Just in case you are accidently reading this...
We had our very first family photo session (yes, I know, I waited way too long) this last weekend! Our friend, Tanya, of Cozy Impressions Photography, did an amazing job capturing our family on "film". The slideshow of pictures is here...Don't know how I'm going to decide what to order!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Cooper's Quest
If you are looking for a fabulous way to spend your Mother's Day...look no further. Check out this live music concert at a great local venue, and for a fabulous cause.
Cooper is the son of one of Heath's coworkers...many of you have sent up prayers on his behalf. Check out more of his story and find out more about this non-profit foundation at http://www.coopersquest.org/.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Nothing But Net
There occurred an incident today in our 2 month old home that necessitated a search of google for "how to get chocolate out of carpet" and up popped this. Is there anything the internet does not hold a magical key to? My favorite part, though, is this special tidbit of information...listed cleverly under "tips."
- Ask children and others to eat their chocolate over a plate; try to avoid the chocolate mess in the first place. Always keep serviettes handy when eating chocolate.
Now why didn't I think of that?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
My Three Sons
1. How many kids do you have? 3
2. What are their ages? Hudson is 8, Jake is 5, and Cole is 4.
3. What time do you start your day? Depends...If it's a day I'll be leaving the house to work, I wake at 4:45. If it's a day I spend at home, I wake at 6:30 so I can brush my teeth, put in my contacts and dress before waking the boys at 6:45.
4. What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee. Sometimes I get around to adding cinnamon/sugar toast or an occasional bowl of cereal. On the days I work I always - without fail - eat a bacon, egg and cheese croissant on the way to work...It may be the only thing I get to eat all day. The boys eat a variety of breakfast choices --- from frozen waffles to homemade pancakes to yogurt and fruit.
5. Do your kids watch TV? Yep.
6. What are their favorite activities? Hudson: rock climbing, bike riding, hunting, playing spy, hiking, rappelling, football... Jake: computer games, drawing, watching movies, playing with his brothers, asking questions... Cole: running, jumping, swinging from the cieling, sneaking candy, playing alone, pretend play, anything outside...
7. Do you get a break during the day for some down time? Rarely. See #5.
8. How do you end your day? Depends on the day...there are evening football or baseball practices, Dad at work, Mom at work and/or other variations. Always, though, there are three little boys in the shower, three sets of teeth to brush and pajamas to find. And then, there is nightime family bible reading followed by family prayers. Then I usually watch a few minutes of TV while cleaning the house, folding laundry, preparing backpacks for the next day, reading email, etc.
9. What is your best parenting advice? Roll with it and stick to it all at the same time.
I tag anyone who is actually reading this after my 6 month hiatus and has not already told us the scoop.
2. What are their ages? Hudson is 8, Jake is 5, and Cole is 4.
3. What time do you start your day? Depends...If it's a day I'll be leaving the house to work, I wake at 4:45. If it's a day I spend at home, I wake at 6:30 so I can brush my teeth, put in my contacts and dress before waking the boys at 6:45.
4. What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee. Sometimes I get around to adding cinnamon/sugar toast or an occasional bowl of cereal. On the days I work I always - without fail - eat a bacon, egg and cheese croissant on the way to work...It may be the only thing I get to eat all day. The boys eat a variety of breakfast choices --- from frozen waffles to homemade pancakes to yogurt and fruit.
5. Do your kids watch TV? Yep.
6. What are their favorite activities? Hudson: rock climbing, bike riding, hunting, playing spy, hiking, rappelling, football... Jake: computer games, drawing, watching movies, playing with his brothers, asking questions... Cole: running, jumping, swinging from the cieling, sneaking candy, playing alone, pretend play, anything outside...
7. Do you get a break during the day for some down time? Rarely. See #5.
8. How do you end your day? Depends on the day...there are evening football or baseball practices, Dad at work, Mom at work and/or other variations. Always, though, there are three little boys in the shower, three sets of teeth to brush and pajamas to find. And then, there is nightime family bible reading followed by family prayers. Then I usually watch a few minutes of TV while cleaning the house, folding laundry, preparing backpacks for the next day, reading email, etc.
9. What is your best parenting advice? Roll with it and stick to it all at the same time.
I tag anyone who is actually reading this after my 6 month hiatus and has not already told us the scoop.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Just in Case...
Just in case you haven't gotten enough of Hillary, Obama and McCain...
You, too, can print and fold your very own Presidential Candidate. Cracks me up what the web has to offer!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Get Along Little Doggies...
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Hunt...
We had tons of Easter fun with friends and family!
The Saturday of Easter weekend the boys and I spent out at my parents' place along with my brother and sister and their families, and my aunt, cousin, and her son. It is always fun for the kids to roam the place...go-carts, tree house, shooting BB guns with grandpa, and fun with the cousins! The kids all hunted Easter eggs and had a great time seeking them out!
Eggs!
Today is Our Day...
Wanted to give a quick shout out to my cousin Todd, wife Holly and their son Hunter on this day!
For the past few years, shortly after the year turns new, we receive a letter or postcard in the mail from Holly and Hunter. It's usually a sweet little note, but one with a huge message. It tells us what day they have set aside to pray especially for our family and encourages us to send special requests to them so they can lift up our concerns! Today, March 29th, is our day.
Every day of the year they pray together throughout the day for a different person or family that is special to them in some way! What a terrific committment! I imagine how much fun this tradition must be for them...and a fabulous way to share the power of prayer, rememberance of others, and some cherished quality time together.
And while we only see Todd, Hollly and Hunter every few years, it makes them feel closer knowing that at the least this one time each year, we are in their thoughts! And who can't use a few prayers lifted up on their behalf!!!
For the past few years, shortly after the year turns new, we receive a letter or postcard in the mail from Holly and Hunter. It's usually a sweet little note, but one with a huge message. It tells us what day they have set aside to pray especially for our family and encourages us to send special requests to them so they can lift up our concerns! Today, March 29th, is our day.
Every day of the year they pray together throughout the day for a different person or family that is special to them in some way! What a terrific committment! I imagine how much fun this tradition must be for them...and a fabulous way to share the power of prayer, rememberance of others, and some cherished quality time together.
And while we only see Todd, Hollly and Hunter every few years, it makes them feel closer knowing that at the least this one time each year, we are in their thoughts! And who can't use a few prayers lifted up on their behalf!!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Why?
Clearly, if my children would behave, I could get my act together enough to share remnants of our now two-week-old Spring Break memories or even pieces of the more recent Easter festivities.
Instead, I spend my time...well...you don't really want to know.
Let me just start by saying I really love my kids. No really. I love them. Even Cole. Yep.
This morning I woke, against my will, NEEDing coffee. Not just a typically simple life-would-feel-better-after-caffeine feeling, but a true desperation for a bold, full-bodied, miracle blend of the stuff. I was willing to dip my head in it, if need be. Now you know my state of mind.
I got the boys fed. They, of course, wanted pancakes. So I made some. And although the griddle wasn't heating properly and the pancakes were lacking any circular characteristics, they, thankfully, ate them. Then I got Hudson to school mostly on time.
So the little boys and I returned home after repeated requests for donuts and loud, ridiculous protests to my chosen path home. There was more crying, fighting, and whining about who got to open the garage door. Then more whining, fighting, and crying about who got to close the garage door.
The boys decided then to "cook." They removed all cookware and related tools from the kitchen and relocated them to the living room, along with wooden blocks and so forth as "food." Finally, peace for me (you know, except for the banging of pots and pans and fighting over who gets to be the chef and who has to be the sous chef), so I took my coffee and sat.
Later (and I can't say how much later, but I know the coffee hadn't kicked in yet), as they are serving me french toast stew and I am saying "yummy," Cole starts the whining again. And about the third time he says it, I finally process the words.
"I swallowed a penny. Ouw, ouw (now holding his chest)! I swallowed a penny."
"Seriously?" I ask, as if this wouldn't be perfectly typical for Cole.
"It hurts. Why did I swallow a penny?"
"Really. Why DID you swallow a penny?"
He continues to whine while I continue to process. He's talking, so he has to be breathing. But his chest hurts. Seriously? Is this really happening today? Does it really hurt? Yea, it probably hurts, because he keeps saying it does. And he has that look on his face.
I resist rolling my eyes because, well, would a good mom really roll her eyes at her 3-year-old after he swallows a penny, and decide instead to give him a drink. If he can swallow, he'll be good, right?
And then I did the unthinkable. I googled "swallow a penny." And my day got better. That's sarcasm - just in case you didn't get it.
I learned that people of all ages, all over the world, swallow pennies needlessly. Some, according to the WWW, live 30 years with a penny inside them. Others simply die from it. It happens to matter what year the penny was generated. Now how am I supposed to figure that out? Some "pass" the penny to have their parents frame it for them and present it to them on their wedding day.
I call Heath. He, rationally, recommends the ER. I oppose. So instead, I make the thousandth call to our pediatrician's office. I leave a message regarding Cole, as I have done WAY too many times in his short life.
In the meantime, I watch Cole play with Jake. Most of the time he forgets he swallowed a penny. I took a tiny toy boat out of his mouth. I took a "guy" out of his mouth. I took a game piece out of his mouth. With each removal, I repeated my lecture.
The nurse called me back, finally, and confirmed my greatest fear. Cole would, most likely, be just fine. If he can eat and swallow, he should be okay...BUT, I must search for the penny. Yep. I must search for the penny. And it could take days. Maybe weeks.
And so I will. At least daily. That's how my "free time" will be spent.
This, at the very least, proves that I love him.
UPDATE:
My free time is mine again.
The penny has been recovered. Okay, well, not exactly recovered - that was more than I found necessary. But it was visualized and then, once fully confirmed to be the penny, I allowed Cole to flush it along with the remainder of his, umm, well, output.
And just this once, I decided that it would be okay to forgo the old adage "Find a penny, pick it up..."
Instead, I spend my time...well...you don't really want to know.
Let me just start by saying I really love my kids. No really. I love them. Even Cole. Yep.
This morning I woke, against my will, NEEDing coffee. Not just a typically simple life-would-feel-better-after-caffeine feeling, but a true desperation for a bold, full-bodied, miracle blend of the stuff. I was willing to dip my head in it, if need be. Now you know my state of mind.
I got the boys fed. They, of course, wanted pancakes. So I made some. And although the griddle wasn't heating properly and the pancakes were lacking any circular characteristics, they, thankfully, ate them. Then I got Hudson to school mostly on time.
So the little boys and I returned home after repeated requests for donuts and loud, ridiculous protests to my chosen path home. There was more crying, fighting, and whining about who got to open the garage door. Then more whining, fighting, and crying about who got to close the garage door.
The boys decided then to "cook." They removed all cookware and related tools from the kitchen and relocated them to the living room, along with wooden blocks and so forth as "food." Finally, peace for me (you know, except for the banging of pots and pans and fighting over who gets to be the chef and who has to be the sous chef), so I took my coffee and sat.
Later (and I can't say how much later, but I know the coffee hadn't kicked in yet), as they are serving me french toast stew and I am saying "yummy," Cole starts the whining again. And about the third time he says it, I finally process the words.
"I swallowed a penny. Ouw, ouw (now holding his chest)! I swallowed a penny."
"Seriously?" I ask, as if this wouldn't be perfectly typical for Cole.
"It hurts. Why did I swallow a penny?"
"Really. Why DID you swallow a penny?"
He continues to whine while I continue to process. He's talking, so he has to be breathing. But his chest hurts. Seriously? Is this really happening today? Does it really hurt? Yea, it probably hurts, because he keeps saying it does. And he has that look on his face.
I resist rolling my eyes because, well, would a good mom really roll her eyes at her 3-year-old after he swallows a penny, and decide instead to give him a drink. If he can swallow, he'll be good, right?
And then I did the unthinkable. I googled "swallow a penny." And my day got better. That's sarcasm - just in case you didn't get it.
I learned that people of all ages, all over the world, swallow pennies needlessly. Some, according to the WWW, live 30 years with a penny inside them. Others simply die from it. It happens to matter what year the penny was generated. Now how am I supposed to figure that out? Some "pass" the penny to have their parents frame it for them and present it to them on their wedding day.
I call Heath. He, rationally, recommends the ER. I oppose. So instead, I make the thousandth call to our pediatrician's office. I leave a message regarding Cole, as I have done WAY too many times in his short life.
In the meantime, I watch Cole play with Jake. Most of the time he forgets he swallowed a penny. I took a tiny toy boat out of his mouth. I took a "guy" out of his mouth. I took a game piece out of his mouth. With each removal, I repeated my lecture.
The nurse called me back, finally, and confirmed my greatest fear. Cole would, most likely, be just fine. If he can eat and swallow, he should be okay...BUT, I must search for the penny. Yep. I must search for the penny. And it could take days. Maybe weeks.
And so I will. At least daily. That's how my "free time" will be spent.
This, at the very least, proves that I love him.
UPDATE:
My free time is mine again.
The penny has been recovered. Okay, well, not exactly recovered - that was more than I found necessary. But it was visualized and then, once fully confirmed to be the penny, I allowed Cole to flush it along with the remainder of his, umm, well, output.
And just this once, I decided that it would be okay to forgo the old adage "Find a penny, pick it up..."
Introducing, the All New...
"GuyPod"
(So I know you can't really read it, but the proudly displayed sign reads "GuyPod"....)
The new, limited release GuyPod, developed entirely by the Hudson Institute, sings AND dances on command and holds, well, who knows how many actual songs. It's not cheap, tends to veto your song choices, has limited reliability and consistency in completing all of the correct words to a song, and is difficult to travel with. While batteries are not a concern, refueling is required frequently and overuse creates a nerve-grating whine. Over time, though, you learn to tune it out.
This original blonde version is really cute, however. Due to demand, it's release was quickly followed by the release of a second, slightly more compact, brunette version (image not available).
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Flying High, In the Sky...
So I'm weeks behind, but we took off for the kite festival after church a few weeks ago with our friends, the McDonalds. We started the occasion with a Pok-E-Jo's picnic in the park while sprinkles fell...we decided if the little raindrops from the sky didn't deter the thousands of other people there, we wouldn't give them any thought either.
Our intent was to watch the literally thousands of flying kites, but I was so glad that I grabbed this kite that Hudson won at school at the last minute. The boys loved flying it! It was a crazy windy and moody weather day, but great for getting the kite up there!!
And despite the huge gathering in the park, Cole was still able to find room to run...
Saturday, March 1, 2008
That Middle One is a Funny One...
Today was a gorgeous, sunny & 85 degree day! The kind of day that you can feel in your bones. The kind of day that you can't wait to be outside. The kind of day that makes you feel like God is smiling on you.
The boys somehow knew early this morning that it was going to be so pleasant and couldn't wait to get out in the yard. They begged for hot chocolate and when I finally gave in they asked if they could take their coffee mugs and sit out on the back porch to, as Hudson said, "breathe in the air." I, of course, agreed.
Still pajama laden, they head out back while I remain inside gearing up for the day ahead. I am watching them from the breakfast room window and they, even this early, simply brighten my life. They are in last night's pajamas - Jake and Cole in their snug-fitting pants and matching shirts...Hudson, too cool for the snug-fit look, content just in shorts. They have transformed their laid-back, drink-in-the-morning hot chocolate consumption into a pretend-play coffee shop. So I get closer. Jake appears to be running the shop, Hudson acts as patron. Cole is, well, Cole. Hudson orders some hilariously fancy coffee (not because he's ever heard that done, for sure). And that's when Jake responds. "Sorry, man. No shoes. No shirt. No service."
Cracked us all up.
Then, this afternoon, while at Hudson's baseball practice, I am watching the scrimmage while Jake and Cole are playing on and under the bleachers and keeping themselves perfectly occupied. I see, out of the corner of my eye, Jake leave his seat atop the bleachers quite creatively and knock his head on the seat below in the meantime. As a mother of three boys, I don't even flinch.
But I do watch Jake as he squints and kind of shakes his head. He walks over to me and climbs up into my lap. He then says, "Kiss my head, mom. The cuckoo birds are flying around it."
So I smiled and kissed his head.
The boys somehow knew early this morning that it was going to be so pleasant and couldn't wait to get out in the yard. They begged for hot chocolate and when I finally gave in they asked if they could take their coffee mugs and sit out on the back porch to, as Hudson said, "breathe in the air." I, of course, agreed.
Still pajama laden, they head out back while I remain inside gearing up for the day ahead. I am watching them from the breakfast room window and they, even this early, simply brighten my life. They are in last night's pajamas - Jake and Cole in their snug-fitting pants and matching shirts...Hudson, too cool for the snug-fit look, content just in shorts. They have transformed their laid-back, drink-in-the-morning hot chocolate consumption into a pretend-play coffee shop. So I get closer. Jake appears to be running the shop, Hudson acts as patron. Cole is, well, Cole. Hudson orders some hilariously fancy coffee (not because he's ever heard that done, for sure). And that's when Jake responds. "Sorry, man. No shoes. No shirt. No service."
Cracked us all up.
Then, this afternoon, while at Hudson's baseball practice, I am watching the scrimmage while Jake and Cole are playing on and under the bleachers and keeping themselves perfectly occupied. I see, out of the corner of my eye, Jake leave his seat atop the bleachers quite creatively and knock his head on the seat below in the meantime. As a mother of three boys, I don't even flinch.
But I do watch Jake as he squints and kind of shakes his head. He walks over to me and climbs up into my lap. He then says, "Kiss my head, mom. The cuckoo birds are flying around it."
So I smiled and kissed his head.
Friday, February 22, 2008
There's No Hero Quite Like...
While lesser known in superhero circles than Superman or Spiderman, his super suction ears and bouncing action have helped conquer villians like the Bad Apple, the Fib from Outer Space, and the Rumorweed for, well, years...and such heroic feats have caught Jake's full attention as of late...
Jake's 5th year has been full of LarryBoy, so his celebratory choice for his whole-handedness was no surprise to us! We had fun celebrating this morning with his other soon-to-be-5-year-old friends...
The fun started for me last night when I decided to try this out...I had been wanting to decorate a cake with it for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity! It worked pretty well (things like sandboxes and playdoh are cheap therapy for me...so playing with this stuff was just as good!) and Jake was pleased with the result.
LarryBoy Cake
We had tons of fun with Jake leading the way! We made some "Bad Apples" with these genius caramel apple wraps. And then everbody made their own "LarryBoy" to accomodate their own heroic needs at home...We all got to take a turn, then, kicking the Fib back into outer space and climbing through the "web of temptation"...Can't go wrong with silly string!
Bad Apples
Lotsa LarryBoys
The Fib and Outer Space
Then on to lunch. And cake. And wishes. And singing. And blowing. And presents. And more fun!
Rock, Rock LarryBoy!
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