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!

I made my bed today,

and other major accomplishments from the last two weeks are as follows:
----unpacked the hospital suitcase, finally.
----found an old pair of real, not maternity! jeans to wear
----said good riddance to smelly, holey boots, snowpants, and gloves--either packed or thrown away!
----emptied the dishwasher (instead of my mother having to do it)
----went to Starbucks!

next up--going to church and going to a soccer game. baby steps people, baby steps ;)


We have two weeks under our belts now. It seems like the days and nights are no longer separate but the one endless cycle of infant care. Oh how I forgot that a newborn slows your pace a bit. Juliet has been a content baby thus far, and I am so thankful. The kids have grown more in love with her and slightly less with each other each day. Fighting over who will hold her, smell her, and bring to me my nursing pads! We are adjusting pretty well. The sleep deprivation is starting to become a way of life. It's good to get to that point where my body is used to the middle of the night feedings. I am still working on not secretly growling at Dan as he saws logs right there next to the baby and I at 2:36am. Really, how dare he just sleep like that?

So blogging might be fewer and farther between, but I thought I'd offer a little update on how we are getting along as a family of 6. A few photos as well. Until next time...

Chase and Grandpa H. Turkey Hunting

Soccer season is in full swing

Joy assisting "sissy" with her first bath

what a week it was.

We Welcome With Love..

Juliet Lynne Dieleman

Born April 15   9:13am

8lbs.  12oz.

20"

Prais God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

I am a Lady in Waiting.

Oh bloggers, I am still here. The bun in my oven is cozy and warm and doesn't want to come out today. (or probably tomorrow for that matter) She teases me though. Each and every night I feel her simultaneously bump her head on my bladder, while lodging her foot in my rib, or she tries to make a side exit by punching me with what I can only assume is a fist.

What follows all that activity is a bunch of intermittent, fairly uncomfortable contractions that never really develop into full labor. I drift to sleep with girl names bouncing around in my head and practiced aloud and the next thing I know--it's a new day.
So all in all, spring break has been a nice, relaxed, quiet one. I am glad I had this week to spend with the kids just enjoying a slower pace.

I have to keep reminding myself (and Dan) that I'm not even due yet. (Close enough!!) I think he is even more impatient at this point than me. In fact he just said to me in the most obvious way,

"I feel like we are just sitting around waiting for her to come"

How profound.

the kindness of a (sort of) stranger.

My self pity party was in full swing yesterday afternoon.

The scene:
Driving in Meijer parking lot looking for a close spot to park and thinking to myself,

"What did you do for Spring Break '08, Chelle?" You took your 9 month pregnant self and your 3 kids to Meijer on a Monday afternoon to return smelly, sticky pop cans.
As a bonus, you get to fight off begging for toys and Mt. Dew."

How quickly I forgot that I had just spent a nice morning with my friends at the park on a beautiful spring day, the ride from the park to Meijer changed my attitude. I was not looking forward to this excursion, no way, no how.

Pop cans returned and impulse buys in cart, we headed to the check out. My mood lightened as I scored a sweet 26.00 dollars off my grocery bill, I tried to pretend that my kids were not actually screwing around with the spin around bagging thing. I even managed to work up a smile and hello for the person in line behind me. Boy, she looked familiar.

As I was getting ready to push away from the check out, that vaguely familiar face behind me in the check out line ever so nicely said,

"Here, take this, and bring your kids out for ice cream or something this spring break."

She handed me some cash. I was just so overwhelmed with that act of kindness I started to tear up right there in the check out lane. As I talked more with this kind lady, she suddenly realized she knew me and my parents and so on.

What an undeserved gift. What a lesson in kindness. What a Spring Break so far! God used that small act to give me some perspective on my attitude, my kids, on HIM.

Now, how to pay it forward...

only in Michigan!

just when I think I have heard it all, this was the top headline at our local news website at noon.

the weird thing is, it almost happened at our house one early one spring!

your guess is as good as mine

Per Nicole's suggestion,   what is your prediction for 

"What Date Do You Think Chelle Will Pop?"

and the always debatable:

"Will she get an epidural?"

winning prize to be determined. 

humor me people.

what not to do.

when you are 9 months pregnant.

• try to move your sofa
• goto Target for some last minute supplies. you will end up buying fish sticks and maxi-pads as if you will NEVER get to the store AGAIN. impulse buying at it finest.
• run to the bathroom. you might not make it there in time. just walk.
• decide to organize 7 years worth of photos into albums. not only is it a project best left for retirement, you will find yourself devastated by how you have aged in only 7 years.
• start anew on coming up with a baby name. If you haven't found one from the book titled 40,001 Great Baby Names by now, you ain't gonna!
• tell your husband you think you might be starting labor, when you really are not. the Boy who cried Wolf, much?
• Drone on and on in the blogosphere about above don'ts. No one needs a list of what not to do. This info is only useful for MVH or MiniMeMom right now. No one else cares.

Any other don'ts to add to the list?
tick, tick, tick.

my first car.

Recently my brother-in-law finished up what seemed to be a pretty grueling Driver's Education program. Numerous sessions, hours of practice that require parental supervision.

Come on, my driver's training was 2 weeks at Sears Driving school. Mr. C, anyone?

Anyway, I realized with my last birthday that I have been driving half of my life, and it's been 16 years since dear old Dad bought me my first car for a sweet $700.

here's a hint



Is it me or do the "first cars" of today's teens seem so much better then what we drove ? Where are the gigantic winter beaters with rear wheel drive and bald tires?

Can I get a shout out for the
Escorts?
Station Wagons?
Buicks?
Tempos?
Chevettes?
LeBarons?
Nova?
Cavaliers?

If we name her, she will come.

I believe that since we have yet to agree or even decide on a name, our daughter does not want to be born.
here is my last attempt to be inspired by a fresh name

I realize I am the worst about this and no one wants to help me anymore, nor do I deserve it. But...if you are up for a challenge,
Here are the rules:

the name should probably start with "J"
no gender neutral names
no names popular from the years of 1985-1995 (these are Dan's favorites)
the name should be her own, not Michelle Jr.
Classic but not blah, not too trendy, not overly used, but not made up.

good luck with that.

stick a fork in me,

I'm done.

pix from the last month

a birth remembered, and a birth awaited

When pregnant (sorry, another preggie post) with my first, I inhaled pregnancy books, magazines and literature. I wanted to be fully prepared for the big event.
What is recommended, maybe especially the first time around is a Birth Plan.
I always wondered if birth plans are followed or do they all go out the window when the pain hits hard. I suppose I had a birth plan back then, but as is my usual fashion, I adjusted it accordingly.

8 years ago today our firstborn Chase made us a family of 3. On the day that I labored I visited my Dr., went to Value City, and played cards with Dan and my parents, all the while Chase was preparing to meet us. When we got to the hospital, we walked the halls and looked at each other, like "how did we get here, and now what do we do?" I vividly recall the moment I received the much anticipated pain relief and observed my husband nap, snack, and take a bath in MY jacuzzi tub. Was this a vacation for him? Certainly this was not part of the birth plan.

What a day, and night, early morning, and finally late morning of great excitement. When Chase was born at 10:38am we rejoiced, we had a son! A precious gift according to God's plan. Happy Birthday Chase!

I suppose I have no real birth plan for this 4th time around. If I did, it would go something like this:

--Wake up on a Tuesday or Thursday from an excellent night's sleep
--Send the boys off the school with a hug and kiss
--Shower, shave
--Eat first breakfast, read an inspiring bible verse such as Philippians 4:13
--Labor begins.
--Call Dan who WILL NOT be working in Indiana.
--An hour later, drop off Joy and head to the hospital.
--Be greeted with open arms by the anesthesiologist
--Push a time or two
--Meet our baby gal.
--Actually have a name to give her.

It could happen, maybe with a few minor adjustments.

Sell, Salvage, Donate, or Dump!

An old friend, and I use that term lightly, has returned to haunt me these past couple weeks. An old friend named Pack-Rat. I have tried to ignore him, but it just isn't proper to ignore an old friend now is it?

Remember this post of almost 2 years ago? Did I not learn a hard lesson from my pack-ratty ways?

Once again I have a storage room full of clothes, housewares, and junk that needs to be purged.
As previously mentioned, the my Nesting Instinct is in full swing.

Nesting Instinct --according to pregnancy weekly

Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world.

Fifth month? No one told me that! I was supposed to take care of all of this in the 5th month, and somehow I am nearing the 9th month with pack rat still hanging around!

I ask you now bloggers, what to do.

Shall I save it for a garage sale in the summer? Donate it all to the thrift store?
Toss it out? or simply stand paralyzed at the thought of it all and close the door to it. Do I need to tackle this kind of project so late in the game?

please advise

strange

all my organ systems are complete and being finalized...

I just noticed that is what the little baby ticker at the top of the blog says. What exactly am I growing inside? A robot baby?

so long ol' trusty.

After 7+years of living in a "bag of Skittles" as Dan would say, we have made a few changes in the house.
After many spills, spit ups, farts, and what have you on the old , colorful couch, we shipped her off to the second hand store. Kind of sad for me, exciting for Dan.

Thumbs up to Danno and his willingness to spend some time appeasing my nesting instincts. He has a list a mile long of "honey -dos" before the baby arrives. Including the most dreaded...crib assembly.

Here are a few photos of the new neutral color scheme. Now, rather than a bag of Skittles, I would say we live in a coffee cup. Mmmm...coffee with cream.

that is all.

brain bender...sort of.

So I was driving past a local Costco the other day and saw lines of cars, some 6 long at their gas pump.

Odd, I thought. Does Costco has super excellent gasoline? Is there some oil shortage I didn't hear about on the news? Why are all these people wasting, I mean, waiting in line for gas?

Considering I could see 2 gas stations from where I was located I wondered why folks would prefer to:

1. waste time (and probably gas, it was a cold day) in a long line at Costco.
2. not just go to the station across the street where they would be first in line.
3. drive to Costco from who knows where, just for gas. It's not like Costco is on every corner. You know some of these folks drove a considerable distance to wait in this ridiculous line.

It's all about the washingtons & lincolns. At these gas prices, the jacksons and the benjamins too! Costco must have el-cheapo gas. But after doing the math, does it really save that much $$ over the Quik-E-Mart across the street or conveniently placed Fill-R-Up on the way to your destination?

Maybe that was you in line for gas that day, I judge not.
I am severely about convenience these days, prolly to a fault. If I need Milk and it costs me 4 bucks a gallon but is on my way home from somewhere I will grab it and go rather than drive to some obscure place to get it for $3.19.

blogger nation, what do you think?

Grace in an unexpected place.

Many Friday nights following what seemed to be a long week I drift off to sleep with grand visions of the perfect Saturday morning. It might go something like this:

I roll over, wake up slightly to notice my clock says 6:30. I realize it's Saturday and doze back to sleep. I awake again as I hear the kids playing nicely at 8:00am and think to myself, "oh, what precious loving angels." As my husband is right there keeping the bed warm on the cold morning, I enjoy the fact that he is home on a Saturday as those days will soon come to an end when Spring arrives. With everyone awake, we congregate in the kitchen to enjoy artificially flavored blueberry pancakes and anticipate the day ahead. No fighting, no whining, just glee.

The above did not occur today.

Instead of describing every last detail about how this particular Saturday stunk, I will share the one redeeming quality for this Saturday morning filled with fighting , whining, and non-glee.

All 3 of them were playing with Joy's doll house, ironically called the Loving Family Doll House.

Snarling and gnashing of teeth ensued. I stomped into the room. Well, I waddled as fast as I could and sighed heavily as to let it be known that heads were going to roll.
Joy had thrown the picnic table at Dewey's head "for no reason!" Off to my bed she went to sit, cry and hopefully prepare her apology. She screamed for her blankets , Dewey cried in pain, and Chase felt altogether satisfied that he had no part in the debacle. As she continued to cry, I saw Dewey do the most unexpected thing, and this is what gives me hope for my children, heck, for humanity.
He went to Joy's room, found her blankets (dee-tees), opened the door just enough to slide them through the crack and hand them to her.
Let me tell you, I was shocked. I stood there in my robe with my mouth wide open.
My children actually care for one another? My children can actually see past themselves once in awhile.
God's great grace and the Holy Spirit works in little hearts!
Now, just how do I apply this to my own life when someone throws a picnic table at me...