this morning.

and I'm related to these people...

Uncle Don and the Dorks.

My Mom just e-mailed this pic.circa- 1991(?) Somewhere in the early 90's...in the pink room at Nana's.

From left to right. My cousin Ken, Uncle Don, cousin Josh, brother Carl, cousin Jeff, and brother Alec.

What is that thing?

Today the boys and I went to the mall to meet a friend and her daughter for lunch.
As we were leaving Evan got a glimpse of none other than...
The Easter Bunny...
and he was big.
Evan stops dead in his tracks. Staring with the widest eyes I have ever seen. I wasn't sure if he was going to run up to that rabbit giggling with his arms wide open or take off the other way in fear.
Instead he found the nearest large freestanding item and hid. All the while he kept his eyes on that thing. There was no way that thing was getting to close! He had some inspectin' to do before that thing was getting near him. It was hillarious. I picked him up and put him in the stroller and he just stared, not sure what to think.
I love this kid...he thinks just like me. Max hadthis look on his face like seeing the Easter Bunny was an everyday occurance, just Justin would.
We snuck past that rabbit while he was being distracted by two year old yanking on his tail as he was trying to hand out paper bunny headbands. Max walked by no problem, and I think Evan was relieved he didn't have to have any contact with that thing, as was I.

Work in progress.

Alright, I'm the first to admit, that I'm not an artist. I can hardly color within the lines. Anyway, being that I don't have extra money just laying around (if you find any be sure to let me know) I am doing art in the boys room on a budget. I got the idea from PB Kids (where else?) and here it is the early stages. The boys painted the concert poster and I am going to fix the lines, fill in the colors better, and do some other touch ups. ( Justin actually drew the drum out in pencil...which took him hours, so thanks babe!) I am going to add Evan to the bottom of the drums, and I still have one more to do, a guitar for Max.

are you serious?

Monday we were out in light jackets, today we are staying in.

now this is more like it.

Yesterday, it hit 70 and we spent most of the day outside. Aren't Evan's boots the cutest?

kentucky. one year later.

It is hard to believe we have only been here just over a year. This morning I sit in our kitchen nook, home from church as Evan has been sick the last few days. He is back to his old self, but I don't want to risk getting anyone at church sick. It has been a long weekend, I could go for a glass of red wine. Is 9am too early? I kid, I will settle for my daily dose of coffee which is healing my headache as I type.

As I think about where I was a year ago it amazes me how much can change in one short year. At this time last year, I remember feeling very apprehensive and unsure how I felt about our new home. I was starting to freak out a bit...not that I don't do that occasionally anyway...but that is beside the point.

We had visitors nearly every month, which definitely made us feel loved, missed, and cared for. We truly are so blessed to have such awesome families.

We also had the incredible opportunity to go to the Kentucky Derby. Justin's Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace (who treated us to the amazing event) flew down with Justin's parents and sister Joelle (who babysat) and we had a blast. Who knew horse racing could be so much fun. All the women decked out with fun hats, we had amazing seats, saw Michael Jordan, and our horse even won! We even sipped on a couple mint juleps!

We were getting extremely frustrated in our search for a church home, but in August we finally found the place for us. A place where Gods word is preached and where we have been able to get involved. We have made some awesome lifelong friends. A little shout out to Chad and Mel! We love those two, and their baby girl Juliana. God has blessed us with some awesome friends that we just got along with so well right away. Alright, I gotta share this story.

So, after we had been coming to church for a couple of weeks, Chad and Mel invited us over for dinner.
We had heard that they were amazing cooks. More than one person had ranted and raved about the amazing dinner we would be treated to. We were excited.
The night of our amazingly wonderful, highly anticipated dinner arrives, and as we stepped in the door I took a big whiff expecting to smell some delicious aromas filling their home.
Nothing. Maybe my nose was broken?
I noticed some ridiculous smirks on their faces. It was then that they informed us they had ordered pizza.
PIZZA!!
After all the hype and now we get a lousy delivered pizza.
Alright so Mel was just about to pop out a baby, and they just were tired. I didn't blame them one bit. I probably would have had them make their own pb&j if we had invited them over when I was nine months pregnant.
Now we are known as the couple who got pizza instead of a "real" meal from Chad and Mel. They have treated us to many amazing meals since. They are good to us and we thank God for bringing them into our lives. We rang in the New Year with them playing Nintendo Wii until 2 a.m. when finally Mel and I made the boys shut it off so we could all function in 2008.
Anyway, we became fast friends, and love spending time with them.

Justin has enjoyed his job, they definately keep him busy. He works so hard, and he gets stressed so easily but overall he is liking it. I think both of us are appreciative of the experience he is getting in the field, and he has some hillarious co-workers.

I have really learned a lot about myself, both good and bad. I have been able to stand back and look at how I can be a better wife, friend, daughter, mother. God has really shown me my dire need for him, and although I know I can grow so much more, the things he has taught me this past year have left me in awe of him.

My boys. I can't imagine life with out those two. Different in every way I love them both for who they are. It has been so much fun to watch them grow. It is hard to believe Maxwell will be four this year. This fall we are planning on sending him to pre-school. I never really gave it much thought but have been doing some research and he is eager to go. One of the Pastor's has four children and they send 3 of their 4 (the youngest isn't even a year) children to school once a week and are homeschooled the rest of the time. Anyway, they love going and talk about it every Sunday as they go on Mondays. Max has heard all the hype and is interested. So, we are going to give a go. I think he is really going to love it. He will go on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings. He talks about it all the time, but doesn't realize how far away fall really is. Evan is out of control. That kid. He sure has given me a run for the money, but it is hard to believe he was still a little infant just a year ago. He is now a full-fledged toddler...and has some killer dance moves.

Although both Justin and I were a bit unsure about the whole move, God has been and is good. He has blessed us and drawn us closer to him in unimaginable ways. The move was good for us as a couple, a family, but most of all as children of God.

I always knew I loved Howard.

I don't care what anyone says, I heart Starbucks.

Anyway...

A few weeks ago Howard Shultz came back into reign, ahem... I mean became CEO once again, and this week they are to conduct a nationwide hands-on espresso training experience. All company operated stores in the United States will be closing this Tuesday at 5:30 local time and re-open at 8:30 that evening.

I, who worked for the company when it was old school and making your own espresso by grinding, tamping, and extracting it all by your little ol' self could not be more excited about this.

I was near the end of my time with the company when they made the switch to the automatic machines where the barista simply had to press a button to make a drink.

I was not happy about the switch to the automatic machine situation, and I was sad to see the old machines go. We used to have competitions during busy mornings to see how fast we could whip up quality drinks with our mad barista skills all while giving the customer an awesome experience.

The other thing was that, the espresso tasted different. It does, I promise.

So, with that I am pleased to say Howard is doin' it right. As he put it; " Customers will be able to truly enjoy the art of espresso as Starbucks baristas demonstrate their passion to pull the perfect shot, steam milk to order, and customize their favorite beverage."

Starbucks was getting a little to corporate for me, well let's face it they are... but I still love 'em, always will. Now though, I love them just a little bit more because they went back to old school.

Way to go Howard!

***ADDENDUM!!!- They still are automatic machines!!! They just changed a few other technical things but when all is said and done....I still love 'em, and I still have love for Howard.

Maxwell and the Bubble blowing fiasco

taken last fall...again with my camera. We have a nice video camera, time to break that baby out, dust her off and film away!

Maxo and EJ crazy Dance

taken with my camera, so quality is bad, but it still was fun!

Oh the romance.

image:www.health.com

I have never wanted my husband to be overly romantic and Justin isn't. He makes up for his lack of romance skills with his good looks and funny antics. We make up for our lack of romantic gifts to one another by giving each other practical gifts...now that's love.

In the signing of our mortgage last year we missed a form and the lawyers office had called Justin to set up a time when someone could stop by to get our John Hancocks. This week a girl from the office called to see if she could stop by on Thursday. In the midst of the conversation she realized it was Valentine's Day and asked if she should come Friday instead. Justin responded;

"Oh, it's fine...we have kids."

happy loves day!

These boys sure know how to cooperate with the camera...right.

Happy Valenties Day! Or as Maxwell calls it Happy Loves Day!

Also some birthday shout-outs to my brother Peter and Uncle Don!

click the pic to view larger :)

tuesday morning.

3 1/2

Maxwell,

With you quickly appoaching the age of four, I sit here and wonder where the time went. Typical Mom thoughts, I know.

It is a joy to have you as our eldest son, even though you're not a natural leader. I think it throws an interesting element into our family dynamics as you follow more than you lead. It threw me off a bit because as the eldest in my family I definately liked the power. I'm not saying you are not independent because you most certianly are. You are a determined young boy. You play so well on your own and when other kids are around you love to run and join in the fun.

I definately think you have a lot of your Daddy in you. You are more reserved, worrysome, and apprehensive about most everything, but you also are so tenderharted, thoughtful, and kind.

After months and months of putting it off, and because you did so well in the crib we got you a big boy bed! You were pretty excited and more than willing to give your crib to Evan (who was currently sleeping in a pack-play). You have been sleeping so well in your big boy bed. You stay up so late playing make believe, but I don't mind. One night your Daddy and I stood outside your door giggling as we listened to you play.

One game you were playing was with your puppy, Jack. You were telling to open a door. Then, in a different voice Jack would "say",

"I don't have a door!"

You were working together as a team, you and Jack, I suppose trying to do some heroic thing that neither your Dad or I knew of, but you did.

You and Evan are now sleeping in the same room, and the other night I put you both to bed at the same time as we were out late, and he cried a bit when I left the room, so I stood to see what would happen.

" It's ok Evan. Do you need something? No. Ok I will read this book."

You both proceeded to "read" your books you had in your beds. You two chatted a bit more, but soon Evan passed out from exhaustion. It was precious.

You love babies, and they love you. Juliana (Uncle Chad and Aunt Mels baby girl) is your favorite. You always take time to chat with her, and she always has a smile for you. You are so gentle and sweet. You talk about her and how cute she is. Makes me want another little baby....we shall see.

You are still into coloring, play-doh, your trains, and cars. When I prepare dinner, I usually let you and Evan watch a video or TV and since we get every station under the sun (thanks to your Dad) you can watch nearly anything. You have been chosing to watch SpongeBob Squarepants. I have no idea why but you love that show. That sponge sure is funny!

Now on to potty training. OYE! Lets just say it has been interesting, and by interesting I mean hard, and by hard I mean many battles, and by battles I mean...well you get the idea. You were halfway there, but the good ol' #2 was not happening. We tried everything under the sun to get you to go. From treats and sweets, to making you sit on the toliet for 5 hours (that was a miserable night!) and still no dice. We had even promised you a special toy when you did go.

Then came February 3, 2008. I was actually out getting a haircut and when I arrived home, you and Daddy had great news for me. You had decided that it was finally the day to do it, and you did. We were SO proud, and a bit relieved that we would not have a 12 year old in diapers. Not that we did fear that, well maybe a little. You finally could break open your new Cars underwear and proudly wear them. It is now Wednesday, February 6, and you are doing so well! We went to the toy store Monday afternoon and you happily picked out a brio passenger train and a car play mat. You also proudly told the check out lady (who clearly was a Grandmother from the sheer exctiement she had in her voice) why you were getting a special present. It was a fun afternoon.

Besides the potty training issues we had, you are learning to listen, more patient with your brother and kind to others.

We are so thankful for you sweet boy and look forward to continuing to watch you grow.

once.

Once. My new favorite movie. I love it. The one thing I would change is the massive use of the f-bomb but other than that it is a must see and a film I love.

A simple Irish film that is classified as a musical does not have the look, sound or feel of your typical musical. This is far beyond The Sound of Music. Not flashy or in your face this film is easily lovable and a must see.

The main character (Glen Hasard)-whose name is never revealed along with his female co-star (Marketa Irglova) whose name is kept secret as well- is a street musican who sings very vague lryics of what seems to be heartbreak, in a very dramatic but romantic way. We later learn he is mourning the loss of his wandering girlfriend Catherine whom has moved to London.

He is playing one evening when a young woman stops to listen and begins to probe him about his lyrics. He seems to be irritated with her questions, (which reveal whom his songs are about) at first, but he soon agrees to fix her vaccum cleaner(as he works at his father's repair shop by day) and after doing so makes a pathetic pass at her in his which is quickly rejected by her. There is definately something between the two of them, but this film is a far cry from your convetional love story. It is a beautiful story of a fabulous partnership that develops into a deep bond between the two.

She, is a young Chezk woman who lives with her mother and young daugther. She sells flowers and cleans houses to support them. It turns out though, she too can play music. She plays piano, usually on her lunch breaks at a local music store, since she has no piano at home. Quite beautifully she can play, and soon she reveals how well she can work with his songs, playing and singin harmony and even taking on the task of writing lyrics to a tune he was having a hard time finding words for.

Once is not a overly dramatic or ambitous film. There is no deep plot or complex themes to figure out. Rather, it commemorates passion and dedication. While the desire to write a song, and make a demo is presented, the deep desire of communication and understanding is even more beautiful through those mediums.

While you have that happy/sad feelings when watching the film, you will feel as the story unfolds that it is actually occuring before your very eyes. With rich and satisfying music, Once is a film you will want to see more than once. :)

Interesting read.

Evangelicals a Liberal Can Love
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: February 3, 2008
Liberals believe deeply in tolerance and over the last century have led the battles against prejudices of all kinds, but we have a blind spot about Christian evangelicals. They constitute one of the few minorities that, on the American coasts or university campuses, it remains fashionable to mock.
Scorning people for their faith is intrinsically repugnant, and in this case it also betrays a profound misunderstanding of how far evangelicals have moved over the last decade. Today, conservative Christian churches do superb work on poverty, AIDS, sex trafficking, climate change, prison abuses, malaria and genocide in Darfur.
Bleeding-heart liberals could accomplish far more if they reached out to build common cause with bleeding-heart conservatives. And the Democratic presidential candidate (particularly if it’s Mr. Obama, to whom evangelicals have been startlingly receptive) has a real chance this year of winning large numbers of evangelical voters.
“Evangelicals are going to vote this year in part on climate change, on Darfur, on poverty,” said Jim Wallis, the author of a new book, “The Great Awakening,” which argues that the age of the religious right has passed and that issues of social justice are rising to the top of the agenda. Mr. Wallis says that about half of white evangelical votes will be in play this year.
A recent CBS News poll found that the single issue that white evangelicals most believed they should be involved in was fighting poverty. The traditional issue of abortion was a distant second, and genocide was third.
Look, I don’t agree with evangelicals on theology or on their typically conservative views on taxes, health care or Iraq. Self-righteous zealots like Pat Robertson have been a plague upon our country, and their initial smugness about AIDS (which Jerry Falwell described as “God’s judgment against promiscuity”) constituted far grosser immorality than anything that ever happened in a bathhouse. Moralizing blowhards showed more compassion for embryonic stem cells than for the poor or the sick, and as recently as the 1990s, evangelicals were mostly a constituency against foreign aid.
Yet that has turned almost 180 degrees. Today, many evangelicals are powerful internationalists and humanitarians — and liberals haven’t awakened to the transformation. The new face of evangelicals is somebody like the Rev. Rick Warren, the California pastor who wrote “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Mr. Warren acknowledges that for most of his life he wasn’t much concerned with issues of poverty or disease. But on a visit to South Africa in 2003, he came across a tiny church operating from a dilapidated tent — yet sheltering 25 children orphaned by AIDS.
“I realized they were doing more for the poor than my entire megachurch,” Mr. Warren said, with cheerful exaggeration. “It was like a knife in the heart.” So Mr. Warren mobilized his vast Saddleback Church to fight AIDS, malaria and poverty in 68 countries. Since then, more than 7,500 members of his church have paid their own way to volunteer in poor countries — and once they see the poverty, they immediately want to do more.
“Almost all of my work is in the third world,” Mr. Warren said. “I couldn’t care less about politics, the culture wars. My only interest is to get people to care about Darfurs and Rwandas.”
Helene Gayle, the head of CARE, said evangelicals “have made some incredible contributions” in the struggle against global poverty. “We don’t give them credit for the changes they’ve made,” she added. Fred Krupp, the president of Environmental Defense, said, “Many evangelical leaders have been key to taking the climate issue across the cultural divide.”
It’s certainly fair to criticize Catholic leaders and other conservative Christians for their hostility toward condoms, a policy that has gravely undermined the fight against AIDS in Africa. But while robust criticism is fair, scorn is not.
In parts of Africa where bandits and warlords shoot or rape anything that moves, you often find that the only groups still operating are Doctors Without Borders and religious aid workers: crazy doctors and crazy Christians. In the town of Rutshuru in war-ravaged Congo, I found starving children, raped widows and shellshocked survivors. And there was a determined Catholic nun from Poland, serenely running a church clinic.
Unlike the religious right windbags, she was passionately “pro-life” even for those already born — and brave souls like her are increasingly representative of religious conservatives. We can disagree sharply with their politics, but to mock them underscores our own ignorance and prejudice.
taken from : The New York Times.

haircut.

I got my haircut this weekend...but I am still not sure how I feel about it. Part of me feels like it looks to boyish, and I feel like I should not cut my hair too short because of my round face. UGH! It is Monday after all...so I get to complain.

COLOR WONDER!

click the pic to look at it bigger.

Rediscovering the Savior

Image taken from www.ungrind.org

Ungrind published my latest article Rediscovering The Savior today. Check it out here.

joy in the journey.

I received word this morning that Radiant was going to publish an article I had submitted to them a few weeks ago. Check it out here.

I love it!

Rock on!

lovin me a shop vac.

Never have I ever loved an appliance so. My uber mini dust buster(that really didn't work all that great) finally died and I got a mini shop-vac. I love the thing. After I sweep the floors it is so great to get this thing out (with other attachments as well!) for corners, small rugs, and (the ever so dangerous) stairs. One day I'll get the big boy shop vac... I dream big people. I dream big.

oye!

image: http://blog.coolz0r.com/images/stairs1.jpg

So tomorrow marks the one week anniversary of my fall down our stairs. I knew the day would come where I would make that tumble not only because of the construction and steepness of the stairs but the materials used (hardwood).

So here I come bounding on down (and I mean bounding) the stairs because I had finally just finished cleaning the boys closet and was whooping it up for my accomplishment, but nevertheless was being modest as I made my way down.

Poor Evan was in my arms as my feet slipped out from underneath me...five steps from solid flat ground. So close. I feel back and slammed my head, back and right arm (which held my little Ev. but I dare not let him go) and soon was trying not to pass out from the shock of it all. Doesn't it seem when things like that happen to you it goes in slow motion and when you look back on it you think it so could have been so elegant, and you could have prevented the whole awful thing from happening.
Anyway, it hurt.
While my arm is still in tact, it still hurts. I thought I had broke it. I suppose it would not surprise me if it just fell off one of these days. I couldn't even put my hair back. I tried but it didn't quite work out. It looked bad and as someone sarcastically reminded me,
"It is no different than any other day."
Thanks Chad.

I know I need a haircut, it is at that awkward stage where it only looks good (and by good I mean somewhat presentable) when pulled back because it is dire need of some care from a professional. I just can't decide how to cut it and I am too busy(lazy) to make an appointment.
So here we are a week later, my arm may permanently hurt, and I have accepted the fact that I am, in fact, a klutz. Woe is me.

puree away!

Found out about the sneaking the veggies in meals book from Bethany, and got a copy! The short version of the story(you can read the whole story here.) is the book I have is called Deceptively Delicious by Jerry Seinfelds wife Jessica, but the couple is being sued by a woman named Missy Lapine, who is claiming Jessica plagerized all the recipes. Whatever. I just want my kids to eat veggies. They can all sort that out.

Anyway, this afternoon I pureed away while listening to NPR. I have to admit, it was a fabulous afternoon. The boys ran around outside since it has been so warm out, and I watched them outside the kitchen window while pureeing my butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli! Tonight I made mac and cheese (with Cauliflower inside) and my boys ate every last bite. I am excited to try the other recipes in the book! So far it has been a great success!