Monday, March 31, 2008

Found another new band

They are newer I'm sure because they don't have many songs that I can find. But their sound is incredible. I'm going to try to find more on them. We'll see. But check 'em out and let me know what you think.

The Paper Raincoat

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Here are the kids playing playdoh


We made this homemade playdoh. They got to pick their colors and it really made the night go by much smoother. Yea for playdoh and simplicitic fun!




Yea for good days

The sun is bright and almost warm. I have 3 kids that have been playing well building, inventing, pretending. A husband who is sound asleep still after returning home early this morning from work. And I feel great. My coffee is delicious, the dog is playing quietly next to me. Life is good people. We will go outside and play and everyone will feel fantastic.

Last night was a good night too. We made playdoh, a coconut cake, pudding for dessert and have plans to make jellobeans today. I got a super cute craft magazine yesterday and we may make something out of that. These are the days that remind me to be grateful to be a mom and wife. It's okay to just enjoy life.

Horray for spring and feelings of "rebirth"!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

a new rockin' singer

Okay, so she's not so new, but I've just found her music and I don't know why I haven't heard of her before. Was I just not listening?? Maybe I just overlooked her music because I wasn't in the mood for it before. But now I'm loving her. Her name is Missy Higgins. She also makes me want to chop off my hair again. Hmm...so much to consider in my life.

Others I think you should check out if I haven't told you about them yet are Joshua Radin, Tegan and Sara, Rachael Yamagata, Schuyler Fisk (yes girls, she starred in Babysitter's Club), Yael Naim (she sings mostly french, but you know the rockin' Apple Laptop commercial? Well it's her. So I've linked to the video, so you can truly enjoy a song you can understand), Jem (she's been around a while, but I love her), the Fratellis (they just rock!), and the Chamber Strings.

Let me know if you've seen or heard any new stuff. Or maybe an old favorite. Like REM or Barenaked Ladies or Guster perhaps?

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Easter Pics

Hey there. The Easter pics are here. I'll put a few here and the rest on Flickr. I'm so glad they turned out as well as they did. Last year's were not so good.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Deep thoughts, by everyone but me

That's going to be the name of the next blog I make. I seem to keep finding words that inspire me, yet I can't think of anything myself. I guess that's all part of learning. Anyway, I get a daily e-mail from Dr. Jon of PetPlace and today it had a link to this letter. I think it is genius and if we could all live by thes, we'd be a great nation.


I Believe...Read it - it will inspire you
By: PetPlace.com User

This is a wonderful inspirational email that we wanted to share with you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

I believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe...That it is taking me a long, long, LONG time to become the person I want to be.

I believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Things we've been up to...

So I took the kids to the dr to find out why the heck we've been dealing with puke and poop for as long as we have. They sent me home with rubber gloves and containers to collect stool samples. Oh yea, that's what I want to do. Spend more time with their body "fluids". Great. But the dr also decided that Arlington indeed had a cough due to his asthma and should be on a nebulizer and prescribed a new allergy medicine. So now he does his nebulizer and allergy meds 3 times a day and takes his Singulair nightly. His vomiting has been eliminated.



When I got back from the dr, Gabe's preschool teacher called and in conversation wondered if Gabe was allergic to anything else like he is to grapes. Then I remembered thinking before the holidays that Gabe was allergic (well, they're really sensitivities, allergies would be life threatening reactions like some have to strawberries or nuts) to apple juice. But in the hustle and bustle, I'd forgotten why I wasn't getting apples and juice here. I thought it was because the price of apples had gone up a dollar per pound. So when prices went down again, I bought more and started poisoning Gabe again slowly and adding more stress to my life. We've eliminated apples from his diet and solve his sick issues. Sometimes I feel like such an idiot!!



For the last week, I've been bombarded with headaches. Two of them have been severe ones and one was a migraine. I'm sick of this. And I'm pretty sure Darrell is too!! I might have to go to the dr soon if it doesn't let up.



Tomorrow is the last day of school until after spring break. It is wear your art day, so we made t-shirts after school. Here are the results of our art project.

the meaning of Easter

From my MOPs e-mail. Sorry for all of these, but they mean so much to me and I hope they will touch you too.

The simplest meaning of Easter is that we are living in a world in which God has the last word.(Unknown)

The Easter Story
Carla Foote, Director of Media
Acting out stories in the living room was a favorite activity of my children as preschoolers. For holidays, the living room plays became even more elaborate and included any young friends who were joining our family for a holiday meal.One particular Easter will live forever in our memories. The time came in the story for Jesus (older brother) to come out of the tomb. The angel (a visiting friend) was standing nearby, but the Roman soldier (younger sister) was quite stubborn and wouldn’t let Jesus out of the tomb.The story ended in gales of laughter as Jesus had to push his way past the Roman soldier who was quite determined not to leave her post.I’m not sure how this re-enactment of the Easter morning truth of Jesus’ resurrection affected the spiritual development of my children, but it certainly has lived on for many years in the re-telling. I’m sure when they have children and are enjoying Easter dinner as a family, versions of this story will be retold, even if some of the details become fuzzy over the years.Thankfully, the truth of Easter is bigger than our small re-enactments, and we can celebrate that Jesus is alive and came to give life to each of us, and to our families. If you have questions about the Easter story, download this free Easter resource.

Prayer From a Mother's Heart
Dear God, thank you for giving us Jesus so that my children could have life eternal.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

sick again

The boys are throwing up again! Ugh. I'm so tired of this. Both of them are having issues top and bottom. Arlington was sitting on the potty this morning and then threw up and unloaded all over the floor. He tried his best, but what can you do when you're already on the toilet? And Gabe just threw up in his bed again, but thought he pooped in his pjs. Which he did. So I put him in our bed after throwing on him one of my t-shirts. Then this morning I noticed he had pooped on our bed. Yuck! I want this all to be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you are all fine. We are supposed to have another day of 50's with rain and Saturday will be in the 40's with 1-3" of snow and then rain. LOVELY! I want SPRING. And warm thunderstorms with doors open to hear the storm pass. I'm tired of the chilly weather with snow and slush. I am the first to admit I love the winter and I would be devastated to move somewhere that doesn't have it. But I'm sick of it now.

Well, I'm off to wash the bedding...AGAIN!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The handsomest man EVER!

Ladies, eat your heart out. This is why I married him.

Okay, well he has in some candy teeth that the kids got on Halloween that I wanted to throw out. He wasn't pleased I was going to put the on here, but come on...everyone should be allowed to see this beautiful face. We really got a kick out of this. And since I've been trying to focus on things that make me happier...well, here you go.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Life...for me. It's just plain ol' boring.

Have I been hiding? No, just trying to keep up with life. It has been relatively uneventful, but so busy. I've read in Arlington's classroom, gone Easter outfit shopping, shopped for Easter presents, played outside and done laundry, laundry, laundry.

I keep meaning to clean Maggie's bedroom which rivals any mess I had as a child. But I've yet to do it. It will take a lot of time and I just don't want to sit in that room by myself and work on it.

I have spent much time in contemplation of the struggles that two of my girlfriends (Kate and Em) are now going through. My heart is aching for them. I don't know what to do and that is an unfamiliar (or just uncomfortable) feeling for me. I want to help. If I knew it would make a difference, I would drive to WI and MI to do something...anything. But there isn't anything. There is just pain and emptiness and the bitter disappointment every month that reminds them of the lack of control we have on our own lives. We all feel this desperation at times in our lives, but very rarily do we have to be hit in the face with the reality of it all, over and over, month by month. So I'm consumed with thoughts of what to do. Nothing. I have to sit and wait, just like them and hope and pray for the best.

I hope the rest of you are staying happy and healthy. I miss you all and hope to hear from you soon. I'd love to have you here to join me for a cup of coffee at our local coffee shop. Think about it!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

the title picture

Okay, while this isn't the most flattering picture, it is really showing what I'm longing for most. Sitting on a deck, while the option of a pool in the background, with family and friends and enjoying the warm weather. I want fresh air, outdoor exercise. I need it. I'm tired of "hibernating" in this once warm and cozy den of mine. Now it's stiffeling and I'm feeling cabin fever, stir crazy.

The boys have been throwing up for over a week now. They were rotating nights, as though taking turns to drive me crazy. But last night, bless their sweet little souls (can you hear the sarcasm???), they decided to share the night. Gabe at 9:30 and Arlington at 2:30. But the thing that was worst, we realized Gabe had gotten it in our bed and by the time Arlington was sick, we didn't have extra clean pillows. No, we were out. I'm tired of puck. The smell, the laundry, the cranky kids and me.

Then to make things simpler, Maggie has decided pooping is an optional thing. So she'll go weeks with out going. But she'll ruin 5 pairs of underware a day because it is "leaking" out of her body. This past month she's had issues with it getting over everything (her winter coat, the toilet seat, handle, bathroom floor, etc. You get the point.) So I've spent my days cleaning crap and vomit. I'm desperate for a vacation (sans kids)!