Just like dad...

Ain't he cute?

{in a somewhat Harry Potter-ish way?}

I just wanna....

I just want to feel...

I just want to know...

I will BE OK.

I can't get enough of this song - its catchy, upbeat, and the words just seem to fit. So, before January is completely over I am making this my "theme" for 2009.

Maybe my house will be messy more days than not, maybe there will be cereal/ramen for dinner from time to time, maybe I won't get on that blessed elliptical for weeks at a time and maybe I will just continue to collect pictures on my computer and hike through the mess to my computer...all will still BE OK.

But maybe, just maybe, the walls/floors will sparkle, I will cook fabulous meals from places like this or this (instead of just thinking about it), maybe a few of those extra pounds from 2008 will find their way back, and maybe the creative juices with spew forth daily along with loads of organization...this would BE OK{er}.

But either way, I am gonna

stay upbeat,

feel it,

and know it will BE OK.

Cuz like Mike says "this is our rebuilding year", right?

Sunday Morning

I was uploading my pictures today and found this picture from a couple Sunday mornings ago...

We slept in, only to find this!

Sometimes these kids couldn't be more perfect!

learning patience

We have a new Smith's Marketplace,

like a 3.4 minute drive from my house.

I {♥} it, beats the socks off Walmart.

They also have these adorable,

kid sized carts.

Luke and Pais each pushed their own cart today.

I was thinking...this will be fun, cute, and I have time before lunch/nap time.

1 hour, 15 items, and 100 apologies later...

it was over but not so cute.

Naps were earned ALL around.

start 'em off young

Wii partied like crazy!

What better way to turn 4 than with 8 of your bestest friends!

Showing off their medals for 2.7 seconds - then off for cake!

We had champion bowlers, boxers
{miraculously my tv is still in one piece!},
burpers and cell phone talkers...

Birthday Boy

(at one point during the day he said, completely to himself,

"this is awesome! I could do this EVERY day!)

Luke is super sweet, handsome,

and kind with a little crazy on the side.

"Wii" couldn't ask for a better boy!

What a week!

Wow! I definitely did NOT intend to leave that last post as my newest post for as long as I did!

But, to say I was incredibly lazy last week would be an understatement. I did only what was required and not one bit more...

My eyes stayed shut each morning until the last possible moment, causing utter chaos to get ready for school. Adilynn had a granola bar running out the door each AM and school lunch every PM(there wasn't even BBQ rib sandwiches on the menu). Our dinners consisted of cereal, sandwiches, ramen or take-out - not one home cooked meal.
We won't even bring up the messes that are still waiting to be cleaned/sorted/washed...

I am still in denial that my built in morning babysitter/laundry do-er/carpool specialist (aka grandma)* has indeed moved out. So much so, I have not yet touched the laundry since her parting last Monday. (who needs clean underwear anyway?)

I did manage to celebrate this cute boy turning 4 -
more to come on that, soon!

And, we managed to get out for another date night Friday as well. This time with Mike's side of the family. And not nearly as controversial as last weeks, despite spending most of it watching 2 boys roll around on the floor in somewhat revealing clothing. Okay, okay, before you get the wrong idea - it was my nephew's JV High school wrestling tournament! A completely new thing for me - a big deal in Mike's fam. Mike thought I was a complete idiot when I asked "there are points in wresting?" and informed me that "they aren't allowed to take their singlets off while they are on the mat" when I told him they forgot to remove their leg bands at the end of the match. (gasp!) I never expected them to undress in public, mat or not! But please do not let this take away from Richard's talent...

He is a freshman wrestling JV and was quite impressive. Barely loosing the first match which consisted of several cheap shots (he had the bloody nose to prove it) and cradling(wrestling lingo) the second guy like a pro, pinning him for the win. I look forward to watching him pin many more in his career and learning all the rules so I am ready to go come time for Luke to don the singlet and pin his opponents.

Saturday, I ended my week with some serious girl time; wedding dress shopping with Mal and lunch and a movie with the girlfriends. (Bride Wars is a def must see!) SO here is to a new week, all geared up to put last week behind me and get stuff done!

Happy {almost} Monday people!

*My mom has moved out but is looking for a house nearby, hopefully within a 5-20 minute drive. We are pushing for the 5ish number but will take the 20 minutes over 12 hours any day. Yipee for a grandma close enough to babysit :)

Saturday/Date Night

This is me & Mike at my brother's girlfriends 40th birthday party...did I mention it was at a bar?


This is me and Chad at the bar...
did I mention it was a gay bar?

This is me and Mal,
on the dance floor, at a gay bar.

Never, EVER, say never!

Snow much work!

My hubby has been extremely dedicated this winter.

Each morning and night he puts on his boots, grabs his shovel,

and clears the newest fallen snow.He removes it from our steps, walk way,

sprinkling it with ice melt {and love} along the way.

Then moves all 3 cars, back and forth, to make sure there is no snow left behind.He shovels all sidewalks.

And he even makes a path to mailbox, so sweet!

Which brings us to my contribution...

Each and every time I come across a road looking somewhat like this I avoid the already cleared path and aim for the piles of icy slush, making my best effort to melt all dangerous snow left behind. Never mind the dirt or the bumps, and to be completely honest I really enjoy it!

So, here is the real reason for this post...

{besides praising my fabulous husband for all his hard work}

Is this weird?

Do you aim for the slush or the ready-made tracks?

Really, I am dying to know!

Somewhat obsessed

with Uncle Jer,

and having the same hair!

Sister perks

Having my brother manage an American Eagle store has definitely had its perks lately! He brought me a fun necklace/earring set a few weeks ago, helped my hubby get me loads of clothes for Christmas, and today he showed up with this - for absolutely no reason whatsoever!

I feel so special!

Thanks a bunch Chaddy!

Started off right

There are only a handful of New Years Eve's that I can remember.... I remember Mom waking me up when I was 8 or so to go bang pans, I know there were a few Jr High/High School parties at Steph's, getting a Hershey's kiss as we rang in '99, a newlywed fight the next, and a few mediocre/last minute parties we have held here and there...but this year will stand out for years to come.

We decided to make a long weekend of it and headed to the cabin. Nothing beats 4ish days of good friends, food, fun and relaxation after a very busy holiday season.

• Winning the dance contest, entertaining and laughing my guts out top my list!
• Mike loved the "big boy" dare-devil sledding, not so much being de-throned in GH.
• Adilynn will long remember the late night slumber parties, singing Hannah Montanna, sledding on her own and being run over by her dad.*
• Luke also braved the sleds alone and became quite the gamer.
• Paislee loved playing with the big kids and eating treat after treat after treat...

So, here's to keeping 2009 on the same track it rolled in on, it'll be our best year yet!

*Our only mishap came when Adi's sled slipped and she slid under the 4-wheeler just as dad was driving away. Luckily, she was a brave little one and after some ice and a short rest she was up and going like brand new. Plus, how many kids get to write about getting ran over by their dad in their Weekend Review at school?