Our week recap...

I haven't posted any of the pictures from Cameron's bowling party yet. It was a success!







And more...




And then Mommy made 23 of these on Sunday for our school treat...



And we got to wear this all day at school...



Only to bring home one of these...



First one, all year, yep, on the day we take in our birthday treat. It's hard to read but says Difficulty Following Directions. I suppose we were a little excited to be celebrating our birthday at school but none the less I was not very happy. We are going to work on being a better listener. We have set the reward if we go the whole month of February without moving our number we will get a trip to Culver's for a concrete mixer (like a blizzard). Cameron picked his own reward!

All is all my boy is 6 and doing all the normal boy things. He is a good kid!

Sending out props...

I need to send props out to a group of folks who are making a difference in the relationship between Mike and myself. You know who you are and we so enjoy our hour together on Sunday mornings. We appreciate every one's honesty and experiences and it helps to validate some of the situations we run across as a couple. I am confident in my relationship with my husband but it doesn't hurt to know that others struggle with the same issues/challenges that we do. I sometimes think that maybe we (or just me) should be volunteering to teach Sunday School or help in another way but I selfishly think that the hour of Mike and me time is really important for us right now. Sorry Amy!!

It all comes back to being put somewhere for a reason. We loved our little church in Canton, MI. The people there are wonderful and were awesome to us. But, we were coming to an honest crossroad in our lives as parents. The Christian education offered there isn't anything like what we now have here at Morton UMC. The opportunities we now have are just what we were thinking we were going to need to start looking for in Michigan. We never had to start that look or make the hard decision to do so because God decided a change was in order. Maybe we were brought here to have another door opened.

I am really thinking YES!

After all this deep thinking I think I'm ready for a nap! :)

6 years later...

It is so hard for us to believe that Cameron is 6 today. We survived the bowling party yesterday and a little party with my brother, sister-in-law and nieces today. We're all exhausted!

Here are my boys on January 24, 2004




Cameron's 1st Birthday...




Cameron now at 6...




It is an honor to be your Mom, Cameron, and I love you very, very much! You are a cool dude and I will try, try, try not to ever let you down. You are a blessing for a son! xoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday!

This time last year...

Mike gets MLK Jr.'s Birthday off at work. I don't know why I didn't remember this but it was a pleasant surprise last week. I said to Mike I wonder what we did last year on this day. He said probably not much. I went on about my day and in the shower - where I get my best quiet time and do some deep thinking amongst the hot water - I realized that we were moving our stuff out of our Michigan house this weekend last year. How could we forget that??!! Hard to believe it's been a year since we sold that house and officially became members of the Land of Lincoln. What a relief that house sale was, too!

Yesterday we quietly celebrated by taking the kids to see The Princess and The Frog. I would be interested in hearing what other's thought about the movie. I left a little disappointed and not thrilled with some of the imagery. Why is it that EVERY Disney movie has to have a really sad moment and a kind of scary moment, too. Luckily the kids didn't think it was scary so maybe it was just their parents. The last thing we need is scary dreams from a rated G movie!

Let's go Braves...

Molly went to a really neat birthday party this afternoon. Her friend, Abbey, had an afternoon with the Bradley University cheerleaders. They played a few games with them, learned a cheer, watched them perform stunts and could have done a lift if Molly would have tried it. :)

Here are some pictures from the fun!








Thank you for all the kind comments about my Grandfather. He is doing good, is receiving physical therapy at a nursing home and we hope he can gain back his independence soon. Your prayers mean a lot!

By the way, all of our OSU cheerleading outfits are too small for Molly and you can't find ANYTHING like that in Central Illinois. Can you believe we'd say Go Illini??!!

Some prayers please...

These are the days when I wish I lived at 7 Pleasant Street or at least in Sagamore Hills. Shoot, I'd even take Ypsilanti, Michigan. I wish I was closer in geography to my family.

My Grandfather has had a few spills over the last few days and has chipped a bone in his hip. This required him to be admitted to the hospital and he will be transferred to a nursing home for more immediate care in the morning. I am really, really hoping this is short term but I'm afraid to wish to much. I'm really sad and just wish I could give him a really big hug. I keep telling myself that ever since my Grandmother died a few years ago my Grandpa has been lonely so maybe this change of scenery will be good for him. I hope.

If you have a chance would you say a little prayer for his healing. It would mean a lot to me.

Back to two...

Some of you might remember my Facebook posts months ago about my lost mini-van key. It was here, then it wasn't. I looked and looked but couldn't find it. The morning I realized it was missing I had scheduled to have a dentist appointment with a new office. The kids were all buckled in their seats, I had a baby-sitter waiting to be picked up and I couldn't find my key. I say it singular as I don't like to carry a bunch of keys in my bag so it was just one key on a ring. My house keys (which I never carry) and my key to Mike's car were separate. I tore the house apart. No luck finding it. I had to call the dentist office and tell them I couldn't make my appointment. It felt like saying the dog had ate my homework. I have never found the missing key. Months and months have passed. We got by on one key and I was oh so very, very careful with it. I put it in the same spot each and every time I returned home.

Well, yesterday I finally got a second key.

I guarantee you it is the most expensive key you have probably ever seen...



Mr. Shook, I will cherish this key like it is our fourth child. It will never be out of my sight and I will treat it with the utmost respect. Thank you for caving and letting me get it. I know, I know I still owe you for it.

Mr. Landfill Worker, please keep a good and faithful eye on my little key. I'm pretty sure its taking up space in your big hole.

Am I a "Modern Family?"...

I am totally hooked on the new show Modern Family. Have you seen it? Please say you have! It is a total keeper in my TV watching repertoire. I think all 3 families are great and I can relate a little to each one. I had a flash back moment last night when Claire had to call 911 and have the fireman come to the house. I'm pretty sure I'm not up for "Mom of the Year" so I am comfortable sharing a story with my blog readers.

I am pretty much over the trauma.

I bet some therapy will help.

Here goes...

I was about 6 months pregnant with Amanda and Mike is at work at a new job which was a completely crappy company and situation but that's for another blog. Anyway, I was fixing Cameron, Molly and myself some dinner. I was dishing up dinner for the 3 of us and Molly breaks out into blood curdling screams.

Hysterical.

This is the culprit...



And then I reenact the problem with Molly's American Girl doll...


Yep, you got it. My 21 month old had her ankle stuck in the rungs of our kitchen chair. And yep, you guessed it, I couldn't GET IT OUT!

No joke.

I first tried calling Mike at work. Couldn't get him. I then tried looking for a saw. Molly's ankle was totally wedged in the chair. Not budging at all. I don't even know if we own a saw so that quickly didn't look like an option. I didn't know what else to do so I had to call 911. I told them that this wasn't a "true" emergency. I was so embarrassed and they transferred me to the local fire department who fielded my call. They said they needed to come to the house. They were worried about Molly's ankle breaking or the circulation cutting off.

I begged them not to use the sirens.

I then was in a panic so I called my neighbor and told her not to be alarmed if a fire truck pulled up to the house. She grabs her 2 kids and comes racing down the street. In the mean time here's where my Modern Family moment happens. Even though Molly is in distress (although not crying at this exact moment) I start racing around like a wild woman picking up the family room and cleaning the kitchen. At this moment I still think I'm eligible to be the Mom of the Year so I want to seem perfect. Let's be real here. Any Mom who can't get her kids ankle out of a kitchen chair is far from perfect. In the mean time Mike has called and is in a complete panic when I tell him the situation so he is racing out the door of work. Cameron is out of his mind with excitement when a huge fire truck pulls up to our curb.

I kid you not but the most handsome fireman ever walks in to my house to save the day.

My neighbor and I are drooling.

Oh yes, focus on Molly's poor foot. The fireman has me get out some dish soap and he lathers her foot up and it slips out. I now feel like a sloppy, pregnant moron Mom and am even more embarrassed. He wants to wait a minute to make sure Molly can walk on her foot and she proceeds to run away from him.

Yep, I think she's ok.

The fireman goes on his marry way and I'm left with dinner dishes and a bruised Mommy ego.

The next morning we get up and go downstairs to have breakfast and wouldn't you know the exact same thing happens again! But this time I'll be damned if I'm going to call for help. I cut the foot off of Molly's footie PJ's and get the soap out. I lather it up and eventually slip her foot out. No way and I having DCFS showing up at my door!

It's a good story now and I will never forget it. We still have the same (stupid) kitchen chairs. I guess I haven't learned my lesson.

Mother of the Year flunkies normally don't.

Life really began 6 years ago...

It's hard to believe that another decade has passed. I really feel like my life can be divided up in to 3 stages.


1.) Pre-Mike - not pretty, had some rough days, kissed a lot of frogs.


2.) With Mike - happily married to the best man in the world, doing our DINK thing and having fun.


3.) Parenting with Mike - the most rewarding yet challenging time. Not always pretty but I think we do a decent job.

It all started with this...

And then this...

And because we don't quit while were ahead...


We've lived in 3 states, had 3 beautiful kids, it always seems like were on an adventure here. I'm so glad I'm on this ride with my family! I hope you are able to look back at the last decade with a smile and look forward to the next one with hope and promise.

Christmas in review...

Back to the daily grind today. The kids are back in school (yes!) and I have a few quiet moments to blog about Christmas. It wasn't the Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas I might have dreamt of but it was very nice. It ended with Mike and Cameron coming down with the stomach flu but we got home where we all could chill in our own beds and everyone was much better after a good night's sleep or two.

Here's some pictures of our time...

Our new DS's! Seriously the best investment we have ever made in a toy. Is it ok for Mom to like it as much as the kids??


Yes!! More Lego's! In an explanation of 20 degree weather and short sleeves...my in-laws have the hottest house EVER! I swear I leave sometimes brain fried. I know, it explains a lot about me!


Ready to open more gifts!


Not really sure any words are necessary! This is a daily look for Miss Amanda!


Not a family picture unless someone has been crying. I'm sure we'll laugh about these years from now. I love my family!!