HAPPY EASTER 2007

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE.....from all of us to all of you!!!!

GABRIELLA....

NICHOLAS...

AND ISABELLA...

Hollywood

This is how we go to school Hollywood Style...

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!

Pictures from Glamis 2007

Jeffrey at the top of a dune. The dunes went for miles.


DUNES, DUNES, DUNES..

The only picture of Jeff and I.

Jeffrey climbing Competition Hill.

Vacation???

Well, about one month ago, Jeff and I did the unexpected and went on vacation without the children. A little nerve wracking for me but I knew that I needed to do it. It isn't often that I ever leave my children (let alone for a week). ANYWAY, we were gearing up for the trip of a lifetime.

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Jan and we always said we would go to Hawaii. We both kind of felt that was too far in case something happened with the children. So, we headed for Glamis, CA!!! WAY south and NOTHING but sand. It is actually where they filmed a lot of the early Star Wars movies. So after months of hype, we were ready to go!!! FABULOUS TRIP!!! NOT!!!

Before we even leave, Jeff busts out the rear windshield in the truck trying to hook up the fifth wheel. This should have been a premonition. Here's the rest....

2...Our friends were a couple hours late but Jeff and I went to breakfast.
3...The right tire on the trailer BLOWS OUT!!!
4...Fix it but there is a HUGE bubble on the other right tire...double axle.
5..We are stranded at a Home Depot parking lot for two hours waiting for someone to find us a tire.
6..After waiting, there is NO TIRE in Southern CA....nice...we start driving!!!
7..Got to our first destination at midnight...about 6 hours later than planned.
WAKE UP ON SUNDAY
8. No tire anywhere in the area...we drive and take a chance...again.
9. We make it to Glamis, unpack the quads, and head out for a ride....Jeremy rolls his brand new-never ridded before-quad all the way down a HUGE dune.
10. Jeremy and Misty also brought a brand new-never ridden before-rhino (glorified golf cart made for the sand) and something wasn't working on it so they couldn't ride it.
11. Jeremy WAY HOT but he and Jeff fix what they can on the quad.
MONDAY!!!
12. Jeremy's back hurts and he is laid up and we don't see him for 2 days.
13. Aunt Flo decides she wants to be on vacation with me. Again, nice.
14. My kids are with Grandma and Papa and are sick the entire week. Colds, high fevers.
SEEMS LIKE NOT ENOUGH TIME GOES BY
15. Thursday night the wind picks up REAL BAD. A wind storm developed so we decided to leave early Friday afternoon and head to Palm Springs for a good night out.
16. Jeff and I run out of gas 2 miles from the gas station...really not a big deal because we had gas in the back of the truck. We just thought we would try to make it.
17. Jeremy gets back in the truck after helping pour gas in our truck...breaks serpentine belt on his truck...no AC, no power steering, and oh yes, NO BRAKES.
18. Make it to the gas station (us), side of the road (them), find a belt, go get it, try for 2 hours to fix it...break another part of the truck...now we need towed!!!
19. Can't find a big enough tow truck so Jeff takes Misty and her trailer to the casino 15 miles away, comes back and gets our trailer (me in it) and goes to the casino, mealwhile, Jeremy gets towed to a garage.
20. We are at the casino determined not to let this break our spirits so we go to dinner at 11:00 pm.
21. Jeff and Jeremy drive for an hour towards home Saturday morning to get the part for his truck, drive an hour back, wait 30 minutes until it is put on, and we head home. We finally got home around midnight.

Quite the trip but not really how any of us thought it would be. We need a vacation from our so-called vacation. We are definitely going to try to do this one over. Anyone willing to watch my children for a week????

I think I can

Isabella wanted SO BADLY to climb the rock wall like the other children but was having a difficult time because of her socks.

After trying repeatedly, she finally asked me if it was OK for her to take off her socks

Climbing like a champion.

SHE DID IT!!!!

WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

Pee Wee bike race

A couple weekends ago, Nicholas and Isabella...and a group of their friends...participated in a Pee Wee classic race. This was the third year for Nicholas (the first without training wheels) and the second year for Isabella. The first two years I tried to walk/run alongside the children and get them on video and it didn't work out so well for me. This year I stood at the finish line and tried to capture all of them coming across the finish line but that didn't work out so well either. (Totally operator error...I thought I pushed REC but instead pushed PAUSE...bummer). The race is halfway around a city block and they did real well. Nicholas goes as fast as he can and Isabella takes her good ole time taking in the scenery as she goes. Such the Sunday driver!!!

Anyway, here is a picture of them before the start of the race. Isabella is 665, Trevor is 653, Nicholas is 666, and Carter is 654. Did I get the luck of the draw or what??? Poor Nicholas...he actually thought all of the sixes were cool since he'll be six on his next birthday. WHEW!!!!

I want to be like DAD

Every day BEFORE Jeffrey goes to work, he completes a little routine. He showers, brushes his teeth, does his hair, gets dressed, etc.

Every day AFTER Jeffrey goes to work, Nicholas completes the same routine, only modified. He will say goodbye to his Dad, go to his room, and reappear in jeans and a white tee-shirt. He walks straight to our room where he, too, will put gel in his hair, brush his hair, brush his teeth and sometimes put on Jeffrey's deodorant.

Today was a little different. He did all of the above but it took him a little longer than usual. I thought, "What is taking him so long?" but I must have said this outloud because Isabella said something about a bloody lip. "What bloody lip?" As fast as the signal went from my brain to my legs to RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN, I ran as fast as I could.

By the time I reached the bathroom, he already had a band-aid on his chin but it was full of blood and still coming out by his chin. OH MY GOSH!!! I said nothing to him except that I needed to see the cut. You see, this was the day that he took his primping routine a little further and thought he should add shaving to his regiment. After inspecting the cut, I was able to determine that as soon as the razor touched his face and cut him (I'm guessing immediately), he stopped what he was doing and tried to doctor himself up.

He was left with two small cuts on his chin and a promise to go to Target this weekend and find a child's razor.

The game is on:

Describe ME in one word.... just one single word. Send it to me and to me only. Then send this message to all your friends and see how many strange & interesting things they say about you. This is really fun.Here's how:1. Hit the reply key and send me my one word.2. Then return to this message, and forward it to your friends (including me) and see what people say about you when limited to one word !!!

The Game is On !!!

I have sent this out to some of the people in my address book and this is what I've gotten back.

April Lynn...funny
Pap...thoughtful
Grove...bubbly
Magz...sunshine
Louie...loving
Dana...amazing
Laura Jean...hysterical
Robin...compassionate

You guys sure do know how to make a girl feel loved!!!!

:-)

Kindergarten

OK...Weird Mother moment. I had to go to the local Elementary school today and sign Nicholas up for Kindergarten. I was actually doing fine with it until I realized last night that it was today. The testing and everything is April 30th but actual registration was this morning. Why was it so bizarre for me to do this? Hard to believe that my little man is growing up. I guess it only gets worse from here. :-(

Conversation with Bella

Every morning my children ask for their milk as they are the biggest milk drinkers ever. So much so that I go through a gallon a day...no lie. Anyway, this morning was no different but the conversation was.

Bella..."Mommy, can I have my milk?"
Me..."Sure Isabella. You want the milk from a goat (joking)?"
Bella..."Mommy...(getting slightly irritated).
Me..."Does milk come from a goat?"
Bella..."No."
Me..."Does milk come from a pig?"
Bella..."No."
Me..."Does milk come from a chicken."
Bella..."No."
Me..."Bella, where does milk come from?"
Bella..."A CUP!!!"

Life is so simple when your 3!!!

Wheel of Fortune

Just for fun, I am spending the entire day Saturday trying out for the Wheel of Fortune. There are three games held both Saturday and Sunday so I'm going to try my luck and see how I do.
WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Gabby

It seems lately that every time I get to post a picture of all of us, Gabby is either sleeping or not in the picture. SO.....Here are a couple pictures of the little girl.

She is taking steps these days but still has no real interest in walking. She does fine when she is holding on to someone's hand but not independently. Think she'll walk to preschool???


Wearing Nicholas's hat.


Waiting patiently for lunch...

Just out of the bath and having crazy hair.

Cousins plus 3, 4, or 5!!!!

HOLY SMOKES!!!! Well, Nicholas, Isabella, and Gabby are about to be BOMBARDED with a group of new cousins. How many???? WELL.....

Uncle Jeff (my brother) and Amy are expecting twins and are due the beginning of August. (Of course I'm secretly hoping they will be born while I'm home in July.) Is it still a secret if I publish here??? HMMM??? They will find out the sex of the twins April 2 if everyone cooperates!!

Aunt Jenni (Jeff's sister) and Uncle Randy found out yesterday that after months of trying, they are pregnant!!!! The verdict is still out on how many embryos are growing but the possibilities are either 1, 2, or 3!!! They will find out on the 28th how many babies she is carrying. Back to my original HOLY SMOKES!!!

We had dinner last night , luckily Jeffrey had the night off, and we celebrated the good news. We are all jumping for joy around here and waiting EVER SO PATIENTLY for babies to be born!!! How many...I'll keep you posted!!! Congrats to all of you!!!!


Drinking champagne...Jenni and Randy, I drank (actually sipped) JUST FOR YOU!!!!


Raising our glasses and celebrating the new parents and babies.

Nicholas and Isabella enjoying their dinner. Gabby was already sleeping!!!

Jeff Gordon and Spidey

I have been away for far too long. So much to write and talk about. I'll update as time allows! For now, look who I hung out with ALL DAY Sunday (yesterday)!!!!

Two things

Two Names You Go By:
1. Michelle
2. Mom

Two Parts of Your Heritage:
1. Christmas eve dinner
2. Pazelles

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Workout pants
2. Blue jacket

Two Things You Would Want in a Relationship:
1. Fun
2. Honesty

Two of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1. Cross stitching
2. Reading

Two Things You Want Really Badly At The Moment:
1. Jeep
2. Sleep

Two pets you had/have:
1. Sammy girl (cat)
2. Daytona (dog)

Two people you talked to today:
1. Dailann
2. Jeffrey

Two things you did last night:
1. meeting at 6:00
2. put clean flannel sheets on everyone's bed

Two people that live in your house:
1. Nicholas
2. Isabella and Gabby

Two things you ate today:
1. apple
2. Oatmeal

Two people you miss:
1. My Mom
2. Tommy Boy

Two Things You’re doing tomorrow:
1. Working out at 5:00am
2. Dance class for Isabella

Two vacations you’ve been on:
1. Hawaii
2. Ohio

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Valentine's Day
2. Christmas

Two favorite Alcoholic beverages:
1. This is
2. HILARIOUS for me :-) I don't drink

Two bands you have seen live:
1. Def Leppard (first)
2. Tim McGraw

Two things you will do after you finish this survey:
1. Pick up my children from school
2. Do some more paperwork on my taxes

I have managed to marry someone that is the exact opposite of me....where movies are concerned anyway. He has seen every movie, can quote most, and regularly does..as does his entire family.

TV and movies were not a big thing in my house growing up. I remember The Cosby Show, 911 (my mother insisted we watch that WITH her because of what COULD happen), and Guiding Light (I learned the word vasectomy and asked my mother what it meant when she came home that night from work. I'm sure she was horrified and I wonder if she remembers). Mom???

Well, because I constantly hear, "What, you haven't seen that movie?" , I thought I would take this little quiz (lifted from a friend's blog) and see how I did. Maybe I have seen more movies than I thought. There are 239 movies listed and I marked the ones I have seen.

READY???

(X) Grease
() Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total so far: 3

(X) The Princess Bride
(X) AnchorMan
() Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
() Saw
(X) Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 7

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10

() Harry Potter 1
() Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
()Little Black Book
()The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 11

(X) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(X) White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
(X) I, Robot
()Robots
Total so far: 15

(X) Dodgeball
()Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snickt: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() King Kong
Total so far: 20

() A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
()Surviving X-Mas
() Flubber
Total so far: 22


()Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
()Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 23

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 26

(X) Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
()Lucky Number Slevin
(X) Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean's Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star: State of mind
() Bedazzled
() Predator
() Predator II
() The Fog
() Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 30

(X) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(X) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 34

() Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
(X) Calendar Girls
() Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
Total so far: 38

() X-Men
() X-Men 2
() X-Men 3
(X) Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 42

(X) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
(X) The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old-virgin
Total so far: 45

() Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
() Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Raiders of the Lost Ark
() Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
() Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 46

() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devil's Rejects
() Elf
()Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(X) American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 47

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(X) Monsters inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Dawn Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 50

() High Tension
() Club Dread
() The Hulk
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Hook
() Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 Days Later
() Orgazmo
() Phantom of the Opera
() Waterworld
Total so far: 50

(X) Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 51

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
()Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 57

(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America World Police
() Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Ending Total: 60

I have seen 60 movies out of 239. Sad, huh? I guess I need to start renting more. I am a Movie Flunkie :-(

The beach

We just spent our long weekend at the beach. Each of the children did different things but they all had a great time.

Gabriella...
She and I drove up together Friday night and she does quite well in the car for a four hour drive. She got her third tooth Saturday and we played indoors because it was cold and windy. Sunday was a beautiful day and we got to hang out outside. She wanted to grab a hold of Lassie (our friend's dog) so badly and when she crawled over to her, she got a first class doggie kiss. She loved the sand though and only played in it, didn't eat it!



Isabella...
She loves the beach and the sand and gets upset when she has to come indoors. I bundled her up and she played all day Saturday and Sunday, despite the cold. She didn't ride her quad very much but played with Kelsey and kendall (other friend's daughters). She did, however, break her New Year's resolution to not pee in her pants. She tried and I know it can be hard to stop having fun and go to the bathroom. There is always next year baby!!! At least you made it this long!!!



Nicholas...
This child LOVES his quad. He didn't ride as much as he usually does because of the cold but when he did ride, Holy Smokes!!! Check out what he learned to do!!!





Happy Weekend for us!!!!

Perfect world...

Blog prompt idea: "Patterning"

Make a list in which you repeat the same form of words to introduce each item. For example:

Some sentence starter ideas:
"I want..."
"I don't want..."
"My life is..."
"I wish I could..."
"In my perfect world..."
"Today I am..."
"Today I am not..."
"I'm going to go out there and..."
"When I reach the top of the mountain..."
__________________

Because one of my favorite things to say is "In a perfect world", I will reflect on that.

In a perfect world, I would be my ideal weight.
In a perfect world, the house-keeping fairy would visit at least every other day.
In a perfect world, socks would always come out of the dryer in pairs. (I need to invent something that keeps them together.)
In a perfect world, my children would follow every rule that they've been taught.
In a perfect world, I would not get frustrated with my children.
In a perfect world, things would take care of themselves. Lawn, cars, repairs, etc.
In a perfect world, Jeff and I would only have to raise our children.
In a perfect world, I would read or cross stitch more.
In a perfect world, home would be a car ride away.
In a perfect world, the world would be perfect.

This could go on for a while....

My $79.99 headache

Christmas morning came and I was so excited about everything. The gifts for the kids, the looks on their faces, and basically the entire day. Nicholas has been wanting a gameboy for a while now because his friend at school has one. See, when their sisters go to dance class (they are at the same time but not the same class), Nicholas sits and watches his friend play. So, naturally, Nicholas would want one too.
Isabella is into little dolls, lip gloss, shoes, and dress up. Jeffrey decided that she would love a little jewelery box so we bought one and filled it with rings, bracelets, necklaces, and whatever else would fit.
Christmas morning comes. Nicholas wakes us up first and then he wakes Isabella. SANTA CAME!!! SANTA CAME!!!
Groggy eyed and wearing new jammies from Grandma Cheyann (they opened them the night before), they got ready to dig in. I've been anticipating this all night!!WAIT...What happened?!?!?!?!
Nicholas came across his game boy and didn't want to open anything else. Isabella saw the game boy and wanted nothing to do with anything that belonged to her. The grouchies began. She wanted his toy and there was nothing we could do to distract her...we tried!!!
After about 30 minutes of Nicholas playing his game and Isabella crying about it, they came to an agreement. She could play with his game boy if he could open all of her presents. Guess whose idea that was? Guess who fell for it??? Well, it worked. TEMPORARILY.
I listened to grumpiness for two whole days about that game. He wanted to play, she wanted to play, whose game it was, and who got to make the rules about it. OH MY HEAVENS!!
On the third day, I got ready to run errands with one goal in mind...the unthinkable. I went straight to Target and bought another game boy. His is blue and hers is pink. I no longer hear anything out of either of them concerning the games and they play pretty peacefully...together.
That was the best, and the most expensive, $79.99 aspirin I have ever taken. Whew!!!

Baby steps

Most major goals are achieved through small victories. What little things can you do to meet your goals? (DSP Prompt)

WELL, so far, so good...for my goal of getting healthier. I went and worked out this morning, made my workout schedule for the rest of the week, and came home and cleared everything sweet out of this house. Lots of candy and cookies came into the house for the holidays and it is now safely tucked away in the trash.

Secondly, I am fighting off every urge to eat chips with my sandwich but instead have a piece of fruit. I'm sure it will get easier but it is hard right this moment.

Lastly, for keeping in touch, I called an old friend yesterday but had to leave a message and I've been pretty good about updating this blog.

What's the date???? Just kidding...I CAN do this!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

We had a great end to 2006 and a wonderful start to 2007.

Family came over for pasta, crab and games. Juliette took Uncle Mario and Aunt Shelly home (because they were tired) but not before the girls came from far behind in a game of Scene It only to lose by one in a tie breaker. Bummer!! I'm sure there will be a rematch. Gabby hung until 9:00, Nicholas and Isabella gave up shortly after 10:00, and Grandma, Papa, and Grandma Rose made it to 10:ish. Jeff, John, and I watched tv for the next 2 hours and rang in the New Year with champagne, neighbors, and hugs at midnight. Great night!!! Great laughs!!! Great memories!!!!

As for resolutions, I hope to be healthier and better myself somehow. Hopefully stay in touch with friends, far and near, a little better. My children came up with unusual resolutions themselves this afternoon. Nicholas hopes to 1..not break any glass and 2...not be around any cigarette smoke. (Not sure where either of them came from but OK.) Isabella's resolutions are 1...be a good friend and 2...not pee in her pants. How simple things are sometimes. We all need goals.

A few pictures of our party...

Three ladies patiently waiting for dinner.


Gabriella in her party hat.


Sitting down to dinner.


Happy New Year to all of you!!!!

Distraught Isabella

While Isabella was standing and playing in the shower, I thought I would get a couple things done. Nicholas was playing quietly and Gabby was taking her first nap. I did laundry, cleaned bedrooms, made beds, and started cleaning the kitchen when she started crying and screaming. My thoughts went straight to the temperature of the water changing which would make her unhappy. I raced in there to find her cowering in the corner of the shower (it's glass) and she was clearly distraught. When I asked her what was wrong she said...

"It's raining in the shower!!! The droplets are sprinkling on me!!!"

Call me crazy but I had to hold back every effort to laugh my head off. :-) I then went into the whole purpose of a shower which I thought she already knew. She's only been showering for 2 years mind you. Apparently she needed retaught. She proceeded to get out but was clearly unharmed. She asked to get back in first thing this morning.

Father/Son Jedi Knights

Who knew that Nicholas and Jeff had Jedi powers???

They have been playing X-Box Star Wars for two hours and shouting funny little things along the way.

"Hit the green things, don't hit the holes, follow me, here we go, stay to the right, try not to get shot, go to the left...oh I crashed. We have to start over."

Maybe they are missing their Jedi powers after all. Keep searching boys!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you



Happy Birthday to you



Happy Birthday to Gabriella



Happy Birthday to you!!!!



Where did the time go???

Meeting of the minds

It's all in who you know. Guess who showed up at my Christmas Party for the preschoolers and daycare??? What do you think they are talking about???

Only 5???

Tell us about five accomplishments from this past week. Big or small!


WOW..
1. Got my family packed for vacation...they left this morning and I will meet them tonight. Heading to the beach to ride quads!!
2. Cooked a Thanksgiving feast for my school Thursday. Thirty one people attended and the turkey (one was 25 lbs, the other 22) was delicious. Complete with pumpkin pie which I can't stand!!! YUCKY!!!!
3. Found my laundry room floor. I thought it was linoleum, I just haven't been able to find it for a couple weeks now. All laundry complete!!!
4. Isabella was on time for dance (FU-FU LAND WE CALL IT) and Nicholas was on time for his pizza party/trophy presentation Thursday night.
5. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT you ask??? I have managed to stay relatively healthy while wiping snot from every preschooler who has entered my home. Oh yes, and the one that was sent home with a 103 fever and another who was sent home covered in hives!!!

COUGH COUGH... Oh NO!!! Maybe I spoke too soon!!!!

Sing it with me...

It's the end of the world as we know it...



It's the end of the world as we know it...



It's the end of the world as we know it...



I feel fine!!!

She has mastered crawling and quickly disappears out of rooms. :-)

The book I'm reading right now/just read is teaching me...



I read this book about a year ago and LOVED it...amidst all of the controversy. I couldn't put it down and have let friends borrow it who have said the same thing. It was strictly "for fun" reading. I remember thinking that this man has gone through so much and had the strength to go through so much more because of pure determination. He is recovering and will continue to battle demons every day of his life. What a heavy load. I wish I had that strength.

Secondly, in the book he meets a man who becomes his friend...Leonard. I learned that friends will get you through a LOT in life and mine continuously do. For all of my friends out there, Thank you!!!! May everyone be so lucky to have a friend!!!

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel...My Friend Leonard...over Christmas break!!!

On another note, I've gotten a lot of comments on writing a children's book. You've all inspired me!! Any ideas how I go about that are GREATLY appreciated.

Two memories

Two for Tuesday:

Tell us about two memories from two years ago...2004

WOW...One memory that stands out in my head is Nicholas starting school. He was about to turn three and his first year of preschool was about to get under way. SOOOOO much work to be done. We were potty training and boys are not easy. He did pretty well but we still have issues to this day. See, Nicholas and Isabella were blessed with the gift of small bladders like their mother. I know he tried his best but it took a while. I also remember walking him to school...two miles...and Isabella (15 months) was in the stroller. They LOVED that!




Memory #2...also school related...breaking Nicholas of his addiction....PACIFIERS!! Holy Smokes!!! I had no idea how I was going to do this! I put my thinking cap on and that was the day the Pacifier Fairy was born. (Numerous books have been written about her in my head). We walked around the house the Saturday before school was to start and collected all of the pacifiers in sight. Picture me on my hands and knees helping to look because he hid them in "special spots". Anyway, he went to bed that night with ALL of them...there had to be at least 15. A little boy, growing up, about to start school, sleeping in his big boy bed surrounded by 14 pacifiers, and sucking on the lucky 15th.

NOW THE HARD PART!!!!

I gave myself until midnight when I would go in a strip him of his addiction...an intervention of some sort. TALK ABOUT GUILT!!! It was very hard for me to walk into his room and take them. I built up the courage and made myself do it. I walked in and there he was...all of them either on the floor or at the foot of his bed. Not one in his hand or mouth. GEEZ!!! I had guilt for nothing. I collected all of them, put them in a ziploc, and covered him up with a new blanket that I made for him.

After two days he didn't ask anymore where they were. I don't know if he was just ready or the Pacifier Fairy made the transition a little easier. At any rate, he grew up and my little fairy has to make one more trip to our house.

As a side note, I just found the "ziploc o' pacifiers" when my family was in Oregon and I was purging my home. Has it really been that long??? Bye Bye pacifiers!!!

Soccer

Nicholas's soccer season came to an end today. He managed to go an entire season without scoring a goal but we are talking about the importance of team effort...they only lost 2 games...and not necessarily individual effort. It was his first time playing soccer and he loved it so next year he may have better luck. Here are a couple highlights.....

Some of his biggest fans. Mommy, Daddy, Isabella, Grandma Carol, Papa, and Grandma Rose were his cheering section.



Running down field after the ball.



Scoring a goal during warm ups.



My little soccer player ready for Game 1.

TGIF

Yesterday we had the Thursday Thirteen, today let's have Fabulous Friday!!

Tell us about something FABULOUS in your life right now!

Well, I didn't realize that I had today off until a couple of days ago so that in itself is fabulous!! Happy Friday to me!!!! Other than that, my children have been wanting to go to the park and the nights...when I'm able to go... get so dark so early. This morning, Jeffrey let me sleep in, take a shower ALONE, and I took the kids to the park for 2 hours. I let them decide when it was time to go home.

Fabulous day all around!!!!

TGIF everyone!!!!

Thirteen

There are a bunch of bloggers that participate in a meme called the Thursday Thirteen. Today, you're joining them!

You can write about any subject, but you have to think up 13 things.


Examples:
13 things about me.
13 things I like about living where I do
13 things my children say that crack me up
13 things to do this weekend.


Got it? GO!
This could take a minute...

Thirteen things my children are doing...

Nicholas is tying his own shoes.
Isabella zipped her own jacket.
Gabriella got her first tooth Sunday.
Nicholas can swing himself on the swings.
Isabella climbed a high ladder to get to the slide...way high.
Gabriella started crawling yesterday.
Nicholas made dinner for the family last night...fondue.
Isabella "washed" her own hair in the shower.
Nicholas is addicted to K-Nex and wants to build from morning til night.
Isabella swears she is a princess..but refuses to kiss her Dad.
Gabriella is NOT sleeping again but I'm sure it's teeth related.
Nicholas and Isabella are at school and...
Gabriella is waking up from her nap.

WHEW!!! That was exhausting. They are growing too fast!!!

HOT ROD, PINK FLOYD,and HEY 19

MUSIC—What are your early memories of music? What kind did you/do you prefer? Have your tastes changed over the years?

This was WAY fun for me to remember. For some reason, these three memories all include one specific apartment that my parents lived in when I was small.

I have no idea how old I was but it was old enough to appreciate some music...definitely under the age of 10. My father was the one who listened to music in our home. I can clearly remember him calling me to lay across my parent's bed, head on the pillows, at which point he put these HUGE headphones on my ears. These are the 70's version, puffy foam of some sort, and they were WAY bigger than my head. He would make me close my eyes and he wanted me to focus on the different instruments that were playing, isolated and together. No wonder the music sounded so good...it was going through every pore on my head!!! Hot Rod Stewart and Pink Floyd always bring the memory of gigantic foamy headsets to the fore-front of my brain!!!

Another time, could have been the next day for all I know, both Mom and Dad brought back a record (HOLY SMOKES) for me to listen on the record player. I couldn't believe I got my very on 45!! (I am cracking myself up remembering what a huge dork I must have been :-) )Anyway, the title was Hey 19 and I couldn't get over the fact that they bought a record of a song that I didn't even know. They made me play it and I was excited that I did know it...had only been singing the wrong words and didn't know I knew it!!! (YES, CONFIRMED DORK)

The third (apparently dorkish memory) is of my cousins and I. There are three of us and we are fairly close together in age. Our parents must have been together for the day or something but the three of us decided that we were going to make up a dance and put on a show for our parents. (These days, choreograph.) I can still remember some of the motions to Pat Benetar's "Another One Bites the Dust."

My tastes in music have changed as I now listen to country but I can't resist driving in the car or cleaning my house and jamming to the good stuff. Anyone remember The Little River Band???

Here we are..

Here are a couple pictures since we have been home. I'll update the trip, etc another time.

My trick or treaters...




The pumpkin patch...

Listen

What can you hear right now, right where you're sitting? See how detailed you can get.

There are 11 children in my house right now and here is what I hear.

Inside...Six are in the living room and all I can hear is quiet breathing. The occasional roll-over, laugh, or chatter of a two year old's dreams are coming but all is quiet there. Three are in another room and I hear silence. One is in the bassinet and I hear him sucking his tiny thumb. Gabriella is trying to fall asleep so she is "singing" and banging the blinds off of her crib. Oh wait...QUIET!!! (Listening closer) She's almost asleep.

Outside...a garbage truck is about two streets over, big diesel engine, shaking the trash out of cans, and dropping them violently against the black top. The rain is flowing down the drain pipes making a clank as it hits the elbow of the drain..need to put a sponge in there..from a rain that started at 4:00 this morning.

My fingers are tapping on the keys as I update my blog and my brain is screaming out the list of things I have to do before I leave in the morning. I should go and try to accomplish some of them...silence the racket in my head!!!!!

Go With this

Happy Birthday to me...tomorrow.

Someone sent this to me and what great timing. Let's go with 26!!!! I'm good with that!!!!!

You Are 26 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

5 minutes

Let go and write whatever!!! But only for five minutes. After that put your pen, errrr, your fingers down and don't go back to fix anything!

It's a timed assignment, but you're on the honor system, no cheating!

My life lately is mostly lists....

Go to the bank before vacation
Call in the school book order
Clean up
Wash preschoolers sheets Thursday night
Dinner with a friend tonight (she's making my chocolate cake)
Dinner with different friends tomorrow night (another chocolate cake)
(Had dinner with my in-laws last night...the first of three chocolate cakes)
HAPPY GIRL...TOO much cake!!!!
Pack for me and Gabriella
Grocery store for food for the school next week
Plan menus for Assistant to follow
Not enough time for picking up Gabriella's birth certificate so I'll take her shot records.
Gas in the car for the drive to the airport
Pack Special treats for the kids
Make last minute instructions for Assistant
Cancel newspaper
Ask Paul to water the front yard...sprinklers are broken
Then...five minutes are up...

Tagged

Back on October 1, I was tagged but am just now getting around to responding. Sorry Elizabeth :-(

Here are the rules:
Make a list of 5 weird/odd things about you, then tag 5 people.

1. I can't stand spiders or snakes.
2. I eat Doritos on my bologna sandwiches. A friend did it in the 8th grade and I have done it since...MANY, MANY years ago!!!
3. I have the ability to crack myself up...almost daily! No one else may see the humor in something but I find it hysterical. I get this from my Mother!!! :-)
4. I love getting in the car and going for a drive. Turn up the music, jam, and find new places and new things.
5. I LOVE my birthday! (It's tomorrow) Sometimes it's the only time I hear from friends who have busy lives. Glad they take the time to think of me!!! Can't wait to see who calls!!! :-)

Spread the love

Today's prompt
Today is my (Meg's) anniversary, so help me spread the love!

Celebrate your relationship with someone in your life. It doesn't have to be a spouse, it could be kids, parents, or even the mail carrier that waves to you everyday!

I choose my husband and my children. This Friday I am flying to Oregon to finally catch up with the rest of my family. Jeffrey is approaching three weeks of Daddy-time with our older two and I have had Mommy-time with Gabriella. All of us will be together Friday night just in time for bath, storytime, and bed. (Something tells me that the children will be up a little later that night.) At any rate, here is the update!!!

Nicholas's bedroom no longer has stripes and is now the same color as my bedroom. Don't ask!!! His new bed is getting delivered today and his room will officially be finished. My bedroom and bathroom are painted and pictures hung on the wall thanks to my neighbor Craig. Just as he was hanging them, the electricity went out due to a storm but he persevered. No one will notice if they are crooked, right??? (Just kidding). Every room has been purged of excess stuff and I am left with three nights of cleaning to make sure everything is in it's place before Jeff and the kids see it. I'll update later with a "They love it/hate it" post.

I am excited to see my family. I haven't spoken to the children in about three days...not even for two minutes.. because they are busy having fun. I barely even speak to Jeff. It will be nice to have conversations with them again. A 14 hour car ride on the way home will take care of that. By the time we get home on Sunday, I'll be talked out, my ears will be ringing, and I'll be asking them to be quiet...for just two minutes!!! :-)