Monday, February 28, 2011

Our Trip to Chicago

We had a GREAT time in Chicago this past weekend :) Can't wait to go back sometime soon! Here are some pix from our trip -
picked up some shades before we left town, knowing that would help with my headaches!
tolls!
ice cream late at night :)

Molly checkin out the traffic outside of Auntie Meg and Uncle Tony's place :)
silly boys
looking thru Auntie Meg's collection of keychains that say "Megan"



us :)
Mike cornering Maria the kitty in the closet (Molly and Mike took a special liking to Maria... Molly was crying when we left Chicago and a huge part was her missing Auntie Meg (so sweet!) the other was she said she missed Maria!

Just chillin' - lookin at old pictures and Jack and Uncle Tony playing LEGO Star Wars


we've never really experienced alleys before this weekend, pretty neato
on our way out of Chi-town (do they call it that?)

a highlight of the weekend was the freaking mirror. long story, but this is how it stayed on the best (and Meg, it didn't move at all - nice job!)

Fortunately on the way home we had a lot of this :) We ended up making 3 stops, the first for some lunch (and the area was shaky so we didn't get outta the truck). Then for a potty break, only to get in the truck and ramp it back onto the expressway and Molly tells me she has to poop! So another quick stop, then on home...

Saturday, February 26, 2011

everyone knows it's WINDY

Hello from the WINDY CITY! It's not so much windy today, as snowy. Some snow fell overnight, just a smidge. We got here safe and sound yesterday, the kids did great! We stopped on the way for a milkshake at McD's to stretch our legs and take a pee break. No other stops, everyone did well.

We did get caught in traffic (probably not by Chicago's standards, but definately mine). Thanks to Shawna for letting us borrow their GPS, "Maggie" helped us thru it. Her "in 1.5 miles, stay left" was helpful when I was 4 lanes over to the left. It was when she commanded, "in .5 miles, stay right." That's when "SH&#" came out of my mouth and I got a lil stressed. But... we got here. We first went to Meg's office to check it out. SO cool to see where she is everyday, met some co-workers. The kids and I walked down the block to a few shops while Auntie Meg got a few more things done at work, then we all headed out. WOW does Meg do a TON of walking around town!

From there we got a tour of the area and picked up Tony from the train stop. Then off to the grocery store for some basics and on home. This place is so nice, so cozy! We feel right home :) We had some pizza, watched Popeye the Sailor Man and then called it a night. Jack and I slept head to head on the L-shaped couch, Mike and Molly slept on cots.

I woke up in the night to see Molly zonked with her head at the opposite end of her bed, no covers, snoring. Mikie was sleeping like a log and Jack for some reason just couldn't sleep. He was awake about 3 hours in the night, at one point crying that he wanted to go home :( He just couldn't sleep! So we chatted and I told him to try to relax and eventually he conked out. Only to have all 3 awake by 5am-ish local time! Crazy kids!

So now we are just hanging out, Uncle Tony and the boys are playing LEGO Star Wars and Mousie is shadowing everything Auntie Meg does :) Mouse loves the kitty, Maria. She wants to go see her every two seconds!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

It's a BOY!

I'm feeling the need for a massage or something, not that I've ever had one. I'm all worked up and just want to chill out...

The kids and I are headed to Chicago tomorrow, I can't wait! Trouble is the kids can't stop fighting/nagging/irritating each other until they get a reaction. It stresses me out to think of driving all that way with them doing that the e-n-t-i-r-e time. In the past several days, I've pulled them aside to talk about their behavior, I've talked to them as a group, I've asked their goals/intentions towards each other, I've pulled the car over to explain (surprisingly calmly) that they need to QUIT IT.

So we got home from the doctor's office this morning and it kept on. We went to see the doc cause Mikie has had a dripping right ear since last Saturday. He had an ear ache last Friday night/Saturday morning, short lived, but it hurt. So I thought in addition to Tylenol, we'd try some hydrogen peroxide in the ear. I swear it wasn't even 1/4 cap full and it gurgled, fizzed, bubbled up for a while. He stood there with his left cheek in my hand for several minutes while the peroxide did it's duty. Well, ever since then his ear has been constantly dripping. At first I thought, WOW, how much HP did I put in there? But after 5 days and Googling it? Yep, it was time to see the doc.

SURE enough, Mike has a ruptured eardrum. The kid has an amazing tolerance for pain.

When my ear "exploded" - it was the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. Right up there with childbirth. As a matter of fact, when mine finally ruptured and blood was coming out of my ear, I thought maybe it was a boy... that a baby had just forced it's way through my ear canal. So when I hear Mike has a ruptured eardrum, I sort of feel like a wuss. So I like to say "well, my eardrum exploded and landed me in the ER..." but maybe Mike's was just as painful? Either way. He's a tough kid. Now if he'd just quick picking on Molly and ticking Jack off with his craziness, we'd be all set ;)

Anywho, from the doc's office, we headed to the body shop to see about getting our passenger side mirror fixed. A few years back a mailbox jumped out and hit the mirror and ever since it's been dorked. So we went to see and if we wanna pay $313 we can get it fixed. I settled for a few strips of duct tape and we'll see how it fairs on our roadtrip tomorrow.

From there the library and then pickup a prescription and on home. It was once we got home... I still had my coat on and I had HAD it. I mean had it. I started yelling. Seems when I get to that point, I have no control over the words, they just shooting out before I know what I'm saying. I told the boys that with this behavior I can't imagine driving 4 hours in the truck and they need to cut it out. That I'd like to have a peaceful, relaxing weekend with Auntie Meg, and with this going on, alls I'll be doing is running interference! On and on... I think they finally heard me. They quietly went upstairs and a few minutes later I was presented with this...
(Mom me and Mike are sorry for being crazy. I wrote this in orange because I thought it would be a good idea.) Jack

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

SNOW DAY (a.g.a.i.n.)

Today is another snow day. This one wasn't a huge surprise, yet wondered when I woke up this morning what we'll do today? Sitting around, watching tv, playing video games just isn't going to cut it. So...

We need groceries bad. I could sit here and order the groceries online, but we need a change in scenery. So we're gonna load up in the truck and head out soon (hoping all goes well with all 3 :) It's been a while)! We'll come on home, unload, eat lunch and then we saw an invite to join some friends at a movie this afternoon, so we are gonna do that. A much better way to spend a snow day!

Sure had fun catching up with Phyllis and Don last night :) Ohh, Molly has my coupons out! Off I go!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Poker Faces




The other night we played "21." It's a card game the kids are getting a handle on and hey, it helps with math skills. So... I thought it would be fun to teach the kids what "poker face" means. You can imagine we had a lot of laughs! Mikie just plain couldn't pull it off, he was so goofy! Jack worked on it and did pretty well, although if he had a winning hand, he had a hard time not opening his eyes WIDE and smiling. I asked Molly to give me the look like she had the "best cards in the world" and she gave me this face. She's gettin' it! HA!
The pic of all 3 is them giving me their poker faces collectively. We have some work to do ;)

Silly Recent Pix

the excited non-stop jumper
you better watch out! future state trooper? :)

this was the most amazing sunset a few nights back, the light coming in the windows was pink, it was awesome!

Friday, February 18, 2011

War

Mike, Molly and I just had a full on Nerf gun war. Mike and I were hiding behind doors and door frames (Molly was out in the open). He has some good tactical moves (like blockading his bedroom door as I went to enter).

I met my final demise when shot and critically wounded in the stomach with an orange foam Velcro bullet. The pain didn't come until Mikie tossed his gun in victory and it nailed me on the chin!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Showoff

Chloe-moe is here and Bean is being a turd! Not that it's outta the ordinary that Bean is weird, she's just acting like a "this is my house!" showoff!

I woke up in the night to take a leak at 4am and as always only opened one eye so I wouldn't wake all the way up. I looked over at the clock and it was a red blur. Hmm. Sure enough, when I got up for the day this morning, my eye was goopy, snotty and red. Pink eye!

Jack is back to school today so that's a good thing. So far, no call from school. I told him if he really felt puny, don't hesitate to call. He must be doin alright :)

Molly has told me a few times that she doesn't feel good so I just told her that she and I will take a little nap. She all of a sudden is feeling better!?

I hope you have a good day, whatever you are doing. Praying for safe travels for the folks!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Recoup/Regroup

I need to get in the shower! Here I sit, checking out what's goin on in the world.

Jack is still home today. I'm thinking he's definitely on the road to feeling better. Yesterday wasn't a "recoup/regroup" day for him as I thought it would be. He conked yesterday morning on our bed and gradually thru the afternoon started to feel better. But today he seems to be getting closer to back to a normal routine. I sure have enjoyed having him home though, he's sucha old man. So smart and growing up TOO quick!

Bean is cashed out on the couch and Molly keeps sneaking granola bars we made yesterday. I see you Molly!

Well, I'd better get movin. Hoping to go meet baby Greyson today! Lindsey had a Valentine's baby! 7 lbs 11 oz, 20 inches long. She said he's so petite! She's been waiting for forever it seems for him to come, the longest drawn out last few weeks in a pregnancy ever. Well, if it was 3 1/2 years ago, perhaps that would have been considered the longest last 2 weeks :) I never thought Molly would come either ;)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

*UPDATE* - Erk just found my camera! YIPEE! It was in a plastic bag in the laundry room with some clothes. NO IDEA how it got there!

WEIRD

Now I've done it... I lost my camera! Where the beak is it? I think I may have forgotten it at school for Mikie's Valentine's Party on Friday. Huh. Not cool. I've searched high and low. Where you are buddy?

The kids are doing quiet time and here I sit. Erk is cleaning and straightening up this and that. I took some Excedrin Migraine this morning cause yep, you guessed it, another day another headache and man, sometimes it makes me downright shaky! With the caffeine and all, I was jittery in church! I still feel that way. WEIRD! Thinking I'll call the doc this week to see about a prescription to take daily for headaches. I'm getting pretty tired of having them. I go about my day and sometimes say to myself, is this really a headache? I give it time, and yep, it is. I just don't like taking something if I don't have to. I mixed it up a bit this week and took Aleve instead of Excedrin and it helped too. Ahh well :)

Hoping to find my camera and enjoy the rest of this peaceful afternoon. Hope you have a great Sunday!

Friday, February 11, 2011

99%

Well... not well. Hot water heater...

The dude just left. With our hot water heater. Not the old one, but the new one that was supposed to go in today. Nope. Ain't gonna happen! Old farmhouse! Apparently first we need an electrician to come hook up a box in our basement, then we can be "up to code." We had no idea we weren't! So, we'll see when we can actually take a shower and run the washer or do dishes at the same time :)

Jack is home sick today, poor dude. I got a call yesterday afternoon from his teacher that he had cried twice at school and had his head laying on the desk. So Molly and I went to pick him up and had the office call down to Mikie's room that Jack wouldn't be on the bus on the way home. Once we got home, Jack tossed his cookies and had a fever. He's handled it all really well and even told me this morning while he was warm that he felt "99%." I believe that more now, he's doing well. I called in some reinforcements last night cause Mol had her ballerina class this morning. So Mom took her and then the girlies went out to lunch and to Target. Pretty soon Jack is gonna go hang with Papa (and Nanny and Molly when they get back) while I scoot to Mikie's Valentine's Day party. A bummer Jack is missin his today!

I had to laugh as I watched Mikie stumble through the snowbanks in our front yard to wait for the bus this morning. He had the supplies with him for Jack's party, as well as his. In case I couldn't make the party today. So here he was, a white plastic grocery sack with 4 rolls of toilet paper and 3 boxes of heart shaped brownies. I chuckled as I watching him, mainly because I was trusting him not to drop the stuff or sit on it or tackle it or roll around in the snow forgetting about it. He did it though, as far as I know. I told him right before he headed out, "Mike, think of it as if you have GLASS in your backpack." That line was for the cool valentine's the boys and I made that I didn't wanna have wrecked either. So much PRESSURE for a 6 year old!

Well, we are off. I hope you have a good afternoon!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Things

Now this is how I love to spend a morning with the kids!
arts & crafts and cardmakin'!

Mike's special card he made for Papa today - "I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER PAPA!'

of course the M&M's can only help, right? Feel better soon Papa!

FebrWEARY

I need to take a shower (sniff sniff under the pits, WHEW!) but I can't quite yet. The washer is running. I have to wait a bit til I have some hot water. Friday morning we're getting a new hot water heater so maybe then I can wash clothes and myself at once!

I'm feeling better than I was yesterday. Definitely something about the month of February that just bites. It's a blahh month if you ask me. Right in the dead of winter. But now that I realize I can't change it or take February off the calendar? I'm cool with it :) I know that my series of headaches doesn't help my 'tude either. I woke up with the same one that put me to bed early last night. So some Excedrin is in my near future.

Yesterday our mom's group was trying to think of ways we can help Cristine and her husband (who lost part of his right hand). We are kicking around a fund raiser. So that would be a really cool thing to do! Maybe get some local businesses involved and do a raffle? We aren't sure yet, but something to help.

Well, I hear the washer stopped, so I'll give it a few and get rid of these stinky pits. I hope you all have a good day!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

BLAHHHHHHHHHHH

I think it just boils down to the FEBRUARY BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHS!

This month is never my fav out of the year. It's cold. It's white. It's cold. It's just February. I'm ready for warmer weather, for not having to put the coats and snowpants and gloves and hats in the dryer cause they are all frozen together.

As much as I love to wear my Uggs and wool socks, I'm ready to wear flip flops. You with me!?

Sunday, February 6, 2011

"Ballerina School" Debut





Molly's the one in pink :)



HandY

So... it's been a crazy few days - and that's why I haven't written. I actually haven't even turned on my laptop for 2 days, that has got to be some sorta record :)

Friday was Molly's ballet debut and it was ADORABLE! She is so freakin cute. She did well, not sure that ballet will be her "thing" but who can resist smiling from ear to ear watching a bunch of 3-4-5 year old girls learning ballet? CUTE.

Saturday we had Andy and Lindsey over for dinner which was fun - Erk "smoked" some pork and it was delish!

Today we had church and then got home and ate lunch. I went to lay down for a nap when I got the call from a lady at church. One of the girls in our mom's group was on her way to the hospital. Her husband just had a terrible accident and may have "lost his hand." I got outta bed and told Erk and grabbed my coat to head for downtown. I called Lindsey to tell her and she asked if I was already too far to come back to pick her up. I wasn't so I turned around at the corner and we headed for the ER to see Cristine, ohh my word.

Sure enough, he was cleaning a saw (while it was running) at his business and somehow cut off 2 1/2 of his fingers and part of his hand. PLEASE pray for their family. They have 3 little kids (I just held her twin baby girls for an hour in nursery this morning!) and no insurance. So many questions and fears and what lies ahead. Wow, my heart goes out to them, and I can't imagine the pain!!!!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

A Blog

This is my 901st post!? WOW! Now that's a blog!

Molly is getting ready for her ballerina class, it starts in a little bit. Today we get to observe, so it'll be a great photo op! Erk took the day off so it's nice to have him around home today. Mikie doesn't have school, so Jack is the only one back to a normal routine today after the 2 snow days. Crazy!

Hopin' you have a good day!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

SNOW DAY!


Molly wasn't too sure about the deep snow. She hardly wanted to come off the front porch! She finally took to it, but came in pretty soon after.

Mikie likes it!


Jack likes it too!
in TYPICAL Bean fashion, Molly came to tell me she didn't like the cold air coming in... "Bean dog opened the back door." Thanks Bean!
Not likin' it so much at first

She doesn't mind it ONE bit!

My feet after trapsing thru a little
I'm grumpy today. No doubt about it. I woke up feeling grumpy and haven't been able to shake it yet. I took 2 Tylenol PM last night and still didn't sleep all that sound. So once I fell asleep (later this am) I wasn't ready to get up. And have the chaos. Not that it was any more than a typical morning, I just wasn't in the mood. And I'm still not. Trying my best to get rid of this ornery/on edge/kick someone's butt/leave me alone mood I'm in. I really am!

Ohh, it DID

So YES, it did snow... a LOT. And the boys are now playing the Star Wars video game. They just finished up a football game on Madden 10. That'll be the kinda day it is!

We'll get out there later and see if I can snap some fun pix... the boys mentioned making our entire family in snowmen. We'll see!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

musTURD

It's much anticipated, been talked about for days, but will it happen? The big "blizzard" they've been predicting. Hmmm, hard to say. But the snow is starting to fall so maybe there is something to it. I just hope and pray Lindsey doesn't go into labor YET while her hubby is out snowplowing!

Mol and I had our mom's group today. For a few minutes, one of the nursery helpers had to step out to make a phone call so I filled in. So cute, picture 3 little girls, 2 of them twins that just had their first birthday, the other 10 months old, all lined up in high chairs for a snack. SO CUTE! After that, Molly and I splurged and went out to lunch at a sitdown restaurant. I must say, she was rather ornery today, with a "tude" all her own. We sat down and she turned around and said, "look at those frickin' girls!"

I couldn't help but laugh and be shocked at the same time. I told her that wasn't nice to say. She just had an edge all during lunch, that and had two potty breaks. Ohh and the funniest thing happened. After one run to the restroom, we sat back down and she happily announced to me "I just farted."

I smiled and said "that's fine, but you should say excuse me."

She kept with that look of "gas concentration" and kept saying she was farting. All the while I'm hearing it. I was like "MOLLY?!!"

Until I realized the guy in the kitchen right behind our booth was squeezing all he could out of a yellow plastic mustard container! LOL! It could not have been timed better! HA!