Cruising through Life with the Collins Family

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

2009-12-25T17:56:00.002-05:00

"He has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY!"

Psalms 126:3

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

2009-12-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a Christmas season it has been for our family!
It has been busy, and it takes a conscious effort to pause and reflect
on the true meaning of the season and why it is we are celebrating.
We're trying to teach our children that Christmas isn't about gifts,
but that it is about The Gift, Jesus Christ. It's hard in todays society
to keep the childish wonder in the season yet still impress on them
it is really about Jesus' birth.

Obviously, I'm way behind on blogging...like way behind! I've missed it!

It's been too overwhelming to think about trying to catch up...so I've decided

that I'll do this Christmas post and then I will do a 2009 re-cap.

Then I will be caught up! A fresh start in the new year! We'll see if things

go according to plan.

Our Christmas season began with a trip to cut down our Christmas tree!

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon, and after a little geocaching (our new hobby!)

we headed to Lost 40 Tree Farm and cut down this beauty.

Aaron, Harrison and, and I took a trip on The Polar Express

departing from Connersville and traveling 14,000 miles roundtrip in one night!

We had a wonderful time. Just like the movie, they served us Hot Chocolate,

Cookies, and read the story as we traveled. Santa boarded and gave Harrison

the first gift of Christmas, a bell from his sleigh. We weren't sure how lil' sis

would do, figuring she wouldn't be a huge fan of the jolly guy this year,

so we opted to make it a night for Harrison. Not sure we've done much

with just him since Hayden joined our family, so it was good.

We missed her though~ because there were other little cuties

on the train that made us think of her!

The next day, it was Warnock Christmas! One of my favorite Christmas celebrations!

There are now 13 little ones ages 10 and under and it is so much fun to all be together!

It always ends too soon! One highlight this year was the "dickies" that our cousin Jennifer

presented to us all. One year when we were teens, our dear Great Aunt Velma gave

each of us a dickie. We have joked about those things ever since and Jennifer found

a bunch at a garage sale and had to buy them for us. Thanks Aunt Velma for

the memories of "the dickies".

It's becoming tradition for the little ones to decorate gingerbread houses.

As you can see, both Harrison and Hayden took the project very seriously!

We made a visit as a family to see Santa. As I expected, Hayden wanted

nothing to do with him. So, I donated my $20.00 for a terrible picture

just so that I could take my own.

(Note to self for next year: do not visit Santa at Hamilton Town Center)

This is our Christmas mantle, with the stockings hung with care

I'll eventually post more of our remodel, but thought I'd throw

this in as a sneak preview of our new living area...which we are loving!

Next came my attempt -on the night of the 23rd, might I add- at Christmas card pictures.

This is the way the "session" began.....

Hayden wanted nothing to do with the cute hair clippie that I had

ordered from etsy specifically for her darling Christmas dress.

Not sure why I can't just get the hint that she is not into wearing

these things at this point...I just keep hoping, I suppose, that she'll

wake up one day and want to be a girly-girl!

After a little bit though, she decided to cooperate and I got some cute pictures!

It was so sweet. We would say "go sit by the tree" and she would plop down

right in front of it...like a perfect angel. This continued through Christmas Day,

she followed our directions very well!

I just love these pictures below. They show how these two feel about each other.

a.d.o.r.a.t.i.o.n.

Our Michigan Beach Vacation

2009-08-20T02:05:00.001-04:00

Just before school started, our family headed out for a quick getaway to South Haven, Michigan.

We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect...sand and sun for me, but not too hot for Aaron. I'm afraid after this trip, I might never get to go to Florida ever again.

The kids had a great time playing in the sand. It was Haydens' first trip to the beach. At first, she wasn't sure about the sand between her toes, but she adjusted quickly. She had fun picking up fistfuls of sand and dropping it on her head! She ate her share of sand too!

Harrison loved the water and being buried in the sand. It was a little frustrating for him when Hayden would mess up his sand creations, but he managed.

We had lots of fun in the evenings. There were quaint shops that I enjoyed and of course Aaron and Harrison were bored to death with those! So many quaint beach cottages and a few large beautiful homes on the streets surrounding the shoreline.

I could live there...

It was beautiful!

We made great family memories and I have a feeling the Michigan coast will be a yearly getaway.

Show Us Where You Live- The Kitchen

2009-05-01T19:30:00.008-04:00

What fun I'm going to have with this post! Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is hosting a new, fun "carnival" of sorts on her blog called and today is the inaugural post! It's called "Show Us Where You Live Friday" and each Friday she will choose a different room of the house to feature. Well, this week she is featuring Kitchens! What's that you say, since I'm a ~~renowned kitchen designer who never makes mistakes and always has great decorating~~ a girl who is learning the art of kitchen designing and making a career of it, well then this ought to be right up my alley, right?

That's what I thought too.

Until this happened.

YES that is a hole in my ceiling.

YES that is major water damage on my ceiling.

YES that is subfloor exposed due to wet carpet. (see below)

So, since I'm keepin in real here on this blog, as we

Cruise Through Life with the Collins' Family....

Please allow me to show you what my kitchen currently looks like!

Let me catch up a bit.

Last Thursday after picking up the kids, I came home and ~~was locked~~ thought I was locked out of the house. Aaron was turkey hunting 3 hours away. I said a quick prayer. "Please let the back door be unlocked"...and guess what- He answered my prayer and the door was unlocked.

I came in, feeling relieved, and saw this. (And please pretend my kitchen was clean when this happened- had it been, it would've made things much easier- work with me!)

Underneath, was very wet carpet. From the foyer, water was running down the walls onto the hardwood floor.

Our toilet in the upstairs hall ran over. All day long. Like for 9 hours!

I called hubby and he ~~rushed home~~ stayed and shot a record size turkey and thought I didn't figure out it took him way longer to get home!

So...after a long, hot weekend of water restoration fans and dehumidifiers, I present to you

MY KITCHEN

(ON A REALLY BAD ~~DAY~~ ~~WEEK~~ MONTH)

I found it intriguing how many of the gals, and maybe some guys- (I didn't read them all)- that posted links to blog posts about their kitchens- had obviously tidied up before photographing their . Unless of course, their kitchens look like showhouses all the time, which some may- I mean mine has that potential seeing as it is not used much :)- anyway, I thought....

well ladies....and gentlemen, I can't make mine look good right now- it's just not possible, and not worth it right now! So, above is a picture looking in from our family room. I decided it could just be fun to be real!

How many of you can say that you have a duck call laying on your kitchen counter....and on the microwave...and on the refrigerator....and.....who knows where else in my house.

Looking closer at the top of the stove...we have a mismatched halloween sock, a spelling test (100%-go Harrison!), a CD, applesauce, and a cheap little whisk broom I found in my van!

In one corner you see my collection of cookbooks. There are more in a cabinet. Not sure why I have so many- as they are seldom used :) One day.....

This, as you can see, is my sink full of dirty dishes because the dishwasher is waiting to be unloaded. Oh, and my sink is dirty too!

And now we take a closer look at the far corner- the corner where lots of "stuff" gets stuffed. In this corner you are likely to find bread turning green and moldy. You also see a stack of baseball clothes. I was trying to be all prepared for the game tonight- which was cancelled because it's been raining now for 40 days and 40 nights. Lucky for all of us, the "cup" was not on the counter (and I'm not talking about a drinking cup if you get my drift) .

Below is a close-up of the outside of my refrigerator. I do enjoy these magnets that are given out at childrens church. They each have bibles verses on them. I usually try to keep Harrisons' spelling test up through the week. When company is coming...I clean off the refrigerator so it's nice and clear.

And this is the inside of my refrigerator. Let's take a look.

Oh wow! We have jello jigglers that I made April 8th and forgot about for Haydens' birthday party. There is a bowl of boiled eggs, boiled late on April 10th so that they could be colored for Easter....never got it done! Surely, my children will be scarred for life! And, you can't tell it- but the shelves really need cleaned! Am I the only one out there with a messy refrigerator???

This is the desk in my kitchen. We never should have put it there! I really need the cabinet space. I'm seriously considering taking this out and replacing it with a pantry style cabinet. The scary part is that it looked even worse yesterday. This is the place where everything that needs to find its' place gets piled when I am cleaning the kitchen. You'll find bills, school papers, Christmas cards never sent, a "to-be filed" folder, and a file for my husband that he never looks at. There's obviously lots more on that desk! Above is a little cubby that keeps the bills, postage supplies, notepads, and a whole lotta crap!

Ahem.

This is a view into the dining room from the kitchen. Now...it doesn't always look like this. Let me explain.

When the water restoration folks came in, we had to clean off the kitchen table, the end table, the bar counter, etc. and it ALL landed on the dining room table. Add to that all the "stuff" that needed put away from Haydens' birthday party, my husbands video camera equipment, and once again who knows what else...you get a really cluttered dining room table.

However, we are considering selling our table and hutch (that I love) and converting our dining room into a "command center". Homework, crafts, toys, etc.

The thing is...I have an issue with being able to see all that- or at least not be able to close it off. I saw on some other posts that other gals have done this so I just need to get over it!

This picture is of the microwave cabinet area. Since it's not a "built-in" microwave, hubby uses it as a "storage" place for all his junk! Lovely! I am determined to get a "trim-kit" so that he can't continue as it really bugs me!

And just for fun...Hayden is showing off new uses for the dishwasher! Silly girl!

When clean, my kitchen is really nice. I have custom hickory cabinets. Not what I'd choose if I were starting over, but they are really nice. I'm looking a new paint color- any advice? We have boring laminate countertops...I long for granite, but someday will re-do my kitchen, so I'm not going to make that costly change. Our flooring is fairly new- tile looking laminate- installed by the handy hubby and his trusty partner- me!.

So, there you have it. Kudos to all you that have it more together than me and could post pictures of your beautiful large, sometimes cute and quaint, kitchens.

All I have to say is...Kelly, can I please have a do-over?

I really wish I could've really participated in the way Kelly intended. It would be such fun. But this week, it just wasn't meant to be. But that's just life, right? (Judging by the looks of the place, I'm not feeling real confident next week will work out either!!)

If you'd like to join Kellys' fun, check out her blog http://www.kellyscornerblog.com/ and join in- or just read other peoples posts and look at pictures!

One good thing....I really needed new carpet. Guess what?

I'm getting it...and it's not costing me a dime! (and no, I didn't clog the toilet on purpose!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!!!

2009-04-12T21:20:00.013-04:00

The big birthday weekend is over! Whew! It was so much fun, lots of work, but I totally enjoyed every bit of it! Now, before you say anything....I have a couple of disclaimers! First of all, this post is a lot of pictures! I can't help it. I love pictures. The fact that I have over 300 pictures from the day is a testament to this fact. Lucky for you, I can't find the ones I took as I was baking. Hopefully they will turn up and I can eventually post them! Secondly, yes, I know that Hayden won't remember any of this day, except for through pictures. If you are my "facebook friend" you have seen some of these pictures. I know some of you will think I went a bit overboard, but, that's my perogative! I waited a long time for Miss Hayden, and by golly, I wanted to celebrate! I didn't do anything I didn't want to do. I enjoyed making things, crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" (except for the fact that I totally forgot my cute little flower shaped jello jigglers!!). It let me use my creative skills. I had a blast! So...maybe the party was a little bit for me too???? Of course! I gave birth to her, after all!

The party preparations began on Wednesday when I began baking. Actually, I began making some of the decorations weeks before. I had to spread the food prep out over the few nights leading up because otherwise I wouldn't have had time to get it done. I still wouldn't have gotten it all done if not for my sister, who helped me a ton Friday night! I seriously baked more for this party than I have in my almost 10 years of marriage. Unfortunately, now I've proved I can do it, so I may have to pick it up a bit.

***The Party***

We had the party at the Creative Arts and Events Center in town. It was nice not to have to worry about how the house looked...because let me tell you, it looked really bad! Honestly at times, it looked like Betty Crocker herself had exploded in my kitchen! (I actually took pictures for proof!) We decided that if I ever decide to be a professional baker (ha!) I am going to have a larger kitchen!

I made this birthday banner for the party. I'd seen them on ETSY for sale, but decided I'd like to make my own. I plan to take it apart and use the "HAYDEN" in her bedroom. Multi-purpose, you see!

These are the cupcake pops that I made. This was quite a time-consuming project, but really rewarding because they were so cute...and actually yummy. At first, I didn't like the texture, but they have grown on me (not that I ate more than one or anything). I found the instructions for these on Bakerella's blog.

This is the fruit basket I created. It is assorted fruit on skewers with mini marshmallows topping them off. These were a huge hit! I could have had many, many more (I refilled once)! This was the only thing that had to be prepared on Saturday. I did worry about the skewers being used as weapons....and all the boys at the party didn't let me down!

I made this sign for Haydens' highchair! It too was fun to create! I haven't scrapbooked in forever, so this kind of filled that "need".

This is a view of one of the tables. I made the pots that have the cupcake pops in them. Easter grass was used to cover the "foam" holding the pops. Then, as you can see, there were balloons coming out the pots. You can't see a close-up, but I made napkin rings and had the silverware already wrapped. This made it easier to set the tables. It was another project that was done ahead of time.

This is Haydens' giant cupcake! I bought a little, undecorated 3-tier cake at Wal-Mart because I wanted to decorate it myself. It was one of the last things I did as far as decorating. My icing wasn't the easiest to spread, so it's a little rough. It wasn't the best decorating job, I think I could do it better the next time, but it's cute enough! And you may hear rumors that I had my sis separating sprinkles by color to use on some of the cupcakes....now, would I do such a thing? That would appear somewhat obsessive...

This is the cupcake table. I served strawberry cupcakes with creme cheese icing, chocolate cupcakes with whipped icing, and yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing. It was fun decorating the cupcakes different ways! Did I ever mention on my blog that I would love to be a pastry chef???

This is the absolutely adorable, heart-stealing, cuddling, climbing,non-walking,cutie-patootie

****BIRTHDAY GIRL****

Hayden and Harrison with my nieces Charity and Christina.

**Hayden and Nana Kemp**

**Hayden and Papaw Kemp**

**Hayden with Papaw Tom and Grandma Judy**

**Our family**

I'm not sure...but I think she may be a little bit spoiled! I mean, look at that cute chair! Talk about fit for a queen!! It matches her room perfectly, but she loves it so much, we're leaving it in the family room! I'm calling it her "lazy girl"!

And judging by this picture...I think she likes being spoiled as much as we love spoiling her!

I made the bow for her hair because I ran out of time to order one from Etsy. Her dress came from Etsy. What an ordeal it was picking out what she would wear for this day! I think I made a good choice...and believe me, there were several, as in LOTS to choose from!

Hayden was a very happy girl...especially considering the fact that she woke up at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning (much earlier than her normal rise and shine time)! I was worried when she got up that early! She had a very quick snooze on the ride to town, but woke up as soon as we got to the party!

We got Hayden this "whisper-ride buggy"! We saw them last year at various campgrounds and thought at the time "we're going to have to have one of those next year!" She loves it!

I think in this picture she is thinking "faster!" All the kids had fun pushing her around in her buggy!

After cleaning up the mess of opening presents, it was on to her cupcake! She enjoyed being sang to. I had made her a birthday hat...all one year olds must have a birthday hat. My mistake was that I had ribbon to tie it on instead of the usual elastic. She wanted nothing to do with it, so I'm saving it for another year. It was cute tho!

She really had no interest in her cupcake. I'm thinking she might be a bit of a priss! I'll take it while it lasts, because I'm fairly certain that once her Daddy and brother get one-on-one time with her, when she is most impressionable, she will end up a tomboy! I'm just telling myself that tom-boys can still be "foo-foo"! I think of a friend of mine who can be "foo-foo" one minute and the next minute be shooting an opossum off her back deck!

She didn't even want to touch the cupcake!

I really tried to help her get in the spirit of making a big mess! It didn't work, but I succeeded at looking a bit silly!

She's looking a little tuckered out at this point!

She was an absolute joy throughout the party! She was ready to get down and get going though. I think she was "cooped" up enough! I tried to get some good pictures of her in front of this pretty "palace" painting that was in the room, but the minute I let go of her, she was off! So, no posed pictures like I had hoped for...oh well!

Another picture of the *four of us*!!! Harrison wore his shirt that he wore the day she was born!

After the party, we went home and Hayden chilled out for a while!

She loves this new chair! She got many, many nice gifts for her birthday. Along with her buggy, we gave her a jewelry box, and started a charm bracelet for her. Yes, it's something she could care less about now, but it will be special to her one day. Harrison got her a shopping cart. She got several cute outfits and pretty dresses, a bathrobe, a picnic basket and picnic set, books, a baby doll, a Fancy Nancy Madame Alexander, various toys, and lots and lots of love! It was a great day!

It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. We enjoyed celebrating Haydens' Birthday with family and friends! We are SO VERY FORTUNATE to have this beautiful, healthy, growing, little girl.

I mean....Is she beautiful, or what???

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In other news....

I'll post Easter pictures as soon as I can. Sunday is Parent/Infant dedication and we will be dedicating Hayden , so I may post those pictures at the same time as Easter.

Hayden is cutting her two upper molars! Her fingers can be found in her mouth 100% of the time! She's not been eating very well...but still nursing LOTS!!! She's going to be difficult about the whole "weaning" thing, I believe!

Yesterday, I thought she'd be taking her first steps soon. Today, it seems as if it will be awhile. Hmmm.....

She is saying "Da-E" for "Daddy" and "Ma-me" for "Mommy"

When I say "give mommy a kiss" she comes at me with open-mouth kisses! love it!

She LOVES her glo-worm! She is beginning to show interest in her baby dolls. She hugs her toys like glo-worm and dolls!

She is becoming quite the climber! Today I found her on Harrisons' bed. He has a trundle that was pulled out...but she made it all the way up to the top! Where was her mother, you ask???

Harrison has his first baseball game Saturday! Yes! I love baseball!

He has a "sculpture" of some sort in the art show! Pictures soon!

We have friends (Aaron works with him) that had TRIPLETS today!!! Praise God for these little miracles! They didn't come easy!

Stellan is in Boston!!! He may be having an ablation on Tuesday. This is a risky surgery on a baby his age. Please continue to be in prayer that surgery will not be necessary.

Please continue to pray for Jonah! He's so adorably sweet! (see his button on my side bar)

It's not easy being famous!

2009-04-08T19:12:00.007-04:00

Okay, so today I was in Dollar Tree picking up a few things and a nice lady said...

"Aren't you Susan?"

I replied something like "yes, and you're Michelle?

It was my friend and neighbor Rebeccas' good friend who checks out my blog every now and then, apparently when she needs some humor!

We decided we had met once before at Rebecca's church, but I thought she really had a good memory to remember my face from then.

Tonight while I was rolling cupcake pops, which I'll show you later, it occurred to me.

She can't have that good of a memory...wait a minute...she recognized me from my blog!

WOW! Now I know what it's like to be famous! *wink wink*

Sometimes MckMama has mentioned being recognized and she's hit over 7 million visits to her blog! I'm like what...1250 or so...I wouldn't know, it's not like I check it daily or anything *wink*

Anyway, I'm not sure how I'll handle the stardom!

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In other news... the birthday is fast approaching! Last night I rocked Hayden and really tried to savor it. I thanked God for her, this little one that once seemed would never join our family, now feels like she's always been a part of our family. I kissed her little ears and nose. I tried to memorize her at this age, knowing full well I won't be able to.

About day 3 after she was born, I began sobbing quietly on the couch. I was sitting there thinking about how our beautiful family picture from the previous Christmas wasn't "good" anymore, because she wasn't in it. I was sad that the family of "3" was no more. Of course it was baby blues talking, but I was I guess kind of mourning that former life that would never be again. I was thinking that I would have to take the picture down, in fairness to Hayden and that made me sad.

I can't believe those thoughts ever entered my mind.

Now, I can't imagine our family without her!

She brings so much joy to our family of 4!
note: a family of 5 wouldn't be bad either :)

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My birthday party checklist:

dress/outfit.....check
matching hairbow made.....check
party hat made.....check
centerpieces.....check
tableware.....check
goody bags.....check
collection of serving pieces.....check
birthday banner made.....check
highchair decor made.....check
napkin rings made.....check
silverware rolled.....check
jigglers.....check
cupcake pops.....started
cupcakes....thursday/friday
cheeseball.....friday
fruit skewers.....saturday
croissants ordered....tonight!
picture slideshow.....in progress
gifts wrapped.....in progress
medicated.....check :)
*****************************************************

Just for fun, I thought I'd post some pictures from Haydens' first days in our family....enjoy!
Now, excuse me while I grab a tissue...the country song "It won't be like this for Long" is on the radio....sniff sniff!

Snippets of our Life!

2009-04-02T20:48:00.009-04:00

I find it so hard to sit down and actually update my own blog. I follow lots of different blogs, checking some of them everyday, but yet not finding the time to write on my own. Hmmm???

It could have something to do with my Etsy addiction. Speaking of my addiction to this site, which is similar to ebay, but more like multiple stores full of neat and interesting handmade products...well, just wait til' you see some pictures of my most recent purchases. But, you'll have to wait for those until after Haydens' birthday!

I can't believe this cutie patootie will be ONE soon!

If you were a part of our family, you'd be worn out too!

Harrison with his medal for basketball

Hayden making her Daddy proud (blowing a duck call)

We've been counting down the days til' Hayden turns ONE! I about fell off my chair at work today when it read "Hayden is 11 months and 3 weeks old today!". It can't be real! I've been busy preparing for her birthday bash! I have a bit of an obsession with things being "just right", but I'm trying to let that go, but not with much luck. Just a warning for those of you close to me :)

-----------------------------------------------

We took off on Monday back to Cincinnatti to the Sheraton CocoKey Water Resort. It's the same one we visited on Fall Break. We had a nice time, despite the fact that the indoor pool was closed...yes, there was the water park, which we enjoyed immensely, but with a little one, a warm pool would've been quite nice. Normally, I wouldn't complain (I know you might find that hard to believe...but I'm usually all bark, no bite!)...ok, so anyway, I normally wouldn't complain, but this time I couldn't help myself. I won't go into the details, but I remained kind as I walked away with 4 free day passes back to the water park at another date, "for my inconvenience". It really was an inconvenience because we weren't even informed when we checked in...and it was broken then! The biggest inconvenience being Monday night when the kids and I got dressed to go swim, make the trip down to the pool (not super close), and only to find it closed. It really wouldn't have been as big a deal, but the water park was not exactly warm and cozy. Anyways....

The kids weren't terribly bothered by the cool water. Hayden went under the "waterfalls" and didn't mind it a bit. We raise "fish" in our family- they love water!

Tuesday we went to the Cincinnati Zoo. It was lots of fun. I did nearly faint when it cost $6.50 to park, but what the hey...it's spring break! The kids and I rode the carousel, which Hayden wasn't too thrilled with! We rode the train, which she liked. It was a really nice zoo with a large assortment of animals. I bonded with one animal in particular....the Mama gorilla. It appeared as though she spent her days holding her baby with "the goods" just there for the baby anytime she wanted....yes, that seems to sound familiar to me. I'm pretty sure I didn't just relate myself to a Mama gorilla on my blog for all the world to see....But, on a serious note, I did get a little teary-eyed thinking about it. It was very sweet to see, and from one mama to another....you go mama gorilla! (See how sweet..the baby is on Mama's lap)

You should've seen Aaron getting up on this Rhinocerous...and NO! I didn't even attempt it!We took "Stellan" to Bass Pro Shops and plan to add our picture to his "name gallery" (that boy gets around)

Wednesday morning Hayden delighted us all when she said "Bub-ba" when trying to get her brothers attention!

Yesterday, we left Cincy, and stopped at the Air Force museum at Dayton. It was HUGE! The planes were HUGE! Harrison enjoyed seeing all the planes. It was a lot of walking, and Hayden, well, she was less than interested. We spent time on a bench, her snacking on ground chicken sticks, while I marveled at the planes above and in front of me. I was a bit nervous that I would get sent to Guantanamo for allowing her to eat in an area designated "no food or drink", but no one said anything. They probably didn't want to listen to my screaming daughter so they let me off the hook!

Harrison has his first baseball practice tomorrow night. He's got his new fancy schmancy sports glasses, and new batting gloves. I personally am totally excited that baseball is just around the corner...it perhaps is my favorite! He looks so cute in those baseball pants! Hopefully he's not lost any speed from last year and he keeps up his good hitting!

Hayden is not walking yet, thank goodness. She has found the stairs, and stands for a few seconds at a time, but I really feel like she is still a ways from walking. Seriously, I'm in NO hurry for her to take off because that is just one more reminder that she is growing up. She also is cutting her first molar!

Our little angel has begun to throw little fits when she gets put down and she's not ready. She lays herself on the floor and cries. It usually passes after a few seconds, but if not, I'm totally a pushover and I pick her up. I have a sneaking suspicion she may be a "fit-thrower", unlike her brother. Little Miss has her own addiction called breastfeeding! She still wakes up at night, usually around 2:00 a.m. and ends up in our bed. This is the same routine we ended up in with Harrison. Of course, we said we'd do it differently with our next child....yea right! Some mornings we wake up with Harrison at the foot of our bed and Hayden in the middle! It's a bit crowded!

Well, that's a glimpse into what's been happening around here lately! This weekend and next week will be busy getting ready to PARTY!!!

And be sure to come back and see the pictures....featuring my ETSY purchases on the Birthday Girl!!!

On my Mind...

2009-03-25T00:25:00.004-04:00

I sit here tonight all ready to type a new post about my sweet baby girl. I watch the days go by on her "ticker" , watching as it creeps closer to saying "Hayden is One Today!!!"

I just don't know where time goes. And, the only thought going through my head is how I am
so very blessed.

I promise, I will get a post up soon, for Grandmas' sake, with pictures. But, for tonight, there is something else on my mind.

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As I sit here, I am reminded of Baby Stellan, who once again, is in a fight for his life. If you will recall, Stellan is the fourth child of MckMama. MckMama's blog is the one I have to thank for all my blogging addictions, for her blog is the first I ever read, and I've been hooked ever since.

So, tonight, I am praying for Stellan. I'm praying for MckMama and Prince Charming (yes, that is her blog name for her husband). I'm praying for the doctors, nurses, and other medical workers who are taking care of our little guy- the little baby that SO MANY have come to love!

She has proclaimed Stellan a miracle, as he was never supposed to survive to even be born! But even tho, of course, she is pleading to God to heal him, she has such a deep faith, that she will continue to proclaim Stellan a miracle, even if God chooses to take him.

Through the internet, the blog world, and other means of "communication", I am constantly reminded how truly blessed I am. It's very hard to understand why children have to hurt, or have to die. I can't say I understand it. I know, I know...I can't dwell on this. I don't dwell on it, but I am consious of it. To be conscious of it helps me, in a way, to be a better Mommy.

Sometimes, like when I learned of Sweet Cora, who between 10 and 11 months was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 3 weeks later, I am hit in the face with the thought that "this could be me- any day". In Cora's case, it hit close to home. She was close in age to Hayden, and I could really put myself in her Mommy's shoes...and I could not imagine! Then there is Audrey Caroline, who was born and died just a few days before Hayden was born. As I plan my "extravaganza", as my Dad called it, for Hayden's first birthday, I am reminded of how Angie would be planning Audrey's party as well. There is Isaac, whos' Mommy is really having a hard time right now, almost 6 months after he died. But, even in her sadness, she is trying to help others. And then, there is sweet Jonah, who was born with a very bad skin disease. His parents lost a baby around the time Hayden was born, so I feel an attachment to them as well...not to mention Jonah is a dollbaby!

The awesome thing is...all these stories that I follow...of babies lost and of children who are sick, there is a common thread. All these stories are woven together and they all have one thing in common- His name is Jesus! You see, while these stories are so very sad, I am learning from them. Some of these little innocent babes stories have brought people to know Jesus. So, though their lives may have been cut short, they had purpose, and God is constantly revealing their purpose and will be doing it for a long, long time. These parents, the very same ones who have lost a child or are weathering some really bad "storms", their faith is amazing. It lifts me up. I am learning from them. Most of them are such wonderful writers. They are open and honest and real. They all love the Lord, despite it all.

I know this is a heavy post, but it is on my mind. I love writing about my children, but tonight it's about the other children and their very faithful parents. Would you please take a minute to say a prayer for Baby Stellen, if you would. And, there are so many more hurting that could use all our prayers as well.

"Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to Save, He is Mighty to Save

Forever, Author of Salvation, He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave!"

HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-08T21:58:00.004-04:00

We all know there are things we do each day, each week, that we are just too chicken to admit. NOT ME! I'll pretty much tell you all about the crazy things I do or the things I'm ashamed of, because it's just who I am. And, because I know I'm not alone, I join in on MckMama's blog carnival every now and then and admit the few silly things I can actually remember that I did. I know there are so many.....so many in fact that I can't ever remember them!

But, this week, just when I thought all hope was lost and that once again I was going to have to skip Not Me! Monday, I received a phone call from my wonderful neighbor, Rebecca. The call went something like this.

Rebecca: (in a timid voice) "Susan"

Me: (in a voice that can tell something is wrong) "What's wrong?....is he covered in mud?"

Rebecca: "no, worse"

Me: "poop?" (in a yucky, frightened to hear a response voice)

Rebecca: "no, worse"

Me: "what?"

Rebecca: "what animal comes out when it's sunny?" (a bit of trivia I was unaware of)

Me: "a skunk???" (in a not-so-nice mama voice)

Yep, that's right...I did NOT get a phone call saying that Harrison had been sprayed by a skunk!

Surely, my son is smart enough not to go anywhere near a skunk.

Or not.

Fast forward to Harrisons' arrival home at which time I did NOT make him strip down to his birthday suit right there on the front porch and proceed to "grill" him about what on earth he was thinking!

Apparently, he is not knowledgeable about skunks yet?

Well, at least he wasn't.

Until now.

I did NOT proceed to wash him in a tomato sauce shower, somewhat delighting in the fact that he was a bit chilly when the cold tomato sauce hit his warm skin. I did NOT have the thought that that he is totally getting what he deserves!

Needless to say, it could have been much, much worse. I didn't lose my temper and Harrison doesn't smell too bad. Actually, I didn't smell it on anything but his boots.

His brand new boots.

The ones I told him to take off!

And, I did NOT talk "big" to Rebecca in my initial anger about how he was going to get a spanking for disobeying. I told him to change into his old cowboy boots, but he did not. I did NOT totally believe his blubbering, crying little self when he said "I forgot", because well....as made obvious by my lack of remembering what I can potentially use for not me mondays....it's obvious his forgetfulness is hereditary!

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I am totally NOT obsessing with the planning of Haydens' 1st Birthday, which I can't believe will be here in a matter of weeks. I did NOT schedule myself, in writing, to have a "day of crying" on her actual birthday. I would NOT be sad about my baby girl turning one, and I surely am NOT thinking about it already. That would be obsessive, and I am NOT obsessive, and I will NOT surely pay for it when it's all said and done! I did NOT add over 20 dresses to my "favorites" on ETSY, that I like for her "birthday dress", as that too would be obsessive!

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So, I know it wasn't that exciting, but at least it was something! What did you NOT do this week?

Join the fun times over at MckMama's blog!

2009-03-02T07:33:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note here...
No Not me Monday today...the only one I could come up with was boring!

Please be in prayer for this little baby, Jonah. His button is new on my sidebar. He was born with a serious skin disease and his family and him need our prayers. Once again, I can't imagine and the way God has blessed me smacks me in the face when I see others who are hurting. Click on the button to read his story and please add them to your prayer lists.

Well, I guess for sake of updating, I could say that I did NOT find Hayden standing up in her highchair this weekend. I normally don't strap her in when I'm going to be sitting right there, but apparently the time has come that this will become necessary! Little stinker!

She is walking all around things but not standing on her own yet. No rush!!!! I can't believe my baby will be one year old in just a few weeks. I'm planning her party for the 11th of April, and I actually scheduled the 12th (Easter) on my calendar with the words "CRY ALL DAY". I suppose I won't cry ALL day...but I wanted to allow time in the day for a tear or two :)

I've begun a new addiction to "coupon-ing" and am finding some great deals...even FREE! It doesn't get much better than that! I'm enjoying passing along some diaper deals to friends of ours who are having TRIPLETS!!! Can't imagine that, but I'd love them, I know! He works with Aaron and these are their first babies....and they look so young, which means I am getting old!

Harrison has wrapped up basketball and moving along to baseball. That season kicks off April 18th and I can't wait. Number one, that means warmer weather, maybe. I must say, this winter to me doesn't seem like it's been that bad, but it does seem to be dragging on. I am more than ready to not have to lug around a very heavy carseat with a baby in it that will not keep herself covered!

I'll try to get some pictures up later tonight or tomorrow. For now, I must go to work...bummer....but glad I still have a job! Thank you God!

Not Me! Monday...the Late Edition

2009-02-24T20:16:00.004-05:00

So, since I've NOT been sick with strep throat, I'm NOT running behind with Not Me! Monday, but posting anyway since Mr. Linky is still up on MckMama's blog. You know MckMama, the one who started this whole therapy session...and boy do I need it this week...

BECAUSE.....

I am certain that I did not find Hayden playing in the toilet...yes, that's right, the TOILET, but it gets better...

It most definitely was NOT the dirty toilet that I'd just put cleaner into, turned back to start tidying up the sink only to turn around to find her happily splashing around in the TOILET!!! Now, before you panic, I might add that it was "greenworks" cleaner (i.e. natural ingredients), so there were no acid burns or anything, but I definitely flunked the MOM OF THE YEAR contest!

Later in the week, I did NOT hear Aaron tell me that he too had found Hayden playing in the TOILET again, at which time I did NOT confess to him that I am indeed a terrible Mom because I was in the bathroom with her and didn't even notice til' it was too late! And, no, we don't have a bathroom the size of a bedroom...it's your normal bathroom...pretty bad, huh?!?

Friday night, I did NOT talk Aaron into at least trying on my SPANX underneath his Class A Fire Department uniform! It was way too funny, and I'm totally sure he'll kill me for posting it on here but I can't resist. I was NOT laughing SO hard that I nearly wet my pants! I'm pretty sure he would've worn them had it not been for the fear of being in an accident and having to have his clothes cut off...imagine explaining that one!

That night, just for a little bragging...I did NOT feel the slightest bit proud of Aaron as he walked up and accepted the Firefighter of the Year award for 2008. It did not make me feel the least bit "turned on" when they described him as a "Real Bad-Ass" (pardon the french)...and even with that little bit of turning on I did NOT come home and go right.to.sleep...no.questions.asked! :)~ The only thing that would've made that night better was if ...

1) He walked up on stage and everyone knew he was wearing SPANX, which they would've because you know I'd have had to tell them.

or...

2) He would've walked up on stage and split his pants because he wasn't wearing SPANX, and I could've said I told you so.

(Just to clarify, he really did not wear the SPANX, but he did try them on! Mom is our witness, well, kind of...she heard us lauging hysterically and Aaron saying "I'm not wearing pantyhose!")

At church on Sunday, Danny was speaking on being a servant. At some point, he used an illustration about a parent yelling and screaming at their child. I did NOT hear these words come out of Harrisons' mouth...

"That's like you do to me."

Umm...reality check....small smile...yes, honey....feel the size of a pea...horrible Mom....nagging Mom thoughts did NOT fill my head at that moment.

(That will teach me not to let him stay with me instead of going to childrens church....)

And lastly...

I did not allow this to happen....

Our Kitchen Chair...courtesy of Hayden

Just for the sake of having Haydens' "toothprints" on something... That would be very irresponsible to let her potentially damage a piece of furniture for the sake of a memory. Honestly, I thought it would be little tiny imprints, not down to the bare wood!

My daughter really does NOT think she is a woodchuck!

All together now...
How much wood, would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood!!!

Have a great week!

Oh, by the way...did I mention we found Hayden playing in the TOILET !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not once, but twice!

Come on people, let me know I'm not alone!

What did you NOT do this week?

Leave a comment!!! (Mom, you know you have a good one and I'm just being nice leaving it off of here!)

toothprints

Not Me! Monday

2009-02-16T07:32:00.000-05:00

It's Monday! And, you know what that means, right? It's Not Me!! Monday time again, courtesy of MckMama. If you've never checked out her blog, now is the time. You will eventually become addicted like the rest of us "wolverines" as she refers to us. So, you know the routine...here is a list of things I did NOT do this week. Click on the button below to read what other "wolverines" did NOT do this week.

{WE ARE HAVING TECHNICAL

DIFFICULTIES, AND I CAN NOT

GET THE BUTTON TO LOAD....

SO CLICK ON HER HIGHLIGHTED

NAME ABOVE, AND THAT WILL

TAKE YOU THERE!}

To start off the week, I did NOT find Hayden standing at the toilet seat with her hands going in...that would be entirely gross, and I am always knowledgeable about where she is and what she is doing (she was standing right beside me). I did NOT think about the fact that we have 2 "boys" in our house and they don't always aim right...and I did NOT have this thought as she was crawling around on the floor of the bathroom. On the same subject, I did NOT have to wash off the newly painted wall because I could see "spray" spots on it, next to the toilet. Ughhh! That would be gross! IF it had actually happened, but since it surely did NOT!

I did NOT stay up til' 2:30 am one morning looking at vacations and reading blogs on the internet. I did NOT totally pay for my internet-scouring, blog-reading, vacation searching ADDICTION for the rest of the week.

I did NOT totally escape for a session of much needed Target therapy on Saturday! I did NOT spend over 2 hours going up and down aisles and basically exit the store with Valentines and baby food. That would be way too boring for a 2-hour shopping trip to Target. While at Target and venturing down an end aisle I'm pretty sure I did NOT pass by a family of 6 standing together in the family planning aisle (i.e. birth control, etc.) Now, mind you these were children of reading age, not toddlers, and I certainly did NOT have to laugh (to myself, of course) as I passed them in the store later. I'm just trying to figure out the conversation that might have been taking place amongst the family....Now, if this has been you, I am not judging...just wondering (and laughing, of course) how it is managed.

Harrisons' pet gerbil, Crescent (like Crescent Roll), did NOT escape yesterday, at the hands of two young boys. I did NOT hear extreme screaming and serious jumping coming from behind the closed (for obvious reasons...they didn't want me knowing what was happening) doors. The gerbil did NOT proceed to elude us the rest of the day, until near bedtime, when the three of us (Harrison, Hayden, and Mommy), did a stake out and had our own chase until we finally captured him. I'm sure Hayden was wondering what in the heck was going on with her normally sane (questionable) Mom and her brothers actions did not shock her in the least!

I did NOT spend Valentines Day night at our towns version of Chuck-E-Cheese. I'm pretty sure I had a romantic, candle-lit dinner with my husband while we ate chocolate covered cherries and drank champagne. In reality, It could NOT be me that totally enjoyed the night with my family instead of the above mentioned romance!

I was NOT the least bit disappointed when my funny card that I got Aaron went straight over his head....

{It pictured a husband and wife with "thought bubbles" over their heads. Over his head was the word SEX, and over hers was the word TARGET. Open the card and it read "Are you thinking what I'm thinking????" HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's too funny, since I was just at Target and I love shopping at Target.....Uh...NO! HE DIDN'T EVEN GET IT!} Big letdown!

And, currently, I am about to kick something, because I have one more good one, but I wanted to provide photo evidence of it, and since blogger won't load photos currently, it will have to wait til' next week, so I guess ya'll have to come back now...ya' hear?

So, that was my week. How was yours? Now is the time to join the fun over at MckMama's blog. It's free therapy, but apparently not enough for me because I still need my Target therapy!

Love is in the Air....

2009-02-15T17:09:00.009-05:00

My camera currently has 516 pictures on the memory card...I take way too many pictures.

But, I want to have these pictures when I am 70 years old, to look back and remember these fun family times, so I will never apologize for taking so many. Perhaps when we have the need to build on a room to house my photo albums, I will consider apologizing...or not. With all that being said, Harrison has 14 albums from his life thus far, each holding 300 photos each. Hayden, at this point, has one album, and MANY photos waiting to find their spot in her albums...and many more waiting to even find their way to the printer.

February has been a fun month for us. We finally made it out into the snow as a family. It was melting by the time we accomplished this, but of course it had to be a family affair, complete with video footage of Hayden's first snow, and of course pictures. So without further adeu, I present you with pictures from the day. She of course didn't get into it too much, didn't want to touch it, and silly me forgot until after the fact that I had bought a baby sled at a garage sale this summer. So, I'm hoping for a little more snow so that we can use it. Don't you think she'd old enoughtopulled behind the 4-wheeler.....just kidding!

Hayden just turned 10 months old on the 12th, and I can't believe it! She is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. She is opening cabinet doors and drawers and disrupting my laundry folding! As a matter of fact, as I type this, she is at my feet going through the trash can....eating candy wrappers! ( I don't have any idea who sits at the computer and eats candy...) She is pulling up to furniture and I'm afraid soon we will have to get out the baby gates because she will be eyeing the stairs soon I'm sure.

Harrison is busy continuing to be a good big brother. He tries very hard to watch out for her. He is my little watchdog, telling me when she puts something in her mouth, even occassionally wrestling with her and risking his fingers being bitten off to retrieve whatever she has attempted to eat. He was sick and missed 4 days of school recently with strep throat, but he is almost back to his normal self. Our biggest challenge in the "brother department" remains leaving Hayden alone when she is happy. He is pure boy, and along with that, he is challenging us at times (not saying that girls aren't challenging....) I pray for patience as I try to teach him right from wrong and to THINK!! before he does things. He is playing basketball, and is extremely competative. So, we are working on good sportsmanship, and sometimes I feel like I am "preaching" until I am blue in the face. But, he IS a good boy with a compassionate heart. He is enjoying his Club 252 at church and is learning lots of praise and worship songs that I love to hear him singing on his own! He and Aaron just finished up their waterfowl hunting season and Harrison is hoping that next year he won't have to be just a spectator! I am hoping that with the end of hunting seasons, my mudroom will once again not literally be a mudroom!

And back to Hayden.... well, she is just busy being cute! Have I mentioned that I love having a little girl? I always said that if my first child was a boy, I felt I'd have all boys (3 of them, in fact). I am glad I was wrong!

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Ahh...the romance!

For Valentines Day we went to That Fun Place, which is like a Chuck E Cheese. We had a coupon from when Hayden was born, so it was super-duper cheap, as in all we had to pay for was our tokens. We had pizza, played games, bumper cars, and Harrison played Lazer tag. The night together was fun. Hayden liked watching all the bright lights and cheered me on playing SkeeBall and Deal or No Deal! I don't normally do much for Valentines Day, in the past just something small for Harrison, but I must admit, the thought of buying my little girls first Valentine got the best of me, so they both came away with a surprise from Mommy and Daddy!We came home with a ceramic lizard, a whistle, and a plastic sheriffs' badge and lots of smiles!

I hope I didn't overwhelm with pictures, but I think I'm up to date now...come back tomorrow for another edition of "NOT ME!! Monday".

Not Me!! Monday....Oh, no I did NOT!!!

2009-02-08T20:31:00.008-05:00

Ok, so it's that time again....Welcome to NOT ME!! Monday, courtesy of MckMama, who hosts this fun tell-all every Monday. Check out her blog by clicking the button below...you won't be disappointed, and you'll probably actually feel better about yourself after you read what everyone else did NOT do this week.

Short and Sweet...here goes!

I did NOT wear two pairs of sunglasses on top of my head while grocery shopping at 11:00 p.m. the other night! I did NOT discover this embarrassing fact after exiting the second grocery store, but luckily before entering the third! That really sounds like something a Mom would do and her child would get all embarrassed and stuff...and that can't be me???

I did NOT use a disposable baby bib (previously used) as a make-shift kleenex at church this morning...that's kind of like using a baby sock as a nursing pad. (see this post if you're lost!!!)

I did NOT stay up til 1:40 a.m. one night secretly playing my sons Nintendo DS, with the volume turned down so no one would know. I did NOT promise myself that I wouldn't do it again because I was sleepy the next day, and I did NOT proceed to play his DS the next night until 12:30 a.m. at which time I snuck to bed hoping not to wake my husband. I am NOT developing somewhat of a callus on my left thumb from my intense DS playing. I did NOT "fight" over the DS with its' rightful owner yesterday.

{Do you think I have a DS problem? Wait...no, I don't...because I did NOT do any of the above mentioned.}

I did NOT spend nearly 4 days inside the house with a sick child...and I am NOT nearly going a bit crazy needing to get out and do something fun!!!

I did NOT finally take the baby out into the snow, on the day it started melting, to justify the snowsuit purchase and get the coveted photos and video. { Remember, she is the second child...and I have second child syndrome :)~ }

Last but not least...I did NOT start composing this NOT ME!! Sunday night and consider not even linking this week, because it isn't that funny compared to some, but I did NOT decide to go ahead because there is a prize at stake!!! And, I most certainly NOT just have the thought that I need to get a voice recorder so that when I have a NOT ME! moment, I can record it so that I don't forget...that would be way too NOT ME! obsessive, right?

So, there you have it~ I'm sure there are things you did NOT do this week. Pretty please...think of one and leave a comment.

{Did I mention...I am desperate for comments!!!!!!!!!!} NOT ME!!

Please note: I will delete mean comments ( you know who you are :o~ )

Not Me! Monday

2009-02-02T17:45:00.005-05:00

Here we go again...It's not me Monday time! Jump over to MckMama's blog and share in the free therapy!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her/'>http://www.mycharmingkids.net">her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

So what did I NOT DO this week...

Being that we did get a foot of snow, it most certainly is NOT ME who begged Aaron to take me to get Hayden a snowsuit the night before the snow came. He denied my request and I ended up getting one a couple days later. But, it was NOT ME who didn't even end up taking the babe outside to touch the snow. And, it is NOT ME who is now praying for just a little more fresh snow so that I can get the pictures I need to keep all things equal between first and second born.

That being said...it is NOT ME who has a burning desire to make a quick trip to a beach. I certainly did not think about looking for last-minute travel deals for this weekend just so I could get some warm sun!

I did NOT let Hayden get a hold of a razor in the bathroom the other day and proceed to cut her thumb. I did NOT feel horrible because I had seen the razor and didn't even think about the fact that I now have a crawling, exploring baby around the house. It did NOT make me think about the time that I saw the nickel on the bed...the one that Harrison later swallowed, which resulted in an ambulance ride to Riley Childrens Hospital to have it removed....

I did NOT hear Harrison say to me this weekend..."Mother, would you please get off the computer and come spend some time with your son?" It's NOT ME who sits at the computer when I should be doing other things. I need a laptop and then I can multi-task!

I did NOT get the van stuck in the neighbors driveway...in the snow...because I can't drive!

And lastly, it was NOT ME who ate 3 of the 4 homemade cinnamon rolls my "organic eating, cloth-diapering, home-schooling, bible-knowing, mother of 6 boys but still has time to fix homemade cinnamon rolls" wonderful neighbor and friend (yes, the one whos' driveway I was in) brought me Saturday. In my defense, I had only eaten two until I got the van stuck, then I needed the third!

So, there you have it. You thought I was the PERFECT MOM...right? Ha Ha!

2009-01-29T23:48:00.006-05:00

Hey everybody!! In case you were wondering, we're all still here!

Time to get caught up, as once again I've been slacking!
We've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks, and though my blog is ALWAYS on my mind, it just doesn't always get the attention it deserves. I suppose I must take care of my children, instead of my blog, though they may both say that I neglect them as well!

First of all...have you noticed my cute "family" at the bottom of my blog?
Go ahead.
Scroll down.
I'll wait for you to get back.
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*
*

Isn't it so cute! I put it on there a couple months ago and have kept forgetting to bring attention to it. I just love how I look in that bikini! If only I was seriously a stick figurine like I look in that bikini...Oh, those were the days!

*****

We surprised Harrison and took him to Monster Jam last Saturday night. Disclaimer: He totally did not deserve to go as he had a less than pleasing attitude with his Mommy {perhaps Mommy needed her happy pills :) } and had I not already spent the money, and had I not wanted to surprise him (because he really has taken the last 9 months of being a big brother after being "IT" for 6 1/2 years totally in stride with few complaints or wanting to send her back) and if I weren't just a total pushover who loves her little boy....then I probably would have scrapped the whole idea!

But I didn't, and we even went early because I'd gotten pit passes (note to self not to do that again!) Shoot me if I ever wait in line 2 hours to touch "Grave Digger" or to get the drivers autograph. No thank you. Aaron reminded me that some people are seriously into this. Not I. I mean, seriously- a 50 year old man had a driver sign his sweatshirt. Isn't that something I would've done with New Kids on the Block in the 6th grade???

As for me, someone forgot to tell me what shoes to wear. I was the ONLY person in the entire stadium with any sort of heel. It seems tennis shoes or work boots are the proper attire for such an event. Next year I will know. I figured that this was as close to a night on the town I was gonna get for a while, so I should at least look nice. Anyway, it was fun. Lucas Oil Stadium is really nice and I'd love to go for a game sometime~ that would totally rock! I don't envision that in my future either.

We went to eat at the old Union Station in the Holiday Inn because it was closest and Aaron didn't take a coat (smart one). We thought we were in for a nice quiet meal until a hockey team of 7 and 8 year old boys came into the restaurant. Let me tell you....Harrison is an angel compared to those children. There were bottles flying through the air (plastic bottles) and the smallest of the bunch repeatedly said "Sam likes big butts and he don't know why". The most amusing part of it was that the parents allowed all the wild animals, I mean boys, to sit at the same table and the parents at separate tables. I was just amazed at the way the parents let the wild animals, I mean boys, act. Once again let me say that in comparison, Harrison is an angel, and I am a strong disciplinarian.

Harrison loved all the big trucks, but says his favorite part was when the demolition derby cars raced. Fortunately no one was injured as has been the case elsewhere (fatalities) and we were smart enough (and cheap enough) to sit in the nosebleed section, which in Lucas Oil, still provided an awesome seat! Also cool was the motocross dirtbike drivers doing stunts (flips and all sorts) in the air...now these boys have *you know what* but I can't put it in my blog :)

*****

Hayden is making her way around these days with no problem! Last night she crawled down the hall and when I snuck a peek she was picking toys out of the toy basket. The next time I looked, she had crawled to her activity table and was standing at it playing. Everything she picks up goes in her mouth and Harrison is very cautious of this. I'm most proud of the fact that she is now saying "mama"- my heart is gushing! Her hair is growing, even starting down the back of her neck~I've been thinking about how I am going to have to learn to do little girls hair soon! She is getting her 6th tooth. I think it's causing her a little more pain than the others because she is drooling a lot more and is a little fussy! She's developed a little bit of a bad schedule. She nurses and goes to bed and then wakes up around 12:30 to nurse again...and again...and so on. Don't quite know how to break this cycle and I certainly know that I won't be "letting her cry" anytime soon! She weighed 17 lbs. 10 oz. at her 9 month appt. last week. She's still taking after her Mama...petite :) She is one tough little girl and I suppose she has to be if you know what I mean *wink wink*. I can't believe that she will be ONE in just a couple months. Where does the time go?

*****

Harrison asked me this week "How do you get a girlfriend?"

He apparently has his eye on two little girls at school. I am trying to teach him that saying girls are "hot" is no longer appropriate. There was a time that these first time parents of a little boy thought it was kind of cute, but that is no longer, and now I get to try to reverse this "behavior" and teach him to "respect" girls. That is a hard concept to teach, but is SO important, especially with all that he will be exposed to out in the world. Anyway, I reminded him last night that it wasn't just about looks. I asked him if the girls he liked were nice. He said AnneMarie is a little "cranky" and Savannah is "nice". AnneMarie was his "girlfriend" last year, even though he said she was "bossy". I think by the way he is talking about her, they'll probably end up married. This is probably the way Aaron refers to me 90% of the time...cranky and bossy! He also mentioned that one of his friends likes AnneMarie also. In his words... "There's a problem...Garrett likes AnneMarie too" It's like an episode of "As First Grade Turns" or "Days of our First Grade Lives"....

*****

I'll close with a few more pictures! Eventually I am going to post some more Christmas pictures...but seeing as I still have some cards laying in a basket to send and I am still putting away Christmas decorations, I figure it's okay to still post them eventually...since I'm still doing other "Christmasy" things.

This is Haydens' "official" Christmas dress. However, she wore it once and will be wearing it again if I have to take her to a fancy restaurant just for this purpose. Yes...she had a matching flower headband that I stayed up making the night before just so that she could have it! OCD!

You know who this is....and he looks so sweet and innocent. NO WAY! This is the sweet and innocent one~

This is Harrison's favorite "activity"- hunting any wild animal or flying bird, innocently gliding through the air until.....

And if you had to put up with our family, you might feel the same way Hayden does...WORN OUT!!!

Bless their hearts...I love them both so much~ and despite the MANY times I feel like hanging Harrison from his toenails to the ceiling fan...and turning it on...What on earth would I do without them? I know I'm not alone in feeling this way some days, but then I'm reminded of all the people who would give anything to have a child, and I realize I'm so blessed to have Harrison's "attitude" or Hayden's waking me up in the middle of the night.

~I love my life~

NOT ME!!! MONDAY

2009-01-12T23:35:00.002-05:00

UPDATED: HOPEFULLY THE VIDEO WORKS NOW!

First of all, just let me say that I can not handle the immense stress of knowing that you are all out there just waiting for me to post my NOT ME! Monday. There just may be a week now and then that I just don't have anything funny to share. It may simply be that I can not remember all the funny things that happen throughout the week. If anyone wishes to donate a laptop to my cause...the "Save Susan's Not-Me Mondays" , your donation would be appreciated :) You are all just going to have to accept that my life can not always be funny...I know, I know...very hard to comprehend. Some weeks I just might be a ^*^perfect Mom^*^, therefore having no "not-me's". (*wink*wink*)

So, having gotten this off my chest....drumroll please....

I present to you my NOT ME! Monday for this week. Jump on over to visit MckMama, the brain-child of this fun blog carnival.

I did not come home from my first day back to work since Christmas, nurse my baby girl, and then proceed to get majorly spit-up on by her....IN THE FACE and then down into the cleavage. It was most certainly not a mixture of vegetable beef dumplings and breastmilk and it was not totally disgusting and a wonderful "welcome home" after a long day of work.

I did not begin my planning of Haydens 1st birthday party by scouring etsy looking for just the "perfect" outfit, etc. to fit her birthday theme. My sweet girl can not possibly be 9 months old today...it was just yesterday that she was born. I am not slightly obsessive, in case you haven't figured it out.

I did not struggle very hard to come up with any Not Me's this week and was to the point of just saying..."I don't have any"...then I realized I had already started this post with the previous not-me, at the beginning of last week, so that I wouldn't forget (which I obviously did).

I did not just take my tree down this past weekend January 10th and 11th)...and being that it was a live tree, it certainly did not look like this....

I do not still have Christmas cards to send out, some still un-addressed, some waiting for family pictures to be added.

I did not spend part of Friday "steam-mopping" my floors with my new steam-mop, only to have it all "destroyed" when the weather turned wet and snowy on Saturday. I did not proceed to have a mini-meltdown and go into a teary discussion with my husband about how a womans house is like a mans barn, that I take pride in my house, and that is why I want it clean, tidy, and nicely decorated....He did not think he married a total nutcase, and retreat to his barn for the afternoon. (probably a wise idea!)

And, John (my brother-in law, who is a faithful blog reader and the root cause of all my stress regarding NOT ME! Monday....I do not (really, I don't) have a "leakage" story for this week, but I'll see what I can pull off for next week....

That's all folks....until next week...or the next....

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Oh, but please do read on.....(tears, tears, and more tears....)

MY BABY IS 9 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!!

I didn't get a good picture of her today, but thought I'd share this video...a prime example of what this poor girl has to put up with....click below...

attached! (did I really just type that???)

HAPPY 9 MONTH BIRTHDAY HAYDEN!!! WE LOVE YOU TONS AND DON'T REMEMBER LIFE WITHOUT YOU!!!

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Just a couple notes to finish up...

Have I mentioned that I REALLY HATE computers. I know HATE is a strong word, but I'm talking about a "thing" not a person...so....

I just spent the last 2 (now, make that 4) hours trying to get that daggone video to upload. Persistent, I am...and I think I've got it...FINALLY!! I hope your enjoyment was worth the last 2 (again, now 4) hours of my life.....as if I have nothing else I need to be doing!

Not-Me! Monday

2009-01-04T23:30:00.001-05:00

Well, after a week off, NOT ME! Monday is back and I am so ready! Actually this week should be titled NOT ME! Monday X 2, because not all happened in the past week. As a matter of fact, the past week was fairly uneventful! So glad that MckMama is back in the swing of things since Baby Stellan is now home from the hospital ( do I hear a yeah rah!!!) !and doing well!!! As usual, if you'd like to play along, join the rest of us crazy's and do your own NOT ME! Monday. Visit MckMama's blog to play along!

I did not take a big swig of vinegar laced diet coke (majorly), courtesy of yet another prank by Aaron and Harrison and then proceed to throw up in the kitchen sink. Please note that I previously posted about another prank by the two "boys" in my household, which now means they are up 2 to 1 and I have some plotting to do to get back at them...any ideas, I am open to suggestions.

I did not have a dream I was at MckMama's house. I remember waking up and thinking I have to remember this...but of course I don't! I hate that about dreams...and I have some doozies! I can't imagine the ones I have that I don't remember!

I ABSOLUTELY did not take a picture of my hubby's "carpenters cleavage" and place it on the new digital photo frame that my Dad gave to my Mom for Christmas, as I was downloading grandkids photos to it! It was NOT just too plain funny (to he and I, at least) as the picture popped up on the screen while showing Mom all the new photos we added to the frame. My illustrious husband certainly DID NOT pose for this photo!!! He's way too shy to show a teeny part of his "crack" to my MOM!!! HA HA HA, I'm still laughing thinking about it...he and I know how to have a fun time! And, my Mom will NOT once again say " I can't believe you put that in your blog..."

I do not smell yet another dead mouse in the wall!! I DO NOT smell this mouse every time I walk in the kitchen and it is NOT discouraging that it is only January and just the beginning of "mouse season"... I DO NOT love living in the country, where these sneaky little creatures manage to find their way "in" one way or another.

I do not look around, after having nearly 2 weeks off work, and wonder what I did those 2 weeks, because from the looks of it...I apparently didn't clean!

I do not watch our Indianapolis Colts go down to San Diego Saturday night, leaving a gaping hole in my heart as our football season has come to an abrupt end.

I did not have an absolutely wonderful Christmas, and my tree is NOT still up! (It runs in the family!)

Lastly...I am NOT still working on Christmas cards to send out! NOT me, I'm always on time for everything!!

Join the fun...come on, you know you want to!!!

Prayers for Baby Stellan!!!

2008-12-28T01:42:00.004-05:00

UPDATED 12/31/2008: After going to the Dr. once getting home from their trip, Stellan was admitted to the Childrens hospital where they live. He was near the need for intubation and a central line, however he is now doing much better. Still on Oxygen but "movin on down" to normal room soon from ICU. He was diagnosed with severe RSV. Praise God that he's doing so well!

UPDATE: Baby Stellan is out of the hospital after an overnight stay and they are on their way home. The doctors don't believe there to be any relationship between his tachycardia and his former heart failure in utero. Praise God! Poor little guy just has a really bad cold apparently. He'll see his Doctor tomorrow at home. They are on their way home now.
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Please say a prayer for MckMama's Miracle Baby, Stellan. They are out of town at her parents and Stellan was having breathing problems, tachycardia, low oxygen sats, etc. Went to E.R. and they are determining whether it is a bad cold, RSV, or whether his heart is giving him troubles...you may recall his story from previous posts...He wasn't supposed to live and SURPRISE....(really no surprise to God), he did live and MckMama hasn't stopped praising God for Stellans healing. So, just wanted to ask that you say a prayer....

If you'd like to check out her blog, visit http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Thanks for your prayers.

The Manger Scene

2008-12-26T12:00:00.001-05:00

The Manger Scene...that's what it's all about. I'm confident from this drawing by Harrison, that he gets it! Sure, he's a 7 year- old boy who eagerly awaited Santa's coming down our chimney Christmas Eve (so eager in fact, that he was awake from 2:30 to 4:30 a.m. ready to get up and not the least bit happy that I refused!!!). Despite the eagerness, Harrison knows why we celebrate CHRISTmas.

This is his rendering of that night long ago in Bethlehem, when Jesus, The Saviour of the world, was born. Notice the detail...there is a star, which led the wisemen bearing gifts from afar. There is an Angel, which spoke to the shephards keeping watch over their sheep. There are camels and a bale of straw. There is a stable. And, there are Mary and Joseph. There is a manger, and there IS a Baby Jesus!

And no, he wasn't looking at a manger scene when he drew this picture, which I am going to laminate and treasure forever!

And on a humorous note...please notice the second Baby Jesus...TWINS!!!

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CHRISTmas for the Collins family was indeed a wonderful day! Christmas Eve, after a family Christmas, we attended Christmas Eve service with both my parents and Aarons Dad and Step-Mom, and we were glad to have them with us. Bedtime came for me at 1:30 a.m. (only to be woken within the hour)...

Of course, CHRISTmas morning was delightful! It was always fun, but this year I was really filled with joy to watch my two babies come down the stairs (Yes, we let Harrison carry Hayden down the stairs since we were standing right there, this is not normal...but it was a photo op!)

Once again, Santa was good to all, whether we deserved it or not! Harrison is out hunting now in his new duck/goose hunting blind (what every 7 year old puts on their list, and indeed he did). He also got a Nintendo DS as well as other goodies. Perhaps the most fun for him was helping his baby sister!!!

Ok-maybe not!

Mysteriously, Santa also put a Wii under our tree, but our painting services are required in exchange!

Miss Hayden received her first baby stroller! She is fond of her new gloworm and other fun toys! Santa also brought her practical things...diapers!

The kids also received a "Gift Certificate from Santa" for a new kitty cat in the spring. This was on Harrisons' list ... " a new citty cat becaus mine dide"

It was a great morning! W spent the afternoon relaxing and playing with new toys. I even let Aaron and Harrison go out for a quick hunt Christmas afternoon...I am such a nice Mama/Wife! Christmas evening was spent at the Collins' Christmas at Aarons parents.

Aaron received this fabulous Argyle sweater which he surely adores! Now, I, being the slightly more trendy one in our marriage, like argyle. But Aaron, well, if you know him, he is NOT the argyle type and likely never will be. So, really this gift was a joke, which he promptly wadded up and threw at me! I will say he put it on later for good measure but declined a photo...

And this is definitely going to be framed on my desk. I sure do love these two, along with their Daddy! What a wonderful Christmas~I am so blessed and thankful!
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Our Christmas is not over as we will celebrate with my parents, sister, and her family on the 30th. I love to extend the season as long as I can! That is exactly the reason that I don't send my Christmas cards on time (*wink,wink*)

Merry CHRISTMAS to you all!

May you all remember why we celebrate...the Nativity!

NOT-ME Monday!!!

2008-12-22T18:44:00.007-05:00

Here we go again! it's Not-Me Monday time again. Play along with MckMama and all her friends and find out how normal you really are!

This week while at the Indianapolis Childrens museum on a first-grade field trip I DID NOT ONCE AGAIN forget nursing pads! I DID NOT "spring a leak" during "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" play and immediately stick my daughters sock, well, it was a beaded sock, into my bra. I then DID NOT replace the beaded sock, which left indentations, with a torn in half maxi-pad! I certainly DID NOT want to explain to the 6 and 7 year old girls, who watched as I "purchased" it, exactly what I got out of the machine, why I needed it, and what it is really used for, when I stuck in my quarter! Can't say I'm ready for that yet--good thing Hayden is only 8 months! I am NOT so very forgetful, and it is NOT even worse since having baby #2...(I'm convinced dementia is setting in early!)

While having family pictures done this week, I certainly DID NOT feel a warm sensation and realize Hayden had peed on me- she was naked for some nakie-baby pictures (see previous post)...the rest of us were clothed-I promise!

I DID NOT hear my son ask if he could photocopy his "butt" on my work copy machine! I have NO idea where he would get such an idea...it definitely was NOT ME! I would NOT have ever introduced him to the idea of photocopying yourself on the work copy machine...and my son would never use the word "butt", as I have always, well I have always tried to refer to it as his bottom.

It is NOT absolutely freezing here in Indiana (2 degrees yesterday with harsh wind)...and I DID NOT run around without a coat anyway repeating over and over the phrase "I am not cold"! (try it- it actually kind of worked, perhaps because my brain was frozen!)

I did not hear my son singing my very own rendition of "Deck The Halls" which goes like this..."Pass the Prozac, Pass the Xanax, fa la la la la...la la la la!" Who would sing such a song within hearing distance of a child!

This certain child most certainly DID NOT play a practical joke on me by taping the water sprayer of the kitchen sink in the "on" position and calling me into the kitchen. I did NOT fall for the practical joke and I did NOT get absolutely soaked! (He had a little help from his Father!)

I did NOT just totally forget a Not-Me that was just in my head and now, POOF! it's gone! Daggone it- I think I need Gingko Biloba, isn't that supposed to help your memory?

Oh, here's one...I DID NOT hear my son reply when asked "What is your favorite Christmas ornament", that his favorite was the one when Mommy and Daddy were skinny". My child would not say such a thing about his parents changing body size...need I remind him that he was the start of it! (Now, truth be told, this happened last Saturday at our family Christmas, but since I didn't do Not-Me this week, I'm including it in this week because, well, it was stinking hilarious and he thought so too!)

I am NOT nearly flipping-out over all the things left to do...wrapping, cookies, shopping, laundry (and more laundry, and more laundry), food-fixing, etc.

Lastly, our family DID NOT have a great evening visiting the jolly guy in a red suit the other night where we got this picture! My children were NOT both absolutely perfect sitting on his lap...wonder what next year will be like!

Well...what did you NOT do this week? Come one, help me out and make me feel normal!

She's not gonna be a Happy Girl!

2008-12-20T07:26:00.006-05:00

Isn't she beautiful!

See now, why I put bows in her hair often? If you didn't know, you couldn't tell-boy or girl...but we know she's all girly girl!.....for now!

It's so cute to have rolls...when you're a baby...not so cute when you're an adult!

There are those sweet bibs again!

I love the way she opens her mouth and "kisses" me and I'm so glad we have a picture of it!

Yep, she's gonna be very unhappy with me one day! Kind of like how Aaron was unhappy with the fact that his parents took a picture of him naked with a rubbyducky in the tub with gigantic glasses on his face (The hunt is on to find that picture, I'm laughing just visualizing it!). Maybe she'll be unhappy like Aaron was when he saw that picture posted at his Senior After-Prom (1994) in a "name that senior" game!

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My how time flies...she can't be 8 months already. I remember thinking..."She'll be 8 months at Christmas" and that seems like just yesterday. They grow too daggone fast. I hate it! I love it! Oh....I don't know how I feel!

She is so cute! Her new thing is that when I hold her at the computer desk, and so far only then, she bites my ear! It's so funny because she begins by examining it with her tiny fingers, bending and twisting, then going in for the "kill" on my poor little ear! It's too cute! Last night when I told her no, she made this evil little laugh. How can I be seriously teaching her "no", and laughing at the same time? Well, I'm sure I've done it before with Harrison...many times! Hayden is trying to learn to crawl. She gets up on her hands and knees, occassionally moves forward a bit, and then lays down. I really hope she's slow to crawl, slow to walk....then she'll seem like she's still a baby! Last night, she woke several times before I even made it to bed. Each time, I ended up holding her, swaying and rocking, ahh....I could just stay there in her room cuddling with her. She takes those tiny littly fingers and rubs them on my face gently, then WHAM! She picks my nose! Not literally...but her sharp little fingernails nearly send me through the roof when she scratches just right! Back to the sweetness of cuddling her...I LOVE IT!

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Christmas will be here soon! This time of year is so busy that it is hard to really focus on why we celebrate! This is a conversation between Harrison and I the other night....

Harrison: Is God married?

Me:No, God is not married.

Harrison: Well, what about Mary? (I'm very proud that he made the connection that since Jesus is Gods Son, then he must've been married to Mary, His mother.)

Me:Joseph and Mary were Jesus' earthly parents and God is Jesus' Heavenly Father.

Harrison: What's a Heavenly Father?

Me: Ummm, let's have Papaw Kemp explain that to you....

So, later we are at my parents house and I ask for Dad to explain to Harrison.

After he explained...Harrison replied "still don't get it!" ...neither do I, you know. It's hard to understand how God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...not only when you're 7 yrs.old, but also when you're 32! I guess that's called faith!

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At least I didn't get the question Aaron got this week...about why bucks chase does!!!!! Would've loved to have been a fly on the wall listening to that conversation!

The above photos were taken by Joel Cookston and I'll post more in the days ahead....they're awesome, so if you're near us, I know you'd be pleased with his work!

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Check out this little stud, who happens to be the BEST BIG BROTHER EVER!!

I'll be back soon! We're off to visit the big, jolly man in a red suit! Oh, and we might have to do some shopping while we're at it!

Not-Me Monday!!!

2008-12-08T21:58:00.005-05:00

So, I seem to only blog on Mondays....NOT ME! Yep, it's time again for MckMama's free therapy carnival. Read on to find out what I DID NOT do this week and visit MckMama's blog to read what others DID NOT do as well!

I do not feel much pressure to complete these not-me mondays...with the huge following I have out there reading my blog...*wink* (quit lurking and leave me a comment...you know who you are!!!) I do not feel that I will let them down if I don't do this! So...here goes, better late than never....

I did not beg my husband to drive me to Kohls Saturday night at 8:00 pm, in the snow, just so I could spend my $20.00 Kohls Cash that was expiring that evening! I would never risk our lives (that's a bit dramatic) just to get a discount!

I did not look at my messy house many times this past weekend and just not give a lick! Dirty dishes did not sit in the sink so long that a strong odor became apparent....I always have a clean house!

I did not start to get out the Christmas decor and just not have the "umph" to decorate yet! That said, I did not feel like I might go crazy with all the "help" I was receiving from my 7 year old son with what little decorating I did do! I did not buy my baby girl a PINK Christmas tree for her bedroom and watch her brother decorate it with dalmation and fire hydrant light covers...don't worry it won't last cause I'll get my groove on soon enough and "girl-i-fy" it as soon as I can get to Target to get the cool ornaments I saw a couple weeks ago!

I did not send my son and (3) neighbor boys out into the cold to play yesterday, only to watch helplessly as they came in, freezing, dropped all their snowy and wet apparel in my mudroom (4 boys worth of coats, overalls, boots, hats, gloves, melting snow and dirt)...I would never have a near panic attack at the thought of all the dirt and muck in my mudroom. I certainly did not just try to RelAx and forget about it.....really I'm trying....hard. to. let. it. go!

I did not just make my Christmas picture appointment tonight! I will not be late AGAIN with my Christmas cards... I can not just take a picture like everyone else does because that would be too easy and I do not like to put added pressure on myself to be different. I would not do that!

I did not get a little miffed when I noticed that Merry Christmas was no longer on my schools website, and it now said Happy Holidays. I did not proceed to call a few people, send a couple emails, and nearly have a freak-out session about what the world is coming to, only to receive an email this morning saying that the saying rotates between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. (Not sure how totally true this is because a reliable source told me that someone did complain....about Merry Christmas! and therefore it was changed)....

I did not once again haul basket after basket up and down the stairs this weekend of "stuff" that belongs somewhere other than where it is! Those many baskets do not sit waiting for me to empty their contents to their correct places while I continue to sit and play on the computer! Not me, I would always put house work before play time!

So my goal this week....to NOT post some more pictures on this blog of mine! Hopefully soon...be patient...

I most certainly did not.....

2008-11-30T22:33:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since my last post. Last week, I just couldn't come up with any Not-me's. I sometimes think I need to carry a recorder with me so that when I DO NOT do something, I can just press a "record" button and tell the recorder so I'll remember. My life is funnier than I can sometimes recall! The last two weeks have been so chaotic that I just haven't had the time to think about blogging. I've been keeping up on the ones I follow, but just not doing my own- bad girl!

Well, I have come up with some not-me's this week and I hope you enjoy. I'm sure some of you reading can certainly relate, however any male reading, most certainly will not, so, males, read at your own risk!

Thanks to MckMama for hosting this fun, free therapy for all to enjoy! Check out her blog to see what she and MANY others DID NOT DO this week!

While helping at my sons Thanksgiving Party at school this week I most certainly did not realize shortly after arriving that I had forgotten to "pump" on the way to school (yes...I am known to pump while driving) Soon thereafter, I did not lean down to help my son with his craft only to hear him non-chalantly say "you're leaking", quite loudly, as he pointed to a wet spot on my shirt and then without hesitation continue on with his project. I most certainly was not slightly embarrassed and extremely cautious not to lower my arms and press too hard the rest of the party in fear of having a lot of explaining to do to a group of first graders! Nope, not me! It is Not my son who is entirely too educated on the subject of breastfeeding!

I most certainly did not leave home on black friday at 4:00 a.m. and not return until 7:27 p.m. (fifteen hours, 27 minutes...if you're trying to do the math) I did not leave my husband at home with the children while I shopped til' my hearts content in slight "revenge" for him leaving me with said children for 4 days this week to go hunting in Missouri. I would never seek any type of revenge against my hubby. Not me! While shopping on black friday, I did not win a contest at Target for the correct guess of the number of checkouts and I was not totally excited to win a gift bag full of food!

It was certainly not me who ate an entire Entemanns coffee cake (which I won in my Target bag) in two days. It really wasn't that big, but it wasn't me that finished it off before hubby came home from work this morning, and tucked it in the bottom of the trash can so that he wouldn't see it! No, that wasn't me either!

I did not watch as my 7 month old pulled herself up to standing position in her crib yesterday! She can't be this old already. I do not really want another baby and I am not at all mentioning this fact nearly every day in hopes of swaying hubby's feelings on the idea.

So, what did you not do? Tell me or tell everyone else. If you have a blog, visit MckMama's blog to find out how to join the fun!

Not-me Monday!!!

2008-11-17T13:33:00.004-05:00

Therapy time everyone!!! What did you NOT DO this week. Visit MckMamas' blog to find out what others DID NOT DO this week- I tell ya what, it makes you realize how normal you really are- which is a good thing!

Once again, I can not remember lots of the things I DID NOT DO this past week. The days go by too fast and my mind is too busy to remember. But, these few things made an impression on me, mostly #1....

I did not rock my already 7 month old daughter to sleep one night, with tears running down my face, thinking about how the time has flown. She should not be 7 months old already, she was just born. I do not think daily how my children are growing so fast. I do not wish time would just stand still. I do not breathe in every smell wishing I could remember it forever. I do not delight in every moment, seriously most every moment, wishing it too would never fade from memory....

I did not begin to cry during communion at church Sunday when I saw a newborn, thinking how I really don't want to be done having babies. The fact that I may be, does not hurt at all....

I did not wear baby spit-up all day, every day this week. My sweet little lady is not the biggest spitter-upper I have ever known, and it is not even worse now that she is eating foods that have color.

I did not promise to go eat lunch with my 1st grader today, only to wish later I'd not made that promise, as I didn't want to get out in the cold.

I did not join facebook this week. Need I say more...(see previous post) I am not totally excited to be finding childhood friends, and I did not send my brother-in-law a "virtual pancreas" via facebook just for fun!

I did not begin another project inside my house, with so many unfinished. I would not do that. I do not feel a need to be changing things in my house often.

I did not totally enjoy a Mom's night out with friends from MOPS this week. Every Mom needs those fun nights of laughter and fellowship.

And- true confession time, I did not borrow $ from my 7 year old this week to get by til payday. (shhh...don't tell him!)

Have a great week!

I have succumbed to PeEr PrEsSurE

2008-11-12T07:55:00.005-05:00

I have succumbed.
I thought only high schoolers had facebooks.
I was wrong.

After a Mom's night out at MOPS, because of tremendous peer pressure from grown women, I came home and set up a facebook.

Can you spell a.d.d.i.c.t.i.o.n.

I don't have time for this addiction.

But so far it has been fun. I am finding people from my childhood, which was my main reason anyway. I have found many people, except the one childhood friend I wanted to find. She is not there....I did find my elementary school friend that I wrote a "novel" with...how funny!!!

So thanks to Denise, Tiffany, Marj, Claudia, Deanna, Cathy , etc. for getting me addicted.

Gotta go- facebook is calling...oh wait, I have children to raise. I did inform Aaron that he needed a facebook- that will probably happen when hell freezes over :)

FOR NOT ME MONDAY SCROLL DOWN.....

2008-11-10T21:24:00.001-05:00

Okay- so I'm new to this blogging thing...since I cheated and started early and posted another post since then, my NOT ME MONDAY is one post down after all the pictures...sorry- lesson learned.

Just a few Pictures for your Viewing Pleasure!!!

2008-11-05T22:30:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures - really, just a few :) - The first are of our trip to Cincinnati over Fall Break. They had halloween festivities Saturday night including

a costume contest and trick-or-treating.Hayden LOVED the water. She liked going down the small slides with

her big brother holding on tightly!

Can you guess who the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Butterfly are???

Hayden just looked too cute in this picture! Notice how well she is sitting up these days!

I sure do LOVE these two! "Me want more babies!!!"
Hayden just loved helping out with the pumpkin carving. We decided the pumpkin insides would make a nice headdress...so she tried it out and wasn't too thrilled.

Once again, we had to videotape Haydens first pumpkin carving- can't let her down.
The finished pumpkin product....You can't see it in the picture but our pumpkin is probably the only one around that has a fork sticking out the side...don't ask- just one word- Harrison.

I was glad Halloween fell on a Friday this year.

It wasn't so rushed and we were able to take it slow.

This is Miss Hayden after our very first stop...

it's gonna be a long night for her. Sleepy Little Butterfly.

Since 6 month olds can't have candy, Hayden was given a doll baby from Papaw and Nana Kemp that used to be mine. She seemed to like it. I can't wait to watch her "mother".

Papaw and Nana Kemp with the kids. This was our last stop of the night. We stayed and played Wii Fit and had dessert. Lots of fun.

These next 3 are my attempt at Haydens 6 month pictures- I am going to attempt to do some editing (specifically the spit-up on her sleeve) and see how they turn out. I love her bibs soooooo much. The day I took these pictures, she and I had been to Holiday Mart in Indy- everyone, and I mean everyone commented about how cute she was and how stylin her little bibs were. I'm glad, because I spent lots of time obsessing about them :)

I love her profile.

I know I'm prejudice, but isn't she the cutest little doll baby!

So- now I believe I am up to date on my photos. Just in time to take MORE!!!

Not- Me Monday!!!

2008-11-05T17:12:00.003-05:00

Well, it's that time again....it's NOT ME MONDAY courtesy of MckMama who hosts this blog carnival every Monday. I am beginning to look forward to it each week and this is only my third time. It is fun because every time something crazy or silly happens in my life, I think "This is definitely a NOT ME MONDAY item"!!! Hope you enjoy and get a good laugh, as I'm sure many of you can relate.

This week, amidst other crazy things I can't remember I most certainly DID NOT....

Unzip my Bible (actually Aaron opened it because I had little Miss) at church only to find a diaper stuffed inside. I'm sure God doesn't mind, at least I had my Bible at church because that doesn't ALWAYS get accomplished since having baby girl! I only have so many hands and I am NOT disorganized at all- NEVER!!!

This is one I'll forever remember...probably this will be my best memory of this election season. Get ready for a laugh, believe me, I wish I had video footage.

This is the setting....me in the house with Hayden. Harrison playing outside with 3 or 4 of the neighbor boys...HERE GOES....if you know me, it's best to close your eyes and visualize (well, you can't close your eyes and read at the same time)

Harrison comes running in the house yelling "Mommy...somebody just took our sign" (McCain/Palin)- note that this is the day after the election.

"What?" I think to myself..."Nuh uh, nobody is getting by with stealing MY election sign, even if they did lose" (visualize me doing the head-shake when I say "nuh,uh!!")

So I most certainly DID NOT proceed to...
1. Hand baby girl off to a boy (not sure which one)....I did think to myself- oh they'll be okay- I'll just be gone a sec.
2. Jump in my mini-van (Yep, I love my mini-van- I'm only 32 and on #3 mini-van)
3. Pump my fist out the window and say "GO MOMMY GO" only to hear the chant repeated by many boys, one of which is holding my 6 month old.
4. Race down the road (country road, speed limit 45) in pursuit of the red dodge with 3 teenage boys in it who "stole" my sign
5. Continue to speed down the road, calling my neighbor to tell her I just left my baby in the boys possession...."Oh, they're good with babies" she says....in her calming voice.
6. Follow the truck apx. 4 miles eventually catching up with it, honking horn repeatedly, motioning for them to PULL OVER because I WANT MY SIGN BACK!!!! All the while 2 of the 3 are on their cell phones, potentially phoning the police to report a crazy "OLD" lady chasing them (after all, to a teenager, I could be considered old....)

So, now I know you're wondering what happened....
WELL......(drumroll please)

The boys pulled over and I pulled up beside them and asked if I could please have my sign back.
They were with the republican party.
picking up signs.
i just made a fool of myself.
i'm probably being talked about in high schools everywhere.
i recognized one boy.
he said he didn't recognize me.
thank God!!!

(my only question is this...why do they need the sign back???)

Now, after this excitement I definitely DID NOT race home and start my NOT ME MONDAY post just a few days early!!!!

Have a great week....
Join the fun, go here, follow the rules, and share what you DID NOT do this past week. TOP THAT!!!!

Disappointed, Sad, Frustrated, Angry, Scared...that's me!

2008-11-05T00:33:00.004-05:00

Well, I knew it was going to turn out this way and I have so many thoughts going through my head right now.

I am disappointed, sad, frustrated, angry,and scared. I just feel like I could puke. I feel like I could cry. Not because of defeat, just plain sadness for our country.

Perhaps I should warn you before you start reading. I am a conservative republican. I don't hide this fact, I am not at all ashamed. So, if you voted for Mr. Obama, you may not like what I have to say but since this is MY blog, TOUGH TIDDLYWINKS!!! :)

Honestly, one of my fears is for Mr. Obama. I really do fear that his life is in jeopardy. That is sad for his little girls. That is sad for our country. If something does happen to him, what will happen in our country. Will there be a civil war? So many questions, so many fears.

I am SO mad, because I feel like just because people wanted a change from President Bush, they supported Mr. Obama. Who was the inexperienced candidate in this election? Mr. Obama- Lucky us- Now he gets to "learn" on our watch. Very scary.

This election WAS an issue of race. Who can deny this? Many whites voted for Mr. Obama, but how many blacks do you suppose voted for Mr. McCain? I guarantee that it was very few. For me it was not an issue of race, I'm just simply stating what is obvious to me.

The fact that Mr. Obama had such support of the young voters is very disheartening. It makes me wonder where our country is headed even years down the road when I am old? Where have all the morals gone?

I DO NOT trust this man. I question where his campaign funds came from. I question who he associates with or has associated with. It's appalling to me that he was a member of a congregation led by an anti-American "minister". Because of his associations, he could not be in the FBI, CIA, etc. YET our country has elected him to be the next President. AMAZING!

I could seriously go on and on and on and on about this but what good would that do?

As my boss states so often.... It is what it is.

So, at this point, I pray that Mr. Obama leads our country in the right direction. I pray for a change in his views. I pray that he is protected from harm. I pray that God works on him. I pray I am proven wrong. I pray for unborn babies, for mothers who will chose to abort, for our soldiers who have given so much for our country and now probably for no "victory" when we withdraw. I pray for children who will be raised in non-traditional families. I pray that I will be able to instill my morals in my children- all while having to explain to them how our country ended up the way it is. Again, I could go on and on.

I have a song that plays on my blog titled "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin.
If you want to listen to it, scroll down to the very bottom where the music is listed in a blue box, and click on it. The words to this song have been in my head today, knowing that no matter what God is in control.

"You're the God of this City. You're the King of these People. You're the God of this Nation, You are"

So, if I truly believe that, then I must be at peace with the outcome. God is in control. God has a plan. One day, His plan will be revealed.

God Bless America!

not me monday!!!

2008-11-03T20:17:00.004-05:00

It's NOT ME MONDAY TIME AGAIN and thanks to MckMama who is the talented blogger who came up with the idea, here goes... This was kind of a boring week!

Speaking of MckMama, I DID NOT get to "witness" one of God's modern-day miracles in the HEALTHY BIRTH of MckMama's baby, Stellan. (See previous post for info on WHY this was a miracle!!!)

I DID NOT just send a last-ditch e-mail in an effort to positively change or further solidify the choices that some will make at the polls tomorrow. I am NOT so very passionate about the abortion issue that I will NOT risk any good reputation I may have, to try to change someones mind.

I DID NOT "talk aggressively and vocally" to an older "gentleman" (I use this word lightly)- who became angry with another Mom and I who crossed in front of him in a parking lot. Apparently, he didn't know that pedestrians have the right-of-way. I DID NOT act like I was 16 again! NOT ME!!!

I DID NOT go to the grocery late Tuesday night (got home at 1:00 a.m.) and get up early Wednesday morning to prepare a dish to take to MOPS, only to realize that this wasn't a MOPS week!

I DID NOT sleep til' 11:15 on Thursday. (IT FELT REALLY GOOD!!!)

I DID NOT win my first "bloggy give-away" this week- what fun!!!!!

I DID NOT encourage or allow my son to sport this haircut to school this morning. I DID NOT tell him that if anyone says anything about it (good or bad) to state the following: "My Mommy said I could only keep it for a few days" because I am NOT one of those Moms that looks at other boys with this hair cut and says NOT MY CHILD!!! I MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT allow my Dad to perform this haircut... and by the way, I don't know where the hand gestures come from- I think the neighbor boys...

So, what did you NOT DO this week? (What did you really do, but don't really want to admit? Come on, join the fun, it's free therapy!!!)

2008-10-28T20:38:00.002-04:00

Please be in prayer for my blog "friend", McKMama, who is having baby #4 tomorrow morning. Read what I've attached below to get caught up on Baby Stellen...

MckMama is a wonderful Jesus loving mommy to three kids, ages 3, 2, and 1. Tomorrow she will be delivering her fourth! Here's a quote from her blog about this special little guy: "He [Stellan] was quite unexpectedly given to us, and even more unexpected was his diagnosis of heart failure: Premature Atrial Contraction at 20 weeks; Supraventricular Tachycardia, hydrops, and intermittent advanced secondary heart block at 23 weeks; and enlargement of the heart at 32 weeks. We were told at 24 weeks that he would surely die. God performed a miracle and MckMuffin is still with us! The doctors are unsure about what will happen to our baby when he is born. But God is not unsure!! We are praying for MckMuffin's full healing, but we know that God is good no matter what He decides."

Please pray along with me for this family....and if you'd like check out her blog at www.mycharmingkids.net

Thank you.

My Very First "NOT ME MONDAY"

2008-10-26T23:24:00.007-04:00

I am so excited to be entering into the NOT ME MONDAY world! It's going to feel so good to confess all the things I didn't do....

So where does NOT ME MONDAY come from? Well...There is a great Mom named "MckMama" who has a fun blog http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ and I am addicted to reading it. She's having baby #4, Stellan, in 2 days. We are all praying for a healthy baby boy, as he's had some heart issues, but as of late he has been looking good. She does this fun thing called NOT ME MONDAY - it's basically a confessional of all the embarrassing, unbelieveable, funny things that we DID NOT do ( which actually we DID do)- so it's kind of like opposite day. I can't wait to join the fun, so here goes....

This week I most certainly DID NOT do the following:

I DID NOT send my son to go to school without underwear, only realizing this after he had boarded the bus... I DID NOT see his underwear lying on my bed when I returned to my room
when I DID NOT go back to bed!!! (Boy, do I enjoy those last few minutes of snoozing)- I DID NOT pray all day that no little girls would pull his pants down at recess- which apparently was attempted at the beginning of the school year)

I can't believe that I DID NOT drive to the barn with my dead cat, MIRACLE- God rest her soul- in a trashbag on the roof of my van. I DID NOT drive VERY SLOW so that she would not fall off....poor kitty!

I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT stick one of Aarons socks in my bra to serve as a makeshift nursing pad when I ran out one morning (I know John, my bro-in-law, this is way too much for you to handle!!- but I LOVE IT because you actually read my blog)

I most certainly DID NOT buy Harrison something at the aquarium only to buy Hayden a mere postcard for her scrapbook. I DID NOT say "She's the 2nd child"....NOT ME- I'm a second child- I Would NOT do that!!!!

I DID NOT give in to Harrisons pleads to eat a Nutty Bar for breakfast simply because I didn't feel up to a fight.

I DID NOT allow Harrison to say the "B" word just one time after he read it on a bumper sticker. I DID NOT decide to let him say it just so he wouldn't want to - I DID NOT tell him to never say it again!! (Mom, Dad- I really did tell him never to say it again....)

I DID NOT awake Thursday morning to Aaron and Harrison telling me that their treestand broke with Harrison in the tree and Aaron climbing up (they usually use a safety harness but didn't have it on yet). I DID NOT hear them tell me that Aaron fell to the ground, jumped up, and caught Harrison in a 16-20 foot fall. Sidenote- Praise God that they weren't hurt because this could've been VERY bad!

And lastly, I DID NOT think all week about what specifically I was going to admit to NOT doing!!! I DID NOT think after every time I DID NOT do something stupid that I could put it on my NOT ME MONDAY- I DID NOT obsess about it!

Is this fun or what? You can join the fun next Monday!!!! However, there are things I still can't bear to admit....I have a ways to go!

A great weekend!!

2008-10-26T18:59:00.004-04:00

We had a great "mini-cation" this weekend ~ the first as a family of four! We left Friday morning and went to Cincinnati to a Sheraton that has an indoor water park. We had a fun time there, of course Harrison loved it and Hayden REALLY had a good time! It was so fun to watch her splash and kick her feet. We even took her under a couple times hoping that she'll continue to love water the way Harrison has. My first time down one of the enclosed waterslides I hit my head on the bottom of the pool when I came out of the tube~ so it was my only time down the slides! I let Aaron have the pleasure of repeatedly climbing the stairs to the top even though I could've used the exercise~ I had to take care of Hayden of course, so it wasn't the stairs or the pounding in my head that kept me from the slides.... I really did delight in watching both of them have such fun. That night, they had some special Halloween events like trick-or-treating, coloring and costume contests, pumpkin painting, etc. (We are holding out for a win in the costume contest so we can go back to the waterpark again)

Saturday morning we slept in (well, we tried but Harrison kept on his school schedule and woke up earlier than we would have liked). After 2 illegal U-Turns, We made it to the Newport Aquarium, which was lots of fun. Harrison liked the penquins and otters the best, and I have to agree. He'd been there once before, but didn't remember that trip *he was still in my belly :)~ * He thinks he can remember it though! On the way back, we had to stop at Bass Pro Shops for the boys and I treated Hayden to a new pair of $10 shoes ;) SO CUTE- she really needed them! really....

We went back to the hotel and swam- all of us- Hayden again loved it but what was the best was her laughter watching Harrison and some other boys playing in the pool. It is HILARIOUS and I LOVE to watch her take in everything her big brother does. We need to start impressing on him how much of an influence he is going to be on her.

Saturday night we went to IKEA!!! It was our second time there- Okay, let me re-phrase. Hayden and I went to IKEA...Aaron and Harrison stayed in the van watching hunting movies for a while and then joined us towards the end. We had a nice meal at Max and Ermas (our favorite) and then came back to the hotel arcade $$$$$. They did have a Deal or No Deal game and my favorite Skeeball !!! In all we came home with fang teeth, a parachute sling-shot, a care-bear figurine, and a "pop" toy- don't want to think about what those little pieces of plastic cost us- but oh well, making memories........oh, and we got another "eye patch" too!

BREAKING NEWS.....
Before bed last night, I was feeling in Haydens mouth and discovered her FIRST TOOTH was peeking through (SOBBING)....my baby is growing up.

Sunday we left and drove to Jeffersonville, OH to a Pottery Barn outlet. I left with two wipeable baby bibs- all that they had and that's what I walk out with- disappointing- so for all of you who think I am a shop-a-holic >>> I am a bargain-a-holic and apparently there weren't enough bargains for me there!

Got home around 4:30- boys are goose hunting and Hayden just finished a jar of prunes-- yummy!- glad I work tomorrow and won't have diaper duty!!!

I plan to post some pictures from our weekend but for now, use your imagination because the camera is in the van and it's too doggone COLD and WINDY!! Fall is in the air!

Be sure to check in tomorrow for my first NOT ME MONDAY!!!!!

My first Video Blog!

2008-10-21T23:08:00.003-04:00

I posted this a few weeks ago and then backspaced and deleted it. I couldn't get it to load again after that....I was ticked to say the least! Thought I'd try it again and it worked. ENJOY! This is Miss Hayden laughing at her awesome brother- he gets the best giggles out of her! She adores him and vice-versa- for now at least!

Long Time No See- I mean No Blog....

2008-10-21T22:02:00.004-04:00

Yes, I know it's been 15 days since I last blogged. I have a problem...I think that each time I blog I have to post a picture and that takes more time than I have some days. I'll try to do better. I tell ya what tho- this blogging IS addicting. I am getting "into" the lives of people I don't even know. Pretty soon, I'll not be able to make fun of Aaron for hunting with guys he met on the internet (hee-hee!!).

When I read some of these blogs I am reminded how blessed I am. If you want to get addicted too, simply click on the "buttons" on the right hand side of my blog and read-on! There are many families out there going through verydifficult times that need our prayers. The bloggers that I am following show extraordinary faith in times of adversity. I hope I could do the same, but pray I never have to.

So, what have we been up to- you ask???

Well, of course we had to take a trip to the pumpkin patch. And of course it was Haydens inaugural pumpkin patch trip so it was a family affair complete with video cameras and two..count em'...two cameras! Did I mention that one camera was dead when we got there and the other was dying? Talk about frustrating! I guess we Moms have to learn to accept the fact that things aren't going to go as planned-not just sometimes...NEVER. I have to face it that I'm not going to get the perfect photos I dream about and that the kids aren't going to be perfect with smiles on cue! I guess I'll have to try again...poor kids!

Yep- posed perfectly!!! NOT!!!

Like I said, smiles on cue! NOT!!! But, note the adorable
overalls...read on!

I just thought this one was kind of cute...

Harrison and his choice!!!

About those adorable bibs Miss Hayden is wearing...this has been another of my recent obsessions. I knew what I wanted but it was a matter of finding them and ETSY to the rescue. It was so fun. I got to pick my fabrics and suggest certain "features"- it was like playing Project Runway! Anyway, they are SO CUTE and I will certainly be getting some more pictures of her in them and hopefully she'll be wearing a smile in those pics.

Hayden had her 6 month check-up. Petite and short, with a big head- just like her brother when he was a baby! At 6 mos. Harrison weighed 15 lbs. 14 oz. and she's 15 lbs. 2.5 oz. and doing well!!! She is eating her toes, sitting pretty good, and trying to get up on all 4's. It's just about time to batten down the hatches and put away anything non-childproof. Here we go again! I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!

We suffered a loss in our family this week. Miracle, our kitty since shortly after we got married, got killed by the neighbor rat terrier! So, we've had a funeral and shed some tears over losing her...and just when she was starting to become a good "mouser". Now all the mice in the neighborhood will probably move in!

We got a good report on Harrison from his parent/teacher conference this evening. Needs work on listening skills (imagine that) and time management (takes after his Mama) and "he likes to let the teacher know when other kids are doing things they shouldn't) that's teacher talk for TATTLE TALE! I guess that is normal at his age. His football season was over Saturday. He had a great year showing great improvement over last year, but he is very competative so I believe that is going to be a continuing challenge for us all.

ON MONDAY I WILL HAVE AN EXCITING NEW FEATURE!!!!!!!!!

I will be starting to participate in "NOT ME MONDAY".

Simply stated, NOT ME MONDAY is a way to "confess" all that you "didn't do" (wink, wink) in the past week. I've already got my list started so you'll not want to miss it because some of the things I "didn't do" are doozies!

Feeling Bloggalicious!!

2008-10-06T22:36:00.009-04:00

So- what do you think...do you notice anything new about my blog? Yes- I am learning to do a few nifty things. I love being able to be a little creative with it. Now if I could just find some cute, free template with flowers or something I would be all set. You'll notice the music...In the upper right corner are little calendars that say how old Harrison and Hayden are (personalized to my farmboy and girly-girl)...Let's see, what else- oh my list of blogs that I follow. I tell you- it is addicting. One blog leads to another. It's a great way to see how normal you really are!

We had a yucky weekend- snotty nose time is here at our house- and Aaron had the stomach bug- so we spent much of the pretty weekend inside. I actually didn't even go to Hancock County's fall social event, Riley Days- not even one time! (what is happening to me?) We did finally manage to get the TV hooked up (another thing off the never-ending to-do list)! I feel a sense of accomplishment (even though I didn't do it).

Hayden "enjoys" her first veggie - green beans- yummy! Harrison did a nice job building a Lincoln Log Cabin all by himself!

Lastly, tonight Hayden fell asleep in her highchair while having her cereal. I saw it coming as it gradually became harder for her to keep her eyes open. It took me back to the day when Harrison did the very same thing. Where does the time go? (SOBBING) By the way- the bowl is really NOT as big as her head!

MESSY!!

2008-09-30T21:47:00.007-04:00

This is too funny not to share with my blog-followers... Take a look at what happens when I take a phone call while attempting to give Hayden her cereal (I say attempting because she was not interested in it tonight)....

Big Brother is the culprit of this huge mess! Like there was any doubt...

This just absolutely cracks me up!!! She's like "what on earth has he done to me- is this some type of baby facial???"

Here she appears totally disgusted with this 7 year old human....

I finally attempted to begin developing all the pictures I've taken since Hayden was about 3 weeks old or so...they've been sitting in my camera and now that I've gotten my albums (I have to have the same album every time and once again ebay came through for me and I finally found them). Today at walgreens I managed to print 55 of them- there were many more but I tried to be reasonable and not print them all because on my other memory card, I'm up to 500+ pictures that need reviewed and chosen for printing. I love pictures!! I have to have the real thing tho- I can't do just a CD. Harrison loves to look at photos and I'm sure Hayden will also. My goal is to be totally equal (Harrison has 13 albums of pictures so far)....I've always given my poor Mom heck about how there is less of me in photos and videos so I vow that I will keep equality between my two children :) I also have found the album that I want to put all of Haydens "birth" and hospital pictures in so that is now on the project list!

I must confess that I have a new addiction! (Add it to the list that includes scouring ebay and etsy, diet coke, and McD's choc chip cookies) My new addiction is looking at other peoples blogs!!! I've read some real heartbreaking ones tonight- ones from families who have lost babies- they are families that knew that their babies would not live outside the womb for long- without a miracle- yet they chose to carry their baby instead of terminate. I am so thankful to my God that He blessed me with two beautiful, healthy children. Yet, deep down, I am fearful that in the blink of an eye that could all change. So, every day, I pray for the safety and health of my children, husband, loved ones, and for people I don't even know. I don't know how I could endure what many of them have endured...but in reading them there is one constant and that is that they all love God and lean on Him through all their sorrow.

AND NOW ON TO MY EDITORIAL....

I'm going to get political for a minute. I know things aren't good in our economy...I know we are in a war in Iraq that is proving very difficult to get out of...I know all of this. This is the thing tho- bottom line for me- I will never vote for someone who is pro-choice. I will always vote for the candidate (running for any political office) who will fight to protect human life beginning at conception. I will always vote for the candidate who will fight to protect the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman. This past weekend while at Wal-mart in the line, Harrison noticed the PEOPLE magazine with Clay Aiken on the front (do you follow me?) He wanted to look at it because it had a picture of a baby. Being that he is becoming a very good reader, I could not let him look at it. This angered me so much- you bet PEOPLE got an editorial e-mail from me! I am not ready to explain these things to him even though I know the day will come- just how do you explain this lifestyle to a little one? Let me be clear, I am not the judge of anyone who chooses to live this way- so please don't think I sound hateful. I know that God loves everyone. And lastly... Harrison was about 3 weeks old on September 11th, 2001~ and what those evil people did that day changed my life forever. Therefore, I am all for doing whatever has to be done to protect our country from future attacks. At the same time, I am thankful for those who serve our country and help to protect us and their families who also sacrifice while their loved ones are serving.

I think that's all my rambling for tonight. Though I don't write nearly as well and eloquently as some the the bloggers I'm following do, this is a great way to share my life and simply say what I want to say. I've gotten several emails from people saying they've read my blog but I would love for you to leave a comment. To do this you simply click on the "comments" link at the end of the entry. Leave your comment and just select anonymous- you can sign your name to your comment so I'll know who you are- or if you disagree with me, you can remain anonymous!!!

Have a great night all!

(by the way- I promise I will quit entering such long entries- I just like to talk- so therefore, I like to blog!)

Let me tell ya bout' the Birds and the Bees

2008-09-24T21:29:00.003-04:00

WARNING: THIS IS A VERY LONG ENTRY!!! READ WHEN YOU HAVE TIME TO SIT FOR A FEW....

I am having a horrible time keeping up with this blog thing! It seems like the only time I can find to do it is late at night and then there is always something else to do. I should make it a goal to do it every night that Aaron is at work....okay- that's my goal so we'll see how long I can keep it up- and like any of you reading this really want to read about our lives every 3rd day- except maybe the Grandparents!!!

Speaking of the fact that there is always something else to do...I know I'm not the only one who feels like the work will never be done, probably because it won't be! I look around my house and there are soooo many unfinished projects...

1. things I'd like to do (these are usually the things I can't afford to do)
2. things I need to do (like finish my bathroom mini-remodel that started when we had a water leak several weeks before Hayden was born and she is now 5 1/2 months old),
3. things I want to do (i.e. scrapbooking!!! AND "fall -a- fy" my house)
4. things I HAVE to do (laundry, cleaning, gerbil-duty, and occassional cooking :) )
5. things for AARON TO DO!!!! (he insists his list is never-ending!!)

So, now that I have that off my chest- I feel much better!
Now, on to my beautiful children!!!

BIRDS AND THE BEES!!!

My son surely knows more about women than any other 7-year old boy I know! He's seen his fair share of Mama's "ta-tas" since little sis came along...and he kind of knows how babies are born. So, the other night, while I was nursing Hayden, he wanted to cuddle too. The conversation went something like this...

H- "Someday, I'm going to have a baby and breastfeed"

M- "No, boys don't have babies. But maybe someday your wife will breastfeed your baby"

H- " Why?"

M- "Because God made it so only girls have babies" (this is the part where I get stupid and try to educate)

H- "How?"

M- "Well (I think for a moment- what have I gotten myself into this time?)....

A Daddy makes a little thing like a fish, called a sperm and a Mommy makes an egg.

The sperm swims to the egg.

H- "How?"

BY THIS TIME I'M LOOKING FOR DADDY WHO IS CONVENIENTLY MISSING....

H- "WHEN???"

M- "Well....when a Mommy and Daddy cuddle.

H- "WHEN???"

M- "Well... sometimes at bedtime.

I'm surely blushing by now. Luckily something got his attention and the conversation was over!

I can't wait til the next time- we'll probably have to pick up where we left off! Seriously tho- if we can keep the lines of communication open, don't you think that's a good thing????

Harrison got a 100% on his spelling test this week and his reading amazes me! He's also very talented at writing letters backwards. He can be writing them perfectly and then all of a sudden make a backwards "d" or "b" or even "g"- now that's talent!

He is doing great at football- took a cleat to the face Saturday and lived to tell about it!

TRAUMA....some of you know this already...but for sake of memory keeping-

Harrison came to me Sunday night and said he had a bubble on his tooth- OH NO!- it was an abscess. To sum it up- he had a molar pulled on Monday! Took it like a trooper- not one tear- great lady doctors in Fishers who do a fabulous job. Root Beer flavored nitrous oxide helped a lot- and as traumatic as it was for Harrison it was more traumatic for me when given a choice of who he wanted to stay with him- he chose his Daddy!!! I am still in shock over that whole thing!

JABBER JAWS JUST LIKE HER MAMA!

Hayden has been very verbal this week! It is so fun to listen to her. Yesterday she talked all through Wal-Mart, my hair appt., and blood draw (just like me- she never runs out of hot air!- that's my girl!)

I wish she were sleeping better- she spoiled me at about 8 weeks. I'm hesitantly getting ready to start baby foods- I know you have to feed them and all- but that just makes them grow and I have a really hard time with my babies growing up!

One other observation, she is really starting to reach for things- specifically my diet cokes (addiction) and chocolate chip cookies from McDonalds (another addiction)! Once again- that's my girl!!!

I know this is horribly long- that's what happens when you only write once every 12 days! I'll try to do better, but I hope at least you got some laughs if you made it all the way through this entry! I know you're disappointed that I'm not posting any pictures, but I'll try to in the next couple days- next time Aaron is at work!

On a serious note- I AM grateful for all God has given me- really. I mean, I get to do my laundry at home- and not lug it to a laundrymat. I have food to cook (sometimes), and I have a healthy family that I do all this for. That is just a snippins of all I have to be thankful for. As I re-read this post, I seem to be complaining and I want to be clear- I am not complaining- well maybe just a little....LOL!!!

Grandma Loves Breastmilk!!!

2008-09-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

Just had to share a funny story....
Tonight Mom and Dad came by for a few minutes and I decided to give Hayden her cereal.
So, Mom was holding her while I spooned it to her and a little dropped on Moms hand. Before I knew it, Mom was tasting the cereal , at which time she said "I'll taste it" to which I replied "uhh, it's mixed with my breastmilk!" You probably had to be there but it was kind of funny! I think Mom was a little grossed out- I said "oh I have to blog this" and of course she said "oh no." Then Harrison wanted a taste, but I refrained!!!

So, heres to you Mom, lover of my breastmilk!!!

Mr.GQ and his Adorable Sister

2008-09-14T22:23:00.013-04:00

Okay, so I just had to post a few pictures from Haydens 3 month photo shoot. As you see, we did some of everyone and I wanted to show off a few of my favorites. It was very hot that day- need I say more... She's actually about 3 1/2 months- funny thing- with Harrison I had to be TO THE DAY on everything and that hasn't happened with her and I'm trying not to stress about it!

Doesn't this just say "I am ornery"

This one was Harrisons idea- I love the differences in the color of their skin.

Yes- these are our feet- beautiful I know- but I think it's cute! Oh the things Aaron does for LOVE!!!

One of the four of us- I wish Hayden were looking but none the less...

I love her little tongue sticking out! I'm sure this is just the first time she'll stick her tongue out at me!

Now- this is what I mean when I say "Mr. GQ"! Harrison was so photogenic- I think he should model!

My little flower child! Hayden is going to be famous for her flower headbands. Those of you who live near us have seen them! They scream "I'm a girly girl!" for those who say "He's so cute!"- even when she's dressed in pink!

Giggles Galore!

2008-09-06T13:19:00.004-04:00

Just a quick entry, so I can remember to make note of this fun day in her calendar...

Last night at bedtime I was blowing raspberries on Haydens neck and she giggled!!! It was
so cute and I squealed with delight myself! I love these two and their awesome Daddy so much!

Last night was Haydens first football game. We watched the Royals get beat-bummer, but she was a good girl and it was fun despite the loss. Then today was Harrisons first football game. He had a lot of fun, ran off some energy, and even scored a couple TD's! Yeah for Harrison. He is one speedy boy and displayed great determination going after flags and running the ball. Occasionally he is in his own little world out there- which is funny to watch, but frustrating at the same time. We just have to remember that he is only 7 !!!

My first Post

2008-09-04T01:08:00.003-04:00

I'm inspired! Today I got an email from my cousin Joy, letting us all know she now has a blog.
This is something I've been contemplating since a friend from MOPS recently had twins and I discovered while checking out her blog, that lots of other moms I know also have a blog. I just can't imagine finding the time to post pictures and write a note- even though the idea seems fun. Apparently, I'm really behind with the times. So then Joy, who has a new baby boy, along with 2 other little boys under 4, shows up with a blog and I thought....okay if she has time for this, then I surely do. So, here goes- we'll see if I can keep up with it.

I'm going to sum up the last couple weeks to catch up...

Harrison is not real excited about first grade. We have homework plus spelling every night and he'd much rather be playing with the neighbor boys or hanging out with Daddy than "studying". Mean old Mama makes him sit at the table and do his "studies"!!

He decided to play football and his first real game is Saturday- can't wait for that! Monday was opening day of goose hunting season and Aaron and a friend- one from his "hunting chat room" buddies- that's right- he hunts with guys he met on the internet :)- took Harrison with them. Mom and Dad witnessed Harrison learning to "filet" a goose- yummy! Now there are feathers all over our yard- poor goose! But, I can't complain because Aaron is making great memories with our boy!

How many 7 year old boys do you know that ask for "waders" for their birthday? ONE! My little hunter, Harrison! (it's in his genes!!!)

I really can't believe my little boy is 7 years old- where does the time go?

Hayden is our little sweetie pie! Oh my goodness- she is so much fun and I don't know what I ever did without her! Harrison LOVES her SO much! He does diapers even! Lately, he has been reading books to her- I love watching them interact! She is smiling lots, rolling over, and "talking" ALOT!

Our little smiley girl- just like her Daddy- again it's in her genes! But she gets the jabber jaws from her mama! We are all so crazy about her. God is so Good!!!

I'm so proud of myself- I think I did it! It only took 2+ hours for this first post-in between watching the speeches of the convention and a few visits to the "help" section. I think I'm good to go! Watch out blogging- here I come!!!

A few more pictures!!!

2008-09-04T00:39:00.003-04:00

Here are just a few more to catch up!

I love being Mommy to these two beautiful children!

I thought this was so cute. Aaron drove Hayden and I, along with 3 men I work with to Detroit last week for a seminar. This was in the hotel- no she didn't sleep with us- don't panic!-, but after I nursed her and got up to get ready, I laid her down with Aaron. Don't they look alike!!
Another of my two blessings! We camped last weekend at Walnut Ridge in New Castle- great weekend! This is Haydens 4th time camping and everyone said she'd sleep good camping, but let me tell you that is NOT the case!
Hayden was served her first cereal last night with help from her awesome bro!

This is fun, and not that hard once I get the hang of it!