OPERATION: Dinner Surprise a Surprise!

For Jeff's bday, I had a surprise dinner planned for almost a month.
All I told him was to dress up, take the kids to my parents' & come back 'for me'.

Yesterday, while he was at work, I prepared as much of it as I could. Made the pesto sauce, tossed the salad, marinaded the steak. I had to hide all of this as he was home about an hour yesterday between work & leaving with the kiddos.

He thought he was coming back to pick me up... instead he found me waiting (dressed up!) with course 1 (of 5), sitting on the table. We had fancy dinnerware & linens (Thanks to the Caseys), flowers & candlelight, & Jeff's favorite, steak, simmering in the broiler. I planned an hour long playlist of songs perfect for the occasion.

Jeff was very surprised & after a movie (complete with tv trays for dessert, something we never do with the kids around!), I gave him a gift from me, a subscription to '90-Minute Soccer', which he loved. The movie was 'License to Wed' (I highly recommend, very cute -- and HOW COME NO ONE TOLD US?, had 5 of THE OFFICE actors in it).

He was surprised & had thought I was taking him to see Wicked at the Fox. He said it was his best birthday ever. Everyone, all together now, "Aaawwwwww."

Other news, after baking a batch of chocolate cookies, I was doing a deep sweep -- like moving furniture & stuff. Interesting things I found: an alphabet marker, 2 pieces to lite brite, 2 crayons, a slinky, a fork, a matching game, & a marble from hungry-hungry hippos.

We miss the kids & Nana will be bringing them home momentarily. Flynn has a Princess Tea Party to go to. Again with this kid having a social life.

Photos to come...as soon as we find the camera.

Also to come... Gabe's first night in a big boy bed. Will it happen? Will we survive? Will he??

Happy Birthday JD!

The double 3's!

Another chance for me to thank you for being the best husband, most wonderful father... and best friend I could've ever imagined. I know I say it too often, but truly, I had to have done something right in the middle of all those mistakes, for God to have rewarded me with you.

I hope this year brings you lots of joy.... no debt... no sickness... and more happiness than you thought possible.

So enjoy your day today...be nice to your students...and anticipate your surprise birthday evening...I won't disappoint.

Happy Birthday,
I love you.

SAYONARA 2007

Omigosh, where does the time go & why does it go so quickly?

Jeff & I were so busy going as many places as we could, without the hindrances of car seats & telling a certain little boy not to lick the handle on the target cart, we didn't talk about this past year.

I think while you have small children, the biggest mistake you make is to not slow down... to not sit down & play. It's always running out the door to dance, to a doctor's appointment, to work, to a party. It's always 'no Momma can't play right now, I've got to fold these clothes', or 'make a phone call' or 'vacuum'.

After our relaxing break, we barely yielded back into the fast lane. Today was our first official back into the swing of things & we were gone most of it.

So, this is my ode to reflection - and thinking of this past year & what it meant to us.

The year started out with sick kids. And Jeff on the mend from his emergency appendectomy. Then, he lost his grandma. Then -- a miracle for the St. Louis area, Shawn Hornbeck & Ben Ownby were found, & returned home to start restoring their young lives.

We found out my aunt was cancer free & rejoiced in that. The kids saw their first movie.

We went to the zoo, to the Science Center, fell in love with Bambi.

We got a "new" playset, was 'promoted' to the position I currently hold, had a great Egg hunt, Flynn started Dancing School.

Went to Grant's Farm, inherited a swimming pool, had a terrible scare with Flynn & an accidental exposure to an "unsafe" cookie.

We celebrated our Cinqo de Anniversary @ a B & B...a complete surprise for me by my romantic hubby.

Bubs got his first Big Boy haircut, we enjoyed yet another wonderful trip to the Beach.

We went camping, Bubs turned 2 (& gave up his beloved Binks). We enjoyed a Cardinal's baseball game.

Flynn started soccer, I made a big butt of myself at a US Women's soccer game, we camped again (& had yet another close call). We trick or treated with the best of them...as a princess & her frog.

Flynn turned 4, we were thankful at Thanksgiving. Flynn officially started preschool.

We were caught up in the merriment of the season, Santa visited us, we were thankful that God sent us His son Jesus, celebrated His birth, & are thankful once again that God has brought us through yet another year.

We anticipate what this year, 2008, will hold for us. The excitement, the growth, the changes, the opportunities.

Our family is not perfect -- pretty far from it actually.

But find freedom in Christ,

“... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15

Oh yeah,

Happy New Year!

Back to the Old Grindstone

The day has come. The break is over. Now me, I worked through the break, but I only work 20 or so hours each work & it's flexible, and some of it is from home.
In other words, my work is a break.

Anyway, this day loomed & so today, Jeff & Flynn were up by 6:00 a.m. & out the door by quarter after.

The house is quiet. I'm sad. I miss Jeff.
But what a great break it was.

Here are some of the things we did...

• Lots & lots sleeping in -- It was as if Santa left some valium under the tree!
• Wearing our PJs 'til 10 or so
• An impromptu trip to Chuck E Cheese
• The day after Christmas we went to see "Munks" (chipmunks as those of us who aren't named Gabe call it)
• Got a new chest for Gabe's BIG BOY room
• Got a new (old, hand me down) bed for G's BB room
• Painted Flynn's New (old hand me down) chest so she'll finally have somewhere to put her clothes
• A trip to the mall per Flynn's request (nite before: "Hey Mom, are we going anywhere tomorrow? Will it be cold? How about we go to the Mall?"
• 2 trips to Target, 2 to Walgreens, 1 to Kmart
• 4 trips to the Redbox to see FRACTURED, RATATOILLE, NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY (we got 5 mins into it & turned it off on account of YUCK), UNDERDOG
• 2 trips to see the pediatrician, Flynn got an extra, unwanted gift, bronchitis
• Several hours of Jeff playing w/ the new Wii at Nana/Papa's
• a fun pj nite at Gammy's -- wherein Jeff & I had a NY's Eve sans children...WOW!
• a nite at Woody's w/ the Frosts

I'm sure I've forgotten lots of it, as excessive sleep has impaired my memory. Let's just say it was lovely.

Thank You Jesus for having a birthday!

And Happy New Year...maybe later, retrospect on '07. We'll see.

Who Doesn't Like Free?

Go here to try to win a free Land's End bag!

I Was on a Holiday High

We were on our way to church... it was Christmas Eve.
The kids looked adorable (so did Jeff) & we were excited about the evening & what it would hold.
We were literally singing carols - along with the Baby Einsteins Christmas cd, when Jeff let out a sad sigh, like a twinge of pain.

When I jerked my head in his direction, he motioned to a car on the side of the road. With a driver who was placing wreathes
on crosses.

It quickly jolted me back to reality...their reality at least. My eyes welled up with tears. I couldn't sing again.

But I was thankful. And reminded how truly blessed we are.

bless·ed
–adjective
1.
consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified: the Blessed Sacrament.
2.
worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship: the Blessed Trinity.
3.
divinely or supremely favored; fortunate: to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.
4.
blissfully happy or contented.
5.
Roman Catholic Church. beautified.
6.
bringing happiness and thankfulness: the blessed assurance of a steady income.
7.
Informal. I'm blessed if I know.
8.
Informal. (used as an intensifier): every blessed cent.

The impossible task of

trying to take a photo of Gabe:

From Our Family to Yours...

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Jingle Bell Rock

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Noel (she really was singing that)

Winter Wonderland & We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Confession

Jeff made me confess this...

Gabe's class at church had a book exchange at their party. New or gently used. So, I opted for gently used. And wrapped 2 (in case there was a kiddo who forgot or didn't know) of their like new books. Well, Jeff always helps me get things together on Sunday mornings for church. And a bag got left behind. The bag w/ the books.

Fast fwd to today, the kids are badly wanting to open a present.

So I let them.

The books from yesterday. Jeff said, "Are you really going to be that mean?"

Flynn opened "her" present & tried to act sweet & polite, "Oh wow, look mom...another book like this one."

Then, I was overcome with guilt & let them open a "real" gift.

One of my BFFs, Elizabeth, always remembers my kiddos at Christmas & got Flynn this great dr kit. Which has a pair of glasses with it (?: do doctors wear glasses??). Anyway, she looks darn cute in them:

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE ASYLUM

Schizophrenia---- Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?

Amnesia-- I Don't Remember If I'll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic-- Hark, the Herald Angels Sing About Me

Manic-- Deck The Halls And Walls And House And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses And Trucks And Trees And Fire Hydrants And...........

Multiple Personality Disorder----We Three Queens Disoriented Are

Paranoid---Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us

Borderline Personality Disorder--- You Better Watch Out, You Better not Shout, I'm Gonna Cry, and I'll not Tell You Why

Full Personality Disorder--- Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open Fire

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jing le Bells, Jingle Bells

Agoraphobia---I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House

Senile Dementia---Walking In a Winter Wonderland Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe

Oppositional Defiant Disorder---I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House

Social Anxiety Disorder---Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

Attention Deficit Disorder--We Wish You......Hey Look!! It's Snowing!!

I'm a little of the 11th & a lot of the 14th

What Christmas is All About

Preach on Linus!

As Promised

The last weekend before Christmas means...

Great Grandma's House:

new markers...

doing art projects...

with your cousins...

glue...

a BIG tv...(and cable!)

a new coat...

making cookies...

and great grandma...

Photos brought to you by one last trip to Grandma's house in Malden, soon to be sold for Grandma's relocation to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Studly

My dearest Studly, I mean hubby, participated in a teacher basketball game yesterday. And I know, I know, I promised you pictures from the weekend & said I'd post them days ago... but I've been busy helping with preschool parties, going to Christmas programs, and overeating. So be patient, those will be up tomorrow.

I just couldn't resist, posting THIS today:

Here's what I said right after he emailed this to me, just now:

Haha!!! Right after I puked a little in my mouth, I downloaded them.

They may or may not end up on my blog.

Also, I can not be sure I'll ever be turned on by you again.

By the way, Jeff is the only one with his eyes closed... remind you of anyone else?

A+

This is her 3rd week & happens to be progress report time. So I guess she mastered all she needed to in 2 weeks.
Not too shabby!

They Smash it Like Playdough

Yesterday was an exhauting & emotion wrenching day...
I had a mammogram earlier than I had planned on ever getting one, but am glad I did it.

Worst thing I heard yesterday:
"Oh, I'm so sorry, your hand was in that one - we're going to have to do it again."

Best thing I heard yesterday:
"The dr said the scans are clear. It's fibrous tissue."

And once again, I have so much to be thankful & grateful for.

Tune in tomorrow for great pictures from our weekend at Grama's.

Frosty Gets Busted

Over the River & Through the Woods

To Grandmother's House we go.

We don't have a sleigh, but a minivan, loaded down with gifts & goodies.

Here's to good naps in car seats.

And to all a good night.

Santa Had Better Be Loaded

My kids see Santa each year... they sit on his lap (or not)...and maybe I will coordinate a letter to him & from him.
Do I try my hardest to convince them that he is not a myth? Not really. Don't get me wrong, it's fine by me if they think he is going to deliver gifts or even if he knows they're being naughty or nice; but I'm not going to bend over backward to create the story.
When I told Flynn about a month ago, that she needed to think about what she wanted this year, she'd look around & say the first thing she saw. They're actually getting "pat pat rocket" this year from Santa - so I was encouraging her to ask for that. Then she said she wanted a scooter but I convinced her that getting a bike a month ago made it silly to ask for something so similar. She asked for odds & ends - but most of the things she asked for were things she'd just seen on a Sunday morning cartoon commercial (strong dislike for advertisement!).
So imagine our surprise when she announced to us that she'd be asking Santa for a

CAMCORDER

"A camcorder?" I asked her. "You mean like Mommy's???"
"Yes, just like the new one."

Later I tried to explain to her that camcorders are very expensive & not something for little girls. But she has stuck to her guns.
And Saturday when she sat on Santa's lap, that's exactly what she asked for.

And Gabe, he murmured something in Mandarin & slipped off Santa's lap as soon as he could.

If I Could, This Would be our Christmas Card

But it's just too late...and I've gone with something else as you well know.

Anyway, this is true Gingerbread Mischief:

And is just the epitome of their personalities. She's posing (or was right before) & trying to get him in line by grabbing his arm...which just makes him mad & resist & whince - hence that look on his face & his 'pose' (or lack thereof).

And you'll never believe what Flynn asked Santa for....

I Was Criticized -

by my sister who said, "I went on the blog to see pictures with Santa & all I saw was stupid hints from Heloise? Who uses those?!! Do YOU??"

Some people just don't want to hear a good practical use for a lemon.

Hmmph.