Wash, Dry, Repeat!

Why haven't I posted in a week?

My banister looked like this at least three times in the past week alone:

Let me tell ya..... If I win the lotto, i'll keep my job but no matter what will hire someone to DO THE LAUNDRY!!!!!

Belated Mother's Day

I could write something profound in honor of Mother's Day, but instead I'm going to let Kid President do it:

Couldn't have said it better, right!??!!?
I LOVE HIM!!!

Thanks Angie for this gift on Mother's Day!

WOW!....what a weekend.

Whew.....I'm pooped! (And so are ALL members of the fam.)
Our weekend was a blur.  Honestly can't even tell you what I did Friday night....really...my short term memory is not holding up well.

Saturday, we had to divide and conquer.
Ed and E left at 6:30am for her first track meet.  She did the long jump, 400m and 800m.  Considering she is 'new' to the concept of track and competing individually, she did AMAZING!  No, she didn't place, but with only 3 practices under her belt, we are certain she will keep improving. We are extremely proud of her!!  I was really impressed by her determination.  It's going to fun watching her develop throughout the season.  The next meet is Sunday the 19th.....looking forward to capturing some pics of her in action!

While they were at the meet, H, EIV and I tackled a soccer game.  Holy Moly....the wind was out of control.  So much so, that EIV could barely kick a ball across the field.  Needless to say, it was not the most enjoyable game. 

Then we were off to the races ~ no, not the track meet ~ rather, the driving race across the state.
First trip to Howells to celebrate my two cousins' graduations.  So proud of both of them!!  And we got to spend time with nearly my entire family.  It was a great party (way to go Chris!!!).
Then packed back up in the car to drive 75 miles, where we met up with Ed and E for a family friend's graduation party.  This party was packed with 'family' from Vegas.  It was so nice to visit with them. 

My Mother's Day started at exactly 2:36am, when H decided to get the flu.  Spent the next hour and a half in the bathroom with her.  Fun, right!??!?!?! NOT!!!
So that meant Mother's Day was spent at home, in my jammies, nearly all day. 
It worked!  It was low key and good.
My babies blessed me with tons of cards, beautiful tulips (My fave!!!!), and good behavior!

Then we got to end the weekend with a date :)
Our dear friend (that we consider FAMILY) whom we met when we lived next to each other in Vegas was performing in Omaha.  It's been WAY TOO MANY YEARS since we have seen him.  He's awesome. We love him.  And were so blessed to be together. Check him out. http://ralphharris.com/

So....how was your weekend?

He can!

Something  simple for today:

I can't
God Can!
I'll let Him!

Doesn't matter what the topic (parenting, relationships, work, life in general)
When I Let Go and Let God.....He always takes care of it.  He always takes care of me!
It's pretty awesome!

I wear my sunglasses....

Didn't the title of this post make you start singing...
        "I wear my sunglasses at night,
         so I can, so I can
         Watch you weave
         Then breathe your story lines
         And I wear my sunglasses at night
         So I can, so I can"
Thank you Corey Hart....and the 80's!

Ok, enough singing..

We are REFUSING (or at least trying!) to let this freaky, weirdo weather get us down.
So we went out and bought some new shades:

(She is throwing me a peace sign... Just didnt get it all in the photo!!)

Sunshine!

We have had a horrible, awful spring (if you can even call it that) this year. 
The average temp in April is in the 60's...this year, I doubt the average has even been 45. 
What the Heck?!?!?!?!?!?!?  Why did we leave the warmth of Vegas? 
I've asked myself that many, many, many times this past month!

The only good thing about not seeing the sun for nearly an entire month is that it gave me the opportunity to teach my kids a fond song from my youth:

Oh Mister Sun, Sun.
Mister Golden Sun.
Please shine down on me?

Oh Mister Sun, Sun.
Mister Golden Sun.
Hiding behind the tree.

These little children
are asking you.
To please come out
so we can play with you.

Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun.
Please shine down on me?

Then this past weekend happened.
It was PERFECT. BEAUTIFUL. WARM.

I did everything in my power (including saying no to laundry) to be outside and soak up the sunshine.
Saturday we had swimming and soccer.  Went for three walks throughout the day. Had picnic for lunch. Mowed and trimmed the lawn. Opened the windows. Spent some much needed time with our neighbors on the patio.  Oh, it felt so good.

Sunday we did spring cleaning at my parents lake.  We spent basically all day (9am-8pm) outside! Yay!!  Ed even came home with a sunburn.

John Denver was right.....Sunshine on my shoulders DOES make me happy!
Monday and today are gorgeous too!!  It was 70 degrees at 5am this morning during my walk!  Hallelujah!
And I got to eat lunch OUTSIDE in the SUN with two dear friends.

Now. check out the forecast for the rest of the week:

courtesy of wowt.com

Please kill me now.
I have a SEVERE case of Seasonal affective disorder......also called SAD.......because it makes people (myself included) SAD and CRAZY and CRANKY.

Go away cold weather.
Go far far away.

Last before this

My summary of last weekend was obviously postponed due to the two videos in my previous posts. 
Don't know how I'm going to compete with those.

I woke up this morning basically saying 'crap...I need to post about last weekend before it is this weekend"..so here we go.   Settle in....it's got some length.

I thought my weekend had started out pretty good when the kids and I dined at Subway Friday evening.  Pretty low key, the kids were great and we got home pretty much at the time to get ready for bed...yay...because momma was tired.
Around 8:45, things took a dreaded turn.  E very quietly asked me to come upstairs. There was no urgency in her voice, so I likely hesitated a minute longer than usual.  When I saw her on the top of the stairs, she had an entire bottle of blue finger nail polish cupped in her hands.  I rushed up the stairs (who knew I was so fast? ha!), put my hands under hers and hurried to the bathroom. 
Now my hands AND her hands were covered, literally dripping, with blue polish. Oh dear Lord, help me, was my first thought.
I got our hands in the sink, assessed that there was a baseball-sized spot on the comforter (bummer!!) and EIV had some on his hands as well.  I grab an old towel and rushed to my 2 y/o before we had polish everywhere......got him.  Then spent the next 30 minutes (which felt like an eternity) rubbing E and my hands with remover. Ouch!  Amidst the scrubbing, H got a pretty little lecture about leaving the nail bucket on the floor (violation of one of the many polish rules in our home) and I asked her to put it away immediately, which she complied, but I did not watch her do (important for 2nd half of the story).
Since my hands were a pretty shade of bold blue, there are no pictures.
Only casualty was E and my raw hands and an old comforter (that can be turned over if necessary...or given to the dog). 
Ok, major crisis averted......or so I thought.

About an hour later, with two of the littles tucked in,  I was FINALLY getting around to crawling into my bed, for some snuggle time with E. Opened the hall closet to grab a wash cloth and there was an instantaneous crash.  It was like a split second, but my mind couldn't process what happened, what the heck could be falling from the sky (oops...closet).
I look down and immediately figured out where H had put the bucket from earlier:

Ok, actually these pictures were after:
1. I cried, literally cried.
2. I scooped up as many shards of glass, bottles and handfuls of liquid polish that i could
3. ruined two more towels trying to save my hands
4. text the hubby begging him to call me.  think my text said "worst night EVER, please call me on way home"
5. Stressed/Anxious about how I was going to explain this to Ed
6. Assured E that I was ok (even though I was bawling)

Ok, after an 10:45pm run to Walmart for supplies. We called it a night.  Ed actually were pretty calm about it all (which SHOCKED the heck out of me!). Do you know Ed?  He wipes down his car almost every day and vacuums like he's employed by Merry Maids.
The upstairs smelled like a nail salon and Ed actually said, "I don't think I can sleep up here. The smell is making me sick".  I just thought, 'ya, no crap....pretty sure the hairs in my nose have been fried by the smell of polish and polish remover'

Saturday we went to work.
Everything we read said to let the polish dry first. So we did.
So what worked best:
1. Windex.  yes, Windex (thank you My Big Fat Greek Wedding for teaching us all the Windex solved/works on EVERYTHING!).  Yes, really...after the polish dried, sprayed Windex on the small spots and scrubbed with a brush....it worked.
2. Goo Gone.  aka Miracle worker. 

Here's the stain today:

Pretty AMAZING isn't it.



Saturday was a BIG DAY for me too.
The first annual Heart Heroes, Inc. Family Support Event.
I'm designated as the special events coordinator for Heart Heroes, and this was my inaugural event.
It was a HUGE success!  Nearly 200 heart families attended.  I met lots of new heart moms and dads.
And there were TONS of Heart Heroes sporting their capes (pics to come in future posts).
Special shout out and Thanks to the two amazing and wonderful co-founders (whom I'm blessed to call friends) Kitty and Sondra.

Heart Heroes Inc. is a non-profit organization who's mission is:

To provide support and comfort to children and families affected by Congenital Heart Defects(CHD) through the distribution of superhero capes and other forms of encouragement and inspiration.

I'm SOOOOOO blessed to be apart of this amazing organization.

My Heart Hero, EIV REFUSED to don his cape during the event.

So here's some video of him practicing the week before:

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays!

my heart runneth over with .......pee
Because I've about peed my pants from laughter EVERY SINGLE TIME I watch this video.

WARNING!!!!   WARNING!!!!!  WARNING!!!!
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO WATCH THIS ~ PLEASE SCREEN FIRST!
(get your minds out of the gutters, you naughty peeps, it's not THAT kind of video!)

Harlem shake....Anibal style

Ok....I had a very, very eventful weekend.
Some good, some bad and some GREAT things happened this past weekend.
I planned to blog about it today...but then something better presented itself.

While Ed and i were cleaning up after dinner tonight, we noticed that it got extremely quiet upstairs.   I hurried up to check and was presented with this video.

seriously......it is TOTALLY worth watching the entire video.
Enjoy!!!

just remember

This has been a week filled with sadness
a funeral, a bombing, the death of an 8 year old, explosions, gray skies.....

I find it difficult sometimes, not to worry, not to wonder why
Today  I looked down and saw this note, my note on my desk:

Pretty powerful isn't it.
Simple
Right to the point.

Today when worry creeps in.....you know what to do.

Oh the Thinks you can think

Dr. Seuss photo shoot:

These TOTALLY and COMPLETELY capture E's personality!!!


Thanks Nichole for your creativity and for capturing these awesome moments!

To the next 40.

Yesterday, my big brother turned 40.
WHAT?  REALLY?
Honestly, that simply CANNOT be the case.  I really am having a hard time wrapping my head around that.

I swear it was only yesterday that we ate Scooby Doo cookies in the park or listened to Licensed to Ill literally for 8 hours straight.

I feel like we blinked and went from 20-something to 40 overnight....I guess that's what work, marriage, a handful of kids and LIFE will do to ya!

Just goes to show, how much we need to ENJOY and CHERISH every moment...as they go by quick.(yes...cheesy cliche, I know, I know...)

RJ - Thanks for the 40 years (well, actually only 36 for me!) of memories. 
Thanks for saving me from the Maple Creek all those years ago (and not naming me Moses).
Thanks for so many fun times.
Thanks for the gross-o kisses (you know what I mean!)
Thanks for always protecting me
And remember that I am Thankful that you are my brother.

Hope your birthday was full of blessings.
Here's to 40 more!!  

Shake your booty!

This little dude CRACKS ME UP!!!

Now, you....get up...no matter where you are sitting and SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!!

Weekend.

Hi!
We had a busy weekend. So busy that I didn't snap one single photo (not even with my phone).

Friday night, the kids and I ran to Sam's Club and Fareway.
Nothing says good quality Friday Night Family Fun like a trip to the warehouse store and grocery store. 
They were not stoked.
Trust me.

Saturday was filled with early morning swimming lessons.
They are both getting so good!  I love to swim and am so glad that soon, very soon, my girls will swim right along side me.  Now....actually getting me in a swim suit for that little scenario......is an entirely different story....
Dang, love you warmer weather, but this body has a long way to be ready for a swim suit :) 
(p.s.   SG---it's time to get serious!!)

ok, ok....back to the weekend.

Soccer started for H.  It was club training this week, first game is Wednesday and her dad is making a guest appearance as coach.  That will certainly mean pictures for me!!! yay!!
H was more excited about soccer this year than in the past.  And she's pretty stinkin good too!  Wonder where she gets that from???  Me and my swimsuit-perfect body I'm sure :)  
I about peed, I was laughing so hard right there.....

Then E and I hit up some garage sales!
Woo Hoo!!  Garage sale season is HERE!
I scored 9 BRAND NEW frames for $3/piece. Score!
And a BRAND NEW, tags-still-on, Gap skirt for H for $1.  Score!
And E scored some roller skates.  I LOVE that she wanted roller skates.  

H went to a friend's birthday party/sleepover.
Didn't make the sleepover part.  she "missed my mom too much".  aaaawwww....then I think...."Will they ever get sick of me? "....oh, wait....I already KNOW the answer to that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

E had a friend sleep over at our house.  They had so much fun.  Swim suits in the bath (oops...I meant hot tub!) Jimmy Johns and sleeping in the closet, cuddling with my shoes (YES....really!?!?!?!?)  WTH? is what I thought, but they loved it!!!

Sunday started off right with a dozen donuts!  That's the fancy meal our guest received :)
Ed and I then decided, since drapes were on sale, what the heck...let's give our front room a make-over and that took up the rest of the day.......insert a bike/roller skate ride around the neighborhood and 3 trips to Target too.

What did you do this weekend?
Hope it was fun!  I mean, Sam's Club on a Friday night, sleep in your closet, roller blade around the block kind of fun!!!!

Crammed....

No wonder I didn't get any sleep.

Can you spot the 3 bodies, 8 pillows, one fat dog and the cat?
Check out the spot where I was sleeping on the right.
Awesome, right??

Easter baskets

As promised on Monday,
here are the ONLY Easter pictures I captured.
All were taken prior to 6:18am.
We are all rockin' hot prior to 6:18am!

Epic Easter Fail.

Praise the Lord for He is Risen!!........check.
Buy girls Easter dresses.......check.
Make sure little dude has adorable Easter shirt......check.
Go to church......check.
Stock up on supplies for Easter baskets....check.
Leave out carrots and Cheetos....check.
Stay up late to 'help' with the baskets....check.
Say Happy Birthday to my sis.....check.


Take pictures of children all dressed up......fail.
Get Easter cards out in the mail......fail.   (grandma/pas in NV and CA please accept our apologies)
Color Easter eggs.......fail.  (1st time EVER in my parenting career)
Have an egg hunt at home.....fail.
Go to a community egg hunt.......fail.
Picture of children participating in egg hunt.....fail.  (thank the lord that great grandma scheduled an egg hunt!)
Take an Easter family picture......fail.


SO what did I do:

1. First and foremost.....had the most wonderful, enjoyable Easter at my Grandma/pa's house.  Both are 83 and they still prepared the majority of the meal for nearly 40 people.  I LOVE THEM so much!  We had amazing food (no one ever will compete with their pork cutlets, kolaches and dressing!).  I'm very very blessed.

2.  Was awoken at 6:04am to see if the bunny had arrived.

3. Ate my first piece of chocolate at 6:10am.

4. Actually captured a few pics of the baskets and treats (to be posted later tonight or tomorrow)

5. Pretty sure I ate my weight in food; including only ONE Reese's egg.  Twix was my craving of choice this year.

6.. Went for a great walk with my daughters and my dog (thank goodness that worked off 10 of the 3500 calories I consumed!)

7. enjoyed great conversation with my grandma, aunts and cousins.

8. and finally......rode in the back seat for the final 5 miles AFTER H puked not once, not twice, but three times.........little smokies, mashed potatoes and chocolate........oh my..............poor baby.  (pretty sure this was karma getting me back for 'forgetting' to color eggs)


At the end of it all....pretty sure that my successes and failures evened out.
That's what I'm going to believe at least.
Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

My heart runneth over wednesdays

My heart runneth over with....memories, oh, beautiful memories.

This past weekend, we were invited to a wedding of a family friend.
We had so much fun!
The kids danced and danced and danced and ran and played and danced.
(of course, I too, was busy dancing, therefore NO pictures....bummer.)
I love small town weddings! (psssstttt....and open bars too :)

My two sisters were in the wedding.  And looked just down-right beautiful/gorgeous (as always).
And nearly the rest of my family was there to.
Sitting there with my parents, my siblings (most of them at least), my hubby, my kids and niece and nephew made me sappy.
Throughout the night, I reminisced about all the weddings (a.k.a. memories, good times, funny stories, embarrassing moments, AWESOME dance moves) we have been to....together.
Together as a family.
It's pretty amazing.
And I love it.


And yes....I actually DO love the chicken dance and cotton-eye joe.
Why do they save them for weddings only?
Wish you could have seen EIV rocking the chicken dance.

And finally....wish my grandparents would have been there.  They ALWAYS, ALWAYS win the longest married couple dance/tribute.  Not many people can beat 63 years. (actually 62, but will be 63 in June....close enough, right!?!?)...and I LOVE the look on their faces when they win....it's almost like they are surprised.  I love it.  I mean L-----O---V----E, love it.

Painted toes.....

When you have two big sisters who love dresses and shoes and headbands and painted nails.....
You can easily convince your dad to paint yours :)

He chose blue and green; you know... Boy colors!!

A hard pillow

One would think you could find a more comfortable pillow.....

....but no way you could find a more loyal friend.

In the olden days

The girls and I were channel surfing last night on our drive home.
I stopped on a country radio station and began to sing along.

E says, "Mom, how do know the words to so many country songs?"

Me:  "honey, I sometimes listen to the country radio station."

E: "Oooohhhh...because like when you were little and that's all there was, was country music.'

Yeah E, something like that :)



P.S.  Those who know me, know that I LOVE me all kinds of music....so I did take this opportunity to provide E with a little music history lesson.  Should have seen her face when I explained that when I was little, there were boys bands too :)  Go KNOTB!

A 'Swift' Little Lie

Wednesday morning, I told the girls that we were going to visit our friend who plays on the Creighton women's basketball team.
When I got home, I text them this video:

Ya, I know....it's really weird filming yourself.....AND I know, I'm a dork!!!

This was their reaction:

I love that they both processed the surprise at the same time.
I love that H really cared that she thought she lied to her friend.
I love that E nearly cried.
I love that EIV got in on the surprise action.
But most of all, I LOVE surprising my girls.

Heart Heroes!

My apologies for the delay....March 10th!

Our home Internet connection is all jacked up.
Makes blogging rather difficult when you can't actually get to the Internet.

With that being said, I'm forced to have my birthday wishes to my amazing hubby be a day belated! 
Yesterday Ed celebrated his 32nd (not really) birthday.
I LOVE celebrating birthdays with Ed, because it always reminds me of how young I am!
Ha ha ha!!  Just kidding!! 
The real reasons I love celebrating birthdays with him is because it's a day I get to celebrate HIM! 
The man I love.
The man I love because he is smart, so funny, kind, understanding, PATIENT, consistent, gentle, trustworthy, so incredibly giving and an AMAZING father and husband.
He knows want he likes and he knows who is he.
He provides for our family in so many ways.
Happy Birthday sweetie!  Here's to many many more.

Ms. Sass-a-frass!



My heart runneth over Wednesdays

My heart runneth over with a SMILE.....

It's the simple things in life.
Like a bath
A fork
A couple hot dogs
and the cutest boy on the planet
in the kitchen sink

For just a moment

Growing up, I didn't get to experience the true love/hate relationship most sisters have.

My sisters are far too much younger than me.  I was more frequently their babysitter and 'questionable' teen role model than their sparring partner.

But don't feel bad for me....God blessed me with two daughters. :)
Two daughters who yell, whine, name-call, tattle, argue, kick, hit, and bite each other.....every day!

So when our nanny captured these photos of the girls:

It made me smile.
For just a moment the 'love' part of the relationship shined through!

Peanut Butter Jelly Time....

I could listen to how he says peanut butter over and over and over and over and over again

Happy V day!

To all of our family...
Grandparents
Uncles and Aunts
Cousins
Friends

May your day be filled with love!

Can you tell a 2 year old was responsible for the hand print!!  Love it!


p.s.  Thanks Steph for the AWESOME idea!!!

Awareness

Did you know that 1 in 100 babies are born with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD)?

Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide.

Despite the fact that CHD affects approximately 1.8 millions families in the U.S. alone, a relatively small amount of funding is currently available for parent/patient educational services, research and support.

The week of February 7-14th is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.

CHD Awareness week is an annual awareness effort to help educate the public about CHD.  Participants include individuals, local support groups, national and local organization and congenital cardiology centers throughout the world.

Some great local organizations that YOU can become connected to learn more are:

Heart Heroes Inc

Midwest Heart Connection (Check out the video at the bottom of the page!!!!!)

Children's Hospital and Medical Center





Other things you can do to help spread awareness:

• Request a proclamation from your Governor and/or Local elected official(s), and try to arrange a public signing ceremony
• Help pass a bill for Pulse Ox Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in your state.
• Use Social Media to inform people about CHD
• Add the CHD Awareness Week Banner to your website(s) and blogs
• Print and distribute CHD Awareness Week brochures in your community
• In Schools
  In years past, several individuals worked with their child's school to hold a fund-raiser, plan educational activities, distribute CHD information brochures, make art/Valentine's Day projects for children/achd'ers in the hospital during CHD week, etc. Contact your school's principal to discuss ideas and get their approval.
• Contact your local media: TV News station, newspaper(s), and radio station(s)
  If you are planning an event, want to highlight your local and/or national organization, receive a proclamation, or have a compelling story you want told, call or email your 'pitch' to an editor or health reporter. Small local papers have been very receptive to these requests in years past, so give it a try! Please make sure that you have access to accurate and reliable facts before making the call.
• Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or online news outlet
  Explain what CHD Awareness Week is, why it is important, and encourage readers to support your efforts in specific ways.
• Blogging
  Create a blog or series of blogs during CHD Awareness Week to share your personal experiences, information about CHD (CDC/CHPHC), encourage your readers to support CHD related causes, etc.
• Plan a gathering of families and individuals affected by CHD in your community
• Contact your local Pediatric/Adult Congenital Cardiology centers to explore ways that you could work together
  Many hospitals/practices plan awareness and other activities during CHD Awareness Week. Speak with someone in Marketing or Public Relations to find out if they have plans to participate, and discuss ways that you could collaborate.

You can also Give Blood.  did you know you can donate every 52 days?  Did you know that 1 in 70 people will need blood at one time in their life.

And most importantly, you can PRAY.  Pray for the children fighting the battle of CHD.  Pray for strength, answers, love and patience for their families.  Pray that research will help find a cause.  Pray for the skilled hands of the cardiothoracic surgeons that fix our sons and daughters hearts.  Pray, pray, pray.

If it wasn't for prayer (and Dr. Duncan's skilled hands :), our little heart man wouldn't be who he is today:

He has sure COME A LONG way since September 14, 2011

Curl up!

Nothing is better than curling up on the couch with a real good book

Be AWESOME peeps!

I adore
love
love
love
love this video:

(thanks Nichole for sending it to me!)

Those who know me well, know that I LOVE the word AWESOME!
Actually, you likely think that I overuse the word.

really?  is what I have to say to you....

I try to live my life with a little more pizazz, a little more passion, a little more drama (ya, I know, I know :) )
so using these words:  like, good, nice, great, etc  just isn't enough for me!
I like AWESOME!
I think you should too!
Cuz isn't life AWESOME!
I sure think it is!!!
Be AWESOME people!
Make YOUR WORLD AWESOME!

My heart runneth over Wednesdays

my heart runneth over with......jealously....

When the phone rang at 6am, I was certain it was my boss telling me to stay home.

Then I woke up,
entered reality,
and heard the Superintendent inform me that E and H were getting a snow day!

While I wouldn't take their joy away for anything,
Have to admit.
I'm jealous.

Holy Crappie!!!

Our adorable niece N, caught this HUGE Master Angler crappie at my dad's lake this weekend.
We were so so proud of her!
And clearly by the size of the smile on her daddy's face, he was too!

While Mom's away

My babies sent these while I was away

Pending departure

Today I'm experiencing the guilt/excitement emotional combo that often comes along with parenting.

I'm departing in a few short hours for a week-long work trip.
As I'm packing up, I'm sad....so sad.
 EIV is going to be napping when I leave.  I won't touch his locks for 7 days nor hear his ADORABLE voice. 
E came up and kissed me goodbye (an hour+ before my departure) because she told me she doesn't want to cry when I actually leave...she's growing up too fast. 
H has been clingy (not her normal gentle/cuddly) and crabby...knowing mommy's leaving soon. 
I feel bad.  I feel bad I'm leaving.  I feel guilty for ditching my family.

Then, I recall the numerous times this week I said 'vacation' instead of 'work trip', and mind twinkles with excitement.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm working the full week; actually this is a huge accomplishment of my most recent project.....but I will be alone.  It will be QUIET.  No feet, elbows or butts will wake me.  No whining, no chicken nuggets, no diapers, no siblings fighting, no homework, no reality.....nothing...and nothing will be a taste of heaven.

But am I a bad mom for feeling that way?  I know the answer to that....well, at least I think I do.....
I know that I'm not the only mom who feels this way.....why does it have to be?
Why does a 'break' have to come wrapped up with a guilt bow?

Totally pooped!

I love me some babies when they sleep!
Don't you just want to caress that sweet cheek, tousle that hair....
oh, I do!

Our December Baby!

Thanks to my AWESOME vacation over the holidays and Blogger not cooperating, I'm just getting around to sharing our December with you all....but with the joy of collages, I'll be able to do that in just a few posts.

December was a BIG month for our family!  Our baby, (which makes my heart hurt because I won't be able to say that for much longer :(  )  turned 2!
In Anibal family style, we had donuts for breakfast!  EIV was so exciting when he stacked them all by himself.  
And his birthday party was football theme.  Football cake and lots and lots of game-day food (e.g. hot dogs, brats, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, etc).  I was too busy enjoying every minute and everyone who helped us celebrate to take pictures....so the cake is all you get.

And some of EIV's favorites at two are:
-Little Einsteins
-Mickey Mouse
-Jake & the Neverland pirates
-Nichole
-SHOES!
-playing anything with balls involved (yes, that too!.....he IS a boy!!) but especially throwing a baseball and kicking a football.  It is amazing how good he is at it!!  Thanks daddy for those awesome genes!!
-Oat bran with yogurt
-Chicken Nuggets
-Sucking his thumb
-Yankee blanket
-going for a drive anywhere
-running, running, running


So now we embark on year #3.
The 'piss and vinegar' has started to emerge....gotta love the terrible 2's!!

We love you dear EIV and thank the Lord for you (and your health) each and every day!!

testing

Trouble

I'm in trouble.
The days are passing me by and getting me more and more behind (shocking!) with my blogging.

The Trouble is....Blogger is not cooperating with me.
I'm having one heck of time uploading pictures, regardless of what computer I use.

An although I'm sure you all just LOVE my rantings and writings, I know it's the pictures; mostly those of my adorable munchkins, that you really want to see.

My goal for the evening is to tackle this trouble and put an end to it.

Thanks for your patience :)

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays!

My heart runneth over with.......reality.......and reality bites!!!!!

Three days back into the 'real world' of work, working out, early mornings, late nights, homework, schedules, bedtimes and real clothes and i don't like it one bit!!!!

I want my two weeks plus of vacation back and I want it stat!!!!!

Year in Review

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!
I've been enjoying every minute of my 2 week vacation and haven't thought about blogging one single time.  I've been having way too much fun!!

Before we jump head first into 2013....(holy crap...2013!...remember Y2K?....it wasn't REALLY 13 years ago was it??)......I thought a summary of our crazy, busy, every celebration a family can have year 2012 was fitting.

So trust me, I'm summarizing A LOT here, but the pictures are fun!!

Jan - dressing up Jeter for our New Years Day party, refinishing a chandelier, surviving the cold
Feb - celebrating our nephew's first birthday and spending time with our cousins
Mar - celebrating #45 with dad, fun with markers, fun in the sun, and a 3 year old princess party
Apr - H playing soccer, swimming lessons and cheese balls
May - Abby graduation and bridal shower (lots of skittles...yum!), planted garden
Jun - slept in our home ONE DAY, out of ONE weekend this entire month!!  Q125 Celebration in Howells which included some cute firefighters, grandpa's crazy beard (thank goodness he shaved!), a float and 3 full days of inflatable fun, Abby's beautiful wedding and a family trip to San Francisco for Landon's graduation, including a trip to the beach, hugging huge trees and walking the best city with grandma
Jul - Howells Olympics (proud to report we scored a couple of medals....way to go Ed, my stylistic diver :), time with cousins and an impromptu watermelon feed with the neighbors, annihilated the Warrior Dash
Aug - Hired the BEST nanny EVER, started school with a first and second grader and H turned 6....complete with cake and donuts and princess party
Sept - Celebrated EIV's first Heartiversary (thank the Lord), birth of another nephew (4 boys in less than 2 years)
Oct - Another nephew, another first birthday party, Vegas trip for Grandma/pa's 50th, time with cousins, E turned 8, lots of pumpkin patches and a week long work trip for mom
Nov - turkey centerpieces and a thankful tree, celebrating #36, and Black Friday baby!
Dec - Santa beard, 12 days of Christmas activities, EIV turned 2,  Grinch hearts for good deeds and lots and lots of family time and love

Whew......I'm exhausting reliving it all.

Our blessings were and are abundant!
Here's to making 2013 just as AWESOME!!!!