Ever wonder what goes on at my house.

Christmas Christmas time is here.

Here's to two days of family and no fighting:) Here's to watching two little boys show us all the magic of Christmas. Here's to playing games in pajamas on Christmas night. Here's to my husband who finally got tired of me getting lost and got me a G.P.S for my car. Here's to my inlaws who stay over night after night even though they live in the area just so Christmas doesnt have to end. Here's to Christmas. Maybe the best one ever. Logan said as I put him to bed. I am sad for one reason only....Because it is over.

Merry Christmas:)

(Yes Phil does have a dress on dont ask and if you look at the one with Phils family you can see our bird on Phils shoulder and some extra "snowpeople" jumped in the picture... Phils family is a little Crazy)

Almost there...

Some wise, slightly older, but still very cute man said to me this week "How come no matter what age you are no matter how fast the rest of the year goes the two weeks before Christmas seem to take forever?"

These are a few of my favorite things.

Snow out my window enough to go sledding
flurris and snowmen at the days neer beginning.
Fresh snow in the backyard with no sign of spring
These are a few of my favorite things.

Candy canes swirls and trips down the hill
Bundle up tight and so to not get a chill.
Children who have Christmas carols to sing.
these are a few of my favorite things

Boys in snow boots with there warm little mittens
Shopping is done so I can play outside with them.
Days that are perfect becuase of the snow
These are a few of my favorite things.

When my life bites
when the scars sting
When I am feeling sad
Im gona remember my favorie things
And then I wont feel so bad.


Today was perfect...snow...my family. I imagine this is the way the song would be written today. I am a happy women:)

When Christmas Come To Town - 12A

Carla does this help you? I may be partial since I have boys but this is a great Christmas movie...check it out.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Who needs elves when you have Rob and Logan?

Third times a charm.

I had a really bad day. Sometimes the pressure of managing 80 people and answering to 75 residents and there families bites. Sometimes it is to much. But then I come home and my buddy says " Dont forget Mom it is date night..we are supposed to go skating. " and I think. I have been skating so much lately I should maybe buy some roller skates for myself. This is three times in a month. But Rob was so much better. We skated fast. As you can see from the picture we were away from the wall. As that may not mean anything to you but that is huge for us. It was fun. And suddenly it didnt matter. Nothing but Rob and I skating. I think maybe that is the answer to world peace.
Admission to the skating rink for two: $12
Cost for video games to play during the limbo: $2
For just a minute not having a care in the world: PRICELESS

Trotting the trot with the turkeys

Couldnt of asked for a better day...With family and friends or friends that are like family(yes that is Dan Boyle). It was a nice day maybe one the of the best. Maybe it meant more this year. Too bad I needed to be reminded of all I had to be thankful for... How could I not be thankful for a family that all packs up and heads to the track to run around at Thanksgiving.

A look at the past and a glimpse into the future.

So today I went somewhere I hadnt been since college. I used to go once a week in high school with a group of friends. We had such a good time. We used to think we were so cool as we decided who it was we should couple skate with and as we held hands and went round and round the rink. Today I once again found myself at the very same skating rink. And again heard it was time for a couple skate yet this time I knew who my partner was. Yes today I took Rob to learn how to skate. He was invited to a birthday party there and I decided he should learn before the party..and so we went. It was a bit like a donkey on ice at first but he got better. It was funny to think there I was couple skating around the rink with Rob and he was proud. I am sure there will be many more for him, couple skates that is. He probably will not even remember who it was he had his first with, but for one split second nothing mattered to me either but the boy I was couple skating with.

Are you caught in the middle?

Philip and I went out. That is news enough worthy of a blog. We hardly go out as much as we used to b/c we have no babysitter. But Philip did all the arranging and we went...And that is only the beginning. We got to go see Casting Crowns.. That was such a great experience..One thing I respect in artists is the ability to write good lyrics. And they may be one of the best.You can relate with them.. One of my favorites is.

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Isnt it funny how some of us have to hit a low to be reminded of what it is about. I have another meeting this week with the people I dread. The last two weekends have been a nice ecscape from it. Its not over yet. But when it is over I will never be the same and I dont think I will be caught in the middle anymore.

THANK YOU

You will never know how much I needed that.
Heres to the third weekend of October 2008
Smandy

Frustrated....

That I let my Mom get to me. I feel disgusted at myself that I cant make it work. I get so frustrated that I cant fix it. I am disgusted that we cant get along. Not even sure who she is. How can something that was so close be so far apart in such a small amount of time? How at 33 can you redefine home/family? Its so hard for me to not play the peace keeper role. Who would of ever thought I would be a child of divorce with step parents.

A co authored blog: myself and Kenny Chesney.

This is on thing I have really tried to learn these last few month.


Don't blink
Just like that
You're six years old and you take a nap
And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growin' like mine did
Turnin' into moms and dads
Next thing you know
Your better half of fifty years is there in bed
And you're prayin' God takes you instead
Trust me friend
A hundred years goes faster than you think
(So) (But) don't blink

The absolute best thing about being a Mom

When the kids go to bed YOU GET TO PLAY WITH THERE TOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

I am riding away in the rescue heroes airplane, and man it sure was fun now I see why Logan and Rob love it so much.

September 11.....

My memories of September 11th have to do with exactly 6 years ago today I had the absolute miracle of hearing Robs heart beat for the first time. He was 16 weeks along inside me and I remember thinking oh my gosh should I really bring someone into this world.. Today 6 years have gone by and today we went Home Depot to buy weed killer . We get all the way up to the counter and Rob says Uh Mom I need to tell you something. I say ok what. He says you really should pull the weeds out not spray that stuff on them. I say why is that honey. He says it is bad for the worms. You dont want to kill worms do you Mom? I think, you know what I really dont care there worms truth be told I dont care if they die or not. So I say you know what I am only going to spray the driveway so I think it will be fine. I continue on and he says." If we dont take care of the world Mom who will." and so you guessed it I returned it to the shelf. I guess tomorrow I will pull the weeds out cause God forbid I hurt the worms. And then at dinner we talked about the world trade center and Rob said you know Mom I dont get why anyone would want to hurt the world do you Mom. And to think 6 years ago for a brief second I was worried.....

Random thoughts to satisfy my friend.

I hate being called out. I wont usually be outdared, so please stop calling me...you know me well enough to know I cant take it...
So this is what I have been up to. I am thinking about a job change. In fact I am sure I am going to make one by next summer. I have been adding some part time jobs to my life now b/c I was/am afraid I might have a hard time being hired eventually. And a funny thing I actually like these jobs. Ok here's what I have done so far...I have handed out lipton tea samples in the store....I have handed out dog food samples at Petsmart and I have handed out things at the stadium and you know what I don't mind it at all. Time goes fast, I make good money and knowone asks me for anything I am not the one calling the shots. I am not the boss. That is so refreshing. I guess I am burned out. No I am not going to be the dog food girl forever but when this whole thing is said and done I think I will hang up the whole nursing home chapter. I am not sure what I will do all I ever wanted to do was work with old people. All my adult life is been that. So I think its exciting and Phil thinks it is funny here I am with my Masters degree happy as can be handing out dogfood. I wonder where I will end up. So that is where I have been lately working a little extra to try to figure it out till this is all over.

Another stage in life....

So Monday came I took Rob to kindergarten we went in and took his backpack off and I left.,..That was it. Today I walked him down the street all the while he talked about what he did yesterday, people he met, things he did, things he saw and we got to school and he walked inside I watched him walk in down the hall and I walked away..just me and then it hit me somewhere in the middle of the hill home. This is why people cry it is sad. It almost seems unreal that this is really happening. He loves school. I asked him what he likes best and his answer was everything Mom I love everything... But a funny thing happened today at my house. At 8:30 it was quite the boys were already in bed and all of a sudden again that feeling hit me. The boys spent most of the summer up until 10:30 or so. I will adjust to this new phase of life. I do sometimes have issues with change.(I know this comes as a surprise to so many of you) I spent the first two weeks of kindergarten home because I was "sick" from all the change. So here's to my son the kindergartener. Already doing better than his Mom did with school. I did hear him pray tonight thanking God for a nice teacher and a nice class. I made it..until next year with Logan.

Did I ever tell you I hate being called out.....

Ok I have thought about this a few days I will try to add a few things to the blog that you may not know.

HERE YOU GO IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.. THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME.
1. A am hooked on MTV/tween reality shows ex: Degrassi, The Hills, Sweet Sixteen, reruns of Dawsons Creek. I know I am 33 but I cant help it.....This is a non judgement blog its only going to get worse from here I promise.
2. I can not go to sleep without a glass of water near by I never drink it, I dont wake up for it but I need it just in case.
3. I am addicted to craigslist. I look at it every day I look at jobs, things for sale. I sometimes post on it...I am mesmorized by it.
4.. I can not go into a bookstore (think Borders) without having to go to the bathroom number two..stop laughing again I dont know why leave me alone.
5. I have a habit of taking toilet paper and twisting it I always have some in my pocket at all times ALWAYS , it makes me calm. My family makes fun of me. I can't remember when I started but I ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE IN my pocket.
6. I hate birds. I am afraid of them. They try to peck you. I know I am 300 times bigger than them but I hate birds yet recently I brought one home for the boys becuase they asked me for one.
7.My idea of a perfect day or date always begins with a big soda from Quicktrip.
8.My brother and sister nicknamed me the Bull growing up it had to do with my temper towards them.
9.My Dad used to have ladders on the side of the house and my friends in high school used to throw rocks at my window and put the ladder out and off I would go right out the window.
10. In 7th grade I was a chearleader. I can imagine it either.

I realize I peaked around number 6 but I hope you learned something like never to go into a bookstore with me.

How Can It Be?

In two weeks my little buddy will go into Kindergarten? How can that be possible. I swear I was just in the hospital room about to kill Philip for thinking it was ok to eat white castles while I was in labor. Or when Philip and I left the hospital without Rob when he was in ICU. How can he be ready for kindergarten. He told me he is so excited becuase he is going to wear his nice pants and go into school and get a girlfriend. I am not sure why he thinks this is ok but I am glad he knows he needs to put on nice clothes to meet a girl. I am sad he is going to school. I cant believe it . I wonder how I will feel watching him go in and leaving. I cried when I took him to sign up. Maybe we should have another (just joking Phil dont get excited.)

MEET ME AT THE MUNY...

But I was not to see Peter Pan again. And now I tell his story to my children, and they will tell it to their children, and so it will go on, for all children grow up...except one."
-Narrator


We took the boys to see Peter Pan this week at the Muny,. They love Peter Pan and Captain Hook. It was so fun. The boys loved the outdoor seats, the orchestra, the idea that here was a theater right in the middle of Forest Park so close to the zoo. I was amazed how well they sat and enjoyed it they loved it. When Peter flew Rob said " Now that's the real Peter Pan." It helped me see the Muny all over again seeing it through there eyes. I forgot how great the Muny is. When it was over Logan wanted to know what the next show was so they could come again. I was happy to introduce the boys to live theater and the MUNY.


Peter: Well I will not grow up! You cannot make me! I will banish you like Tinkerbell.
Wendy: I WILL NOT BE BANISHED!
Peter: Then go home. Go home and grow up. And take your feelings with you!

This explains it

When I came home from work today this is what I saw.



It's a sad day when even Rescue Heroes and Siderman ride around in a Barbie minivan...

JUST TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

THIS MAKES ME HAPPY... Just thinking about watching it every Monday night. I loved it so much...(especially his feet:)

Number two

There is something about being number two ...always second some may say,You never will be first. I am a bit biased I tend to think it makes you try harder to be different...I know I did. If you know my number two you know he is a handful I once told the doctor if he wasn't mine I might say he was B-A-D....but he has turned four now and he has developed quite a personality....He is the best and worst qualities in both me and Phil ( and Phil has quite a few bad ones :)) I often tell Phil he puts me to shame...He is the curse my Mom always wished on me. But I love him. There is no doubt in my mind he will go far..He often says Just be quite or don't talk to me...But he is so lovable.. He loves books, and to ride his bike, and rescue heroes and on Sundays when you wake him up he yells ' I love Sunday School" ..and to sing..All day long he sings. He makes up songs and sings ones he knows.(Don't laugh but he is a mean Kelly Clarkson fan- again Phils bad qualities)and his favorite phrase is wellllll. He cracks me up and makes me understand why my brother and sister named me to bull all those years ago.

Happy Fathers Day

I am lucky.. maybe even blessed not only do I have a great Dad I get to watch my boys have a great dad too....I credit my dad for so much of who I am. My dad taught me as long as you have a big soda in your hand what can be wrong...My dad also taught me the value of work and the phrase I was looking for a job when I found this one...my dad also taught me how to play hard and for those who know me that is one motto I live by. I credit my dad with teaching me the simple things in life. He may not be the wealthiest man alive but I am richer for having him as my dad....
And that brings me to Philip. Philip lives to be a dad...he always wanted to be a dad and he considers that the greatest job he ever has had. I love watching the boys with there dad. I love hearing Logan say wheres my dad? I am blessed to have married a man who understands loving our boys is what is all about..I guess I learned it from my dad maybe that is why I love seeing that in there dad....

Happy Fathers Day to two of the best Dads I love...

HAPPINESS IS..........

Someone knowing you well enough to know that the most perfect gift ever for your 33rd birthday is a inflatable pool toy whale...Does it get any better than this really??????????

(if you look close in the water you can see a little swimming guy swimming under water..again DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?)

Summer Summer Summer Summer Time.....

Anyone who knows me knows I love summer. I love the sun, swimming, swimming and laying in the sun, my birthday and swimming on my birthday in the sun....SO this was the big weekend the kick off summer weekend. An added bonus to summer is Logans birthday kicking it off for us. He is born on the 28th so he is my summer baby. We had his birthday party it was a Pirates party..We also kicked off summer with a swim party. We ended up Memorial Day by taking the boys to a soldiers memorial by our house. I told them that it was a place where we honored soldiers. Logan asked me if we were honoring the soldiers that protected Paul while he was in jail. And you thought kids didnt learn anything in Sunday School....We really havent told them much about the war, or soldiers...As Phil says they have all there lives to learn that. So today we will just enjoy the things that others have fought so hard to give us...family, our freedom and last but not least SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was that MICKEY or am I GOOFY????

I have been MIA for awhile I was once again at the Magic Kingdom...IT is probably the best vacation we as a family have ever been on...We stayed longer...we were gone 10 days we spent four of those at Theme parks the rest we RELAXED,...and apparently that was exactly what we needed...the boys are at the perfect age. No diaper bag (this may seem like no big deal but I have carried the diaper bag that had diapers for two kids in it around Disney, no stroller in fact nothing was in my hand other than a Mickey Mouse ice cream..NOTHING! OK and a Mickey mouse shaped rice crispy treat...(hey leave me alone its Disney) anyway that is where I have been...
Things are good here. Rob had his last day of preschool that was a bit sad. Logan turns four Monday.Philip is moving stores...For those of you who have never heard me complain he has been working at the Edwardsville store which is 58 miles one way from our home and he is moving next week to one 11 miles from our home....I cant tell you how with gas at 3.20 a gallon that equals in savings...My work is really buys lately apparently nursing homes have become the place to be anymore...we are almost full which we have never been full ever ever ever...I put the last ever in to see if anyone was reading... Hey Karla I bet you still are...Its almost Muny season again...Ill buy the tickets for two if you come visit...Heck I will buy the tickets for three or four if you bring some buddies with you( Dr. T you in?) Well I will go,. Have a safe holiday weekend.
Everyone, except Aaron needs a MANDY
(again Karla that was for your benefit)

Ch Ch Ch Chia....Ch Ch Ch Ch CHIA...

I gotta admit I am a fan of preschool crafts. I love to see what the teachers come up with we have had some interesting things come home with the boys.. I love most of them...I am biased becuase they are my kids. But this one takes the cake. It came home last week and Phil and I were skeptical. Very skeptical.....But much to our surprise it turned out to be one of my favorites. Who could resist a homemade chia pet???? I love this guy yea Ms. Amy and Ms. Stephanie You ROCK!!! You get the award for the craft of the year...

Oh Caption My Caption.....

This picture reminds me of all that is right with the world. This is the epitome of childlike innocence. I love this picture b/c not only is Rob on a "captions" ship he is wearing an eye patch that I made him out of pink (his favorite color) material..And he is so happy.....It makes me laugh and sad at the same time. I will be sad for the day when he no longer pretends....but for now he is a good captian and he has a backyard to protect....Aye Aye Captain.

Logans first Race..

Rob " Logan is this your first race"
Logan " I know I am going to beet those little kids"
Rob :" Yeah... you are a fast runner."



We get all the way downtown and the lady says it is raining...ITS CANCELLED..


Logan: "I got my number on though"
Rob :"It's my brothers first race"

But they got medals for showing up and somehow that made it all better. Not a real great way to start Logans running career... Oh well there is always Logans next first race.

I LOVE THIS GUY

Thanks Easter Bunny.....

Bawk Bawk!!

Signs of spring..

Recently every day when I come home from work this is what I do until it gets dark....

This ones for you ALF feet (and you know who you are)

I cant help thinking about all the fun we used to have together. We used to stay in that back room at Meyers house forever, You me and Daun all holed up in there talking and avoiding our work, or the time the class officers went to Taylor and we sang all the way home. It makes me smile to think of all those highlighters that were thrown at you at night while you were sleeping. And the fun we had in Europe,, the royal flushes and the bridges across beds. I remember how many times you would tell me you are insane but then join in. I always knew you would go far. I always told you " It's your world we just live in it" . I always thought you would be successful business women, running a multimillionar dollar company taking over the world. That was until tonight.....I have never seen you so happy, so at home. With J.P. and Ava. When you were talking about staying home and being her Mom that is your world now. I couldnt help but smile. I was right you did go far. I apologize for the highlighters...but not the spraypainting....... I love you and your ALF feet.....Thanks for letting me live in your world for at least a little bit.


It was good to see you, and your daughters Alf feet.


(photo credit goes to J.P with the camera phone.)

A wonder bread kind of person.

So my brother is here. He is in town for the weekend. I could get use to seeing him this much. He told me his girlfriend said " she thought I bought Wonder bread" and the funny thing is I do. So how do you take that?????What do you think she meant by that? I asked him and he would not commit to an answer something about opposed to whole wheat....Hmmmm...maybe I am that plain. And that got me thinking am I a wonder bread type person really? I guess I am ...I have become a wonder bread type person. Can you tell what kind a person is by the bread they eat? I definetly am not a whole wheat kind of person. I am also not a banana loaf or anything fruit related...Hmmmm... Am I the wholesome middle America, two kids, one minivan one husband Wonder bread Mom......Hmmm..So I ask you Can you tell a person by the bread they buy????? I wonder...

( I couldnt resist ending it that way)

Putting a new spin on accountability......

I often make myself New Years resolutions they usually involve something new I want to learn I am a firm believer if we keep our mind busy we won't get Alzheimer's. I know you are laughing but you haven't seen it the way I have. I have done a lot of reading about this so I really try to keep my mind busy,.anyway...I have learned to knit, to sew sorta and this year I decided to go somewhere different with this whole resolution thing. Ok I am gonna throw it out here..I am going to run a race. I may come in last I may cause such a scene that people think "What is that and WHY?" But I am going to do it. So I have a training program if you will I have to increase mileage each night. The race is in June...Anyway I have a confession to make I really like it. I can now 2 1/2 miles without stopping...in about 40 minutes. I am out of breath and I smell when I am done but it is good for me. It is mine. I can control it. Since my parents thing I have felt out of control of so many things and I guess I don't do well with that. Anyway...I tell you this as a added incentive to myself. I gotta tell you the time I spend less than a hour a day is all mine...My mind is able to process the day ( I usually run at night) and sometimes I talk to God. I also have a theory you never see a fat runner....and I have to say I have lost a few pounds thanks to this resolution. Anyway there now it is out there...Somehow this helps..........Anyone else need some accountability????

I MISS THIS PLACE...............

Heck I miss that person too..................

WWW. SNOWBOARDGUYS.COM

We have been visiting my brother for a couple of days and Rob and Logan spent some time snowboarding. Last week we were trying to potty train Logan this week he is on a snowboard. We had a great visit. The weather on the mountain was great. It was super to be with my little brother and his family. We had a great time with them. The boys were obsessed with Uncle Jeremy. It was neat seeing them have a good time with him. It really was amazing how patient my brother was with the boys. And it was pathetic how much Rob and Logan took to him. Who wouldn't love an uncle who snowboards. Rob cried all the way home, he started saying we could move by him they have a Target there Dad could work there. It was a nice visit. I am sorry we live so far away that drive through Kansas is no joke. I was sad to come home too. I miss uncle Jeremy too. It was good for my soul to be with my little brother. Thanks for a great time. We will have to do it again soon.

SNOW DAY

How cool it is to have not only a snow day but it also to be your Birthday., Robs real birthday is today and as he told me the snow was his birthday present from God. It was not a bad amount of snow enough to let his preschool close and let us still play outside. I love the picture of Rob being sprayed with snow. It cracks me up. I guess if you are five today today is the perfect day....And come to think of it sure beets were I was five years ago today so I guess it was the perfect day...Thanks God for the birthday present to Rob.