Tuesday, January 29, 2008

sNOw day

The operative letters are NO, as in no school! While I do enjoy another day with my kids, this means one less day this summer and I LOVE summer. At least I will get that last load of whites done.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Did I say paint a FEW accent walls?

define few...













Red in the family room, orange in the mudroom & our bedroom, purple on the bottom of Nadia's room, galactic green in Aidan's, a subdued green in the play room and a brown strip in the study. We are almost done!

Here is a picture of the snow we recieved today from the view out our playroom window.

The 30th is a Special Day!

Not to take away from these two special people, but it is a celebration day for me as well. The reason to CELEBRATE you ask?

On the 3oth of January, TWO wonderful people share a birthday. I find coincidences intriguing. It is a coincidence that Sara and Monique share a birthday and that they are two of the people I can tell anything to without judgement. It is coincidence that I met both of them in fateful ways. It is coincidence that they both teach me to reflect on who I am to grow to be who I want to be. It is intriguing that both of these women share a special place in my life but I am not entirely sure they have ever really met! I love you both very much.
Let us begin with Monique... We met by strange coincidence. We played on (get ready for this) and intramural football team together in college! I think we only played 1 or 2 games but it was enough that when we met standing outside of Todd Aud before chem 105 the next semester we could strike up a conversation. We sat next to each other listening to Professor Place and by March we decided that we would be roommates the next semester. From there we have walked step in step through sharing (or dare I say enduring) an apartment or two, watching Pullman thunderstorms, making our own Thanksgiving dinner, sharing THAT cougar mug as we roamed from party to party opening weekend at WSU, genetics/embryology (hello TA:)/biochem-biophysics/and countless other classes, then graduating college, getting married, having a child, buying a house, having another child, going BACK to school and deciding to be teachers. Seriously, who would have seen that one coming? I have come to know her family and consider her a hero when it comes to balancing her world. Monique is someone I can call when I need to be cheered up, when I need to hear that I am doing a good job as a mom & wife, when I need to hear 'love you' and 'give the kids a hug' because she knows that is what I need. She leaves the very best phone messages because you can hear her SMILE. Monique, I love you and thank you for being my friend. I wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Ahhhhhh Sara! We also met by strange coincidence. Sara was an RA with Tony at WSU. They hated each other. Really. They argued about everything and both instigated each other. When Sara met me (she has said this) she decided I was ok so she would put up with Tony for our friendship. Now they act like brother and sister. They still argue, but they also respect each other very much. I have so many memories (like her 21st & 30th birthdays!), vegging on the couch, sneaking into that swimming pool with my kids! We always have something to talk about! Sara and I have had some good times and we have been each others rational perspective during the bad times. While we immediately clicked, our friendship did not really take off until we both wound up living in the same town and teaching at the same school. I share lunch with Sara nearly everyday and we have 'communal dinners' often, but not often enough. We have shared some of the most important moments over the last few years and I can not be more appreciative of the support and reflection this has given me. She is a remarkable friend. She can tell if I am upset by just looking at me and rest assured I am very good at putting on a happy face. She is so giving of herself and her time, heck, even her house! How can I thank you for being the friend you are? Have a WONDERFUL burger, I mean BIRTHDAY Sara.

31 = ouch

After a day of painting accent walls and an evening of rollerskating (or trying to) I am now aching, soar, in pain, tense, tight, strained; take your pick. Heck, choose two or three!

I am also proud and thankful. Tony is amazing, at EVERYTHING! He painted like a mad-man. He skates like a roller-derby king (minus the hot pink pants). Both Aidan and Nadia strapped those skates on for the very first time and tried their best. Aidan was nearly the last one off the rink! Skating was to celebrate Sara's golden birthday! She will be 30 on the 30th! Happy Birthday Sara!!! (more about this & her later). It was a fun day but I am paying for it today.

What can you do? Those walls are not painting themselves! Off we go again!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Thank you!

Thank you everyone for the birthday calls, emails, blog postings and for those of you that were able to join us for cake! I am a very, very lucky person. Turning 31 has been awesome (hee hee James). I truly realize how lucky I am to have so many thoughtful and caring people in my life.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Artsy Fartsy


I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Artsy Fartsy.

I have tried several times, for various reasons and excuses to go.

Tony planned an afternoon as a surprise birthday outing for us!!!

It was a lot of fun. Thank you Tony:)



Saturday, January 19, 2008

MIMI?

I have been asked, what's with the Mimi?
It is very simple. About a year and a half ago Aidan gave me a nickname.
You guessed it, MIMI was born.
Nadia picked it up and they quickly traded mommy for Mimi.
It felt like he claimed me, not just that he got stuck with me as his mom.

It is reserved now for snuggles and moments of pure manipulation.

Nadia has promised that all 10 of her kids will call me Mimi, too.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Wow! It's like Christmas!






Today we recieved a package in the mail from Grandpa John and Nana Becky. It was like Christmas all over again. They completely spoiled the kids and us during Christmas, not to mentioned served a terrific dinner and hosted a completely relaxing get-together. This package included such thoughtful gifts for each of us. To top it off, they sent us Tony's Christmas ornaments from when he was a child!


So thank you Grandpa John and Nana Becky for a wonderful January 18th! I only wish you could have seen how excited Aidan was with his cubes and how much Nadia enjoyed dressing up her babies.









Monday, January 14, 2008

weekend pics

In no particular order...

Aidan is studying yoga, or is it pretzel making?
Nadia is stretching. I know it is not that exciting, but she's cute!

our house is getting siding
oh look, they didn't forget the back!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Monday, January 7, 2008

Crusty, burning, pink

You guessed it... Pink Eye.

multiplied by 3. Nadia already had it. It was only a matter of time. Now the rest of us are enjoying blurry vision, itchy eyedrops and oh yeah, it comes with a headache.

Aidan and I are home today making the most of it. Poor Tony had to go to work anyway. shhhh, hope it doesn't spread.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Insulation makes a big difference



Who would have thought? Ok, maybe you engineer-types. You really get a sense of space now!

AWESOME!

That's what she said, again and again.

You too can check out the super-dork. Just visit the site below:)

http://www.kvewtogo.com/news-video/?section=13