What HAVE we been up to?

I mean besides the usual running around of soccer games, dr appointments, bell choir practices, school, work, track meets.........etc etc etc.  Well...........

Easter Sunday found Ryan off to work.  I have to say I missed him.  A lot!  It was strange not having him here to open Easter baskets and take Easter Sunday pictures. I doubt he minded but for me it was like missing a major piece of the puzzle.  He didn't exactly get away from getting a picture though!

Then the Easter bunny hopped into our house and left us some lovely gifts!

The 6 year old was excited!

The teenager....not so much!

Then it was off to church.....

We sang joyous songs of the holiday....

And rang some chimes to celebrate.

Then we were off to the egg hunt race!

After Easter we began laying down the new flooring in the house. Too bad the Easter Bunny didn't think to leave us a gift of done floors!
The before.......

So talented at multitasking!

We even had a helper!

And a few more hands were put to work.

While some slept! (Yeah that didn't go over well)

And, wa-la, a finished floor!  Ok.  Not so finished yet.  We still have trim to put back on.  And the project ended up growing as the weekend went on.  And the thought of completing another 4 rooms and a hallway makes me wanna hide under that purple blanket with Megan! But, it is lovely all the same!

A little humming is all it takes

Funny how a song will stop you in your tracks and bring back memories.  For some it might be a sight or a smell.  For me, music fills my day. I always have it on.  In the house and in the car.  Often times I don't think I am even paying attention to it.  So when I hear a song that stops me in my tracks it often brings a smile to my face or a laugh or just a moment to reflect on a time long gone.

The other day my alarm clock was still playing music while I was getting ready for the day.  It was early morning and the sun was just thinking about waking.  On the radio came Rod Stewart's "Your in my heart" and it made me pause.  I remember early mornings just like that day, laying in bed just before the sun came up, my Grandmom in the bathroom with her radio on and that song playing.  It reminded me of a time of comfort and peace.  A time of being a kid and waiting for my day to begin. I would lay there, snuggled in my warm blankets in the dark and listening to the music while she hummed and got ready for work. I can hear the sound of the makeup on the counter and the swish of the hairspray like it was yesterday when that song came on.  Shortly after, she would come in and wake me to start my day.  And there I was in the bathroom getting ready for my day and in my bed was my daughter.  As if one could ever flip a memory!

It made me pause and remember with a smile on my face.  How we forget something so simple as waking in the morning as a child.  There was nothing big about those moments.  Nothing overly special to make it stand out.  But when that song came on, it brought it back to life like it was yesterday.

Sometimes it only takes a little love song to remember 'your in my heart, your in my soul' and to start your day happy!

Conspiracy theory

1st Let me apologize for the HUGE run on sentence of my postings. I have no clue why the site is doing it but I cannot seem to find the problem and how to stop it. I do not tend to normally just write in one huge paragraph and am breaking up the sentences as I type. So let it be known that this is Blogspots issue and want to say worry for it anyway cause I find it annoying.  I am going to try and fix it so hang in there with me!

As you know, I am a WAHM. I spend my day running outside with kids, playing in finger paint and singing fun kiddie songs. That would be the perfect world view of it.

In truth my day is more like me chasing a 1/2 naked child who removed their clothes for the 10th time today, trying to scrub out the 'washable' finger paint out of a white teeshirt that really isn't washable at all and singing "The wheels on the bus" for the millionth time while the kids are busy.......painting each other and stripping!

One of my biggest pet peeves is picking up. I think it is more noticeable for me lately simply because I have been dealing with a bad back for several months now. The thought of having to bend to pick up a plastic Barbie shoe is just not at the top of my list lately! And I swear that I think my kids are all out to get me for it too!

I cannot tell you how many times a day I pick something up. I pick up for my children. I pick up for other peoples children. I pick up for my 40 something year old husband (who should so know better but that is going into a totally different post!). I pick up laundry baskets. I pick up toys and socks and shoes and throw blankets and paci's. Gee....I wonder why I have a bad back!

The other day I spent my day walking from room to room picking things up. Refusing to leave a room till everything was in order and then moving on to another room. I started in my room at the farthest part of the house and made a turn into the family room and on into the kitchen. I was on a roll. I had just picked up the livingroom and was heading into the girls rooms when the doorbell rang and my girl friend arrived. I spent a simple few minutes opening the door and saying a greeting and walked back into the kitchen area...................... And there before me was EVERYTHING I HAD JUST PICKED UP! The toys were out, the throw blankets on the floor, my bed was messed up, paper was on the table............

Explain to me how children, who can take 2 hours to get their coats on and get out the door can make a house explode in 2 seconds? I am starting to think that it is some evil conspiracy plan to drive me insane!

I cannot understand why people in my house cannot understand the rule of 'you take it out, you pick up and put it away before moving on'. And out of all my kids, Delaney is one of my worst! Actually, my son was the best at picking up. You couldn't tell that by how he keeps his current bathroom and teenage bedroom but he really was a wonderful picker-upper. In my neurotic attempts of a place for all things and all things in their place, my son went right along with it and everything always went back in the labeled boxed. Delaneys attempt at picking up is more like shoving it under the bed and in the toy closets behind the empty labeled boxes! If anything she could have done that would drive me mad, not putting things back in their boxes might just be it.

Ok.....maybe pulling everything out behind me and leaving it there just might rank slightly above that!

Spring is in the air!

Congratulations my little fishie!

Delaney has graduated in her swim classes....up TWO classes! We were told we could have done a third but we were concerned it might be too big a leap. So we are off to guppy land and should she swim do well......we will move up again. Congrats Delaney! Mommy is so proud of you!!

With great anticipation

Well it is officially the 1st week of April! And God is good cause we not only hit 75 today but also got some sun! A much needed and welcomed sight! I just got done marking my calendar and now we sit and wait. There is a TON of things coming our way and this just might be the last week of anything compared to normal. Easter Cantatas are in preparation along with a bell choir concert shortly after. Mix it in with a run to get the bells a check up, Easter itself and, dare I say it, soccer....we will be running none stop and trying to fit things in from now on out. My calendar is filling up with pen marks galore and soon there will be no peace for another month or two! And for those that asked, you will also have to wait in great anticipation on the grade I....um....I mean WE.....I mean......Megan scored on her science project. Haven't heard a word yet. The never of that teacher! And we are awaiting Megan neuro dr visit on Wed. for her migraines and hope to get an answer there soon too. So....break out the popcorn and sit back and relax with me while I have the chance to breath.....before all hell breaks out!

This and that!

My lovely daughter, Megan, tells me Monday night that she has to make a 3-D plant cell replica out of household items. In her defense, she actually told me over the weekend. But I took it as a statement rather than what it actually was.......a call for help. And what 'help' translates to is..... 'mom, do it WITH me!". What I didn't tell you is that it is due Thur but she had the information two weeks ago! She actually got huffy over the fact that the teacher gave her ONLY two weeks to do it. Not mindful over the fact that SHE only gave me four days!!! Now WHO should be getting huffy? In truth, we only had Monday to complete it cause the rest of the week was full. It was due Thur and there was no other day to work on it. So, Monday it was. I guess it wasn't too bad cause my sister was doing her daughters during her work time! (and for those that are judging us for completely our child's science projects..........wait till YOU are informed at 7pm that a science project is due the next day then cast the 1st stone!) I was supposed to be at a church meeting begging for money for VBS on Monday night. Instead I was digging through my kitchen cabinets and trying to decide what to make a chloroplast and golgi body out of! Course, I guess, painting dry pasta and gluing on pipe cleaners was a much more fun activity than begging for money from a church that hasn't budgeted in VBS funds! But come 9pm, the meeting was starting to look good! Still...it took us over 2 1/2 hours to complete and by the next morning I handed her the cell and told her do not bring it back! This is my bestest picture of the Super Moon from the other night. It was beautiful but I simply cannot seem to get the best shots of something like this on my camera. I shall blame the camera, which it probably is, and will not point out that it just might be my inexperienced hands! In reality, it truly might have something to do with a 6 yr old and a 13 yr old who keep taking my camera and all the damage that goes along with it. BUT...here is my best shot! Now I know you are wondering what in the heck is that! We had rainbow colored day in the daycare last week and this was our version of rainbow cupcakes. I know they might not look like the best seller at your local bakery but they turned out really cool! Delaney doesn't like icing (makes ya wonder who's DNA she really has!) so we opted to go icing'less! They were really yummy! And here is Delaney helping Daddy cut the lawn! I think she did a wonderful job! (not that we really have much growing grass yet)

Kissies

Yesterday Delaney was rubbing our dog, Cherokees, belly. Cherokee was in heaven and on her back accepting each and every rub as the true gift of love it was. Delaneys friends were gathered around them and one asked Delaney what that area was between Cherokees legs. Delaney informs him that it is where she goes poopy (wrong I know) and pee. Then giggles and says....."It is her kissie!"

It took me a moment and then I realised she was comparing that area to a Hershey kiss! So now....Cherokees private area is hense forth known as her KISSIE!

I don't think I will ever pop a Hershey kiss again without giggling!

Oh the woes of the world!

What a sad and scary time we are living in today. The earthquake in Japan that has torn the lives of people apart, has also torn my heart with sadness. I cannot imagine the suffering of those that live there. How scared and broken they must seem and yet the images of them are one of peace and acceptance. Not that they are happy with their circumstances but more rather that they know it is what it is and it is now all about surviving and moving on. They find loved ones and rebuild.

You saw it in the the Sawyer/Good Morning America interview where she was walking the streets of the towns and they came to her to offer what little food and water they had. After all, it was more than they needed right then and they wanted to share their wonderful bounty.

It seems lately that the world is buzzing with something. Countries at war or on the brink. People fighting among themselves. One country threatening their neighbor with bombings.

And here is one elderly man in the mist of rubble and devastation offering food. Simply because he could. He had so much.

And it says so much!

I pray for all the lost souls over there. All the ones on the brink of war. I pray for peace among a world vibrating at the moment. May God lay His healing hand on them and know they are not alone.

That said....

it is almost St. Patricks day. A small thing in an exploding world to be happy about. I know it is almost St. Patty's Day cause Delaney has been announcing it in her Dolly song that she has been singing for the last week. Nothing melts the troubles of the world like a little 6yr old singing.........

" We have a lot of troubles
But we have a lot of soul
We'll drink a pint of Guiness
And forget about our woes
Ei-ee-ei, ei-ee-ei, we Irish are the best "

I am not sure which is cuter. The fact that she sings the song and it sounds so simple on her young lips. Or that a 6 yr old is singing about putting her troubles into a pint of Guiness!

Either way...it brings a smile on MY face.


HAPPY ST.PATRICKS DAY!

U-oh!

I am thinking someone has not been very happy with her little sister!


And a fun one to throw in.........

I was a very naughty girl!

I had a rather not so good day. Not that anything surprising, exciting or historic happened. I was just not in a good mood. I ended the day with a slight headache which was just the cherry to my attitude.

To all who came within 2 feet of me on this lovely Wednesday, I great apologize for anything I might have said, done or thought while in your presence.

I cleaned up, popped some Advils and ran out the door for my chiropractic appointment which was the grand finale of my day.

On my way home I decided I was going to be a bad bad girl. After all I deserved something to pick me up! I stopped at McDonalds, ordered a large order of fries and a chocolate milkshake. I happily turned up my country music, hummed to some song or another about girlfriends, trucks and beer.....and ate the most wonderful, greasy, fat filled fries I ever tasted in my life while driving home. Then I washed it down with the bestest chocolate milk shake that ever hit my lips (ok...not ever but ever in a very long time!)

I am home now. My house is quiet and child free. My tummy is filled with happy memories. And I am off to find my jammies and listen to the quiet with a smile on my face.

Life is grand!

More sickos and a little humming

I have been dealing with some real sickos around here lately! Add to my previous post another fever ridden daycare child and Megan.

Megan has been knocked on her butt with a migraine for the last week. I wish I knew what her triggers were and why the poor kid has to be dealing with it. Childhood at this age should be about trying out for the sports team, friends birthday parties, how to wear her hair today and who likes her the most but won't tell her. Not about which medication is working or not and being in pain so bad she can't leave her bed. After a dr visit, medications and laying around for a week, I am hoping I can get her off to school tomorrow. For one day! But better than nothing.

For one who does not deal with major headaches, it is hard for me to understand and help her. My headaches consist of an minor irritation that is helped by a pop of Advil and a large Pepsi. Preferably together but not necessarily in that order.

I rather think that her most recent discovery is what knocked her on her butt. Her teenage brain probably could not deal with the conversation we had the other day..........
*Picture Megan on the computer and me walking through the kitchen*

Megan- "How did you know that!?" *whipping her head around to glare at me*

Me- "Know what?", I absently ask.

Megan- "That song!" *she stares at me opened mouthed* "I just turned it on and you finished the song! How do you know it!"

Me- *I notice a popular song on the youtube and shrug my shoulders*
"Dunno. I have heard it on the radio and tv or something. "

Megan- *continues to stare at me in awe*

Me- "Oh come on! Surely you didn't think I lived under a rock listening to music from 1950!"

I think the realization that I just might not be some boring old MOM must have caused her brain to malfunction and go into shock sending electrodes to blast off in the wrong part of her brain or something!

(I won't tell her that Glee club might have helped too!)

Viruses

I just drug myself from the sofa and decided I needed to come on here and chat before I fell back to sleep. It has been a long night as Delaney is sick. She fell asleep yesterday during naptime, which in itself is a miracle and should have been an alert that something was wrong.

She woke at 3:30 with a slight fever. It was her 1st new class for swim and I knew she wanted to go. I took the temp and it was 99.7. Well she was wrapped in the sleeping bag she had picked to curl up in and it was 68 degrees that day so maybe she was just warm. Took it again about an hour later and she was up to 100.4. Well that kicked out swimclass for the night no matter how many excuses I tried to come up with.

She has had a sniffy nose which began over the weekend and it is allergy season so I was holding on all hope that was all it was. Allergy season for Delaney means ear infections when we can't get the runny nose in control. But, if you read my previous post, you also know there has been some germies deposited in the house and we had no real clue what we were dealing with.

As with all my little ones who are sick, Delaney slept in our bed. Four o'clock she rolls over and hacks in my face! Enough to wake me with a start. And I layed there, frozen, with my mind racing.....should I run to the bathroom in horror and scrub my face with scalding water and soap till my face becomes red or give in to the simple fact that it was just too late. It was 4am. I was tired. And I envisioned those germies having a party in my nose already and decided...it just wasn't worth the effort. I surrendered and rolled back over. Delaney on the other hand had other ideas....

She, the little one who took an afternoon nap, decided it was time to chat. "Why did you get a new alarm clock?" "What did you do with the old one?" "Where is Daddy? How come he works in the night?" "I hope we can do something fun in the morning" "Why didn't you let me have the alarm clock cause I loved that alarm clock" "I love MY alarm clock. It has Pooh on it and I love pooh"...................etc........etc.......etc

After a bit I pretended to fall asleep and so she decided it was time to do so too. However, 30 min later that new alarm clock was waking me again!

And speaking of viruses, my computer is sick. I have a nasty habit of going online and googling things for learning material. Go figure! And someone thinks it is funny to link viruses to those educational sites. My computer sputtered and floundered about two weeks ago as I tried to print off a number line for Delaney and I SOS'd my neighbor who worked to bring it back to life. The only issue I have is that my hard drive isn't working normal. It won't open CD's. It gives me a fight to upload pictures. I can't easily RIP music and it would seem that the idea of burning anything if I was able to RIP would be laughable. Sad to say, I think it is going down for the count.

So I am struggling with having to give in and spend money on a new one and letting this one continue to go till it passes out on me and dies for the last time. The trouble is that I need that hard drive for my VBS planning and it makes it very hard to do things like upload pictures, clipart, music or even open the CD I need as director to RUN it! It is inevitable. I know this. But it works ...sort of....and I have issues with spending money when it still lives.

*sigh*

And so I am off to take a little girls temp and maybe say a prayer for my beloved emachine.

Maybe one for myself that those germies dancing in my nose find somewhere else to party too!

Happy 6th Birthday Delaney and more.....

Pin the hat on the Polar Bear

A very blurry but happy Delaney!

Making snowflake frames

The snowman game....before...

On the right we have Contestant #1

On the left is Contestant #2

During.....

And after!

Lovely teenagers !

A game of hot potato

Happy 13th Birthday Chey!

Happy 18th Birthday Ryan!

Riding her new bike

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DELANEY!