cheatin'

I am cheatin' on blogger...
check the new site out - still workin' on it but much easier way to show my recent photos from my mac.
what do ya think?

raising boys

so my youngest has to hold on to the wall and doens't know what size of boots he should wear much less which way the toes should point...


so no one would want to mess with my oldest in a dark or even fully lit alley way.

raising boys is tough. don't worry - i'm still adding to the gene pool:)

birthday

well my birthday was relaxing and much fun.

after a long work day, friday - joe and i headed down to missoula without kiddos.

got to shop a bit (i know i am pathetic and don't get out much)

then a quiet dinner (i could only eat a few bites of my actual meal but had a fridge in our room)

then a night in a quite hotel (no dog or kids to wake us up - just my sister's cheery text message at 630am - she is too cute;))

back in the car for a drive up to my parents for more birthday dinner and easter celebrations.

joe and i had nice conversations on the car rides - why does it seem like weeks go by and we don't even get to even talk to each other?

have a crazy, hectic work week going. filling in for a staff member on vacation but a break is on the way.

love all the wonderful birthday gifts! i am way too spoiled and undeserving!

THANKS!

scrapin'

Well, I have spent 20 hours this weekend scrapbooking at my friend Brenda's. I got 21 pages completed!
5 women took over her living room from 6pm til 11:30 pm Friday night and then again at 9am Saturday morning until midnight. Wow!
I must add that no alcohol was used to amuse us and keep us going - 4 out of 5 of us are expecting litte ones! The other 1 of us has enough common sense to know that scrapin' and alcohol don't mix!
I have not really even done any scrapbooking for L as of yet - YIKES. Now I am getting somehwhere.
I believe O's baby book will be completely digital. I just don't have the time to get it done.
So thanks to Brenda for opening up her home, thanks to all the hubbies for watching kiddos - especially J as he had our dudes all day Friday while I worked too!

in 3's?

I've always heard bad things come in 3's.
So, I'm counting...
1 - Tom
2- Abby
3 - Tippen
But now we are faced with a 4th - Chase.
He is part of O's God family. He has been around Luke since he was 3 months old. His mom took care of L when I went back to work. He is a junior in high school now and over 200 lbs.
He was in a skiing accident Friday night. Burst fractures to 3 lumbar vertebrae, broke both wrists with ligament damage as well, also suffered a concussion.
He is awaiting wrist surgery on Wednesday and will be wearing a special brace for his back anytime he gets up for the next 6 weeks.
Luckily, he is still alive and all his injuries are repairable. Quite a blessing!
Please keep this young guy in your prayers. He really has a good head on his shoulders and has been through various other injuries in the past couple of years taking away several of his joys - football, skiing and tennis.
Okay - I am officially only accepting good news - just kidding...

somethings i've been eyeing

i've had a few requests for b-day ideas. i truly do believe that everyone has tastes that are most likely better than mine however if you are interested in the type of things i have been eyeing here ya go...

trying to avoid another day of hairstyling (yes, I am getting old and lazy) - perhaps another hair powder is recommended??? this is new for me...

can get bigger in this and this and still look somewhat decent

i've always wanted one of these

that's all i've got for now...any help???

Tippen

My parent's dog Tippen had to be put down today:(
She is their 12 year old German shepherd. She had been having these weird cysts pop up through her fur and the skin on her underside had become very discolored and irritated. It's not like they don't take her to the vet often or anything - this just creeped up. When my dad took her in today they determined that she had a growth on her spleen that was inoperable - she would bleed out from the surgery and not survive. She they put her to sleep.
She really was a great dog - probably the best they've had so far. Their favorite daughter (as my sister and I joke).
They do still have their hands full with Fargo - their 2 year old German shepherd. She will be lost for awhile but will soon realize that she really rules the roost now.
Mom had told Dad that one dog is enough at a time but we will see how long that lasts...

She's One!

My little niece turns one today! Lainey is absolutely gorgeous and has the sweetest disposition but make no mistake she is in charge. Watch out for this one!

Happy birthday, Lainey girl! Wish we were there to celebrate!

updates

Well, Abby's scans came back showing no progression of cancer to the spine this time. Therefore, no need for the spinal tap - yikers! Cannot even imagine going thru that with my child much less cancer!

She still has surgery ahead of her to remove the tumor to her brain. Not sure what other treatment they will initiate - she had maxed out on chemo and radiation for her age a couple of years ago.

Prayers are still desparately needed for this little one for what lies ahead!

Tom is now out of ICU, off the vent, and prayerfully out of the woods. He is still quite weak and unable to care for himself. Prayers for healing are still needed to get him back on his feet. Sounds like the health department is involved now with his case - investigating if he contracted this rare strand of pneumonia from his office.

Praise the Lord for our health!

Sweet Abby

Please visit this website.

We are overjoyed with the news of our fall arrival however some families have woes on their hearts.

This is the story of my sister-in-law's niece, Abby. She is bright and beautiful. She has undergone so much in her short life that I cannot dare to wish on my worst enemy (not that I really have any enemies). She had a cancerous, spinal tumor that was operated on a couple of years ago (I'm not sure she has even turned 5 yet) and has been doing well. Her very recent check back at St. Jude's revealed a tumor on her brain. More testing is scheduled to make certain that it has not spread to her spine yet again.

Please keep them in you prayers. What trauma for anyone but especially someone so young.

Her caring bridge journal is wonderfully done by her mother, Francie, a caring nurse by profession as well as a mother. Cannot be fun to use your pediatric nursing skills on your own flesh and blood.

God is good. Times like these that is so much harder to grasp - that is what faith is all about, right?

#3

Third time is a charm?
Well, so far I think the 1st two have both been charmers - but I am partial.
Heard the heart beat yesterday at 1st doctor's appt. About 9 or 10 weeks along. So due date of 9/24/08 - Papa Al's birthday - Nana's is 9/25! What a present!!!
Feeling a little more nauseous this go round - not sure what that means. We shall wait and be surprised yet again.
Keep you posted!

My Island

Look what Joe made me...






Isn't it beautiful? And so functional too. I already can't imagine my kitchen without it!

So great to have a handy hubby!!!

Thanks, Babe! Love ya!

Legionnaires’ disease

A dear, dear family friend, Tom Tracey (like a father to me), has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. It is a rare form of pneumonia and quite serious. So serious in fact that he is on a ventilator - which was unable to be removed today. He is also requiring a nasal-gastric tube for feeding.

He is young - only 57. Father of 5. Loving wife/soulmate.

Not sure where he picked up this bug. He did just return from his son's wedding in the Bahamas. He also battled mono a few months ago.

Please keep him close in your prayers. God is good and can heal all.

Will keep you posted on his recovery!

Thanks!

no hit days

Well, we've got a problem with Luke.
He is a hitter. Not only is he bigger than all of the kids in his class but he uses his brut strength on them too?
Please tell me my kid is not that kid.
We got called to the director of his day care's office.
He has now been moved to another classroom and so far this seems to have made all the difference. Apparently, it was mainly one particular child that was the victim - having a different teacher may be an improvement as well.
We have also initiated "no hit days".
When we pick him up from school we don't ask if he had a "good" day - we simply ask if he had a "no hit day".
Coupons are handed out from his teacher if it was a "no hit day". We are also handing out coupons at home.
After earning 3 he gets to choose from the reward jar. The jar is full of slips of paper that list a fun activity that he gets to do.
So far he has been able to rent a video. We are one more day away from reward #2 - and we just started last week.
So far so good...

there's more

I forgot - to add to my week.
I have a dental appt Wednesday (during my work week) - oops!
Also, reading one other book. It is quite humbling - actually hard for me to get through - hits my clutterbug life a little too close to home. Can you believe my boss gave it to me? I don't think she thinks it applies to my work environment but she knows my tendancies and she happens to share them with me.
The same author has a new one out but I have to tackle this one first...

what i am up to...

dinner tonight - yum-o!!!
making valentine's for the boys to take to school...
Luke is really in a dinosaur phase so the boys in his class get these
the girls get sparkly necklaces - because you know girls, they sparkle;)
Big O's class get's goldfish snacks and a love note from him for a Happy Heart Day!
I got all of (not really that many) Valentine's decorations out today - not sure why - it will be over in a couple of days.
I've got lots of reading to this week...
this book for lenten service small group study - it really called to me - excited about getting through it during lent
this book for work - I have training in a couple of weeks and this is part of my homework from last session
i have 3 presentations that i am helping to give this week on communication - not my forte but with the training my boss has put our team thru time for the student to become the teacher.
big O also has to make it to the ENT during my work day/presentation day (tuesday)
bunco is tuesday night, lenten service wednesday night, thursday no work/no school for kiddos but will take them in for their valentine's day parties
luke starts basketball again on saturday, working nursery for 830am service sunday
whew - i'm tired already and it hasn't even begun. i should get to my reading but i know that will just put me right to sleep. what is a mom/girl to do?

call

Another great line by Luke tonight as we were trying to get him to mind his manners and eat his dinner.
Dad let him know his choices and said, "It's your call, Luke."
Luke's reply was quick and serious.
"Dad, I don't have a real phone."
In a few years, a comment like that may still be quick but not as serious - more full of witt.
Oh, no! The fun we have ahead!

thigh highs

Big O cannot help himself. He wants to be like his big brother in so many ways.
Look what happens when he puts on Luke's socks. They go all the way to his thighs.

Unfortunately, his thighs don't have enough meat on them to keep the socks up though! Too funny!
He has too much fun with whatever he does. Such a joy!!!

NORO continues

Ugh! I thought I was in the clear but I have missed the past two days of work now. I spend my days frequenting the toilet, so I am not even getting much done!

We are super busy at work - have found other therapists to cover but I do need to get some prep work done for a consultant we have coming in Thursday and Friday.

This has to end.

Of yeah, worst of all, today is Joe's b-day! Happy Birthday, Babe! He certainly isn't going to eat any cake or food I prepare. I guess it's out to dinner tonight - not sure I will have the appetite for it though - BOY do I hate that!!!

gift

I was reminded that I didn't officially post what I got for my Christmas gift.

This isn't the exact one we bought but it's identical.

We drove it back from Nebraska. We weren't planning on buying a new car on our trip but we were in a position to make an offer and if they didn't bite no skin off our teeth - our burb was still doing fine just over 100,000 miles so value was plummeting.

We picked my sis up from the airport in it (hadn't told her about it yet) - she didn't notice. Of course, her little guys was wailing in the back seat which unnerves any mom.

plan b again

well we had a date night planned again but this time I was the sick one. This lovely thing has been going around work. I woke up with it this morning but was determined to get it out of my system. Joe's b-day is next week and we wanted to do dinner at HuHot (we have a gift card that is burning a hole in our pocket). Then we wanted to go to the movie. I thought I'd finally found a good one that both of us would like and we wouldn't feel bad about watching.
Well it is snowing tonight. And when we get to HuHot, Joe knows the guy cooking at the grill of course (one of his patients - I swear he treats the whole valley - he should really run for mayor). Anyway, he tells us that they just issued a travel advisory and it is emergency travel only. They planned on shutting the restaurant down early.
I felt awful at this point - why did I let our 16 year-old babysit drive clear across town in this weather for us to go to dinner for 30 minutes. I texted her (yeah - gotta be hip like that with the young kids) and let her know we were not going to the movie but would rent one and be home.
Joe is following her home as I type.
I am watching the end of Bourne Supremacy that I fell asleep on last night and then we will finish the trilogy with Bourne Ultimatum when he returns.
Sometimes plan b turns out just fine. Just wish I would have been game for it first thing this am!

babytime

Isn't he just cute enough to eat? My nephew is nothing but smiles these days.

We just got done with a great visit from my sis and her little bundle. He had to come north to figure out what snow is all about.

His cousin got him a little too close to the snow. Luke chucked a snowball that landed right below the little guy's eye. We are such a welcoming bunch!



Big O thought he wasn't so big. He didn't want to share his "baby" things with the baby very much. He was still able to fit into most of them though - he can just get in and out himself now.

pay?

Joe and my dad were trying to level out the new tv my parents bought into an old walnut hutch that my mom loves. They had stopped touching anything and the light sound of glass breaking and falling was heard.

A lower shelf of the walnut hutch had tilted (it was only hanging on by a couple of small nails for over 100 years). My mom's china and other valuable glassware was slowly being crushed.

Luke had the cutest comment, "Mom, who is going to pay for that?".

Oh, I think Papa will be paying for that for some time.

She is always telling me about the high price of carnival glass. Unfortunately, it isn't worth as much in so many, many small pieces.

The main hardship was the damage done to her mother's china. I do believe it is replaceable. She has seen it on the replacements.com website. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it right now. I even looked at the bottom of a broken creamer today to see the name. It's Noritake - I think it starts with an "e"...

I think the best plan or repayment may be to start a new collection in tribute of her new woodland habitat. What about this? It comes in such a variety and it is pretty nice stuff.

I know it is no replacement for her roots - the heirloom from her mother but they are things and the life and memories we have are much more important.

Poor guys! Poor Papa! But by the way, it is a really nice tv!

christmas in nebraska

Well we made it safely to nebraska and back for the Christmas holiday. We had a great time catching back up with family. The boys had a blast with their grandparents and cousins. They really got some quality play time in with grandma and grandpa as well as their cousin Casey.

We drove this trip but we all did well. It was less stressful than flying and we were able to bring all of our goodies to and from.

Luke is loving his pirate ship from Casey. He also has a new bike that he needs to try out. He mastered his 12 incher without training wheels so we promised him a bigger bike and it of course had to be blue.





Owen is cleaning up everything with his new vacuum and handheld vac - he is also fixing up everything with his new tool sets.


Casey is enjoying his new excavator.


Lainey has a precious doll cradle and new doll (courtesy of Grandpa). She is quite proud!




Uncle Chris and Aunt Betsy celebrated birthdays - glad we were there to celebrate with them.




I can't share the pics of my gift yet - my sister is coming to visit Friday and I want to surprise her.