My weekend in pictures 11/18/2011-11/20/2011

People have started to comment about my blog in real life conversations.  I love it!  Lindsey's dance buddy Grace says she's an avid reader, and Tristen even said "Put that one on your blog!" after he took a picture of Grandpa and I.  I like that this venture has made me appreciate every moment of my weekend a lot more. 
So why should I hold back any longer?  Here's my weekend in pictures:

 I came home from Columbus on Thursday and (somehow!) my brother found out and Friday suddenly became a workday.  I'm okay with some hard work (I mean that was my entire summer) and I got to spend some quality time with two great men.  I didn't take any picture's while we were on the job site (it was a demolition of a garage in Jackson) but I did take a couple during lunch at Emma's in Beaver.  I should have ordered a tenderloin (the foreman was paying, I should have order 2!) but instead I got these cheesesticks and some Sour Cream & Onion Herr's chips.  If you received one of my care packages a few weeks ago you know that these are my favorite chips.  

 Grandpa cut his Veal up into bite-size pieces with this pocket knife.  At one point he said "I think I dulled my blade cutting down those vines earlier" because at the job site he was cutting down vines and weeds.  I love this man.  (Please notice the huge chocolate milkshake.)

 Failed picture attempt 1.

(Please notice that he's in the drivers seat.)

(Also note that we were driving the dump truck.)

(It was fully loaded.)

(It's a standard.)

(He turned 71 a couple weeks ago.)

 Failed picture attempt 2.

 Failed picture attempt 3.

 Failed picture attempt 4.

 Finally, success!  Thanks to photographer Tristen.

 Lindsey performed her (last ever) tap solo for the first time at the Jingle Bell Variety Show at Waverly High School.  My Grandparents both came (Grandpa made comments and Grandma ate cheese it's loudly the whole time, Grandma was louder than Grandpa) and I really enjoyed the evening.  A lot of the performances were good, some were great.  Lindsey did an amazing job, per usual.  Even President Lincoln made an appearance. 

 Saturday morning Tristen and I started the day off getting parade floats together.  The plan was for he and I to both drive floats through the parade.  Lindsey and the dance girls needed to decorate everything.  They actually did a great job.  It was mostly Lindsey's brainchild and Shannon helped with all of the creative stuff. 

 Me, Lindsey, Tristen, Shannon.

(Tristen wouldn't wear a Santa hat but he did don a "Ba humbug!" t-shirt later.)

Notice Lindsey's hair.  She was Cindy Lou-Hoo.

 "Dailyville FWB Church"

Anyone else see the humor here?

 Tristen was nervous to have me driving a float.  I found it ironic because he is the one who taught me how to drive a truck and trailer.  Thanks to Terry for letting us use his truck and the dance mom's who walked behind to make sure no tiny dancers got away.

 Since I didn't study all weekend I spent most of Sunday plugging away on my Math exam review.  Mom and I took this one before I headed to Columbus.  Isn't she just beautiful?  (:

I have really big hands, but this is the size of the french fries that comes with a McDonalds happy meal now.  You also get (a really small amount of) apple slices.  I always get really excited when they ask if I need a boy or girl toy.  

Thanks for sharing in my weekend!

Logan

My weekend in pictures 11/11/2011-11/13/2011

This weekend was great.  So much fun, friends, family and tons of pictures!
Chinese auction.  Chinese food.  Only one had actual Asian's at it.
Here we go!

 I asked the woman at my bus stop to take a picture of me.  I was headed to the gym and wanted to rub some people's faces in it.  Well, she didn't do such a hot job.  I had one friend say that she didn't intentionally cut off my head, rather she just wanted to focus on my "awesome beard" (his words, not mine.)

 Lindsey and Mom came to get me from Columbus on Friday evening. 

 I don't know how, but we did wind up at a K-Mart.  This Whitman's sampler was HUGE.  Who would eat that much candy?  (Ha, I would!)  We took this picture several times because Lindsey kept looking "too surprised" (her words, not mine.)

 I was offended that the display of OSU stuff was right next to the display of Michigan stuff.  I created a safety zone between the two.  It's just not okay people.

 Ah, this picture accounts for what took up most of my time this past week/end.  I will be turning in (in 9 hours!) an essay that is worth a huge chunk of my grade for a class.  I went on Saturday morning to Schlegels coffeehouse to work on my essay.  The environment there is just so great.  Also, it didn't hurt that my friend Taylor works there.  He made me this Taé latte.  It was delicious! 

 Our fire department has an annual Chinese auction that I haven't been to in 3 years because I've been away at school.  Well I was sure not to miss it this year!  This picture is of Lindsey and Grandma eating some delicious potato soup before we went in to put our tickets in for items.

 Grandma has gotten really good at posing for pictures! 

 I love this picture of Shelley and baby Belle because you can see the love in Shelley's face and the wonder in Belle's.  Isn't it great?  Only a mother can have that look of passion for her daughter.  It's a great moment, I think.  The side note to this picture is I didn't take it... Belle hates me.  She is the only baby to ever cry when I come near.  When she's older I'm not going to let her forget it.

 It was a great (albeit exhausting) evening. 

 I needed no-bake cookies.  Not a want, or had to have or any of that.  I needed them.  On Friday night I made 2 double batches and I undercooked the first (I scraped a couple from the wax paper with my fingers and still ate them) and the 2nd batch I overcooked (I didn't want to under cook them again) so on Sunday morning I made Mom make them.  She came through and they are SO good.

 Remember that essay I mentioned earlier?  Well it rears it's ugly little head again here.  Mom was helping me edit it and came up with a great conclusion.  We were talking and the next thing you know she's writing something at the speed of sound.  Thanks to Robin for also editing my essay.

 Penguin seat protectors?  Duh.

 When I go to a Chinese buffet I make a plate of different types of chicken and then I literally taste each one and decide which I like the best.  This time the black pepper chicken won.  It was SO good.  I also ate my body weight in fried crab rangoon.  Mmm.

Mom found this demented little bunnies on the door and talked about them all night.  I am almost certain they used a whole roll of packing tape to put them up.  Also, it's not Easter.  

Thanks for reading!

Logan

My weekend in pictures 11/4/2011-11/6/2011

What a weekend!  I've been a busy little bee this weekend, and there's a lot that I want to tell you about.  I hope that you had a great weekend and that you enjoy seeing my weekend in pictures!

 It's starting to feel a lot more like winter with each passing day.  I was at my Grandpa's on Friday (trying to be productive) when I went and found some socks.  My feet were really cold!  I stole these from Grandpa but he won't miss them, he got some new socks for his birthday last week and Christmas is right around the corner... that means more socks for all of us!  (I'm not joking here, I love to get quality socks as a Christmas present.  Argyle, colored, no shows, I like them all!)

 I made salmon patties for dinner on Friday night.  I'd like to be able to say that I only ate 4 of them... but that would be a lie.  I have to have applesauce when I eat salmon patties.  So good.

 Saturday afternoon I went to a craft show with my Aunt Robin and Grandma.  I had a blast with those beautiful ladies!  Grandma was in rare form and it seemed like she was really enjoying herself.  I think I will chock it up to the extra Motrin she told us she took before we left the house.  Maybe I should buy stock in Motrin?  Haha.  I snapped several quick pictures while we were there but this is the strangest one.  Do you know what these are?  They're made to melt in your candle warmer and/or sit out like potpourri.  Weird.

 After we left the craft show we headed towards the 'Amish' store.  (They're technically Mennonites.)  Robin took this picture of me because I was in my bliss!  They had all kinds of great baking supplies and everything was very neat, clean and organized.  I watched what I bought because I could have spent a lot of money quickly here.  I can't wait to go back again.  To think that I've passed this place several times and never stopped!

 On our way home we were all gabbing (I have a cousin who murdered someone, no big deal) and after a while I couldn't remember what all I had bought (actually Grandma paid my bill) at the Amish store so I peeked back in my bag and I was just SO happy.  Robin watched me do this though the rear-view mirror and laugh at me.  It's the little things that make me happy.

 When we got home from our adventure I needed to take a picture of the 3 of us so I could post it here.  This one is actually really good!  Thanks for the adventure Robin and Grandma!

 Later on Saturday (after some homework) I went back over to Grandma's with a baggie of buckeyes.  Shelley Holschuh gave me buckeyes that she picked up at her work and after the buckeye necklaces and bracelets I saw at the craft show I was inspired to make some of my own.  Grandpa (of course!) had the perfect tool for me to use to get a hole through each buckeye.  He kept telling me to watch my fingers.  I love that man.

 And no, I didn't hold the nut in my hand and drill through it!  I used that pair of channel locks to hold the buckeye and then I drilled the hole.  It was a really good system.

 Robin and Brady went to Lancaster Mall to shop and they brought me back an Auntie Anne's pretzel.  Mmmm.  SO good. 

 So, I didn't like the way that the actual buckeyes looked on the key fobs I made so I painted some round wooden beads brown and then painted a circle in a lighter color to resemble a buckeye.  I think they're adorable.  I attached this one the my OSU keys for my... new apartment!  (There's more!  Keep reading!)

 But first we pause to congratulate my little Linny Bob on getting an award from HOBY.  Go you!

 WalMart.  Captains hook.  Chair.  Good times.

 I was STUFFED in the backseat of the car with all of my stuff around me.  It was a pretty good car ride, actually.  Please note the OSU keys hanging beside my head and the cup of cheese in my hand.  Rax fries anyone?

 Welcome to my apartment!  Lindsey and Mom were a huge help in getting me all moved in and squared away.  I don't know if I could have done it without them.  Lindsey is holding a broom in this picture... she was a cob web sweepin' fool!

 It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

 My "closet", or the span between a half wall above the stairs that lead up to my room.  It works.

 Teddy Bear.  Ugly sheets. 

 I was going to hang this mirror horizontally but Mom and Bop wanted it to be vertically.  They won out but I already had the strips to hold it up attached to the "top" and when I switched it it only needed to be pressed and help from one side.  Here's hoping that it doesn't fall and break tonight.  That'd scare me.

 Group shot!

I had a lot of fun this evening with these ladies.  I know that I could write on and on about it but they already know how much they mean to me.  I love them with all of my heart and I would do anything for them.  Family is hugely important to me (if you haven't caught on already).  With this new place I feel comfortable and safe.  It is closer to campus and means I won't have to make that horrible drive several times a week.  It's perfect for this moment.  

I could have gone a lot more emotional with this post but I've already cried my sad tears for the night.  It's been a long and exciting weekend and I am ready for a challenging week.  I think I'm going to plug in my toy story night-light, settle in to my air mattress (thanks Robin!) and call it a night.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Logan

My weekend in a picture 10/28/2011-10/30/2011

Hello there!  I am really happy to see you here to read this quick little blog post.  If it's your first time, welcome.  If you're a repeat offender, thanks for your patronage.  This was a great weekend.  And since a picture is worth a thousand words...

I baked a lot this weekend.  A lot.  I needed to do something as a release from the insane past few weeks of school, and baking is always a good release for me.  Above are Nutella Gooey Butter Cookies.  They're to die for.  So good.  Make sure to have a glass of milk close by, though! 

 I sent 4 care packages on Friday and I am excited for the various recipients to get them soon!  I can't tell you much about what's in them, but this picture has a little bit of information about who will be receiving them.  Look closely!  Do you have a Logan Oates care package coming your way soon?  If so you should probably make sure that milk I talked about earlier is on stand-by.  (:

 My cousin Anna performed a dance routine at the Football game on Friday night.  She was so good! 

 Our family friend Shelley and her beautiful daughter Belle.  This was just such a good picture that I had to post it here.  I am not Belle's favorite person, but I'm not sure why.  She often starts to cry when I come near, which is odd because usually babies gravitate towards me.  I'm sure Belle will warm up to me sooner or later though.  In the meantime I will just keep trying!

 If you're an avid reader of my blog you know that my favorite red rubber scraper bit the dust a few weeks ago.  Well, low and behold my wonderful mother surprised me with a new set!  I was really excited.  They came at the perfect time, too, because I had more baking to do this weekend...

 Baked potato soup with Goldfish crackers?  Yum.

 My Grandfathers 71st birthday in on Halloween but my family decided to get together and celebrate a day early.  Lindsey and the rest of the crew have the Waverly Halloween parade tomorrow and I have class all day (boo!) so an early celebration seemed to make the most sense.  I made the cake, Mom and Grandma both made food, and I really enjoyed spending some time with the family.  Above you can see Robin photobombing my picture.  It actually turned out pretty cute!

 I made 2 different variations on Chocolate cake.  When I asked him, my Grandpa said he wanted 'Chocolate cake with black walnuts on top' so that's what he got!  The man loves anything chocolate so I also made some of those "fauxstess" cupcakes I mentioned in a earlier post.  My poor mother single handedly cracked all of the black walnuts for the cake.  She's pretty fantastic! 

 I love my Grandpa's face in this one.  Who likes to do "silly" pictures.  Haha.  He's still got a young vibrant personality even at 71!

 Bear with me and I will explain this picture.  It's firewood season, you know that right?  You also know that my brother (that's Tristen Carter at South Central Services phone: 740-701-5659) sells firewood.  Well we're all about work smart as much as you work hard, so this is our set up for this year.  You can see the log splitter (the red thing) and then a stack of wood to the left of the frame.  If you look close you will also see the conveyer that moves the firewood for us (so excited!) so we don't have to pitch it into the dump truck (it's in the picture as well) by hand.  The conveyer is actually made for corn, but it works perfectly for us as a firewood conveyer.  (Also, if you missed it, there's that 71 year old pitching firewood.  Next time you complain about your back/knees/hips/shoulders hurting suck it up and move on with your life because that man could work you under the table any day!)

 I had to watch this movie for class.  It's about cannibalism.  I wasn't a big fan at all.  

That's it for this weekend!  Tomorrow I am interviewing a lovely couple for an upcoming blog post that I am really excited about.  Check back for it later in the week!  

Blog love,

Logan