So happy to be posting #140!

I'm so happy to be back on my blog! It seems like it's been a long time since I've posted. I've so enjoyed catching up on all of the wonderful blogs on my sidebar.

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First and foremost, I'd like to direct everyone here

Please pray for this sweet little boy in Texas. He received severe burns

from a burning barrel accident.

We pray that he fully recovers.

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About 3:00 in the afternoon on Valentine's Day, I called Bob and asked him, "Sweetums, would you rather have waffles or prime rib for dinner tonight." There was silence. I just knew that he was quickly comparing the two, deciding which sounded better after being at work since 4 in the morning. Hmmmmm... Finally, he was able to make up his mind. Waffles!

Just kidding...he chose the prime rib. So, we spent Valentine's evening at Max and Amanda's.

They sure can cook! If you're ever in a position to do so, please invite yourselves over for dinner at their house. Delicious!

Afterwards, the kids flew (crashed) WWII planes on the flight simulator, Bob slept soundly not two feet away, and the rest of us played Cranium. Chris was staying at their house, so we played girls against guys. Poor Amanda was handicapped (her partner), so she lost. Sorry, Amanda!

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I have a wonderful friend with a February birthday (several actually).

I made my first apron without a pattern and box of cards that holds 10 homemade cards.

(if any of you crafters would like a template for the box, please let me know)

One of these days, I've gotta make myself an apron. Mine are just plain and boring! Something like this has gotta make cooking more enjoyable, right?

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Congrats are in order for the new mommies-to-be.

Here and here and my sisters-in-law in Pendleton, OR and Michigan.

Can't wait to meet the new little ones, and Bob is so happy that there will be babies around to soothe my baby cravings!

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Something funny Emma said today...

I was getting ready to drop her off at school after doing the same with Ryan. She turned to me and said, "Mommy, you dropped both of your children off at school (yes, she really does talk like that sometimes). So you'll be at home alone. Do you think that you'll be brave to stay home alone like I'm brave to go up high?"

I love that she was concerned that I'd be scared to be home alone.

Little does she know...

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We received some good news on Ryan today. When he was in the first grade in Beaverton last year, he was tested for their TAG (talented and gifted) program. He was not accepted because his reading comprehension was not high enough. His teacher here recommended that he be tested for our district's GATE (Gifted and Talented) program. I met with the school this morning, and am so pleased to say that he's been accepted. His reading comprehension level is now at 8th grade level and other portions of his reading test were at 10th grade level. In order to meet the criteria, the Full Scale IQ must be at or above 124. He was tested at 132, which means he meets the criteria for the Highly Gifted program. For this year, he'll be bussed to another school once a week where he'll be in a class with just 12 second and third graders and two teachers. The class will be much more hands-on and have more advanced material for him to work on. For next week, we'll either continue as we are now with him attending the other school once a week and moving up one grade for some of his courses, or we have the option to enroll him full-time in the GATE school. We are so glad that he'll be challenged

a bit more in school.

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So, there's my update for the past week of silence.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend.

We are enjoying beautiful weather here...sunshine and temps somewhere in the 50's.

I'm off to clean house (Mom's coming to spend the night), pick up Ryan and then do a

little bike riding with the kiddos.

On conquering fear

Just after starting preschool in September, Emma was at the large play structure that the preschool uses for recess. It was a day out of school for the older kids, so it was quite a bit busier than normal. Partway through the kids' 15 minutes in the play structure, Emma came down crying. The teacher could not figure out what had happened and determined that she must have gotten scared up on the top level. If you know Emma at all, and as she'll tell you, she's not afraid of anything! That changed that day. What had happened is one of the school-aged girls had hit her when she was playing up on top. Now, if you ask her about it now, she'll tell you that a "big, huge, girl hit me over and over again." The incident has grown in her mind, and she has refused to go up to the top of the play structure ever since.

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Today, she conquered her fear.

Ryan had the day off from school, and he had never been there to play. So, we spent about 1/2 hour there before it was time for Emma's class to come in. As soon as she saw him, she ran up and grabbed his hand. (I cannot believe that I forgot to bring my camera!!!). She led him over to the climbing wall that leads up to the top level. At every turn, he was there for her. I watched as he shielded her from the other kids, as he gave her a push to help her get up through a hole in the ceiling, as he held back the big swinging bags so they wouldn't hit her in the face. They played together for 20 minutes...the entire time up on the top level. Both of them had smiles...big smiles...that showed how happy they were.

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Sometimes, the kids drive me nuts with their bickering and fighting. But, it's times like these that touch my heart. The times that they help each other out, the times they play together, the times Ryan will talk to Emma in the voice he uses just for her...asking if she needs help.

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Thank you, Ryan, for helping Emmalee overcome her fear today.

Valentine's Day through the years...

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

happy valentine's day to all

What I'm Thankful For Tonight

Cassie listed ten things she was thankful for and then asked what we were thankful for.

I'm sure tomorrow's list will be completely different...at least I hope it will.

Tonight, I'm thankful for...

the kids' bedtime

cold medicine

soft kleenex

flannel sheets

a good book

my sweet husband who tells me to go to bed

sore throat lozenges

one last conversation today with both Mom and Dad

comfortable sweats

and the reassurance that this,too, shall end.

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As I head to bed, I think of the tournament game that our volleyball is playing...started three minutes ago. Good luck, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I hope your are

victorious tonight!

We had a mostly fabulous weekend. While Bob lived at the office, the kids and I played. On Friday, Emmalee and I headed over to Mom and Dad's. Ryan stayed the night with Uncle Anonymous and Aunt Amanda. She babysat the two boys for the evening. On Saturday, Ryan went to the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa for a Lego Workshop. He said that he enjoyed it...the teacher talked a lot, but he got to build a motorized machine that shot tires across the room. Then, Dad picked him up and they went trucking until late Saturday night. He spent Saturday night with us at Mom and Dad's.

Friday night, Mom, Emma and I spent the evening at a dear friend's brand new house. What a gorgeous place! It was so welcome and inviting...you just wanted to take your shoes off, grab a cup of tea and a soft comfy chair and spend the evening. I have something that I want to make her for a housewarming gift, but I couldn't make it until I saw the colors in the house. So, I made her a card box with a perpetual birthday calendar inside.

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Saturday morning found Emma sitting in a ray of sunshine.

She discovered that she could see the little drops of water sparkle in the sun if she stuck out her tongue and blew. (Normally, I'd tell her to stop, but in the name of 4-year old curiousity and a photographic moment, I didn't this time).



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When Emma outgrew her Little People toys, I almost handed them down.
Mom was very smart in suggesting that we leave them at her house.


Every time we go to the farm, she pulled out the farm and dollhouse
and plays with them for hours.
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Later, Mom and I went into Ontario for some shopping. For those of you who haven't been there in a while, there is real shopping there. Stay away from the Wal-Mart side of town
and head to Main Street.

Emma had a playdate with her favorite friend, Ember.
Look here for the awesome photos her mamma took on their 1 1/2 hour country walk.

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Sunday started out great...but it's why it was a mostly fabulous weekend. Just before morning meeting while Mom was getting lunch ready to cook while we were gone, she turned and heard her knee pop. We left her in the chair with ice and a tangled mess of yarn to straighten out.
When we got home, she couldn't put any weight on it and couldn't bend it backward. So, she and I headed to the ER. She didn't damage any bones, but they are concerned about soft tissue damage. She has to see an orthopedic surgeon this Thursday to determine what damage was done and if surgery is needed. Poor Mom! She hobbling around on crutches now.
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Last night was our second month of card night. It was at my house, and the theme
was "guy cards." There were six of us...and here are the fabulous cards that were created.

Today, Emma and I are having a lazy days. I'm in my sweats, she's in her pajamas and we're all fighting colds. It's gorgeous outside...clear blue skies and sun melting the last bits of snow. I think I might go find a ray of sunshine to sit in while I finish my tea.

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Recipe for

Golden Honey Mix

5 cups Honey Nut Cheerios

1 cup pretzel sticks

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 tbsp marg or butter

1 cup raisins

1 cup honey-roasted peanuts

Heat over to 350. Mix cereal and pretzels in large bowl. Heat peanut butter and margarine to boiling in 1 quart saucepan, stirring occasionally; pour over cereal mixture. Toss until evenly coated. Spread in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Bake uncovered 10 minnutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from overn; stir in raisins and peanuts. Spread over waxed paper, cool two hours. Store in airtight container.

**I double the amount of peanut butter to make sure it's extra peanut buttery. I also add once cup of chocolate chips after it has cooled. Be sure to stir every 2 minutes or

it will burn on the pan**

Are you feeling lucky today?

Lucky you!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It might be homemade cards, a pin cushion, some small, some large, maybe even a scrapbook. I may bake you something and mail it to you.

Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

Don't worry, my imagination is not the great!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did will win a homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

So....who will be the first 5 people?????

Is it a gift?

Last night

Wednesday night

Gospel meeting in Nampa, about 20 minutes away

Bob...at work since before 6 a.m. ...back at work at our computer

It would be me and the kids...alone

Grumpy, tired kids

We'd aleady had three meltdowns...and that was the older one!

Late dinner...still had to get baths.

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Called Mom and asked a silly question.

"Do you think it's ok to just stay home tonight?" after whining about the grumpy kids,

the stay-at-home husband, driving alone on the back roads.

She laughed.

She declined to answer me with a direct answer.

Instead she said, "You know, I can't tell you what you should do. But, I can tell you that,whenever I've felt like that in the past and decided to go anyway, I always heard something I needed to hear."

So, we went, the grumpy kids and I.

We sat in the front row. The kids sat quietly and drew.

I took notes...and almost felt sorry for those that were there because it seemed as if

Chris and Jay were speaking only to me. Would there be anything for anyone else?

Yep, another silly question.

So glad we went.

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So, here's my question for the day. But I don't think it's a silly one.

Are mothers just born smart?

Is it a gift that they receive at a certain point in life?

Will I receive the same gift someday?

Will my kids look back and appreciate the times I told them no?

Will they appreciate the times I let them figure it out on their own?

I hope so!

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Thanks, Mom.

Nothing to share...that's how I've felt these past couple of days.

I feel like I have nothing to say that anyone would be interested in.

But, then I remembered that every post doesn't need to be "inspired" or even interesting!

And this one won't be. (smile)

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This is how I see Ryan most of the time lately. He has developed a love for reading. His teacher gave him a book to read from her own stash. It is harder than what he's been working on...large enough to be divided into parts. It's AR level is 4.9 (almost fifth grade level). He was a little suprised when he wasn't able to finish it in a day or two. But, he dug in and finished it this past weekend. The day that he finished it...this is where he was for several hours. Sprawled out on the futon in the family room, deep in the world of mythical bats.

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I slipped today!

I've been so good with my eating this past week and have allotted myself one tall, no-fat, no whip, two-pump, extra hot mocha a week. However, today after story time, Emmalee asked for Orange Chicken from Fred Meyer (Jenny...she would love some teriyaki chicken from Haggens...can you send some?). So, we headed up the road. I tried....I really did. But, to enter the store, I'm within a wimpy girl's (me) stone throw away from Starbuck's. Aahhhh, the smell. It pulled, it tugged, it won! So, I lost. But it sure was good! (And really not that bad for me with all of the 'no's' and 'non's' in it.)

Then, we headed into Fred Meyers and over to the deli to get Emma's chicken. They have a sandwich there that I love...a smoken turkey panini (Jenny...I like this one, but love the ones from Haggen's...could you send one, please?). Once again, I heard it calling to me from over in the deli case. "Pick me! You love me! I'm much better than the soup you plan to have at home." Once again, I was weak, and gave in to the desire of the yummy sandwich.

So, yes, I slipped today. The good news is that I had already walked/ran my three miles for the day. Maybe that will offset the mocha and the sandwich!

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If you have a few minutes, please take a minute to visit a new blog over on my side bar...

Annabelle's Garden

For those of you that know my mom or have seen her yard, you know that she has two green thumbs (I think she took mine when I was young!). This is her brand new blog...I'm sure that we can look for many inspiring posts in the future. Maybe she'll set up a gardening question and answer section for those of us that need garden help! (Hint, hint, Mom!)

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I hope that all of you have a wonderful day. I hope that you're all in a place where you can enjoy the beautiful sunshine...it makes you think of the Spring days to come!

This week...

***Overheard***

Wyatt: "We call this mac and cheese. In another language, it's macaroni and cheese!"

*

Emmalee: "Wyatt, why do you like me so much?"

Wyatt: "Because I like to boss you around."

Emmalee: "Toss..boss. Wyatt, they rhyme!"

*

Bob: "This is fun!"

Referring to work...words never before uttered in our

household by the CPA in tax season.

***Anticipating***

Bike rides

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Longer days

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Sunshine

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Fun at the YMCA

New books from favorite authors

(I requested them all at the library and was put on the waiting list. Whoops!

They all became available at the same time!)

Hearts

***Witnessed***

Ryan's sweetness to little sis

Ryan has given Emma about 30 Pokemon cards. She loves to trade them back to him.

Yesterday, they had finished trading cards, and Ryan told Emma that she would need to buy more. The next thing I knew, Ryan had both of their piggy banks out and was emptying them. Emma ended up with a bag of pennies (I wonder if Ryan's back had more silver in it?). She then went to Ryan to "buy" more cards from him. Poor thing...he had meant that she would need to buy more cards at the store. Emma sat in my lap with crocodile tears just streaming down her cheeks saying, "I want to buy more Pokemon cards from Ryan." Ryan disappeared upstairs and came back a few minutes later...he'd pulled a couple of his cards out of his book and gave them to her. Her tears dried up, and she was happy as could be. And she got to keep all of her pennies!

***Added***

Regular exercise
(If you're looking for walking DVD that will make you work, this is it! Whew!)
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New game: Shadow Stomp
Never seen Emma laugh so hard!

***Removed***
Two pounds!

***Avoided***
Chocolate
Mac and Cheese (or Macaroni and Cheese, in that other language!)

Happy weekend to all

I have a friend that wrote a post called Schitzophrenic Post

That how I feel my mind is today. It's running in all kinds of circles. Used to...I'd just have to deal with it. However, my blog has become my place to lay it all down on "paper."

So, this post is really just for me to get it all off of my mind...feel free to come back tomorrow or the next day for something more interesting (hopefully!).

First...a few "Emma-isms."

Yesterday, she and I had quite the funny day. It seems like everything she said

had me busting up laughing.

During lunch, the radio was on in the background, and a song came on that mentioned God.

She looked at me very seriously and asked, "Is there really a God?"

I told her that there was. She asked where God lived. I told her that God lived in Heaven.

She asked me to show her where Heaven was. I told her that it really isn't a place you can see and then told her that God also lives in each of us. She thought about it for a minute and then asked, "Am I Heaven?"

I talked to her for a minute about her soul. She sat up straight, put her shoulders back and asked, "Mom, show me where my soul is." I explained that it's not a body part that you can point to or see. She leaned over, put her cheek to mine and asked very quietly, "Is it something you can hear?"

A few minutes later, she started to pound on her chest with her fist. I asked what she was doing and she told me that she was "knocking for God."

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Later in the day, I was busy tickling her and decided to pretend to "eat" her tummy. It is quite irresistable. She started to laugh and told me no. I said to her, "Tummies aren't for eating, are they?" Emma replied, "No, Mom, and life's full of hard knocks, too." I have no idea where she

heard that phrase!

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Lastly, for now anyway, we were on the way to the grocery store this morning and passed by the library. I pointed it out to her. She said, "Yeah, Mom, but where's Easy Street?" Oh, if only I knew the answer to that one!

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Another friend has been very open about her goal of saving money...even fessing up on her blog when she came across something that she couldn't pass up (gotta love those sale prices!). I'm a firm believer that it's a great incentive to keep at something if your are accountable to others for it. It is sometimes hard to admit when you've fallen off of the wagon, but that's o.k.

Many of you know that I removed 60 pounds in 2006. Sorry...can't stand the word "lost" in relation to weight. To me, lost is somthing that I want to find again. Not so with extra weight! Anyway, it is my goal to remove 15 pounds by the end of March. This past week, I began again my "must exercise at least 5 times a week" workout schedule and am eating healthier again. Sorry, Max, I mean anonymous, no more cookies from my kitchen! Well, maybe once in a while.

I plan on posting my progress each weekend.

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Bob and I made the decision to put Emma in preschool two days a week after moving here in August. She became very attached to me...in Portland, I could leave her with any of our friends for playdates and she'd have no problems. The experience has been great for her. Her friend

is in the same class, and they just have a great time. However, it costs $140 a month. We are in the process of trying to boost our savings, so we are looking for places to cut back. Since Emma has a December birthday, she cannot start school until August of 2010. So, we've decided to not send Emma back to preschool next year. We are so lucky to live where we do...just down the road is the Ada County library. It is wonderful! Every Wedensday morning, we head to the library for new books and story time. Storytime is led by Miss Erin. I don't know how Emma even tolerates my story reading after hearing Miss Erin. She is so expressive with her reading, and she brings her friend along. She has a monkey (only some of the kids believe that he's a monkey) that she calls Monkey. She incorporates him into the theme of the day...the kids love it! Today, there were over 60 kids from age 6 months to 5 years and all of them were enthralled. Also, the same library has preschool art twice a week.

We joined the YMCA, and they have a variety of classes that Emma can take for $28 a month. Between the library (free), one class per month at the "Y" ($28), play dates, and trips to the zoo, botantical gardens, parks, etc...we can just has much fun without paying the

huge fee each month. She loves to do homework here at home, so we'll sit down for a while each day and work on letters, numbers, etc. If she continues as she is, we might even get her reading by the time she starts school.

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One last topic. My going back to work. After reading my post about the short amount of time it took me to read 4 large books, some members of my loving family have mentioned that it might be time for me to go back to work. Apparently, they think that I have just too much fun!

These same people were very vocal about the fact that I should not be working back when Ryan wasin daycare from age 2 months to 20 months. Because I've been on both sides, I have so much respect for those moms that do have to work and are able to still spend meaningful time with their children. It's a hard balance to find.

However, at this time, there is no need for me to return to work. If it comes to that, I will have no problem putting out those applications and rejoining the work force. Neither Bob nor I see any need to put Emma in daycare while I work to pay for said daycare.

Besides...I have a job. A 24-hour a day, no monetary gain job. And I love it!

I have the wonderful responsibility of raising two kids, making sure our house is liveable, meals are nutricious and on the table with the breadwinner gets home. I also have the priviledge of being able to some time reading or crafting or writing on my blog. On a normal day, it's not much time...but it's important to me. I love to lose myself in a book (yep, still have to do the housework when I stop reading), I love to make things for people (almost always wait until the housework is done and the kids are in bed), and I thoroughly enjoy blogging. I enjoy sharing our lives and getting to know others better through their written words and photos. I love to logon and see comments waiting for me. I'd love to see who my lurkers are (feel free to leave an anonymous comment if you don't have a blogger account...just make sure you sign your name so I know who you are!).

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See...pretty boring post today for everyone but me. It's all out of my head now...written down somewhere...and now I'm off to work on some birthday gifts. Happy day to all.