Squirrels in the attic

Grrrrr! We have two squirrels that have decided to take residence in our attic! Every morning at 7:30 (like clockwork!) they wake up and start moving around in the attic directly above my bed and in the wall behind my pillows! She's nesting.

So, I Google it! And basically it suggests (1) close-up the entrance/exit holes, (2) set a trap to be certain the vermin is gone, (3) if you catch the squirrel in the cage, check for suckling nipples. If nipples are obvious, she's got a litter and I'll either need to locate the nest and remove it, or release her to tend to the babies until they are old enough to scuffle around and be caught. If no nipples appear, relocate the little bugger.

It's cold and rainy, and Roy and I wanted to get this matter resolved quickly. I wake stressed every morning as I can here her gnawing and moving things around. Damage! We purchased a large screen and secured it over the vent on the side of the house (this appears to be her entrance). We planned to pretty it up with some trim the following day, but instead we found they had gnawed two large holes through the screen!! Squirrels - 2 | Home owners - 0

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While I've been on holiday from work, I've returned to cooking for my family. I am truly enjoying the new, bigger crockpot I received as a Christmas gift from Wolfie and Drew! Beef stew the first day, a shrimp boil another day, and now carne guisada! TEN pounds of beef tips and everyone enjoyed it a lot. It's funny how nice the older boys are to me now that I'm feeding them (haha). During the holiday we've had a house full. Besides our own seven family members, we've had 2-3 little cousins staying with us as well. Boys sure do EAT! Leftovers are scarce, but I have managed to pry away a plate from a couple of entrees and drive them over for mom.

For dessert, Drew and I made layered chocolate chip cookie-brownies. A simple creation using a muffin pan and pouring the browning mix in each well, cook for a short time, then add a drop of cookie to the top, finish cooking.

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For New Year's we planned to go for the get-together at Erica's (as we have been doing every year for several years now). I looked forward to Drew getting to spend more time with Rachael. And while she's gotten to see Rachael for short periods on Thanksgiving and Christmas, Drew was such a big girl when it was time to leave (holding back her tears), she's been missing her so much! Unfortunately, this year, the get-together was not usual. Brenda decided to stay home this year because of the nasty weather. Mike's sister, Tina, and her family were the only ones from his side to show up. And mom wasn't invited at all. There was another guy, who I'd evidently gone to school with, and his family there - but I honestly had no idea who he was. I spent the evening talking with Erica and this man as if I knew who he was. Agony. We left by 10:30 and without Drew. She was excited to get to spend the night with Rachael. Roy and I returned home vowing that next year, we would plan to do our own thing with our kids and maybe (possibly, hopefully) their significant others. (We will see...) Anyway, initially this year, Roy and I had wanted to take our family to San Antonio, get hotel rooms, and go out to eat at Big Lou's Pizza, watch the fireworks up there; however, after over-spending on Christmas, we couldn't. I think the boys were actually looking forward to it too. (Kinda disappointing...) So, next year, for New Year's Eve, we'll budget for this. 

As it turned out, the boys, along with one of Wolfie's cousins, stayed home all night playing internet games with each other on their computers. It's funny to see five people, each on their own computer, but all playing interactive games with each other. It was nice to have them home safe rather than out running around on this wet, cold holiday.

Later, I mentioned to the boys how the get-together at Erica's had gone, as well as how mom (Mema) had not been invited. (She probably would not have gone because of the weather any how. And with the turn out at Erica's she probably would not have been too interested either. In the past, she's always gone for a short time - she enjoys seeing her kids and grandkids.) Aaron responded, "if my kids do that to me, I'll punch 'em in the face!" Everyone laughed. He followed, "they'll probably call CPS..." and I replied, "Well, CPS would find out what happened and they'd punch 'em in the face too!" Laughing again. 

My resolutions are: (1) an attitude adjustment. I acknowledge that I have, over the years, become a very angry, bitter person. I don't like who I've become. I'll incorporate a short daily meditation. I want to pay attention to my health (physically and spiritually - especially spiritually), and improve my eating habits; I'd like to do more things for personal enjoyment (feeding my soul) such as, reading and some sort of art projects; drink more water (although, I've doing pretty good on this one already!); and (2) finally begin remodeling my home! I am finally getting that damned Jeep paid off this March and then we'll get to focus on our home projects and new furniture. Can you say - EXCITED!!

Roy is participating with New Year's resolutions too! His is to be better person (happier and more positive); and he wants to work on being more involved with me and the kids and household stuff. I'm loving his resolutions! And he's doing really good at them too.