Easter Photos

These are a few photos of my neighbors son, Kameron.

Cute photos for Easter!

He's a cutie - patootie and smiles all the time!

Foundation Repair

Today, Granite Foundation Repair (from Rockwall TX) came to to repair our foundation.

A team of 5 men showed up and dug 8 holes. 
We had many options to chose from: concrete piers, helical piers and steel piers.
We chose the steel piers for it's long term repair benefit.

The pier sections were 60" (5 feet) in length. They used 3 pier sections, to go down to a depth of 15'

After the drive is completed the foundation slab is lifted and supported with steel brackets.

 This is a close-up of one of the piers in place with the "keys" to lock it in place. 
They are also useful, if the foundation needs future repairs, as they can uncover them,
remove the keys, raise the foundation and insert new keys.

This is the funny photo of the day.
At lunch time, the workers hauled a microwave out of the truck and plugged it in
to heat up their lunch.  Do you see the microwave on the brick around the tree?

Utility Marking

Today, we had our yard all marked up for
the foundation repair scheduled for Monday, March 26th..

Everywhere you look in the yard, there are spray paint marks and/or flags.

Atmos Gas line utility markings

Spring is Here!

Today is the first day of spring, so its fitting that the sun is shining just hours after severe thunderstorms dropped 3 to 4 inches of rain across the Metroplex.  So, just how much rain fell over the last 24 hours?  Preliminary rainfall totals show 4.37 inches at Dallas Executive Airport while only 3.57 inches fell at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. At Fort Worth Meacham, 3.22 inches fell, McKinney Regional Airport, 4.33  inches were recorded, while we had just 4 inches in our new rain gauge.

This is the rain gauge I got for Doug for Christmas to replace the one that was getting very brittle due to all the Texas heat exposure. My mom and dad had got the original rain gauge for Doug when we lived in Minnesota. I was able to find the exact same model - ordered from Minnesota!

That rainfall is causing swelling as runoff continues to fill creeks and rivers.  The affect of the rain on area lakes and reservoirs will take a couple of days to determine. We are hoping this will alleviate our drought conditions and do away with all our water restrictions.  Lewisville Lake conservation level is 522 and the current water elevation is 523.40.  YAY for surplus water!!

Our pool is also very full!

 

Babysitting Andrew

Just booked a round trip ticket from DFW to IAH for next month.
I will be going to stay with Andrew while Josh takes a prep course
for his next round of chiropractic boards and Jill works.
I'm so lucky to be able to work from home and have the flexibility to do these special grandma visits!
I will have to take some time off from work,
but I should be able to squeeze in about 4 hours of work per day
(before Josh leaves in the morning and when Josh & Jill gets home at night)

The round trip flight cost $103.10.
That's way cheaper than filling my truck's gas tank. 
Last week I filled it and it cost $85.00!!

There is also an added bonus of not having to do the 4 hour drive (each way) by myself!

Only 36 more days til 1:1 time with Andrew!
He will be 4 months old by then and should be about double his birth weight by then.
He will be about ready to start cereal and introduce baby food.
He will start trying to form words like mama, dada and baba.
He also will begin laughing soon.
There is nothing better than hearing a baby laugh!!!

Better get your skype installed if you don't want to miss those baby laughs!

Bridal Shower at TPC

This is the Bridal Shower banner made using my Cricut.

Jackie is shown here with her co-host of the bridal shower
and her Maid of Honor - Nicole Catoire

Jackie is shown here with the other co-host of the shower, also a bridesmaid in the wedding,
mother of her 1st nephew and of course....aka - the sister of the bride!

 Jackie is shown here with Jonathan's mom (Ruthann Kiefer) and sister (Lauren Kiefer)

The is a close-up of the ladybug cake.

A view of part of the food table.
The tea sandwiches were left off the table and had to be served to each table.

The cake, punch and tea table.

The gift table

Nicole had planned a couple of games. The first game was: Who knows the bride best.  I thought I'd definately win that one; but Jackie pulled some oddball answers that threw me out of the running.

The second game was dividing into groups, picking a model from your group, and using toilet paper, make a wedding gown for your model. Jackie would choose the winner.   Bride #3 was first and Bride #2 was runner-up. 

Here is a link to all the photos that Jill took at the Bridal Shower.

It was a very fun day!!

Below is a summary of the gifts she received:
Hillary Hagen - garbage can, egg slicer and hand can opener
Bill & Barb Stiefer - snapware
Rev Bev - spring form pan and pot holder mitts
Lyn Gray - pot holders, spatulas & measuring cups
Paula Mallory - ice tea maker
Steve & Cindy Thomas - Shark Iron  & server tray
Ellen Fowler - Budnt pan
Debra Sweeney - $25 Target gift card & cross measuring spoons
Virginia Taylor - bamboo trivets, stand mix cover
Angie & Bill Morris - personalized quilt
Joy Koch - dishtowels
Lydia Gober - "K"coasters
Lauren Kiefer - cutting boards
Aunt Andrea Kiefer - red steam tea kettle
George & Pauline Ridge - kitchen shears & grater
Grandma Dot - electric can opener
Dee Kuklenz - silverware, Foodsaver system
Sanford family - Towel sets
Frank & Linda Gonzalez - Blender
Nicole Catoire - chore dice; ladybug timer & coaster
Karl & Audrey - dishtowels, coffee cups, breakfast in bed tray
Dustin/Karen Kuklenz & Grandma Lyla- covered cake pan, rolling pin & pastry brush
Priscilla Hounam - glass cross
Charlie & Ruth Horton - Bath towels
Josh & Jill Elliott - Pyrex bowls with lids
Dee Stokes - Chip/Dip set
John & Susan Griger - Brita pitcher and filters
Betty Wright - non stick baking set
Robin & Caitlin Dilger - Corning ware set
Helen Kiefer - Check $80
Carolyn Demis - Target Gift Card $50
Ruthan & Stephen Kiefer and Greg & Andrew - Kitchen Aid Mixer & wedding frame
Aunt Diane Kennedy, Aunt Dawn Andersen, Aunt Denise Veencamp - George Foreman grill & dual cereal dispenser.

Spring Break - Friday

Friday Jackie, my friend Linda and I attended a scheduled taste test of the Italian buffet menu at Royal Catering.  Let's just say it was not up to par! The pasta was pasty, the alfredo sauce was bland, the chicken and garlic bread were cold and the water they served to drink was warm.  I was hoping everything would be great, but if this was their best, than it can only go down hill from here. Guess we are back to looking for another caterer.

On our way back from the caterer's we stopped to get a few food items for the shower and pick up the red gerber daisies that will be used as centerpieces at the shower.
Spoiler Alert: These flowers are the primary flower at the wedding.

Jill and Andrew had arrived while we were out, so we headed back to the house to pick up Jill and the stuff to decorate up at the church. Jackie would stay and babysit Andrew.

After we decorated the church, back to the house to start some food prep. Pre-made items included: Cream Cheese Pickles; Tomato Wrap with pimento dip pinwheels; Spinach wraps with chicken salad; Flower shaped Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches and a few tea sandwiches (egg salad; cranberry chicken salad).  We also cut up vegies for the individual bread baskets; cut up fruit for the skewers and also cut up an assortment of meats & cheeses.

Jill and Linda are shown coating the kosher pickles with cream cheese and then wrapping them in roast beef.  Linda had never had them before and she did eventually try one; and to her amazement they were good.  I think we will see several on her plate at the shower tomorrow :-)


Spring Break - Thursday

Thursday afternoon, Jackie had her first dress fitting. The only place they needed to alter the dress was the hem (about 4"). But her dress has many layers so it took a while to pin up each layer. 

No pictures today ...... Jonathan reads the blog ...... and I was reminded he wants to wait and see her in her dress on the wedding day.  Only 107 more days!

Spring Break - Wednesday

The only thing on the agenda today was the trial run for the wedding hairstyle. 
The hair salon doing the entire bridal party is Von Anthony Salon in Frisco. http://www.vonanthonysalon.com/

These are a few photos from today's wedding experience!

You can check out the entire slideshow of photos here

BEFORE

View from the top of her head, braided to the back.

 Loose curls at the base of the head, this will hold the veil.

Profile shot of the finished look.

This is the finished look from the front.

What do you think?
With or Without glasses??

Spring Break - Tuesday

Prior to cake testing in Addison, TX - we checked out the David's Bridal store by Valley View Mall. They had the correct size and style of undergarment Jackie wanted.  One more thing crossed off the list!!  The highlight of today was cake testing. Our friend Linda met us at Delicious Cakes in Addison.  http://www.deliciouscakes.com/

Below are the samples we will try: (from left to right)

Princess: Moist, traditional yellow cake with a slight vanilla flavor

White: White, light and classic white cake (egg whites only)
Strawberry: Fresh pureed strawberries folded into a white cake batter
Double Fudge Devils Food: Rich and divine chocolate cake
Mexican Chocolate: Triple chocolate cake with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg
Red Velvet: A southern traditional chocolate, red cake.
Frostings: Butter Cream, Cream Cheese and Chocolate Fudge

This is all that was left after the tasting.

Can you tell the favorites??

I came home and worked for a few more hours and then at 6pm we headed to Staples to get the invitations, response cards and insert cards printed.  Another successful day of getting things crossed off the wedding planning list!

Spring Break - Monday

11am - Jackie had her make-up trial run for the wedding.

http://evonnemakeupartistry.com/

 A very natural look.

 Side profile.

 Close-up of the eyes.
Jackie will probably wear some fake eyelashes as well.
In this photo, they are all hers!

After the make-up appt, we drove to McKinney to Crumps Garden to chose all of the wedding flowers.  http://www.crumpsgarden.com/ufn70143-wedding-gallery
Bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, altar flowers, guest book flowers and table decorations.
Lunch at Wendys then on to David's Bridal in Frisco for the purchase of the wedding undergarments. That store was crazy busy with ladies trying on prom dresses and wedding dresses. The size Jackie needed was out of stock at that location.

Next stop was David's Bridal in Lewisville...
Jackie's size must be very popular as this store was out too!
Next stop was Lakelands Antique Store in Lewisville. I have been looking for a 12 pane window for the wedding.  Can anyone guess what it will be used for.  It needs a "little" work yet. This is the before shot so you can see the size of the window. Look for it at the wedding for a "different" spin on something a little unexpected.

We took the window home and freshened up a little before heading back out the door to meet Doug for dinner @ Cheddars.  Doug was a little late for dinner ~ we had to call and remind him.
He had not changed his watch and was not on Daylight Savings time yet.
After dinner we drove to the Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie
for the Mythbusters - Behind the Myths tour.

We got home about 11pm ~ What an exhausting day!

Whirlwind Weekend

Saturday morning we left the house around 10am, arrived @ Josh and Jill's around 2pm.

Andrew is shown here - patiently waiting for us to show up.

Our first visit with Andrew in a month.

He looked skinnier than the last time we saw him, I think it's because he's longer now.

Karl came over later in the afternoon and brought the fixins for goulash which Jill made for dinner.
A little after 6pm Karl drove us up to Huntsville for the SHSU Chorale Spring Concert.  The Chorale performed wonderfully and it is always a special treat to get to hear Jackie sing.

Back to The Woodlands we went; but Andrew was down for the night so had to wait until Sunday morning to get our playtime in. He went down for a nap around 11am and was not up yet before we left around 2pm.

It was a whirlwind weekend getting to see everyone! Love the family fun time!!

120 Days

Today the countdown on the computer shows that there is only 120 more days until Jackie and Jonathan get married, June 30th. Jackie will be home over spring break and we will be taking care of a bunch of wedding To Do's.

Mon. March 12th: 11am Hair/Makeup test run; 1:30pm Crumps Garden - initial florist meeting

Tue. March 13th: 1pm - Cake Testing at Delicious Cakes: 3:20 Dentist appt

Wed. March 14th: Invitations printing

Thu. March 15th: Craft project - creating display for table numbers.

Fri. March 16: 12pm -Menu tasting @ Royal Catering

Sat. March 17th: Bridal Shower 2-4pm @ Trinity Presbyterian Church in The Colony.