A Merry Christmas

Christmas came and went so quickly, but still it was full of family and joyful appreciation for our many blessings. Here's a look at our Christmas holiday.

Christmas at the inlaws. C is helping me open a gift.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer had very cute & curly hair.

Santa paid a visit to Nana's house. He thought C's fairy wings were pretty cute.

Uncle J and C dig through the gifts for just the right present.

"Just the right present" turned out to be a Radio Flyer scooter

that she rode through the house for two days straight.

Babies

Well, I'm 20 weeks along and we have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday. I am so excited to see little baby. The hubby and I have decided not to learn the gender of our baby. We're holding out for the big surprise on delivery day. The hubby asked if they (the doctor) thought I was farther along than we thought because, in his opinion, I am bigger at 20 weeks, then I was the first time at full term. Nice. True, things seem to be poking out a bit more, but from what I hear that's to be expected.

Also so excited that the sister-in-law had her ultrasound last week and everything is going well. I can't wait to be a first time aunt. Our due dates are one day apart, so it will be interesting to see which one of us delivers first, and who has what. Needless to say the grandparents are geeked about the upcoming baby overload in our family.

Recently

I don't know if it's a classic case of baby brain but I seem to be losing a lot of things lately. I don't believe that it's simply misplacing things, but that there must be an honest to goodness sort of house elf hiding crap around my house and at work. This phenomenon is really starting to drive me a bit batty.

LOST WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS
Videotape of our honeymoon
Receipt for Christmas gift that will most likely have to be returned
Tube of Neosporin
C's purple boots (these did finally show up)
A set of keys (recovered within several hours)
Countless pairs of socks
One of C's "dancing slippers"
Countless copies of Christmas shopping lists
My mind


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In other news, I've recently noticed little flutterings in my abdominal area which I can only describe as little baby bobbing around in utero. I find this fairly exciting because it's a definitive sign that those hearbeats I've been hearing for a couple of months are part of something much more tangible. J and I are looking forward to our ultrasound in two or three weeks so that we can finally see our expected little one. With our first daughter, we were insistant in finding out the gender, but with baby #2 we are much more open to waiting to see what surprises us in the delivery room.

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Upon arriving home today, my husband asked me, "Do we have a container for these?" Not knowing was "these" was I was astounded to see that he was holding a 5lb. bag of in the shell peanuts. Ya know, that ones that they store in the big barrel at Logan's! "No, I really don't think that we do have a container for THOSE," was my reply. Personally, I was left wondering where one would even purchases such a large bag of peanuts. Regardless, he looked mildy put out that we did not have said containers as he was reluctant to just leave them in the bag. It was at this time that I reminded him of the enormous box of rice that he had purchased about a year ago that was still gracing the shelves of our pantry. Honestly, it must be some sort of male instict to buy random foods in super bulk quantities.

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Well, just three more days of work left for me before Christmas vacation. I can't wait because I really need to finish my Christmas shopping and to get a few lingering projects out of the way. Tis' the season!

New Tradition

Back in my pre-child days I would be all for heading out to brave the commercial shopping madness of Black Friday. However, last year I found myself home with my 2 year old moping around like a bump on a log & feeling sorry for myself that everyone seemed to have something exciting and fun to do the day after Thanksgiving. It was the classic holiday let down. So this year, I decided to NOT feel sorry for something that I use to have, but rather to begin a new post Thanksgiving tradition that is more family centered. Today the 3 of us went to the Public Museum and we had a REALLY great time.

Highlights of the trip:
- Holy Moses! Admission was only $8.00 + kids were free.
- There were no crowds to wrestle with.
- C loved riding the carousel, which was also free.
- C was well behaved.
- C was actually intrigued by some of the exhibits.
- C,who is new to wearing underpants as opposed to pull-ups, used the bathroom and
went without any accidents.
- It was 2 hours of pure nostalgia from my childhood & times w/ my grandparents.
- We ate at Yesterdog for lunch and it was actually a peaceful meal.
- C took a 2 hour nap when we got home. In the meantime, I cleaned and watched a
movie.

It really doesn't get better than this folks. It was one of those "Hallmark" days for our family in which all is sweet and good. What a treasure. So, I think this will indeed become our new day after Thanksgiving tradition.

So dear reader, what Thanksgiving/day after Thanksgiving traditions do you have?

Bye-Bye Diapers

Do I dare say, without jinxing myself, that a long awaited moment in child-rearing has FINALLY arrived? C has had 3 (fairly) successful days of wearing underpants instead of pull-ups. Whoo-hooo! What has really been the ice on the potty-training cake is that she will now do #2 in the toilet. Actually she's been very good about answering nature's call (#1) for awhile, but it has been the #2 business that has been plaguing us. FINALLY the other night she announced that she needed a magazine (wonder who she learned that one from, Honey?) and rushed right into the bathroom to take care of the business. She's been listening to her body ever since and doesn't seem to be slowing down. I am so excited about this & also the money that we will save!

However, as much as I have loathed the pull-up, it has now become a bit of a security blanket for me. I find myself caught in quite a pickle. Now that she is (fairly) potty-trained she wants to wear underpants everywhere, like to the grocery store, to Grandma's, to Target, to church - ALL places that would be bad for an "accident". So I find myself REALLY wanting her to wear a pull-up for "leak insurance" but I don't make her because, hello, talk about confusing to a kid! Besides she is doing pretty good - we've made a few wild dashes across the grocery store to the bathroom - BUT - we've always made it. Maybe it is I who needs to get over my insecurities and realize this kid has really got the hang of it. Trust in her, is what I need to do.

Not to mention, she is SOOOOO proud of her daily accomplishments. I wish that I could feel that same pride over the small successes in life. So perhaps it is bye-bye to the world of diapers (at least for a few months) and on to bigger and better things. Yeah for you C!!!!!!

Huh?

The other day someone asked me, "So, what do you do in your spare time?" To which of course I paused and said, "Well, I have a toddler, so I don't really have any free time." Said person was rather non-plussed with my answer, but hey ask a stupid question...

However, as I later pondered this question I mulled over the answer I would liked to have given. Something witty like, "Well, I'm really into toddler wrangling and conflict resolution this year."

Then, I flashed back to what I would have said 7-10 years ago. "What do I do in my spare time, you ask?" "Well, I'm terribly busy! I spend my time watching movies, renting movies, hanging out with friends, getting pedicures, scrap booking, watching reality TV, not to mention, obsessing for hours over my weight, what to wear, and men."

LOL because now I'm lucky IF I get a minute to even think about what I'm wearing out the door each day. My standards have been lowered considerably. Basically, if I'm clean (meaning not stinky), my hair is washed, I have some makeup to hide the dark circles, and my clothes pass as matching - then it's a good start to the day. I haven't seen a movie at the theater in I don't know how long. I'm kinda bummed on this particular fact lately because I'd REALLY love to see New Moon with my friend K, but I don't think it's happening for either of us. I miss my girl time - friendships have essentially been reduced to phone calls and text messages. I'm too far behind on scrap booking and the thought of ever getting into that again overwhelms me.

Anyway, boo-hoo, cry-cry, all this over "So, what do you do in your spare time?" I really LOVE my life just as it is right now. Sure there are days I'd love to have my "single-before-children-life" back, but I think I'd only like to visit it once in a while. I also remind myself that, as crazy and hectic as my life is right now, there will come a day 10-20 years from now when I will ache to have my daughter under foot and miss her continuous chatter. So, I will relish this life sans "free time" and know that it will come around eventually.

Boo! to Halloween

Yes, I realize that Halloween was like days ago, and I am just getting to this. I say Boooooo! to Halloween this year because we had been looking forward to it all October only to end up not celebrating at all. C came down with a high fever on Friday, which we had to retrieve her from school. Her fever spiked on Saturday so we had to postpone her big birthday party and fore go any trick-or-treating activities. Thankfully, she it too young to really have noticed, although she did say something to me on Monday about wanting to go trick-or-treating in her lion costume (which was soooo adorable and she didn't even get to wear it!). I'm such a bad mommy - I totally brushed her off and tried to change the subject when she brought it up.

Her fever finally broke (knock on wood) today, so I hope this means we're out of the woods on this one. Her symptoms presented themselves as a really bad cold, but I wonder..... 4 days of a HIGH fever, lack of appetite, irritable......hmmm anyone thinking what I'm thinking..... what does everyone else have right now too? Perhaps a little H1N1? Hard telling, not knowing, but I wonder. Regardless, if that's all it was for her, THANK GOD!

So, long story short, Halloween was no treat this year.

Have you ever had to miss out on a fun holiday due to illness?

Pillsbury Strikes Again!

Dear reader, as I type I must make a confession. At the moment I am indulging in the all-American solution to leftover frosting. That's right - graham cracker halves with ample amounts of frosting sandwiched between them. Aaaah, it brings back memories of childhood. Am I the only one here?

This past weekend I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread because it sounded oh so seasonal. I sliced the loaf in two and spread a thin layer of vanilla frosting in the middle and them sandwiched the two halves back together. Voila~ Well, since then the leftover frosting has been staring me down EVERY time I open the refrigerator. That darn little Pillsbury character is so cunning! So tonight I decided to take action and make graham cracker & frosting sandwiches. Hmmm, not sure who really one that battle, but since I'm pregnant, let's say it was me. Yummy!

So, dear reader, what do you do with leftover frosting lurking in your refrigerator?????

The Weekend

Well, I am feeling the appropriate weight of my Catholic Guilt sinking in at the moment. Really because I had a lovely and fairly uneventful weekend. There are a million things that I should have done over the course of the past 2 days, and should be doing at this moment, but alas... Friday we spent some time catching up with my sister-in-law and devouring pizza. Saturday included a much needed trip to the grocery store, and then a evening with visiting relatives and old family slides (Yup, the parents whipped out the old slide projector - heaven). Sunday the same relatives stopped in for a short visit of our homely homestead. In the afternoon, I had the blessing of getting to catch up with a friend even if it was brief (which in virtually unheard of), which left the majority of the day for lolling around with Sweet P and the husband. Even now I should be cleaning, prepping for new baby on the way, correcting papers, or sleeping. No, no I will not feel guilty about taking it a little slower this weekend - we all deserve it once in awhile.

So dear reader, what simple pleasures make you feel guilty?

Round 2

Two months out from our daughter's 3rd birthday, my hubby and I have achieved pregnancy once again. That's right dear reader, we are officially expecting baby Number 2 sometime in May. Personally, I am elated and terrified all at the same time. Raising baby number 2 should be easier right? I mean, we've already managed to produce one mostly sweet little toddler. But, whoa momma, the thought of 2 am feedings and wrangling tiny little person whose head flops all around kinda makes me hyperventilate a little! All in good time I guess because we're very excited (not for 2 am feedings) for all of the little wonders that come with a new little one.

Breakfast Anyone?

"Don't mess with the bull young man, or you'll get the horns!"

Lovely. The hubby and I rented The Breakfast Club the other night. It was a delight to watch it snuggled in bed with my man and a dark chocolate Dove bar. True bliss like that is hard to come by when your the mom of a toddler and working full time.

As we watched I did a mental "where are they now?" of the cast. I relished in the witty one liners and drooled over the drama of it all, perhaps it is because my high school years were mostly drama free, and I didn't feel pigeon-holed into any one "group". Okay, some of you would say I was a band geek, but you'd have to admit, that wasn't really that restricting socially (Was it?). Albeit I have used the phrase, "This one time at band camp..."

It was true heaven on earth. Here's to good times!

Dear reader, have you had any blissful moments lately?

Moments with You

Our mornings are rush, rush, rush. Half the time I have to drag Sweet P out of her warm bed, squiggle her into her clothes and shuffle her out the door. On the other mornings, she is generally laying on the carpet (balled up in a fuzzy blanket) outside the bathroom door. On those days, as soon as I step out of the shower I hear a sweet low, "Mommy I up." Then she watches Qubo while I attempt the make myself presentable for the world.

I truly try to streamline things so that we can be as efficient and stress free as possible. Over the past year, I've learned to contain, to my own little world up in my head, my anxious feelings and the urge to scream, "Move it!" when some one's not moving fast enough. So, mornings are not my favorite, BUT once we are all belted, situated and the car hits the main road - THAT'S one of my favorite moments in the day.

I love to listen to Sweet P chatter if she's feeling, well, chatty. And seriously no one is more hilarious to listen to than a toddler on a roll. Other mornings I adore how she snuggles up with her blanket and gazes out the window. She's become quite fond of requesting music. This week it's Thank God I'm A Country Boy, by John Denver and God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy by some dude whose name escapes me at the moment. I'm not knocking John Denver, but this is off my husband's play list, which she seems MOST fond of.

As we drive the sun rises and cars whiz by. We pass the time talking about how foggy it is along the river, what fun surprises her teachers might have planned for today, and about all her family. Once in awhile she'll wiggle her body or bob her head in time with the music; I am ALWAYS told not to sing (bummer). It's the best time just me and Sweet P in our own peaceful world for about 20 minutes before the craziness of the day sets in as school.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Another year has been logged into the history books as I turned 33 today. Whatever happened to my 20s? Somehow that decade simply whizzed by. Thirty-three sounds sooooo old, so full of responsibility and obligations. Hmmmm.

All in all, I'm doing better than I deserve though. I have a job (a wonder in today's economy), a comfortable home with a fabulous backyard surrounded by woodlands, a wonderful hardworking husband, a beautiful & smart little girl, a huge supportive family, my health, and some irreplaceable friends. Certainly I am not at loss for blessings. It often takes my breath away as to how much God has graced me with. It's taken thirty-three years to get here, and with each passing year I learn to appreciate each of these things more.

What blessings have you come to appreciate in your life?

Back to School Musings

I take a sigh of relief as I sit on the eve ending the first week of school. It's been such a roller coaster week, but it's all onward and upward from here (I hope). I am loving my new students. They seem sweet and eager to learn, they have not yet become jaded "I am too cool for you lady," middle school students. Over the course of the week I have answered a hundred million questions ranging between When do we eat? Which folder do I put my math in? Why is your hair curly? Will I need a pencil this week? Can I call my mom because I forgot my (first) homework assignment? Although it's a bit flustrating (is this even a real word) I've tried to ease their concerns so that they left for the weekend with smiles instead of stress induced wrinkles in their young little foreheads.

At this time of year I am so torn! I actually enjoy returning to school even though the pace of working full time tests my sanity. But it is so agonizing dropping Sweet P off as school each day. She seems to love it, she's learning TONS more than she would at home hanging out with little ole' me, and really, she needs to be around some other kids. This is life - I know, I know, but..... she's a great, no SUPER, kid and I feel like I am missing out on so much when I work full time and she's at school. I'm sure I'll get used to it in a few weeks time, but I think I'm taking this transition harder than she is. I really miss my baby during the day.

All in all, it's not a bad gig - work for nine months, three months off. I suppose it's like having the best of both worlds. I get to be full time working mom AND stay at home mom. Still waiting around for that "stay at home mom that gets paid full time" position.

A Little Inspiration

Earlier this week I attended a Back-to-School retreat with my fellow teachers. It was good times and while we were there I heard this song and instantly loved it. I'm not a huge Christian music fan but this one really hooked my ear, it's Something to Say, by Matthew West. Apparently there's not an "official" video so this will have to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSVGocVpLko

Yummmm!

Here's a great new recipe that I just made tonight. It'd be to die for on a cold winter day, but I was just happy to find yet another way to cook ground turkey and zucchini. Enjoy!

TASTY LASAGNA CHILI

1 C coarsely chopped zucchini
1/2 C coarsely chopped onion
1 lb. sweet Italian turkey sausage (4 links)
2 garlic cloves - pressed
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 cans (14-14.5 oz. each) beef broth
1 C water
1 1/2 C (4 oz.) uncooked pasta nuggets - Radiatore
2 tbsp. snipped basil (optional)
1 can of mushrooms

Coarsely chop zucchini and onions; set aside zucchini. Remove casings from sausage; discard casings. Heat a 4 qt casserole pan over medium heat until hot. Add sausage, onion, and garlic; cook sausage 8-10 minutes until no longer pink, break into crumbles; drain.

Add spaghetti sauce, broth and water; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 7 minutes. Stir zucchini and mushrooms into chili; cook 2-4 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Remove from heat; stir basil into soup, if desired. Ladle soup into bowls.

Yield: 6 servings (8 cups)

The Magic of Books

Like her mother, Sweet P loves books. She gets excited to visit the library, mostly to play in their children's area, but also to pick out some new reads. It is not uncommon to find her sitting in her bed reading to her "friends", a diverse group of stuffed animals and one rubber ducky. Another favorite pastime is pretending to be a librarian and to check out the books and DVDs on our book shelf (she scans them with her cash register - beep). She loves to be read to and to retell all of the stories in her own way. We're always looking for the next coveted "favorite book", the one she just can't put down until I've read it 100 million times. So for all you readers looking for that next book your child will fall in love with..... here's some of Sweet P's recent faves.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - We love the textured, glittering star on every page.

Maisy Big, Maisy Small - We're addicted to Maisy and her crazy days.

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? - The repetition is intoxicating to toddlers.

Fast Food - All the images are created from fruits & vegetables. A healthy and humorous read.

Foggy, Foggy Forest - Step into a fairytale fog as you wander through the vellum pages. We love to guess what the shadows are that are veiled in fog. Sweet P delights in the mystery and magic of it.

I Ain't Your Babysitter

Sweet P and I breezed over to a local swimming hole today to fit in one more "beach" trip while the weather is still good. We've enjoyed several afternoons there over the past months. It's a great fit for us because it's a short drive from home, offers a playground & picnic area, the beach is sandy and the lake is spring fed, therefore generally crystal clear and fresh feeling.

However, during our trips I always find myself feeling dumbstruck at the number of parents that do not supervise their children while they play in the water. "I hate to tell you lady, but that life jacket isn't an insurance policy that your 4 year old won't drown while you take a siesta up on the beach. And I wouldn't put too much stake in the seventeen year old life guards laughing up in the guard house either." Am I over protective? Perhaps, but I'm not an idiot either. If Sweet P is past the knees you better believe that I am in that water within an arms reach.

Too often kids will ask to join us in play, and their parents are half way from here to Indiana away. There are always young kids running around that you never match up with an adult figure (did they drop them off?). Today, I got to "entertain" a little boy while his mom/caregiver? talked on the phone, texted, fiddled with a CD player, and enjoyed a nap. "Gee lady, glad you had a chance to relax while I tried to keep junior out of the deep water!"

I always find this situation troublesome. "Listen, you irresponsible parents, it's not my job to watch your kid, but if I don't who will?" Well reader - help me out here. How would YOU handle this troublesome, and potentially dangerous, situation?

Jesus in My Heart

Sweet P is nearly 3 and over the course of her infant and toddler hood, I have tried to impart my Christian beliefs to her during those teachable moments. After all, I think all parents want their children to grow up with Christian values and morals; doing good for their fellow man. Over time, we've covered the core of the basics so she knows about God and Jesus, she know she's supposed to treat people with love, etc.

Well, today we had an Aha! moment when I just thought I would melt. Sweet P actually woke me up this morning by crawling into bed to snuggle. We were laying there talking when I reached over to touch the picture on her pj top. I started to tickle her when she quickly grabbed my hand, looked me in the eyes with great intensity and said, "Stop, your going to break Jesus in my heart."

My sweet child literally thinks Jesus is living in her heart (don't ever lose that baby) and that he must be protected from assault. Oh, to see the look on her face which showed she was afraid that I would break him if I tickled too much.

After I came out of my state of awe I remembered the one time when I had told her that "Jesus lives in your heart". I can't believe she was listening AND actually remembered it! Wow. It was so heart warming to see that my daughter is learning about her faith even if it is in a childlike sense. As she grows I pray that she will always let God live in her heart and guide her.

Pepto Bismal & Blueberries

Early today, in the wee hours of the morning, I was tortured with one of those frantic dreams in which you are searching for something but cannot find it. In my dream I was desperately searching for some Pepto Bismal. There was no rhyme or reason to it, I just had to find some Pepto. I opened my linen closet to find 3 expired bottles, I ran to my in-laws only to find more expired Pepto. Then I watched myself appear in a sequence of desperate attempts to locate the pink concoction in Meijer , Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Needless to say I woke without having found any Pepto Bismal. In my alert state, I had just enough time to register in my mind that I was having this weird trippy dream before an intense cramping attacked my intestines. Good Lord! Clearly my subconscious was wise to something that my unconscious sleeping self wasn't.



Upon reflection, I may have indulged in too many of the delicious fresh blueberries that my aunt and uncle had brought me earlier that day. Apparently the system can't handle them like it used to.

Summer Break by the Numbers

A week from today I will back to work after a brief 3 months off. It's been great, and I wrestle with going back, but it's time. Therefore, it's also time to pause and reflect on a summer well spent. Here are the highlights of my summer by the numbers.

1 bedroom freshly painted
1 bridal shower
1 lakeside wedding
3 teacher in service days (it was actually fun)
3 trips to the zoo
1 Fourth of July parade and picnic
1 family vacation
5-6 trips to the beach
1 morning exploring the botanical gardens
2 county fairs
4 trips to the farmer's market
1 new driveway
1 new shed
1 newly landscaped flower bed
10 enrichment classes at the YMCA for Sweet P
12 Zumba classes for me
1 ice cream social
1 shopping trip
* trips to the ice cream parlor (too many to count)
* time with family and friends (never enough)

Soak Up the Sun

Despite yesterdays horrible weather, this weekend has turned out pretty well. The weather cleared up last night just in time for our ice cream social. Although the weather was rain forest like, I believe that a bountiful amount of ice cream was enjoyed by those that braved the heat.

Today's weather was tip top - Sweet P and I met up with my parents, as well as my brother and his wife at the lake to soak up some sun. My mom made a delicious picnic of fried chicken and potato salad. J brought a yummy mix of veggies in some sort of savory dressing while I brought leftover watermelon. To say the least, I was outdone.

The sweltering heat was cause enough to spend the majority of our day floating and splashing in the water. Sweet P LOVES the water and had to be dragged out with her teeth chattering. I am feeling a bit crispy because, although I slather sun block all over my child, I never quite get to putting it on myself. So am feeling like a bit of a Magda/Smoky Topaz right now. Ouch.

Good times, good times.

Now That's What I Need

As I was leafing through the "Off to College" adds in the JCPenney mailer I came across this....

This is the Elite Breakfast Station. I am a major fan of breakfast and therefore gasped aloud when I took in what lay before my eyes. This miracle of modern innovation includes a toaster oven, coffee maker, and skillet/griddle. Theoretically, I could brew my coffee, toast an English muffin and scramble me up some eggs and bacon all within a few cubic feet of one another. I was also intrigued because I am the owner of a rather small kitchen with minimal counter space. Imagine people - one unit (also one plug for us OCD people that don't like messy cords everywhere) but three practical functions. Ooh I need this.

Realistically, it probably is a hot mess to clean up being that the skillet/griddle is on top, but perhaps I could overlook that minor detail in an otherwise perfect concept. So if you're listening Santa, I've been a really good girl this year, and I'm just not happy if I don't have a hot breakfast.

Zoobies

After wrangling with the magazine company for two months (a slight misunderstanding on the address), C finally got her little Zoobies magazine in the mail. I decided to get C a subscription because, as her mother, I love getting things in the mail. Now if a mature 30 something still gets geeked about receiving mail then surely a toddler would too. And she did!




This is the May/June issue of Zoobies which I fell in love with instantly. It is designed just like a board book for toddlers. It was filled with adorable, yet informative, facts and pictures about penguins (Got to push that informational text ya know). An instant hit with the Biscuit. We read it 3 times as soon as it came out of the mail box. Not only did she love it, but it also included enrichment ideas for parents too, so I loved it! We cannot wait until the next issue arrives for us to devour. I'll admit the subscription wasn't real cheap, but considering the durability of the magazine, I know it'll last a little longer for her to enjoy. Zoobies magazine - A great success!

Reality Check

Ummmm, pardon me, but just when exactly did August sneak up on us? Secondly, how is it possible that I only have 14 days of summer left before I have to "get back to business"?????? In June the summer stretched endlessly out before me, but now...... I only have two weeks of blissful freedom and sloth left. The Biscuit and I will never be able to operate on a schedule! After 2 months of moving at our own pace I can't even imagine having to be somewhere before 9:00. Not to mention that to make that happen I will have to have waken up, cleaned and dressed two people, put makeup on, eaten breakfast, do the daycare drop-off, and have enough presence of mind to teach the young minds of the future EVERY day for the next nine months. Good Lord, help me!

Comfy Cooshee

After dinner the other night I was cleaning up the kitchen and dining area. I noticed that C had several kernels of corn in her booster so I wiped them up. It got me to thinking how much I love the booster seat we bought her, it has really come in handy. This is the Cooshee Classic Booster.


Originally, I had wanted one that was a bit more gender neutral in color, but this was all Babies R US had to offer at the time. Regardless, it is super easy to clean, soft, light weight, slip proof, and portable enough to take along to the in-laws or a restaurant. So for all you parents out there (or short people with little behinds) this is the seat to get post baby highchair.

Purse Personality

A woman's purse says a lot about her. So I'd like to take a moment to borrow an idea from http://b-mynext30years.blogspot.com/ and share the contents of my purse.

* Vera Bradley wallet w/ elephant pattern (Which I love way too much)
-- wallet size photos of C
-- various business cards
-- C's immunization record card
-- the necessaries
-- special activities card for EH
-- $3 (sad, I know)

* tissues
* receipt from Fruit Basket Flowerland
* cell phone
* 3T-4T sized Pull-Up
* diaper wipes
* hand sanitizer
* antibacterial hand wipes
* 1 mango flavored sucker
* chap stick
* last week's grocery list
* a collection of Motrin & Tylenol
* 1 Archer Farms fruit strip
* 1 pen
* small notepad w/ butterfly

So, that's my purse personality in a nut shell. I can't wait to convert over to my fall purse since it is much more stylish than my summer carry-all.

Family Time

Here's me soaring through the air on a zip line. Totally out of character, for me, but totally fun!



J lounging on the beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes.


C tossing rocks into Lake Michigan - the most fun thing in her world that day.


Well, we've been home from vacation for about two weeks and I'm just getting to this. To summarize, we took a couple of days off up North with my parents. The five of us stayed in a pleasant condo on the east bay - two bedrooms, two baths, and a tiny little kitchen. We spent the days exploring the lake shore and soaking up the sun. It was just enough time for everyone to mellow out into a proper vacation sort of groove.

Career Paths

I love being a teacher. Granted, I wouldn't mind teaching a different grade than I currently do. However, there are times when I feel that I was seriously uninformed/naive about what the professional job market held for me. I am especially feeling this way since we had a pay freeze this contract year. I thought my career path would be a wee bit more lucrative than it is. Not to mention what it cost to actually earn my Masters in Education, because so far it hasn't paid off.
Alas, as an adult I've come into my own more regarding my talents and interests. So, if I had to choose a new career path today here are some of the paths that I'd be more inclined to follow (not in any particular order):

1. Master Gardener
2. Nutritionist and/or Aerobics Instructor
3. Architect
4. Commercial design
5. Art teacher
6. Rockette (God wasn't working w/ me on this one)
7. Travel agent (one that does more travelling than working though)

Gross!

While on vacation in TC I can upon this item for children in a toy store. As I watched the promotional video, I was transfixed and horrified. The side of me that thinks science is actually kind of cool thought, "Neat! My students would love that for a science lab." However, the mom/anal retentive side of me totally won out. While standing in the presence of a store employee - I, {out loud mind you} which I've been known to do from time to time, said, "That is so disgusting! I would NEVER put that in my tub." Still horrified, now more from the fact that I just dissed one of their products aloud, wheeled the stroller right out of the store.

Anyway, I've decided to show it here for your viewing pleasure/disgust.

Would you put your kid, or yourself in this?????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlNN7tlmL64

Fizzle

Admittedly, I am little behind the 8 ball when it comes to the Twilight Saga. I first started reading this spring when the book club which I member in decided to read Twilight. It was at that time in which I became irrevocably addicted. I raced through the first 2 books. Then I stalled out before jumping into Eclipse because I was ignoring things of importance just to read and well - the hardcover wasn't cheap.

So for about the past month I've been going through Edward withdrawal and finally rented the movie. Ugh! I'm not sure it would've lived up to my expectations, but it didn't anyway. What a bummer. The actor/actress that play Edward and Bella are okay, but really I hope they fired the casting director based on the rest of the cast. Yuck! I will of course watch the 2nd movie, but it's just because I can't resist.

In the meantime, I picked up Eclipse at Sam's Club for about $11 bones and it is taking ALL of my willpower to restrain from reading it until I get my "must do's" done. I actually had to hide the book out of site in my night stand so that I'm not tempted.

So I will close with this statement, "Never judge a book by it's movie." - J. W. Eagan.

Curse you!

Curse you - you darn mosquito! I have tried to live in harmony with you. I have lit citronella candles. I have sprayed half a can of Cutter on my body. Still - you swarm and attack me while I attempt to enjoy the outdoors during these few enjoyable months that the Mid-West offers. You steal my blood and leave me itching like a lunatic! Curse you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where's the Benadryl cream!

It's a Thing of Beauty

Today we had our new driveway installed, which I have to say is a thing of beauty. You would agree if you had been able to bare witness to the old driveway. Good-bye old, cracked, faded, weeds growing up through it, yucky drive and hello smooth black asphalt. Imagine, Biscuit can actually ride a bike on this without falling into a pothole or spinning wheels through patches of loose gravel.

I have to say the price tag was a bit of a killer, but the beauty of a new driveway is softening the blow.

Zumba!

Tonight is Zumba night! I love this class because it tricks me into thinking that I am not exercising, but dancing my can-can off instead. Add in some flashing lights, fruity drinks, thumping bass, and it's a Saturday night out from my 20's - instead of an failing attempt to burn of baby weight in my 30's.

Although, it's logo says something like, "Dance yourself skinny" that has yet to happen, but again I only go once a week. I crave the upbeat Latin/salsa/shake your money-maker tunes and holy moses you work up a sweat (yuck). This is actually the 2nd time I've taken this class. I've been grateful to have some gal friends join me which makes it - again - more like a night out, instead of drudgery.

Everybody Zumba!

And this.... is my driveway

So, this is my driveway - presently. My hubby and father-in-law started digging it up today with Ye Old International. Pretty gruesome folks. Hopefully, we're getting a new one soon, as I have yet to be filled in on the details... Little Biscuit and myself pitched in here and there with the loose pieces. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Stamps

How much do I love the new Simpson stamps? A whole lot. I have a bit of a stamp "thing" anyway. I love to buy holiday stamps for Christmas, LOVE stamps for Valentine's day, etc. So, when I needed to send out something special the other day, I buzzed into the P.O. planning on getting the boring old bell stamps, and there they were. It made my day! I especially enjoy the Lisa & Maggie Simpson ones. It's the little things. Here's one for the United States Post Office!

Random Question

Which Ken doll would you date? Dream Date Ken (pictured left) or Barbie and the Rockers Ken (pictured right).

I deeply pondered this question one afternoon while playing Barbies with Biscuit. She fell in love with my old Barbies from the 1980's. Back in the day Dream Date Ken was devastingly handsome in his tux, which has since fallen to pieces. I got tired of seeing nude Ken laying around my kitchen so I got him this very A&F type short set and his legs look great! Barbie and the Rockers Ken has never really appealed to me because of his long hair. His jumpsuit (yes, a jumpsuit) has also fallen to pieces so I threw him in some old clothes which are a bit tight since they were actually made for Barbie. Anywho, his pecs were nice, I noticed a little bit more defined than Dream Date Ken.

I vote Dream Date Ken which works swell for me because the Hubby is kinda a spitting image. So, I'm curious who would you vote for? Perhaps there were some other Kens that fit the bill better for ya.

Potty Training

I am ti-red of being peed and pooped on! I am in the process of potty training my child, and I knew going into it that it would test my patience. I went into it knowing to be calm and understanding, "Oh bummer, you did a poo-poo on the carpet. No big deal that happens to everyone. We'll do better next time."

Well, I guess I really wasn't ready for the moist, stinky, insane amounts of laundry, gross factor. Truly, I think she's ready, but man this is H.A.R.D. to stick with. 2 months ago I would have told you how ready I was to be done w/ diapers, today I would beg to leave her in them.

It's what I imagine having a puppy is like. They pee and poop anywhere at any time. If I forget to take her in for a potty break - look out. One would think this would be a serious motivator not to forget, but I get busy and forget which leads to more cleaning up. sigh.

Hang in there. One day I'll look back at this and laugh they say.

Grandparents

Today I took Biscuit to see the great grandparents. She loves them, they love her, love all around, but MAN by the time we leave I end up feeling like I've been dragged behind a bus. Being 2.5 means that Biscuit loves to take the full tour of any one's house within the first ten minutes of arrival. Then, God bless her, Grandma hauls out an entire bag of cookies and ice cream for a "snack". I thought, "You want to add sugar to THIS!"

Thankfully after a cookie and a half, Biscuit got bored and decided she needed to take Great Grandpa downstairs to terrorize the basement. Grandpa, God bless him, took her downstairs to blow off some steam while Gram and I talked.

20 minutes later, Biscuit was back and wanted to play in Great Grandma's desk near the phone. Gram lets her because there's a hole puncher in there to play with - along with about 6 of the most deadly looking pair of scissors I've EVER seen! Of course, just about the time I'm confident that I've removed all of the deadly hazards from the desk drawer that Biscuit is gleefully playing in, she runs into the living room to inspect Gram's commode - "Noooooooooooo!"

Game over! Let's pack it up.
Thanks for having us -
Love you -
Hugs & kisses -
out the door

I fumed all the way home, which bothered me. We want to visit, they want us to visit. My expectations are unrealistic - it's too much to expect a toddler to sit still and not break all of the china perched on every end table. Really - it's the old adage - A bull in a china shop - sort of scenario.

Calgon, take me away!

Wildlife

We are blessed to live in a home that is backed up to a fair strip of woodlands. However, I found it a bit of mixed blessings that we often come across the paths of the wildlife. Most recently, we have had a turkey hen clucking around our backyard. She's rather bold and seems to think she owns a few acres. This week we've also spotted a little fawn slinking around our yard. She has taken up with resting in the shade next to the shed that we are building. Poor little thing seems to be motherless. She seems to be unaware that she should fear us because she feeds on the clover ever so close to the house. She/he is a total Bambi with a splash of little white dots along her sides.

Among the mixed bag we've spotted adult deer, woodpeckers, racoons, hawks, tom turkeys, stray cats & dogs, birds, and bugs galore. Kind of a neat thing for Bisquit to learn about wildlife, but there have been times (such as with fiesty turkeys) that I've wished for the burbs.

In the Sleeping House

It's the middle of the day and everyone is pooped out. The bisquit is sleeping, the hubby is sleeping, and let's face it - I'd like to be sleeping too. It's too hot to move outside so I guess it's appropriate to take an afternoon siesta. Summer is such a love/hate season. I crave the nice weather and love being outside, but I really am not a fan of hot and sticky unless we're talking a cinnamon roll.

Good Cheer Smoothie

Well, it was billed as a "Good Cheer Smoothie" in the Grand Rapids FAITH magazine that comes to our home every month. So, I thought "Yum, let's give it a try today." Let's just say I was not is such good cheer after I made this smoothy because of the sticky mess that followed, but it did taste rather good.

So, sans sticky messes, this was a fairly great recipe which did hit the spot after I cleaned up the mess. Although, I did make a few improvisations.

1 banana (cut up)
2 cups frozen mixed berries (skip the raspberries - seeds)
1 cup vanilla yougurt
2-3 tbsp. orange juice
1 tsp honey
* I added a little bit of milk too.

Oh and seriously blend together the wet ingredients FIRST (OJ, yougurt, honey) for about 5 seconds.
Add bananas and 1/2 of the frozen fruit - blend. Add the remaining frozen fruit and blend until smooth.
Enjoy.

Tech Savy

I'm not one that you would call "tech savy". However, I have just attended 2 days of Teacher Tech Camp in the hopes of sprucing up my talents for the sake of my students. I am so excited to get started - I created a classroom wiki and a blog for the middle school students. Everything is still in the infancy stage, so to speak, put I am feeling tons more confident.

Wish me luck!

Well, you know, everyone is trying to follow up with their New Year's resolutions to get more fit. Good for them.
Me. That's never really worked.

I believe in baby steps.

So,

Step 1: No snacks after the Wee One goes to bed.

It was a good day!

I have to say that today was a good day.