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.

Praise HIM in this Storm?

Spaced out, absent minded, brain farts, whatever you want to call it---that's me this week.

My mind has been elsewhere. Thinking about matters of great gravity has caused me to do some really silly things. Today alone, I have drove past the driveway where I needed to drop off the car-pool kids, left a diaper on my child all afternoon---(she's potty trained), and worst of all, this morning I sent my older son to school sportin' his younger brother's jeans---(they are not at all the same size) only to discover the discrepency when Chase was stepped off the bus. Oh, and I've been wearing my scarf all day, indoors. Why so distracted?

Segue to seriousness...

Our church and school community is hurting this week following the death of a little boy. His own mother spoke at his funeral and I have not been able to think about much else. Where do we find the strength when something like this happens in our lives? How is a devastated mother able to give God the glory when her son is gone? I am scared at the thought of my weakness, that my faith would not be as strong, my attitude bitter, and my will to go on extinguished. When I think about Theresa I truly want what she has--a real faith, a genuine dependence on God, and the ability to praise Him during the biggest storm one could face. How do I get from where I am to where I want to be, where God wants all of us to be? Does it have to take a tragedy or a life changing moment? Can it be just a daily journey? Jamie and I were chatting about this very thing today. I want to be a Christian that can truly say God is Good, All The Time.

do you hear what I hear?

I think I discovered how to add audio to my blog. It may take a moment to load---forever to load if you don't have a high speed connection, sorry.

Enjoy today's tune--Boston "More Than a Feeling" circa 1976

More hits to come...

Do Not Try This At Home.

Our little one learned about electricity this week---the hard way What's worse is that it happened right under my nose. Dewey has a great imagination and he was racing around little hot wheel cars on the kitchen floor. What was plugged into this outlet was the plug and cord from a baby monitor.

You do the math, or in this case the science. He was playing with a metal car and the cord and somehow thought it would be a good idea to touch the car to the prong? thingys that go into the outlet.

The result was blood curdling scream, a huge spark, and drywall dust all over the place.
I think he may have got a little shock, because he told me later that he "couldn't move when he was playing with that thing"



A lesson learned you might ask?
Not so much. Ten minutes later Dan caught him playing with the plug from the vacuum and a nearby outlet!

There is a T-shirt for sale with this printed on it.
It is probably how non-bloggers feel about us Blog-fiends.

if you can't read it, it says :

Inane, Rambling, Rarely Updated
THE BLOG
She wanted to stop reading it-But she had nothing better to do!

Produced by AVERAGE PEOPLE who SEEM to think THEIR LIVES are INTERESTING
filmed in THRILLING HTML-O-Scope with EXCITING new FONTS!!

What?? not all people think Blogging and Bloggers are witty, fascinating, and inspirational?
A waste of time??

I'm being sarcastic. sort of.

My celebrity look-alikes????

I found this website that scans your face and comes up with a personalized list of famous persons that look like you, in this case folks that look like me.

Ricki Lake? come ON!

A Mini-Van Moment of Truth

Yesterday was a typical Wednesday morning and the kids and I were driving to school. I usually have the radio on and switch back and forth from WJQ to the Fox. Amidst the Christian tunes of WJQ, my children had a rather heated discussion:

Drew "I just heard Jesus in that song!"

Joy "No, Dewey!

Drew "Don't say it, Girl!

Joy "It's MY Jesus!"

Drew "No, it's MY Jesus!"

Chase "Mom, I don't want them to say that."

Chase "Jesus is for Everyone."

Leave it to my children to actually fight over who Jesus belongs to. Leave it to a child to understand the simple truth--Jesus is for Everyone.

proud cousins

Last night Stacey was feeling the need to get out of the house. She loaded up her mini-van and came over to our place with the girls. I think it was Stacey's first outing with the girls on her own. My kids were extremely excited. Before the triplets' birth, before bedrest, long before, Stacey would often just come over and "hang" as she calls it, at my house. We figured that this was only the third time since June she has come over. Wow, how things have changed. We so enjoyed having the girls over and look forward to much "hanging" in the future.

1. Dewey talking to Olivia
2. Chase holding Sophie (who has a really bad cold)
3. Joy comforting Olivia as Drew poses for the picture.
4. Joy, the little mother and her baby.

self awareness.

I am one of those weird-0s that has to do all of my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. I also make a meal plan for what I am going to bring to each party and get-together and buy all the groceries at once. While I'm talking about unusual habits, I also have to balance my checkbook everyday. Sounds practical (crazy), right?

What seems odd to me is that I can be extremely organized and structured about certain things, but utterly disorganized and undisciplined about others. I observe that people are wired either one way or the other--clean or a slob, good with money or bad with money, healthy or unhealthy. I find myself to be a human oxymoron, so many contradicting behaviors. I fiend clean countertops but don't look inside my cupboards--ewwww! when was the last time I washed them out? I balance my checkbook daily, then why is it that I made a overdraft from the wrong account? I require that my son learn his Bible memory verse, but when was the last time I did the same? I'll will buy the cheapest and least comforting toilet paper on the market, but spend $80 bucks on pair of jeans (gasp!)

What's the deal? Does anyone else go to such extremes as I? I would like to hear about.