The Fire Swamp

So John was coughing today. Any cough he has sends me into Wibbeler Worrying Overdrive, hereafter to be known as WWO. I mentioned a doctor's visit and being worried about pneumonia. He says, "It's kind of like the Fire Swamp honey. We know about the ROUS's. We can handle that."
Here's a quick run down of what really happened in the fire swamp. Buttercup: That's the fire swamp! We'll never survive Wesley: Nonsense! You're only saying that because no one ever has.

Buttercup and Westley have just entered the Fire Swamp]
Westley: [looking around] It's not that bad. [Buttercup stares unbelievingly at him] Westley: Well, I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely. After a bout with lightning sand...
Buttercup: We'll never succeed. We may as well die here.
Westley: No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.
Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s? Westley: Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist. [Immediately, an R.O.U.S. attacks him]

After surviving their ordeal...
BUTTERCUP: (almost in disbelief) We did it.
WESTLEY: Now, was that so terrible?

On being surrounded by Prince Humperdink and his men...
Westley: Ah, but how will you capture us? We know the secrets of the Fire Swamp. We can live there quite happily for some time. So, whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit.

Okay. I'm quite sure that I don't want to live in the fire swamp. Don't want to go back to pneumonia land. Really, did you see what they looked like after their ordeal? Love the movie and I am usually the optimist in my marriage, come to think of it in my family in general. But the Fire Swamp, NO THANK YOU. Although that John Rapp can come up with a great analogy. So very tricky using one of my favorite movies on me for a life lesson.

It's snowing...

On the way home from church Miss Esther mentioned how much she enjoys the lights with snow on them. We avoided an accident on the interstate and went home via Holland Sylvania. Hence a quick stop, I mean about 8 minutes, at "The Botanicals." Dressy flats aren't my usual shoe of choice for snow, definitely not practical for a photo shoot. I even let Kate out to play with her new camera. Here are the results. Esther was so very thrilled. With comments of "It's just beautiful. Oh my how gorgeous. I just love this garden." I'll have to create a little book just for her with a bunch of the botanical garden photos from this year.

Miss Kathryn is absolutely my girl.

This great arrangement is on the drive side of the fun house. Yes it's called the fun house that isn't at Susanism. No I don't know why it's called the fun house... some things just are what they are. Paige was frantically trying to escape her five harness seatbelt, sure that Miss Judy was there. I won, she stayed in her seat, mostly due to the carseats sturdiness not my amazing parenting skills.

Grass seed head on the median in the garden. Remember bad shoes equals no foraging through the gardens. Paige saw this and wanted to know what that Caterpillar was doing out in the snow.

This bark is the tree by the garden forum, or the first building on the right as you enter "the Botanicals"

After all the photography I took Esther home. She suggested I might want to get the girls home before they would need a whippin'. Really the girls had gone nuts! The peace of Esther's group home must have quite a relief after a car ride with the Rapplings.Took them home, fed them....very important with cranky children, then movies for the rest of the night. All was well.

Day 4

Harry Connick JR. has two CD's that I grab when I'm trying to feel Christmasy. When my Heart Finds Christmas was released in 1993. My girls know all the words and I'm quite sure they are sick of hearing this one.

So much excitement...for me, trepidation for them. That I listened to his most recent album released last year 2008.
Okay so I'm trying to decide what to give you tomorrow. It's hard narrowing down my music selection. But as Syd keeps saying, "Only 3 more days mom. Three more." I love the Christmas countdown.

Kate and Sydney's favorite Christmas song this year...

Since Kate and Sydney felt I was leaving them out by not including their favorite songs for this year. Quirky doesn't begin to do these songs justice.
The first...Christmas is Creepy

Song number two...Christmas Cash

Thanks to the Icarly show, which is quite hilarious, for bringing this crazy character into our lives. He does have a few shorts on youtube that make me laugh. Really Kate can't you put your creative genius to work to make some dollars?

So now you too can be part of my crazy world...where children go around singing that Christmas is Creepy all day. Hey Kate are you going to miss the three presents that Santa won't be bringing, since he's creepy?

Kate's new friend...

Kate made this happy little friend on the USA - Psych website. We love the show and pineapples.

Day 2...

It might seem like the same day to you but I've slept since the last post so it's a new day to me. So here's my second suggested holiday listening material.
Bare Naked Ladies is by far one of my favorite groups to listen to. Barenaked for the Holidays was released in 2004, fun stuff.

I love Elf's lament when Kate heard it this year she finally got it and couldn't stop laughing. I love my girl.


I can also recommend their childrens album Snacktime, kid tested and parent approved witty and won't push you over the edge when you listen to it for the 500th time.

Christmas means music...

I love Christmas and Christmas means music to me. This week I'm going to share a favorite every day. Today is...
Straight Up No Chaser



You know I'm going to enjoy recording for our family history how I've warped my children with crazy songs. A long standing tradition in the Wibbeler family, ie. CW McCall and the Irish Rovers to name just a couple childhood favorites. So come along and enjoy my Christmas happiness with me.

Paige is running thru the Garden...

The staff of Toledo Botanical Gardens regularly record short segments for Channel 13 ABC in Toledo called "What's growing in the Garden". When Paige went to the Botanicals Mr. Matt let told her she was on TV. Wow, if you're three that's pretty heady stuff. So here is Paige's television debut. She watched herself at least thirty times on Friday. She'll appear in the top left corner about 1 minute 27 seconds into the footage. Enjoy!

Holidays at the Manor House

The Manor House at Wildwood Preserve has one week a year that it's decorated for the Holidays. For those of you new to the area it's the first full week in December, Sunday to Sunday. I can't remember a time when I haven't gone. It's especially impressive since it's decorated by local groups, clubs and sometimes families. Our friends at the Garden Forum did a beautiful job on the enclosed porch this year. The turtles were a big hit with the Rapplings.Kate always tries to guess how the kitchen will be decorated before we see it each year. This year's theme was Gingerbread. Lots of felt cookie cut outs. Miss Paige loved the candy canes and lollipops sticking out of the tree.The room that is always tied for favorite is the upstairs bath. Santa was busy napping in the tub. Of course this was the room that Paige started to go under the roping to play in. The reindeer were to cute to resist.

Sydney loved the trains. Her grandpa would be so very proud. There was a little lever car pushed by Santa and an Elf that she watched with great interest. She loves that her Aunt Laura has a train around her tree. Now she's thinking we should have a train around our tree too. I would love to see that cats chase that. Of course Kate was messing around in the background as usual.
Paige wants this tree. Chili peppers everywhere. It of course looks more amazing without the flash. Sorry snapping pictures on the fly. This is the very end of the house on the way up the back steps Kate wanted a Rappling photo on the steps but her siblings were done for the day. So another tradition over for the year it must be Christmastime.

Trucks, Elves and Solos

Saturday involved a lot of errands. Not much photography though. I took Sydney, Kate and Paige over to the craft bazaar at Stranahan Elementary. Sydney bought a present for the last two people on her list...herself and her dad. We also bought a wooden semi truck with two cars loaded on the back for their cousin Logan's birthday. I love wooden toys. I've been buying handmade tic tac toe sets wood with marbles from this same amazing man for seven years. My girls have never been much for the whole car thing. Exception if it's a car mentioned in the Twilight Saga and then Kate's interested. So it was fun to have an excuse to finally buy a car or in my case a truck and two cars. The girls spent the afternoon at the birthday party while John and I stayed home to work on the house. We then went to our Ward(congregation) Christmas party. First we picked up Miss Esther and went on to church. Fun for all. The talent show was fun with two hilarious numbers courtesy of John and Christina Regan as elves and the Simons family as the people who ate to much for Christmas. Kate and I played a piano duet of Silent Night... then she also played a violin solo. That child has musical skills. Esther was thrilled she thought everything was wonderful and complimented Kate on her musical talents. It's fun seeing the world through Esther's eyes. She is so happy and joyful a blessing to have around. Wonderful job Marie and Reanna. The Christmas party definitely brought the spirit into my holiday season.

Look mom it's hoing...

Paige can't say her S words. Just not happening... so we have quirrels, hop(for stop), and ho(for snow). So when we walked out of church last night(Kate and her friends were busy making beautiful super tiny blankets for NICU babies) Paige started scampering around singing "It's hoing, it's hoing. Mom why's it hoing? Can I play in the ho?" All the way home we had ho related conversation. Makes me giggle that one. Really I am working with her on pronuciation. I remember speech therapy in elementary for the same problem. Although if your name starts with an S you really should be able to say it. I digress.Home we went at 25 miles per hour. When we arrived home safe and sound I bundled them up and sent them outside. Okay so most kids are in bed at nine and not outside building a snowman, excuse me a snowgirl. I love snow. I couldn't let them miss it. I knew the rain was coming right behind so out they went. Lots of fun. Paige kept trying to take apart the snowgirl, she wanted to eat the carrot. I made the hot chocolate...Laura I must really drive over and steal my Cocomotion back. Here's the evidence.Acorns for eyes, carrot nose, cranberries for her mouth and buttons, greenery arms and a hat, scarf, glove combo that all the other snowgirls will envy. Good times for the Rapplings.

Heralding the Holidays

The Toledo Botanical Gardnes are all lit up for the Heralding the Holidays. Staff and volunteers have been busy decorating and lighting. So if you have a few minutes stop by for a visit this weekend. Peter Navarre cabin in the Pioneer Garden.

Love the uplighting...went out after dark in the rain to grab a couple of shots. While there it started sleeting...in Rappling world it started "slowing", so some drops of ice are present on the first photo. Come out and have fun this weekend!

Heralding the Holidays

The Toledo Botanical Gardens are all lit up for the Holidays. Staff and volunteers have been busy decorating and lighting. So if you have a few minutes stop by for a visit this weekend.

Peter Navarre cabin in the Pioneer Garden.

Love the uplighting...went out after dark in the rain to grab a couple of shots.

Mr. Joe

This is Mr. Joe. He works at "the Botanicals" and Paige loves him. My littlest is very particular about the people she loves. She's always said hi, making sure to find him whenever we are there. I found myself a little teary eyed when she ran up to Joe arms out to be picked up. Paige then proceeded to hug him as tightly as she could. Mr. Joe's face was full of happiness. They definitely have a mutual admiration society going. I took this photo a few days later. How sweet is this?

Mr. Joe

This is Mr. Joe. He works at "the Botanicals" and Paige loves him. My littlest is very particular about the people she loves. She's always said hi, making sure to find him whenever we are there. I found myself a little teary eyed when she ran up to Joe arms out to be picked up. Paige then proceeded to hug him as tightly as she could. Mr. Joe's face was full of happiness. They definitely have a mutual admiration society going. I took this photo a few days later. How sweet is this?

Paige's perspective...

So I've taught Paige how to use the camera. It's better to have taught her how to use it than sneak and break it. I try to supervise but she's quick, tricky, but actually careful with the camera. We were decorating the gardens today. With greenery, bittersweet, birch branches whatever Mr. Matt and the rest of the staff could find. The Americorp workers are a lot of fun so you'll see peeks of them and Miss Mary, my wintertime partner in crime, in Paige's photos.Later we got to meet more of the staff of Mr. Rooter Plumbing. Ryan the plumbing boss came out. He spent hours here...on my roof and digging around. The major discovery was that the main line was blocked for a good 15 feet, almost the entire length of pipe to my septic tank. Next is a photo of how to properly climb a roof. Not how I climbed the roof in January to check out the same drain vent. That experiment ended in my sliding down and almost off the roof. Mail man thought the spectacle was hilarious. John, who had just had major lung surgery, just shook his head and tried to talk me down. Me not doing roofs again....ever! Mr. Ryan cleaned everything out up to the break in the line and told me my sink should have drained.
Nope, still had three days of standing water in the sink was getting gross. Yes we had drained out what we could by hand. Plumber to the rescue he opened up the U trap to drain the water. All was well until the water that was in the outgoing pipe, you know the one that goes into the wall and under the house, decided to perform a reverse tidal wave. Mr. Ryan caught most of it in the bucket but in a freak accident(which happen around here all the time!) the bucket toppled onto his lap. Oh poor man. He was soaked. Needless to say the water shouldn't have come back out the way it did. So he started to snake the line. He couldn't find any obstructions while reeling back in the line it twisted around his hand placing an large metal splinter in his ring finger. He didn't say anything until he was done. I am always ready for emergency medical procedures. I did balk when he asked to use Tilex on his wound, which is bleach just so you know. We went outside to use the faucet. I was armed with bleach, alcohol, towels and hydrogen peroxide. He was worried about using my towels to clean off his hands. Really? I was wondering how I would make it up to the poor injured and very wet man. After refusing the Strawberry Shortcake bandaid, sorry we're all out of manly band aids right now. He applied new plastic gloves and crawled under my house. Turns out the entire line from the sink to the main line was filled with sludge and needed to be replaced. So Mr. Ryan went home and out came Mr. Nick to replace the line. When he was finished I rejoiced in the fact that my sink was finally empty. So very thankful for plumbing that works. Okay it's not really working but I am allowed to was my dishes.

Sometimes you just have to know when to call a plumber. I think the dishwasher flooding into the kitchen sink, the washing machine outflow pipe overflowing and a strangely slow draining toilet and bathroom sink were all good clues. Really don't bother with draino or ridx, you can try to snake it out yourself but be warned didn't work here. It was time to call in the trained professionals. What are you seeing here? Roots...escaping from the drain under my toilet. There was a veritable forest of mold, roots, and even a worm under the toilet. So when you see roots like this coming out of your toilet it's a bad sign. Our plumber's rock! We had Brent out from Mr. Rooter Plumbing...he's told me not to worry we'd jet out all the old roots and things would be fine. I chuckled and explained that in my world this was just the beginning of worse problems. He told me to be optomistic. Really?
So when he jetted out the main line we started to have mud coming back up out of the toilet drain. Not muck, not sewage, soil! Mud puddle in my bathroom. I know I'll dream about the black mud coming up out of the floor and the bathtub for quite a while. Nick who was outside running the jet..."So you're going to tell the homeowner right?" See who wants to deal with a crazy lady? I saw the mud...I knew it meant my main line was ruptured. Brent and Nick were waiting for tears, denial, anger, not complete calm. Really it's not their fault I did hire them to tell me what was going on. Verdict they would be out Tuesday after we had the septic tank drained again. Shouldn't have been full I had it emptied in January. Apparently when your main line leaks water into the ground and floods the leach field things don't work exactly right. Here are Paige's version of events today..."Mom why's there mud puddle...big mud puddle, uh huh, in the bathroom? You say Oh Man? uh huh." Bleach it's my new best friend.
Ran away to Laura's for dinner...Thanks sister friend appreciate it muchly.

I love...

that Christmas is coming. I love creating gifts to give. I love the plotting and planning. I have been busy canning away so I'm stocking up on jellies, dilly beans, and more. I'm crafting in the studio. Photos, paper, fabric and more being put to work. I love to give the people I love something I've made. It means so much more than something I buy. Don't worry Miss Kathryn I will still buy you a few presents.
So today I was inspired by this very fun artist her blog and store go by knock, knocking...gotta love that, here is the link to her etsy store and her blog. So here are a few of the beautiful wreaths that she specializes in. Hello who knew orange and blue for Christmas... miss decorating Skrappaper. But I will get busy on my studio this year.

Girls on Sunday

Today was the primary program at church. The children all have a part and teach us about what they learned in their classes this year. I love primary. I get all choked up and teary eyed when they sing, some of them very, very loudly. So today's program was excellent. Kate played a violin solo. She's only been playing for twelve weeks and taught herself a song by ear. Yeah some musical talent in that one. Sydney's entire primary class was to shy to speak. I thought for sure she would refuse but her teacher called on her and she hopped right out of her chair. Her question to answer how do I help my family be closer to Heavenly Father? Her answer....remember Sis Schaeffer was so relieved Sydney was speaking right..."I help my family by playing baby tag and hobo tag." Yep leave it to Syd to make me laugh out loud in church. Here's photos of me and the ladies today. See Jennifer I really can make sure to photograph myself.

Life after shots...

These are the faces of three very happy Rapplings.I had an appointment this morning and took the girls with me. The plan was quick appointment then we could go to the health department for the H1N1, hear after to be known as the Huswavian, shots. The appointment well that took a one hour wait then 45 minutes appointment. So far so good, the girls had snacks, crayons, MP3 player and a book for Kate. Not a short appointment by any means but they girls were good. Onto the health department next.

Sydney doesn't like shots. Not at all. I had to keep Kate from saying Huswavian and the s-h-o-t word. This worked until we were in line and another big sister was teasing her little brother about his shot. The tears started. First they were tears of quiet desperation. About an hour into the line as we drew closer to the front the sobbing started. She wanted to get the Huswavian. She didn't care how sick it would make her. There was some serious bargaining going on. By the time we reached the desk to log in she was flailing around like a fish out of water. Good note of the entire Huswavian event...we knew through the garden and Mr. Matt the lovely Miss Gehring who was checking us in. It was nice to recognize one person in the mass of humanity I was in line with. It was driving me a little crazy that Paige was fine and Sydney was having a complete panic attack. I was T-I-R-E-D. Kate was a big help and kept hold of all the paperwork and cards since I was carrying a flailing Sydney and trying to keep a hand on a very confused Paige.

The woman administrating the shots announced, "Next." and took one look at Sydney, shook her head and rolled her eyes. I asked her if she thought she could handle this? Said nurse was a little offended to be asked that particular question. But yes she could handle this. Then she told me that the girls could only have the live virus intranasal vaccine. I was miffed and worried since I had planned on the shots not wanting a live virus to spread on to John. So I started asking questions. That made my nurse sigh. You know the sigh. It's the one you give the 50th customer who asks the same question about if you have the hardest to find item the day after Thanksgiving. Okay, really, I know I'm allowed to ask questions. "Mam, I can't tell you what will happen. Here's this sheet you can take it home and read it, but do you want your turn or not?" This nurse and I are definitely not on friendly terms. Sydney proceeded to act like major surgery was being performed without anesthetic. Finally girls all done. Mom got her shot and I was beyond relieved to be leaving. Syd was fine. Now Paige was mad and kicking at every inanimate object and family member who got in her way. It was a long, long walk back down the hallway to get out.

The magic promise of a Happy Meal and a visit to see Cyggy, the not so little baby swan, at the Botanicals was what kept Paige on good behavior. So off we went. Kate announced once we arrived that I must just require nature. Yes, yes I do. I need to be outside. I love the sun, the clouds, rain, snow, whatever, just please let me out. Lines in the department of health or crazy crowded rooms with no organization are a particular torture aimed to send me to a mental institution. I had done both for the past four hours and was so happy to be free. The girls had fun visiting with the swans...Martha and Cyggy came up for a visit. Miss Martha has bold streak in her when it comes to little girls and cheeseburgers. Mr. Phillip stopped to talk with the girls about the swans and gave the girls a bagel to feed to the swans just this once. Okay, so really don't feed the birds at the Botanicals. They don't need food and my girls know that this is not allowed. They also know Mr. Phillip is the boss and serious about the rules. To the girls this was magic. They got to feed Cyggy. Times like this makes me remember that behind every cloud the sun is still shining.

Side note... when you leave a beach ball out in the yard it becomes art at the Botanical Gardens.

Art on Central

My former neighbors, and owners of Meant to Bead, Julia and Les have a Art Gallery on Central Avenue. Where? In the former location of Skrappaper, 6540 West Central Avenue next to Speedway, after the fire station but before Central Park West light. They've actually had the location since we closed Skrappaper but I've never thought to blog about it before.

So I took in a few of my fallish photographs after I spent a day in my studio. I'm also going to be taking in a few more fun projects later this week. They have an amazing selection of photography, paintings, jewelry and my favorite, blown glass pieces. I especially fond of the pumpkins and glass coasters that they are selling. Please stop by I know they'd love to see you.

Trick or treat

Six little ladies all ready for fun...

Paige couldn't make it to the first house without tripping. I had to bustle up her dress again.

These are the littlest ones happily stomping through leaves six inches deep. Rossford is a great town and the perfect place to trick or treat. This is one of the favorite "spooky house's" we visit every year.

The Halloween after party included Pizza. Usually chili but some traditions are made to be broken... movies for the girls and Wii for the grownups. I loved it. Frisbee, archery, sword fights. All this fun playing against some of my favorite people... Adam, Eileen, and Laura. Really way to much fun. I almost took Paige's head off while sword fighting with Adam. Adam got to win so he was happy. The girls ended up watching the adults for their entertainment. Apparently we were more fun to watch than their movie. John stayed the resposible non Wii playing adult just to make sure we actually left at a reasonable hour. So glad I don't have a Wii I might not ever get anything done in the real world.

Stranahan treats and chior concerts...

I love these girls. Two of them are of course mine. Courtney and Shayla are an always welcome addition to the Rapplings. Kate and Courtney had fun going back to their "old school" to trick or treat such grown up sixth graders. Sydney and Shayla were ready for some serious candy. Paige was refusing to be photographed. This was the best one I took of her all night.Amazing costume right? Terri Davenport, all around amazing artist and scrapbooking super star, made this for her son, Josh???, hope I got that right... today. I could only see half of his costume and had to ask what he was. He looked at me like I had lost my whole mind. Well maybe I had. Plus I've never played Wii before. Being the true child of a scrapbooking mom, he stopped and even smiled for the camera! The amazing Mr. and Mrs. Rethman and beautiful Mya and Stella. Sydney has officially decided that he's not freaky anymore even though he is a boy teacher.

Kate's first concert for music. She can't be in chior until 7th grade. Everyone was allowed to wear their halloween costume's. Great concert! No really it was. Kate may not know it but she has a great teacher who can actually get this wide assortment of sixth graders to sound good. Look I caught paige snuggling on Kate while they watched the 7th and 8th grade chiors perform. So sweet!