Mommy's Daze

Do They Walk on Their Own???

2011-02-17T07:13:00.000-05:00

Monkey is gross! I know that is not something a mother usually says about her kids, but seriously, I don't know what else to say. I just took her laundry basket away. She has been re wearing and wearing and wearing her clothes and even her underwear. I was trying to figure out where she was hiding these dirty clothes and then I realized some of them, like the underwear she wasn't even taking off. So, I now monitor what she takes off and make sure she is wearing clean clothes. I lock the laundry basket away and if she makes an attempt to go get clothes out of it, I can tell because the Glade Sense and Spray goes off and I can smell it! Sneaky I know, but really no parent wants their child to the "that girl". I mean really!

Really???

2011-02-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

Is it possible re-commit to a blog and then ignore it for a week and a half? Oh and MeMe Wardrobe Wednesday totally missed that one ;) Oops!!! I got caught up in a crazy week and all that goes with it. But seriously, I was trying to spend more time with my kids. And, I did scrapbook a bunch. And one sick makes for two doctor visits and juggling schedules. So I thought I would stop by and say hi and give a sneak preview of my next post.

Title: Do They Walk on Their Own?

Frustration

2011-02-03T07:29:00.000-05:00

I am taking a break from my focus on the positive...

I am hoping this will help me let go of this frustration today and have a good day. I am hoping this will prove therapeutic. I got my cast off yesterday afternoon. But, my wrist is killing me even more than it was before. I did not anticipate being pain free. at least from the standpoint of the stiffness in my wrist. I mean it has been sitting the same position for almost three weeks. I did however expect that the location where it was broken would feel better. Was it a little too late for my cast and the healing process to mesh? I don't know. I am a little concerned that it didn't heal well and that the bone is still broken. He didn't take an x-ray since he didn't see the fracture on an x-ray. He said it should feel better soon. It happened six weeks ago. My PT, a friend said to go back if it isn't better in a couple weeks. He said the surgeon could have missed something in the carpal (wrist) bones. So, it is frustration not being able to turn on the water, or open a door still after six weeks time. I am afraid to pick something up with my left hand for fear I will drop it. Yikes!!

As for my knees, I get frustrated with my left knee often, really frustrated infrequently. It isn't in good shape. But, I muscle through the pain and do what I love while I still can. However, it seems to be more and more difficult as time goes on. The surgeon was quick to remind me that it has only been six months and not to base anything on the results for a year or more. But, it is hard. I know I will need a knee replacement in the future and the prospects of that are scary and quite frankly, suck!!!

My right knee is a whole other story. I had a feeling that when the surgeon decided about my right knee would be impacted greatly by the state of my left knee. And it has been. I had an MRI at the same time as the wrist and he mention a torn ACL. But, he didn't mention the meniscus was torn. It is. Shocking. If it hadn't been it probably was on my recent fall anyway. But, there are no full thickness cartilage defects like on my left knee. That's good. If the pain persists he said he could remove the meniscus. I am thinking I should just let it go. But, I am an orthopaedic mess. Unhappy with the state of my knees and the restrictions that come with it. No running (I don't follow that one), no soccer (still mulling that over), take up gold he said. Ha!! I do golf and it isn't curbing my running addiction. Bike and swim. Train those tri legs, he says. I hate the bike, I don't have powerful legs ;) So I am left to continue in pain like before with no resolve to any ailments. UGH!!! So frustrating!!!

Wednesdays Weekly Wardrobe: What did you Wear?

2011-02-02T19:27:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Wednesday's Weekly Wardrobe!!! I totally love this idea. After I had my first child, something took hold of me. It wasn't pretty! I became a Grandmother. My husband often tells me how happy he is that I don't look like a lot of the other moms out there. He says they dress like his mom!! Well, for a few years after my oldest kids were born, I did look like that. I bought what was on sale and dressed comfortably. After my third child, I wasn't sure if we would be having any more kids so I started to focus more on myself and getting my pre-pregnancy body back. I focused more on my wardrobe and it paid off. I didn't look like a frumpy old mommy. I had some style. Now that ESPN is getting older, I have lost a good deal of baby weight with all my distance training over the past year and a half. Even with my injuries and surgery, I have managed to take off 15 pounds. I have about 5-10 more to go. But, I am happy and my husband has never complimented me more! Since I work in the fitness and education industry, many of my clothes are workout style. But, I try to wear fun colors and trendier styles. My favorite workout hair look is a ponytail with a pre-wrap headband. Shh... I stole my daughter's pre-wrap!!! I am addicted to shopping. I love to shop sales for name brands!! That said, I decided to team up with Go Mommy and devote a day to my wardrobe and get fashion ideas from fellow bloggers! So let us see what you are wearing. Join us in the fun!!!

Instructions, take multiple pictures of yourself throughout the week. Or simply choose your favorite outfit and post a picture of yourself in it. I tried taking my pic in front of a mirror for this purpose, but I couldn't perfect it so I enlisted my hubby!! He's the best!!! He agreed to do this for me everyday!!! So take a look. This is what I wore this week!!!

I think it would be fun to add info on where we purchase our duds.

Shirt: Kohls (Daisy Fuentes)

Sweater: Kohls (Daisy Fuentes)

Jeans: Kohls (Apt 9)

Strike a pose!!! I had to model!! It's hot, I know!!!

Shirt: Old Navy
Cami: Target
Jeans: Costco (Nautica from like 9 years ago, my absolute favorite!)

Shirt: Costco (Lucky Brand Jeans)

Jeans: Kohls (Apt.9)

Boots: Kohls (My hubby's fave; it's date night ;)

Hubby loves the arms above the head poses!!!

Super Comfy Saturday!!

Shirt: Costco (Ralph Lauren)

Cami: Target (Merona)

Pants: Kohls (Tek Gear)

Needed some sweats today!! Sledding was brutal on the butt ;)!

Sunday, it's a church day!

Dress: Title Nine (Horny Toad)

Leggings: Kohls (Simply Vera)

Monday morning, so tired and hubby left before I could blow dry my hair. I want fifteen extra minutes to sleep in!

Shirt: Target (Merona)

Jeans: Kohls (Apt 9)

Strike a pose!!!

Shirt: Athleta

Pants: Athleta

Shirt: Costco

Pants: Kohls (Apt 9)

Looking kind of tired after skiing last night!

Link up next week and see what everyone is wearing!!!!

Unplugged; plugging in!!

2011-01-31T08:24:00.000-05:00

Had a hard time figuring out the grammar in my title! Guess I should ask my resident Journalism major! But, he's not here! In any case, I kind of lost site of my New Years resolution when I found out my wrist was broken. But, now that the cast comes off in two days, that's right just two days!!! I am trying to refocus on some things. It has been difficult to fold laundry, clean the house, cook dinner; I don't recommend breaking your wrist or really anything. Knee surgery proved even more difficult while I was on crutches this past summer. But, I need to re prioritize things if I want to stay in this happy blissdom state of mind! And so I refocus on my New Years resolution which is to check email and Facebook twice a day at home. At work, I have not limited myself, but I can tell you that I would get a lot more paperwork done if I did. ;) Once quick check in the morning and another in the afternoon/evening should be sufficient. I hold a few community leadership roles, but none that are life threatening if I don't respond within 12 hours. I think 12 is responsible. The reason I have decided to do this is so I can plug back in to my kids. Most of the time they run around and beg me to use the computer or put a movie on. They are addicted to electronic devices as well. I don;t know why we have toys sometimes. But, I feel like if I give each kids 30 minutes of individual time a day or even 20; allowing time to cook dinner. Then maybe we will have better behavior. I mean we have to. Removing one child from the running and screaming dynamic that is my house right now could only improve things. I also wonder if I engage in a structured activity for 20 minutes, if that activity would then carry on for another 20 minutes without a fight between siblings. By that time another would be engaged in any activity and so it would go. Sounds good in theory. Regardless of the benefits in reducing bad behavior. I know that I would not go to bed at night feeling like I should have spent more time with them or that I was missing them grow up!! And on that note, I will sign off and head on to get them to school and get my errands done so I have time later to spend unplugged with my kids!

A Cake in a Cast!!!

2011-01-28T11:44:00.002-05:00

I had decided I had posted enough about my broken wrist, but this is really an online journal for me so I decided I would post about making Mutt's birthday cake while in my short arm cast!! Since I enjoy making cakes and we are trying to save money every way we can I decided to make Mutt's cake even though I broke my wrist. Probably not the best idea, but truly the most difficult part was getting the cake out of the pan once it was cooked (and I guess cracking the eggs). Making the icing was a piece of cake ;) especially once I came up with my nifty cast cover (Ziploc bag). Decorating was far easier than I thought it would be. The writing was the only tricky part and it is not very neat! I guess I needed a steadier hand. I would have guided the right with the left normally, but not really an option due to the inability to move my wrist. All in all, I thought it came out great in light of the circumstances and now I can focus on making another one for our family party on Saturday! That one should easier because there is more chocolate and less detailed icing piping!!! Check out these pics of the decorating process!!!

Who likes the plastic bag cast cover? It worked. No icing or powdered sugar on my cast!

Mutt and ESPN want in on the icing action.

Light Sabers!!!

Wine helped me laugh at myself and the process!

In the end the lettering was a little shaky, but Mutt loved it!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my Mutt!!!

2011-01-27T08:13:00.002-05:00

Today, Mutt turns six!! I often think how is this possible? How is it that six years ago he was born? But, then I look back at all the things that have gone on in our lives and realize of course this is possible. It times like these; birthdays, holidays, vacations, that I wish I was a better mom. I wish I engaged more with my kids. I wish I didn't over commit myself to things outside the walls of our home. These events just serve as reminders of how to be a better person and mother. In keeping with my focusing on the positives, I decided to post some of my favorite Mutt pictures in honor of his sixth birthday!! Happy Birthday, Mutt!! You could never imagine how much I love you!!!

Mutt and Indy
Mother's Day 2005

Mutt's baptism

July 2005

Happy 1st Birthday!!

I'm 2!!

Lovin' Easter when I'm 3!

So big at 4!

Smart and ready for Kindergarten at 5!

Beach

July 2010

December 2010

I'm almost 6!

Happy Birthday Mutt!!! May all your wishes come true!!!

This Weather: UGH!!!

2011-01-26T12:26:00.000-05:00

This weather is totally messing me up!!! I had it all planned out. Tomorrow is Mutt's Birthday! So for the past day and a half I have been making chocolate pirate cupcakes picks. These will top his school treat for tomorrow. There are 24 kids in his class and three teachers. In the evening, we will celebrate his birthday as a family and he has requested a Luke Skywalker cake. Most of the time I would agree and take on the feat of attempting to fashion a Luke Skywalker cake, but after last year's R2D2 and having a cast on one arm, I figured I better shoot a little lower and convinced him to go with light sabers instead. If I can squirt icing out of a pastry bag, I can make a light saber!! However, with the uncertainty of what the weather is going to do I am hesitant to make the cupcakes until the last minute. Thankfully the chocolate will stay good for several days in the refrigerator. But, the icing will be rock hard after a day and no one wants rock hard icing. Not only will the weather mess up my cupcake plans, but it is the end of the quarter and so I have a ton of paper work to catch up on. Thursday is my paperwork day with very little service hours with students and staff. I even bigger issue I am having with the weather has already occurred though. Today is a snow day!! Most of the time I would welcome this surprise, but the county which we live in decided that the kids will now go to school on Monday, a planned teacher workday and be off on Tuesday instead. Monday in a work from home day for me so I could provide my own child care and even sneak in a day trip later in the day to the Children's Museum. I originally was going to get my cast off that day and changed the appointment to accommodate my husband's ski plans. Since I don't have four kids in tow I could go at any time and get my cast off on Monday, but at this point there are no appointments to be had! Tuesday, I have an all day training and now my kids will be off and I will have to pay someone to watch them while I am at training. In addition, I planned to ski Tuesday night not that this is a problem necessarily, but it makes things a little more difficult. But on the bright side, I am hoping that the weather will provide a great evening of skiing!!!

Post It Note Tuesday: Thems the breaks!!!

2011-01-24T21:25:00.002-05:00

I can't take full credit for these amazing jokes. I found them online. Since, I am not witty enough to think of my own, I got some help ;)

Check out the story below of how it happened. It is amazing, but probably only to me. I am most amused by the fact that I walked around like that for a couple of weeks. Yikes!

How did it happen? The broken wrist story...

2011-01-24T17:48:00.003-05:00

In a previous post, I mentioned the story of my broken wrist would be another post. Well, the time has come...

On December 23, 2010, I decided to take the three older kids ice skating at a local outdoor ice rink. They had never been skating before. I had been quite a few times as a teenager, but am by no means "good". We had invited some friends to go and we were all set to head off. Our friends told us it was too windy and mom had a belly ache so we ventured out alone. It was the very first day of our winter break. Hubby and I are teachers (for new followers). The session started out great. The older two kiddos took to it immediately. Our five year old was a little more cautious so I stuck with him. I was guarded since I knew I was skiing later in the week and I was only five months out from my ACL reconstruction surgery. Before I knew it my left leg slid out from under me and all I could think of was my knee. I broke my fall with my left hand, outstretched behind me. After I assessed my knee and stood up, that rushing feeling came over me. I knew I was in trouble. My wrist was killing me. I convinced Mutt to take a break so I could sit on the bench for a few minutes and collect myself. I texted my husband and told him I had fallen, but I wasn't sure if I needed to go to the ER. He offered to come to the rink and relive me from my ice skating duty so I could go, but I stuck it out. I skated a little more and then we left. I went to the ER after we got home. After all, I had to make a ham two nights later and host Christmas dinner. This was NOT going to interfere. And if it was, I wanted to know. After about six x-rays they told me it was just sprained, offered me some pain killers (which I turned down) and sent me on my merry way. After all I was merry, it was Christmas. I was discharged at 8:00, got home, took the kids on a Christmas light tour and by 10:30 I was in the worst pain of my life. I could not move my arm. Forget my fingers, they didn't work anymore. I took some inti-inflammatory painkillers I still had from my knee rehab. They did nothing! I was stuck and could not sleep until after 4:00 a.m. This was not the way I wanted to head into Christmas Eve.

When I woke up the next morning, my arm was a little better. I did a few things around the house, took a nap with ESPN and prepared for church. I was the reader/communion assistant. That was interesting. When one of the church woman asked me to tilt the challis, I nearly died. I thought it was one the floor for sure. I made it through and no wine landed on the floor. Dinner was McDonalds. Merry Christmas kids!!!!

After that, each day got a little easier. I had a lot of help on Christmas, my hubby go the ham in the oven. Some how I managed a baked brie and green bean casserole. The kids opened my gifts. They loved that! Well, I opened some. I have to admit. I didn't want to miss it all!! We had family come into town after the holiday. We went ice skating again. The whole family took a ski trip over New Years and I did it all. However, I knew something was wrong. I got in the pool (which was about 90 degrees) and pain radiated up and down my arm. The hot tub was worse. I knew I had to tell the surgeon. Luckily, I had a follow up for my knee on the 3rd of January.

When he walked in the room, he asked "what did you do?" I had told the nurse. I was in some much pain. I had been tubing the day before. It was inflamed and screaming at me. He said he wanted to see the x-ray. He thought it was broken. Shocked that there was nothing there, he took another of the scaphoid. When it was negative, more shock. And he sent me for an MRI. Fast forward to the day after the MRI. He called. This is never good! He told me my distal radius was broken. He said since it had been so long, I could just wear a brace on it and then the next things is what landed me in the position I am in now. He said "no skiing". STOP the car (I was headed out at the time). Hmm... that is not really an option doc. And so there I was with an appointment two days later.

After showing me the MRI and the edema inside the bone. The fracture across the bone, plan as day; he said "well, let's put a cast on it, because if you fall on it, you will likely need surgery." So that's it. That's how I ended up like this, with my beautiful blue cast!!!!

Looking at the positives: Top 10 Things About My Cast

2011-01-22T17:35:00.000-05:00

1. Looks great with a variety of nail polish colors. My personal favorite Revlon's Ocean.
2. The dark blue color goes with most of my clothing.
3. I get to make up great stories about how I broke my wrist. My personal favorite is that it happened while wrestling an alligator.
4. It allowed me to ski last weekend. It even protected me during a fall.
5. Lots of extra attention.
6. I have been forced to slow down and just relax some.
7. If needed, I could use it to protect myself from an assault.
8. It is finally making my wrist feel better!
9. It keeps my arm warm on these cold winter days!
10. It looks cool!

Happy New Year; Happy Broken Wrist!

2011-01-21T16:03:00.001-05:00

I am struggling right now with how to start this blog post. It has been so long since I have posted anything that I don't even remember how to type and this cast is making it all the more difficult because I can barely type with it. Excuse the typos ;) Since the school year began, I have been struggling to get myself together. And I mean struggling. I have no idea what it was. During my work day I have plenty of time to think about things and reflect on life. Sometimes this isn't always helpful. I have a lot of anxiety all the time, but sometimes it overwhelms me to the point that it is consuming me and crushing my spirit. Well, finally last week, after months of built up anxiety and stress something happened. I broke my wrist. O.k. that didn't happen last week, but that's another blog post. But, I did find out that my wrist was broken last week. And after months of worrying about this, that, and the next thing, I had one thing to focus on for two days. What was I going to do about my wrist. I have been walking around like this for a couple of weeks, so my surgeon said to just wear and brace for several weeks and it should be good to go since it happened so long ago. And then he advised me not to ski. Well, at this point I told him no way. His response, "I knew you would say that." And then the next thing I knew it was out of my hands. He told me if I was going to ski I needed a cast. Great, I thought, but honestly, this was possibly the best thing he could have said. You see there is something about me needing to have total control over every aspect of my life. Also, I focus so much of my attention on 100 things at once, that my head is spinning most of the time. But, when the surgeon called, and said my wrist was broken and initially gave me the choice of a brace or a cast, I had to focus on the break and what I was going to do about it. And then when he took the control out of my hands, it seemed to change my entire outlook. Maybe putting things into perspective more. Like what matter to me the most was being about to ski and if that meant risking surgery than that was fine with me. My point is that for now, I love this cast. It has made me happy and is helping me focus on the positives. How, I don't know, but it has.

Getting Older...

2010-10-14T17:19:00.000-04:00

I have learned a lot of things over the past year or 10 months really. Since my "incident" at work last winter, I have evaluated and re-evaluated things in my life. Things that it seems like I can change and things it seems like I can't change. I have not made many changes, but I have learned a lot of life lessons. One of those life lessons is that it is difficult to get older. My body just isn't what it used to be. My body is starting to let me down. First, it was my knee. I never thought when I have my surgery in July that the surgeon would not have been able to repair it. It is so frustrating more than anything to go to PT three days a week and see other people in there, older than myself with far less damage in their knees and watch them walk and move and realize that in not so many years I will be worse off than that. For someone as active as myself, I scares me to think of what I will become. It scares me to think that at 36 I need a new knee. How will I be at 56? When I still want to ski? I gave up running after my half marathon (5/10) and I drove up behind a car with a magnet that said "Marathon Ho" and I cried. I knew it was coming, building for days. But, it set me off. The thought of never getting on another starting line, of never fulfilling one of my goals of running a marathon. For someone who is a runner deep down in my sole it is devastating. As it sit here, with my knee sore and stiff I think to myself how long will it be before I can't take the pain anymore. How quickly will it deteriorate? Is it worse now that I had this surgery? Should I have gone through it in the first place? Why didn't I do the surgery long ago? So many questions...

It's been a week...

2010-10-04T07:11:00.000-04:00

It has been a week since I last posted and a crazy week it has been! After blogging last week, I stepped out to get the kids on the bus to find out a high profile football player from our local high school had passed away early that morning. He had received a concussion in Friday's game and his father found him unconscious on Sunday morning. So sad for a promising young high school senior! Not to mention he was the son of our districts school board member. The family is well respected in the community and it will be a long time before our community is done grieving. Then I find out that another high school student has died, this one in the area in which I work. Apparently, he had been drinking and while walking was struck but a motor vehicle. Now that I am writing these words, I think I have already written them here. I knew this child had been hit before I left for work, but had not learned that he had passed. The weather here was crazy all week and ESPN ended up being sick three days last week putting me pretty far behind at work! UGH!!! So here's to this week, hoping it is less crazy and that maybe, just maybe I can blog at least twice!

I'm back!

2010-09-27T07:12:00.000-04:00

After a crazy hectic start to the school year, I am attempting to recommit once again to my blog. So, what has been going on with Mommy's Daze you ask. Well, let me tell you. Let's start with going back to work and school. I sent three off to "big" school on the yellow bus. I boo-hooed when Mutt got on! I knew I would, there is just something about him... Then ESPN started Montessori. It finally opened two weeks after the projected date, but no worries he was with my mom like old times for the first few weeks after I went back to work. Soccer has started and juggling three for practices and games has proven challenging. I have quite the little soccer mom tan from all the long hours on the fields on Saturday. Work is going o.k. but again I question everyday why I am doing this. I am truly in the wrong profession. I should have followed my heart and been a doctor. Live and learn. And to compound an already stretched schedule, I have been going to PT three times a week to rehab my knee. It has been fun! Really not as bad as I thought from a pain stand point and at least I get some kind of workout in. However, it has been a balancing act trying to fit it in with everything else in our crazy lives. But, I gotta work it out so I can get stronger. Got some new skis this weekend and I can't wait to ski on them. So, that's the low down!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-08-28T08:20:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes to my friend Tara for introducing me to wineries. This could prove dangerous. I met her there late yesterday afternoon. We had a nice time tasting and then sitting outside under a tree overlooking the beautiful vineyard. It was so breath taking! What a way to spend my last Friday evening before work starts. I think this could become an addiction. Thanks Tara! You're the best!!!

Sometimes Technology is Over-rated

2010-08-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

Here is a quote from Indy "Does this place have Wi-Fi?" He said this last night while in bed at the house. It just goes to show that today is a technological age. However, it has also been my experience while technology has made things easier and faster it is not without flaws. It seems as though a computer is "good" for 3-6 months and then it starts to develop glitches. I just tried to update my IPhone. It went very wrong and wiped out everything on my phone. It wiped out the software and everything. Luckily, the nice people at Apple were able to help my husband recover my phone's data and reinstall all the software. They then recommended that update my phone weekly. I assume this is because they want to keep their jobs in the call center. My husband is in the process of doing his now and he has now installed all my phones old apps on his phone. So, again I say technology is great when it works and when it doesn't it is a big time waster. However, it does give me time to blog while I listen to my husband get frustrated with it too. However, without technology I would be unable to blog and that as we all know would be a very bad thing.

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-08-24T09:02:00.000-04:00

Old Friends

2010-08-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

I just returned from a fantastic trip to the Potomac River with some old friends who we have not seen in over a year. Well I take that back, we have seen the husband but not the wife and kids. You never really know how the kids are going to get along with each other when you have not gotten together for a long time. We were a little nervous, especially at first when they didn't seem to hit it off. But, after the Nintendo DS made its appearance all was right in the world. The adults had a fabulous time, we didn't skip a beat and although we had to catch up on all the stories it was fabulous. Of course we promise never to let a year pass before seeing them again, but I do worry about that! It seems as if you say that and the next thing you know you are emailing or FBing saying when can we get together. Time just marches on I guess!

Ways to Save Money

2010-08-15T08:02:00.000-04:00

I am going to a seminar next month given by the "coupon lady". I am pretty excited about it too. Sad but true. My husband is taking a pay cut this school year. It is difficult to survive on two teachers salaries in the area in which we live. Our kids are involved in a sport every season, and some additional activities throughout the year. We like to take vacations and I do buy organic. So, due to this pay cut we will have to tighten our belts and get down to business. My goal is to have most of our "Disney money" left at the end of the school year so we can go next summer and still live in the manner we have grown accustom to. This should be somewhat easy in one respect. We are the biggest wasters on the planet. We throw out so much left over food it is not even funny. I have always prided myself on not eating take out on crazy sports filled evenings. I have given presentations on it at church in fact. But, I have never been good about saving those leftovers for anything worthwhile. So, my next endeavor is to attempt to create weekly menus that incorporate leftovers into something we all want to eat. My sister has done this type of thing in the past, but not consistently. At least to my knowledge. My problem is that I don't like leftovers. This summer has been interesting as I usually cook a lot and experiment with many new recipes for the upcoming school year. But, this summer has been different. I think the school year and my knee surgery has taken its toll on me emotionally and I am burnt out from everything. Nice, when I only have two weeks left before the dreaded return. Which reminds me, I need to my kids need to get their butts in gear and do their summer reading, a difficult feat for Indy since he has to read books at his reading level. A difficult challenge to read three books at a 6th grade level for a 4th grader. Yikes! Below are some examples of what I have come up with so far for cost cutting. Let me know what you think!

American Express Rewards program offers a percentage back on all purchases. Use the rewards to outfit the kids in clothes (Lands End has a great point for point rate and their clothes are top notch)
Clip coupons
Stock up on things when they are on sale
Cut out non-essentials
Use leftovers for another meal (ex. use the extra chicken breast that is left over to make a salad for lunch or even dinner

That is it for ideas. If anyone has any others, I welcome them.

Saturday Shout Out

2010-08-14T09:12:00.000-04:00

This Saturday's shout out goes to Mutt for reminding me yesterday what pure happiness is. Thanks for that sweetie pie! I loved watching him at the fountains and running around with pure enjoyment!

Sit Back Relax and Enjoy the Ride

2010-08-13T11:44:00.000-04:00

Oh summer, my favorite time of year in many ways. Although, I am a winter gal at heart and love that season because of the weather, summer is my favorite season because we are all so much more relaxed and I am home 24/7 to be with my kids. Now that my knee surgery is behind me and other than this brace and these crutches making it more difficult than my knee itself to get around, we are out and about doing summer! Yesterday we visited a children's museum which is one of our favorite pass times. But, this morning was one of my favorite times because I have discovered how amazing it is to just watch my kids having fun! I love the looks on their faces and the smiles that reach from one ear to the other. Mutt, never really shows his true emotions. For some reason if he catches me looking at him it is all over and I can never get a true reading from him. So, it is times like these, when he is engaged and all else around him is gone that I see his pure happiness and that smile I love so much. Today, we went to a local interactive water fountain. The weather was not that great, but it kept the crowds away. My sister and her kids joined us for some water fun and boy did I enjoy the photo shoot that ensued. I have some great pics that really show who my kids truly are. I just love when you can see who they are just by looking at them. I can't wait to share. I will post pics later. Gotta get Mutt to the doctor so he can go to school. Those silly vaccines!

Shutter Love Tuesday on Wednesday: Vacations

2010-08-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

"Daddy's Girl"

The last night of our beach vacation, we went out onto the beach at sunset to take some family photos! I just love this one of Monkey and her daddy! Their sun kissed skin looks beautiful with beach backdrop! Missing OBX!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-08-10T09:29:00.000-04:00

Go With Your Gut!

2010-08-09T16:03:00.000-04:00

You have to just go with your gut. Why can't I remember this? I am pretty good most of the time. I think before I act, I do my research, but sometimes I get thrown off. I was reminded I have to always stay on my toes and go with what I know. A friend of mine is a physical therapist and so is her husband. Even though I don't see her very often she is one of my best friends. I think she is a great therapist and is very good at what she does. I think her husband is too. It kind of goes hand in hand I feel. If I am good at what I do, I am not going to marry a bum. Especially if the bum is in the same profession. She is also really good about doing her research. Her son was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 21 months of age and then did a great deal of research about treatment options. So, when I need a 2nd and then 3rd for an orthopaedic surgeon I asked her husband. He does sports injury rehab therapy. I did my research and decided on the surgeon my friend's DH recommended. So, why when my OS was asking where I wanted to go to therapy didn't I offer up my friend's DH? Who the heck knows? I guess I thought it might be weird and he would think I was wimpy, but really who cares. I just need a good therapist. Unfortunately, I went to the PT that is in with the OS and that was a huge mistake. So, now I will go to my friend's DH next week. My friend reminded me several times to go with my gut! She is right!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-08-07T08:17:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes out to Indy for receiving a compliment from one of the mature members of the congregation at the end of VBS yesterday! She said he was so good all week. She said he sat quietly, answered all the questions (she said how smart he was too) and how polite. Doesn't it make your feel so good when someone tells you how well behaved your children are? We have received a few compliments like thi sat restaurants from total strangers. I guess when you see a large family with young children people expect them to be noisy, rude, and running all over the restaurant. Totally unacceptable to us. They are not always perfect angels, but they know we will not go out again for a long time if they don't behave. Way to go Indy!

Random Thoughts

2010-08-06T08:10:00.000-04:00

Since I have been sitting around after this knee surgery, I have had a lot of time to think. By Friday I am uninspired to write anything of an substance, but am determined to finally link up with my parties so here goes nothing...

my hubby is amazing! I have always known he is capable of taking care of the kids, but he has done almost everything for 10 days and he is really good at it.
I love my family. Family is definitely what it is all about.
I am an adventure person at heart. Can't wait to get back out to do the things I love. Hoping my kids are into it too!
ESPN laughs hysterically when someone passes gas. It is hilarious!
Kids are resilient!
There is nothing like a strong sense of community.
I hit of love in your day can make a world of difference.
Hot Tub Time Machine was not all it was cracked up to be, for me!
Netflix on the other hand is awesome!
Toddlers should not drink maple syrup!
Communications with the Wii remote have been interrupted
Staph infections are nasty
A home cooked meal is a great ending to any day!

I told you they were random! Totally uninspired. Read yesterday's post for some inspirational back to school fun!

Get Ready for Back to School

2010-08-05T12:15:00.003-04:00

I know, am I really writing about this? I usually boy-cot the month of August. I hate back to school for the very reason that I want to stay at home with my kids. This year, I am sending all four kids back to school. For years (7 to be exact) my mother has watched at least two of my kids while I work. However, after this past year hubby and decided that for a variety of reasons we needed to send ESPN to "school". Although, we have decided 100% where he will go, we have decided he too will go back to school. So, I have three going to elementary school and a fourth going to daycare. With my knee surgery and my friend the CPM (continuous passive motion machine) I have had hours to pass while lying on the couch. So, I am researching back to school items for back to school. The Today Show has had several segments over the past week and a half about back to school. It has sparked my interest. My favorite segment was by the ladies from Cool Mom Picks . So what's cool for back to school? Well, here goes...

Backpacks
I love LL Bean's Deluxe Book Pack and their Critter Packs. LL Bean's guarantee is second to none. I purchase my kids their elementary school backpacks when they enter Kindergarten. I believe that a back pack should last through 2nd grade. When Indy's zipper broke on his Critter Pack in December of 2nd grade, LL Bean exchanged it no questions asked. He has asked me why he can not get a new one, and I tell him because yours is in perfect condition. He will use it through 5th grade. They also have really cute lunch boxes to match. Oh, and they monogram if you are into that.

EM Tanner has some fabulous and super cute products. I do not have any yet because I have not really had a huge need yet, but I am about to place my first order. She will make me a tote bag for ESPN for use at school this year. She offers personalized Me 2 a Tee Backpacks that have a face which you can personalize to your child's characteristics and add a name to. You can leave the name off if you prefer to for security reasons. She was featured on the Today Show this morning.

School Supplies
The dreaded school supply list, where do I begin? I am really picky about my kid's supplies. If I know they are thrown into a box and shared by all then I go with the cheapest, but I am particular. So I begin the last week of July (my kids go back in September) checking the advertisments for Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, and Target to find the best prices for everything. You can almost always find a 24 pack of Crayola crayons for $.25, Fiskars scissors for $1 and rules, erasers, and even composition books for pennies. I saved over $30 last school year purchasing supplies myself instead of using our school's supply program.

Lunch Boxes
You can really find some cute ones out there. My favorite are the LL Bean Critter Lunchboxes. They are a perfect size and wash out easily. They are great for the kids.

Vera Bradley also have some cute patterns in lunch boxes and are reasonably priced considering the cost if you splurge for a larger bag. I am a Vera Bradley addict! Lot's of older (4-6th grade) girls are carrying them. Monkey has one, but it is too feminine for her, so I use it! Grandma bought it so it was a bonus for me.

Extras
There are some extras I have decided to list for fun!

Name Labels, just in case they put it down and forget about it.
namemaker
Label Your Stuff
Oliver's Labels

Happy Shopping!

You Know Your a Mom Whensdaze...

2010-08-04T08:44:00.001-04:00

After sitting on the couch all week with my knee surgery, I have had a lot of time to think so today I am just going to focus on life in general as a mom.

You know your a mom when...

you have a toddler screaming in your eye while trying to talk on your cell phone because he wants to play traffic rush on the phone.
you spend half the day researching preschool programs while recovering from knee surgery because that is the only time you have sat down in over 12 months!
you are surrounded by all sorts of electronic devices while laid up so you can organize play dates, grocery shop, keep the family calendar in check, set up family get togethers, make your niece's birthday invitations, and research just about anything necessary.
your favorite segment on the Today show is about healthy food alternatives for families on the go.
you realize that your longing to just sit and relax is not all it is cracked up to be and you would rather just run after the kids and do laundry!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-08-03T08:38:00.000-04:00

A Stellar Season!

2010-08-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

I am going to take this opportunity to brag about my kids. Last night was our swim team end of season banquet. I complained for days before that it was from 4-9:30 p.m. and it was outside. Other friends of mine whose children swim for other teams had banquets at local elementary schools lasting 1 1/2 hours. But, in the end our team did it up and the kids had a great time. Our team doesn't do anything small. Awards lasted for 2 hours. Evey swimmer was called up individually to receive their trophy. We have over 270 swimmers on the team. Indy was called up to receive his trophy and sat quietly with tears in his eyes each time a new category was called and his name passed over. Especially when his sister was called up two more times after receiving hers. Indy had a great season though, one to be recognized. He began the season with slow times, swimming only freestyle. He finished the season posting legal times in freestyle, backstroke, and breast stroke. He improved every time he got in the pool and kept a positive attitude throughout the season. He almost made the B qualifying standard which means he is in the top 40% of times in the league. Swimming is a great sport for Indy because every time he dives in the pool he has a chance to win a heat ribbon and improve his time. He earned 5 heat ribbons. Monkey on the other hand is a little fireball and improved every race she swam except one. I was pretty upset because I wasn't there. I blame myself. I wrote her a note to motivate her. I think the size of the championship meet and the fact that her cap ripped threw her off for that first race she swam. She pulled it together and had some great time improvements the rest of the meet. In addition to earning her season trophy, she was legal in all four strokes, and swimmer of the week. For the later she received an enormous chocolate bar. I was so proud of her. I think they will both miss the team for different reasons. Indy for his love of swimming and interest in perfecting his stroke and improving. He is so much like me. And Monkey because she loves the social aspect of the team. I really need to get her more play dates! I am proud of my babies! They rocked the pool!

Sometimes Life is Difficult

2010-08-01T13:58:00.000-04:00

This year has been very eye opening for me as many of my readers know. I have learned a lot about life and people. I am presently struggling with how and why things in life happen. Thankfully, I can say that my family is healthy. When you get right down to it, everyone has their health. Both sets of parents are healthy with only minor concerns and very few prescriptions which at around 70 is great! Ourselves and our siblings are all healthy. We have our aches and pains. I have my knee. My sister in law has challenges from a car accident over a decade ago. She lost most of her fingers on her hand and now has a toe thumb. She also has a hard time remembering things at times. My sister has a blood clotting disorder for which she injects blood thinners during pregnancy but otherwise lives normally. We are all over 30 and don't little things like these come with the territory? However, it is our children that upset me. Don't get me wrong they are all healthy; they too have minor, treatable conditions. But out of 9 children why do 4 have some type of alignment for lack of a better term? Doesn't that seem disproportionate. It is only since yesterday that I have began to question this when I found out that my nephew (my sister in law's son) has been diagnosed with linear scleroderma. That by far out weighs any of the other children's conditions to me. It requires daily medication to control and PT sessions to deal with effects from the disorder. My other nephew was born with a birth defect, craniosynostosis (my sister's son) and two of my children get migraine headaches. I guess I just think that kids should get a free pass. I know that isn't life. It is just upsetting to think about especially when someone you and love is affected by something beyond their control and comprehension. And I haven't even mentioned the dozens of children I know with cancer and other life altering or life threatening medical conditions. It is very disheartening to think about. It certainly reminds me to treasure what I have. To treasure days without migraines. To run my fingers through my nephew's hair and fell the bumpy skull underneath and think about how lucky we are that he is o.k. And to value those days that my children have run with their cousins on the beach, because one day my nephew may not be able to keep up. Maybe the title of this post should be treasured times!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-07-31T11:01:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes to all my wonderful family who have helped my this week after my knee surgery. I appreciate everyone's help!

You Know You're a Mom Whensdaze...

2010-07-28T15:26:00.000-04:00

You know you're a mom when...

you have to flush the toilet 10 times a day and you barely had the time to go once yourself.

you did 5 loads of laundry and there is still laundry left to do.

after having knee surgery you can't find your crutches because someone has been playing with them.

you tell everyone at the hospital that you are nervous about your surgery because you have four kids at home.

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-07-27T18:28:00.002-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-07-24T14:14:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes out to Henry for being a big boy while he was sick! And to God for bringing a speedy recovery! I am glad to have my baby back!

When a Child is Sick...

2010-07-22T08:15:00.000-04:00

Doesn't it seem like time stops when you have a sick little one? It drags so slowly, you just want to speed up the clock so that they will feel better and each morning during the duration of the illness, you wake up with new hope that today they will feel better! Unfortunately, for ESPN today was not that day. He has had a bad tummy since yesterday morning. It is accompanied by a fever. And it is rotten. He feels so bad. Last night the other kids and my hubby got to go out to dinner and poor ESPN had to stay home. He would not have wanted to eat anyway! But, I know he would have liked to go out to dinner. All he wants to do is watch T.V. and be held. It is so physically demanding. I was really hoping that he would feel better. Right now he is doubled over crying for daddy to "pick my up". How miserable. I hope that throughout the day his symptoms improve and that he will be back to his old self soon. This is rotten!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-07-20T07:57:00.000-04:00

I'm Back!

2010-07-19T09:04:00.000-04:00

After a week long vacation and blog hiatus, I am back for the short term before having knee surgery next week. There is so much to get done, but it is like vacation, you can't do it too far in advance. So now I am waiting around to have this surgery and try to move on. Move being the key word! In any case, we had a fabulous vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We went with my husbands family. My sister in law has three children. Our kids had a fantastic time with their cousins! Our trip could not have been better, except if it had been longer! My daughter even met Kelly Clarkson at a bead shop. What a better way to spend girls day out than with Kelly. They are on a first name basis since they chatted for about five minutes. There was no one else in the store! Fabulous!

How Many Times...

2010-07-09T08:25:00.000-04:00

How many times do I have to go in to the bathroom to flush the toilet after the kids use it? Yesterday, I think I flushed it 8 times. Everytime I do a load of laundry I wash my hands so I am in the bathroom and I notice the lid to the toilet is up so I look in the bowl and of course it has been used and never flushed. So I flush it and continue about my business. Unfortunately, there is not one offender, there are three. And I have no idea what the solution is.

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze! - Summer Vacation

2010-07-07T08:06:00.002-04:00

You know you're a mom when...

your car can drive itself to and from the pool without you steering it.

your drink frig. is filled with more juice boxes than beer.

you are angry with the economic situation in this country because the public library has watered down its reading program.

an exciting evening out is ice cream for dinner at the local soft serve stand.

you think there is nothing cuter than a two year old in tight shorty pajamas.

Shutter Love Tuesday!

2010-07-06T13:40:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th of July!!!

Independence Day

2010-07-05T19:32:00.000-04:00

Saturday Shout Out!

2010-07-03T11:59:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes out to Indy and Monkey for a great job in their swim meet this morning. They both had great time improvements and we had a fabulous time watching them!

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze!

2010-06-30T12:48:00.000-04:00

You Know You're a mom when...

you sit outside in the heat to fill up 24 water balloons for your 9 year old to take to a pool party.

you drive back and forth between home and the pool three times in one day so no one is cold or missing their swim goggles for practice.

you promise to have make your own sundaes at a moments notice.

your idea of a fun evening is sitting on the deck with a cold beer watching kids run around in a sprinkler.

Shutter Love Tuesday: Summer Fun!

2010-06-30T08:55:00.000-04:00

This one of my all time favorite pictures! The kids were having sucha good time running and jumping into this hole at the beach. I just love how Mutt has his arms up as he flies through the air into the sand!

Post it Note Tuesday

2010-06-29T07:05:00.000-04:00

Workout Woes

2010-06-24T07:06:00.000-04:00

The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy around here. I had a hard time recovery after my half marathon and have not run since due to the pain in my knee. I have scheduled my surgery and even though it is a month away on July 27, I am already freaking out over the possibility of it not working and the fear of the pain afterward. I have gone on a couple of bike rides. But, I hate riding so I am not consistent. I was going to swim one day and there wasn't enough time. The kids started their swim team practices so between shuttling them back and forth to the pool and everything else in our lives, I just never had the time to commit. So, now school is over. No more work for me until the end of August, surgery on the 27th of July, what to do in the mean time. Well, as always I lean towards running. I know I have not had my last run. I have to get out there at least one more time before my surgery. The bike is there and with more time on my hands, maybe I can put in the miles. I just don't feel like the results come quickly on the bike. And then there is the question of toning which I guess lifting will address. I should join a gym, but time is limited and I only have one month before surgery so it doesn't really make sense. I look at all these woman in the athletic catalogs and think I would love to have my body look half that good. So one month to improve my physique and overall strength and hopefully it will result in faster rehab for my hamstring and knee.

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-06-22T07:36:00.000-04:00

Mixed Emotions

2010-06-18T07:17:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day of school for my kids. Crazy that the school year goes on as long as it does here. Hubby and I still have four days next week too. Ugh! So, it is difficult being a teacher and wanting the year to end so badly it makes my head spin. And my kids have mixed emotions about the end of the school year. Monkey told me last night that she is 50/50 on today being the last day of school. She said she is going to miss her friends and her teacher. Her teacher is amazing. Indy didn't way in, but asked me at dinner last night why the school year has to end so that pretty much said it all for me. I think he gets bored during the summer sometimes. He is the oldest and pretty much gets dragged to everything under the sun including toddler activities for ESPN. His favorite library program is no longer being offered, which he doesn't even know yet. I have to find some activities for a 4th grader! OMG, 4th grade! Wow! So it is with mixed emotions that I will set up my welcome to summer celebration for the kids after school. I have not even painted the banner yet. Mutt dove into the summer I bought for the kids yesterday so the celebration is a little anti-climatic. But, it is with mixed emotion non-the less so I don't think anyone will be too upset that the packages are ripped open!

Somethings gotta give!

2010-06-16T19:19:00.000-04:00

It's official... I am over-extended. Thankfully this realization, which has been coming on for about 6 months now has finally proven factual. I have received email after email and phone call after phone call about the various commitments I have made. I have raced back and forth to and from work and this kids school more times than I can count this week and it is only Wednesday. And now in the midst of it all, I have an epiphany. I am over-committed! And now to determine the best course of action to resolve this predicament. You ask, how did I finally discover what so many people have been telling me for years. I ordered my husband's 40th birthday cake from Costco. The simple act which took all my strength to muster sent me to this place. I am incapable of making my husband's birthday cake. I am incapable of personalizing it that way I feel it should be. I am letting myself down. Thankfully, he will praise me up and down for recognizing that somethings gotta give and that I am moving in the direction to resolve it!

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze! Boo-Boos

2010-06-16T06:57:00.003-04:00

You know you are a mom when...

you have more white wash cloths that are blood stained than not; due to all the bloody noses, boo-boos, and fat lips.

you know where every ER and urgent care are within a 25 mile radius and the rating the hospital received in several different areas.

you know a child that has attempted to shave.

you have seen a child run into a wall and thought 'oh no concussion, then upon seeing the blood think no; stitches'.

you have told the triage nurse to just throw out the towel.

Shutter Love Tuesday: All Smiles

2010-06-15T19:11:00.000-04:00

All Smiles! ESPN was so happy to get out on Grandaddy's boat. He had such a great time running around the island and in and out of the water!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-06-15T07:08:00.000-04:00

It's a Crazy Life!

2010-06-14T18:30:00.001-04:00

This week has barely begun, but is proving to be just as crazy as every other week. I am finding myself questioning my decisions to get my kids involved in all they do and whether I need to get involved in all they do. I admire those moms that can stand on the sideline and be happy with the little accomplishments, like making it out onto the soccer field or just diving into the pool. I am not one of those moms. I am the one on the sideline screaming faster, harder, get in there. I am the "crazy" mom. I should just line the magnets up on the back of my car... soccer mom, swim taxi, I break for basketball. You name it I should have it. whatever sport my kids get into we dive right in. And, it seems to make our lives more crazy rather than enhance it. This week, they are at track camp. We do it every year. While there is a youth track club in our area, we opt to do other sports while it is offered and take advantage of the track camp when it is offered. It is offered at a really inconvenient time though. And my kids are missing swim practice all week to go to it. Oh well, what can you do. What makes things more crazy is that is it a 20 minute drive down there and it starts at 6:30 p.m which means we have too eat dinner at 5:00 and I have to race to put it on the table after work. One more week is what I tell myself. But, will I make it through. I need to run to the grocery store this evening to get chips for Indy's class picnic tomorrow. I will race from work to school to take pictures and then race back to work to get in a full day. It will be crazy! But that is how life is. One big crazy whirlwind. Would I have it any other way? Hmm...

Saturday Shout Out: A Little Late!

2010-06-13T09:02:00.000-04:00

This week's shout out goes to Indy and Monkey for their fabulous performance at Time Trials this weekend. They both worked really hard, listened for their event numbers and did not need any support from mom! Great job guys!

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze! Travel-wise

2010-06-09T12:21:00.004-04:00

You know you are a mom when...

there is a smell coming from the back seat.

you know where every children's museum is within a 50 mile radius of your destination in case of rain.

a rest stop consists of a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World.

you can't see out of the back window of the minivan because trash is piled up so high.

you have to ask before you pull out of the garage if everyone is wearing shoes.

you have invested in a pair of ear plugs to wear while traveling on long car trips.

you have an emergency stash of organic lollipops in your glove box and Goldfish in the trunk.

that rattling coming from the back of the car is a sippy cup full of old milk.

your car looks more like an elementary school lost and found than a motor vehicle.

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-06-08T07:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-06-05T07:37:00.000-04:00

I have a couple of shout outs this week. The first goes to ESPN for being super cute and saying the most adorable things and for also loving the river and chasing the big kids all weekend. Makes me want to spend the summer down there.

The second goes out to Mutt on a great soccer season. Way to go. Let's score some goals today. You don't need to score six like two weeks ago, just one or two so we can get ice cream!

Third, and lastly to Monkey who didn't want to do swim team after winter swim was over. But, the other morning told me she couldn't wait for swim practice because it was fun! That's my girl!

A Little Down Time

2010-06-04T07:10:00.003-04:00

I love me some down time! However, I love it in the morning. After a shower, I enjoy coming downstairs, making a cup of coffee, getting the kids set up in front of the t.v. and vegging out on the computer for a bit. I check email, Facebook, and blog. It is relaxing and gives me that needed down time to get through my hectic days. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without my mindless mornings. By 7:30 I am ready to hit the ground running. I am most productive in the mornings so I multi-task my way through until the kids get on the bus and I head to work. By the time I get home I am spent and can barely muster enough energy to make dinner. Running has helped as has the warmer weather, but if I don't have either of those it is a lost cause. I usually hit the couch by 8:45-9:00 p.m. and fall asleep most nights somewhere around 10 p.m. I always wonder if my house were more organized, would I have more down time? Maybe this summer I will find out. My mission organization project sort of de-railed so I will institute summer organization in a couple of weeks. This time I will enlist the help of my husband. Oh the joys of summer!

What is it about summer?

2010-06-03T07:17:00.002-04:00

What is it about summer that we love so much? There are far too many things, I can't even think of all the reasons why I love summer. Here are just a few.

1. No work for my husband or I. We spend everyday with the kids all summer long!

2. A glass of wine or a cold beer on the deck.

3. Swimming everyday!

4. Fruit picking!

5. Time to bake and try new recipes.

6. Craft time with the kids!

7. The beach.

8. The river.

9. The feeling of being a SAHM. Even for just 2 1/2 months!

10. Day trips.

11. Relaxation

12. Sleep in days

13. Sun dresses

14. Tank tops and rosy shoulders on the bunch!

15. Not having to pack backpacks or lunches.

I think I will try to spruce up my blog a bit and add a fun summer section. We do so many great things in the summer. I would love to share. I have noticed several other blogs doing the same. Happy reading!

Shutter Love Tuesday on Wednesday!

2010-06-02T07:15:00.002-04:00

"Labrador Retriever" I took this picture this past weekend while at our family's vacation home. This is our dog. He absolutely loves to retrieve the stick and will bring it to anyone who will throw it even a few feet!

Post it Note Tuesday!

2010-06-01T07:42:00.001-04:00

Love a Good Thunderstorm

2010-05-28T07:08:00.003-04:00

Last night about 9:30 we got our first thunderstorm of the season. The entire month of June brings evening thunderstorms. My husband and I joke about the fact that these storms almost always skirt us. We are convinced there is something going on somewhere around that breaks up the storm or send it north. It is probably the mountains we live near. The storms seem to hit the mountain range and head just north of us. Whatever it is, we get far less storms than my parents who live just miles from the edge of the mountain. But, last night we got a storm. I love night time storms. I have been talking to Indy lately about these thunderstorms and how peaceful I think they are. There is something about sounds produced in nature that is very calming, even if they are loud. So, I laid in bed, watching National Treasure thinking about how much I love storms. After about 20 minutes, I realized that my kids don't like storms. Monkey woke up and came to my room. She didn't seem scared however, when I walked her back to her room I realized that if I were her, lying in her bed able to see the flashes of lightning like her I would have been too. Then about 30 minuted after that Mutt woke up crying. Poor kid's door was closed and he had no idea what was going on. Both children went right back to sleep after I tucked them in. If there is a storm after I fall asleep, I usually wake up and lay there listening to it. It is so calming for me! I just love it!

Bake Sale for a Cause

2010-05-27T07:07:00.003-04:00

This weekend we are having a yard sale in our neighborhood. In our area each neighborhood has a yard sale at a specific time and tons of people come filing through the communities trying to pick up fabulous finds for a little as possible. A few years ago, when my oldest was big enough to handle money, I set up a small bake sale. Last year was pretty pathetic. The kids ran around the front lawn while I tried to manage the stuff we were selling and the bake sale too! Of course I gave my kids the profits of my fruitful labor even though I was the one who made the baked goods and sold the food. This year I allowed each child to decide what they wanted to bake and told them that we were doing our bake sale a little differently. I decided that we have been blessed with so much and even though it isn't always easy to make ends meet, we have what we need. However, not everyone is as fortunate as we are. The kids were all for it as long as they got to keep half the proceeds. I thought this was acceptable. So there it was all set. But what charity should we support. I figured I would just send everything to St. Jude, my favorite charity. But, then my sister found a program through Glad called Cookies for Kid's Cancer. I had read about something similar and possibly even this program in a magazine earlier this spring but could not remember what it was or where I had read it. But, I figure this sounds good. I mentioned it to other ladies int he neighborhood and they are planning on doing the same thing. Kid's cancer is near and dear to my heart. A great friend of mine has a son who is Indy's age who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 21 months. He is a bright, beautiful child and Indy's first best friend. While the boys no longer play together and go to different schools, I remain close with his mother. She is one of my favorite people. While she doesn't know it, I admire her! This summer her family will host a college student who will play baseball for a local independent team this summer because her son's favorite thing on the planet is baseball. This child has endured two tumor resections, shunt placement, gamma knife radiation and global radiation to fight his cancer. However, he is one of the lucky ones with pediatric cancer. He is 9 years old and aside from a few side effects from treatment and the tumors he is your average kid. He goes every 6 months for an MRI. This week happens to be his 6 month visit. He will have an MRI of the entire central nervous system this time. My family prays everyday for this boy, for seven years we have prayed and God has answered our prayers. If you search the blogosphere you will find thousands of people praying for various children who fight every day for their lives. No one should have to do this, especially a child. So this weekend we will team up with Glad and host a bake sale. And just maybe we will make a little money and help kid's with cancer!

Shutter Love: Tuesday on Wednesday!

2010-05-26T07:17:00.003-04:00

Just found this great linky party on Trendy Treehouse. See my sidebar for the link! This picture was taken during our first big snow of the season in Decemeber 2009. We had just come from sledding and headed further up into the civil war battlefield to take some pics of the kids on a stone bridge. Here is a view from the stone bridge sans kids!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-05-25T07:02:00.002-04:00

Date Night

2010-05-24T07:10:00.002-04:00

I need to start this post by thanking my sister and her husband for watching my kids this weekend so my husband and I could enjoy a night out! We went to a concert and it was absolutely amazing! It was his 40th birthday gift! We don't usually get each other gifts, but this was his favorite country star so we splurged. Lots of friends from our community were there and we drove up to the pavilion with some friends from Mutt's soccer team! We had a blast, drank a few too many beers, danced a little and had an all around good time! The concert was amazing! Our seats were great. Our friends however had VIP box seats and they snuck us in about 1/2 way through as they were the only people in their box! My husband and I danced and sang the night away! It was so nice to be there and have no worries. It was like old times. I used to be really fun! I have always been type A! It shined through while at the concert. We had Etickets which I printed on our ink jet printer. Of course it was raining so I covered them in a plastic sleeve. It was a brilliant idea. They stayed dry the whole night and the "gatekeeper" thought it was funny every time I walked my drunk butt to the bathroom and returned with the tickets! I admitted I was type A. Other than that, I was fun and had a blast! My husband and I got to reconnect. We have a good relationship, except when my anxiety takes over and I freak out over something. But, this definitely gave us even more to hold onto! My husband even said our friends probably think we were crazy. We get out for a night without the kids and totally let loose. I think it is great! It just shows we still know how to have a good time!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-05-22T13:41:00.001-04:00

Today's shout out goes out to my husband! He did a great job running his 5K this morning. He was 4th!

Multi-tasking Maniac

2010-05-21T07:46:00.003-04:00

Many of you who following my blog know that I have been going through a variety of, well let's call them mid-life re-evaluations. My latest has to do with the rate of speed at which I live my life. If I have one free minute during the day I have to fill it with something productive. This is certainly not because I have this desire, but because I have over committed myself. Let's look back at this week for example. Wednesday I had a meeting at the end of my work day. It was at a local cafe. The meeting was to begin at 3:00 p.m. I arrived at 2:50. I try to live by the rule of arriving 15 minutes early to anything scheduled. I find it really rude to be late. To me arriving on time is late! While I waited for everyone to arrive, I wrote a letter to my daughter's class for an end of year teacher gift. While at the park yesterday, I went through a stack of papers from my car, all the while chatting with a friend about the end of the school year n our child's classroom. This morning, while cooking omelets, I blew dry my hair, wrote this blog post, and wiped down both picnic tables on the deck. My husband says have ADD, but seriously this is how i live my life. To some extent all moms live this way. However, I think my multi-tasking is excessive and needs to stop. The things I bring to work are a good indicator. I have piles of work papers, PTO binders and papers, magazines, and the inserts from the Sunday paper. My goal for this week is to multi-task less and enjoy life more. To stop and smell the roses, because they don't bloom forever!

Summer is Coming!

2010-05-20T15:13:00.003-04:00

Only 25 more days of work! But, who's counting? I have had quite the struggle today. I stood in one of my work locations and realized finally for the first time, although I knew it was there, that I am doing a job I hate. I know, wow! How the heck does anyone do this? I don't know. Maybe it is why I am tired, anxious, stressed, and not truly happy just about everyday of my life. A friend told me this morning that she was not a jealous person as we discussed Desperate Housewife style all the ladies int he neighborhood that had received convertibles and the like as gifts from their husband for anniversaries or birthdays. Both her family and mine live pay check to pay check, only she gets to stay home and her house is amazing. I have thought long and hard about this today. It is so un-Godly of me to be jealous of others. How or Why am I not happy with what I have a safe, secure home, an amazing husband and beautiful healthy family and truly what we need to live comfortably? How unfair of me to say that I want what others have when I have so much. But, there are things in my life like my job and my daycare situation that make it almost impossible to go through a week without feeling this way. Without avoiding those Facebook comments from friends who ask other friends to do lunch and get a pedicure. A pedicure, I have not had one in 8 years! But, I do have what ultimately matters most is an amazing family. Focus on that, focus on that. Maybe this all stems from being indulged as a child. I got my nails done weekly throughout high school. All my friends including myself had relatively new cars. I wore designer clothes. Now I don't live that lifestyle. If my husband is out during diner time, I can not order out like my mom did. I just need to suck it up and live the life I have. In the end. I don't want any regrets. So, why do I stay in this job? It affords me the flexibility to drop by the kids school or go on a field trip. Tomorrow, I get to eat a picnic lunch with Mutt at his end of year picnic. I couldn't do that if I didn't stick with this job. But, sometimes it is all a little tough to take! I just have to remind myself summer is coming!

On Being a Work Outside the Home Mom

2010-05-19T19:42:00.002-04:00

I have always firmly believed that at least one parent should stay at home. Each school year I try to justify my working outside the home being saying that with my mother watching my kids and my not working a full schedule that we have the best of both worlds. We can provide what our kids need both financially and emotionally. However, I know this isn't really true! The following reasons are just of few of why I firmly believe that at least one parent should stay at home.

1. Because my kids never get a decent hot breakfast when I have an early meeting.

2. Indy's ringworm has spread and I noticed at 7:30 p.m. It has probably spread because I keep forgetting to ask my mother to apply the medicine in the morning. I have had 3 early meetings since the ringworm diagnosis.

3. Sometimes my mother dresses my youngest in PJs because she thinks it is clothes.

4. Sometimes my mother changes my youngest out of clean clothes and into something else because she thought he was wearing PJs.

5. I almost always feel like my kids do not get my undivided attention.

6. I know that I could offer them so many opportunities that would enrich their lives if I were home with them.

7. I know that my kids would eat more healthfully if I were the one feeding them during the day.

8. Having two parents at home during the summer does not out weigh having one home all year long.

9. I would never have to worry if my kids really got on the bus in the morning.

10. My preschooler would go everyday because he doesn't like to go unless I drive him!

There are a ton more and way more compelling reasons. Those are the ones I can come up with tonight, while feeling really inadequate!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-05-18T10:49:00.002-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-05-15T08:49:00.001-04:00

Today's shout out goes to my hubby! Good luck, you are going to kick butt in your half marathon this weekend! Wish I could be there to see you finish. But, I will be far behind you! I am proud of you for doing this!

Fruit Picking

2010-05-14T07:06:00.002-04:00

Today starts our summer (and even into fall) tradition or fruit picking! I am so excited! There is nothing like fruit right from the plant! There is also nothing like watching your kids devour the fruit as you pick it. Makes for great pics too! Of course, I have put aside my concerns about pesticide. We don't have an organic farm close enough for a quick fruit picking trip. It would have to be an all day outing to pick organic fruit. But, the orchard where we have picked apples for years has started to grow berries. We had started picking peaches a few years ago and last season they expanded to berries! It is so great because that is my absolute favorite summer activity with the kids, aside from the beach a 5 hour drive from here! So today we will make family a priority throw all rules and routines out the window, jump in the car a head to our favorite orchard for some strawberry fun! Now, all I have to do is find some recipes for strawberries, if I can get my hands on any before the kids consume them!

A Change in Style

2010-05-13T07:06:00.002-04:00

I have recently changed my style a but. Not my hair style. Although, I have not had a hair cut in six months so it really has no style. I have changed to a certain degree the style of my dress. I have for at least a couple of years loved Apt. 9 and Daisy Fuentes from Kohls. I really can't afford anything more. It is classy, casual, you can wear it out for date night or just loungin' with the kids. Oh and love Kohl's because things are always on sale! But, lately I have been working hard at losing weight. I have lost five pounds. It doesn't seem like a lot, but when you have just 20 to lose five is like an impossibility. So, when I realized it, I was thrilled. It spiraled into my wanting to work out more and to wear more fitted clothing. My husband is pleased to say the least and I get lots of compliments about the "boob" shirts as he calls them. I have discovered TJ Maxx. I have never really been a fan before, but my weekly trips to see what is new and catch that designer is a thrill. Yesterday I snagged some Juicy! My mom has helped my clothing switch with some Victoria's Secret Pink and my hubby has helped keep the fire burning on wanting to workout by purchasing some duds from Athleta, my absolute favorite for Mother's day. I can't be a poseur (Runner's World states the spelling as such, who knew?). My next endeavour is to get a road bike. I want to start some serious riding. My OS who will do my knee surgery in just two months doesn't think it is in my best interest to run. I just went to him for another sprained thumb. Go me! But, I do believe after our chat that he understands why I am continuing to run and not heed his advice. It is like I told him yesterday. If someone told my husband, who has a shoulder injury to stop golfing I don't think he would. (My surgeon golfs so I thought this might hit home.) I also mentioned that when I came in December I never expected him to tell me to stop running forever. So, he didn't seem too upset with me. Just told me to be careful and not to fall while water skiing because I could re injure my thumb. Seriously, water skiing. Two weeks and we shall see! So, let's see what things I acquire next month. My shopping is over for this month. I have bought way too much between Indy's Gymboree tanks and shorts for $7.99 and his Abercrombie tees for $12 to round out his wardrobe. I figure with prices like those why not wear the stuff. Target is just as expensive for big boys sizes and truthfully pairing a $5 pair of C9 shorts, looks a lot better with an Abercrombie shirt that an over sized tee on top!

Wednesday Wonderz

2010-05-12T07:13:00.002-04:00

I wonder...

why just when I think it is safe, the cat goes and throws up on the couch again.

why when the doctor says that it will take three weeks for Indy's (nasty) ringworm to clear up it only take one night to look 1000% better.

when my thumb will feel better.

how this weekend's racing is going to go.

if Indy will do well on his statewide assessments.

if my hubby will get the cold that is going around our home before or after his half marathon this weekend.

if I will have to drive home from the half marathon.

if i will get all my paperwork finished at work (in this decade).

why I didn't find www.pandora.com sooner.

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-05-11T12:17:00.001-04:00

Organic Eating

2010-05-10T07:20:00.002-04:00

This past weekend I began my commitment to feeding my family as much organic food as possible. I have done this before. I am pretty good about it most of the time. My biggest problem with it is the cost. It costs a lot to eat organically. For example, the cheapest organic apples at our local grocer were $1.19 per apple this weekend. However, according to an article I read in Runner's World this month; people who eat organic food reduce their pesticide intake by as much as 90%. This is according to a study from the University of Washington. Pesticide just can't be healthy to put in you body. Since I have had kids, we have drank organic milk. It usually costs my $15 to provide this for my family. I am not even sure what it would cost me for conventional milk. There have been many debates about the link between milk and early onset puberty. However, it does not appear that there have been any conclusions. However, in this regard I will error on the side of caution. In my kids backpack this morning you will find an organic milk box that they will bring to the cafeteria because our school system will not offer organic milk because there is not enough demand for it and no shelf stable option (except for Costco's brand and Horizon and possible others that I don't know about, there vendor just doesn't offer one). Feeding our kids healthy is nothing new for moms. We all aspire to do a better job. Kids don't eat healthy by nature. If others are eating junk food, who wouldn't follow suit? I just feel like there is a direct link between eating healthy and exercising regularly and the severity and duration or illness. It is expense, as I said earlier to eat organically. I spent a lot of money this weekend. Why do I do it? Because you never know. What do the pesticide and growth hormones do? Why does it seem like more people have cancer than a decade ago? What are kids maturing faster? Why does it seem like my kids get sick more than I did as a child? I feel like it can only help and I am determined to give me kids the best start I can at having a healthy life. So bring on the organic lollipops! The kids love them. They come in funky flavors made with vegetables. Bring on the organic bunnies instead of Goldfish! At least my kids will know which snacks are theirs. So what is your take on organics?

Saturday Shout Out

2010-05-08T08:55:00.002-04:00

Today's shout out goes out to all the moms out there! But, especially the moms in my life. My mom sacrifices so much to watch my kids while I work. She is selfless! I don't tell her enough because the eternal pessimist in me sees and focuses on all the negative, but I am really thankful for all she has done. She has enabled me to have my youngest! How can I not be thankful! And my mother in law, what can I say. She is an inspiration. She is always so relaxed and level headed. She is loving caring and loves us all unconditionally. She is generous. We have travelled so much recently, all because of her generosity! Wow! My moms are great!

Say My Name

2010-05-07T17:53:00.003-04:00

Because ESPN has been calling himself "me" for the past 6 months, I thought it was appropriate to give him a shout out. He finally learned to say his name 3 nights ago. As my husband says Mother's Day will be his coming out party when he tells everyone in the family his name for the first time. It is so cute too because the other kids gets so excited when he says it and praise him up and down. He sheepishly smiles. It melts my heart!

Random Ramblings

2010-05-06T07:18:00.002-04:00

All week I have been trying to post, but it has been crazy busy at home, at work, and pretty much everywhere else. I was reading a friend's Facebook status and she was saying she only had one day this week to relax. She was asking another friend to go out for lunch and a pedicure. I thought to myself, hmm...I haven't had a pedicure in 8 years. I am lucky if I get a haircut every 6 months! Which I am coming up on right now and my haircut girl is about to have a baby! Gotta get in there. Even when I am off for the summer, we are so busy with activities that I don't have time to relax. And, if I have time to relax I should be organizing my disaster of a house. So, no relaxation time. I guess I am envious. Not a good trait! I love my life and be thankful for what I have.

Indy is giving me a run for my money. It has been happening for a long time. He has been sassy, rude, disrespectful, unmotivated, pretty much just a real stinker! I can't figure out what to do with him. And when I am already at my wits end with him, I find out that he has been buying double lunches at school. I realize this because I got an email that his lunch account was low and that should not be because it wasn't too long ago that I sent in a check. So I look at his meal history (love www.lunchmoney.com)! That stinker has bought double lunches 4 out of the last 5 days. When he gets home from school I look in his backpack and find a new copy of the second 39 Clues book. I have not given him any money for the book fair and question him as to where he got this book. He tells me his friend gave him $20. I am so angry, my head is about to explode. So today, he will march his butt into the book fair and try to return this book by explaining that he borrowed money from a friend and he will then give his friend's money back. Luckily, I am friend's with the mom so I can easily check up on the transaction! What were you thinking, Indy?

I can't really think anymore. I have a cold and it is obviously affecting my brain. I am so overwhelmed again with work and home. Thankfully, my husband is finished teaching Math Power Hour this afternoon and I will have him home most days at the usual time, which is good because, I feel like I am on the edge of losing control again and I just got it back! Sounds like life to me!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-05-04T07:11:00.003-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-05-01T08:40:00.002-04:00

Today's shout out goes to my beautiful kids! Rock the I Did It Run tomorrow, guys! I am proud of you for running it! A second shout out goes out to the ladies from our school who have worked so hard to pull off the fun fair for our kids! You rock, ladies!

10 Miler

2010-04-28T07:01:00.003-04:00

I figured I would write a review of the 10 miler I ran on Sunday. It was supposed to be my last race. At least my last running race. I am a huge fan of road races, especially the longer ones. I love the atmosphere. There is nothing like the high I get after completing a long race. It is hard to run 10 miles. But, it feels so good, like you have really accomplished something. I was a little intimidated by this race however. We had been out the night before and it was supposed to ran. We didn't set up a babysitter for the kids so my husband would have had to bring the kids. It was a point to point race so I drove to the finish, parked the car, and took the bus 10 miles south to the start. The internet said parking would be difficult after 6:00 a.m. so I wanted to make sure I got there in plenty of time to park, ride the bus, and drop off my bag before the start of the race. Since we live one hour away, I left at 4:30 a.m. for a race that started at 8:00 a.m. There was plenty of time for me to stand around for 2 hours before the race started. I thought I was going to be exhausted for my race, but it was fine. I met a lady who had parked her car in front of me on one of the side streets and we waled to the bus together. We chatted during the two hour wait we had and as it turns out even though we started at different places because we got separated dropping our bags off and using the restrooms we are within a minute of each others time. I also saw a former track athlete from my coaching days. She ran great! Oh, to be 27 and have time to devote to training. I am lucky to get three runs in a week! This afternoon, both my husband and I want to run and he needs to replace the faucet. Sounds like life to me! The race was so beautiful. It meandered along the river. It was overcast and foggy. It was humid as all get out! When I started it was down right cold. ditched my fleece after a mile. Ran with it around my waist for 9 miles. Yes, impressive for some reason the $3 fleece that I specifically wore to throw away somehow made it through the 10 miles and back into circulation in my wardrobe. My time improved by about 40 seconds per mile over last year's half marathon. For two days after this race, I was questioning my knee surgery and still am a little bit. But, I know I need to do it and to listen to my surgeon. It is just so hard when you love something so much and shouldn't do it. I know that long term it doesn't make sense to continue running. I can bike and find races and I am sure the friendships are similar. It is just unfamiliar and truly biking doesn't appeal to me that much. I would prefer to mountain bike and that is difficult where we live. Not too many mountains or trails for that matter. My run was great! I love to run, but I love my family too and to be sidelined while they hike, bike, and ski would kill me. So I have to be smart and make the right decisions long term!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-04-27T10:17:00.003-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-04-24T07:28:00.001-04:00

Today's shout out goes to my husband who had a coffee cup ready for me this morning when I got up, for working out and looking super hot (shallow, I know), and for be an amazing father and husband! Love you!

Being Grateful

2010-04-23T07:10:00.002-04:00

In my quest to think and be more positive, I am continuing my Friday theme of positivity. Those of you who follow my blog know that I am not the most positive of people. You also know that Mutt has had a difficult winter healthwise. Nothing major, thankfully, but a lot of little things that make me uneasy. His most recent are his enlarged lymph nodes on the back of his neck and this Tuesday night arm pain, headache, sore throat, and a high temperature. When he woke up in the morning all the symptoms had disappeared. He had his IPV (Polio) booster earlier in the day, however the physician on call did not think it was related to that and our pediatrician concurred the next day. It is so frustrating to have to deal with all these little things and worry about Mutt's overall health. I have been listening to the local christian radio station more this week, as it provides me with comfort. One of the bits was about being grateful. It really made me think about what I have to be grateful for. It also made me think that if I focused on those things I would be more positive and have an overall better outlook on life. So, that is what I am trying to do. I am a praying person. I thank God for the great day that I have each day but, I am never really specific. So last night, I was. I thanked him for each thing that day that I was grateful for. Well, maybe not each thing but for those things that were really important to me. I thanked him because Mutt had a good day. So in my effort to focus on the positive, I am focusing on being grateful for what I have and for what me day is like. Yesterday, Mutt was o.k. (He really is o.k.) I took the kids to the park and ran into three other moms from the neighborhood and we got to chat. I made dinner and me husband complemented me on it. Mutt ate dinner! Indy watched the NFL draft and really enjoyed it! He even used his helmets which makes me smile because most kids don't set up their own draft! But, that is my Indy! I got to hang with Monkey because, well she hates football! And even though ESPN fell at the park and scraped his knee, I know that is what happens to kids and he got right back up and kept playing and if my kids never get those scrapes then I am not giving them the opportunity to really be kids! So what will I be grateful for today? Well, so far the sun is shining! Mutt has the best smile! My kitchen organization has lasted all week so when my family comes over for dinner tonight I don't have to spend hours cleaning up before hand. All this and I haven't left the house yet! So much more to come! Gosh being grateful is really great!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-04-20T07:05:00.001-04:00

Saturday Shout Out

2010-04-17T08:19:00.001-04:00

This week's shout out goes out to ESPN! Happy Birthday buddy! You are such a big boy! The second shout out goes out to my niece B-nut! Happy Baptism, sweetie!

A Spring in My Step

2010-04-16T07:09:00.003-04:00

As part of my mid life evaluation, I am determined to have a more positive outlook on things in general. My husband recently said that I am the most pessimistic person on the planet when I realized that I had lost five pounds and followed it up with "do you think I am ill?" He said he loves me, but if he had none how negative I was it never would have worked out! Good thing I lost those five pounds so I look good and keep him around! He, he, he! In any case, last night I was cooking my son's birthday dinner while the kids and hubby were outside on the new birthday moon bounce ESPN received as a birthday gift. The back door was open so I could hear the birds chirping, the kids giggling, and I thought to myself I love my life! I love those kids so much! You know! You all love your kids like this! But, sometimes I get caught up in the daily grind and the yelling and frustration take over. Of course I don't love them any less during these trying times. But, I don't often actively think about it. My house is a complete and utter disaster all the time and this afternoon my sister in law and her family are coming into town for the weekend. I will scramble this afternoon to run errands, actually run, fold all the clean laundry sitting in the hallway, and possibly go to BUNKO. But, I wouldn't trade that craziness for the world because my kids are excited out of their minds to see their cousins. They are only sad that the cousins are only staying two days and there is a big track meet that my sister in law will be tied up at all day tomorrow! I love that my kids are super excited to see their cousins! I think it is fantastic that they are years apart in age and they can all still get along and really are inseparable when we get together. It is rare that a nine year old and a three year old can play together for days on end without getting totally frustrated with each other and beat each other up. You know they are not siblings for sure! All this love has put a spring in my step and smile on my face. Let's hope it will stay. I realize I have so few of these days! I guess that is why I am working on it!

Blown Glass Studio

2010-04-14T18:08:00.002-04:00

Check out this amazing find. I was on a fellow blogger's site and saw pictures of the amazing work of this studio. http://www.mcfaddenartglass.com/home It is absolutely breathtaking!

100th Post: Positive Vibes

2010-04-14T07:04:00.003-04:00

Wow! 100 posts! I did it! Recommitting to my blog has been great! I have posted more this year already than I posted all of last year!

For this post, I decided to step outside the box, out of my comfort zone and post about the positives in life. For those of you who follow my blog, you know that there is always something negative that I am focusing on. My poor husband was fooled for a while until he really got to know me. Sadly, I am so negative a little rubbed off on him. For the most part, he is extremely positive, but I do hear complaints now, which I pretty much never heard in the early years!

So, on with the positive show. Yesterday, we took Mutt to the doctor for these enlarged (huge) lymph nodes he has in the back of his neck. He has had one since he was a baby (I noticed it at 4 months). But, last week another popped up and then a third. They were painful this time and while I was pretty sure that these were due to either a bug bite or a blow to the head from all the toys ESPN has been throwing lately, the pessimist in me took over and started freaking me out! However, after our visit to the pediatrician, I am assured that exactly what I logically thought is the truth! Thank God for that! And, I didn't even stick him for a blood test for my own reassurance! Progress I tell you!

I made a craft with the kids yesterday. Got this great idea to have the kids decorate a beach bucket, write their name on it and then use it to collect those things that congregate on the kitchen island during the day. At the end of the day, the kids are supposed to bring the bucket upstairs and put their "stuff" away. If they don't I throw it away. Win, win for me! I just want it out!

I am also almost prepared for ESPN's birthday! He is having a "baketball" cake. Of course when asked he told me he wants Gabba! Too bad kid. I have the icing color and everything Basketball it is! I have gift cards from when he was born that will start to loose their value next month that I need to use so his birthday gift will basically be free! How bad is that? Oh, but there are $95 in gift cards! Think of the gift!!!!

Company this weekend. And I think I have my act together to get the house clean in time! Amazing!

All this could stress me out, but I will not allow it. As part of my 100th post, I am going to focus on the positive. It takes 6 weeks to change a behavior. so, by June 1 I should be a positive thinker, a glass half full person. Check back to see my progress! I bet PINT will tell all! If those notes are like yesterday's, not so good! However, sarcasm is also a good coping strategy so I would say that would be o.k. on those post its! Thanks for stopping by! Here's to my next 100 posts!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-04-12T19:26:00.008-04:00

MeMe Monday: Crab Farts

2010-04-12T07:03:00.002-04:00

First of all, let me just say this is post number 98. PINT will be 99, so come back and see what's is in store for post 100. I have no plans yet, but I am on a mission!

Crab Farts:(brought to you by the late Captain Phil Harris of the fishing vessel Cornelia Marie). It means exactly what it says. Captain Phil used the crab fart method to locate crab on last season's Deadliest Catch. He took to the deck and sniffed in various locations until he smelled them. And, he found them!

I started using crab farts when Captain Phil passed away in late February. It is a substitute for pretty much any one word cus. I get on my kids all the time for saying stupid, crap, etc. When they were little we used to say "Oh pickles". Now that they are getting older, they don't use the term anymore. I think they feel "stupid". So, I am introducing them to crab farts! Nice huh? But at least they will not be walking around saying crap and the like! Or at least that is the hope! So, when something doesn't go my way, you will hear me say crab farts!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-04-10T08:16:00.001-04:00

Today's Saturday Shout Out goes out to Mutt. Good luck on your first soccer game, buddy! I am so proud of you for being so excited about playing soccer this spring. What a big boy!!

Post It Note Tuesday!

2010-04-06T07:17:00.003-04:00

See my post from yesterday, its long. But, we had a great time!

Great Wolf Lodge

2010-04-05T14:15:00.004-04:00

Last Wednesday, we took a trip! We went to Great Wolf Lodge! It was absolutely amazing! I have not stopped talking about it and it has been 5 days! We arrived at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, checked in, got our water park passes and were off and running. Our room was not ready yet (they guarantee 4:00 p.m., but you an use the park beginning at 1:00 p.m.). We left our cell phone number with them and since your wrist band for the water park is also your room key, they call you with the room number when it becomes available and you do not need to return to the check in desk. So, we went to the water park and changed into our swim suits and hit the pools! The kids were off and running. We let our older two go off and check it out on their own, instructing them to check in periodically. We stayed with the younger two in the "kiddie" area. After about 15-30 minutes our five year old asked to go on the slides and I took him, while my husband stayed with the youngest. I had so much fun riding the slides with Mutt. He had a great time and no fear! After about 3 hours at the water park and a lot of fun times, we went back to our room which was ready by 3:30 and got dressed for dinner. We opted to eat of the hotel grounds. We had heard the food was not that great. We went to Outback, which was a treat since we hadn't been there in a while. After dinner, we returned to the hotel and Monkey and Mutt went back to the water park with me, while Indy and ESPN toured the hotel with their dad. Unfortunately, someone had an accident on one of the slides so they had to close all the slides and the lazy river, which is fed by the same water source for 30 minutes. So we went in the wave pool and then opted to run back to the room, put on PJs and race to the Clock Tower Animated show and story time by the fire. The kids thought this was pretty cool especially because they got to have Dippin' Dots! An absolute favorite. After story time, everyone was ready for bed and fell asleep rather quickly, including me! In the morning, we ate cereal in the room and got to the water park when it opened at 9:00 a.m. This is the best time of the day there, because it is the least crowded. People are still getting up and only those who have spent the night before are there. You can use the water park until it closes at 9:00 p.m. the day you check out. We spent 3 hours playing, ate lunch and spent another hour playing before retiring our suits for our street clothes. Then the kids played int he arcade and we were gone by 3:30 p.m. We made a brief detour on the way home to get some of my husbands new favorite microbrews and were home in time for dinner. The trip was a birthday gift for the kids. For the first time we said no to birthday parties so that we could celebrate all four on a magnificent family trip! I have to say it was well worth it. I had to expectations because I really had no heard too many great things about it. People said it was expensive, it smelled, it was crowded. I thought that it was perfect! It was expensive. The room rate was high, but it was a nice room and factoring in the park passes, it wasn't terrible. The food tasted fine for concessions and the cost was not outrageous. It was comparable to other amusements parks. The hotel was actually very nice and despite the number of wet visitors, it was surprisingly clean and dry and did not smell at all of mildew. As far as being overcrowded, it wasn't. It was full and there were a lot of people, but we did not wait more that 20 minutes for even the most popular attraction and there was plenty of room for the kids t move around and play and no one was ever bored or tired of waiting in line. To top it off I was very impressed with the lifeguards and their attention to the pools at all times. They even rescued a young boy in the wave pool who was too close to the edge and was unable to get to shallow water. They performed several drills while we were there and the lifeguards were eyes on the pool 100% of the time! I would go back in a heart beat and recommend Great Wolf Lodge to anyone who wants a great family getaway!

Saturday Shout Out

2010-04-03T08:58:00.001-04:00

This week's shout out goes to my sister Ali for helping me start my business and allowing me to photograph her kids! Check out her beautiful babes at Firefly Studios.

Starting My New Business

2010-03-31T08:04:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to be starting my own business, Firefly Studio! I absolutely love photography. I especially love photographing children. When there is that look of wonder on their faces, it is just amazing! I am still very much an amateur but am eager to take a few classes and improve my skills. I really hope to launch my business this summer (although my knee surgery might put it on hold until fall). However, I am starting my portfolio now. I have added a link to my professional blog on the side bar so you can check out my online portfolio often. I have my first portfolio sitting on Friday. It will take place in a civil war battlefield. I will photograph two beautiful children, my niece and nephew. Thanks, Ali, for trusting your spring portraits to me! I have purchased a few props for the sitting and hope that the pictures will be amazing! I am also photographing my own children in the same location the hour beforehand! I have had my camera attached to my hip for a few weeks now preparing for this first sitting. I can't believe it is almost here. Check in on Friday evening at Firefly Studio to see the fruits of my labor. Can't wait to get it up and running.