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!!

Honey Do Lists

How long do you give your spouse/SO to complete a honey do list before you take over and complete it for them?

My husband started on our bathroom (lets just say it was so long ago I forgot and am to embarrassed to try and remember). A few weeks ago I called a handyman to complete the task. I know he can do it but something else always comes up. Here is the amazing part! I went to California for a week-end and he worked on the bathroom? I don't know if it is the competition that some other guy will do the work he knows he can do or he just missed me. When I got back he had removed the back splash, cleaned the walls, re plastered the rough spots, painted (some of the bathroom), bought a toilet (which is sitting in the box in our dinning room) and put up the light fixture. I know he can do it! A round of applause for this much done in two weeks! Now I'm hoping the next two weeks everything will be finished, where did I put that handyman's phone number?

Day 2 of School

School started yesterday! YEAH! I think it was the hottest day of the year. The kids slept like babies last night, I didn't hear a peep from their bedrooms. S didn't even hide in the bathroom with a book and the light on! The girls seem to all like there teachers, which is a good thing! S started Volleyball practice yesterday, too. She has the same coach as last year which is great. That way they both know each other and what to expect, thanks Mrs. Bradley!

It seems that we are already getting into the school routine. A few changes I am trying to get the kids to walk to school. John walked them today! Much to his dismay! Hopefully we can stay ahead of the clock enough to walk every morning and afternoon. K and S have spelling tests on Fri. so back to nightly spelling words, uggh! Katie has extra credit words which are really painful! Words you can't sound out like shy, carrots and hurry! I keep saying hurry up write it down! I am trying to be patient but it doesn't always work for me.

Labor Day weekend fun

Well we made it back from our weekend at my mom's in Owosso. It gets easier and easier every year. My husband has his annual drag racing event in Indy and "the girls" go to Owosso. This year the girls were great helpers getting ready to go. S packed all of the girls clothes a couple a days before we left. She did this by making clothing packs. I thought it was a brilliant idea. She took the shirt, underwear and shorts and rolled them all together laying them on top of each other. I told her to make 5 "packs" for each kid. She then added swim suits, socks and PJ's. She did a great job. The I told each kid to pack a back pack of their stuff. The morning we left I packed while the kids loaded their stuff in the car (backpacks, blankets, pillows, their clothes basket and books). It went smoothly.

We made it to Owosso and ended up going swimming at Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda's house with their cousins (J, S and M) The all had a great time! Paul and Linda hosted dinner we had chicken, rice, potatoes, fresh veggies from the garden and then pie for dessert. I wish I would have taken a picture!

Saturday we added a few more people...Aunt Lois, Uncle Warren, Greg, Evan and S joined us. That night Uncle Paul grilled pizza! It was a huge hit. The dough was so filling that I felt full until the next day. We also had these tomato, fresh Moz. cheese and basil appetizers on this special bread. Paul loves to cook bread so it was awesome.

Sunday we added a few more people, word really get around! Aunt Ann, Uncle Dale, Aunt Kathy and we ran into Jerry at church and had him bring the boys D and B. I think everyone went swimming and then rode bikes down the big hill after dinner. Everyone had a great time.

I really appreciate being able to go home and have something fun to do with the kids that also allows them to play and visit with their cousins. I know it seems like a ton of people but when you come from a family with 10 kids you just learn to add one more. Sometimes I think the in-laws get a little wide eyed. I know I yelled from the top of the hill to one of my kids and I think I scared the sh^& out of Uncle Dale but everyone else just kept eating!

The kids all paired up into their age group and played. I don't think I heard any fighting and pretty much everyone shared toys and bikes. It was a great time had by all....Thanks Paul and Linda for another great Labor Day weekend!