100...

Last Thursday, was Anne's 100 Day of School.
Her job was to bring 100 items.  She could also decorate something to wear.
She made the entire shirt by herself.  Minus the numbers.
Anne was so proud of herself.
She woke up and said today is the BEST!  I said, oh yeah? She said, it's the 100th day of school AND your birthday.  After  your birthday, it will be MY birthday and that's great...oh, and it's the 100th day of school.

Fun times...

So good, and so sad....

Sweet Hunter

"I'm all done"she said after she 'drank' the kernels!

Kate high fived this guy!

Sno-Cone Blue lips and popcorn=perfection

Kate was reminded numerous times that we do NOT buy Elmo balloons! HA!

Today was our annual trip to see Sesame Street Live.
Kate made the VIP list and was finally old enough to go. ;)
Unfortunately, Anne has come down with a wicked virus and was knocking on the door of a temp of 104, throughout most of the night and morning.
Anne and Adam had to stay home.  The girls had been dreaming about this for weeks...Anne was going to 'teach' Kate all about it...she briefed her very well.  *sniff*
We took our sister in law, Stacey, and our nephew Hunter.
It was a great time.
Kate was so into it.  We had great seats.  It was awesome.
I missed Adam and Anne terribly.
Kate got to high five the Honker.
She thought she was IT!
I thought my heart was going to POP when she looked at me with THE BIGGEST SMILE EVER and said I JUST HIGH FIVED HIM!
~chat soon!

birthday.

My birthday was great.
I can't really remember a better one.
It wasn't earth shattering.
Just the perfect day filled with love, affection, and fun.
It was perfect.  Really, really perfect.
Here are a few pictures... (in no particular order...)

favorite picture. :)

my dad is kind of funny ;)

 Thanks to all who wished me well, sent me a note, or spent the day making my day great! :)
I felt very loved.
~chat soon.

today...

i turn 34.
eeks. that sounds o.l.d. to me. i mean old like people might say...she's 34 in a weird quiet voice...
does it to anyone else?
really. it does.
BUT to make light of it, i figured out that it could very well be my lucky year.
because, 3 + 4 = 7.
7 is my lucky number.
if there is such a thing as a lucky number.
but it is the number i pick if i need to 'pick a number'.
i think it is because i was born on 1-27-77 and was 7 pounds 7 ounces.
makes sense that 7 would be a good pick, right?
anyway you look at it.  all my years are 'lucky'.
i'm a blessed chick.
i hope my blessed-ness continues into this 34th year!
~chat soon.

if i'm 34 this year, next year, i will be 35 and that is on THAT SIDE of 40.  i really never thought i would be on 'THAT SIDE'.  OHMYGOODNESS.  i think i need an extra diet coke today...

Weirdness for Wednesday...

So I got this email from one of my coworkers...subject as SMILE.
I opened it thinking said coworker had something fun to tell me...
It says this...
1. You cannot stick your tongue out and look up at the ceiling at the same time, a physical impossibility due to the tendons within your neck
I think to myself...REALLY?  I better try. 
So I do.

Did you try it?  Try it!  For real!


Then I read this...

All idiots, after reading #1 will  try it. And discover #1 is a lie. You are smiling now because you are an idiot.  
There is still a silly smile on your face . 
which made me laugh harder...like the computer could see me..
I sincerely apologize about this but I'm an idiot and I needed company.


I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants.  I laughed hard and I was alone.  It felt GREAT!


Happy Wednesday! 
~chat soon

thoughts for tuesday....

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each others life.
~Richard Bach

I think I like this one the best so far!
Happy Tuesday.
(monday came, but the snow call did too, so today I go back-for sure!)

come monday.

i have to go back to work.
i think thats a bummer.
i have been off for 4 days and only worked 2 days total last week.
part time is the way to go.
this past weekend has been awesome.
adam was out of town (not awesome) but the girls were super sweet (awesome).
anne and i redid her room. it is super cute, but super grown up, which makes me sappy.
kate is irritated that her room is not re-done. but thats okay, she is easily distracted.
i am gearing up for a productive/determined week...i can do soooo much with a deadline.  you tell me i don't have to work, okay.  i won't do much, then you say you go back tomorrow and this momma is FULL THROTTLE!  laundry, socks, closets, the whole shebang!  productivity at it's finest! :)

 enjoy the tunes. 

It's too cold.

 thinking warm thoughts...

Well, my friends, it's cold.

It's so cold, I have nothing to say.

That's a rarity.

I have been at home, trying to stay warm and toasty for 2 days.

Winter weather came to old St. Louie Wednesday evening.  It was quite the snow.

For us anyway.

It's now so cold, I woke up this morning and said SERIOUSLY, DID THEY JUST SAY IT WAS 2???
What the WHAT?

Luckily, the girls have no interest in going outside when they could, quite possibly, instantly FREEZE! (I'm forever thankful of that thought they have BUT feel terribly guilty each time some random person says OH SO HAVE YOU HAD FUN PLAYING IN THE SNOW????!??!?!?!!!!???)

Anyway, it is the 21st of January.  This month is quickly ticking away.  Very unusual for me to feel that way about January...
I have been fairly successful with sticking to my goal of being determined...
Not all things of course, it is only the 21st.
But, I have been trying new recipes...
enchiladas
beans
pico de gallo
penne a la betsy

pot roast

mashed potatoes

You may notice...they all are from the same place.  Pioneer Woman.  I love this chick.  My mom gave me the cookbook for Christmas and then my sweet friend, Julie came over the other day and GAVE ME ANOTHER ONE!  She said she kind of figured I had gotten it already, and I could return it to Borders etc etc...but if you want to know a secret...I may just KEEP IT!  One for use and one for prettiness.  I'm such a freak.  Her cookbook is filled with amazing pictures, an adorable commentary of her life, and of course the most wonderful, fattening, comforting recipes that you may ever lay your eyes ON! :)  I promise!!!!!

So...that is what i have been up to.  Oh,  and laundry.  I text ed (yes, that's right.) a friend today to proudly state that for the first time in darn near 5 years...I HAVE COMPLETED ALL DIRTY LAUNDRY IN THE HOUSE AND 80% OF IT IS WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE...wow!  a)I'm really embarrassed I just admitted that and b) Just realized how many days straight i have been washing, drying, and folding clothes. BARF!

~chat soon!

snow days....

Last week, we had two snow days.
The second one, Kate and I were able to bust out and visit the Magic House...it was so fun.
She is so sweet, innocent, and a little adult all in the same skin.
I love it.
The exit of the Magic House wasn't as magical...lots of tears, a punch aimed at my face, and a bribe about a cookie...but we got to the car and all was good.

I know these days are numbered...but I hope the number isn't up too soon!

~chat soon!

Pefect=Happy?

I spent the better part of yesterday with my best friend since Kindergarten. We've seen thick and thin and have stayed friends through it all.

We talked and talked while the kids played and played.  Our conversations ranged from kids to work to business to crafts to husbands, laundry, PMS, sex...you know the usual gamut.  During each of those topics one of us sighed and exasperated sigh eluding to the fact that it was not perfect.  We wanted perfect, we strive for perfect. 

During one of the litanies, I came to the realization that it has.to.stop! NO MORE!  We ARE happy! (or should be)  We have more then some could ask for, more then some could ask for in a million years.  We have wonderful children, warm homes, strong marriages, healthy lives...seriously.  We SHOULD BE HAPPY!  Is it perfect?  HECK NO!  Of course not!  We still have mounds of laundry bills to pay, kids with wet pants, stains on carpets, husbands that work too much, cranky kids, and the pleasant visit of Aunt Flo every 28 days...

If you know me, you know that in  no way is my home 'perfect', it is no display!  You could walk in unannounced and I'm SURE you would have the opportunity to either a) cringe, or b) call Family Services but By God, we are HAPPY!

I'm determined to remember that this year!  Happy does not = perfect and Perfect does not = happy, if nothing else it = exhaustion, and I don't have time for that! :)

We are surrounded by love, faith, honesty, and pride...to this momma, that equals HAPPINESS! 
That makes me smile!
Off my soap box now!
~Chat soon!

Family Date Night...

Saturday we decided to have Family Date Night!  First ever.  Well, first one declared.  What a blast!!!  Bowling and pizza.  I seriously smiled, the whole night, it was so fun for us all.  We're going to try to make a tradition of once a month outings...I'm stuck on ideas for the colder season, but I'm sure we'll figure it out! 

Every time Kate bowled she ran back to hug...Adam!

 this picture cracks me up.  she bowled a strike and was jumping, so excited!

Adam was sitting,  his jeans really weren't that short! HA

 nice. anne. beat me.  we had bumpers.  yikes.



                                                           

Kate not wanting to leave, at all. 

~chat soon!