While you were away...

So, I pretty much boycott computers when I am on any sort of break from work....but I am managing to get this blog up for everyone....

Just a few images of our holiday season activities.....

So what...all family have issues.....

In Memoriam:

In memoriam of days gone by and in honor of Christmas, I share with you a throw back to Christmas 2004...when my dear roommate Andi and I wished all a Merry Christmas in the words of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  Perhaps that was the beginning of attempting to entertain people with our witty words.... (check out Andi's great blog at www.andiburnum.blogspot.com)

Here ya go:

Twas the night before finals, when all through the place…

I looked up at Andi, her sad, sleepy face,

Book bags were flung all over the chairs,

Dress pants and slippers the only clean things to wear.

Their minds were filled with information read,

The kitchen table had become their new bed.

Sandy in Soils and Andi in Stats,

Had mistakenly fell into a mid-studies nap.

When out on the lot there arose such a clatter

We sprang to the porch to see what was the matter

Away to the porch we flew like a flash

The door was still locked and caused a big crash.

The fright of the crash, the harsh sudden blow,

They vowed to each other…no one must know!!

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

A big garbage truck tearing off Sandy’s mirror.

With a little old driver, so lethargic and fat,

Sandy rolled her eyes saying, “I didn’t need that!”

More rapid than eagles, out of the house Andi came,

She whistled, and shouted, and called him bad names.

“Call Leah, Call Allen, Call Nathan, Call Andy!”

“Wait, no not Leah!, she isn’t handy!”

We dialed their numbers we gave it our all

But no one would answer our poor, pitiful calls.

Tears of sadness filled Sandy’s eyes,

Which demanded a trip to Sonic, for fries!

Their study break over, they knew what to do,

For finals would be over much more than they knew!

Who cares about z-scores and the value of P,

In 24 hours how happy they’d be!

This new sense of hope they had just found,

Caused them to sing and frolic around.

Layers of sweats, still getting the chills,

“We can’t afford the heating bill!!!”

These books! These studies! They drive us insane!

Only a few more hours of this madness remain!

Their eyes so droopy, their dimples so sad,

Nervous about grades…they know they’ll be bad.

Studying is over, prep time is gone,

I wonder how many tests we will bomb.

“Oh Goodness!” “Oh Golly!” “Oh Heavens!” “Oh Gee!”

How did I end up in the room for Calc III?????

My teacher’s broad face and little round belly

That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of Jelly. (Moore, Clement C.  Twas the Night Before Christmas.)

He was chubby and plump and handed out the tests

And he laughed out loud out our faces of detest.

The answers to the questions, I KNEW I had read….

Too bad all that garbage hadn’t stuck in my head!

He spoke not a word as he watched us all work,

Walking out of the room I thought, “Man, what a jerk!”

Our hacking and coughing and runny nose

Still, thinking of Christmas our spirits rose.

Merry Christmas to you, from Andi and Sandy,

We hope your holiday break is really quite dandy!

Our brains are fried, our minds are toasted,

 But we’ll be in good spirits…                                                    

….until grades are posted

one of these things is not like the other.....

Shawna and Uncle Kelly compare...well...that seems self explanatory...

Hmmm. Interesting...via David.

**Note: Originally I wasn't going to put this on my blog...as David was not able to get a picture....but then he like tracked down another, similar car just to get a picture.  So to reward that hard work here is David's Hmm. Interesting:

 David's 1st Email:
i saw a "hmm... interesting" worthy thing yesterday. A car, covered in christmas lights. Randomly draped christmas lights around this ford explorer....driving down the highway. it was odd...sorry, no picture

 David's 2nd Email:
Oh what I do for fame. Its not a good picture as the car was moving... The ppl had a weird look on their faces when I pulled my phone out and pointed it at them....oh ya, not the same car, but the same idea

 Thanks David for your contribution!  I have a feeling if the people in that car read my blog I will soon be getting a "Hmm. Interesting" submission from them, with a photo of you driving next to them taking a picture with your phone.

Started the day with 1 final, only 1 present bought, house a disaster....



Final is over (only had to get like a 40% to get an A) - yay yay!

I know what we're getting everyone for Christmas....and almost got it all purchased tonight!

The house is almost all clean.



What a day!

P.S.  If anyone wants to come over and watch the SNL Christmas Special on Thursday night shoot me an email....everyone is invited!!! Fun starts at 7!

leave no trace...

So this is Andy helping to fold our Christmas cards.....

Our cards are glossy this year and he didn't want to leave fingerprints....

Not because we are lacing your card with anything dangerous...he just didn't want it to look bad.....

As far as I know anyway...

What is almost as exciting as our snowy weather? New tires!!

Sure, I agree, new tires are really not that exciting, BUT when your old tires looked like this...

...I think you'll agree new tires ARE exciting! The Ranger got four of these beauts courtesy of an even more wore out Ranger at a local junk yard. Look at all that tread!

First snow!!!

Yay! So we got our first real snow over the past few days....probably have somewhere among 5-8 inches. So afterwork today we had some snow fun.

First we pretended that 6-8 inches was enough snow to snowshoe in....

Then we pretended we could do yoga....in snowshoes...

Then we rolled down a hill...

Then we were mad because we had to go inside.

The end.

Yes, we LOVE snow.

What goes around comes around....

If you have read the two previous posts this will make sense:

Andy and I walking into church tonight...

Andy: telling story about something er other.

Me: (without even thinking!!) "Hmm. Interesting"

Me and Andy: Awkward glance....

Me: Oh! No...no I didn't mean it like that...I meant uh....(more stumbling, etc.)

Yea......what goes around comes around.

Hmm. Interesting. : Holiday Lights Edition

In no way do I understand this...

Oh the traditional holiday santa frog.  Hmm. Interesting.

Hmmm. Interesting: New blog feature!

Welcome to my first recurring blog feature, entitled "Hmm. Interesting".  If you don't know already-- Good thing you are reading this!  Okay..so if anyone ever says to you ...."Hmmmm.  Interesting"..chances are that either:

A) whatever you were just talking about is in NO WAY, even REMOTELY interesting....and they were SOOOO bored listening to you speak, they reply "hmm. interesting" in hopes that you won't notice that they can't recall a single thing that you said.

B) what you said was "interesting"....but not in a good way. So instead of making a scene and telling you that you are an idiot, a weirdo, off your rocker, or creepy they say "Hmm. Interesting" and then go home and tell their friends and family about the weird thing (you) that happened to them today.

C) you were the 1 exception in a 1000 where what you said truly was interesting and they genuinely enjoyed hearing about it.  (which by the way is the case if I have ever said to YOU...hmmm. interesting)

***readers note...the "C" option is usually followed up by some semi-intelligent follow-up questions.  So if the "hmmm. interesting" ended the conversation, stop kidding yourself...you are an A or B.

Please, I beg of you...if anyone says to you "hmm. interesting" ...stop talking. cut your losses.  move on.


If you ever see anything that is "Hmm. Interesting." email it to me and you will be featured on kleinlife!

Oh Christmas tree....

Here it is....seemed like a good procrastination technique to be blogging when I should be at the library studying...

Getting the tree and watering it.....

Still need to get some beads and of course there are a lot of presents for me missing...but other than that...

Visiting hours...

So we had a nice time over Thankgiving Break visiting our beautiful Grandfather clock! We can't wait until it can come live with us some day....

are there pigs at the north pole?

not any more....we ate it for Thanksgiving Eve....

This little piggy....was on the naughty list apparently.

Here are two little elves setting up the north pole:

tis the season....

My friend Tyler brought me a pretty poinsettia today....

SEE...some people like me. :)

yea....

so i got the full version of photoshop on my work laptop....I need ideas for fun Christmas cards....anyone??

Wildcat Weekend Girls Gone Wild...

Hey you...another round over here...

Shawna's face is stuck that way now...

Does this hat make my head look fat?

So a Minister, Priest, and a Rabbi walk into a bar...

Wildcat Weekend

Friday night- Men's Basketball

Saturday- Football

Saturday- Volleyball

Every Man A Wildcat!

yay for seeing Michael!

Family time!

really?

Dear couple walking around the track at the rec holding hands,

Really?  No, REALLY? You are so in love you have to hold hands while "working out"?  Gag me.

Love,

Sandy

this one's for david....

I'm not sure if Bernard is going to make it....

(Bernard is one of our office plants that hasn't been watered since David abandoned him for Purdue in August...)

Mark seems to be a little confused at where the baby actually is.....

oh...there he got it!

Chris is in disbelief....about something...

we just turned 1!!!

That's right folks! After being together for over 6 years ---dating for 4 and married for 2.5 ---we have successfully lived in the same state for a whole year!!!!! yay us!

Dear world,

Dear World,

50 days of Christmas shopping left....things on my list this year:
1. 2 more hours for each day.
2. Personal assistant
3. all of my friends to work in the same building
4. jet ski (because why not?)
5. water to start tasting like root beer
6. Nap time at work
7. Harry Potter to be real
8. magical chapstick that would always be right where i am looking for it
9. self cleaning house
10.brownies to be a health food

This should be enough to get everyone started....let me know if you need more ideas....

stupid northeast kansas...i hate you.

stupid no snow northeast kansas....where is our snow???...i'm moving...tomorrow.....not fair.....stupid stupid stupid rain and "seasonably average temperatures" i hate hate hate hate hate you.

on another note....Happy Snow Day to Mom and Dad!

What else is there to say....

Test 1

100/100 - 100%

Do yourself a favor...

Think you have problems?? Put them into perspective by checking out The Donna Reed Show:

http://www.fancast.com/tv/The-Donna-Reed-Show/97699/full-episodes

Seriously in one episode Jeff gets chickenpox...

very intense.

point of view...

I am at the library studying.

View looking out the library window...

Shot of me "studying"

I am at the library "studying".

Ok, well I AM at the library anyway.

Happy Happy Happy BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

My sister is taking "who's getting dad the better present" competition to a whole new level....she started planning MONTHS ago...overachiever...

So, dad I hope you enjoy finding out if you are getting a granddaughter or a grandson today....


I can't compete with that.

Pumpkin carving time....

I am posting this Smokey Bear pumpkin carving stencil for 2 reasons:

1) Andy really likes smokey...and actually gets to be in the KS Forest Service Smokey Bear costume for a couple of parades

2) the irony. carving smokey's face into a pumpkin then putting FIRE inside. --- Only YOU can ...light my face on fire...

This is where I plan to spend most of the weekend.

The background I really wanted was the pink camo...but for some reason it wouldn't work. I LOVE the season of holiday related blog backgrounds!!!

we're the place to be...

Friday noon - Lunch with Justine and Jackie

Friday 6 pm - 2 am- fun in the ville with Justine and Dalton

Friday 2 am- Brian arrives

Saturday 9 am- going to the ville to get our car we left there

Saturday 10 am-Andy cooks breakfast for Justine, Brian and I

Saturday 10 am-3 pm- bean bag toss, sarcasm, hanging out, etc.

Saturday 3 - Justine and Brian leave for a wedding

Saturday 3:30- Sam arrives

Saturday 3:30-6:30- hang out with Sam

Saturday 6:30-10:30- dinner and games with Andy, Sam, Lori, Emily, Bill and Bridget

Saturday 10:30-1:30 am- hang out with Sam

Sunday 9-breakfast with Andy and Sam

Sunday 11- church with Andy and Sam

Sunday after church talk with Shawna, Mark, Baby O, Justine, and Brian

Sunday 12:15 - lunch with Andy, Sam, Justine, Brian, Jackie, Mike, and Julie

Sunday 1:30-4:30- more hanging out with Sam

Sunday 4:30-6:30- lay on couch think about everything I didn't get done

Sunday 6:30-8:15- play volleyball

Sunday 8:15-8:45- talk to Justine on phone

Sunday 8:45- eat dinner

Sunday 9:15-10:00-talk to Andy

Sunday 10:00-get ready for bed

Sunday 10:30-blog

.....and this is why Monday morning will equal death.

Smokin' on the Beaver 2009

My 2nd place fresh salsa

My dad's 1st place homebrew...

Okay, so I didn't get a picture of Jake's (cousin-in-law) 3rd place ribs...but this is a representative picture....

Previous years accolades above.

Overall their were over 40 teams entered in this year's contest! Our groups consisted of 3 teams, 3 smokers, 3 grills, 2 tents, 13 family members, 3 neighbors, ladder ball, bean bag toss, 2 briskets, 4 racks of ribs, 3 pork butts, a whole chicken, buffalo brats, fajitas, omelets, chicken wings, homebrew, salsa, homemade baked beans, and a great time!!