Who Knew?

I am loving this minivan! It is so pretty. I really want one:


Honda Odyssey

It just looks so sleek and nice. And with a push of a button you can open and close the sliding doors and hatch. Love, love, love that. That would be very convienient!!

Now, I am not ashamed to say that I LOVE minivans. I realize I am only 26, but I have 3 kids! It is so great to be able to separate my children if I need to, so whatever we have MUST have third row seating. It also needs to have space in the back for whatever I need, such as a stroller, groceries, luggage if we go out of town, etc.

With that in mind, my second choice for a vehicle would be this:


Honda Pilot

It has third row seating and space in the back for "stuff". It does not, however, have the convienience of doors that open at the touch of a button. However, it is still very nice in every other way.

My only problem with these vehicles is the price associated with them. They are out of my price range. (Hey, we're getting 5 people by on one income here!) But, a girl can always dream, right?

Cause Ya Gotta Have Friends

I am blessed with a wonderful group of friends. There are 5 of us that started our small group when we were going through the 40 days of community study at our church. We were all friendly with each other before but during that time, we all became really close. We didn't want to stop meeting weekly, but finding a time that would continue to work for all of us was difficult. So, we decided to turn our small group into a Sunday school class. We would all already be at the church on Sunday mornings anyway.

After the first of the year, we began a Beth Moore study called Believing God (which, btw, is very powerful). However, another ladies' class wanted to join us for this study. It has been really nice getting to know other women in our church and making new friends, but it leaves us with less time together as a small group.

So, we decided last month to start getting together monthly to catch up. Last month, we met at TGI Friday's and ate dinner and just sat around and chatted for a couple of hours (don't worry, we all left generous tips).

This month, we got together last Friday and went to the Funny Bone to see Gary Valentine. We made a reservation for 6:30 and all met there to have dinner and chat before the 8:00 show. After that, it was still kind of early so a few of us stuck around the mall and caught a movie. It was so much fun. I SO enjoy hanging out with these ladies. They are great! We always have so much fun together.

I can't wait for next month. Any ideas on what we should do at our next get-together?

The Key To Your Child's Heart

I was really looking forward to this new book we are starting at our Tuesday morning women's study today. I read the first chapter yesterday and was really excited for the discussion. I always learn so much from the other moms and leave with a refreshed attitude. We just finished the first study and are beginning this one.



However, when we got there, my little man did NOT want to stay and play. I left him crying with the other kids (and the lady that is paid to watch them) and went on in to the study. He usually will calm down after a few minutes. Today was different though. He was in the next room and I could hear him screaming and calling for me (usually the kids are on the other side of the church, but today they weren't for some reason). My heart was breaking just listening to him. So I snuck out and tried to comfort him for a few minutes and then went back in. I had just reached my seat and sat back down and heard him start screaming again. I couldn't pay attention to the discussion at all because I was too distracted by him. After a few more minutes of his screaming, I finally just gathered my things and left.

I was very disappointed that I didn't get to stay. Hopefully next week he'll be back to normal and will stay. I think he is just really tired today. He didn't even want to play with the basketballs in the activity center at the church. He just wanted me to hold him. I guess he's just having one of those days that he just wants his mommy. I better just enjoy them while I can because this too shall pass.

Oh the joys of parenting.

The Dance

So Saturday night was my girls' father-daughter dance at school as I mentioned. Here is a pic of them and their daddy getting ready to leave.



They looked so cute. My oldest daughter gave me a hard time about the dress. She wanted to wear her Easter dress from last year instead. She finally decided to wear the new dress (obviously). But it was not an easy thing, convincing her. That girl is sooooo moody. I don't know where she gets it! :)

I tell you, I am not looking forward to a few short years from now when my girls become teenagers. They are already so, extremely moody and hormonal! Just wait until they hit puberty, wait until they start getting PMS! Oh what horror that will bring! I think guru and our son will need to have their own place to live when that day comes. It will, assuredly, not be pretty!

Anyway, they apparently had a great time. Guru posted about it as well. You can read that here.

What's up?

Let's just start with the important stuff, shall we? Kevin Covais finally got the boot last night. WOO HOO! Now we just need to kick Bucky off next week and we'll be good.

I've been working on a couple of projects for school with my 3rd grader. First, I had to come up with a costume of sorts for a museum her class did. She was Helen Keller. You can read more about that here. Also, we have been searching the internet for facts about the snow leopard. She has been working on a science project on endangered animals and that's the animal she chose. The final draft is due tomorrow. I hate when they have stuff like this to do when they're so young, cause I get stuck doing a lot of it. A lot of the stuff they have to do requires parental assistance. I've already been through grade school, thank you.

I've also been running all over the place the last couple of days trying to find dresses for my girls that they can wear to their father-daughter dance at school this Saturday. I finally found some this morning (at the 7th store I looked at!!). And they were 20% off too! I also got them new shoes and tights and some little rings and neclaces for their daddy to give them for the dance. I will definately be posting some pics of them.

Thinking about donating their hair over spring break. I know there are places that will give free shampoos, cuts and styles to people who donate their hair to locks of love. I know Kenneths does for sure. I'd like to get my hair cut when they do (though, mine isn't long enough to donate) but I don't really want to pay that much for my hair cut, even if theirs are free. I know, I'm cheap. Or, perhaps, financially challenged would be a better way to put it?

Well, that's about all I've got for you. Maybe I should jump on this Thursday 13 bandwagon. Then, at least, I would have to update at least once a week. Maybe next week.

What, what?!

Was anyone else a little surprised to see Ace in the bottom three tonight? I admit that last night was not his best performance, but it wasn't his worst. I was also surprised that Lisa was bottom 3. I thought she did well last night.

Let me just say that I am tired of Kevin getting through! Why are these parents letting their 10 year old daughters stay up late enough to vote for this guy? And who is voting for Bucky? Stop it, I say, stop!

I bet it's the same people who kept voting Scott Savol through last year!

On another note, I sprained my ankle on Monday. The one that I am always twisting. I stepped down wrong and it just buckled. I heard it crack about 8 times. I thought I was going to be ok though. It hurt like a mother at first, then I got up and started walking around on it and it didn't seem so bad. I figured it would be good to go again by Tuesday. Wrong!

When I got home and took my shoes off, it was pretty swollen. I put ice on it and propped it up. It hurt so bad, I couldn't fall asleep that night.

Now, two days later, I can walk on it, but not for long periods of time. It is still quite swollen and hurts. I went grocery shopping today and went to several other stores in search of supplies to make a leprechaun trap with my kindergartener. So, I was on it a little too much today. Hopefully it will be even better tomorrow. I'm going to try to stay off of it as much as possible.

I would post a picture of the trap, but my camera is in the diaper bag in my van. Great place for it, huh? Sorry, but I don't feel like hobbling down the stairs and outside to get it tonight. What? I already told you my ankle is swollen! I know, I'm a baby. Maybe tomorrow.

You Know You Are Living In 2006 When...

* You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

* You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

* You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

* You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

* Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

* You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

* Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

* Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic, and you turn around to go and get it.

* You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

* You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

Who Called It?

Thats right, I DID! Right here.

So at least I'm not the only one who sees that connection! You think Ryan's been reading my blog?

I'm not sure which guys will leave this week, but if it were up to me, it would be Chic...er Kevin and Sway. While I think Sway did better this week than last, I still don't think he's great.

I'll tell ya who did lay the smack down tonight and that's Chris! He nailed that song! I can see him winning this thing.

Elliott did a great job as well, but Chris has the look as well as the voice.

As for the girls, Katharine (no, I didn't misspell it, that's how they spell it on the website) and Kinnik are my picks to leave.

We shall see tomorrow night.

Priceless

Idol Look-Alikes?

Mixed with






This is who I see when I look at these idols. Do you see any other resemblances?

Sorry

I haven't really felt like blogging lately. It really isn't fun for me anymore. Mostly, I think, because I'm incredibly boring and don't have anything blogworthy. I still read other people's blogs, just don't have anything I feel like blogging about personally.

My girls are off school today for a Parent-Teacher conference day. Fortunately, neither one of their teachers needed to see me for anything at this time. That, of course, is good because there's nothing like dragging 3 kids (one of whom is not yet 2) into a school for a conference with a teacher!

They are also off Monday for President's Day! So, alright! Four day weekend! Two whole, extra days of the kids being here ALL-DAY-LOOOOOONG! Woo Hoo! Can you tell I'm ecstatic? Yippee! (end sarcasm)

So, really, as you can tell, I have absolutely nothing of importance or interest to share. Hence, the lack of recent blogitation.

Have a Great weekend all...both of you!

6 Years Ago...

My youngest daughter was born!

I had gone to bed between 11 p.m. and midnight feeling absolutely no signs of labor. I woke up at 1:30 a.m. with contractions 2 1/2 minutes apart. We arrived at the hospital around 3 a.m. At 5:55 a.m., she made her way into the world weighing 8lbs 5oz and was 20 3/4 inches.

Today she is 6 years old! It is so hard to believe she has gone from this:


to this:


Now she is in kindergarten! Where are all my babies going? (My youngest will be 2 in a couple of months!) I'm getting old! Sometimes I can't believe I'm old enough to have 3 kids, the oldest of which is in 3rd grade!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Help Wanted Ads And What They Really Mean

COMPETITIVE SALARY: We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.

JOIN OUR FAST-PACED TEAM: We have no time to train you.

CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE: We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up; well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.

MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED: You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.

SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED: Some time each night and some time each weekend.

DUTIES WILL VARY: Anyone in the office can boss you around.

MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL: We have no quality control.

CAREER-MINDED: Female Applicants must be childless (and remain that way).

APPLY IN PERSON: If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told the position has been filled.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE: We've filled the job, our call for resumes is just a legal formality.

SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE: You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST: You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.

REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS: You'll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.

GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it.

(Courtesy of The Funny Bone)

Rudeness!

Ok, I went grocery shopping a couple of days ago and I start putting my things on the conveyer belt. I had a huge cart full of stuff and had just started unloading it. Well, this guy behind me, who is just gabbing away (loudly) with some guy that just walked into the store that he apparently knows, throws one of those dividers up on the belt and starts unloading his cart. I'm not even done putting my things up there! I look at my cart and the space he has left for me to put my stuff. There was no way it was all going to fit.

First of all, I am a person who organizes her groceries at checkout. I don't pile things up unnecessarily. I put canned goods together, boxed things together, frozen foods together, etc. I even try to put the heavier things at the front so they get scanned first, therefore they go into the cart first as to not smash the other things. Well, I started piling my things on the belt since I had no other option. This did not make me happy. So before I could even finish piling my things up, the belt had moved to where the divider was at the end and all my stuff was already scanned, except for the things that were still in my cart! So I had to actually start handing my items individually to the cashier so she could scan them. I have two words for you, guy... HOW RUDE!

And then, yesterday, my two younger children and I go to eat lunch with my hubby. We go into the restaurant (fast food, of course) and there is this guy in there who is talking extremely loudly into his cell phone. Ok, seriously? We could not hear each other talking on the other side of the dining room because this guy is so loud, laughing and yelling into the phone. Fortunately the yelling was not profane or negative, he was just having a good time talking to whoever he was talking to but, COME ON, MAN! He was completely oblivious to how incredibly rude he was being. The manager even said something like "has that guy never had a cell phone before?". At least he wasn't on one of those walkie-talkie Nextel phones! Don't even get me started on those. Hate them, Hate them! Hate them! I don't want to hear your conversation while I'm trying to eat and relax! Two words for that guy...HOW RUDE!

Anybody else have a story of someone who was completely rude and oblivious?

You Give me Fever!

I haven't felt well the last few days. I've had major sinus issues, especially at night when I'm laying down and have just felt achy. Last night, sometime after I went to bed, my throat started hurting. I tossed and turned between midnight (when I went to sleep) and around 5:30 this morning. I was so uncomfortable. My throat was killing me, I was shivering under the covers and I couldn't breathe through my nose.

I got up to use the bathroom and get a drink of water. I couldn't find any tylenol upstairs anywhere, and I simply didn't have the energy to walk downstairs to find it and come back up to bed. So what did I do? I laid there and suffered for 2 more hours. I couldn't find a comfortable position to lay in and I was burning up with a fever.

Finally I fell back asleep for around 30 minutes until my son woke up. Guru went and got him and then went and got me tylenol. I got the medicine in me and went back to sleep and couldn't make myself get up. I finally got up somewhere around 11:00. Guru complained that he didn't get to sleep in on his day off and called me lazy or ridiculous or something of the sort for not going to get myself tylenol when I got up to go to the bathroom. Whatever, if that's what you want to call it, then, yes that's what I was being. I just couldn't.

When I did get up, I was feeling slightly better. My fever was gone, but my throat still hurt. It still does. I hope it isn't strep! I seem to get it every year. I've been taking tylenol all day.

I'm hoping to make it to a women's Bible study at my church in the morning. I missed the first week of the study because I wasn't originally planning on attending it. A friend of mine went last week and said it seemed like it was going to be a really good study. So I found the book (practically brand new) at amazon.com for a penny!! That came in the mail this week so I'm all set to go. I just hope that I don't have another night like last night. The study starts at 9:30, so I need to get moving after getting the girls on the bus in the morning.

So, that means I should stop blogging and get to bed. I'll fill you in later on what the study is all about. It is definitely something I think I should benefit from (at least I hope I do!).

I know, I'm a slacker!

I'm sorry. I know you all have been religiously checking in here every day looking for a new little nugget about what's going on with Lo! (yeah, right!)

Well, I've been keeping busy. My daughters and I all had dentist appointments on Monday. I had a Dr. appointment yesterday and my son will go for a follow up appointment tomorrow for the ear infection he had.

I got a call yesterday from a friend of mine who works as a secretary for a small Christian school. She has recently been offered a position at Children's hospital, where she worked before the school (and still works part time) that would pay her a lot more than she is making now. Plus, she could get the great benefits they offer! On top of that, they are willing to wait until the end of the school year for her. Well, she called to ask if I would be interested in the possibility of sharing her position at the school with her. She would work Mondays and Fridays at the school and T-W-Th at Children's. That would leave T-W-Th for me to work at the school.

It is a tough decision. If I went to work there, I would probably get half off tuition for my girls (since I would only be working part time, full time would mean free tuition). The hourly pay isn't very great, but would cover the portion of tuition I would have to pay and probably enough to pay someone (trinity) to watch the baby those 3 days. I wouldn't really have anything extra. But, I would be able to take my kids out of public school and put them back in a private, Christian school!

Sounds great, right? Well here's the thing. My family has sacrificed so much just for me to finally be able to be home with our kids. We took the girls out of private school and moved to an apartment that is much smaller than our house. We are finally able to do it. And still pay all of our bills every month. Sure, we always murmur the phrase "don't spend any more money" about every two weeks, usually a few days before payday, but at least everything is getting paid.

I used to cry daily because I wanted so badly to be able to stay home. I wanted to raise my kids, not have someone else do it, even if it was family. I never doubted that my kids were being taken good care of by people who love them, but it was just not the same as being able to do it myself.

I just don't think I am ready to go back to work. I still have a baby at home whom I love spending my mornings with. Just him and me.

So, what would you do? Would you take the opportunity? Or would you keep things the way they are and roll with it?

P.S. I would also like to mention that if I worked at the school, I would have to wear a skirt and panty hose (yes, I said panty hose, which I haven't even owned a pair in literally years!) every day. No dress slacks allowed or anything, must be a skirt!

I Need Some Ideas

As I mentioned before, my dad is turning 50 this month. We are throwing him a party on the 14th. I know what food we'll be serving and have a general idea of what I want to do for decorations. We even have a slide show presentation that we are working on for him.

My problem, however, lays in entertainment. It's not as easy as a kids party. I'm pretty sure no one there will want to play pin the tail on the donkey or duck duck goose. I have no idea what to do for games at this party. Should we have prizes for people? I'm not good at this party planning thing as it is, so, I'm at a loss here.

Any suggestions? And just so you know, there will be no alcohol at this party, so no drinking games. I'm kind of running out of time here. I'm such a procrastinator! Just over a week left.

Ideas, ideas, people, I need ideas!!

If Animals Ruled The World

Love it! There were more, but these were my favorite!


Thanks, Sweetiepie!

The Baby!

Isn't she just precious?!!!

I'm An Aunt....Again!

That's right! At 2:45 yesterday my little niece, Anna, was born weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces and is 19 inches long! I'm so excited! I'm going to go see her in the hospital today.

Unfortunately, the mommy and my brother in law are separated at this time. It's really sad for the kids' sake. (They also have a 4 year old son) I hope they can work things out. For the record, she is a really sweet girl and I completely agree with her reasons for leaving. I love my bro in law, but I don't agree with his lifestyle! I just pray he will come to see his wrongdoings and make an effort to change.