retail therapy

It's been four days since Sarah and the boys have left. I'm coping. I spent Friday, my day off, at Target. Not the entire day, but close enough. And I feel a little better. Just a little.

heartache

Well, it's official. My BFF has left DM and is currently on the road to Tennessee. There is no amount of denial (trust me...I know) that can spare the heartache that I feel today. I know what you're thinking..." It's not like this came out of nowhere Bec ". And, you're right, I've known for a while now that this day would come. Only I think that cognitively I knew, but my heart was conveniently left in the dark. It was on a need-to-know basis...and now that she's actually on her way...well, there was no where to hide...the heart found out.

I tried very hard to keep my chin up for her sake. Hoping right along with her that her house would sell already. And I mean really hoping...for honest...for it to sell. What kind of friend would I be to hope for anything different? Who wants her best friend's family to be apart? That's no way to live...Todd missed those boys like crazy, and they missed him...heck, Sarah even missed Todd after a while (hahaha...jk). But, really, I wanted them to be a family again...to quit living in limbo! Even if it meant that I would be without her.

It's a rare gift to have a friend like Sarah. She knows who I am...I mean really knows. And, she likes me anyway (see my quote). She knows my weaknesses. She knows my strengths. She understands why I do the things I do...say the things I say...feel the way I do...because she understands me. Better than anyone I'd say. And it's rare to have a friend like that...it's a blessing to have a friend like that. We have a friendship that will withstand the miles (872.52 miles to be exact). I know cuz we've done it before. But it sucks! It plain sucks!

So, I'm forced to drink my Stella alone (which I am doing right now). While I fight the tears I am afraid to cry...because if I start they will not stop for a good, long time. For now I am hoping that they have a safe trip there. That's all.

for the complainers

Hello gentle readers...ha ha ha!

Seriously...hello you five! It's been a while and I'm starting to hear complaints! So, first of all here is a current picture of my little Sunshine...

Eden 13 weeks.

Isn't she adorable? She is the reason I'm having difficulty keeping this blog current. She is giving me the hairy eyeball right now, but in an incredibly sweet baby way, because she just woke up and is ready to eat. And frankly, she doesn't wait very patiently...I wonder where she acquired that trait? Hmm...................

Oh yeah...back to the blog.

Hope all you Moms out there had a great Mother's Day. Mine was perfect! I got coffee in bed with time to drink it and flip through a couple of mags while Eden cooed happily next to me (with a full stomach...because of a full stomach) and Chris and the boys dipped strawberries in dark chocolate for me. :)! Yummo! That is one of my favorite treats and has become a Mother's Day tradition around here. Then I was showered with hugs and kisses and hand-made cards! I love hand-made cards...they are the best thing about Mother's day.

Colin's cards...which included a knock-knock joke...
Knock, Knock. Who's there? Happy. Happy who? Happy Mother's Day! (cute, huh?)

And, Ty's cards. Complete with his favorite super-friends stickers and a shield for me to use if he wants to punch me in the face...you know...for protection. I have to say, I was a bit...um...what was it...disturbed? But it was thoughtful gesture, him wanting to protect my face and all.

Plus, flowers from my sweet husband. Beautiful!

Well... that's the update people. Eden has fallen back to sleep now, but I need to wake her before my chest explodes. More info than you needed? Chris thought so, but...well...I think you can handle it. :) Until next time...

i love Lucy

My Mom has a little bone shaped plaque in her kitchen which reads, "Dogs are just children with fur". In our family this is absolutely true. On Tuesday my sister Karen's dog-child passed away. Lucy was her first born, my first niece, the first grand-dog...it has been a tough couple of days for our family.

Lucy was our family's "original" dog. When Karen got Lucy it didn't take long for all of us to fall head-over-heels for her. We were lucky that Karen shared her with all of us. Lucy's arrival in our lives soon led to the arrival of Gus, my Mom and Dad's dog, and Mazzy, our sweet puppy (who died at 3 yrs old). But, she never lost her spot in our hearts...like I said, she was our "original" dog, and we loved her.

Lucy was one, sweet dog. When she wagged her tail her whole hind end would wag. There wasn't one occasion that I saw Lucy that her tail wasn't wagging. Even when I saw Lucy a few weeks ago on her 11th birthday, when she was barely able to walk due to her worsening spinal degeneration, she greeted us with her little, waggy bottom. Lucy loved her people, and I was lucky enough to be one of her people...to be on the receiving end of that waggy bottom.

And, as hard as it is for us...as sad as it is for us...my sister Karen and her family have it the hardest. Lucy-dog was an important member of that family. Nana dog to Lillian, Jack and Eva...they have never known a world without her. She has left them with wonderful memories and was a true gift in their lives.

All dogs go to heaven...and Lucy-dog is, no doubt, running about with Mazzy chasing rabbits...but never catching them.

Lucy Rosebud

define suck...

My BFF Sarah, who just sold her house in Des Moines, is headed to Tennessee tomorrow to hunt for a new house...

there...

to which she will be moving...

soon...

sad but true

I'm back to work this week...

...and this is how we feel about it!

new favorites

First, I must acknowledge that these new favorites came from two of my favorites...my sister Karen and my BFF Sarah.

I admit, willingly, that I am (most of the time) a follower. Not very often will you find me putting myself out there with new ideas unless I am really comfortable in the environment. Now, it's not to say that I never try a new recipe/food or beverage on my own...and, perhaps it's laziness...but if it's been "pre-tested" by one of my trusted co-horts and they serve it, or suggest it, then I'm gonna try it. And, lets be honest, my sister Karen is a cooking genius...I couldn't keep up with her if I tried. And Sarah gets out a lot more than I do...and she's way more hip than I am, so she fills me in on her new favorites.

That being said...YUMMO! The first new favorite...avocado and mango, together, as a salad from the gods! Maybe you've tried it and I am the last to know. Whatever. But if you haven't...trust me, it is heaven in a bowl. I cannot get enough. Which leads me to a question...can you eat too much "good fat" so that it becomes bad? Hope not. I keep reminding myself that mango and avocados are really good for you! (*and, in case you didn't know, avocados are a berry and are loaded with potassium...way more potassium than a banana. So I'm sticking with the really good for you!)
Now, on to the not so good for you (if you overindulge)...which has probably been on the radar for all of you, but that I'm just hearing about now. Sarah and I have always enjoyed the old Corona, but I guess it was getting old for Sarah because she tried Stella and informed me that we had a new beer. (yes, if Sarah told me to jump off a bridge I probably would!) Seriously though, she keeps us up-to-date and honestly Corona was getting old for me too but I'm the lazy follower, remember? YUMMO numero dos! (yes, I'm a bi-lingual counter but I cannot spell...I don't think.)

So, there you have it! All five of you can take this information and enjoy (although, 2 of you are Sarah and Karen so... :) oh well...)

Hello Sunshine!

Eden - 9 weeks

For Sarah

Happy Easter everyone! (and very typically for me it's only 2 days late!)

Sarah here's your pic of Eden the bunny...

Spring Break

Colin had spring break this past week which, of course, was shortened due to all the snow days we had this winter (...yuck!). Thank goodness winter is OVER!! We managed to make it to my sister's house in Omaha for a brief, but fun, visit. LOVE seeing our cousins Lilly, Jack, and Eva! (Auntie Karen and Uncle Mike, too!) We don't get over there nearly enough!

Remember how fun childhood was? Some days I miss it...the feeling of pure joy with absolutely no worries swirling around the back of your brain...no "to do" lists bombarding your thoughts...on second thought, I miss it all the time!

We also got to spend some time with dear, old Lucy dog who happened to be celebrating her 11th birthday, and who is struggling with a degenerating spine which keeps her from running around, but not from wagging her tail and smiling! She is happiest with all her people around...especially my sister, Karen. We love our Lucy dog!

time flies (i.e. I'm really behind on blogging!)

Eden 6 weeks 3 days

Well Hello! I know, I know it's about time! Better late than never...yes? I'm here to cover a few important events that I have failed to blog about. We will start with the most current and work backwards (I wanted these to be in chronological order but I uploaded them this way and lets face it...I can barely find time to blog so...we're going with it! )


Notice the hint of a smile on Eden? Couldn't quite capture one, but she is smiling now! Love it! It warms my heart to see it...how blessed we are with these three...

Here with a very serious expression...

Eden's impression of a sumo wrestler...pretty good, huh? Look at those fat cheeks! She's not going hungry let me assure you!

Colin turned 7 on March 7th...his "golden birthday". We had so much fun! My sister, Karen, and her kids were here from Omaha, along with my sister, Diane, and her son Zach. So, all the cousins from my side were together! It was a good time... I just wish I had thought of getting a picture of all of them together! Colin is growing so quickly. I can hardly believe that he is 7. I goes so fast! I am thankful that he is healthy and strong, and so proud of him...he is a great kid!

Eden turned 1 month old! Talk about growing quickly! She changes every day and this time is just flying by...knowing that this is my last baby I just savor every moment with her! Even during the most trying moments my thoughts always return to the fact that I should enjoy the moment...or at least just live in the moment...because one day I will be missing it!

And, last, but certainly not least...Ty turned 4 on February 22nd. What a guy! Ty is quite a character. He is funny and stubborn and always up to something. He is finally in "big boy" pants. He made good on his promise that when he turned 4 he'd go on the potty. It didn't happen immediately but he's done it and I couldn't be more proud! He will be starting preschool this fall...time flies! I have enjoyed being home with him during this maternity leave...he has embraced his role as big brother. He is so loving and gentle with Eden.

Incidentally, I am also celebrating 1 year of blogging! (Yea me!) My first blog was about Ty turning 3. What a year...full of wonderful moments and not so wonderful moments. I cannot help but see the beauty in life. Each moment a blessing, the ups and the downs. The losses, though still painful, makes what we do have that much more wonderful! Thanks to those of you who read my blog...I love sharing my blessed life with all of you!