Weekend. And COME ON what happended to spring?

Sorry, no picture today. I have to admit to being lazy about taking pictures just because I've either been part of what is going on with playing outdoors or it's been too cold to go out and do anything worthy of taking pictures. March is a weird month. It's COLD today. I like the cold... don't get me wrong, but I have been teased with a few incredibly perfect warm days this past week, and it has been nice to be out soaking it all up and doing outdoor things.

Of course then, there's days like today where I just plain old forget about taking it with me. Three times now I have been over by Turfway Park when the horses have been out. Each time I forget to have my camera with me. Today Megan, Matthew and I stopped at PetsMart to kill time while waiting for Trevor at a birthday party. We went to see the frogs and turtles, and the dogs in the training classes. PetsMart and Target are next to the race track. Every now and then I'll be walking across the parking lot and a dozen horses will run by. It's a cool sound and just makes me think, "Dang, I love Kentucky!"

Today when we got in the car I saw that the race horses were being led out and and going towards the starting gate. We pulled around to the other side of the track where we parked right up at the fence and watched as the horses came around the corner on the last stretch of the race. Literally.... 20 feet from the car. Megan and I loved it. Matthew just played DS, I don't think he knew horses just galloped by him.

But as usual, here is another time where I have been at Turfway without my camera. It would have been pretty cool to get a picture of Megan watching the horses at the fence.

So that has been our day. I'm hoping for some warm weather this week to get out and do some things. It looks like we have rain coming for the next couple of days. BUT then Mike will be home in the first part of April, and we have some pretty cool plans for spring break! YAY!

For the out of state fam...

Dang, this kid is getting big too. I'm not kidding when I say that even with the two year difference in age, when my boys are back to back I can't tell them apart from behind... except one has blond hair and one has brown. They're like little weeds!

We've had a rainy day today, which has been wonderful. After the kids got home it did stop long enough for us to go out and throw a football around. I'm doing my best to not play like a girl. It's hard because both boys have a pretty wicked spin when they throw. At least now I actually keep my eyes open to try to catch it. - And I don't squeal anymore. The things you have to do when daddy is out of town. - I did have to exchange a quick photo opportunity for some football.

I'm also official today. I have a Kentucky license plate on my car. Nothing like waiting until the last possible moment. But now I have a pretty horsie on my car! Much to Megan's and my happiness.

outside

Today is one of those days where everybody is outside. We've had kids coming and going all day, and then went out front and played in our driveway for awhile. Thanks Trevor for letting me get a picture of you during a little break. I swear this guy has grown a couple of inches over the past month.

Here is our tree in front of our house. Just two months ago it was covered with ice. All of the trees around here right now look like this, mostly on a bigger scale because I think we have the smallest one ever. When the huge trees look like this, they are just gorgeous.


Matthew took a spill when he went down the hill on his bike. He had a helmet on, but of course the rule is when you are wearing that helmet some other part of you is going to take the brunt of the fall. His knee didn't fare too well. Poor guy. So he kind of sat on the skateboard after that...

and admired his handywork at bandaging himself up. He's always been like that. He likes to take care of himself but then needs me to smother him with hugs and kisses, and some lap time. At least he still needs me. :)

Last dental day... for 6 more months! Yay!

I haven't scrapped in a couple of weeks. Digital or paper. But yesterday I bought a ream of textured white paper to work on my blog album for a little bit and get caught up from the past couple of months, and then I did this one really quick tonight. (I just found the typo dang it!)

Hopefully with the weekend here I'll get more done. When it's been put away for a little bit and I get a chance to do something I remember how good it feels. I was thinking about how much I love keeping a blog and how it goes hand in hand with scrapping. I usually pull my journaling right from an entry so I don't have scattered papers jotted with notes all over the place anymore. I'm finally embracing technology! LOL!

Trevor and I spent the day together today. He was a riot at the dentist. The laughing gas was making him talk the entire time. But he had that clamp in his mouth that keeps his mouth open so all you heard was him making noises. It was funny and sounded like listening to somebody talk from behind a wall. This went on for like 45 minutes. Every now and then he'd laugh at whatever he was saying. He told me after he got out of the chair something about turtles. I don't think he had any clue he was at the dentist once he was in the chair. I promised him I'd hold his hand the entire time because he was all clammy before we went back. You could just feel his hand so relaxed and his legs trying to roll off the chair. I don't think he would have noticed if I wasn't there.

I had plans on stopping at Fountain Square for lunch since the day was so nice out. There are restaurants and food vendors, and it's just a neat place to be with all the people and sitting by the fountain. It's pretty when the weather is nice. But he was craving pizza - Donatos in particular which is his favorite. - So we'll have to go back downtown another time.

Happy day!

Today was such a beautiful day. I went to Meijer to pick up a couple of things for dinner, and noticed that the garden department was open. It is closed during the winter for obvious reasons...lol. It felt so good to walk around amongst all of the new trees and flowers!

We have lost two small trees in the front of our house since moving in from windstorms. I've been sick about it ever since because I love my trees. So I was excited to see some new ones in pots ready to be sold. When Mike comes home, that is one of our projects, for sure!

I also picked up some tulips for my table. There is nothing that lifts a mood better than a fresh vase of flowers on my table. Infact they always motivate me to clean up the kitchen area really well because I don't want to lose something so pretty in all the caos. So right now when I walk into my kitchen I smile at my flowers. Why don't I buy them more often? Mike is good about bringing me flowers, but I always forget to get some for myself. I have to remember to do this more often.

If the trees around here are any indication, it looks like spring is here. I remember from the news last year that this area had snow on Easter, so we’ll see what this month brings. But for now I am loving that all of the trees have these bright red or green buds all over them, and the grass is starting to turn green again. I think I like spring. I’m not used to enjoying it as a season, since in Arizona, it’s about a week long. But from what I have noticed here it is an event. There is a lot of yard work going on, with lots of planting. My favorite family nursery that I live by is all stocked with new trees and annuals. It's one of my favorite places to pass on my way home.

Another sign is the Kona truck is back. I have to say there has been a little scene around here that has melted my heart. First Megan went up to her room to get her box of money that she has been saving all winter. She wanted to buy her brothers a snow cone. Then one little girl who lives across the street who is in kindergarten and totally fascinated with Megan, was watching as the kids were all standing in line at the truck. Megan went and asked her mom if she could buy her a snowcone. So the two girls ended up skipping down the street together to buy Molly a snowcone.

Megan never got herself a thing. She’s always like that. She’s going to be a great woman someday. She just makes me so proud.

Then as I was taking a break from trying to fix my stupid garbage disposal, I looked out the window and saw my two boys sitting next to each other on the sidewalk watching the world go by as they ate. They were just talking to each other which was so nice. Sometimes I have to wonder how they can argue and not be able to stand each other but then are the best of friends 5 minutes later. It’s awesome. I’m glad they have each other.

This week has been wonderful now that the weather is beautiful. Since the moment the kids got home from school they have been roaming the neighborhood with other kids. I think there is a big game of hide and go seek that spans about a block wide. That’s the nice thing about the openness here, and no fences. Plus the way the houses are situated, you can see pretty much where everybody is. Then all it takes is a yell out the front door from moms’ everywhere when it’s time for dinner. It’s kind of Norman Rockwell-ish, and I love every bit of it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Is it already March? While I did send the kids to school in new green tshirts today, that is about the extent of my holiday planning. I'm comfortable with my Irishness... I mean being named after a county in Ireland should keep me from being pinched all year. I've even been listening to U2. Now that I think about it, if I go by those two things alone it is technically St. Patrick's Day year round. LOL!

But tonight we are having spaghetti, breadsticks and an antipasta salad. One of Matthew's favorites, and a meal that never gets any 'Aw man' reactions from the kids. Irish people eat Italian food once in awhile don't they?

little update

I'm here! It has been forever since I've blogged. A little insomnia, a little busy with life stuff, a little worn down and waiting for Mike to get back from Yemen to make me some salsa.

Matthew was so sweet yesterday. He woke up, threw his arms around me and just said, "Have I ever told you how much I love you??" I said, "No...tell me! I love to hear it!" He told me that I'm the best mom in the whole universe. There is no better way to start the day I tell you. He's a good kid. And the best Matthew in the universe too!

He's also leaning towards the dark side. I asked him yesterday if he wanted to watch Thomas with me. (He still plays with the trains, and we still read a Thomas book a couple times a week) but another force is starting to eek it's way into his life right now. Darth Vader. Yes.... he loves Darth. He came home from school when they had the 100th day of school and brought a poster he had made. It had 100 cut from die cut paper sticking out of the top of a piece of black construction paper. He wrote, "I wish for 100 Lego Darth Vaders. Because I love Darth Vader. He is so cool." Then a little picture that he drew.

He's still sleeping with his Lego storm troopers, (They hurt to sleep on when I don't find them all before I go to bed.) and reminds me every now and then that he hopes he'll get the Lego set that comes with the real Vader and his tie fighter. Every now and then he'll ask about chores in hopes of earning money towards it, or asks when the next gift giving holiday is. Little does he know... there's a secret box in the garage. The Easter Bunny is bringing it to him. Along with a cool helmet shaped Darth Vader mug amongst the cheery spring peeps, chocolate bunnies and candy filled easter eggs. :)

This picture of Matthew was from this weekend. We went to a place called Boone Woods. This park is awesome, and we'll be going back this weekend. It is heaven for kids. There is a big play fort with levels and concrete tubes to crawl through. Soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, a cabin to play in, bridges, big knocked over trees to walk on and the best ever..... running creeks! They had so much fun jumping over the water, leaping from rock to rock and all that dangerous kid stuff. It was perfect. Except that we started to get rained out... but we're looking forward to going back.

Trevor has a field trip tomorrow to the Cincinnati Science Museum. It's rescheduled from a snow day.... he can't wait. Megan has a field trip to the Florence Government Center on Wednesday. Then back to Cincy for a dental appointment on Thursday for the T Man. We're going to have lunch together. It's going to be a busy week. :)

I'm trying to work on some more of the kid's baby albums. These are from Megan when I found out she was a girl! I noticed the date on the photos was March 17th 1998 too! Hard to believe that so many years later.

Time for us to watch The Amazing Race.... which is our big thing to do on Sunday night. The kids and I all watch it together.

- and speaking of reality shows, how did I miss The Apprentice for so many seasons? I started watching the one from this season - Celebrity Apprentice. Just what I needed was another reality tv show to watch! There's no hope for me. ;)

friday night.

Ugggghhhh.... Insomnia sucks. I had it again last night and couldn't fall asleep until after 3:00. I even took a little nap earlier today, but it's hitting me really hard right now. I'm ready for bed, but I have to wait until I pick up Megan from school. She wanted to watch the talent show tonight. I wish I could have just given her the keys to my car. ;)

Which my sleepiness makes me wonder if I like this layout or not. I had so much more in mind for my journaling, but this is pretty much all I could muster tonight. This girl and her reading lately has been amazing. She puts me to shame. She finishes books bigger than mine in two nights. Me? I fall asleep reading a one page article in a magazine. She has the second highest points in the entire 5th grade for AR.... and she just keeps going. We are literally at the library a couple of times a week right now.

Happy weekend. Yawn... I'm out.

No line on the horizon....

Mmmm. Happy day. Why are you not out buying the NEW U2 album?!? Go. Quickly! Seriously....

Ah today brings back memories of going to Tower Records on Mill Avenue - going back to the U section - and picking up my new 12 inch vinyl disc of whatever album was new at the time. War, Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree.... etc. I always bought the vinyl version because you always got cool goodies like a gatefold picture or a little poster and then bought the cassette version for my walkman. Man, does this sound like dinosaur days or what?

Then we moved on to the CDs. And I became a mom. And I'd end up buying a new album from Target along with a package of diapers, or hairspray. Sorry Tower Records.... but I still have a spot in my heart for you.

So today I'm going out to get my new CD. My poor kids and neighbors will love me by the end of the day I'm sure. Mike will be happy he's in Yemen.

I have heard Sexy Boots two days in a row at the same time in the morning that I am doing my hair and putting my makeup on. There's something really nice about hearing Bono sing "You don't know how beautiful you are." when you are staring yourself in the mirror. Thanks guys... you still know me! LOL! ;)

Oh and if the day can't get any better.... I read this morning that there will be another album from them later this year. Supposedly a companion album to this one. Yeeeeeeee! OH and remember when I said in a random post awhile ago that I would LOVE an album with U2 and Green Day? A photo on the U2 site shows Edge and Billy Joe together. Could I at least have gotten another song from the two? Gasp!!! Infact.... MADDY GASP!

Peace and love y'all. I'm outta here and will have happy ears.

Tuesday

Today Megan, Trevor and I are venturing into the Nati for dental appointments. Between the cleanings and going back for cavity stuff I feel that is about all we do lately. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be able to get them there and have their teeth taken care of, but with three kids sometimes it feels like every other week is some sort of dental thing. This should be the last for at least another six months. Whew.

So I treated Matthew to McDonalds on his way to school this morning. He loves sausage McGriddles. He'd eat them all the time if he could. So knowing he'd be a little bummed at walking into school by himself and that he has to stay at a friend's house after school until we get back.... it was a treat. It was also fun to just have him in the car while we had a little car picnic.

There is a longer, scenic road that we can take that eventually comes out near the school. When we stop at McDonalds any other time and want to take our time coming back we'll take this road. It is full of hills, lined with beautiful white fencing for miles, beautiful horse farms and big giant trees. It's so rural and pretty. We took this road this morning which made for a lot of time for Matthew and I to talk. He's pretty chatty. He even at one point asked me if he talked too much.

But he made me laugh this morning. It's funny when you can tell what they are learning about in school. We passed an old cemetarty which reminded him of something he saw about President Lincoln. He went on and on about the memorial in D.C., how he was the 16th president, how he's on the penny AND the 5 dollar bill.... and anything else you'd want to know about Lincoln. I was pretty impressed actually. So he starts to tell me how only special presidents are allowed on money.

disclaimer: this has nothing to do with political views, and no hidden agenda. I just thought it was funny coming from a very serious 6 year old.

He says that he hopes that our new president... President Obama... will be put on the Chuck E. Cheese tokens. Now trust me, to him that's quite an honor.

sunday

These are both a product of some severe insomnia earlier this week. I started the week in review kind of thing one night around 2:00 in the morning. It was a night I never ended up going to bed and just cruised through until bedtime the next night. UGH. It was nice though, because the layout kept me busy for the rest of the week by having to go back and journal a bit about the day. I may do a few of these over the next couple of months. They are fun, and my favorite way of scrapping some photos that I didn't have any other plans for.

The little bit of journaling on the one with Megan is something I've had written down on a loose piece of paper that I meant to use for her baby book. (Which I will end up finishing someday... hopefully before any of my kids have babies of their own!) but it seemed to fit pretty well with this page, even though wow, she's looking so big in that photo. And the bonus is it helps me with finally getting my journaling stuff I've been saving forever more organized by being able to throw away ONE more loose paper! Yay!

Thankfully the insomnia has taken care of itself later in the week. Now according to Megan I am having no trouble sleeping because she says I snore. Imagine! LOL.

weekend

A sneaky peek at a layout I'm working on that I'll post tomorrow... not that I'm Ali Edwards or anything an you all are waiting for something from me to inspire you... lol, but I had to take a picture for something for today. I went with Megan's pillow from IKEA. I guess it's proof she's growing up because she's wanting her room to be more black and white, with her light blue bedspread now. With little bits of bright color... as she says.... 'anything but pink.' She has black and white furniture, and curtains that match this pillow. It really does look nice and serene in her room.

But I have to wait and see what I write in my little square for Sunday before I'm done with my layout.

It's cold today. Right now I'm watching it snow right outside my window. Which is fine because we're all tucked inside due to Megan being sick. She was up all last night with a fever. Trevor and Matthew actually were at a friends' house before the snow moved in, so we've all been busy today with something. It's a nice change from last weekend when our house seemed to have a revolving door with kids coming over to play. I don't mind, but it's nice to have an excuse for a quiet and cozy weekend.

We were all in bed at 9:30 last night, which is shocking for us on a Friday night. It had been a long week for the kids at school so they were all worn out, Megan was getting sick and I have been suffering from insomnia all week. It finally hit me last night, so I took advantage of being sleepy. I can't remember the last time I went to bed that early!

Thursday

No you aren't crazy, you've seen another version of this before. But does a layout re-do from me really surprise you? Haha!

I was doing some post move organizing this week and found the actual bunny! So I took a picture of him.

Today has been weird. Yesterday we went to sleep with everything normal outside. After we woke up this morning the ground was covered with snow. Then what was supposed to be early flurries turned into full fledged snow with huge flakes! It's so pretty, and still the kids and I get all giddy about it. But.... after getting the kids ready and waiting inside for the bus to drive by, we noticed it kept getting later and later. Other kids were still standing out at another bus stop, so I knew we hadn't missed it.

I decided to get in the car and take them since Trevor was worried he'd miss his field trip today. As I'm leaving I see a neighbor wave me down and find out that she had just gotten a call from the school and was out telling her kids to come back inside. We ended up with a 2 hour delay since the road was icy. Unfortunately Trevor's field trip was cancelled too. He wasn't very happy about that. They were going to the Cincinnati Science Museum, which is in the most beautiful art deco train station. I couldn't wait to hear about it. But it will be rescheduled....

The strange thing is, after a two hour delay and catching snowflakes this morning, as soon as the bus came the sun came out and melted everything. You'd never know we had about an inch of snow.

**OK new favorite thing in the world. Skype. It is so nice to talk to mike on the computer with our little camera thingies. For free. Can't beat that. But it's a great way for us to keep in touch. We can ring each other whenever we want. Technology is awesome!! Hard to believe he can be a world away and we can still talk. Thank you Skype!

It's GO TIME.

I got this picture of Matthew today. His little face is under there somewhere. - Mike and I went to Indiana today to meet a friend for lunch. On the way there we stopped at the Gap outlet, where I found this awesome little hat for .50. It's perfect. It's blue (matthew's favorite color) and

it has funky things sticking out of the top similar to Trevor's hat that he loves. Now he has his own. :)

He's in this stage right now where he's too tough to smile for me, so I'm getting a lot of photos like this lately. But I love that he's still not too tough to where he can't be holding on to one of his favorite monkeys. There is ALWAYS something in that hand.

We just got back from the airport.... a new chapter is beginning as of today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Edited to add: Um, yeah it must have been the stress from sitting down last minute to do the kid's valentines for school tomorrow. I just realized that tomorrow isn't actually valentine's day. But hey, it doesn't change that I still love ya! I just love ya a little earlier.

Happy Valentine's day. This isn't usually a day I get too excited about.... but last month when I replaced a box on my kitchen countertop that is my catch all for to go menus, phone numbers, etc. I found this rock again. I always know the rock is there because with every move we've ever made I just know it's in the kitchen. It really should have a more prominent spot in my house now that I think about it.

When Mike and I were dating (holy cow, nearly 20 years ago!) He went on a vacation with his parents to Oregon. He spent some time walking up and down the coast, and found this rock on the beach and brought it home to me. It has the most perfect little heart carved out of the middle of it by years of water and erosion. Nature is just so cool sometimes.

I'd also like to say that even though I'm not a fan of the day itself.... I am a fan of reminding the people in my life that I love.... that I do love them. And appreciate them, and feel lucky to have them in my life. Family and friends. I love you all so much!

P.S. Also happy Arizona Statehood Day to all you AZ folk. Go eat some mexican food for me in celebration will you? Then just don't tell me about it. ;) Or at least let me smell your breath.

I love IKEA

We went to IKEA the other day to pick up a few things for Megan's room. Mainly some window coverings to block out some of the light from the streetlamp out in the front of our house. So we bought some pretty curtains and some iron rods to dress it up a bit. This little paper falls out, and I just died laughing. Megan asked me what was so funny. Fortunately I have to admit that putting the rods up on -already existing from the previous owners supports above the windows- made it easy for me to put up the curtain rods up in a snap.

But anybody who has ever bought a piece of furniture from IKEA knows that the smiling man in the picture would be better drawn as what ALWAYS happens after thinking you got such a good deal on something, yet realized it would have been easier and cheaper as far as frustration goes to have bought something from Ethan Allen instead, had it delivered and set up in the room the piece was intended for.

If I drew these instructions, there would be steam coming from the ears. The man would not be smiling. In fact he'd probably have already stabbed that IKEA allen wrench you get with purchase in between his eyes. And there would be a speech balloon above his little stick man fists that said something like, "%*$&(#!!!!!!!!" But still.... despite the number of times we've lived through a lesson of IKEA furniture, I still love the place. I love anyplace that you can buy a dresser, a mirror and a bag of meatballs.

Happy Monday!

Ever just have one of those days?

My alarm went off to a new U2 song this morning. That's always a good start! Then I went to Target to get some household goodies....shampoo and conditioner and Valentines for Trevor. (I still have all of my super 90% off valentines from last year for megan and matthew. Trevor is in that in between, not sure what is cool for a 3rd grade boy to give out stage, so I waited to find his until this year.) and fun stuff like that. But oh man it felt good to be in Target this morning. :)

On the way there (it's not as convenient as it was in Phoenix, it's about a 20 minute drive for me now. I know! GASP!) I had my sunroof open (snow is gone and it's beautiful out today!) but all the way there the radio station that I listen to must have gotten into my ipod. Another U2 song, Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, Linkin Park, a favorite Beck song of mine.... and LUMP from the Presidents. Which I haven't heard in awhile, but that song and Peaches always makes me smile from ear to ear for some reason. On the way home: Green Day, Garbage and THE FOO. Today just rocks. Plain and simple. And me alone in my little car to have it up loud.

Enjoy today!

We're being invaded!

Guess what? Matthew isn't the only child in the world without a Star Wars Lego set anymore. At least that's what he believed up until yesterday. All I've heard about is Star Wars lately. The regular Lego guys (all the city workers and pilots he has) in his mind were storm troopers and stuff. But since he did so well yesterday at his dentist appointment (he was hurting pretty bad...it was a little more than a cavity filling.) I treated him to a quick trip to get him a little surprise on the way home.

He slept with these stormtroopers in his hand last night. He's even home with me today since he looks like he got sucker punched by a cheese grater on his lip, and his head is still a little sore. He has not put these things down.

Apparently though, I don't play Star Wars right. I play like a girl. When I'm the storm troopers, instead of shooting at anything with the 'pew pew' noise, I have them all planning a party at Vader's on Saturday night where Bob the stormtrooper has to check with the wife, and asks if he can bring a pie. Joe is bringing hot dogs and the other guy is bringing the buns.

"Moooomy.... that's not right." But he's trying not to laugh. Maybe Vader can ask the good guys to join them. They all need to get along.