What a Difference a Day Makes

On Thursday and Friday we were outside every chance we could get...and it's a good thing too! Because...this is Nebraska...and one thing is certain...if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute because it's going to change. And, this weekend it did! Thursday was absolutely beautiful. These pictures were taken Thursday when we went outside early in the morning and painted rocks with watercolors...which eventually lead to painting each other with watercolors. The kids played on the swingset, dug in the sandbox (looks like Sawyer may have tried to bury his head in the sand), rode bikes, dug up some weeds, trimmed some plants, discovered where a rabbit(s) had made its burrow all winter and started ruining some of our landscaping, ate popsicles, sweated, rolled down the hill, ate lunch in the shade of the fence and just had an all around great time being outside. We didn't head in until mid-afternoon when we HAD to take baths before taking naps. It was a GREAT day!

Then, came yesterday where the high was at least 35 degrees cooler than Friday. I had to get the already (once-again) washed winter coats out. It spit rain and blew wind. It was just yucky.

Today the temps aren't horrible, but it's raining (which we desperately need so can't complain about) so the kids have been playing outside collecting worms with Matt in between showers. I thought it would be good to post the warm pictures in hopes of what is to come...again. :-)

Enjoy your week!


Taking a break for lunch in the shade of the fence.

Lainey loving the summer swinging weather!

Sawyer FULL of sand.

Lainey's painted feet.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday. What a great man to celebrate! I'm so glad Matt has daughters because I hope they grow up loving their dad as much as I adore mine.

Happy Birthday to a dad who...

1. always made it to every volleyball game, basketball game, play, banquet, musical, concert, activity, event....and truly came to see me.

2. made me always feel like I was wanted, loved and special.

3. will take the time to find the answer, even if he doesn't know.

4. lets his granddaughters paint his nails (NEVER thought I would see that one...and will probably get in trouble for writing it) :-) and wears a 'Happy Birthday Princess' badge all day long just because that's what they wanted to do for his party.

5. taught me the value of hard work, honesty and integrity through example.

...is someone I am VERY proud to call my dad!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Dad/Grandpa Marv! We Love You!


opening homemade cards...his favorite gifts

"Happy Birthday, Dear Grandpa!"

Yummy, Jelly Roll!

A nice relaxing celebration

Birthday games to round out the evening :-)

Sleepyhead

OK...just disregard the parent commentary. And, yes...I could have just left the poor boy alone already. :-) But, he was just too cute. We had been rearranging the furniture in the family room all morning yesterday because Sophie wasn't feeling the best, so we were inside. Sawyer's little body was pushing and moving with the rest of us. He was just tuckered out. I couldn't resist getting some footage. :-)

I Like...

This is a Blog entry I've been wanting to do for awhile but just haven't gotten around to it. It's just a mix of stuff I like. Every once in awhile I'll update if I find something to add. My hope is that everyone that reads my blog will either post on their blogs similar entries (or just email me) products, recipes, and just stuff in general that you like too. BTW...if you have a blog, and you're not certain that I know you have one, will you send it to me?

THANKS! wend315@hotmail.com

Hope you're all enjoying this BEAUTIFUL day! After kiddos are up from naps we're heading right back outside! YIPPEE!


1.

I like...my Clorox Anywhere spray. It's so easy to clean up the counters after lunch and Sawyer's highchair. I even use it in the bathroom. It's not cheap though. So, I searched the internet, and I just reuse the bottle with a recipe that some other lady took the time to calculate. :-) Just use 1 and 1/2 tsp. Clorox to the 22 oz. water the bottle holds. Now I just use two bottles and rotate them out.

2.
I like...Dave Ramsey. Yep, this is going to surprise some people. But, we completed our Financial Peace University class a couple weekends ago, and I must say I really did enjoy it. It helped us get on the same page and really learn a lot about our investments and insurance and get us on a workable budget. Now, it's not always fun...but it is nice feeling empowered by our situation now and having a plan.




3.
I like...Calmoseptine. My pediatrician told me about this with Sophie when she had a bad diaper rash and nothing clears it up better. You have to get it behind the pharmacy counter, but it's not a prescription. It's not that cheap. But, it's worth it. It has really worked for us. This has been an exceptionally long winter for Sawyer and not feeling well, so we really probably should have bought stock in the stuff.

4.

I like...my crockpot and this french dip sandwich recipe. I love to be able to throw something in the crockpot in the morning and have it ready for supper. This french dip recipe is super easy and has really good flavor.

French Dip Sandwiches
rump roast

1 can beef broth

1 can water

1 package dry Italian dressing mix

1 package dry French au jus sauce mix

Put all ingredients in the crockpot. Cook all day on low. Meat should come apart easily when done. Shred or thinly slice and serve on hoagie buns or French sour dough buns and dip in the juice.

*I like to add mushrooms to the juice the last 30 minutes or so then serve on the sandwiches. You can also melt provolone or horseradish cheese on the sandwiches as well before serving.

5.

I like...my new Sanuk sandals. I really should say that I LOVE them! They make it clear that these are not shoes. They are indeed sidewalk surfers, a sandal-shoe hybrid, a shoe upper on a sandal bottom. They feel like you're wearing your most comfortable flip-flop merged with your favorite old sneaker. I'm in love. :-) You don't have to wear socks (and your feet don't stink). :-) The inside is literally flip-flop material. I plan to wear them spring, summer and fall. Now...again, not cheap. They were $52. For those of you that know frugal me (and my previous Ramsey post), it did about kill me to buy them...I had to use birthday and blow money..., but it was worth it. There was a pair that I loved more...an adorable khaki and brown zebra stripe, but I justified the price by getting the white knowing I would be able to wear them much more often. BTW...Sanuk they say means "Happy" in Thai, and I am. :-)

OK...so there it is...PLEASE, PLEASE share! :-)

Easter

This is just a quick update on Easter. We had a wonderful Easter week!

The kids went to the Gretna Easter Egg Hunt last weekend...it was chilly, but they had fun!

We love decorating eggs each year...and this was no exception! The girls donned trash bag shirts (or trash cans as Sophie called them)...and away we went. They had a great time...and Sawyer LOVED trying to grab all the "balls"!

Little Easter Cuties!

The Easter bunny stopped by our house...rather unexpectedly...on Saturday. He was supposed to come to Great-Grandma Keller's house Sunday morning, but he happened to be hopping through the neighborhood when Matt and the kids were going through the car wash and grabbing some lunch. He thought it was too good an opportunity to not stop on in and hide the eggs and leave a few goodies. Everyone was VERY surprised when they got home and had fun hunting eggs inside and out! It made for a fun time before we got ready to leave.

Sawyer was excited to find eggs to hunt when he got home. The Easter Bunny left a note that said the blue eggs were for Sawyer to find...and the girls respected that.

Lainey spied the goodies the Easter Bunny left them while hunting her eggs.

Great-Grandma Keller, Grandma Ellen and the girls playing Candy Land (that the Easter Bunny brought)

The kids hunted eggs in the afternoon at Great-Grandma Keller's house. Grandma brought eggs and goodies and Uncle Scottie hid them. More sugar! and More Fun! :-)

Daddy and his kiddos looking so sharp!

Getting ready to walk to church on a chilly Easter morning! My grandma lives right across the street from St. Francis...one of the most beautiful churches...in my opinion. The turned on ALL the lights today, and I wish I would have had my camera to take a picture because they only do this on Easter and Christmas.

My dad and mom and brother, Scott, at my Grandma's house.

My Grandma Keller...one of my FAVORITE people in the world! It was a great Easter Sunday at her house. I wrote a paper in about 3rd grade about my favorite place...and it was her house...it's still one of my favorite places to go. Maybe someday I'll blog about her...there's just too much I'd like to say about her in the "quick" blog tonight. :-)

All in all...what a WONDERFUL Easter week. Hope yours was wonderful as well!

Step One

Step One...appropriately titled for two reasons.

1. Today was Lainey's Kindergarten Round-Up! Step One to the next 13 years that I will help mold her in her education quest. 13 years filled with reading and writing and math and science and projects and papers and planning and laughter and tears and programs and accomplishments and limits and growth and friendships and relationships and games and learning and... Wow...how quickly did this come!?!

2. Step One of my 12-Step Program (or however many steps it's going to take) to use this blog as my on-line therapy to get me through my baby heading off to Kindergarten. Prepare yourselves! :-)

Lainey was SO, SO, SO excited today. We talked that today was just a practice day for Kindergarten...that it would be much shorter than the actual day...that she might not have the same teacher when she actually starts kindergarten that she had today...that 'real' kindergarten won't start until after summertime...but that she was going to have FUN! She might see some friends she knows from preschool...she might not know anyone and get to make some new friends today. Either way...she didn't mind...she was just ready to go. Yeah for me! Today wasn't hard...after all, it was only 2 hours...and August is a long time away! :-)

I know it's my job to give her wings and all...but sometimes I just want to hold her tight for a little bit longer. I'm not ready to blink and see that black cap and gown. So, today was a good practice for me too. Step one...2 hours...helping to let go. I wonder who this was really for?

Priorities

"A hundred years from now it will not matter

what my bank account was,

the sort of house I live in, or the kind of car I drove;

however, the world will be different because

I was important in the life of a child."

2 of My Favorite Girls!

Let me just take a couple minutes to write about two of my most favorite girls.

Lainey and Sophie add color to my days. There is never a dull moment...or a moment of silence...when these two are around. :-) I simply adore them. When Lainey's first t-ball practice was cancelled Tuesday night due to winter weather (tired of it...just need to add), we decided to have an impromptu girls' night! What fun we had!!!

We grabbed a quick bite at home and headed out the door to the movies! First we stopped at Walgreens for some candy! and snuck in apple juice in my ginormous diaper bag/purse...sometimes it does pay to still have to haul that thing around. We made our way into 'Monsters vs. Aliens' just in time to see the movie start. I was a little apprehensive taking the girls to the movie...wondering if it might be too scary...even though it was animated. I promised we would leave if they were scared, but we all enjoyed it. It wasn't the best animated movie I've ever seen, but it was the best movie I've ever seen because I was cuddled on both sides the entire movie. On the way home we talked about the movie, preschool, what rhymed with hippopatomus, the next day, horses, you name it. :-) And...we listed to 'Junie B. Jones' in the CD player...our favorite book. It was the best girls' night out I've ever had!

I have to add also that April Fool's Day was just way too much fun with a 5-year-old and 3-year-old. They just fall for ANYTHING! I had the best day! :-) My intent was to tell them both that there was snow up to their windows this morning when they woke up. But, Matt was the one to go in and get them this morning, and I didn't see them until they were already downstairs. And, by then, I actually kind of forgot about April Fool's Day. Matt was able to take Lainey to preschool this morning on his way to work, and I remembered just as she was walking out the door. So, in all my last minute cleverness, I ran outside in my PJ's and looked around the side of the yard.

Mom: "Lainey, did you see the little Leprechans that just ran across the driveway?" (What can I say? It was last minute, and obviously St. Paddy's Day is still fresh in my mind.)

With the most priceless look of curiousity on her face, she darted along up beside me and looked and looked into the backyard.....until she finally inquired..."What's a leprechan?"

Mom: "It's a little green elf."

Lainey: "Oh! I can't quite see them. Where are they?!?"

Mom: "April Fool's!"

Lainey: Giggle, Giggle, Giggle of Glee that made my entire day!

She had known about the day...but had forgotten about it as well. I don't think Sophie really got it when we talked about April Fool's but she quickly caught on. Throughout the day, the girls would tell me here and there..."Mom, there is a spider in your hair!" or "There's a mouse under the table!" When I would get all freaked out, they would giggle and laugh and yell, "April Fool's!"

Then, they would beg me to "joke" them again....

When we pulled into the garage from Target about 2PM, I told them it was too late for naps. Although we had just eaten lunch, I told them it was actually time for dinner and then up for baths and bed. Hook, Line and Sinker! It was just too easy...and too fun! They laughed and laughed when they found out it was an April Fool's and recounted for dad at dinner. :-)

I'm sure I'll have to be slightly more clever next year with a 6-and 4-year-old, but I'm sure it'll be fun. I have never been a fan of April 1...until now. :-)

After dinner I got to listen to the two of them playing Barbie's. Both have imaginations I hope they keep.

At the risk of this being the LONGEST blog ever, I'm going to post the Interviews I did with the girls on facebook. So, those that are on facebook...you can just skip this part. :-)

INTERVIEW WITH LAINEY - AGE 5

1. What is something mom always says to you?

"I love you!"

2. What makes mom happy?

"When I clean up the toyroom."

3. What makes mom sad?

“When we don't pick up the toyroom."

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

“ by tickling me"

5. What was your mom like as a child?

“cute"

6.How old is mom?

"I don't know...23? Is that how old you really are, mom?"

7. How tall is your mom?

“30 inches"

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do?

“spend some time with her girls"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

“clean up...well, what do you really do when I'm not around?"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

“I don't know what that means, Mom." (When, I tried to explain what it meant, she said, "So, you can make money.")...still doesn't quite get it. :-)

11. What is your mom really good at?

"Hmmm...sewing." Seriously??? I rarely do that. :-)

12. What is your mom not very good at?

“dusting" What?!? :-)

13. What does your mom do for her job?

“cleans and folds laundry and scrubbing the floor and takes care of us"

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

“I don't know what your favorite food is. Fish?"

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

“that she decorates our house"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

"Hmmm...uhhh...Mickey Mouse"

17. What do you and your mom do together?

“watch movies"

18. Anything else you want to say about your mom?

“I like her. And, I love her too!"

INTERVIEW WITH SOPHIE - AGE 3 1/2

1. What is something mom always says to you?

"Don't Lie and Tell the Truth" and "I love you!"

2. What makes mom happy?

"If we play in the toyroom all nice."

3. What makes mom sad?

“If we fall down."

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

“tickle us"

5. What was your mom like as a child?

“All your toys..your teddy and your blanky" (No matter how many times I asked the question and tried to rephrase it, she thought I meant: What did you your mom like when she was a child?) :-)

6.How old is mom?

“23? 24? 25?"

7. How tall is your mom?

“37? 38?"

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do?

“Play and dance and be silly with us"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

"Hmmm...clean the house up."

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

“because you're pretty"

11. What is your mom really good at?

"practicing and dancing and cleaning house and doing jumps" Wow!

12. What is your mom not very good at?

“dancing" yep...I'd have to say she's right. :-)

13. What does your mom do for her job?

“go stamping!" :-) Awesome!

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

“Chinese" :-) Really?

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

“because you're so cute and smart and you love me" Wow...how lucky am I? :-)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

“Handy Manny"

17. What do you and your mom do together?

“play games and read books"

18. Anything else you want to say about your mom?

“ABCDEF...Mommy...GHIJK...Mommy...LMNOP....

Mommy....QRSTUV...Mommy....WXYZ...Mommy...

Now, I know my ABC, Mommy, Now let's play, Mommy!" Ok. :-)

I just could go on and on. So, I'll just end with...at every age I say, "This age is my FAVORITE." But, these ages are my Favorites! Or...maybe it's just the kids. :-)