D&M Roofing and more

Our patio roof is/has been leaking so we decided that we needed to fix it now that the leaking was starting to affect the inside of the house by the sliding glass door. Seeing that we aren't roofers, we set out to do it ourselves. Yikes! So we went to the store with the motto, "If you can do it, we can help" boy do we need a lot of help! We walked up and down the roofing isle looking for some instructions or a product that spelled out HOW to fix our problem. Well, that didn't happen, so thankfully there were three men in orange aprons standing there that seemed to know what they were talking about when we explained our problem. Glad we asked, cause we were about to carry out rolls of shingles. Instead we got some tar and flashing to hopefully keep the water from seeping down where the patio meets the house. We sent our fearless leader Mike, and his not crippled accomplice Damien, up the ladder, on to the roof to become certified roofers in one hour, while I stood by offering advise. Now lets hope this works! Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. They aren't probably the best, but it's proof.





We've been doing a lot around here. Our ice maker is successfully producing ice after a period of uncertainty. (Thank you Hubby)

I am actively researching and planning our summer garden. I am using my Square Foot Gardening book that I checked out from the library as my guide. I'm hoping for something new this year, and at least one of my new trials to work out. New this year, vertical gardening; with cantaloupes, watermelon, pumpkin, and cucumbers. Since I have a small space and want to grow viney crops, there's not a lot of room in the box, so they must go up! At least that's what the book says, so we'll see. We have the frame up, now I just need to add the netting in the middle for the vines to weave through.



Success's last year and back again this year: tomatoes Roma and cherry, cilantro and basil.

New: carrots, radishes

Going to get right: Jalapenos!

Big undertaking for 2011: Bathroom Remodel! Everything will go, except the ceiling, tub and toilet. Double yikes!

There's a First time for Everything

Wednesday the 9th, Damien went to wrestling practice and was doing a wrestling move with a partner and when he was turning, he put his hand down behind him, and his full weight came down on his hand. He was in pain! I picked him up and the coach informed me of what happened and told me to have him ice it. We iced it, and well, ice is COLD, and no fun. So, I got out some medical tape and popcicle sticks and put a splint on it, and off we went to Scouts. Took him back to his Dad's later that night, got a second opinion, and in the morning they were off to the Urgent Care. That day there was lunch with the Principal that Damien earned from a recent fundraiser. Well, the Principal heared that Damien wasn't at school and he hurt his hand at wrestling practice. Upon hearing this, she immediatly got on the phone and called me. She asked me about what happened, and told me how worried she was about her "favorite student". She said that Damien was the oldest one going of the group and was to be her helper serving Taco Bell lunch to the younger kids like he has in the past. She expressed how much she enjoys Damien, that he is a good kid and she will take him to Taco Bell at a later date. I expressed my concern about the upcoming teen years and she said, "Take each day one at a time, and not to worry, Damien has good judgement." Oh lets hope it stays that way. It felt so good as a Mom to hear the Principal saying so many good things about your child, and then to take the time to call, that was awesome. So, all the while I am talking to her, Damien and his Dad are at the Urgent Care and I have no idea how things are going. When he finally calls me, I was told that he had indeed fractured his hand. His knuckles, particularly the pinky and ring finger of his left hand were very swollen. (He was sad that it wasn't his right hand. He still has to do his school work, no excuses). However, no physical activity. Yeah right! Well, at least at school. They put him in a cast/splint with an ace bandage around it, awaiting him to see a specialist at Children's. Monday we got the call to come, and Damien was advised not to eat or drink, just in case he needed surgery. Well, he was at school so we had to call him and let him know these instructions. While hearing this on the phone in the classroom, Damien's little heart starting pounding and he felt sick. So he went to the office, got a pep talk by the Principal, and called me. I knew he would not be able to focus, so I went in got him. Usually I insist on him being at school, but I knew this time I couldn't. The thought and sight of food was too much for this 12 year old boy. So he stayed in his room and watched a movie til it was time to leave. We dropped off his brothers at Grandma's and we were off. Damien wanted to hurry up and get it over with. I voted no surgery and so did his Dad. Once the Orthopedic Specialist Dr. reviewed his X-ray, he determined that Damien only needed a cast, and it would be on for 3 weeks, just long enough to heal, and so his fingers didn't get too stiff. Since he is an active boy, they suggest a cast, now for someone less active and not prone to reinjuring it, they would but a smaller support on it. He chose black for his cast (he doesn't want anyone to write on it). Once the doctor left the room, he asked for a fruit snack. He was STARVING! We also had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich waiting for him in the car, that he couldn't wait to eat. So the real fun has begun of keeping it dry while in the shower, and how to sleep at night. He has expressed frustration of only having one hand, who wouldn't? I'm thankful for doctors and insurance that can help me take care of my family. All I really know how to take care of is the 24 hour bug, coughs, runny noses, and scraps that need bandaids. To really prove that, I thought he was going to get better, so I still went out and got him wrestling shoes right after the accident. I know, lame! I tortured everyone. Max and Jesse were NOT wanting to be there, needless to say, his wrestling season is over, and I returned the shoes. At least he was able to do basketball. This is his first sports injury and I'm sure not the last, and my first kiddo in a cast, and I am SURE not the last since I have 3 boys. Surprised it took this long for someone to break something. Here are pictures of him with his acebandage/splint and the other is him with his cast.

Here's Max.....Here's Jesse

For a while now, every night before shower time, Max and Jesse are usually busy in their room getting their clothes out that they will wear to bed (yes my kids don't wear pajamas to bed, not even sweats, we've tried. They insist on wearing their not so comfy clothes to bed).

Lets just say they have a unique way of setting their clothes out. It's such a habit, that since Max was already asleep last night, Jesse laid out Max's clothes. When Max woke up in the morning, he went right over to his clothes conviently ready for him, and got dressed. He was happy that Jesse did that for him.

Let me explain...this is Max. Or his "profile" on the floor (minus underwear, maybe Jesse forgot, no worries, Max DID wear underwear today).


Here is Jesse...complete with his underwear :)


When I was younger I would set my clothes out for the next day, over my chair in my room. But this takes it all to the next level....

Santa in March

Number 11

This year Damien participated in his first season of basketball since his days in Bitty Basketball (remember that)?? Since wrestling season was uncertain with a new coach and all, Damien tried out for basketball and made the team. I think there was one game out of 5 where he didn't play. As each game went by that he played in, he got better and better and more confident on the court. I didn't see him dribble a lot or do cool moves, (he did those at home in the driveway, not on the court) but he did score his team a point or 2, showed some defense, and got some rebounds. His last game was the most exciting. Although they didn't win, they came from behind and got close. For once Max and Jesse let me watch the game long enough to actually follow the rythm of the game, and cheer Damien on. I do not like taking Max and Jesse to Damien's games. I've been doing it since Damien was in the 3rd grade, which doesn't seem like long, but these boys cannot be tamed when it comes to going to Damien's matches. Over time they've gotten more managable. Thankfully his basketball games were exactly an hour, and I knew when it was going to be over, whereas, wrestling was unpredictable, and sometimes I sat there and waited for an hour and he never wrestled!! I did more wrestling on the sidelines with Max and Jesse. Oh the joys of motherhood!!! And there was only 5 games too. Maybe a month total of basketball. I know some parents endure longer seasons than this, but for me, this is a good start. I'm not a crazy sideline Mom either. I am very laid back on how Damien does. I encourage him to try hard, accept loses as learning lessons, and to have fun. I enjoy watching Damien play and the smile across his face as he glances towards me when he makes a shot. Here are pics of our star in action....

Gotta love that boy

Last Sunday the Primary children got up to sing. For the Primary Program in October, Max went up, however Jesse stayed behind. As parents we worried about this, and if Jesse was always going to let fear overcome him. Well, this Sunday was different. When the kids were invited up, I held my breath and tried not to give Jesse a look that may deter him from going up. He walked right past me up to the front, and up the stairs to the "stage" (not quite sure what it is called). He goes too far up to the choir seats and the teachers motion him and Max back down. As he turns around he was making this face.....



Mike and I started laughing. We looked at each other, and asked, "What is he doing? Why is he making that face?" (all the while both of us are laughing, and I'm beginning to tear up, I'm laughing so hard) Let me tell you it is quite hard to control laughter at church...I think a lady a few pews behind us caught on to why we were laughing too. Then he walked down to the front where the other kids were, mouth still wide open and all. He did manage to unlock his jaw to sing :)

All silliness aside, we were so happy that he overcame his fear and got up to sing. He came back down and sat next to Dad and told him, "I'm not shy no more."
We later found out why he made that face, he said, "I was tired". I think he thought he was trying to "yawn", but really I think it was his "coping" mechanism. We do love our Jesse.