hi

I was reading one of my many favorite blogs the other day.  It had been a while since she had posted last (like, a week) and she started out by saying, "Remember when I used to blog every day"?

I laughed because that's how I feel, although I don't think I've ever blogged once a day...and my lapses are more like months than weeks...
Oh well, I can relate anyway.

So, remember when I used to blog more regularly?  Me either....  :)

I am FINALLY getting into a routine again since Christmas.  I know that sounds pathetic, but as much as I love Christmas it sucks the life out of me.  And this year we had sickness...blah!
Anyway, I've finally gotten on a cleaning routine again (the chores have yet to make a comeback, I'm afraid, but I'm working on it), we have a Basketball tournament on Saturday and then it's OVER, I finally feel like meal planning again....

perhaps I have seasonal mood disorder?!  :)

I'm ready to tell you the real reason I haven't been blogging.  It's dog hair.  I've been doing nothing but vacuuming dog hair since I blogged last!  I'm kidding, of course...but I have been doing a lot of vacuuming due to dog hair.  I do love Terra, but this dog's hair is OUT. OF. CONTROL.
Our first dog, Mazzy, was a Weimaraner.  She shed, but NOTHING like this lab!  Holy moly!  I've decided that vacuuming once a day is a must, but that's not happening so I'm trying to get to it twice a week...and then accepting that we're probably ingesting a certain amount of dog hair and that it's just helping us with our immunities in some way.  That's the only way I can sleep at night.

We also have birthdays coming out our ears!  Eden's was Feb. 5, Ty's is the 22nd and then Colin's is March 7th.  I'm beyond broke!  And, almost sick of cake!!!  I do promise to post their birthday interviews...I'm trying to do that once a year with them...we'll see when I get around to that!  I'm making no promises!!!

I will post a few pics taken recently as I have been shamed for not putting more pics on the blog.  IF I still have readers, here they are...

He's slouching a bit in this picture and look how tall he is!
Not close to 7ft, but close enough to my height that I want to cry!!

And this guy, 4 ft.  Why did I take these pictures?  I'm a masochist, of course!

Eden's birthday outing with Miss Kimmy (her BFF)...Build-a-Bear, or as I like to call it Empty-a-Wallet!
The little angel had fun, so it was worth it...I guess :)

Next time birthday interviews!  Funny to think that I started this blog 4 years ago blogging about Ty turning 3!  Time sure flies....

Peace.

xoxo

ordinary, average, everyday

I need more pictures on this blog, eh?

I agree.

Today is one of my 2 days off.  I was supposed to have an acupuncture appointment, but Eden is feverish yet again! *sigh*  I was up before the sun, made school lunches, scrambled around the house to find $6 for Colin's Recorder order for music, drove the boys to school and came right home.  Wrote a very long, kinda disgruntled letter to the school principal, sorted laundry and washed some blue jeans so Ty wouldn't have to wear sweatpants to school again tomorrow (NOT in the running for Mom of the year today), and let the dog in/out for the 1000 time.

I know that these days will be long gone before I know it, and that I'll wish I had them back.  But, I'm just really tired of the mundane right now.  What I need is a vacation...somewhere warm and sunny with my family EVERY January.  Is that too much to ask for?  :)

I resolve to do better about posting pictures...

Happy Tuesday!

2013

Happy New Year!

We enjoyed a busy, but sick, holiday season.  It must have been intuition to use the quote from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on our Christmas card this year...

"Welcome Christmas!  Bring your cheer!  Cheer to all Who's far and near!  Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.

Christmas day will always be, just as long as we have we".

And, We had We...We spent a lot of time alone this holiday due to one sick person, or another.  Eden, Ty and I missed the Forcht Christmas get-together on the 23rd because those two were sick.  That was a huge bummer! Thankfully my Mom and Dad still came out to our house on the 24th and spent the night with us even though Eden was sick.  Unfortunately my Dad and I both got sick on Christmas day!  Then we had a small break from illness until New Year's Eve, when Colin got sick, cancelling out our plans for the evening.  

Regardless, it was still a nice holiday.  We had the opportunity to spend the last night of Hanukkah with my sister and her family, and got to see my niece, Lillian, in the Rose Theatre's production "Madeline's Christmas".  I'm glad we didn't miss that!

So... things can only get better from here, right?  We at least started 2013 all healthy! {Colin's fever gradually went down on New Year's Eve and was gone on New Year's Day}.  The kids are back in school, and now I can start my very cliche January cleanse...fresh slate!

Hope you holidays were happy!  I'm off to continue my purge!

days 28, 29, and 30

Well, I did it...kinda.  I am amazed that I even managed to stop by my own blog as often as I did this month.  I'm sure that it wasn't that interesting for you all, but you must remember that I do this primarily to document our lives :)

It's technically December now, but I must finish the month off.

Day 28.  I was grateful that day to have a few extra minutes to run an errand before having to pick up Eden & then the boys.

Day 29.  I was grateful for my awesome Mother-in-law and brother-in-law, Andy, who made it possible for Chris to join me at my office Christmas party.  We had a last minute basketball practice pop up for Colin and Uncle Andy came through for us, driving Colin to and picking him up from BB practice.  My M.I.L was sweet enough to keep the kids for us that night.  She fed them dinner and then sent us a text later that night letting us know the kids were asleep and not to worry about picking them up until morning.  BONUS!!

Day 30.  Let me be honest here, I'm thankful to be finished with 30 days of thanks.  Is that wrong?  :)

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

days 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27

We had a whirlwind holiday weekend, starting off with Thanksgiving at my Mother-in-Law's, then an Iowa vs. Nebraska football party on Friday, and the rest of the weekend was devoted to mourning our sweet, little, furry Gussy -Wussy (my Mom and Dad's dog), who died on Saturday.

It has been a very difficult time for my Mom and Dad, who loved him so much!  I am very thankful that they/we were able to have him around for 12 1/2 years.  He will be greatly missed!

So, here is what I am/ have been thankful for these last 5 days:

I'm thankful that I was able to be a shoulder to cry on, and hopefully a supportive family member.  I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to work some things out, hear some complaints, and offer my opinion on certain things.  (I'm not trying to be vague here, but I do not really wish to go into detail here.  Some things are better left private.  But, I was extremely thankful to have had this situation...hopefully the walls will remain down).

I'm thankful that Gus did not have to suffer alone, and that he was well loved and taken care of in his final moments.

I'm thankful for my parent's vet, who was a huge comfort to them and who went well out of her way to help them care for Gus.

I'm thankful that my sister Karen and I were able to be there to comfort my Mom and Dad.  Thanks Chris, for making it possible for me to spend some time with them without the kids.  (And, I'm thankful that they have each other to grieve with).

I'm thankful that I got to know Gus really well.   He was a sweet and kind dog.  He was so good with all the kids (and all our other pets).  He was all of ours to love.  I'm thankful that he had the opportunity to see all of us before he left us.  I'm pretty sure he was holding on for that...

Gus
"the last of the firsts"

We'll miss you Gus!  

day 21 and 22

I'm thankful that I'm not hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year.  Although it is my favorite holiday, hosting is quite a task and I'm glad to have a break from it his year.

That being said, I'm Thankful that my Mother-in-Law is having us all to her house today.  I'm thankful that all I had to cook was a double batch of my 5 million- calorie mashed potatoes!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  I hope you have a blessed day!

"God asks us to give thanks in all things because He knows the feeling of joy begins in the action of 

  Thanksgiving".

                        -One Thousand Gifts

                            Ann Vaskamp

day 20

I'm thankful for technology.

day 16, 17, 18 and 19

Oh boy...good intentions, but I've fallen behind!

So, let's play catch up, shall we?

I'm thankful for our pets.  Our new puppy Terra and our Old Gussy Wussy (my Mom and Dad's dog), Eliza (my sister Karen's dog), Mazzy (our 3 year old Weimeraner who died 9 years ago) and Lucy dog (my sister Karen's dog who died about 1 1/2 years ago).  These are the pets whom I've been lucky enough to have relationships with.  These pets have and do bring me joy.  They are wonderful comforters, great listeners, and always happy to see you.  I feel blessed to have had/ have them in my life.

I'm thankful for laughter.

I'm thankful for children with healthy immunity systems.  IF they ever catch the bug that's running rampant, it's usually a kinder and gentler version than what their peers seem to get.  (I'm really hoping I'm not going to regret writing that).  This year it's been a pretty nasty stomach bug...vomit and diarrhea!  Thankfully, so far, Ty's only had some dry heaving with a very low grade fever (plus the other, but I may be giving too much information...sorry)!


And, I'm thankful for Iowa Public TV for days when I'm not feeling well.  Because I, too, am lucky enough to share in the rampant bug floating around the school.  (Again, so far a much milder version)!

Ok, I'm caught up.  Hope you're all well and happy...

day 15

I am thankful for my children's teachers.  They work so hard, put up with a lot of chaos, and manage to teach my kids something...every day!  And, twice a year they work from 7am to 8:30 pm {probably more often than that}.  We are blessed this year with two really great teachers, and I am thankful for them!

day 14

I'm thankful for my health and the health of my family...all of them.  And, when I say health I mean  colds,  the flu, and all other major, yucky things.  As I type this, I'm sure there's some virus floating around our home waiting...just waiting.  But, so far we've steered clear of the current virus circulating the elementary school.  For that I am thankful.  I'm also very thankful all of those whom I love and care about are relatively healthy...and, I hope and pray that it stays that way.  Of course there are things out there...unknowns...things that people I care about are dealing with.  For those people, I'm thankful that there soon will be answers, that knowing is half the battle, and that I'm able to offer support.

day 13

Today I am thankful for comments...when I get them :).

No, seriously...today I am thankful for the progress being made on our house {namely in my new laundry room} and the hope that very soon I'll be able to do my laundry on the main floor!  Also, I'm thankful for friends who try their darnedest to sell our home for us!  I'm confident that we'll end up selling this place without ever having to list it with a realtor, just because we have friends who know friends.  Feeling very blessed and lucky that we may have another nibble on our line...