Whose kids are these?

Me: Ok, girls we need to eat in Spring Arbor tonight, because of Ally's open house, I guess we should go to McDonald's
Ally and Lanie: No, we don't want that
Me: I guess there is Subway (however, I have a secret desire for McDonald's)
Ally and Lanie: Yeah, Subway sounds good
Both girls want turkey, no cheese, no bread, no sauce.
Me: Do you want a cookie, rasins or apples
Lanie: Apples, me love those! Yum, yum - she pats her belly
What I'm thinking? I wish they had fries here.

Snooze Much?

http://www.nandahome.com/
Cristi was telling me about this product that would be perfect for me, she was sooooo right. When I was in college my roomates would have probably chipped in and bought it for me! I am just annoyed I didn't think of this myself.

The alarm clock that runs away and hides when you don't wake up. Clocky gives you one chance to get up. But if you snooze, Clocky will jump off of your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide. Clocky is kind of like a misbehaving pet, only he will get up at the right time.

Good Save

I just got stopped on the Teen Choice Awards. I was flipping the channels deciding there wasn't even anything on worth watching and happened to catch the clips for best TV actress. One of the choices was Eva Longoria, so they show a clip from Desperate Housewives. I personally am a fan of the show but I am 33, NOT a teen, whom I can only assume is the target age of the Teen Choice Awards. I watched in disbelief as they show a clip of Bree telling Gabby (Eva) how she has not yet had sex as she is waiting for marriage. Gabby after laughing hysterically says "Oh, you're serious???"
Maybe just me, though I doubt it, a clip talking about sex? when the audience is teens? SERIOUSLY, I would like to know who the braniac was that thought that was a good idea. The winner of this award thankfully went to an actual teen, Miley Cyrus for Hannah Montanna. Her acceptance was full of joy and enthusiasm as she thanked God for everything including her family and her fans. All I could think was good save Miley, I hope your excitement is what the viewers remember and not the poor choice made by TV execs. The worst part of it all was thinking how most of those kids remembered that episode and thought Eva Longoria deserved to win...

Free Day

Friday Trent kept the kids for me all day so I could have some time to just have nothing to do. It was a needed day after a busy week of organizing and cleaning, in my smokin' hot broken a/c house, and the busiest summer on record. I started the day with a nice relaxing eye brow wax, always a treat first thing in the morning but a necessary evil in my world. Then I went to Panera for coffee and a little staring into space. I did do a little work while I was there but I think the highlight of my time was drinking my coffee in peace. I went to lunch with some friends and met up with Trent and the kids later in the evening. Every once in a while it is a treat to have quiet time without the pressure of life. I look forward to doing it again soon...

"Why did you move your stove"

"Aunt Maria, why did you move your stove?" This was the comment from my almost 4 year old neice, Cecily, about my portable dishwasher. I love the curiosity of kids, she was trying to get through the kitchen and she couldn't quite figure why I all of a sudden had a huge appliance in the middle of the room. Hopefully someday I will have a dishwasher that doesn't have to roll to its water source. Until then I will just be thankful that I don't have to wash every dish by hand...

New Life Begins

My nephew, Roarke Wilson Watterson, was born today. He weighed in at 6 lb 14 oz, and was 20 1/2 in long. We can't wait to meet him, my kids have been counting down the days till his arrival and have come up with a plethora of names including: Spider Man, Ashton, Bryce, Tristan and Kaylee. Ally came up with those on her own and when I told her Kaylee was more of a girls name, she didn't care she liked it for her new baby cousin. Lanie has pretty much been stuck on Spider Man and any time we talked about it she would yell "Spider Man" like it was really in the running. My digital camera is not working so hopefully I will be able to post a pic soon!

Smokin Hot

Seriously what is up with the weather??? The day before yesterday I was so cold I wore a long sleeve t-shirt under my scrubs and a scrub jacket all day. Tonight, still organizing and it is miserable in our house. 2 weeks ago our air conditioner decided to stop working, and let me tell you what a special treat that is at this moment. I guess I should be thankful that at least I have air in my car! This is the first summer in like 4 years I have actually had air in my vehicle. The jeep, may it rest in peace, didn't have air and no one could figure out why. Anyway only in Michigan are you wearing a sweatshirt and jeans one day and tank top and shorts the next. Who knows what tomorrow will bring...

Clay Aiken

On my way to work this morning the car in front of me had a thing around their license plate that said CLAY AIKEN CONCERT. All I can think to myself is hmmm....For one Clay Aiken? and for two that person had to take their license plate off, put this wrapper thing on and screw their license plate back on. It seemed like a lot of effort to me but hey, who am I to judge maybe it was him in front of me this morning....

Organizing....

Last night I decided to tackle the mountain of paperwork that wouldn't allow Ally's closet door to completely close. I decided at the beginning of Kindegarten that I would keep everything and go through it at the end of the year. Well, I finally got around to it last night thinking I needed to start fresh for 1st grade. I looked through all the paper and projects that she did her first year of school. I am a self professed pack-rat trying to change but I couldn't bear to throw much of it away. Everything seemed so precious how could I throw away her first attempts at writing? I sorted it all, wrapped it with a pretty ribbon and put it in a box. When she gets old enough to move out of the house we'll go through it and she can decide what she wants to keep, but like mother like daughter she'll probably want it all!

Have a blessed day

Two people today have told me to have a blessed day. I googled blessed day and found these 10 things we can do to have one!
** 10 Steps to a Blessed Day **

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK If someone is rude; If someone is impatient; If someone is unkind ... I will not respond in like manner.

Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5)

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY": If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand the "enemy" could be a family member, neighbour, co-worker or stranger.
Luckily I wasn't being harsh or unfair except for giving them the total of their bill:)...

For God so loved the world He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY: I will carefully choose and guard my words, being certain that I do not spread gossip, slander or malign anyone in any way.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7)

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE: I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. I will find ways to make life more pleasant.

Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE: I will forgive any hurt or injuries that come my way. (I will also work to forgive injuries that have been inflicted upon me in the past)

God is love. (1 John 4:8)

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL DO IT SECRETLY: I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another person.

We always thank God for you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Parent your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love,and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS AS I WISH TO BE TREATED: I will practice the Golden Rule -

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"- with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED: My smile, my words, my expression or support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37)

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY: I will eat less I will eat only healthy foods I will thank God for my body - I guess I'll start this tomorrow:)

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY I will spend a little more time in prayer today I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God's voice.

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/15338.htm

Logistics

School is starting in 2 weeks, seriously - 2 weeks, where did the summer go. Are there still really 24 hours in a day or do they really get shorter as you get older? have kids? try to pack too much in? I don't know but this entire year is just flying by.
This year Ally will be moving to Parma for 1st grade, we loved Warner but don't have much of an option staying there since we are school of choice. Parma is just that much farther to drive. So we have to figure out how to get her to school and home.
Mondays I will be able to take her since I don't start work until 9:00, and she will ride the bus home to my cousin Brandi's house everyday, she actually lives in Parma but put a bid on a house in Northwest, if they get that house I will have a whole other can of worms to deal with but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Trent could take her to school everyday but it seems a bit silly since I drive that way. I am supposed to be at work at 8:00 but maybe I can adjust my schedule for Tues, Wed, Thurs? I also have a friend that said she could get on the bus there and Brandi has made that same offer. So alot to figure out with that and then there is Lanie.
She is scheduled to go to preschool at Sharp Park Academy, a magnet for JPS. I hear it is a great preschool but they are full in the morning so she would go from 12:30-3:42, Trent works at 3:00 so she would have to ride the bus home to another friends house everyday BUT the bus would be kids from preschool to 5th grade and I am not sure how I feel about that, well actually I am sure, I don't like it. So we are on the waiting list for the morning session in which Trent could take her and pick her up OR I called the preschool she went to last year, but they are also full in the morning. Did I mention the JPS preschool is free? Yep I feel a pull toward free.
So that's just school - we also have dance, soccer, Wed night church and 2 parents that work. You wonder why families are stressed.

Worry

Reading through the Bible last night I came across seven reasons not to worry from Matthew. I appreciate that the Lord let me to this reading, I need to be reminded from time to time that our Lord commands us not to worry.

6-25...The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.
6:26...Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.
6:27...Worrying is more harmful than helpful.
6:28-30...God does not ignore those who depend on him.
6:31, 32...Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
6:33...Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.
6:34...Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

The Lost Shoe

My sweet Lanie has somehow managed for the second time this summer to lose a shoe while shopping...The first time at Target, and most recently at Meijer. I can kind of see how she lost her flip flop at Target she was in the cart and her little legs were dangling down and it fell off. The other day at Meijer the kids wanted the ginormous cart that is nearly impossible to steer with a bench seat. When Lanie asked "Mom, my shoe??" and was looking down, I thought - not again...How could she lose a shoe sitting in that huge bench seat cart. So we spent an extra 20 minutes and backtracked through the store, no shoe! So for the second time we left the store with one shoe and for a second time we received a call from customer service that they found the lone shoe. I was probably a little hard on her, only because I was frustrated we couldn't find it and I was ready to get home. Lanie I am sorry if I was hard on you, looking back it seems so insignificant, it was just a shoe.

Any Given Day

Isn't it funny on any given day it is just a normal day for you but for someone out there it is the best or worst day of their lives. I remember when my dad gave me the news he had cancer. I remember thinking the entire world was crashing down. I couldn't think straight, everything looked gray and when I tried to speak all that would come were tears. I remember driving to family bible study and looking around at the world. People were driving by me smiling, laughing - didn't they realize what had happened. Actually, they didn't - they were just having a day, nothing great nothing bad, this is how we spend most of them. So today try to enjoy every second of the day you have been given....

I have now seen it all!

Honestly I think I have seen everything. One Sunday I am flipping through the channels and what do I come across on ESPN? Rock, Scissors, Paper competition. I don't get it, I have enough trouble grasping NASCAR as a sport but RPS, as they were calling it, Seriously....

A visit from my dad....

My dad will be here this weekend from Texas. Many of you know what that means but for for those of you who don't, it's NASCAR weekend! I come from a long line of NASCAR fanatics and racers. I haven't quite jumped on the bandwagon and my one uncle was almost offended when he learned I hadn't ever been to a race. And don't you worry my normally very clean cut businessman dad isn't afraid to get out his Kevin Harvack t-shirt and jean shorts for the weekend. Maybe someday I'll understand its appeal but until then I will just enjoy the fact that I know my dad will be heading our way!

Sidebar, he does visit at other times too!

OFFICIAL - What Time Is It? Video (HQ!)

So is anyone else as excited as I am for High School Musical 2? Sure they are marketing to tweens but hey have you seen High School Musical? It is just a good movie...More after the premiere August 17th 8:00

Anxiety Attack

So I am sure you can all relate to a visit to the Dr.'s office with your appointment scheduled at a certain time and that time comes and goes and you are still sitting, waiting, wishing (yep I love Jack Johnson, if you don't know who he is search him out on itunes) Personally I hate this but even worse today I am living it over and over again. We have been behind ALL day, but this poor kid has been waiting 2 hours for a filling. People expect 10-15 minutes but 2 HOURS! So today I would like to publicly apologize for all the times you wait at at dr's office, remember to try not to take it out on the front desk girl, the nurse or the assistant she is probably just as frustrated! Love and Smiles all around:)

Snooze

I woke up this morning like usual hitting snooze for about an hour on my clock that is set an hour or so the wrong time. Why do I do this???? So I can confuse myself in the morning as to what time it really is. Does anyone else do this? yes, but most people set their clocks like 10, 15 min. I think the hour started with daylight savings a long time ago and has continued from there. Anyway why? NO CLUE, my husband doesn't get it and most of the time no one around me does either and quite frankly I don't quite get it myself. My fear of actually setting the clock to the correct time is that I would confuse myself into thinking it was an hour ahead and then I would be behind. Confusing, yes but somehow in my college days I came up with this system that would help me get up on time for class. I only had one 8:00 class in my 4 years and that wasn't even 8:00 it was 8:30 and Brook and I had it together. My roomate Shane would always come in and so sweetly tell me it was time to get up, everyday I made crap up about thinking about my day, I'm awake, Aren't classes cancelled because of the weather? You name it I can make it up when I am supposed to be getting started for the day. You would think that with all the brain power I require to think about how to get more sleep it would probably just be easier to get up. I do try, I tell myself the night before, OK tomorrow no snooze, just wake up. Maybe one of these days I will be successful! The worst part, school is starting and I am going to have to get myself and Ally ready for the day. She has also learned to sleep through the buzzing. I know, I have scarred her with my irresponsible use of alarm and hopefully she will be able to overcome it and actually hear the annoying buzzing as she gets older.

Motivated

So I have been ever so motivated by my friend Sara's blog. I feel like I have discovered a new world. I can put down all my crazy thoughts and things I sometimes want to say but don't. The world of computers is so amazing and I hope I don't ever hit a point where I stop learning or let technology scare me. My grandpa whom I loved and respected so much, had his own computer and used it before he passed away. I love the fact that he wasn't scared to try. He emailed, went to the web when he was looking for something and even paid his bills online, pretty impressive for an 81 year old. I hope this will be a fun new adventure, I have already had a great time reading the thoughts of other people.