All Good Things Must End...

Hi Everyone!

After a month-long visit, Todd's parents left us for greener (well, maybe not greener, but hopefully WARMER) pastures down Denver way for some time with Todd's sister and hubby. Here is a list of the things - that I can remember, anyhow - that my blessed father-in-law accomplished while he was here:

1. Covered hole in coat closet ceiling with an access panel where toilet from upstairs had leaked and been repaired.
2. Fixed closet door handles so they stay put.
3. Fixed the broken seal around the front door.
4. Replaced broken ceiling fans in the both kids' bedrooms.
5. Covered hole in attic vent where wildlife was free to come and go.
6. Fixed two shades in our Pella windows that wouldn't open.
7. Fixed a garage door brace that had fallen off.
8. Hung yard tool organizer in the garage.
9. Supervised plumber when toilet number two leaked and had to have hole cut in basement bathroom ceiling in order to be repaired. (!)
10. Repaired ceiling vent in basement bathroom (that I broke when trying to sop up water from said toilet leak).
11. Solved problem of "broken" (improperly vented) water heater and ran better venting.
12. Vented my previously-vented-to-the-closet-under-the-stairs-dryer to the outside.
13. Ordered and installed a turntable to replace the broken one in the microwave.
14. Ordered and installed a detergent cup to replace the broken one in the dishwasher.
15. Reattached several annoying pieces of trim that would come off each time I cleaned floors.
16. Covered outside opening to bathroom vent that was previously just open to whatever would like to use it as a home (think BIG Wyoming snakes and you come close to what I imagined might have entered my home through that hole!!)

I've surely forgotten a few things - and, no, you can't have him!!! He's all mine. Well, mine and Carrie's, I guess. :O) I told him I could hook him up with lots of friends in need of a handyman and he and my mother-in-law could travel all over the USA with free room/board as long as he wants!! :O) Thank you, Pa Ben, for all you did!!

Kindrid and Brennen enjoyed unlimited attention from Grandma Mary and the doggies. They both feel a little lost without their grandparents here.

Todd and I had a wonderful, relaxing time in Vegas with Carrie and Matt. We got to see the Blue Men (very funny), eat a lot, walk a lot, have breakfast with my Uncle Doug and have lots of highs and lows at the very scary, high rolling, penny slots!! :O) Todd did try a Texas Hold 'Em tournament and placed 5th out of 21. Not too bad for his first shot! It was so fun to hang with Matt and Carrie, enjoy warm air and palm trees and see all the surreal stuff (like living statues at the Venetian and those amazing fountains at Bellagio and walking under lionesses at MGM) that Vegas has to offer. I loved sleeping in, staying out late and just having time with Todd to have uninterrupted conversations. Thank you to my in-laws for staying with our kids and making our trip possible.

Brennen has settled into his class, seems to be doing alright for his first two weeks and is catching on to cursive. He learns any new stuff the teacher presents just fine. I'm working with him on some stuff they did earlier in the year. He has one friend he mainly plays with and comes out of class with a smile. Homework takes a bit longer as we have to add cursive and reviewing stuff they did earlier in the year to the nightly assignments. Please keep him in your prayers if you think of it.

Hope you are having a good start to your weeks! Love,
Christy