Thanks guys for being the Bestest family in the whole world!

Last weekend Marlena got the brainy idea to move the washer and dryer BACK into the dungeon that it had been in before we decided to move it out into the spacious laundry area. All the hookups where back there yet so it wasn’t a big deal.

But. The washer drain was clogged. Big. Time.

And the old dryer receptacle had been clipped off years ago. Oh, did I mention that there is no vent going outside over there?
The whole ordeal turned out to be quite exciting.

Act 1: Cut Out Washer Drain Clog. (8:02)

Act 2: Cut the Dryer into the Laundry. (3:39)

How is YOUR Honey-Do list?

My predictions for brands and bloggers this year.

2010 is the year for brands that who care. Brands who mother and nurture their guests.

How long will you wait to monetize?

A quarter century ago I did the same. Back then I was 7, today Brielle is 6.

Tal, Soren, Paul, Marlena, Brielle

Dad and Mom went to the dreaded school conference while I and my four siblings stayed home numbing ourselves with anything we could to unguilt ourselves of the usual scolding that would descend upon their return. Creativity was not one of the three R’s at Melita School and bucking the system has its consequences.

So… We built our family the way we wanted us to be; all in a row nice and orderly made out of snow that would soon melt. ‘Cause instinctively we knew “all in a row nice and orderly” was merely a facade that melts with heat.

Top: Matt, Lill, Paul, Seth Bottom: Anna, Paul

What snow memories do you have?

We are crazy I know.

Two realities voiced themselves just before Thanksgiving as the shadow of an opportunity flitted across our path.

Dad scoured the countryside for a soft pretzel stand without luck and I tucked my last lawn in for the winter. Now What? Should I get a job over the winter? And Dad, he will never decide. Marlena came home from a hectic Saturday at Mom-in-law’s candy stand in Maryland and updated me with the latest gossip of the day “Hey the pretzel stand is for sale.”

“We can do that!” Two weeks later we are applying for a Maryland food license, signing a lease, lining up vendors, setting up bank accounts, credit card processing, and generally losing our sanity.

NOTICE the WE. Yes, Dad and I. WE are working together on this. Not just us either. We’ve got wives and kids that want to help. YES three generations of hormones, testosterone, and general Greekness. It’s like we have been pregnant for months and missed all the obvious signs. Now the Due date is December 17th and I am all tied up in knots hoping and praying that the umbilical cord doesn’t get wrapped around this babies neck… And We have got to deliver this baby.  A special needs baby. We just don’t know how special. (Don’t worry. Our lactation consultant will be on standby for the first month.)

Will she ride the short bus or will she be the short bus.iness to la la land?

We’ve got all the bases covered and we just need some help with the NAME. A NAME to bring this baby home.

Please share your boring creative  Ideas in the comments below!
Pick one of these that strikes your fancy or suggest a new name.

• Pete’s Pizza, Pretzels, & surPrizes
• Happy Tal’s
• Pete’s Twist
• Uncle Dan’s
• Dan & Lydia’s
• David’s
  (my brother David died at 9 months old back when I was 4 years old)

Our names:
Paul & Marlena Stoltzfus   kids; Brielle Rebecca, Soren Tate, Tal Jamal
Daniel & Lydia (Grandpa & Grandma)

Commodities we will sell:
Pretzels, pizza, soda pop, coffee, and ice cream.

Sound fun?!
Stuff we will give for free to excuse the emotional markup on commodities:
Happy,  Smiles, Hugs, Laughs, Entertainment,

kinda like: Family operated Country Store/Old fashioned Ice cream parlor/Pike Place Fish Co. (without the fish!)

P.S. I like love using the strikethrough.

Merry Christmas from the Stoltzfus Family!

Paul & Marlena <> 30y

Brielle Rebecca – 1st Grade 6y
Soren Tate – 4y
Tal Jamal – 3y