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!