Strange Days Indeed

What a dreary day. I don't know why, but I felt like taking some pictures on the way to school this morning. It's been raining for serveral days. All weekend we have had family here helping us get ready for our big garage sale. I am actually feeling a bit overwhelmed and depressed by how much stuff we have. Over ten years of stuff to sort through. Wow. I must say, it is the most amazing and freeing feeling - to let it all go. To declutter our lives. I know I will be excited once it's all gone, but....in the mean time this process has been somewhat exhausting (mentally mostly).

Tonight, I will make slow cooker salsa chicken for supper. That's about all I know at the moment. Good day.

Something Fishy...

Yoga Practicing Mantis

(This photo is posted in honor of me because I am excited to start practicing yoga again and for my brother who suddenly has a Special Mantis in his life.)

School Lunch

Me: Isabelle, what did you have for lunch today?

Isabelle: I don't remember.

Me: How do you not remember? What did they serve?

Isabelle: They had FISH, but I didn't have any.

Me: Why not?

Isabelle: Because I am allergic to FISH.

Me: Really? That's news to me. Are you sure you are allergic?

Who told you that you are allergic?

Isabelle: I do! I told me. I'm allergic.

Me: You are not allergic to FISH.

Isabelle: Yes I am.

Butterfingers

SALE! SALE! PREPARING FOR A GARAGE/YARD TYPE SALE THING - I know that I am a complete and total moron in regards to this, but having a garage sale brings me great anxiety. The only experience that I have had so far is taking my stuff to a combined rummage sale (which was fun, but a lot of work). Here are my fears, I will spill them out for you right here and now: what if nothing sells and I am stuck with it? haha, what if the people try to super haggle prices and I cave or worse yet - anger takes me over cuz that annoys me and I punch out a saler? What if they expect lemonade and what if they don't only expect lemonade but if they want the kind with real lemons like on t.v. and they get angry because I can't provide. What if I run out of bags for them to take their purchases away in, what if I run out of change? What if the winds are whipping cold and keep buyers away and blow my merchandise all over the countryside? What will I do with my children as they are trying to take back into the house all the things of theirs that I am trying to get rid of? (every day I think about throwing away their worn beloved Elmo couch, but I can't bring myself to do it because I know that I will dearly pay for that action). What if I dont get the ad in on time or if I dont get things priced.......I don't even have a clue what to price things at...I guess I will just throw the price labels where they shall land....so these are just some of my fears.

o.k. so other news....

Noah was filmed for a commercial for his company the other day. He said it felt like fake/cheesy, I can't wait to see how it turned out! hehe

I attended the first meeting of a newly established book club with friends. We discussed The Other Boleyn Girl (among Other things) and the book got mostly: Toast of The Town reviews. Our next read is: The Heretic's Daughter by I forgot.

Isabelle next week will be going to the Apple Orchard on a School Field Trip. I love apple orchards! How fun for her. Isabelle asked me last night if she had Buttefingers? She said "If I have buttefingers that means that I am not really good at holding a ball."

Watermelon Musings

Eating Watermelon on a Sunday Afternoon.

Misc. Musings & Updates

School is going super great for the Kindergartener.

We are preparing for a HUGE garage type sale coming up ((might start the 19th)) 9/20-9/21).

Recently, Noah and I started taking Yoga together

(except I had to miss last week because I had a cold).

Some nice cooler weather is settling in.

I am slowly closing down my ETSY shop for now.

I have been doing lots to get ready for my new role as Creative Activities leaders for my local MOPS group (I am excited our first meeting is this week).

The Office will be starting: Sept. 25th.

Regarding Sandwiches: Isabelle no longer likes hard salami, but prefers turkey now.

Ben is slowly getting used to the "potty". He likes to sit there, but hasn't done too much there if you know what I mean.

My Current Favorite song is: The Story by Brandi Carlile

I think that is all I have to share at the moment...must drink coffee, shower and offically start the day.

Park

This morning we got up early and went to breakfast. Noah got BIG BOY breakfast, Isabelle got Waffles, I got French Toast and Ben shared all of ours. Next, we took a ride to the park and walked around for a while. Here are a few photos.

Happy Labor Day!

ToDaY

TODAY: Ben has pink fluffy earmuffs on his head. We are sharing leftover chicken salad for lunch. He loves it, except for the grapes…so I make sure that each of his spoonfuls are grapefree. It is a beautiful weather day today. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to play outside for a bit after we pick Isabelle up from school. I hope that she is having a great day. I can’t wait to find out what and how she did today. I should probably take a shower before I venture out into the world again. Today: I am wearing a tshirt that says: I was raised on the street. The Sesame Street Gang is featured. I know I am a dork, but I can’t help it. Tonight I think I may try a new recipe: Chicken Spaghetti (I know chicken for lunch, chicken for dinner…but I don’t mind…I’m a fan of chicken). I am really enjoying the Mama Mia soundtrack lately. It makes housecleaning and dinner cooking and car driving more fun. If you get a chance, I highly recommend it. Well, there is a cute little boy who wants to play with me…I think I just might take him up on that…who would have ever thought, that I would actually enjoy playing trains?

1st day Kindergarten

Student: Isabelle

Grade: K

Outfit: Birthday outfit from Uncle Jeff & Erin

Gear: Ariel Back Pack from Grandma Barb & Grandpa Al

Ben grabs his backpack and inserts himself into the photo shoot.

I did not cry. I thought that I would, but I did not. (her 2 preschool first days, I was an quite emotional basket case). I prepared myself all summer and I prepared Isabelle for this day. This day that I oh so dreaded, yet at the same time could not wait for it's arrival....It was so great, went so smooth. Happy Isabelle (to be with friends and learning!). Happy Mom (because there were no tears, fits or anxiety). Happy Ben (to get alone time with mommy). Win Win Win

Isabelle's favorite part of the day was "naptime and snacktime too and when the teacher read a letter". (parent's had to write a special short note to their kids that would be open and read on their first day, It was a suprise).

Isabelle's least favorite part of the day was "there was a very mean girl in class who was doing bad stuff to everybody and she didn't get a time out."

ZOO

ABOVE - These are some of my favorite pics from our ZOO trip last week! Good thing the animals were in cages...being kept safe from my wild children. hehe BELOW is a little video I took of the kids and my dad getting a MOLD-A-RAMA camel. This video is funny because at the end Isabelle asks..Is it hot? and my dad says No. and then she picks it up and says: ouch. (hehe - oh bringing back childhood memories -that mold-a-rama machine!)

My bAbY bOy is TwO!

Ben had an amazingly fun birthday! He started his day opening presents which included a Super Hero Cape (Isabelle got one too) , A Thomas the Train Bedding Set and some Thomas the Train pieces/set. Both the kids had a dr. appt in the morning (Isabelle got 4 shots for her school exam! poor girl ) and then we came home to find Aunt Mary with Happy Meals (or as ben calls them - happy me's). The rest of the day was filled with fun and celebration. Happy 2nd Birthday Benjamin!

These last two weeks actually have been one nonstop celebration. We have done so much and I have so many photos and stories to share. After Isabelle's birthday, we spent a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's in Oak Lawn, while there we got to visit the Zoo, fun stores, Uncle Al's and his fish pond... This weekend, we got to go to the county fair and visit with more family.

I plan to be getting thank you notes out, but I did want to thank everyone for celebrating the kids birthdays with us, for being there..for the wonderful cards and gifts that were sent and given. We are truly blessed and loved.

This week will be a lot of catching up....and then on friday: I will be bringing Isabelle to Kindergarten to meet her new teacher and see her classroom! Happy Monday Everyone!

Off We Go...

Geez, Ben - I really don't think that you have enough

ranch dressing to go with your ONE chicken nugget there.

Well, we are packing up to go to Grandma & Granpa's for a few days....hopefully we will get to visit some grand places like: the ZOO, Target...and Archiver's! WIshing Everyone a Wonderful WeEk!

Isabelle Turns 5!

We arrive at the arts center for Isabelle's friend party and 3 cats come out to greet us!
Isabelle and her friends made princess hats along with other fairytale projects!
We sing happy birthday to the Princess. (she wanted Pupcakes, no cake).
After the party we came home for lunch. Here she is eating her favorite meal of all time: The Happy Meal. We ended the day with a meal at Applebee's and and Pupcakes and Presents at home. It was truly a Fairytale day!
My little princess. Five years old. Happy Birthday my sweet love. If I start to think about it too much I truly get emotional. Time slips away in a blink of an eye. Every once in a while I torture Isabelle with an interview so here is the most recent:

INTERVIEW WITH ISABELLE ON HER 5TH BIRTHDAY
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
To save my life.
What chore do you not like the most?
Cleaning up toys!
What is the last movie that you saw in the theatre?
WallE with aunt Mary!
What is your favorite song?
Tomorrow and all the Annie songs!
What is your favorite lunch?
Happy Meal. (specifically she always chooses:
hamburger, no onions or pickles, apple dippers and chocolate milk)
What is the last nice thing you did for someone?
Shared my Skittles with Ben.
What makes you mad?
When Ben takes things away.
Where do you want to go to vacation?
Disneyworld so I can meet Tinkerbell!
Whose your favorite princess?
Ariel!
What is your favorite TV Show?
Dragon Tales and Arthur.
What is your favorite game?
Pretty Pretty Princess
What is your favorite restaurant?
Chinese! And then I can use the porkchops! (chopsticks)
What is different now that you are five years old?
I get to do homework and I am taller with my butterfly flipflops on!

Photo Fun

Here we find Ben is hiding something behind his back that

he does not want me to see (and take away).

This is Annie (opps, I mean Isabelle) just hanging out around the house.

This is our doll house. The other night I made the kids popcorn for an after dinner treat. The next morning I was doing some cleaning when I noticed this. Lovely. Ha! Ha! Thanks Ben! No wonder he wanted his bowl refilled. I couldn't help but laugh at this very unexpected surprise!

I have been trying to remember ...to stop and smell the flowers. Isabelle reminds me that this is a must do. Just don't smell the ones with the bees in them!
Happy SUNday Family & Friends!

Duck, Duck, Goose

Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase

- that's what wild geese are for.

~Author Unknown

This summer has felt like a wild goose chase, that is for sure. Ben constantly runs away, time constantly runs away.... Let's see here's a little update: Currently the kids are laying together on their old and worn elmo couch. They are watching charlotte's web and drinking some lemonade. I just drank 2 cups of coffee and am trying to decide how to pursue this day. Much to do.

Lately (even as I write) Isabelle has been wearing her Annie wig again. She wore it to the grocery store and park yesterday. Her favorite topic of converstaion latey starts out like this: "when I am a teenager, I can....blah, blah right? ". Ben is saying more and more words every single day. His favorite current thing to say besides: NO! is: I DUCK! (i'm stuck). hehe. I am preparing for both of their upcoming august birthdays (she will be 5 and he will be 2). We are keeping things very simple and low key this year. We also have to start preparing for school already which is so crazy to me. Noah's sister (Elizabeth) and her family are in town visiting so we have been spening some very nice time with them. I just love to see the little cousins together. They will soon be embarking on their next journey which is to move to Germany! The garden has kind of turned to crap, we really haven't been weeding it! We are still getting things from it, but not as if we would if we were maintaining it properly. I have put my Etsy business on major slow down for the summer. I just don't have time to make things right now. I do have some wholesale opportunities in the works and I hope to start building the shop up more in the fall. Ben has really been helping set the table! He opens the fridge and basically puts out whatever he thinks is needed (salad dressing and ketchup when not needed to go with spaghetti). what a cutie. I love to watch him run. so funny. He is really into his Thomas the train engines. He has 2 and he takes them everywhere with him...even to his NAP. o.k. that's all I can think of to misc. ramble about at the moment... Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend.

Bad Haircut?

I don't think it's so bad. really. I mean sure, there are a few misc. pieces sticking up here or there...there are a few longer and a few shorter than the norm, but for the most part, I think I did o.k. giving Ben a haircut...myself. People were starting to comment that he looked like a Beatle and that gave me a clue and a sudden urgency to start chopping! Ever since Noah saw it yesterday, he just won't let it go that he doesn't think that "the do" is quite up to par. He insists that there is a bald spot (there is not). Now, I am starting to feel bad for my little Ben. Maybe, I am making him walk out into the world as the Obvious HOME Haircut Boy.

Isabelle at Dance Class

I had the pleasure of attending Isabelle's last dance class for the summer. Parent's were invited to come see what the girl's have learned in their six weeks of practice. They learned 2 song routines, some tumbling moves and basics. Honestly, she learned a lot more than I expected that they would in that short amount of time! She had such fun doing this class and I truly enjoyed watching her in action last night! Hope you do too! (So...I had major video upload problems...so this is not the video I wanted to show nor is it right side up...but it will give you a glimpse of the wonderful performer! haha)

We are Family

We attended a family barbecue in Chicago this weekend...I just wanted to share a glimpse of the event. These are a few of the photos that will eventually make it into a mini scrapbook that I am going to make. (It's not too often that Noah and his 5 siblings, father and some special aunts can all have the opportunity to be together in the same place, so I defintely think this was a special day and we all survived! :)

We attempted to get all 5 cousins on the couch at the same time for a wonderful amazing photograph...as you can probably guess...we couldn't really accomplish such a task...the forces of toddlerhood were defintely against us.
Don't most of us feel this way at family gathering? haha

The Spread.
You are her protector. You are her provider. You are her playmate. You are the man who will set the standard for all other men in her life. She will have to search high and low to find someone that can compare to you. (this is Noah and Isabelle walking to the car at the end of the evening. I was actually taking a picture of the beautiful church that was lit up across the street, but then they came into my sight, I decided to capture them instead).

Sandbox Days

To see a World in a Grain of Sand and Heaven in a wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour.

~William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence," 1810

Oh Yes, Splendid Summer Sandbox days are among us. Bugs, and dirt on noses and humidity. Lemonade and popsicles and garden green beans. Fireworks and lightening bugs and the smell of brats on the grill. Sunscreen and Watermelon and scratched knees. Chalked hopscotches and bunnies hopping all about and berries on the bush. Dandelion Bouquets..these are the things that these days are made of. Sure these days are nice and they are sweet and they are swell. - I can't finish this musing because the kids are screaming and I can't think properly. I think Ben hit Belle and ran away with the spoon.

Champion Skillet

Breakfast of Champions! I am a Champion so I wanted to share my breakfast with you. j/k. O.k...so please excuse the somewhat blurry photo, I don't know what is going on with my super grand camera: recently I touched a button by accident, changed a setting and can't seem to get it back to super great mode. I will have to work on that... AnyWHO.... this is one of our favorite breakfasts in the summer. It is not the healthiest item that one could choose to eat...but on Sunday mornings - it makes a nice filling delightful meal. Let's call it: CHAMPION SKILLET since I am quite out of names at the moment. Get out your cast iron (or non cast iron skillet)skillet - Ingredients include chopped up: Bacon (cook this first and use the grease for the rest of the cooking...) , Zucchini, Squash, onions (I would so leave this out if it was up to me), potatoes (these need to cook the longest first) and I think that is it. If you have other grand stuff to throw in like green pepper or whatever else that you fancy, well that's super too. Spice it up with salt and pepper and you have yourself a SUPER great dish.

Happy Red White & Blue to You!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck
Running Rugrats
Isabelle won't take off these glasses...she has been wearing them for the last couple days. She says they are her seeing glasses and she can't "hear" without them on. One side arm is completely missing, yet she wears them dilengently. She also wants to know why she can't go to Chinese school, because she does go to Chinese restaurants. She also wants to know if playing poker includes poking eyes out. Ben has ice cream sandwich on his face. I think he needs a haircut. His newest word is: GOSH.
Our black raspberries have started to ripen.

Ben apparently does not like them . Isabelle can't get enough of them.

Yum.