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I hope everyone's having a good week so far!
You know that little flu bug I mentioned last week? Well, it has just hung on these past ten days, just taking different forms along the way.
This time, I think I really am almost over it at last...but let's just say that the humidifier and I have become very good friends.
Did you all know that it was just Abraham Lincoln's birthday? And did you know they are starting a 2-year celebration of the bicentennial of his birth today, marked by Laura Bush visiting his place of birth? (Next year marks his 200th birthday.)
Needless to say, we were focusing in on honest Abe this week here in our home classroom...and the cool thing is that every time we do something like this, I am the one who always ends up learning something new!
Did you know his grandparents followed Daniel Boone over to Kentucky? And that later his grandfather was killed by Indians?
That's what I learned in school today!
I wanted to thank Hootin' Anni for honoring me with a special Valentine!
Isn't it darling? It's just the kind of Valentine I remember giving and receiving when I was a little girl! Thanks Hootin' Anni!
And to Nadine who honored all of her regular blogging buddies with these two awards...
I am going to follow her example with these, and give them to each of you who I frequently visit. Because if you see me replying on your blog more than once, it is because "you make my day" and because I think your blog is "excellent"!
As for other news, we just made reservations at a couple hotels for our upcoming trip to California this spring! After much consideration and waffling, we've finally decided to drive.
So, now I have to start making a list of things to pack...and high on that list will be things to keep two little girls occupied for a thousand miles!
Does anyone have any wonderful suggestions or tips for traveling on the road with children? We have a portable DVD player and an audio tape player...but we'll need some car-friendly games and art ideas, so if you have them, I'd be so very grateful!
My girls have signed their bunches of Valentines and are ready for their parties this week! One in a Missionette club, and another with our home school group.
The modern Valentines aren't quite as quaint as they once were, but the excitement surrounding the fun is still the same!
Now, as for couple time and romance, I'm not sure yet whether we'll get our dance in this year on the actual day or not. But this year I have a new CD- Michael Bubl*'...so we'll see!
If I don't get a chance to post again before...
A very Happy Valentine's Day to each of you!
This week's theme: heavy
If this green guy once walked the earth, I am thinking he was pretty heavy.
My girls really enjoyed seeing him at the Pacific Science Museum in Seattle last summer...as long as they knew he wasn't real!
For more photo hunt participants, go here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My oldest is at a Christian girls' club sleepover and so I must get back to my watching Barbie's Island Princess with my littlest...
I'll be doing a catch-up post soon...as well as trying to catch up with all of you!
(And thank you for the wonderful response to my memorable Valentine's Day post!)
Blessings!
Yes, it's been a week since I last posted. Partly just being busy...and then the flu got me!
I'm on the mend, but on Saturday I was pretty much in bed all day. I kept thinking of that Cosby show episode where he and his wife were both sick with some awful strain of flu and couldn't move out of that bed even for water.
Cliff announced, "My hair hurts."
That was me.
Thankfully, I'm much better but I spent Super bowl Sunday hibernating in my bedroom getting some more rest and watching chick flicks like "Sense and Sensibility". I so love that movie! So romantic...which kind of brings me to subject below.
(And I know, I know...I missed the best Super bowl in years!)
Today is Marriage Monday, hosted by Chrysalis.
The topic is either: Top Ten Tips For the Ultimate Valentine's Celebration or My Most Memorable Valentine's Day Ever.
When I was planning my wedding thirteen years ago, there was a part of me that refused to believe that marriage would be anything but one long, endless dip into the pool of romance.
Oh, I was not some very young girl...I was over 30.
And this single gal even watched all the Oprah shows on marriage and relationships, so logically I knew that marriage took some work.
But I also had been watching those old romantic movies since I was twelve, so when the time of my wedding actually finally came, those stars in my eyes told me that my groom and I would somehow be different than every other couple on the planet.
And in my mind's eye, my fiance would now be my Gene Kelly, dancing around with an umbrella even on those rainy days of life.
Well, enter reality.
Although my husband has many wonderful qualities, he can also have his bad days, act grouchy, simply forget to be romantic, and wash the cold-water only whites with the darks.
And singing and tap dancing? I don't think so.
Besides, the lack of romance sometimes isn't all due to him. Sometimes being a mommy simply zaps any sense of hearts and flowers right out of me, especially at the end of a tiring day.
So when Valentines' Day comes along, as any couple with young children can attest to, even if you're -somehow- feeling some energy by evening, finding alone time can be a bit of a challenge.
But last year, was an exception.
Valentine's Day happened to fall on a night when both of our girls were at Awana. I had told him all I wanted was a to exchange our cards and dance with him to my new Tony Bennett CD.
He obliged...and it turned out to be so incredibly romantic for both of us.
Even though our time was limited to a stolen ninety minutes, it made us feel for that evening just as if we were falling in love again.
It was truly my most romantic Valentine's Day...and I posted about it when it happened here.
No, marriage isn't one long dance in the rain...but it can be romantic if we make time for one another.
And a little Tony Bennett doesn't hurt.
I hope all of you are staying warm this week! It snowed here this morning, but then the sun came out, warming everything up. Now it's suppose to snow again tonight!
Back to the longest birthday celebration you would ever want to hear about. I promise this is the end...really!But the day after my actual birthday, we had a few family on my hubby's side join us for cake, ice cream and wi*.
Someone asked what wi* is, and I actually didn't know either before Christmas when Santa deposited it under the tree.
That Santa. Always full of surprises.
But it's a series of video games, best being defined by the fact that your realistic movements while holding the remote control the action.
So...you can play virtual tennis, for example, and really get a work-out!Here is my husband and one of his brothers duking it out...
Notice the technique...the skill in blocking the virtual punches that Uncle C so professionally executes...
Yes, he put up a great fight, but alas, he was down for the count as he kept yelling at his virtual self, "Get up, get up!"My husband, on the other hand, just stood and enjoyed the triumph of victory...
It truly wasn't violent on the screen...I am so finicky about that kind of the thing, so if it was approved by me, then it was definitely OK!And good thing, too. Our little two year old niece was there and was really getting into the excitement...
This is the same little girl that was dedicated along with her baby brother two weeks ago, and just like she has the pastor still laughing over the things she said up there on the platform, she has us all laughing Friday night!
But then... Then... my husband and children brought out the cake...
and if I hadn't been giggling so hard, I would have clobbered my lovely hubby for lighting each and every one of those candles...
Quick! Get the fire extinguisher! 
But then, again...at least they all fit on there, right?
So, all in all, it's not as bad as I had thought, this turning 45.
Granted, it used to be pretty old...but now they say it's the new 35.
All it means is that you have to step up the workouts, the moisturizer, the Loreal color and sometimes the antiperspirant.
(No, the hot flashes aren't here yet, but I think the warm flashes are!)And in my case, it helps to have some little kiddos to have to keep up with!Blessings!
Thank you again for all the birthday wishes! It's amazing how much so many of your long-distance friendships have blessed me in the past year and a half!
The trauma of being officially now in my mid-forties (when you're 44 you can still sort of say you're in your early 40's....earrrrrly....has a nice ring!) was also softened by what turned out to be a 3-day celebration.
In fact, there's so much to tell, I have to divide this post into two parts!
It started on my birthday-eve, when my husband took me out to see Riverdance.
It was, indeed, wonderful!
The night before the show, our sitters for the evening let us know that their whole family was recovering from the flu! (The same family that just had their two little ones dedicated.)
Thankfully, another brother, Uncle C (and our dog's best friend) came to the rescue. He sometimes lurks here, so thanks again, Uncle C!
I guess the only negative about the show was that we really didn't know what the seats would be like, which were "box"...and once seated, we found we were facing directly to the opposite side of the theater so in order to get a good view, we had to sort of turn in our seats and lean waaaay over.
But I was so thrilled to be there that I wasn't complaining at all...and the show was great!
We didn't have the bought program to tell us everything, but knew there was a story woven through the numbers...and I gathered that it was about the Irish people starting from ancient times and continuing through the years.
One of my favorite numbers was a "dance-off" between two African Americans supposedly during the 30's or 40's New York and some Irish guys...it was some incredible footwork by all all wrapped into some major comedy!
My eight year old actually took an introductory Irish dance class this past fall...and I told hubby that if one opened up for grown-ups, I would be SO tempted to take it! :)
Of course, at my age now I'd be heading to soak in the tub after each class, but it still might be worth it!
The next day- my actual birthday- was spent quietly here at home with the girls. But that evening the girls and their daddy led me on my first treasure hunt...
And just as with each of us on our birthdays before, a clue led me to another, and perhaps a little wrapped gift was waiting, as well!
Here are some of the beautiful little trinkets that the girls had picked out for me...
There was also two lovely framed pictures of them, and home-made cards as well.
And my wonderful guy surprised me with THESE...
This was one of my biggest bouquets ever and they're so beautiful!
Thank you, Sweetie!
Afterward, we all went out for hot fudge sundaes...because the cake would be ready the following night when we had a few relatives over for Wi*.
Which turned out to be so fun I have to have a separate post...
with pictures....
and all I can say is that is when it comes to my husband and his brothers bobbin' and weavin, Sylvester St*llone better just look out.
Now...I'm off to do some catching up with all of your posts!
Blessings!
Thank you to all of you who stopped by at my last Show and Tell...it truly blessed me to read your sweet comments, since Smiley still has a special place in my heart. (And I was surprised that several of you mentioned having or knowing a similar doll...wow, I had no idea she...or uh, he...had so many siblings out there!)
Well, as promised, to help me celebrate my birthday this week, I will be talking more about the giveaway.
But first...welcome...you are about to pass through...
The 45th Parallel! (da, da DA!)
To celebrate, ease the pain , I wanted to have a little fun and host a small giveaway in the process!
But a little background, first...
Up until 18 months ago, and for about three years, I sold Pampered Ch*f.
Yep, shy me would drive to unknown places, and give presentations in front of gatherings of folk I did not know, and attempt to make actual food...while talking.
This was especially challenging since prior to starting in that venture, I only knew how to make about five meals from scratch. (OK, four.)
But, as we said in the business, "The right tools are everything!"
And here is one of the best tools in the line...
The classic scraper!
Now, the photo doesn't do it justice...(I was having trouble with the lighting) but trust me, it's so cute!
This is a Pampered Ch*f silicone scraper (brand new in the unopened wrapper) which works amazingly well as it clings to your mixing bowls, getting every last drop.
Plus, it's also great for stirring hot foods because it's extremely heat resistant!
This one was a limited edition, which came in a "Spring" color of lime green just a couple years ago. It's no longer available, but the classic white scrapers sell for $10.50.
I have several of these in various sizes that have been going strong for five years now...love them!
OK, have I sold you? Actually, I'm not selling it, I'm giving it away to the lucky winner!
But in order to be entered, there is a tiny bit of work to be had. But just a tiny bit! Don't run off, now!
Here's how: Simply take a quick peek at my archives, and name one of my previous posts and why you liked it. Easy as pie! (Which you can make, using your new, handy-dandy scraper...) ;)
(But please, please don't tell me why you didn't like a post...or I might cry or something...since I am almost in the 45th parallel...and post-post-partum and pre-menopausel...and all...) ;)
It can be just one sentence.
Not that I'm fishing for compliments, truly, but it would be too easy to grab a title and just type it... (not that any of you would really do that...right?)
And besides, like most of you, I am curious as to what readers especially liked...
was it something that made you think...or cry...or maybe laugh?
OK...ready? GO! ... and then tell me in the comment section of this post and I'll enter you in!
(Oh, and if you don't have a blog, be sure to have a way for me to contact you in case you win!)
On the morning of my birthday, I'll have one of my little girls draw a name out of a hat and then we'll be puttin' that lime scraper in the mail!
It is now safe to temporarily leave the 45th parallel at your own risk...;) Drive safely.
Welcome to Friday's Show and Tell, hosted by Kelli at There is no place like home!
I wanted to share with you another one of my little treasures from childhood. This one was, indeed, one of my very first little special friends-ever!
Please meet Smiley.
Smiley was someone I cuddled with probably from the time I was in a crib...so looking at her now, still invokes some of those special, warm, safe feelings from very early childhood.
I brought Smiley over from my mom's house this past year, where she has been the faithful steward of so many of my childhood things. She has a bit of a dirty face, which I've never gotten around to cleaning...but that's OK. She doesn't seem to mind holding onto a bit of my childhood smudges. It just shows how much she had been loved.
I've passed down a few of my toys and dolls to my own children, but there are a few that now sit in special places in my room...that are just mine...reminding me of that sweet, treasured time of days gone by when all was innocent, carefree and secure.
And just seeing her happy smile after all these year can still make me smile in return!
Oh, I will be having a fun little bloggy party on my birthday next week! And there will even be a drawing! More details coming this weekend!
And guess what? My sweet husband is taking me to see Riverdance for a birthday present! I can't even imagine how fun it will be to finally see them in person. I'm SOOO excited!
God bless and have a wonderful weekend!
You might remember my telling about my brother in law and his wife, who while in the process of adopting a child, found out that they were expecting another in a more conventional way!
Their adorable little boy was born last summer, and they have suddenly gone from being "just a couple" all these years- to the parents of two!
A true miracle and double blessing.
Well, this Sunday was the big day...their babies' dedication!
The church is a large one, so they were just a bit nervous...
Our family's job was to reserve a whole pew for visiting family and friends who were coming. And it turned out to be a full pew!
We all sat huddled nicely together-with two and a half year old K. sitting like a perfect angel in my lap for awhile- and 6 month old S. being as calm as you please, gazing non-nonchalantly around, or showing occasional interest in the contents of his diaper bag...
...when very soon it was time for the four of them to go up to the platform.
Our pastor briefly touched on their special story and while doing so, K. seemed very interested in being in this new vantage point.
Now, our church has a very large screen...and several other screens on either wall...and when we have dedications, the babies' photos are taken just before and displayed for all the church to see.
So, needless to say, K. was very enthralled with seeing herself everywhere...
before promptly announcing to the pastor (and hundreds of people) that she had to go potty.
Luckily, she's still in diapers, so we proceeded on. ;)
As the pastor prayed, we all extended our hands in prayer with him over these precious babies and their parents.
It brought back some memories for my husband and I...having each of our own babies dedicated was such a meaningful time for us.
And I remember another time, when this same brother in law tip-toed into my hospital room eight and a half years ago after my first baby had been born to peek in on his newborn niece. He didn't stay long, since I was recovering from some harrowing complications...but long enough to say wistfully, "I wish I could have one."
So, witnessing this prayer of dedication on Sunday, I was also witnessing God's incredible graciousness.
And I was glad I was there.
Ever since I was a little girl, glued to the TV set watching The Wizard of Oz, I've had a morbid fascination with tornadoes.
I've had those reoccurring dreams where I'm running from one looming in the distance, and searching for a neighbor's house with a basement.
Knocking on doors, hoping for a kind-hearted soul who will let me in to take cover with them.
As a child, my parents sometimes were with me...sometimes not. Sometimes I was on foot, other times I was in car, and we were trying to outrun it.
But my dreams always find me escaping at the last moment, after a heart-pounding few minutes. My grandmother once told me of looking out her little house in Oklahoma as a girl, and seeing three tornadoes off in the distance all at once.
My mouth would hang open at this, trying to envision a flat land as far as the eye could see, with angry twisters on the horizon.
It was always a stretch, since I grew up in the northwest where tall evergreens and rolling hills are the norm...and virtually no twisters. Yesterday, however, one did, indeed, touch down in the nearby city of Vancouver, Washington.
(Yesterday's actual tornado)
We saw no evidence of any of the commotion here at home, however... except for a unusual warmth in the air and having both sunlight and rain at the same time. So, at lunchtime we were oblivious to the fact that only a few miles away, a tornado was causing havoc and damage...
(Courtesy American Med. Response, Clark Co.)
Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries! And that is a miracle when you see all the countless photos of damage throughout the area and hear the accounts.
In fifth and sixth grade, I actually lived in Vancouver. And strangely enough, I had a friend who had been injured in the big notorious Vancouver tornado of 1972 a few years before which had come right through her grade school. Yes, tornadoes, although rare and usually weak, due occasionally stop in our area of the Northwest from time to time. And once in awhile, they can even be truly menacing.
So, to have this recent one so close to home is a little unnerving.
Still, I'm truly hoping that the only tornadoes I come into direct contact with will be either in my dreams... or in black and white Kansas before Dorothy lands in Technicolor Oz.
Well, today was back to school for us here at home...and let me tell you that as wonderful and relaxing as our Christmas vacation was, I didn't come back to schooling feeling all refreshed and ready to tackle a new season.
I guess the two weeks off made me completely out of condition because I'm tired!
Do public school teachers sometimes feel this way, too?But other than that, things went pretty well today.
And now I'm here stealing a moment while the girls and their daddy play Wi*. Actually, they discovered that you can custom design yourself as player, picking out cartoon hair, eyes, ect...so now their designing me.
I told them to surprise me...just make me look good, please.
I know that sounds vain, but since I'm approaching another birthday this month (and one of those "half-milestones" I'm not thrilled about) I want at least the virtual me to look great! ;)
OK...here's our virtual family.
I'm the cool looking gal on the end...my five year wanted to be the tallest. Oh well. 
Lest you think all we do in our spare time is play this new family obsession, you'd be only partly right.Remember that our oldest received a gently used violin for Christmas?
We decided to scrape together some money for lessons for a few months for her. They start later this month, but in the meantime she likes to get it out and experiment a bit.
I've never played this elegant little instrument...piano has been it for me, and only that just a little. But I was able to pick out the first four notes of "Twinkle, Twinkle" and then showed her...so now we amaze ourselves and our family with performances of those first four notes many times over...;)
I know, we're holding the violin, our hands, and our fingers all wrong...but thankfully her first lesson is in just two weeks. We'll try not to learn any new notes before then.
On a final note... (get it...note...?) ;)
I hope to do something special on the blog for my birthday in two weeks...just not sure what, yet! But I'll let you know soon...
I have to do something...the whole idea of turning this age is just...strange! :O
Remember when you just couldn't wait until you turned the next number?
Long, long ago...
Here I was, celebrating my 7th birthday party at Ferrill's Ice Cream Parlour...
Smiling shyly as they all loudly sang...
And I can still remember all the girls names at the table.
And diving into the huge "community" sundae which resembled Mt. Shasta...sitting there...waiting just for us!
Blessings!
What an incredible couple weeks we've had. And you know what? We didn't go anywhere exotic, visit relatives in far away places for the holidays, or do anything extremely phenomenal.
Just some wonderful family time here at home.
For one thing, my 80 year old mom spent three days with us- something she hadn't done in over a year- and it was such a sweet visit.
And my husband, who is usually off fixing cars or putting in storm windows or whatever else comes his way just to earn a little extra money for all of us...well, he spent so many hours over the past few weeks just being with us.
Playing game after game...(the girls got a lot of games for Christmas and this shows only a few...)
and generally being just an overall sweet husband and daddy.
It was amazing how much fun we all had as a family...playing and laughing together...and even more amazing to think that sometimes more enjoyment is gained having quality time together at home than it sometimes is spending oodles of money somewhere else!
That said, we do have some plans on spending some money, though, later this year...
We haven't sat down to plan the month, itinerary or the budget yet, but we do hope to go to Disneyland sometime in 2008! We're all pretty excited...my husband's never been there in his life, and my girls are really hoping to be able to chat with Snow White or Ariel over a good glass of lemonade.
As for me, I feel as though God is wanting to do something fresh in my life for the New Year.
And part of this is to get back to writing (and not just in this blog!)
I have a story that has been sitting in the computer nearly finished...for something like three years.
So, in the next two months I really want to try to finish it. Maybe not with it all edited and re-worked- but at least finished with an ending!
I know the Lord is also wanting to reveal many things to me this year, and this is just a small part of it. But I want to be obedient.
Since I am busy home schooling during the day, time (and energy!) is sometimes hard to come by.
But I really want to try to reach this goal...and I wanted to mention this in case you all notice that I won't be posting and commenting quite as much as I have in the past.
(Or at least when I do comment, not all my replies will read like mini-novels anymore!)
But back to the games...yes, you saw that right. Santa brought us a Wi* game.
The crazy thing is that I didn't even know much about them- or especially this one, in particular- until we opened it Christmas morning. (Daddy loves surprising all of us with one special gift every year. Even Mommy!)
Apparently, they are one of the hottest games of the year...but I knew nothing of this.
That's just how trendy I am.
I will say that playing all these virtual sports is a lot of fun...but one thing that bothers me:
Shouldn't the fact that these sports are all "virtual" only give me "virtually sore muscles"?
Because that's not the case.
We're talking, "Where's the ad*vil?" muscles here.
Probably due to that that wild game of tennis and the big warm-up pitch I took to strike out my virtual opposing team.
Who by the way, are missing their virtual legs at times, and arms, too...they run the bases like hopping little Vegg*etales.
Does everyone's Wi* game characters do this...or is this why my hubby got such an incredible deal? heehee
Thankfully for me, Santa brought me something else I hadn't even asked for:
A massaging shower head.
That Santa was thinking ahead! ;)
Truly, in all seriousness... I feel very blessed right now.
Not just for special surprises that were hiding under the tree...but because God has blessed me with a loving family... and because of the sweet moments we are able to capture amidst the busyness of life.
God bless all of you in this new year...and hoping you capture many wonderful and simple moments along the way.
New Year's Day- 2005...Mt. Hood
(I'll be posting a written post very soon, but we've been enjoying some incredible family time together these past few weeks.)
A very Happy New Year to each of you!
(For more WW go to the hub or visit 5 minutes for Mom.)
Isn't it darling? It's just the kind of Valentine I remember giving and receiving when I was a little girl! Thanks Hootin' Anni!
I am going to follow her example with these, and give them to each of you who I frequently visit. Because if you see me replying on your blog more than once, it is because "you make my day" and because I think your blog is "excellent"!
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