Things I Have Learned

I have learned:

You can't force a child to want to do good
You can't force someone to love you
You are in control of your attitude
God is in control of me
Friends are not always forever
Football is actually kinda cool
God will forgive you if you just ask
You kids will love you no matter what
My children think that I am pefect even though I am not even close
Age is relative
Faith is crucial
Love and friendship are necesesary for happiness
Kids grow up whether you want them too or not
Lonliness sucks
A sunrise and sunset is God's way of letting you know that he is there
A child's laugh is better than any drug out there

A Day I Never Thought Would Come

Today Averi went to preschool. My last baby. I always talked about the day that she goes to preschool and then it happened and now I find myself wishing maybe for just one more day to have my little person home following me around.

In lots of ways I am so excited. I am excited for her to learn and grow. I am excited for her to make new friends, I am excited for her to become more independant. I am excited for her to investigate who she really is as an individual.

But I am sad too. I am sad that she is no longer in my care all day everyday. I am sad that when she hurts herself or is scared, I am not the one that will be comforting her.

I think she was a little nervous today. She woke up and the first thing out of her mouth was, "Is today the day I am going to school"? Then when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast she said, "I don't think I am hungry yet" But once we got there she walked right in and went right to the toys,

I am so happy for her but I am sad too. Totally a bittersweet day today. I can't wait to go pick her up and see how her day went today...

Off to go get her now!

GAF 2009

This weekend was the annual GAF or German American Festival. This is always a big deal to us since most of my family is straight from Germany. My aunt and uncle immigrated from Germany when they were younger as did my grandparents. My mom is a German teacher at a local high school, so this festival is always a celebration of our heritage.

The festival is packed full of kids activities like face painting, rides and games. There is also tons of ethnic foods and souvineers, and lots of music dancing and of course, beer.

Each year we dress the kids up in their lederhosen and dirndle. This year was the first year that we didn't have any lederhosen to fit Nick so he didn't get dressed up, but Aiden and Averi did.

Over the summer the kids all went to a German camp that was hosted by the same organization that puts on the festival. At the camp the kids were able to learn alot about the culture and heritage. They were also given the opportunity to lead the parade that open up the GAF.

So on Friday night, the kids walked in the opening parade and took place in the opening ceremony.

Then on Sunday we went back to watch all the dancers and eat more food. My family always takes a big part in volunteering to help at the festival. So it is always a fun time to see my family, and enjoy the events at the festival.

This year was a little different though. Aiden and Averi have decided that they want be Schuhplattlers, which are the German knee slapping dancers. Aiden says he wants to be the part of the Halzhacker Baum Schuhplattlers which are the dancers that use the axes and chop wood while they keep time and dance. If you have ever met Aiden...this is not a surprising idea at all. These dancers are incredibly neat to watch and I am all for the kids being dancers if they really want to be.

We did have make sure that Aiden understood that being a Holzhacker Baum Schuhplattler was something he would have to work toward. Most of these men are college age and older. We had to explain to him that is isn't that you show up at practice 2 times and they start handing out axes. He says he know that he will have to work toward this and he really wants to do it.

At the festival we were dancing with each other and he is actually pretty good. They both have the potential to be really good at this if they practice.

Averi thinks that I should do it with them. I said we will see. I think it would be something neat to do, so I am not opposed to the idea. I guess I will have to see when it is and what all it entails.

Weidersehn (Goodbye)

Back to School

This school year was a special one for us. This is the year Aiden begins Kindergarten. He was so excited to actually go to school and to ride the bus. He felt so special and big to be able to go to the same school that his big brother goes to.

He was not nervous or frightened at all he was so excited to get on the bus and go.

Aiden has the same teacher for kindergarten that Nick had. She is a fantastic teacher and is really great with the kids. She has known Aiden through Nick and she was as excited to have Aiden in her class as Aiden was to have her. On the first day, Aiden went up to Mrs. Paeth about halfway through the day and said, "You know what...you're nice", then he walked away. She kind of chuckled and said, "well thank A, I try". It was like Nick had told him that she was nice and we had told him she was nice, but he had to decide that for himself.

Nick is off to a great start with his second grade teacher. Her name is Miss Banner. She is also a great teacher. She has so many great ideas to share with the kids and she goes out of her way to make each child feel special for the talents and abilities they each have. Nick has come home raving about her each day.

As usual, I plan on going into their classrooms this year. My plan in that I would go into Aiden's class on Friday afternoons and go into Nick's class on Tuesday mornings. This is when I would have available with my schedule, but also when it would be most advantageous for the children. I love going into the classrooms. Nick and Aiden always feel so special when they see me come in. And it is nice to get tot know the kids in their classes.

Averi will also go to school this year. She doesn't start until next Tuesday. I will be in her class on 4 different Thursday mornings. She is very excited to go to school too. She has seen the boys go to school for as long as she can remember and she wants a piece of the action now.

We will be sending her to a different preschool than we have sent the boys to. The old preschool changed their format and while we loved the teachers, they were like family, we did not care for the new schedule.

So we have changed schools and now sis will be going to a preschool over in genoa and will be going to school with kids that will also go to kindergarten with her in 2 years.

I will def. post pictures of her next week when she starts school!!

Really Hurting

I am so disappointed sad confused. I don't even know what words to use to encompass how crummy I feel. Back in 6th grade I made a friend that I thought would be a friend for life. We were inseparable. Always with each other and when we weren't with each other we were on the phone with each other. In high school we kind of grew apart because we were in different schools but in college we found each other and basically picked up where we left off. Then again we drifted apart but when I got pregnant with Nick I called her up and she and I again picked up right where we left off. She came over every week, she was there for the birth of 2 of my kids and acted like a member of the family. About 2 years ago she got married and I was in the wedding and almost immediately after the wedding I stopped hearing from her. I call her and she doesn't answer. I leave messages and she doesn't call back. I text and she never replies. I have run into her in her place of work a couple of times and she has talked to me and seems fine but then I never hear from her after that. About 10 months ago I ran into her and she was all excited and told me that her and her husband were going to start trying to have a baby. She said to get ready because it wouldn't be long until I got a call from her telling me she was pregnant. I told her I couldn't wait to get that call. Well the other day I was on the computer and just randomly asked her sister how she was doing (since I haven't heard from her since that day) and she said that she had just had a baby that morning!!!! I can not believe that. I had no idea she was even pregnant let alone that she just had a baby. Since then I have texted her and left messages with her and still no response.

I can't even begin to explain how hurt I am. I feel so terrible that I didn't know anything about any of this. I don't understand how you can be so close for so long and then one day that's it and you don't speak anymore. I have asked if I did something and apologized for whatever it is that I did, but that hasn't helped at all. I am just so bummed that I have missed such an important time in her life.

I don't know what I did if anything and I don't know how to get back in touch with her. It is just so sad to me to think that we were that close and she didn't even want to tell me she was pregnant.

I am trying really hard to get over this but it really bothers me. I know I can't change it and at some point I should give up and take the hint. Part of says that if I give up then I have no one to blame for losing touch but myself but the other part says that if she wanted to talk to me she would call.

In the end it is all very sad to me and I guess I just need to accept it and move on from it but I am still sad to see the friendship go.

Kidney Infections are the Pits

In an effort to make it seem like summer is here (since the weather certainly isn't doing its part) I have been making sweet sun tea to drink. The only problem is I am addicted to it. I make it with splenda so it is calorie free and oh so refreshing. Anyways, I have been drinking A LOT of tea. I have been drinking through 1 of the sun tea containers in about a day to 2 days. Apparantely that is really bad for your kidneys. Not to mention Splenda isn't good for your kidneys either. Talk about your double whammy!

On Monday afternoon (probably 3 weeks into my tea obsession) I was sitting on the couch and kinda felt crummy and thought it felt really hot in my house. I blew it off figuring it was just because it was humid outside. As the day went on I continued to feel ick off and on. Nothing huge, and I wasn't nauseous so I just ignored it.

Later that evening, while I was watching the Bachelorette, I got up to let the dogs in and I felt like I hit a brick wall. All of the sudden my head and neck hurt, I was shivering and shaking and my back started to throb. I finished the show (priorities) and went back took 2 Motrin took my temp which was like 100.8 and ran a tub. I turned the jets on and let them hit on my back. By this time my back was hurting enought that the jets were actually painful to me.

So I went to bed assuming that I was getting the flu. By morning when I realized I was still not sick to my stomach and I was actually hungry and my back was hurting worse than ever I started to wonder if maybe this was a kidney infection. I had one right after I had Nick and that pain is not something you ever forget.

After going to the bathroom and it being painful in my back I knew this was the problem. I called the doctor and fortunately she called in a script for me. I picked it up and immediately started taking it. She called in Bactrim. I took the first and a couple hours later I felt sick to my stomach. I figured it was just the infection because after a while it passed.

Well as the days have gone on the nausea persists about 4 hours after I take the meds. So today I called back and they called in Macrobid. So hopefully tomorrow I am feeling great again.

The good news out of the whole thing is that the antibiotics did take care of the kidney infections rather quickly. Within about 4 hours the pain was less and withing 24 it was gone.

So I guess moral of the story is that Sun Tea is good by the glass full not by the gallons. STINK! Now I have to find a new summer obsession. Or maybe just enjoy that one in moderation (what's that?)

11 Days Until We Set Sail

In 11 Days we set sail on our first vacation. We are flying down to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday June 13th and staying over night in Florida. On Saturday morning we are taking a complimentary shuttle to the port and we are setting sail on the Carnival Freedom for a cruise of the Western Caribbean. This is our itinerary:

Sunday, Jun 14
Ft Lauderdale, FL
4:00pm
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Monday, Jun 15
Key West, FL
8:00am
5:00pm
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Tuesday, Jun 16
Fun Day At Sea
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Wednesday, Jun 17
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
7:00am
4:00pm
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Thursday, Jun 18
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
7:30am
3:30pm
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Friday, Jun 19
Fun Day At Sea
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Saturday, Jun 20
Ft Lauderdale, FL
8:00am

I have thought about booking a vow renewal for us on this vacation, but it is a little on the pricey side. It would be $400 to renew our vows. I guess that isn't too bad, but I think Paul would agree that the $400 could be better spent in other places.

The next 11 days will be spent packing and going over my list. I also have to take care of stuff for the kids, the grocery shopping for the week that we are gone and laundry etc.

It seems like just the other day I got the cruise for Christmas and now it is so close. It has come up so quickly. My only hope is that once we get onboard that plane in Detroit time slows down and we can really enjoy it.

The Bathroom Is Coming Alongand Other Project Too!

THe bathroom is coming right along. 2 more tasks and the project will be complete. Last night I plumbed the sink and installed the new faucet. I am very proud of myself for doing this. I kind of just fumbled through it but it worked and it doesn't leak so yay!

Today I taught myself how to use the brad nailer and the circular saw and measured, cut and installed the baseboards. I have to admit they look pretty nice.

Now the only projects left are to install the door and drawer hardware and to hang the medicine cabinet when it comes in. Those are two projects I am not willing to do. Paul is much to particular and anal for me to install the hardware. He will be measuring and leveling much beyond what I am willing to do. As far as the medicine cabinet, the store ordered the wrong size and the one that was delivered was damaged, so it is being reordered. So when it comes in Paul will install that since expect that it will be pretty heavy.

The other project that I have been working on was spreading mulch in our flower beds. We have never laid fresh mulch as long as we have lived here. So on Monday we got with a guy who gave us a great price on some mulch and we had 8 cu.yds of mulch dumped in the driveway. As usual, Pau left at about 1 and the mulch came about 2. He is gone until Friday, so yours truley became the mulch spreader. I must admit, it looks so nice. It really did do a lot for the house. I used it all too!!

I have to be honest, doing these projects really does give me a sense of pride. It is nice to know and be reassured that I can stand on my own two feet.

Welcome to the World Mason

I am so excited for my friend Stephanie. Last night at 10:30 she gave birth to her fourth baby...Mason Robert. I am so happy for them. In lots of ways I have lived vicariously through her with her pregnancy. Yesterday, at 3 weeks early, Mason Robert came into this world weighing 5# 10oz. Just a little tiny peanut. When Steph said that all the memories of Averi came flooding back to me. She was just 7 oz smaller than that and was exactly the same length. Today after I go to the gym and the Dentist I am going to take Averi over to the hospital to meet our new little friend.

Congratulations Steph and Kenny!

Totally Random Posting

Today was one of those days that just seems to fly by because you have so much to do. It was much like the rest of the week has been. Lets go back to Saturday...

On Sat. Aiden got lost. To make a long story short, he had gone to a kids house, a kid he is not allowed to play with, without telling me he was leaving. After frantically hunting around we found him and got him home. So needless to say he is grounded and not allowed to go anyplace for a while.

On Sunday Nick got into an altercation with the driveway and lost. He was riding the scooter in the driveway and a stone got lodged in the wheel and he went flying over the handlebars and landed face first in the driveway. He knocked 2 teeth loose (baby teeth) got road rash on his nose, a bloody nose, and a skinned up knee...OUCH!

Then Monday we were at the Peds office twice for 2 different kids. Nothing wrong with any of them, but that was the only opportunity to go.

Then yesterday Nick was out playing ball and got hit in the face with a plastic baseball bat. I feel so bad for him he just keeps getting beat up.

Then today...

Today was a the day I went to the grocery store, went to the pet store, went to the farmer's market, had the septic tank pumped, shaved the dogs, cut the grass, and played with the kids (like real quality playing).

Where I've Been

So the bathroom project took a lot of my time over the last 3 weeks. It seemed like every evening we had something to do in there. Some were little some bigger but nonetheless, we were pretty much constantly in that bathroom.

Then last Sunday Paul left for Minnesota for about 3 weeks which brings with it a whole other list of things that keep me busy. It seems like the day starts at 7 and doesn't slow until 8ish at night. But one of the things I relish about Paul going for a job is the time that I get to read.

Usually when Paul is home once the kids go to bed we watch one of our favorite shows together or he watches something and I just sit by him. So when he leaves, I watch some of the shows we would normally watch, but my favorite thing to do is to curl up with a great book and get lost in someone elses reality.

So the book that I am reading right now is called Divine by Karen Kingsbury. This book is about a modern day Mary Magdalene. The book is so riveting and gripping. It is one of those books that you start reading and you just can't put it down. I find myself picking it up saying I will just read a chapter and 3 hours later I am trying to figure out how I am going to get up in the morning.

Karen Kingsbury is such a riveting author. The way that she writes makes you believe that the people that she has created are real people in a real place. I have read several (like 16) other of her books and each one is just as gripping as the others. She has made me laugh and made me cry, and not just the teary eyes but full out tears, throughout all her books.

My other addiction lately is the game bejeweled. It is on facebook and you get 1 minute to score as many points as possible. You compete against your other friends that play and try to do better than them. It is so addicting...

So anyways, that is where I have been. That is the reason for my neglect. I hope to get back into posting regularly soon...like once I finish my book.

Cinnamon and Honey

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet if taken in the right dosage as a medicine it does not harm diabetic patients.

Heart Diseases:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, if you have previously had heart attacks it keeps you miles away from another heart attack. It relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. It also revitalizes the arteries and veins.

Arthritis
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water one tablespoon of honey and a half of a teaspoon of cinnamon powder before breakfast. It has been found within 1 week of the 200 patients treated 73% were totally relieved of pain, and within one month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

Bladder Infections
Take 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

Cholesterol
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon powder mixed in 16oz of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. If taken3 times a day any chronic cholesterol is cured.

Colds
Those suffering from common or sever colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure the common cough cold and clear the sinuses.

Upset Stomach
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach aches and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

Gas
According to the studies done in India and Japan it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder stomach gas is relieved.

Immune System
Daily use if honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.

Indigestion
cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

Influenza
honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from the flu.

Longevity
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey , one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like a tea. Drink 1/4 cup three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft.

Pimples
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for 2 weeks it will remove pimples from the root.

Skin Infections
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts. Cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections

Weight Loss
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at might before sleeping drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water.

Cancer
Advanced cancers of the stomach and bones have been successfully cured. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancers should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

Fatigue
a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled wit cinnamon powder taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3 P.M. when the vitality if the body starts to decrease increases the vitality of the body within a week.

Bad Breath
Gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water.

Hearing Loss
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restore hearing.

I can not attest to all of these things because I have not tried them all, but I have been doing the arthritis regimen for 2 weeks now and I have to say that I have seen some improvement. I wouldn't say my pain is totally gone but it is definitely a lot better so I will have to see if in 2 more weeks my pain is gone like the "studies"say.

The Grouting Is Complete

We replaced our old boring vent fan with a new vent fan that is much prettier...I think The grout on the floor and the tub skirt

The wall after the grout

Another shot of the tub and wall after the grout.

My fingers are so raw from grouting. It is absolutely the most awful part of grouting in my opinion. It is so messy and grouting a wall when you h ave gravity working against you makes it even worse. So anyways...

Talk about painful.

So anyways, the worse part is over. All we have left is to seal the grout and tiles, install the toilet, install the vanity, light, and mirror, and pick out towels, and a shower curtain. I am still up in the air as to what color to go with so any suggestions would be good!

So now we are sitting doing something that we haven't done in a long time...sit down and catch up on our favorite show Bones that we have missed over the last 2 weeks.

bathroom renovation pics!

We aren't done yet but I thought I would show some pics of the progress of the bathroom...enjoy more to follow

Just One of Those Days

Today was just one of those days that seem to go on forever. I felt like at every turn I was blocked. The kids were at each other's throats today and it felt like everything I touched just fell apart. I tried to find a way to stay positive and think about other stuff, but it just seemed to go down hill all day long. I am pretty sure that at about 2 in the afternoon I started coutning down the hours until bed time. So now I am sitting here and it is 10 and I am so thankful that it is bedtime and we don't have to get up tomorrow morning. Tomorrow will be better!

Phase 1: Demolition Complete

Last weekend the project was to add some desperately needed light to our living room. We have no over head lighting and our living room is really long so when the sun goes down the lamps that we had really werent't enough. So Paul ran some electrival outlets on either side of our TV and we hung sconces that go with the rest of our lighting. Then above our fireplace he ran the necessary electrical to install some can lights.

Our final addition was to put a new lampshade on our table lamp. We had a shade on there but it really didn't let a lot of light through. A few Christmas' ago we put santa hats on top of the lamps and we ended up burning the inside of the shades, so needless to say it looked pretty bad. So these are the pics of our new lighting...

The first phase of the bathroom remodel is complete:
The following pictures are pictures of our demolition. Paul thought it necessary to take a picture of my hands to show that I did still have them both on my body even though I have pretty much continuously injured them since the whole knife incident. I do win the award for first blood shed of the project. I sliced my right ring finger on a tile...o well at least it matches the left one that was sliced by the knife!

So this is where the tub used to be. The new tub will be here too but for now it is nothing but studs, sub floor and insulation.

Just another of picture of the empty bathroom. The toilet used to be under the window and the vanity and medicine cabinet were where the two big white areas are to the left of the window.

And Averi was determined she needed to help so her job was to get the tile pieces into a big pile so Paul could sweep them up. She had on m glasses for the motorcycle to protect her eyes. We told her she absolutely had to wear shoes so she found the first pair she could...her pink cowboy boots. She really did work hard.

The tub should be in this week so hopefully by the end of the weekend we will have the new tub in place and we can begin tiling the walls and floor. Paul says his time frame for the bathroom to be complete is about 2 weeks so we will see how accurate he is!

The Stitches are Out and So Much More

Tonight I decided to take out the stitches. When I had them put in I was told 7-10 days and today is day 8 so I figured it was safe to take them out. I removed them using a nail clipper and a pair of tweezer. Other than part of the cut still being open (the part at the bottom). So I put some neosporin on it and a band-aid and yeah I have a real finger that doesn't fall off anymore!!

And now on to the so much more....

Last weekend we decided to install some lighting in our living room. We have absolutely no overhead lighting in this room so after the sun goes behind the trees it gets very dark in the room. So we bought 2 sconces and two can lights. We (or I should say Paul) mounted the sconces on either side of our T.V.and he installed the can lights over the fire place. Needless to say it is much brighter in the room and looks alot more sophisticated too.

So now with that project done we are moving on to the next project and that is our master bath. Currently we have a 60" oak vanity with an oak med. cabinet and the light fixture is the metal bar with 5 round light bulbs on it. We also have very plain ceramic tile and a tub shower combination. The only thing that I love about our bathroom is the granite that we put in about a year ago. After doing some looking, qw decided that we wanted to make some changes in the bathroom.

We are going to install a whirlpool tub (I am very much looking forward to that) and a custom made vanity with a matching mirror. We are changing out all the fixtures and putting in oil rubbed bronze fixtures. We are also changing out eh plain tile on the floor for slate tile and we are doing a slate tile surround for the shower. We will be keeping the granite and just installing it on the new vanity.

I am really excited to do this project. It is always neat for me to visualize a project and then see it come to life. I can't wait to take pictures and share then as the whole process gets under way.

Santoku knives are sharp!!

On Wednesday afternoon, Paul and I decided that Brats and onions would be a yummy dinner. I got the Brats out to thaw and started cutting the onions up. Usually I will half a onionso thay it is easier to cut up. This time I decided to just start cutting. I got most of the way through the onion and then, I cut something other than the onion. And let me tell you, that knife was so sharp it cut through my finger like it wasn't even there!!

So we rushed over to the closest hospital and within and hour I left with 5 new friends...the stitches holding the pad on my finger!

I really thought the whole process, the shots and all, would be more painful, but for whatever reason it really wasn't all that bad.

So needless to say...watch those knives, they are reallly really sharp!

Spotted Wold Canyon in Utah New York New York in Vegas

Fountain in the lobby of the hotel where we saw our show

Our room in Treasure Island

This is a shot of the rock formations in Utah They were huge and all red rock. So beautiful This was a shot of the sun setting in Nevada

This was snoqualmie falls in Summit Washington. The shot doesn't do it justice

Downtown Seattle...The space needle is on the left

If you look in the center towards the back you can actually see Mt. Rainier poking through the clouds