What would you rate me?

On a scale of one to ten, how 'eighties' would you rate these two items?  I mean, who didn't love a black & purple checkered dress coat back then???

Man, are you hot!

Yesterday Son started acting very sluggish, tired & didn't have any appetite at dinner. The first time his temperature was fine. He continued to nap on & off the remainder of the evening (which isn't like him at all). The second time I took his temperature (about half hour before his bedtime) it was 101.8! I gave him some Tylenol to bring the fever down & then he fell asleep very quickly in bed. Not sure what he has, but tomorrow is definitely a day for recovery.


In the meantime, Daughter is quickly learning how to crawl around & uses signs (such as more, bottle, all done, splashy) to tell us what she wants. It's so cool being able to be able to communicate with her this way. I'm sure it helps her out too!

He juggled what???

A few weeks ago, Kids & I went to see a juggler at a local library. He was witty, funny & talented! He juggled the normal things such as scarves, balls, etc. Then he actually juggled three large bean bag chairs (the kind you sit in!) way above his head & then caught them! For a grand finale, he spun & caught ten spinning plates. Adults & children alike were impressed!

Work those muscles!

Hubby worked like a dog last week to finish the landscaping around our new patio & get the firepit all set up. Doesn't it look great? I'm so proud of all the hard work he's done & VERY pleased with how nice it all looks. The sod is growing nicely too, even in this heat!

I can make it!!!

Yesterday my director said it was okay if I missed one rehearsal to go to Hubby's family reunion. So we're thrilled to pieces!!! Luckily it's costuming being done that day so I can do that the day before. Yay! I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important & am grateful for her understanding.

Unexpected news

Today I heard some very news that upset me. One of my long-time friends have suffered a loss & I can only imagine how hard this must be. I knew this her relative as long as I've known her but it hit me harder than I expected as well. This person was sweet, kind & saw life through a child's innocent eyes; therefore, I am better because I knew this person. The world will have one more star now, moving forward to their next adventure, & we will have our sweet memories.

What a techie!

Growing up I was never into the the latest cool gadget. Then again, once Hubby & I hooked up in high school, that started to change. Hubby has a love for cool new techie toys which I have definitely picked up (to a degree anyway). Children now come first ahead of the cool toys of course.


Being that way now, it's strange when I meet someone who isn't into or even aware beyond their cell phone, much less what a PDA is. With laptops, PDAs, IPODs (i.e. music players), digital cameras & camcorders, everything keeps getting smaller & faster. Ironic how different it is from when my parents got our first computer when I was in grade school & it took up the entire desktop.

Go Team Go!!!

At our last rehearsal, I volunteered to be a cheerleader (so not me) in the musical which will be very interesting. Only afterwards did I realize just how exhausting it all was! In general, as long as I get a lot of practice, I am getting the dances. So far I believe I am wearing four different costumes during the show.


Last night Hubby & Son planted the perennials for our patio border. Son kept looking at them matter-of-fact telling Hubby, "This is beautiful. Mommy is going to love this." When I return home after rehearsals, it's heart-warming to see how excited he is to see me again. I'm finding this time apart is actually good for him. I simply LOVE the big hugs I get upon coming home (even if he should be in bed)!


Actually we're also making progress with his bedtime ritual. Instead of sitting with him for an hour or so until he falls asleep, now he gets his book, milk & hug & goes to sleep on his own. Some nights this is more of a challenge than others.

How could braids be hazardous???

Son dressed as a unicorn for camp day on 'favorite animal day'. Originally he wanted to be a rhinoceros but I just couldn't figure out how to pull that one off! Ironically he was the only one who actually came in an outfit as asked.

Now you wouldn't think having hair braided would be hazardous but today I found out differently. I had turned the backyard sprinkler off & bent over to pick up my sandals when my braid swung around & up directly into my eye! No joke here! I instinctively closed my eyes & took a step that made me run into and fall on & over Daughter's jumper, thus ending up on the floor in a pile. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. At that point, Hubby started laughing himself that he wondered "How do you ever make it through the day?" Yup... no klutz here!!!

PS - Good thing Daughter was not in jumper at the time!

How do we sound?

Did you ever wonder what our planet 'sounds' like if another species tried to contact us from another planet? This is what they would here!

Time to move!

Daughter started to crawl this week so I guess it's time to find a safe place away from Daughter for all of Son's unsafe toys for her. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She can already walk along the sides of the pack-n-play as long as she holds onto the side railing. Before we know it, she'll be chasing after her brother!

Now that I'm older...

I like to think that I tried to be considerate of my parents as a teenager. When I wanted friends over, I would ask ahead of time. I never really thought about what it meant for my mom to have to clean so the house was presentable. If I got hungry, I would find something to eat & maybe ask my parents to buy something in particular next time they went shopping. I never thought about food prices & making ends meet. As most teenagers, I was also 'busy' with high school, homework, friends, choir, church groups, etc. I couldn't wait to grow up & 'live my own life'. Now when I hear that I remember how it feels but have to chuckle at myself. Now fifteen years later, I realize what my parents were talking about when they said "with freedom comes responsibility". They were right! I wonder if this is how my parents felt (happy & busy) as my siblings & I were young & growing up. I also understand the time they sacrificed to drive me to places so I could be part of different clubs.


Now don't get me wrong; I love where I am at life & have no regrets. I am married to a wonderful man who supports & encourages me, two children who show such promising personalities, a wonderful home we chose every detail of, a cat who is great company, the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom while still pursuing my dreams, not to mention my family & friends who care about me!


This for me... is the good life!

A good start!

I recently started rehearsals for a local musical I'm going to be in as a supporting cast member. Not bad after being out of the choir world for fifteen years! I'm very excited! It's a little surreal rehearsing for a musical about high school with majority being high school students & majority are half your age. I keep feeling caught between how I used to be & who I am now. It's going to be a wonderful challenge that is already proving to be LOTS of fun.


One thing I am finding... although I'm already outgoing, being in a different scene is forcing me to 'man up' & be as outgoing as I used to be even outside my comfort zone. I'll most likely be too busy to take photos but hey I'll have a good time & great memories (& maybe more in the future)! Did I mention it's quite the workout too??? Looks like I won't need to go to the YMCA on those days!

How close is TOO close?

Last week I took my son & his friend to a local baseball game together where they had a blast eating hot dogs, drinking lemonade, playing on jumpers, looking for sky divers, watching the fireworks & running bases afterwards. Ironically watching the baseball game only half interested them. With all the festivities, the night ran much later than I anticipated though. It was neat seeing the two kids have fun together while Hubby got some alone time with Daughter.





Last weekend we had a nice weekend with my in-laws. The first firework show we saw, we were seated WAY too close. You could actually feel the ashes & cardboard pieces falling around us (which littered the blanket) even though we were behind the 'safety line'. The kids spent most of the time hiding under the blanket because of it. What little they saw, Daughter enjoyed & got frustrated @ being 'hidden' & Son got a little scared since there were some REALLY loud & close ones.


Before we left, Hubby & I got some alone time together while ATVing & checked out a local waterfall up close. That was very nice!







Here are some other photos from these past few weeks. Hope you are finally enjoying summer!

The dream has become a reality!

After waiting for several years, we finally got the patio we've always wanted! It looks so nice & will be great to enjoy with the kids. I'm most looking forward to the ease it will be having fires again in our new firepit!

When Blue Knows Best!

 

 

Son got excited about making this banana bread recipe from one of the Blue Clue's books.  Perhaps I'll find the time today (among the list of chores to be done) after our family outing to a local car wash for boy scouts & trip to the farm for some fresh blueberries!  Hubby is sleeping in & then working on finishing the landscaping around our back patio.  It would be so great if we could have our first fire tonight in our new firepit!  Guess we'll have to see...

Messy toes!

This weekend was very... eventful! Monday at a swim party with his preschool class, Son tripped on his swim towel right before we left & landed on his face; thus bruising his chin & getting four bloody front teeth. Now although his top left tooth tightened enough to eat hard food, it never completely tightened after his Mother's Day accident. Both of his top two teeth were loose (left one much more so!). The dentist was closed on Tuesday but got us in & bonded his top left tooth first thing in the morning. An hour after we got home from the dentist, he was wrestling with one of his neighborhood friends & loosened it all over, bleeding again. A few hours later it was back to the dentist where they repaired the bonding & it's soft food until his follow-up appointment. Now I cringe every time he's playing in ear of him re-injuring his tooth yet another time. If the tooth doesn't tighten up, then they may have to pull it out & his baby teeth won't be in for another year & a half or so! Now if only I could find the secret to getting a four-year-old playing quietly! Any advice besides taping him to a chair??? Kidding of course!


Today Son was playing behind me when he noticed my feet. That's when he said "Mommy, you have messy feet!" That would be the calluses, of course.


Incidentally, I got an x-ray at my new foot doctor & he informed me that I've never broken any of my toes - just VERY badly bruised. So now I can finally say again that after 33 years, I've never broken any bones! Yay for me! That's not to say I don't have a knack for injuring myself other ways almost every day. Just ask my husband. just this morning he mentioned how keeping my feet & Son's teeth healthy is breaking the bank! :-) What can I say? <LOL>

"What rolled where???"

Finally my SILH (sister-in-law's hubby) & FIL (father-in-law) managed to pull the tractor out of ditch. An ATV couldn't do the job but a minivan with it's raw horsepower could! Be careful next time!

Her first word... oh how fitting!

Last night at dinner Daughter learned her first word (other than da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da) & was very proud of it. So for the rest of the night she was saying "uh-oh!". Which is so fitting with Son as her brother!

Not another one!

After thirty years without a lot of mishaps but no broken bones, I thought I broke my first bone (see last picture on second slideshow) & didn't realize it until months later. This weekend I may have managed to injure a new toe on the same foot. I don't know for sure yet but will confirm with a doctor this week. Since it's my middle toe, it's not posing much of a problem. In the meantime, I'll 'buddy tape' it as needed for safety sake. Heaven know with my knack for mishaps, I need all the safety I can get!

This will get you thinking...

Hubby & I were discussing yesterday how different decades have very distinct (something that started & stayed in the same decade) 'icons'.

• 50's = poodle skirts
• 60's = hippies
• 70's = bell bottoms
• 80's = big hair

Now what were the 90's that isn't still around? We racked our brains & wondered if it was still too recent. Can you think of anything?

"You milked what???"

I'm a suburb girl born and raised although I've always had a fascination with country life (i.e. the simplicity of it & hard work it requires). So when my in-laws invited us to Farm Day, we looked forward to viewing some different things like milking a cow & making homemade ice cream & cheese. Afterwards we took a boat ride where Son requested to go faster (thanks to his uncle's encouragement - you know who you are!). The walk along the dam was the coolest. You could see the whole valley & lake on opposite sides!

Freedom well protected

So much has changed during this presidency & not much I agree with. Some of our freedoms & privacy our being invaded by the very government meant to protect them. I'm obviously not happy about this (along with many others) but we are still fortunate enough & blessed to live in a country where we do have freedom & the right to live life the way we want to. Each day I am thankful to those our soldiers who give up so much with their own families to protect our way of life. So remember them today, especially today of all days, when we can celebrate our independence & thankful we're not like so many other countries where daily life knows nothing but war.

Thank you to the men & women who protect our country everyday!

New sights to behold

Yesterday I picked up my first pair of trial contacts (after not being able to wear them since pregnant with Son) & so far they're adjusting well. When I looked at the eye exam chart, I exclaimed "Oh wow! I don't have to squint!" to the optometrist who laughed. :-) This morning Son told Hubby how I didn't wear glasses in the car because I had 'confacts'. When Hubby corrected him saying, "You mean contacts." Son replied, "Contacts. Yeah, that's what said. Contacts. I said that." Isn't he the cutest? Anyhow, it's nice to see clearly again & enjoy all these wondrous sights around me!

Let's get physical!

For the past two months or so, I've been working out on the treadmill regularly 2-4 times a week. Some weeks are better than others depending on what's happening but it's really made a difference. I look forward to exercising now & have gone down one jean size. It's nice to feel more fit. I figure I better get on the ball now & set a good example for our son for his future as well. Now his little people 'pretend' to exercise! That was a very cool thing to hear!

Hope they are good ones!

Happy birthday to my youngest brother & sister (the mother of four). Hope you both have good ones!

What beauty lies before us...

I saw this & had to capture this beautiful sunset the other night. It's so serene (which is hard to find with two kids)!

Whose Your Daddy?

June highlights include some a bite mark incident & a dance recital.

• It was nice spending time with my aunt & uncle & getting a rare chance to visit with my grandma one-on-one. Our schedules are both so busy.
• Son enjoyed playing with neighbor, although our schedules rarely mesh.
• My middle sister had her fourth child & welcomed my newest baby nephew.
• My daughter had an incident where another toddler bit her forearm while at daycare which was luckily superficial but has definitely left a bruise.
• The neighbor girls had their 2nd deance recital & looked beautiful in their dresses. Hard to believe Daughter will be that big before I know it!
• Hubby & Son enjoyed a fine walk in the rain, especially with Son's hip elephant umbrella.
• What a nice day for picnic outside!
  
  
  
  
  
  Hanging with my parents, my brother & his family & some of my brother's friends I've known for over 15 years now! Actually we have both are high school sweethearts who got married & had two kids. I have to say all the kids played remarkably well together. That was so nice to see!
  
  
  
  
  
  Uncle A had a BBQ to celebrate the completion of his Master's degree. Way to go!
  
  
  
  
  
  Father's Day was an eventful weekend for all, even my cousin!

Want to pedal to the ceremony?

A few weekends ago, we went to my counsin's wedding where everything was beautiful. The ceremony & reception went off without a hitch other than a lack of communication with the photorapher. Therefore family photos weren't announced & table photos weren't taken either. It's a shame but at least things went well otherwise. It was an honor to be there. We wanted to stay & help with clean-up after the reception but couldn't as my son needed to be kept busy & sure enough broke down completely after we left. We did get to enjoy the outdoor pool & underground cavern by boat though. How very cool!





Son recently earned a new bike (old bike was getting to small for him!) which he got to pick out all by himself. Since green is one of his favorite colors, it's no wonder he picked out a green bike. As you can see, we all found some cool bikes to try!

Reasons to quit!

This can explain some of the health benefits if you stop smoking today! Please take it to heart...