Yuck!

Like many of you, I'm sure, we've had a big problem with Box Elder bugs this fall. We vacuumed up at least 100 in the 3 seasons porch as we were preparing for our party last weekend. However, as the last couple of days have been a bit warmer and sunny, they're back. Last night David and I were sitting in the living room watching t.v. and I reached over to take a drink from the cup of water next to me. As I pulled the cup away from my mouth (after consuming some water) I saw a Box Elder bug floating in my cup. Gross! David took my cup and flushed the intruder down the toilet, but I was already so disgusted. I felt like I had pieces of Box Elder bug stuck in my throat (surely it wasn't just the popcorn I had been eating...) After that, David got a can of pop for me and I insisted in setting an upside-down cup over it between sips. That was an experience I did not want to re-live.

So, here's my question. What home remedies have you all used to battle the Box Elder Bug home invasion? I've heard of spraying soapy water, but I wasn't sure if that would leave a strange residue on our cedar siding. I was also told to spray Windex, which I did after our Box Elder clean up last Friday, but it apparently didn't work because they're back. I'd love to hear your ideas.

I've been in the kitchen putting groceries away and knew Allie had gone into the dining room. I figured she went in there to scrounge around for crumbs under the table since I haven't yet vacuumed since our party Friday night. I was partially right. I poked my head around the corner to check on her and found her on top of the table licking the table cloth. Well, that's a first. Let's hope she doesn't make a habit of it.


Update 20 minutes later: I've since put the table cloth in the washer and just caught her on top of the table again! What in the world!

First Snow

I don't have a picture to prove it, but we had our first snow this morning. Big fluffy white flakes blew through during church this morning. But as is normally the case with the first snow, it didn't accumulate and had melted by the time we left. It's still quite cold and VERY windy!

More grilled pizzas

If you haven't figured it out already, grilled pizzas have sort of become our trademark meal for entertaining. Last night we had the church staff and families over for what were probably our last grilled pizzas of the year. I think we probably had close to 40 adults and children here. It was a fun evening together (and also great motivation to get the basement and sun porch in working order)!

Haiti Love Bags

Every year about this time, our church comes together to make Haiti Love Bags for children in an orphanage in Haiti. The bags are delivered to the children in January, I think. Our small group took on the task of filling 12 bags this year. This past week we skipped the study in order to go shopping for our bag ingredients. We split into four teams, each shopping for a different category (hygiene, school supplies, candy, toys, clothing, etc.). Then we came together, realized how over- budget we were, spent a half hour modifying our carts, and finally checked out. From Wal-mart, we went to Stu and Sadie's house where we worked together to fill the bags. Here are some pictures of the fun!

We all met at the Wal-Mart Subway for dinner before shopping.

Finally ready to check out...


Filling the Love Bags...

Renovation Update #?

The master bedroom is finally painted! Colleen came over Monday night to help cut in because she LOVES painting. We were glad to let her:-) David gave me a break from rolling, since I'm pretty sure I've given myself carpal tunnel with all the painting that I've done. I just had to play Statue of Liberty and hold the trouble light for the painters (since we were painting after dark). David just put the second coat on this evening, with the help of my lighting assistance. So, tomorrow I will replace all the electrical and light switch plates, clean all of the dust from sanding on Monday, and put the room back together again. We still have to put down wood trim along the floor (since we had to rip up the old stuff when we laid the wood floor), but that will probably wait until Mom and Dad Gafford come in a few weeks.

Nothing too exciting to report, but I'm banking on "boring news is better than no news."

Memo to the Next President

We've just started a new sermon series at church called Memo to the Next President. Stop by and leave your own memo to our future president at www.memo2thenextpresident.com. If you'd like to hear this weekend's sermon, you can download it here.

I'm it!

I was tagged by Jessica the other day on the latest blog meme. (I don't even know what a blog meme is!) Here goes:

Meme Rules: Each player answers the question themselves.
At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve answered the questions on your blog.

10 years ago (1998):
1. I was 20 years old.
2. I was a junior elementary education major at Indiana Wesleyan University.
3. I was Secretary in the IWU Chorale.
4. I roomed with Kristen, my cousin (and my husband's ex-girlfriend:-). We lived in a little house on the edge of campus.
5. I left a message on my friend Kayla's answering machine and accidentally ended with "amen" instead of "goodbye". We had a good laugh.

5 things on today’s “to do” list:
1. Go grocery shopping.
2. Return DVD to Redbox.
3. Sand and spackle the master bedroom walls.
4. Write this blog.
5. Make dinner.

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Anything with peanut butter
2. Chips and dip/chips and queso
3. Dark chocolate
4. Cashews
5. Dad's homemade brownies with vanilla ice cream on top

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Tithe
2. Pay off our house and all renovations
3. Replace both vehicles (buy David the Dodge Viper he's always wanted...)
4. Help our friends Dan and Angie and Bryan and Emily who are adopting children.
5. Save for the future.

5 places I have lived:
1. Cottage Grove, MN
2. Woodbury, MN
3. Shelby Twp., MI
4. Marion, IN
5. Sturgis, MI

5 jobs I have had:
1. Third Grade Teacher
2. Fourth Grade Teacher
3. Interim Day Care Director
4. Preschool Teacher
5. First Grade Teacher

Now, I’m supposed to tag 5 others:
1. Emily Mueller
2. Laurel Sprang
3. Dorreen Torres
4. Donna Hall
5. Joelle Mabey

New Haircut

Check out my new do:Do I look old enough to vote now? Old enough to not be living with my parents? Just checking:-)