Our Best Wishes...

Our best wishes go out to our friends, Henry and Samantha today on their wedding day!  I just learned yesterday that Henry is a loyal blog reader!  He found out about our forgone concert this way... :-)

On the off chance that he is online reading... I thought I would post a note that we wish them the best of luck.  We are so looking forward to sharing their big day with them!

Hopefully, I can borrow a camera and take some pictures... still no camera.  Best Buy had to send it away to see if it could be fixed, and then, if they can't fix it or if it's too expensive to fix, we get a new one.  Could take a couple weeks.  Life without a camera is not fun... at all!

Anyway... at the very least, I need to get a picture of my hubby in a tux!  Nothing like a man in a tux.... and we could use a nice picture of the two of us, looking somewhat put together!  :-)

So.... Congrats again Henry and Samantha!!!!!

Procrastination...

So.... Luke had a doctor's appointment... and afterwards I decided to go get Ally early from Y Camp and call it a day! We all came home and I decided I would accomplish great things.  I would clean my kitchen (dishes piled up!).  I would do some laundry.  I would put away some of the "baby" things Luke doesn't play with anymore and pull up some other toys from the basement.

Let's talk about what I HAVE done.

I have made baby food.

That's all.

When your kitchen is a mess and you feel overwhelmed by it... make a BIGGER mess!!!!  I steamed broccoli, spinach and blueberries and pureed them, put them in ice cub trays and got them in the freezer.  I have a pot of peas boiling now.  I need help.  Seriously!  I can't focus on what NEEDS to be done.  I'd rather do something that makes a bigger mess and frankly, is more fun!  Baby food making way more fun than dish doing!

Neither of course are as much fun as blogging.... so here I am.... doing that too.

If I had a martini in my hand at the same time.... now we'd be talking!  But, I have to go to Kindergarten orientation tonight! Must maintain sobriety!  ;-)

Ah..... just thought I'd share some more procrastination habits of mine...

Ants Marching...

WARNING - THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEGATIVE, COMPLAINING, BITCHY POST!!!!

Don't say I didn't warn you! I am having one of THOSE weeks! It's a good thing I had an amazing weekend last weekend... cuz this week has really been nothin' but bad!

First of all... we have ANTS. A horrid ant family of about ten thousand has invaded our home. They just started in my bathroom, just a few. They were small. Tiny really. I thought nothing of it. Then, they appeared in the hall bath... then... here and there and EVERYWHERE! They are the tiniest of all ants... but still really gross! And, of course, just in time for Luke to be crawlling!

I called Aardvark Pest Control... and they came out to have a look. $260 later... I have my ant problem taken care of! Seriously!!! $260!!! What can you do? We've tried the "traps" ourself... the internal spraying makes me nervous. They are going to do a perimeter treatment. So... I can stop my ants from marching... but it's gonna cost me. Big time!

Luke's cold is still hanging on and he's been tugging at his left ear a lot and generally still miserable. I am taking him to the doctor today. In the middle of the busy week I have had so far, I have had to leave work for many, many reasons... to be home for the exterminator... to take Luke to the doc. I have to leave early for Ally's Kindergarten Orientation and Open House this evening. Early Friday for a rehearsal dinner for a wedding Scott's in this weekend....

SPEAKING of said wedding...... I JUST found someone to watch the kids for it yesterday. Talk about STRESS! I seriously thought I was going to have to take a five year old and an 8 month old to a wedding.... that their Daddy is IN... so he wouldn't even been able to help me! HUGE thanks to my Aunt Kris. HUGE HUGS! You are a life savor! It's so hard to get babysitters... even more difficult on a holiday weekend.....

And then, there is the concert. Forever ago, Scott and I got tickets for a concert this Friday evening at DTE Energy Music Theater ( I still want to call it Pine Knob... especially since I work for Consumers Energy!!! ). The concert is Maroon 5, Counting Crows, Augustana and Sarah Barilles (sp?). I went on Ticket Master when they went on sale... and through them, not some broker - ie Stub Hub - we got FIFTH ROW CENTER for this concert! I could not pass this up... even though the tickets were VERY expensive! I thought for the amount of bands at the show... it would just be too fun! What a fun way for Scott and I to close out the summer? We just love live shows... and while it's not DAVE... it would still be an amazing show.... right?

Well, then, he was asked to be in a wedding... and I didn't even THINK to check the concert date until like a month ago....

Of course, the concert date is on the date of the rehearsal and dinner. He can't miss that!!! It's the wedding of his oldest friend.....

So... I posted these tickets on Stub Hub, through our company E Classifieds section, told everyone I know that I have them...... NO LUCK! It's so hard to think of the money we are wasting... let alone such GREAT seats going to waste...... so I'm still stressin' about that......

Ally starts school next week! I can't even believe it. I just can't. I don't feel like I'm ready! I feel like I should be more prepared or something......

Worst of all... I feel like I'm going to be one of those awful mothers that can never help out in the classroom cuz I work... and can never do all those types of things I feel like I "should" do......

Feeling inadequate is such a secondary feeling of parenting... mothering... is it not???

I must stop typing now. I must stop complaining!

Like Thumper says... "If you can't say something nice... don't say anything at all..."

I've definitely said too much!!!!!

Girlie Girls..

I am a fairly girlie-girl.  So is Beth.... so it stands to reason that our daughters are too! Oh, don't get me wrong... they can both play soccer with the best of them, but they still do like to be girls.  Beth and I had to run to Saks to get some makeup after the American Girl Place. We were really owed such luxury because we just came from screaming little girl land!  So, off to the the makeup counter we went.

We are telling the Laura Mercier lady what we need... and we turn around, and our girls are seated at the station they do your makeup at... putting make up on... of course, I smiled, and had to take their picture.  The man standing nearby smiled too. Not sure if it was a smile of annoyance or that he thought they were as adorable as I did.  No matter...

They don't like each other at all.... can you tell? ;-)  Nor do they like having their picture taken! What cheesers they are!  Little hams...

Here they are, at long last, in their sweatshirts, with their Mia's... very, very happy little girls indeed!!!!!!

That was just Friday!  Since just after the shot above, I dropped my camera on the hard wood floor, I have no pictures from Isabel's birthday party Saturday afternoon or our girls' night out at Rise for sushi and martinis Saturday night!  I'm sure someone will send me pictures soon... but I am bummed when I don't have my own!

We had a wonderful weekend.... lots of time with the girls... both little and big!  We stayed one night with Auntie Chelsea and had dinner from Fat Cat and Ally watched Nemo in bed.  Quite the treat.  We were really just trying to get her to go to sleep so Chels and I could have wine and girl talk... but she stayed up the ENTIRE movie and was wide awake until like midnight!  Whew....

Saturday's night out with the five big girls was SO MUCH fun!  I only get really good sushi once in a while so I treasure it when I do! AWESOME!  Rise is truly a fabulous sushi place if you ever get to Chicago and are in need of a recommendation!  Take my word for it!

Girls, martinis, sushi, American Girl dolls, birthday parties, water parks, and a good, good time all around!

Ally and I love our Chicago weekends!!!

The Windy City...

Ally and I had a wonderful visit to Chicago this past weekend! We drove there Friday morning, and met Beth and Isabel at Big Bowl as soon as we got into town.  I am in love with Coconut Curry Chicken!!!! YUM!  After a fabulous lunch.... we walked over to the American Girl Place.

The girls were absolutely GIDDY!  They knew they were going to each get the Doll of the Year, Mia.  Ally already has a book about her and Mia looks just like Isabel... so it was exciting for both of them. They were truly in their own personal heaven... squealing when they see the place, grabbing the dolls of the shelf immediately.  Then, they ran all over the store looking at everything else.  It was so much fun to watch and be a part of....

They had to hold each other's hand as they walked around the City.  Two of the cutest little girls you will ever see!  (personal opinion of course - and a bit biased!)

We didn't stay downtown long... you can only keep the girls from opening the dolls for so long.  They were anxious to get home and open the dolls!  And... of course, put on the matching shirts that we got them as well.  We bought each of the girls a shirt to match their dolls, and each other.  These are like sweatshirts! And... it's like 90 degrees... but they HAD to wear them!  And, they had to go outside in them.  It was precious....

I will have to do another post.... I can only upload so many pictures at one time!  Here are the girls at Big Bowl and American Girl...

CRAWLING...

I knew it was going to happen before I even left this weekend. I knew, after spending the day with Luke on Wednesday and just observing him for hours... that he was going to crawl this weekend.  And, sure enough... Saturday afternoon... on the floor of his bedroom... he took his first tentative movements and figured out the motion of the crawl!  Scott was there to witness it... by the time I got home from Chicago yesterday... he had it down!  

He is so deliberate with his motions.... there isn't a lot of grace to it... and it cracks me up!  He can't move too fast, but I can just see that speed will come in time.. probably in NO time!  

Whew... now we're in trouble... the boy is on the move!!!!!  I will try my hardest to remember to charge the video camera and capture it on film so I can share it!  I would take some pictures... but I dropped my camera in Chicago... and killed it!  I was so upset.  I had gotten exactly 13 pictures... captured some of the best moments really, so at least I got Ally and Isabel at the American Girl Place.... but none the less, my camera is dead! Luckily, I always buy the 4 year service plan at Best Buy, so this afternoon, I will be the proud owner of a brand new camera! Service plan... BEST THING EVER for the clumsy!  

I will post more about Chicago as soon as I can.....

Feeling Better...

Luke seemed to be feeling better today.  He slept really well last night, only getting up once.  It was a huge improvement over the previous night, so I will take it!  He is still stuffed up, but his demeanor was greatly improved today and he woke up a happier boy from the start!  Made me feel like I could go to work and leave him with his Nana and Papa today. 

That's a good thing, because I am off tomorrow to go to Chicago! Ally and I are going to try to get going pretty early in the morning!  I always start out with high hopes that we will leave by like 9 or so... but that never really happens. I have not even begun to pack for either one of us.  Nor have I cleaned out my disaster of a car.... so, we shall see what time we actually hit the road!  I would like to be in town by lunch time... but it will likely be a late lunch, if we do make it!

Ally got her haircut today!  I wish I had taken a picture, but I did not.  She looks absolutely adorable with her short locks again! She refused to let us have it cut for SO LONG and it was just really overgrown and unkempt looking.  I had been trimming her bangs while it grew out. But, now, she has a fabulous PROFESSIONAL cut and looks great!  She is ready for our big girls' weekend and even more importantly - ready for school - which starts in one week from Tuesday!  WOW!

Ally went to bed without ANY trouble this evening.  What a gift! We usually have such horrid battles at bedtime, and tonight was just so peaceful and wonderful. Gives me hope!!!!

Speaking of which - I want to REALLY respond to your post about discipline when I have more time Nicole.  GREAT POST!  We have had such problems with Ally recently, that we actually went and got some "external" help.  We are looking at taking a parenting class, to learn some techniques to help us with her.  The time outs, taking things away and things like that do not work with her.  She pushes and pushes those limits... and had begun to ask us "what are you going to do to me if I don't do this."  Anyway... it just reached a point where we said we needed some help and we are getting it!  

Sometimes, you just can't do it alone.  Parenting is HARD WORK and when you care enough - you do what you have to do to make your home a more peaceful place.  It's one thing when a 2 year old acts out... it's another thing when you have those problems really escalate into the teenage years.  We really want to have a handle on things before we hit those years of acting out really being SCARY!

Man... I don't want to think about being a mom to a teenager yet...

Okay, I wrote more than I planned.  I am exhausted and need to get packin'!

Have GREAT weekends everyone.  "Talk" to you next week!

Sick Day...

When you're not feeling well, you have your good and bad moments... and you can quickly go from feeling great...

... to feeling "ho-hum...."

.... to just having a meltdown....

It's not easy being a sick baby... and when the going gets tough... the tough passes out, in a semi-seated position....

Luke has had his good and bad moments today.  Overall, he's not feeling so great though.  He can't seem to sleep for more than half an hour or so.  Poor guy.  It's just tough to breathe when you're all congested.  And, I think I have permanently scarred him for life using the "booger sucker" all day... he hates me.  ;-)

Here's wishing on a star we get some sleep tonight....... hey, miracles happen!

8 Months... Sniffle... Sniffle...

No, I'm not choked up because Luke is 8 months old today!  I am home with him today.... and he is SICK!  He has a nasty little cold that kept the family up most of the night.  The poor boy cannot BREATHE.  It's hard to suck on a bink (his preferred way to sleep) and breathe through your mouth at the same time.

I had to rock him to sleep many times throughout the night. Suction out his nose... the task he loves oh so much! He just screams his head off when I'm doing that.  The fact that it is for his own good somehow doesn't matter.  He looks like a pathetic little guy and is breaking my heart....

He is down for his morning nap now. I hope he gets some much needed sleep!  He looked absolutely exhausted all morning... fighting to stay awake.  Well, I feel his pain!  After two cups of coffee, I can almost function!

Luke has changed in just about a zillion ways over the past few months it seems.  He is at that age where he learns to do something new every day it seems.  His latest and greatest accomplishments are:

• He can sit up!  All by himself and without any fear at all of falling over.
• He can get himself into a seated position from laying down - and in fact, is doing this in bed now.  Time to lower the crib mattress!
• He is getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth.  He wants to crawl so very badly!
• He is a pro at holding onto little toys, changing them back and forth between his hand.
• He is right hand dominant.
• He is eating all sorts of yummy food that we are still making for him, and freezing using the ice cube tray method.  Some of the latest editions are broccoli, nectarines, cauliflower, green beans, barley and yogurt.  He is going to have potatoes and we are going to venture into meats this week!  I made up turkey puree.... YUM!  ;-)
• He probably weighs around 22 pounds?  But, that is just an estimate on my part based on what he weighed at his six month appointment.  Over 21 pounds.  Seems like he weighs more now.  Maybe 23?
• He is still not sleeping through the night.  He does so every once in a while, but those nights are few and far between.
• He is bathing in the big tub and loves water... he also loves to swim.
• And... it seems as if my son... prefers blondes....

HA!  He really does.  It's pretty funny.  He LOVES his Aunt Jane to pieces!  Pretty much turns to a big ball of goo when she's around. It's adorable.  He's a flirt....

Let's hope the boy starts to feel better soon!  

Say Goodbye....

Many of you know of my love for the Dave Matthews Band.  I am saddened to learn that a member of the band, the saxophonist, LeRoi Moore has passed away.  I was lucky enough to have seen him many times in concert and to have met him personally in Denver a few years ago.  He was an amazingly talented man and far too young to have left us.... at only 46 years of age.

www.davematthewsband.com

Visiting the Mouse...

Scott and I are trying to make the decision of WHEN to take our daughter Ally (currently 5) to Disney World.  When I was growing up, my Grandma took each of her grandchildren when we turned five... or right around there.  Ally will be six and a half next summer. Do you think that's a good age to go???  

And Biz... don't think I forgot your offer to watch Luke for the week we go!   :-)

Back on the Crack....

I have given it up many times... but after this weekend, I am officially back on the crack. Back on coffee... Starbucks in particular! I was in denial for sometime. If I didn't "brew" it at home, I wasn't officially drinking it again. I would only drink it at work or I would make the occassional run to Starbucks to get an Iced Latte (my true love!). But, this weekend, I went down to the basement and unearthed the coffee maker that had been sent down there while I was pregnant for Luke.

It's official... I'm a coffee drinker again!

And, why not embrace the caffeine? I mean... my son STILL IS NOT SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT! I was up half the night with him yesterday. I swear... on our visit to my Dad's.... someone gave HIM Starbucks! :-) He was just wide awake. Happy. No desire to sleep. I must have given him three bottles at various points of the night to try to coax him into slumber. All to no avail.

I give up. I need coffee. I accept my defeat. I can't make it without it.....

We had a wonderful visit with my Dad and family yesterday! Great food... fabulous desserts in particular! Great Bloody Marys. And, the pool is always a big hit. Ally loved showing off her new swimming skills and Luke loved simming with his Aunt Biz. I forgot my camera, so I have absolutely no pictures to share! I suck. I was so upset I forgot it... Oh well...

The weekend was good and now we are here, back to Monday! Time is just flying by.

Luke turns 8 months old this week! What a big boy! I will have to do a post of all his updates on his actual 8 month birthday! And, hopefully, share some great new pictures of him!

Ally is busy getting ready for school. We have been doing some back to school shopping. We recently made a big trip to the Gap and bought the store out it seems. They were (and still are) having buy one pair of jeans, get one half off, for kids... so I bought all the embroidered jeans they had in her size. I love those jeans! And, we got a lot of other cute stuff. Problem was, of course... she wants to WEAR all her new stuff now. And, it's still too warm for jeans and sweaters!

Grandma Geri to the rescue! Yesterday, Grandma Geri and Aunt Biz presented Ally with this HUGE box of back to school clothes from Lands End. SUCH CUTE stuff... and it's all cute little shorts and skirts and short sleeve shirts that she can wear right away. So, she is just thrilled. She is wearing one the outfits today to Y Camp. The very same one she had to put on right away yesterday after she opened the box! Too cute.......

Thanks again Geri! That was so awesome of you to do. Makes her going to the "big" school all the more special!

Ally also got a "new" (to her!) American Girl Doll from Aunt Biz yesterday! MAJOR kuddos to Aunt Biz who just saved me $100!!!! Ally and I are going to Chicago this weekend, and I promised her a trip to the American Girl store. Now, since she just go the new doll, Felicity... I told her we would NOT be buying a doll... but we could get her a new outfit! Much cheaper! NICE! She is just as excited to do that! So, now Ally has two hand-me-down American Girl dolls... Kirsten (from Chelsea's sister, Erin) and Felicity from Aunt Biz! They're way cooler to her anyway because they actually came from people she loves, which makes them all the more special!

Thanks Aunt Biz!

I hope you all are having a fabulous Monday.... back to the week! A short week for me because I am taking Friday off and Ally and I are off to the Windy City!

Splish, Splash....

Luke is no longer in the baby bath!  Now that he is able to sit up all by himself, we have moved him to the "big bathtub" where he and Ally can, at times, take a bath together.  Let's be honest, he was too big for the baby bath for some time, but he wasn't able to sit very well and it was hard to balance him in the big tub.  I am not a fan of the baby bath seat (tried one with Ally and it sucked, so didn't even bother this time around!)... so we just soaked the kitchen counter and floor every time we bathed him for a while, until he could sit up!

And, now... he loves the bath!  He loves all the toys and splashing around.  Most of all, he loves being in there with Ally.  Frankly, he loves doing anything with Ally!  He thinks she is the funniest/coolest/bestest person in the whole world!  No one makes his face light up like she does.  No one makes him laugh that deep belly laugh like she does.  She is his idol.

What's not to love man.... big sisters rock! And, someday, she can make him her little slave.... it's like a right of passage.  (I love ya Dave!!!!)  (*** for those of you wondering, Dave is MY little brother, who I forced into slavery at a very young age)

So, here's the little guy in the tub.... splashing around.  I had to take him out not long after this, and he screamed his head off!  He was having far too much fun.  Ally of course wasn't so pleased either as she has just come to barely stand taking a bath again now that Luke has joined her!

I did get one of those little inflatable tubs yesterday.  On my day home alone with both the kids, I could no longer stand being home.... so after afternoon naps (I took one too!), we ventured out into the world.... TARGET!  Target rocks.  Honestly. It's truly one of the best places on earth.   You can quench your shopping thirst because there is just SO MUCH to look at and choose from.  You can get pretty much everything there.  Honestly.  I needed formula, diapers, and bottle liners.  While I was there, I also saw and grabbed.... some blanket sleepers for Luke for the fall/winter... an adorable little sweater dress for Ally.... some more baby spoons... and a birthday card!  It's your one-stop shopping destination.  You can throw your kids in a cart and shop away.... walk around/wander.  You see other moms doing the same thing too.

I struck up multiple conversations with perfect strangers in the aisles.  I am a social girl. Obviously, being home alone most of the day, I hadn't talked enough... so I struck up conversations with random people... mostly moms, who seemed happy to strike up conversations with me.   Or, so I like to think.

Oh, I know many of you are waiting on the edge of your seat.. wondering what happened with Ally all day!  She was really, a very good girl, overall.  It was a great day!  Until, the dreaded BEDTIME!  Then, we had to have the meltdown that she had been holding back all day. Bedtime is NEVER a peaceful time at our house.  Always a battle to be had.  That's Ally's battle time of choice.  It's usually when Scott and I are most exhausted too.. which doesn't help any of us!  

But, we got through the battle and all was well.  I always go into her bedroom, after she's asleep and give her a kiss.  Take a good look at the sleeping, angelic girl that she CAN be... and try to forget the battle that just took place.  I hate going to bed after having a battle like that with her.  I hate having that image of her the last one in my mind.  So... I have been trying to look at her in a more peaceful state.  It works..... but it also makes me wonder if I could have been more patient, done something different with the bedtime routine? Could I have read to her a little longer?  Given in a bit on the volume of her lullaby CD?  Not totally freaked out when she came out of her room for the 10th time to ask for something?

Ah... water under the bridge now... I can just try again another night.  With different results? Maybe... maybe NOT!!!!  :-)

Today, we are off to visit my Dad, Step-Mom Geri, and my little brothers and sister in Plainwell.  Today is Geri's birthday... so we are going to for a visit and to help her celebrate. They have a pool, so Ally is anxious to show them her new swimming skills.  We are looking forward to the day!!!!!

Happy Sunday to you all...

Saturday's Alright for Fighting...

It's Saturday... and I will be home alone with the two kids all day long!  Scott is off at an all day bachelor party.  They party needs to begin with golfing first thing in the morning, then eating, then card playing into the wee hours of the night?  Who knows how late he will be.  Ahh.... no matter... I am going to TRY to attempt to accomplish great things while I am home today.  

Yeah.  Right.

I am home with the KIDS!!!  Baby who requires constant attention and then, there's Ally.  For those of you that know (and love!) her... you know the handful that she can be.  Whew.  For those of you that don't know her.  Hmmm?  How to explain.  Ally is a handful and a half.  She is a stronger than strong willed little girl who is fearless.  Least of all, afraid of me!  So... we shall see what this Saturday, the two of us home together shall bring...

Like I said... Saturday's alright for fighting.....

Let's keep a positive attitude about us though and hope it doesn't come to that!  But, the girl already beckons.  She is staring a hole through me right now.  Her latest ploy - being hungry ALL the time!  ALL THE TIME!  The problem - she takes two bites of a meal when it is in front of her.  Two bites of her oatmeal and turkey sausage this morning... then, she announces "I'm full!"  Okay.  Two can play at that game.  Her food remains at the table.  So, when she proclaims that she is hungry 10 minutes later, I can let her know that her breakfast is still there.

Children are starving in Africa after all.....

So, now she has finished the breakfast and wants more.  Of course she does!  I will make her more and she will take two bites of that.  Guarantee you.  

Oh.... oh... here it comes.... she just made her first announcement of "I want Daddy" of the day. More to follow.  You know I will hear that 50 or so more times today!  We always want the one we can't have.  Fact of life.  Not to mention, Daddy might have an answer for her that is different than the answer I will give her today from time to time when she tries to manipulate me into getting her way.  In her dreams!  

Daddy and I are a unified front!  On the same team!  Little does she know.... but the girl can dream, can't she? "Sure Daddy would let me watch TV all the live-long day!  Surely Daddy would let me drink all the juice I want.  Daddy rocks.  You, Mom-who-is-here-with-me-right-now ----- you, on the other hand suck the big one."  :-)))

Oh, and she will let me know it.... routinely! 

Ah... a glimpse into a day in the life of a five year old girl, convinced she is a teenager!!!!!!

My martini is calling.  Holy crap!  It's only 10 am!  HA!

I love my darling daughter.  I try to remind myself daily that she is a strong person who will be happy later in life because she will likely get her way quite often. She will stand up for herself.  She will never be the girl in the bad relationship because she will never let herself be taken advantage of.  She will have the upper hand. She will do what makes her happy in her career.  In her life.  She is going to be a strong, independent, happy woman.

If only we both survive to see that day!  It will be a glorious day.

I know in my heart we will get through these rough times... but it doesn't make it any easier when we are in the midst of a really bad battle.  I wonder time and time again what I'm doing wrong!?  What did I do to create this?  Deserve this?

God doesn't give you more than you can handle I've heard.... boy, he must have more faith in me and my abilities than I do!  

Introducing... My Kids...

Luke (8 months)

Allison (Ally - 5 years)

For those of you that are new to 'me' and my blog, I wanted to introduce you to my kids! Of course, Nicole took these pictures... I swear, of all the bloggers out there I am reading now, it seems that we are all linked to Nicole somehow. She is the common thread! It does help that she takes the most amazing pictures ever... so I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to share my children with you...

This is Bad...

This is SO VERY bad. I can post from work! This is not good for the productivity. At all. This is also going to feed my procrasination habit. Again I say it... this is bad...

With the Mac blog program, I could only post from my Mac itself! So, I had to be home or using my Mac elsewhere. Now, with this program... I can blog from wherever I have internet access! What a wonderful world I've discovered! I can chat endlessly... for hours at a time... drone on and on.... I can even post from my iPhone. WOW!

I have created a monster.

I can feel it.

I'm never going to shut up now.

Trouble... with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for Procrastination. (You know all you Music Man fans are singing along right now... MOM!)

I've received a great deal of positive feedback from those of you that attempted to read my Mac blog that you are exceedingly happy with the change! I'm so happy to have some satisfied customers! And, it's good to know I have devoted readers!

I created a blog originally when my Mom moved to Las Vegas. I thought it would be a GREAT way to let her know what was going on with my life and the lives of her two grandchildren, Luke (8 months) and Allison (5 years). I thought it would be fun to post pictures and tell stories of our adventures. What I didn't know was how much fun it would be to just simply WRITE a lot. It's like talking. And I love to talk! Ask my sixth grade teacher who gave me my very first "Cs" in conduct because I "visited too much with my neighbors."

Whatever. I'm a multitasker! I can do many things at once! I could talk AND listen to my teacher then... I can somehow figure out how to blog and get my work done now! I remember justifying to my Mom my "Cs." I got "As" in everything else important! You know, math, reading, writing.... just some silly "Cs" in conduct. How can you argue with that 12 year old logic?

So... back to my discussion above... why do other people start blogs? Why do you, reader of my blog now, have a blog? What inspired you to start? What inspires you to continue? I know my friend Kristen had one when she was living overseas for a year. It was her way of letting us all know what she was doing while she was so far away.... but she doesn't keep it up anymore. My friend Chelsea has a blog, but her last post was April!

Do you think those of us with kids are more likely to want to blog and share our lives with those that are at a distance? Like my orginal inspiration? Why do we keep going? Do we really feel like we have such great things to say?

HA!

When I was a child, I loved to perform on the fireplace hearth at my Grandparents house. "LOOK AT ME!" I would yell....

This is quite possibly just an adult manifestation of that childhood wish.... look at me! Listen to me!

But, I do have things to say and to share... and I guess we'll just leave it at that......

Testing... 1,2,3....

Trying to learn how to upload a photo.  This is my test!

Well, look at that handsome little guy!  That was Luke in Cape Hatteras where we went on vacation a couple weeks ago.  It was one of his happier moments.  Overall, Luke was not a fan of the fun we tried to have in the sun!

 Now, let's see if this actually works when I post it and how it looks...

You will all have to bear with me as I tread these new waters!

Let's Get It Started...

So.... I am starting a blogspot blog!!  I have had a crap blog that I created using our Mac.  It's not really crap, but what IS crap is that when you view it on a PC.... it's completely unreadable! The pictures cover the words... it just doesn't translate well.  So, since I can't afford to buy all my friends and family Macs.... I am converting to this world!

I plan to do a much more creative job with this site soon.  I do plan to pretty it up with pictures and all that good stuff... but I have to tell you. It took me a good HOUR to come up with a name for this thing.  I was at a complete loss for some time.  So eventually, I reverted back to what I know...

Dave Matthews songs....

Anyone who KNOWS me will smile and nod now.  I passed on "Don't Drink the Water" and "The Song that Jane Likes."  Although, two great songs and choices!  Scott voted for "Pay Attention to Me!"  Not a Dave song... but quite possibly fitting for me still.  

So, after an hour agonizing over what to call this thing, we have it.... "So Much To Say."  It's a great song, a great title... and ALWAYS true of me.  I really do always have a lot to say!  I hope to spend some time here this coming weekend and create a masterpiece !  Everyone I know have great banners... I will get there... for now... I'm just letting you all know that I have a new home.

Here I am.....