Tracy's This and That

OH MY GOODNESS~

2009-12-14T14:16:00.004-05:00

NEW YORK 2009 GIRLS WEEKEND WAS AWESOME~

Our shopping theme ended up being scarves and underware.. I am not sure how it happened, but everyone on seemed to buy some of each. I have a new drink. I will write more about the trip in a little bit, but had to post this picture. It is my acai blueberry vodka martini... OH HOLY HELL it was good. I have my cell phone behind it to light it enough so Kristen could get the photo.. Cool picture huh?

More to come as soon as I round up some more photos.

My dear sweet motivation,

2009-12-08T21:33:00.003-05:00

I understand that sometimes everyone needs a break from each other. I just wonder if you could choose a better time for these hiatuses than when I need you most.
Please Hurry home.
Love Tracy

cars cars everywhere

2009-12-08T08:54:00.003-05:00

So we have started the lovely task of getting new cars. When we were first married, we bought new cars one year apart. Well, that was 10 years ago. We both are getting to the point where we need new cars. There is one difference between then and know. We have have 2 kids and can't purchase two cars at the same time. So we have been weighing the options of who gets the new car first and how long we wait. Yesterday we drove 4 cars. Two of the cars were while Cait was in preschool and the other 2 were after preschool. First we went to the Nissan dealership. They were the rudest people we have EVER seen. We were in and out of there in less than five minutes. The car they showed us was covered in mud, the pockets in the doors were stuffed with trash, there was a car seat and 3 or 4 coats in the backseat. If we would have wanted to sit in it, we would have been shoving things out of the way. It was disgusting. So then we headed off to the BMW dealer. This is Randy's dream car. I personally don't see any difference in that car vs. a less expensive car, but then what do I really know. Anyway, we drove the 228 and the 335. I would be very nervous if he got the 335. He has a hard time remembering when he is in a jet and when he is in a car to begin with. This car would only intensify matters.. IT is FAST..
They were however, extremely nice there.

Then it was off to the Nissan dealer in another town. They were much nicer. The first car we drove was the Maxima.. Now I love this car. But I grew up with Nissans so I am partial to them anyway. Randy seemed to really like it. It drove nice too. Then as we were pulling back on the lot, I asked him if he had any Armadas..He said, "oh yes, right here, do you want to drive one?"
me: "UMMMM YESS!!' For a beast (which any of those big SUV's are) I LOVED it. I got those butterflies in my stomach and it just felt cozy. I have also driven an Expedition for the last 10 years. It is big and trucky. The Armada is big, but feels like a car.. Ahh heaven.

So which car did we choose? Well, none of them. We are in the early stages, but I think we have it narrowed down.. But the car payment, that will be quite an adjustment. We haven't had one of those in 4 years.

Will you still be my friend?

2009-12-06T20:24:00.005-05:00

So I wonder if I have ANY friends left out there....

I am going to try and step up my blog game. I miss you guys. I can't believe how much has happened in bloggy world since I left.

I won't even attempt to play catch up on my world. I think I will just jump in and start from here.

Here is a little taste into my world.. My "bliss".. RUNNING>>

This was from a local turkey trot I ran on Turkey Day. I am by no means fast, but I do love it and my foot seem to be holding, for the most part so I am very excited about that. I start training for my first half in mid December..

I am back. I've missed you. Anyone still there?

diving in.. or runniing in

2009-08-15T11:07:00.002-04:00

I have had my second and final cortisone shot. The next step is surgery (when it becomes too bad and I can't stand it anymore, and it is no where near that ) So I am going to start slowly and run. I figure if I know where its going anyway, I might as well enjoy myself until I have to have surgery right? And believe me, my kids will also thank me for it. Can you say"much happier mom"?
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Oh and I do plan to get back to regular scheduled posts. We leave for vaca to St. Lucia by way of Illinois (kiddo dropping) I am sure there will be plenty of photos. The problem with blogger now is I have to drop the size of the photos before I post them, so it just takes time and I haven't done it.. Some day soon.

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Oh and our intern has arrived. The girls LOVE her. She has been super busy, but she has been here for 4 days. She will be with us until mid December. She is interning in the preschool ministry at our church. She is really nice.

2009-08-10T17:21:00.001-04:00

why won't a picture I sent to blogger post?

my foot ~almost~ cure

2009-08-09T22:15:00.003-04:00

STILL NOT RUNNING>>>

I have a VERY close relationship with my podiatrist. And for those of you who know me.. I DON'T like feet and even worse, REALLY don't like people touching my feet. I have been on three different anti-inflammatory drugs. They give me horrible canker sores.. Dr. also gave me a topical anti-inflam.. It was awesome. The only problem, was he gave me a sample tube. It lasted only one week. When I went to get my prescription filled it was $94. INSURANCE WOULDN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS TOO NEW.. Needless to say, I didn't get it. It wasn't doing too much more than the pills were.

A friend of mine is a 3rd year resident. He (with the experience he has) has not seen a tarsal tunnel injury heal on its own without surgery. GREAT!

Anyway, my physical therapist (I have a medical professional for just about anything anymore), who is also my favorite babysitters mom showed me a way to wrap my foot a while back. The ball of my foot and around was hurting when I first started running. I decided to use that wrap to see if it would help. Do you know it is helping? I don't think it is healing it, but it does take away some of the pain.. I am not sure if I can wrap my foot everyday forever, but it is a fix for now. I go to the doctor on Wednesday...AGAIN. Hopefully he will say I can run.

The Arc Trainer at the gym has been a lifesaver. It is kind of like an elliptical, but different. I am still holding out hope I will get to run a 10k in DC in October.
I took a photo of it and sent it to blogger via my phone, but it hasn't shown up yet.

We are leaving for vacation soon. St. Lucia by way of Illinois. Yes my friends (if there are any left out there) Randy and I are going on a vacation for our 10Th anniversary. Of course we are going in August instead of October because then the girls will be in school. We are dropping the kiddos off with my family and heading out. Oh sun... Oh beach... Oh endless all inclusive drinks..

Good mom category...

2009-07-22T10:24:00.003-04:00

That would be category I DON'T fit into..

Madison by four could write all of her upper and lowercase letters. Cait...NOT so much because I just don't work with her. So what has Madison started doing?? She has taught her little sister how to write her ENTIRE upper case alphabet. WHoo hoo!! I guess that is what happens when you raise a bossy first child huh? She has to be the teacher and Cait is a willing participant! SCORE!

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Quick Caitenism:

"Mommy (looking in the mirror) I have a lot more frunkles (formerly known as polka dots, actually known as freckles)"

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Running update...

Still NOT happening, but my foot IS getting better.. Pray that when I go in the first part of August he lets me run. I miss it so.. There is just no other workout I enjoy like running (well, I really don't enjoy running, but I do enjoy the running high VERY much). I am heading to St. Lucia in a couple of weeks and I would LOVE to be able to run on the beach, or on a treadmill looking at the ocean.. Either one works, as long as it is running and then maybe a massage afterward!

family

2009-07-18T11:50:00.002-04:00

I LOVE having family visiting...

caitenism

2009-07-13T21:32:00.003-04:00

I know its been a long time..crazy summer!

talking about her cousin, aunt and uncle flying in tomorrow on the plane:

Cait: if the plane came to our house, it would wand on the woof (roof) and break the woof and crack our heads.

Madison: No, we would have to call Handy Manny to come fix it.

Cait: we could text him, but we don't have his number. Where would we get it?

oh my goodness that child makes me laugh! do you think she spends a little time with her momma?

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T12:53:00.005-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who serve, here and abroad (or have served) to keep us safe at home! Thank you also to all the spouses, girl/boyfriends, mommas, and significant others who take care of EVERYTHING for them.. *big virtual hug*

So what did you do for the Memorial Day weekend?

Us, well, Madison came home with a 102.5 fever Wednesday,by 9:30p her temp was almost up to 104 so in the tub she went, was off Thursday, sick,in the 103 range in the afternoon, Professional teachers day on Friday, (as well as amox for strep throat started that day) Saturday was pretty good, grilled out, and Madison seemed to be on the mend. Sunday, I woke up not feeling well, nauseous. Then later on I had one of the worst headaches I have had in a LONG time. Thought maybe it was from skipping coffee (because of said nausea). I went to bed when the kids did at 8:30 only to be awakened at 12:30 with Cait running a 101.5 fever..LOVELY! So today we are just watching the clouds build waiting for the humidity to break.. While we are all hoping to feel better. Great Memorial Day huh?

strawberry farm

2009-05-19T13:36:00.005-04:00

Last week Cait and I went with her class to the strawberry farm. It seems like an odd trip since the strawberries are not ready until June, but Cait seemed to have fun.

Look, there is even proof I was there.

They had a small barn with a few goats, chickens, rabbits and ducks. The farmer lady let them pet a rooster and an albino rabbit. The increasing germophobe in me kept making sure she didn't put her hands in her mouth or put her mouth on the gates. I then found myself telling other kids not to put their mouths on the fence..eww.

The sheep.

This is Ms. Julie. She is one of Cait's teacher's. Her husband actually flies with Randy, so Cait knew her before class and L.O.V.E.S. her. (quick back story: Her bff from Germany was my bff in North Carolina, Jody. Jody calls Julie by her first and last name always. So before I even knew Julie personally, I always called her by her first and last name. Now Cait does the same thing. In class, all the kids call her Ms. (insert last name here) Julie ALWAYS knows when my kid wants her because she calls her Ms. Julie(insert last name here). )

I have photos with her and her classmates, but I still feel a little weird putting them up without the momma's permission.

There was a little indoor play area with tricycles and little games. They really liked this area.

Two years ago we went to the same farm with Madison's preschool. I actually carried Cait in a back pack carrier. I can't believe how little Cait was.. Time goes too quickly. Now we are one class away from her first year of preschool being done..

I am SO looking forward to the first part of June so we can go pick strawberries. Katie went with us last year and thought I was nuts for buying so many strawberries. Then I introduced her to the easy way to make strawberry jam.. I've hooked her and she has vowed to increase her picking too. LOVE strawberries!

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Extra tidbits.

My leg seems to be getting better or at least not getting worse. I still feel it in my calf when I walk up stairs or have started to jog without realizing it. I got inserts for my shoes. I feel the inserts much more in my hurt foot than in the other one.
Madison had her spring concert last week. She did fabulously. Randy came to my rescue again. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't of been there. I had to work, so I was able to see about 30 minutes of it and luckily, she performed during that time. Over the last week or so, I have had to be in two places at the same time, TOO many times. I didn't post pictures because they all have her friends in them..
I planted tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and a hydrangea. The girls planted their pots on the front porch. Now to see if I can keep them all alive.
we got most of them at a farmers market in our town. There was a 17 wk golden retriever there..Randy saw it and thought we needed to get one..
School for Cait is out on Thursday
School for Madison is out in 12 1/2 days. Not that I am counting.
My heat is on in my house...
I have lost 4 lbs since since stopping running.WHAT?
I miss running.
my family and friends are making their summer plans for visiting and I COULD NOT be happier! The more the merrier.

Is Running All I Think About?

2009-05-14T16:55:00.004-04:00

Well, no, but it doesn't require pictures.. IF you don't want to read about my running woes, stop now. Of course do check back because Madison had her spring concert last night and I had to work. Randy was in charge of the camera!

So I used my trump card this week. I had an appointment for the podiatrist on JUNE 9. I just couldn't wait that long so I had TJ (my b-i-l) call and get me one. That was Wednesday, and my appointment was today. It pays to know people sometimes. Anyway, after I found subs for my classes, found a ride for Cait to school and dropped off Madison, I headed to my appointment. I was armed with the 8 x rays and lots of hope for a quick fix.. Well, at least I had hope.

He looked at my foot and the first words out of his mouth were "do you always have this much movement in your ankles?" Uhh, yes. I used to be the guinea pig in my university's athletic training seminars on ankles. They are VERY loose and bend every which way. After we had that established, he grabbed my foot in all kinds of places and asked if it hurt here or there and then asked if I wear high heels a lot. Well, I wear the shoes I had on often, but they are maybe 1 1/2 inches. I do not call them high.

He said THREE things are going on

1. I have injured a tendon casing (or something like that) in my calf and that will take time to heal.

2. My Achilles tendon is too tight, from the previously mentioned "heels" and needs to be stretched back out.

3. I have Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Confused? Basically, I have Carpal tunnel syndrome of the foot..LOVELY.

Now I am a proud owner of a huge boot, that for right now only has to be worn at night or when I am sitting watching TV (or in his words reading a book...like i have time for that!)

Stylish huh?

My next question was when can I run?

his response: umm, not for a while.

Me: (panicking a little) how long is a while, I have training starting in 2 weeks.

Dr: well, we will re-evaluate when you come back (not really the answer this ocd girl was looking for. I need a number people)

Me: can I do any exercise?
to which he said walking biking and other low impact things. I have not used my bike in years. I suppose I can walk, but what else can I do without a gym? I have to at least keep the shape I'm in so when I CAN run, I am ready!

I also have to ice, take a stronger anti-inflam, get some store bought orthotics and he said chances are I will have to have a cortisone shot in a couple of weeks because that spot doesn't heal well...

Overall, I am happy that it can be fixed. I am sad that I was in such a rhythm and have to break it. I am also sad because all of my fall running plans are hanging in the balance and need to be booked now. Of course a good running friend of mine said, running is no good if you can't get to the starting line. I am going to try and be VERY good. Of course, this afternoon I was teaching gymnastics and had them run in a circle. I, out of habit of teaching, did it with them. It wasn't until my colleague asked what I was doing, that I realized I was running..This my friends should be interesting.

Any exercise ideas NOT from a gym would be helpful.

34.40

2009-05-09T10:25:00.004-04:00

This was my second attempt at a 5K. It was two minutes slower than my first one, but lets give a little history shall we?

Last week, I was up to 5.2 miles. It was an awesome feeling.. Then my leg/foot started hurting, just a little, but I thought it to be normal since I had just upped my mileage. I took a few days off and tried it again. No good, it was hurting a little more, so I stopped. At first it was just when I ran, but as the days passed it started hurting when i was doing just everyday walking. We went on a mini vacation last weekend to a indoor water park with the girls. I had A LOT of pain walking up all those stairs. On Monday I tried to run again and it was horrible. The week only got worse. Randy was suppose to run with me in this race, so I didn't want to bailout and not do it. I had planned to have it checked after the race, but by Wednesday, I was too much. Where and how it hurt, I freaked myself out and decided to have it checked. The doctor (just my primary) also thought it warranted a second look, so he sent me for an ultrasound to rule out a BLOOD CLOT! That my friends was a long couple of hours. THANK GOODNESS, there was NO clots. I have stayed off of it all week and decided this morning I would give it a go. ( i have also been on a higher dose of anti-inflammatory medicine which has helped)

So this morning, I got up and got ready. Randy was anything but stoked to be getting up that early and running. But after we got there and saw all the people we knew, (the girl I run with, her husband and another mom from school) His energy raised a little.

Kerri and I before we started running.

He did his time in 27 something..Ya, he left me in the dust,and we hate him :) but its okay! He got second in his age group. Second only to the winner of the whole race. He got a mug. I was the only one who didn't get a mug from our group, but in my defense, the girls who were in my group are marathon runners.(I know, excuses, but I was really just happy to finish)

So any way, super happy with that time. Considering the events of the last week. Now the next week, I am on my way to a podiatrist. My primary doc thinks maybe my arch on that foot is falling or something. I guess we will see. Just the fact of it not being a blood clot makes me VERY happy.

And do you know what the best part is for me? In this last week, I have REALLY MISSED running. I have never missed any physical activity EVER! So I guess I will admit, I am officially addicted.

Madisonism and Caitenism

2009-04-28T16:47:00.004-04:00

Madison: you have to leave the stroller right here. It goes in the belly. (reenacting me leaving the stroller at the door of the jet way and the belly refers to the belly of the plane)

Cait: Its okay, they will bring it back to us when we get done.

Madison: "Hi, my little sister would love to have wings and a book, do you have any extra?"

Cait: "Is it alright if I sit in the aisle this time?"

Madison: This flight isn't too long, we should be there quickly. Buckle your seat belt Cait, there is the ding. We are cleared for take off!"

a few minutes later:

Cait: okay, we're off the plane.
Madison: No we're not the pilots aren't that fast! HA!

Do you think my kids fly on airplanes often? This conversation took place in my front room. They took out rolling suitcases and started acting out the EXACT way we travel..I missed the first part. They even had an agenda as to where they were going. Iguess that's what happenes when your daddy flies.

first run!

2009-04-24T09:00:00.004-04:00

*UPDATE*... The race went really well. My friend and I ran pretty well together and I did better than I had expected. I thought I ran a 32:32, but the official results put me in at 32.37. WORKS FOR ME! It is like a 10min 20 second mile. It was pretty hilly (for me anyway) but pushed through it. Now I am going to push it up to a 10K training schedule. I enjoyed it (all except for the am wake up call) and can see how it can be addictive! My next 5k is in 2 weeks. Randy is running that one too!

Tomorrow is my first 5K. I ran outside yesterday for the first (real) time. I tried at my mom's but was super sick and it didn't go well. Yesterday, it went rather well. If you go up and down every street in our neighborhood, it is over a 5K by a couple of tenths. So I did it. If you have ever been through my neighborhood, it is VERY hilly. I was way excited that I was even able to run the hills. I of course was anything BUT fast, but I kept moving. It was a BEAUTIFUL day, so that helped. Unfortunately, it will be a rare thing, because if Randy isn't home, I cant really leave the girls to go run, but at any rate, a very productive workout. After the run on Saturday, I have to up my distance. My next goal is a 10K. I have a mental block at 4 miles, so we will see. The 10K is just about half way to the half marathon!

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Abby has been doing really well taking the medicine. UNTIL TODAY. She did finally eat it, but I think the gig is just about up. We have about 5 more days, so let's hope it lasts. Silly dog!

Pictures from Spring

2009-04-22T13:32:00.005-04:00

I have well over 200 pictures to go through and choose a few to post about Easter and other events that have gone on in our family, but since I'm so far behind, I thought I would post pictures from yesterday. It was gorgeous! Madison has testing all week, so she doesn't have homework. We spent the entire afternoon outside. I still had a sweatshirt on, but Randy was in shorts.

Randy bought a new saw on a huge stick. He cut down ALL kinds of pine branches. Then he got to spend the rest of the evening cutting them apart..FUN!

The girls were way in the mood for photos, so I snapped away. Most of the ones I took of the two had at least one kid blurry. Still working on the right aperture and f-stop.

my magnolia tree

Sweet Cait.

They were just so excited to be outside!

This is Madison's new smile. put her front teeth together and put her head to the side.

And again!

This is what happens to the first 20 pictures when your camera gets put on a fully manual setting and you don't realize it!

And then there is this..Do you ,notice anything missing out of this picture? Yep, training wheels. Randy asked Madison if she wanted to take them off this weekend. She promptly said no. Then Randy went and asked Cait. My fearless child promptly said yes and took off. (since then we have put them back on. She doesn't really have the control yet.) Madison, seeing Caitie doing it without training wheels asked Randy to take hers off. Randy worked with her all Saturday afternoon. Then yesterday she didn't want to do it. Right before we called it a night, she grabbed her bike and took off..I was putting all the toys back in the garage when I saw her fly by me. I would say she has pretty much mastered it. Of course the brake thing still has a long way to go! She must be dreaming about it, because the first thing out of her mouth this morning was, "can I ride my bike when I get home from school?" I am so proud of her. She is growing up so fast.

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Extra tidbits.

I have a sinus infection..

I am suppose to run a 5k race this weekend.

I was suppose to go on a girls' weekend the first week of May. It was cancelled and I think we are going to use the weekend to go on a mini vacation. Randy is off anyway to be home with the girls. I am really excited about it..

We to the girls to the Hannah Montana Movie this weekend. I really enjoyed it. So did Randy and the girls. I love the soundtrack too!

I am looking into a nutritionist. I think I need some help with the massive amount (for me) of calories I am burning. I have questions and no one seems to really know. Maybe they will.

I have gained 3lbs since running and my pants don't fit. I know my legs are gaining muscle, I just don't think any of the fat is burning off..

Randy has been home quite a bit, and has been SO helpful. I am very happy he has been home.

finally

2009-04-21T22:56:00.004-04:00

Braunschweiger.. my new best friend.. After every pill, I jump up and down and tell Abby "I WIN".

10 days left of medicine with my new best doggie friend

Oh and I so had to get that horrible crap out of the refrigerator to spell it!

2009-04-21T08:46:00.001-04:00

The fact that none of my pants fit and Ive gained weight is making me very close to stopping running. Really kills the running high. Sick to my stomach really.

picky dogs SUCK!

2009-04-17T09:27:00.004-04:00

What dog doesn't gobble up any table food you put in front of them? Oh yes, that would be my dog. She is so FREAKIN' picky she won't eat anything. She also knows there is going to be pills in there, so she will thoroughly sniff it in your hand to see if it is safe. If you have managed to conceal it completely, she then takes it out of your hands, and puts it on the floor. Then she will nibble on it to see if the pill becomes visible. OMGoodness, I don't know how much longer I can do this...

Today's score, Tracy 0, Abby 2. (unfortunately for Abby, Randy will be home around lunchtime and he will just stuff them in the back of her mouth so she has to swallow it. I have a hard time doing that)

I AM AT MY WITS END~

Things tried to date and none of them are working:
Bread: worked the longest at about a week.
Ham juice (while at Katie's house)
Peanut butter
pop tarts
cheese
hot dogs
raw ground turkey (this did work, but then I got nervous about giving her raw meat. They are essentially tame wolves right? Raw meat should be okay? I am going to have to resort to this soon)
cooked chicken
cooked turkey,
stuffing them in back of her throat
applesauce
jelly

She hadn't eaten or drank for two days, so yesterday I gave her some milk and cooked ground turkey. She LOVES milk (and drank it) The ground turkey I mixed in with her food and she finally ate a bowl. I really think she just gets pissed and thinks she has more will than me.. I guess she forgot who she is dealing with!

Any other food suggestions you can think of? remember it has to be something I can add two very LARGE pills too and conceal them COMPLETELY. She is defintely not dumb, except every time I go to the cabinet with the medicine, she comes running..

2009-04-15T11:31:00.001-04:00

Omgoodness, i can txt to blogger now..

I want to apologize

2009-04-06T22:41:00.004-04:00

Really, I want to apologize. I have been MIA from most of my dear friends' blogs. It isn't that I am upset, it is that life suddenly took over and something had to give. I have managed to make my posts a little more regular, but have fallen SO far behind on my favorite reads. (That DAMN Facebook hasn't helped either) I am VERY happy to report, Madison got her report card yesterday. That means 9 WEEKS LEFT! Oh happy day (to come in 9 weeks) I am so ready. I still love reading your blogs and will pick up soon. Although, I am totally afraid to open my Google Reader. I am afraid it will implode with all of the new messages. It has been a long time.

Sleep, is so important to me and I was missing so much..

Laundry

2009-04-06T10:17:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure but I think the world might be coming to an end...

EVERY PIECE of laundry (including towels, sheets, and last night's jammies) are washed, dried, AND put away.

At least until 2 pm when Randy comes home, and fills the hamper with all of his dirty clothes.

If you will excuse me, I am going to go stand in my closet and stare at all the clean clothes...

(I'm not sure, but I think my standard of happiness just sank to an all time low.)

caitenism..well, kind of

2009-04-04T18:19:00.007-04:00

Today Madison had a birthday party, so we were out for a few hours running errands with a friend of mine. It was right during Cait's nap, so she was tired. She took a 20 minute nap on the way to pick Madison up, but I know she needed more. When we got home, I declared everyone to lay on the couch and I was going to pick out a movie.

I picked out Free Willy. I picked this one out because I figured it was too old for Cait (and maybe Madison too) and she would fall asleep...WRONG!

They watched the entire movie. There is a part in the movie where they have to free Willy. I was trying to explain what was happening and all of a sudden Cait looks at me with tears in her eyes and asks if "da whale" was going to be okay. When I asked her if she was alright, she busted out into a full out cry. (so i had to tell her the end of the movie so she would know Willy made it okay) OHMYGOODNESS! that kid has some empathy. She was that worried about a whale.. A whale on tv.

That is reason #675,897,143 why I love that kid!

Abby

2009-04-03T13:17:00.004-04:00

Abby has Lyme disease. I took her in today to be checked. She started limping yesterday. Randy carried her upstairs last night (all 70lbs) because she likes to sleep in our room. Then today, it got worse. She lets us mess with her paw so I wasn't too concerned, but then by mid morning, she was having trouble getting up and the limping got significantly worse. So the fabulous veterinary got us in and they did a blood test and it was positive. Poor baby, she is miserable. Hindsight 20/20, she has been sleeping A LOT the last couple of days but we just chalked it up to getting old. I guess there was something more. So she had a cortisone shot, is on antibiotics and anti inflammatory and rest.

(Abby enjoying a ham bone. It was the only picture of her on this computer!)

The fun part will be giving her the medicine. She doesn't take cheese after about 2 days. She figures out there is more to it than just getting people food. Then she will take peanut butter for about a day and a half and the we pretty much spend the rest of the time shoving it down her mouth and waiting for her to swallow it. She is such a picky eater. The medicine is 4 weeks. Oh man, that is a lot of shoving. I sure hope Randy will be home for most of that. And I really hope she starts feeling better quickly.

On the chart in the vets office, it said where does your dog fall? So I checked the left column for her age and then the top columns for her weight..She is not a senior dog, she is beyond she is geriatric (67 or so) was her equivalent people age! That made me laugh.

running issues..again

2009-04-03T10:21:00.003-04:00

So we are all friends here right? So you won't mind me talking about running again? Great, here goes..

Here are my dilemmas with running..

I HAVE NOT LOST ONE POUND!
My pants don't fit (mainly around the ass region)
My backside seems to be about a foot bigger. (which Randy said it is "lifting" because of the muscle..WT?)
I HAVE NOT LOST A POUND!
I think I am getting addicted. I think about it often.
Is it a habit after a month of 3-6 times a week?
I am burning 500-700 calories at a time..and the weight?
Will I ever wake up again and not be sore? (Aleve and I are on a first name basis by this point)
I need music choices. Most of my music is country and though I really enjoy it, most is NOT fast enough. I took some advice from Katie's blog, but need more..
Finding more time..
I run better in the pm.

So, I am thinking about finding a nutritionist. I have done the calorie counter on the Internet, but not sure how accurate it is. 700 calories is new to my system though so maybe more time? I have said that for a month now. How much longer do I have to wait before seeing results? The fact that I am starting to look forward to running has been enough to keep me going, but how long will that last without any results?

Are you still there? Goodness, I am sure that was super boring. I'm just thinking out loud now and since Cait is the only one here, it is pretty hard to get a good answer..

running issue

2009-04-02T15:10:00.001-04:00

So I have figured out I am NOT a good AM runner.

Do you think the different races I want to run in will move the start time to around 6 or 7 pm?

daddy/daughter..and Ellie Dance

2009-04-01T13:34:00.005-04:00

Madison and Randy attended a Father, Daughter dance last Friday at church. It is a huge event with over 70 tables of daughters and their daddies. (Cait is not quite old enough, but will be next year)

We had the day all planned out. We would come home from school, do her hair in a special hairdo and then they would go out to eat with her good friend Ellie and her dad, and then go to the dessert dance.

That didn't go so well. These are the only pictures I got of the entire evening. I sent the point and shoot with Randy and I forgot to put the battery back in after charging..Duh!

I do love this picture though!

Notice the smile? Oh yes, that's right she cried the entire time she was getting ready.

Lovely red eyes huh?

see a pattern with the face?

Cait didn't want to be left out, so she and I met up with Becca, Andrew and Katie for dinner and ice cream.

Closest thing I got to a smile.

So I think it is kind of my fault. She just kept crying and saying she was tired. I made the mistake of not giving her a snack when we got home like I usually do. I think she was in a sugar low. Once I realized it, (about 10 minutes before she left) I made her drink a juice box and in about 30 she was much better.

As soon as they met Ken and Ellie, Daddy was chop liver! Madison just wanted to do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING Ellie was doing. She sat next to her, she ordered what Ellie ordered, she even wanted to dance with Randy next to Ellie and Ken (her daddy). When she describes the dance, Randy seems to have fallen out of her memory. She explains what she did that night WITH Ellie.

Do you like her dress? I am sure you can't really see it since she was in NO mood for pictures, but it is the Easter dress Becky and my Dad bought for her (and Cait has a pink one) It was the perfect little dress to wear to this dance. I was excited to put it on her and it fit perfectly!

*************************************************************

Side note: I had a BIG milestone in running. I did a 5K (3.1 miles) on my treadmill in 32:30. That is HUGE for me. (I know, still slow, but HUGE for me. Randy runs a 5k in like 24 or25 min.) I am excited to see improvement. Of course the idea quadrupling it is SO scary to me, that I am not even thinking about it. I will run this 5k and then train for a 10k and then MAYBE I will be able to work on the half marathon without breaking out in a cold sweat!

cookie/brownie making

2009-03-30T12:52:00.006-04:00

Madison had to do a service project for school. She could choose anything, picking up a playground, volunteering somewhere, reading to the elderly, or making cookies for someone, etc. The time had to amount to at least one hour.

Well, she decided she wanted to make cookies for our 78 year old neighbors. She also read them Green Eggs and Ham, completely independently. (which made me very happy to know she is getting to be such a good reader and seems to enjoy it) The cookies alone took her an hour. I was very proud of myself because SHE actually did everything. The only help I gave her was telling her how much of each ingredient went in there. That is really huge for this OCD girl. Usually I let them help enough to be able to say they helped, but really I am doing it all. This time, all her. (I did however take them in and out of the oven. I don't trust her that much!)

Have you ever tried to tell a 3 year old her older sister can make cookies but she can't? I don't recommend it! Therefore, Caitie is on the other side making brownies.

At our house, we make them with our hands. It is the way I grew up making them (at my step moms house) and it is the way the girls make them. Oh and the germophobes out there.. I actually wash their hands before I let them anywhere near the bowl. I have a little of that in me too!

What good is cookie making if you don't get to taste the dough?

The finished product. Lucky for us, we didn't take the entire batch over there, so we had cookies to enjoy too. My dad introduced the girls to dunking cookies in milk. They think that is the coolest thing. Then they have to look at the bottom of the glass to see how much cookie is at the bottom.

Cait making her brownies. I had to help her a little more, but there were few ingredients so it worked out!

She had to give it a try too.

Looks like she liked it!

i have the itch

2009-03-29T13:27:00.003-04:00

I have the itch to purge.. I started slow with the girls bathroom to see if it was really true or just a passing moment.. Oh bring it people, I'm going through EVERYTHING!

random pictures--

2009-03-28T11:12:00.005-04:00

here are some random photos from random events I have neglected to put on the blog.

My parents came out for a visit. We had so much fun. Of course, I forgot to take pictures the entire time..

Caitie taking full advantage of having MawMaw and Grandad to herself during the day.

It must have been a humid day. Her hair was super curly (for her)..Oh and her toothless-ness.

I have a few more events that I downloaded, but lets not blow it all in one post..

eww, eww and more eww

2009-03-26T21:58:00.005-04:00

Let me start by saying Randy is home tonight...THANK THE BABY JESUS!

After the girls went to bed, I needed to fill my chocolate fix. I bought these green mint cones from Schwan's Ice Cream. So I thought tonight would be a good night to try them out. I went downstairs to get the ice cream and stepped into a puddle of water... OH yes people, we had another leak.. (well water tends to be hard and even with a water softener, over time, the harder water eats away at the copper pipes) We have had many replaced with the remodel and other leaks we have had (kind of like the one I had the first 2 weeks I lived her by myself with a baby and a young toddler...FUN). Anyway, by pressure of the water coming from the hole, it is a blessing I have a chocolate addiction. There is no way it could have been leaking more than 5 or 10 minutes... SO we finally figured out how to turn off the water (read: NO WATER IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE, but have no fear, I have filled my coffee pot for tomorrow morning) Showers are overrated right? Randy called Tom, our contractor and he will be here bright and early tomorrow, and he also does plumbing. God love Tom!

Then Abby comes up to Randy and wants petted. So he started petting her and said eww, what's that? IT WAS A FREAKING HUGE TICK STUCK IN HER NECK!! Now you have to understand, vomit, diarrhea, snot, anything like that, I can totally handle.. but, OHMYGOODNESSANYTHINGBUTATICK! Seriously, if he wouldn't have been here, I would have called my neighbor because, the thought just makes me nauseous...

EWWWW....EWWWW....EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

So now what do I do? What do I watch out for with Abby? What are lyme disease symptoms? What else could she get? Randy looked for it online and thought it was a dog tick..

Did I mention, EWW!

gain commercial..but whisk

2009-03-24T20:19:00.003-04:00

Has anyone seen that Gain laundry detergent commercial where everyone stops what they are doing to smell the clothes?

Well, that is me, but the detergent is Whisk. As you well know, I have front loaders, so I am suppose to buy that HE stuff. Well, sometimes it is hard to find. (I am not a Tide lover which you can always find) I got Whisk on a whim and I find myself smelling my clothes like the commercial.. I even smelled my dad's sweatshirt when I was giving him a hug (which he had washed the day before) Dude, I am losing it..But it smells so good.

running

2009-03-23T19:23:00.002-04:00

Running seems to be taking up more of my precious free time. I didn't have much to begin with now, I seem to have even less. I have two or three different events on my camera, but just haven't downloaded them yet..
Soon. Hopefully

I am however starting to see improvements on the running scene...
unfortunately just not on the scale scene...

despite my sane brain..

2009-03-16T15:50:00.007-04:00

Despite my sane brains better judgement, I have gone and entered crazy-ville. I am directly pointing the finger at some of my real and virtual friends for my head first leap into this new world. Of course I wouldn't ever point any fingers (Erin, Noel, Marcie, Andrea,-more than one-, Abby, Joanna) they are too blame!

I have decided to run the half marathon here in my big city neighbor. I know what you are thinking (me too!), She doesn't even like to run.. Well, yes, but all you runners make it look so easy. AND FUN! So I decided to do it. Now lets not get crazy, I have a long way to go. I have read the book, Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training (which I also hold responsible because she is so funny and made it look enjoyable),by Dawn Dais. As well as a few other books. I went to one of those BIG running places, you know the ones where they are all knowledgeable and all and actually know about running? Picked out a VERY comfortable pair of Asics and I am off..

They say running is more mental..Now to convince my mind...

Oh wait, (short attention span) the reason I was writing that was to complain. I now remember why I don't stick to any MAJOR exercise plan. I hate that initial month (or I am hoping it is just a month) where ALL OF MY PANTS ARE tight. I know, I have to build muscle to loose the fat, and the muscle is building underneath , blah blah blah. All I know is I have some pretty darn cute jeans and other pants and THEY are TIGHT! I better get to loosing my ass/thighs soon.. WT?

Wish me luck!

50 mm lens play

2009-03-11T12:48:00.005-04:00

It was nice this weekend so I got to play with the 50mm lens a little bit. I REALLY like it, but realize you have to be much more careful as to where it is focusing. It is really easy to get people out of focus.. I am not sure how to get two people to be in focus completely, but hey, I have only used it once.

the girls are not as clear as they should be.

There is my toothless kid. I LOVE this photo

this one is a little blurry too, but I really like how her eyes are in focus. It could just be the angle it was taken.

Love the blurry background.

They HAVE to have photos of them upside down.

I actually didn't pose her, just called her name and that is how it ended up.

wow she is getting old.

my ham.

Poor Abby.

clocks..

2009-03-08T08:51:00.002-04:00

I forgot to set the clocks forward.. At least I realized it before I got to church an hour late.. This is what happens when your TV never gets turned on to a big people channel. You don't get any reminders of springing forward.

health insurance

2009-03-03T13:40:00.005-05:00

DEALING WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES...SUCK!*

(and hospitals are not much better)

I went to my endocrinologist in January. I went to his hospital office to see him. Supposedly, the hospital has instituted a 25.00 "facilities fee" ON TOP OF my $30 copay. WTF!!!??? I am getting charged $25 to basically set foot in the hospital building. HIS FREAKING office is set up in there.

Oh and then I had a PT appointment for my ankle. Do you know that you have to pay a copay EVERY time you go to get PT? Seriously, I don't know how people would afford it. I just wanted to get it stronger and get exercises. I could stop at 1 time. What if you needed some of the equipment they have there and HAD to go. I figured it out and if something happened where I had to go 5 days a week for a month, it would almost add up to the amount I paid for ALL of the cancer stuff (diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and follow up) and not only did I have surgery, I spent A LOT of time in nuclear medicine and NOTHING is cheap in that department!

Okay, I feel a little better to get that off of my chest.

*I am very thankful I have insurance, and the facilities to get very good health care. Please don't leave messages about how I should be grateful!

Caitenism

2009-03-02T10:17:00.003-05:00

Cait was laying in bed with Randy (we have trained our kids to lay with us quietly in the morning so the adults can get an extra hour of sleep!)
She leaned over, (unprompted) kissed him on the forehead and said

"Daddy, ew can take that to wook."

That kid melts my heart.

It's snowing its a snow day

2009-03-02T10:08:00.003-05:00

I am WAY excited. There is something so calming about looking out of my window, with a cup of coffee in hand looking at the snow falling, and knowing I have NOwhere to go!! (now that's a run on sentence!)

School was cancelled. For actual good reason.. IT is really coming down here. I don't know exactly how much we have gotten because it is kind of blowing and there seems to be drifts. I know there is much more snow because they have not been down our street to plow and usually we have had it plowed two or three times by now.

There is something super calming about watching snow fall..

Randy is stuck in Manchester. Hopefully he will be home this afternoon. Mainly so I can try out my new 50 mm lens that came in the mail.

I'm ready for spring, but IF its going to be cold, the snow at least makes it look pretty!

guess what came in the mail?

2009-02-26T23:03:00.002-05:00

My freakin lens!! Yay me!! The weather is suppose to be nice and I am going to get to take it for a test drive!! I even have my little lens hood to keep unwanted sun out! Wow, I am professional looking!

2009-02-22T11:50:00.002-05:00

Each one of these piles has pictures underneath. Now I get to figure out who gets what? I have already taken my pictures out. I'm always amazed at the number of photos once they are cut.

Oh and I LOVE having this huge counter to spread them all out on!

puke..

2009-02-21T14:52:00.003-05:00

Isn't that a lovely title? That is what I have been cleaning since about 10:30 this morning. We got ready and got in the truck to head to the squadron. Randy's squadron was having a lunch and I was suppose to take a salad and cookies down there. About 2.5 miles into our trip, Madison puked all over the car. We were at a red light and while sitting there waiting to turn around, Cait decided she needed to puke by proxy.. So, I have been cleaning puke ever since. First it was the girls. Then the truck. (which literally took hours.) now on to all the laundry. I had to first wash all the car seat covers so they could dry. Oh my goodness, I have washed my hands about 7 million times today.

Do you know what the funny part is about this? I was going to go to Katie's house yesterday and opted out because her Becca had be subjected to the puke fest and two of her friends that were going to be over there had also been subjected. I didn't want to "subject" my girls.. See where that got me?

I'm off to clean more puke and disinfect the air around me...

Is 3:00pm too early for a glass of wine???

Good times, good times!

photos

2009-02-20T20:57:00.007-05:00

SO I picked up my 34 sheets of photos today from Sears. Make no mistake, the photos I am about to show you are JUST PROOFS. I did not intend to print them,do not intend on you printing them. I am just letting you, my virtual friends see the photos of my girls. I bought 34 sheets... you do the math on how much I actually spent.

(read:mean people suck and I haven't gotten over the comment yet!)

My favorite of madison.

my favorite of cait

I have had better sessions than these, but Cait's are super cute. She didn't work with Madison to make sure her head was in the right place, so many of her pictures, her head is tilted down. Anyway, they mark the occasion.

*I'm giving all credit to Sears portrait. please don't reproduce. They are just for viewing.

mean people suck

2009-02-19T22:29:00.002-05:00

I got a post on this post the other day. It was just mean. Why do people comment if they are just being mean? And of course it was Anonymous. This person asked me if I liked my family portraits so much, why did I steal them off the Internet, or did I just collect watermarks? Seriously, if you knew me, you would know I buy HUNDREDS of dollars in photos a year. Did it ever occur to this Anonymous that I was using the water mark pictures as proofs to let other people see?

Why do people say mean things for no reason?...

ANd I just got the girls pictures taken..Maybe I won't post the pictures.. I would hate to offend anyone..

caitenism

2009-02-18T10:11:00.003-05:00

Randy was driving home from Renee's house with Cait on Monday evening.

C: Daddy, do I have ginaksiss (gymnastics) tomorrow?
R: Nope.
C:does Sisser (sister) have ginaksiss?
R:Nope.
C:does Mommy have to work at ginaksiss?
R: nope. Mommy doesn't have anything planned for tomorrow.
C: yes she does, she has to clean, and baccuum (vacuum).

I guess at the very least it was proof to Randy that I don't just sit on the couch watching trash TV and drinking diet coke right? Its funny what the kids pick up on!

I'M PRE-ORDERED!!!

2009-02-09T13:24:00.005-05:00

I called the company that I wanted to order my 50mm lens from and its still back ordered, BUT they let me pre-order it! In upwards of 4 weeks (they said 2-4 but trying to be realistic), that baby will be mine!! Yay me!! Okay, who's lining up for photos! (I also ordered books about starting a photo business) Look at me, it could happen!!

wine and a good friend = good times

2009-02-06T21:32:00.003-05:00

There is nothing like having a home cooked meal with a friend (That you didn't make), a little wine, a little dessert and the kiddos entertaining themselves in the basement! Now that is the way to spend a Friday evening! (oh and being able to come home and throw the kids in bed, EVEN better!

Thanks Katie! It was delicious and loved the adult conversation!

when oh when can I get my hands on this?

2009-02-05T21:15:00.003-05:00

I am HOOKED! If you look on many photography sights or get photography magazines. (oh yes, I'm the geek that gets photography magazine!) EVERYONE says this is the lens you can't do without. So, I pooled all of my Christmas money (thanks everyone who contributed) and birthday money (thanks again) together and finally got up enough nerve to buy the silly thing..THE DARN THING IS SOLD OUT OR BACK ORDERED AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A DATE IT WILL BE ARRIVING!

I am seriously always a day late and a dollar short! I decide I like a clothing trend and BAM!, its gone. I can't find it anywhere. I get the chance to go to a movie, and the one I want to see is already out of the movie theater. I find a type of food I love, and they change the menu the next time I go back. I go to be part of the in crowd with this lens, and now, I just have to sit and admire it from afar.. I am seriously bummed. I wonder if it is going to be in before spring? I also went to buy 2 other things this past week (not nearly as expensive) and they were also sold out/back-ordered. One is brand new in the catalog. Says so right next to the picture. How can it already be sold out? I don't spend money like this very often, but when I do, I WANT TO SPEND! Haven't you ever heard of retail therapy?

Photo security.

2009-02-03T16:46:00.004-05:00

So I think I have found a compact, (somewhat) cheap, way of backing my pictures up. My previous plan consisted of http://www.winkflash.com/, an external hard drive and then putting them on cds. Then, it was and is still super hard for me to take them off of my computer. Anyway, the last time I backed them on CDs, it took 24 of them. That took a VERY long time. I have been watching Best Buy's ad and this week they have 16G flash drives on sale for 39.99. Oh my goodness, do I love it. It is the size of my pinkie and good heavens does it hold a lot of pictures. One little flash drive held 9 months of my pictures.. Whoo hoo!

And these are much easier to fit into my firebox.

Am I freak for putting my pictures so many places? Ummm, yes, but I just would hate to loose them. Anyone's server could go down, and there goes that space. Externals are good but not full proof, and the cds/flash drives well, good too, but again not full proof. So I figured with 3 different spots for photos (really 4 because I also print them out, but am about 9 months behind), hopefully it I won't loose any pictures.

Snow Day!

2009-01-30T13:34:00.002-05:00

Tuesday and Wednesday Madison and Cait had a snow day.

Daddy was home to enjoy the fun.

This is them sliding down the driveway.

And this is what mommy did during the events.. I L.O.V.E. taking snow pictures. They just look so healthy and pink cheeked.

Hello?

2009-01-30T13:27:00.001-05:00

hello? Is this thing on?

madisonism

2009-01-27T13:59:00.002-05:00

Madison and Randy playing tennis on the Wii.

Madison: Daddy, that wasn't fair.

Randy: I just hit the ball back to you.

Madison: yah, but your the one that brought the heat!

I guess our house shares well!

2009-01-27T13:07:00.001-05:00

Our house is 4 for 4 in the strep throat category. It started with me 10 days ago, then Caitie got it last Wednesday (along with an ear infection) then Madison yesterday (as well as pink eye for her) and today, Randy! We sure do like to share things in this house!

Does that mean we have met our sickness quota for the year? Is it spring yet?

(the scary part about it, I was the only one with white crap in my throat. None of us EVER had a fever. I only took Cait in because she didn't seem right (ie: ear infection). Madison's was because her eyes were clearly not right and Randy thought it to be a good thing to check out before he left on a three day.)

product EVERY woman (and man) should have in these harsh winter months!

2009-01-26T21:27:00.005-05:00

I am not one to push products, because really, what do I know, but I do want to tell you about an amazing body scrub. I have bought other body scrubs for $10-$20 a jar. THIS ONE FAR BEATS ANY OF THOSE AND IT IS ONLY $2.99 a jar (I have only found it at Wa11y world).

I know almost all of you have scaly, rough elbows right? How about your legs (mine are so white anyway and then you add the dry factor, wow, not pretty!) anyway, ONE time of using this and you will totally see the difference. Don't forget it on your neck and chest too!

I had forgotten I had a jar of it until tonight. It makes me hopeful that spring will soon come visit me again. Until then, at least I have soft skin!

Try it out for yourself! You won't be disappointed. It will surely be added to your must haves too!

I have to get better at this.

2009-01-25T20:59:00.004-05:00

I suck at taking pictures when I'm around my family. I mean to and I drag my camera EVERYWHERE, but then I get through the entire trip and forget to use it. I think I am just so relaxed and have so little responsibility, I just forget. So I thought I would do better this time. Then strep throat reared his ugly head and I forgot again. I did manage to get a few (sorry Kimmy none of you). Paigie is just so cute I could just squeeze her!

The only picture i could get of the three of them.

Cait making a masterpiece with Nana.

That girl is a lover.

Who's the bigger ham?

I guess that answers that one!

Life is good!

That's what cousins are for right?

why I have 5 extra keys now and some extra trip info

2009-01-24T13:47:00.003-05:00

When I got back into town (Thanks John and Katie for picking us up) I remembered that I didn't have my keys. I had Katie bring my spare one to the airport so I could get in. I handed it back to John and I quote "I'm giving this back to you because you never know when I am going to need it"

Tuesday went well, Randy had a friend of his spend the night (Randy was on a trip on Tuesday though). He was leaving at 6:30 Wednesday morning. I didn't even see him leave. We went about our morning rushed routine. Cait slept late, so I picked her right out of bed, wrapped her in a blanket and went downstairs. I opened the garage door, and Madison, and I went to go get in the car. I shut the garage door behind me. Guess what? Randy's friend had locked the bottom lock. We NEVER lock the bottom lock because even when it is locked, the inside still turns. SO, I was locked out of my house. Here's the kicker. I had no coat (or Cait), no keys for the truck, no coffee, no purse, no phone. I was going to go back in to get all of those after I got Cait in the car. So I had to go my neighbors house and hope she was still home. I called Katie, no answer. I waited a few minutes and called her again. Thank GOD, she answered. I asked her if she could bring me the key. (I didn't realize at the time, she had to bundle both her kids up and bring them because John wasn't home either THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN!) Did I mention that Madison was suppose to be at school by this point? After taking her out Tuesday to come home, she was then late to school on Wednesday. (I know, your jealous because I am high on the list for good mother of the year!) After we finally got Madison to school, I called the doctor for Cait. They said we have one in 15 minutes if you can be here. I said great, I'll be there. Guess what? Ear infection and Strep throat.! Lovely! Now she is on medicine.

So far, Madison is okay. Randy thinks he's getting something now! Great!

Now for a quick trip recap...I DID GET MY HAIR DONE! YAY me! I had been fighting a sore throat the day we left. No biggie right? Well, Saturday, I woke to white on my throat.. Yep, Strep throat for me!! lovely again! It was the best place for me to be. My mom, dad and step mom swept in and took the kids for the rest of the time I was there! One day I even slept until 10! Really!? I had dinner made for me, the kids entertained and me taken care of. It was by far the best way to be sick!!
The flight back was super easy. I just wish the visit was longer. Next time right?

frozen paradise

2009-01-14T22:16:00.003-05:00

I'm off to Illinois. Off to relaxing and -7 (with -25 wind chill) wth? At least the grandparent and aunt and uncle scene will be hot and heavy! If my fingers haven't fallen off from hypothermia, I will be back on Tuesday! Have a great weekend!! I know I will!

rough life

2009-01-13T10:18:00.003-05:00

Cait decided Abby needed a pillow. Abby has decided she likes the pillow. Sometimes her paw is up on the pillow so it looks like she is hugging the pillow. It sure is a rough life when you are a dog!

Another Cait incident

My alarm must have gone off while I was in the shower yesterday morning. It must have been too loud for Cait so she turned the volume down. Well, I don't ever check the alarm. I get up at the same time EVERY morning. So this morning when Randy said "Tracy it is 7:25" My response was what day is it? Oh yes, we were TOTALLY late. We normally leave at 7:35. Luckily Randy was home and able to throw on a hat and rush her to school (To which she was one time). Cait had school today too, so I had to get her ready and off. I checked the alarm and it was set correctly, the volume was just turned ALL the way down.

What I learned: You can't assume things are how you left it when you have a 3 year old!

2009-01-10T22:35:00.001-05:00

I did it, I caved to Facebook..

play by play

2009-01-09T13:48:00.002-05:00

of the last 32 hours.
(probably pretty boring, documentation purposes)

Jan 8,

6:30am: get up take a shower get ready for my regular crazy day..
7:00 : plead with Madison to get up and get ready, while Cait practically jumps out of bed. (common occurrence in our house)
7:15 :Madison, Cait and Randy sing me happy birthday with a ice cream sandwich from M&Ms. (there weren't any candles because he doesn't know where I keep them..Of course, I don't know where I keep them since the remodel either.) Each girl had picked out a card for me and in Randy's card was an appointment for a massage, facial and pedicure on Saturday. Yay Me!
7:20 plead AGAIN for Madison to eat breakfast
:45 leave for school.
8 :00 drop off Madison, run to Target to get a few things and of course waste the 45 minutes between the two schools
9 drop off Cait
:15 Make it to the gym to start work
11:15 rush out of gym to go get Cait at school.
11:30 Rush back to the gym, stuff food down Cait's mouth and try to get her ready for gymnastics by 1
1:00 her class me working her class
2:00 slowly drive to Madison's school. (don't have to be there until 3:00, but not enough time to go anywhere and hoping Cait will fall asleep. Did I mention she has been SUPER emotional and whiny all day?)
3:25 finally heading home. have been on the phone most of my non working day.
4:00 realize Cait feels warm. Have to call Katie and tell her (since she is suppose to come over and eat with me for my birthday)
6: eat my wonderful birthday dinner. as well as the ice cream sandwiches from the morning and of course since its my birthday I had to finish Madison's when she didn't finish hers! (and I have been on the phone most of the time at home.)
7 both girls in bed.
9 and 11 and 12: Cait wakes up crying, bad dream.
12 she comes in bed w me and is awake until 4AM. Oh good golly.
Jan 9,
Then I started the morning over but only without the birthday song. I don't remember much because I WAS SO tired. I did manage to get Madison to school on time. I didn't change Cait into clothes or even put on shoes. We stayed on the couch until 10:50, and then went up and took a nap until 1:30. Unfortunately, neither is feeling too much better.

Oh yes, I told you it was a boring post but I want to document what happens when Randy is on a trip. Sickness is just something that happens on those days. Wow, happy day for me!

I can do it, Right?~~

2009-01-08T18:49:00.003-05:00

I have been on the phone literally all day (except when I was working for the few hours today).
I have talked with old friends, new friends and when I on my house phone I was texting on my cell phone. Man I love that kind of day.. Oh and my children, they have just kind of fended for themselves. But on the bright side, Katie, brought me THE BEST dinner I could have possibly asked for (thank you thank you Katie). It was stuffed chicken with potatoes and veggies AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO COOK IT! Unfortunately she couldn't stay because Cait now has a fever. Madison had it earlier in the week. I guess it just shows you how well they share with each other huh?

Anyway,

Today is my birthday, I can do that right?

why moms know, even when they don't quite know why!

2009-01-04T19:31:00.003-05:00

Madison is constantly asking me to get under the shopping cart at places like Target and the grocery store. Normally I tell her I don't want her to and she is old enough to walk. Today, she didn't ask, she just got underneath the cart. I was too tired to care and try to get her out, so I let her be....

After rolling a HUGE chunk of hair in the tires, and having two other moms stop and help, I finally freed my daughter from the bottom of the cart. Thank goodness my child has such thick hair, you can't even tell.

I never really knew why I didn't want her under the cart, now I do..

The worst part, I was so frazzled, I don't know if I even thanked the two ladies who actually stopped and helped, and even worse, I may have looked at Madison after she was free and said that is why mommy doesn't want you under the cart. I don't remember exactly what I said. It wasn't yelling or anything. Why didn't I just hug her (which I did do that) and not say anything? I really struggle with having love and sympathy when something happens to my kids after I have repeatedly asked them not to do it?..

one dark dreary winter day...

2009-01-04T12:47:00.001-05:00

I was surprised with this GREAT gift. It is from Laura at Custom Made Miracles. There were ALL kinds of things to make me smile on such a cold blah day, stickers for the girls, chap stick (which my lips are continually chapped from about October until May.) All kinds of Tastefully Simple things, candy, good smelling stuff, Bubble bath (which is obviously missing from the photo. I have already placed that in its home in my bathroom.) And my ALL TIME FAVORITE Ghirardelli Chocolate with caramel filling. Those my friend are going right into the freezer (I eat all my chocolate out of the freezer)

So Thank you Laura for brightening up my winter day.

And be looking in the next little bit for me to PAY-IT-FORWARD.. I haven't decided exactly, but it could have to do with an overnight, must eat right away, best eaten all in one sitting, will not disappoint yumminess ..

My dear energy and drive where have you gone?

2009-01-03T11:07:00.001-05:00

I am sitting here looking at my train wreck of a house thinking, I should be doing that, and this, and oh what about that. Instead all I can do is sit and stare at it. My dear drive and energy, come back. It is the new year and the charity people are coming on Monday. I need to PURGE!

resolutions for 2009

2009-01-01T11:55:00.003-05:00

I am following in my 2008 resolutions. FINISH WHAT I START. I did really well with that one. I am hoping to extend it further. Last year I just wanted to get little things done on a daily basis. This year, I want to at least work on some of the BIG projects that have been going on for way too long. Wish me luck again on that one!

a few other little resolutions, or small life changes (that seems like a better phrase. Anything under the resolution category just seems like it needs to be broken.)
1)Patience
2)Patience
3)did i mention Patience?
4)getting the last load of hang up laundry put away in the week it was washed.
5)keeping better touch with old friends (hence the facebook im about toset up and hello old friends why aren't yall in the TEXTING world yet?!)
6)(of course)better diet and more exercise ha, ha that is a good one.
7)more organized. I would love for my house to be SO organized it just runs itself, starting with the playroom
8) KEEP MY CAR CLEANER!
9)get more sleep
10)read more. last year I think I said that and shortly after, read Pillars of the Earth and LOVED every minute of it.
11)Take full advantage of those sweet girls and husband. I'm going miss it. And its going fast.
(Have you heard the Darius Rucker's song It won't be like this for long?sorry don't know how to embed the utube onto the post. so true)
12)I was going to put a perfect looking house, but seriously, that would just be setting myself up for failure.

This my friend is going to be A GOOD YEAR!! I CAN FEEL IT!

caitenism

2009-01-01T08:43:00.004-05:00

The majority of Randy's family was over for a visit during the last week. One day, I was helping Renee take things out to her car. Cait asked Randy for yet another cookie.

C: Daddy can I hab anoder coookie?

R: No you've had enough.

C: Why not?

R: Who's the boss?

C: Yet (let) me go check! (as she came to look for me. My girls learned from a very young age that their momma is the boss!! What great parenting skills huh?)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Katie told me that whatever I did on New Year's Day will be what I do for the whole year. I'm torn, do I sit on the couch and do nothing all day and that is how my year will go, or do I do something productive and then be busy all year...

A few (not so good) Christmas photos.

2008-12-28T22:41:00.008-05:00

I guess I wasn't feeling the Christmas photo taking thing this year. I only have very snapshotty pictures from Christmas morning. It has been so long since I even posted pictures, I have a lot to catch up on, so I will just start with the most current and save the others for future posts.

The ham bone. Not too much left after she got a hold of it. We don't give her things like that very often, but the ol' girl is getting old so we wanted her to have a good Christmas present too.

Randy checking out his mad skills in Wii golf. (before he got his little golf club cover!)

Mine and the girls Aunt Angie and Uncle Mick bought these for the girls. Are they not the cutest thing EVER? They were given a kid cookbook too. Oh man, here come the chefs. Anyone brave enough to eat their cooking?

What the girls came down and saw. Santa had eaten the cookies, drank the milk and the reindeer had eaten ALL 8 carrots. And what do you say is the red on the plate? Why that is where Rudolph rubbed his nose in the sugar and left red in the sugar.

Oh Camp Rock!

Webkinz still rock. These are actually lil'kinz. She was so excited about them.

This is what my sweet little cherubs made me, along with the help of their thoughtful daddy. They are candy bowls the girls made at a paint your own pottery place. This was by far the best gift of the season!

We had a very nice Christmas. Randy bought me a Garmin. I wasn't so sure about it at first, but let me tell you, it is SO much better than the stupid AT&T GPS. I can't believe I have been paying for that for so long. It takes for freakin ever to get it up and most times it doesn't even work. So, I am styling with a Garmin. The girls and Randy really seem to like the Wii. Madison beats Randy just about every time they bowl together. And if you know my husband, that is really hard for him! She is good though.

We spent Christmas Eve here with my SIL, Renee, her family and Randy's mom. We had a lovely time and we didn't have a huge meal, just hors d'oeuvres . It was perfect. Then Christmas morning, we ripped through some presents, and headed down to Renees (you know, maryb, it was the 25th of the month, so guess where my husband had to be at noon?) It was a wonderfully busy afternoon. I got to help cook and my Apple pie was gone in seconds. I didn't even get a piece myself. There were 30 people there. Sorry Katie for exposing you to that. It can be quite overwhelming!

Friday I did what any smart woman would do, I left the kids with daddy and went shopping. I know, but there were some good deals! I also stepped off of a curb and messed up my ankle. It pretty much goes from foot to ankle. With a big bump on the side where my ankle bone used to be. I know it isn't broken, but damn it hurts (getting better) That was on the second store. Do you think I went home? Are you crazy? Did you read the part where I was WITHOUT children? Nothing a little coffee and a limp couldn't cure. I think we (Renee and I) shopped for at least 3 if not 4 more hours. The only way I was going home was if I was stopping by the ER first. And it wasn't that bad..

I am almost content with my decorations. Usually December 26 I am taking stuff down. I have gotten a few really nice things (thanks to my decorators Renee and Katie) It is close to the new year and I haven't ripped anything down. Yay me!

So how was your holiday?

Merry Christmas Eve, Track Santa, and The Secret is FINALLY out!

2008-12-24T09:45:00.002-05:00

First,

Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Second, if you want to track Santa through the day, go to http://www.noradsanta.org and follow the directions to find your Santa Tracker. The girls love to watch it through the day.

and Third. The secret I have been keeping for 6 months is finally out!! Yay me! I gave Randy his Christmas present today. I bought him a Wii. I bought it in June because I didn't know if I could find close to Christmas. Also, I asked my SIL to buy it so Randy wouldn't see it on the charge bill. I paid her back slowly over the next months so he wouldn't realize. I was very proud of myself for keeping it a surprise. Of course as soon as we brought the box out, he knew, but oh well. I had to give it to him early because I had told our families what I was doing so I was able to have them buy accessories for it. The gig would have been up the first time he opened a Wii accessory. I am excited. I am not a huge game system girl, but think this will be a good FAMILY fun event. And through the winter months, it may give them some exercise besides running around my island (downside to having an open floor plan now, there is a race track through my kitchen and family room.)

Anyway, I PROMISE I will be posting pictures soon. I have hundreds I have taken and haven't posted. After today, I am done with commitments and will be able to refocus on my poor neglected house and things (like photos) that have been left in the shadows.

Again, We wish you a VERY Merry Christmas. And cherish your time with your families. Life is super short. Don't miss a minute.

Can't a girl get a snow day?

2008-12-17T20:17:00.003-05:00

The weather channel was forecasting freezing rain last night. I was giddy with anticipation. Spending the day in jammies because surely it is not safe to travel...

6:15 this morning. The alarm goes off. I have my phone strategically placed so I can grab it without turning on a light and I fumble through the buttons until I get to my downloaded emails. If we have a day called off of school, I get sent an email informing me..

WTH? Can't a girl get a snow day? There was no message. Apparently the storm went north.

I (reluctantly) admit I do not miss Madison when she is at school (let me explain before I get hate mail) The reason, I am finally getting to have some mommy and Cait time. Since she is a second kid, I have never had that alone time like I had with Madison. Let me tell you, I am L.O.V.I.N.G. EVERY MINUTE of it. The reason for indulging that information, is when she is off of school, I am also not one of those moms who wishes school was in session. See, I love having her home, but also gone!! Summer vacations, SO looking forward to them. Any day off of school, bring it on. So that is why I asked, can't a girl get a snow day? (I swear by this time last year they had so many delays and snow days. Of course that didn't affect me, I didn't have a kid in school. Figures.

ode (again) to Mr. Coffee.

2008-12-15T19:53:00.003-05:00

Have you noticed how crabby my blog has been lately? That would be caffeine withdrawal. So my belly has been hurting again (now i would go back and check out all the stories I'm sure i wrote about it, but I'm just so darn tired, I will let you do the work) so I decided to give coffee a break. I'm fully aware it is a break and not a break up. Last week was a super eye opener as to what my friend Mr. Coffee allows me to do. With the help of Mr. Coffee, I am able to get Madison to school, Cait to her commitment and maybe even get an errand or two run. Without his help, I am (unfortunately a true scenario) waiting in the mall parking lot after I drop Madison off, with my seat laid back sleeping. Where is my kid. Oh yes, she is playing in the car with me. Now mind you I was only dosing because if you have had ANY contact with my youngest sweetheart she has a lot of questions. So I was mostly aware of her surroundings. Turns out I laid there for about 30 minutes. Then I went about my errands, made it home in time for Cait's nap and then there was an overwhelming call from my bed for me to join it, so I took another nap. Obviously, Abby was tired too. She was in the middle of the bed. When I slid in next to her, she just moved her head enough to rest it on my leg. Oh this house is pretty pathetic without Mr. Coffee. (oh and in case you were wondering, soda does NOT do the same thing for me, not really into hot tea, and hot chocolate, well, not even close. There really is no substitute for my dear Mr. Coffee and his friend French Vanilla creamer.)

It's Sunday.

2008-12-14T21:28:00.002-05:00

I got NOTHING I had hoped this weekend. What is my brain thinking? Do you realize Christmas is 10 days away? Oh man. Here's hoping for a good Monday..

How was your weekend? Let me live vicariously through you.

Its the weekend

2008-12-12T23:03:00.003-05:00

It is Friday which means I get to sleep in tomorrow. So help me those girls better cooperate. I so look forward to Saturdays, a cartoon on, a big sweatshirt and a BIG O'GLASS OF LIQUID GOLD, err, I mean coffee! Have a good weekend.

christmas picture

2008-12-09T13:25:00.003-05:00

I think (for today anyway) I have settled on a Christmas picture. I love the one on top, but, I think I like the vertical one better for the Christmas letter. I already have the horizontal on framed on my wall of an 8x10. I get the girls pictures professionally taken every year together and separate. i like this set so much, I am not getting them. (So grandparents and family, if you want updated pictures of the girls together, this is them. I will be posting them on winkflash soon)

Christmas 2008

If I don't have your address, consider this your Christmas card! I just love photographing these girls~

whats your thermostat at?

2008-12-09T13:10:00.003-05:00

I saw this on another post and thought I would ask. WHAT DO YOU KEEP YOUR THERMOSTAT ON? Last month, if you would have asked me, I would have said 71 and I was freezing all month. Now that my $411 electric bill came in, it sits at 68/69. Now I am beyond freezing. My girls, they don't care. Very hot blooded. me? OMGoodness I long to get in the car so I can crank my heat up to 90 (seriously, not an over exaggeration) I am super bummed. I have butt warmers in my truck, except I guess I seem to have worn out my drivers seat warmer. What does that say about my butt?

Anyway, where do you keep your thermostat and are you cold? Please send some warm vibes my way!

The holiday season.

2008-12-08T10:41:00.006-05:00

"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!"
White Rabbit, Allice in wonderland

Story of my life right now. As much as I try to get done, I can't keep my head above water. Which is why I am hanging out with you. I can pretend I don't have anything to really do and have a cup of coffee with you. (hey, did you see the photos below?)

christmas pictures

2008-12-06T12:26:00.006-05:00

OMGoodness! I decided it was high time I took a crack at Christmas photos. The girls were AWESOME!!! I took 95 pictures in less than 5 minutes. Then I went through and deleted 10 because of eye closures, blurry etc. (public math says =85 pics) Then I went through and wrote down the pictures I liked that got it down to 53. Then I went one step further and tried to just pick out the ones for the Christmas photo. I finally got it down to 22. 22 PICTURES PEOPLE! So I have played with 3 or 4. I made a photo collage of a few of them and the enhancements. That is just a few poses. There are many more. If you can figure out a way to tell me which picture you like best, please do. I am having a VERY hard time deciding.

You can click on the collage to make it bigger.

Caitenism

2008-12-05T12:50:00.002-05:00

Cait and Madison were in the car with me. Cait asked Madison a question to which Madison didn't respond right away.

Cait: Sister are you thinking?

Madison: yes

Cait: Sister, you have to go wike dis (tapping her finger to her chin with her head tilted) when you are tinking.

One would never know.

2008-12-05T12:42:00.002-05:00

One would never know HOW much I should be doing. and what have I accomplished this morning? Madison made it to school. I got 4 of the 6 games done on usatoday.com (today is Friday and I ain't smart nuff to do the 4 star sudoku and crossword puzzles) thanks Randy and Renee for addicting me. Cait is down for a nap. ANNNDD, (let me think, surely I can think of something else I have done) i guess that is all. Do you think it is a problem that I have ABSOLUTELY nothing to wear to a Christmas party tonight? I got rid of all my "stuff" that could be considered for parties.. Damn decluttering, I guess I went a little overboard. Do you think fuzzy slippers and snowflake pants are appropriate for a Squadron Christmas party?? Yay, me either, but I thought I would ask.

I think my brain is telling me that if I just sit on the computer, everything I HAVE to do today will just stay in the future. Boy am I in for it this afternoon.

Christmas card whaaa??

2008-12-04T19:08:00.004-05:00

One wouldn't believe it is December 4th by the looks of our house.

There is no tinsel, still cornstalks.
There are no Christmas pictures , still Halloween and they don't look so good with Red and green.
A Christmas card and annual Christmas letter? Yay right, not even close.
There are no Christmas cookies, Halloween candy dominate.
There are fall coats, winter coats are still packed.
I just had to hide the flip flops because the girls kept wanting to wear them.

Do you see what I am getting at? This house is about 3 weeks (or more) behind. I wonder if i can get three extra weeks into the next three weeks? Hmm...

Have you gotten out your Christmas cards? Do you do cards? Do you do family pictures, pictures of your kids, or your pets? When do you send them out?

quick riddle

2008-12-02T17:32:00.004-05:00

Question:

What do you get when you mix a well meaning five year old and a toilet paper roll holder??

Give up??

Answer:

Madison with her fingers stuck like those Chinese finger trap!

She was sitting on the potty and was trying to change the TP roll. She stuck her two index fingers in the ends of the tube that holds the TP. She screamed that her fingers were stuck. It took a good yank to get them out. It was by far the funniest thing I have seen in a LONG time. I don't think that will be something she will EVER do again!

Just call me a traumatized germophobe

2008-11-30T16:15:00.002-05:00

TRAUMATIZED GERMOPHOBE!!! Madison was invited to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. OMGoodness! First of all, I have NEVER been there on a weekend, let alone the afternoon. On the rare instances we have taken the girls, we go at 9 in the morning when they open play a few dollars worth of tokens and call it a day. IT WAS FREAKIN crazy. I can't believe I thought I would drop her off and have a few hours to run errands. As soon as i saw that mayhem, I knew there was NO way I was leaving her side. I did loosen up a little and let her go on her own. That lasted all of five minutes. I took Cait to play games and she came looking for me. She never left my side.

So lets just say, my poor children will NEVER have the chance to party with Chuck E. That place is TOO scary for me and seems to make my heart palpitate just a little. Do you realize how many germs are floating through there? Do you realize the mayhem there?

Oh, I think I need to wash my hands, and disinfect and repeat...

advent calendar

2008-11-29T13:09:00.002-05:00

I look at Target every time I go and want to purchase one of those house advent calendars. I think it would be a neat tradition to start wit the kids. Look what Crafty Crow (thanks Joanna) has as examples of advent calendars.. So easy. I bet I could do that.. Now to find the time....

For the first time in my life

2008-11-29T12:34:00.002-05:00

For the first time in my life, I am working out for me. And to my surprise, I am actually enjoying it.

When I was in grade school and high school, I worked out because I had a gymnastics coach that said workout. Come into the gym this often for this long. Then when I got to college, I had a cheerleading coach that said workout. Come into the gym this often, for this long. After college, I got married. The first couple of years, I worked out sporadically, but basically just rode the wave of being in shape from my college years. After I had Madison, I worked out. Hello, I had 52 lbs I had to get off. It took me 15 months (no one said I was that consistent at working out during that time) The VERY month I hit my pre pregnancy weight, I got pregnant with Cait. Then after Cait was born it was the same thing. I worked out because I had 48 lbs to loose. Not because I enjoyed it. After I got those pounds off, I pretty much stopped. we were in the middle of moving (multiple times, from AK to my parents house, buying a new house moving out here, living for a while with SIL, just a lot of houses) Then after attempting to walk out side a few times (the weather really has to be perfect for me to even consider exercising outside) I just stopped. Then in October of 2007, Randy asked if I wanted to join the gym down the street. Great, I thought. I will go up there have free child care and have 2 hours to myself....REALLY didn't care for it. It was such a chore to get everyone ready to go up there. I don't think I EVER made it more than 30 minutes of cardio. I was going because we were paying THIS much money every month. So I gave it up. (incidentally, Randy still has a membership and loves it. That is where he is best suited to be.) Then about 2+ weeks ago, I thought I would plug in my trusty treadmill. (the one that so fabulously helped me loose the weight between both of my girls) Surprisingly, I ENJOYED it. I started at 30 minutes. I actually look forward to getting on it everyday. I am up to almost an hour on it with about 30 or 40 minutes with other strength exercises. If I don't get to work out, I miss it. There has been no pressure. No coach telling me get here, no guilt with paying for it, just me wanting to do it. I just put on CMT and have my Nicholas Sparks book in front of me and I'm off. In no way am I running marathons or anything, but I have seen some improvement and I am up to 4 or 5 songs of running (When a good song comes on, I watch the video and run to it. That way I am distracted and don't dwell on running)
What a great feeling..
I do have a friend from college. She and I worked out EVERYday. (most days I would lift her butt in the air for cheerleading!) She and I were the most perfectly match workout partners possible. Man I miss working out with her.

So I guess I have rambled enough.
How do you keep motivated to workout? DO you actually enjoy it or are you doing it out of some obligation? Share your stories with me and keep me inspired. (and Erin, really how do you do it? Share your secrets with me, I'll keep them safe!!)

Black Friday success!

2008-11-28T15:14:00.002-05:00

I must say today was a success. Randy decided he would stay home and watch the girls (read: didn't want to get up and out of bed at that time) I went to Target, Best Buy, Michael's, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, Old Navy, Bed Bath and Beyond, and the mall. I left the house at a little after 6 and got home a little after 12. What a difference it is to get out of the car and close the door and go in. Not undo two other seatbelts, open extra doors hold hands, check for cars etc.

Anyway, I think if I would have been going for electronics, I would have found some good deals. I heard people camped out at Best Buy..>WT?? No sale is that important to spend the night out in the cold. Target's electronic section was PACKED. I guess this Wii thing is huge. I have never even played it.
I even found a cute pair of jeans from Old Navy for 15 bucks and a puffy vest for 10 bucks at Target. I was going to buy that last week for full price. Score for me!

I AM DONE!!! (exception: I have not shopped for the girls. I don't consider them as part of my Christmas shopping. I do everyone else and Randy goes with me to get the girls. Now to wrap them and ship them out!! This weeks project.

So did anyone else brave the CRAZY shopping? If so, did you get any good deals? Did you get a lot accomplished?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T22:27:00.004-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If anyone one went home hungry in this crowd, it's their own fault. We had fried turkey, baked turkey (in the bag, super juicy), about 15 lbs of mashed potatoes, a 9x13 pan of sweet potatoes with the corn flakes and brown sugar on top(yummy) homemade rolls, green bean casserole, homemade (by my mil not me) stuffing (amazing but I refuse to ask her because I want her to keep making it!) cream style corn (must be a Midwest thing) and for dessert, homemade pumpkin pie, and homemade apple pie with ice cream and real whipping cream. YUMMY!

Oh and this is what happens when 7 adults let 7 kids (ages 1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 9) play all afternoon and only intervene when crying occurred. Looks like they had fun right?! Oh and that is just one room. The basement, Just the same..The outside,Not quite as bad, but it was pretty chilly out so they tried to run to stay warm.

I just love cooking for everyone. the more the merrier. I love the mess when they leave because it reminds me I was lucky enough to have visitors. Man, I love visitors.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was happy healthy and your playrooms ended up like mine.

NOW ON TO BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!

EVERYDAY but last night

2008-11-23T14:44:00.003-05:00

Every single day EXCEPT yesterday, I have had the first floor immaculate. I would go through and do the dishes, wash down the stainless appliances, wash the stove top and most nights swept up the floors (because I didn't do it until it was bed time for me, I didn't want to wake the girls by vacuuming.) Last night I was just not in the mood. GUESS WHAT?

My neighbor who has never seen the kitchen stopped by to give the kids advent calendars (you know the ones with the chocolate? She brings them one every year. She has adopted them as her grandchildren and she has great grandchildren older than them.) Guess what??? Yep you guessed it... A MESS. I guess that serves me right. I can't even stumble one day because that is when someone comes for a visit.

I L.O.V.E. visitors, so please stop by. I am going to have to ask her to come over again so she can see what the house is like without a layer of toys, dog hair and dishes strewn about.

I was doing so well too...

crazy eights

2008-11-22T11:09:00.002-05:00

MommyK from The Great Walls of Baltimore tagged me, so I thought it would be a great weekend post (although I am starting to feel like I have lost most of my readers from not posting as regularly)

8 Things I'm looking forward too
1. Cait to finish her medicine from the pneumonia
2. Thanksgiving
3. Christmas
4. warmer weather
5. my next visitor to come see us
6. Black Friday
7. Summer vacation
8. nap time

8 Things on my Wish List
1. A set of Jillian Michaels' workout videos
2. health for my family.
3. more equipment for my camera
4. enough knowledge and time to start a photo business
5. King sized bed
6. MANY massages (but one would work too!)
7. finish the quilts for the the girls
8. conquer the clutter.

8 TV Shows I Like To Watch
1. House
2. Biggest Loser
3. Samantha Who?
4. Friday Night Lights
5. CSI (although after Grissom leaves I think that one will be gone)
6. the occasional Oprah when she doesn't tick me off)
7. Don't forget the trashy daytime shows I watch with my diet coke in hand (thanks for that one Renee :) (totally kidding on that one. I don't even turn the TV on during the day except when Cait asks for it on.)
8. CMT. Which really isn't a show, but if the TV is on, I really like music.

8 Things that Happened Yesterday
1. I dropped Madison off at school.
2. I set up for her Thanksgiving feast
3. I watch a beautiful program of 45 kindergartners recite Thanksgiving poems, scripture verses and songs.
4. It snowed and it stuck on the ground.
5. I drove in blizzard like conditions to get Cait since her Aunt Renee was so wonderful to watch her (sick and all) while Randy and I were at the Thanksgiving feast.
6. I tried to force Cait to eat some dinner, gave up and talked her into drinking carnation instead.
7. Took Madison to gymnastics and waited the very long 1 hour and15 minutes until she was done.
8. went to bed at 9:15 and had someone call for a survey at 9:50. WTH?

8 People I am Tagging
1. Katie at The Yap
2. Noel (see it will give you something to do while you wait!) The Quinn report
3. Andrea at The perpetual Tourist
4. Laura at Custom Made Miracles
5. Erin at mommy
6. Maryb at A Yankee's guide to Texas
7. Joanna at A creative leak
8. Mandy at First you make a Roux

My poor Cait.

2008-11-20T21:05:00.002-05:00

My baby hasn't been feeling well for almost a week. Madison had the same crap close to Halloween, so I thought it was just that. Today, something told me to make an appointment. Everything lined up (this is my crazy day and I was able to clear my afternoon schedule and Randy was home to watch her since she didn't go school. ) I met Randy at the doctor. She (the pediatrics doc) thought Cait should have a chest x-ray just because of her symptoms. Sure enough, my poor baby has pneumonia. She is such a trooper. She was suppose to spend the night down at Renee's house tonight, but I just couldn't let her go. I know Renee would take fabulous care of her (hello, a former nurse and a surgeon, not a bad house to be in sick) but I wanted her close to me.

Anyway, they say 72 hours for the medicine to kick in. Always listen to your mother's intuition. It wasn't kicking me in the gut, but it was knocking. I actually listened this time..

What are your traditions. (part 1 thanksgiving style)

2008-11-19T12:04:00.004-05:00

As the holidays approach I thought I would write down some of our traditions (old and new)

Since we moved near family, Thanksgiving has been at my house. I LOVE it. I love being able to cook. The hardest part about this holiday is figuring out what to cook. Mixture of old and new if you will. There are some standards that have to be on every Thanksgiving table, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed taters and cream style corn (I know weird right? Even more weird, my family puts it on Mashed taters instead of gravy), and of course my favorite APPLE PIE with homemade crust. But there are some variations I try and throw in there to spice things up a bit. I try a new appetizer every year. I try to make a different recipe of sweet potatoes. I would love to mix up the green bean casserole, but that is Randy's favorite. Can't mess with that. We have also added a fried turkey. Most people really like them. I on the other hand can not get over being fried in gallons of oil, so we make both a fried and baked turkeys. I always have chocolate chip cookies. Although they aren't particularrly festive, they seem to be a staple at our house.

I L.O.V.E black Friday. I get my kids up at butt crack of dawn and take them with me. I even did it in Alaska. When Randy is home he willingly goes with me. (although it doesn't happen too often) In Alaska, we left the house around 5 and drove the 40 minutes to town. When we got there, we found out that NO ONE opened early and even Denny's was closed. We had to sit in the car (with it running because it was AK and already super cold) for a long time until Denny's opened, and then had breakfast to wasted the time until Fred Meyer opened. Then, I guess no one got the memo, because there were NO early bird sales. Anyway, this year will be no exception. Randy will most likely be on a trip, but I will have my little hiney (and theirs too) out checking out the good deals. Most years I have Christmas almost or all done by Thanksgiving and am able to pick up a few good deals for myself (hey, sometimes Randy needs Christmas ideas for me, so I can take the guess work out for him) The first year I was here, I got all kinds of bedding for the guest bedroom. Those are the best purchases, because the comforter and stuff is so big, you really feel like you are getting your moneys worth when you carry the bag out.

I do not put up my Christmas decorations until well after Christmas. I feel like Thanksgiving gets rooked and so I give it its fair day. (the main reason I shop for Christmas before Thanksgiving is not to rush through Thanksgiving, but so I don't have to be so rushed after Thanksgiving)

So there are a few of my traditions. What are some of your holiday traditions (old or new)?

Do you hear this comment in your head too? and some other things.

2008-11-18T20:27:00.003-05:00

I am constantly hearing myself think "well, when this event is over, things will slow/calm down" I don't think I have ever been so consistently busy. You people that do it with multiple (more than 2) children in 20 different sports and still get everything done, I bow to you.

Because I can't show pictures of my super secret Christmas presents, I thought I would pull out some old photos of the girls... Oh wait, that would require blogger to let me. Oh well, maybe next time.

One more question. I have a dog. I also have carpet that is just over a year old. I can now tell where she lays. I have a steam cleaner. Do you think those work well enough to get it looking new again, or should I leave it to a professional? She hasn't had any accidents or anything, I think it is just that she lays in two spots on our bedroom floor every night. (one spot is by the window when Randy is home, furthest away from the door the other spot is right in front of the door where she hangs sleeps when he isn't home. Some would say she is protecting me by being at the door, but if you know her, you would know she is really just waiting for Randy to get home. She was born without a protective bone in her body.)

IM BACK! (finally)

2008-11-18T10:40:00.003-05:00

So I have many excuses, but mainly it is mother nature's fault. There just aren't enough hours in the day. I just wrapped up a few (5) super secret Christmas presents, Madison's Thanksgiving feast for school is Friday and since I am room mom, it is my job to organize and get everything in the correct place, & Randy has been gone for a few days and took the laptop..(okay, so that one really doesn't count since I do most of the blogging from our desktop, but it has hindered my reading blogs!).

Did that previous section even make sense? Well, what I was trying to get across is for some reason, I have been super busy. So super busy, I have not picked up my 3rd baby in weeks. (that would be my camera) That means no Christmas picture yet (and the temperature plummeted this week) no general pictures of my kids, just TOTAL neglect of my poor baby.

Something I have gotten to do lately, I have gotten to watch that sweet baby Andrew (and Becca too). Oh man is he ever yummy. I approach it as please Katie, let me help you. Seriously I am just doing it to get some good old fashion baby time. Did I mention he is just so, so yummy?

So, now that some of my major projects are out of the way, stand back, I am going to (hopefully) be back for good and often.

So much for the break. I have to go get Cait.

Quick Caitenism to leave you with.

In the car driving the other morning.

C: Mommy, it is faucky out..

M (after I did my double take to see what she was talking about ): Your right Cait it is very FOGGY out!

so where have i been you ask?

2008-11-10T21:04:00.003-05:00

Let's see:
I hosted a little shower/drink fest in the afternoon on Sunday (super fun times mainly because I got to cook and bake and everyone ate, man I love cooking for a crowd who will actually eat!),

more painting.

Friday Madison had off of school so who has time to do anything like computers then.

I have been working on a super secret Christmas gifts that have been taking up oober amount of time, but boy are they going to be liked. (oh speaking of secret projects, the blanket in the last picture is what i was working on. I love doing baby quilts. They are so quick and easy.)

Doing some more Christmas shopping.

Gymnastics team pictures for pre team (really? Madison was mad because I didn't get her individual pictures. Seriously, she doesn't have any kind of team leo, they were all just in their regular leos. Can you say waste of money? if she really wants pictures of her in her leotard, I know someone who can take and print them A LOT cheaper!)

And doing my everyday, de-clutter, cleaning, laundry general clean up.

Trying to catch up on sleep (unsuccessfully)

Because of that pathetic list, I have been neglecting you my friends. I have over 300 entries to read in google reader. Oh man. I miss you guys. I don't want to go this long without chatting with you again.

Blast from the past

2008-11-04T22:53:00.003-05:00

A friend of ours made a quick trip into town today. His name is Ryan and he spent the evening with us. WOW, what a blast from the past. When we were active duty, Ryan was my adopted single person. The married wives used to "adopt" a single guy and make sure they were invited for dinner and what not. Well, Ryan has since gotten married to a great person and has two beautiful girls, but it sure was nice to cook for him and enjoy his company. (also, I made him cookies, which were his favorite, back then, and over the course of the evening he ate half of the batch and I sent the other half with him tomorrow. I love to cook for a man who will just eat and eat!)

IF my money was endless...

2008-11-03T22:42:00.004-05:00

If I had so much money I NEVER had to think about it, my family and I would wear new socks EVERYDAY! I would throw them out after wearing them so I didn't have to wash them and match them. (of course if money was no object I would probably have someone doing my laundry, but still)

If money unending in your household what would be one thing you would do?

pulled in 17 different directions?

2008-11-03T13:17:00.001-05:00

Do you ever get the feeling you are being pulled in multiple directions with multiple deadlines and no one else can do it? Randy has been super good about asking to help, but they are all things I have to do myself. It really stinks.

As my good friend says, "It looks like it will be another week of tivo'ing trash shows and taking my diet coke on the run."

so it isn't actually Saturday.

2008-11-02T13:18:00.006-05:00

I truly meant to get these pictures posted on Saturday, but then I had a chance to love up on Baby Andrew for the evening and took that option instead. A little late but here is Halloween 2008:

Do you see the red in their hair? Well, now that is the new color of my bathtub.

Mermaid #1 in blue.

Mermaid #2 in green. (I started out with just silver, but there was too much green so I added the purple for contrast)

The mermaids together (which I believe was the only time the whole night they were together. Jack and Madison ran ahead with Randy and TJ and Renee and I stayed back and walked with Schaefer and Cait)

Cait decided after about three houses that "wook mommy, I have lots of candy and I'n done" I proceeded to tell her that mommy needed more candy and she should go to more houses. She also said she was cold, and although I had a coat with me for her, I just made her run with me to run from house to house. I couldn't bear to cover up the costume. Wow, what a great mom I'm turning out to be.

The jack o lanterns

See, the way it works in our house is I make the marks to cut the top and then Randy cuts the top open and scrapes the crap out. Not one of my favorite jobs. The girls of course get in on the act.

It obviously takes 6 people to carve 3 pumpkins (the sixth is my dad behind the camera) Don't you just love how dressed up I got? I was Thursday, you know my crazy day. I was at the gym all day and then as soon as we got in the door we started carving. I NEVER seem to look decent on a photographic event. Oh well, I was actually there and in a picture so.

I prefer the cleaner portion of carving. Here are my results this year. (and actually it looked a lot better in person. It didn't photograph as well as it could have)

diving A-10 (three-quarters angle)

are you still there?

2008-10-30T23:21:00.003-04:00

Do I have any readers left? I am still here. I have a lovely week with my parents (and some of it with Kimberly) and have spent EVERY single spare minute making those stupid costumes. I am not sure what possesses me to do that stupid crap every year. Anyway, they are finally finished. We are going to Renee's for Trick or Treating and spending the night, so tune in on Saturday (I know, everyone has a life but me on the weekend) and check out the costume pictures. I think they turned out pretty well. (It must have been all the language I used during the process!) Randy bought the girls red hairspray for their hair so they look more like Ariel. I am probably not going to be laughing much when it doesn't come out!

Have a GREAT HALLOWEEN (my very favorite holiday!), don't eat too much of your kids candy and check back on Saturday for pictures. Oh and I carved an airplane in the side of a pumpkin tonight. It has sort of become a tradition. You will have to see if you can figure out what plane it is.

Trip from, well, not heaven..

2008-10-26T12:19:00.002-04:00

We are back. It was almost not worth it. If it wasn't that I got to see my parents and I got my hair done,(OH LAWRDY THANK YOU!) It wasn't worth it.

(*Disclaimer: I know I shouldn't complain because they were free, but seriously, if the company didn't cut flights, all of the flights wouldn't be OVERSOLD. Don't need the comments about just be happy you have free tickets. I am I am glad, I was just frustrated with the way this trip went.)

So it started on Thursday. Randy took the girls to school so I could have a few extra hours in the morning to get things ready (since Thursday is my hell day and I don't return home until after 4 on a normal day.) After my first two hours of work, I picked up Cait from school like I normally do. Then I realized I didn't have the 3rd row seat in and needed for the return trip. So, in my hour and 15 minutes, I drove 15 minutes north to our house to have Randy put in the 3rd seat. Then I drove 20 minutes south back to work with Cait (I teach her class). We got done at 2 and I had sent in a note to get Madison out of school at 2:30. After we picked her up, we headed right to the airport. I parked the car (and actually got a close spot, and if you are familiar to airport employee parking, a close spot is a rarity.) We had an easy time getting on the bus and getting to the airport. One of Randy's other job co-workers was also going in, so we had someone there that we knew. (and this time, Cait didn't get left on the bus. Last time I stood her at the door, set down the bags, turned around and went to pick her up off the bus and they closed the door on me. Can you say, "PANIC MOM MODE?") We checked in and the flight was booked to 128. (the plane holds 137) from the time I got from the ticket counter to the gate, the flight went up to 141 (copy, OVERSOLD BY 4). YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING RIGHT? Oh no, So I waited there a little bit and called Randy for options. The next option was through Chicago. Not a big fan of connections, but the last flight to St. Louis only had 10 seats and that was just too close for comfort.
So LONG story short, we waited, I had to be nice, even though I was given MANY reasons not to be, and we got the very LAST 3 seats on the plane. Great right? I even had a seat with the girls. A very very SWEET lady took care of us and held a row for us so we could all sit together. She single handed -ly kept my sanity in tact on that first leg.

Then we got to Chicago and there was a 2 hour wait. Instead of getting in at 6:55 (with the first flight) I was suppose to now get in at 10:45. Then the plane was late getting to Chicago and an armrest needed repairing and we ended up in St. Louis at 11:35. (NOT TO MENTION A TWO HOUR DRIVE HOME) Erin at Mo Mommy offered up her house which had she been in Chicago, I so would have taken her up on it. But in St. Louis, my parents were patiently waiting.

2 AM is when I finally arrived after the drive. So then we had a great Friday and Saturday I had my LONG awaited hair appointment and then I realized we were not going to get home on Sunday. We had to make the decision as to when I was coming home, and not on Sunday. So we decided to come home late last night. So we were in Illinois from 2 am Friday morning until 4pm on Saturday. It was a crazy whirl wind trip. We are back. We are tired, we are cranky, we are taking naps.

Oh but the bright side, I brought my dad, Becky and and little sister Kim back with me, so I didn't have to see my kids on the plane and I have people in my house, which is ALWAYS something I look forward too.

So that is my long winded story. It was somewhat crazy and nicely put, NOT HEAVEN. But this week should more than make up for it.

I'm off

2008-10-23T07:39:00.002-04:00

I am off to the great state of Illinois. I don't really know how I am getting back, but while I am there (on this super short trip), I will be pampering my VERY neglected locks (6 months is a LONG time to go without having my gray covered and those highlights, not so high anymore!). I also will not have to see or interact with my children from the time I step off the plane in St. Louis until sometime next week. My Dad and Becky (and maybe kim) will be coming back with us (as long as there are enough seats on the plane) and they will have a short trip out here from Sunday until sometime next week. Whoohoo!!

On an unrelated note, i have Madison's costume done except for the embellishments. I TOTALLY modified the costume, and made it MUCH easier to make (mainly because I couldn't figure out the pattern completely), and I have Caitie's cut out. I put Madison's together in about 3 hours, so it shouldn't take me even that long with Caitie. I guess we will see.

So, providing there are seats, I will be back late Sunday night.