Monday, January 28, 2008

Finally, I can breathe.

Thanks for all of your birthday wishes for Michael and "get well quick" thoughts. They must have worked because we are all finally feeling more like ourselves! You know they are feeling better when the sibling fighting resumes:). I have to upload some pics(you know I have a zillion). In the meantime, look at what I got for $1.oo....................$1.00!


I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in the Williams-Sonoma catalog. Priced at $249!!!!! So with a little of the difference(read $248!!!!!!!!), I went and got my haircut and highlighted. Yes, this may come as quite a shock to many of you. As it has been OVER 2 years since I have even cut my hair! I even went to Macys and bought 2 new shirts.....I KNow, it is so unlike me:) What a great way to end the sickness standoff that was going on at our house.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

This just in.............

Michael has taken TWO bites of a peanut butter sandwich. Things are looking up.

In a sea of Amoxicillin.....

Yep, that is where we have been. Day 8 with child #4 finally catching it too. I am going a little stir crazy staying home. We were supposed to have Michael's birthday this Sunday, but will have to postpone that til next week. I have so much that I want to blog about, but really no energy for it. So, I will leave you with a couple photos...January 24th rewind style.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Was it only 4 years ago?

He was due January 31st. I was so determined to NOT be induced. I wanted him to "bake" as long as he was supposed to. We went to our weekly appt on January 23rd. I had been having issues with my blood pressure with him, so the doctor basically told me....you ARE having the baby today, we don't want to take any chances. We get to the hospital around 2 and everything was sort of laid back. They didn't expect the baby to be born soon. They even sent Charles out to get lunch for us. Beyond Bread turkey sandwich...yum! They started giving me petocin around 4:30-4:45 pm to induce labor. 2 pushes, no epidural, and 71 minutes later, Michael was here. 8 lbs 12 oz, delivered naturally. I still can't believe it. Our biggest baby delivered with no epidural.
The point of Michael's birth story? The way he entered the world is the way he does everything. He's on his own schedule. He has no patience. He is straight to the point. And he is quite the ham. One of the nurses even thanked us for giving them something to talk about during their shift. Our doctor was next door delivering a baby and almost did not make it to our room. The talk of the floor...always in the center of everything. We are so happy he is the center of our world.














Happy Birthday, Michael!


Since he is only 4....I thought I would celebrate his birth'day' with 23 things I love about my 3rd baby!
1. His beautiful brown eyes......they are so expressive.
2. His love of animals....especially those at the zoo.
3. How he includes his teacher during our dinner prayer.
4. His sense of humor. He is definitely the clown of the family. Always tries to make you smile.
5. His compassion for others that are sad or don't feel well.
6. Dinosaurs. Need I say more?
7. When he won't eat his lunch, but will come over and eat my salad....all of it. If he only knew that I am actually very happy about his lunch thievery.
8. His music taste. He listens to it all.
9. How he changes his clothes at least 4 times a day. His fashion sense is really evolving:)
10. His huge hugs.
11. His cute phrases...."Monster" for his leapster, "Rainbows" for mac-n-cheese. "Wunch" for lunch, and with lunch he only means....macaroni and cheese.
12. Thomas the train.
13. His relationship with Daddy.
14. His love of games....he is really into it right now.
15. How he idolizes Tyler.
16. That he likes his room clean and does try to keep it that way!
17. Oranges..orange juice are faves of his.
18. His favorite breakfast. Pancakes or french toast with syrup.
19. Container-lover. A gene I passed on. His room is full of backpacks, tote bags, buckets, and so on.
20. His sleeping companions. Nemo, Froggy, Spongebob, Triceratops, and Long-neck.
21. He always uses his napkin. He has even gotten up in the middle of dinner to wash his hands.
22. He is a well-behaved preschooler.
23. When he says, "I wuv you too, Mommy"
















Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Doesn't everybody?

Have animated carpenters and.................



Sweetheart super-heroes living at their house?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Some of my favorite gifts this year.


When I was little, an artist took my fingerprint and made it into an angel ornament. It is my Mom's favorite ornament and mine too. This year she totally surprised me and did just that for all four of my children. I teared up when I opened it.....such a thoughtful gift, thanks Mom.

Other happy gifts from my parents included some much needed Cuisinart cookware and for my birthday, the deluxe turntable version of Scrabble. Scrabble is my all-time favorite game. Woohoo.

My favorite gift from my cute husband was an ipod nano. Isn't she pretty? Do you see why I have a crush on Adam Levine? Favorite gift picked out by the kids? Bright red polka-dotted undies???? Lindsey said "Mommy HAS to have them". Sweet girl. Favorite gift from Charles for my birthday? Gorgeous topaz earrings and necklace that I have yet to photograph. I am so loved!






Monday, January 14, 2008

Happy Birthday, Mom!




1. She loves Calvin & Hobbes....doesn't everyone?


2. She has a great work ethic.


3. She is an excellent bowler.


4. Seafood buffet in town? She's been there.


5. She has the bluest eyes you will ever see.....wait, I see them every day when I look in my daughter's eyes.


6. She was born and raised in Nunda, New York.


7. She was a KOSH girl......she made eyeglass lenses.


8. She thinks Gallagher is hilarious.


9. She has 4 amazing grandchildren.


10.She does NOT like vanilla ice cream.


11. She played on her company's softball team.


12. She loves slippers!


13. Harry Chapin kissed her on the cheek....she was so excited.


14. She loves shot-em up movies. Anything Charles Bronson.


15. She sews well....thanks, Mom.


16. She loves to color.


17. She draws well.


18. Favorite color, blue!


19. Loves coffee.


20. She gives the most thoughtful gifts.


21. She has 1 brother and 1 sister.


22. And 9 nieces and nephews.


23. She makes a delicious chicken cordon bleu.


24. She survived a triple bypass and is doing well!


25. Her name is eleven backwards.


26. She has the softest skin. Really, I am jealous.


27. LOVEs clam chowder from Dirty Ernies....where my parents went on their first date.


28. She can ice skate, but has never roller-skated.


29. Love Diet Pepsi.


30. Tickles all her grandchildren on the neck with her chin....sounds strange, but tickles soooo bad! She used to do it to me too.


31. Thinks she is 5'3", but I think it is more like 5'1 now, maybe even 5'.


32. LOVES pumpkin pie.


33. Has the cutest dimples, that she has passed down to Tyler.


34. She likes to play cards.


35. She has 3 cats....Gato, Pita, and Mikey.


36. She loves parrots.


37. She enjoys visiting Tombstone, often.


38. Bisbee too!


39. Law & Order is on....don't interrupt!


40. She loves going to yard sales.


41. She does stained glass, has a whole room dedicated to it...along with other craft projects.


42. She is not much of a jewelry person, but does wear rings and occasionally earrings.


43. I am loving her new haircut.


44. She doesn't like being called "Ma'am", especially if the person saying it...is older than her.


45. Same with a younger person calling her "Hon".


46. She loves musicals and plays.


47. Taught me all she knows in the art of cannonball.


48. She has treated Charles as though he were her son.


49. She is very competitive. Blew it and Yahtzee challengers watch out.


50. On her ipod, I think she would have Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffett, Jim Croce, Eric Clapton, and so on.


51. She has had a bike spoke go through her leg.


52. She looks just like her grandmother.


53. Bubbilicious is her fave.


54. Fireballs too.


55. You are a wonderful woman. I am so proud to call you...Mom.








Friday, January 11, 2008

Winter comforts.

Warms up your body.....

Warms up your heart. I love these kids!

Happy Birthday to me AGAIN!

YaY! I opened the mailbox yesterday and my birthday was extended again. Jill was so sweet to send me
Her super-cool handmade personalized note cards, adorable birthday card, and Gratitude book.

I turned the page and the book said what I wanted to say to her .....Thanks for caring. Thank you, Jill for remembering my birthday. For taking the time to send me such a fun treat. It has been great getting to know you, thanks my bloggin' friend!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Candidate Match Game

Can you tell I have been blog-hopping? I found this on Kristi's blog. Take the quiz to see who your choice would be here. I was pretty surprised with my results.

So cool.

You can customize your Starbucks card here. Now if they would do that at Sonic....everyone would smile!

Things I've Done.

This list has gone around blogworld many times, but I don't think I have ever done it. All items in blue are what I have done.

Have you done this list too?

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. . Seen the Northern Lights
14.Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon1
22. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Take 20

And watch this.....The Story of Stuff. WOW, is all I can say. Check it out.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Cuteness shortage?

Not around here.

Don't you love her sweater? It is one of her Christmas favorites from Aunt Christina.
The boy loves games!

Birthday good mail.

Kacey surprised me with some fun birthday good mail. Thanks for making my day Kacey! If you haven't been to her shop, Doodlebugs, you need to. Such fun stationary, stickers, and more. I am addicted I tell you.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!

Apple juice was flowing along with good cheer(a.k.a) noisemakers. I hope this year brings you nothing but good health, love and happiness!