Just Some More Fun Pics From Our Snows

The ducks that have made a nice home on the pond. I have been trying to keep them fed during the cold so they won't leave us. I really enjoy having them here.

I woke up to this after our first snow. It was very sweet! Too bad I still had to scrape the windshield off.

This was Bobby in his wadding boots breaking up the solid ice so the ducks would have a place to stay. The weather had just been to cold they left us for a little while. I am glad they are back now. In the mean time I got a good giggle watching Bobby in the pond. I don't think it was above 20degrees this day.

These pictures are from the first snow and ice. It looked just like frosting on a cake. As pretty as it was and still is, I will be happier when spring finally arrives.

Rain Makes Rainbows...And Where There is Rainbows, You Can Always Find...SNOW?!?!

Every since I was a child I have always wondered what is at the end of the rainbow. I have always been told that it was a big pot ‘o gold. Well I will tell you that 2010 has made me a non-believer of that myth. I have really come to believe that the only thing that comes at the end of a rainbow is snow. Why you ask?

This was the beautiful rainbow that came on a Sunday afternoon. It was the last Sunday in January. (Yes, January not June) We were doing what we typically do on Sunday’s…wash cars. It was beautiful, in the upper 50s, sunny with a pop-up shower here and there and then all of a sudden came this HUGE rainbow. You couldn’t even take it all in with one view. I couldn’t even get my camera to take it all in one shot either. I just knew spring was just around the corner!

Haha, I could barely type that sentence without bursting out in a full belly laugh. By Friday we covered in our first snow and ice. It was slick and yucky to drive it, but it was just like icing on a cake…so pretty! It thawed out quickly though. Then Monday it did it again! This time it was more the snow than the ice, but it was still slick and yucky, but pretty! Too bad they are calling for more snow possibly this weekend.

I want to be back in that hole with that darn groundhog. Maybe I could give him a reason to think twice about seeing his shadow next year! I miss Illinois ALL the time, but this snow is one thing that I don’t miss. Spring can’t get here fast enough for me!

Making Memories That Count

Nothing is more cozy than snuggling up on the couch, watching a movie, with some popcorn underneath that quilt that has been in your family for years. Right? Well since I don't have one of those quilts yet, last year I decided to take on a project. Well actually I had my family take on a project with me. It was one of the best ideas ever.
I wanted a quilt. I wanted a quilt just like the lovely one that is on Matthew's grandmothers bed. It is cute, but very very very...well you get the point...old! I could never think about getting any popcorn butter on it. So I asked Matthew's grandmother to help me recreate that quilt. At first I was apprehensive as to how I was going to help. Me sew? Truth is I wasn't as bad as I thought I would be. Not only did Grandmama agree to help, Granddaddy engineered our template. How wonderful, huh?
42 blocks later and almost a year later we were ready to start quiliting. By this time I have had input from multiple family members. Nancy has put together some blocks. Andrew has simplified our embroidery stitch. Granddaddy has built our template and has put in his two cents in here, there, and every where.
Eventhough this quilt hasn't been completed yet, nor has it been passed now many years like most quits, or even had many memories made snuggled up underneath it, it still has many memories in the making. I can't wait until it is finished. I am more excited to pass one of my own quilts on. More importantly I am the most excited about the many memories that I have already of this quilt, will have, and will be able to share. There is just something about quilts that bring warmth to everyone's heart that shares it.

He Lights Up My Life

No, literally he lit up my life.

Last Sunday I went shopping with Matthew's mother. I had a great time. I figured it would be a good test to how I would handle going back to work the next day. Plus, I really needed to get out of the house! And oh how I get excited about going to Target!
Well while I was gone Matthew was SUPER busy! We have always talked about decorating our house at Christmas, but we have just been too lazy to do so. This Sunday Matthew saw the opprotunity and took it. He had gone to Home Depot and found some really great lights. Matthew on our roof, I know this sounds so safe, right? But somewhere in the midst, Bobby came over to help supervise his great adventure. Thankfully.
Later that evening we all met up for dinner at Olympic. Bobby and Matthew came to meet Nancy and I and it was wonderful. After eating we were all going to come back to our house and mingle, just like we always do on Sunday's, and I had no clue what was in store for me when I got home. As we pulled around the corner to our house I saw it. And the smile on my face was brighter than the lights on the house (if that is possible). It was gorgeous! The roof was outlined in multicolored lights and the walk way was lined with snowflakes that twinkled and cute little snowmen, my favorite! It was just how I had ever imagined it. It was wonderful and oh so very sweet. Matthew just knew how happy it made me. I am so proud of the lights. Here are some pictures of our very very special Christmas lights.

The Thanksgiving We Will Never Forget!

After the scare of Brad's accident behind us, all we could think about is how thankful and lucky we are to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends. No better way to celebrate that than with some good times with the family on Thanksgiving!
This year we stayed in Tennessee for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful lunch at Matthew's grandparents house. It wasn't the entire Hughes crew, but we were thinking about Martin, Fliz, Olie, and Elizabeth. It is always an interesting time over there. Our evening was solely dedicated to my family out at my Aunt Sherry's house. It was just as interesting and just as wonderful. And eventhough it wasn't the entire Oetjen crew, the one's that were not there were in our hearts as well as my mother and all of her family. We couldn't ever thank God enough for all the many blessings that He has given us. Blessings we take for granted each and every day. Something that I am reminded shortly after I downed the last deviled egg and finished up the last traditional game of Pinochole at Thanksgiving.
Later Thanksgiving night, I had a severe case of indigestion (or over eating). As Matthew and Andrew Hughes are watching who knows what on TV, I quietly retreat to the bedroom to go to bed early. No, I was not getting up for early morning shopping. Yes, I realize that it is the long Thanksgiving break. The only thing I really had to do the next day was be at the house for the delivery of my new washer and dryer! But, all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep.
9a.m. Friday morning the door bell rang. Our washer and dryer was here. In the back of my mind I wanted to be excited, but the only thing I could think about was the terrible pain in my gut and the horrible urge to vomit my internal organs out. I stayed in bed while Matthew and the delivery men set up the appliances. I put a load in to wash, watched in awe for about 2 minutes (I didn't want Matthew to think that I didn't appreciate them) and went back to bed. As I crawled into bed, Matthew crawled in the shower. No sooner did he get in the shower and get wet did I start screaming "Honey, I need to go to the hospital I think I am going to die!!" Followed by me yelling many of times, "hurry" and "now" and my favorite "I'm going to die!" Many of you know that Matthew has a very laid back personality, well that also applies to his abilities to get excited about a situation and in this situation I swear his speed was a negative number. Anyways, back to me dying...LOL.
By 10:20 we were in the car and on our way and screaming the entire way to Baptist East in Memphis. (the same place we just were with Brad two days prior) and by 11:15 I was in the ER. The initial thought was that I had appendicitis since my white count was extremely high. However, the CAT scan showed I had a ovarian cyst. The ultrasound showed I had an ovarian cyst. But, the ER doctor just wasn't sold on the fact that an ovarian cyst was causing me this much pain. After a surgical consult they were opening up the surgery center for my emergency open (yes, open) appendectomy, since it was closed for the weekend. By 11:00 that night I was in surgery and by midnight, just like Cinderella, I was in my hospital "suite" HAHA!

The only thing sweet about this room was my husband that was waiting for me in it. He would only leave my side if he had to. He is one of the best people that God has blessed me with. He made his self at home (as best as he could) in my room. It was a weekend full of up's and down's. Matthew made sure that everything I needed was done. During the day he would go home and take care of Cooter, Luke, cleaning, and laundry. It was so sweet, so special, and just meant the world to me. He knew if he didn't that I would be going crazy thinking about everything that he needed done. Matthew wouldn't leave unless he knew someone would be by my side at the hospital. He wasn't going to leave me there alone for one second. Nancy took a shift on both Saturday and Sunday. My mom came into town on Sunday night and she took the duty on Monday while Matthew had to go to work.

Speaking of Monday, I got to come home! Finally, I was home. Finally, I got to take a shower. Finally, I got to sleep in my own bed. Finally, I got to see my two boys. Finally, I got to see all the sweet and wonderful things that Matthew had done while I was gone. My nightmare was over. Just a couple of doctor's appointments to follow up with and some recovery time to go.

On the up and up, I just wanted to finish this entry with a couple of thank-you's. First, I want to thank my mom. Thank you for putting up with me being bossy and somewhat crabby when you came and helped me recover. And for putting up my Christmas decorations, it wouldn't have gotten done otherwise. Next, Nancy you were amazing. I know there were many big sales that you missed, but instead you spent two very boring days at the hospital helping me along with a speedy recovery. Just the companionship at the hospital helped the time not go by as slow as it possibly could. Andrew Hughes, thanks for giving part of your Saturday night to bring me a sweet balloon and a couple good giggles. Brad, thank you to you and your dad for the beautiful roses. They brought a pleasant smell to a not so pleasant hospital room. To all that called or chatted with me online, just the little thoughts or comments helped minimize the bordem. Finally (and definately most importantly), Matthew, as I have been writing this blog you lay beside me asleep in bed and I am crying tears of joy for you. You have done so many things that have made such an impact on my heart. You are so very unselfish. You make me your first priority, not just when I am sick or hurting, but EVERYDAY. I would like to think that I do the same for you, but it just isn't as obvious as all the wonderful things that you have done for me. You were the last person I saw before I went into surgery and you were the first person I woke up to afterwards. I could never make this up to you. I just don't know how. You did so much to make such a bad experience such an easier one. Sleeping on that terrible couch, or well not sleeping at all, doing the laundry, bringing things to the hospital, keeping me as comfortable as possible, my beautiful rose bush, watching the cats, and the list can go on and on. I am just so very thankful to have such a wonderful husband. As much as I hated the entire situation, it made me realize how much I really am blessed. And as this UGLY scare fades away, I know that the blessings of my family and friends never will. Thank you!

A very, very thankful Thanksgiving!

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, most people are rushing home from work to get the house ready for guests or to get on the road to spend the holiday with their families. Not us, we were rushing to the Emergency Room. Not for either of us (yet) but for our good friend Brad. Matthew works with Brad and has since become a really good friend of our family. Even Luke and Cooter are excited when Brad comes over.
Matthew was already on his way home from work when he got the call from his work that Brad had been in a serious accident. Brad wrecked his motorcycle. He had jumped off of his motorcycle. After he jumped off of his motorcycle, the bike went underneath a FedEx truck causing an explosion and engulfing the truck in flames. Luckily the FedEx driver was okay, but Brad had some bumps and bruises he needed looked at. Matthew and I went to the ER. Brad was doing okay. He had a broken arm and a broken leg. He had a helmet on so nothing serious happened to his head. Several hours later we got to leave. All we can say is that we are thankful that Brad is okay. God really had a hand in the accident. Brad is lucky and we are lucky and very thankful to still have him in our lives.

We had dinner tonight with Brad and his sister. Brad is doing much better than he was, which was great to see. Matthew is thankful that he is going to be back at work on Monday. But more importantly we are thankful God didn't take our great friend away from us.

Hot Fire...yeah, yeah, yeah

With all the craziness of Cooter behind us (I hope), I finally get to blog about something else. Not that I don't love my Cooter and want to share his sweetness with everyone, but I know you must want more excitement than that.
Fire is not an uncommon thing at the Hughes house. I grew up with a family full of pyro's, so it was only appropriate that I would marry one right? I knew I was in for some interesting days when someone asked him if he had notified the fire department that he had moved. We have had many bon fire's at our house and our previous method of lighting the fire involved no less than 5 gallons of gas. For Matthew's birthday, Andrew decided that buying him a flame thrower was a good idea. All I can say is that I will always be certain our home owner's policy is up to date.

Last weekend we had two fires at our house. One that was intentional, and one that was well...not so intentional. Andrew brought some friends home from school and asked if we would have a bonfire at the house so they would have something to do. It was a great time. Even with Cooter home and recovering it was still nice to relax and just was the fire. We got to share our home with friends and family. It was wonderful.

No fire is ever small at our house. We don't do those whimpy little fires that you can't sit more than five feet from. It must be big. Matthew spent all day scrounging up some wood, which was good because I spent the day cleaning the house. (which was pointless by Sunday morning)
Matthew loves having fires! Scarey huh?

Now back to that second fire that I was speaking of. Our washer has been trying to kick the bucket for months now. We had nursed it along for quite some time, but hey I can't complain it was given to us for a whopping $30 from Matthews mom. Saturday as I was cleaning and I was on my next to last load it started to make this terrible electrical burning smell. And then on came the smoke. Yep it was done. We unplugged it and said good ridance. Until, my brother came along plugged it back it back in and did a load of laundry. While his load of laundry was going he went to take a shower. In the mean time, Matthew and I came home to a house full of smoke. You could see the smoke from the outside. So, on the 40degree night we opened all the windows and turned on all the fans and put the following sign up.

Just another day in the Hughes House!!