For Mimi!

Our Taz

Brody loves to watch our Looney Toons DVDs, and he has recently started to enjoy The Tazmanian Devil. :o)

Bicycle, Bicycle.

So, after not riding a REAL bike (meaning, not one in a gym) for oh, 7 years, we got out my bike tonight and I took it for a spin around the cul-de-sac for a while. It all comes back to you! I DEFINITELY need a more comfy seat, but I am really excited about riding more often! It is so fun, too, that now I am riding with my kids!

:)

Bean!

My bestest friend from College, Bean (Jennifer) was here to visit! It was the first time that she had met my kids! Can you believe it! It was so wonderful to meet her and fall right back in as if we had never been apart! I LOVE old friends! It makes life just so much sweeter!

So good to see you, Bean!

My Preggars Roommate

My dear friend from 3rd grade all the way through college, and then my roommate AFTER college is pregnant! I went up to NOVA a few weekends ago to join her at her baby shower. My friend Charlotte Geary, the photographer, was there and snapped these photos...

The Baby Shower

Here, also, are Heather's Maternity Portraits.

I am so so so happy for you Bonny!

Time For A Haircut?

Don't you agree? I am thinking it is haircut time...

The Adventurous Outdoorsmen

Zach. Brody. Kayak. Lawn. Sprinkler.

I wonder if we should break the bad news to them?

Nah.

Unsolved Mysteries: The Paper Clip Quandry

Yesterday was quite the day for us. After having our massage and getting all relaxed, Kurt and I we went to Mimi and PaChucks house. While there, Seth swallowed a paper clip. None of us witnessed the deed, but Brody (the informant) swore to it. Seth had swallowed a paper clip.

The evidence? Seth. Sitting in a pile of paper clips. Smiling. With the hiccups.

So, after grilling Brody about 100 times asking whether he was sure that Seth had swallowed the paper clip (yes, yes, yes, Yes, YEs, YES, YES!!!), and asking Seth whether he had swallowed the paper clip (ummm.... uhhh...... yes?) we decided to play it safe and take Seth to the emergency room.

So, off we went, Mimi, Mommy, and the bionic boy to the ER. Seth eventually admitted the paper clip was blue.

We had quite a grand time playing with anything and everything that wasn't bolted down in the room. The culprit didn't appreciate the latex glove balloon, although the 2 adults in the room were cracking themselves up.






So, off we go to the xray room. I stood in anticipation as the image was taken and the little hour glass on the computer screen started spinning...

and then...

the image comes up...

and we all gasped...







GOTCHA! Just kidding.

What we DID find was a heart. Some bones. There was some poop backed up (seriously. no joke. At least we had advance notice.)

What we did NOT find was... you guessed it... a paper clip. And especially, not a blue one. And believe me, the embarrassed mom in me looked REALLY HARD. Nothing.

So, if anyone finds an extra blue paper clip amongst their things, don't worry. It wasn't ingested by my child. Please don't return it. You can keep it.

Sweet, sweet bliss

My sweet hubby got us both a couples massage and we went to it yesterday. We have since decided that this is not something frivolous and that it should be done every few months! ;) Now, if only our budget would allow for it!

Thank you hon! I love you!

2 * 4 * 8

I am watching Evan today while my sister plays in her Bunco group. It amazes me how the ages of these kids are 8, 4, and 2 and they still have a blast together! I hope it is always that way.

They played in the sprinkler, on the swings, and in our little blow-up pool. Then, after lunch, they enjoyed a Popsicle together. I love seeing them grow up together.

Remembering Who I Am

I had a wonderful opportunity last weekend to go up to DC and spend some time with my friends from high school. Some of us hadn't seen each other in a few years, so it was nice to get together again.

We had a nice time catching up on each others lives and seeing who everyone had become since high school. The comforting thing is that we are all just the same!

Sometimes I look at photos of myself from way back when and see myself as so carefree and silly and fun. With all of the stress in my life today, it is hard to remember being that way. It turns out, my friends think I haven't changed at all! It was nice to hear it!

We watched old videos of ourselves and what goofballs we used to be. Crazy.

It is nice to know that I have friends who know where I come from, who I am, and that whenever we get together, it is almost like we never moved away!

It was great to see you ladies! Let me know when you want a trip to Busch Gardens or to the beach! We should all hang out again soon!

What!? Are they *cRaZY*?!

Yep. We are. Completely and Totally.

Look who is sharing a room now and just LOOK what Mommy bought them this past weekend?

After setting down the ground rules (okay, stop snickering), we allowed the boys to start playing in their new bed. They absolutely love it, and so far so good! No trips to the emergency room yet and they have been at it for over an hour!

Maybe next month we will all go running in the neighborhood while holding scissors. OR, better yet, I could turn all the pot handles OUT while cooking dinner!

We are LIVING ON THE EDGE HERE!

:)

The Value of a Buck

I think it is totally awesome that kids have no knowledge of all the *crud* that we adults have to deal with.

For instance:

We pay a membership fee each month for our gym with a pool like this:





My kids are completely content with a 20 dollar blow up pool filled with water, dirt, grass, and who knows what else, thanks to my 2 year old.






Don't you wish that we still were able to find the fun in EVERYTHING and that we didn't need big expensive toys like televisions and movies and computers to make us happy? It is just one of the many reasons that my kids are the joy of my life!

Me, and Me, and Me

I was reading my favorite blog and she had a link to a really cool site where you upload your photo and it shows you what you would look like as a different ethnicity or age. I thought the following were the best ones:

Jen as an East Asian

Jen as a Guy (frightening!)

Jen older

Jen as a West Asian

My Favorite Sound

:)



And, just in case you were wondering, Brody is laughing at the tv. Not at the fact that he has his hands down his pants the whole time. Although, I wouldn't put it past him. Lordy. *sheesh*

The Many Colors of Our Garden

Brody is attending camp this week and next, the theme of which is "In The Garden".

Today, their craft was to make a necklace using all the colors of the garden. Should I take it personally and as an assault on my gardening skills that this is what Brody envisions as the colors of a garden?




Or should I be concerned for the well-being and development of my child that he chooses ALL BLACK as the colors he wants to use for his necklace? Would any other moms be just a *wee* bit freaked out by this?!

Black or White, it doesn't matter

I live in a time and place where it is simple to be a Christian. It is not easy to live as one in our world where sin tempts us daily, but I can freely express my Christian views without fear for my life. It is easy to believe in God and His grace when I am so blessed. When I always have food on my table. When my family laughs daily. When we never have to worry about where we will sleep each night. I am a Christian, but it is very simple for me to be one.

It isn't so for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, or throughout time. There are people that will die today because they have heard the gospel and praise Christ as their salvation. There are people that have NOTHING and still have the faith to thank God for his mercies and blessings.

How can we have a world of people who doubt God when they have EVERYTHING while there are people who have nothing that are sure of Him? It is so hard for me to understand that.

This video is so poignant. To hear how we are all connected to each other, all tribes, tongues, and nations, through the grace of God. It truly is amazing. It just gives us a glimpse of the New Heaven and the New Earth, where there will be no skin color or race or sex, just God's people together worshiping him. Praise God! Come, Lord Jesus!

A Daunting Undertaking

Okay. For those of you who know me, you know that I have never been a very athletic person. I have always been a musician, a singer, an artist, a thespian (an actor, for you non-drama people). I have always been so impressed with people that are athletes, that enjoy playing a sport and getting sweaty and hot and having their muscles burn.

Well, after watching Kurt ride in this past weekend from his MS150 bike ride, and seeing all the wonderful people who dedicated themselves to that cause, I decided to ride next year.

Mind you, I have about 50 pounds I would want to lose. I am petrified to be seen in any spandex. I haven't ridden a bicycle since I was young enough that saying you were "riding a bike" was considered a dirty joke and ensure much giggling(anybody else remember that?) and I can't even fathom doing something hot and sweaty for 2 days straight, HOURS ON END.

But, I think I can do it.

I have a year to prepare for this. To start getting in shape. To train. To actually get a bike. *grin*

Anybody care to share any advice? I am so petrified to do this, but at the same time, I know what an accomplishment it would be for me, and it would be something so worthwhile to do with my time.

I will keep you all posted!

So far (drum roll, please)...

I rode 5 miles on the bike at the gym this morning.

Hey, it's a start!

Nice Day for a Ride!

Kurt completed the MS 150 (He actually did 175 miles) this afternoon. I took the boys out to the Eastern Shore to see him ride in to the finish line.

Congratulations on making it in one piece, honey! We love you and are so proud of you!