Halloween at the Richards

Kristin's 1980's punk hairdo & costume......she put this whole thing together herself.
The Credit Services Department--7 of 10 of us....
Susma, Vickie, Bonnie, Chey, Shawnna, Raychel & Connie


Halloween arrived a day early in Sweet Home & Eugene!

Kristin was able to go trick or treating downtown with "Grandma" Betty as Mom had to work, and Dad is sick with the flu or a bad cold. We are blessed to have "family" here that will help out when needed. It killed me to be at work today, while Kristin was getting ready to go, and heading downtown. It's been 10+ years since I've not been there with them. Ryan of course didn't go, as he's almost 14 and too old for that stuff...and he had other plans with the big boys anyway....Skillet Concert in Salem!

I did brave the "uncomfortable zone" and dressed up this morning, and headed into work. What Susma didn't provide in the costume...Kristin embellished. She was so excited to help me get ready today, that she was awake at 5am! She was afraid I'd let her sleep, and leave without her help!It was a fun day at work...Kristin had a blast with Betty...Bill is feeling a bit better, and Ryan is off to the Skillet Concert tonight with Robert, Charlie and Charlie's brother. It is a new adventure for Ryan....and, all in all, it was a new adventure for all of us today. Enjoy the pics! Too bad the flash made Kristin's hair look more off pink than it was....it was a great 80's outfit!

Who's Halloween Costume?

This week I've been struggling with a Halloween Costume for a contest at work. The theme is the roaring 20's....and I have to dress as a "flapper". Those of you that know me, know that this is WAY out of my comfort zone....I am not comfortable in a dress of sorts...at least not "flapper style"!!

My good work partner Susma helped me out by bringing in an outfit that she thought would look great...well...it does...on an 11 year old!! WAY too short for me. Kristin thought this was the greatest thing in the world (WHO's Daughter is she anyway??!!) She is begging to go to work, and hang with the other flappers....who knew??!

SO...I'm in a quandry...what to wear...then again, maybe I'll send Kristin in my place. Wonder how she is at collecting??!!

Loving the new job...getting back in the saddle, and learning a new computer system. It's frustrating knowing how to do the job, and not being able to put all the pieces together for getting things done in the computer...but it's coming along. The biggest thing is working on melding the other 2 jobs in and keeping up with the kids school. So far, it's going OK...but tiring. The new online math for the kids is working out great. Thinking about adding the English/Language Arts as well.

Hoping the rest of the house stays healthy...Robert & Ryan have had the cold...Bill came home sick from school today...so far, Kristin & I are doing OK...airborne & a prayer!

Missing the Picture

OK...have had several comments on the new header picture. I guess I had a great one here, and didn't realize it. Several want to know where the crow is in the new picture! Sorry...he didn't hang around for the fall picture!

I try to change the header with the seasons....but, for those of you who really missed it...

Here it is. I'm also adding it down below on the side bar. Never get tired of this view....and people wonder why we live in Sweet Home! Now, if we could only make the barn invisible!

Fall Mornings

It was a beautiful fall sunrise, complete with streaks of pinks, reds and oranges across the sky above the mountains. I love to lay in bed and look at God's perfect creation (and no Bill...not you, although,you are pretty close to perfect for me) as I gaze out the window each morning. What a blessing.

I finally got out of bed, and went out on the porch to take a few pictures. The camera just never does what the eye can do, and although both pictures were taken seconds apart, look at the difference that the camera picks up. Regardless, take my word, it was very pretty!

As you can see in the picture, we had a load of wood delivered, and Robert was a madman (and a blessing) as he got the entire pile of logs cut up and ready for splitting. Now we need to locate a splitter to borrow, or put the guys to work as a splitter is certainly not in the budget!

Bill & I spent all day yesterday at the rental. We put molding in the laundry room, and fixed a few things inside, as tenants were moving in yesterday. We then headed outside to fix the big mess of termite, carpenter ant and water damage that we found in a corner. I repaired and replaced one side of the corner last weekend, and Bill & I worked on the other corner and managed to get it painted, molding up, and it looks great! We now only have 1/3 of the trim left on the house to do, and a few wood repairs and we are finished with the exception of those wonderful overhangs and doors. However, Alice is leaning toward awnings....so praying that she will allow us to do that.

Work is going well for me...loving what I do sure helps. Having great co-workers, and a great team effort is the other part. The kids are doing well with school,and adjusting to doing their math online through the school district. It's a great help to me! Bill is doing well in school...he's had nothing by good grades, and done well so far...hooray for Bill!

We ask that you keep us in prayer as we struggle to put together our work, school, home and rental schedules....pray that we get a good balance, and still have fun while accomplishing all those things we need to!

Kristin & Ryan's B-day

It was a full day today! Up at 8 to make cheesecakes...as no one in our house likes cake!! At any rate, we made a peanut butter chocolate chip cheese cake--and a pumpkin cheesecake...both of which turned out very yummy!! Dad & I headed to the rental to get some painting done, as it was a beautiful morning. We got two hours of painting in, and the sky opened up. Done for the day with the painting! Bill has been suffering with a major headache for two days now. He spent 80% of today in bed...getting up at 5 to pull it together long enough for the kids party. He headed back to bed around 8 as he just couldn't do it any longer. Continue to keep him in prayer for relief. Mom & kids spent the morning "spiffying" up the house. They did a great job, and they even did windows & cupboard doors. SO nice, and I appreciate all the help they've given this week. I didn't realize how stressed I too have been with all the busy things going on. Thanks Mom & Dad...love you tons.

Kristin turned 11 on the 14th of October....
and Ryan will turn 14 on the 16th of November. Time flies!! The next birthday for him will be drivers permit time!! Yikes.... We had a great evening with Rod, Lissa, Brandon (Who is growing & talking like crazy), Grandma Alice & Grandma Betty, Katie & Audrie....another cutie, the O'Hara Clan, and the VonRoudens rounded out the crowd, and of course Grandma & Papa Eyie.....was the whole reason we had this in October instead of November as usual! It was a fun night of visiting, and our kids are so lucky to have such great friends and family. Off to bed--before 1am! Only a few minutes before one, but some are better than none! Will add more pictures tomorrow...check back! Too tired to wait for the rest of the download.

Catching Up

Wow...I pulled my camera out today for the first time in weeks...shame on me!

Busy is the name of the game around here. Here is some of what has been going on:

Kristin turned 11 on the 14th (This past Wednesday)--we celebrated by taking a trip to Sisters with Grandma & Papa Eyie. We will have a party this Saturday for both she & Ryan--so that we can save all our family a trip!

Bill is doing well in school. He's a bit overwhelmed with all that is assigned at school, along with the rental responsibilities, and all the responsibilities here at home. He has been having a lot of fun in his drafting classes, and enjoys the AutoCad he is working on. He had a great experience this week with hopefully getting hooked up to be able to set up some old Alan-Bradley robots that the school has. He worked on these same ones back in Detroit--in the day!!

The kids have had this week off of school, since Grandma and Grandpa are here, and it's really not a routine kind of week. I finally got around to checking their work this week, from last week!! Yahoo...thankfully, they are doing well, and other than not wanting to use a dictionary to do some dictionary skills (BOTH are guilty of this), we are doing well. The commitment to continue to home school seems to be there, although our schedule has changed greatly! They are willing to work independently while we are at work or school, going over the next days assignments before bed and then save what they really need help with (if they need help) for when we get home.

The new job at the Credit Union has been going very well...and they even let me have the time off while my folks were here this week. So far, I've been mostly training, but getting my feet back into the collections department in an office has been invigorating for me! This along with my other 3 jobs (Teaching Monday home school enrichment class--history & science--Working for Joe at the Dental Office, and helping with the rentals) has kept me busy....I think between the three of those not including the rental, I clocked 54 hours the first week...ugh..that didn't include rental, laundry, and food. Thankfully, everyone at home has been pitching in where needed. We are ironing the kinks out, all getting back in the groove, and acclimating to our new schedules as well as moving out of our comfort zones! Keep us in prayer as we all adjust!

Gosh...didn't take many pictures today. We headed for the coast this morning, and it started off chilly & windy, but got very warm...almost 70 over there. Very nice! No sun, but warm & no wind! We had a picnic lunch (in the truck as it was sprinkling just a tad) and enjoyed some sight seeing, of course the outlets, Depot Bay, and our favorite...Chowder at The Sea Hag for supper before heading home!

We got home around 8--watched some TV with Charlie & Robert, and then headed upstairs to get some bills paid, some paperwork done, and find the top of my desk! Yahoo!!

Enjoy today's pictures!