Well, That's Just Us

the birthday week.

2012-02-11T15:11:00.000-06:00

anne had a full week this week of birthday celebration.
she was pleased.
today is her 'friend party'.
it will cap off the birthday week. :)

anne's request from mee-maw...a peace sign cake.

who the heck is this big girl?

a thermos for her lunchbox. love!

she can read now.

so excited.

not even too scared to take the candles out.

her real birthday

waiting to open gifts

walkie talkies. dad's idea. a hit.

how to draw books

a big girl sweater, she said

new lunchbox

walkies and a set of binoculars. (they both work! kate is in love too!)

all night...you there? over!

dad made the cake...an ice cream sandwhich and squirt can cream with ice cream scoop 7 cake!

she thought he was the best

sniff...

7.

2012-02-07T06:39:00.000-06:00

today is anne clara's 7th birthday.

it sounds so simple and boring but,
WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THE TIME GO?!
i love this little girl more then life itself.
i hope the next 7 are just as fun. (maybe not as fast) but fun.
thank you God for giving us anne. our lives have been filled to the brim with her love and kindness.
happy birthday anne.
~chat soon!

memory lane...

2012-02-05T16:00:00.000-06:00

for my birthday, we went to my parents.
it is a tradition, for the most part...we go eat dinner, and cake, a few presents. just a good old time in the comfort of my childhood home.
this year my aunt and uncle were there along with sweet cousin annie.
we all gathered around for the gift opening. the last gift, mom said...this is for you and adam.
i opened it....
it was a mailbox.
made sense. ours was hit a while back and we need to put up a new one.
i said thanks and kind of moved on.
mom said 'you have to open it...on this side.
okay then.
so i did...i figured it would be filled with a prank.
i opened the package and then the mailbox...
it was filled with MAIL.
at first i thought it was returned mail, or notes from highschool.
i had no idea.
i then realized i recognized a lot of the return address...
mom some how organized a card party.
she contacted 35 or so of my friends from the present and past and asked them to write a little something and send it to mom and dad.
OHMYGOODNESS....
i couldn't believe it.
i got a little teary, so i said something probably inappropriate, to make people laugh and slammed the mailbox shut.
we got home and i tore into the envelopes.
amazing.
i really couldn't have asked for a more touching gift.
i heard from people i haven't heard from in close to 15 years.
some where funny, some where tearful, some poked fun, some where reminders of days that had come and gone.
if you were in on the card sending....thank you.
thank you to my momma. it was the best gift-ever.

here is the box...filled with cards, flip flops, pictures, mcdonalds souvenirs...coolest thing ever!

hahahahhahahaa.....

2012-02-03T07:37:00.000-06:00

wednesday evening, i was driving the girls home.
we were coming from choir practice for anne.
i was making small talk, trying to curb arguing between the sisters...
so, anne, how was your lunch?
a-good, it was great, i ate it all.
me-i forget, what did you have again? was it hamburgers?
a-NOPE it was HORN DOGS. theyweresogoodsogoodsogood....i think they are kind of like little dolls wrapped in blankets.
me*things are fuzzy....why are they serving HORNDOGS in the cafeteria at anne's school.* oh. well, i'm glad you liked them...what did you say they were again.
kate-you know mommy, CORNDOGS
me-right. yep. you're exactly right.
hahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahahahahahhaha
sometimes i can't believe the stuff that happens to me.
ha.
happy friday.

lots....but not right now.

2012-01-31T18:23:00.000-06:00

hello everybody.
i haven't been around.
but i've got lots to say.
nothing super important....just some fun stuff.

here is a funny thing from anne:
hey mom, is miss lisa (our hair dresser) coming tonight.
me-why, yes. she is, she will cut daddy's hair and my hair and color mine.
anne-thank goodness! because your brown is showing!
me-well, good thing she is coming then.
ugh.

**disclaimer**our hair stylist (or whatever they are called) comes to our house. ONLY because I used to go to her house, but she moved and her house isn't conducive for hair cutting....someone I know refers to me as the housewives of st. louis. not so. it's just how the chips fall. and they happened to fall in a convenient pile in my favor!

35.

2012-01-27T05:10:00.003-06:00

in 35 years i have.

laughed
birthed
wed
learned
taught
gained
lost
observed
loved
trudged
tried
failed
succeeded
learned
sighed
molded
consumed
watched
gained
danced
wished
held
fallen
praised
attempted
bettered
wounded
hurt
stomped
smiled
hugged
celebrated
orchestrated
led
followed

I am so thankful for this list. Here's to another 35 things, huh?!
~chat soon!

got nothin'

2012-01-24T20:40:00.000-06:00

seriously, so little is going on that i thought i would post pics from our oh-so-wild-in-bed-by-10:30-newyearseve...

love the little tounge

making sure everything is right

deliberate

yum

shake shake shake

SHAKE IT UP

so that was it.
a little pizza (they make their own, we make our own...)
a little bubbly (for the parents)
a board game
the movie zoo keeper.
that's just us folks.
hopefully things start picking up a bit around here.
it's about as slow as they come.
and it's buggin' me.
~chat soon!

i like this...

2012-01-19T06:31:00.000-06:00

i've always loved a good quote. i get a daily quote in my inbox each day. this was yesterday's. it fit the day perfect.

Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots.
~ Frank A Clark

Raise your hand....

2012-01-16T05:29:00.001-06:00

if you want to be four again.
the biggest choice of the day...
the pattern to paint your toes!
happy monday to you and your's...
~chat soon

motherhood

2012-01-15T05:48:00.002-06:00

heavy title, huh?
i love being a mother. i really, really, really do.
i was in the car this weekend with my mother in law, the kids were so stinking wound up it was nuts. we had taken them to a movie and then to get pizza with a coupon anne had for a reading incentive.
adam was out of town this past weekend, so i was solo.
no big deal. we have two kids. it's not too terribly hard.
UNTIL THEY TURN AGAINST YOU.
something went amiss. i don't know what.
maybe i let my guard down. maybe they sensed my vulnerability.
who knows. but it was clear.
i.was.screwed. (pardon my bluntness...)
as i said in a prior post, this week we had 2 snowdays.
i spent one day in bed, with a rotten tooth.
went to work 2 days.
got 2 root canals, have i mentioned that before? quite traumatizing...
woo hoo. a wild week, huh?
it was most unproductive.
nothing can get under my skin more.
point of this rant...
sometimes it's hard. motherhood is.
everything you do is wrong.
the surprise you had planned when you pick up your first grader, not appreciated.
the movie you rented from the dollar rental box, they don't like.
the fact that they have to come home with you and not go to their maw-maw's because you didn't have to work due to weather, a disappointment.
it can totally get to a gal, can't it?
i found myself in the past 36 hours really beating myself up.
wondering what i could have done to make this a more 'memorable weekend....'
the answer is.....NOTHING.
it's hard. it's unpredictable, it can be unrewarding, overwhelming, and psychotic at any given point in a 1 hour period....
it's even harder when you hear someone say
'i just don't know how you do it....'

I DON'T KNOW EITHER!

then i read this
i have never read this blog before and i ran across a link on a facebook post. it laid it out, plain and simple.
she said what i have been thinking. i even cried. that's how much it rang true in my head.
as a mom, you want to make sure that you don't miss a thing, write everything down, be accountable for every holiday, birthday bash, fart that is made...
if you don't...you will have to answer to those ladies who say

DON"T WISH THESE DAYS AWAY...THEY WILL BE THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE!

i get nervous, sweaty, panicked.
anne is turning SEVEN.
WHAT HAVE I MISSED?
WHAT DID I NOT WRITE DOWN, TAKE A PICTURE OF, REMEMBER FOR A STORY MUCH LATER IN LIFE...
while i don't wish the days away...sometimes i am just happy i made it.
~chat soon!

family fun night....

2012-01-14T07:26:00.003-06:00

check out the tongue...so excited!

who's this? she looks so big!

so proud of herself

so in love....with each other.

she loved organizing the balls

don't have a clue...

his bowling technique was smokin'....

final score

apparently a bowling model...

last weekend, adam and i decided we were long over due for a family fun night. (like a year overdue...)

adam sprung the idea on the girls and they were thrilled.

we grabbed a coupon out of our coupon book and off we went.

i always forget how much fun bowling is with the kids. or with anyone really.

i truly stink at it, but i'm good with that. it's just fun.

anne just KNEW she won second place.

we let it go. really, who cares.

she was pleased with her number...

adam smoked us all...

he was really pleased with himself.

i had already started with a toothache so i really could have cared less who won.

BUT

anne says-mommy?

me-yes.

a-is it hard to be a mommy?

me-no, well, yes, well, i guess it just depends. but it is good most of the time, why?

a-because it just seems like moms always lose!

me-HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA

a-i mean, you lose at candyland, checkers, flipover, guess who...and you always go last. and sometimes you even give us what you were eating.

me-well, it's okay. it's just being a mom.

a-oh.

ha.

funny.

then we went to a fun little joint called happy joes. the girls love it there. anne had a blast playing the quarter games. we won 200 tickets total. anne even got to drink SPRITE. (big deal in our house...)

anne yells, MOM GET THE CAMERA...

i said, i didn't have it with me. it was in the car.

she says, but we gotta get a picture of this! i have 100 tickets, a SPRITE and PIZZA we gotta take a picture of the best night EVER.

too cute.

wish everyday could be a family fun night...but then the family fun nights wouldn't be as fun, right?

~chat soon.

in celebration....

2012-01-13T18:19:00.001-06:00

i am celebrating...
that it's friday.
this week has been something. (mainly 2 different trips to the dentist, to have 2 different root canals, on 2 different teeth...sick, i know!)
i'm glad it's the weekend. (only 2 days of work this week...because of 2 snow days) the number 2 is a little out of control here.
on tap for tonight....
a red box movie, or two,
grocery store fried chicken,
and a splash of wine.
~chat soon!

wednesday.

2012-01-11T19:48:00.001-06:00

today is wednesday.
the 11th of january.
again, this first month of the year has proven to be soooo s.l.o.w.
but it's good.
things are starting to pick up with our schedule so that will help get us to february a little quicker, maybe.
doubtful.

a couple things i realized today....
never, under any circumstances take katherine elizabeth to the undergarment section in target.
never. i mean it.
she has never been our quiet one.
now that she is 4...it seems she is louder.
she says. OH MOMMA THESE BOOBIES ARE BIG! as she grabs the largest cup size bra off the shelf and throws around in the air.
Mom...
Yes Kate.
Are you going to get the CHEETAH PANTIES?
um, no!
well, maybe, they are just in this pack of ....
why in the WORLD am i explaining this to her??????????????????

i quickly picked my plain old lady undies and bolted.
THEN i came upon the most beautiful red clutch purse on the clearance rack and thought...
WHY NOT....when you shop with kate....sometimes you need a band aid!
hahahahhaha
hope your wednesday was wonderful!
and you got to go with a 4 year old to the underwear department at target!
~chat soon!

a good read.

2012-01-07T11:40:00.001-06:00

sometimes things just fall into your lap, don't they?
you didn't even know you were thinking or feeling a certain way and then you come across ssomething and you say OHMYGOSH that was written for me.

well, here it is.

my favorites were....#1, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27...what are yours?

it is perfectly perfect for anyone and everyone i think.
read it. use it. i think it is a great direction for this first month of the new year!

~chat soon!

hello...new year!

2012-01-03T14:17:00.000-06:00

whew!
that's all i have for today.
today is quiet. a good quiet.
anne went back to school, which means the girls are fighting, or teasing, or squealing or....
the decorations are down and packed up.
the house has regained its normal look.
report cards are done.
lesson plans are waiting to be written.
some drawers and closets have been cleaned out. it's always hysterical to me how much i get done in the last 36 hours of the break...i have only had 14 days to do it.
i'm ready to get back into the swing of things.
adam has had a cold/flu for a couple days.
when that happens.
katy bar the door.
everything gets out of whack.

this video is just a peek at what our house looks like when the 'man cold' hits! :)
i think today he is better. so like i said. it's a good kind of quiet.
in the past i always had a 'word for the year'. i think i have a couple for this year, but i haven't decided for sure that i will share. i might. still thinking about that.
well, the truth is, i have a couple. that defeats the purpose. so after i figure out what word it will be...maybe i will tell. maybe.
it's a cold, sunny, january day. the kind that makes you take a deep breath in and say...
i've got this! (i think...)
~chat soon!

2012-01-02T18:06:00.000-06:00

May 2012 be filled with as many great memories as 2011!

It was a great year! We are excited to see what the new year brings!

~chat soon!

more holiday fun.

2011-12-31T15:43:00.000-06:00

We headed out for an afternoon to the Missouri Botancial Gardens. It is a a wonderful place. I always forget how much I like it until we are ending our time there. I am going to try to do a better job of getting there. Especially in the warmer months, they have an awesome children garden that is a great time. If you haven't been. Go. I think you will like it.

jacob through the forest.

cousin ellen. cute as a bug

sisters and kids

Round 3...

2011-12-30T12:56:00.001-06:00

We have been celebrating my families Christmas with sister Susan and Co. after Christmas the last several years. It has proved to be nice.
Doug and Suz made dinner.
As expected it was delicious!

a couple of these sweet little chickies...yummo!

sweet jacob...growing up too quick!

looking for.....?????

not a lover of us yet!

charlies angels, or the three stooges...either way...darling

a new BARBIE!

doug excited about a package to open~! :)

he really hates plastic!


my kids LOVE snow globes...and this one lights up!

in awe of the globe...(favorite picture of this post i think...)

i'm so lucky to have such easy kids...seriously they are in love with this thing.

a plate that says ANNE

a meat chopper! :)

you can't see it very well...but it is her very own 'diary'. coolest thing ever for her. i thought she would draw...nope she writes down e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.....too cute

dad's new hat.

love this kid.

Round 2...

2011-12-29T13:02:00.000-06:00

Christmas Morning/Day, at our house since we have been married, consists of the family coming over for dinner. As a younger person, I didn't really care for Christmas Day. It was the end of the best time of the year (in my head). The first Christmas, Adam and I were married I decided to put the kabash on that feeling and have anyone and everyone over for Christmas dinner. In the past it usually is a formal-ish type affair, Christmas china, sparkly crystal, cloth napkins...Now that there are kids in the picture, that hasn't exactly proven itself to be the most practical approach. Everyone is excited, overwhelmed, screaming because of new presents. I am telling everyone to stop touching, don't put that there, did you FLUSH? PEOPLE ARE COMING OVER! It is just a little too much for these mommy nerves to handle for a second during that day. (i usually only freak out once on that day!) So this year, we changed it up a bit...I made several soups and some appetizers and we all just over indulged in fatty goodness.

Our day started with presents (of course) if you look closely, you can see the blur of Anne...

Then came the cooking....my sweet Adam told me that he would take care of the kitchen, so I didn't give it another thought...just kept cooking, didn't clean as I went... I thought he was going to fall over when he came in the room! HA!

Did I mention before that only the bottom rack of the dishwasher works? EEKS!

Presentation of the food....


this little puppy is my new favorite...won't use it everyday but will serve 3 things at once, all in their own temperature!

told you....lots of fatty goodness!

and then the new tradition.....WHITE ELEPHANT! (told you no one would be sad Christmas was ending...everyone goes home with a 'present!)

no more post dinner snoozies....we are going to have FUN! :)

annie was number 1.

which meant she got to pick several times, according to the poem we read

kids were observers....

a new santa hat! kate was in LOVE

the coveted Christmas light sunglasses!

a light up door knocker! uncle don's favorite!

jason got the hair band! doesn't he look GREAT?!


uncle jerry got the tigger night light...a must have!

Round 1...

2011-12-28T16:32:00.002-06:00

Christmas Eve was spent with Adam's family.
It is always fun. Present CHAOS but fun.
This year some of the distant relatives were out of town...so it was just us-the immediate family.
It was nice.
Calm.
Focused.
You can take a look at the pictures and see how it all unfolded! :)

quirky family photo

too excited for words

checking out the stocking...

nephew hunter thinking super hard about something

getting educated on the 50 states

a 'big kid' sweater

this says ....k.a.t.e. (she said that for every present...)

coolest ornament...kate thought it was real.

singing hark the herald angels sing with papa

something important being said...


uncle adam tormenting...

And a hush falls over the crowd...

2011-12-26T12:28:00.001-06:00

the day after.
tired, quiet, slow...that's us.
it's good.
a good feeling.
susan and co. come home today and we can't wait.
hoping everyone had a very merry Christmas.
i have lots of pictures to share but, today, but my brain is flat.
~Chat soon

From us to you....

2011-12-25T09:08:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!

We love you all!

~chat soon!

naughty or nice....

2011-12-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

one of my coworkers turned me onto this website ...you enter the information and viola! santa comes to you courtesy of a web cam type of video.

anne has been VERY serious about the naughty or nice list. she has talked about it probably once a day since the first of december. always worried she may not 'make it'. or trying extra hard in case he has having trouble 'deciding'.

this little video puts their name into a machine and a few (very long) seconds later the green or red light on top of the machine indicates if the person is on the naughty or nice list...by looking at the pictures you can see how it all panned out.

it was hysterical. but in a sick kind of way. poor anne's heart was beating so fast, she made me feel it through her shirt. she is pleased and content with the fact that she *knows* she is on the nice list.

may your Christmas be magical!

~chat soon!

watching the first part of the video

worried

part of what they saw....

waiting to get the word...

it's GREEN! i made the list!

waiting for her turn....she was pretty confident she was 'good'

i knew it! she said...

this week in pictures

2011-12-22T20:17:00.000-06:00

blurry...but just showing a lot of cuddle...

my vow for a no bake cookie season. still making and eating, just not baking. peppermint oreos dipped in chocolate. holy moly, good!

heavenly hash. a holiday must have.

anne in choir on sunday

sing choirs of angels....

monday. the advent program. long, hot, crowded. but cute.

their song included an ending with popping a bag. anne spent most of her time looking as if she was curbing hyperventilation!

so excited about the popping!

little gifts for the school helpers...hot cocoa, peppermint sticks and marshmallows with a note

tuesday with my daisy troop. making ornaments for the nursing home. lots of foam. lots of googly eyes. a lot of happy eldery and giggly girls. a win, win.

kitchen counter after a late night finishing foamy things for the nursing home

dishwasher that will only wash things on the bottom wrack. ?!

laundry that never ends

post field trip class party...gotta love the balloon pass under the chin game...always good for a belly laugh

super cute


apparently the gate on the deck was open. this panther/cat pet paid us a visit. made me wet my pants a tad. it was super huge. this picture does not do it justice. my heart still races looking at it.

setting the record straight.

2011-12-21T09:25:00.000-06:00

i received an email yesterday from a friend.
she was wondering what martha-stewart esq type stuff i have going on with the kids for christmas break.
i put the breaks on...
WAS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME?!
WHO was she talking about?
i joked back with her, how this year, martha stayed on the east coast and i am channeling someone similar to rosanne barr!
point of all of this...
i hope and pray that people don't think that everything in 'our world' is perfect.
it is the farthest thing from that.
i like to blog because it keeps track of what is going on in our life.
kind of like a scrapbook but without all those ding dang pieces of paper and sticky tape stuff...
i choose not to wallow in the not so great times on here because
a)who would want to read that and b) i don't really want to remember it.
truly, we have a good gig here in our house.
meaning, we love and respect most days.
we (i) nag, yell, even curse (under our breath) some days
we (I) forget stuff (all the time), am late 90% of the time to things, and rarely, i mean RARELY have a clean house for more then 2 hours...my husband works his tail feathers off, we snip at each other sometimes,
BUT i really don't worry about it.
i want to make sure when the girls grow up, i can look back and say, we had fun. we laughed. we didn't make beds, or mop all the time, but by God we did some stuff.
these silly blogs make life seem 'perfect'. they really do. i get sucked in to them, read all about the crafts, see the beautiful decorations around their house and get bummed. then i realize, i can portray the same thing with my camera if i stand just right in a room. ;)
so please, don't ever feel that 'sara has it all together' because i am going to let you in on a very BIG SECRET.

i am a mess.

a total mess.
i laugh it off and i think that helps.
i would love to be organized, on time, able to find a set of keys each time i go to leave...but that just wouldn't be me.
when you read this. enjoy the things i'm sharing, laugh with me or at me, but PLEASE don't ever think i go to bed thinking that i got the world by it's tail! because usually it's got me by mine.
have a wonderful day.
i am heading to anne's field trip, class party, home for an hour and then to beauty and the beast at the fox theater with the girlscout troop.
told you i am NUTS!

i don't know her....

2011-12-19T04:16:00.000-06:00

but i have a child the same age, and can't stand the thought of what these poor parents are going through.
i was connected to this caring bridge site through a facebook friend.
what did we do before facebook?
where did our prayer warriors come from?
i read this story last night, and don't know what the night brought for dear samantha...
but if you have the strength, throw a prayer up for her.
i can't even imagine...
~chat soon!

this weekend...

2011-12-18T20:15:00.000-06:00

has flown by.
just like the speed of light.
poof! gone!
with that speed came a lot to do.
work party friday night.
adam's company party saturday night.
3 church services anne sung in today.
but it was perfect.
the parties were great.
the food was delicious.
the church services were amazing today.
one of those weekends i want to have every week.
we are quickly sliding into the Christmas week...
are you ready?!
i thought i was...then i thought again. ha!

in the 3rd service, i got up enough courage to go to the front pew....

seriously....the chorus they sang...tear jerker, especially with their sweet little voices.

~chat soon!

Dear Santa...

2011-12-14T20:42:00.001-06:00

I would like an American Girl doll.
My sister would like a La La Loopsie doll (another one...)
and my mommy, she wants 7 more hours in her day.
That's all.
Merry Christmas.
Anne
(of course she didn't really say any of this...but we may visit that old beared man and see what he can do for me)

number 7....

2011-12-12T19:39:00.001-06:00

anne lost her SEVENTH tooth last night.
cutest thing ever.
cuter even that she very daintily left the tooth fairy jar lid OFF of the top so the tooth fairy could squeak that dollar in the jar. she even PUTITBACKON as anne clara squealed to me this morning...
i tell ya. that tooth fairy, one cool CHICK!
~chat soon.

the most wonderful time of the year...

2011-12-06T04:57:00.000-06:00

saturday night, i still wasn't feeling great. i planted my rump on the couch, under a blanket with a cup of tea and a book.
adam wrangled the girls in the family room for a movie.
awhile later i hear the floor crack...it was anne.
she said, 'i'm not going to bother you...i just can't stop looking at the tree.'
me-it's beautiful, isn't it?
anne-yes, it makes me want to scream a little.
me-really? scream?
anne-yep, sometimes when i think something is really, really great, i just can't help it. i want to make a noise.
with that she crawled under the blanket with me and we gazed at the tree.
she talked about nearly every ornament and explained the true story of Christmas.
if i could have sealed up that 7 minutes of bliss and stuck it on the shelf, boy oh boy, i would have!

~chat soon.

decorating...

2011-12-05T04:46:00.000-06:00

so as i said in the last post, i had a little bit of a stomach bug. but we still needed to get things done. the things on the list included seeing santa at my school.
i practiced my robot mode and breathing deep, we saw santa, did some crafts, and got the tree decorated.
this year the girls really got into the whole thing.
kate wasn't super excited about seeing santa, but i told her he would have no idea what to bring if she didn't tell him, and anne was 'super brave' if you look closely at the picture above, i think her skirt tells a different story.
when we got home, we started the tree.
i gave them each their ornament boxes that we add to each year.
they laid each one and out and carefully inspected them all.
anne has a memory like a trap so she 'nearly' remembered all of the ornaments and loved the fact that she could read most of the words on the ornaments.

blurry but you get the idea...this is kate's box

~chat soon

the tree

2011-12-04T12:53:00.000-06:00

we successfully got to the tree farm this weekend.
we successfully found a tree, and cut it down.
adam tied it on top of the car (he HATES that part) he is a master at tying flies for fishing, but not so hot at tying knots for holding things on atop of a vehicle that will be traveling 70 mph down the highway. always a funny story.
i successfully got a stomach bug of sorts on the way to the tree farm.
felt like i had a roller coaster belly.
we picked the tree as a family, but i was more like a robot...just concentrating on one thing...keeping it ALL inside my belly.
yuck.
the tree is up.
it looks great.
i love odd trees.
makes me think of my grandparents house when i was little.
~chat soon!

this was the first one we chose, we picked a different one in the end

i know...anne is holding the saw. didn't even realize it...i'm telling you i was in robot mode saying....'don't poop in the forest'

the one

all loaded up

journey is almost complete

he's laughing...which is good, usually he is cussing.


hey guys? what is takin' so loooooong?

Friday...

2011-12-02T07:40:00.000-06:00

thought i would stick with the days of the week theme.
it's friday.
that is good.
have been very excited about the weekend ahead.
tomorrow we go to the christmas tree farm and chop our tree down.
we tried to go last year but this is what happened instead.
i'm praying that it isn't quite that kind of memorable. :)
we are going to decorate the house.
i always think it will take forever and before i know it it is done.
with a whole bunch of mess with it, but that is easy enough to handle.
i can't wait.
we (i) put up outside lights last night. in the dark. it was cracking me up.
i thought it would be easier since the lights would be on and i could see where i was going with the strand.
next year i will do it during the day. note to self.
i do however need to track down the wonderful inventor of the lights that are a net style. OHMYGOODNESS! i will KISS THAT PERSON! GENIUS! the hardest part was wrestling them out of the box. love it. threw it over the rose bushes and VIOLA christmas light perfection.
so all in all, it will be busy. birthday party tonight for a classmate, tree cutting tomorrow, santa lap sitting at my school tomorrow afternoon, tree trimming, maybe some cookie baking.
can't wait.
just can't.
hope you are having a fun weekend too!
~chat soon!

thursday....

2011-12-01T06:55:00.000-06:00

today is thursday.
i have had two nights of continous glorious sleep.
its amazing how much things change when your eyes (and brain) are clear!
happy thursday!
~chat soon

tuesday....

2011-11-29T21:05:00.000-06:00

it's tuesday.
after a 5 day break.
it kind of feels like friday.
although, i have spent the last two work days in a conference.
an awesome conference.
the best one, maybe, that i have ever been to.
that's a big deal.
but my rump is sore. from sitting on it for hours on end...
i have had a headache for a week...not consistent, just on and off. my mom assured me that it is not a tumor.
more then likely a barometric weather headache....a little too much wind. maybe a little too much life.
either way, more then likely, not a tumor.
that is good.
even though it is only tuesday....i feel like i have been through the mill.
adam had a little go around with his chronic issue called 'gout'.
a wife's worst nightmare. really. it is.
it caused me to have a sleepless night on sunday night. (he is fine...a big dose of the special toe meds...everyone is good to go.)
that is not.a.good.thing for this gal.
i have been blessed with children that sleep and for the past 3.5 years have been getting a hefty nights sleep.
you throw in a ringer and it sends me to the looney bin.
dry heaves and all. just plain ugly.
adam hired another employee yesterday.
she started today. and did great.
business is booming. like scary, pinch yourself booming.
i get nervous and superstitious and then just remember to shut my mouth and be thankful.
christmas tree goes up this weekend....
gifts are almost all done. (thank you, Lord)
adam decided yesterday, (november 28th mind you)
that he really should throw a holiday party for the business....
after smiling, that 'good wife smile' i managed to say,
'well, i think that is a good idea.'
he found a place today (our favorite place) and i am in charge of the menu.
easy.
(did i forget to mention that i have been speaking to him about this since early october??????)
this has been a huge sara whine session, and i'm sorry.
sometimes, that is just how it goes.
all in all...life is good. just busy.
different. full. not the norm. but maybe the new normal.
and, i just need to get used to it.
period.
~chat soon.

3 days in review...updated

2011-11-26T13:10:00.001-06:00

Wednesday...
we made pilgrim hat cookies

first you have to separate the yellow and orange m & m's

you need some fudge stripe cookies (or generic ones...like i bought...)

icing


and peanut butter cups...i forgot the original picture

push gently on the pb cup on the bottom of the cookie

one of my students brought these darling cookies to class on Tuesday.

i decided we HAD to make them.

after you separate the me &m's...and eat a few...

you put a dab of icing on the bottom of a Reece's pb cup (after you de-wrap them)

then place the cup on the bottom of the cookie. press just hard enough so the icing spreads out.

then a little dab of icing on the m & m (or directly on the pb cup) and

VIOLA! you have a pilgrim hat.

they are quite tasty if i do say so myself!

Then we made the traditional wednesday before thanksgiving pecan pie. we needed to make two pies. perfect two girls. until i realized i only had enough corn syrup for one pie. lovely sara. so we made one and called adam to bring home another bottle of corn syrup when he was on his way home from work.

after that was nap time.
kate woke up from her nap and was not quite right.
she was complaining of a tummy and back ache.
she laid on the couch for awhile...
i checked on her several times. i asked her if she needed to go potty.
she said yes. (whew, i thought...nothing to worry about.)
until.....
she sits up and starts WRETCHING! all over the blanket, pillow (decorative, of course) couch cushion, and ME!
super.
after finding anne in the fetal position in the laundry room, hosing myself and the couch off, throwing the pillow away, and bathing kate, i realized she ATE TOO MUCH RAW PIE CRUST! lovely.
no salmonella. just a yucky tummy.
okay fine. we went on with the night with no more trouble.
praise the LORD!
On to Thursday....
We have Adam's family for lunch and my family for dinner.
Yum. Always so much too eat. I love it.
Adams cell phone rang, he gave it to me, it was my mom.
"Are you all doing anything tomorrow night?"
Weird, I thought. We don't usually plan ahead and odd that she was calling during Thanksgiving, but no big deal really. Then it hit me...SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SOMEONE!!!!
yep, i was right. My Aunt Linda, who happened to be celebrating her birthday on Thanksgiving, was taking a morning stroll, and took a spill...she had almost definitely broken her arm.
Thanksgiving for my family...was postponed.
Bummer.
I hated not being able to see my family,I hate even more that Aunt Linda was hurt.
We spent a lot more unexpected time with Adam's family, which was relaxing.
We will have Thanksgiving at Aunt Linda's very soon...
I took almost no pictures, I was busy visiting, and helping. (and sipping delicious holiday drinks. ;) )

sweet anne with the love of her life, cousin devon

This is what you call the...sara, will you bring the tripod for a family picture? we haven't had one in several years...oh sure. no big deal. only to find out that PHIL is completely out of focus AND the amount of light caused the room to look very foggy in the picture. Hopefully a certain sister's father in law will do some photoshop magic and get this all in tip top shape.

better. i didn't have it on the tripod.

the only proof we ate

don't you think he is thinking 'if only my wife let us have another baby'. ;)

Black Friday...
we don't do shopping on black friday. i don't snub people that do. it's just not my thing.
i did however, get up early, and do internet shopping, in my jammies, with no crowds, traffic, or noise. it was nice.
then i took the girls to the zoo. it was a beautiful day. i couldn't resist. we had a blast.

beautiful fall day

the baby elephant kenzie. born at 100 pounds. makes my 10 pounders look like mice! :)

couldn't find her...couldn't remember what she had on for a spit second...then i found her on top of the slide.

lovin' the jungle gym.

We got home, put Kate down for a nap and then Anne and I went out and did the Christmas lights on the front bushes. She played sidewalk chalk and helped me untangle lights. I tell ya....she's the best! :)

I almost forgot about this part....

Last night, we went to my mom and dads. We had fried chicken, and some of the sides we had prepared for the original Thanksgiving dinner, that wasn't. It was a blast, we laughed, ate, played bingo with everyone, and let me tell you folks, that game gets intense! :) Good, bad, otherwise, it has been a weekend filled with things to be thankful for.
Today, taking the chicks to see Arthur Christmas....thought we would jump start the holiday spirit!

thought for today....

2011-11-24T09:45:00.000-06:00

He who can give thanks for little will always find he has enough.

~Anonymous

*perfect thought for today*
happy thanksgiving to all.
~chat soon

a story about calendars....

2011-11-23T05:27:00.002-06:00

Have you ever read Memories on Clover Lane? She is really a cool chick. Have I ever met her in real life, well no. But, I think I would really enjoy her. I visit her blog often. I should put her on my favorites list...but for some reason, I want to keep her to myself. Isn't that strange.

Yesterday, I read her post about calendars. I cracked up. I save my calendars. Most of them. Especially, since I have had the girls. I relish them. They are a living journal to me. Every New Years Day, I sit down with a brand new calendar(and a headache, either from too much fun the night before, OR the schedule that is about to commence) I love it. I write down birthdays, anniversaries, things I marked in the 'future' section of the calendar to be put in the upcoming year...man. i love a new calendar.

Sometimes, when I am cleaning, I run across a calendar and I sit, for a very long time, (to avoid the cleaning) and read through each month, each day, and relive the time. Weird. I know. Some of it is good....some of it is bad. It's cleansing for me....before we had the girls, and were thinking of making a family, i became neurotic (who knew?!) and would track my temperature (on a chart....if you can imagine) to see when i would ovulate...i would map this out with a fine tooth comb. guess how long it took me to get pregnant with anne? well, we didn't techinally try, i don't think i finished the calendar tracking....before i knew it i saw a double line! weird. then, when the chicks were babes I would write down the weight of their monthly appointments, if they slept through the night, if they liked pears, when they started the sitter.....(a side note....i kept a super tedious calendar on anne, her whole first year. when my sister had ellen, she wanted me to refer to the calendar, which i often called 'the manual'....guess what? IT IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND!....i turned this house upside down....i think it got tossed in a adam new years resolution cleanse.) luckily, i made her scrapbook before the calendar got...tossed (gasp).

I found it interesting how Sarah marked weight gain and pregnancy milestones in her calendar. I did the same thing. Sometimes the days weren't happy...but they were still days I/we lived through that have made us who we are today. I love seeing her post, because it was reassuring to me. It proved that I should NOT get rid of those ding dang calendars, no matter how much space they may take up. Someday, my chicks will come across them....one of the girls, (kate) will say OHMYGAWD....MOMSAVEDALLHERCALENDARS! and the other one (anne) will get misty eyed, and read through each page.

My mom has been giving me this super cool thick calendar for the past two years. each week has a motiviational message on it...it's just cool. i know in this day and time it is not super cool to pull a paper calendar out of my purse....but it works for me. If I used the phone calendar, I wouldn't be able to turn the pages on the first of January and see all the beautiful blank pages and time that is ahead of me. I know, it works for some, but for this old conservative, weirdo, i like my paper, thank you very much! :)

In the end of this long, silly, post, I guess I am just justifying why I save those silly calendars and have never parted with one SINCE the one that got tossed, accidentally. I love each and every day, be it good or bad, we are dealt the hand....it's all in what we do with it.

On that note, enjoy your day before Thanksgiving duties.
~chat soon!

hysterical

2011-11-22T05:17:00.000-06:00

this weekend, i was hell bent on getting 'the christmas card picture'.
i really wanted a family pic, but i figured, that no one who gets the cards really cares about how adam and i are aging, and widening...they just really are entertained by the girls.
i got them dressed and once again traipsed to the backyard.
it was a windy day. i mean windy.
i prayed HARD that it would be an easy job.
the first picture i snapped was this one....

seriously, if i wasn't as stinkin' conservative as i am, i would totally use this one as our christmas card picture.
but, i can't do it.
i think it very well, could be my favorite picture EVER!(but, i think i say that often...)
my word, if you don't laugh from the gut on this one....something could be wrong.
~chat soon!

Halloween

2011-11-21T05:57:00.000-06:00

This is late...but remember, I have been without this fun little thing called the internet!
I have mentioned before, I will say it again....Halloween just isn't my favorite day.
Maybe it's my profession, maybe its that fact that I'm not a fan of people with covered faces...
who knows.
This Halloween was the first that the girls went trick or treating, and we had to work the next day.
It was not the best plan in my head.
We carved pumpkins on Sunday.
Adam had been working all weekend. We had it in our mental schedule that we were going to carve the old pumpkins on Sunday so we didn't have to quick do it before trick or treating....
Well, it was nearing dinner. He wasn't home yet, it was still light, and I wanted to carve them on the deck.
I said, "WHO IS READY TO CARVE PUMPKINS!!??!"
The girls came running. I grabbed the biggest knife we had and started in on the first pumpkin.
Suddenly I hear,
"Sara Louise, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU ARE GOING TO CUT YOUR FINGER OFF!"
I have always alarmed Adam, well, my mom too, with the way I handle a knife.
None the less...Adam came to the rescue and carved the cutest darn pumpkin family.
He even added glasses.
So cute.
It was, all in all, a good Halloween.
Our neighbors joined us, and Katie and I somehow won the agreement to sit and hand out candy (and drink wine) while the men took the girls trick or treating (they have 2 chicks also) it was a win, win. well, for the females anyway!

the end of october...

2011-11-20T05:41:00.005-06:00

can't wait.

hey sara. next time someone takes a picture...stand up STRAIGHT!

so proud of herself...she can now ride something but the couch!

feeding the goats. alone. first time. huge deal.

love this. she is always a hot shot with the goats...but i think her eyes tell a different story

who are the girls? they are all grown up. cute enough. but surely they aren't mine! I'm still a new mom!

we are so lucky to live where we do.
i don't think everyone agrees with that. but, we have so many options of things to do with kiddos.
kates birthday weekend, adam was hunting in south dakota. the girls and i went to church.
it was a beautiful day, i got the girls home, coaxed them to change clothes and said.
SURPRISE! WE ARE GOING TO GRANTS FARM!
after the shrieks and screams we loaded into the car and spent the better part of the afternoon at the best place to spend a sunny, Sunday.
they were open one more weekend for the year.
it's one of our favorite places to go.
we had a blast.
just a blast.

number 2 restaurant

2011-11-18T20:18:00.001-06:00

at the beginning of the month, kate had the opportunity to stay at our babysitter...saint debbies, for a sleep over for her birthday. (it is one of many of the awesome things deb does for our girls)

anne has been so good lately. first grade has been a transition for her, and even though there have been some bumps, overall, we have seen her evolving into a beautiful young lady before our eyes.

since anne has been an infant, adam has wanted to take her on dates. he has before. simple dates. mcdonalds, a trip to sams club etc. this time he decided she was ready for the real deal. he made a reservation for Pepe's Apt 2. Restaurant. It has always been a dream of Anne's. It is on the way to church and is this cool store front with an apartment on top. It has been many things over time and this is the coolest thing so far. She always yells NUMBER 2 RESTAURANT.

It's the fanciest thing she has ever been to. We kept it a secret and surprised her. The picture collage isn't great but it tells the story of the date night. I didn't bring my normal lens, the lighting was tricky, then don't worry, the battery died and i didn't bring my camera bag. nice.

we had a fantastic time. she was an amazing little lady and was so proud of herself.
it totally felt like we were in another world.
if we never do it again, it's okay. this one time was so worth it!
~chat soon!

man.

2011-11-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

it's been a week.
adam has been sick since mid october. finally went to the doc.
bronchitis.
2 inhalers and a antibiotic and i think he is starting to 'look' better.
anne's first grade has been infested with lice....we are clear.
so far.
oh, don't forget the second daisy girlscout meeting..
.it wasn't bad, not great, but it's getting better...
there has been some hurt feelings in anne's classroom.
she has been the one hurt. it's been super hard.
i have had a stomach ache since last thursday.
i think we have the issue remedied but it's hard to stomach.
i cried, outloud, to my mom. (not a norm for us)
i'm pretty sure she cried a little too.
it's an ugly cycle isn't it? this parenting thing.
adam bought another business...in simple terms, he bought the rights to the customer list of an embroidery company in the area that is going out of business/retiring. more work, less time. it's good, but still hard.
people have been diagnosed with cancer this week...people i am not directly involved with, but people that are loved by people i know. it stinks.
a very young mother, in a rageful fit, killed her child. near where i grew up, my parents home. it's horrible. she killed, she lied, she doesn't seem sad.
it made me ill. physically ill.
everyone in the area has their mouth open, hanging in disgust. it's horrible.
it's just been a little heavy here this week.
i'm ready for the weekend.
the only thing on the agenda...church. which is a good place to be after such a craptastic week.
and possibly a good ol' fashion fish fry with my momma and pappa. nothing more exciting. should i remind you of this....
~chat soon!

4 years

2011-11-14T05:57:00.001-06:00

i don't know why...but i am in.love with this. tried to crop it, maybe edit a little. nope, went back to it's original state. something about the background and how large it looks, and how small, yet grown up she looks...man makes my heart swell.

those wheels are turning! you can SEE THEM!

being 4 at her finest! :)

kate has the cutest, sweetest, giggle. if you know her, you know what this picture *sounds* like

i think this one is going to be on a canvas...

kate turned 4 the end of october.
i realized i didn't have a good picture of her for her fourth.
i got her dressed yesterday morning, threw some sweats on myself, a jacket on anne...out we went.
to the backyard.
kate was very excited, for about 3 minutes.
just enough to capture some great photos of her EXACT personality.
she is such a ham bone.
i love her.
on a side note, i have been researching, and wanting to learn the 'manual' setting on my camera.
it is supposed to improve the quality of the pictures. but i will have to think before i take it, not just snap away.
i tried with kate. it was easier then i thought.
i'm sure a true photographer is giving a big thumbs down, but if i can say...i thought they turned out pretty darn cute! and i'm the mom, so that is all that matters.
aren't you glad i have the internet again?! HA!
~chat soon!
sorry about the picture comments, i am feeling mushy today.

last game

2011-11-13T07:48:00.000-06:00

Miss Anne's last soccer game was yesterday.
It was FRIGID.
I wasn't prepared and wore capri's. Dumb.
(It was warm at out house earlier...)
The girls had a great season.
Anne wasn't in love with it, but NEVER showed it on the field.
She always tried. Couldn't ask for more.
Her favorite part of the season...the celebration afterwards yesterday at the local pizza place.
Ha! :)
~chat soon!

hello world!

2011-11-10T21:53:00.001-06:00

i have internet at home again.
anywhere in the house, i can roam....
so excited.
if you need me, you will fine me, with my computer.
happy times. :)
~chat soon. (very soon!)

a funny little story...

2011-11-04T05:39:00.000-05:00

you may look at the picture above and say, sara has LOST IT!
she is now posting pictures of butterflies stuck to a ceiling tile.
guess what? while, i may be a little nuts...there is a story here.
my good freind joyce gave me several catterpillers.
i put them in the butterfly net.
one crawled out and decided to do his cocoon spinning from the ceiling.
we watched eagerly everyday...the day of parent teacher confernces we noticed the colors had changed.
right in the middle of reading groups, my student Kelly yells out 'ITS HATCHING'.
i couldn't believe it, right before my very eyes...the butterfly hatched.
amazing. just amazing.
we all stood there and watched it emerge from its coccoon.
unreal.
the kids innocent eyes wide, their mouths hanging open, not a sound to be heard.
hands down, could possibly be, the best teaching moment in my career!
~chat soon!

an announcement...

2011-11-03T15:10:00.001-05:00

we have a new niece!
her name is devon elizabeth.
she is 3 weeks old now and as sweet as a bug.
congrats to aaron, stacey, and big brother hunter.
we had the great opportunity of having a sleep over with devon when she was just a few days old.
her momma needed some extra tlc in the hospital. we were very worried and sad for stacey, but i had a great time with my camera! :)
~chat soon

4

2011-11-01T05:28:00.004-05:00

here is a little review of miss kate's 4th birthday.
she had a blast.
kate is so easy to impress.
i love it.
i was sharing with my mom on saturday that when anne was younger i would sneek around the day of the party and not put any decorations up until she was napping then it would be a huge surprise when she woke up...
saturday, after a soccer game, i had 45 minutes basically before the guests came. i still needed to get decorations of some sort. i flew to the store. the kids jumped out of the car, i bought the balloons, plates, tablecloth, napkins, all in front of kate, threw them back in the car and she HELPED me set the table.
i swear. i don't know if i have been able to let things go, or have just LET THINGS GO...ugh.
either way, she was in love with the whole shee-bang.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T05:16:00.000-05:00

Love,
Anne & Kate

out of touch.

2011-10-30T15:25:00.000-05:00

that's me.
i'm out of touch.
with a lot of things. (ha)
we still do not have internet at home.
i can not access most fun things on my work's internet (like blogs)
so i am completely out of touch.
things are good. i think.
lots of birthday parties, soccer games, laundry, papers to grade, dinners to make, girlscout meetings to have, laundry, adam working a lot, sore throats, halloween, laundry...you know life.
yesterday, someone asked if 'they should be worried adam is always working and never seems to be with us.'
after almost wanting to jump down the person's throat, i calmly said:
everything is fine. he has just moved his business. his customers don't care that he moved. they still have wants and needs. in order to get everything accomplished it requires twelve hour days on the weekends.
it stinks. but it's life. its the life we chose and it will get better.
so if anyone else is wondering if we are on the rocks...
we aren't.
we are as secure as we were before the move.
we just see each other less. :)
~chat soon!

happy birthday

2011-10-25T05:13:00.001-05:00

to sweet kate who is 4.
and pawpaw bob (my dad) who is well...a pawpaw's age. ;)
the coolest thing ever that they share birthdays.
love it.
they are truly birthday buds.
i don't know who is more in love with who! :)

i think....

2011-10-15T04:29:00.000-05:00

these kids are cute!

don't know when in the world they got so big, though!
happy fall!
~chat soon!

art.

2011-10-13T04:22:00.002-05:00

the last post was about anne and sports.
really not her thing.
now artsy stuff, totally.
always has been.
the girl can draw for HOURS.
friday night, adam and i were chatting after dinner and she came running in the kitchen.
YOU HAVE TO SEE MY PICTURE. I DREW MAYA (from the pbs show maya and miguel)
so i went to look.
HOLY MOLY SHE DREW MAYA.
just by looking at her on the t.v.

she also then, drew adam.


he was sitting in a chair. those things are CHAIR LEGS.

she also drew me. i didn't take a picture. the picture wasn't bad. but i looked like a cross between and elephant and a troll. maybe that is how she sees me. no wonder she things eva's mom is BEAUTIFUL! :)

so apparently, sports may not be her thing at the moment, but art is totally up her ally! i'm good with that.
~chat soon!

decision maker.

2011-10-11T04:16:00.000-05:00

anne has always been able to make a decision.
she generally doesn't just do it because someone told her it was a good idea.
this year i asked her if she wanted to join choir, at our church.
she immediately said YES!
she is also playing soccer.
the other night, she told me, 'i think i want a break from sports.'
i asked her again after the game on saturday.
i explained that she was good , and i just didn't want her to feel she HAD to stop sports.
she said, NOPE, I really don't like to RUN. well, running isn't horrible, but i DON'T LIKE TO RUN FAR, or FAST...
softball was okay, i didn't have to run far. i would rather sing, or tap.
okedoke then.
decision MADE!

best idea ever!

2011-10-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

so i love rachael ray.
have ever since i was on maternity leave with kate.
10am every weekday i would cuddle with kate, and watch rach.
i get her magazine.
the other day i was flipping through wondering why i keep all these dumb magazines.
the story says:
cook one day get 20 meals (or something similar)

so i read some more.
you cook 5 staple things (chicken breasts and thighs, rice pilaf, homemade tomato sauce, roasted peppers and onions, and pork shoulders.)and then freeze them. after whipping together some ingredients you will have a wonderful dinner in 20 minutes. or that is what they say....

adam went to the store yesterday. (he likes to grocery shop, i HATE it)
got me everything i needed.
i went to town.
it was intense, messy, but oddly simple all at the same time.
i am going to try one or two of the recipes that it makes this week.

the camera wouldn't focus on the pot of tomato sauce, so you get a picture of the can. the pork i did today. it took too long and i started too late in the day.
i will report later how the recipes turned out. none of the items are things you have to only use in the recipes so i figured if we don't like what good old rachael says, then we can use the chicken for pot pie, dumplings, etc.
don't know if you don't try.
~chat soon

walk.

2011-10-06T06:03:00.000-05:00

sunday was the walk.
we had an amazing time.
37ish people. (a few are missing from the picture above)
thanks to all who shared in the fun.
we made over $2,600.00 (preliminary count)
wow!

fun at the patch.

2011-10-05T05:53:00.000-05:00

yesterday, we celebrated some fun with susan.
anne had to go to school so we did this pumpkin patch occasion secretly.
it was fun. the little ones had a blast.
a beautiful, beautiful day!

~chat soon.

says anne...

2011-10-04T18:33:00.000-05:00

this weekend...
dad?
yes.
a-i need a laptop.
dad-oh, you think? i don't think so.
a-yep. i do, we use them in school. when can i get one?
dad-not too soon.
a-but it will be great in the new playroom.
dad-i really don't see it happening too soon.
kate-dad?
dad-yes.
kate-I JUST NEED A SWINKY (slinky!)

********************************
today, anne says:
mom?
me-yes.
do you know eva's mom?
yes. she is very nice.
a-yes, she is nice. and beautiful. do you think you could be beautiful like her?
me-well, uh, well, yes, eva's mother is very pretty. do you think i'm not pretty?
a-well, sometimes, like last week at the soccer game. and then today. but most of the time when you taught 3rd grade you were pretty. what grade do you think eva's mom teaches?
me-uh, well, i just don't know what grade she teaches. have a nice day anne!

gotta love little kids.

today we walk the walk...

2011-10-02T05:16:00.001-05:00

to fight diabetes.
we are still walking.
won't stop till we find that ding dang cure.
40 people strong.
over 2,000 dollars raised.
man.
can't hardly stand it.
it's an emotional day. in a quiet, weird kind of way.
if you supported us, walked with us, or prayed for us, thank you.
thank you.
you don't know what it means to us, me, everyone who is affected by the big D!
but don't you worry...treetop enterprises is giving diabetes the BOOT! :)

our team LAST YEAR! :)

saturdays this fall.

2011-10-01T05:39:00.000-05:00

you will see us at the soccer field.
if you know us. you know we are NOT soccer people.
that is okay. but, anne wanted to play. last weekend was the first game.
she hadn't played yet, due to the fact that she broke her arm the day after her first practice.
it was painful to watch her play.
she did good. but she was hot. and crampy.
i just wanted to rescue her. but i sat (tensly) in my seat, and let her do her thing.
she was a trooper.
she told the coach's wife, 'i just don't like to sweat'.
totally her mother's daughter.

we're the team with the crazy socks....

game face is ON!

the start of something....BIG

2011-09-30T06:54:00.011-05:00

all summer long, i was blabbing about adam searching for a new office space.
there were headaches, roller coasters, tears, sweat, lots of stuff.
it finally happened.
today, september 30, 2011, treetop enterprises is working at new office.
a beautiful office.
simply amazing.
to think, it started in a dorm room 12 years ago, to a 1200 square foot home, 10 years ago, to the basement of the home we are currently living in...to it's new headquarters.
a dream come true.
i am very proud of my bud, adam!
it has been a wild ride, but he has his own office...WITH A DOOR! :)
if you are reading this, you were in someway invovled with the process i'm sure. either listening to us, putting furniture together, helping paint, listening to us, supporting to us, did i mention listening to us, helping pick out colors or furnishings, listening to us....we couldn't have done it without YOU!

Thanks is NOT enough!

here are some before, during, and after pictures.

conference room before

conference room after


more conference room...apparel wall.			\\

bathroom before

bathroom after

adam's office during...

adam's office after.

warehouse before/during

wharehouse before/during

wharehouse after

front office area before/during

front office desk area

hallway after

hallway that includes 5 offices before

one more of the conference room...

because of this new adventure...our landline number is changing and our home will not have internet for a short time. blog posts will be whenever they can be. (this is addressed to the 1.5 people that read this thing!)
~chat soon!

bloopers...

2011-09-29T20:35:00.001-05:00

so if you know me, you know my laugh.
i do it a lot.
i have had a blooperish type week...

1. teaching a very thought out thematic unit on johnny appleseed this week. it is his birthday week, you know.
i am professing all about johnny appleseed. all the things we are planning on doing this week. building excitement. i start to hear the kids chuckle. just one or two. it was seriously, irritating. i then was quickly reviewing what i had just said. this is what i remembered saying...
'boys and girls do you know who johnny on the spot is? he is a wonderful man that many tall tales were written after. his birthday was on monday. johnny on the spot would have been over 200 years old. amazing. now, who would like to listen to me read all about johnny on the spot.
SERIOUSLY. don't you think my brain would have said. SARA! YOU ARE SAYING JOHNNY ON THE SPOT! NOT JOHNNY APPLESEED? OH NO....

2. my dear sweet coworker, joyce, gave me several caterpillars for observation. she gives them to me each year, and we watch they whole life cycle. simply amazing. these 2nd graders are so cute with observing these types of things. bright eyed, full of awe. it's so cool.
yesterday, i got to school and everyone was buzzing. joyce came in, she said...um, mrs. w do you realize that you had a couple escapees? WHAT?! i said. they got out the top, she says. WHAT? sure enough. I forgot to cinch the net that hangs from the ceiling to provide their habitat for the next few weeks. i currently have one cocoon HANGING from the ceiling tile. NICE. guess, we will have a beautiful monarch loose, once it hatches out.

3. i was talking to michelle today. another teacher walked in, then the cafeteria lady. we were asked if a pumpkin was a fruit or a veggie. all three of us had an opinion. the first grade teacher said...well michelle, go to ask.com, it answers everything. i had never heard of ask.com. so sure enough, we found out a pumpkin is indeed a fruit. some of us were right, some of us weren't. they were most amazed i had never heard of ask.com. they said, YOU CAN ASK IT ANYTHING. JUST ANYTHING. so i said, ask it if Sara is a freak. Michelle, said, no, we can't ask it that. i said, ASK IT. she did. and guess what? ASK.COM says SARA IS A FREAK! oh my goodness. laughed for an hour.

so there are 3 bloopers for you!
~chat soon!

i wish...

2011-09-27T05:50:00.000-05:00

all dinners could look like this?
adam and the girls organized this a couple sundays ago.
it was romantic and family friendly all in the same breath.
really, try it.
nothing like a checkered table cloth to really ground a person!
not kidding.
~chat soon!

Monday.

2011-09-26T06:30:00.001-05:00

After a busy, busy weekend, I am hoping to be as peppy and sylish as Anne Clara always seems to be!
Chat soon!

thursday.

2011-09-22T07:08:00.000-05:00

It's all I have for today!
But, I think it's good! :)

buy one get one!

2011-09-21T05:46:00.000-05:00

this is her second pair!

same style different color.
day 2. seamless.
hope it continues!

look who can see!

2011-09-20T05:46:00.000-05:00

here is miss kate.
with her new specs.
hopefully we are on the right track.
i no nothing about glasses.
she kept them on all night, until bed.
i guess that is a good sign, right?!
Chat soon!

thankful on monday...

2011-09-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

after this weekend, i am thankful for...
1. my therapy chair. (of which I have become very close too.)
2. good drugs.
3. dollar red box movies. as dumb as they are.
4. my mommas brownies. (who i haven't told ONE person about)
5. the help. wasn't the ending i would have liked...but a heck of a book!
6. my cold therapy cooler. love.
7. folded laundry courtesy of my momma.
8. pretty flowers the chicks gave me.
9. little leftover containers filled with yummy food given to us. (two things were already eaten, so jules and michelle-don't worry, just too good to keep in containers...straight to the belly!)
and finally....very thankful for....

it kept me strong in the weakest of hours! :)

~chat soon!

what did you do friday?

2011-09-17T10:53:00.002-05:00

i got my frozen shoulder thawed.
remember the story i posted a bit ago about having the bum shoulder?
well, it was decided that there was only one fix.
i needed to get it yanked.
without useless details...
i did yesterday.
i was given a wonderful little nerve block to basically paralyze my arm.
and then knocked out.
beautiful, beautiful, sleep.
i woke up and was sent home.
i didn't go straight home, i went to therapy.
it wasn't bad, because i couldn't feel a thing.
i woke up in the middle of the night.
i could feel things.
i said bad words. real bad words.
and went back to sleep.
adam has been a saint. i really think he missed his calling...he should have been a nurse.
he has been waiting on me hand and foot.
the girls are with my parents.
we have had yummy goodies dropped off.
a friend is coming soon to visit.
it will all be okay.
the drugs they gave me are nice. but make me stupid.
i just started the first part of the dance for the weekend.
pain pill.
1 hour in therapy chair (a contraption that moves my arm around and around)
30 minutes in ice therapy.
couch.
physical therapy exercises.

in about an hour it will all start again.
but i lived.
and i am focused to do what i have to do.
so i don't have to use my arm like an old lady.
~chat soon!

in case you are a person that needs to know...click on the video! ;) i should have waited till today to watch it. i watched it wednesday. dumb, dumb, dumb!

i didn't watch the whole thing...i only had my shoulder yanked.

the carnival.

2011-09-12T20:27:00.001-05:00

so friday was the 2nd annual ccls carnival.
it was fun.
the weather was sketchy.
but it turned out perfect.
we got there.
we realized the carnies were the same.
we started at the games.
they were cute.
faces painted.
pizza eaten.
then the rides.
anne wanted to ride the swings.
the kind that were on a pole and then when the motor started...they flew waaaaay out.
i said it was okay.
she headed to the ride with her friend.
adam said, 'where did anne go?'
me-oh. with friend a. to the swings.
adam-NO WAY!
me-just stop. she's fine.
adam-NO WAY! he marches to the swings tells the man, not to start the swings, and walks to her.
he pulls her off the swings.
she is NOT HAPPY.
at all.
i'm only slightly emabararssed.
i did some quick disaster cleanup.
explained that we only ride rides that leave the ground at six flags.
quick thinking on my part.
she said okay.
we went on.
kate won a pig. anne won a stuffed fish. they each got some kind of weird fake hair clip thing.
it was great.
like i said, not nearly as humerous as last year. (in case you have never heard it....ha!)
but, still just a bit of ride drama.
OH! i nearly forgot.
all 4 of us rode this weird spinny car thing.
all of the sudden we notice the ride is slowing.
the lights went off. all the rides were stopping, making a weird movie type sound that sounded like reeerrrrwhhhherrrrreeeeerrrrrr....
i got slightly nervous.
THE GENERATOR WENT OUT!
holy moly (err...not what i was thinking.)
all the carnies scrambled and started pumping on a smoke stack like thing.
it was up and running in no time. (gulp.)
we got off the ride.
and went back to the games.
a good time had by all.

night view. ;)

can't stand herself she is soooo excited

fun on the merry go round

the sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.

hero carnie...from last year! :)

september 11.

2011-09-11T08:57:00.000-05:00

click on the arrow on the picture to see the video

i always think that each year will be easier.
i won't think about it on the day.
i won't watch tv that day.
and relive the images.
but then, i think, SARA LOUISE how selfish.
the families that are hurting can't turn their backs.
the nation is in this together.
so once again, today, we reflect.
it's been 10 years. i can't believe that.
i remember it like it was 10 days ago.
possibly because it is so permanently etched into our minds.
10 years later,
my prayer is still the same...
may God continue to Bless the United States of America.
~chat soon.

another try...

2011-09-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

remember THIS STORY from last year?
tonight was the carnival for ccls.
it wasn't nearly as dramatic as last year.
nearly is the key word.
the generator went out when we were ALL on a ride.
adam took anne off some of those flying swing things before it started.
she only cried a little.
the hero carni was there from last year.
we all lived.
blew a lot of cash.
and went home giggling about the fun.
pictures to come.
~chat soon!

smile.

2011-09-08T06:37:00.000-05:00

how can you not?


at the MAGIC HOUSE this summer! :)

these boots were made for WALKIN'!

2011-09-05T06:25:00.000-05:00

and we are giving diabetes the BOOT! :)
(the motto for our team this year...or at least the current motto)
the time is short. it's less then a month till the walk.
we have quite a few walkers again this year.
we are needing to pull out the stops to make some moolah!
last year was enormous in the fundraising aspect.
this year, may not be so huge.
but it's a okay.
every penny counts!
think about supporting our team.
we would be forever grateful!
*thank you to all that have signed up to walk with us...*

last years team. we went from 4 people in 09 to 30+ in 10!

thought for today.

2011-09-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, the learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honestly, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world in a nice place in which to live.
*Dorthy Law Nolte

I think this poem is amazing and should be issued to every new parent in the hospital.
Why I JUST found it, I don't know.
I am going to print it out and put it somewhere that I can read it ALL.THE.TIME.
Seriously, it's a no brain er.

Print it out, hang it up, read it. Let it remind you everyday!

~chat soon

just stating the facts...folks.

2011-09-02T19:53:00.000-05:00

so yesterday, i had to go to the doctor.
i have a bum shoulder.
it's an old injury. it has flared up this summer.
i religiously saw my chiropractor, and it hasn't gotten better.
it was suggested i see an orthopedic doctor.
i filled out all the paperwork.
checked all the appropriate boxes.
showed up early.
all was good.
i was examined.
it was determined that my shoulder is 'frozen'.
okay.
i was expecting that.
it isn't moving.
it in fact, is acting as if, it is frozen!
the doctor said. you are 34?!
i say, um, yes.
he says. and you're.....drumroll.....diabetic?!
i say, yes.
he says. well, this is a common ailment in MIDDLE AGED WOMEN
and diabetics.
now, i could stomach the middle aged women part.
kind of.
but the diabetic part, i went into orbit.
all kinds of thoughts entered my brain.
after asking a.lo.t. of questions, it turns out that diabetics are prone to frozen shoulder.
but 'regular' people can get it too.
it hit below the belt.
i have not had anything associated with diabetes tagged on me.
except beastly large newborns. and i am just getting over that wound.
the point of this post.
i think no matter the case, the world needs to be respectful.
respectful to say. 'prone to'. instead of 'caused by'.
respectful to make a person feel less of the cause, and more of a well...i don't know, but that I CAUSED THIS type of feeling.
i made myself known, in a respectful, classy kind of way.
but i'm pretty sure he understood what i was saying.
i have done some research.
figured out that....
20% of people with frozen shoulders are diabetic.
5% aren't.
I'm wondering about the other 75%....are they elephants???
anyway, it is an unknown type of thing.
common in middle aged woman. sometimes in diabetics....sometimes caused by a trauma.
lots of unknowns.
just face the facts....be respectful.
no matter what you do.
just do it.
respect. it's a nice thing.
and in closing....since apparently i am currently suffering from a diabetic side effect, consider donating to my cause....jdrf walk for the cure!
while this deal is just a shoulder, other diabetics are suffering from a lot more!
thank you.
and good night!

~chat soon.
psssst....if you are wanting to walk. GO SIGN UP! i know a few of you said you would 'sign up' DOITDOITDOIT!

and this my friends...

2011-08-29T05:35:00.000-05:00

is why i go to work each day.

my new little crew is renewing my hope for humanity.
and renewing my love for teaching.
seriously. how could your heart not just melt over something found on your desk that said THAT?!
LOVE.IT.
happy monday.
~chat soon!

an empty saturday.

2011-08-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

the definition of empty in our house, when referring to a day, means we have nothing to do.
saturday, was empty.
well, meaning we had no schedule to keep.
laundry, cleaning, grocery, maybe some pool time.
otherwise, no one was telling us we had to be there.
i got a message from julie around 8am.
she was heading to the orchard with her clan.
picking peaches and honeycrisp apples. (yum)
after several messages sent back and forth...
we all met at eckerts.
coolest place on the earth.
i had never been peach picking.
after a little conversation, neither had julie.
it was glorious. the kids had a blast.
i ate enough peaches to have my own 'peach fuzz' on my lip! HHAHAAHAHA (i crack myself up)
i was glad we had an empty day to join them! ;)
thanks for the invite jules.

obviously, every time i turned around it was a kodak moment. sorry for the obnoxious amount of pictures....but one was cuter then the next! ;)

are you there...

2011-08-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

it's me sara.
i haven't written anything for awhile.
but it's okay.
things are good.
very good.
just busy.
we are all trying very hard to get into the new school year routine.
we are doing okay.
not great.
but getting there.
today is wednesday.
last week at this time, i had just gotten home with anne and her broken arm, and my mom was still sitting in the waiting room of the e.r. to get her accident injuries checked out.
this wednesday, has been, calm. to say the least. ;)
2nd grade is good. i'm catching on.
i'm still floundering, but each day is getting better.
i think.
this weekend, we don't have one thing on the calendar.
shhhh....
don't tell anyone.
because that is how it is going to stay.
i may stay in my jammies.
but probably not, because i promised the girls one more trip to the pool.
before the official end of summer.
*&^%#!!!!!!
so that is it.
things are good.
i have lots to catch up on, pictures to post, fun stuff to share about the new treetop ent. local etc....
but it needs to wait.
i have reading placement tests to grade.
and i need to make sure anne has a school uniform to wear for tomorrow.
and i need to see what i am going to wear....
and i need to pack our lunches....
and i need to have anne to read to me...
and i need to....
and i need to....
and i need to....
snooze!
~chat soon!

the first week...

2011-08-20T09:15:00.001-05:00

so we all survived.
and i mean that honestly.
i made it through the first three days of second grade.
it is a real adjustment, but once the kinks are worked out, i think i will like it.
they ARE super cute....and that makes things easier!

the first day of school toward the end of the day, my phone rang.
it was an 'outside' ring...meaning it had to be adam.
i answered.
it was adam.
in my mind i was saying WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! i have got to get these little kids on the bus! it's the first day of school.
he says, sara, your mom is okay. (gulp.)
she has been in a car accident. (room gets fuzzy)
i am going to get anne from school. (she was on her way to get her)
IS MOM OKAY?
she has been burned (start sweating...i am picturing a fire)
BURNED?!
from the airbag.
OH! WHAT?! I DON'T GET IT!
call your mom he says. ( i didn't think i should *bother* her right then....so i waited)
room still spinning, i turn around and look at 22 sets of darling eyes.
GET IT TOGETHER SARA.....
okay boys and girls, put your folders in your backpacks and lay your heads down.
what else does a girl do?????

In the end...mom was okay, suffering whiplash, chemical burns, and bumps and bruises.
many prayers of thanks for that....
she was hit by a car that wasn't looking while making a turn.
bummer.
did i say we were thankful for that she was okay???

mom's car. :(

due to the mishap. we changed transportation details...so
i took anne to gymnastics.
and then we had the arm episode.
all literally within 3 hours of each other.

*sidenote...the doc said that there is NO WORRY that her arm has broken twice in 10 months. it was the neighbor bone from the last break, not the same bone. it is a common break in children when falling. it is a buckle break that happens when you put your arm out to 'break' your fall. so no need to worry that she is calcium deficient of is suffering from any other condition. ;)*

by the time i got home with anne...all i could do was laugh.
what else do you do???

she's really unhappy about all this can you tell?!

now it is saturday. mom is on the road to recovery. anne is casted.
i am cleaning the house.
we are going to a fundraiser dinner tonight to help raise money for the Joplin tornado victims. and an anniversary party for friends.
i get to wear a new dress ( one my sister talked me into buying this summer).
adam will wear a suit. (i melt when he wears suits....blush)
it will be fun.
happy weekend!
~chat soon!

today.

2011-08-17T21:10:00.000-05:00

anne broke her arm.
not at school.
not at gymnastics.
climbing a TREE after gymnastics.
happy 2nd day of school.

well...here we have...

2011-08-16T19:00:00.000-05:00

a first grader.
i can't really believe it.
i didn't cry.
i thought about it.
my eyes got a little fuzzy.
but they never came out. (the tears, not my eyes)
she was darling.
i still can't believe it.
a first grader.
how can that be?
i'm still 15!!!!

posing

mee too had to join in!

a FIRST GRADER!

seriously...how can you not have a good day with foot wear like that?

we made it.

last day....

2011-08-13T19:49:00.000-05:00

thursday was the last 'official' day of our summer.
we got together with my sweet friend julie, and her darling kids.
we went to purina farms.
it was perfect weather, perfect time, perfect lunch, just perfect.
the kind of perfect that you drive away and say....man, why can't EVER day be this WAy?!
it was AWESOME!
*the pictures are in order from last to first..*
i am just to lazy to fix them...

the chicks!

catching up on summer reading!

sydney is soooo stinkin' cute!

all 5. cracks me up.

wagon ride

loving the wagon ride!

kate and sydney were just the 'right height'...no big kids ALLOWED!

syd on the tractor

finally! something she liked!

we saw jackson, katy, and syds cousins! how cool! they are all checking out the fish...

swings!

PULL!

some of the buds!

momma! they are HERE!

they are HERE!

wonder what's in there?

terrible pic, but marking where we were!

not good.

2011-08-10T20:23:00.000-05:00

so that is how i am.
not good.
nothing to worry about.
just a little wobbly. emotionally.
it's back to school time.
it sends me into a tail spin.
this year i am teaching 2nd grade instead of 3rd.
i am happy for the change.
i like change.
but now i am nervous.
and wondering if i made the right change.
i know i can do it.
but it is different. unchartered waters. scary.
the team i will be with is great.
i have known them for forever.
they are friendly, helpful, it will be fine.
but they don't really 'know' me.
like my old chicks did.
tuesday i had a workshop i signed up for.
no big deal. just a little refresher on a unique reading program that our district does.
i flitted into the room like i owned the place.
after teaching in the same district, same grade almost 15 years, it's a given, i usually know people.
i didn't know a soul.
not one.
i got queasy.
room got fuzzy.
i sat down and started sucking on my diet coke.
i realized i had a lump in my throat.
what the WHAT?! SARA get it TOGETHER.
you are 30+ years old. you aren't afraid.
GET IT TOGETHER.
so i did the only thing i could think of....
i grabbed my cell phone and pretended it was one of those fancy smart phones...
and played with the screen.
mine is not fancy.
not one bit.
but it sucked me out of reality for a couple minutes.
i made it.
until lunch.
when everyone started leaving to be with their 'friends' or at least fellow lunch-ees.
i went to d.q.
and ate in my car.
alone.
it sucked.
more then anything.
but i lived.
i went back, and found out the workshop would be shortened.
i listened some more.
and then was dismissed.
i came home and sat on my bed and cried.
a cleansing cry.
and then laughed.
a cleansing laugh.
at myself. for being a dork.
for being nervous.
for being....well...me.
it's teaching me quickly that while change is good, it's hard.
i'm really not changing all that much. my good girls will be at school like always.
the ones that know my looks, they are still there.
i just have new people that will learn my looks.
enough babble.
i just haven't been blogging much.
lots of stuff to do and this gets pushed to the back burner.
tomorrow is open house at anne's school. gulp.
better get the disinfecting wipes...i feel a little barf coming!

~chat soon!

she thinks she can....she thinks she can....UPDATE

2011-08-05T05:39:00.004-05:00

Well...yesterday I went and peeked on the little babes...guess what!? they are all DEAD.

i think maybe i can't hide my distaste of birds very well.

maybe they know that?

oh well...we are not a bird hatching, bird living, bird making it kind of house.

ha.

better luck next time.

anyway, who builds a nest, lays eggs, and then cares for them in 110 degree heat?!

wasn't meant to be.

bummer...again, disappointment.

remember a few weeks ago when i had the post of this?
well....the birds didn't make it due to the cow bird egg disaster.
my sweet friend, joyce, from school alerted me to the fact that the speckled egg in the nest was a cow bird egg.
they take over the nest, basically and choke out the babes.
she is so smart, all the time.
again, she was right.
the birds died.
adams office manager had to help me ditch them.
i'm a wuss when it comes to dead things.
just ask michelle what happened when larry, my class guinea pig died, while we were all at lunch. ewww.
anyway.....
i was bummed, but not too bad, because my camera was gone.
well, lo and behold.
that momma bird came back.
and laid 4 perfect eggs.
no stupid cow bird came into the nest and took over.
the girls are having so much fun watching them grow.
anne is quite upset though because 'they seem blind'.
and in fact they do....
but if we tweet loud enough, the all pop up and open their mouths.
picture perfect!
sometimes i just love motherhood.
for some reason, a nest of new baby birds just makes me want to pop.
weird.
i know....
here is the lifecycle so far...

if you look real close the middle bird was STILL IN THE EGG! we got to see it bust OUT! all of us. we got to see it. amazing....the girls ran in and got adam, who ran out thinking it was serious. he smiled, but i am pretty sure he said something in his head like 'really, sara? a bird busting out of an egg?'

look at those sweet little beaks!

home visit...

2011-08-04T07:16:00.000-05:00

saturday, anne's teacher came for her home visit.
i love when they visit.
except i get SUPER nervous.
i don't know why....
i think someone once told me--I'M A TEACHER TOO!
ugh.
anyway....
she is WONDERFULLY nice, sweet, calm, everything you would want in a first grade teacher.
she seems super organzied and ready to answer any questions.
anne clara loved her. her teachers name is ann also.
our anne was smitten from the get-go!
i think she is going to LOVE first grade.

unstoppable....

2011-08-01T12:58:00.000-05:00

that's what i thought when i got in the car last week.
THIS HEAT AIN'T GOING TO STOP US!
no way jose...
so we headed to grant's farm.
one of our favorite of family attractions near us.
it wasn't horrid.
at first.
we went to one of the animal shows...got a front row spot!
guess why? we were in the direct sun.
nice.
THAT was HORRID.
we made it through.
we then walked straight to the sprinkler and then straight to the elephant show.
next stop sno cones.
then to the tram to take us to our car.
we did have fun.
but it was beastly hot.
yuck.

little off on the focus...but you get the drift.

has yet to brave anything but the couch! ;)

feeding the goats. she was so determined that she would do it.

i had exactly 2.3 seconds to get this picture...she HATED feeding them!

kate said...'sissy, let me help you!'

hello sprinkler!

sweet reward!

kate wanted NO PART of this picture...

it was hot, semi miserable, but fun all at the same time!
~chat soon!

dancing queen...

2011-07-30T12:58:00.000-05:00

kate had her first weeks of dance class this summer.
it was a short session.
she liked it. well, she LOVED it.

pretty ballerina kate

posing

curtsy

she couldn't wait to tell me she was DONE!

she already is looking forward to the fall, when we can go again.
my pictures aren't great-at all. but you get the drift.

figures...

2011-07-28T06:17:00.002-05:00

so it's been hot.
i mean hotter then hot.
it makes me want to say bad words, kind of hot.
today the girls went to sweet debbies for a little day of debbie fun.
i decided to take a deep breath and get some things done.
i had lunch with a friend and her momma.
then decided i needed to get anne clara some new shoes for school.
i know better then to take her to the shoe store.
lord have mercy.
so i measured her foot the other day and went today. (shmart! don't you think?!)
i know what she likes, i know what i like, it's a win win.
throw a diet coke in the mix, it might as well be a lottery win! :)
anyway...i go to good ol' payless.
i look.
i take them all in.
i realize that children tennis shoes, are really, well, less then cute.
they are gross.
i got over it.
i picked two pair that i thought would do and checked out.
i was proud of myself. i thought she would like them.
she looks at them, and realizes she can't live without BOTH PAIR.
nice.
not what i had intended, but i guess it can be worked out....
she proudly puts on the white pair.
she then says, 'uh, mommy, are these on the right feet?'
i was puzzled because she knows the right feet.
i look down and realized they weren't, so i helped her.
well, as a matter of fact, i couldn't help either.
THEY WERE TWO LEFT FEET!
seriously?!
SERIOUSLY?!
it's waaaaaay too hot for this.
how do you explain to a 6 year old that the shoes are no good until you can get two that are NOT the same feet.
nice.
like i said...
it's just too hot for this...
back to payless this morning!
~chat soon.

driving miss daisy...

2011-07-27T18:22:00.001-05:00

so today, i look in the rear view mirror and see this...

i seriously felt like i was driving miss daisy...

she had 3 or 4 necklaces on, a pair of satin gloves that went to her elbows and a pair of great aunt pat's clip earrings!
what a riot!
(she smuggled all the items into the car and put them on at a stoplight!)
what would we do without our anne?
~chat soon!

stingrays

2011-07-26T03:26:00.000-05:00

i signed anne up for a fun little deal at the zoo.
it was called wake up with the rays.
it was a family event. (aka-need to be a with a parent type of event)
we had to be at the zoo on saturday at 7:30.
thats not too bad.
we have seen the stingrays once before.
she loved it.
so i knew that she would love this little class.
it was feeding the rays and then having breakfast ourselves at the zoo.
fun. cool. memory making.
we got there bright and early.
we found the spot.
the lady says, OH HI! ARE YOU READY TO FEED THE RAYS THEIR BREAKFAST?!
i see anne give the lady (who was way to chipper and loud for 7am) a half smile and she reached for her skirt.
she does this thing when she is nervous-just grabs whatever is on her bottom half and knots/balls/twists it up.
great, i thought.
its time to walk in...
she goes. but she doesn't touch, or feed the stingrays.
i did. it wasn't bad. the feeding was weird, and made me really wish i was wiser about how stingrays eat...but i made it out with my fingers, so that is a plus.
not too long after we got there (30 minutes)
we were taken to the dining area where we were given breakfast.
it was fine.
it was short.
but it was good.
as the time as passed, anne has talked about it.
but i don't know if i would pay extra to get up waaay early, and eat cafeteria eggs and bacon.
live and learn.
hopefully she'll remember it.
it was good, just to be with her.

Kodak moment in front of the seal statues.

stingray

not at all in love with the idea...

~chat soon!

look who's back....

2011-07-25T17:51:00.000-05:00

it's back, and better then ever!
~chat soon!

more week of the cuzints

2011-07-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

we also went to the train store.
it's this adorable little store near our house.
it sells little trains (can you tell i'm not a boy mom?!)
i don't know the kind, that is just a detail...
anyway, they have train tables that anyone can come in and play with.
for as long as you want.
for free.
awesome.
we took the girls because it was just too dang hot to do anything else.
they loved it.
in fact, they loved it so much, i took my girls back the very next day!
we also went to take kate to dance and ellen came with us.
anne thought that was soooo cool that she got to 'bring someone'.

reading at kate's dance class-cute as can be!


aunt sara gave ellen her first gum ball. she loved it, not sure about her mom'	s opinion though!

anne thought she was cooler then cool, since she had someone in the back with her. weird, i know!

~chat soon!

the week of cuzints.

2011-07-23T05:57:00.000-05:00

anne and kate refer to cousins as cuzints
its so dang cute the way they say it.
it was so dang hot when suz was in town..
i think she brought the desert with her...and the humidity.
ugh. but we survived.
here are just a few little things we did.
we spent a lot of time, just playing at meemaws.
suz and i went shopping.
drank margaritas in the middle of the day.
drank a beer at the pizza place in the late afternoon....
got our toes done.
laughed. and made fun of each other.
it was a good visit.
i know that the visits home with two small kiddos aren't easy.
but i love it when she does come. we appreciate it soo much.
xoxo

regulating the heat with some popsicles

saturday making pottery

dress up!

swimming at meemaws

buddy! :)

all in all, it was a great time! always is!