One Day and Counting

Only one more day (ok, two if you count all of tomorrow) before we leave for our scrapbooking weekend. It should be a good time. This time, we're heading to an old hotel in Ocean City - the ladies running the crop indicate that there is only one 'old' elevator - hopefully it doesn't give out and I'm in line for a room on the 10th floor. Just my luck, 'eh?

Still trying to figure out which scrapbooking supplies to pack and which pictures to actually work on. I have a plethora of pictures that I ordered for last year's weekend crop but didn't get to work on. Then I went ahead and ordered an extra plethora (or two) of pictures from between then and now to work on. There is a recurring "beach" theme so maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to get a lot done since I will be working on all one theme. We'll see.

Last night we (the kids and me) went to my SIL & BIL's house. SIL cut Twinkletoes hair, just a little bit, to get the yukky stuff off the ends and to clean her up a little bit. I'm a bit perplexed about growing her bangs out. They're way past her bangs and we can sweep them up into a braid or pony tail or even barrettes but who wants to have their hair up all of the time (yes, it is me talking, the one who wore her hair up everyday for YEARS!) but eventually - all will be good. Just keep giving her vitamins and her hair will grow, grow, grow. Twinkletoes indicates that you can't take too much off because, you know, she is a gymnast!

The kids had a fantastic time playing with their aunt & uncle's dogs - they have Boston Terriers. 2 of them. A five year old and a one year old Dino Boy tells me. He can't remember their names - did he even think to ask? He might have just asked how old the dogs were. They're definitely a far cry in size from our Boxer boys! I had a hard time adjusting to calling the dogs "she" since we're so full of "hes" in our house. Then they had to play with the fish tank - turn the light on and off- touch the glass. I told Twinkletoes I'm taking her back later in the week with windex wipes to clean off where all of her fingerprints landed on the tank.

SIL & I had quite a few things to talk about - having pregnancy and a semi-crazy family (which so includes me!) in common broke the ice a little! Speaking of pregnancy - ok, she is due 3 days before me - and I know, it is her first baby, and I know, she is WAY taller than me - but her belly is TINY. I look like I'm carrying sextuplets compared to her. Her baby gets to grow up her torso while mine has been growing OUT of my body since day one. Not that I wish discomfort on anyone but Hello - can we get a BELLY going over there, please??!!! I teased her about it, not to worry. I'm excited about the kids being due at the same time.

They're waiting to find out the "gender" of the baby until it's arrival. She's so paitent. I couldn't wait...to find about any of my kids!! I needed to decorate - to buy clothes - to KNOW. I have no idea how she does it. They both have guesses as to what the baby is and it kind of seems like it is going both ways - changing with each ultrasound. :-) So they're still mystified, although thinking maybe a tech tipped them off. But maybe not. Maybe tech's just refer to babies more as one "gender" than the other. Who knows?

It's all good - it'll be fun to welcome another baby into the family. These babies will be #s 13 and 14 if I'm counting correctly. Its amazing that there are still neat names left to pick from! :-)

Happy Thursday!

The Dogs

have the life in our house. While sometimes it sounds like the City Pound in our house, other times are pretty laid back. Check it out. The picture is low resolution, from my phone - but cute nonetheless.

Jack, Sudz, and Guinness

Don't forget!!

Time is almost up - please don't forget to click on the GO RED link to the left on the blog. For every vote, the Campbell's is donating $1 to the American Heart Association ... a group that is near and dear to our hearts here. Both the husband and I lost our Dads (at young ages: 53 and 55 respectively) ... so anyway we can get the AHA recognition, we'll do it!!

Today is a home wrestling match. DinoBoy is refusing to wrestle. REFUSING. He likes being on the "practice" team only. He doesn't like the competition nor making other kids cry (unless, of course, that other kid is his SISTER!) His father is pushing him, disappointed that he is being a "sissy". Ugggh. What's a mom to do? I'm just closing my eyes and looking up for guidance today. I really have absolutely no idea what to say -- to either of the boys. I have to go to the match - I am working the concession stand for the first half of the match and we're bringing the soft pretzels. So, it's going to be a toughie over here today. Wish me luck!

Notes from the hometown...

It's always fantastic for me to learn about "kids" that I grew up with doing fantastic as adults. Kind of proves that you are not "where" you come from but who you make yourself into. Small town people do big time things. Determination and hard work are key factors. Of course, I'm a firm believer that lady luck does help out a little sometimes.

I learned of this when speaking to a colleague at work about his son who is a senior in high school ... dreaming of a career in sports management if not the sport itself ... and his connection to this guy. No matter how far we go - something is always there to bring us back to our roots.

LINK TO NEWS

Gymnastics!

Our Weekend

Since it's Tuesday evening, I thought I'd update you on the events of our weekend - which was pretty exhausting!

Friday - the husband stayed home and took care of the kids so the Nanny could hang out at the hospital with Mommom. They came up to my work to take me to lunch. Twinkletoes ordered chicken fingers at the diner while DinoBoy ordered a pizza which he wouldn't eat. What kind of diner makes a pizza parlor pizza anyhow? It just didn't look right, he said. Uggh.

Saturday - Twinkletoes had a gymnastics "meet" for the younger kids. She did EXCELLENT! She's ready to move up to the next stage in her gymnastics 'career' but I've got a few cute pictures to share (I've created my first slideshow - don't fall over!!)

After gymnastics, we dropped the kids off at Aunt S's house. They haven't spent the night with her since way before Christmas and were looking for a fun night out. Sounded great to me and the husband who took the opportunity to take in the new National Treasure movie (two thumbs up) and were planning to grab a bite to eat at PF Chang's afterwards. After all, who in their right minds is eating dinner at 9:30 at night? When we got to the restaurant, it was a ZOO!! I couldn't believe how many people were still waiting to be seated. At 9:30 - I must be getting old because that is just ridiculous to me! The restaurant next door to PF Chang's still had a wait as well. So - we just headed to our local diner and had an okay meal. The service stunk and the food was just "okay" but it filled our tummies and we didn't have to cook it ourselves!

After we got home and let the dogs out and cleaned up a few things, the phone rang. Who calls at 11:00??? At first, I thought something had happened to Mommom - but, lo and behold, it's Aunt S who tells us that DinoBoy just threw up for the 2nd time in an hour. We needed to bring him clean clothes and pick him up if we wanted to. Of course we'd pick him up. I grabbed two pairs of pjs for him, his robe, socks (who knows how sick he was or where he was sick) and we headed out the door. He was feeling not so sick when we got there but he wound up puking in the truck on the way home. We moved his mattress from his bed to our floor, on top of a bunch of sheets - just in case. This way we wouldn't have to clean up a mess from his floor, walls or inside of his bed if he decided to be sick again during the night. He was able to fall asleep and I finally fell asleep around 3 - no more puking during the night. Looks like Aunt S. got the brunt of this one.

Sunday - now the husband doesn't feel too hot. I run over to Aunt S.'s in the morning to get Twinkletoes who isn't even dressed when I get there. Ugggh. I had left the truck running because it was so cold out ... but she got herself ready and we loaded the truck. The husband was feeling a little better by the time we got home and had gotten himself out of bed. We didn't do too much, DinoBoy didn't even get dressed all day (until yesterday afternoon, as a matter of fact.) But we were exhausted!!! Even Twinkletoes...she must have had a heck of a night playing with her cousins!

Yesterday, the kids and I stayed home while the husband went to the office. I spent 99% of the day working for school from home. The kids played and fought and all the other great stuff they do on a daily basis. The dogs ran around and went in and out like there was no tomorrow. I was almost happy to get back to my desk today - more problems to solve and work to be done. The kids were happy to get back to school today as well. The Nanny went to the hospital while the kids were at school to check on Mommom - who wants very badly to go home. But since she is still so weak, that is not an option right now. She needs to get herself stronger and eat some more and get ready to walk around again ... she seems to think she is ready for it but after being laid out since New Year's Eve, she's just not.

Tomorrow it will be Wendesday already. I can't believe the month is already 1/2 over. On Thursday, my sister will celebrate her 30TH BIRTHDAY!!!! I'm surprised she and I both survived as long as we have -- growing up with each other!!! ;-) On Thursday as well, we'll celebrate the Monster Hewitt's 2nd birthday. He's really cute and not as bad as that but since his mother calls him a monster all the time, it seemed like a fitting name for him here.

That's it for now...the boys are home from wrestling practice and having dinner. I need to get the ice cream all set for when they're finished ... which won't be too much longer.

Toodles!

Baby it's cold outside!

Ok - the snow is gone. The rainy change over predicted did indeed happen. The forecasters were very close to being on the ball with the last storm. And, with the storm that passed below us yesterday. What we're left with are frigid temperatures. Not as bad as some places I've seen - like International Falls was at -16 this morning. That is crazier than crazy!! We're just wearing extra layers today if we need to venture out. (Which probably won't happen.) If you're in any place cold, please remember to bundle up and don't leave your dogs outside for too long. I have an eerie feeling they'll turn into icecubes!

It's snowing...

If only these weather people could get it right. Yesterday, and even as early as this morning, the prediction was for a big storm - a rain storm. Yes, they said it would start as sleet in our area before quickly changing to RAIN.

On my way home, it was snowing (2 hours ago) ... now, it is still snowing ... mind you, not as hard - maybe the change over has started ... and hopefully it will warm up so the snow that is on the ground will disappear. Not that I don't love a good snow storm - I love a storm - the kind that dumps a foot of snow and closes schools for a day or so. This, what we've got outside, is dangerous. Slippery. Wet. Unexpected. A good snow storm has all of the same detrimental qualities but at least people have enough sense to stay home when there is a foot of snow on the ground and there are people hard at work trying to clean it up and make it safe. When it snows like this, forget it. The people are out in droves - there is no milk in the grocery store nor bread on the shelves - like they'll be stuck inside for days - it just doesn't snow like that anymore, so why bother? Unless, of course, you really ARE out of bread and milk and have someone who needs it.

Anyway - the kids did enjoy playing in it before it got dark so I guess I can't be such a pessimist. Might have been the only chance they get this winter to play in snow. I got a picture or two of them - before the camera battery died. We'll see how quickly I charge it and upload the pictures. Would be pretty funny if it was quickly considering I still have all of my Christmas pictures on the camera as well.

Hope you're all warm, dry and safe. Don't worry, I'll be in school tomorrow!

The Mysterious Wii

For Christmas, I was one of those crazy fanatics who needed a Wii. I was stumped as to what to get for the husband. I bid and lost on more Wii's on ebay that anyone can count. Finally, a few weeks before Christmas, I landed one. I purchased extra games - I purchased an extra remote - an extra nunchuck (huh?) and the famed Guitar Hero III and I was all set for Christmas morning.

I can tell you that the reception given to the Wii and all the componets I had worked so hard to get to the "shipping depot", a.k.a. our house before Christmas, was less than enthusiastic. I had almost expected it because he says there are so many things that he wants and drops hints for during the year that I shouldn't be stumped as to what type of gifts to give him for Christmas. For a few days, the Wii sat in the living room - untouched. Finally, the boys opened it. There has been no looking back since.

Now, it has become a leveraging tool, much as Santa is at Christmas time for DinoBoy. Twinkletoes has been happily playing away on pbskids.org on the laptop while her brother is engrossed with the Wii. Funny that in playing this game, he's getting a lot more stimulation and exercise than he would if he were just watching the boob-tube. I never thought I'd be a Mom saying that!! We have, however, ordered Twinkletoes her own remote control and nunchuck for the game and in time I'm sure she'll be just as good as her brother in playing the video games. Even the husband has been breaking a sweat while learning to play the Guitar Hero game. I have always known that he is of the comptetive nature but you should hear some of the comments that come out of his mouth while playing the games!!

Any extra prayers?

I know that people ask for prayers all the time -- but -- my mom's mom is back in the hospital. Seemed to be gallstones which warranted a gall bladder removal last week but since then she has gone into renal failure. The doctors aren't sure if it is something that will correct itself or not ... so any help you can give. :-) Thanks.

Must-See Meteor Shower Friday Morning

Something that seems like it would be way cool to see. It's been awful dark and clear outside when I'm up in the middle of the night because someone is doing a "floor routine" in my belly. Check this link out.

Toodles.

2008 -- already?!?!

Just wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a happy new year. With the passing of each year, I always try to reflect upon the things that have happened and all of the good yet to come.

This year said goodbye to many good family members and close family friends - but I'm of the mind that they're resting comfortably by the side of God these days - no more pain, no more suffering and we'll all figure out a way to deal with our grief.

This year we also welcomed two new pets into our family after saying goodbye to Sprite at the tail end of 2006. Both Jack and Guinness have made leaps and bounds while being members of our family. Jack came to us as a rescue dog with not so many manners. We've added a few pounds to him and he's got a few manners now - though still not many, but he's a good boy. Guinness has defied the odds and has outgrown a grade 3 heart murmur - survived a bad experience with his neutering and also survived a broken toe and toenail amputation. Have I missed anything? Both are now thriving 2 and 1 year olds with Sudz as a playmate (who had a cancer surgery this year and is doing well at just about 8 years old) ... hopefully it will be a good year for all three of them.

DinoBoy is faring well as a first grader. He completed his 2nd years of Tball and soccer in 2007 and is swimming like a champ. In the spring, he also learned how to play lacrosse and will probably skip that sport in 2008. Towards the end of the year, he started his 2nd wrestling season and is doing well. So far. :-) He's anxious for baseball to start. He'll move up to the Slugger age-group this year and I think he'll like it a lot more than last year and concentrate on his skills more since he'll only be playing one sport.

Twinkletoes is quite the kindergartener! She enjoys each and every day of school and her afternoons in the kindergarten enrichment class. Tball and LAX were also on her plate during the spring of 2007 and she is also swimming like a fish!! All of those lessons paid off!!! Fall afforded her the first taste of soccer, which she loved!!! Maybe she'll take after her cousins and play soccer year round (too bad her schedule won't sync up with the older girls' - she'd be able to carpool with Aunt Col) She is now in gymnastics and her teacher tells us she is ready for the next "phase". This means that we'll be doing night lessons in a bigger group instead of afternoon lessons - she only had one other child in her class. She is also anxious for Tball to begin - once she's finished this year, she'll move up to the softball leagues.

Both kids are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new baby sister. As for me, I'm a house. My one SIL can't tell me that enough. I just shouldn't have lost all of that weight during 2006/2007 and maybe I wouldn't look so huge!!! I've literally grown exponentially over the past 2 or 3 weeks. The kids got a kick out of going to a doctor's appointment with me over break and got to hear her heartbeat - and her hiccups!! That was pretty cool.

All my best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and safe 2008! May all your wishes come true!