Fall In New England

I love it!
Alexander loves it!
It doesn't get any better than this. It has been a banner year for color, weather, and longevity. No high winds and drowning rains to take away the leaves early. It has been a visual feast. Photos just don't do it justice. I love the leaves on the trees, the leaves falling, and the leaves on the ground. I love to rustle through them, just to hear the sound.
I love New England in the fall!

Time Out for Women, Philly style

This trip was awesome! A most excellent weekend! So fun! Here's a couple of pics, but they just don't tell the whole exciting story.


It was a LOOOONG car ride down (think forgotten items, construction delays, lots of holiday traffic) and an even longer ride home (think breaking down in NYC!) Still it was all worth it! An inspirational and motivational day, lots of attention for sweet baby Lillian, and Chubby's Cheesesteaks. Family and friends rounded out the trip and we had a ball.

This old house

These babies have been in our garage for a year or two now, waiting for some modifications to the bay windows in our old house. Larry had to jack up the front and square things off in order to fit them in. (Nothing is EVER square in an old house, everything has been settling for 100+ years!)

He tore the ceiling out above the bay in order to insulate and protect us from the cold.
He took the old windows out. Hooray!
He worked very hard to put the new windows in correctly.Aren't they beautiful? I can hardly wait to get the living room finished.

Only three more windows and the massive window project is complete!

Dolly ride!

Ben had a little fun with Alexander when he came to visit a couple of weeks ago...

Annual Preparedness Event

I had fun doing the preparedness event this year since Kelley was around to help, and Alexander and Lil always make things exciting.

We* recommended great websites like Safely Gathered In.
We* had displays.


We* took a first aid quiz and the winners got to take home a first aid kit for their 72 hour emergency kit.We* also included displays on family finances.

The firemen were a big hit with the kids and the adults. Somersworth firefighters are very handsome men :-) It was a successful night and everyone had a good time, as well as learning a little bit about safety and preparedness.

The Rubber Band

A few days before Kelley was due with Lillian, I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting with my phone close by in case I got "the call". So when the phone started vibrating, I jumped up and raced outside to hear those magical words:
K: Hi Mom
Me: Is it time!?!?!?!?!?!?!
K: No but you know that fireside I am going to tonight with the youth?
Me: Are you kidding me? You aren't in L A B O R ?????
K: Listen Mom, you know that fireside? I just found out what it is about.
Me: No B A B Y yet?
K: Mom it is going to be RYAN SHUPE AND THE RUBBERBAND!
Me: WHAT TIME DOES IT START?

So, I jumped in the car, raced home, threw clothes in a suitcase, and FLEW to Pennsylvania. (OK I drove quickly)

I made it for the opening song.

I'm in love.

With the music of course.

Cause there is only ONE TRUE LOVE in my life.

But Ryan Shupe comes in a close second.And that is why I wore the same clothes over and over again all summer - since I never came back home for 7 whole weeks!

I love this song, DREAM BIG:

Blogging

Wow, am I the only one who drives around, seeing pictures in my mind, thinking "that would make a good post!" Only thing is, I never have my camera, I am not much of a photographer, and how on earth can I portray on this blog exactly how witty, humorous, talented, and genuine I am?
Today - I grabbed my camera along with my purse, determined to snap a picture when the opportunity arose. And this is what I got...
As I glanced in my rearview mirror on my way to work, the motorcycle rider behind me looked a little suspicious.
I looked.
I looked again.
Is that a symbol on his helmet?
Does that say ECILOP on his windshield?
POLICE!
Since I have my own personal freeway to work known as "The Salmon Falls Rd" (speed limit 35) it is fortuitous that there was a slowpoke in front of me going the speed limit.
Not wanting to raise the alarm, I carefully continued on my way, reaching over to secure my camera in my hand. I turned the camera on but didn't want the nice policeman to pull me over for "snapping a picture in my rearview mirror while driving 35" so I simply got prepared to snap the shot at the next stop light.
I glanced quickly down to see that my camera was on the correct setting.
That is when I saw the spider.
SPIDER!
Rapidly making its way down to my lap, ready to munch on me for lunch.
I have no idea what that policeman thought as I started batting myself, screaming, and desparately trying to maintain control of the car.
Can you see him in this closeup? (not the spider, I hope he is dead now)

Next thing I noticed was how much clearer the picture was in my side mirror.
This was at the next stop sign.
See the nice policeman?

Now don't you wish I had left my camera at home?

So cool!

if you liked my little tribute to heather below go to wordle to make your own!

Happy Birthday my little Hurri-Kane!

23 years ago there was a Hurricane on September 27th - Hurricane Gloria. It wasn't the only Hurri-Kane to hit New Hampshire that fateful night.
And now, 23 years later, we have another hurricane headed our way. Who says history doesn't repeat itself. Only this time it is Hurricane Kyle and it looks like it might graze Maine, but we won't get much but rain.
Happy Happy Birthday Heather Dear!

Just a teaser

Alexander and Lil...
Honestly, a picture says a thousand words! Here's Liv...
Buddy and his beautiful granddaughters...
These kids love their Buddy...Lil did have her moments of happiness in these pictures, but we never caught them on camera! I know it has been a long time since I have posted, but I promise to get caught up one of these days. For now, this will have to do!

Photo Shoot

We took a trip to Kiddie Kandids on Saturday to capture the fun...

What a beautiful group. Xander, surrounded by beautiful women!The three troublemakers.

Olivia was content.

Alexander loved this bench.

How long do you think it took us to get this shot of Lil?
(This is Lillian's blessing dress, made from her mom's wedding dress.)