The Drive-In

Michele and Michael just happen to live near one of the last remaining Drive In Theaters in Oregon. When we found out that it was featuring Mission Impossible III Friday night - the temptation was too strong to pass up. After a very rushed dinner we set the guys out to save two spots- both of the guys' vehicles. The plan was to have the kids watch a kid-friendly DVD in the player in John's vehicle, while us adults snuggled up in the back of Michael's truck. (The vehicles were within arm length of each other...) The plan actually worked great until the last 30 minutes of the movie in which 4 of the 5 kiddos started bawling because they wanted to be with us. No problem, I'm sure we can fit 8 people up next to us against the cab of the truck. (And, children, you'll need to hide your eyes for a few of these scenes). All but Brayden fell immediately asleep - it was incredibly cozy. That's what family memories are all about.


A few movie reviews:

Mission Impossible 3 - My favorite out of the trilogy, although the first 5 minutes are VERY intense. (What else would you expect?) Tom Cruise, for all of his faults, definitely knows how to pull off the action hero in peril.

Fun with Dick and Jane - We rented this and the next movie, Saturday night. I enjoyed it quite a bit - a good date night movie for John and I. Worth the $3.79 we paid to rent it.

50 First Dates - I know, very vintage, but we'd never watched it. It was a lot deeper than I anticipated. Drew Barrymore's memory loss condition has actually had my mind whirling with how awful that would be. I didn't expect to cry, but I did during the last scene. Then again, it is very much that time of the month.....

Remarkable Reunions

I first met "Sara" (name changed...) when I substituted for a fifth grade class in a very nice elementary school. It was an organized classroom with a great group of kids, but there was this one that made the job a little more challenging. She was a spunky little redhead with a mega-mischief smile, who loved attention and seemed to crave getting in trouble. It was a long day because of her, and I had to assume the whole year must have been a long one for her teacher.

Fast forward four years (I think - because I think she was an 8th grader...). I was asked to take on an extended substitute postition from January to June in the middle school that I used to attend. In fact, I was asked to take over for a math teacher that used to be mine... He had to leave for health reasons, his blood pressure had soared through the roof. After the first day of seeing his classes, I had no doubt why. The sub notes from various "guest teachers" that those classes had gobbled through were ominous as well...

It was certainly not an easy 5 months for me. There was a lot of high drama in our personal lives (Riles Audio was crumbling) and daily, I struggled with kids who either didn't care about math, or didn't care enough to pay attention so that they could understand. There was one particular class of 8th graders that was very small, but very tough. They definitely fit the first category. On one of the first days, one of the gentlemen in there received a referral for throwing a pencil that ricocheted off the overhead and stabbed me in the hand- he didn't mean to, but...
Among that group was, wouldn't you know, Sara. I don't even know if she remembered me, but one look at that red-headed grin and there was no forgetting her.

I was at a total loss on what to do with her. Her desk was completely set apart from everyone else because she seemed incapable of not completely distracting anyone she was near. If I sent her out in the hall, I could not be guaranteed she'd stay there, and sure as anything, I'd be making a lot of enemies with other teachers if I stuck her in there. Plus, she was supposed to be learning about math. Despite my best efforts, she earned a string of referrals - I didn't want to, but you had to do something about the absolutely inappropriate stunts (and four letter words). Not that it meant a whole lot, but I think, deep down, we both liked each other, but I could not figure out how to get through to her- especially within the realms of a 45 minute math period.

By the following September I had a permanent position in the middle school - teaching math, pe, ESL, science, and health (sex ed). Sara had moved on to inhabit another teacher's classroom and left a lasting curiosity mixed with sadness as to what would be her fate. She was a very intelligent girl and it bothered me greatly to consider how, more than likely, that would be lost through the choices she made.

So - back to the present. Yesterday, Mikayla and I were at JC Penney purchasing some shoes. At the counter a polite redhead smiles at me and says "Hi". It took a moment to make the connection, but it snapped and I said Hi back. I was actually putting some items on hold, so I knew I'd return to the counter, with perhaps an opportunity to make sure it was truly Sara that I was seeing. When I returned, I saw her nametag and made a "positive id". This was our dialogue:

Me: So how are you doing these days?
Her: Big grin, really good!
Me: If I remember correctly, you were a bit of a handful when you were my student - are you still up to trouble?
Her: No, I've changed a lot - I go to church now.
Me: (increasingly surprised...) Really, what church do you go to?
Her: Crossfire (an Evangelical church aimed at youth) - Yeah, and Lord willing, I think I might have figured out what I want to do with my life. I've been in Bible College for three years, and I think I want to be a pre-school teacher.
Me: (Chills running through me) That is so great, this is my daughter, Mikayla - she's four.
Her: Major enthusiastic greeting to Mikayla.
Me: Wow, I'm so excited for you - so, what got you to church?
Her: (Sheepish) Well, I was actually under House Arrest and that was the only place I could leave to go to.
Me: (Blinking back tears) Wow, what an amazing testimony you have - Praise God!
Her: Yes, what a blessing.
Me: You're going to make me cry - God Bless!

I couldn't leave the store without tears running down my eyes - and couldn't get through the subsequent conversations with John and Michele either. I'm so thankful GOd allowed me that glimpse into the changed life of His creation - what a miracle.


Alright - completely changing the tone, ironically, yesterday I ran into another former student that I had the year following Sara. This was our conversation.

Me: (Walking out into a parking lot with Michele in Salem)
Him: Mrs. Riley - Hey, Mrs. Riley!
Me: (Completely confused because, in Salem, I'm used to being mistaken for Michele -and I didn't immediately recognize him) So, how do I know you?
Him: You taught me sex ed in 7th grade!
Me: (Still not thinking straight, but trying to match the mood of this fun-loving 21 year old walking into Applebees with a group of buddies) So, how's that been working for you? (Like I said, the first thing that popped out of my mouth...)
Him: (Turning red with a huge grin) Um, pretty good - but, by looking at you... it seems like you've figured it out! (referring to the group of 5 kids between Michele and I)
Me: Laughing and blushing, well, yeah, just remember I am married!

Not sure I handled that conversation so well, but apparently I must have made some impact- Too funny!

Must See TV

Has anyone else heard about the ABC special they are airing on Monday for a full 2 hours to see if this "David Blane" dude can hold his breath for 9 minutes? Wow, I can't wait to spend 2 hours for a 9 minute stunt - and wait, that would be if I cared! Maybe I'm sounding cynical..... Don't want to discourage anyone else from tuning in!

Tres de Mayo

Today I got to be an assistant pre-school teacher for Mikayla's class' two-day premature celebration of Cinco de Mayo. It was a fun time with quesadillas, pinatas, and pin-the-tail on the donkey. Once again, I give praise to "Miss Paula" who tackles the nearly three hours with three year olds every day - and does such an amazing job at it. (Despite the fun, I kept looking at the clock wondering "how much longer?"). Do any of you do anything special to honor Cinco de Mayo?

A Couple of Questions XV

Today I spent over three hours edging, weeding and mowing. Let me tell you, a novice edger working with a power machine - next to sidewalk, is not the most inviting sound in the neighborhood.....

1. What's something you've discovered about yourself within the last year, that has surprised you?

2. How about a crazy thing that you did in high school.....

Sydney has her first day of dog training tonight, hope we don't get a call from the principal for bad behavior....

Relaxing Weekend

Because John had a business meeting in Bend, we were able to spend our anniversary weekend in Sunriver for 50% off. What a deal. We brought the Whites and Schillings along to a new house to rent for us - not at all disappointed. While we there we discovered a few things:

1. It is possible to ride a tandem bike with a child who can't ride a bike without training wheels. They just need to balance their feet up above. (Good job, Nati!)

2. Brayden is showing surprising talent as a football quarterback. We were astounded with his dead-on spiral passes - that flew quite a distance. Whoda thunk?

3. A hot tub at 25 degrees at 5:30 am - is still a beautiful thing (especially when the sky is so blue).

4. It was possible to access wireless internet, only if, you sat against the headboard of the bed, in the back bedroom - Thanks, Sunriver neighbors!

Can't get enough of this beautiful weather - however, if you get a chance - check out the accuweather forecast for the city in which I live - for the 15 day stretch. Snow for next week? You've got to be kidding!

Saved the Best for Last

There’s been this little skip to my step this last week with this knowledge of something that only one other person can celebrate with me. Thursday, April 27th, the celebration happens – and John and I can rejoice that we have been married for ten years.

I remember so vividly coming back from our honeymoon, just as giddy as we could be with each other. When people would see us, they would congratulate us then give us that condescending smile, as if to say – “Ah, newlyweds – you just wait, and reality will hit”. John and I so wanted to just have a few months under our belt so people would stop acting that way.

Now, we have ten years under our belt – and worshiping with him at church on Sunday – clutching his arm, singing together, I can say we are closer than we’ve ever been. To the folks who gave us those condescending looks, - you don’t know anything!

In honor of this special day, I pulled out a very old journal and thought I would share with you some of my feelings towards this man before we even started dating. Just to give you a frame of reference, Lance and I had officially called off our engagement on October 31st, 1994 –

December 4, 1994
“Lord, you know the crush I’ve developed for John Riley – what a silly word for silly feelings, but, he is definitely on my mind. What encourages me most is his first love for You and how evident that is – Lord, I want to get to know him more, spend time with him, become his good friend. Father, I pray that he initiates a friendship – and any other desires or hopes can be met or sought through You.”

March 4, 1995
“Oh Lord, You know all of the thoughts and desires [about John] that have crossed my mind lately- and I confess – they are certainly not confined to friendship…..though that’s what I’m having everyone believe. Instead, my mind is racing ahead to a hopeful time when John would reveal his true feelings about me – and I could finally admit all that I have been dreaming about. Those thoughts certainly make me grin as only a dream come true could, but once again – this dream may never unfold…..”

I was going to spill forth more entries, but I thought they just might put you to sleep…. I get a kick out of them and have thoroughly enjoyed sharing all of my pre-dating secret feelings to John this week, but for you, I’ll try to make the long story short… The first entry was followed by many others praising him, then, followed by a depressing account of how he and one of my best friends started dating. The second entry was one of many encouraging entries following their break-up in which I consider our eventual relationship practically a “sure thing” – Only to be followed with more depressing accounts when “Tiffany” came into his life and they started dating. They broke up – John and I became super close friends again – and then one magical night, (July 19, 1995) – John finally WOKE UP and realized “he’d saved the best for last”*

There’s been no looking back for us. We both wanted marriage so bad – and had that “best friendship” going into it, the struggles for us have been shockingly minimal. Everybody’s story is different – I figure, John and I had three broken engagements between us to practice and then finally get it right. In response to my March 4th entry – Yes, it truly has been a dream come true…..

* That is the title of the Vanessa Williams song that just happened to be a huge hit at the time we were “becoming friends”. How many nights did I listen to this verse and wonder if it could ever happen to me…..?

“All of the nights you came to me, when some silly girl had set you free. You wondered how you’d make it through, I wondered what was wrong with you? Because how could you give your love to someone else, but share your dreams with me? Sometimes the very thing we’re looking for, is the one thing we can’t see….. But now, we’re standing face to face, isn’t this world a crazy place? Just when I thought our chance had passed, you’ve gone and saved the best for last.”

A Couple of Questions XIV

I've decided that I really like the spring too. If I can make it to March 21st - life is good. It's January to March I have the problems with...... Thanks for everybody's input to encourage me to embrace spring......

1. What is your opinion/strategy regarding childrens' allowance? No right or wrong answer, just looking for input.

2. What is a tool/product that you have found within the last year that you wonder how you ever lived without it?

Oh What a Day!

I've decided that days that exceed seventy degrees in April where we live are like a good food reward challenge in the show of Survivor. We who live here are so sunshine/warm temperature deprived at this time of the year that when a truly wonderful day comes, like today was, it brings about a giddiness that is almost unparalleled. In the same way, a starving "Survivor" will go a little nutty just considering a piece of pizza and a soda. For us, days like today in July, August or September - they're nice, but a little expected. Just as pizza and soda are nice, but nothing all that special for ordinary people.

Today was marvelous. Brayden slept in until 10:15 - perhaps a record and tremendously needed. We got a few things done in the morning, dropped our Sydney off for a day of play at Koda's and headed to church. It was a fantastic service with some of my favorite worship songs. Upon returning home, sandwhiches were made and we headed off to Brayden's soccer game - in which he did really well. We're really proud how he's "coming along", showing a lot more hussle and desire to play the game.

After the game, we stopped at a gas station and I sat there with the sun roof open, radiating sunshine heat on my face - oh, the bliss. We then took naps and the kids begged for a bike ride when we woke up. So, we just returned from over an hour and a half of riding, Brayden on his own bike, Mikayla on the "Tag-a-long" attached to the back of mine. It was a long ride - I'm pretty impressed with the kids. Unfortunately, tomorrow's a school day - that means there'll be no sleeping in for us again. Oh well, if the sunshine is out like it was today, I think we'll find reasons to smile no matter what the schedule brings!

Carnival Chaos, Guinea Pigs, and Monopolizing the Cake Walk

So tonite we hit Brayden's elementary school carnival. There were 15 of us trying to hit all the high points of the carnival - the silent auction, the "Hawaiian Time" dinner, and yes, the Cake Walk. What do you know, there were 15 spots on the ground - and exactly enough of us to cover them. A guarantee to walk away with two "baked good treats" to indulge on after the carnival. We've got that mastered.


My good friend, Amy, also walked away with "Black Beauty", a beautiful guinea pig. I know I'm much more excited than she is - it's not exactly what she had in mind. I'll be happy to babysit anytime, she is a cutie.


And, her son walked away with a "ring pop" - and kindly shared with my little neice, Ellie. Adorable......

Exhausted!

Sydney has had playdates all this week with Koda the lab, Bogey the beagle and even a visit to see Belle the other golden retriever. They run, and play, and run and play some more - and what is interesting to note, is that the beagle runs the show when it comes to who gets to eat and when. This tiny little dog has got a lab cowering away..... I told Steph I didn't know if she should feel proud or ashamed of her "little baby". At any rate, the dogs are exhausted by the time the evening comes, as evidenced by Sydney's posture.....

Spring Concert

Here are some very poor pictures taken from John's camera phone at Mikayla's pre-school Spring Concert. My friend and I were bummed that we didn't have our cameras as we watched our two girls sing their little hearts out. As their teacher said, "Who knew there was a second verse to Itsy Bitsy Spider - and that he actually reaches the spout?" Well, he does. It's so crazy watching Mikayla perform in contrast to Brayden when he was in pre-school. Brayden was the unfocussed fidgeter, more concerned with having fun than singing - Mikayla is the prim and proper, glued to her position on the stage singer, taking it oh so seriously. We've delighted watching her turn into the "Mother Hen" seeking to take care of everyone and make sure everyone is in their right place....

On a side note, haven't the last two days been glorious in this neck of the woods? Oh, how I love the sunshine!

A Couple of Questions XIII

1. What's one thing you are really looking forward to in May?

2. What's your favorite kind of pizza and where do you most like to get it?

Kind of lame questions - I'm running low on inspiration this morning! Have a great week!

Why I Do This

I figure people create blogs and add posts to them for about as many reasons as people write books. Some desire to demonstrate creative expression, others seek to share opinions, some seek to create fellowship - as for me, mostly I do this as an attempt to preserve history for my family. Here's some other benefits I've found in keeping a blog.

1. As before mentioned, it helps me keep a written record of the life and times in our family. I'm a big fanatic about preserving history (you should see the daytimers through the years of every day recording events), but admit I've been terrible in recording events in baby books, etc. I'm way behind in my scrapbooking too. At least, now, when I get around to those things, I have something I can refer to.

2. This is a means of keeping extended family up to date and in the know about how everyone's doing and what we are up to. Hence, all the pictures. John's mom spends half the year in Indiana - so I know it's important to her to actually get a glimpse of what the kids were up to on Easter (at least I think so!). Likewise with my parents, sister, etc.

3. It gives me something to think about when I'm lying in bed trying to go to sleep.....

4. I find myself taking more pictures to capture special moments with the thought that it would "make a good post".

5. It's just plain fun for me - especially when I'm able to get the interaction of readers.

So, there you go, no grand agenda - but when I see all the pics of our family and boring details, I thought I'd let you know why.... Have a great week everyone!

Easter Weekend

Here's some pictures of Saturday's Easter service (arriving 45 minutes early, hence the coloring on the chairs), the indoor Easter egg hunt and a WONDERFUL afternoon spent just hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma. A perfect Easter weekend.....

Black, Red, and White

I love to read. Not as much as some people I know, but give me a really good book, a great storyline, and I can become lost. I'll dream about it, obsess over it, and find myself applying it to my daily experiences. Another admission: I love fantasy and (gasp) science fiction. (Yes, call me nerdy - and no, that doesn't automatically make me a "Trekky"). I've thought a lot about why and here is what I've come up with - I love "solving the puzzles" on my own. Meaning, if there's a parallel or application the author is trying to communicate using a made-up world or fantasy situations, I love discovering it. This will come as no shocker to those who know me well, but I don't really love being told what to do or what I've done wrong. However, I am very attentive to people's stories/testimonies and how those might relate to my life and what I can learn from it. John's become an expert at this in how he "backdoor confronts" me, not directly, but in such a way that I might make changes on my own accord and recognize where I've gone wrong in the past. You can bet, when it comes to sermons - I perk up right away as soon as a story is being told and remember it so much longer than I do the "bullet points".

Perhaps my perspective isn't alone, because it seems to me, that much of how Jesus communicated in the Gospel was through stories. He spoke so that if you were interested and cared, you would dig deep enough to get the point. Otherwise, it was just a good story.

This brings me to three of my favorite books of all time - BLACK, RED, and WHITE all written by Ted Dekker. Yes, they lie in the fanasty fiction genre of books, but they are so much more. The books cover two different worlds, one, about a man trying to shield the world from a terrorist plot, the other, a make-believe world with all sorts of parallels to the essence of Christianity. Not the "cultural Christians" that have obscured the message so much that people would have a hard time recognizing it. No, Ted Dekker weaves a tale that speaks of a Creator who is so in love with his creation that the land is known as "The Great Romance". He describes a man so in need of "answers" that he makes a mistake that threatens his entire people - and the deceiver who we all know is wrong, but somehow becomes so enticing that the strongest of characters falls for his lies. In book two, the most "un-orthodox" character that comes out of no where, teaches the most "visibly righteous" what love is really supposed to be - and even the reader finds themselves shocked when somehow "the bad guys" deserve redemption.

I love these books, because someone who has no interest in a spiritual message can still enjoy the story immensely, and certainly not feel at all preached to. But, more importantly, I love these books because they strip The "Message" down to what it's all supposed to be: A loving Creator, a choice made by man (and woman) that broke His heart, a world that is lost because of that choice, a sacrifice made by the only One who could make the world right again - and from the world's perspective, the most unusual choice of savior (how dare he extend love to the unlovely?) - and the beautiful joy of that original relationship the Creator made - restored......

These books were read "straight through" for me - they were released three months apart and I couldn't wait for the concluding book, but when it was done - I mourned the loss that there would be no more. They are engaging, haunting, gripping - I guarantee you won't forget the storyline..... Maybe, it's time to pick them up again.....

Have a blessed Easter everyone......

A Couple of Questions XII

Still haven't figured out our Easter plans.... probably ought to get on that.....

1. Describe the longest stretch you ever went without sleep....

2. What was the last movie you saw in a theater, and would you recommend it?

Missing Our Kids

Originally John and I have been known to say, "Yes, 4 days is just about the perfect amount of time to take a trip away from the kids".... No longer. The quote would now be, "18 hours is just about all we need to be away from our kids". It will be several years before we go longer than that because every thought from yesterday morning on was, "How do we get home to our kids even sooner?" Can we change flights? Can we shave 10 minutes off of our airport time by having me retrieve the car and pay for parking while John waits for the luggage when we get home? And, when we did get home last night at 10:30 pm, it was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to rouse both of our children from REM sleep just to hold them and try to get some expression of recognition and happiness that Mommy and Daddy were finally home. (Mikayla ended up crying for 10 minutes....nice Mom).

And, then, lo and behold, this morning comes, and my children awake - and they are SO PERFECT. Yes, all of the frustration of willful children/out-of-control mom that occurred the Friday before we left was long gone. My son was so sweet, polite, endearing even at 7 in the morning. There was no arguing between them at all - I know the honeymoon will be short-lived, but how rewarding to return to!

So, despite all the pangings to see the kids, the singing over the cell phone in a public mall to comfort my daughter, and the crying during movie previews when it showed a scene of a child growing up too fast - we did have a FANTASTIC time. Too much food, too much spending, too much sun, too little exercise - but isn't that what vacations are all about? As expected, we loved our time hanging out with Travis and Stephie - overall, the trip exceeded even my lofty expectations.

A big thanks to all who made our get-away possible. Thanks substitute-mommy Aunt Chele, Lisa, Mike, Nancy, the Meyers for everyone covering our duties. The trip was wonderful, but it's so good to be back.....


(view at the pool)

(part of the eating too much at a restaurant in downtown Palm Springs)

(John and I at TGIFridays)

(the view from the balcony of our room)

Seven Years Ago

Once Michele gave birth to Traig, John and I were goners. We had to figure out how to make one of those babies too. It took a little practice, but somehow we got the hang of it. In fact, the first time we uttered, "do we really need birth control tonight?" - simply the question alone got us pregnant. I remember, two days prior to my birthday feeling so irritable, I had to take the test just to make sure nothing was wrong. (I planned on waiting for my birthday). So, at 2am, John and I discovered we were to be parents.

My pregnancy was actually very smooth. I gained weight accordingly, felt the baby move at the right times, had severe heartburn, but faced no other concern until the Triplescreen test. It was then that we found out our chances of having a child with Down Syndrome were 1 in 112. Those are pretty good odds in our favor, until you sit in a football stadium with 50,000 people and realize how many would be born with that condition...... It was hard. I insisted that I have a mirror available during delivery so that I wouldn't be the last to know if indeed something wasn't right with our firstborn....

The days flew by, but not fast enough. I was teaching at the time, and decided at one point that I'd put in enough time, if he came early it would be okay. But, he made no move, so I lasted until spring break, when my maternity leave was set to begin. Spring break came and went. So did Easter - and my mom's birthday, the day AFTER he was due. Still, no sign, other than a day or 2 of Braxton Hicks - but they all went away.

My doctor seemed to be in no hurry, which was unfortunate, because I was - I couldn't wait to meet our son. Finally, on April 5th, my doctor decided to induce me (10 days past the due date). Then, the pain began, and the progression was almost non-existent. If anyone ever tells you that the more painful the contraction, the more you dilate (to eventually get to that magic 10 cm.), I can attest, they are wrong. We waddled through the halls, tried the bath, leaned on the bedpost - and finally I remember just laying in agony on the bed. By the time dawn arrived, they decided to give me that drug that "takes the edge off" (I can't remember the name) - it just seemed to do the opposite. I requested no one talk, it took away from my concentration - and watched my mom cry because she knew I was hurting so bad. I think I was at 5 cm.

Michele, bless her heart, pulled John aside and encouraged John to encourage me to take the Intrethecal (similar to an Epidural, but only numbs the interior organs). She knew I was really trying to go without, and needed to hear John tell me it was okay to "take the drugs". I said "yes" - the anesthesiologist arrived, and after waiting out a contraction, "gave me the drugs".

Oh, what a transformation. Instantly NO MORE PAIN (he actually gave me a little too much, I couldn't even feel the pressure of the contractions....). I sat up, greeted my guests, put on make-up and did my hair. We laughed, read the parents' material and my body rapidly decided to cooperate. I progressed fast, and with the help of the monitor, figured out how to push my "little man" out in a half hour. (Not bad for a 9 and 1/2 pound baby who was facing the wrong direction, hence the "back labor"). The next day I figured out just how big his head was compared to normal (15 inches), so I guess that says a lot about my doctor that it went so smooth.

Upon seeing Brayden, tears were shed and John went to his knees beside me in praise over God's perfection embodied in our precious, innocent baby boy. We were in awe and yes, we still are.....

Seven years ago, this all happened. Unbelievable how time flies. We continue to find new reasons to fall in love with our "little man" and are so proud of him. Do we still think he's perfect? Well, let's be honest - none of us are. But, he's perfectly who God made him to be, and we are so blessed to be his mom and dad. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYDEN!

A Couple of Questions XI

If every day of spring was like today - I could definitely find myself falling in love with this season! According to the weather forecast, it's not looking promising, but the colors, the smells, the cut grass - it's glorious today.

1. What are your Easter plans? If you don't like that question - feel free to describe a wonderful Easter of the past.....

2. What is your favorite chain restaurant, and what do you most often order there?

Celebrating Brayden's 7th

Today we celebrated Brayden and Cameron's 7th and 6th birthdays at a local pool. Cameron's mom and myself had never actually been to the pool, but the price and the security of being private and having a lifeguard on duty secured the deal. With that in mind, I was a little nervous walking into today's event. A co-party, an unknown location, lots of boys....need I say more.

I'm happy to say it went off without a hitch! The private pool was so great - they supplied water toys and the kids went to town playing dodgeball and "surfing" on the flat mats. The place supplied a room as well - just the perfect amount of time to feed some very worn out kids (post swimming), eat some cake, and open presents.

Phew, it's over - 8 more months until I need to plan another one of these......

Spring Break

As I think anyone who has read my blog at all knows, I am a person with high expectations. I can get quickly let down when events that I have looked forward to for a very long time become not at all what I hoped for (i.e. - rain in Sunriver, the flu on Christmas day.....). I am a little nervous over this week's trip to Palm Springs - it seems like a given to expect desert weather, but, there's showers in the forecasts and temps in the low 70's. Um, not what I had in mind. Hopefully, that will change.

I do feel good, however, that I entered into spring break with very few pre-conceived notions on what it would be like. Simply not waking up to drag Brayden to school was enough for me - and yes, a guaranteed given! With that said, spring break has far exceeded my expectations - here's a few reasons why-

- a fabulous, spontaneous trip to the beach with the family - previously detailed
- a nostalgic 24 hours spent at the "Schilling Compound" complete with several runs on Michael's newly constructed zipline. With the duck pond in the distance, a happy chocolate lab running around, an outdoor fire lit (we should have brought marshmallows) and kids screaming in delight as the zipped along.... it was definitely a Kodac moment. (We snapped shots with Michele's 35mm camera - we'll get those processed one of these days...)
- another spontaneous activity of bowling with the cousins. Guess who got the high score? That would be 2 year old Ellie. Somehow, every push we helped her make seemed to magically bounce off the bumbers in just the right way. The first 3 frames were spare, strike, strike. She ended with a score of 147!
- a trip to the park with Lisa and the kids. Brayden biked the mile back completely on his own - YEAH! And, the girls did fantastic with their training wheel bikes - not one complaint from Mikayla despite a grand total distance of two miles. It was on Monday when the weather was great - that definitely felt like spring.
- finally, a trip to the spa. Can't say enough about the body wrap experience..... (refer to Labor Day post) - and a certain spa beginning with a B here in town now has new chairs for their pedicure. They have a "rolling" SHIATZU massage experience which can really knead the muscles in your back. BLISS.......

I hope your spring break was wonderful as well. One final thought - what is your high score bowling?

A Couple of Questions X

1. When you were little, what career aspirations did you have?

2. What is one childhood dream that is yet to be attained, that you still desire to do?

Have a great week everyone!

27 Hours

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I'm saving my tribute of you for Mother's Day - so don't stop reading.....

Second of all, the cord that connects my camera to my computer might still be in room 336 at the hotel. Bummer, I'll have to call on that tomorrow and perhaps cart two kids to Circuit City to find a replacement. We got lots of fun pictures, so I'll add them when I'm able.

Now, to the point of the title - What a fabulous thing 27 hours can do for our family! It was a very quick trip, with little expectation, but one in which we just kept repeating how much fun we were all having. YEAH!!!

Here's a few highlights:

- Swimming in the pool and a 30 second introduction to what a sauna feels like
- Dancing as a family to the ending credits of "Pure Country" (a movie I love and John had forgotten all about, so it worked perfect to watch again)
- Falling asleep to "Chicken Little"
- Watching Brayden play in the waves on the beach
- Standing beneath sharks and "bat rays" in the "Passages of the Deep" exhibit at the aquarium - SO COOL!
- Scoring big-time at the outlet malls

It was only 27 hours (including drive-time) that we were gone, but it was a week's worth of bonding time and therapy. Thank you, Lord!

Hello from the Coast!

Thanks to a little bit of information from Jodi, I decided to book the last remaining room at a particular hotel on the coast for tonight. It was a little bit spontaneous for us, but I thought it would be a really good idea for our family - a chance to get out of the house, - and I know they'll love tomorrow's trip to the aquarium as they've never been before.

Currently, John is asleep - the kids are BOUNCING off the walls, Kimmie Meisner appears to have just won the Women's Figure Skating World championships - and the kids are about to get another warning that they will not be visiting the pool (which they are already outfitted for...) if they do not stay quiet and stop stomping on the floor. Oh, the excitement a hotel brings.

I love the blue sky visible in the picture - it's hopeful..... should be a great sunset in another hour. I hope your weekend is hopeful as well.

Victories of the Week

This week has been a major progression from bad to good for me. If irritability was put on a scale from 1-10, 10 being ABSOLUTELY DON'T MESS WITH ME! - and 1 being as mellow and easy going as it gets - I began the week at 10 (ask John). Each day we've gone down the scale - I think I'm about at a 2 now. That's a huge victory right there.

Here's a few others:

- a succesul check-up at the dentist for both kids. Mikayla overcame her phobia and had fun (they both did) and even tolerated the x-rays. And, the best news, no cavities.... (the kids' dentist visits rate as one of the highest mommy anxieties I have....)

- closing off my care with the physiatrist. We don't see eye to eye on what will probably help me the most, but the PT really helped and hopefully I can now end my chapters with this accident and the insurance settlements.

- having my mom home and getting significant help with the headaches that have been prompting an early bedtime for the last two weeks. Between getting better from being sick and getting relief from the pain, I think that has a major bearing on the irritability scale!

- two things John and I have decided we really need to get Brayden to be able to do in the next couple of months - tie his shoelaces (elastic and velcro tennies have virtually eliminated this need up 'til now!), and ride his bike without training wheels. He succeeded in both this week- both really need practice, but he's virtually got it! YEAH BRAYDEN!!!!

- having my laundry caught up and house clean. The hurricane always hits us over the weekend and I feel like I spend all week trying to catch up - it's nice to sit here right now and be there.

- hitting 66 degrees yesterday!

We're off to Costco and Safeway - I hope you all have victories you can share from this last week - I'd love to hear about them!

In Praise of Public Education

So, I gave a little kudos to the homeschoolers of the family, so I thought I'd share a positive about the public education system too. Yesterday, both John and I showed up at Brayden's school at 9:45 to help 25 first graders get fitted for roller-blading. It's part of a "Fitness for Life" program in which the district has really tried to develop a p.e. program that teaches kids about activities that they could learn to do to stay active throughout their life. I'm a real believer in this, recognizing that kids need to move and cutting out their p.e. due to budget cuts could be one of the most damaging things we can do to them long term. I mean, let's face it, I don't think many adults end up dying because they don't know Greatest Common Factor, or Least Common Multiple, but I bet you can trace a whole let of deaths to never really finding something you enjoy that keeps you from being sedentary. (A quick note, this is a broad opinion and should not necessarily be traced back to how much exercise my children or myself do on a daily basis!).

So, yesterday, 6 parents showed up to outfit children in wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, and skates all provided by the school. (The equipment gets moved throughout the school district to the different elementary schools) It was such a hoot to watch those kids circle the gym in a psuedo-Skate World, falling constantly - but falling correctly as instructed by their p.e. teacher. They even played limbo in which they skated underneath foam bars held by parents. It was a sight to see, and potentially costly - Brayden now REALLY wants a pair of roller blades for his birthday.......

Spring Has Sprung

(I don't know if you remember the picture taken of those little green sprouts coming from the ground surprising me, but here they are now, obviously a little worn out from kids stepping on them as they were coming up....)

So, today is the first full day of spring. It may not look and feel like it, but it's here. I smell it, especially when the smell isn't covered with water, and that is a glorious thing.

In lieu of "A Couple of Questions" this week, I am asking you to share with me things that make spring special for you. It could be traditions, memories, unique celebrations or activities, or things that you just especially enjoy about this time of year. I confess, while I'm glad to be in March vs. January - I still find myself looking at spring like a waiting room, anticipating summer. I want to embrace it a little more and need your help. Thanks!

Say That Again?

Here's a few funny things that have come out of the mouths of the kids this week:

Little Neice Ellie upon seeing an ad for Chuck E. Cheese's yesterday-
"Mom, can we please go to 'Lucky Jesus'?"


Brayden, sharing with Dad-
"Guess what Daddy, Alex's mommy laid a baby yesterday!"


Mikayla-
"Honey, are you still feeling sick?"
"Yeah, I feel short sick."
"You mean a little sick?"
"Yeah, short sick."

By the Numbers

As January begins a new year, I often try to get all of my and my kids' annual appointments out of the way. It's generally the least busy time of year for me - and an annual weigh-in with my doctor is such a fun accountability to get my act together after the season of gluttony that the holidays bring. This year, however, things have gone a little overboard in terms of appointments. I'm pretty sure, this Thursday will be our last for at least 6 months, but here's how it's looked since January.

Number of appointments:

PHYSIATRIST*: 3
CHILDRENS' EYE DOCTOR: 2
PHYSICAL THERAPY: 13
VETERINARIAN: 3
CHILDRENS' DOCTOR: 1
CHILDRENS' DENTIST: 2
DOCTOR: 3
OPTHAMOLOGIST: 1

Yeah, I'm getting a little burned out. Glad to say that we are all "good to go" after these appointments, and glad that there are such skilled people to help us through our problems, but I hope 2007 requires less visits!

* PHYSIATRIST is a rehabilitation specialist recommended to help with injuries to my neck after the accident.....

Womens' Luncheon

I wish I'd actually used the camera I'd carefully packed in my purse today. I could have used it to snap a picture of the 7 beautiful women who sat with me today at our church's annual Womens' Luncheon. It was a bit different format from last year's "decorate your own table" tea, but that just made it less stressful for Lisa and I! Many thanks to all of the gals that came, it was a wonderful time and great to get to spend time with women I admire, but don't usually get the time to enjoy.

I'm adding a few quotes to today's post that I thought were quite profound - especially considering the sources.

And, as a P.S. - thanks for all of the sympathy that I've received. I'm feeling much better.

"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business." MICHAEL J. FOX

"I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." HELEN KELLER

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I started my day off driving to meet Michele halfway between our two homes. About halfway to that destination, we pulled over to let Mikayla go potty. All of a sudden, I wasn't feeling too hot myself - one of those rare times in my life that I wasn't sure if I was going to stay conscious. And, then you start to weigh your options - 1) take a nap at a gas station with my 4 year old daughter locked in the car? 2) wait to have John meet me and leave a car 45 minutes a way? 3) proceed with plans to meet with Michele? (I quickly dismissed that idea....) or 4) call my doctor, see if I can get in - and drive very carefully back home?.....

As I've been sick all week, I was suspecting things had maybe escalated to walking pneumonia, which would explain why I didn't feel like I was getting enough oxygen - hence the lightheadedness. However, with the help of Advil taken a couple hours before I had chosen to wake up, I didn't feel that bad at all hitting the highway. But, lately 9 am has been necessary nap time, and as it didn't happen, my body was declaring mutiny. The drive back was a little scary, I chose to follow a semi going 60 in the right lane the whole way back. Just prior to entering town, my doctor called me back and said she'd fit me in in a half hour. I ended up driving straight there and spent part of my wait with the seat reclined trying to get a little shut-eye in.

So, long story short - no pnuemonia (I've never dealt with that before, so it's nice I'm not dealing with it now), but I do have some fun white junk on the back of my throat, a nice sinus infection, conjunctivitis in both eyes, and am about a day away from having bronchitis. Good to know it's not all in my head! The thing about this round with a bug is how completely fatiguing it is. It's as if your body just declares MANDATORY time-outs - and if you don't comply, you are in bad shape. Michele ended up coming down to do our exchange of stuff and visit and I spent the majority of the time asleep on the couch. During the second nap, Michele talked to me as I was trying to wake up in my dream - I heard her, gave her a thumbs up, but could not get my body to open my eyes or talk. She said it was wild watching my eyes move, mimicking expressions of trying to open them, but never succeeding. During another post, I would perhaps follow that up with a deep thought parallel of how that relates to another part of life, but it's not coming now.

I am on Amoxicillan, and as of 11:30 tomorrow should no longer be contagious so don't worry. Glad this hit now and not during spring break with both kids requiring entertainment - and not during our 4 day get-away the following weekend to Palm Springs. Oh, doesn't that 85 degrees sound dreamy right now......

A Couple of Questions IX

1. When you were a kid and invented names for pretend friends, or for yourself - what was your favorite name?

2. Do you have any exciting plans for spring break?

The Game of Life

Michele and I have used a saying for quite some time to descibe days of financial misfortune or fortune - "landing on a good/bad square in the game of life". Yesterday, we landed on a good square in the game of life. The local Apple store called up John to let him know that my computer was ready. We didn't know what that meant, how much it cost, but he went to pick it up anyway. A half hour later he called up and said my computer was completely fixed - all contents intact and even the monitor was fixed (it had been injured in its "framing" from the kids while we were in Disneyland last year). The cost - $0. Oh happy day! So, I'm a happy camper, with my computer back - and bracing for the bad days in the game of Life in which the money could go the other direction (like for the heating system that had to be repaired last week....).

A Real Friend

(compliments of Stephietoo..... I love it!)

REAL FRIENDS

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps herself.

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

Snow Day

Thursday was a rough day for Brayden. He had been staying up late through the week and had been doing remarkably well (especially in contrast to the previous week's Brayden - thank you GOD!), but finally just hit the wall when he came home. He was upset about everything, crying about life being not fair, boring, and that he never gets anything or does anything fun. He expressed that he doubted if he'd ever stop crying. It was hard to see.

So, for the sake of my son, I found myself praying very hard that enough snow would fall that miraculously school would be cancelled on Friday. That way, he could sleep in and play all day with his cousins. Throughout the night, my sleep was restless. I found myself in my dreams, back in my parents' house, looking out our bedroom window there, and awaiting the morning news announcements that school would be cancelled. Upon waking up, I checked outside - and while there was a little snow on the ground, it certainly didn't merit cancellation. Finally, I fell back asleep and woke again at 6 - to find the ground covered in a blanket of white. That was only half the battle, however, the superintendant would need to agree that the inch or so of snow inded proved to be hazardous enough to cancel school (I have my own theory on this - it involves the fact that the snow fell on a Friday, a snow day hasn't been announced in years, and that the likelihood of using up another snow day in the middle of March would be VERY unlikely) - I flipped on the tv, the announcer began talking and then streaming on the bottom of the broadcast was the bold declaration that our school district had canceled school. I waited for the name and announcement to be repeated two more times before I took it as reality (it did seem a little too good to be true.....) and then woke up Michele to share with someone the great news.

Nearly two hours later, Brayden crawled into my bed elated - knowing already what had happened. It was a wonderful, priceless few minutes. I thank you for that, God! I posted a few pics of how the kids spend the day.....

A Fine Homeschooling Moment

As many of you know, my sister has chosen to homeschool two of her kids for the last two years. It's been an adventure filled with highs and lows, successes and failures - and will probably be coming to an end this June. I admire Michele for the reasons why she chose this route in education and for her open-mindedness about the various positive forms of educating her kids. She truly felt the prompting of God for these two years - and in the same way, is feeling a very strong leading for her kids to enter the public system next year. In hindsight, I think she can definitely say that what she did for her kids was the best thing she could have done for them - but, like any parent, she, of course, has had her share of guilts that she hasn't done enough. So, to celebrate the successes - I thought I'd post a very positive moment in Traig's second grade year - creating electricity to power a flashlight bulb. It was an incredibly proud moment for Traig, that took place in my home (a benefit of homeschooling - that it can travel....). It was very cool!

Airline Humor

This was from an email sent to me from John, some really made me laugh!

All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight
safety lecture and announce-ments a bit more entertaining. Here are
some real examples that have been heard or reported:
1. On a Southwest
flight (SW has no assigned seating, you just sit where you want)
passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight
attendant announced, People, people we're not picking out furniture
here, find a seat and get in it!
2. On a Continental Flight with a
very senior flight attendant crew, the pilot said, Ladies and
gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the
cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of
your flight attendants.
3. On landing, the stewardess said, Please be
sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything,
please make sure it's something we'd like to have.
4. There may be 50
ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this
airplane
5. Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you
enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a
ride.
6. As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald
Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: Whoa, big fella. WHOA!
7. After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis,
a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, Please take care
when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like
that, sure as hell everything has shifted.
8. From a Southwest
Airlines employee: Welcome aboard Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa. To
operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull
tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know
how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public
unsupervised.
9. In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure,
masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and
pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you,
secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling
with more than one small child, pick your favorite.
10. Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to
have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves
you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines.
11. Your seat
cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency
water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our
compliments.
12. As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of
your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the
flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.
13. And from the pilot during his welcome message: Delta Airlines is pleased to
have some of the best flight attendants in the industry.
Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!
14. Heard on Southwest
Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight
attendant came on the intercom and said, That was quite a bump, and I
know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the
airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight
attendant's fault, it was the asphalt.
15. Overheard on an American
flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day:
During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it.
After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, Ladies and
Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your
seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane
to the gate!
16. Another flight attendant's comment on a less than
perfect landing: We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo
bounces us to the terminal.
17. An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had
hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy
which required the first officer to stand at the door while the
passengers exited, smile, and give them a Thanks for flying our
airline. He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time
looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a
smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old
lady walking with a cane. She said, Sir do you mind if I ask you a
question? Why, no, Ma'am, said the pilot What is it? The little
old lady said, Did we land, or were we shot down?
18. After a real
crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, Ladies and
Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew
have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate And,
once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced,
we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to
the terminal.
19. Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement:
We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next
time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a
pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways.
20. Heard on a Southwest Airline flight. Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to
smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you
can light 'em, you can smoke 'em.
21. A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the
captain made an announcement over the intercom, Ladies and gentlemen,
this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop
from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore,
we should have a very smooth flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY
GOD! ----- Silence -----followed, and after a few minutes, the captain
came back on the intercom and said, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry
if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight
attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You
should see the front of my pants! A passenger in Coach yelled, That's
nothing. You should see the back of mine!

Praises for the Week

Here's what I'm thanking God for this week:

- waking up to a house that is 71 degrees (you just don't take that for granted)
- that Amy's father's heart attack on Sunday was not fatal, and hopefully he'll get the care he needs now to prevent another heart attack or stroke
- that I get to pick up my sister and her family today which makes the weekend feel like it's already here....
- that my son's attitude has done a 180 from last week, in contrast to a self-absorbed boy last week, he's been very fun this week
- that I wake up every morning happy to be spending a day with my daughter. I don't take her easy going, calm, fun nature for granted.....
- that my husband is so amazing, he reminds me every day of that
- for a fun weekend coming up filled with a "no-kids-some-of-my-favorite-adults" trip to Grease at Actors Cabaret on Friday night, and a lunch at Marie Calendars with just the girls on Saturday for Steph

That's it of the immediate thoughts coming to mind- Have a great rest of the week!

A Couple of Questions VIII

Good news on our heat - still ice cold in this house (giving me all the excuse I need not to put away clothes and clean up in the frigid bedrooms), however, it looks like tomorrow afternoon the problem will be solved (for a mere $300 - $400, I guess it could have been a lot worse!) Just in time for the 27 degree temperature evenings that we'll be having the end of this week...(snow?)

1. What is a product (new or one you've never used) that you have purchased within the last year that you have been highly impressed with and why? (Feel free to list a couple...)

2. In honor of the upcoming Easter commercialism and the $13.99 mega-jug I bought at Costco - what is favorite flavor of Jelly Belly jelly beans?

Happy Birthday Stephietoo!

(This isn't the best pic of the kids, but when I found it on John's computer, I thought it really summed up the family, giving, and spirit of Steph)

When I first met Steph, John and I were just beginning our relationship. Her husband was a pal of John's and client at his stereo business. I immediately thought Stephie was sweet, pretty and very nice, but certainly I had no idea how much she would become a part of our life. We didn't keep that close of touch after we got married - however, two things stood out during that time. Travis was one of the last hold-outs to want Riles Audio to stay open (something that I did NOT want, so it was kind of funny), and Steph was an employee at Rosen, the company that hired John when he decided to close down Riles Audio. Occasionally, I would see Steph up front at Rosen, smiling beautifully as I came to see John, but that was about the extent of our contact.

Then, we had Brayden.... I remember receiving the most thoughtful gifts from them - a gorgeous Noah's Ark snow globe for Brayden's themed room and wonderful "spa style" products for me. Wow. Then, soon after his birth, Travis showed up at our house- and John and him rekindled their friendship. It's hard to remember just how things progressed, but all of a sudden we began to realize that activities and evenings just somehow became better if Travis and Stephie were over.

Steph and I individually became closer too. We attended a womens' conference together and completely bonded spiritually, and I had the incredible honor of becoming her matron of honor in her wedding (not to mention crashing her honeymoon - but that's a whole different story itself!).

As time has gone on, our feelings towards the Whites have gone from close friends to "adopted family". Our kids have such an amazing relationship with them, they are practically their second parents, though you would be hard-pressed to get Travis to admit that...

Since this is Steph's birthday, I want to let her know how amazing I think she is. The unlimited love she gives to our family has saved my sanity on countless nights when she takes over as mom and I thankfully rest. She is giving beyond belief, to the extent that the kids know if presents are coming from Travis or Stephie, they are going to be awesome. I know they are going to be "overboard", but who doesn't love incredible presents themselves? Steph is a rare find in that I never need to worry if a week has gone by and we haven't talked that things are okay with us - in fact, some of our best memories are evenings we've spent together not talking at all, but just reading magazines together watching football games - and being COZY! But, when we do talk, there is unconditional acceptance, a listening heart that never condemns, and a wisdom that only a fool would not follow. There is nothing she wouldn't drop everything to do for me - when John was in the hospital and we feared the worst their support and presence proved that immensely. I find myself trying to come up with all these adjectives, that fit perfectly, but nothing summarizes better than re-iterating that time is always sweeter when spent with Stephie.

I love you so much, friend - and hope your day is as incredible as you are!

Oh, The Weather Inside Is Frightful

If you've ever been around Lisa and I together, you'd quickly find that while we may be very like-minded, we are definitely not like heat-minded. Lisa can wear shorts and t-shirts comfortably year round, while I very much enjoy my turtlenecks, sweaters, and down vests from October through April. This is not to say I don't like the cold, I do get a kick out of plummeting temperatures as long as I have plenty of layers of clothes, cozy blankets, and a warm home to hang out in.

So, here we sit - with: plenty of layers of clothes - check, cozy blankets - check - and a warm home - NOPE! For the second time in a year our furnace is not working leaving the temperature in our house at a balmy 58 degrees! We have now definitely opted to open the damper in our fireplace and will probably consume all of our remaining wood supply until this problem gets fixed. All of a sudden, Sydney is invited to sleep on the bed with us as she is now another source of warmth.....

Amazing how we take modern conveniences for granted.....

And, on that note, news regarding my computer. Apparently, it got sent off for repair without our authorization. This is actually good news, because it means we don't have to pay for the repairs if it's not satisfactory - as well as the fact that the service dept. were seeking to have it done through warranty. John's computer is wonderful, and I don't want to sound spoiled, but I can't wait to get back to all of my pictures and stored materials on the harddrive, and know that they are all safe and sound.

On another note - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DQ - hope last night was a fun one for you.

Hundred Marshmallow Snowman

I had my first "mom" experience in helping your child create a school project that you want to end up looking 'cool'. His assignment was to put together one hundred of something to honor the hundredth day of school. So, Supermom decided she should come up with the idea, purchase all of the necessary products, and allow her son to just count the marshmallows. (Yes, I'm a former teacher who despised parents enabling their children.....another lesson in judging!). We did have a good time puting the project together, together- and I helped him carefully take it to school.

When he came home, I was so excited to hear what his teacher thought of the project. This was his response:
"Uh, mom (speaking very quietly and timidly), I did something that I don't think is going to make you very happy. Some of the marshmallows fell off and me and some other kids ate them"

"Aahhh! Brayden, it's a project about 100 of something - that's the whole point! Tomorrow, I'll send you to school with some glue and more marshmallows and you have to promise me that you will glue them on your project"

He agreed, and sure enough, did his duty (all by himself, imagine that!) by gluing the necessary marshmallows on. (He later told me, it was only two that they ate.) The next day, he brought it home and set it on the trunk in the hallway. When I got home later, I discovered it looked just a little different than the last time I saw it. Apparently, Sydney likes the taste of marshmallows!!! I think that was a very fitting end to the project Mommy built.

A Couple of Questions VII

Thanks for all of the comments lately. I've enjoyed the dialogue. In light of some of the references to dreams, here's the questions-

1. What is a classic recurring dream that you have?

2. What celebrity have you most often dreamt about?

Anyone else watching DEAL OR NO DEAL? It's rather entertaining, but a little stressful.....it's on right now.