The Fortress is Complete!!!

Well, here it is folks, the humongo play fort that Andy's been working so hard on. The kids are thrilled and insist on going up and down, up and down at least 50 times an evening! I'm so proud of Daddy for his hard work. We'll tweak it some along the way...Joel wants a steering wheel and I want a sling chair underneath, etc..., but the main play area is D-O-N-E! (and no, we didn't need a building permit!)

Tidbits...

Seems I've been "tagged" by my friend Jaime, so I have the honor of listing some tidbits about myself for the world to see.
1. 5 Things I was Doing 10 yrs. Ago:

• getting excited about student teaching
• planning my wedding to Andy!
• wondering if my Wind Ensemble director could look any more like the shape of a pear
• coming off of my best year of playing (96' and 97' I had the best trumpet chops I've ever had)
• feeling in complete control and at home at MU-by then, I felt like the high man on the totem pole on campus!

2. 5 Snacks I Enjoy:

• kettlecorn
• apples w/ Andy's awesome fruit dip
• SunChips
• cucumber/cream cheese on toasted bagel
• ANYTHING chocolate

3. 5 Songs I know the Lyrics to:

• El Shaddai by Amy Grant
• Come Sail Away by STYX
• Mama Paquita (a fave of the 2nd graders at school)
• Anything from Miss Saigon, Les Miserable, or Phantom
• The Backyardigans Theme Song (and pretty much anything else from Nick Jr., Playhouse Disney, or PBS Kids---thanks Joel!)

4. 5 Things I'd Do if I Were a Millionaire

• pay off all debt
• remodel the house of my dreams (I like our location too much to move)
• send my parents on an Alaskan cruise
• hire a professional photographer for the kids for any & all times
• go out west for a really nice vacation---see everything I like to read about

5. 5 Bad Habits:

• disorganized more often than organized
• don't exercise enough
• don't take care of my feet
• get stressed too easily
• tend to look at the downside b-4 I look at the upside of things

6. 5 Things I'd Never Wear Again:

• leg warmers
• dress pumps w/ socks
• earrings bigger than a quarter
• tight jeans
• shirt/sweaters down to my knees

7.5 Things I Like to Do:

• scrapbook
• read
• nap w/ Hanna
• teach; especially near program time
• craft & paint things like props and scenery

8. 5 Favorite Toys (some are from my childhood-others are my kids')

• My Little Ponies
• Whack-A-Mole Tabletop game
• Baby Tad
• Lincoln Logs
• Those contour boxes w/ pins that you press yourself in to to hold the shape...

9. People I'm Tagging - I can't think of 5...Sorry!

• April at www.Saltforthespirit.blogspot.com

Hopefully, my next post will include pics of "the FORTRESS"...the huge playset Andy's been working on for the kids!

"I Be Wild"

About bedtime around here, and Andy & I were just discussing how tired we were and had essentially done nothing today. (It was gloomy and rainy most of the day, then we went to the Freedom Festival Parade where the rain actually stayed away for us!) Joel said, "Yeah, I'm tired too. All I did was go to the parade and I be wild." Just a cute moment... :o)

"I've Been Shot!"

Make that "WE'VE been shot"! We all decided to go to Hanna's check-up and 4-shot extravaganza today so we could go straight to Lowe's and pick up our huge home improvement order. Appointment was at 3:15...in a room w/ vitals taken by 3:20...waiting...waiting...waiting for the pediatric room to open up. I got so bored, I snooped around on the Dr.'s computer and found some solitaire and also checked my email. (Horrible, I know.) Andy got so frustrated w/ Joel, they went back out to the waiting room. After an hour in a tiny room, we were moved to the smaller pediatric room. FINALLY, the exam and shots. Hanna was cranky and would hardly lay down. While I was holding her down during the 1st one, the nurse drew back the needle quickly to get it away from Hanna and it went directly into my forearm! So, I'm immunized for MMR too! Good thing it was my daughter's needle! Hanna was screaming bloody murder and I wasn't feeling so hot either! Let's have a round of Tylenol for everyone, shall we?!
And by the way everyone and all the doctors out there: MY CHILDREN ARE SMALL! THEY ARE NEVER "ON THE CHARTS"! YOU PREACH BREASTFEEDING AND THEN COMPARE THEM ON CHARTS ALSO USED FOR FORMULA BABIES! MY KIDS HAVE THEIR DADDY'S METABOLISM, THANK GOODNESS. LAY OFF ABOUT THEM BEING TINY!!!
Okay, I'm done now.....

What's the diagnosis Doc? Moments of play between Joel and Hanna...

Accidents and Anniversaries!

Happy Anniversary Andy (yesterday)! It's been 9 wonderful years and I know it'll be years and years to come...you are the love of my life and a superb dad! So what does the happy couple do on said occasion? Book an exterminator appointment, take out the trash, and grumble about the middle-of-the-night accidents Joel continues to have! Put THAT in a card Hallmark! Any great advice out there for the tinkling toddler at night? Don't get me wrong; he has 4 dry nights for every 1-2 wet ones. We stop the drinks at supper, empty-out at bedtime, get up at intervals thru the night to take him potty (now to the point of setting alarms!), and praise when dry. But we are getting this middle-of-the-night sheet sanitizing and switching down to a science! Argh! We don't want to go back to pull-ups, but we've reached frustration city! Such an innocent looking bed isn't it? This too shall pass, I know...

Relaxing in Illinois

We spent the weekend at the grandparents...time for some fishing and seeing some family that was in town as well(great to see you Shawn and JK!). It was nice to relax and not think about all the things waiting for us at home. On the way home yesterday, we passed a self-storage place around Indy called "1-800 Packrat". For those involved in our weekend, you know that just about summed it up perfectly! Anyway, Joel and Hanna had fun fishing and playing on the beach at the Sportsman's Club. Joel actually caught the 1st fish of the weekend! Happy lazy days everybody!

Hello Summer!

Summer vacation at last! It looks to be a hot and busy one...so many projects to do! Strip/re-paint the deck, re-shingle the shed (being done at this moment!), paint the livingroom, power wash the sidewalk and anything else that needs it, re-organize the front room, PURGE junk, repair the concrete steps out back, ENDLESS loads of laundry,and on and on! Now THAT'S a to-do list! Can it all get done while having fun w/ the kids all summer?

The other day, we got an estimate on replacement windows (just 4, mind you). We thought our new heating/cooling system was an arm and leg...WOW, windows are,like, a second mortgage! That'll have to wait until next year's tax refund, if we're lucky!

Enough blabbering about home maintenance...the kids are already getting as much outdoor time as they can. Joel loves helping Daddy on projects, Hanna's not too sure about her alligator pool (but she LOVES Aunt Cathy's in-ground one!), and Heather just tries to keep an eye on them while adding more unwanted freckles! Happy Summer everyone!