Wordless Wednesday

SPT - Hopes for the New Year!

Here are the rules and you can check out Lelly's site for everyone's SPT's.

i don't want spt to add to the chaos. quite the opposite - i hope to continue to enjoy it throughout the holidays. to be able to find those moments throughout the season where i choose to be still. the challenge for us this month will hopefully give us an excuse to remember to care for ourselves while we are busy creating amazing holiday memories for all.

take deep breaths. channel your chi. don't sacrifice the small, still moments. enjoy them! and photograph them!

tuesday, december 2 love
tuesday, december 9 joy
tuesday, december 16 comfort
tuesday, december 23 joy
tuesday, december 30 hope

enjoy the season!

Now I have been busy and stressed so I haven't posted ever week but I am going post today!
The past couple of days we spent in Chicago with my husband's family. We don't see them as much as we would like but when we get together the kids are "bestest" of friends. We had a great dinner with the family. Papa cooked his famous Crown Roast of Pork with stuffing, mashed potatoes and broccoli. Oh, don't forget the salad with lots of fresh tomatoes!






After dinner we opened presents. It was a simple gift exchange. My kids were great! I never heard a "that's all" or "I only got". They were great! I was really proud of them. Papa got all of his little fishermen/women hats! It was great! Here is everyone smiling! This is to hoping for a New Year filled with smiles, family, friends and fishing!

The electronic presents are abound

Here I sit typing on my new laptop! I have finally broken down and entered the electronic age. I hate spending money on stuff and I have always considered a laptop stuff. I have a desk top that is enough. I decided that with two adults who both would like to be on the computer at the same time and the kids who want to be on the computer that it is time to open up my wallet and buy a laptop. This way it is mobile so when we go out and about we can bring it with us.

Here is an example as to why we need a laptop. On the way to a basketball game, about 30 minutes from our house, S was working on homework and we needed to goggle some question for her geography homework. The question was, what bay is between Denmark and Sweden, I think? Seriously, I don't know or care! If I was traveling maybe but sitting in a car driving to a basketball game, I really didn't care! It would have been great to google it! Now my daughter will get her answers right. Instead of guessing at 70 mph on the way to a basketball game!

J also says he can "tether" his phone Internet to my computer so I won't need a Internet phone card, is that what it is called? Yes, did I say I am electronically challenged!

Christmas

Well we have been up for hours and are having a fabulous day. We spent the morning getting ready for church. That is what today is about. Celebrating Jesus' birthday. We done this for years and have it done to almost perfect. We get ready and dressed for church. Once everyone is ready, hair combed, shoes on, pantyhouse pulled up, we can open our Christmas stocking if we have time. I have never seen my kids get ready so fast and look so good as Christmas morning. While we are getting ready my husband is finishing up the Christmas Cassorole, the eggs, bread cheese, sausage with the Cream of Mushroom soup on it, to throw it in the oven while we go to mass. I know don't tell the fire marshal we leave the oven on while we are at church.

Then we spend an hour or so at mass. It was a service that goes by very quickly the kids love singing all of the Christmas songs which helps hold their attention so they aren't thinking about opening presents. Mass today was a record because Father finished by 9:50 and we were home by 10:00. Of course, we plan for the cassorole to cook for 1.5 hours so we had time to open presents. The kids didn't get as many presents this year, but the cost was the same. The the received some clothes, lots of books and Ninetindo DS's w/ one game. They now are waiting for them to charge.

John is preparing/cooking some scalloped potatoes'. John loves to cook and is one of those people who can threw things together, sort of like the MacGyver of cooking. You can give him 3- 5 ingredients and he whips up a meal. I gave him these really cool measureing spoons for Christmas and he laughed. Is this for the guy who never measures, I said sure or his wife who always measures!

Now we are just waiting....for dinner at my sisters!

Merry Christmas to all!

Family Brunch and Chuck E. party pictures

Well it is almost Christmas and I have missed posting my SPT's so here is a bunch of stuff together. First we decided to not drive to Owosso for Xmas b/c of weather. I know we live in Michigan buck it up camper! but as I get older and were I work, I would rather be safe then sorry! Maybe next week?

Now to start out with the December pictures I have missed. The Thanksgiving brunch with the cousins. We don't get to see our cousins very often but when we do they all act like old friends. I wish we could spend more time with Family.







Now comes the 8th birthday party for Katie. She picked Chuck E. Cheese. Here classmates joined in the fun and a good time was had by all. I think everyone went home that night and slept well because they RAN around for two hours and had enough cake and pizza to feed an Army.
Here is Katie giving Chuckie his hug for singing to her.

Joy

SPT this week is Joy check out Lelly's sight for instructions. I know I am suppose to be in the picture but I just couldn't do it! Let me start out by saying on Sunday we went to a basketball game and to the Christmas tree farm. My daughters team didn't win the game but we all had a great time just being together. I usually work on the weekends and miss out on quality family time because I am working or sleeping! Today turned out perfect. We went arrived at the tree farm at about 4:25 pm and they close at 5 pm so we took the tractor to the area we usually cut down our tree. Then the girls and I walked back while John rode with the tractor and the tree and all the other people out that afternoon. Here are a few shots of the girls playing in the snow on our walk back to the barn.



When we got home on Sunday night John put the tree in the basement to warm up and dry off. On Monday nights I started going to a knitting club. Samantha comes along while John takes the other two to basketball practice. Tonight he picked up Samantha on his way home so I could stay knitting and chatting longer. He gave the kids showers and put them to bed. I got home around 11pm and this is what I found in the tv room. Yes it brought great JOY to my heart that my husband let me stay out with my friends while he did the task of "putting up the tree" He rocks!

Thanksgiving and cookie day

We spent our Thanksgiving in Chicago. My sister, Lois lives outside of Chicago and my hubbies family is also in the suburbs. We had spent turkey day at my sister's. She and her hubby made a fabulous dinner. Her two sons, daughter-in-law, grand daugher and mother-in-law were all there for dinner. I brought the pies. I know I wasn't feeling well and broke down and went to baker's square for pumpking and chocolate cream silk pies. I know, I know, it should be homemade. But as my sister said once you add the whip cream who can tell anyway! I forgot to bring in my camera so know pictures! opps!

The day after thanksgiving the girls and I went back to Aunt Lois's house and made cookies and hard candy. John and his dad went to IC's, state finals, football game at U of I. During cookie time I did take pictures, so you are in luck. First Aunt Lois gave the girls all aprons, made them pull their hair back and wash their hands, all good rules!

Ready Set GO!

Get mixing!

Taste test!

All in all it was a yummy day! We also watched Aunt Lois make her secret hard candy receipe. The girls LOVE it they have been bring a couple of pieces to school each day and can't get enough. I have to steal the secret receipe! Please Aunt Lois!!

Thanks for a great holiday and I hope we can do it again!

K is 8 today and made her first reconciliation

Today my baby K is 8. She is really the joy of my life. She is such a happy kid and has such a loving heart. Don't get me wrong she can also be a typical kid! Doesn't want to pick up after herself, fights with her sisters and wants to watch toooo much TV. But she has an infectious laugh and smile.

Today she also made her first reconciliation. She has been practicing and talking about reconciliation at school for months. The practiced going into the confessional, that she could go face to face with father or sit behind the screen. When K does something wrong and you call her on it or she has to apologize she becomes visible upset. She cries and can't talk. In her head she was was going to sit behind the screen and not have to look father in the eye. Well, father set up a couple of chairs behind a screen for him and the 2nd grader to sit on and "confess" their sins. K freaked out that she had to go face to face! She started crying and was so upset I almost had her pass going to confession today. Then she calmed down as we talked about what was going to happen when she talked to father and she got up when it was her turn and went to talk with father.

Drying the tears and getting ready for confession.

Father blessing her.

Penance and Prayer to come.

SPT

The Lelly SPT for the month are below:

take deep breaths. channel your chi. don't sacrifice the small, still moments. enjoy them! and photograph them!

tuesday, december 2 love
tuesday, december 9 joy
tuesday, december 16 comfort
tuesday, december 23 joy
tuesday, december 30 hope

enjoy the season!

When I look back at my postings for the week they are some of the things I love! I promise to catch up next week!

SPT -cold, airborne and PJ's-fabulous

Check out Lelly for the SPT.

SPT----Wordless

Family Reunion

This summer we had a family reunion at my cousin Vic's house. He has one about every 3 or so years. It is a great time when you get to see all of your cousins, eat from the potluck of potlucks and have some of that pig that they roasted for days! ok maybe not days.

What made me think of this now you ask? Well, I came across a blog by a guy who moved back to Iowa to take over the family farm. I don't know if he will care that I put it on my blog or if anyone will read it but I thought he had great stories.

I have included some pictures from the reunion that is my grandfathers old farm. The old milk house that is now apartments on the top, the big barn that burned down a few years ago now they have a big metal barn, but my husband took some pictures of an old truck and tractor and some of all the grandkids that were there. Just some fun remembering!

Linda and I just shooting the @#$%


Grandkids and Great grand kids

old tractor my husband stumbled across


I think Vic saves any wood from the last bonfire at the last family reunion, it is huge, thank God nothing else caught on fire!! If you notice the little white dot in the right hand corner that was the full moon! It was huge that night.

Well thank you farmer for letting me remember the fun I've had on the family farm!

SPT

Fall cleaning! and yes I voted!!

check out Lelly for the spt!

Bucket filler

"Bucket fillers" are those who help without being asked, give hugs and compliments, and generally spread their love and good feelings to others. The simple metaphor of a bucket helps even preschoolers understand the importance of consideration and love, particularly towards those who bully. At my kids school they have a bucket filler of the month. Each teacher nominates the "bucket filler" of the month. Last month my oldest daughter was nominated by her teacher for the 6th grade class. She is very helpful and always welcoming to others. She is willing to help out others including the younger or older kids when asked or even when she sees that they need help. I am so proud of her!

My hippie bucket filler

My husband and I went to school today to talk with one of the teachers about a presentation. The principal walked by and told us in a whisper that K was going to be announced that she is bucket filler of the month for the first grade at morning prayer in the hall, if we wanted to stick around. Again, I couldn't be more proud. K is my "wild" one. She is always moving but she is so kind hearted and would do anything to make you and me happy. It really put a smile on my face!


My witch bucket filler

Now I am hoping that C will be nominated before the end of the year. John said she looked dissappointed this morning but I know her turn will come soon. She to is very giving and kind hearted!
She will be my last bucket filler, how could she not be with that smile!!

SPT

22. I have a friend that even though we don't see each other as often as we like, when we do get together, it is like we just saw each other yesterday. (You know who you are SJS)!!
23. I love summer vacation! We spend the summer at my father in law's place up north and the rule for us is the more the merrier!
24. I love to eat pumpkin seeds.
25. My kids go to Catholic school, just like their Mom and Dad did when they where kids.
26. I have an Aunt who is a Nun.
27. I never want to jump out of an airplane.
28. I am bossy! I know at work it is a running joke that I am bossy, but it just drives me crazy when things aren't done my way and right NOW! One of the code responders made a comment that she doesn't know how to run the crash cart because I always run the crash cart. I am trying to give it up, but it isn't easy! I had her come to a cardioversion, and I let her run the crash cart! I showed her what buttons to push on the defibrillator, but it wasn't easy. At home I boss my husband around! He isn't so easy to boss around. He likes to argue about things that he shouldn't argue about. He should just do because I said so (see what I mean, I'm bossy)! I don't usually point my finger or stamp my feet, but if I have to, I can! Thank God my husband loves me and puts up with me!!

Li-a

So my husband comes home and said they were looking at job applications at work and were not sure how to pronounce this persons name Li-a so they called her up and were going to ask her a few questions including how to pronounce her name.

So he comes home this a.m and writes the name on a piece of paper and asks me how I would pronounce it.

Lie a?
la a?
lee a?

He says the person said " You pronounced it Lie dash a, the dash aint't silent honey" seriously I laughed for 5 minutes!! Lie dash a.....is written Li-a!

SPT

Well here is the continuation of my 100 list: Check out Lelly for the Oct SPT and the 100 list.

15. I love the smell of fireplaces, burning wood drifting through the air.
16. I joined a knitting group. It is a couple of us from work and it has helped me try and complete a project, even though it is a scarf (see picture).
17. I went to a Catholic University (Barry University) in Miami Florida for my BSN
18. I am an ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) Instructor
19. In my next life I would be a librarian
20. I hate taking baths. I know it is relaxing but I just think I am soaking in a tub full of sloughed off skin! It just sounds gross!
21. I love to read. I average a book every couple of weeks. I learned my love for reading from my mother. I have memories of her sitting at the table drinking her Tab when I was a kid. She never watched TV and if the TV was on she was always reading and watching TV. Every summer my sisters and best friend would enter our local library reading contest. We would ride our bikes or walk to the library everyday and check out the maximum number they would allow us. A bonus was the library was air conditioned and we could sit there for hours when it was really hot out. We would collect reading dollars that we would cash in at the end of the summer at the library carnival. Every reading dollar converted into a ticket we could use on games and the famous cake walk. I think all of us would come home with a cake or two! One summer, my older sister won a whole collection of Little House on the Prairie series for reading the most books during the summer.

Yes, that is a Jeffrey Deaver Book(Lincoln Rhyme series), a Nancy Drew book, along with a J D Robb book, so I love variety!





Stay tune for more next week!

Sick kids

My family started with a GI bug over the weekend. One kid at a time and then my husband. I have been nauseated off and on but hopefully this will pass. My favorite is that my oldest who woke up complaining of "my stomach hurts" on Thursday morning. Being the nurse, I am assessing the patient! She doesn't seem sick, no temp, no vomit, and walking and talking like normal. So I say why don't you try some toast and see if it makes you feel better, maybe you are just hungry? She ate a piece of toast, took her puke bucket to watch TV. I tell her no TV! You have to stay in your room when you are sick. You haven't vomited and I'm still trying to decide how sick you are. Just because your sisters had a bug doesn't me you are going to get it. Are you really sick or just trying to skip school today? About 15 minutes later she comes downstairs with toast puke in the bucket! and says can I watch TV now! So much for my nursing assessment skills!

SPT

Remember this is the 100 list count down. I have never had a 100 list so I am counting down from 8 - 14.

Here goes!

#8 - My father passed away 3 weeks before my wedding.
#9 - This past week I finally took out my sewing machine that I received for a xmas present and actually figured out how to use it and sewed(fixed) two of my kids outfits.
#10 - I have been a "cookie" mom for at least one my daughters girl scout troop's since 2002, and just volunteered for another year!
#11 - I hate public speaking but because I love to talk, people think I am a natural but my voice shakes, I sweat, and want to throw up.
#12 - I love lilacs
#13 - I have only received one speeding ticket! Even though I speed alot! My kids call me Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians.
#14 - I just realized that I have called a bobbin a bobber all of my life. See what you learn when you read the manual to your sewing machine!



I am off to work but I will take a picture and add it later with my sewing machine!

Goofy pictures

Silly Faces
Farmer and the Dell
My Little Laura Ingalls

SPT: 100 List

I need a 100 list....
SPT for Oct. have you got your 100 list handy? yes? fantastic!

no? well, this is your chance to get one going!

i think October is a great month to spend some time with yourself. i know many of us are already hyperventilating about the rush from All Hallow's Eve through New Year's Eve. this is the perfect opportunity to get yourself mentally, physically and spiritually prepared for the upcoming holiday *madness.*

this month, we will consult our 100 lists. it's quite simple, really. on the 7th of the month (TOMORROW) post an spt about item #7 on your list. on the 14th of the month, post an spt about item #14. and so on. and so on.

don't have a list? why don't you start one? it seems like a daunting task, you say? well, if you work up to #7 this week, #14 next week, etc., your list will be more than a quarter of the way finished by the end of the month!


1. I have 9 brothers and sisters
2. I have 6 sisters
3. I am number nine of the list of siblings, so not quite the baby.
4. I have lived in MI, FL, IL, and CA.








5. I back packed through Europe after college for 8 weeks.




6. I have 3 Children, all girls.













7. I have been married to my husband for 13 years, oops that would be lucky 13!

.




That went quickly and seems pretty boring. I will have to elaborate more next time. I'm not sure if there are rules to this 100 list? if there are I'm not following any so I guess read and enjoy. I decided to add some pictures. Since my trip to Europe was before digital you get no pictures on the computer and same for living in different states.

K's Pumpkin Man

This past weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out our pumpkin to carve. It has been a crazy week and we haven't had a chance to carve it yet. K has been playing w/ pumpkin everyday after school. Today she has turned him in to baseball man. If you notice he has on a coat (it is in the 60s now, don't mind K has shorts on!), a baseball helmet (it helps keep the ball on his head), technically it is a soccer ball for his head because a baseball or softball is way to small and that would be silly, and for his left arm he has a baseball bat! Now isn't she creative!

Slide baby slide

This past weekend I had Sunday off and we all went to S's Volleyball game and then off to the pumpkin patch. I was a lot of fun and I took a lot of pictures that I will try and post the next couple of days. These first pictures are of the girls sliding down a huge covered slide at the pumpkin patch. I think they turned out very cool and you can tell what a great time they are having by the excitement on their faces.

What the what!

Well the new TV season has started and we are having VCR issues. Yes, I refuse to pay for a DVR so hence we still have a vhs recorder(ok stop laughing). Anyhow, we have lost or broken the remote that goes with the vcr so the only way to tape a show is to watch the show at the same time. Sort of defeats the purpose. But yeah for the TV stations you can now watch full episodes on ABC, NBC and CBS. I know from last year which shows are on ABC so I haven't been watching them and one of these mornings I will watch them when I have nothing to do. Well, that was this morning and ABC doesn't work. I have done all of the helpful hints, installed, unstalled, stood on my left foot while rubbing my husbands bald head.....NOW I am irritated! I hope they fix it soon.

Copy and Paste and then Bold

This looks fun, and who doesn't love an already done for you blog entry? Read all about it had this on her blog, and I thought it would be fun to see what you all have done, too - so feel free to do it. Just copy and paste the 200 statements then bold the ones you have done...the idea is to highlight the things you have done out of the 200 items on the list.
If you see bold in this one, it's because I've done that. Okay, here we go...

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain (most of the way, anyway)
9. Held a tarantula (I passed on that one when given the chance. *shudder*)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise(Every weekend)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days Does it count when I was in the hospital and had my gallbladder out then ended up with a stone and they won't feed me.
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone - verbal not physical
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy - Life, YAY!!
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money I think it was the 4th grade I guess all the pennies in a jar.
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating Fish people, Fish
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in a historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage Does the Christmas play in grade school count?
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one **just in mini-golf! :)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Ran a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class-
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking WHAT IS THIS
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted Patty said her farm house was haunted, does that count?
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life With the help of my co-workers and ACLS drugs
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier Long story, just went to cashier school until I realized I had to wear polyester....yuck!
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation but Julie tweaked it!
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter ...what is this?


Wow I am a lot of fun! look at all of the things I have done and things I can work on....now I'm going to sleep the day away!

Johnny Appleseed Day

Yesterday my youngest, K, informed me that today is Johnny Appleseed day. (If you are looking at the picture she is leaning into the table because she doesn't want anyone to notice she doesn't have a shirt on. She likes to come home from school, put on shorts, have a snack and then put on her shirt (that way it stays clean because she always spills something))

Any how, back to the story, She decided to make signs and handouts to inform the neighbors. At one point she asked me if she could go around the block and give one of the announcements to every neighbor. She had my husband help her post these on the telephone poles in front of our house(I'm not sure what it is a picture of? Johnny or an apple?). So I am helping to inform everyone I know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day! Now go eat an apple and plant the seeds in your backyard. Jen you can let your son know so he can bake his famous apple pie!!

It's over!

Thank God it is over. I know my part didn't last that long but I still get my heart rate up, my voice cracks and I feel like I am going to throw up but I did survive. I really appreciate my co-worker(Gwen) who presented the meat and potatoes of our talk. She did awesome! She had called in sick to work the last two days with an ear infection, sore and scratchy throat but she showed up in for the presentation! I hope everyone learned something I should not have to present again....ever!!

no, No, NO!

As you can see by the time it is almost 5 am. I have been up since 3:30 am because of working night shift last night and getting up early for a haircut appointment and then falling asleep again around 7PM. (Linda if you are reading this I'm sure I should have let you proof read all of my run on sentences before I published it!) It also doesn't help that I am doing a presentation with some co-workers on OB case studies today. I am so nervous! I know the people who know me say I'm never afraid to talk and talk and talk! but when it comes to standing up in front of people I start sweating, my voice cracks and the room starts to spin! I never remember anything I say so I hope what I have said made sense. Oh, I dread 7:30 am!

Now you are wondering why the title to this entry! I am practicing saying no! If I would have just said NO to start with I won't be up putting this entry in my blog at 5 am!

I hate Thursdays!

Most Thursdays my husband works from 3pm - 3 am. The kids unfortunately have tutoring, soccer, and homework. This includes 20 min of piano/clarinet practice and reading out loud. Today I had a meeting at work until 4:10pm so I rushed to after school care. Picked up the kids and rushed home to change into soccer clothes and shove a quick snack(yogurt and water) in the wee ones mouths so they hand the energy to practice. While they ate their yogurt I quick gave them their 20 spelling words which they have to write any they get wrong 10 times each. My second grader is lucky enough to get challenge challenge words this year: they include words she is reading from her reading book such as, grandmother, idea, garden, remember, serious, and answered. This week she has had to write these 6 words 10 times each every night! Thank God they won't fail her in 2nd grade when she can't spell the challenge challenge words!

Then we drop one of the teammates off at their house on the way to the pizza place to pick up dinner. Yes, this is mom's night to cook! When we get home we eat and then the homework. My oldest finished hers and went outside to hit around the volleyball. The other two are studying for math tests and flash cards for reading words! Yes, I am tired and now it is 7:35pm so I let them have a Popsicle because I deserved one for all of the hard work. My kids wanted watermelon, so what the heck, they had that too! Then in PJ's, brush their teeth and then upstairs to take turns reading to me for 20 minutes! Now it is 9 pm and I say prayers, give kisses and turn out the lights. They then proceed to screwing around for at least 30 minutes longer where I have to yell up the starts to "GO TO BED" at least 3 times. Finally, no more noise and I can finish picking up the house, laying out the cloths for morning and making sure backpacks are really packed! I'm tired....I have a new book from the library and I'm going to bed to read! While I write this I wonder how to double income parents do this everyday! I am so fortunate to be able to work on the weekends so I can be home during the week. Yes, I do miss sporting events and miscellaneous other kid/family functions but I can't imaging working during the week and rushing around like this every night!

Am I micro-managing?

Last night was our first AACN program so I let my husband attend my daughters teacher meeting. He came home with the website called snap grades, that we can track my daughters grades and assignments. I have mixed feelings because I like the face to face contact with the teachers. Will this limit that time and conversation? Is this another way that we can micro-manage everything our kids do? I know, I was one of those kids who was allowed to wake up in the morning, eat breakfast and then be home before the street lights came on. I think of how I am so much more involved with my kids lives, does it help or am I over baring? My daughter begs everyday to ride her bike 4 blocks to her school for volleyball practice. We won't let her. Why? Afraid she will get kidnapped by the big bad man! Fall and hurt herself? Get hit by a car? I again have mixed feelings. I took my bike and would be gone all day. I rode to my friends house on the other side of town about 4 miles. I was never kidnapped, hit or fell(that I remember). What do you think the odds are she would end up hurt? Do we risk it?

My daughters the Jocks!

Yes that is my little one laying on the ground. Come to find out when we got home she had a fever and later vomited during the night. I guess I should have cut her some slack!
Yeah, that's number two daughter drinking water after a long soccer practice! This is the prayer before the two teams play their game it is the players and coaches. I love how they do this as part of the game. It almost brings a tear to my eye that they start the game this way!

Out with the old and in with the new

Last week we decided it was time to trade in our leased minivan. I loved getting a new car every three years. Yeah, I know Dave Ramsey would frown if he was reading this right now. This is our last ever leased vehicle because companies have figured out the re sale value isn't worth it? We were lucky that we could pull our lease ahead and they also had 5000$ in rebates and walked out the door with only a 20$ a month more payment. I know it is a long loan but what's a girl to do. I told my husband to enjoy this car because we will never own a new vehicle again, unless we win the lotto! It is such a waste of money to buy a new car but you can't beat the new car smell, ride and just how clean it is!


John trying to save the state park sticker.





Do guys always smile like that when they get a new car, even if it is a minivan instead of the charger!

Our choice of color was white, oh no way, or burnt orange so here it is our new Dodge caravan. The coolest thing is the windows in the back roll down! The kids think this rocks! We also get Sirius radio for a year free. The kids beg to have the Disney radio station on whenever we are in the car! Couldn't they have a books on tape station!

The life of Riley or 6 little girls

I am finely downloading my pictures from Labor day weekend. The girls and I go to Owosso and this is in my brothers jacuzzi with girl cousins. The two with sunglasses on are just way to cool and the oldest. As you can see the girls have all paired up by age and are hard to separate. They spent every minute tag teamed together.
This is the two youngest girls posing with the veggies we picked at the farm for dinner. I asked them if they wanted to go pick veggies we loaded up the van with good stuff: cucumbers, corn on the cob, peppers, tomatoes and cabbage. The had egg plant but yuck! I don't like it so we don't eat it! or pick it!

Here is a shot of the first day of school. S has her contacts in so I think the bright sun was a bit much for her eyes. I couldn't find one picture she had them open in. K won't stand up straight she kept putting her head on C shoulder and was she getting irritated! oh well that is the fun of having sisters!!