One more thing. O.K., more than one.

Alright, it's after lunch. I am still in my bathrobe doing laundry and avoiding packing for our trip and I thought I would give you the highlights of our week & Valentine's Day. (I knew you needed one more post to get you through the week without me! Yeah, right.) :)

• My husband gave me a lovely note to wake up to that said I was beautiful and thanked me for everything I do. Then I got to thinking, does he love me just because I do everything around here? So, I asked him why he didn't just write I love everything about you. His response? "Trust me honey. I didn't give it that much thought when I wrote it at 6 a.m." 'Nough said. ;)


• The kiddos I put on the bus every day got me yellow tulips. Love flowers. Love yellow. Way to go C & C!


• I put 12 love notes (4 per kid) inside of balloons and then blew them up and my kids popped them to see why mom and dad love them so much. (Thanks to Hip Moms for the idea.)


• Went to the Casting Crowns concert last night. Very good. They're not DCB (David Crowder Band) but they did rock!

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day. Love ya. (Well, some of you I love and some of you quite honestly, I barely know.)

Does this post make me look fat?

Alright. If Eve was asking this back in the Garden of Eden then it makes sense that I'd ask, "Does this bathing suit that I'm trying on in the dead of winter make me look fat." ;) We leave for Arizona in a few days and while I'm thrilled to be getting the rock out of snowy Michigan, I'm less than thrilled that I will be wearing a bathing suit, with no tan, and with a few extra pounds on me! I know. I should quit my whining & have fun on vacation. Cya bloggers.

Beautiful or Ugly?

Quick opinion poll: Do you find these pics from around our neighborhood

to be beautiful ... or just plain ugly?

Confessions of a SAHM (Stay-At-Home-Mom)

This is my second or third posting with this title. I must have a lot to confess.

• If I get dinner made before my husband gets home, I think I deserve The Mother of the Year Award or at least some kind of medal. (I'm not joking. He's the grocery shopper and meal planner.)
• I bake homemade cookies because I like to eat the dough. The kids and hubby think I do it because I love them so much.
• I unbutton the top button on my jeans while sitting at the computer. (See above confession to know why. Cookie dough = doughy belly.)
• I think my son is one of the most lovable kids in the world. And so do all the ladies at church who he walks up to and hugs randomly.
• My kids let me sleep in. My neighbor Patti woke me up today by calling to see if I wanted to go sledding with her and another neighbor (at 8:45 A.M. --- NUTSO LADIES) and I told her I'd have to decline since I was still in bed.
• I threw down my Wii remote and stomped upstairs after my husband beat me in every game we played last night. Seriously, darn boys and their video game prowess piss me off. (another quick confession: I'm a bit competetive.)
• I found the four most romantic words I could ever say to my husband, "I like to shovel." (That really got him going!!)
• I'm still pumping my fists while I'm running on the treadmill. ;)

Dear God

Smallest snowmen in Michigan.

Please stop the snow machine and if it does snow again this winter, could it come during the day so the buses can still run in the morning? Thanks.



And God, thanks for having someone invent the Wii.



And thanks for the "Holy Spearmint" (Spirit) as Zach likes to call it.

Bite your Tongue

I bet Jim (o.k. I forgot his real name) would never say this to his wife when he gets home from work and she has been stuck inside all day with her three kids because it's another snow day:

"Paige didn't practice her piano yet?" (Implied meaning: what the heck have you been doing all day?)

"Ummm, no."

"You know, I would really like to come home and just have fun with the kids, not practice piano or help them with their homework." (Yeah, sorry honey. I guess moms have all the FUN!)

I'm happy to report that I bit my tongue. Now if I didn't just blog about it, I'd really be a saint! :)

Helpful Heloise/Laurie

Alright, in my checking in on everyones lives/blogs after my vacation I came across a fun blog about being a hip mom via Brenda's blog. O.K. after five attempts, the link is not working and so I am just going to give you my helpful mothering/cleaning/cooking/exercising advice. Oh man, it must be another snow day and I'm bored! :)

1. If you buy the mega-three pound bag of Kirkland tortilla chips at Costco (and why wouldn't you, they're just so yummy) freeze the ones you can't consume in a week. I put them in gallon size ziplocs, take them out of the freezer, and they are instantly ready to eat and are as fresh as the day you bought them.
2. If you get a fruit stain on your clothes, use boiling water right out of your tea kettle and pour those stains away. (Strawberry and blueberry stains are no match for scalding hot water.)
3. Get more than one laundry hamper/basket and separate your clothes into darks and lights right away. It saves time and let's face it, any time saved when doing this dreaded job is welcomed.
4. Buy a Wii (or get your neighbor to find one for you while she's out shopping, thanks Patti) and burn a few calories after dinner while kicking your hubby's butt in tennis or boxing. We did however experience two downsides to the Wii this morning, a Wii whine by Paige who kept getting beat in tennis, and a Wii wipe-out by Zoey as she was executing a killer forehand shot.

I am also including "some blogs to read" ... kind of like t.v. shows you should be watching but you're not. Patti, new blogger/great neighbor looking for readers, Amanda, Dutch girl in Spain, and Dana, witty pastor's wife who's vocabulary puts mine to shame. Happy reading and don't be a lurker on these girls' blogs!

St. Louie

Since the kids had Thursday and Friday off of school last week, we headed down to St. Louis to visit my sister Deb, her husband Daniel, and their three very adorable kids. We headed to the Arch on Friday and rode the capsule up to the top. Paige kept saying, "I'm not so sure about this" and as our stomachs did flips Jeff & I were both thinking, "either are we!" We also went to the Science Museum (forgot the camera), a fun mall, a late movie (just my sister & I), and Jeff & Daniel put in two new vanities in their upstairs bathrooms. All in all, a busy, productive, and fun weekend with family! I also got to rock baby Owen to sleep a couple times before his nap and I think we may need one more of those little babies! ;) (Oh that's right, that's ship has sailed, and by sailed of course I mean snipped.) Thanks for hosting us Daniel & Debbie.

This is How I Roll At Home

Dude, where'd my tan go?

As you can see, I'm all about fashion when I'm hanging out at home!

You're Welcome

To the future Mrs. Zach Guikema, you're welcome. This boy loves to clean toilets.


Alright, so these frigid temps. have me (and just a few others) feeling a bit crabby lately. So, I thought I would come up with a list of all the great things about winter. Hang on to your long johns ... here we go.

• Unlike summer, you don't have to put on a bathing suit every day. (Or get sand in your unmentionable areas.)
• Your towel is always dry in the morning because the heat's been running all night.
• Soup tastes better.
• The kids can find another use for their Easter eggs --- eyes for their snowman.
• Hot chocolate is appropriate to drink anytime.
• You get to wear cute hats, scarves, and mittens.
• You can watch football all day and not feel guilty that you aren't playing outside.

That's it. If you have any others, comment below. And if you want to give a smug blogger a hard time, check out Amanda's blog.

Hi, my name is Laurie ...

And I'm addicted to checking email. I've decided that if I'm going to go check my computer so often, I am going to stick prayer requests on the screen so I'm talking to God when I'm checking to see if others are talking to me. Let's just say, the current requests on my list have been thoroughly prayed over. ;)

Random Pics 'Cause I'm Random

Hmmmm

Over dinner Zach reported, "I have a rocket in my pants."

(Hmmm ... apparently boys think this from a very early age.)

New Glasses ... More Teeth

So, I wanted to change up the 'ole blog and the best pic of the family is one with Paige with her old glasses and missing her two front teeth. So when you view my blog, try to picture Paige more like this. :)

Picture of the entire family by Steph.

Book Club

Does anyone else think that by the end of this book Ms. Gilbert gave up meditation for sex?

Come and Listen

I may have mentioned this before, but I got a holy crush on Mr. David Crowder. My crush is not in the least bit romantic. ( I mean he's cute in that Where's Waldo with a kickin' goatee kind of way but ...) I just love his music and how I always feel closer to God each time I listen to one of his songs. So, to kick off the new year I wanted to share the lyrics of one of his songs & ask you to "tell me what he has done for you."

COME AND LISTEN
Come and listen/Come to the water's edge/All you who know and fear the Lord
Come and listen/Come to the water's edge/All you who are thirsty come
Let me tell you what he has done for me
Let me tell you what he has done for me
He has done for you/He has done for us
Come and listen/Come and listen to what He's done
Praise our God for He is good

Like any good host, I'll go first. This is what God has done for me. God gave me a wonderful Christian husband when the highest requirement I had in college for my future mate was that he was able to make me laugh. (Can you say naive and so blessed?) God gave me a healthy son when every medical professional and book told me his life would be one filled with disabilities. For these, and for so many other reasons, I know that our God is profoundly good. I want to listen to what God has done for you in your life. Let this meager blog be a praise offering to God.

Downtown Fun

Rosa Parks Circle has been our new form of cheap entertainment. Ice-skating with the family for $1/piece. Oh Rosa, you're speaking our Dutch language. I don't believe you were Dutch however. ;)

Time with our cousins from Pennsylvania.
My men in orange.

Let Me Entertain You

My kids are in social over-drive. Our week has included 3 Christmas parties, going downtown to ice-skate with our cousins, going to see the movie "Alvin & the Chipmunks", going sledding at the neighborhood hill, and playing at least two board games each and every day. (The kids got five for Christmas and while we are a family that likes to play games, let me just say --- I am gamed out.) Poor Zach has done a lot of self-entertaining while the rest of us play Uno Attack, Operation, Clue, Doodle Cranium, etc. The house is finally starting to resemble a house again and less like the "place where Christmas threw up". :) My family celebrated on the 27th as we awaited the arrival of one of my sisters home from her trip to her in-laws in Canada and right before another sister headed to Mexico to visit her in-laws. We're such an internationally diverse family. :) (I guess one of my brother-in-laws is named Juan but goes by Daniel and is entirely Caucasian. If you call that diversity, then we got it baby!) My parents once again spoiled us with wonderful stockings stuffed with goodies and many great presents. As I look around my house & at my life, I am feeling extremely blessed. Which is a great feeling to have as we head into another January in Michigan. ;)

This is the best picture of my parents together. Check out the bow on my dad's forehead.

My goofy and lovable niece Mya. Cute girl, scary picture.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things ... and People

Clean kids from their heads to their toes. (And hooded towels.)

Santa Claus/Bill

& Mrs. Claus/Jan

My husband and kids

Great Grandma Pettinga's Banket

And the University of Michigan. (Need I say more?)

One Wild Week

Moms: We made it to Friday. The Christmas parties at each one of our kids' schools are over, the shopping is close to being done, and the cookies are baked. I raise my slice of Costco pizza to you tonight as I watch a movie and veg. out!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wild & Wacky moments at our house this week:

1. I hear a huge crash. I ask Jeff, "what was that?" He says, "nothing." Paige looks across the house and yells, "the Christmas tree just fell over." I'm left with some broken ornaments, spilled water (darn live tree), and some concern over my husband's hearing.


2. Making cookies with my sisters and mom yesterday at our house. With my hands full of corn-flake green wreaths, frosting, peanut butter, etc., all the cousins yell upstairs, "Tyler is hurt. He's bleeding everywhere." Grandpa runs downstairs, Tyler's mom (my sister Cindy) runs down, I run down. A couples hour later Tyler returns from the E.R. with seven stitches and blood all over his pink t-shirt that reads, "TOUGH GUYS WEAR PINK!" (I guess he wore the right shirt to the E.R.!)

One more picture of rafia for Dana (homemade caramel corn this time) & a couple pictures of a game called 'Stuff the Santa' which we did in Zoey's class today. (Thanks Jeff for letting us use your scrubs!) Love http://www.familyfun.com/

French Pedi & Mani

This weekend we had three Christmas parties and so I thought I would ask my sister Julie if she wouldn't mind giving me another french manicure and pedicure. Since she's so sweet & giving, she said yes. However, I think she needs to work on the flip-flops she gives her "clients" when they leave her house. These two flip-flops were the only two she could find in her closet! :)The final result. (Don't my toes look like they're screaming to be free?) After nails, hair, makeup, nylons, high heels, jewelry, a dress, and a push up bra ... may I just say, I wish I was a man. What do they need for a night out? A suit. That's pretty much it.

It's Gift Giving Time

Yep, I'm one of those moms. The kind of mom that puts together a homemade gift for every person that volunteers or works with her kids. This year was one of my favorite gifts I have ever put together. I bought holiday mint foot scrub and lotion ($1/each at Target) and paired it with a pair of fuzzy slipper socks (three pack on sale at Costco for $7.50). A very nice florist hooked me up with small clear bags and only wanted a "thank you" as her payment. I made a homemade card and tied a little raffia bow to finish it off. Grand total for this gift: $4.50. I also make homemade strawberry jam every year and put it in decorative jars and add a cheesy card that says, "thanks for teaching my little berry." Homemade caramel corn is also always a hit. I know, I know... I hate moms like me too. :)

Scary Picture, Cute Cakes

Have I mentioned that my sister Julie is a whiz with frosting? :)

Friends are Fabulous

This weekend was our annual friends get-away to Chicago. Love the hotel, love time away from my beautiful kids, love shopping downtown, love our dear friends. Sorry to our traveling and room buddies Mark & Steph who were still getting ready when we were snapping pictures. Let me just say, they looked hot! :) It was great to hang out with Nick, college buddy of the Calvin boys and Chicago native, and meet his fiancee' Caylei too.

Thanks for letting me borrow your sweater Tara.

I like it so much, I'm going to get one of my own! :)

Brian and Jil & Kevin and Michelle

Sandy and Joel & Dave and Kim

Dutch Boys = Tall Boys

Ziglet

Picture courtesy of Miracles Photography

So, a couple nights ago the girls asked me to crack their toes. (Don't ask me how this got started or why they like hearing their little bones pop!) Well Jeff thought that if I was touching the kids feet, his should not be excluded. So he proceeded to take off his sock and put his funky toes right in my face. I, the sometimes dramatic one, decided to carry on and on about his stinky toe jam and how disgusting it was. I stopped my rant however when I looked over and saw Zoey standing up on her bed, eyes red and watering, and her hands under her mouth ... gagging like there was no tomorrow.

Seriously, it was so funny and yet we couldn't laugh because she was embarrassed and we felt bad for her. Let's just hope no one ever pukes at school in front of Zoey. She would go down right with them!

To my body: Pick a "problem area" and stick with it. Don't go and create new ones. Thanks.

To the family dressing room in Target: You are very unflattering.

Lions --- You're such a tease

Why must you tease your fans into believing in you every year?

I need to start cheering for a different NFL team. I'm leaning towards New England. Tom Brady is a U of M alum and not too shabby to look at either.

( O.K. the getting another woman pregnant and then dating a supermodel tarnishes his image a bit, but I'm a life-long Lions fan ... I'm used to disappointment.)