Our pretty day today!

The weather was SO pretty today, the kids and I decided to play after school. We came home, changed clothes, and Mikey packed us some snacks. We were off! ( I apologize now for the poor quality pictures - I had to use the old camera, since mine wasn't charged!)

First stop: Old Main

The kids are in front of Old Main, which is across the street from my college apartment. It reallly made me miss the days of living there...

I used to take a quilt and pillow just behind where the kids are standing and take lovely afternoon naps. Ah, those were the days...

Next stop: INSIDE Old Main

which was one of the original buildings on campus. Maybe THE original?? Can't remember...

Mikey and Molly even listened to the audio tour. How cute are they?!?

Then, we had to stop to look at a big pile of ants eating something by the base of the step!

Next stop: The Nittany Lion Shrine

After the Lion, I dragged the kids over to Chambers building, where most of my classes were, and we found my old advisor! Kep Sones is the best advisor in the world, and still going at it... We'll meet up for lunch together this summer when things calm down on campus and I'm out of school. That stop didn't get a picture - it would have been too cheesy.

Next stop: The Nittany Lion Inn

The kids were about done hanging out on campus, so the promised land that I bribed them with followed...

Final stop: Holmes-Foster Park

What an adventurous day!

While I was away over Spring Break...

Very different from my beach pictures, huh? Chris took these and emailed them to me while I was away so I could see the difference in weather. I was glad I was on the beach! However, I did miss my "snow angels".

Update on Chris

I called her husband Jon today, and here is the latest:

She is still in the ICU, but did manage to get up to shower today! She still has a fever, she may have a colon infection, and her white count is still up.

The dr. said it will be about a week before she goes home, so her mother-in-law flew in for Spring Break with the kids, since they are at home.

In order for her to go home, she has to have a normal white count, she has to be off oxygen completely (she has a nose thing in now), and she has to be fever-free for 24 hours.


Here in State College we had a BEAUTIFUL day. I pulled the kids in the wagon to the park ( I think they were too lazy to walk the 4 houses down...lol), and after about 3-4 minutes, a cloud appeared from nowhere, and we had to take shelter in the picnic pavilion! ha ha It poured down rain, we came home, and as soon as we got home, it rained again! Honestly, it was so hot on the playground at school. At least it rained while we were at home, and not at school!

Tomorrow is Mikey's last swimming lesson, so I'll take pictures and post them on Thursday, hopefully.

Gosh, tomorrow is only Wednesday. I miss the beach.... ;-)

p.s. You can see a picture of me and Chris if you go to Wendy's blog - Chaotic Kiddos - which is linked on the side here!

I'm back....!!

Now to finish up some of those vacation pictures...

There was a pelican on the beach that had a fishing lure stuck in him, so the lifeguards did a "pelican rescue" as they spoke about it on their walkie-talkies. Here are the pictures:

The pelican flew RIGHT back to the pier where it got caught in the fishing lure in the first place. Humans can help the animals, but the animals don't always learn their lessons...

Pretty beach, huh? We spent 2 1/2 hours there, and I got BURNED on the backs of my legs. Now, they itch, but are tanning nicely... :-)

Home sweet home.

OK, I can't figure out what happened to my blog settings while I was gone, so I can't use my usual font size or change colors, but I figured any post is better than no post, right?

Vacation. That, it was. No kids, no husband, no work, no responsibilities. I hung out with my sister, my mom, my dad, and my brother, and my niece. Heather flew down for the weekend. We went and saw John Edward, but no one got read. It was still fun, though. Interesting.

My brother, David, turned 40 while we were all down there. We haven't all gotten together in years, so it was a treat. I just missed having my husband and kids with me, that's all. As nice as vacation is, I like being home better. Just call me a homebody, I guess.

OK, now I have tried to add pictures to my post, and it won't let me! UGGG! I should never have left this until 10:40, with school work still to do. Frustration is setting in. I'll try once more.

If this works, this is a picture of the beach I sat my rear-end on. Juno Beach.





Here are Gary, Stella, and Keeko eating Chinese food. Gary had never added "in bed" to the end of the fortune cookies, so we had a good laugh at the fortunes that night.




Here are Heather and I on a DivaDuck tour. That was a long truck that also went in the water and toured West Palm Beach.



This was Stephen King's house there. Someone was outside waving to us. Everyone thought it was him. I guess a gardener...LOL



My girlfriend Chris had stomach by-pass done on Monday, and had some complications. She's still in the ICU using a ventilator. Please say a prayer for her, her husband, and two kids. I can't imagine.

Finally, MY Chris is driving me crazy telling me the time every five minutes because it is a "school night". I'm going to end here, and I'll work some more on this for the next post. I still have lots more pictures!!

Quick post!!

My niece, Stella, is on page 32 of the summer Hanna Andersson catalogue! Check it out.

ON VACATION

No post for now because I'm on vacation. In Florida. By myself. For 8 days.
I'll fill you in next week! For now? I'll be reading on the beach...

A Favorite Friend

Shinyoung lived in Ohio when we lived there, and her husband was also a student at AFIT. They are from Seoul, and we became good friends with them. Moon, her husband, came over months before Shinyoung and their son came over, so we took him under our wing. Chris made sure he was learning English, and I made sure he wasn't learning dirty English. One time, Moon said to Chris "Is it right to say "Move your fat ass'? " Chris said "Not to me, it isn't!" Moon was not satisfied so he said "How about 'Move your boney ass'? " Chris asked him "Moon, where are you getting this stuff?" It turns out that Moon was renting old movies on the weekend and learning English from them. I think this one was Working Girl.

So, Shinyoung shows up. She is a quiet, intelligent, beautiful woman. I tell Moon that he batted way out of his league. Shinyoung and I became friends instantly. I loved showing her around, telling her things that we do, and learning from her, too. Not long after she got here, she was pregnant. How exciting! It was fun to go through that with her, especially since by then Molly was already here, and I knew I would not have another.

The biggest honor I have ever received? That daughter she has in the picture is named Susanne. After me. Wow, huh. Think on THAT for awhile. We call her "Little Susie".

Lumps.


It seems like everywhere I turn, everyone I talk to lately has "lumps". Problems. Face it, none of us live in a perfect world. We wish we did, but we don't. At least, not on this Earth.

I friend I once taught with actually taught me a LOT. Not about teaching, but about life. Here is one of the lessons I learned. Thanks, Jenny.


All of lifes problems can be divided into groups.
1. A lump in your oatmeal.
2. A lump in your throat.
3. A lump in your breast.


When you encounter a problem with family, friends, relationships, cars, children, etc. etc., ask yourself "What kind of lump is this??"
It really puts things in perspective for me. Fellow oatmeal eaters, unite.

Thoughts to think about...

Why does every kitchen have a "junk drawer"?
Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are going dead?
Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?
Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
Why is it always the mom that gets up with the kids in the middle of the night?
Why do we love the shade trees provide, but when it is time to rake, it seems like the leaves from a MILLION trees are there?
Why is it when someone asks you to go upstairs to get something, it seems like it is so FAR?
And my FAVORITE......The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Thinking about it, I'm not so sure they ARE okay...so I must be alright! :-)

I've been sitting here looking at my entry while my friend Wendy updated my page for me. First, thanks a ZILLION, Wendy. I adore it.
Second, I was looking at the picture of Chris and the kids with Snowy. Everything that matters to me is in that picture. My family smiling back at me. What an incredible feeling.

That will be all.

"God bless Snowy, ...."



Mikey and Molly love playing in the snow. Especially when they are playing with Daddy. This was the fruit of their efforts. Snowy. Now, Snowy was a little bit fragile. For example, he was often leaning over in the direction the wind blew. He hat was often on the ground. And his licorice mouth was often squirrel food in the grass. However, the children loved him. they repeatedly fixed him. And every night, he is to this day, included in their night time prayers. Oh, he's not just included! He is usually FIRST on the prayer list. Before the immediate family, friends, teachers, and anyone else they can list to stay awake.

He did melt, and has not been resurrected as of yet. God bless you, Snowy.

Here is a quick picture of the kids in the pool at their swim lesson. We are fortunate we can have our kids learn "life skills" beginning at early ages. The next one? Driving a 5 speed car. Mark, I will teach you that one day. Just tell me when you think you are ready!

My dear friend Karla came out to visit for a long weekend. It was her first trip away from her girls! It was lovely to eat, talk, walk, shop, talk, eat, and talk with her face to face. You know how you have friends that you just immediately clicked with, and you know they will always understand you. (And if not, they will at least PRETEND to?) That's Karla. A friend 'til the end. God bless you, Karla.

International week blows. Chunks.

I know, I need to put on some pictures. But for today, I just have to vent. Let me set the scene...

It is a pre-school. International week. And we have "flown" to Canada, of all places. Not a single thing against Canada, or the people there, but there is not that much interesting to report on the Northwest Territory. Inuit people. Cold weather. And bears.
So, my room got "culture". Grrr. Ok, I thought, I can do this. No problem...
My plans - we have 30 minutes. I will have kids that are 2 1/2, 3, 4, and kids that are 5. That is a HUGE age gap - twice the entire life of the first group for the last group. So, I have Michele pre-cut 137 Canadian flags, complete with the maple leaf. Thank God for the Ellison machine.... The kids can glue a white strip in the middle of the red paper, and glue the leaf on top of that. Simple. I smile.
Now....that will take about 5 minutes, so I have 25 more to fill. Ok, throw in a few non-fiction picture books, a few dolls, and we're done. I have now done it for 2 days, and both days it took between 28-31 minutes. Pretty good, huh?

So, why does it blow chunks, you ask? (If you don't want to read a gripe, just go to your next blog now...) Two of the classes - the OLDEST two, I might add - aren't having anything in their room. They just come to all of our classes to enjoy our work. So, some days, I have 22-24 kids in my room. Yes, we are in compliance with "codes" because their aides come with them. But try to do an activity with that many kids in a room sized for 1/2 of that!! My new suggestion for next year? If you don't have an activity, you don't travel from room to room. Why should the rest of us have to accomodate you?
Other gripe. After I had had Michele cut out the flag supplies, the other teachers all started making the flag in their rooms!! NOW what am I supposed to do? Why make the flag in your room before you even travel around for the week? If you want to supplement the week, wait until AFTER you know what everyone else plans on doing!!
Today I had the 2 1/2 class, and a class of 3's. (Molly's class) Of course when they got to my room all they wanted to do was go see the toys in MY class. Because they are different from the toys in THEIR class. I can't blame them. I didn't know the tiny kids names, they were all over the place, couldn't sit on their bottom for a 45 second story or directions, they twitched the entire time. Therefore, I twitched the entire time.

Thank God I took Monday and Tuesday off to hang out with Karla. All I have to do is the 24 kids on Wednesday, and we "fly back" on Thursday. Maybe next year for International Week, I'll get on a real plane and just leave the country.

Things to Talk About


I haven't posted a blog for awhile because I don't have anything to say. Yup, me....with nothing to say. Let me sit and ponder.

- A family in town had the dad die this week of stomach cancer. Had 3 boys under the age of 10. What a terrible tragedy - made me appreciate family and time together all the more.

- My friend, Karla, comes to visit me this weekend from Colorado Springs. I am more than a little excited! I even took time off work while she is here, just to play!

- Chris has decided to make chair rails and new base boards for the house. After he gets the painting done. When in the world will he get this PhD?

- Our cadet, Mitchie, has a date for the Ring Dance. We are so proud and excited for him!

I'll take some pictures of swimming tonight so I have something to show on the next post. I hope I can get the shutter speed to work for me!

Does anyone have any ideas for next time I hit a "posting slump"?

Six Things That Make Me Happy

1. A freshly painted room. Thanks, Chris.

2. Mail from friends. Real mail.

3. Cheesesteaks from CC Peppers. Coast-to-coast, no onions

4. Stamping at my craft table

5. Unlimited long distance

6. Blueberry pancakes

Notice I didn't mention the kids - I did that LAST time. I don't want them all to be the same. Besides, they are a given. They are my kids.

Six Weird Things About Me

1. If I am tired, hungry, or cold, I get GRUMPY.

2. My sense of humor is weird, according to Chris.

3. I have to have both shoulders covered when I go to sleep, and I sleep on my stomach.

4. I have arctic feet. Ice cubes. Really.

5. As mentioned before, I have to wear rubber gloves to do dishes or clean. I have extremely sensitive skin, and I only shower, not bathe. If I am to clean ANYTHING, hand over those gloves.

6. I collect cookbooks. Do I use them? Rarely. But I read them like a novel. I don't even really LIKE to cook. But I LOVE cookbooks.

OK, I'm tagging Wendy, Laura, and Keeko. If I could figure out how to link them, I would. Erin tried to explain it, but I can't find a little chain anywhere...???
Also, I'll work on putting people's blogs on the sidebar of mine. Anyone want theirs posted on mine?

"Happy Vallemtimes Day!"

That is the greeting we got yesterday when we woke up from Molly. However, the best part of the day came later. They were playing in Mikey's room, and he comes running down the hall yelling "She stunk me out! She stunk me out!" I asked him what he was talking about, and he said "Molly has gas. Stinky gas!" So, of course she comes out and says that she doesn't, that it was HIM. She says "Let me smell you." He lets her smell his bum. He says "Let me smell you!" He smells her bum and yells "TOLD YOU!!"

I still don't understand WHY they feel the need to smell the bums. If it stinks, why would you want your nose up in it?

More things they say. As requested.

We were watching the Super Bowl. Molly came out and asked "Who's winning? Indy-apples?"

Our heat went out downstairs last week, during the COLDEST week of the winter so far. The pipes under the house had frozen. Well, the heat/plumber/fix-it guy was here to fix it. Molly is sitting on the steps watching, and says "Dad, is this OUR house?" We've only lived here for 6 months - where does she THINK she has been living?? C'mon good sorority bid!!

Mikey's drink of choice lately - Tank. You know, the orange powder you mix with water, the astronauts drink. I laugh every time he asks for it.

Speaking of astronauts, I feel really sorry for that chick that cracked last week. You know she had to have her act together to do what she does. It just goes to show, your life can change in an instant. And the chick she attacked in the parking lot? A PSU Det. 720 grad from 2002. Small world. Oh, and her? Her life will never be the same, and all she did was date some space shuttle pilot, which she probably thought was pretty darn cool. Personally, I think he is way too old for her....

The other night, Chris was pushing Molly's bed back into place after he dug out a stuffed animal mashed against the wall. Molly was already in bed, and after he pushed it she chirped "Thanks for the ride, DUDE...!" She's a funny one.

My friend Laura had her baby on the 9th, just as she had dreamed she would. A few weeks early, but not very. She was healthy, and a whopping 5 pounds, .7ounces. She has to wear preemie diapers!!
Congratulations to Laura and Bryon on a wonderful baby Evelyn! I can't wait to come to Colorado Springs to meet her!

I've been tagged by Erin to do 6 Weird Things About Me, and 6 Things That Make Me Happy.
That will be the next post. Promise.

Things kids say...

Mikey went into school the other day and told Mrs. T. "Molly isn't coming in today..." Mrs. T. asked "Why not? Is she sick?" He said "No, she has a doctor's importment." Mrs. T. grinned and said "A doctor's importment?" Mikey said "Yeah, my importment is NEXT week.."

He hurt his foot on the furniture. He started to fuss with it, so I asked him what he hurt. His answer? "My thumb toe."

Molly went to a dance clinic on Sunday afternoon. The kids learned a dance from the Lionette dance team up on campus, and at half time they went onto the basketball court and performed their dance. Molly went down to the court with Chris and his movie camera. She asked him to come out with her, and he told her he couldn't. So, out she went. She looked at the crowd, and just started crying. She ran to the dance student, who picked her up, and handed her to Chris. That was it. The whole dance, down the drain. To top it off, when she settled back down in her seat, she started crying again because she wanted to go do her dance!! I guess she is not meant to be a dancer....

A week in the life.

Mikey was climbing on his art desk, fell off, and hit his Lego table with his face. See his Lego-Cheek? Perfect circles. Bet he doesn't climb on THAT for awhile...

Chris took the kids to a PSU hockey game on Sat. afternoon while I was at an all-day-too-f-ing-long-teachers-conference. This is how they looked when they came home. Happy, but tired.

Chris and the kids lounging on the couch on Sunday morning. Remember when we could only watch cartoons on Saturday morning? The kids will never know such a thing.

Monday after school Molly decided she was a ballerina. And what a ballerina she is.

Not to be outdone, Mikey was building a tower. We are studying "building" as our science theme at school, and he loves it.

We have a magnetic white board in the kitchen. I bought it to try to stay in touch with Chris, as we always seem to have something going on. However, after I bought it, we decided that we like doing it the old fashioned way. Talking with each other. So, the white board is always a source of amusement for me. Have you noticed Chris's sense of humor?

I was Susie Jennings before we got married. He still calls me that. He just shortens it to "Susie J."

We finally got some snow today. Not much is sticking to the roads, so we will probably have school, but Mikey finally got to go play in it. Molly didn't want to get cold. Big surprise.

So, that is our week, from Friday afternoon until Tuesday evening. Not quite a week, I suppose, but if I wait a whole week, think how many pictures I'll have to post!

The bracelets, as requested.

We are at Shula's Steakhouse, compliments of Gary. We ate whatever we wanted, drank all we wanted, and it was all paid for. Thanks, Gary! That's a great way to earn points with your sister-in-law and mother-in-law, huh?

Now, I'm back in State College, where it was 8 degrees this morning with a wind chill of about -20. Pretty darn cold. I think I'll go take a snooze on the couch with the fire going while the kids watch their Clifford and Curious George. One hour of tv every now and then won't hurt them, and it does wonders for me!

Why I LOVE Him

Luckiest Husband in the World said...
FOR SALE: One wife, doesn't clean, doesn't cook, be-atches all the time, spends like there's no tomorrow, constantly cackling on phone or typing furiously on laptop, leaves gas on "E" in cars, too weak to take out garbage, pilfers wallets, cannot positively identify broom, dustpan, or mop, has un-humanlike cold feet, thinks she's good at Jeopardy but she's not, once placed cat terd in husband's shoe to express anger at said husband. Will take best offer or trade for...nothing in this world. ;o)
1/20/2007 12:09 AM

He left me a comment while I was in FL. There I was, playing with my mom and sister, and he missed me enough to leave me a comment, which he has never done before. Am I the luckiest girl in the world, or what?

Speaking of my trip to FL... it was GREAT. Here are some pictures:

This was where we sat our rear-ends on the beach with waitress service. Sun, a breeze, and everything we wanted brought to us. It was heaven for two hours.

Keeko and I met Gary out for a bite to eat, a couple of glasses of wine, and an ice cream cone. It was good to see him. Oh, and the sushi was delicious!

Stella got her sitter to bury her in the sand. She sure is my sister in a little body. Change the hair color and curl, and that is Keeko when she was 3. To a T.

Mom, Keeko and I went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. See those avocado eggrolls? One of my favorite foods in the world. With two of my favorite people in the world.

OH, OH, OH, I almost forgot...

We went to the mall, and were just walking into stores... they have Burberry, Coach, Brooks Brothers, etc.etc.etc. Well, we also went into Tiffany's. We just looked around, Keeko tried on a bracelet, so I tried it on, too. Mom looked at the saleslady and said "We'll take 3." And she looked at the two of us and said "I can buy us a birthday present..." I was totally shocked. I now have my first piece of Tiffany's jewelry. Lucky me. All around, just lucky me.

Rainy days and Mondays...

NO, they don't get me down. Quite the opposite when we have the day off school! Chris let me sleep in, and this is what I awoke to. I think they had every stuffed animal we own out in the TV room. But they were happy. Daddy helped them build a great fort. Or clubhouse. Or whatever they called it. Later on, during the day, Chris was going downstairs and I said to him "well, you are the best daddy..." and Mikey yelled from the kitchen "in the WORLD!!"

Here's a picture of Chris, little Mar (the kids Godmother) and her fiancee, Brian when Chris went down on his "mancation" to the Outback Bowl. I can't wait to meet him!

I won't blog until early next week, as I have a busy weekend coming up, but I'll let everyone know our latest happenings later, I promise. Here's thinking happy labor thoughts for Amy

this weekend, in case anything happens!!

It's Saturday night, woo, Saturday night...

If you have ever been to The Phyrst in State College, you know how to sing it. If not, well, pretend that you do.

Anyway, today was the Dad's Are Cool breakfast at Grace Lutheran. The kids made an invitation for their dad, and they had pancakes, sausages, applesauce, milk, juice, and coffee this morning. Chris decided to take it one step further. He took the kids to the PSU men's basketball game at 12:15 while I had the "day off". Yup, I had the day off. I didn't cook, I didn't do laundry, I didn't pick up a darn thing. I showered, went to CC Pepper's for a cheesesteak for lunch, and came home and stamped.

Then, we took the kids to Ben's birthday party. Ben, Pia, and Tassia were our old neighbors that lived across the street, and then they moved two months after we got here. Yup, the nerve of them, huh?

The party was fun. Although the picture doesn't do it justice. LOL

The picture was actually taken post-party while they were watching a movie. These are the kids whose parents hung around to eat, drink, and chat after the chaos of a "pizza making party". Really, they DID have fun....!!

Mikey and Molly DO have the coolest dad. Really, they do. And I love him to death. Even though he got ticked about my last post be-atching about him.

If you want something done right, do it yourself...



I'm not be-atching, I'm just venting. Chris said HE would do the Christmas cards this year since he got out of school a week before I did. So, I reminded him, and he did the newsletter, folded it, and stuffed the picture into it. There it ended. TODAY I am finishing the envelopes and cards. WHY say you are going to do something if you AREN'T??? So, your cards will be in the mail tomorrow. Better late than never, I suppose. UGG!!



This morning on the way to school Mikey was talking about how deep the snow is in CO, since we just got our first real flurries today. He said it was "over Cowin's head". (Colin is our darling Godson who is still out there...) He asked how "Cowin would see?" I said I don't know... and just kept driving to school. He got kind of quiet and said "I guess he'd need some ba-knock-ee-urs".... He thinks binoculars solve everything.



Oh, and he still calls Molly "Mah-we". If he is in a hurry, she is just "Mah." So, sometimes he said "Mah, wook!" That is if she needs to look at something. He goes to speech therapy weekly, and I'll be glad when he is done, but I'll forever call her "Mah-we" to Chris.

Oh, random picture... let me find one...



This is how much coconut chip ice cream is left AFTER I've eaten my fill....
Coconut chip ice cream is like eating a Mounds bar ice cream. Yummy!

The coffee stirrers? The kids call them "poke poke pokes". Don't ask me why, I don't know, but they are a favorite toy when we find them by coffee dispensers. I have screwy kids.

Things I Love for Today

* Warm clothes from the dryer

*Lights on Christmas trees

*cold fresh fruit

*stripes

* skiing, both water and snow

*getting mail - REAL mail, not bills...

*hearing my kids laughing

*a cold drink on a hot beach

*having time to do what I want to do, with no interruptions

*my friends

I got a comment on my blog from a friend in England. I haven't heard from her in the LONGEST time (years and years), and now she can see my and my family on my little blog!

I just wish I knew how to get back in touch with her....??

Email me at home: SusiePSU@adelphia.net

Oh, and the picture? Just a random picture of the kids opening presents on Christmas, but blog entries are SO much better with a picture, don't you think?

MORE exciting news!!

Stella, my niece, has been selected for a Kraft modeling thing. She has done one for Hanna Andersson already, so this is her second "gig", I guess you'd call it. (Although I really don't like that word...) They called Katherine, my sister, and she had two meetings already, so they shoot tomorrow. She has been asked to bring a solid color bathing suit in case the ones they have don't fit correctly, or something. It will be in the shallow end of the pool, and if they actually print her, she gets paid a bonus. I want to know how I can get paid for swimming in January. Although if people had to look at me in a bathing suit, I would have to pay them...LOL.

EXCITING NEWS !!!!


Check out Erin's blog. She is in my bookclub back home, in Colorado Springs.

www.thepigbear.blogspot.com

If I knew HOW to put in a link, I would have done it...lol.

I like to think that my votes helped. Yeah for Erin and Sarah! (And Brent, of course!)

It's almost over.

College football season has almost come to a close. I have watched so many Bowl games in the past week, it is like a power boost before the end. Some of the team I cheered for lost (like Va Tech) and some of them won (like PSU), but in every game, I had a favorite. Usually the lower-ranked team. Why? I like the underdog to win.

I've been thinking a lot of New Year's Resolutions. Should I make one? If so, what do I choose? To take the kids to church more regularly? To keep the house cleaner? To finally try to get in shape? To do more with the kids in the afternoons? To try to email my friends more often?

So, I have come up with something. Just to be a better ME. A better mom. A better wife. A better Christian. A better friend. A better sister. A better daughter. A better teacher.

I'm sure Chris would be happy if I were just to try to be a better SAVER. Especially with a kitchen full of new appliances. Hey, it adds value to the house - that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

And for those of you who love random pictures, here are Mikey and Molly mailing their letter to Santa. Yes, that is a tiara on her head. And no, it was NOT my idea...lol. Some battles just aren't worth fighting.

Happy Together

Most days, Mikey and Molly are content to play together. This is one of my favorite pictures from this month - just coloring on the floor by my feet.

Christmas time was good this year. The four of us were happy together. It was quiet, we didn't have any family or friends over, but it was cozy.

We didn't even cook a Christmas dinner this year.

It was super hard to be away from my family and friends. Harder than I thought it would be. But, we made it, and Chris is on his way to the Outback Bowl with Kevin and Bo. Here is a picture of us tailgating this year. It is Chris, Kevin, me, Mikey, Mom Keller, Dad Keller, Bo, and Molly.

The kids and I went downtown to look at the ice sculptures as they melted down the sidewalk. We would have taken pictures, but we sent the camera with Chris to FL.

Oh, Molly is the queen of opposites lately. If Mikey and I are slowpokes, she is a "fastpoke". If we are going downtown, why aren't we going uptown? Some of them are pretty comical. I'll listen for more of them tomorrow.

Our first letters to Santa

Dear Santa,
I would like a green Care Bear with a rainbow, a sleeping bag, and a light pink towel with a hood.

I was good. I shared my toys with Mikey and listened to Mrs. Pritchard, Ms. Lonni, and Mrs. Johnson at school.

Love,

Molly







Dear Santa,

I would like in my stocking a nice, red, juicy lollipop, a nice juicy candy cane that tastes like peppermint, and apple, pear, banana, and orange and strawberry candy canes. One more piece of candy - a fruit roll up!

I want a pice of train that has a rolie thing on top. I want a Lite Brite, new Play Doh, a Christmas tree ornament, and a sleeping bag with a pillow.

I'm good at jump roping, putting my toys away, doing my speech, and I like to read books and work at school.

Love,

Michael




(Mom's note: We are taking the letters to Santa's mailbox downtown, and he really send you a handwritten letter back in the mail!!)

"Mom. Mom? Mommy....Mom! Hey, Mom...Mom? Mommy!"

I feel like my mother. She used to hear that all of the time from the three of us. It seems like my name is all I hear from my kids anymore...if I had a dollar each time they called for me, I could quit work! Today I told them I was changing my name, it wasn't Mom anymore - it was a secret, and I wouldn't tell them. Mikey promised that if I told him, he wouldn't tell his friends. I wasn't buying it. Finally, I picked a name and told them. Now, my new name is Babe. I couldn't decide between Babe, Toots, or Hot Stuff. Maybe next time I get tired of hearing "Mom", I'll be Sweet Thing. :-)

The House is Disappearing

The kids and I made our first gingerbread house on Sat. afternoon while Chris was at school. OK, so maybe we didn't make it, but we did assemble it. The directions didn't call for a hot glue gun, but we used one! I hot glued it together (no waiting time before we could stick on those candies!!), and the kids went to town. Twenty minutes later, the candy was all on, the sprinkles were sprinkled, the gumdrops all dropped onto icing, and we were done! Well, I think as much candy made it into the kids' mouths as on the house, but we were proud. I'd take a picture, but it wasn't THAT good....lol.

We proudly displayed the house in the living room on an end table. Over the past 3 days, more and more of it is missing! The kids know it is glued together, because we went to buy a new glue gun to make it. Therefore, they know not to eat that part. However, the candy stuck on the icing? Going, going, GONE! The house is a bit naked. I just turn a blind eye to the missing candy. After all, if you are going to fuss over a gingerbread house with kids, why bother making it?

Oh, and tonight I went to the cookie exchange (9 dozen), and I also got a tray of cookies from the parents at school today. I am on a total cookie sugar-high, trying to type. Some of them are so yummy I won't put them on the neighbor's tray - they are staying right here in the Solo household. Chocolate peanut butter truffles, anyone?

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I love getting Christmas cards. We move a lot, being in the military, and some of my friends I only hear from at Christmas, it seems. They have moved, we have moved, they had another baby, we did NOT...lol And my favorite part of the cards? The pictures and the newsletters. In the pictures you can see how much the kids have grown, and who they are beginning to look like. Oh, and how they were posed. That is always pretty comical. Oh, and if you don't get a pictures at Christmas? I guess you just didn't rate high enough on the list to get one. :-)


The very best part of cards? THE NEWSLETTERS!! Oh, everyone has such a perfect life and a perfect family and a perfect year at Christmas, don't they? You never hear: "So-and-so got suspended from school this year for..." or "Our son is turning out to be such a nerdy dork!" "Our daughter is totally spoiled and throws tantrums all the time, and she is almost 14!" Another thing you don't hear - "We have moved, and are settling in, but it is difficult." NO, everyone who moves loves their new house, their new neighbors, their new friends - they never say "I had to find a pediatrician, and don't really like the one we have...." or " We still haven't managed to find a dentist, but we'll cross that bridge when we really have to!" One of these days, I am sure I will get an honest newsletter, one that tells the whole picture. As soon as I do the same... ha ha


I am excited today, though. I have some friends coming over to stamp Christmas cards. Yup, friends. Well, one that I meet up with every week, and the other two are potential friends, I guess you could call them. We'll see. I am thrilled to get out my stamps, my inks, my paper cutters, etc and get busy. I had better go clean up this dump before they see I actually LIVE like this. See? That should go in my honest Christmas letter, huh?

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!!


Today I took the kids to The Creamery. Can you believe the price of a cone went up again? $2.50 a cone...and there is only one size cone. They pile as much ice cream up as the cone will hold, and that costs $2.50. Now, it IS a lot of ice cream, don't get me wrong. I would just like to pay less to receive less. After all, I ate as much as I could, and look how much I still had to throw away! I suppose I could go down to Cold Stone Creamery downtown, and eat fancy ice cream there, and not be-atch about how much it costs. But I can do that anywhere. While I live here in Happy Valley, I'm sticking to The Creamery on campus.

Back when I was in school, (no, I didn't have to walk to school, uphill, 2 miles each way...) the cones cost $1. Inflation. Wait, now that I think about it, I DID have to walk to classes, about a mile each way...lol I hate to think about how long ago that was.

Mikey still goes to speech once a week, and I still laugh at what comes out. For example, he has always called the garage the "ba-gwage". Chris and I will probably call it that for the rest of our lives. Dessert is "bessert". Once he was pouting after dinner, and I asked him what was wrong. He said "I just want bessert in my mouth..." So, now we only have dessert on Fridays. Other nights, don't bother asking. At least not until the kids are in bed!

Oh, big news. I've finally finished raking the yard! Now, for some of you, you might think "BIG deal..." It IS a big deal. In the afternoons when Heather called, most days her message was "Well, I guess you're outside raking. Call me when you come in..." Just in the back yard, we have 25 trees that drop leaves, and at least a dozen bushes and trees to rake around that don't drop their leaves. The borough sends a big leaf sucker truck around a few times a week during the fall to pick up the leaves. Their last trip was on Thursday, so I had to be done by then. I finished, we had a huge windstorm on Friday, and the neighbor's leaves (who didn't rake at all the entire season ) blew into my yard. UUGGG!!

Here is our leafpile. It really doesn't do it justice, since I also had leaves picked up that I had raked a couple times a week all fall. I was one tired chickie.

One of my favorites...

Enough said.

Packed and Ready

The kids packed what they thought they would need for two nights in Pittsburgh, and here it all is! Right down to a fake potted flower from her bedroom, a bottle of vitamins, their mouthwash, tissues, toys, blankets...I just wish they had thought of clothes!

Quick update.


I did join the gym yesterday. Tuesday and Thursday will be my weight days, with MWF being my cardio days. I'm pretty friggin' exhausted, but am waiting for Chris to come home.

He had an exam tonight, so he didn't even get to see the kids. I feel badly for all three of them on these nights.

We met Mark's mom and dad at the Creamery today for ice cream. "Pop Pop" asked the kids if they wanted ANYTHING else... he'd get it for them! He spoils those kids rotten. Which I appreciate, because they don't see my dad often. Mark's parents have become grandparents to my kids. Which I love. Because I love Mark. At one of the football games his sister looked at the kids, and the first thing she said was "Look how big they've gotten!" I wanted to say - "You've never seen them before...." until I realized that she has seen them, in pictures. Either from Mark or at his parent's house. And that made me love the Keller family even more. For keeping up with my kids.

While at the Creamery, Mikey asked to go to the bathroom. Well, he had been in there for longer than it takes him to pee, so I said "Are you ok in there?" He said back (in between grunts) "Can you turn on the fan?" I just laughed. I love that kid.

I'm so full of love tonight, can ya tell? I just talked to Mona, a friend from middle school that I keep up with. She came to visit us once a year out in CO. I love her, too. And I never hesistate to tell her.

I am one of those people that think you SHOULD tell people when you love them, if you get the chance. Or if you take the chance. Never take them for granted. Especially friends. I'd rather have 5 friends that I can call if I ever need them than 40 people I can call for a party. I guess that's why I'm so loyal to my friends. Because I appreciate them.
I have a friend going through a hard time with her husband right now. And I like the fact that she calls me. Because that makes me her friend. I am the one she can call when she needs to cry, laugh, or just sound things out. And I like knowing that friends love me as much as I love them.

OK, this has turned into a long update. Sorry. I'm going to shower to try to relax these muscles of mine that haven't been used in way too long.

Love you guys.

He can READ!!


Mikey read his first word today - map. I was so proud! It was on a mailbox-type of thing on the street, and he asked me what it said. I looked around and couldn't find a word that he was talking about, and he said "That one. Map." I looked around, and there it was! Map! No pictures or anything, just the word. I am one proud mama.

Fat or fit?

I am going to join a gym. Probably tomorrow. LOL No, I mean it. There is a gym about 50 yards from school, and I can go while the kids eat lunch. I am actually pretty excited about it! I just have to remember that the other girls working out are 1/2 my age and have had no children, so I can't compare myself. Personally, I think that is a good reason to go and just feel good about myself in general!

There are free weights, machines, and classes, although the classes are Sat. and Sunday evenings. So, every now and then, ask me how the gym is going...or if I am going.
But don't look for any pictures to be posted!

They are lucky to be alive.

We went to Wal-Mart today. Nothing strange there. We had a list of things to buy for the Operation Christmas Child boxes. Nothing strange there. We pushed, shopped, and bought a few extra things (NOT on the list) for the boxes. Again, nothing strange there. Then, we went to the check-out. Here I am, feeling all warm inside buying gifts for kids with less. Lots less. I let the kids get some extra things for the little kids. I'm smiling, holding my head high, teaching my children a life lesson, right? (Picture a smug Susie here...)
So, we are checking out, and I hear two little ANGELS saying to the lady in the next line "Stupid lady!" I think to myself "that CAN'T be MY two kids.....CAN IT??" So, I look up from talking to the cashier about the weather, and there they are, popping their heads up and down, looking at the lady in the next line, taking turns (at least they were taking turns) saying "Stupid lady! Stupid lady!" OK, something strange there.
I made them get OUT of the card, march their butts over the the lady, and apologize. I was absolutely mortified, to put it lightly. I stayed calm until they were in the car, buckled in, and ready to drive the 100 yards to Sam's. Then, I blew. Picture one pissed mommy and two crying kids in the Blazer. Not a pretty sight.
I stopped, drove to Sam's, and threatened them within an inch of their life. Shopping in Sam's was pretty peaceful, since they were forbidden to SPEAK! Needless to say, they got no ice cream cone at Sam's today. As the lady they apologized to said as she looked at me "It gets easier, it really does...." I was so flustered, I accidently left my bags and had to walk the 10 feet back to get them. Sometimes, I wish I could take home the groceries and leave the KIDS.
It does get easier, the difficulties are just different. There are always challenges to parenting. I just pray I can face them and teach the children along the way.

Mikey Wants a Squirrel

Mikey and Molly were watching the squirrels play in the front yard today. I'm chatting on the phone with Kristen when Mikey calls for me. He wanted to go outside, catch a squirrel, and bring the animal in the house. I told him that he couldn't, because the squirrel would bite him, but we could go up on campus and FEED the squirrels, because they will eat out of your hand there. He replied that no, he had a bucket ready to go outside to catch the squirrel, and would it still bite him? I told him yes, and got off the phone to see what he was up to.
He came back upstairs, took his coat off, and said he was ready to go to campus to catch his squirrel. He would put his bucket like "this" and the opening "there" (with huge arm motions while squatting down) and we could bring it home! I told him that we couldn't bring the squirrel home, that the mommy squirrel would miss it. He solved that by saying we could bring them BOTH home, the baby AND the mommy!! I just said "No, honey, squirrels live in trees....but hey!....it's time for CLIFFORD!!"

If all else fails, there is always PBS. Besides, I love those happy giggles while Clifford is on. Clifford and Curious George are their afternoon treats on these more frequently cold, drizzly afternoons. Their treats, and my 60 minutes of peace and quiet. Just enough time to blog and relax.

Kids Stuff

In the above picture they were at a Halloween party that we went to - and Mikey wanted to be Prince Charming. I managed it with some curtain tassles and some tie-back cord from Wal-Mart, with a few safety pins. The cord went like a Miss America sash, and the tassles around his shoulders. Hey, it was cheezy, but he was happy, everyone knew who he was, and it was cheap and easy!

I was thinking of things the kids say that make me laugh...

Molly wants cornflakes, but asks for snowflakes.
She likes to play frisbee, but says quizbee.

Oh, and their favorite song for this week? "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" They belt it out when it comes on their CD in the car! Very cute.

Molly is the biggest girly-girl. Is she even my daughter?? Every day, she wants to wear a dress with tights. Sock tights. NO jeans, and if I am lucky, she'll wear some leggings and a fleecy shirt. So, if any of you see any sales on dresses with matching tights, let me know where to look! She's almost up to a size 4 now. Long legs, tiny body.

The two kids are at the front window watching the leaf sucker. Twice a week the machine comes by to suck up any raked leaves and take them away. The kids like to watch the thing come around, but miss the leaves they can play in. We have to tarp our leaves out of the back yard still, so there will be PLENTY of leaves once we do that. You can't even see the back yard due to the depths of leaves.

Mitchell, our cadet from USAFA that we sponsor, flew in for the weekend for a visit. I'll post some pictures if he and Chris ever get up today. :-) I think the bars must have been a good time last night, and Chris forgets that he's not still 21.

Sitting here watching the kids play, I remember how much work it was when Molly was born. Mikey hadn't even been walking for a month, and didn't speak for SO long. He was a fat little thing, and she was in that bucket carrier forever, so I was trying to carry both of them if I was in a hurry...and getting up to feed Molly, and Chris was in AFIT...and now they are so much fun. They play all of the time, sometimes for hours without interruption, and especially since we moved, have become the best of friends. They aren't really concerned that they don't play with that many other people - they have each other. I don't really remember much of Molly's first year, but am thankful that I have them both so close together now. They really are my pride and joy. I just hope I don't spoil them rotten.

Quick Quip

Tonight Mikey was trying to get me to give him some dessert before he finished his dinner. Here were his best tries:

"Mommy, if you give me a fruit snack RIGHT NOW, then I will let you stay up LATE. PAST your bedtime!!"

Then, I got on the phone and in the background he starts singing "If you give me a fruitsnack, I will let you play with my toys in the morning, if it isn't a school day..."

Have I mentioned lately how much I love that kid??

And no, I didn't give him a fruit snack. But Chris laughed so hard he did. Usurped again.

Happy Halloween!

Last night was one of the best moments of my life that I can remember. It ranked right up there with taking the kids to their first PSU game...we went trick-or-treating. It was a quiet night, the weather was absolutely incredible (we didn't even need jackets!!), and we left holding hands and flashlights while the kids darted up the sidewalk to the next house. They both "got it", and dashed from house to house, knowing the faster they went, the faster they got the candy! Mikey wanted to hit the townhouses, realizing they were closer together, but we talked him out of crossing the bigger street. They took off at a trot, Molly with her Cinderella dress fanning out behind her, and Mikey with his flashlight to see where they were going. After 4 houses or so they slowed down, and after the dozen houses on our cul-de-sac, and another 6 or so down the side street, Molly was being carried, Mikey was carrying her ghost full of loot, and we were headed home. Mikey would have been happy to carry on down the next street, but Molly was pooped. We even trick-or-treated at a police car that came down our road. He was a younger policeman, and had candy for the kids. So, they kids said "trick-or-treat" and he had baggies of candy corn for them. However, they would't approach the car. I laughed and explained we have taught them NOT to take candy from strangers, especially in cars.... He then said "Oh, yeah... I didn't think of that... here, YOU give it to them..." We had already said to the kids how nice it was the policeman was out to make sure we were safe, so they knew he was alright, they just got shy.

I can't even explain the joy in my heart taking the kids around. It was like I have the whole American Dream. The husband I adore, and who adores me. Two kids that are happy and healthy. A house on a cul-de-sac where everyone knows everyone and everything about them. Perfect weather on top of everything. The excitement on the kids faces and the spring in their step (at least at the beginning!). Four jack-o-lanterns on the front steps all lit up and glowing.
Who wouldn't want to be ME!?!?

Well, take a look at this messy house, and I'll see some hands going up... hee hee


I leave you looking at the tree at the entrance to our park - 3 houses down, and 2 over. Beautiful, isn't it?