Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Were Busy opening all the presents that Santa brought for us, so we'll update the blog later today or tomorrow.

Twas the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and the wireless router was dead
Just give me a minute, I'll fix it was what Dad said
He spent hours trying to make it work
He used bad words, and called someone a jerk

We visited Gramma at her apartment building then headed off to Aunt Marilyn's house (she's dad's aunt, but we still call he aunt) to see her and Uncle Mike. Michael and his girlfriend Chelsea drove up from Phoenix for the holidays too. Aunt Michaelann was there with Cassie and Caitie, Uncle Doug showed up right before we left cause he had to work. Aunt Kris was there with Taylor and Izzie, Uncle Russ came too but wasn't feeling the best so he headed home early. Grandma and Papa, Great Grandma and Marge rounded out the list.

We opened some presents, Jacob got a Thomas lego set that he wanted, and I got the Barbie Princess that I wanted. We played a lot and got real tired, we watched a movie int he van on the ride home and then got ready for bed.

Santa is coming, Santa is coming

Phase 1

The rush is on to get the Microhood installed before Christmas. Dad only has two days left. Today dad spent all day working on getting the cabinets cut to accept the venting and drilled to mount the mirocwave.

Dad had to run a new electical line from the existing outlet and added a new outlet.

Dad kept saying that nothing went easy, one thing turned into another.


When we went shopping for the upper cabinet, they didn't have any in stock the size we needed, and said it normally takes 3 weeks to special order, but with the upcoming holidays it would be more like 5 weeks. So dad purchased a inexpensive wood laminate base cabinet and turned it on it's side, reinforced the joints and mounted it. He hooked up the power to the outlet and got the mircowave mounting plate attached to the wall.


After a lot of pushing and shoving, and some words we're not aloud to repeat, Dad finally got the mircowave into place and it looked good. He said he was going to go ahead and mount the 2 side cabinets and he did.


Like a good assistant, I stayed outta the way for the heavy lifting, but got right in there once it was almost complete. Just in time to take the credit for the entire job


I'm checking to see if I've got any hair under my arm yet. (really, that's what I'm doing)


And here is the completed look at Phase 1. The next Phase starts in another week. Then we're going to tile the walls and counter tops around the stove.

Again ??

Today we were scheduled to have brunch with Santa at the Giant Eagle by Gramma's house. We found our assigned table and sat down waiting on the big guy to arrive (we mean the big guy in the red suit who hands out presents, not dad)

Jacob is still afraid of Santa, so he took cover when he arrived


Once Santa had taken his seat, Jacob came out from under the table and started on his donut.


Even when Mom tried to get Jacob to talk to Santa, he still wouldn't


Me on the other hand, I couldn't wait to tell santa what I wanted.



Mom had to stop over and see Gramma, we waited in the van with Dad, he thinks he cool with his sunglasses on, but he's wrong.


Jacob looks way cooler than Dad

4 Minute Eternity

Dad started yet another project around the house. This time it's the installation of a microhood, which is a combo microwave and oven hood. The kitchen is pretty small, and mom had wanted to preserve as much counter space as possible, so a couple weeks ago when they saw the microhood go one sale, they bought it. Today dad removed the old oven hood and the cabinet above the stove. Well, as with most of dad's project around "this old house" it turned into a much bigger project. He pulled down the brick board that was installed about a year and a half ago. It all came down pretty quick, and after dad consulted with mom, they decided to go ahead and start on the tile back splash around the stove.

So off to the Home Depot we went. We headed over to the tile aisle and dad started to pick out some tiles. I stayed next to mom, and Jacob, well this is where the trouble started. Dad turned around, looked around and didn't see Jacob, he looked at Mom and she looked puzzled too. Dad took off towards the back of the store and was looking down all the different aisles, mom looked down the ones at the front of the store and started screaming Jacob's name. One of the store employee's saw mom yelling for Jacob and went to the customer service desk, they made an announcement over the PA and a lot started happening. Dad commented that the Home Depot really has a great program when it comes to lost kids in the store. I didn't see it all, but here's what dad said happened:

• "Attention Store Associates - we have a Code Amber, I repeat, we have a Code Amber."


• Immediately all, and dad said ALL employee's started running to different exit's to make sure no one left with any child.


• The lady at the customer service desk got a description of what Jacob was wearing and announced that over they PA.


• An employee went to the restrooms and checked those


• The undercover store security guy was dashing down the aisles looking for Jacob


• Another employee went over and blocked the Garden Center doors.


• Dad was towards the rear of the store, he said even the employee's from the break room came out and were looking.


• Mom got on the PA and called for Jacob, even I got on there and yelled for my brother.


• Mom was looking around the aisle where Jacob was first missing from and finally heard him call her.


• They made the announcement that the child had been found, and everyone tried to go back to what they were doing before the Code Amber was announced.

Right after we got to the tile aisle, Jacob spotted a hiding spot behind some of the tile saw boxes on the bottom of the rack, and that's where he hid. He thought it was funny to hide from Mom, dad, and me. After mom found him, he said that he called to her before, but with all the stuff happening she didn't hear him. Both mom and Dad were very relieved to find Jacob, but they also looked really mad. I think Jacob will be riding in the cart for awhile. I was sad because I thought something bad had happened to my little brother.

Picture Time

Today mom got some of our pictures back. She was glad cause dad's Christmas Party was today, and she could show the pictures of me and Jenna around. The pictures really look good, but we don't have a scanner, so we had to take a picture of the pictures and then try to touch 'em up a bit.

Momma Called the Doctor and the Doctor said........

No Von Willebrand Disease for Jacob.

When we got home Dad noticed a message on the voice mail. he checked it and there was a message from Dr. Yap at the Cleveland Clinic. Mom took the number and call the doctor.
I think mom was happy to hear the news that Jacob's results had come back negative for VWD. Was she trying to give Dad a high 5 maybe ???

I think Jacob was pretty happy to hear the news too, he gave Dad 2 thumbs up.

Me, I'm cool with it, I've been to the doctors office a couple times already, and know that I have to go back a bunch more times, but as long as Mom, Dad, and Jacob are with me it'll all be good.