you gotta love this guy...I do.

Yesterday was a busy day to say the least.   The kind of day that makes you forget things.   

Per normal on the first day of school, something slips through the cracks.   Yesterday I sent the boys to school with no beverage.  No water bottle, not even an artificially flavored box of juice!    You can about imagine the tongue- lashing I received after school from my precious sons!

After the day wound down and I was brushing my teeth,  I turned to Dan and asked,

"Did you already take a shower?"

Looking confused he said something like,

"Yes.  

Wait, did I?"

He couldn't remember if he did or not.

I then talked him step by step through the evening.  We still had no real evidence on his level of cleanliness.

What he said next was classic.   

"Well, there's only ONE way to find out."

If you know Dan,  you know how he solved the mystery.

Like I said, you gotta love this guy!

summer daze

Ah, to be a kid again and run around in concentric circles.

Goodbye summer 2008, school starteth tomorrow.

"Church. The way you remember it."

I actually read that nebulous description on a church sign while driving to a doctor's appointment this week.

"hmmmm." I thought.

Interesting tactic.

As I thought more and more about it (I had only the baby with me in the van, allowing me time with my own thoughts for once) My best guess is, by putting that on their church sign they intend to turn folks on to church by tugging at their nostalgia bone (I think it is one of the rib bones) ;) I thought of even more teasers they might put on their sign:

"Come to this church--you can return to the Sunday traditions you knew and loved.

"Fed up with new, modern church-ing? Join us today!!"

"Church, the old school way"

I won't deny putting that "Church. The way you remember it" will in fact attract some people. Some folks (myself included) have warm fuzzy memories of church and the traditions therein.
If one has left the church community, or worshiped elsewhere for a spell, they might find peace and rest in joining such a church in which they feel comfortable.

But...

what if you don't remember church?

what if you remember church as a place of judgement, exclusivity, and legalism?

If that is you, you might not feel at all attracted or invited to come to a Church. The way your remember it. Mission not accomplished.

This post is not meant to be a springboard for a debate on worship style, denominational ties, and tradition. I simply wanted to toss out the thought that if doing church the old way doesn't reach the lost, or the searching, or those hurt, is it really the best way to forge into the future?

Let me be clear. I love my church, I love the important traditions it holds dear, the way I remember it. I also love people. Jesus was about people, reaching them with sometimes untraditional means. I am ready to change some the "ways" of church to keep it alive!

I want my kids and those who may not yet know what church community is all about to be able look back someday and remember how they were touched by God and and His church in a real and eternal way. So they can say with joy "you know what I remember about God's church?"

Grace.
Love.
Acceptance.
Support.
Forgiveness.
Salvation.
Friendship.
Koinonia.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda...part two

Many good, some flattering, and other just plain odd guesses by my fellow bloggers.

Some of the following made me smile:
Professional Blogger? I'm positive I make too many grammatical errors, and could I really make $$ droning on about MiniVans and Macs?

Hair model? I have always thought of my hair as severely lacking...but that guess was closer.

Cheerleader? Come now, many of you have seen me dance. Too tall, white girl rhythm, anyone? I have one dance move, and it isn't smooth.

Mac Salesgirl/nerd? Well, I hate to say that I didn't start my love affair with all things Apple until about 2001 with my very first used iMac. Believe it or not, I very rarely used a computer until then.


If I had a "do over" in career pursuit I would have gone to cosmetology school and learned the ins and outs of cutting, waxing, curling, and styling! How invaluable this skill would be for me now as a mom at home, and as a woman who must always tweak my hair on a regular (some might say excessive) basis.

Simple really, but it is one of those I could just kick myself moments for not pursuing it back in '94.

Is it truly never too late??

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda...

Tonight Dan asked me when exactly I see myself going back to work. A trick question for sure.

It was about this time a year ago I told Dan I was pregnant again. One of the reasons he was not as thrilled as I with the news was that another child would set me back a number of years from getting back into the working world full time, and contributing to our family's income.

I've been playing that game in my mind. You know, that one that says:

"IF YOU HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?"
It seems unproductive to think about such things, yet I wander there anyway. Who would not like a do over or two??

Specifically speaking about a career do over, I know what I should have done after high school, I wish I would have done it, and I really could not do anymore.

Can you guess what I woulda, shoulda, coulda done?

#300 and your weekly Don Johnson sighting.

300 posts already. Where has the time gone? Oh, right. It was wasted on 300 blog posts.
We decided to celebrate 80s style yet again.
Actually we were fortunate to attend another gnarlly 1980s par-tay last Friday. I think we are starting to get our money's worth out of the Miami Vice get up. Dan doesn't look quite as excited to be wearing it again. Poor guy. What's not to love about a pink shirt and a plastic badge?

Here's to 300 more blog posts, and many more occasions to celebrate!!

Family Fun.

"you should put 'the Mallard' on the Blog"

An actual quote from my son Chase.

We have returned from a week's vacay camping at the cottage. Each year we spend some time at Big Whitefish Lake with Dan's family. This year was different because we borrowed the coveted, most magnificent, extendo, motorhome lovingly referred to as "The Mallard"

What she lacks in beauty and pleasant aroma, she more than makes up for in space and surround sound entertainment. The kids could hardly wait to hop in watch movies. Movies? Yes. My cousins (the fortunate owners) have rigged up a DVD player with surround sound speakers. Dan was so manly driving that big rig down the highway at a cool 60MPH. I enjoyed the full size mattress in the back and ample closet room. She's a beaute!!!

Many thanks to Carl and Nute for use of the 1987 Mallard for the week. I think I might want to keep her.
We had a great time camping at the cottage!!!

Driving the Mallard. Can you find the Duct tape?

Full Surround Sound Experience

It really is gigantic.

oh yes.

Dewey on Skis!

3 months old already.

July 15 marked 3 months since Juliet joined the fam.

Dan decided at the ripe old age of 3 mos. she needed to go for her first swim.
She enjoyed swimming with her little bare buns. She did not enjoy swallowing a little pool water.

Do the Dew.

I tried pretty hard to keep my kids from experiencing the joy of pop (soda, for those of you outside of MI.

It all came crashing down just recently when Drew somehow got his first taste of Mt. Dew. Let's just say he has been slightly obsessed with it ever since.

Yesterday while visiting my parents, Drew discovered that Grandpa had a T-shirt with the Mt. Dew logo on it. In fact he had two.


Now my boys are walking talking advertisements for Mt. Dew. They wore the XL T-shirts for PJs last night and put up quite a stink when I wouldn't let them wear them to the mall today.
Oh thanks, Dad!
And as a bonus, one T-shirt came right out of Dad's dirty laundry pile!

nights to remember

If there is anything I will not forget about the births of my babies, it is my time in the hospital. After an uncomplicated birth the postpartum time spent in the hospital is very precious. Call me crazy, but I love hospital food, hospital showers, and hospital beds. I understand that I probably enjoy these things due to the extremely short term basis that I have to experience them. At about the mid-point of my pregnancy I began to get really excited for my hospital admission.

Nurses took care of me and the baby, food that I choose from a menu--delivered to my bedside. Visitors come to welcome our little one. Cable television and internet access. Solace from whining, cleaning, and meal prep, if only for two days.

Call me crazy, but the best part of all , for me, about staying in the hospital is the middle of the night. Completely exhausted, the pain of labor and delivery still fresh, I lay there wide awake at 3am just recalling the days events. Thanking and praising God for this new life and at the same time feeling so undeserving of such a gift.

I tell myself to "goto sleep, the baby is in the nursery, you need to rest."

I watch the clock tick away and dream about what life will be like with the newborn at home. Again, I praise and pray to God as if my heart just might burst with gratitude for this little life. The hospital room is so dark and quiet, and I am feeling so comfortable sleeping without a giant belly.

"Hurry up and goto sleep" I tell myself again.

Just as I drift off to sleep I hear the sound of my baby crying. I find it amazing that after only knowing my newborn for not even a full day I recognize that cry as my child's. The cry gets louder and closer and soon the nurse wheels in that plastic cart containing my precious one and I can't get a hold on him/her fast enough. It almost felt like time stood still, and I never want to forget those precious moments. Life certainly does not stop and once you leave the hospital walls, it hauls along quicker than most would like.

just a few thoughts to share before too much time passes.

check out this food, Dan took this photo:

first visit from the big kids

Daddy and his little girl enjoying the last few minutes before leaving for home.

News Flash: Hot Moms Leave the House!

A couple weeks backs I had a great night of fun with some wonderful Moms who are great friends as well. It is not an easy task getting all of us out of the house on a Friday night. We have 20 kids altogether!

Thank you to our husbands, moms, sitters, who took care of those 20 kiddos so we could enjoy a night out!

Some memorable moments:

"It don't matta!"

Jamie's Umbrella

Hot Dog Cart

Stacey writing my phone number on the table cloth at SanChez!

Where we almost went that night...where the waitress told us to go.

Cara's cash!
add to the list girls...

and Baby makes 6!

In an effort to document my thoughts and feelings for future reading, I am going back in time a few months to recall some major family happenings. Read on if you'd like, OR get back to whatever you should be doing. :)

Juliet was born on a Tuesday morning in April. Tax day and Drew's 6th birthday to be exact.
After a full 40 week pregnancy I was ready to birth this little girl. When I went to bed the evening before and I had no idea I would arise at 2:30am to the familiar yet deniable pain that labor was beginning.

With that first contraction I got out of bed, popped open my trusty MacBook and began keeping track of the minutes between labor pains. 10 minutes approximately was the distance. At around 3:30am I woke Dan and told him I thought labor may be starting.

His response as he shot up in bed, "Should I go get the doughnuts right now?"
No, I didn't require Krispy Kremes as part of my birth plan, today was Drew's 6th birthday and we had planned to bring in doughnuts (his favorite) for his treat to share.
After I calmed Dan down and assured him that the Krispys could wait, we called my mom.

Now if you know my mother, she had very likely been laying with her head next to the phone and sleeping with one eye open for the last few weeks of my pregnancy just in case she was needed in a middle of the night rush to the hospital. Rushing wasn't needed as my contractions were not coming closer together and seemed tolerable. We decided to mozy on to the hospital, arriving at 7am. Shift change. I remember praying on the way to the hospital that I would just have one contraction, so I would feel justified in going there. Can you imagine my embarrassment this being my 4th pregnancy and being turned away if I was in false labor?

Will I stay or will I go? Sitting in triage is always a nerve wrenching experience. You are waiting for someone to tell you to pass go, collect $200 (or in this case pay $3000) and have that baby! I felt like I needed permission. Permission I was given. After being examined, I was dilated to 8cm! "When did this happen?" I thought. For some unknown reason when my body goes into labor, my mind goes into denial. Suddenly the room was a flurry of nurses, tubes, fluids, and most importantly--a wheelchair! Yes! I had gained access to the delivery room at last!

By some work of God ( and I mean that) I was able to receive an epidural block. I was hoping for this pain relief this time around after experiencing births the old fashioned and extremely excruciating way. So there we sat. Waiting on those last 2cm.
At one point Dan, looking bored, said to the Dr. "what exactly are we waiting for?"
The Dr. replied, " I am just waiting for Michelle to indicate that she is ready."
"Oh, I thought. I was just waiting for you to tell me when to push."
We were just a bunch of idiots sitting there staring at each other for 45 minutes.

I was ready. After pushing through 2 contractions at 9:13am our Baby Girl was delivered into our arms.

I don't know for certain, but Dan may have still been worried about those Krispy Kremes.

Next Post: Bringing home baby and the first 6 weeks.

First hospital photo:

"you better write that down..."

My Mother always tells me to write down things that my kids say or do, so I'll remember. Her mother told her the same.

I guess one of the biggest reasons that I blog is to have a record of our day to day lives. To someday look back on this chapter of our family life and see photos, read my thoughts, or maybe laugh about something I may have forgotten.

I am annoyed with myself for letting the past 3 months get away from me with not a lot of blogging. There have been so many things to note following Juliet's birth. I want to do a little bit of back tracking with my next few blog posts, looking back and sharing some thoughts. It may be boring for most of you, but it will help me do what my mom so lovingly suggests:

"You better write that down."

After all, mother knows best.

Next post: Juliet Joins the Family.

redneck ice cream truck

We live in a rather rural area, one that does not see the likes of a musical ice cream truck on a hot summer's day.

this is what we have:





Thanks Grandpa & Grandma for a special treat!

virtually me.

I found this radical website that gives you a virtual hair makeover.
Try not to be afraid of these floating heads.
Any favorites?

Father's Day (observed)

Today I decided to observe Father's Day on my blog.
I was inspired by the action of my husband on Sunday evening, the actual Father's Day.

After a long day and night of celebration our boys were rather strung out.
Our goal upon arriving home was to get them in bed ASAP. Their goal was to read books and stay up. An honorable goal really, reading books as a stalling technique. Dan would have nothing to do with it. He told them in a not so nice way that it was TIME TO GOTO BED!!!

Crying, sobbing, and thrashing ensued.

The next thing I saw was my tired, annoyed, and frustrated husband laboring up the steps.
"Happy Father's Day", I thought.

A few moments passed and with his head resting on his hand, Dan realized he was too harsh (unkind) toward the boys and he didn't want them to go to sleep with all this anger on both sides.

He went back down to their room to talk with them calmly and settle things down.
"That is what makes him a good dad." I thought
"That is what make make you a good dad." I told him.

Both Dan & I had fathers that were not dictators. They were the head of the home and to be obeyed, but they also knew they were not perfect and at times needed to offer an apology or mend a broken fence. I am so thankful for the example of strength and humility that my children see in their father. It is the same example I saw in my Dad growing up.

What is it they say about girls marrying someone just like their Daddy? May that be true.

My Dad & I in 1977

My hard working and very tired husband with his little girl last week.
(i hope I don't get in trouble for posting this one) :)

summer vacation week one.

we may have run out of things to do already.

today we have resorted to taking photos of ourselves with the self timer.

we also returned pop cans to Meijer so we could buy lunch. I was thinking Steak-n-shake, the kids preferred Lunchables---ewwww!

Please, shout out some ideas to keep us occupied on week two. What do your summer activities look like?

the iGeneration.

"We can go to Pizza.com." says my 4 year old daughter while riding along in the minivan and perusing a mailed advertisement for some pizza chain.

"What will you do at Pizza.com?" I asked her.

"We can play like games." she replied.

Oh my.

What a difference just one generation makes. I am not really that old, not even middle aged, but I did not grow up with the internet and home computers. According to some information I have read, the Internet Generation started with those born around 1993. So really, Joy is at the tail end of this generation.

Not only does my 4 year old know what a dotcom is, she can click her way around a WebKinz World like nobody's business. I'm not even sure that her daddy could do as well as she.
Sorry, Danno.
I am amazed how the internet has changed the way I do day to day things. I don't posess a phone book, I just search online for a particular phone number. Don't know where my destination is when I hop in the minivan? Just print out Mapquest driving directions.
Banking and Bills? Online. News and weather? Online, no time to sit and watch the news on TV. Shopping? Once again, the ol' internet comes through for me with free shipping offers. How can I not mention blogging and Facebook? This can be a lifeline for friends and family that live far away.

I used to think I was born in the wrong generation. I foolishly thought that life was easier and simpler for those who were born a generation or two before me. I may have been wrong. I don't think that the Baby Boomers could order Pizza, pay for it, and have it delivered with only a few clicks of a mouse. No phone, cash, or car required. How ever did they survive??

painful.

My father-in-law found this unfortunate 10 spot last Saturday while doing the weekly yardwork. He found only this portion. Dan brought it home to show me and of course I said, it was probably mine or his. Both of us have a strong tendency to misplace items, forget things wherever we go, and if something is lost we have to tear the house apart to find it. It may be our only similarity. I just can't throw it away. I know it is useless now, but imagine what we could have done with it. If it was only a dollar I could deal with it, but 10 dollars?!

What can you buy for 10 dollars today?

176 days down, 4 to go.

Last August, I posted this

I was not loving the fact that my kids were in school, (meaning I had to stop watching TV late into the night and had to get up at 6:30am) I was newly pregnant and sick. Basically, I was counting down to the end of a school year that was only 4 days in.

So you can imagine how excited I must be that we made it through the year. Soon we will enjoy carefree, schedule free days. Doesn't it just sound ripe with bliss and possibility?

NOT! (so sorry I had to use that hideous 1990s catch phrase)

I have this sinking feeling I will wake up next Monday morning earlier than usual. Little Juliet like to arise at 5am-ish. What will follow will be my kids waking at school time because their little bodies are not yet used to sleeping in. From 7am on I will hear one bickering session after the other on who plays with what, what to watch on TV, and who is in charge---oh, is that me?

Here's the thing. I don't care about any of that. I am such a summer lover that they could fight their heads off and I will still have a silly grin on my face for the beautiful weather and the chance to spend real time with my kids during the stressless times of the day. (don't even ask me how much I loathe the hours between 4-7pm during the school year)

Completing the school year feels like a huge accomplishment for a mini-van mom like me. I hope you all find a moment or two this summer to enjoy your kids being home for in no time you will see that first Back to School sale at Target.

here are a few photos of our latest activities:

what is the shelf life on this thing?

Last week Dan and I observed 11 years of marriage. I say observed, because we are yet to really celebrate the event. Maybe this is what happens when you have a newborn in the house not to mention sharing a room with you. Last year was the big one, this year is markedly different, but in a wonderfully, precious way.
As I was putting laundry away I noticed a few things. Many of the items we received as wedding gifts may be nearing the end of their life expectancy. Towels are tattered, thin and stained. Our mattress has a dip in the middle that I find myself rolling into.
Best of all, I still have some of the same socks and underwear!!!!

I remember hearing at many of my Bridal showers that women should be given a shower every 10 years or so to update all the things that need to be replaced. I continued to think about the cost involved in replacing what needs to be fresh and new again. How long do you hold on to towels, pillows, dish rags, vacuums, sheets, etc.? I hate to be wasteful, I really hate throwing away things like clothes, toys, random socks, broken kitchenware. Right now I have a pile 8 tall of jeans/pants that my kids have burned knee holes in. They just sit there because I can't just toss 'em.

Where is this post going anyway?
I am trying to draw a parallel between the shelf life of our wedding gifts and the shelf life of our marriage. I just can't seem to pull it together though. It seems like a great idea for a blog post, but I lack the creative energy to type anything but the obvious.

We outlasted our wedding loot. We beat the statistical odds. We have 4 kids and (so far) are living to tell about it. I don't say these things to boast. It is all about God and His goodness. He has blessed in ways we certainly don't deserve. I need to acknowledge this.
Let there be no expiration date on this union, even when it looks a little moldy. ;)

Happy Anniversary Dan! and also to the many of you celebrating the same this time of year.

get your 80s music fix.

click here for the best 80s mix

you won't be disappointed.

Thanks be to Carl.

days of old

Last week some girlfriends of mine gathered for a little coffee time.

We welcomed more new babies into the group and as the night went on we began to reminisce as we often do, about high school. One of the ladies there is a counselor at a local high school and told us stories about the Prom 2008 that she recently attended as a staff member. Whoa, how things have changed. Since this is a family blog, I won't get into details of what she saw at her prom, but I will post some photos of our "prom" back in 1990s. Our school called it the Junior/Senior Banquet. A title like that lends itself to a much more refined and sophisticated event...or not.

Enjoy the photos dedicated to "the girls"
Notice the bad 90s fashion as well.

In 1992 it was all about bright satin and curls.While in 1993, you had to wear Umbro shorts.
Not a single one of us ever played a lick of soccer.
Also, T-shirt must be tucked in the front, and hanging out in the back.
On to 1994.
Notice the giant Doilys on Dana's gown.
Notice too, my severely unnatural tan.Michelles. At the Mall, sporting oversized Men's shirts.
Now that is a trend I can get on board with again.

Loved (almost) every minute of it.

listen to the music.

if you are hearing music, scroll down this blog to the end of this blog to see phase 1 of My Playlist. Click on a song if you would like to hear it,  or
you can create your own for free at:

PLAYLIST.com

Four Weeks Old!

Is that a Hopkins nose I see?



Pretty in Pink

thank you Geo. Dubya!

Say what you will about him ( and that would be quite a lot I'm sure),
but the much anticipated economic stimulus check has hit our bank account, and I am grateful.

Does paying hospital bills count as economic stimulus?

What I wish I could do with the $$$?
Buy this

What will you do with your $$$ ???

Now go and stimulate!