Trying something new...maybe

I am checking out a new blog service. There are a few things that I get a little frustrated with Blogger on, so I thought I would try something new. I haven't officially switched, so continue to check here for updates, but check out this link and let me know what you think!

http://rech.wordpress.com/

And now I am going to bed!

The Big Project...continued

I can't believe just last week we were still thinking about what we should do with our yard. Now, a week and a half later we have two new pieces of concrete in our yard. Tomorrow we will be able to start drivng on our new widened drive-way. Those of you who visit us often will be excited to note you can turn around and enter Losey facing forward instead of backing out onto the scary four-lane highway! We are excited that we will no longer park each other in and have to juggle cars or park on our lawn or across the street.

The back patio will be stained and engraved in mid-September. The concrete needs to cure for 28 days. Today we received some digital photos of what it could look like. We haven't settled on anything, but we are thinking a dark red flagstone look.

Unfortunately, I have more photos to share, but they are not downloaded yet. They will be coming soon!

The Big Project

This is our big project. Yes we finally are doing something with our backyard. You won't even recognize it when we are done. We barely do and we are only about half-way through it.

The first photo was taken after we and some very wonderful friends helped us pull out the sidewalk and part of the retaining wall in our backyard on Wednesday evening. Thank you so much Josh, Anne and Lance!!

On Thursday evening, the concrete guy came with a couple of people and took the roof structure. When we said we were going to use it as fire wood they said they'd take it which made our life a lot easier. Joel and I watched them take it down and transport it and it did not look fun (I do have photos).

Today, they came back with the bobcat and a dump truck. He made quick work of destroying our old patio which ended up being at least 8" thick! I am so happy we did not tackle that on our own. It took him an hour to remove it and then grade the yard so we did not have to replace the retaining wall. The were also able to use much of our existing stone and rock as fill. In the second photo, the bobcat is dumping that into a hole he dug.

Feel free to come peek at the backyard as we make progress. I will try to keep you all updated, but sometimes time gets away from me and I know I will have a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks.

4th of July

What a beautiful night! The Riverfest Fireworks were wonderful. Thank you La Crosse Skyrockers!

These were just two of the shots I got. I finally read up on the "proper" way to shoot fireworks and had much better luck. I am kind of disappointed in myself that I hadn't done this sooner. So if anyone knows of upcoming fireworks I would love to do some more experimenting!

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday. We were able to spend it with friends and family. Once everyone arrived at Riverside Park in La Crosse there were 17 people on our tarp and even more people that stopped by earlier in the day. I look forward to doing it again next year!

Family Wknd in Trempealeau, WI

The Smith family spent the weekend in Trempealeau, WI @ Perot State Park canoeing, kayaking, hiking and just enjoying each other. Don't we look great after a day on the backwaters of the Mississippi River! Watch for more photos later this week!

Lance's Bithday Kayak

We finally got our kayaks out last weekend!! What made it even more exciting is that our friend, Lance Wulf got a kayak from his lovely wife, Jen, for his birthday! To see photos from our outing click on the link!

Lance's Birthday Kayak!

Photos Slide Shows & Family Easter

So one of my friends that has a blog http://thereynoldsfam.blogspot.com was asking about putting a photo slide show on their blog, so that got me to thinking. The following is a link from the photo sharing service I use.

2006 Easter Celebration

The photos are from my family's Easter celebration. This just a taste of what you will get to see. This is my niece Kya, she really is smiling.

Enjoy!

It's Off--It's On

It has been about three weeks since I had surgery. All is going well. I had my casts changed today so they could check on the pins that are sticking out of my thumb. I even brought a camera along so I could share the experience with you all. I know the photo quality isn't great, but you have to remember I was working with my left hand only. The two dark spots on my thumb are the wires holding the little piece of bone that broke off in place while it heals. You can also see where they made the incision when I had surgery. They put another cast on to protect the wires. I go back in two weeks to have it checked again. They may be taken out then or it may be another week. We will see.

For the most part I can do everything, however, it either takes longer or I look really funny while I am doing it. Typing goes pretty well and I have adapted to using the mouse with my left hand. What I miss the most is not being able to handle my camera (digital SLR). I can manage the other one put I definately am not getting shots I desire. The thing Joel is probably missing the most is me not being able to dishes (hee, hee, hee).

Thumb Update

I had surgery yesterday and it went well. I am in a little pain, but not like imagined. I think it is more of an inconvenience. For example right now I am hunting and pecking for letters while typing, I don't think I have done this since middle school or high school when I took typing. So pardon any typos.

I have taken for granted having two hands. I can't imagine only having one or even one that doesn't function as it should.

Thumb Adventures

Just wanted to give you an update...

I went skiing on Sunday evening with Jenn M, Jamie D, Joy and Jess. I
had a blast and got lots of bumps and a sore thumb. The thumb was
still sore on Monday after I iced it and took a couple of Ibuprofen.
The school nurse at the high school said it would be a good idea
to go to the doctor because it then had started bruising and swelling
more.

On Monday after work I headed over to Urgent care in Onalaska (I
should have went to La Crosse). They looked at it and did x-rays. I
broke a little piece off my thumb the ligaments tore a little piece of
bone right off (for a better description I would ask a medical person
you know). The doctor wanted to refer me to specialist later in the
week. OK not a big deal... But the big problem of Monday evening was that I couldn't drive my standard car home, so Joel had to come get me :( in Onalaska.

This morning I had an appointment with sports medicine doctor, he
didn't seem overly concerned but was consulting with a hand doctor.
He had me put in a cast and sent me on my way. I thought great 4
weeks in a cast and I'll be good to go. At lunch I got a call saying
that I needed to see the hand doctor. So, I went and there I had to
have the cast, just put on this morning, taken off. The hand doctor
thought surgery was a good idea and I really wanted to err on the side
of caution since it is my right thumb and I AM RIGHT HANDED!!

So tomorrow I am having surgery. I would add more detail, however,
typing is a bit of a challenge with the cast on.

It has been so long...

It has been a while since I posted. The holiday bussle has been keeping me busy. I can't believe Christmas is in 4 days.

Joel is in Texas and expected to arrive home tomorrow around midnight and I am diligently working on getting the remaining Christmas cards out along with wrapping presents and finishing up with the bit of shopping I have to do.

I have all of next week off and will hopefully be updating photos and writing about the last month or so.

Merry Christmas!!

Joel goes South and it Snows

Cammie and I were out enjoying the fresh snow this morning before I went to work. Meanwhile, Joel was sleeping-in, in his motel room in Texas. He headed to Texas on Tuesday for work. This time he had fly commercial, the poor guy.

Kya Jaden Smith

She has arrived and she has a name!! Kya arrived yesterday at 7:09 a.m. Sarah's water broke on Friday evening, but she was sent home on Friday evening and didn't return to the hospital until 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Both Sarah and Kya are healthy and home as of this afternoon.

Joel and I made a quick trip to Rochester on Saturday morning to meet our new niece. At that point she didn't have a name because as mentioned in previous posts she was expected to be a he! Sarah and Travis were asking for ideas and consulting a name book all day on Saturday and settled on Kya Jaden.

Stats...
Name: Kya Jaden Smith
When: 7:09 a.m. Saturday November 5, 2005
Where: Methodis Hospital (Mayo, the hospital where Sarah works) Rochester, MN
Weight: 6 lbs 11.6 oz
Length: 19 inches
Sibblings: Therin Hudson - 2 years old
Parents: Sarah Katherine (Binder) Smith and Travis Jon Smith
Smith Relatives: Grandma Mary and Granpa Rick Smith, Aunt Becky (Smith), Uncle Joel Rech and Cammie (the dog)
Binder Relatives: "Grandma" Doc (Dr. Jim) and Granny (Sue) Binder, Aunt Ashley Binder and Aunt Julie Binder

It's a Niece!!

Our new neice arrived this morning! Yup, Travis was wrong. Joel and I currently getting ready to head to Rochester, MN for a visit. As of right now, I don't know any more info than she's here and she's a girl!

More later... Probably some photos...

Joel's Adventure

Joel made it back to La Crosse safely last night. Kate Anger (a friend from high school) and I picked Joel up at the hanger (because he was on a corporate jet he didn't have to go through the regular terminal). Joel's co-worker, Chris took a few photos while on their quick trip to Monroe, LA. Chris and Joel are on the far left in the first photo in front of the corporate jet. In the second photo, Joel is on the far right in the cabin of the jet. I think Joel found his trip to Monroe worthwhile and an interesting change of pace.


After we picked Joel up, we went out to dinner to kill some time while our friends, the Wulfs started a fire in the new fire pit that I got Joel for his birthday (I gave it to him early, thought it would be kind of hard to hide). It was nice to hang out with friends on a gorgous autum evening.

Visiting the Tenniers (August)

This is our newest nephew Louis Michael Tennier. The proud parents (lower left) are Ann (Joel's sister) and Mark Tennier. Louis was born on August 20, 2005. Joel, Jennifer (his sister), her children Cameron and Caitlin and I went to visit the Tenniers on August 27th to meet the little guy. I am not sure what he thought of us, but we definately had a good time meeting him and hanging out with the family. Caitlin and Louis were chatting on the futon (lower right) for a little while, I hope they get along better when they are older ;).

**Sidenote** I am testing out ways to post photos because as most of you know I take way too many of them. I would like to find a quick and fun way to share photos with everyone, so this is my test run. 

Quick Trip to Louisiana

On Tuesday afternoon Joel called me at work to tell me he might have to go to Louisiana for work on Wednesday, but wasn't sure. When it was finalized, he called me back. Joel left on Wednesday morning from La Crosse with 5 of his co-workers on CenturyTel's corporate jet. They made the quick trip to Louisiana in about one hour and 45 minutes unlike his past trips to Monroe, LA which usually take about six hours because of all the lay-overs in between here and there. I chatted with Joel yesterday evening. He said the day had been very productive and he looked forward to making more personal connections with his co-workers that he only usually gets to email or chat with over the phone.

I didn't realize how much I must mentally prepare myself for his other business trips until yesterday. When I was at work yesterday, I thought to myself oh I need to check with Joel about that when we get home, oh but wait he won't be home until Friday. Cammie (the dog) and I fairing very well, but missing our man of the house.

Today and tomorrow I have the day off from work. In our area, the teachers are given the opportunity to go to teacher conventions, so students and support staff get days off...yippee!! I don't have a lot on my agenda, but I am sure I will stay busy. This morning I have already finished one book! Feed by M.T. Now it is off to feed Cammie and meet my mom for some shopping and lunch.

New Nephew (or maybe Niece??)--Not Yet!!

This past weekend, we received a phone call from my mom stating that my sister-in-law Sarah had started having contractions (she is pregnant and due on November 4th). I was excited and almost didn't want to go to work (for Mueller Photography) on Saturday, but contained my excitement and went to the wedding with my phone on vibrate in hopes of hearing of the arrival of my new nephew. At 4 p.m. when I was finished, I called my mom (I had no messages), no new niece or nephew. Sarah' contractions hadn't progressed, so they Therin, Travis and Sarah went to the circus as they had planned before the mornings excitement. Since Saturday I have become obsessive-compulsive in checking to see if I have any phone calls, to see if the new baby has arrived. I don't remember it being like this with any of our other nieces or nephews. Hmmmm...what is different?

You are probably wondering why the question in the title...My brother the med-student thinks he saw the boy parts when the ultrasound was done, but is not completely positive. So we all are under the impression that it is going to be a boy, but could be surprised when she decides to make her entrance. (I should write more on that story, but that will have to be later due to the late hour and the early appointment--5 a.m.!!!--I have tomorrow).

The beginning...

Hello All!
This is my experiment in keeping in touch with friends and family. I love hearing about everyone's events and happenings and thought maybe I should be better about sharing mine. Our friends the Reynolds and Kellys started family blogs, so I thought I might try it as well.

Feel free to post comments or questions!