Did you know...

That "Milk AND Chocolate Milk make you STRONG"...?
I mean REALLY, REALLY STRONG!?!?!?

R-E-L-A-X!

Friday September 26th, 2008
You know, every once in a while it's SO NICE to let the dishes WAIT, ignore the PILE of clothes, and to leave the SWEEPING/DUSTING/PICKING UP/WIPING DOWN until L-A-T-E-R!! This evening, I did just that...turned off the lights (as to not see the messes!), popped the popcorn, grabbed a box of Girl Scout cookies (did you know chocolate and popcorn compliment each other!?) and headed to the basement with the kids to watch the ALL NEW Scooby Doo movie on the BIG tv!! As you can see from the pics, we all decided to grab our jammie pants, shirts and slippers for the occasion! Ahhh...it may not be a GLAMOROUS life, but it's MY life and I don't have a complaint (not tonight anyway! ha!).

Thanks Chad for taking this pic! I had to turn them black and white since we had spaghetti for supper and all of the kids had "clown mouths"!!

Hills, Valleys, Plains...

Parker came home with a really neat art project. They have been learning about different geographical land masses and today, they got to use hand made clay/play doh to make them "come to life"! I think this is a really great way to teach...not just on paper, but hands on! Hats off to Parker's teacher!!


It's hard to tell, but there is GREAT definition in this project!

Yep...he's 8

Conversation after bath this evening...

Mom (talking to dad): I've got to get the kids in for their flu shots soon

Dad: Yep

Parker (who happened to be upstairs in a room): comes flying down the stairs - "mom, what do we need to do soon"?

Mom: Don't worry about it Parker

Parker: I don't want to get the Bird Flu or West Nile

Mom (thinking in my head...what the?!?): Parker, we will get you the flu shot and you won't have to worry about it, okay? I just didn't want to tell you because you tend to obsess and freak out about these things. I'm going to take all 3 of you at the same time and I need you to go first and set a good example for your brother and sister"

Parker: Well, mom...tell me this...what if we get immunized (yes, he used that word folks!) for "strand A" of the flu and then we get sick this winter with "strand B"...what happens?

Mom (now I'm thinking "holy shit!" sorry about the profanity!): Well, the United States monitors the country that has their flu season right before we do and they figure out the strand that they are infected with. Then, making an "educated guess", they produce an antibody for the strand the country before us got, or close to it, and that's what we get. We hope that even IF we get immunized for "strand A" but end up getting sick with "strand B" that the immunization may help us a little at least so we don't get so sick....

Mom again: Ummm...where did you hear about this "strand A" and "strand B" stuff?!?!

Parker: Oh, I dunno...I guess I just pick this stuff up....

and with a smile, off he goes to get a snack

All I can say at this point is that I hope and pray that SOMEDAY, all of YOU are blessed with a child like this! He's breathtaking and frustrating all together!

Parker's BIBLE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st, 2008...

Today was a very big deal for Parker! We have been attending classes for the past 3 weeks in preparation for him receiving his very first BIBLE!! There have been discussions, assignments, and semi-quizzes to make sure these special 3rd graders are not only ready to receive their Bibles, but that they are able to USE them and NAVIGATE through them as well. Parker attacked this class as he does everything else in life: with almost obsessive gusto, curiosity, and the desire to learn as much as he can. Chad and I are SO PROUD of him...he is such a mature, kind hearted, and loving little man! Yep, I'm tearing up just thinking about it. Another really neat thing is that he is receiving this Bible in the same church that I did when I was his age...I still have the Bible I received and shared it with him during one of our weekly classes!

This is Parker and Pastor Mark...he's been with our church for over 10 years. The service was great! The 3rd graders and their parents lined up near the alter, there was an introduction to the congregation, an announcement of the names where the Bibles were given to the parents of each 3rd grader, we laid our hands on Parker's head and gave him a blessing, and then we presented him with his Bible! You could just SEE how proud he was...

Family pic!

With the proud parents!

And a picture with Grandma Pam...not only is she an active member of the church, but she helped us out and took Parker to one of his classes (stinkin' clinicals)!! Unfortunately, Parker's Godparents live far away and were not able to attend this special event...it doesn't make them any less a part of our lives nor any less precious to Parker!

ELEVEN YEARS...

(This is the evening of September 20th, 2008!)

Today, Chad and I have officially been married for 11 YEARS!! WOW! Time has sure gone by FAST...we have so many things to feel blessed for; three beautiful and healthy children, a home, stable jobs (oops! Not me yet! But soon..), our own health, and loving, supportive families. I'm not saying the entire 11 years has been a happy, joyous occasion! What I am saying is that Chad and I have been through a lot...both happy and very sad occasions...but somehow we've muddled through it together. So, here's to you honey! May we have more blessed occasions to celebrate in the future and may we sit on the porch one day, old and wrinkly with kids and grandkids running around, squeals of laughter surrounding us (although, we may not be able to hear them!)...we've both changed and have grown and I'm glad the Lord was wise enough to give you the temperament you have so that you can put up with me!! HA!


I got into a flippen' DRESS for our wonderful evening out. We went to Baise's for dinner where I experienced a steak (filet mingnon-can't spell!) SO wonderful I'm STILL talking about it and asparagus tips with a mouth watering sauce...SO YUMMY!
Then we went to a movie and guess what!?! Chad did NOT fall asleep in the theater this time!! YEA!! It was called "My Best Friend's Girl"...funny stuff! We topped the evening off by having dessert at Applebee's...now for the "aaaawwwww" moment if you haven't already done so!...Applebee's is where Chad and I first met! It was one of the BEST DATES I've EVER BEEN ON! LOVE YOU HONEY!
I would also tell you about a suprise that was waiting for me when I got in the car at the start of the date; however, knowing my husband it would be TERRIBLY EMBARRASSING and I wouldn't want to do that to him! Hey, it wasn't "THAT"...some of you are SO dirty minded!! tee, heee.......

Fall Festival!

(Today is ACTUALLY Saturday, September 20th, 2008...I've been having trouble with this blogger site all weekend!)
Fall is in the air! Well, not REALLY...today was almost 80 degrees! BUT, I had the pleasure of taking the kids along with my friend Angie and her daughter Grace (Savannah's BUDDY) to the Fall Festival at a local farm...that happens to be located in the middle of Fargo...try to figure that one out! But, it's a wonderful place for kids and families so I'm glad it's here!

They had little stations set up for pictures...


Face painting....

Glitter pumpkin making....

Lots of kiddie gams with prizes...we have a TON of those plastic vampire teeth!

Even a fun haybale maze with random facts about leaves and pumpkins and all things FALL scattered around on posts!

Aiden gave the face painting girl a run for her money by asking to be FRANKENSTEIN...parker just wanted to be a VAMPIRE ZOMBIE!

All in all, it was a SUPER day...beautiful weather, great friends, fun times, food, prizes and pumpkins! Know what else is cool? The gate admission was FREE and arm bands to play all the games (they even had the inflatable slides and jumpy castle), face painting, cookie decorating, horse drawn carriage rides, and glitter pumpkins was FIVE BUCKS!! Like I said, a FABULOUS way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the kids and friends!!

GIRLS DAY!

The past two evenings I've been working on the Pediatric unit at Meritcare until midnight, so basically, I see my kids in the morning and don't get to see them again until the NEXT morning! Yeah, I miss being the last face they see before they go to sleep at night and APPARENTLY they miss me too (at least ONE does!)!! This morning, I woke up Savannah and she asked if I got to stay home today, when I told her "yepper", she started yelling, "I'm staying home with you!!" So OF COURSE I had to keep her home for a GIRLS DAY!

We had to run to school so I could take a quiz, she met 5 of my professors and they "ooh-ed" and "aahhh-ed" over how CUTE she is (wink!), then it was off to Olive Garden for soup, salad, breadsticks and the BEST Mac-n-Cheese EVER!! We were not finished though since she insisted she "did not need a nap" - we went to Bath&Body Works (the GOOD SMELLING store!) where we got new fragrences for the house and some friggen expensive hand lotion for little miss demanding! Ha!

For the finale, we went to Target and got some "essentials" (toothpaste, thank you cards, etc). Did I mention that "essentials" now includes fluffy, sparkly, pink princess slippers?!? Yeah, we BOTH got a pair (well, mine aren't sparkly nor do they have Princesses on them!)...the major task for the day was watching her pick out her outfit and decide how she wanted her hair done!! It was a WONDERFUL girls day...wonder when she'll be old enough to take her to the SPA to get manicures or pedicures....??

That is the purse she takes EVERYWHERE...it has 9 lip glosses in it!
I'm SO EXCITED she has enough hair for piggy-tails...YEA!!
Looks as though mom needs a makeover!!

What a blessing she is!

The famous pink, fluffy slippers...

MARTIAN MADNESS!

What's a boy to do when it's raining outside, we've used up our video game minutes for the day, little sister is sleeping so chasing each other with swords is "OUT OF THE QUESTION", and we've had enough snacks to fill our bellies for a week!?! Well, MAKE a MARTIAN ARMY, of course!! This stuff is COOL...it's liquid that semi-hardens AND there is a Martian Ship to boot! What a fun gift!

Kindness...

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who has helped me through this difficult time with their thoughts, prayers, gifts, cards, food (seriously Joey...those are the BEST bars EVER!), kind words and time spent with me. They are all GREATLY appreciated and tucked away in my heart!

Chocolate and Chili!

I'm gonna try this out by putting MYSELF on the chopping block FIRST! I didn't have class today so two of my classmates and I decided to support the community (and our bellies!) by attending the Fantasy Chocolate and Chili benefit for the WYCA. Yes, we are dorks...BIG DORKS! Does it make me the biggest dork if I were the one sporting the camera in my purse!?

Becky, myself and Lisa


Not bad for $15.00, huh? Did I mention there was a MILK CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!? Oh YEAH!





These were all made from CHOCOLATE!! How CUTE are they?! Now, THAT'S TALENT!