Highlights of 2011

Last New Years Eve Paul came home with a new car, we had a tornado warning, and attempted to cook oysters outside on the grill in the rain and had a small fire.

Paul's big purchase of the year, click here. I sustained a major injury while putting it together. However, it was worth it. Paul spends most nights chilling out here.

A sense of gratitude moment was Friday March 11 when the earthquake hit Japan, and again Sunday, May 22 when a tornado tour apart Joplin Missouri.

The grosses moment had to be this.

Unfortunate moments for our family:
January 24th was the death of Taylor's much loved Highlander.
March 18th Paul and I lose a friend. Cheers to you Mike.
March 24th my parents house hit by a tornado.
May 25th tornado hits Paul's family home.
July 4th Great Aunt Norma passed away.

An I feel old moment was touring Middle School with Gavin, and then him actually going.

Favorite historical moment was watching Price William and Kate Middleton get married. I made the kids get up to watch it with me, Gavin was very unimpressed, but couldn't have been more thrilled when a few days later we woke up to the news that Bin Laden had been caught.

Weirdest moment was 6pm on Saturday, May the 21st. The world was to come to an end. While I don't buy into this theory, and Paul and I were not concerned it would happen we found ourselves as near as Macey as possible at 6pm. We kind of joked, and kind of had a sincere conversation that if anyone was going to Heaven it would be her.

My hallmark moment, you know the one with music and happy tears was Macey's Kindergarten graduation.

Most significant moment was Gavin's important decision.

Our once in a lifetime moment was definitely going backstage to meet the members of Train.

Scariest moment was hearing Gavin's screams on the way to the hospital when his dad called to tell me he broke his arm. What is so funny is to listen to Gavin tell the story now. His friends were telling him that breaking his arm was the best thing that could ever of happened to him, it was a ticket to popularity in middle school. Click here.

Places we visited...
Burlington's & Willis Graves Bed & Breakfast just outside of Cincinnati. Our favorite place to get away without the kids.
Kentucky.
Wisconsin Dells, to show the kids where we tired the knot.
Cook, Minn.
The Mall of America, where Macey saved her own money to buy her own doll at the American Girl Doll Store. She was so proud of herself, and so was I!
St. Louis and the girl's getaway.
The Great Pumpkin Patch.
And of course Derby Indiana.

Moment that seemed to last forever was this one.
This girl that pierced Macey's ears made it drag out forever! It was painful.

Things that made me laugh this year...
Gavin as Santa.
Macey's pet plant.

Favorite new tradition of this year is having lunch with Taylor every week. Now that she is a college girl, and her campus is within walking distance from my work we meet for lunch. Mostly we eat Chinese.

The best book I read this year, "The Stuff that Never Happened," by Maddie Dawson.

My favorite CD of 2011, Adele 21.

It has been a great year, and I can't wait to see what 2012 holds.

Home sick

Today, we are all home sick.

Merry Christmas

Bugs are the new coal...

Macey is on her best behavior and doing extra to help out around the house.



Last week we went to silly safaris where we got to meet one of Santa's special elves. He told us that they don't put coal in bad kids socks anymore...instead they use bugs...and especially like to use hissing cockroaches.

Someone is concerned...will she find bugs in her sock Christmas morning? She is trying to make up for all the less than perfect moments.

Clues this is not the REAL Santa

Would have been when his belly (pillow) fell out from under his oversized coat.





Might have been his lack of cheer.

Probably was the sound of his voice when he was asked to start the race.




His darker hair poking out from under his wig.

Santa kneeling at the finish line because his legs were tired.




Where are his reindeer?

His helper (me…mom) speaking firmly to him through a fake clinched smile to do one of the following: Smile for the picture! Stand up! Look Happy! Shake their hand! Be nice! Tie your shoe.

There were more, but I think it is safe to say that being Santa takes a lot more work than just wearing a suite…even if it fit.

She can really sing it....

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!"

iheartfaces - on your feet

Here are some happy feet dancing in excitement because it's almost Christmas time.

Christmas

Usless Information

Everyday is a learning experience with my kids...here are a few of the things they taught me today.

Did you know that when you have the hiccups you are growing? Per Macey (She is actually worried because she has had them for a long time and she fears she is getting too big!)

Did you know that if you get all the gifts from the twelve days of Christmas you will have 364 presents? Per Gavin

Did you know if you try to chew or play with a glass Christmas bulb it will break? Per Jack

Did you know the dirtiest currency in the world is China's and the least dirtiest is Australia's. Per Gavin

There is twelve in a dozen. Per Macey

There are 31.5 million seconds in a year. Per Gavin

The tip of your elbow is called your wenis. Per Gavin

If you open a bottle of "goo" (aka shampoo)and squeeze once all the scary things will get sucked inside and can't get you. Per Macey

There are 25 days, 3 hours, 0 minutes, 44, 43, 42, 42, 40, etc... seconds until Christmas.... Per Macey

Christmas Tree Makeover

Really, I just need a new tree...or a real tree. Usually we do a real tree...but I decided to make do with what we had this year and put up my ten year old pre-lit tree, it is a sorry mess...



I was also selective. I didn't want ever single hand made decoration from when I was a kid hanging on the tree. I wanted it to all be blue...and that was our only theme.

My mom came over to get Gavin the other day and saw our sorry tree. While out shopping yesterday she made it her mission to fix our charlie brown tree. Now it looks like this...



I couldn't even hang everything she got for us...the tree is starting to bend forward a little.

I bet the kids will call my mom this week after they get their trees up to ask for a makeover too!

Thanks Mom, it does look better!

Deal of the Day!

The best deal I got all day was this beautiful, spunky, engaging, intelligent, blue eyed six year old for the sale price of $129.99



She is priceless!

"Hot Cross Buns"

What is that noise?



Gavin's nightly trumpet playing...

Did you see the Moon last night?

This year, vs. last year

This year....




































Last year...

Spent

This is how I feel after a long week at work! How about you?

The Death of a Previous Life...

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the death of my previous life. While at this moment 12 years ago I was flying home to my parents for comfort. For a long time I tried to suppress the memory of it, but now I embrace it. One door closed sent me on a remarkable journey to finding myself. One door closed surprisingly changed my life for the better. My only regret was that I wasted a lot of valuable time standing by that closed door; banging, whaling and begging for even the light to come back on. When I finally stood up, brushed myself off and set off into the unknown without looking back I did find joy again.

Here are some important things that I learned …



You are the keeper of your own happiness.

Ask for help when you need it.

While it would be wonderful for things to resolve themselves overnight…there is something to be said for the experience.

Don’t look back!

Sex is no replacement for love.

Keep your dignity. Begging and graveling are very unappealing.

Do what you like!

Dwelling on what you don’t have robs you from enjoying what you do have.

God’s timing is perfect.

God answers every pray, even if the answer was no.

Treat yourself now and again?

Karma finds us all so don’t waste time on revenge.

Forgiveness is not a weakness.

You don’t always have control over the cards life deals you, but you do get to choose how to play them.

Time and truth go hand in hand.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!

Be mindful of the secrets you share with others.

Find an outlet you can be passionate about!

Overwhelmed…take it one day at a time. If even that seems too much break it down, sometimes breathing is all you need to do.

Surround yourself with happy and positive people.

There is good in the worst of us, and bad in the best of us.

Sometimes avoidance is necessary.

There is someone for everyone.

Setting for status-quo does not reap awesome results.

Love is everywhere…even if it is not in the form that you desired or expected it to be in …it still is there!


Here is a great song that always makes me think of the life lessons I learned from a single closed door.
Sara Groves - Painting Pictures of Egypt


Be brave my friends who can identify...this will pass and you will be happy again.

This and That

I think these two are starting to look alike...what do you think? I think it is the hair.


Macey got this belated birthday gift in the mail on Monday. Miss Marie-Grace, one of the new American Girl Dolls.


Gavin brought home his report card. I don't take pictures of things that I don't like so I guess you will just have to ask him about it!


Gavin is giving out his phone number to girls.























Someone asked me if I had any more pics of Macey dressed up for Halloween. I have just one more...

Happy Blogaversary

Tomorrow marks my 2nd blogaversary. Here are a few highlights from the past year..



We survived an epic snow/ice storm. And more cool pics of the storm.

Macey lost her first tooth and got her ears pierced.

Gavin broke an arm. And celebrated the best kind of birthday.




Jack got sprayed by a skunk.

Remember the places we visited...Paul's birthday get away. A day trip to Kentucky. A fishing trip to Cook Minn. Back to the Dell's where we exchanged rings in the rain seven years ago. A hike at Turkey Run with friends. The great pumpkin patch. And had a girl's getaway in St. Louis.



The girl's graduations...Macey, and Taylor.

We had our moment of fame when we talked and shook hands with our favorite band...TRAIN.

Happy Blogaversary to my family...thanks for putting up with the camera!

To see last years blogaversary click here.

Happy Halloween Eve

Today we went to Zooboo....crazy busy, but fun!

I love you...but don't tell anyone!

So yesterday when I went to drop off Macey at daycare I stopped to kiss and hug her goodbye as I always do, but only got a hug. Today the same thing happened...but I wasn't giving up without a fight. "Are you to big to give your mom a kiss?" I asked her. She looked around the room and reluctantly gave me a quick kiss on my forehead.



Then Gavin came by my work on his way out of town for the weekend to pick up Gavin's things. I went to kiss Gavin goodbye...and as I started to walk away he threw his arms around me to give me a hug. "I get a hug too?" I asked him...his dad said it was my lucky day.

Maybe there is some truth in that "Mommy's boy, and Daddy's girl." All I know is that as their Mom...I will never stop trying to steal their affection.

An Albino Deer

When we went back to Derby for another quick stay at the river last weekend we saw an albino deer by our cabin...here he is.






I had no idea how rare it is to find these things. The internet stated that it happen in about 1 and 30,000 births. Wow! How cool is that...and we saw him.

Papsy, my father-in-law told me to go right up to him...this is the best it got...and then the poor dear freaked out and started to scale up the rock wall/hill behind him. He did it too!

October

Listen the wind is rising and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings: now for October eves! Humbert Wolfe - Poet, 1885-1940


Do you see Gavin?

A Leason Learned: Be Happy for Your Friends

Tonight was Macey's fall program at school. A couple of weeks ago Macey came home all upset because her BFF got picked to sing a solo. And we all know how Macey loves to sing! (If you need a refresher click here.... or here... or even here.)



Last week when she started singing her friends part I started to get nervous that this would not be a solo, but a duet.



Macey told me that her friend was bragging about singing, and I had to reinforce that she was not bragging...just excited about the opportunity and since she was her BFF she was going to hear about it. I told her that she needed to be happy for her friend and be there for her as she might be nervous.



So her friend sang and she did wonderful! I looked over at Macey and this is what I saw...


I can see it in her face...she wanted that so bad! But she didn't even mouth the words. Her best friends brother on the other hand was singing...he knew all the words from hearing his sister sing all week. He licked his mothers hand while she tried to cover his singing little voice.

When her friend was done singing at the mic...she went to stand next to Macey and gave her the cutest...biggest smile of relief, and "I did it" and they went back to singing.



So at the very young age of six Macey learned the lesson of being there for your friend, even if you wish you were in their shoes at that moment.