All you really need to know...

I had this really, really long post created that was an update on our last week or so. Gave you all the highlights with pictures and all.

But, all you really need to know is that if, by chance, a little person would take a Sharpie PERMANENT marker and color on the side rail of your bed it can be removed by scrubbing it with a scrub brush and toothpaste. Little fact to file somewhere in your brain for future use. Unless, you are more on top of things at your house and Sharpies aren't accessible to a small person. We thought we were in that category but apparently we are not. I swear she pulled the markers out of her you know what!

One small person available for rent.
Lovable. Good hugs. But lots of causes for gray hair.
Hair fixable by one talented hair dresser that I conveniently get to visit tomorrow.
Lucky me.

Dura the Explorer...

Do you know who that crazy Spanish speaking television character is...Dora?? Please say that you do!! She isn't all that bad and now when Amanda wants me to do something quickly she says Vamanos, Mommy! Amanda really loves Dora and all her friends. Especially Boots. But the funny thing about watching Dora is that Amanda can't say Dora. She calls her Dura. I correct her and she still calls her Dura. The ironic thing about Amanda calling Dora Dura is that the name of the company that Mike was laid off from in Michigan was Dura Automotive. Amanda was only 14 months old when we moved here so it is purely ironic that she says Dura. She doesn't remember where Daddy once worked. The thing about Dura is that I strongly detest the word. I truly believe that things work out the way they are suppose to but I am also comfortable admitting that there was quite a bit of stress caused in to our family but that word Dura. But, that which does not break us makes us stronger, right? So maybe Amanda's Dura is a good reminder for me to let the past be the past and learn from the experience. So we will continue to watch Dura the Explorer on Nickelodeon. The episodes are on demand to if you want to catch one!

Girls just wanna have fun...

Yesterday was just a regular Saturday around here. I signed Cameron up for t-ball for the summer. I hope it is as fun as the baseball organization leads you to believe. Around 6 o'clock we got a call from the Mom of one of Molly's friends from school. She wanted to know if Molly wanted to go to the movies with them. Of course, she did but I was a little hesitant sending her on her own so we made it a girls night and I went along, too. We saw the Tooth Fairy (very cute) and enjoyed a popcorn. I have given up soda for Lent so the only choice on drinks was Lemonade. It is not even close to a cold, icy Coke but it will do. After the movie we went to McDonald's for ice cream and got a few minutes to chat. It as a first for Molly and me and very fun and something I can see ourselves doing again. For those of us with multiple kiddos you know it can be hard to juggle one on one time with everyone and last night gave me a good opportunity to have some Molly time. Thanks Staci and Abbey for the invitation!

Fat Tuesday...

Did you know that today is Fat Tuesday? We usually celebrate it by having pancakes and bacon for dinner. Do you have a tradition for Fat Tuesday? I'm hoping the pancakes and bacon isn't just an Ohio thing but my past experience is that many of the traditions that Mike and I do are only in Ohio. The idea is to eat a really "fatty" meal since tomorrow we start giving up something for the 40 days of Lent. Tonight I have to go Expect Great Things so I won't be home for dinner. I have given Mike full authority to have these for dinner...







These are like crack for our kids. They will just about do anything for mini-bites. I fully recommend you to use these for any major bribes. The kiddos are putty in our hands for mini-bites.



Speaking of crack, here's my new one...







We don't have Starbucks in our little town so this is the best I can get in a quick drive thru. Liquid crack to me. Love me some Frappe. You gotta try one. You won't be sorry!

I will post later on my giving up something for Lent. I am putting a lot of thought into it. I just have to make sure that it is something that will make me remember what sacrificing is all about and not just something to give up for giving ups sake. Make sense??

If you have a chance please say a little prayer for a church friend who's elementary age daughter had to be admitted to the hospital today. I don't know the circumstances but I do know that it can be very scary and I hope they are comforted by prayers from friends. Prayer is powerful stuff! Thanks!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Sorry. I'm warning you now that this post is going to be a little unorganized or have some really random thoughts on it. Thoughts have been swirling around in this pretty little head of mine (that's what Mike says). Here's a start.

I know some of you were tired of hearing about my anxiety regarding the Valentine's treat for Cameron's Kindergarten class and Molly's preschool class. I had decided on these cute Cupid cupcakes. The first problem - Cameron didn't know what a cupid was. Arrows, love, arrows shooting you in the heart, sounded like a good Star Wars movie to him. The second problem - as I made the first 2 or 3 he comes over to check them out. He states, "aren't they going to just have sprinkles? I only want sprinkles." Oh. So here's what we did...





They were a hit with 6 year olds, too!

When we were trying to decide on a small yet fun little gift for the kiddos for Valentine's Day I was really stuck on what to do. Thank you Michael Shook for suggesting new supplies for our church bag. Color Wonder markers and coloring books and paper, new Twistable Crayola crayons and some stickers completed the gift. They were a hit for everyone and will keep us busy for at least 3 weeks.

When we were trying to come up with the above gift Mike asked what we did last year. Last year our 3 year old was laying in a hospital bed having just undergone her 3 surgery in a week. I am really, really trying not to dwell upon what that week was like. I still get major anxiety just thinking about the situation but I am also really, really damn proud of how Mike and I handled everything. I think it is really one of our best moments as a couple and as parents. We were (for the most part - more Mike than me) calm and collected for our little girl. I was a puddle of tears when she wasn't looking. But, we learned a lot about ourselves, we learned a lot about Molly and we learned that it is perfectly ok to ask questions. We showed a lot of patience. A lot. But, we were fortunate that our patience paid off. It is all good now. Thank you, God.

Note to self. When you give your two oldest children a high tech toy like a Nintendo DS it is not the wisest mood to EVER, and I mean EVER, show it to one younger child say around 2 1/2. The number of meltdowns involved over the toy will never, ever be worth it. I think I may have hearing loss in one ear do to the DS. I am giving you all a fair warning and I may say I told you so. Don't do it!

I can't believe I forgot to show a picture of Cameron's Valentine's box for school. It took 2 parents and one 6 year old to assemble. I am totally saving this to use again next year!!



Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! I did!

Because this is such a good idea...

I am copying this idea from another blog...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY'S!!!



This would be entitled "A dinner gone bad."

Is it just because it was Monday??...

Ahhh, another Monday. Gotta love Monday's. NOT.

The total highlight of my day was I got a call from my favorite Michigan friend, Heidi. We hadn't caught up in a while and Amanda was patient enough to let us have a really good chat. That made me very, very happy. There is just something about a friend who you don't talk to all the time but can catch up and never lose a beat in one phone call. We just laugh and laugh. That felt good on a Monday.

I then went to Wal-mart with Amanda. Cameron and Molly had been dropped off at school and we did our grocery shopping. We were doing ok until it came time to check out. I was 3/4th of the way through the checking out when I realized that my wallet was in the car. The cardinal sin of shopping. I panicked. The cashier was really nice about it and let me run to the car. When I say I ran I literally mean I ran. And I was pushing a cart with a 2 year old in it. I didn't stop, I did not pass go. I swear I was back in 2, maybe 3 minutes. I was out of breath but proceeded to apologize to the woman behind me. I told her I was sorry that I had forgotten my wallet in the car and she says, "Well you better be." And then she kind of laughs, but not really.

There was one of those pregnant pauses.

I wasn't sure, and I'm still not sure, if she was kidding or not. I looked at her for some sort of sign and I got nothing. Nada. I wanted to ask her if she was joking but (for once) I elected to not and just paid and went on my way. Are people really too busy in the world for a little compassion or a little understanding? Was she in that big of a hurry?

I think I will pray for this woman and other's like her who are totally inconvenienced in the world by my carelessness. Because, as Mike can attest, I probably will do this again and have to make the mad dash to the car. It's inevitable. Maybe next time someone not in such a hurry will follow me in line.

100!!!

This past Wednesday was the 100th day of school and called 100's day! We had to send in 100 of a treat to add to a class trail mix. We took 100 chocolate chips...



I went in to be a helper in the class and I quizzed the kids on who brought the best snack and hands down it was Tess and her gummy bears!

Here is a picture of us in our 100's hat...



It's hard to believe that we are over half way through our first year of school. Looking forward to spring, warmer weather and more learning!