My Sweet Girl

This is a true example of Brooke's sweet, sweet heart. Before we ate lunch today Brooke wanted to pray. We do many variations of prayers...some "free style" and some not. My favorite kind is listening to Brooke speaking from her heart. It's such a cute way to see what she is thinking about at that particular moment. I especially love when she thanks God for the sunshiny weather and it's raining! But today was a treat of a different sort that melted my heart. This is the best part of what she said: Dear Heavenly Father...Thank you for all the niceness in this world... The mind of a 5 year old not yet wise to the sadness of the world we live in. That's why Jesus wanted us to have faith like that of a child. I'm so glad she's mine.

Got Leftovers?

Yesterday was a very easy Thanksgiving for me. Although we didn't get to see my in-laws and the other cousins, I didn't have to haul the kids anywhere but to bed at the end of the night. With Mark being gone that was the only way to go. Pictured above: my sister, Michelle, and my nieces, Stephanie and Carly... and Brooke of course.

I made everyone but my grandma pose for me in front of the Christmas tree. People that are 92 are exempt from my photo obsession. I really wanted to go outside where the light is better but it was raining in my neck of the woods yesterday. Everyone was a good sport...even my dad. Pictured in the middle is my nephew, Jamie.

Why is my son so crazy? He couldn't be serious if his life depended on it. That's my dad with Luke...if you didn't already know that.

And the woman that made this all possible...my mom. She arrived at my house with a turkey and all the fixings ready to throw into the oven. After she cooked it all up, coordinating cooking times because we have only one oven (the horror!), then she cleaned most of aftermath too! It helped that we used paper plates, so don't feel too sorry for her. :) We did take turns rubbing her back and telling her how delicious her food was. I think that later part was evident when we all went back for seconds.

I think a lot of people would agree that one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is having leftovers. Glorious "I don't have to cook tonight or the next night" leftovers. When you get tired of reheating turkey plain consider this delicious recipe I found a while ago in the Simple & Delicious cooking magazine. It's so YUMMY!

Turkey Club Pizza

1 prebaked Italian bread shell crust...(Boboli pizza crusts can be found in the pasta aisle of your local grocery store)
1/2 cup mayo
1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1 cup diced cooked turkey...Thank you leftovers!
1/2 cup real bacon bits
2 plum/Roma tomatoes sliced

Here's what you do:

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet; spread with mayo (sounds disgusting, but just trust me on this one). Top with 1 cup cheese, the turkey, bacon and the tomatoes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy! I hope your Thanksgiving was as relaxing and delicious as mine.

The Art Department

Thankfully, Mark is working today because he can't stand when our dining room looks like this. While Stella was napping and I was trying to throw dinner together in the crock pot, Brooke and Luke got out 3/4 of our craft supplies. We're talking glitter glue, 4 glue sticks, felt, craft sticks, and much more. The only thing missing that would have completed this picture would have been sequins all over the table and floor. I had to take pictures so Mark could see what he was missing...or not.

I commissioned Luke to clean up the craft sticks that he poured EVERYWHERE.

Brooke takes on the persona of the "mad artist" and once she starts she can't stop. Just ask my neighbor who was the recipient of art laden with 2 packages of buttons. Despite the magnitude of the mess, it is pretty easy to clean up because we put an IKEA dresser that once belonged in our guest room in the dining room to hold all the crap we have on hand. If you are coming over tomorrow for Thanksgiving you might just be blessed with one of Brooke's signature creations. Better you than me...I already have 500,00.

Fun at the YMCA

Yesterday we went swimming at the Y. We are notorious for paying the fees and never using it...for exercise (obviously) or leisure. That all changed when we descended "Griswold style" on the good YMCA by my parents' house. I say "good" because it is one of the few that has a zero depth pool that is perfect for the littlest swimmers. The above picture is the fallout from the fun we had...Stella slept in the car on the way home and then wouldn't sleep the rest of the day.

This kid is goofy and funny. He wanted to know where the sunscreen was...for the indoor pool.

Brooke and Stella both love the water. Luke, not so much.

Notice you won't find pictures of me in my bathing suit on this blog. My niece once put pictures of me on Facebook in my swimsuit and I almost started seizing. That would be just inconvenient this time of year.

Please look closely at the near drowning in progress. I just happened to be taking pictures as Stella was heading under the water. Who was in charge you ask? The evidence speaks for itself. :)

That Handsome Devil

There have been a few requests for more pictures of my husband on my blog. Interestingly enough, most of the requests have come from my handsome husband himself. I thought about titling this post "Ask and you shall receive" but well...that's only going to get him so far. :) So here you go honey. You're the greatest, and the funniest, and a saint with children. Well, that last part is a minor exaggeration, but he is funny...looking.

And so it begins...

I've always dreamed of a tree decorated like a department store but instead I reminisce as I unpack ornaments from my childhood and the ones from when Brooke was babe. Seriously, my mom saved the ones circa 1981 that are made out of popsicle sticks! I am especially fond of the one that says "Baby's First Christmas 2008" that holds a picture of a stranger's baby...poor Stella Bella maybe this year will be the year I take care of that. Although, the stranger's baby has beautiful hair which Stella does not. :)

I love Luke's pajamas. Mark's mom bought them and they have a moose complete with ears on the feet that flop when he walks. Oh, if they could stay little forever... but be able to dress themselves and not cut my dining room curtains with scissors.

After Brooke and I got back from church this morning Mark surprised us by putting together the Christmas tree. And then he left... He hates fluffing the tree and putting up ornaments (or "toys" as Luke calls them). I was amazed that the kids were actually somewhat helpful in this case. Brooke, a self proclaimed "expert" at putting on glass ornaments, gets the MVP because she did the most decorating. Stella was the runner up for taking a big fat nap so I didn't have to wrestle ornaments away from her. Now Mark's back and on a rampage digging out boxes upon boxes of Christmas stuff. It all makes me tired. What happened to Thanksgiving?

Family Record Holder

Stella has broken all of our family records with her walking skills. While she still crawls the majority of the time, she can and does walk! Yesterday, she walked 6 feet at one time and today she walked the most she ever has. It seems that she chooses to walk when she wants to get something that she'll have to stand up to get anyway. This is so exciting because she's not even 14 months yet! Brooke was almost 16months when she walked and Luke was 17. Way to go Stella!

You'll have to excuse my friend, he's a little slow...

Mark got a good laugh tonight when after I checked my email I also checked to see if you slackers left any comments on my blog. I was surprised that after weeks of no comments, I had a comment on my two most recent posts. Not that I'm keeping track. I swear (but not on my mother's life). Mom? Why don't you comment? Do you not love me? I digress... The screen name of the commenter was "The Pilot". I was so confused by the content of the comment which was very funny and specific. I am totally confused at this point and begin reading it aloud to Mark as he's laying on the couch watching TV. He is laughing and I think this is because the comments are so funny. But no, he is laughing because as I am sure you figured out 5 sentences ago, it was him! The Pilot. I'm the Pilot's Wife. Get it? Yeah, I didn't. I really am a loser. I'd like to blame fatigue after all Mark and I went out on our 2nd date in TWO weeks. That is a record at our house. We found two sweet babysitters and for a bargain price we get to leave the house for a couple hours by ourselves. I highly recommend it. Even if you are a loser like me.

Question of the Day

Why do I pretend to be a graphic designer when clearly I am not?

Why can't I just buy Christmas photo cards from Shutterfly or Wal-mart like everyone else?

Yes, I admit to being picky and cheap. What's it to you?

I've spent the last 2 hours recreating a Christmas card from a cute website that I am too cheap to buy from. May I coin a new word.."card lifting" ?

Stephanie T. - Pipe down. I know I should have learned. Please excuse my friend, he's a little slow... Name that movie. I'll send you a Christmas card if you guess correctly. :)

FYI: If you didn't receive one of the above invitations, don't show up at Luke's house on December 19th. We won't have enough food to feed you, and then it would just be uncomfortable you watching my immediate family and Mark's eating dinner. I promise you dinner probably won't even be that good, so you're really not missing anything. I'm just sayin'...

He Said, She Said

Brooke and Luke at our family photo shoot yesterday at my in-laws. My kids are pale. They got it from me. I know this to be true. But you can still be cute and pale. Just look at their mother. :)

Today while I was turning the light on for Luke to use the bathroom he was telling me (which he always does) that he can't get his pants off. It's a discussion we have at least 4 times a day. But today was particularly memorable because he says in a very serious tone, "It's complicated to get these clothes off." Whatever. Funny how at the mention of disciplinary measures, he can get them off very quickly.

Then as I was explaining that he can't stand and pee unless Mark or I are in the bathroom he looks at me with furrowed brow and says, "That will be squishy and the bathroom will be full." He has a point. My point is that if he would sit and pee like I specifically told him to there wouldn't be pee all over bathroom and then he could be all alone in the bathroom with plenty of room to spare. He learned the standing to pee trick under Mark's tutelage at a bathroom gas station this weekend. Handy in a pinch, but no so much in our freshly cleaned bathroom.

And the list just goes on because after lunch I told him to push in his chair at the table. After he did he looks at me and says, "This table will be delightful to eat at." I love listening to my kids trying to use the words that they pick up from other various conversations. Inevitably, they get mixed up somewhere along the line and crack me up doing so.

On the way home from MOPs this afternoon Brooke wanted a stuffed horse that had fallen on the floor of our car and told me in a very rude manner to get it for her. I reminder her to ask more politely which she refused (who? my kid?? I just don't think it's true!) so I let her suffer the consequence by not getting it at all. So as we are driving she says, "We wouldn't be in this mess if you just gave me the horse." Yes, she had a point. But then I told her it's my job to teach her to do things the right way. I think we silently agreed to disagree. There will be a lot of that... and eye rolling for the foreseeable future.

That's Enough

Being at home for so many consecutive days and weeks can make a person crazy. That's perhaps the very reason I gave Luke a buzz cut. I decided that I was finished paying for a so-so hair cut. Why, he could get that at home...for free! So the other night after dinner we turned on the patio lights and I used the clippers like I never have before and gave my son a buzz cut. It was actually fun and turned out pretty well for my first ever. There are a few spots to improve on, but I think that when I take him to a professional anyway!

Mark's been home for almost 3 weeks straight, one week of vacation and 2 weeks due to illness (mine and his). We've been in the house for the majority of that time. I can tell by the tone of impatience in his voice, it's time for him to go back to work. It's the being away part that makes his heart grow fonder and not the being with us for 3 weeks without a break. Is that not my whole life for the last 5 years, 1 month, and 5 days? But whose counting? I can tell you though that it suits me to stay home with our kids, but not so much for Mark. Mr. Let's Have Another Baby Because Stella is So Cute is singing a different tune. It's a good thing he likes his job and I like mine...not every day, but most is good enough in this business.

Stella's been a little trickster. I let myself get hopeful that she would walk by Thanksgiving. For the past month she has been walking a few steps here and there. She'll even stand up in the middle of the floor and take two steps, fall down and take two more. Whatever! I've even had several dreams where she stands up to take her two steps and just keeps on walking. All of that amounts to a hill of beans because she is no closer to walking today as she was a month ago. But she sure does like riding in the doll stroller... when Mark's doing the pushing!

And one other thing about Stella these last few weeks, she had become a pointer and a grunter. Brooke and Luke were both early talkers and baby signers. Stella while she uses the sign for "all finished", "eat" and "cracker", she hardly says any words that we can distinguish besides "ball". She mumbles a lot and points, varying her pitch, but all I can do with that is nod and smile. I appreciate her effort but I have no idea what she is saying most of the time. She has gotten really good at climbing stairs and on more than one occasion, she's made it up a full flight of stairs before she is intercepted. Stella also LOVES wearing necklaces. She crawls around for an hour or so happily playing and feeling oh so pretty.

I wish I could say that I felt pretty. Not straightening my hair for weeks on end makes me feel ugly. Yesterday, I showered, put on make up, jeans, and earrings and tried to will myself well. It was not long into my solo trip to the library that I felt lightheaded and sick. All my big plans went up in smoke and I drove home with my tail between my legs and put my pajamas back on.

I am feeling better today. Maybe it's because I am going to the movies tonight with my neighbor, Stephanie. We are seeing Julie and Julia at the cheapie theater. I could not care less if it is good or not (so don't bother warning me if it sucks) because I am leaving the house and there's nothing anyone can do about it! I've had enough of being home bound. And that's that. The end. Well, until next time anyway...No, I love you more. No, you hang up first. Don't say I didn't warn you. Staying home messes with your head. At least mine anyway. :)

The 2nd String

This picture is Brooke's handiwork (with a little cropping). Mark and I were cracking up when she took this picture because she turned the camera vertically and was imitating the things I say when I take pictures. But have mercy on my crows feet! Can't wrinkles wait until you're 40?

Oh, Lord help me if I don't leave this house sometimes this week I'm going to hurt someone! I understand why people would want the flu vaccine because having the flu is very inconvenient. Just ask Mark. He called in sick twice since the beginning of the month, once for himself and now for me. I tried to let him leave yesterday. I promise. He went to the Bengals' game and then was supposed to head off for a 4 day trip. At half time I called him and asked him to come home instead. He's so good to me, I didn't even have to beg. The pathetic thing is that I'm not so sick that I can't get out of bed... because I can. It's the effort of taking care of children. Children with minds of their own. Children that make me want to strangle them with their impatience...and mine. Yes, I am aware that I am impatient also which is why I needed my back-up to ensure that the kids are alive at the end of this week. Maybe by the end of the week, I be able to (and more importantly want to) leave the house.

**There were no children harmed before or during the creation of this post. After, I cannot vouch for... :)

What we wish we were doing...

This week is Mark's vacation. We are home and everyone, but me, has been sick with the flu or something. I took Stella to the doctor on Saturday because she had a fever followed by a rash. The dr. said it was Roseola and she would be fine since the fever is gone. So much for my teething theory. However, nursing is also gone...for good. I gave it the good ole' college try and pumped for 5 days just in case she wasn't finished, just sick. She's moved on and so have I. Can you say sleeping in? Not her, but me. For the first time in a year I was able to kick Mark and lovingly tell him to go get Stella at 6:20. Then I got to sleep in until 8:00 AM. My how things change! 8:00 used to be getting up early and now it's sleeping in!!?? My world is turning upside down.

This is what we wanted to be doing. Disney/Orlando/The Sunshine State. Luckily, we didn't tell our kids that we were planning on leaving Sunday night for a fun filled week in Florida. Mark was the most disappointed, but that's probably because he was initially the reason we couldn't go. I, for one, was thankful not to be going. For one, I'm not ready to sweat. Secondly, my brother-in-law that we were going to stay with is in town helping take care of Mark's mom after she had knee surgery last week. Steve's house just wouldn't have been the same without Steve and his doggie too. And lastly, I am too tired to pack, travel, and shepherd three kids around busy places.

I've been tired a lot lately and yesterday I embarked on what I'm hoping will be the solution to my exhaustion. Let me just start by saying that I AM NOT PREGNANT! I found out a month ago that my body is lacking some serious testosterone. My body is making 16% of what I need to function at my best. It's not just a man thing, women need it to. Hormones are what keeps us balanced and maintains our wellness. Testosterone is the driving force behind mental clarity (I lost that when I married Mark I think :D ), energy and libido. Even with taking almost daily naps, I was EXHAUSTED and tired of hearing from some people that of course I would be with three kids. After my hormone levels were tested, my OB/GYN doctor suggested I take antidepressants, rub some estrogen cream on my arms (which I don't even need estrogen!) and a few other not so helpful options.

It was then that I decided to go the route of Bio-identical hormones which are derived from soy and other natural plant based ingredients. They have been around since the 1930's. Unlike synthetic hormones there are no undesirable side effects. I first heard of bio-Identical hormones because my mom starting getting them about a year ago. The hormones are in the form of a pellet that is inserted under the skin in your butt. This allows your body to control the release as it needs. All this is closely monitored with blood tests and your body is only given what it needs. After my mom (and then my sister-in-law) got them, they both said that they felt so much better that they couldn't imagine not getting them. My mom never realized how badly she felt until her hormones were back in balance.

With all that said, I thought I was too young for this. But after talking with the doctor, he explained that a woman's hormones can drop starting in their 20's even! So in the next few weeks I am looking forward to feeling more like my old self and a lot more blogging!