C-A-T-S

I wish this post was about my UK Wildcats and their upcoming football season, but unfortunately it is about the 9 stray cats that now surround my house. Yes. I have become the unofficial CAT WOMAN. I cannot look at a homeless animal and not feed it, so therefore, the word is out and they come to our porch for food. The black dad cat, the gray mom cat (whom I am fairly certain is pregnant yet again), the 6 kittens and the random other cat that now comes by on occasion. Let's not also forget the raccoon that comes late to clean up the leftovers! H-E-L-P. I am not even in the country yet!!! I have called Alley Cat and am working on trying to trap at least the mom so that she doesn't birth the new litter into the wild, but she is still nursing her last litter. This is out of control. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

House Update: August 2011

Here is the latest picture of the house...

Roof is half on....

(Notice no cat on the hot tin roof...)



Stone work on drive-thru is complete...

Soffit and trim work is finished.

Here is a sample of the Hardie Board we chose. It is Cobblestone. I love it and gave Stacye the go-ahead to order it all!

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE it. I am glad I went with her choice and not mine.

I think the dark windows are going to pop!

The guys did a phenomenal job on the stone. That is not an easy job.

Here you can see the color of the roof.

This will be the screen porch.

Screen porch view again. This completes this post that is no doubt boring to anyone but Todd and me.

I BELIEVE

I BELIEVE...



That happy is a choice.

That God is bigger than any obstacle.

That a mother's love is irreplaceable.

That tattoos are a choice best made sober.

That there's no place like home.

That pets make life a little more cozy.

That snail mail is best.

That exercise is essential.

That you should believe in yourself and that you can do anything you put your mind to...but first you must start.

That music can change your mood.

That you should only say sorry when you truly mean it.

That you are what you eat.

That it is okay to cry.

But it is even better to laugh so hard you cry.

That actions speak louder than words.

That forgiveness is the letting go of the idea that you could have had a different past.

That everyone falls sometimes and we must help each other up.

That the beach is a form of therapy.

That we should not judge.

That the past can only hurt us if we live in it.

That it is a great feeling to surprise someone by doing something that they doubted you could accomplish.

That a marriage with a strong foundation can withstand any damage.

That worry is a sin.

That we should pray for the people that hurt us the worst.

That sometimes a cold beer just tastes good.

That kissing can be magical.

That some people make your life better just by being in it.

That happy is beautiful.

That girlfriends make a good day great.

That it is important to let your kids be unique, and to let them know they are loved for their uniqueness.

That God has a plan and we must trust in it.

Last Day of Summer

Is it really the last day of summer? I feel like it just started! But...in all honesty, I am ready for structure and a little more organization around this joint! The kids are stir-crazy and it has been too hot (except today...thank God!) to do hardly anything outside without sweating to death! This picture (taken from Houzz) reminded me of what we all picture our summers to be like. Serene. Relaxing. Cool. Calm. But if your lives are anything like ours at the Hostutler House of Choas, even vacation wasn't necessarily relaxing! Fun...yes. Relaxing...no. But I still rejoice in the craziness of my life...filled with love and joy and stress and faith and hope and, well, chaos. Spring, summer, fall or winter....I will take what comes at this stage of our life. I would much rather have alot of laughter in the walls than quiet anyday! Happy Summer!

Deutschmann Family Reunion 2011

I think we all desire for a full life of love and family... I know Nora and C.J. Deutschmann have experienced that and continue to do so!

You can still see the love, comfort and safety they feel together...after 71 years!

And here is their full family!!! (well...most of them!)



Here are the baby pictures of their 14 babies, displayed proudly in the hall! It has always been a game to try to name each baby...not an easy task.

Their home!

My family!

My girls!

Can you imagine...

My Grandma and Grandpa met and fell in love. 71 years ago, Grandpa built this house for Grandma and they proceeded to fill it with children! 14 to be exact!!! (Yes...14. That was not a typo!) And their love still grows! Last Saturday, the family celebrated with a reunion at their home! Those 14 children have expanded to include 34 grandkids and 37 great grandkids. Needless to say, it was quite a shindig!

Here is everyone that was able to attend in front of the house! One more thing to note...This house isn't in a normal neighborhood. It once sat on a simple street on alot of acreage since my Grandpa ran a Florist passed down from his father on the land around the house. Since, they sold quite a bit of the land and the land and street around it has become one of the busiest in St. Louis (think Blockbuster, McDonalds and a bank as neighbors).

The Deutschmann Florist is now closed. My uncle George that ran it after Grandpa retired (even at 93 he was down there planting ivy!), has retired and it is time to sell the rest of the property. It is also time for Grandma and Grandpa to move to assisted living.

This is a view from the greenhouse of the party in the backyard of the house.

Grandma and Grandpa enjoying a meal with the family! 95 degrees and in a cardigan!

Grandpa....is that scotch?

Riley being silly!

View out the front door.

View out their front door...times have changed.

Yes...one of my crazy uncles!

Just a few great grands!

Sack race!

Aunt Kathy (the oldest of the 14 kids) and her grandson.

The basketball hoop we used as kids!! Still there...

Cousins!

Dad and Pat

Mom, Dad and Mike in front of the house.

Hey...look! Mom, Dad and Mike in front of the house again! Whoops. I am so bad at that!

Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day!