Wednesday, May 31, 2006

We're All Tired

*My neighbor, Donna, and I set up a playdate for her kids and my kids today. Daniel's been looking forward to this for a while now...Luke and Jake were his best friends until they moved a few weeks ago (they just moved across town). Donna and Jake came by a little early and we chatted while we waited for Luke's school bus to arrive (he still rides the same bus home). While we were chatting, the phone rang. It was the school telling me that Jacob was in the nurse's office with a stomach ache, can I come get him? Donna told me she'd watch Daniel and Hannah while I went up to the school. I'm not exactly sure what was wrong but he looked horrible when I picked him up. We get home, he mopes in the corner for a little bit and then acts like there's nothing wrong. My thought is, whatever, there's only a few more days of school anyway. The five kids played in the sprinkler for about 1 1/2 hours and then came in to play. They went back outside when the school bus arrived, dropping off the rest of the neighbor kids. They rode bikes for a while and came inside to relax a little. All five looked like they were going to fall asleep. Gavin comes in and desperately tries to get all of the kids to go out with him to play. They finally agree when Donna pulls up to pick up Luke and Jake.

All three of them ate most, if not all, of their dinner tonight and are now hanging out watching Doogal. I love summer...the kids play so hard and are exhausted by the end of the day!!!

*I finished reading The Davinci Code this morning. At first, I couldn't understand what all of the fuss was about. My "ah ha" moment came about half way through. I found it a really good work of fiction. Now I need to find something a little lighter to read.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Daniel's Graduation

The cake

Mike, Hannah and Jacob wait for the ceremony to start.

Daniel smiles for the camera as he gets ready to sing

Daniel goes up to get his diploma

Daniel and his teacher

Daniel graduated from preschool on Friday night. I was crying more than half of the time. They showed a slideshow of pictures throughout the year put to the song I Hope You Dance which had me in tears. Unfortunately, the sanctuary was a little dark and it was hard to get good photos, I hope you can see them.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

I'm Loving It!!!

I desperately needed to go to the grocery store today. We were out of milk and I don't think that I could deal with anymore fast food. We drove up to our new Martin's to get some groceries. I decided that I would try to put the kids in the Treehouse. The Treehouse is a little child care area for customers while they're shopping. Kids have to be 3-9 years old. Perfect! So, after filling out the lengthy enrollment form, I was given my walkie talkie and ID bracelets and was told I had 90 minutes. I didn't even get goodbye's from the kids. They just took off to play. I tell you what...it was the best hour shopping with the kids ever. When I was done, Hannah was playing a game on the computer and Daniel was drawing a picture. It took 10 minutes to get them out of there. I can't remember the last time I left the grocery store with the kids while smiling. This is going to be a huge help while Mike is gone!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Missing: One Stuffed Cow

Jacob essentially cried himself to sleep last night because he lost his stuffed cow. The boy has a million stuffed critters in bed with him...so many that I don't know how he fits into it...but it was the cow he wanted. :( We looked and looked...no cow. Hopefully, it'll turn up today.

Yesterday was a busy day. I took Jacob to Sunday School and went to the grocery store for a side for the picnic. We had asked the father of a little girl in Jacob's class to watch Jacob for me because Hannah was going to Caroline's birthday party. It turned out that we didn't need him because there was just enough time between the two.

After the picnic, we headed to Scoops (a popular birthday place all of the sudden) for Caroline (a neighbor's little girl who will be 3). Luckily, Gavin and Addy were there as company for Jacob and Daniel. Actually, most of the kids there were Jacob's age...not surprising since most of the kids in the neighborhood are in the 6/7 age range. The kids begged and begged for me to play that crane game for them and on the first try, I got two animals in one shot. Then, I couldn't get anything. I told Jacob that we were going to go to Target so that I could pick up some cleaning supplies, so he could get a small stuffed animal there (the cow).

I then came home and cleaned. And cleaned. And had the kids clean. I have to say that the cleaning award went to Daniel yesterday...his room looked amazing when he was done! I made the discovery that Jacob hoards candy in his room. In every corner, high and low, there was a bag. Easter candy, Halloween candy, Christmas candy. Everywhere. My guess is that the intention was to hide it from Daniel and Hannah and then he forgot about it. It made me laugh.

I picked up a copy of The DaVinci Code and can't put it down. As a fiction, it's pretty good so far. I can tell that once I really get into it, it'll be hard to put down. I feel lame that I haven't read it before now.

Today, I'm killing time until I have to take Daniel to his gymnastics field trip. I really should go clean up the dog pee on the carpet...

Sunday, May 21, 2006

And So It Begins...

Mike left this morning for Kansas. We now officially begin the year of 3 weeks there, one week here, home on the weekend. He had to leave early this morning because it was pretty much the only flight that he could get. I really haven't had time to be sad yet...too much to do today (yet I found the time to blog...imagine that!)

I bought a new CD yesterday (we all went out and got haircuts and went to Target) by a band called Snow Patrol. I love this CD. My favorite song on the CD is Chasing Cars and I think the words are pretty appropriate...

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need anything,
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

I don't quite know how to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world
forget what you're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would yo lie with me
And just forget the world
Forget what you're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in you perfect eyes
They're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never
Change for us at all

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Just For Sue...

Okay, Sue. Here's what our backyard looks like. Now you know!


No Use Crying Over Spilt...Sand?

When we did the Family Day at the Park during Apple Blossom weekend, the kids got to make bottles of sand art. I thought it was odd that they were using glass bottles but whatever. The bottles got home safely and were sitting nicely on the window sill. For whatever reason, Daniel thought that it would be fun to bring everyone's bottles outside today to play with. I heard the crash but wasn't sure what it was. I saw Daniel standing in front of the front door, holding Jacob and Hannah's bottles and crying hysterically because his bottle broke (look down a few posts and you'll see a photo of Daniel and his beloved bottle of sand!). Of course, he's not wearing shoes or socks and there's broken glass everywhere. He bends down to try to put the pieces back together. I'm screaming for him to back away and I hear Hannah's little voice trying to comfort Daniel "it'll be 'kay Danyo" she kept saying over and over again. I just wanted to hug her! It was a pain to clean up but it did look kind of pretty spread out on the doorstep.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Cool Sites for GA Fans...

The only one that hasn't been updated today is the Writer's Blog...Joe the bartender's blog and Nurse Debbie's blog are a little insightful...mostly just funny.
Grey Matters (Writer's Blog)
Emerald City Bar (Joe's blog)
Debbie Does Seattle Grace (Nurse Debbie's blog)

Monday, May 15, 2006

A Very Grey's Couple of Days

Knowing me, you had to know that this was coming. The Grey's season finale was spread over two nights (and since the president decided to speak tonight, they ran about 40 minutes of last night's episode tonight) and tonight was the 2 hour finale. Please bear with me as there are no new episodes until September and you won't have to hear me rant about it again until then.

First...Mike's friend, Carmen Mormino, was on last night's episode. He had one line but it was so cool! Sue doesn't think that the X degrees of seperation works in this case but I do so, because I met Carmen at Mike's high school reunion a couple of years back, I'm a mere 2 degrees from Patrick Dempsey!!!!!! LOL! Okay, I may have lost it...

I'm posting specifics here, so if you haven't seen it and you want to, turn away from the computer now. MICHELLE - YOU HAVE TO POST ON THIS!!!!!!

Holy Crap! Izzy and Denny. What the heck was she thinking cutting that wire?!? Does she really want to be brought up on manslaughter charges? So, he gets the heart but come on...she's gone totally postal (sorry, Sue). Poor Denny...gets the heart and then has a stroke? I loved Denny...I'm sad to see him go. But Izzy quitting? She can't quit! No no no. Alex proved he really is a good guy tonight. H really stepped it up for Izzy. Good for him.

Burke gets shot?!? What the heck? Why was he coming in through the emergency entrance anyway? Shouldn't he have been coming in off the helipad? And what's up with Cristina? Knock it off and go take care of your man you freak! Okay...she does...but only after Denny kicks it!

I do have to say that I cried the hardest when Doc died. Mike's gotten used to finding the metaphors in this show and says to me, "does that mean that Meredith and Derek's relationship is over?" Silly me, I say, "yeah." Little did I know that at the prom (yes, I said prom...how funny was Bailey speaking "teenage girl?" The whole silver and black balloons make the dresses pop thing was hysterical!) Der would tackle Mer. I would have been happy with the little hand touch at McVet's office...it would have given me some hope about them for next season, but they gave us soooooo much more! Callie walking in on them...oh my. I have to give her a lot of credit for fixing Mer's dress, though. I'm beginning to like her now. And now, Mer has to pick between McDreamy and McVet? Of course, that's a hands down no brainer...PICK MCDREAMY!!!!! And Addison sooooo knows. So, how come Mer didn't pick Derek right away? A)It's the season finale...they had to have a cliffhanger B)Look at the day she just had...her best friend almost kills a patient, she gets called on to rat her out only to call the Chief out for breaking up her parents years ago, she's essentially put on probation and has to help coordinate the prom, her dog is put to sleep, George finally gives he a gut wrenching apology during their time out, her other best friend's boyfriend is shot and it's potentially career ending and, Denny ends up having a stroke and dies only an hour after Izzy told him that she'd marry him. C)Derek may be asking Mer to come with him but he's still married. Don't ya love TV?

I know there's a lot I'm forgetting, but those are my favorite moments...did I mention that Meredith and Derek hooked up!?! She's so going to choose him!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Daddy's Poem

Mike wanted me to post his poem too. Here's the poem that Mike got from Daniel's preschool this morning (this one made me cry too!)Again, not sure who to give the writing credits to...

Footprints

"Walk a little slower Daddy"
Said a child so small.
"I'm following in your footsteps,
And I don't want to fall."

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower Daddy,
For I must follow you.

Daniel's Parent's Luncheon

As a special treat for Mother's Day, Daniel's preschool hosted a luncheon for parents. They did a little program beforehand...two songs and then they did a song with bells. Daniel's group did Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the bells. It was way too cute. Daniel sung his heart out during the songs. It's so different than with Jacob. Jacob won't sing a thing. It's hard to believe that he only has 2 more weeks of preschool.

They also gave us a cute poem. I know I've seen it before but I have to post it here again. I don't exactly know who gets the credit for writing this. I was crying my eyes out when I read it at the luncheon.

When God Created Mothers

When the good Lord was creating mothers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "you're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "have you read the spec on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic...have 180 moveable parts - all replaceable...run on black coffee and leftovers...have a lap that disappars when she stands up...a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair...and six pairs of hands."

The Angel shook her head slowly and said, "six paris of hands? No way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'what are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know. And of course, the ones in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say 'I understand and I love you," without so much as uttering a word."

"Lord," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "go to bed. Tomorrow is another..."

"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close now. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger and can get a nine-year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. "But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced.

"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear.

"What's it for?"

"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."

"You are a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there."

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Family Fun Day at the Park (Apple Blossom Day 3)

Today is the last day of the Apple Blossom Festival. Finally. Not that it hasn't been fun but Mike and I are pooped. We wandered around the craft fair (I love craft fairs!)...Mike bought me a cute bracelet with each of the kids' names and birthstones on it for Mother's Day and I got a cute thing for the dining room. We ran into Beth (my CM upline) and her family, Wayne and Cheryl (neighbors) and Skylar's family (a little boy from Daniel's T-Ball team last year). Mike was good friends with Brian (Skylar's dad) and they were excited to catch up with each other. The kids loved this blow up thing that you run through and then go down the slide at the end...they must have done that about 5 times. They also got to ride a pony. Of course, there was more eating...more corn dogs, gyros, those yummy almonds, pizza, smoothies. We are more than tired.

Riding Ponies



Sand Art

Painting at the art station

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Apple Blossom...Day 2

We went down to the walking mall for the midway games and to catch the beginning of the Grand Feature Parade. The kids really cleaned up with winning games. They enjoyed snow cones, ice cream, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and kettle corn. Jacob even lost a tooth! It was a lot of fun. Needless to say, we're pretty tired!

The kids and their winnings

George Hamilton was the Grand Marshall for the Grand Feature Parade

Daniel shows off his tatoo

Hannah and her ice cream

Jacob shows off where his tooth was

Friday, May 05, 2006

You May Have Noticed...

That I deleted my rant post. After mulling it over, I realized (actually, I knew it as I wrote it) that I was stooping to their level. It just felt good to write it and have it out there for people to see for a while and now I'm over it. (I did print it out and have a copy for myself, though!)

The Apple Blossom Festival Begins

The kids didn't have school today because of Apple Blossom...this whole town shuts down for it. The kids and I headed over to the school for the Antique Fire Truck Show. We ran into Jacob's friend, Nick and his mother, Cheryl, and sister and stopped to chat for a while. First question Cheryl asks me (insert a very strong Southern accent here), "how much are ya'll doin' for the Bloom?" I tell her that it's going to be a very blossom weekend and she seems satisfied. The kids and I head over to the mall for lunch and I was asked by the cashier at Quizno's, the lady at the Children's Place and the guy at the Daily Grind, "are you planning on enjoying a lot at Apple Blossom this weekend?" Driving to Martin's (yes, Sue, we wound up driving to the grocery store tonight...ended up with a nice salad, fruit salad, garlic bread and fettuccine alfredo) every single business with a sign had an Apple Blossom reference on it. "Enjoy the Bloom!" "Welcome to the 79th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival!" "Happy Apple Blossom!" Car dealerships were all decked out with pink and green balloons on the cars. Customers at stores were dressed in pink and green...blossom necklaces, blossom shoes (heck, the Apple Blossom Store has Apple Blossom thongs). We all went out for a walk after dinner and once again ran into Nick's family. They were driving to the fireworks. Cheryl leans out of the window and asks (again, insert big Southern accent here), "are ya'll walkin' to the fireworks?" Mike and I laugh and wave. We come home and our neighbor, Jim, pulls into his garage with his son, Ryan. Ryan runs outside with a new toy screaming towards Jacob, "I got an M-16!" Jacob and Daniel are in awe of Ryan's new toy gun. Jim comes out and asks a familiar question, "are ya'll plannin' on enjoyin' the festival this weekend? You know, Ryan and Kelsey did the Bloomin' Mile today." Once again, I feel the need to give a play-by-play of our weekend so that we don't look bad in front of the locals. He gives an approving nod and feels the need to explain why his wife and daughter will not be able to do any festival activities on Saturday (Kelsey has a national cheer tournament in Baltimore). You'd better have a good excuse if you're not participating in something every day! It's so funny how big this thing is. It really is hard to not get caught up in it!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the fire show (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them). Their favorite was the blue firetruck. (Yes, Hannah's wearing pink snowboots)

The kids and the fire chief's car

I just liked this one

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Hoodwinked!

If you haven't seen Hoodwinked, you have to buy or rent it! It's so funny. Definately one of the best cartoons (and I hate cartoons) out there. I love the goat who has had a spell put on him so he has to sing everything. So funny!

The Phone Works Again!!!!!

It's about time! When I called again today (they were actually going to come out today) to make sure they didn't come out but stopped the call forwarding, she says "I see the problem was corrected on April 30th. There was a cable problem in your neighborhood." I said, "I know...we've had service since then but you have to stop forwarding my calls." She then says, "okay, hold on...okay, it's been stopped. Is there anything else I can do for you?" I say, "really? You've stopped forwarding my calls?" She then says, "yes." FOUR DAYS OF ERROR MESSAGES AND SHE STOPS IT WITH A COUPLE OF KEYSTROKES!!!!!! Why didn't I get this lady days ago?

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

100th Post...And It's A Good Day (but I'm still tired)

Hard to believe, but this is my 100th post to my blog. Wow.

Today is my 1 year Creative Memories anniversary. Beth (my upline) is taking me out for ice cream after the kids go down tonight. She's too funny. I also get a 1 year charm for my Shooting Star pin. I'm finally adding charms!


I pick up Daniel from school and we're driving home. Phil Collins comes on the radio and Daniel starts screaming for me to turn it up. He cracks me up singing in the backseat "One more night...one more night!" The DJ comes on and says something like "and right now, here's Bon Jovi." Again, Daniel's all excited. "It's Bon Jovi! It's Bon Jovi!" He then proceeds to sing along to "Have a Nice Day." I love it.

So Tired

Hannah was pretty crabby all day yesterday but I just figured that she was because she hadn't taken a nap. About 1:30am, I hear wimpering and a little voice saying "mom." Not yelling...just very softly. It took me a little bit to figure out which room it was coming from. I discovered it was Hannah and figured she was having a bad dream since she still appeared to be asleep. I rub her back a little and she seems okay. Around 3am, she's very upset. I go in and decide to bring her back to bed with me. She suddenly thinks it's time to be up. She's tossing and turning, whining and asking to watch TV. At some point, I heard Mike say, "come on, Hannah, we need to sleep." When Mike got up to shower and go to work, Hannah again thought it was time to get up. I must have yelled at her because she began crying. I snuggled up with her and fell back to sleep. I got up again at 7:30 to get Jacob ready for school and she was sound asleep. She slept until I woke her up at 9am. Now I feel badly because I think she's sick. I'm so used to Daniel coming in bed with us in the middle of the night that it didn't even occur to me that she may not be feeling well. Her disposition is fairly normal but she's running a fever. Poor baby. I feel like a big mean mommy.