Balmy Minnesota

We are heading out today to the Spring Break vacation hot spot - Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our stay will include a hotel with an indoor water park, trip to IKEA, the Mall of America, and last but not least, visiting the Moorhead family and our kid's beloved cousins. Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing vacation. The bonus to traveling north: no sunscreen to pack. =) (Try to behave while I'm gone fellow bloggers.)

Why Didn't I Think of That?

Add another invention to the growing list of things that I should have thought of: Crocs Gidgets. (The little "thingies" that stick in the holes of the ever so popular Croc shoes.) I just heard a story this weekend that one family began this by watching their child mindlessly stick things in her crocs. Fast forward to them selling their invention for a cool $20 million for plastic ... for "thingies" ... for embellishments on a very ugly shoe. It begs the question: Why didn't I think of that?

Here is my list of things that I would invent if I had the time ... oh yeah ... and money.

• Disposable nursing pads that are the actual shape of a bra. Not perfect circles that make you look like you are sporting coasters under your shirt.
• A drive through store that provides the essentials: milk, eggs, etc. No more lugging all the kids in for one item. Sure I would charge more than Meijers, but people pay for convenience baby.
• And I'm still trying to figure out a way to have someone toss into my car (while I'm driving mind you) all the things I forget at home: diaper bag, videos to return, clothes to exchange, etc. I always seem to drive past something and then remember that I needed to go there.

That's it for now. But it's still early in the day. I'm sure I could come up with a few more.

This post is entitled,

"I Will Never Know

What's It Like To ..."

• own a cat. (Thank you God for allergies.)
• not force a dog to drink hydrogen peroxide in order to puke up tampons. (Umm... twice.)
• wear a size 2. (Or a 4, or realistically, a size 6.)
• be an only child or have a brother.
• worry about money. (Thanks honey for doing it enough for both of us.)
• hate to camp. (There's nothing like the smell of smoke in your hair, a killer tan, a good book, and nothing to do.)
• run a marathon. (15.6 miles last year was & will be my max.)
• scrapbook/do Creative Memories.
• wake up before my husband on a Saturday morning.
• water ski on just one ski. (Is that called slaloming?)
• NOT pop a zit if it looks ready to pop.

Tell me, what will you never know what it's like to ...

Happy 3rd Birthday Zachary!

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!

It's Spring and time for ...

Caramel Frappuccino's from Starbucks.

Surveying the lawn and damage from moles.

(Shouldn't they freeze like everything else does in winter?)

It feels like Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan. I always thought fall was my favorite season but since it is followed by winter and this winter was painfully long, cold, and snowy, I think I may have a new favorite! Here are a few things my kids have said lately for you to enjoy and ponder over the weekend.

"Stupid head. Stupid head. Stupid head." (Said by Zach, who took three years to really start talking and is now trying to catch up by learning some choice insults.)

"My pachina is cold." (Said by Paige & Zoey after getting out of the shower and yes, they mean vagina. Their father thought it was time they learned the correct terminology. I thought "bottom" was just fine!)

Check this Out!

Please go to http://www.minimemom.blogspot.com and click play to see my van. Also, while you are there check out her amazing baby gear. I've never met Minimemom (in fact, I just recently found out her first name isn't Mini, Me, or Mom) but I enjoy her blog and she has the cutest handmade baby stuff. Enjoy.

What happens when ...

you let your three old BOY play outside with a full container of bubbles?

He pours every last drop of it out on the driveway. (Duh. I shoulda known better.)

Medals, Rings, & Birthdays

Zach & cousin Ross celebrating their March birthdays.

Thanks to my sister Julie for once again making the great-tasting and great-looking cake. Check out the oreo road, play trucks, and picture of Bob-the-Builder with a face that looks curiously like Zach.

Paige took home a medal for her yellow submarine that made it into the top 16 racers. (46 Pinewood derby cars competed this year and Jeff deserves a pat on his daddy back.)

The new ring. It was hard to take a pic of it. It is antique looking, white gold, with one round diamond in the middle surrounded by a circle of diamonds and small diamonds on the band. I love it and feel like I just got engaged again!

Ahhh ... Smell That?

After reading about smells at Steph's blog http://teslaa.typepad.com, I started thinking about all the strange smells I enjoy and some that I will miss when all my "babies" are no longer babies.

Here they are:

* A dog's paws. They remind you of something ... Fritos, Doritos?

* An indoor swimming pool. Chlorine = clean.

* Gasoline. I remember trying to open some of the windows to the van as my dad filled up our full sized van that was detailed with duct tape. (So, not kidding. Remember: He is a Christian school teacher.)

*Babies feet. When our kids were under a year, my husband and I would actually call the other parent over for a smell if it was a particularly ripe day.

* The smell of Zach's room after he just wakes up from a nap. Is it his paci breath? Is it his sweet, little boy sweat? I don't know but I know I'll miss it.

* Popcorn. Anytime, anywhere it is popped, I have an instant craving for it.

Enjoy today and don't forget to stop and smell ...

I'm Listening

Do you ever have moments in your spiritual walk when everything you read, study, or hear from the pulpit all coincides? While studying Acts in Community Bible Study I read this in the commentary:

"The prescence of the Holy Spirit in our lives does not automatically ensure our experiencing His power, guidance, teaching, and comfort. God does not fill a vessel that is already full. First we empty ourselves by giving our own self-centered plans to God, and then we ask Him to fill, control, and use us."

Later the study asks you to read Romans 12:1,2 and prayerfully list the ways in which your lifestyle would need to change if you took Paul's appeal (offering your body as a living sacrifice) seriously.

And then our pastor said yesterday from the pulpit that he knew of a man who every night as he prayed would ask, "How did I do at overcoming myself today?"

I have a full life ... I have a big personality ... I have a huge need for the Holy Spirit to fill me up. Am I asking & listening?

SAHM Rule!

Stay-At-Home Mom Question of the day: How can a mess that only took my children five minutes to make, take me over an hour to clean up?

Changing it Up

I'm thinking I would like to grow my hair out like Connie Britton's. What do you think? (Don't be distracted by her chest in this picture ... concentrate on just her hair.) The longest I have ever had my hair is just past my shoulders. Can I commit to growing out my hair? (I know, deep thoughts today on this dreary day.)