Positively Me.

Remember When?

2012-01-30T19:35:00.003-06:00

Remember when you were little?

Everyone made decisions FOR you. Wake up at this time. Eat this food, chosen and prepared just for you. Wear these clothes, paid for and selected by someone other than yourself. Go along to this errand, that location, this class, this school, that friend's house...and just do it, because someone said so. Read a book, play a game, spin in a circle, look at the clouds. No decisions required, someone else has your best interest in mind, you don't worry, you just go with it. Life is easy. More than likely, you could even say it is good....because at this point, even if it wasn't, you wouldn't have a real awareness of that yet.

Remember when you were just a little older?

You might have had a little more freedom. You could probably express to your parents what you'd prefer to eat, wear, do with your time out of school....your parents might have even listened to your preferences. But, more than likely, at this age, you aren't the final say in any decisions. You still have someone governing their authority over you, protecting you, making sure you make the RIGHT choices that won't result in you getting hurt in any real way. Life is bike rides, libraries, playing outside til the porch light showed up, giggles with friends, plastic bracelets and singing at the top of your lungs on the sidewalk--dignity be damned.

Remember your early teenage years??

I know for me, this was a time when I felt like I had started to make some choices on my own. Among them, my church/youth group of choice, what school activities I wanted to participate in, what friends I wanted to hang out with (though there were still rules...curfew, who I could drive with, etc...), and probably the biggest choice of my adolescence, my custody arrangement. Looking back, my decision to NOT move to South Carolina with the family I grew up living with was the biggest decision I made in the first 17 years of my life. At 14, I decided I knew what I wanted, and that I could decide what was best for me. Despite my family's objections and clear feelings on the issue, I chose what I thought was best, what I knew in my heart I needed to do. At 14, I exercised a choice that impacted my life in a very real way. I know it effected those around me. My dad, clearly. My siblings, definitely. I know my dad was brokenhearted, and that was HARD for me to swallow. My littlest brother, who I loved furiously was SO confused and for at least 5 years after that decision still questioned me. I know the others were effected too, by the general turmoil the change caused, but still....I was able to make the choice that made sense to ME. I wasn't responsible for the feelings of everyone else involved. I could pull back far enough from that to decide something enormous--for me. And you know what? As hard as that was, and as many tears as I cried, I know in my heart that I made the right choice. I did well. Things turned out fine. And life went on. Full of high school sports, marching band, plays, social butterflying, trying to fit in, secret glow in the dark star parties, desperate crushes, tears.

Remember the end of high school and into college?

This was a very independent time for me. I see kids now in high school and feel like in comparison, I was so much more self-reliant, motivated, prepared for life. I never failed a class, I managed my time wisely, I held jobs, I graduated, chose a college, chose a major, paid my way, made decent choices. I met friends I counted on to help me through things, some I keep to this day. I met my husband, and despite SO many warnings and questions, and concerns, and struggles, and all-out battles...chose to marry. Still, at this time, every decision I made largely only impacted ME. No one was counting on me, no one relied on me for anything. I made choices based on what I thought was right, based on my morals, my feelings, my ideas of what the future held...

And NOW...

Now is so different. Now, everything I do impacts so much more than ever before. Every choice I make has the potential to make things so very different for the two best decisions I ever made, my girls. I had to decide between staying home and going to work. I had to choose a good child care for Katie, I have to be sure Emi is taken care of before school. I don't get to be a part of everything they do during the day, but I do get to enjoy a career I love. I can't get on every committee, take every class, spend every hour I might want at the gym. I can't buy things I might want, I can't go away on trips, I have to prioritize my free time around making sure they are cared for, loved, protected. All of a sudden, even when I think I know what's best for me, I have to stop and remind myself that maybe that's not what matters anymore. My choices, my plans, my ideas....all have to be run through the filter of, "What impact does this have on my babies?" My questions, the answers, my fears, the doubts, my worries, the what ifs....they all have to be put sort of to the side, for the sake of doing what's best for someone else. And that's hard. Some days I really wish I could flash back in time and have someone else give me the answers, make my choices, know what's best.

'Cause I'm confused.

I've never felt so loved, lonely, decided, confused, cared for, left aside, anxious, validated, conflicted, proud, ashamed or proud at one time before.

What's a girl to do?

I don't DO the New Year thing.

2012-01-08T20:41:00.004-06:00

So....I've never really been a fan of the whole New Year excitement.

Don't get me wrong, I used to LOVE getting all dressed up, going out, having a great time. I have even loved more recent calm and parental NYE festivities. I'm all for a party....

I just hate all the forced times of reflection, the expectations to do more, do better, do differently than the year just ended. I'd love to be a person that can say at the end of the year...

"WOW! What a great year! I am amazing, my year was amazing, I did everything I set out to do! I'm thinner, richer, happier, more successful, and practically perfect in every possible way!

How could any year ever be better?!"

Don't get me wrong. I fully acknowledge that I am blessed beyond belief, that I am richer, luckier, and have more than some ridiculous percentage of the world's population. But I am wrong for wanting more?? I don't want more stuff.

I want more things I can't just GET.

I want more love.

I want more happiness.

I want more patience. I want more time.

I want more faith. I want a re-do.

I want more endurance. I want more attention.

I want, I want, I want.

And I'm sorry, but the prospect of a New Year doesn't excite me at all. It just makes me more anxious that this year is going to be just like the last one. Or two. Or three. So, all this moaning and groaning and dread aside--I find myself wondering what I can do differently this year to make sure that I don't just spend my year HOPING all my troubles away. I want to be more intentional this year. I want to do 2012 differently. I have things I want to do for ME. I have things I need to do, to learn, to achieve, to change. Maybe if I stop just HOPING these things will happen and actually pick up my pieces and do my part, maybe then will I actually see some change. Maybe then, come 2013, I won't dread the festivities and I'll actually be able to say, "Yes! I had a pretty great year!"

So, I'm planning on trying to focus on ME. I know that sounds bad. But I have largely been ignoring myself for a LONG time now, and the fact is, nothing around here is going to change if I don't pay attention to myself. Along with focusing on me, comes focusing on my girls. They are such an extension of me, and practically everything I do, I do with them in mind. I need to remember that what I do for me, I am secondhandedly doing for them.

Aren't we cute? : )

I found this list, from my first entry on this blog in January of 2011. These were things I had hoped to accomplish in 2012. It appears I was feeling a little more optimistic last year than I am this year. The bold under each bullet is my update on how these well-laid plans went.

Keep working on my camera skills, and get better at what I love to do

This I did. I still have a TON to learn, but I still love it, and have done a lot more in 2011 than I thought I would, including shooting 2 weddings!

Possibly get my butt back to school for my master's degree in the other thing I love to do

Yep, this too. Wow, so far so good. I'm starting my 4th class with a really fun cohort through AU set to graduate with my Master's in Educational Leadership in May of 2013.

Get better at algebra

So, 3 for 3! Go me! I am co-teaching a class this year, which has given me a huge opportunity to basically re-take Algebra 1, which was what I really needed to do since I got a D in it the first time. I am to the point now where I can pretty reliably create an answer key to a test all by myself! Amazing, if you know my math brain, or serious lack thereof.

Get skinny again. I can't and WON'T be the chubby bridesmaid in my oldest friend's wedding in July!!!!!!!

This kind of happened accidentally. I wasn't a fat bridesmaid, so that's good. I recently dropped 20lbs due to my need to be a control freak and accomplish something at the same time. 15 more to go, we'll see how that goes. So, this one is a work in progress.

More ink??? Didn't go there. Still thinking that one through. (Pretty sure I just heard a sigh of relief from all my parents at the same time.)
Go to my nephew's 1st birthday party and spend time in SC with the fam and my girls.

Done! Drove there with the kids all by myself, and had a great time with the family for Topher's birthday. Planning another trip this summer to meet my NEW nephew, soon to be arriving.

Disney??? Nope.
(and stay out of debt another year?!) Mostly. I did buy a new car and finally get a credit card, but it's all under control. : )
Continue to find ways to get involved in my church Yep! And loving it! I got the nerve and the opportunity to audition for the band at The Orchard and have been serving on the team since August. Easily one of my favorite things I am involved in these days.

So, there you have it. I did a lot of what I wanted in 2011, but still ended it feeling quite lost and lonely and wondering what happens next. So here's my plan:

1. Seek counseling! I have never done this. Those that are familiar with me might wonder how I have managed to make it to 32 years old and NOT have had any professional help! I really feel like I need this this year. I just need to make that phone call....

2. Pay attention. To everything.

3. Think clearly. And slowly. About everything.

4. Learn lots. In school, at home, in life...I have a lot to learn.

5. Make good decisions. This one is likely going to be my biggest challenge. "Good" is so relative sometimes, isn't it??

I'll stop there. Here's to 2012, right?

See Steph Run

2011-12-04T18:41:00.002-06:00

So, I have been on a kick lately. Every now and then I decide I need to get a grip on things, especially when one or more things in my life begin to feel ungrippable. In the face of things beyond my control, a control freak such as myself craves things I can fully manage...and one of those things happens to be my food/exercise. I know this about myself, and I know I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, so when the urge to get a grip on something strikes, I grab it and ride it out for as long as I can. So far I'm looking at about 12 pounds down on this ride, and when those results come quickly, I feel even better. And today I ran a 5k with my mom, which I haven't done since last September. This past month I decided to pick up my running again, and got up to about 2 miles without much other than treadmill training. I HATE the treadmill though, almost as much as I hate running, but hey, another thing I can make myself do, and totally control. I finished the run, despite not having run 3 miles consecutively in over a year, and did it in better time than I did a year ago. My first one, run after lots of 4-5 mile runs pretty regularly, I did in 30:58. The one I did last fall after quitting running, going back to work, and not working out regularly, I did in 38:40. So, I was pretty happy with my middle-0f-the-road time today of 34:51. It was fun to run with my mom, though I know she would have smoked me time-wise had she not been committed to running it with me. I did it. I controlled the whole thing, made myself do it, even though I love to hate it.

BUT...

The other side of me knows that this whole "control-the-controllable" mindset isn't entirely healthy. I tend to get all wrapped up in the things I can control (diet, the fact that I have lesson plans done until January, etc...) and then it makes it that much easier to ignore things that I don't want to deal with. When I ignore the things I don't want to deal with...NEWS FLASH....they do NOT go away. Just in case you were wondering. The things I am questioning, the decisions I make, the things I do that I probably shouldn't, the bills, the relationships, the household responsibilities, the conversations I should have that I won't....still there.

That said, I'm not ready to deal with all that.

So I will count calories.

And run.

And control what I can til I can't anymore!

A picture of mental health, I am.

Autumn Splendor at I Heart Faces!

2011-11-13T18:36:00.003-06:00

Every now and then I can't ignore a challenge at I Heart Faces! I took a ton of leafy-goodness pics last week, and thought I'd share my favorite! I love the pure joy my kids were experiencing as they totally gave in to the moment and LOST IT in the leaves!! My favorite part, besides the falling leaves, is the hair flying in the background from my oldest crazy child! Such a fun little afternoon getting their hair SO FULL of leafy crumbs. Don't you LOVE fall??

Check out more entries at: http://www.iheartfaces.com/

How is it NOVEMBER already?!

2011-11-08T20:08:00.002-06:00

I seriously don't know how it got to be November! And apparently I haven't posted here since August?! Shameful.

So much has happened....quick rundown, you say? OK...here goes.

1. School started. Without my favorite roomie, and with a new crop of totally likeable kids and generally low-maintenance parents.

2. Got the nerve and the chance to try out for the band at church, which I have wanted to do and doubted myself on since Day 1 going to The Orchard. Made the cut, have been on a few times and feel totally at home, just like back in the day singing at M-Star...only way cooler.

3. My first baby is a big smart 1st grader, loving school and doing great. My little baby is almost 4 and also loving school and doing great, despite turning out to be a nailbiter like her mama. Sigh.

4. I am going to be an aunt for the 4th and 5th time this spring. Sooooooper exciting, but not naming names since I'm not certain of the "Facebook Official" status of one of them...

5. Still living the dream being a married single mom to a traveling, overworked, and underpaid State Farm employee who can't/won't say no to work obligations at this point in his career. It is what it is....direct deposit....but I don't have to like it.

6. Finished up 6 credit hours toward my Master's....working on 9 right now. I'll have 15 hours by the time school gets out and I'll earn 9 more this summer which equals a decent (I think? Hope?) raise come next fall and just a few short months from there I'll actually have my degree in Educational Leadership and can think about when I might be ready to take the administrative plunge. I know I'm not ready to stop teaching JUST yet, but being in the high school has given me some ideas of what I might want to do in the future.

7. Pretty sure Kurt just said, "Gay bar superstar" on Glee....which means it's time for me to pay attention again. This could get crazy.

8. Working out again, and trying to eat better....gotta get back in shape. It's getting a little scary in the mirror. Thinking of doing another 5K, but running hates me and I hate it back since quitting about a year ago for dumb reasons. Lame.

Think that's it for now! More next time...

I Heart Faces....Beautiful Eyes

2011-08-15T22:27:00.003-05:00

This week at I Heart Faces, the photo challenge is "Beautiful Eyes"....I immediately thought of this picture of Katie, and decided to jump in and share it. I love how in this shot you can actually see all the colors in her eyes...not just the plain "brown" people use to describe them!

I can't wait to check out the other entries!

Cherries

2011-07-01T19:15:00.001-05:00

Easter Pics....All out of order, I know.

2011-06-25T21:53:00.000-05:00

In their pretty Easter dresses, and the same basket we have taken pics in since Emi was 10 months old!

Prom Pics!

2011-06-25T21:50:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to take some pics of a friend's daughter for her prom....don't you love the shoes??? So fun!

Senior Pics!

2011-06-25T21:48:00.000-05:00

This was a fun shoot at Silver Springs with the adorable Taylor! What a cute family they were.
Happy Graduation, Taylor!

Tooth Fairy Time!!

2011-06-25T21:45:00.000-05:00

Just a few short weeks before her sixth birthday, Em lost her first tooth! She has since lost the other one next to that one, and already has her new teeth in place. We called her Shark Girl, since she had her two new teeth in there along with the baby teeth. She ALMOST didn't even have a hole since the other ones were ready to move right in. The tooth fairy was good to her, a sparkley $5 was waiting for her the next morning. The second one only got her $1....I think that might be our new "standard" rate. : )

First Cubbie's Game!!!!

2011-06-25T21:42:00.000-05:00

Uncle Terry & Aunt Michelle treated us all to a game on Mother's Day! It was actually a bit of a fiasco, since the WHOLE Ho family was supposed to come, but lots of things came up (work, surgery, etc...) and only Terry, Michelle, Tyler, Me, the girls, and Uncle Timmy were able to go. It was cold, but we had a fun time. The girls thought it was cool, and I'm sure we'll be back. Maybe next time they'll win??

She's SIX!!!!

2011-06-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

My big girl has actually BEEN six for almost a month, but I forgot to post my favorite pics of her birthday morning here. Today is the day she was SUPPOSED to be born, but since she's gotta do everything on HER time (and usually that means faster than MY plan), she's already six and a month instead of just turning six like she's supposed to! Anyway, she's a star. She flew through kindergarten, she could read you the front page of the newspaper and tell it back you, she loves to write books, boss her sister around, and attempt to have complete control of her surroundings. She is a good friend, a loving sister (when she stops being bossy) and a good helper. I think she'll be a great teacher someday. Happy birthday to my baby, a month late!

Beagle Torture

2011-06-25T21:09:00.001-05:00

Poor Daisy....all summer long, tries to just enjoy her time on the patio. However, our little backyard pet bunnies like to torture her. They hop just out of reach of her lead and stare her down, while happily nibbling on clover. These little monsters KNOW she can't get them, and I swear they have devised this evil plan to torture her. I may or may not have been bored enough on occasion to make up little bunny vs. Daisy dialogues, which may or may not include phrases like "neener neener neener" and "Haha, don't see ME on a leash, do ya?" or " So help me if I ever catch you...." Good times.

One of these days she's going to gnaw off that collar and teach that little bunny a lesson or two!!!

An interview with the girls...

2011-03-17T20:25:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine from work posted this interview on Facebook as a note...I thought I'd do my responses on here since it's been a while since I posted. : )
Obviously, K is Katie's answer and E is Emi's answer. Anything in italics is MY commentary now that I am reading and reflecting on my goofy girls and their thoughts. Enjoy! Maybe give it a whirl on your own kiddies.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
K-Don't lose your monkey!
E-I love you!
So true!

2. What makes mom happy?
K-Good night sleep tight.
E-Presents!
Sadly, both true. I do love when I tuck Katie in at night and she says, "Good night mama, sleep tight!" And who doesn't love presents?!

3. What makes mom sad?
K-When I cry all day.
E-When I cry.
Crying does make me sad. Luckily Katie never cries all day. And when Emi cries, it actually tends to make me want to stick a fork in my OWN eye, since she is usually crying for a completely ridiculous (to me) reason.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
K-When you tickle me.
E-When you say booger.
I don't recall ever saying "booger" for a laugh.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
K-Liking to drink Green River.
E-You had glasses.
I'll give you three guesses what they had to drink for dinner.

6. How old is your mom?
K-70
E-31
Oh, Katie.

7. How tall is your mom?
K-THIS big! This giant big. Said while standing on the kitchen table reaching up as high as she can...
E-Three feet tall. Is that right, mama?

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
K-Hug and kissies.
E-Go on a roller coaster with us.
Fairly certain I've never been on a roller coaster with them. Also fairly certain my last roller coaster ride was in the 90's.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
K-Go to work. No, actually go to work.
E-Sometimes you might go to the store.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
K-Cuz Miss Peggy is gonna be famous like you.
E-Be a teacher at my school.
I'm pretty sure they don't know what 'famous' means.

11. What is your mom really good at?
K-Baking cake.
E-You're good at making dinner because tonight was so yummy.
Encouraging words for a "kitchenally (stole that word from a friend-thanks Meredith) challenged" mama.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
K-Not good at opening candy.
E-Not good at playing with the snow.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
K-To help us do something that is too hard for us.
E-You are a teacher at the high school.
I love that answer from Katie. Pretty much sums it up. For both my "jobs".

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
K-Cheeseburger. (ew) Chicken Nuggets!!
E-Pizza.
Pretty sure my last cheeseburger was also in the 90's.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
K-Proud of me doing cheerleader stuff.
E-When you back the car out.
I'm not sure if the rest of Em's sentence was meant to be, "...without hitting it on the garage." If so, she left that part off. And that was only that ONE time, with that ONE car.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
K-Millie.
E-Cookie Monster.
From Umizoomi. That's math. I can't be a math cartoon. Although me teaching math is pretty funny, so maybe I SHOULD be a math cartoon. AND, I know Cookie Monster isn't a cartoon. Technicality.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
K-My homework.
E-Color in coloring books.
I do love doing homework with Katie. She HAS to have homework with Emi, so I have these pre-readiness workbooks and things for her to do, and she LOVES them. She's a budding math whiz, I'm sure of it. Knows all her numbers, can match groups of things with the number IN the group, counts groups and circles the number of things in the group...it's crazy to me that she can do this at 3, and therefore a very good time had by all!

18. How are you and your mom the same?
K-We both have black shirts.
E-We both have the same smile.

19. How are you and your mom different?
K-We have different shirts today.
E-Our hair is different colors cuz mine is darker and yours is lighter.
I was anticipating, "You're white and I'm Vit-a-man-ese." I get that a lot around here.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
K-About hugging each other.
E-Because we kiss! (mwah mwah mwah)

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
K-Chuck E Cheeses!
E-Out with your friends.

Let me know if you run this by your kiddies! I'd love to read their responses!!

Em's Character Counts! Assembly

2011-02-02T11:18:00.001-06:00

Last Tuesday, Emily was selected as one of many kinders to get an award for Trustworthiness in a school-wide assembly! I was able to leave my school early so I could be there to see her get her award. : ) LOVE my job.

Here she is in the row of the kids who got the award...

And with her great teacher, Mrs. Kulbartz...

And showing off her certificate!

Here's a bit of a song they sang...I think that's what this is, anyway.

If not, it's Emi accepting her award.

She had my heart in her pocket.

2011-01-27T21:11:00.002-06:00

And I didn't know it!

Tonight at bedtime, Katie (my 3 year old) was snuggling with me, and then she patted my chest and said, "Here you go, Mama."

I wondered what was next. "What, Katie?"

She said, "I put your heart back. I had it in my pocket all day. But now it's wiggling, and I thought you might need it back. So I put it back."

I tried not to laugh. "You had my heart in your pocket all day long??"

So seriously she replied, "You have mine too, don't you? In your pocket?

So you could love me all day?"

Sweet girl. "Yes, baby. Of course I have your heart. And I do love you all day long."

Hugs. Snuggles. And then....

"Could I have it back now Mama?"

Slowly turning into our parents....

2011-01-20T21:37:00.004-06:00

OK, maybe it's not THAT serious. But our parents are sure getting a laugh out of the latest family decision over here. And since in our family, "parents" could mean any one of 5 people, I should tell you that the two most amused seem to be my dad (HI DAD) and Tony's mom. They both have been somehow vindicated by our recent decision to (at least for now) cut out weeknight TV time in our home, and are enjoying some laughs at our expense. They seem to have memories of us squawking as children about how lame, and unfair, and ridiculous it was to limit our TV watching. One thing Tony and I had in common in our childhoods was that it was unheard of in either of our homes to have the TV on during dinner. I'm 99.99% certain that Tony wasn't being quizzed on what composer or instrument he heard between bites of pork chop, but the TV was off, that much is certain.

Anyway, here's how it happened. Tuesday, the kids came home, and they were so busy being entertained by Grandma that it didn't even occur to them to ask to put the TV on. When we sat down to eat, they asked for a show, but I just said no, I didn't feel like the noise. We put music on instead. (Don't get me started on what CD they picked.) After dinner, they just went back to their play, and didn't think of it again at all. I was SO proud of Tony for keeping it off even when I went to work out and left him with the evening/bedtime ordeal. He took it as a challenge, and the man loves a challenge. Same on Wednesday. No one even asked, except when Tony first got home they wanted him to put on music videos so they could dance. He said, "Not tonight." Tonight was day 3, and again, NO ONE ASKED!! I went to work out tonight and came home to find the girls in the playroom with Tony, with paper whiskers, cotton ball noses, pipe cleaner ears and tails, playing puppy. SO much better than what I would have found last week....him on the computer, them fighting over what show was on, or whining about wanting what was on the commercials while sitting on (or doing backflips of off) the couch.

It has been really nice to see them PLAY again. I let the busy-ness of my work day take over my evenings....it was CONVENIENT (so I thought) to park them in front of a show while I cook, clean, ready the next day's stuff, etc. But it's just as easy, and makes them just as happy, to give them my FOCUSED attention when I get home, play with them until they are "mommied" out, and THEN do my cooking, cleaning, planning, organizing....and then Tony gets home, we eat, and then he can spend time with us too. Before you know it, it's 6:45, time to get ready for bed and read....and we are TV free.

Until they go to sleep. After 7:30? The couch is mine. And so is the remote.

As soon as Tony starts snoring on the couch, that is.

Too many cooks in the kitchen!!

2011-01-18T21:54:00.003-06:00

I love these cute pics of my babies hanging out in their cute baker gear! They were posing up a storm, and I hadn't had the camera out since NYE!

My Freshman Year is 1/2 over!

2011-01-14T20:44:00.002-06:00

I am a freshman among freshmen. And it's 1/2 over. I can't believe it! I haven't blogged anything about my year so far, but sooooo much has happened. My class is SUCH a group...I can't even begin to describe them. It's exactly what I thought it would be and then some. It's been such a blessing to be back to work, and the people I work with are helpful, funny, smart, fun to be around.....and generally younger than me. I felt it more at first....it was a big change from my former teaching position, where I was the youngest by quite a bit my first year. I was only 21 when I started teaching! This year, I'm in the "over 30 minority", but I'm happy to be there, and now that I have gotten to know a lot of the staff, I don't notice the old thing anymore.

I have been in charge of my 6 little angels this semester, teaching World History, English, and....wait for it....ALGEBRA. All of my students passed all of my classes, and the majority of them passed all their other classes as well, which was no small feat. I genuinely like all 6 of them, despite the challenges they bring each day. That's part of the fun of my particular job as "ED Teacher"...you never know what the day is going to bring. Most of them like/love me, some too much. Some of these poor kids just need a momma, and unfortunately, that's not my job, as much as I'd love to take some of them home and show them a "normal" family life. ANyway, to celebrate my last day of my first semester back to teaching, I give you the.....

THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY OUT LOUD IN MY CLASSROOM:
1. Please do not unbutton your pants again or I will have to write you up.
2. I'd love for you to stop doing that (read: humping) to the desk.
3. Keep the bow on that present. (to a student going away for the weekend to "see" her boyfriend)
4. I would be happy to stop yelling at you as soon as you stop annoying everyone.
5. You DO realize Romeo and Juliet was a PLAY, not a movie, right?
6. No, I will not just GIVE you the answers on your test. (Apparently they are used to this??)
7. Yes, it's really Ho. H-O. Laugh now, and move on. (OK, I DID expect to say that one.)
8. No, I will not be your Facebook friend.

I know there are more, but that's all my Friday-Night-Teacher-Brain will allow.
Happy end of my first semester back to me! We all survived!!

I don't DO resolutions.

2011-01-03T20:43:00.003-06:00

It's a gift to myself, really. The gift of not setting myself up for disappointment in March when I inevitably fail to stop eating chicken nuggets like they are going off the menu, or when I yell at my kids at noon on New Year's Day. I don't buy that "shoot for the moon" crap, I'll shoot for what I can actually manage...and this year what I can manage is a fresh start.

Aside from telling you what I had for breakfast, the cute thing my kid said, and what I'm having for dinner next Tuesday in my Facebook status, I'm not a huge fan of just dumping all my personal crap out there for the world to see. That's not going to change in 2011. But I will say this. 2010 was a year of change. Change in perspective, change in feelings, change in roles, change in jobs, change in my family, change in my church, change in my friends......and 2011 is going to be the year to sit in that change and be OK. I'm not going to say that change was always easy, or desirable, but I see things differently than I did a year ago. I certainly won't make the same mistakes I made last year, and I won't be able to take those back....but I can learn from them and I can grow from that and make this a great year. And I'm happy.

And now for the little things that I plan to do...not because it's a New Year, and not as resolutions, just things I have to do for ME, and some goals I have for some things I'd like to accomplish.

Keep working on my camera skills, and get better at what I love to do

Possibly get my butt back to school for my master's degree in the other thing I love to do

Get better at algebra

Get skinny again. I can't and WON'T be the chubby bridesmaid in my oldest friend's wedding in July!!!!!!!

More ink???

Go to my nephew's 1st birthday party and spend time in SC with the fam and my girls.

Disney???
(and stay out of debt another year?!)

Continue to find ways to get involved in my church

I think that's it. : ) Happy New Year!!

Here's my girls offering you a New Years CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Simple Things!

2010-11-15T20:56:00.003-06:00

Have I mentioned how much I love the fall??? I am married to one who HATES fall, since all it means to him is that winter is right around the corner. But I LOVE fall. The colors make me so happy, the cool, crisp air energizes me, the golden glowy light in the afternoon is so beautiful, and the crunch under my feet when I walk down the sidewalk or across the grass is the BEST.

LOVE.

FALL!!!!!!

And so do my babies. Leafy fun.....the kind of fun where I let go of my neurotic mom bit and let them get dirty and full of bugs and mini sticks and crispy leaf bits fuse to every hair on their little heads.

In honor of my 100th post...

2010-09-29T20:26:00.002-05:00

I thought I might post 100 things that have amused me lately, or 100 things I like, or 100 things I have thought about, or 100 things I DISLIKE, or 100 things I with I could do, or 100 things I wish I could do differently, or 100 things I thought I'd never say, or 100 things I watch on TV, or 100 things my kids do that are cute....but I'm not good at deciding those things. And 100 is a really big number. So let's just see how far I get. And let's just start at 10 since I already listed 100 random things I could make lists about. OH! Make that 11.
11. WOW Dr. House and Cuddy finally hooked up. And yes, I'm behind on this season already.
12. I can't breathe. At all. Seriously. It's a wonder I'm alive right now.
13. Being around foul mouthed teenagers all day is rubbing off on me. I have to seriously stop and think now before opening my mouth, and I've never been a potty mouth. Ever.
14. I'm so sick m&m's don't even taste good. Probably because I can't taste them at all.
15. Katie is mad at a friend in her class for flushing her peepee down the potty. She wanted to flush her OWN peepee down the potty. WTG Tristan.
16. Emi's boyfriend from next door who entertained BOTH of my girls during the witching hour MOVED AWAY. Like 16 houses down the block. Just far enough to make it hard for them to play together. Sigh.
17. Bonus: Now I don't have to watch FOUR kids while I should be making dinner.
18. I spent more time during algebra today in the dean's office with rude boys than actually teaching algebra. Probably best that way.
19. I had to teach Emi about "penis" and "vagina" today. She wants to know if it's ever OK to call someone that.
20. I asked her if she'd ever call someone "arm" or "ear".... she said DUH of course not. So we concluded then that we don't need to call anyone by any other body part names either. Even if boys do.
21. Teenage boys think they are actually fooling you when they say BULLSHIP.
22. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday = WTF. Shocking revelation by another lovely teenager today.
23. Did you know you can smoke Smarties? Like crack? With a crack pipe? Add this to my list of reasons I worry about the children I teach.
24. I can run a 5K in 35 minutes when I am out of shape. Go me.
25. I hate that I am out of shape. I want to run it in under 30. Think I can pull it off by November??
26. My 2 year old (almost 3) and my kindergartner both had Letter A homework last night.
27. We had family pics done last weekend and I LOVE THEM. I need frames. And money. I want 4 big prints framed or as gallery wraps on my family room wall in a square.
28. I love Glee.
29. I need to order the kid's Halloween costumes. Fall Fairy and Candy Corn Witch last I heard.
30. I was called a Ghetto Cowgirl today while wearing one of Tony's button ups to school for Western Day.
31. No way can I think of any more things to list. I know I have the material, just can't get it out. I think it's the lack of oxygen to my brain.
32. Kids call me Mrs. H because they can't bring themselves to call me Ho.
33. One kid spelled "hormone" like "whoremone" today just to see if I'd laugh.
34. I did.
35. Oops.
36. I see way too much teenage boy underwear daily. Why can't they just pull their pants UP?
37. I might get to be a homecoming chaperone this weekend. How fun would THAT be??
38. Ok. Really. Done now. Thanks for being my readers....Happy 10oth post!

P52.....Week 37

2010-09-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

The girls! All 3 of them! My babies love their puppy, and this was our 2nd time participating in Yorkville's Pet Parade! They were both old enough to enter contests this year, and they both won! I felt a little bad for Emi....she won the raffle, which was a total fluke. But Katie was a total shoo-in on sheer cuteness for the pet/puppy lookalike costume when they both put their bee suits on and entered the ring. FUN DAY, and Emi was only mildly irritated by all the attention her too-cute little sister was getting.

P52....Week 36

2010-09-13T21:05:00.000-05:00

Movie star!! You'd never know this was one of our most annoying nights out EVER. The kids were tired, hot and whiny, so was I. Mom was wound up, and Jerry was.....Jerry. We couldn't get anything right, except maybe this picture!! She was semi-patiently awaiting her kiddie cocktail with extra cherries. : )

P52....Week 35

2010-09-13T21:01:00.000-05:00

The kids love to explore and "hike" in this rocky area up the creek in Oswego near Hudson Crossing Park! It's so much fun to climb the rocks and sit by the water....and this time Emi didn't fall in, so this was my pick for the week! I had been at the park doing a shoot for another family, but Mom and Jerry brought the kids down to play. Since I had my camera, I was able to get a few of them too!

P52....Week 34

2010-09-13T20:54:00.001-05:00

I love this beautiful purple phlox in my aunt's garden! I haven't had a flower pic in my 52 for a while, so here it is. There are a few more in this series I might add too, just so they can all be together!

P52....Week 33

2010-09-13T20:50:00.001-05:00

This is Katie Bug's first day of school.....Emi got a whole blog dedicated to her first day of KG, but don't think that Katie's was any less emotional for me just because it only got a little P52 entry in it's honor. If anything, Katie's first day was MORE emotional for me because she is/was so much LESS ready than Emi. This pic was the first day, when she was still pretty much unaware of what it meant to be there ALL.DAY.LONG without Mommy, and also the last time she didn't cry while going. She did cry when we left her, but she was SO excited going in....and Emi was being such a good big sis. She still is leary of going in there every day, she cries at drop off still for a few minutes. But today she came home talking about Chlorophyll....I think she's learning.

A note to kindergarten...

2010-08-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Kindergarten,

This is my baby. She is coming to see you today. Please be nice to her.
She got up really early, she was so excited to come and meet you.

(BEFORE)

She is SO excited to spend her days with you. She has all kinds of grand plans for the two of you this year. Bus rides, hot lunches, "work", friends, a great teacher...oh, I hope you don't let her down. See, I love this girl. My baby. It's our first time really being apart for very long. I have been home with her for the majority of her minutes since that day in May 2005. We've been home together, doing the mommy and daughter thing all this time. you see? So you understand why I cry when it's time to let her go on to this new and exciting time in her little life. I'm trusting you here! Trusting your big fancy number 10 yellow bus, your a-lot-of-times-greasy lunch, your school work, your friends, your teacher....your promises of fun and learning and a great year to come. My girl is a bit sensitive, a lot emotional, and a tad older than her years. Can you handle her? Can you handle that she already knows her letters, sounds, phone number, address, and sight words? She has a lot to learn....can you help her be a good listener? A good friend? A good helper? Help her to know what her friends and teachers have to say is just as important as what she wishes she was saying while they are talking? Help her to keep LOVING books? Help her to stick up for herself in the right way? I hope so. Seems like you're off to a good start. The pickle and brownie at lunch helped. The fact that she didnt' have time to finish her ice cream did not. Nothing is worse than having to throw away perfectly good ice cream....let's not have that happen again.

(AFTER)

Looking forward to a great year,

A New (and neurotic) Kindergarten Mama

P52....Weeks 31 and 32 and Topher Time!

2010-08-18T14:49:00.006-05:00

These pics are from what I think was mid-August. It's all a blur, really. I had a fabulous visit with my family in SC....I got to spend many hours on end holding my sweet newbornish nephew, visit with my sister while everyone else was working, and spend time with the rest of the family in the evenings and non-work hours. It was so weird traveling alone, but it was great to actually be able to be a help to my so-very-tired sister and brother in law. I was quickly reminded of how tired newborns make you when they are on their wake-up-every-3-hours-and-don't-put-me-down phase. Also, how noisy they are, especially as a tiny roommate. But, the good news is, I know first hand how FAST those moments go by, and for me and Topher especially, how few and far between our visits would be, so I soaked up all I could and loved every minute.

I also learned a few things about little boy diaper changes, but that's another story!

Here are a couple of pics of my cute little Topher from my trip down there. : )
Chubby cheeks, sweet little hands, precious baby feet....I LOVE BABIES!!!!!

Grandpa Time!

2010-08-18T14:48:00.002-05:00

My girls love their grandpa. They follow in my footsteps that way. I love him a lot too. : )

Katie even gazes at him adoringly, without anyone telling her to.

They don't see him much. So they LOVE spending time with him when they get a chance. This visit was a short one, marked by many books read (most by Emily herself...my little reader!) and games of "Which Hand?" played on the steps. Fun times!

Grandpa even goes along with Emi on silly ideas like posing for the camera like models. Who knew Dad could be such a diva??

Of course Katie needed to get in on THAT act.

And where there is Katie, there is SILLINESS.

We all hope for more Grandpa Time soon.

Sweet Shot Tuesday

2010-08-03T22:13:00.000-05:00

The Back To School Part 1 Edition!
(Since I'm sure I'll have more Back-To-Schoolish Pics)

This is the BEST part of going back to school!! Supplies Shopping!!! YAY!!!
So anyway, in the spirit of getting ready for all that, here's a shot I took for a school supply drive the kids at church did last month!
Happy August, All!

P52....Week 30

2010-08-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

I have a major thing for my baby girl's feet!! These are her favorite flip flops, so I thought they deserved a spot in my P52!

Tattooniversary

2010-07-28T21:36:00.000-05:00

You've heard of the paper anniversary. The silver anniversary. The gold, wood, linen, _____, anniversaries.
THIS was the tattoo anniversary, affectionately referred to now as the tattooniversary.
Watch out if you're coming up on 7 years, I hear this is the new tradition.

We met downtown (or Uptown, more specifically) today for our anniversary date (we were due, since our actual anniversary involved meatloaf, green bean casserole, snoring and The Bachelorette). Tony decided to get the Chinese symbol for LOVE underneath his 2 existing symbols which mean ETERNITY. He picked LOVE because that's what we call each other mostly, and he has a thing for 3's so he wanted 3 symbols on that arm. He sat in the chair and got done in less than 10 minutes while the fabulous artist Dawn (tattoosbydawngrace.com) finished up the last touches on my drawing. She got it all ready, and back I went! We got it all centered on my back, and I ended up getting it bigger than I had originally planned just to have it fill the space right and keep the detail on the wings.
Then the fun began! I sat sideways in a chair, my legs dangling, my shoulders hunched and my head down. Not the most comfortable position I'd ever been in! Dawn gave me a quick line to see how it felt, and it was really not bad at all. Annoying more than anything else. After a while, it felt like my brain was vibrating and it started to get reallllllly hot in there. I got all sweaty, which she said was normal. Then I got dizzy, which happens a lot I guess, but isn't really a good thing. She gave me a fan, water, and candy and I was good to go for the next 40 minutes or so. If I had been standing I'd have easily passed out, but I can't figure out why since I was breathing, I had eaten, and it wasn't all that painful. I think the weird position I was in had something to do with it. I got my legs in a different spot so they weren't dangling and was pretty comfy for the second half of the tattoo! Tony said I was a trouper. Mine took over an hour to do, and the only times it REALLY hurt were when she was over my spine, or filling in an area. I am SO glad I finally did this! I have been wanting a tattoo since I was 16, but used my good sense and waited til now so I'd know I REALLY wanted it.
Happy Tattooniversary to us!!

Funny how even at 30 I worry how my parents would react. They reacted pretty predictably. My dad with commentary that makes me think my mansion in Heaven just got downgraded to a studio apartment in the building with all the other tattooed freaky Christians, and my mom with a bit of a shocked look and commentary about the size of the piece. No word from my stepmom yet....she'll probably hold her commentary til she knows if I have contracted Hepatitis yet. : ) I love my parents. Heehee.

Sweet Shot Tuesday

2010-07-27T22:34:00.003-05:00

My Sweet Shot this week is my friend's sweet baby Leah.....Her mama and I are OLD friends, best friends or close to it since 1995! I love her sweet baby skin and her baby blues with those curly lashes!

P52....Week 29

2010-07-25T22:19:00.000-05:00

Newlyweds! My friend Alison, and her new husband Peter had a lovely wedding in Mexico, and a very fun (and HOT) little reception/party thing last weekend in Batavia. I told her I'd take pictures for her, since I wasn't able to get them a gift or go to the wedding. This was one of my favorites. They are too cute! Love ya, Al....and I wish you guys all the happiness in the world!!

Is this really happening????

2010-07-21T21:54:00.002-05:00

So, after months of STUPID online job applications (as all the districts require now) and pestering people for inside info, letters of recommendation, phone calls and emails and favors....

I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Friday. 9:30. With the KCSEC, where I worked in my Other Life....you know, the one before my babies. I had a great experience working with them, I loved my classroom, my job, my INCOME. But there were the babies. And I have been SO BLESSED to be able to be home with them for this long. I guess I never really put a lot of thought into the whole stay at home mom thing. I grew up with a stay at home mom, Tony did too...we just assumed it would work. And it did. For five years. But times are tight, bills are high, my husband is overworked, and I'm missing teaching. So, this is the year! Right, God??? Is this the plan?? Seems like it. Feels (mostly) right.

So, friends. Pray hard, that I'd get the right job for me. There might be more than just this one I'm up for open, and I want to be placed in the RIGHT place for me. Where I'm supposed to be. With the kids I'm supposed to teach, the staff I'm supposed to befriend and work with and trust....This is not ALL about money. It's about getting a little piece of ME back, contributing in a different way to my family, taking some pressure off of Tony, showing my girls both sides of the coin.

I'm not gonna lie....I'm panicking a little over my Katie Bug. Emi is TOTALLY psyched for school, and I am fairly certain lining up before/after school care for her would be pretty painless and possibly even fun for her if I get a friend's mom to take her on for an hour or so a day. But my baby. My bug. She still cries when I drop her off at church some weeks. And she hates going to the gym anymore without Emi because she's so used to having her there. So, I am interviewing sitters and home day care providers, checking out centers, and praying it will be clear where the best place for her is.

This is all assuming I get the job. So I might be jumping the gun. But I feel really positive about this, and I feel like things are happening for a reason. So I get to worry. But then I remember this:

Matthew 6:34

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.

Today’s trouble is enough for today.

So I guess I DON'T get to worry. I'll keep you posted.

I Heart Faces...Over My Head Challenge!

2010-07-18T23:37:00.002-05:00

When I heard the theme for IHF's challenge this week was "Over my Head" I had to laugh....because this was the pic that popped in my head first thing. My Katie, resting her chin on her Daddy's (big) (bald) head! She was literally over HIS head, and I'm not sure if it's because it's late or what, I thought it was funny, and a perfect entry! Check out other challenge entries over at I Heart Faces!

www.iheartfaces.com

2010-07-18T23:26:00.000-05:00

**WOW! This never got published! Better late then never!!

We were lucky enough to be able to get away the end of May with my family! My mom & dad got a GREAT housee on North Myrtle Beach for the whole family to stay in together, and it was a great set up! It was really two seperate units in one big house, so we really had a lot of space to spread out. We were upstairs in the master suite with Emi and Katie next door in their own room. Andy and Kristin were up there with us, and so was Geoff. The pool was private and in the back of the house and we were two blocks from the beach.

We spent a lot of time at the pool, even when it wasn't really warm enough. The girls spent a lot of time running and digging on the beach. I managed 2 or 3 good runs on the beach in the morning before anyone was really up and moving. We had lunch with old friends one day, and I had the chance to do a fun family shoot with them (different post!). It was fun to play some games with the family, watch the girls get to know their aunts and uncles and grandparents that they rarely see, and just be away from the normal day in and day out.

The girls LOVED their room! They got to watch a movie every night at bedtime, which was a huge treat since there are no TVs in their rooms at home. Katie lucked out and had a CUTE little Dora toddler bed to sleep in, and Em was livin' large in a queen sized bed all by herself. They enjoyed 2 rounds of mini-golf, and were overall pretty stinkin' well-behaved. We celebrated Em's 5th birthday while we were there with a trip to BuildaBear like always (only this time was Uncle Andy's and Aunt Kristin's treat) and had cake a gifts!

It's hard being the only one with kids, surrounded by people who don't know them very well, and aren't used to really being around little kids...I felt like a lot of the time the kiddies were misunderstood or had too high of expectations set on them for how they should be acting, but they will all find out in their own time what life with 2 little ones is like! HA! Of course THEIR kids will never be bratty, or whiney, or over tired, or bored, or complain....right? Only OTHER people's kids do THAT! Double HA! : )

Anyway, of course there are pictures! And here they are!

P52 Week 28...The Butterfly Edition

2010-07-18T23:17:00.000-05:00

These were all taken last time we went to the zoo...which I *think* was technically in "this week". Although, I kinda feel like as long as I'm posting a picture each Sunday(ish) I don't have to be too rigid on the whole thing about making sure my picture was from the right week every time. Anyway, Enjoy! I know I did. I had to go to great lengths to convince (lie to) Emily that butterflies aren't bugs, and therefore we don't have to be scared of them...so that she would come in the exhibit with me. It's not every day I drag the DSLR out to the zoo...usually I don't feel like dealing with it and the kids, but I was feeling brave that day, and knew I coudln't miss the chance to see the butterflies through my lens. Have a great week, everyone!!!

Refraining from Over-Status-Updating

2010-07-14T23:14:00.002-05:00

I'm in one of those moods....where there is a lot on my mind and I'd love to change my Facebook status every 3 minutes to reflect it. But that would seem way too needy or self-centered, and come off as annoying and feed-clogging, so I won't do that. But this is MY blog and I can do whatever I want here (well, within reason considering my mom and dad read here). So here are the many things I WOULD have said in status updates if I had allowed myself to be so obnoxious while sitting here alone this evening.

Stephanie Ho

...really hates when Tony is away overnight.

...doesn't like that Tony has no issues falling asleep at 6:22pm when away at night, therefore becoming completely unreachable to me, his bored wife, still awake at 11:17 with no end in sight.

...is a fan of Mike's HARDER lemonade. But that makes me sound like a drunk, and I'm not.

...has a serious Tootsie Roll problem. As in, I ate at least 5 of the small-dog-turd sized ones tonight AFTER my McDonald's dinner and Lean Cuisine pizza snack.

...has an even more serious problem; considering all that eating was done while watching my DVR'd recording of "Losing it With Jillian".

...probably shouldn't have wanted to laugh when my mom splashed the crap out of my totally sassy and disrespectful (for the moment) five year old tonight.

...has watched entirely too much TV tonight without actually watching it.

...wishes I had a scrapbook area up here and that I had any pictures printed. Would you believe that as many pics as I take, I have NONE printed since Halloween??

...is already wearing the workout clothes I plan to wear to yoga tomorrow in order to skip a step in the morning routine tomorrow.

....is really excited to see Dad tomorrow! Yay!!

Well, ok. I think that's all I'd post if I was a total narcissist on Facebook, assuming anyone would care! At least here only 16 (LOVE YOU FOLLOWERS!) of you even know I wrote this. Heehee.

My Second Sweet Shot Tuesday

2010-07-13T21:44:00.004-05:00

Here's my entry for this week! Em going wild in the fountains a Millenium Park!

Be sure to check out the other entries at My 3 Boybarians! Love Tuesdays now!

Swimsuit HEAVEN!!!!

2010-07-10T22:15:00.002-05:00

I know it's July. I know we have probably already tortured ourselves trying to find a suit that covers the rear and the middle and the....and the....the list goes on.

ANYWAY, perhaps too little too late, but I discovered LIME RICKIE while blog-hopping tonight, and thought I'd share them with you!!

There IS a little giveaway going on too, and this little blog here just got me another entry. I want the pink boyshorts with the Gracie tankini top!!!!

You can "like" them on Facebook and see all their cute stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lime-Ricki-Swimwear/133899545342?v=wall

I need an anonymous blog.

2010-07-07T20:33:00.004-05:00

I just do.

P52 Week 26 and 27

2010-07-07T20:31:00.001-05:00

AMAZING RAINBOW!!!

I put it all over Facebook, but it needed to be a P52 entry too. This was SUCH a cool rainbow! So vivid, and the clearest double rainbow I have ever seen. The best part was Katie's face when she discovered it out the patio door....MAMA!!! LOOK!!! A BIG RAINBOW UPPA THE SKY!!!!

So, check out this rainbow uppa the sky for my week 26 entry a little late.

And for week 27, here is Em on the 4th wearing her lovely dollar store jewels from Great Gram. She thought she looked like "a fancy indian princess" with the one on her head. I agreed, and thought the creamy look to this whole picture was really cool.

Sweet Shot Tuesday

2010-07-06T23:04:00.000-05:00

I had to jump in this week, because I just love this shot of my sweet baby's neck!! What could be sweeter???

P52....Week 25 (I think!)

2010-06-13T21:58:00.001-05:00

I had the chance to take pictures of some BEAUTIFUL jewelry made by girls rescued from the sex trade in Bangkok while at church this weekend. This one bracelet (which I fell in love with and bought) for $28 will send approximately $25 straight to Thailand and can provide a great deal for these women. It costs The Well (where they live and are educated) about $100 a month per girl, so you can see how much impact these purchases can have! I just thought the pearl on rope with the dark brown button was so cool and different...I kept going back to it, so now it's mine. And it's my favorite picture for this week! It was a close call though, there was so much beautiful jewelry to photograph!

P52...Week 24

2010-06-13T21:49:00.006-05:00

Really, I need someone to tell me what week it actually is.

Anyway, this is from Em's 5th birthday party. And since I didn't do a birthday blog for her this year, it might have to double as that too! Here's my beautiful girl, enjoying her friends all around her, having a great time at her party!

She's changed so much. I mean, other than the obvious changes.....from an 18 1/2 inch long and not even 6 pound baby to a 3 1/2 foot-almost-50-pound little girl. From a grunty, squirmy, little baby to a very articulate (and opinionated and sometimes whiney) KID. She's a BIG kid now, my baby. She wants to do things with her friends....without me. She went to preschool for the second year, and is DREAMING of kindergarten. She tested as a 6 1/2 year old on her little Pre-K tests. She counted to 100 when they asked if she could count to 10. She wants to ride the bus. She picks her own clothes, makes huge messes in her room. Wonders if her toys come to life when she leaves. Reads Bible stories to her Barbies and holds fake American Girl Doll (b/c I won't buy her a real one) Bible study groups during her rest time. Feels like no one understands her. Thinks it's rough being 5. Is underestimated on a regular basis...almost as often I overestimate her. She is tough and resilient. She can take a joke. She wants to be a cheerleader, and has the makings of a pretty good little gymnast. She's got a wicked kick on the soccer field, and is great on defense in practice. (Games are another story.) She's a loving big sister. She's a mean big sister. She wants to take care of herself. And she wants to be taken care of. She wants me to snuggle her til she's 17 and keep her dolls til she's 19. She's my baby. My girl. And I love her! Looking forward to what the next year with her will bring.

P52...Weeks 21, 22 & 23

2010-06-10T21:19:00.003-05:00

Here's my faves from the end of May and the beginning of June. These aren't photographic wonders or anything, just some special moments from these weeks, and my cute babies!

Week 21....right before vacation!

Em graduated from preschool....grinned from ear to ear ALL NIGHT.

Week 22...on the beach!

Katie's first time in "big girl floaties". She took to the pool like a FISH!

Week 23...home again! Katie LOVES her new big girl bed!

Hester Family Photo Shoot

2010-06-10T21:16:00.003-05:00

Some old friends from our former church who have lived in SC for several years now found out we were coming and asked if they could meet up with me on the beach so I could take some pictures for them! I was SO honored they'd even think of me, much less drive 3 hours from their home to the beach to meet up with us. No pressure, right?! HA! The weather was less-then-cooperative with all the wind and lots of clouds, but I think we got some great shots.

It was LOTS of fun, and not only did I have a YUMMY lunch of spinach and avocado enchiladas, but also was able to do some fun family shots, which is something I have been wanting more experience in. Thanks, Hesters for thinking of me! My favorites were of Nathan and his guitar...he felt pretty awkward I think doing whatever while I stuck my camera in his general direction, but I think we got some cool shots of him, and some really nice ones of Danny and Karen too. Here they are!

Laurel + Brandon = Topher

2010-06-10T21:02:00.005-05:00

I am so excited to be expecting my first nephew from MY side of the family! I have a beautiful niece and an insanely adorable nephew on Tony's side, but my little sister is VERY pregnant...(you know the kind of pregnant where even your FEET are pregnant? Yeah, that's my poor sister.) and her little guy Topher will be making his appearance sometime in July (due the 31st, but I sure hope he doesn't make her wait that long).

Anyway, on our family vacation at the end of May I told Lori I really wanted to take some maternity pictures of her, both so she could have them and so I could have the experience. I've never done a maternity shoot, and the beach was such a great backdrop for it!
The evening was REALLY cloudy, which normally I like, but it could have been a little brighter. I got all the shots I could without making her be up and down and all over with her hugely swollen feet and high BP. Don't need to be putting anyone in labor while taking pictures!

Anywhere, here they are!

Can't wait to meet you, little Topher!

I Heart Faces: Chicago Photowalk

2010-06-08T13:37:00.008-05:00

This blog is about to get all kinds of disorganized. I normally try to keep things chronological around here, but I'm on the big laptop and the only pictures on here are from the Photowalk and Emi's party, so those are the two posts I'm going to do today. Vacation and my preggo sister/family shoot will have to wait til I get back on the teeny laptop.

I was lucky enough to get to go into the city on Saturday with one of my best friends ever to participate in the Chicago photo walk group. We were thissssss close to not going, because the forecast was crap, but we decided we needed the day out, and the chance to hang out, so we packed up and went in despite the DEFINITE "chance" of rain. It stayed dry long enough for us to walk to our meet up spot, say hello to everyone, and snap exactly six pictures. And then it came DOWN. So, since we were at Navy Pier, we just moved inside, and got a chance to take photos in the stained glass gallery, the botanical gardens, and wherever else! It really was a fun experience despite the rain. I have to choose my 3 favorites from the day to submit to a contest to win a new lens, which would be really cool! The best part of the day was after lunch when everyone else left, we got the chance to walk back to the pier IN THE SUN with our guide, and take some more pics without the crappy rain everywhere. And the Garrett's. That was good too.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day. Not sure which 3 will end up getting submitted, but these are the ones I like the best. I can't wait to go on another walk! Next time I won't be so slow to warm up..the idea of taking pictures of stuff and scenery instead of people/kids was a little daunting. But I think it turned out ok, and it was actually fun taking shots of things that weren't arguing or running away from me.

I Heart Faces Challenge

2010-06-07T22:41:00.005-05:00

I have SO many other posts to catch up on (vacation, P52 catch up, Chicago photo walk, Em's birthday, etc...) but I thought I'd start with this one!
I Heart Faces theme this week is PLAY, and I loved so many pics of the girls playing on vacation, I had to jump in this week. I'm going to try to be more involved over there since I had so much fun on the Photo Walk and I know there is so much more I could be doing with my camera.
Anyway, here's my pic for the challenge this week!

This is my Emi, who LOVES to blow "poofyheads"...this was a play day at a forest preserve we had last month.

Check out some more PLAY themed pics at I Heart Faces this week!

P52....Week 20 (and I do believe I'm caught up!)

2010-05-16T17:37:00.002-05:00

My pics this week aren't any photographic wonder or anything, but they were the most fun pictures I had this week. I just had my little point and shoot with us at the zoo Saturday when Emi and I ran our little race together! She was soooo excited to do a race with mama, and was SO proud of her number. I ran a 5K on my own before her Kids 1K, and then we ran that one together. She was a little speedy thing and we had a great time running together!

P52....week 19!

2010-05-16T17:32:00.002-05:00

My favorites from week 19 were these of my babies and my niece and nephew on Mother's Day.

I love all the cousins together!

From left to right we have Emi (almost 5), Tyler (7 months), Mia (14 months), & Katie (2 1/2).

Project 52....Week 18

2010-05-02T21:06:00.003-05:00

Floating Poofyheads...

Big Mouth 2010! (WARNING...LONG READ!)

2010-04-25T21:23:00.008-05:00

Another April, another Big Mouth! After our adventure last year, I KNEW I wanted to do this race again. It was SO challenging last year, and I felt so accomplished after finishing it...the only athletic event of any kind I had done since high school! I did last year totally underprepared, and boy did I feel it during the race. I was determined to be more prepared this year, so this really has been a great motivation for all the working out I have done this year. I don't want to give the impression that I have been doing all my workouts as "training" for the race, but it definitely was a bonus side effect to all the getting in shape I have been doing. Hours of running, spinning & boot camp made this a MUCH easier year for me. I remember several points during the race last year that I just wanted to quit and DIE, and I can't say that this year!

Here's our fearless team....The Better Half Pounders. We had a blended team from last year's event, so the name followed. 2 members of The Better Halves and 1 from the Pavement Pounders, and that's what we came up with. Here's me, Anne & Moses before the race.

The race this year started off a little differently. We were shuttled from Hudson Crossing Park up to the little park in Season's Ridge off Rt 30. Once all 25 teams were assembled, I tried to figure out who I thought we could beat....and put us in about 20th place based on how the other teams looked. We decided we should shoot for about 18th place though. I'll let you know how that turned out later. We got our race directions, and were sent off to our first challenge.

The first task we had to accomplish was doing a puzzle as a group. We had to designated a Puzzle Toucher, who was to be blindfolded, and the other members of our team were NOT allowed to Touch the Toucher. We made Anne our Puzzle Toucher, which left me and Mo to yell at her...er...give her directions. It went very well, but Anne did mention that if she were not a C-C-H-C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N (sing it) she could have very easily seen the pieces and cheated. And based on how quickly some finished, I imagine they weren't as convicted to do the right thing as Anne was. After each part of the challenge we had to collect a leg map that sent us on our next route. We grabbed our map and headed off on our run.

The first stop on the run was at a little muddy pond a little less than a mile up the road. We had to dig around to find a worm (that took FOREVER), bait a hook, and cast a line into a hoop in the pond. Anne found a teeeeeeny tiny little almost worm and our resident master fisherman baited the hook and got it right in the hoop. The next leg of the run took us down to the river, on a path alongside the water. Anne saw it first...and unlike some OTHER people I know who shall remain nameless who do not talk when they run...pointed it out to me. A ROPE LADDER. Hanging off the bridge. The bridge over the river. The bridge with a rail on it that was about chest high. Um, scary. We hoisted ourselves over and climbed down the swingy net/rope thing to the muddy riverside, and ran to our canoe. I took the front paddling spot, Anne got the muddy butt & sore back spot in the middle, and Mo took the back. We were in great shape at this point, we could see at least 6 canoes behind us on the river, and we had a decent lead. Canoeing went on uneventfully, no tippage or anything, just a little unruly splashing from someone in the back of the canoe...AHEM.

After we pulled our canoe out of the river and Mo narrowly avoided being split by accidentally straddling a canoe we didn't see, we had to go and get our next map out of the trees. They were hanging 10-12 feet above the ground, higher than we could jump, so we hoisted Anne up cheerleader style, got our card and took off with about 3 other teams to get our bikes. We all were heading the same direction....we thought it was right. That is until we noticed all the other teams with us had turned around and tried a different way. So, after about a mile out of our way, we turned around and found the right way. Got on the mountain bike trail, and did our loop. We did OK, got a little abused by some rocks, tree roots, sliding mud, etc...but got through. And then we realized we missed a check point and had to through AGAIN. Got abused some more. FINALLY found the check point. At this point I think we'd been in the trails for over an hour. On our way out of the trail, we ended up going the wrong way (yes, we should have listened to Mo...)and did the mountain abuse crazy trail for a THIRD time. Keep in mind we should have only had to do it ONCE, but it was sooooo poorly marked we had no idea which was up, in or out, and just kept going in stoooopid circles the whole time. We finally got out of there, after spending about an hour and a half longer than we should have on that part of the race.

We hit the food challenge ont he way out of the trail, and before we could take the road trail we were given an entire loaf of day old Jimmy John's bread...which we had to use to make a sandwich of using an ENTIRE jar of Goober, a banana, and three pieces of bacon. I was hungry, but it was still pretty nasty. Lucky Anne is a champion contest eater, Mo was able to shove huge amounts in his mouth at once, and I could slowly and surely eat not quite a third of just pbj. The road trail was next, and not too bad. It wasn't terribly windy, and it only rained for a few minutes. It did seem LONG though, like we were waaaaay out in the country (Orchard and 71 out to Reservation Road and all the way through there to Grove Road if that means anything to any of you). There was a quick stop point mid-ride where Mo and Anne flipped a log end over end while I called Tony and told him I was still in the middle of the race at the time I had told him I'd be home. Ooops. We kept going on the road portion, and ended up on some nice neighborhood trails. Seemed too easy. And it WAS too easy. We came to a point on the map where it was obvious that despite the fact that the trail very clearly went left and right, we were to go STRAIGHT. Into a muddy, icky, wet, marsh. (Me in the aforementioned muddy, icky, wet marsh)

We got to the middle of the marsh and met our next challenge. A 12 inch block in the mud, that we somehow all 3 needed to stand on and balance together with nothing touching the ground, for five whole seconds. It took several tries, and lots of close personal Cheng contact, but we got it FINALLY, and took off out of the marsh, back onto the road. After a little ways, we saw some people waving us into our next checkpoint. It was our last one, and probably the one I was most worried about, once I saw what we had to do. There were ladders strung about 3 feet off the ground horizontally, and we had to get across them sort of like swinging monkey bars. They were spinny and not very stable. I am not known for my arm strength, and my hands are weak and slippery....but I had boot camp on my side and some gloves I grabbed at the store the night before, and managed to get across on the first try. Anne got across too, and then Mo caught up (HA!...poor Tony, I mean Moses, had a wicked cramp) and he got across.....And that was IT!

Smooth sailing from there on out, just had to get from the school back to downtown and hit the finish line at the park. We made it in 4 hrs and 40 minutes, and came in 20th. I could still get annoyed if I think of how much better we would have placed if we hadn't gone out of our way before the trail, or gone in 3 circles ON the trail, but we did well anyway, improved over last year's placement, AND had a great time. I LOVE this race, and will do it as long as I have people to do it with me!!

Here we are AFTER the race, dirtier than we started, and definitely hungrier and walking a little funny. Couldn't have asked for a better team! (Although we did miss you, Kelly!!)

The lighting isn't doing the bruising justice, but the back of both my calves are destroyed. This picture was taken AFTER my shower, so none of that is dirt! I had to hop on and off my bike quickly so many times in that trail (you know the one...the one we did THREE times that we only HAD to do ONCE?!) and my pedal beat the living daylights out of my legs each time. LOVELY. And below are my formerly white shoes, which are now mostly white again, thankfully. I wanted to run in my normal shoes that I'm used to, so these had to take the beating. I need some new running shoes anyway. Oh well.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I feel like there should be a prize for the person who actually read this whole thing. Hmmm....I've never done a prize on the blog.

Anyway, time to get ready for next year.....better hit the gym.

Project 52....Weeks 15, 16 & 17

2010-04-25T21:15:00.003-05:00

My sweet puppy....hanging out in the CRAZY long grass that no one had had a chance to mow yet. She loved her grassy spot!
My friend's little boy Roary, who was loving making funny faces for the camera one afternoon.

And my nothing-if-not-sassy girl, totally MAD that I once again had the camera in her face.

Photo Walk Fun!

2010-04-23T14:47:00.001-05:00

I am excited to have signed up for the Chicago Photo Walk put on by I Heart Faces! Yay for Kelly for telling me about it. Should be a fun day with a friend I don't get to spend enough time with. Check it out! http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/p/i-heart-faces-photo-walk.html

Project 52.....Week 14

2010-04-06T22:56:00.003-05:00

This was a big week for pictures for me. The girls were being extra cooperative, we had lots of outings, and I wasn't lazy....I brought the camera almost everywhere we went on our spring break. Here are some highlights, I can't pick just ONE.

Project 52...Week 13

2010-03-29T22:15:00.003-05:00

Another cute baby this week! I got to spend some time with my cute niece and nephew this weekend when we went to Peoria on a quick day trip for Mia's 1st birthday party (pics all on Facebook). Mia was an adorable little birthday princess, and I think my favorite pic of this week will have to be split between her and Tyler. They were just both so stinkin' cute. Here they are!

Project 52...Week 12?

2010-03-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

This is Leah! The first birthday girl, and SUCH a cute little subject for my pictures today! Her mom, my best friend from high school and my "oldest" friend (that I actually keep in touch with) Michele, asked me to take pics during her birthday party so she wouldn't have to worry about it, and if you know me, you know that was NO PROBLEM! It was such a fun party, and she was the best behaved little one-year-old she could be! Happy birthday, Leah! You are loved by so many and have such a wonderful mommy (and daddy too!).

Things On My Mind...

2010-03-18T21:55:00.003-05:00

I haven't done a random rambling blog in a while. Guessing it's about that time!!

Just wanted to share a few things that are on my mind lately. Some are more important than others, for sure. I guess the reason I am even blogging about it is so that on the off chance somoene actually READS this blog I might feel slightly more accountable to actually DO some of the things I am thinking about.

ONE: Anyone who knows me knows I work out. A lot. And I do it because I LIKE it...I enjoy physical challenge, I enjoy being good at something someone else thinks is hard/crazy/torture. I enjoy seeing POSITIVE changes in my body after the irreversible damage my babies did on it. At this point it's not SO much even about losing weight (although that would be OK) as it is gaining strength, tone, endurance, etc. That said, I bust my tail in there 5 days a week for 1-2 hours a day....and then I fill my face with crap. I need to be better at taking the FUEL I give my body more seriously. I eat way too much junk, I feed my kids too much junk, and I'd probably get a lot better results at the gym if I paid even SLIGHTLY more attention to my food intake. So.....starting point on this one I think is going to be cut out my nighttime snacking habit...no junk after 8 I think is a good goal. And I'm going to cut back on the kids empty calorie lame snacking.

TWO: It has come to my attention that my kids are on the road to being BRATS. Especially Emi, there is still hope for Katie. I am staging a MAJOR intervention on this. The "I want....I want...I want...." constantly is just killing me. I'm not sure if it's the series on generosity we just had at church and my own soul being convicted of being stingy with what is actually GOD'S stuff in the first place or what, but it's time for a change. I got a book I plan to read called Growing Grateful Kids (thanks Nadia) and I'm hoping that gives me some good ideas. I also plan to start a giving/saving system with Em (and Katie in the next year or so) where instead of getting "stuff" for her week's chores/behavior she'll actually earn MONEY, and then allocate it towards giving to God/giving to others/saving/fun money so she can learn the value of being generous, saving, and that stuff actually costs money! (thanks Rachel). Anyway, feel free to ask me how this is going at some point.

THREE: Lots of people give me grief about the time I spend on my phone/internet. They go so far as to call me "addicted". While there is some truth to the fact that I spend a TON of time on the computer, and my phone IS always with me, I do not consider myself addicted to either. That said, the weather is getting nicer, the days are getting busier....and I'm NOT on here as much as I once was. And I don't miss it. So, that's good, right? This is my time to connect with friends from far away, keep up-to-date with the mindless happenings of my friend's lives....it's my quick connecting point during the day, and my decompressing when the kids go to bed at night. Thoughts???

Guess that's it. I should probably reread this or something to see if it makes any sense, but nah...we'll just let it go!

Project 52...Week 11

2010-03-17T13:52:00.002-05:00

The bug and her new bunny. : ) Happy Spring!

Project 52....Week 10

2010-03-09T20:21:00.002-06:00

OK, so a few days late, but at least in the right week! I'm doing just fine! Right????

This week's entry is a collage of my Buggy Bug. I love her in green, and she was totally cheesing, so I just put them all together in one big image and you can see them all!

Thoughts for Today...

2010-03-02T13:16:00.003-06:00

Simple Woman's Daybook is a great little blog I just discovered from a friend's blog! Here's my first go at it:

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...I see the beginnings of Spring! Blue skies, sunshine, melting snow, grass...previously buried and forgotten about dog poo...ah, Welcome, March!
I am thinking...about skipping class and eating out tonight, but that would make me feel guilty on two counts, so I probably won't do that.
I am thankful for...my beautiful babies, my hard working husband, God's provision for all our needs and many of our wants.
From the kitchen...I hear a mess taunting me. I choose to ignore it for the sake of enjoying my one hour of childless silence.
I am wearing...my favorite jeans & a comfy shirt. Pretty sure it's my uniform.
I am going...to do a little returning this afternoon and hopefully get my eyebrows weedwhacked.
I am reading...my Bible and The Eve Factor.
I am hoping...that things I am fretting about will pass, that wrongs will be made right, and that no one gets hurt in the process.
I am hearing...the sounds of How Do I Look on TV, and Tony asking me to come bandage up his Frankenstein wound.
Around the house...is evidence of a fun day with kids. Crumbs on the table, toys on the floor, pillows strewn about....and me on the couch, letting it sit. For now.
One of my favorite things...this hour of the day! 1-2pm daily....my recharge, my quiet, my second coffee break, my grownup TV time, my naptime...MY time. Whatever it needs to be on that day.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Not too much planned. Need to finish my resume with the Kane County website and explore a few more options since we all have heard by now of the plight of the teachers in Illinois. Not looking too good for me.

Check out other entries here!
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Project 52....Weeks 6, 7, 8 & 9

2010-02-28T22:20:00.007-06:00

Ugh, I hate when I set out to do something and don't do it. Computer issues aside, this annoys me. I have had this problem with the blog since I started it though. Always have the best intentions to get my thoughts out (more for my own sake than yours, really), and keep up with it so I can look back and remember stuff that my sleep-deprived/distracted/whatever brain doesn't otherwise retain.

Anyway, I have put these off long enough...here are my 4 weeks of February that I didn't get to in time.

My little buggy thinking she is hot stuff making crafts in preschool (not HER class, I might add...she's sort of the mascot, I think.)

Another one of the bug.....I just can't stand how old and cute she looks with her hair all back in a ponytail. Sigh...she's getting so big so fast.Here's Em last week at her first soccer practice ever! As good as she is at certain things in gymnastics and as much as she loves it, she is SO much more naturally comfortable running around chasing the ball! She's so young to determine what she is going to do as far as athletics go (she WILL do SOMETHING), but I could totally see her deciding soccer is her thing. We'll see! At the very least, it was fun to watch her!

And now Blogger won't let me put my comment up above the picture where it's SUPPOSED to be....but here is Tony's battle scar from his recent (Thursday) carpal tunnel surgery. This wound totally caught me by surprise. I am usually not effected by this kind of stuff at all, but I seriously had to sit down for fear of blacking out when I was changing his bandage today for the first time. ICK! Poor guy. He's doing really well and being surprisingly docile and easy to be around despite his natural diva tendencies. : )

There. All caught up. And commented enough that it almost counts as a "real" entry...not just a P52 entry. Nice. I feel better.

Project 52....falling behind! AH!

2010-02-14T21:34:00.003-06:00

Here is my problem. I have been taking pictures. Good ones, even. But I am between computers at the moment.

Currently I am blogging with my recently resurrected Toshiba, which happens to be TOTALLY wiped clean, with NO pictures of any kind stored on it. When I'm not on this one, I'm on my other one, which HAS pictures on it, but I am trying to get it cleaned up and organized so I'm not loading new pics onto it at the moment.

I promise promise to catch up my pics soon...I am determined to have 52 weeks of pictures up, even if I have to do 3 weeks at a time to catch up next week!!

Project 52....Week Five

2010-01-31T22:13:00.003-06:00

I had a hard time with my favorite pics this week. The one of Katie with her monkey was up there in the faves, but I blogged that in a different post, so I can leave that one out. There was a great one of Em where she looked about 9, but I think my VERY favorites this week were all to do with Katie's clearance rack Target Converse! So, sorry if you're on my Facebook and have already seen this pic every time you see me on there! But here it is....and maybe a bonus or two.

The middle one is my total favorite, but I loved the other two too, so there they are!

Week five! Done! : )

Girl's Best Friend

2010-01-29T12:46:00.004-06:00

My girl loves her monkey. This is the "nother monkey"...if I try to give her one of the near-identical imposter monkeys, she knows right away and asks for "nother monkey." She loves the one with the Sharpie-repaired eyeball. My bug has a soft spot for this poor monkey that survived a close encounter with Daisy and has the one-eyed stare to prove it. Katie has been attached to this/these monkey/monkeys since she was about 6 months old. Our stinky stinkamonk. : )

Project 52...Week Four

2010-01-24T20:13:00.001-06:00

I feel a little weird about posting this one since this is Emi's friend Olivia from school and I don't know the parents or the family or anything. But I was taking pics for the teacher, and her eyes in this picture just totally
won the prize for my favorite picture of the week. So here it is!
Week four! I'm so impressed with myself for keeping it up! Go me! Are you proud too? : )

Project 52....Week 3

2010-01-17T20:27:00.000-06:00

I took this pic the other night while we were away visiting my grandparents and my dad (also visiting my grandparents) in Indiana. My grandma LOVES to show off her "baby boy", and ended up having him come down to the lobby of the building they live in to play a few songs. He gathered a small crowd, but my girls were definitely the most fun audience members. I had them in the bath, and Tony came running in the room to let me know that Dad was playing....he knew I'd want to come hear, and thought the kids would like it. I have such good memories of being a kid, always having the piano as sort of a soundtrack in the background. I would press my ear up against my bedroom wall when I was little and listen to him practicing after I had gone to bed....I thought the piano sounded so cool all echoey and muffled between the walls (and the basement stairwell between the walls). Anyway, he was just playing around.....but I love to hear my dad play, and I love to see how proud my gram is of him. It was fun to have my girls get to lay there in there PJ's listening to their grandpa play like I had done so many times.

Won't you be my neighbor?

2010-01-14T14:14:00.000-06:00

Well, the verdict is in. Everyone decided it might be a nice gesture to take cookies to the new neighbors. Nevermind that they might not get eaten due to fear of crazy neighbor poisoning, it would be a nice thing to do. So, I did. Mostly I just wanted an excuse to bake and er....taste test....something. We made 18, packaged up 16....not bad for two cookie monsters like Emi and myself. And no, I didn't let her "help". That would just make the sharing experience that much more scary for my poor unsuspecting neighbors.

Anyway, they aren't moved in yet.....but when I see the family truck pull up later, I'll run these over there. Right now it's just the husband there working on stuff and I don't want to be a weirdo and go over there when I know they aren't all there. Besides that, I have met him already...I need to scope out the wife! Tony thinks she looks "high maintenance" based on her jacket (same as mine) and purse (same brand as one of mine). Does that make ME "high maintenance" by association? Hmm.....food for thought.

An update on the delivery will follow. I wish they had a table or something on the porch so I could just drop them off without having to actually TALK to anyone. Sort of would defeat the purpose though, right? Hmmm....maybe I should just eat them myself?!

Project 52...Week Two

2010-01-10T20:46:00.002-06:00

Love this one. I was trying to shovel, and every time I looked up from my work in the driveway they were doing some new cute thing and I had to run for the camera. I know eating snow is gross, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time either of them actually took a good taste and I love their faces. I also love the BRIGHT white snow and how crispy the picture is. Anyway, that's my week 2!

SNOW much fun!

2010-01-07T12:31:00.004-06:00

Wow...

This snow is DEEP!

It's hard work being THIS short in THIS much snow!

Especially when your mommy...

actually expects you to.....

SHOVEL IT!

Project 52....Week One

2010-01-03T12:57:00.000-06:00

I have discovered in my new travels on many digital photography forums something called "Project 365". This photography blog project wants you to take a picture and blog it every day of the WHOLE.ENTIRE.YEAR. I am not up for that. I take a ton of pictures, but a day or two does get by without me getting the camera out. I thought a more realistic goal might be a "Project 52". My plan is to pick my favorite picture(s) of the week, and post them in a weekly (Sunday) Project 52 post. So here it is....my first entry of my first Project 52.

I shot these with my big lens, in the sunlight on our way out the door to church this morning. The kids were so cute and bundled, ready to go brave the -6 degree temps we had this morning, and they were feeling photographically cooperative. : )

I {Heart} Faces Week 51 Challenge

2009-12-28T20:10:00.003-06:00

I decided to take the plunge and enter this week's http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/ challenge....Hilarious Outtakes. This is my gram, making her "WHAAAAAT?!" face on Christmas. I know I found it funny, and it is after all....a face. Seemed appropriate for my first entry.

Be sure to check the other entries!

2009-12-25T21:34:00.000-06:00

I want to be this cute when I'm old.
This is my 87(?) year old gram and her 91(!) year old sister.
They are spunky, and sweet, and busy, and active and amazing ladies and I hope I can be like that when I am old, too!

2009-12-23T14:14:00.000-06:00

Looks like she loves the snow and cold just about as much as her mama!
How many days til summer???

Professional Flowergirl & A Blog to Make You Hungry

2009-12-21T23:43:00.001-06:00

Isn't my baby beautiful?
She is a big fan of being a flowergirl...this was only her second REAL chance to do it, and I love that we got TWO uses of the dress!
SCORE!! She was much less rushed and much more princessy this time. I think the heat got the best of her in June, but today she was totally in her element, in HER church, with people she knew watching. She did a great job...especially considering we only had about 3 days notice!

And here is the part to make you hungry. Some nice pics of some yummy food!!
There wasn't a traditional reception, just tons of cake and cookies...I made the cake, and others made cookies and sheet cakes to supplement. Rumor had it up to 500 people could come, luckily (?) we didn't have anything near that number to feed.

Don't tell my mama!

2009-12-16T14:22:00.000-06:00

But I made her a version of this for Christmas. Hers is in a long floater frame, all the letters side by side...Tony saw it and wanted one for his desk, so I made this collage he can print out. I'm thinking I might do one to frame for us at home too, I think it turned out pretty cute.

Welcome to the world, Little Camden!!!!

2009-12-04T18:54:00.005-06:00

My good friend Janie and her husband Jon (and big sister Mollie!) welcomed little Camden George McBrayer into the world this morning a little bit unexpectedly, and a little bit early! Camden and Janie are both doing great, and there is pretty much nothing I love more than seeing a brand new baby and getting to hold them when they are so new and tiny and lumpy. Here's some pics of the little guy!!
Some in B&W...

A few in color, some doubles....

Congrats you guys! I love you and I love your cute babies!!!!

2009-12-03T21:13:00.002-06:00

I feel Christmasy today. My day started off festive-ly.....a nice Christmas party at MOPS, with good food, friends and lots of laughing, my kids happily playing in their classrooms while I got a chance to relax a bit. Emi made this cute little happy birthday baby Jesus tree, and we put it on the windowsill. I think it's so cute!

I spent the afternoon doing some decorating....the trees were already done, but I hadn't taken pictures of my favorite ornaments, or played with the camera yet where the tree is concerned, so I took some pictures messing around with a few settings, and I like how they came out. Can't decide if I like the first set (warmer) or the second set (cooler) better. Thoughts??

Here's the first set:

Here's the second set:

And here is the result of my afternoon's work. Doesn't look like much, especially with Tony's original Griswold-esque plans that (thankfully) fell through. But I spent a good while getting this garland situated, adding the colored lights to the originally white and tiny red bulbed greens, running to Home Depot to get an outdoor cord, breaking several of the ridiculously fragile old-fashioned big bulbs, putting white lights up and down both poles, breaking several, taking them down, etc...WHEW! But anyway, this is the finished product, and I love my big tree twinkling in the background.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!! How is your holiday prep going??

Katie's Overdue Birthday Blog!

2009-11-29T14:14:00.003-06:00

Well, as it tends to be with the second child....something else is late/forgotten/set aside for later. Good thing she has no idea, or she might feel bad.
This Thanksgiving marked 2 years since we brought our 2nd sweet baby girl home from the hospital. She was born on a Tuesday, and as a second-timer, I knew just how tired I'd be, and took full advantage of a second night of rest in the hospital. We brought her home on Thanksgiving afternoon, and my mom made us our very own little First Thanksgiving dinner.
From the get-go, Katie was a stinker. At 32 weeks, (or 33?) I was having many, many, painful contractions, and the doctor determined that it was in fact preterm labor. They did a FFN test, and scared me half to death saying the positive result it came up with meant I could have this baby anytime! WHAT?! She wasn't due til DECEMBER 2! This happened all in mid-October, I remember having a (insert sarcasm here) SUPER birthday on bedrest. We followed my strict bedrest instructions, and waited. And waited. And waited some more. 36 weeks came along, and the doc said I could modify my bedrest and be free to move around a bit. I was relieved....dilated to 4cm for almost 3 weeks had proven to be quite uncomfortable. I thought sure I'd take a walk around the mall and she'd pop out. Little did I know I'd end up being INDUCED with my "preterm labor" baby. At 38 weeks, I just couldnt' take it anymore, and my doc went ahead and scheduled my induction for November 20 at 8am. I remember heading into the hospital, calling my friend Kelly saying, "I'll call you by lunchtime and let you know how it all went!" She laughed. But somehow I knew Katie would be making a fast appearance. She sure did, born at 10am, after just 2 hours of labor...and hasn't slowed down since.

My bug is busy, and funny, and bossy, and sassy, and precious. She has an infectious laugh, and brightens even my crabbiest days. She is difficult in some ways, and a breeze in others. She is quirky, and growing in independance every day. She talks like she is 3. And all the time. From the minute she wakes up to the minute I lay her on her pillow, she talks. To Emi, to the dog. to the TV, to her toys, to herself, to me (and me, and me, and me....). My favorite time of day is rocking her at the end of the night. She props herself up on my chest, and tells me about her day. She remembers everything, down to what we all ate for breakfast. I am so blessed to have her for so many reasons. I'm so happy she and Emi have each other to play with, fight with, love, and grow up together. I love seeing their relationship develop as they grow to understand each other a little bit better every day.
Here are some flashback pictures of my sweet little birthday girl.

Two Years Old:One Year Old:
One Month Old:

One Week Old:
I love you, baby Katie! You can try all you want to grow up, but you will always be my baby.

Sorry, October.

2009-11-22T20:32:00.003-06:00

Didn't mean to forget about you.

October was a really busy month, and somehow between some trouble in paradise, settling in to working a regular schedule, turning thirty, and Halloween, I totally neglected my blog.

A few quick highlights:
GOT MY NEW CAMERA!!! My fabulous (read: sneaky) husband stashed some cash unbeknownst to me, and bought me the most excessive (and AWESOME) present ever.....my Nikon D5000 with the additional lens kit. So needless to say, I have been pretty obnoxious with photos ever since. I put them all on Facebook though, so I don't feel the need to put them all on here too.

HAD A SURPRISE PARTY!!! Mostly. I mean, we very definitely HAD the party, but the surprise element wasn't all it could have been. Between my mom being completely unable to fool me, Tony acting weird, and Emi having a minor slip, I was pretty sure something was up. It was surprising to see who all showed up, how fun it was, and how spoiled I was by my sweet family and friends. To anyone who knows me, it's not a secret that I totally cried. : )

I became an aunt again! And met my verrrrry cute nephew.

I think that's all for now.

Coming soon (possibly even tonight):

Katie's Birthday Blog
Thoughts on Christmas
Question and Answer Time (maybe.)
Thankful Things

a lot has happened since August 10th....

2009-09-30T21:41:00.002-05:00

Hello friends. Is anyone out there? I've been neglecting this blog for so long, I doubt anyone is still checking in just in case I had decided to post something riveting (as always). I'm not sure what my problem is really....aside from being busy with Life, I just haven't felt the Urge to Blog. Or if I have, I haven't had an idea of what to write about. I keep thinking I need a new plan, a new format, SOMETHING, and every time I get a new plan I get sick of it in less time than it took me to come up with it. So, my New Plan is....get this...to have NO Plan. Just blog if and when I feel like it, put a recipe if and when I feel like it, a picture if and when I feel like it.....

Anyway, what I feel like doing tonight is just giving you a quick rundown of what's been going on since my last entry on August 10th. Here goes.....The rundown on All Things Ho.

Tony started his new job. Same company, new job. One with more hours, more responsibility, more travel, more stress......same pay. More recognition, more chance for advancement, more training opportunities.....same pay. Oh well. There's a lot to be said for "job satisfaction" and he seems to have it with this new gig. I hope it lasts!!
Emi started her second year of preschool, and loves her new teacher. She jumped right in on the first day as if it was simply a continuation of her last year, and no big deal at all. That was a relief!! Katie is adjusting to her 'no-Emi' time, but is never happy when we leave her somewhere. She spends the whole 2 hours reminding me that Emi is in class, and that SHE wants to go to class, and that it's time to pick Emi UP from class....she loves her sister! And wants to do everything she does all.the.time.
Tony and I decided it was time for me to get some sort of part time job to help make ends meet (or at least not meet a little less) over the winter, especially. I had jumped through a jillion hoops with a new child care facility opening up in town, and was pretty sure that was going to be the "right" job for me....but when all was said and done it was obviously NOT the right job, and I said no. But, when one door closes, another opens, and now I have a job working part time from my friend's photography studio. I'm helping with photo editing, a little marketing type stuff, publishing pictures to the website, etc....a lot to learn, but I love photography, and pictures, and playing with them on the computer. It's been fun to get away a little during the week, and to make a little money is definitely a plus.
I got a new husband. Ok, ok....not really. It seems though that Tony has undergone an upgrade or something though to Tony Ho 2.0. Gone are the days of whining when I have a meeting, or a late night out when I'd need him to feed, bathe, and do bedtime for the kids. This used to be a HUGE ordeal....I felt I could never leave the house without him freaking out or making me feel really guilty, like he was toooo tired and tooooo stressed to come home from work and handle the kids. HIS kids, but that's another story. The point is, all of a sudden, he's like, "Sure, honey. Go to work. Go out after, have fun with your friends. I have it all under control." And it's true. I come home to clean kids, sound asleep, a clean house, and him....totally un-stressed. And, as I was told today, "They never act like that when YOU'RE not here." So apparently, they behave better for him too.
Fall TV has started!!! I am not sure how I'm going to handle my rigorous schedule of TV Watching with this new job and all....but I'm determined to make it work. My new favorite...the diamond in the rough....GLEE!!! I.LOVE.THIS.SHOW. I smile the entire time it's on, and laugh out loud more times that I care to admit. Pretty sure you didn't care about that whole paragraph, but I had to put that out there.
I saw U2!!!!!!! It was GREAT. A fun night out, totally worth the money, and we had a great time together, me and my new husband. : ) And Bono. My next husband.

Well, hope my update didn't totally bore you....I'm sure anyone who bothers to read my blog also happens to be on my Facebook, in which case you knew everything I just wrote. Oh well. I've been told I'm an open book. Now I'm a repetitive open book. Like one of those choose your own adventure books where you end up going back to page 49 seven times in a futile effort to get the "best ending". Not sure what the "best ending" here is, so I'll just sign off for now, til I get the Urge to write again! Maybe soon, maybe not.

Happy fall, everyone!!!

NOT ME! Monday!

2009-08-10T21:09:00.003-05:00

It has been TOO LONG since my last Not Me! Monday....brought to you by MckMama at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/.

Check out her blog to see alllll the (over 300!) other Not Me! Monday posts! It's fun!

WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!

All of my Not Me! Moments this week are about...

POO.

But not really. Because I would never write an entire blog post about BMs. Never would I dedicate an entire Monday's post on such a gross subject matter. NOT ME!!

Nor would I make the entire post in BROWN, because that's just gross.

Again friends, NOT ME!!

Anyway...You must know then, that the day we had friends over to enjoy the water stuff in the backyard, it would NEVER occur to me upon discovering a swim diaper blowout to simply take the offending toddler and her equally offensive diaper over to the "dog's part" of the yard and hose her off. I'd NEVER do that. NOT ME! I'd sweetly and gently wrap my child in a towel and give her a proper bath to cleanse her off the absolute nastiness that was all over her back, legs, suit....and chair.

Keeping with the poop and water theme....I'd never be supervising my children, watching the water get murkier and murkier, and dismiss it. I'd never chalk the murkiness and the smell up to the in and out in and out in and out that goes on in our kiddie pool. When my oldest made a comment on the stink of the water, I certainly didn't chalk her concern up to the wafting smell of freshly rained on goose poop by the lake. I'd never be so oblivious to the fact that the murky water and the stink in the air had come from YET ANOTHER leaky swim diaper, unable to contain the force of my toddler's blowout. NOT ME! I'd notice she was "making me a present" right away and snatch her out of the pool. NEVER would MY children swim in POO WATER! Who could be that dumb!? Not me! That's who!

And, lastly on my list of Poo Not Me's.....It would certainly never occur to me to change my child with ooze dripping down her leg at a picnic table. I'd take her to a proper bathroom to change her. Nevermind that the ooze had already gotten ON the bench on which I changed her, thus providing a great rationale to just keep up with the grossness and finish the job there, right where it started. I also would never just THROW AWAY the outfit that was ruined by said blowout. How wasteful. Nevermind that it had broken snaps anyway, I'd NEVER just throw away clothes due to a little poo. NOT ME!!

Well friends, I'm glad you all know me well enough to know that these things of course could NEVER be true. I'd never be so crass as to post about all of these things, much less NOT do them. : )

Stop it!

2009-07-22T21:36:00.004-05:00

Stop it right now, Katie-Bug! NO MORE GROWING!! I will NOT stand for it, do you hear me??

OK. I'll relax now. But seriously I am starting to question my plan to refrain from potty training 'til 3rd grade and letting her have her binky til she is 12. I'm thinking she might fight me on this. My efforts to keep her My Baby are being thwarted by the minute. SHE PEED ON THE POTTY TODAY. Come on. REALLY? My baby? NOOOOO!! I have spent the past month telling her, "No, you don't need to go potty, you are just a baby." Seriously. I have. Report me if you must, but it's the truth. She's not ready, I'm not ready. She just thinks it's fun to sit on the pot, and I think it's one more germ-hole. ANYWAY, I digress. Today, though, I had to give in, when she stood up in the tub, grabbed her "butt" (as she calls it) and said, "MOMMY POTTY!" For fear of Emi's overreaction to Potential Pee in the Tub, I snatched the wet, slippery little bugger out of the tub and plopped her on the potty, and....sigh...she peed. I'm hoping it's a fluke. I'm seriously not encouraging this behavior. No way did I scream, "Daddy! Katie peepeed on the potty!" No way did we do several renditions of "2-4-6-8 Who Do We Appreciate...Katie, Katie, PeePEEEE Katie!" No way did Emi exclaim upon the sight of her sister peeing, "Mommy, Katie is potty trained!" (How I wish it was so easy....) There will be no potty training her. SHE'S JUST A BABY. My baby. My LAST baby.

And while we're talking about the potty, let me share with you this little funny. In the car this morning, on the way home from a speedy-and-under-$50 Target run (Yes! Those DO exist!) I hear this in the backseat:

"Go peepee Monkey. Go on, go peepee on your potty Monkey!"

I turned around and saw her with her beloved monkey perched over the cupholder on her carseat, doing his business at her command. GO MONKEY.

I think this post calls for a picture of the little monkey. Look at her hanging there. She IS a monkey! She has to get up on her tippy toes to reach the bar, yet manages to hang there for a LONG time, swinging back and forth, embracing her inner monkey.

They don't call me Random Mortuary for nothing!

2009-07-17T21:35:00.003-05:00

Actually, they don't call me Random Mortuary at ALL...anymore. Let this be the 1st random story of this all-over-the-place post. My 7th grade Language Arts teacher used "Prang" (her pointer finger) and a dictionary to give us all names for the year. I was Random Mortuary, and my "boyfriend" was Pensive Artifact. Anyway, here is a post dedicated to Mrs. Vee-Jay (not to be confused with "va-jay-jay," which was not even a known "term" in 1991...)

I'm taking baby steps with Katie and her annoying night time habits. She has this cot...the one Emi modeled for that we got free...and she likes to lay on that watching Sesame Street while I tuck Emi in at night. Well, that turned into a habit of falling asleep on the cot watching Sesame, which led to a habit of waking up at 2am and asking to go sleep on the cot, which led to me spending many nights sleeping on the couch while she slept on the cot, which led to a nasty rematch with my sciatica. ANYWAY. My goal while Tony was out of town was to get her to fall asleep some other way, without either of us enduring hours of screaming. Seems I have been successful, and we now rock a few minutes, or else I stand by her crib and pat her til she is out. Tonight she was especially sweet, and she held my hand until she was out, and then she rolled over and went to sleep. Here's hoping for night number two of uninterrupted sleep.

Ooooh....I caught Daisy in the near-act of peeing on the carpet. She occasionally wakes up before me and needs to pee, and rather than waking me up, she finds a spot on the ONE clean room of carpet (the living room) and pees there. It's the ONLY room she has ever had an "accident" in. Well, I had it blocked off last night for some reason, and this morning when I heard her creep down while I was still dozing and the kids were still asleep, I followed her down and discovered her about to pop a squat in the family room!!! I scared her, I think, when I grabbed her and all but threw her out back to pee. (Don't go all PETA on me, I didn't REALLY throw her). Hopefully she got the message. I am not a fan of my house smelling like dog pee, and have already given up my favorite (only?) green ottoman due to Pee Stink that I can't get out. (Advice here from dog experts? What gets Pee Stink out?)

I think I'll wind this up by bragging on my honey a little bit. Remember that job interview that we missed the Cubs game for (some of you may remember my whining about this job interview/game dilemma)...I told him my only stipulation for giving up the game for his interview was that he actually HAD TO get the job. And he did. YAY HONEY!! He beat out 63 others for this position, and is one of the first 15 people EVER to have this job in State Farm...it's a whole new thing, and apparently the "wave of the future" and he's on the ground floor, which means great future potential for him. Anyway, I'm so happy he got it, and I hope it's a great change for him.

And finally, in more serious news, would you please pray for my friend Deb, her husband Dave, and their two little girls? Dave has a pretty serious medical procedure coming up, and it's pretty scary for the family in a lot of ways. Pray for a successful surgery, and that God would work out the rest. Thanks.

I almost forgot....

2009-07-10T20:24:00.003-05:00

about my blog! No, just kidding...I've just been immersed in MOPs (in this instance Many Other Projects) and also MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers!). And what I almost forgot about was the pure...um....joy? of working on a team of women! I'm on a planning team for family activities at church that is a group of women as well, and we have had our share of conflicts/differences of opinion/etc, but always manage to pull off a great event when all is said and done. I'm sure the same will be said of our 2009-10 MOPS Steering Team, which is my latest endeavor.

I really got so much enjoyment and encouragement out of my MOPS group last year, that I decided to jump on board with Steering for the following year....to my dismay, I realized that I'd have to switch groups though, due to Em's preschool schedule. SO, I ended up joining up with my Yorkville mommy friends in a different MOPS group. Since I had already planned to help out with leadership in some role, I offered to do the same for this group, even though I was/am a new member. And I'm so glad I did!

I have had SO much fun this week going back and forth on ideas, having a "job" to do, getting it done...it's been stressful a bit maybe, and a really big undertaking, but I'm so excited to be a part of it and to plan something great for the ladies in the group. I hope this year they get as much support, encouragement, FUN, and fellowship as I did last year in my other group. :) Anyway, this is kind of a pointless post, but I thought a little explanation of where my head has been, and where my blog has been was in order. It's been MOPPING!

If you are the praying kind, give our group a little shout out...that we'd continue to work together towards the ultimate goal, and that we'd do all things for the right reasons and have a successful year!!

A Good Old Fashioned Update

2009-07-01T22:24:00.002-05:00

I realize it has been a long time since I have blogged anything! I also realize that maybe no one cares, and I'm OK with that. The whole blog thing seems kind of presumptuous to me anyway....I don't presume to think anyone is standing by, holding their breath, waiting for my next riveting post. But, I do feel the need to write sometimes, and occasionally I might have something funny/interesting/worth reading to post. This may or may not be one of those times...

So....Since I've been absent from the blogisphere:

I drove to St. Louis BEHIND not WITH my husband, due to a stupid error on the part of the rental car company. I had a completely and totally uneventful and pleasant ride in both directions with my girls and their dual screen babysitter...I mean, DVD player.

My first little brother got married to Kristin. They are a cute couple, and I am not sure I realized HOW cute until I heard her bridesmaids give the toast. It was very sweet, and probably one of my favorite toasts to date. Far less weepy than the kind I generally give, and full of less embarrassing moments than the one given at my own wedding. The wedding was swelteringly hot, but aside from that a great time. I used the old, "My babies are melting and going to ruin the ceremony with their cries/moans/screams," excuse and watched the ceremony from INSIDE the lodge where it was cool. I had a nice view of Andy's face the whole time, and could hear the many, many, many, words of the rent-a-rev. The rest of the night went well....my little flowergirl did her thing, and both of them danced the night away. I hope once the stress of the wedding passes, we'll all be one big happy family spread about various parts of the U.S. It was a fun weekend, spending time with my family that I don't see enough of, and we were SO grateful to have been able to join them.

My refrigerator pooped out on me. And it was over a week from the time I first had it looked at to the time it got fixed. I had a great friend offer to help me out storing my frozen crap so I didn't lose a TON of food, and my cousin loaned me her hubby's beer fridge for the milk and stuff. I took the opportunity to clean the fridge like MAD, and for the first time since we moved in here in 2005, cleaned under and behind the thing. Kate Gosselin I am not. (Whew!)

I have yet to be at the pool. This is the first time I think EVER in my life it has been July 1st and I have not yet been in whatever pool I claim as "mine" at the time. This year the reasons range from: Too cold, too hot, too busy, too sick, too late on the association bill, and most recently, too cold again. What is this 60 degrees on July 1st business anyway?!

The kids are cracking me up. There is nothing Katie can't say. Today in the car Emi said, "Mommy, I love you so much." And Katie said, "I do too." Heehee. Love it. Emi is also full of funny commentary...my favorite recently is when she informed us she needs a new playhouse, because she is, "Like, crazy tall, and can't fit in the door without ducking." And please do not get me started on Katie's "Knock Kock" jokes. Nope, not a typo. And nope, correcting her does no good. Reminiscent of Emi's inability to say "Get up" when she was little....instead coming out with "Dick up," which was embarrassing on more than one occasion.

Anyway....hope you enjoyed my little update. Trust me, I know it was a little random and all over the place, but that's what my mind is like lately, so I figured I might as well keep it real!

Happy July! And if anyone has any ideas for me on themed posts for days of the week, or other ideas for topics let me know! I'm running dry!

Refrigerators and Shoes in the Road

2009-06-13T14:02:00.002-05:00

No, I didn't see a refrigerator in the road.

Just in case you were wondering.

Were you?

I didn't think so.

But, as I often do, I saw shoes in the road. It seems that almost every time I go somewhere, there are shoes in the road. What is that about?! Who is walking around with one shoe on because the other is roadkill on the highway? Whose foot is hanging out of the window of the car in the first place? Or was the shoe a victim of misplaced anger? Did the driver get so frustrated with the bumper to bumper traffic that he took off his LOAFER and chucked it out the window? Did the passenger become so angry with the driver for slamming on the brakes while she was applying her mascara in the rear-view that she threw her HEEL at him and missed, sailing out the driver's side window into traffic? Did the teenager in the back have too difficult a time tying his Chuck Taylor's they he gave up and threw them BOTH into the road?? I don't think twice about kid's shoes in the road, because I know that if a back window is open far enough any number of things could fly out at the will of a bored/curious/naughty member of the 3 and under crowd.

That's right, friends. I saw a men's loafer, a fancy-looking half-pair of heels, and a pair of black Chucks in the road TODAY. Am I the only one? Does this MEAN something?

Comments are welcome...for several reasons. It's nice to know people are reading. And, I really want to know the deal with the shoes.

And for the refrigerator.......Ray Romano's brother Robert came over to fix it, but SURPRISE! he didn't have the part on his truck. It has been "emergency ordered" and could be here by Monday or Tuesday, at which point Henry/Robert Romano will come and install it for us. So, in the meantime, my frozen goods are in my friend Laura's garage freezer (note to self: get a garage freezer), and my fridge goods that I couldn't bring myself to toss are in my cousin's beer fridge parked in my side hall. Life is interesting for sure. My snacking at night has been reduced thanks to the lack of FOOD, and my meal planning/advance shopping/cooking at home plans are all on hold.

I am trying not to complain TOO much though, because THANKFULLY this particular unexpected expense/broken item is under warranty, and won't break the bank. Which is already broken from the $700 car repair last week. But that's another story.

More than meets the eye....

2009-06-06T21:25:00.005-05:00

Do you see these sweet faces??

Don't they just look so FUN? and HAPPY?

You'd think nothing but giggles and hugs would come out of these two.

You'd never expect THIS!

I'll start with Katie. She is becoming FIERCELY independant, insists on doing everything "myself" (as she says). We have many conversations that go like this:

ME: Katie, let Mommy help you put your pants on.
K: MYSELF pants.
ME: Ok, Katie. You try, and Mommy will help you when you put both legs in one hole and pick you up when you fall down after trying to walk with both legs in one hole.
K: MY DO.
ME: Go ahead Katie. You do it. You put your socks on your hands, your shoes on the wrong feet, Emi's underwear on OVER your clothes. Go ahead. Mommy will just put the "I Dressed Myself" button on you today. No big deal. I'm a relaxed mom like that. I'd never worry about what people would think when you go out in public looking like no one loves you.
K: SHRILL SCREAM. THROWS SHOE. (Stands up, falls down on her head as she quickly discovers that both legs in one hole and one shoe on the wrong foot does not allow for getting around easily.)

Well, OK....as you may have guessed (and if you actually know me) you know the conversation went more like this:
ME: Time to get dressed. Mommy will do it this time. You can help.
K: MY DOOOOOOO.
ME: No. You don't know HOW to put shoes and socks on. You are only a baby. Sit still and be quiet, Mommy will take care of it.
K: AHHHHHHH NOOOOOOO MY DOOOOOOO. MOMMY STOP MOMMY NO MY DOOOOOOOO.
ME: There. All done. Let's go now.
K: Katie help you.
ME: Yes, Katie. You did. Good job. Really now, let's go.

Emi's story ends with her crying like she has lost her best friend and being buckled in her car seat while Katie and I dance outside the car and wait for Grandma to finish her shopping while Emi finishes throwing her fit. It begins with Emi waking up at 2:30 in the morning for some unknown reason and wandering the house crying until I put her back to bed, and then waking up for good at 6:20am. The middle goes like this:

She wanted a piece-of-junk HSM flashlight. WHY we need a flashlight I do NOT know, but she was going to use $3 of her birthday money to buy it, so I didn't argue. We put it in the cart and did the rest of our shopping (which included a swimming suit try-on session for me which ended with a top and no bottoms....hopefully that situation will be rectified soon as bottomless bathing is frowned upon at the community pool). She managed to convince her Boppa to buy her 2 HSM cups to keep at their house and we headed to the line. At some point in this line Emily lost her head and started FREAKING out and totally got In The Zone (you know The Zone....the one track thinking, nothing can get through, no talking to her Zone) about being allowed to scan the cups. Well, it was MY turn to pay, and the cups weren't in MY pile of stuff and my fruitless efforts to get her to FOCUS on me and scan her piece of plastic crap flashlight were getting nowhere. She finally started stomping her feet and screaming at me about the cups, at which point I threw our stuff back in the cart (including her precious flashlight), grabbed her hand, and marched out of the store, smiling at the horrified glances of strangers witnessing this Public Display of Brattiness. Whew.

So.....when I have moments like that with the two of them, I just look at pictures like those, and remember that the good far outweigh the bad, and they are just two little people trying to figure out where they fit and what they can and can't get away with.

Deep breath, Stephanie. Tomorrow is another day.

My "baby" is FOUR!!

2009-06-01T22:20:00.006-05:00

Do you see this baby? She was TEENY. She was early. Drama from the start, this one. Due June 25th, 2005....made her appearance May 28th 2005 after a clearly ineffective period of bedrest! I remember just "knowing" something was going to happen out of the ordinary..."knowing" so much that I had all my copies and lesson plans and everything done for the last month of the school year...JUST IN CASE. And there she was. After just 6 hours of labor, I was a MOM....to my Emi. This pic is her at one month old, right around her due date, wearing a preemie sized dress. My itty bitty baby girl.

And this is her at one. After a year of breaking me in, showing me the ropes...reminding me daily my life as a Stay At Home Mom was NOTHING like my life as a non-mom. We did a lot of snuggling, napping, crying, and learning together that first year! And in one short year she went from preemie sizes to 2T!! She was definitely making up for lost time.

Here she is at 2. Talking up a storm, making me "need" another baby, because all of a sudden she just WASN'T a baby anymore. (And then came Katie, but that's another story!)

THREE?! Really?? And going to start PRESCHOOL that fall? No way. She is a real person now. At 3 she is easily frustrated, totally jealous, very demanding of my time and attention, insecure and in need of a lot of reassurance. We had a quick lesson in Being Away from Mommy when we moved her up to the preschool room at church cold turkey. 6 weeks straight of one or both of us crying, and she was good. Just in time for starting school on her own, and gymnastics on her own.....and perhaps a shred of independance has emerged! Not going to lie....3 was by FAR the most challenging year to date with Emi. She had me reading all kinds of parenting books, praying a LOT, re-evaluating my position on spanking, my position on the effectiveness of time-outs, pulling my hair out, calling Tony crying that I must be the world's worst mother......And she also had me laughing so hard at her funny jokes, melting at her sweetness with her sister and the kind things she says and does for others, in awe of her brains and her creativity, and totally in love with this big girl who was once my baby.

And now she's four. She was terrified to turn 4. Thought for sure she'd wake up with long legs, need all new clothes and shoes, and I wouldn't be able to lift her anymore. What a relief she felt when she came down that morning and had her normal legs, her jammies still fit her, and there was no trouble picking her up for her first snuggle as my big four year old. Once she realized her whole world wasn't going to come crashing down as a result of this new number, life went on. We had several little celebrations for her, and she had a great birthday.

That's my girl! My first! The one who actually made me a mommy. My little diva, always dramatic and NEVER a dull moment! Thank goodness she's only 4 and I don't have to worry about sending her off kindergarten just yet. Yikes....THAT'S gonna be a sappy blog if there ever was one.

Took a sick day today!

2009-05-27T19:38:00.002-05:00

And wow....have sick days changed. Used to be I'd have my sub plans ready, my aide prepped to handle my especially difficult kids, and I'd call in...."Hi, this is Stephanie Ho. I'm not coming in tomorrow. I'm sick. Thanks." Easy as can be.....and I could do this up to 15 times a year and still get paid! My, how times have changed. Turns out I didn't do enough research on this whole "Mom Job". Did you know?--Get this...WE DON'T GET SICK DAYS!!!

Nevertheless, I declared today a sick day. I didn't shower til 11:30, I didn't dress Katie, let Em dress herself. I did feed and diaper everyone who required it. I even took a nap. But that was the extent of my sick day. Despite my draining ears & nose, and my throbbing sinuses and headache....life goes on, and I'm in charge. The checkbook needed balancing, the dishwasher unloading, reloading, and unloading again, the laundry needed doing, the clothes needed folding (I never DID do the kid's clothes...), dog hair needed vacuuming, counters needed scrubbing-the list goes on. It's almost the kid's bedtime now, and my sick day doesn't seem that much different than any other day other than that whole showering-late-taking-a-little-nap thing.

In other news, this is my last day of being a mom of a 3 and 1 year old. My baby turns 4 tomorrow and I can hardly believe it. There will be an Emily dedicated post tomorrow, for sure. We have a fun day of yard work, Build A Bear, and Sweet Tomatoes planned.

Hopefully I won't need another sick day!!

She SMILES!!!

2009-05-20T22:03:00.006-05:00

FINALLY. After many recent stubborn months of being FLAT OUT ignored when I beg her to say "cheeeeeeese" for the camera, Katie Bug let her guard down and cheesed it up for her mama. 18 months old today (it's the 20th, right?!) and this was the present she gave me:

I am hoping to have many more smiley pics to come of my Bug. A mama can only have so many shots in profile, or with the 'tude, or with the drunken-sailor-one-eye-closed thing going on. (She is not as naturally photogenic as her ever-posing sister!) But anyway, that's my girl. Nothing like a beautiful 80 something degree sun shiney day to bring your smile out.

Not Me! Monday

2009-05-18T21:16:00.008-05:00

It's Not Me! Monday! My favorite way to share my not-so-proud moments from the previous week. This fun is brought to you by MckMama...you can check her blog here at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Now onto some things I totally did NOT do this week.
In an effort to make a point and push the issue that the other responsible adult in this house actually does have to have some adult responsibilities in this house, I most certainly would not resort to such tactics as allowing the master bathroom to become a complete biohazard. I would never let my tub get so grimy that I felt the need to wear shower shoes a la freshman year in the dorm. I would never allow so much soap scum to build up that it likely could have been scraped and molded into a brand new bar of soap. I would never allow my love for a clean bathroom to be squelched by my love for a husband who DOES.HIS.STUFF. I would never vow to NOT clean the bathroom til it got gross enough to remind him that that is HIS JOB. I'd be a better wife than that and just do it myself. I will spare you the description of the toilet. Just know that my plan worked and my bathroom shines once more.

I also am NOT a big TV watcher, and certainly didn't pass that habit on to my children. They knit and read books and make candles and macrame and....OK, I'll stop. Anyway, you get the point, since we are NOT totally addicted to Sesame Street it makes no sense that I would have to look not once, not twice, but three times to verify that the car behind me at the red light was not in fact being driven by a greyhound. I was definitely NOT overtired and over-Sesamed when I did NOT have this little delusion. Since this totally didn't happen to me I shouldn't have to tell you that it wasn't actually a greyhound but a greyhoundish looking older woman driving the car, but I thought you might be wondering.

And for those looking for Crock Pot Monday....it didn't happen this week. Tony wanted Dr.Dough tonight, and we do love the doctor. I have spent almost 6 years married to a man completely unimpressed with pizza (I don't know how this happened!)....but he has been changed. Dr. Dough has made him appreciate the joys of pizza, and our marriage can now go on harmoniously.

Coming soon to a store near you.....

2009-05-17T13:37:00.003-05:00

Emily on a box!!

She got this little "job" through a connection at church, and she had so much fun in her jammies pretending to sleep and rest on this cool cot. We kind of just assumed this ad would run on the internet on Regalo's site. Well....we found out that this is actually the faceplate for the box of the product! So, next time you're in Target, Walmart, or Babies R Us, check out the My Cot and you can tell everyone, "Hey, I know that kid!" I'm not sure when the new packaging comes out, but you can bet we'll be looking for it. And then Em wants me to take her picture by "her box."

I love this girl.

Even before she was famous. : )

Totally random thoughts today...

2009-05-16T22:12:00.003-05:00

I felt the need for a post since I haven't posted anything since Monday! I have a good "Not Me! Monday" planned for this (next?) week though...stay tuned...I did NOT do some funny(?) things this week.

(*Note to self: Greyhound, Shower Shoes...)

Tonight was a fun night...I hosted a F.E.A.S.T. (something something At Supper Tonight), which is a really fun idea my church does. I had 3 families come for dinner for a total of 7 adults and 10 kids ranging from 18 months to 14 (almost 14?). Tony had to work, so he missed the fun, but it was really actually a good time. I anticipated a bit of awkwardness due to the mix of people, but there really wasn't much that I felt anyway. Dinner seemed to be a hit in spite of my lack of dining room, the kids managed to not make a food mess in the playroom (where they ate on the train table), and no one seemed to mind my makeshift table-for-7 (aka my kitchen table with a card table bumped up against it with 3 random extra chairs). Some interesting answers came out of a LOUD game of Scattergoriers, and hopefully no permanently bruised egos.

And did you know that 10 kids can play relatively (as compared to the LOUD game at our table) quietly for well over an hour without incident? These are some good kids.

Anyway, tonight I'm thankful. I'm thankful for my house, and will work harder to be grateful for what it is and what's in it despite my habit to "I want" my way into dissatisfaction. I'm thankful that my church has provided chances for families and kids to get to know each other and have some fun outside of Sunday mornings. And I'm thankful for my husband who works so hard to keep us afloat (and hopefully soon AHEAD) in these tight financial times. Even if it means I have to host a FEAST alone.

Not Me! Monday!

2009-05-11T21:40:00.005-05:00

Guess what day it is???

I join MckMama and her BIG following with my love for Not Me! Monday. Check it out here...www.mycharmingkids.net.

Anyway, not much to confess here this week. Especially because I would NEVER do ridiculous things 2 weeks running. I'd have learned my lesson LAST week! Some of you might make the same mistakes twice, but NOT ME!!

I would never get up in the morning, shower, dress, pack up the kids and head out to Target only to realize once I get on the road that I haven't brushed my teeth! Only a total ~~disgusting slob~~ flake would do that. I certainly wouldn't continue to forget to brush them at all until exactly 1:07 PM. That would just be nasty.

I certainly wouldn't join a Biggest Loser challenge with my friends and then blow it completely on a weekend with my inlaws. I have way too much willpower for that. I would have packed my healthy foods, stuck to my plan, and avoided all the many pitfalls of a weekend in P-Town. I hope you didn't believe whoever told you that I ate 3 donuts the first day, with a side of donut holes. Closely followed by lunch, second lunch, and dinner. I would have the willpower to fight Mama Ho's desire to feed me and the kids All.Day.Long. The following day I would never fall victim to the donuts AGAIN. I'd have a granola bar. I'd not eat donuts in mass quantities TWO days in a row! Would I? No!! Not me!! And of course after not having a pile of fried dough for breakfast, surely when my father in law made bacon, sausage, and hash browns soaked in butter I'd say, "No thank you! I just ate a pile of donuts!" But I fell victim to his assurance that these particular shiny-with-grease bacon slices and slick-to-the-touch hash brown patties were, (and I DO quote), "Healthy for you. I cook the fat out." And after all, the sausage was turkey sausage. I didn't want to hurt his feelings...nope, not me!! We won't even talk about dinner...but of course if it consisted of deep-fried turkey and AHHHHMAZING corn dip, I would NOT have eaten it.

Nope, not me.

In other news, this is, in fact Crock Pot Monday, but it was a repeat of BBQ Chicken from last week. It was a big hit, so I made it for our Mother's Day dinner tonight with my gram, aunt, and mama. Hers of course was made with "pretend" chicken.