AVON--Product of the Week

In the effort to boost my AVON business--I use that term loosely---I am going to highlight a little AVON goody each week.

Something I have tried and give my seal of approval.
To my male readers, don't stop reading now, AVON has a bunch of products for men. I will have Dan try them out and give a full report.

Exciting stuff, right? Stay tuned.
To place an order, click the AVON logo at the left side bar, or contact me.


ANEW BEAUTY Age-Transforming Foundation SPF 15
I highly recommend this foundation. It is the perfect consistency with a touch of highlight to give your skin a glow. Seriously!

Dumb and Dumber

This is by far the dumbest argument in the almost 10 years of our marriage.

The setting: 11pm getting ready for bed.
Me: "Hon, how was your show (LOST) tonight?"

Dan: "Good, it's getting so weird"

Me: "I'll probably never watch an episode of that show, just because"

Dan: "yeah, you probably wouldn't get it anyway"

Me: "What?!? Who's smarter here, me or you?

Dan (laughing): "You think you are smarter than me?"

Me: "Well, probably."

Dan "Oh, because I'm just a cement man, you are smarter than me?"

Me: "I didn't say that. I just know more stuff."

Dan (going to bed): "Fine, Hon."

Me: "uhh!"

My Wall of Fame.

The Spring Cleaning Machine came to a screeching halt this week when I discovered 3 large boxes of my children's artwork, craft projects, etc. Society might consider me a pack rat for keeping a good 6 years worth of what comes down to a bunch of paper, glue, and a popsicle stick here and there. What a pickle. Do I toss it? How can I part with the most beautiful art ever created???

Above is a photo of a large cork board in our kitchen/dining area. Just a small sampling of what compounds weekly in our home and there is no end in sight. I have even started doling it out to my parents because they can't say no to it, they have to display it with the utmost pride. Do I recycle it? It still feels like I am throwing it away forever!!!

I guess I just enjoy their little faces when they create something with their own two hands and their big imaginations. Soon enough crayons and glue will be a thing of the past. Until then, don't be surprised if you receive an Chase, Drew, or Joy original.

More on More

Quite awhile back I read an excellent and honest post by one gracious New Yorker. Read it.

What she said lingers with me today. I am in the process of spring cleaning which includes my clothing closet. I look in my closet to find something to wear, and I exclaim

"Bleeccch, I don't like any of this."

Ridiculous, sad, and true. It is slightly dangerous for me to go shopping during the change of seasons. I see all the new fashion out there. I think I need more. More in my closet, more choices, more of the new trends, more, more, more!!!!

Why is discontent so rampant? It is just me? Or would any one of us be able to pinpoint an area of their life where they feel discontented about something they would not want to readily admit. I don't like it that my discontent is so trivial as clothing. It's one of those times where I say, Come on, Chelle these are not real problems. Focus this energy on something worthwhile. I need to realize that God has given me even greater blessings that the clothes on my back.

We can blame advertisers, billboards, and brilliant marketing schemes for fueling our need for more. It is amazingly potent. I can not open my email, watch TV, or drive down the road without being presented with something I think I need. But it comes down to the strength of our hearts, not getting sucked in by all the world has to offer. Don't keep up with the Jones's because it really doesn't matter.

I'll keep telling myself I don't need this :
or this.


Just some thoughts for a Monday.

ok, I fixed it, now you can make comments

on the previous post if you so desire.

This Is the Day That The Lord Has Made!

I'm sure everyone and their brother will be blogging about what a fine early spring day it was today. It really was. I couldn't help but look out my window more than usual today just to watch the grass getting greener by the hour. I suppose it is unusual for March in this great state for temps in the 70s but I'll take it, even if it means a roller coaster weather ride in April. As this Monday went on I noticed a few weird maybe unusual things that happened not common to this time of year.

• I let my children play with the hose, get all wet, just short of getting their swimsuits on.
• We went out for ice cream--Wendy's Frostys--picked up at the Drive-thru and eaten at home.
• I am chosing to sit on the main level of my home which is a 79 degrees and not the basement where it is markedly cooler-- because I'm enjoying the heat.
• I rolled up a hose and weeded a flower bed on March 26!!
• I had BO
• I went out to eat and instead of bringing my cell phone I took my home phone along with me in my purse. Ok, so that happened last week, but how ridiculous. It deserves to be in this list.

What inspired you this lovely day?

The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.
Psalm 104:19

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Galatians 4:10

good times had by all

I was inspired by Tami to do a little slideshow of the family cruise we took in January. These are only a few of the many hundreds of photos we all took, but they are some dandy ones I tell you what. THANK YOU!! Dad and Mom for the spectacular time and the unforgettable memories made!

The Best Day Ever.

I might be overstating it a bit, but last Wednesday ranks pretty high.

Let me give you a little history. My husband works in concrete construction. It is a dirty job. Each and every day Dan comes home with dirt, mud, concrete, oil, etc, all over him. For almost 10 years his work clothes have piled up in the garage until he or I decided to either rid ourselves of them or worst yet--attempt to wash them! In 10 years we have gone through 3 washers and 2 dryers due to the abuse they take from washing his heavily soiled garments.


It has been one of those sore subjects in our marriage that seems to rear it's ugly little head every so often. Once, early in our married life I had had it up to my ears with his disorganized piles of dirty, smelly clothes. As any horrible wife would, I shouted out the threat "If you don't take care of those work clothes I'll throw them out in the front yard! How'd ya like that, huh?" Out in the front yard they went. But Dan being the excellent bluffer that he is, took that threat and raised me on it. It didn't bother him that his clothes were out in the yard, he got up , put on his clothes one leg, one arm, one shoe at a time just like any other day and went on his merry way to work. My plan was foiled.

Fast forward to now and why I am happy as a clam. Last week my dream came true.

wait for it....

Dan has WORK UNIFORMS!!!!!!!. This is exciting on so many levels. No more work laundry! No more piles of old T-shirts from 1998 stacked a mile high. No more bickering!
It was like my birthday! He thought it was his too.

The simple things in life, ya know?

photo coming soon...if he'll let me.
Seriously though, best day ever.

I thank God for the laborous, grueling, dirty work that He has provided, and that Dan is willing to get out there and do it for all of us.

Spring Cleaning?

Without fail, this time of year makes me cringe when I look around at my home. Dirty doors and walls, gooey windows, dusty drawers. It's time to spring clean this place. I procrastinated so long last year that spring cleaning 2006 has now turned into spring cleaning 2007.

So, will I bite the bullet, or will I get out the Murphys soap, and Windex only to finish my complete my mudroom? (that was spring cleaning 2005) The question I have is, do people still spring clean? Is it just a ritual that housewives used to have time for?

Here are the Elements of Clean, some may find it helpful, others may find it unnerving.

Download the PDF "period table of cleaning" It all looks fine and good---


for my mother.

Beauty is in The Eye of the Beholder

I wish this was my eye. I have never thought that my eyelashes were one of my better assets, until I lost a few of them. I didn't realize I was that vain until I cried over the bare spot on my eyelid where lashes once grew strong.

A busy Sunday morning where time was short and nothing was going right was the scene for the lash curling gone wrong. I stuck that lash curler on, pinched it closed. That is when I had what some might call a brain fart. I pulled the curler away from my eye BEFORE I OPENED IT! I actually pulled out my own lashes! I ended up with one eye missing exactly half of it's top lashes and oh so many lashes stuck to the curler.
I screamed out to Dan who did not think it was worth all the emotional drama I was displaying.

Honestly, who does this kind of stuff. Last year at this time I was trimming my eyebrows with a little razor and took out a huge chunk of those too. Yes, they will grow back, but in the mean time I will be purchasing some falsies to see if I can fill the void.

They are just going to kick me right out of the AVON lady business for this one.

man, I'm a nerd.

Right and Wrong

Lately in my house I have heard many discussions amongst my children about who is right and who is wrong. Their arguments usually revolve around what snack I said they could eat or how long they get to stay up. Once they even tried to guess what song they would sing in Sunday school--it never ends well, because someone is correct and the other is incorrect. I would rather them debate what is right and wrong but can I really expect such moral maturity?

Not following far behind comes the self-righteous "I told you so!"

Where did they learn this? Did they learn it from Dan and myself?

I'm afraid so. By my own admission, I dig a good debate and I will, on occasion "pick a fight" just for the sake of arguing.

As I've realized the same tendencies in my children I shudder a little bit. I admire friends and family of mine that avoid conflict, that detour confrontation. Shouldn't I be raising kids that are open minded, empathetic, and basically don't always need to be right? Humble little souls?

Interesting topic don't you think?

I knew I had a problem when Dan gave me a pin that said the following:

"Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken"

It's funny because it's true.

Please Pray for these folks. .

Today on my heart I feel the need to ask all you bloggers to pray.

I have been following the story of Josh Buck a local pastor of Greenhouse Ministries.

The short story is while vacationing in Mexico, he was is a swimming accident, leaving him partially paralyzed and in Rehab for the next few months. He spoke on a local radio station yesterday and I was amazed at his strength, his attitude, and his firm grasp that God is in control of this situation, and his willingness to give God the glory in all that has happened in their lives.



Please include my Aunt in your prayers. She has been living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for some time now, and recently had to adjust to some major changes. Pray for her husband, her family, her care-takers. Pray for peace and comfort, and for good days.


I'm not sure how many of you are out there reading this blog, but when you do, offer up a prayer on the behalf of these people. It is needed, and God hears us!

Thanks.

New is better?

I wanted to update the 'ol blog, so my excellent and computer savvy sis-in-law created my new header! Thanks Katie!

that is all.

the great debate.

When our daughter was born on my birthday 3 years ago (yesterday) we didn't know we were having a daughter. With two boys in the house, I was secretly longing for a girl, to even things out a bit. When she had no less than exited my womb for 10 seconds, my husband cried out,

"It's a GIRL---We're done!"
I remember thinking at that moment, "He's just joking around, no one can make that type of final decision moments after the birth of their child."

But yet I certainly had. For me, the feeling is never stronger than just after the moment of birth, that I want to do this again and again. Crazy, really considering the pain af labor and delivery, but that all just vanishes immediately for me upon the sight of my newborn.

I thought the birth of my 4 new nieces this fall would seal the deal for me. I would realize that our family is complete. I would come to my senses, appreciating how far I've come away from the baby stage. No diapers here, nary a nursing pad in sight. Wouldn't most moms relish this accomplishment instead of long for the days?
While babysitting the triplets this week, I couldn't stop sniffing them and rubbing their little cheeks on my own. Am I hopeless? Will I be 56 years old and hope to have a surprise pregnancy?

With my youngest turning 3 and babies stacked up like cord wood in our family I've got baby fever!!!!!

This topic has been on and off the table for many months now and needs to be resolved.

Question--How do you know when enough is enough?? (children that is)





Will this be me??

for more on this actual family click here.

Mediocre Mothering Moments of the Month

February is drawing to a close and a busy one it has been. As a mom, sometimes I feel like I go against my better judgement when handling the day to day rituals with my kids. I often think back to my childhood, what I remember my mom doing, as a compass for child rearing today. I often think,
WWJD "what would Judy do?"

As I reflect on the month gone by a few things won't escape my mind, moments of less than perfect parenting. Unfortunately, I didn't contemplate WWJD--Judy or Jesus.

• Not once but twice I brought Joy to the grocery store, still in her sleeper. It wasn't morning, we just didn't get her dressed that day.
• My middle child stuck up for his older brother and stated "Mom, stop being so mean to us!"
  
• In the effort to hurry my children to the car in the cold weather, I told Dewey to "run a little faster!" He then tripped and fell in the sloshy snow and was devasted. Geesh, I felt bad about that one.
• And then there are those little fibs that we tell our children, like "oh, the snowmobile is out of gas, we can't ride it today." Or the infamous threat "do you want me to tell Daddy about how you're behaving?"
• I think I get stuck in a rut this time of year when it comes to preparing meals for my family. As I type, what do you think my kids are having for lunch?
  

wait for it... the healthy and delicious treat---Ramen Noodles

I look forward to a new the month of March and some magnificent mothering. I praise God for giving me these precious lives to raise, I thank Him for renewing me daily to take care of my family and for the forgiveness I receive for the mistakes I do make.

FAB-U-LOUS!!!

Oh, it's soooo 1992.

Can anyone name the lucky young fellas
who took these lovelies to their first prom??
Sorry, Laurie :)

MiniMe Mom was recalling college stories on her blog the other day. Since some of my college type memories are not suitable for the entire blogosphere, I thought I would post a happy little photo of two friends and enjoying what high school had to offer.
D, we rocked the crown plaza that night. No hair was curlier, No skin was tanner, and we were only freshies! Good times.

Yes, I just might be running out of material to blog about. Stay tuned.

I Heart Macs!

True Story.

Blogoversary

Have I really been blogging for a whole year? I've been feeling a year old so I just checked my first post to find out.

I think Mini-Van Mega-Fun has taken on a life of it's own. In the last year this blog has seen soapboxes, family vacations, the births of a slew of baby girls, new friendships created and old ones maintained, spin off blogs i.e. (Footin blog), new coffee habits, changing hair-dos, confessions, and even a little whining now and again. It all added up to an interesting year of God's blessings and feeling His faithful presence in our lives.

Now, quit reading my blog and go out there and start your own!

Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Today is the day. Happy "Double Nickels" Birthday to Dad H.!!

For as long as I can remember, Dad's birthday was a big event. He looks forward to it for months to come. As I reflect on that, and the fact that my parents are not exactly spring chickens, I am ever thankful for their lives of love, and example they are. On days such as these I fondly remember the fun times growing up. I also let my mind wander to a time where I was rather self-involved and probably did not realize the sacrifices and the prayers of my father on my behalf. Dad, I thank you for them, I am who I am because of your consistent love, direction, and support.

A few winter themed memories to share.

• Back in the day, where we lived in Allegan county, winter snow was dominate. One day, when the drifts were double my size, Dad made for us a tunnel/slide through the snow bank that he himself could slide through.
  
• I won't forget the time driving home from church where Dad pulled over and let me drive the last mile home, how he must have laughed when I drove using both feet.
• During the years when I claimed I hadn't a dime to my name, Dad paid for my parking in a downtown ramp. 40 bucks.
• How many of my boyfriends did you have to pull out of your garden, after they got stuck in the snow?
• Watching the Detroit Pistons circa 1989. I kept the stats in my sprial notebook.
• You watching two different sports programs simutaneously with your own homemade "Picture in Picture" that is, one small TV on top of the larger console TV. So silly.
• Supporting me in my short lived high school sports career. Still not a month goes by without mention of my ill-fated break away lay-up. Now we can laugh about it.
• Papas in Pajamas.

Today we celebrate raise our Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting to you!
Happy Birthday Dad!

music--for Tami--Bon Jovi.

Winter. It's a Good Thing.

I'm trying really hard to refrain from complaining about the sub-zero temperatures we've been experiencing this month. It hasn't been easy considering I've been dreading this time of year ever since the first leaf turned and fell from it's tree last Fall. (Remember all you autumn lovers how it was your "favorite time of the year"? Well, this is what follows Fall--this...this freezing, cold, slippery, inside your nose burning weather that has no end in sight.

Oops, suddenly I'm complaining/whining. How did that happen?

My goal for this post is to give winter in the midwest a better name, list some positive attributes--one last plug to convince the T & A to move on back !

• Winter means no yard work--weeding, mowing, and the like.
• Winter offers the chance of SNOW DAYS--no school
• Winter keeps me off the snowy roads resulting in less shopping and more money saved?? (that one is debatable)
• Winter snow covers the dirty browness that covers the landscape, making it bright, white, and clean.
• Winter clearance sales. Stock up on clothes for next year at rock bottom prices!
• Winter gives our skin a time to rest from the damaging rays of the summer sun.
• Winter means much more down time for Dan at work. He is home for supper almost every night!!!!! and available to take the kids outside for countless snowmobile rides in a circle around the house.
• Winter Birthdays. In the month of February and March we have 13 in just our immediate family! That is so much birthday cake.
  
• The anticipation of Spring. Once we reach March, it's just around the corner.
  

So here is my list, the mental exercise that it was. If you know of any winter benefits, do tell. We need all the encouragement we can get.


"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:22

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom.

I was tagged by MVH to blog about the crazy little quirks of the stay at home mother, particularly my crazy little quirks.

Here goes...

• When I walk around at home I always have my head down. I'm looking at the floor to see how much crumbs and junk are down there.
  
• On a completely stay-at-home day (which I love) I do not wear make-up until just before my husband gets home--then I run to the bathroom to put on my face and do my hair--he doesn't really care that much how I look, but it's genetic, my mother used to do the same thing! probably still does.
• I don't wear a watch but have 17 clock type devices in my house.
• I rarely clean my showers. yes, I know its pretty disgusting, but so is cleaning them.
  
• I'm a sniffer. (not a huffer, come on now) I smell everything (food, underwear, furniture) to determine if it's rank, it reeks, or rots. Most things reek around here.
  
• My kids watch Spongebob Squarepants and run around in their underwear on any given day.
• Finally, I don't exercise, I screen phone calls , and I can and will eat an entire frozen pizza if the spirit moves me.

There. Tina, Jamie, you're up!

'80s week.

A few weeks back my brother-in-law, a teenager, was singing a song from the 1980s. He has taking a liking to all music from the decade, and he was born in 1992. I especially dig music from the 1970s the decade in which I was born. So with inspiration from Dana's latest post and just for fun...

Name that '80s tune!

Well, I'm fresh out of ideas.

Our home is over 5 years old and I think it looks 10 years old. Dinged up baseboards, chunks out of walls, and our furniture has seen much better days. As much as I try to be a good housekeeper, my children seem to instinctively destroy everything they touch. Mother says to wait until the kids are older and then do some fixin' up, but I have the itch to paint, rip out something, or buy a king size bed.

Obstacle#1--not a lot of extra dough right now.
Obstacle # 2--not a lot of extra energy right now.
Obstacle #3--not a lot of extra time right now.

Really, will these things ever change? I'm looking for some advice or color ideas and maybe someone who likes to paint...just for the fun of it (free). I used to get Stacey to do this type of home improvement with (or for) me, but she is otherwise occupied.

5 1/2 months!

The gals.

otherwise known as:

"Curious George", "no Neck", and "the Loafer" (in order of how they are sitting)

or

"Mrs. Brown Eyes", "Miss Evie", and "the Loafiest"

and even

"Livie", "the Head", and "Red Nose"

these are just some of the nick names I have called the girls lately.
I'm sure there are more.

Olivia, Evie, Sophie

Seriously though, we PRAISE GOD for the health and growth of the triplets and for the Stacey's sanity which has remained mostly in tact :)

Next up...sitting alone, crawling, and walking, can you imagine?

De-lurking my Blog

A few weeks back Dana blogged about National Blogger Delurk Week. Although it's old news I decided to do a little de-lurking.

In case you wondered what in the world I'm talking about...

The verb to "de-lurk" means to start contributing actively to a community (in this case a blog) having been a lurker previously.
Thanks to Free Dictionary.com

So how's about it?
Set yourself free, stand up and be counted, state your name, or just say hello.

when I grow up.

I recently asked my kiddos what future aspirations they have. What they told me varied from teacher (of course), to garbage man, to a princess going to a pink school (guess who that was).

When I was a child I went through all the phases. First plan was to be a teacher. Secondly, I wanted to work at a grocery store in the check out lane. I even had dreams of some high paying office career where I would wear business suits and heels. Maybe that's why I wore what appears to be a suit coat in one of my senior pictures---hideous. As the time came for me to make a choice about what to do with myself after high school, I strolled into the career exploration office at my school, literally picked up a brochure from the local community college and made my decision. I decided to enter the field of Occupational Therapy.

occupational therapy - physical therapy involving the therapeutic use of crafts and hobbies for the rehabilitation of handicapped or convalescing patients

In all honestly though I was really just hoping to make it through college and get my MRS. degree if you know what I mean. Enter Dan. All vocational aspirations vanished with the thought of being a wife and having babies!!! Yes, I'm sure all feminists out there are cringing right about now. Working after college in my chosen field was just a means to and end.

Fast Forward to today. I have many a conversation with Dan about what I will do when the kids are all in school if not before. I will need to provide some supplemental income. I feel like I did when I was a kid. What do I want to do when I grow up? Here is what I have come up with: (Dana, can you dig the bullet list?)

• Receptionist/scheduler/etc. at a medical or dental office
• Work in some capacity at a Salon--then I can change my hair so very often.
• Some how find a job in the educational system
  
• Start a little home business of making DVD slideshows for parties, weddings, etc.
• Lastly, and most appealing right now--working as a Barista at Starbucks.

I am totally trusting God to guide me to just the right job. I can look back and see His hand in what I've already done. Even if my choices seemed random at best, God alone laid out my path before I was even taking my first step down it. What a comfort and a promise.

Jeremiah 29:10-11 The Message
This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Home again, Home again.

So before I left for vacay I promised a little photo of my very own "Dapper Dan"

It went a little something like this. Dan knew he needed a suit for the two "Formal Nights" on the cruise. I need to stress how much my husband hates wearing a tie, much less a full on suit. With much encouragemnt from our bro-in-law Scotty, Dan went to the local men's store and tried on a rather dapper ensemble. Upon returning home he realized how much he spent on the whole thing--$300 plus. I then proceeded to explain to him that that amount was entirely too much for one concrete man to spend on a suit that will only see the light of day at weddings and funerals. Off he scooted back to the store. He returned home with the same suit but with cheaper shirts and ties.

So without furter ado,
Dapper Dann-o!

Dapper Dan will return.

there is a good story and even better photos regarding Dapper Dan. But for now, I'm too busy to post them...see ya soon!

The Quest for Dapper Dan

No, not the hair Pomade

Or the play doll,

Not even the the Mobster criminal from the 1920s

Or this thing either. Isn't Google amazing?

BUDGET DAPPER DAN TORSO

I'm searching for my own "Dapper Dan"
To be Continued...

It's go time.

I won't have a ton of time to blog this week due to the upcoming vacation. So much to do...such a procrastinator I am.

SO, I just thought I'd post a little Holiday Photo Recap.

Thanks to all of you who gave of yourselves to us this Christmas season. We felt fantastically blessed by this great circle of family and friends!


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music player

if you want to hear the music on my blog and can't---you might need to download:

Quicktime for Mac
or
Quicktime for Windows PC

don't worry, it's free and legit :)

a 1st grade understanding.

Below is a reproduction of a note that Chase wrote to us while riding in the car to a Christmas party.

Der mom and dad,
Ime isod for Christmas and isod too opin prisbuts but do you nuow wut is the ipotvat it is Gud.

Can you translate?

I am floored by the amount Chase has learned in 3 months. Although his spelling isn't perfect, his ability to express in written words what is on his mind and in his heart makes me swell with pride and praise God for his teachers, and his willingness to learn.

Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm exctied for Christmas and excited to open presents
but do you know what is important? It is God.

Coming up for air.

The season is almost complete. Parties, food, planning, buying, wrapping, more food, celebrating, reminiscing, reflecting, it has been a whilwind of a month. Now is the time when I need to get my butt in gear. A new year, a time of renewal yet again. And I'm not talking about my ever changing hair color.

Amidst the enjoyment of the holidays I've felt a real need to sit and ponder what God has done in 2006, and open my eyes to His will in 2007.
Reflecting on my previous blog posts has been a good summary of 2006, but I see many gaps. I know what I blogged about but also the things I did not. My life is not perfect, nor are my thoughts, or relationships.
There are people out there that think blogs are just a method of self promotion--"hey, look at me, my kids, my shiny little life."
I tend to disagree with those naysayers. While putting ones thoughts out there for others to read and maybe comment on is a bit of a display, but I also see it a form of expression, a place to catch up on others, one little place that we can share of ourselves. Call it what you will, but blogging has been a rather positive experience for me. I don't intend to make my blog a complete revelation of my life, just a window into it.

Anywho, as I breathe in the air of a new year, I hope to keep focus on what is important and not find so much distraction on the little annoyances of life, you know, the "ordinary stuff."
(for more on this thought see Grace in the City)

Happy New Year and Blog on, my friends, Blog on.

High Hopes for 2007

New Year's Resolutions seem somewhat cheesy as well as necessary to me. A holiday time tradition that can jump-start many excellent new behaviors or just a bunch of pipe dreams?? So many TV commercials are already out there pushing weight loss and quitting smoking (both admirable things, mind you). For some actual research on New Year Resolvers and their success rates, click here

Every year I hop on the resolution band wagon. Last year was the classic "I'm going to get in shape and tone up the saggyness that has become me!" The goal made even more attainable with the purchase of a treadmill. Yes, I was on a roll until February when Dan & I went to Mexico and the endless supply of salsa and tortilla chips got the very best of me. Danny-boy ran on the treadmill ONE time for TWO miles and since then will not even look at the thing.

So with our personally high rate of failure, is it worth it? The research says yes.

"While a lot of people who make new years resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions"

There you have it--resolve away. You know I will. But my list is far too long and revealing for the Blogosphere.

Merry Christmas, belated.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all you bloggers!

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.

We welcome with love Lilly Marie, born to Ross and Bethany! What a precious gift during the celebration of the most important gift.

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift --2 Corinthians 9:15

"Back in my day..."

Remember that Grumpy Old Man from Saturday Night Live? Here are a couple of his more famous ramblings.

Grumpy Old Man: I'm old and I'm not happy. Everything today is improved and I don't like it.
Grumpy Old Man: In my day, we didn't have video-games! We just sat around and watched a potata' bake, and that's the way we liked it!

I mean no disrespect here but sometimes we tease my mother about things she says similiar to Grumpy Old Man. Back in her day, they laid babies on their stomach, there was no such thing as acid reflux--that was just a colicky baby. And another famous one--we just didn't go out as much as you girls do nowadays with your kids, we just stayed home. I love you Mom!! :)

The sad thing is I have caught myself saying the following:

• What's the deal with teenagers? Back when I was in high-school NO ONE had a cell phone. I knew of two dudes that had pagers, and even that seemed fishy. We were just fine, if we needed to call someone, we'd find a pay phone.
  
• In my day, we were modest--we wore big, baggy clothes and we liked it!
• I didn't even use the internet until 1999! I brag about how I used an actual word processor and not a computer for my college papers. (papers might be a bit of a stretch. let's call them writings that were exactly the length required not a word more.)
• When I got my driver's license a gallon of gas was only .89 cents!!!!
  

So as you can see I have turned into Grumpy Old Woman. Having said that here are a few good things about today's day and age.

• Most of the fathers of my generation are VERY helpful. Changing diapers, putting kiddos to bed, loading the DISHWASHER (another perk), things that dads from previous generations just did not always do. Thanks, Dan!
• Today we have opportunities to be involved in a church community in which people aren't just there to show their face but to really worship and praise God, really care for each other, and really fellowship. I don't claim expertise on how Christians of the past few decades perceived church, I just know that some things have changed--for the better.
  
• And last but not least...can I get a shout out for MINI-VANS!!!???
  

How lame are we?--wait don't answer that.

Last Friday night Dan and I had the kids to bed early and stood in our kitchen catching each other up on the week's events. All week I had been eyeing a certain break-n-bake cookie block in my frig. It was time to bust it open! You should have seen the expression of joy on Dan's face at the thought of those cookies--now only minutes away! I made him pose for this photo. The simple pleasures in life.

I'm glad to be at a point in our marriage and our lives where it is just as fun to stay home and eat factory made cookies and talk as it is to go out for dinner just to get away from home.
And for those cookies-they didn't last the weekend.

just say no.

It seems I have had many an issue with my blog since switching over to the Beta-version. I should have known better, but I wanted to see if the changes were in fact fancy fun improvements to regular 'ol Blogger. They ain't. So, if you blog and are considering the switch, maybe you should just wait until they force you kicking and screaming to switch to the new version (that's the rumor I hear anyway).




I'm sorry about all the issues, they promise to fix the bugs soon. happy blogging!

This dude is going to be a Daddy!

As we anxiously await the celebration of the birth of Christ, our family also eagerly anticipates the birth of Ross and Bethany's firstborn somewhere around Christmas.

Last Sunday evening we witnessed the Baptism of the triplets and soon we will welcome a new little one. I want to give God the glory for the tremendous blessings he has rained down on our family this year. I am so proud of my siblings, watching Stacey stand up in front of church with her three girls brought over me a sense of gratitude I don't think I have felt since the birth of my own children. I can hardly wait to see my little brother holding his baby in his arms. Ross was talking the other night about how he is ready for the pregnancy to be over, that it has been long, and not without surprises. I teased him saying, "poor you" as if he was the one carrying the extra 20 some odd pounds around and having contractions. But really, he is one of the mose supportive husbands I have ever known, being there for his wife every single step of the way. He didn't gain any sympathy weight, but he has truly experienced this pregnancy.

So while we wait let's offer up Ross and Bethany's some parenting/birth/newborn advice.
Keep it clean folks :)

Take the Challenge

Due to a lack of interesting things for me to blog about, I am just answering a question to a blog reader. I've been curious about this. Remember the Pepsi Challenge? I always wanted to go to some mall and sip two cups of cola and choose the tastier one.

So, which one do your prefer? If you know me, my favorite is easy to figure out.

Coke?





or

Pepsi?

Jingle Bells...

Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. The batmobile lost a wheel....you know the rest.

This is the most un-Christmas song ever, so why was Chase singing it as we strolled through Target?

It is so silly what kids learn from each other at school.


Speaking of Christmas tunes. You should be listening to a medley of favorites---Yes, it is so 1980s, but it reminds me of being a kid at Christmas time and my Mom listening to Sandi Patti. Stacey and I would belt out the tunes and dance around along with the cassette tape that Mom had. What nerds say you? Yes we are.

What's your favorite Christmas song? And you can't pick Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.