Always good for a laugh

My five year old never ceases to say something that makes me laugh.  Sometimes I wonder what goes on inside her head!  We're watching Inspector Gadget (thanks HULU!) and Livvy is upset that we can't see Dr. Claw's face.  She is wondering who it is.  And so she asks "Who do you think it is?"  I said "I don't know."  She said "Just guess."  So I said "George Washington.  Who do you think it is?"  She thinks and is quiet for a few moments, and then she says "Kurt."  I said "Kurt from Glee?"  Her response?  "Yes."  Ha ha ha...she's only seen a couple episodes of Glee but the kids all know the music well and know who sings in what song.  And so apparently, that is who she thinks Mr. Claw is.  Funny girl.

Anyone in St. Louis been to Boo at the Zoo?  I am so NOT impressed!  Long lines for what?  A few pieces of candy and a toothbrush?  Really??  My kids weren't impressed either.  We'll stick with our church fall festival and other trunk or treats!

Need to lose

I'm feeling fat today.  It's probably because I am.  I went to try on jeans today.  Big mistake.  Last fall I lost 20 lbs.  I was diagnosed with Candida and thought "This is it!  I'm finally going to lose this weight."  And I did great, until I hurt my knee, and then had knee surgery, and then stopped eating yeast-free.  And now, here I sit, all the lost weight has been found, and my clothes are fitting too tight again.  I'm pretty frustrated and disappointed with myself.  I know I am the only one to blame.  I just love food so much, dessert especially.  Depriving myself of everything I love is next to impossible.  AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween is approaching.  I had grand ideas for the kids and their costumes this year.  There was even going to be an awesome blog post that you all would have adored.  For real.  And then, this weekend became crammed full of too much...and so last minute we fought the crowds at Walmart and purchased costumes for the kids.  Oh, with money we didn't really have.  Great...so no cool blog post this year.  Oh sure, I'll probably post pictures but it just won't be the same as it was going to be.

I don't understand myself.  Sometimes I annoy myself.  I hate simplicity when it comes to reading.  For instance, I can't stand the Twilight books.  Granted, I've only given the first one a shot, but I didn't like it.  Aside from the fact that I HATE vampires and any stories about them, I didn't like the writing.  And now, as I give Nicholas Sparks a second try, I'm just not impressed.  I think it boils down to simplicity.  I need more.  I need depth.  Not just brushing the surface of my emotions.  I think the story line/plot in The Last Song is good, but the writing itself seems shallow.  THIS.IS.JUST.MY.OPINION.  I do not want to read and then re-read a paragraph several times just to get depth.  But there is something so different between the writing styles of Nicholas Sparks and say, Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time series-*awesome*!).  And Sparks, along with too many other authors, annoys me with his simple writing.  I tend to get bored.  And I realize I am just way too critical of authors (this is true for preachers/teachers as well coincidentally)...but well...there it is.

*cough cough*

I'm here.  I'm alive.  Just barely.  I've been fighting an upper respiratory infection since I was in Phoenix...almost 2 years ago.  Wait...I meant two weeks ago.  See?  I'm not well.  I probably shouldn't even be allowed to be typing right now.  I keep making grammar mistakes too and so I feel horrible AND I'm annoying myself!  I finally went to the doctor today and got a z-pack so I'm hoping that begins its work soon.

And while I'm talking about being sick...I don't understand sometimes why God designed the human body the way that He did.  Usually I just accept it as is.  But I've heard (not that I've ever experienced anything like this...) that after you have kids, or when you are old, you lose control of your bladder.  If you laugh to hard, or let's say you have a horrible coughing fit, you might just wet yourself a little.  Or a lot.  Again, that's just what I've heard.

;-)

Creepy Candy

So, the kids like souvenirs.  Who doesn't?  We weren't planning to get them any in Phoenix but they asked us on the phone and so we went ahead and found something small and cheap that we just knew the kids would love.  It creeps me out.  So, of course before letting them eat it I had to take pictures!  Check it out.  Keep in mind, I hate teeth, real or fake!  Here we go...

Abbey holding her tooth

Yeah, there's "blood" dripping down that tooth.

Business trips are exhausting...

I went on my first business trip Monday.  Well, it was my first business trip that directly affected MY job.  I went to Vegas a few years ago when my husband was awarded Employee of the Year at MetLife Auto and Home, and once I tagged along with him to Freeport, IL and North Carolina, but those don't really count.  This week I had an opportunity to experience firsthand even MORE chaos in my life!  This business trip felt like just another day in my life, except that I came home completely exhausted!

We have two new clients out in Phoenix and I am managing one of them.  So it made sense for me to go meet the and really get a feel for what they NEEDED.  So after a chaotic morning (in that Kris and I woke up late and had exactly an hour and a half to get ready, get to his mom's, have her drop us at the airport and board our plane after the 2 hour long security check), we boarded the plane and set off at 7am for sunny Phoenix.

I think we got into Phoenix around 9:30am, PST (11:30 CST).  We picked up the rental, had a quick bite to eat while we checked in on the office, then went straight to our first meeting.  It lasted for several hours.  It was really a great meeting and I came away feeling more equipped to give my clients the support and service they deserve and expect.  Once we left there, we checked into the hotel and had about an hour to log in and work and talk about our meeting before a vendor picked us up and took us our to a fancy restaurant for dinner.

After dinner, we talked briefly and then Kris and I settled in to work on our calendars (diaries) to try to get through some things we needed to get done.  By 9:45pm (11:45 CST), we were done.  We collapsed into bed and were fast asleep within minutes.

The morning greeted us at 6am.  We got ready, had breakfast, and then got back on the road at 8am to meet with a vendor.  We went from there to our other new client and had a meeting with them for two hours or so. After leaving there, we stopped for lunch before returning the rental car and returning to the airport 3 1/2 hours early.  At the airport, we made good use of their free WiFi, each of us connecting and working until about 4pm (6pm CST).  We boarded our plane around 4:30pm, flew to Salt Lake City, deplaned, re-boarded without sitting down and flew back to St. Louis, arriving around 11:30pm last night.

By the time we got home, ate and went to bed, it was 1am.  We were back to work around 9:15am and I am really feeling it.  So ready to relax at home (if only we had food in the house for dinner!)....and go to bed early!  Anyone who thinks a business trip is just a vacation on the company's dime is really reaching.  At least, in our company, it is not!  All in all though, I'd do it again!

If there are any typos, you'll have to just correct them in your head.  I'm exhausted and proof-reading is the farthest thing from my mind right now!

Family Fun at the Switchfoot concert

Opening band for Switchfoot...I wasn't impressed.  They do have one song I like.  But they didn't play it.

BEST. BAND. EVER.

Trying to stay warm-I was prepared!

He was freezing by the end.

Loving the time with the kids before the show started.

Could it be...do they really love each other?  Katherine doesn't look sure...

Acting silly...

Their rendition of KISS...weirdos!

Serious picture before things took a turn for the worse...

I can't even tell you how much fun they had taking these pictures...it is rare that I indulge them and play...but I was a nice mom that night and let them have their fun.

See...?

Rocking out...I think this was during "Mess of Me".

Kaleb on Dad's shoulders during "This is Your Life".  As you can see, *someone* was forced to go buy a jacket...serves him right for not being prepared!  Works for me though since he gave me the jacket!

Cold and ready to go...yes, I did wear flip flops...but also took a pair of socks to keep my toes warm.  Told you I was prepared!

Weekend review-complete with 7 million pictures

The Switchfoot concert was AWESOME, just like I knew it would be (there will be a separate post with pictures from the concert).  Kat looked adorable in an outfit she chose, using her birthday money.  I don't know where this kid came from...with her love of all things creepy, scary and Halloween...

The whole ensemble

Creepy yet fun skull on her shirt

A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

Yesterday Kaleb had another soccer game.  Now that he is a full back, playing defense, he really gets into the game and doesn't duck as much as he used to!  He's really good at getting in there and trying to keep the ball out of the goal.  I'm so proud of him!

That's him in the center in the blue going towards the ball.

In the center again, with his arms up

Number 3, that's my boy, running down the field

Not sure about this-I think he was telling Kris the score?

Today is Abbey's 8th birthday.  It's our last birthday celebration until January!  We're having Chinese for lunch and watching Barbie: A Fashion Fairy Tale this afternoon (her choice).  Abbey is going to be so excited when she opens her presents.  She's been bugging me for months about giving her my MP3 player, since I have a new phone that does everything I need.  I've been slowly adding music to it. She'll be listening to Glee with me and say things like "If you give me your MP3 player, can you put this song on there?"  Lately she's hooked on "Total Eclipse of the Heart".  Every now and then she'll say "I want to listen to the Shrek music again!"  She'll be surprised and pleased to know that I did purchase and add the Shrek musical soundtrack to the MP3 player-she has NO idea!  It's on there with her other favorite soundtracks "Mamma Mia" and "Wicked".  I cannot even begin to express how thrilled I am that she loves music so much!  So that she can be a Godly singer when she grows up without having to charge people money to come to her concerts, she also has decided that she will be a massage therapist.  She's funny!

Friday is on the way!

First of all...THANK YOU Erin for respectfully disagreeing with me!  Second...disagreeing looks weird...I don't like how it looks and think that the spell auto-correct thing should come on.  Third...well, there's not really a third.  I just wanted to start out thanking Erin.

It's almost Friday again.  And tomorrow?  We are going to see SWITCHFOOT!!!  If you know me...you know that Switchfoot is my favorite band.  LOVE LOVE LOVE SWITCHFOOT.  Kat and Kaleb happen to love Switchfoot as well, so when I found out they were going to be at Lindenwood University on October 15th, I thought "I MUST SEE SWITCHFOOT-I DON'T CARE WHAT STANDS IN MY WAY!"  "Hey...great birthday present for Katherine!"  Anyway, Kris and I are taking Kat and Kaleb to their first ever "real" concert tomorrow night!  I've seen Switchfoot twice at the Pageant and know that I will not be disappointed.  If you haven't heard Switchfoot, check them out.  Incredible lyrics.  Awesome sound.  All around the best band ever!

Livvy got this princess crown for her birthday and she is somewhat distressed because it is too big for her.  She finally said "Oh it only fits grown ups!"  Then she proceeded to hand it to me and tell me to keep it.  And then these words came out of her mouth:

"Mommy, this is yours until I grow up.  Give it to me when you die.  When you about to die, put it in my room and then go into your room."

Why Glee? WHY?

I never thought I would say this, though I feared I would say it someday.  That someday my love for Glee would change.  I just didn't think it would be four episodes into the second season.  But I am seriously disappointed.  The music this week in The Duets episode was great.  It redeemed itself for me musically.  But the story?  I'm not buying it.  People will hate me for saying this.  I know I will ruffle feathers.  But I do not think that homosexuality is right.  People are going to live their lives and what I think about it is my business.  I don't shout to the world that I think it is wrong.  I don't condemn or judge people who are gay.  I have someone in my life that I love dearly and have for years that is gay.  I will always love this person and anyone else that comes into my life that is gay.  I don't avoid people...I just haven't come into contact with very many people that are, you know?  I learned a long time ago that loving someone unconditionally goes a lot farther than preaching my opinion at them.  But where my family is concerned, I will teach my children what the Bible (that I believe is 100% true and from God) teaches.

But I am not going to be vocal about my views because too many times people get too upset.  I am allowed to have an opinion and I hope that I do not offend anyone here because of what I am writing.  I purposely avoid these "hot topics" because I do not like confrontation.  I have tolerated the blatant approval and encouragement that Glee gives to homosexuality because there are so many other elements of the show that I love.  But I just feel like they are really pushing the topic and trying too hard to make it OK.  And for the rest of the world, and maybe you reading this, it is OK.  It's just not what I believe.  It frustrates me that homosexuality has been the primary focus of season 2 thus far.  I know I am taking a risk and maybe losing readers or making enemies by writing this.  But it's just so "in your face" that I can't just keep ignoring it and tolerating it.  I really, REALLY hope that the rest of the season is not so intentional in promoting Kurt's sexual orientation.

And while I'm talking about things that have me annoyed...why do they have to make it seem like teenagers having sex is normal and perfectly fine?  Parents...do you honestly WANT your kids having sex in high school?  Am I way out of line for thinking that this is NOT OK?  I understand that teenagers are faced with temptation and pressure and that teenagers really do have sex.  HOWEVER...it's just so irritating that in almost every episode some teenage couple is having sex.  I loved that they did not promote abortion when Quinn was pregnant.  They took an issue that teens are faced with and gave them a POSITIVE outcome.  So I applaud that-though I worry that this season someone WILL get pregnant and they will explore the other alternatives.  Hopefully not-I think that abortion is so heart-breaking for the women who endure it so hopefully they will leave it alone-because I don't believe they could ever accurately depict what it must be like emotionally to go through something like that.  Anyway...sorry I got sidetracked...why does sex have to dominate a show that is geared towards teens (and yes I do know this is pretty typical)???  What's next?  This season seems to be about taking those controversial topics and just exposing them.  I am not even going to go into the Grilled Cheesus episode and my views on that with regards to religion and faith and spirituality.

I'm just sad about it because I love Glee and I feel like they are trying too hard to push those issues, when the show was just fine, actually outstanding, the way it was!  Please don't hate me for having an opinion.  If you disagree with my views, that's fine.  I believe that we can still be friends...but I understand if this is a deal breaker for you.  I just hope it isn't.  I don't like to make enemies or confront anything...that's why I hardly ever write about this kind of thing.  I don't have the strength emotionally to bear the mean, hateful comments people say when someone speaks out on a controversial issue.  So please go easy on me.

Happy Birthday Katherine Grace!

Well...it's a new decade. For Katherine. She has now entered the double digits. Today my beautiful, oldest daughter has turned 10. I cannot believe how fast time flies. Anyone with kids can understand that. Your child is born, just a tiny, helpless creature, and then you blink and 10 years have sped by, turning her into this amazing, talented, beautiful person, inside and out. Happy birthday Katherine! I cannot wait to watch you grow and see what God will do in and through your life. You are an amazing girl, wise beyond your years, and I love talking and laughing with you. You are, in every way, my mini-me and I love you so much! Thank you God for giving us such a wonderful blessing!

Shockingly...I survived

Well...I'm still alive.  The slumber party came and went with little complication.  I felt horrible though.  I was going off of bad information and apparently did NOT invite 4 of the girls in Abbey's class!  AHHH!!!  And just when did I realize this?  Friday.  The 8th.  The day of the slumber party.  Actually, one of those four I found out about on Thursday and managed to get her invited.  That left me worried that maybe there were more I had forgotten.  Yeah.  3 more in fact.  Abbey made several phone calls on Friday, since they were off school, and I sent out emails to the parents I had neglected previously.  I knew of three girls that were coming on Thursday night.  And then?  SEVEN girls showed up.  SEVEN little children that were not my own invaded my home!  How am I still sane?  Well, I suppose it is debatable if I am truly still sane.  Overall though, things went well and we survived.  All I will say is that it is a good thing we only do one of these a year.  Now if only we had 3 boys and 1 girl instead of the other way around, so I could put Kris on the boy sleepovers!  But alas...I do indeed have 3 girls and 1 boy...so all of that drama falls on me!  I will survive.  I will survive.  I will survive!

Here are just a few pictures from our Princess Party.

The faces are blurred, not because these children are criminals but because I wanted to protect their privacy.  :-)  See...there really TEN little girls in my house!

Kat and Abbey being chefs...entertaining our guests.  They made up some game called "Cafe" or something like that...

Kaleb made this for Abbey.  Look...the balloons spell A-B-B-E-Y.

Princess tiaras for my Princess

As you can see, I haven't quite managed to keep my finger off the top corner of the new camera...

Livvy, staying up until 11pm was tuckered out.  Literally within 2 minutes of laying down she was out--glow stick and all...

Spelling tests

I love spelling and grammar.  I'm a grammar snob.  If you have poor grammar, I always correct it in my head.  If I have poor grammar and don't catch it, shame on me.  I've always liked spelling too, which is why I really enjoy Scrabble.  I like words.  Anyway...my kids are pretty good with spelling.  Katherine usually finishes her tests early though, so her creative side comes out while she waits, as a way I'm sure to combat boredom.  Here is an example of the doodles found regularly on her tests that come home.  She makes me laugh.