Top 10 reasons we like to go to Mom's House!

Why we like to go to Mom's house......

#10 The squirrels are smaller than here. I'm not saying that makes them cute...you just don't have to worry about them carrying off your patio furniture.










#9 There are great sporting events!



Home run a coming!



Sold out seating at basesball

World Ladder Ball Champion chips

#8 Lots of entertainment. From non stop Sudoku puzzles, to my sisters (very entertaining), to hanging in the backyard (Mom and Dad's to Sherry and Dave's). It's a party when two or more gather together!

A star in the making



Oh, Mom



April at Zarah's reception with grand kids Parker and Tanner, and Michael



Cindy's step father, Jim, and Zarah

More Zarah party pics



Party pictures



Expert marshmellow cookers



Partiers

#7 The coffee pot is on before you get out of bed. Of coarse this doesn't mean a lot to those who get up at 10am or later. Cindy calls Mom and Dad's the best bed and breakfast in the Hills (Sherry and Dave are a close second, but you have to side with the hand that feeds you. :) )





#6 The back yard! For living in an apartment Mom and Dad might as will be the only one there when it comes to the back yard. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are only a step out the back door. Coffee in the morning...68 degrees outside - can't beat it! Cindy says the world goes away in Mom and Dad's backyard (that's a good thing).


Two good looking people

What a Grandma



Party all the time.



You gotta love em!

Paparazzii



This lilttle guy is always happy...unless it's time to sleep



Three good looking guys

#5 Bed time is 9pm...for those over 50, this is a good thing! Cindy and I keep telling each other that we are going to get to bed earlier than we do....but rarely do. At Mom and Dad's it's lights out at 9!

#4 The Hills are beautiful and special...you have hills...and seasons...and pine trees...(and motor cycles)...we love to climb Harney Peak every chance we get.

Here's Alex in his Super Hero Cape carrying Michael up and down Harney Peak

This was Michaels 2nd trip up Harney Peak...1st Ashley carried him...BB (before birth)...now with Alex...he was hot and bored...to sleep.

#3 The Magic Board! This almost made it to the number one spot. It is amazing...put donuts on it...pie...pizza....games...trout (this was a stretch for the board but it came through). Is there nothing this board can't do? Where was this board when we were growing up? I think I know the answer to this one...it was around and it was called Mom.  We just didn't know it at the time until we all grew up.

#2  Dad...you made it to the number 2 spot...and if I know you like I think I do (since I am proud to have many of your great traits), as men we are just happy to make the top 10.  I watched you with Michael and how comfortable you both were together. I realized that you are still setting an example that I want to follow. Thanks, Dad.

Having some guy time

   And now what we have all been waitting for....why we love to go to Mom's house....

#1 Mom!...ok, no big surprise here, but Moms never stop being moms.  I see this with Cindy and our girls...she is a great Mom to two grown daughters and always gives you, Mom, the credit for the example you have given her. So, Mom, you are number 1 on our list....for a lot of reasons.  For the great breakfast you make, aside from burning sausage and plates :).  For being the gathering place for family, for your unconditional love, for teaching me to be the great chef I am (and the humble person), for your love for dad and all us kids.  Thanks, Mom! 

This is a Great grandma









Keep the lights on...we will be back soon! 

When good Copiers go Bad!

It was 8:15 on Monday morning...I was on my 2nd cup of decaf and my 3rd page of Copier Weekly when my pager went off. I knew it was important...I'm on everyone’s speed dial...when they call 911 they get a recording saying "if this is a true emergency please hang up and dial the "Man" and not just any man...I'm the CopyMan! You've heard of Superman...Spiderman...fictional characters...I'm the real thing!

The call came from a very familiar nemesis...high-up from the 2nd floor office downtown. This copier has acted up in the past...eating critical documents...burning...jamming...screeching...it was a good copier...gone bad!

As I walked in I could see relief in some faces...but as with many superheroes there was animosity, too! I heard one say "we should get you an office here"...and another say "we should put you on our payroll"...they laughed like it was the first time I had ever heard this...I thought to myself... my pet iguana wouldn't want to work here and I AM on your payroll...and I'm not cheap! Instead I just smiled and said "please step back...this could get dangerous"...they ran back to their little cubicles and acted busy.

This copier was a pro! It was hiding jams in places rarely seen...it threw an error code to try and  throw me off the path...a loose connection in the doc feeder and bald feed rollers in the cassette! I pulled out my electric screw driver and pliers and went to work! After 30 minutes the copier surrendered and I was victorious! While I was cleaning up I noticed voices around me. It is an interesting phenomenon that in the "super suit" my company provides me with...I actually become invisible. I here talk of boyfriends, girlfriends, pets, bosses and something’s I cannot share.

I would include photos but being a super hero requires some anonymity. If my true identity got out I would not be able to grocery shop on the weekends without being overwhelmed with requests for assistance. Just last week at the YMCA (true story) I was in the sauna and somebody asked me what I do. I told him I'm a copy repairman...he said that he added too much water to theirs at work and made a huge mess...also it is so hard to get the flavor just right! He asked me if I have ever had that problem. I then realized he thought I said coffee repairman...I told him that a lot of people have that problem...then promptly left the sauna.

I also realize that I'm not the only super hero...the butcher at my grocery store stands between me and the cows and pigs with a butcher knife! My garbage man risks his life each day taking loads to a toxic waste site! Kevin at the YMCA, who mops the locker rooms each day, is a true super hero!

So yes...I'm just doing what I can...saving the world one copier at a time.

COPYMAN