5 Q F!!!

I should be making calls for work.  Actually, I am currently on the phone for work.  And answering a text from another mom who is on a field trip with my son right now.  And blogging. 

If motherhood has taught me one thing...it's multitasking.


I love me some 5 Question Friday!  I normally don't read blogs on Fridays and miss out on the opportunity to play with some of my friends.  But today...well, I'm playing.  :)  Who said kids get to have all the fun?!?!?







1. What words do you use on your blog/online that you don't use in real life?

Nope..none.  I'm pretty true in person as I am online.

2. Do you still write checks?

Yep.  While I do pay a few bills online, there are a few that I won't because you need to give them access to your account (power and gas companies) and I will NEVER do that.  So, checks it is.  Unless the USPS keeps jacking up the rate of stamps.  Then who knows...perhaps I'll need to pioneer it out.


3. Who was your favorite President and why?

Ronald Reagan.  If you've been reading my blog long enough, you'd know why.

4. Are you a yeller?

Sadly, yes.  I stopped for a while and developed an ulcer.  Then I started again, and its subsided (the stomach pain, that is).

Actually, I didn't start a yeller.  It happened when A was a toddler and wouldn't listen to me.  But when I yelled at him, he would respond and listen very well.  Well, turns out that A had a hearing impairment due to allergies and he COULDN'T hear me unless I yelled.  By the time we realized it, the pattern was already established...and I am now a yeller.

5. Have you ever dumpster dived?

I can honestly say no.  But, have I been the person to hold the dog leash while my husband went in after something, uh...yeah.


Ok, back to work!  Have a great weekend!

The List Update (also known as a rediculous amount of pictures or Whoa, Sandy you're really behind in updates)

Ok, so I started this list (see lower right...scroll down a bit) about a year ago.

I started with avengence.

I'm still working on it.

I just haven't updated.

So...here's the update

In pictures:

#40.  Teach A to ride a two wheeler.

Essentially, he was riding on 2 wheels for about a year and a half, but wouldn't give them up.  Last August (yes, I'm that far behind), Dave took one wheel off some evening which resulted in LOTS of tears and anxiety.  The next night (while Dave was gone), I asked A if I could remove the other one.  He cried.  Until I offered him ice cream.

He was fine after that.

#49.  Visit a zoo we've never been to before.

Potter Park Zoo in Lansing with the some friends.

Cute zoo- easy flat walk.

#50.  Teach A all his lower case letters.

Yep, did that last summer too.

#65.  Invite 3 friends to the zoo with us.

We have a +1 zoo membership.  This allows me to bring another adult and unlimited kids with me to the local zoo.  We're there at least once a week in the summer months.

I already wrote about one friend we took to the zoo.

While we weren't limited to 2 friends, I simply grabbed two pictures in my archives:

Cousins:

and llama watching friends

#80 Sell something on Craigslist or ebay.

This past winter, I purchased a smelly loveseat on craigslist and resold it.  In addition, we cleared out our pole barn.  All the old furniture- OUT OF HERE!  And we made about $80.

#61.  Have dinner with Jeanie three times.

This is more or less an excuse to meet Jeanie for dinner and drinks.  :)

(Picture me saying to Dave, "But honey!  I need something to cross off the list!")

One more meeting down.

Hmmm...perhaps I'll need to up that from 3 to 5....

#23.  Attend a seminar focused on improving some aspect of my life.

Last October, I had the privilege of going to the Hearts-at-Home seminar in my home town.

It was fantastic.

This is where I listened to speakers like Kevin Lehman and Bill and Pam Ferrell.

All three are incredible authors writing about biblical truths on marriage, sex, raising children and priorities.

I felt so blessed to be able to attend.

And I won two books in drawings!

I listened to Kevin Lehman talk about "Have a new child by Friday."

I listened to Bill and Pam Ferrell talk about "Red Hot Monogamy"

There was another couple talking about somethign to do with children and forgetting yourself in the upbringing (i.e. don't be a selfish parent)...that was was dull and boring.  Decent message, but the delivery was off.  Meh...

And I listened to a speaker (cannot remember her name...) talk about "American Idle"  This one I remember soo much.  It really spoke to me.  She explained that ANYTHING that comes before our relationship with God is considered an Idle.  Perhaps its an addiction to drugs, alcohol or food.  Or its just being consumed with the whole "pursuit of stuff" and worshiping clothing labels and social status.  Or it could just be hoarding your money and not having a heart of charity.

I feel like God put me in that talk for a reason.

I feel like he was talking directly to me through that speaker.

I love Him for that.

#67.  Have a family bonfire.

We do this about once every two weeks in the summer.

This picture was taken on a night that Dave and A were camping out in the back yard.

C and I enjoyed a nice quiet house.

And indoor plumbing.

#59.  Find someone starting a business and help support them.

This is probably my favorite item to cross off.

A friend of mine, Renee, is an up-and-coming photographer.

She's really a great person, and Dave and I love her to bits.

So, we did a photography party!

We have a few churches very close to our house with nicely manicured lawns- they made it very easy for us to find some fun and easy backgrounds.

While I didn't end up completely filling all 8 slots, I did fill 7- with a 20 minute break in between.

It worked out perfectly since a few people were late, and a few came early.

Renee and I had about 15 minutes in the middle of the craziness to sit down and eat some chicken.

This is Renee taking a picture of an awesome family.

She is the little sister of one of my best friends in high school

She has the cutest three little girls.

Ok, here's a few list items I will need to update. 

I am thinking on replacements for them. 

 But this post has grown long enough.

Perhaps another day.

Decisions, decisions- and rush hour traffic

Seems like the addition is kind of like rush hour traffic.

You're going at a steady clip.

Then slam on the brakes.

Then you inch along.

Sometimes you're at a complete stand still.

Then, a break comes and you actually make it up to a steady stream of 25 mph.

Then you slow down again.

Then stop.

Then inching...

Yep, that's what we're doing.

The woodwork is done.  Doors hung, trim, windows...all done.

Looks beautiful.

But unfinished.

And I feel like a driver in rush hour traffic.

I know the destination I want to get to.

But I'm stuck miles away.

Sometimes I'm fine sitting still.  I look around at the other "drivers" and smile and wave.

Other times, I'm shaking my fists and uttering kid-friendly "cuss" words like: 

This is a bunch of ballyhoo!

Right now, Dave is trying to decide whether or not to hire a painter to come in and finish the wood.

I'm in on the decision as well, of course.

But, this woodwork is his baby.

He's spent the last 8 months working on it.

This house will essentially be his portfolio.

If a painter messes up the stain...well, that would be bad.

Very, very bad.

(Don't even get me started on the issue we had with the drywallers!)

I just want it done.

Hmmmm...something's different

After getting dressed today...

...I put on my jeans (fresh out of the dryer)

...and I thought, "Hmmm, somthing's different."

...they felt different

...they moved different

...I spent the next hour running around the house with the boys

...in the back of my head, I kept thinking, "what the heck is different about these jeans?"

...we did not switch detergents

...then it dawned on me

...today was the first time in a long time (read: since November)

...that I shaved my legs.

Don't judge me.

BIG LAUNCH DAY!!!

Well, actually yesterday was the big launch day. 

But today it is announced on the newsletter making it all the more launched. 

My friend, Melody, has an awesome local web site. 

It's geared towards parents with kids in our local area. 

Her calendar alone...man, that thing is awesome. 

Really- it's untouched by any other site.

She's really taken off with this site, and I'm so proud of her.

Then a few months ago, my phone rings.

It's Melody.

With a few thoughts to ping-pong around in my head.

Sandy, will you do a blog for my site too?

                                   After one ping and two pongs...heck yeah, I'll blog!

My portion of the guest blog focuses on living frugally, to its fullest (and most fun), and crafts for kids and moms. 

Melody calls me a craftista....I love that.  :)

Local friends, if you don't know Melody's blog, email me and I'll be happy to send you a link!

Wish us luck!

Easter tradition

As per our new tradition of taking a family Easter picture with the self-timer on top of the well head.

Click here to see the start of the tradition.

8 Saturdays

It took

8 Saturdays

for my husband

to build this.

8 Saturdays

of tedious labor,

angles and fractions,

cuts and re-cuts.

8 Saturdays

turned out awesome.