Sick Leave...

Quick Praises...

Antibiotics!!!

Motrin, Tylenol, & Asprin

Blog readers who stop by daily checking for something new....I know who you are...thank you for not giving up yet!

Announcements...

Here we have been blessed with two cases of strep, two ear infections, many headaches, muscle aches, one really nasty nose thing, about 8 hours of sleep between two grown ups in two nights and not too many more in the night before. I say blessed because these are not the flu and can be treated so traveling this weekend is still open.

I will be doing my best to update tomorrow (although I may cheat and backdate, I love how that confuses people!) So for now, I'm going to bed maybe I can pull of 6 hours in a row tonight!

Praises...

Even grumpy guys like to snuggle with their moms.

Lily might just have some tough in her yet..she got up and went to school even with the option of staying home...she passed out when she got home this afternoon, but she didn't whine nearly as much tonight!

Children's Tylenol!

Long phone calls with old friends that help you trust yourself.

Long Geotrax building sessions to make up for time neglecting children while on long phone calls!

Snuggling with a certain baby boy in the quiet time after his nap to make up for neglecting him while involved in the long Geotrax building session!

Geotrax is a brain builder and a muscle builder for kids and parents. (is it really for the kids

when you keep building afer they've gone to nap??"

Sh0rter phone calls with newer friends that confirm that trust, and simply understand.

Knowing that there are so many others who are where you are or have been where you are and you're never really alone in anything.

Walmart rendevous & unexepected gifts.

Friends.

Long talks after the kids go to bed.

I'm going back to Quotes & Memorable moments...Todays highlights just seemed to make me want to duplicate half of what I wrote about in the praises...I'll find the right title yet...

Dax sneaking out of his bed several times at nap time to peak in on mom still building with Geotrax.

Finn, tired and not feeling well waving one little hand with just the littlest grin with the softest "Hi Dada" when Mike came home from work.

Dax pouring "Hot chocolate"(it was water with hot chocolate mix that had been heated for 20 seconds in the microwave 30 minutes earlier) on his bedroom floor and his brother's head. (how did he get the cup into his bedroom???)

Finn smelling sweetly of hot chocolate...really did want to eat him up right then!

Dax "I want Jelly"

Mom "we don't have Jelly"

Dax "I need Jelly"

Mom"No one in our house eats Jelly"

Dax "I eat Jelly"

Mom "we don't have Jelly!"

Dax "Sarah has Jelly!"

Mom, laughing "Too bad Sarah is in Ohio tonight"

Dax "Oh Man!"

So...Sarah, when you come home, I'm sending Dax over for Jelly, cause we neglect him!

Mike walks in from walmart Dax exclaims "You got food for my baby bubbur! Wow!"

Building with Dax. His excitment at testing the trains and clicking the tracks together. Trying to appease Finn with Cheerios so he'll sit and watch us build instead of tearing things apart...he tossed them to the floor and just gave up...this really is only the second time this has happened!

Watching Air Bud Dax took Sophie by the collar, said "You're my Dog, watch Air buddies wif me" and she did.

2-22-22

It's a date that no one in my family will ever forget! It was my Grandma Hanville's birthday. She passed away almost 5 years ago, but 2 22 22 was her day and she knew somehow it was magical! Or maybe just memorable! I think back and smile...Grandma was a true original.

Here are a few things you might not be able to say about your Grandma...

She looked like a 50's movie star
She could shoot a bear.
She majored in Archery.
She left college for the CIA during WWII
She could tell you stories about being in the bomb shelters in England as the sirens blarred above her.
She was the wife of a CEO
She could could host a dinner party for the hoi poloi or curse with the sailors
She loved my grandfather with her whole heart and soul
She could do cartwheels in the front yard well into her 50's and was not afraid to do so.
She could drive a boat
She had a cottage in Canada and a house in Florida all on her own
She could drive herself cross country with her cat in her 70's
She could drive you nuts!
She always had cocktails & appetizers before meals
She was the most fun person to play games with
She always accused you of cheating.
She raised 3 great human beings.
She loved big band & old hymns
She loved soap operas & Jeopardy

She needed water to be happy.
She wasn't always easy to love.
She always loved.

I was blessed to have time with my Grandma for many years. She was something!
Of course, I'm going to share some songs that for one reason or another remind me of her...

She used to sing this to me...or to herself...I don't know, I just hear her voice when I hear the song!

This is the song that stuck with me for days as I wrote her eulogy...

My Grandma was an avid Days of Our Lives fan and the story of Tom & Alice and this song always reminds me of she and my grandfather.

Happy birthday Grandma...I hope you're dancing!

Praises...

Finding the big roll of clear tape!

Getting the boys dressed, bag packed, me showered & dressed and ready to leave my house by 9 so that I still had time to call my Dad before Bible Study and still be there on time! ...you don't know how big of a praise that is!

Talking to dad and understanding.

Bible Study....not sure how much studying gets done, but I'm glad they invited me in!

Long peaceful naps!

Emails with great news about one sweet little niece!

Afterwork bedroom parties...the whole clan (minus the sicky) hanging out on our bed when Mike gets home recapping the day.

The way God nudges people, without human input.

Husbands who fill up the gas tank, shovel a path, and clear the snow off your van.

Same husband who only grumbles a little when you leave him with the kids at bedtime.

Friends in seedy places =)

Girls to laugh and cry with.

Unexpected gifts given with love.

Thursdays.

Ok...So I'm changing this section to Today's Highlights which will include Quotes and Memorable moments but will give me a place to share things that are neither quotes or memorable moments as well!

Finding a baby spoon in my wallet...you know, there will come a day when it would be impossible to find such goodies!

Listening to Lily tell me her throat hurts at least 35 times.

Dax saying "Ok" to 95% of my requests in his cute little voice.

Finn giggling everytime you call his name...I just wonder what that little guy is thinking! Theory "Man, I hope she doesn't notice what tasty floor morsel I just put in my mouth!"

Dax and Finn sharing a bag of Apple chips watching the Garfield movie...totally Dax's idea, apple chips ended up in a toy basket void of all toys and then shared with the dog. Nothing like some good brother bonding.

Dax reading three easy reader books to me...ok, I know it was from memory, but I'm his mom, I can think he's brilliant.

Dax sneaking unnoticed off during above mentioned bedroom party with Mommy's deodorant and the can of hairspray. A distinct spraying sound followed by a cloud of fruity smelling mist coming from the kitchen tipped us off to the mayhem that was happening. Yeah, so my project for tomorrow is getting my deodorant off the cabinets...

Dax now has hairspray in his hair, deodorant on various parts of his body, several shades of markers high jacked from Lil's marker case all over his extremeties, and is still stained slightly blue from the painting with food coloring he and Lily did a couple days ago. After the deodorant comes off the cabinets, I should probably bathe him...

Doesn't he almost look like an angel in his American Girl halo? Just so you know...the T shirt he is wearing clearly states "EVERY GREAT IDEA I HAVE GETS ME IN TROUBLE!"

And then, that laundry is still in my living room.

Looks like a busy day tomorrow!

Quick Note about Comments...

I opened the comments section so that anyone could comment even without a google account...sorry I hadn't thought of that before!

Love you all, glad you're here and I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Praises...

Double naps

A two year old that loves church with his whole heart and would move in if allowed...we're considering making an offer if the church goes up for sale, I know there are some other families going in with us!

Church...being able to just go and feel blessed in every sense of the word. Laughter, tears, hugs, long talks with friends, support.

God knowing just who to put in your life at just the right moments...his plan is amazing.

Women who are always there waiting in the nursery for that two year old who wants to move in!

Daughters who know when to step up and not complain.

Little boys who just know.

A husband who understands and is always ready for what I might throw at him.

Family that is so strong.

A mom who still gives me a warning...

Doctors who not only care, but feel.

Love, Laughter, knowing his grace is so present.

Quotes & Memorable moments...

"When we go to church" "I want go to church" "I go church now?" repeat this half a billion times and you too can reinact my day from 8am to 4pm

My Dad called me today, it was emotional. I knew it was coming, mom had called to make sure it didn't catch me off guard. I asked Lily to please keep the boys occupied and quiet, herself too! She did, but she lost track of Dax. As I said "Hello" Dax tiptoed into the quiet living room and climbed up beside me sliding right up against me under my left arm. Of course he had his binky in his mouth which is contraband if he's out of bed, but I didn't acknowledge that. He sat quietly against me until I hung up, he then looked right into my eyes with a big smile and said "I love you!" which, if you know Dax is not his most common expression. It's funny how he always ust knows. Lily discoved where he was at that point, carried Finn into the room and said "There is your crazy brother, Finn." Dax looks at him and in this growly gravely voice says "I am your crazy brother!" I just started to laugh, we all did, even Finn. God sends those little joys at just the perfect time!

Music that makes me feel...

I thought I wouldn't do this again for awhile, but I've decided I'm going to do it whenever somethimg triggers the feeling that I should..hope you don't mind!

I guess maybe it's tribute to my dad to want to share with music...the real tribute though would be if I only played the first 2 seconds of each song and made you name that tune & artist!

The first is a song that jumped into my head out of obscurity when Dax was crying out "wait, wait..." in a somewhat desperate voice on his way to bed. Took me back to singing this with My friend Wendy in front of the living room windows sometime in 8th or 9th grade, loaded with all the desperation we could muster!



Next, is about as polar opposite as I could get. This is a song that brought little tingles tonight hearing it performed at a church banquet. This was from Phantom of the Opera which Mike and I saw together while dating. It was one of the piano pieces we had played during that pre-wedding music while people are coming in and being seated. The melody is so beautiful..haunting..not performed by a hairband. (I can't find a good version with lyrics, so this is just the piano, which I actually like better!)

Praises...

Everyone woke up happy!

My boys were incredibly well behaved while I opened my blog. (this made me nervous...see below)

Dax & I built a cool Geotrax track this morning after I felt guilty for neglecting him with blog world.

Babies who love splashing in the shower

Daughters who come home from school feeling cooperative!

Two year olds who almost always say please & thank you

Free babysitting.

Grown up evenings

Old memories brought on by music...just wait, I'll share!

Grown up time with American Idol after everyone went to sleep (ok, so we had it recorded)

American Idol...a great way to think about silly things.

Friends who have come to visit me in blogland today!

Quotes & Memorable moments...

Here I sat this morning so excited to be sending out invites...I'd been here for a bit before I thought it's odd that I haven't heard a peep from my boys. I went to check things out and I documented what I found in the pictures above. Behind Dax's Gigi (in his hand) is his binky, which he is only allowed to have in his bed...you can see he is clearly not in his bed. He was all snuggled in the back corner of the chair watching the Doodlebops. Maybe I should teach a parenting class?

"Good night, Finny, I love you" "Take his bink out, I want to kiss him!" "Night Night Mommy, I love you!" "give me hugs!" "Night night Finn, I love you" "Night night, Mom, I loe you" "Give me kisses""Night night Lil, I need hugs" etc... Dax, on how postpone bedtime.

This blog is officially open...

I began sending out invites this morning to family and close friends. Welcome! Make yourselves at home! Some of you will find little treasures waiting for you, some of you will get completely lost in the mess. I'm glad you're here, but I'm probably not going to change how I've been doing things too much. So if you feel like you've just entered my mom's kindergarten classroom (those of you who have been there know what I mean!) please take a deep breath and realize that the overstimulation will fade when you get used to all the things hanging from the ceiling!

I don't actually feel like this place is ready for visitors, but I figured in my mind it never will be..so it is what it is! Enjoy!

Praises...

hhmmm...I vacuumed today?

My kids made it most of the day without fighting!

I cooked, Mike did dishes.

My brother being there

Bouncy Balls..big enough Finn can't swallow...occupy children for hours, those crazy things!

unexpected, old fashioned snuggles

Quotes & Memorable moments...

Laying in bed this morning when Lily brings Finn in shrieking (Lily, not Finn) because he has snot all over his face. Dax following close behind with a baby wipe in hand "I help clean up him, I help wipe upmy baby Finny" Followed by a wet wipe covering poor Finn's face. I just wonder what Finn thinks of his siblings...

Lily, can't reach the glasses in the cabinet managed to get food coloring from the highest shelf in my utility closet and thought it would be a great idea to mix it with water and use it for painting on the good table. Luckily the table is ok, however Dax's mouth, face, and lefr hand may be permanently blue.

The kids all playing in the clean laundry in the living room (where it is in baskets waiting for a flood...think it can go back down yet??) They got lost in the baskets, took me some time to find them this morning!