Pumpkin carving...mucho fun

This year I decided I wanted to see what a power drill could do to a pumpkin. I used it to carve weird eyes. Nothing pretty or spectacular, just something I always wanted to try.



Luke and Grammy are planning out his design.


I think this was her favorite part. She kept trying to steal this part away from others. I defended mine, it's the best part of pumpkin carving! Notice the nude body, that's right, it was over 75 degrees at 7pm in late October!!!





I am very thankful my dad has so much energy and fun in him. He was hysterical tonight with all the sound effects and maniacal, halloween-ish laughter. He also did the set up, clean up, and helped both kids carve. THANK YOU!!

The Fam

This jumping picture pose was something I have always wanted to try since I saw it in a Leonardo DeCaprio movie. I am SO GLAD we did it. I LOVE it. You should try it because you can't help but all start laughing and making goofy faces. In here are all of my immediate family memebers plus a few spouses. The shot was taken spring of 07. We had so much fun with this. Check out my hugely prego sister, hysterical that she is the only one who can't jump. LOL




This pic was taken at my grandpa's 81st birthday party that we had here at the house this past May. My sis Jess couldn't make it but here are my other three siblings.

The beautiful bride

This weekend my sister Sara and I drove up to Vegas for Gab's last minute but very planned marriage. It's a funny thing. They knew they wanted to be married, they have known each other for a long time, and they just decided to forget waiting, stop putting their life on hold, forget "too young" and just jump in. I applaud that. As scary as it sorta kinda is to think of my younger sister married, I am happy for them. I jumped in and look where that got me! Blissfully happy. So, kudos for not over thinking things Gab!!! May you have a happy and prospereous marriage to Ben!


This shot was taken after the ceremony in the back veranda of the hotel. So cute.



I love this shot. This is Diane, Gab's mom trying to take out her earrings so Gab and wear them. The morning was tense and this goofy moment was perfect and I am so happy I caught it on film.



I just love the classic "bride gazing at herself" shot. She's so yummy.



Before the wedding and all the way up to the moment Gab walked down the aisle she seemed relaxed and was making all sorts of jokes. She also declared to us that she would not cry at all. Well...the MINUTE she started down the aisle with her dad and saw Ben it was over! It was the sweetest ceremony I think I have ever seen.


And this is Ben seeing Gab walk in. You can see the minister raising his hands up to signal the crowd to stand up for Gab.

I am so grateful that I could be there. And I am so thankful I was able to capture these memories. ;)

A few favs

Finally got my computer up and running (OMG that is what I forgot to include on the "what I did today rant") and here are a few favorite pics from last year I came across. Seriously, I am so lucky. They should be in some sort of order but they aren't. Your just gonna have to deal with my randomness.

Charlotte rocks a binky. What's funny is she never used one

when she was an actual baby...go figure.

I just love this one, it's so yummy.

Okay this is just too much, I can't get enough of this one. It gives me a "ahhhh" moment, a melt all the bad stuff moment if you will.

This is a pic from Luke's 4th b-day part at a farm. Here's all our guests

It was SO much fun.

This is my friend's son. I love him and want to keep him.

He reminds me of Luke in so many ways.

Get 'er done

Today was a magical day. The kids were at their godmother's house (since last night at 6pm!!!) and John and I organized the threw out TONS of computer stuff and office "things." Amazing how I always feel lighter when we throw stuff away (actually we Goodwilled most of it, yes that's a verb).

We corralled the 10,000 wire jungle under my desk into something, I dare say, pretty. Not only are they ziptied together in nice bundles, I labeled each cord at each end so I know what it goes to when I am studying the back of my computer or deciding what I can unplug at the power source. It's glorious.

We reworked the office selves to provide efficiency, I vacuumed and wiped down everything, and we just plain had fun in each other's company.

Oh and I watched THREE movies this weekend. You know me, I watch maaaybe 2 movies a month. It was sort of fun jump between vegging out and running around organizing.

I can't tell you what that does for my psyche (everything neat and clean). Seriously.....I was the happiest women alive today. AND the house is still squeaky from the housekeeper.....life is blissful.

Oh and last night I stayed up until 2am watching video clips of the Dugger Family. Seriously, that women is an inspiration.

P.S. I was officially initiated into the "I have bandaged a gnarly kid wound" club today. Luke pulled a speaker down on himself. I am told he was brave and hardly cried (happened at godmother's house). But I did clean, disinfect, and rebandage a pretty gnarly head wound. AND I explained about blood clots. Luke found that absolutely fascinating and was pretty excited about his 'soldiers of cells teaming up to stop the blood from getting past their line.' I feel "aged" my the experience, wizened, seasoned, slightly stronger somehow. I wasn't even there for the accident, and I'm not trying to be dramatic, but knowing that he went through that and then having to play nurse did something to me. I suppose it's training; I suppose there's more of that to come from an active boy.

A beautiful me

November 30, 2006
We have a breakthrough!
Something has changed for me and I am not entirely certain where it begins and where it ends, and this change is so beautiful. I keep discovering a new facet of this new change.
What caused the change? A few things…
I have been getting some counseling at my church. Some of the most spiritual and person counseling I have ever, ever received. I have worked through some really heavy personal material and it has changed me more than anything I have ever done. People talk about a pivotal point in their life, or something shaking them down to the core…this is what this particular counseling has done for me. I am very changed and more me, and completely the same all at the same time. I have a long ways to come (we have awesomely high standards) but let’s not dwell there. The biggest change that came from this counseling is that I am more here, more focused and more living in the present. It’s awesome. I didn't know I was missing this until it changed for the better! I don’t thing change #2 could have happened without this one. I am so lucky to be part of my church and all that it does.
#2. I had my awesome family point out some things they thought I ought to change in my parenting. Can you imagine the courage to tell me I ought to change some of the ways I mother??? I admire them for telling me despite what I might do or say! J Luckily I took it like a champ and really looked at how they were right. Oh how right they were!
Their kind words helped to snap be out of wherever I was, and help bring back (I had it at some point!) a complete and 100% certainty that Charlotte and Lucas are fully aware of what they should and shouldn’t be doing and no need to wonder if they “get it” or not. No need to repeat myself 100 times and no need to expect low standards because of age. So now that we have that in place, it’s time to expect and demand higher standards of them! And lo and behold Charlotte has been just incredible compared to even a few days ago, and Lucas is really coming along and is working through his weak areas.
My brother (technically he is my in-law, but he is more a full brother than anything) Jerrol said something that really stuck to me. He ever so gently and kindly pointed out that I might need to change something if I didn’t know WHAT I would do if I couldn’t send Luke and soon Charlotte off to preschool every day. That I shouldn’t be troubled too much or NEEED to get away from my kids. I brushed him off the first few times he said this, but this last time I really looked at this. Why do I feel I can’t spend all day with my kids? What am I doing wrong here? Why can’t I get anything done when they are home? I decided that he was right and something was very wrong over here.
Wake up call!!!
My have not been getting proper control run on them, I have always entertained them and created their games for them, and allowed them to have pretty poor manners. So we are on day 2 or so of some BIG changes and things are going SO MUCH BETTER! Stay tuned! This second change would not have allowed change #3 to arrive today....this is a very, very personal one. One I am been really struggling with. Only a few know the extent of the stuggle.
#3 I love my Charlotte. I love my baby girl so much – but better than that I enjoy her and I miss my girl when she’s sleeping. I always have loved her, but we have had a ridge, tension – whatever you want to name it - between us, we weren’t in mother/daughter bliss, that is for certain.
She has been difficult, almost anyone can tell you that. I have been stuck on that, “I have a difficult baby” and have lamenting and whined about it. But I see now, after spending two of the most incredible days with her that I should have moved on long ago and enjoyed her in the ways I could have, granted her more beingness for being her and loved Charlotte despite of the fact that she is so different from what I had expected andfrom what I thought I wanted.
But all I really want is my little girl, now that I have figured this all out.
She is just the funniest thing! I have never seen such spunk and LIFE in a tiny body! It is hysterical! She is spirited and oh so smart, funny and the sweetest thing. She has such integrity and is very out-spoken (yes a non-talking child can be out-spoken) and some of these things she’ll need some guidance on (that is if I want her to have friends!) but man she is amazing. I always knew these things, maybe just partially. But somehow they all feel so new. It’s an awesome feeling to be able to appreciate and love her, but sad that we couldn’t get along better before.
But I love my girl.......and that's all that matters.
Not a day goes by when I am not incredibly thankful and grateful for my family. I could not be who I am or have come so far without them.
This year is truly been my best so far in terms of growth. Thank you for being my friend everyone.

Cruising through the holidays

Want to have stress free or lower stress holidays????
Log on to this website!!!! http://www.flylady.net/. I can't tell you how much the program and lifestyle change on that website has helped me.

Last year I did what she calls a holiday challenge to where I followed a plan to be totally organzied for the holdays. It was incredible!!!!! I highly recommend you check out this page in specific!!! http://www.flylady.net/images/HCJ2003.pdf

I just printed out what she calls her Holiday Control Journal. It's your ticket to control and lower stress over the next 6 weeks!

Happy Holidays!

The Sweetie Girl

On days like today I just love being a mom. I feel so lucky to be a stay at home mom. It can drive me bonkers not going out and getting stuff done, things that I want to do but can't, and accomplishing tasks that will STAY DONE (unlike the cleanliness of my home, or the toys staying in their place, or the laundry).

Today Charlotte and I went to go see a personal trainer (for me!) and we worked out together with my two friends and there babies. We had a mini gymboree set up in there, I swear! It was pretty hysterical have our strollers blocking off one end of the room so that Charlotte couldn't escape and then one of us holding a baby while the other did the stairs or crunches. Toys were everywhere, snacks ground into the carpet. Good times! Luckily the staff was really understanding. Thank goodness!

Charlotte was so good, and really liked being there. Her being good and letting me do something that I WANT to do makes all the difference.

And then we came home and sat in our front yard and ate lunch and watched for airplanes (for some reason lots and lots of helicopters and airplanes fly over our house) and she played with some water bottles learning to pour and get wet! It was so relaxing and just plain fun.
Charlotte does so well on a relaxing day. I mean who doesn't right? But rushing really seems to effect her negativly. My mom helped me notice that when I rush or act rushed she acts up, cries, whines, and otherwise is totally unpleasent!! Amazing! It really has helped me (I am so lucky to have all her help).

YAY for days like today! And YAY for my friends that give me such support in the areas I need it.

Lookin' out for myself

Okay so there is something I do that makes my hectic, kid oriented life a LOT easier.
1) I made a spare key for my car. So on those days where my kids lost my keys, I can still leave the house on time, or leave a location in an emergency if I need to. It's a very reassuring safety net.
Also, I have been meaning to put a $50 bill in there too. I got this idea from the book Sink Reflections (my all time favorite book on organizing your house and LIFE). This way if you ever forgot your wallet or are in an emergency you can still get gas, tow your car, etc.
That one is next. So here's to always be prepared!

General Update

Wow, okay so I am not the best blogger....... It's been a while.

Since my last few posts Charlotte has started and stopped preschool (what was I thinking?), Luke has become FULLY potty trained (I will save you the details), we have sold our house, paid off all our credit card debt (woohoooo!), purchased two new parakeets (so cute), and on and on....

Batman, I mean Lucas is the sweetest thing ever right now (knock on wood). Still cuddly and more and more verbal every day. This new thing he does is so cute. It'll go like this:
Luke: (asks me a question)???
Me: I'm not sure Luke.
Luke: No....I'm telling you, _____(same question)______?
Me: (delivers a made up answer).
For some reason he either thinks I know everything or needs an answer. The funny thing is that when he asks the second time 60% of the time I actually do have an answer, I just had to think for a minute. Very cute.

Charlotte's vocabulary has doubled, easily, in the last week. She is repeating the same syllables I say, and sometimes even the words. She is saying "byebye, uppie, mama, dada, banenee (blanket), shoes (always said enthusiastically), sockies, wowo (for the sound a dog makes), whass dat?" and so on. New words are a commin'!! (Thank goodness)

Okay so you know how she LOVES shoes? Well if you don't her shoe obsession is just that, obsessive. When she wakes up in the morning AND at nap time the first thing she wants to do is pick out some shoe to wear. Okay so funny story, the other day my mom was sitting down on the couch and Charlotte walked up to her leg, held up her pants and studied her shoes as if to say "Hmmm....those are cute." Freakin' hilarious!

Challenge Day

I was watching Oprah today and her show was about this program called Challenge Day. If you get a moment go on her website and check it out.

It was the best show I have ever watched. I sat crying for the whole hour, huge tears rolling down my face, good tears. Basically 65 high school students were taken through a series of games, drills and sessions where they broke down barriers, learned to communicate with people and see that everybody is equal. People who were once racist, bullying, name calling or just out of communcation with one another were hugging and telling each other "I love you" at the end. It was INCREDIBLE.

Here is a quote from Oprah website:
"Monroe High School is about to undergo a major change thanks to a program called Challenge Day. In one day, Challenge Day program creators Yvonne and Rich will bring together a group of students, from all different walks of life, and help them break down their walls to create a more unified community.Drug and alcohol abuse and bullying in schools are only symptoms of the real problems students face, Yvonne says. "The biggest problems in our schools today, we believe, are separation, isolation and loneliness," she says. "If our kids are feeling lonely, it's not because there's a lack of people. It's because there's a lack of love and connection between them."Another major reason kids are on edge is because they often feel their parents' stress from daily life or frustrations over what it takes to raise their children.One of the goals of Challenge Day is to work past the students' feelings of stress and isolation and help them form a bond with each other. "The kids that don't know each other from different cliques, backgrounds, belief systems, skin color…they're going to come together in here. What they're going to basically find out by the end of the day is that we're much more alike than we are different," Yvonne says.

The more programs we have like this the better!

Perfect Day

Okay I want to freeze this moment in time......... All my laundry is done (!!!) and put away (the later being the real victory), Charlotte is sleeping (ahhh), my kitchen is clean, I am not cooking dinner tonight (going to my in-laws), my office is clean, the kids' rooms are clean, my bed is made, my sheets are fresh, I had time to write in my kid's journals, I had time to read a bit of a book, I had lunch with my sister-in-law so that means I didn't have to make lunch, oh and there are no old and rotting bottles in my car!!!!! This is heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL LOL

Enough of the potty mouth!

So most of you are probably thinking......alright already! Enough with the gross updates on potty training!

And I hear yah, I don't know that I would want to read about that stuff either. But I swear this is about the entirety of our existence right now.

And it's painful let me tell you. Today I committed mommy treason, I pinned Luke on the potty today to "help him" get over his fear of #2 on the potty. And he did and once that was over (half hour later of horrible suffering) he was so proud of himself and I was too and we went to the toy store. I look back and think "WHAT was I thinking??"

So....we are on the right track but it's so oh so sloooow. I should just stop obessing.

The Big Move

Okay so we are moving this weekend and the only thing I can say is a quote from my dad...
"I would rather be beaten to death than move"
Well put dad, well put. :) Actually there is a lot about our particular move that is liberating. Since we will be dramatically reducing the amount of space we will have this forces us to decide "Is that worth paying to have stored??" which makes us inspect each item differently. Which has resulted in an ever growing trash pile outback! That's right - this is trash pile #3 from our house since we have owned it! Try it sometime (not the trash pile but the throwing away of stuff)! It's actually incredibly liberating to throw stuff away!!! It's amazing I actually have more energy and feel happier. Weird how that works.
So as of July 4th we will have a new address and phone number. Contact me via email (which will stay the same) to get it.
That's funny that our move coincides with the 4th of July. Because this is our first huge step to independence too. In many different ways. Sounds corny, but whatever.....it's true.

The house CAN be cute

OMG folks....you won't believe the changes going on around here. Our house is being attacked by workers every day from every angle. THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!! You have no idea. After chipping away at it ourselves when we have a few hours here and a few hours there, to having a crew arrive and stay all day......wow. Amazing what it does for the psyche! :)
As soon as things are done I will post pictures so we all can say "Ahhhhhhh, now isn't that nice."
I am sure my neighbors are JUMPING with joy! We have been one of the worst houses (at least from the outside) for 3 years now. And now we will be right up there with the best of 'em.
I am feeling so good knowing our new owners will not have to go through what we have. YAY!!!