bittersweet symphony

Friday five -Brady Edward edition

Five things about this second born son of ours: Brady Edward at 6:

1. Has lost 2 bottom teeth. Has 2 top wiggly ones holding on for dear life.

2. He is a complete joy to our family. He is sweet, sensitive, smart, funny and a little bit ornery. And my baby with 2 different eye colors. When we talk about future things & I get a little sad ( I don't want them to grow up) Brady is the first to notice, are you going to cry mama? Then he will proceed to make his transformer noise because he know it's my favorite and will make me laugh.

3. He is in 1st grade and still lives for the weekends. He will do homework most days on his own, but sometimes it just wears him out. He also started piano lessons this year. And is turning into an avid reader. His favorite books right now: Don't let the Pigeon Drive the bus and the Stink series. I will usually find lots of books under his pillow at bedtime along with guys or legos.  He claims it's very comfortable to still sleep with all of things under his pillow.  And he hasn't met a stuffed animal he can't live without. At any given time you could find about 20 of them in his bed.

4. Daddy is his hero and Riley is his best friend. I hope these things never change.

5. Could live on chicken, ranch dip, brownies & apple juice for the rest of his life. He is the pickiest eater in our house. He thinks oranges are disgusting. Hopefully this will change.

We are so thankful for Brady Edward and the energy he brings to our family. We love you Brady!

Thankful Thursday

Taking a moment to be thankful for that handsome hubby of mine. He spent the last 2 days off due to the polar vortex 2014. He has now used 6 snow days. They will be making up at least one day. When he knew he was going to be off, he headed out to lowe's for some supplies to make some repairs around the house.
1. Changing out 2 overhead lights in the kitchen. One hasn't worked for a couple years, one hums when you flip the switch. Now we have bright task lighting to wash dishes and cook by! Amazing what a little light will do in your life.
2. Repairing the drywall in our bedroom. 2 holes were cut in the wall a last winter to fix a leak. A leak that was never found.
3. Putting the pedestal back on the bathroom sink by extending the plumbing and moving the sink. It never fit since he replaced the flooring (3yrs ago on another snow day- he also replaced the toilet the same day. In a 1 bathroom house that was fun) It was kinda falling off the wall.
4. Repairing the Tupperware cupboard and the drawer above it. Really I don't break things on purpose. They just seem to break while I am using them.
5. He even upgraded our fire safe box to a safe. Now we have a place for important papers, coins, gift cards, my dad's navy photos. He asked if I wanted to put any scrapbooks in the safe, for safe keeping. Uh, we need a safe room to contain them all. It was a sweet thought.
6. Because of the above repairs, I was able to cross of a few things from my list: move silverware drawer & junk drawer and organize Tupperware.
7. I am so thankful that Eddie is handy and willing to do things around our house. Especially on his bonus days off. He is a great example to our boys.
8. I know he was happy to go back to work today...to rest!

Things from August 2013

Dear August,

Where did you go? Seems like you just arrived before September came around the corner.  Well see you next year, hope you can stay longer :)

August marked a new schedule in our house. The start of  marching band season. The boys days with Daddy came to end, but not before they went golfing! It was a par three course and Daddy rented a cart. Riley took golf lessons this summer and Brady got his own clubs. Eddie had been waiting for this day since he bought Riley his first clubs on this 5th or 6th birthday.

The boys got to some spend full days with Grammy and Papa. They got to check on the dam progress in Cuyahoga Falls a couple times. They got to visit the Akron Zoo to see the new Grizzly bears, Cleveland Zoo to see the elephants, ride camels and feed parrots. And the Pittsburgh Zoo. I tagged along on the day trip to Pittsburgh. (I have this thing about my children being in the same state with me all the time.) Plus I wanted to do something fun!  We got to see Aunt Becky and her wonderful garden and to what's new in her homesteading world.  Pittsburgh zoo was awesome with an aquarium, river otters (my favorite) , giraffes, elephants, rhinos, flamingos, a polar bear, deers to name a few animals. It had a wondeful playground in the middle with cargo nets with slides.  The boys could have played on that all day. so glad to ride the elevator with Becky, as we sent the boys with Grammy & Papa down the crazy vertigo inducing escalator.

Warrior Dash 2013! I participated in this 3.5 miles of obstable courses with my oldest friend, Leslie. No, she is younger than me. Oldest in the sense, I met her on the first day of Kindergarten and we have been friends ever since. Life has taken us in different directions. It could be years, months or weeks since I have talked to her last. But we always pick right back up like no time has passed. And by chance I ran into her in the Target( the best Target in Summit County) and she talked me into running this race with her and Kelly. Fast forward 8 months ! I literally forgot i had registered. But thankfully had run a little bit prior to this day with my friend Cassie. (everyone needs a Cassie in their life). Race day: nervous, I can't believe we are doing this. Just the 2 of us, Leslie and I survived! We didn't die. (that was one of our goals...not to die).  Over and under fences and walls. Thru mud puddles, trenches, under barbed wire, cargo nets galore, water obstacles, swimming and jumping over fire. And the last mud pit (this is how the dinosaurs died!). We did it! What an awesome feeling.  Accomplishment. I can't believe we just did that! So grateful I have the ability to do such things. I had one awesome bruise and some scraps. And a heck of a lot of sore muscles.  Who wants to do the dash with me next year?!

We attended the 50th wedding anniversary of two very dear people. Ted & Laura. What a fun celebration. Our kids know them as Nonnie and Paw. They are kind of amazing people. They love their family and friends with a kind warmth. And you can tell Laura is still crazy about Ted and vice versa. It was a fun picnic and good to see friends from high school, hang out with sister in laws and for all the cousins to play together. And Eddie might have taken some ridiculous pictures on Nancy's new camera.

August started the crazy new soccer practice schedule. Brady Mon & Wednesday from 5:30 until 6:45. Riley- Tues & Thurs 6:00 to 7:45. and games on Saturdays and SUNDAYs. What the what? Sundays should be a day of rest - church, family & naps.  The boys enjoy soccer. And they have some really great coaches. Brady's coach: Coach Robertson - intense, played soccer all of his life and has assistant coaches and about 100 cones at each practice running various drills. He sends us field diagrams, terms and side line etiquette. Riley's coach: coach Boorman. He seems to be coaching 85 teams. He is a little rough around the edges, but he gets the boys to play hard and you can see their skills improve by each game. And we get to hang out with friends as Riley, Connor & Ben all play on the same team.

Friends: So thankful for the Thirsty Thursdays group of girls. They are a good bunch. I am blessed to have wonderful friends. And to see other friendships grow over the past year. You are never too old to make new friends.  We got to celebrate Marie's birthday (The Office) and Nancy's 40 (wine &canvas event at Mandy's)  and a late night on Darby's patio after yoga.  Got to see most of the scrappy girls twice this month. Once at Missy's, watching SYTYCD and eating pasta. And then at Archiver's for an actual crop where I might have actually scrapbooked a page or two.  My sister dear Missy is so good at "gathering" friends, I love that about her. And she also has the best baby sitters. We have shared a sitter so we could go to Sarah's to celebrate a sweet friend, Shanna's birthday. Eddie had a band party, so I got to tag along with Ben & Missy. It was a fun night once we got a table outside watching the sunset with some yummy food and getting to know Uncle Kevin. (this was also the night Baby Jacob got stung by a bee - not a first you want to celebrate) but a quick thinking babysitter and Ben made a trip home to check on him, he was just fine.

Dine Time: We joined the small group dine time at church.  Just a monthly gathering to share a meal and get to know church family. in our group: craig & shanna, Mike & Lorrie, Bea, Shirley and us.  We hosted on the last free August Friday nights. Simple dinner of fajitas, mango salsa & guacamole. Bea kept calling it granola! She loved it and never tried avocados before. We played pitched car and learned a new card game Trash.

Maroon 5:  The 2nd time to see the band this year. This concert was at Blossom and on a Monday night. For some it was the first day of school! whoopsie! Me, Mandy & Cassie. We missed Heather.  Adam and the band put on a great show and Kelly clarkson opened. Seriously it was kind of a mess getting out of the parking lot and Blossom should put a Taco Bell in the parking lot  - it would make leaving so much better. This is where Mandy earned her nickname "snickers". Which fast forward about 12 weeks and we learn the real reason.  She is good at keeping secrets!

School: first grade for Brady - Mrs. Hulten & 3rd grade for riley - Mrs. Hansel. We made it to both open houses between soccer practices.  Eddie started a new marching band season. And this one would turn out to be the longest one of his career so far. Hello playoffs! The undefeated Highland Hornets. They would go on to play the Friday after Thanksgiving and lose the title to Glenville.

First attempt at freezer meals - Missy and I made a bunch of freezer meals to get us through the hectic start of school. We each came away with like 7 meals. Not bad for a couple hours of work.  

So much packed into 31 days of August  2013!  

{this posted was originally dated 9/05/2013}

Ten on Tuesday 2012

1.  So blogging. What is good for? Besides a $7.95 debit to my bank account every month.  Figure I better start using this tool to keep track of life.

2. To record little moments, like Brady last week. He wanted to be rocked before bed. While Daddy and Riley played on the floor trying to construct all Star Wars Lego ships that we have directions for. As I tried to gather him up on my lap, tears began to sting my eyes. How did this kid get so big? Where is my sweet chubby baby with unruly hair? I started to hum the lullaby that we spent many nights trying to lull him back to sleep when he was that sweet chubby baby.  Remember he didn't sleep through the night for the first year of his life?  I kept rocking, aware of all the blessings in my life where right here in the play room. I must have stopped humming, as Brady said: Keep singing mama, I like that song. And then my heart exploded.

3. Legos. They are everywhere. In an effort to try to organize them, we are going to try to build all the ships that we have directions for. And not destroy them. Leave them intact until all the ships are built. Then we can store the extras pieces. We can store each ship with their directions in a separate bag. It might be an insane dream of mine to actually organize legos. Because I can't stand when the little guys are missing heads and hands!  At least we are enjoying the process and spending time building ships and guys! Riley says: Mama, I love legos as much as you love coupons.  You can't argue with that logic.  Riley is going to be a builder when he grows up.

4. August is almost as bad as May is in the Marquette household. This August besides marching band we have added 3-4 nights a week of soccer. Back to school for all boys. Eddie- band director to 500+  kids, not to mention the largest marching band in the history of Highland Local Schools. Riley - 2nd grade, Brady - kindergarten - full day (wahhhhh)  Soccer games on Saturdays. Football games on Friday nights. And soon we will add WNA to the mix. Piano lessons are on hold until October. And trying to squeeze out every last drop of summer in the free moments we have.

5. My to do lists are crazy.  I need to actually write them all down so I can get them out of my head. I think I am giving myself ADD.

6. Time to break out the crockpot - see number 4. We can't live on peanut butter, grapes  and go gurts for much longer.  Any crockpot recipes you want to share?

7.  Public Service Announcement: Never purchase an appliance from Best Buy. We are on our 3rd replacement order for a new refrigerator.  They brought a new replacement yesterday? Damaged in the same place. So now I have to calmly make a call to customer service and order yet another one or put in a service call.  Eddie says: Be nice, Miller. Oh I will be nice. After they give me a discount for keeping their defective product.

8. Fall is right around the corner.  Another season. A new beginning. I don't know what I am more excited for - crisp air, cinnamon candles,  apple crisp, a new yarn wreath, pretty leaves, new school supplies, hikes, pumpkin muffins, Parenthood, Grey's, Private Practice, sweaters, new boots, cleaning and organizing the busyness of summer...what is your favorite thing about fall?

9. So You Think You Can Dance. Catching up on episodes on DVR.  Did you see the one with all of Mia Michaels choregraphed numbers in one show? favorite.show.ever.

10. Savings at Giant Eagle today: Spent $3.98 saved $53.24. Got 12 free Crest Toothpaste, hot dogs, granola bars, reynolds wrap and cheese sticks. Riley is right, I do love coupons.  And I love sharing good deals and tips. Just ask my sister &  sister in laws ! They are good students :) And Cassie and Mandy, you too will be good students - it just takes time and deep breathing! Thinking about rolling out a series of "How to use coupon" classes...

10 on tuesday

1. Today is National Pancake Day...pancakes and bacon for dinner.

2. Don't really have a meal plan for this week. Wednesday is dinner at church, Thursday: meatballs and spag, Friday: homemade pizza; Saturday: roasted chicken. And we will be doing some baking on Saturday- looking forward to a Saturday at home.

3. Cleaning and trying to organize the house ! this is a never ending process, but it seems winter we turned into hoarders.  First to go - stockpile items. Donating tonight to our church pantry: 55 toothbrushes, 25 toothpaste, 2 shampoos, 2 giant bottles of hair gel, 2 mens body wash, 4 dish soap, 2 shaving creams and 2 deodorants. This doesn't include the random bags of groceries I have been giving away. Just this morning my mother in law got bacon, cinnamon bread and toilet paper.

4. Parenthood season finale tonight...I can't take it. The story lines are breaking my heart...don't even get me started on the Glee winter finale.

5. Thank goodness for Jersey Shore, it balances out the heartbreak from #4. Yes I watch Jersey Shore. I love those crazy kids.

6.

My boys: Brady and Riley on 11-27-11 at the cabin in Hocking Hills. How is it I don't have any current pictures from 2012 on my computer? means ANY pictures I have taken in 2012 are still on my memory card in my camera, in my bag. Must start taking more pictures!  They really are the best buddies. They love playing legos, star wars, transformers together.  Don't get me wrong, they do fight, tattle and try to tackle each other. But for the most part they are happy and get along so well. I hope they will always be close.

7. Miranda Lambert - got to see her a couple weeks ago in Youngstown with my sister. No, Blake didn't show up, but it was a rocking good concert. Reminds me that yes I do have country roots. My dad was born in the hollers of Tennessee in a small town of Elizabethen. I grew up listening to Slim Whitman, Merle Haggar, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn to name a few.  I still hear the southern drawl in my dad's voice.  Note to self: Call your Daddy.

8. We spent the past weekend in Pittsburgh with 3 other couples. It was so much to hang out with just the adults. I kinda forgot who I am without kids around. I LOVE BEING MAMA. But do you ever have those moments of panic, like, wait who I am? Okay this isn't coming out right, but I hope you understand what I am trying to say. No I do not have amnesia. But as mamas and wives, we tend to put ourselves last. And when you have a minute to just focus and just be you or part of a couple it is an adjustment, you can order from the adult menu.  It was 27 hours full of laughs, cab hailing,  drinks, room cocktails, food, dessert, food, gambling, walking, driving, shopping, dancing, hockey watching, and facebook status updates.   And it was fun to bond with these couples who we are going on vacation with in June. Good people = good times.

9. There is a reason I don't watch the news. My heart aches for the community of Chardon.

10. Okay barely made it to 10, but off to flip my bacon and get ready for a prayer meeting at 7:00.

Happy Tuesday y'all!

may 2011

May in the Marquette household ( and I think I can speak for the other Marquette households) is known as: crazy insane busy are you kidding me another concert will it ever end birthdays oh and 3 parades month. And the other marquette households might add more words such as: tests, state regulations, anniversary, retreats, homework, report cards, dress rehearsal, recital, costumes...

This May will be a little different.  It gets to be a month of recovery for me. My surgery is over and it went well and my sweet doctor called me with the test results today.  Everything is normal, average, fine. The cancer is gone and didn't spread.  So this May I find myself at rest.  (Let me say it's kinda of hard staying busy at doing nothing). But thanks to my amazing husband and amazing in laws I get to rest and heal and take my time.

I have a few lists and beautification household projects (thank you missy). But right now I am enjoying the quiet. Sitting with the windows open tonight at the dinner table.  Eating leftovers of wonderful meals brought by wonderful people.   Brady is already asleep (he fell asleep at 6:00 after one too many time outs). Eddie and Riley are outside enjoying the weather. Eddie was teaching Riley the fine art of catch. Eddie is such a patient father.  And then off to ride bikes. Oh and yesterday? Riley thought it was time to take off the training wheels and learn to ride a 2 wheeler. After about 30 minutes- eddie called me from the parking lot where they were riding (I am thinking okay how many band aids do I need?) instead I heard: Do you want to see your son riding a bike with no training wheels? So at 6.5 years old Riley is riding a 2 wheeler. And he rides FAST.

FAST that is where the time is going. This month Brady will also be 4. And he just knows Santa will come on his birthday and bring him a monster truck. He is still figuring out how the holidays work.  Other cousins will be 10, 5 and 7. How did this happen? I am hoping to take this may to catch up on some little details so I don't forget.

I want to breathe in the fresh spring air and breathe out the worry, the stress, the aniexty.  I need to talk to Sue again about that breath prayer. If you were in my sunday school class - right now your are remembering craig's funny response - well I have cold...

So hopefully I will be here more with pictures and memories and the goings on (and of course coupon deals! ) I have thought about taking this blog down - the pressure to post sometimes is too much. But then I figured - it's my journal of our lives right now. So I am going to leave it. But what I am stepping back from: Rachel Marquette Photography. I am hanging up the camera for a year or maybe more. I just want to focus on my family. I am just not feeling in my heart right now. And there are so many talented photogs out there - if you need one check out missy or marie - coming soon to a zip code near you...:)

I hope you got to enjoy the sunshine today!

 

obsessed?well mabye...

happy mail day....

 

What you are seeing - other benefits of couponing! Free samples, coupons, free coupons, rebate checks, cheap newspaper subscriptions. What you aren't seeing: the 3 little bags of cheez-its received as free samples  - the boys and I had a taste testing of our own - 3 new flavors- all yummy.   Yes, I have turned into that krazy coupon lady...I bought coupons on Ebay. I know, I know.  The coupons will enable me to get FREE vitamin water, free tuna, walmart or marcs' will pay me to take GAIN detergent out of their stores.  In my defense, we hardly ever see Vitamin water coupons in this region.  And I have learned a new trick  - when you see a great "stock up" price - ask the store for a rain check if you don't have enough coupons to get a good supply.  Example: Mrs. T's Pierogies on sale @ Giant Eagle 3/$5.00 last week. Making them 1.67 each, not a bad price anyways. But use a clipping service or ebay to buy 10 - $1.00 off 1 Mrs. T's (average price with shipping $1.49). Go back to Giant Eagle with rain check and coupons in hand - get 10 boxes for .67 each.  Other things in my mail pile - free coupon for land of lakes olive oil butter (had to buy one and send in the proof of purchase and they sent me a coupon for a free one). Rebate check for $6.00 for Pediasure. Bought it when it was on sale at Giant Eagle and had a coupon - paid $2.99 for it. Brady & Riley thought it was chocolate milk.  Sent in my rebate - got $6.99 back - turned out to be a $4.00 money maker.  Funny story: This week at Giant Eagle, when I handed the cashier all my coupons, she said - "oh you are one ofthose obsessed people". I said obsessed with saving money! So by the end of my transaction - spent $22 - saved $55.00 she was asking me how I saved so much! what is the secret? where do I get my coupons? I told her about a couple websites. And she was like - I need to start doing this! Well of course - who doesn't like to save money!

okay so I might be a little obsessed lately. Just feeling the need to stock up the household for my surgery in may. I don't know how I am going to feel or how long my recovery will be. So by stocking up on stuff now, I won't feel the need to go to the store, eddie won't have to go and we can still have a  stocked pantry & freezer to make simple meals to last 4-6 weeks.

Here are some quick snapshots of the boys tonight - they crack me up. So silly! They saw me taking the above picture of the mail and wanted their pictures taken.

 this is the tight sqeeze... Riley knows mama wants good smiles - so while wearing his best cheese face, he makes sure little brother has a good smile too.

 these are the fake "nice" smiles

and this is them just being them. sweet, funny boys who truly enjoy playing together (when they are not trying to sit on each other or rolling around on the ground).

other obsessions of late:

riley - everything star wars. Playing and building star wars legos whenever he gets the chance. Drawing elaborate star wars battle scenes. playing captian rex and clone trooper with brady, or having a jedi battles with air light-sabers.

brady - trying to eat the most chicken tenders at lunchtime - just ask grammie.

eddie- counting his calories. He put a calorie counter on his droid phone and enters in all his meals counting up to 1600 calories a day.  He has last 9 pounds since sunday. How is that possible? Guys just think about losing weight or watching what they eat and bam - the weight is gone. I am so proud of him. maybe if I had a droid phone...I could count calories and lose 9 pounds in a week...hint...hint...wait I don't think eddie reads this. Oh well - flip phone it is until the next upgrade.

what i really need to be obsessed about- finishing our taxes! spring cleaning! and decluttering! selling weights sets, weight bench and conferdate train set on craigslist!  

but for now? I think I will go obsess over some thursday night tv...
 
 

 

 

10 on tuesday

1. I love that the boys are still singing Christmas songs and it's almost March. favorites: jingle bells, we wish you a merry christmas, santa claus is coming to town. And Brady asks for Trans-Siberian Orchestra whenever the ipod touch is on. he loves christmas eve (sarajevo). He'll say: mama play the doot-dot-dot-dot-dot song.

2. I love that on Valentine's Day my boys surprised me with a box of chocolate covered strawberries, 4 heart shaped balloons, and a note: will you be our valentine? love the marquette boys.  We made a spaghetti & meatballs for dinner. And they found valentines candy & beef stick treats (what boy doesn't love processed meat snacks?!) at their places at the kitchen table. I am a very lucky girl to have 3 boys loves me so much. 

 

3. I am grateful for our wonderful neighbors Greg & Linda. not only are they the nicest people in town, they are always happy to see the boys, even brought them christmas presents. But Greg snow blows our driveway whenever we have a big snow.  A couple weekends ago - when it was kinda warm - eddie and riley spent 3 hours chipping ice off of the driveway. Riley then started helping mr. greg chip the ice off of his. I think Riley just wanted to climb the giant snow pile in their front yard-  but he really did some damage on the ice and is learning we should help other people because it's the right thing to do.  

4. Last night, I rocked Brady to sleep. This hasn't happened since he was 1. He was sad all weekend, melt downs about everything. We suspected he just didn't feel good. He was having a melt down after dinner, I scooped him up (despite his protests) and headed for our rocker. I turned off the light, and just started rocking. He immediately snuggled up and started those long, slow blinks. As we rocked, I could hear eddie & riley flying around their new paper airplanes - hoping to break the 23 second record flight for a paper airplane - and my heart just starting bursting with love for these boys. I looked down at brady's sweet long lashes as his eyes closed, taking in the chubby still toddler cheeks and button nose and sweet little mouth.  These moments are so precious and amaze me that I get to be their mama.

5. I know why I am so sentimental this week - sorry for the all the gooey love stuff. But I got to hold 2 newborns last week.  Emma Renee - just hours old. Proud parents: Big D & Tara. And baby Jackson - proud parents Marie & BJ.  Such sweet little reminders that God loves us. His precious pure gift of life. After I handed these babies back to their mamas, my arms literally ached to hold my babies. I never want to forget how it felt to hold their little bodies in my arms. From their tiny little newborn weights, to 6 month chubby weights, to toddler weights all wiggly. I want to remember how it feels to have the weight of their little body on my lap. To feel their little heads snuggle under my chin or their heads lay on my shoulder. Or even better when they hug back - little arms wrapped around my neck.

6. Does anybody think Lady Gaga's new song sounds like early Madonna? 

7. Ahh tuesday night tv: glee & Parenthood

8. My quick trip to CVS today: Spent $6.40, saved $26.62, got $5.75 back in extra bucks.

 
Purex $1.99 each - had 2 $1.00 off coupons. They didn't have the purex 3-1 sheets. 1/2 gallon milk $1.89 (i would have gotten a whole gallon - but this was a quick trip and I didn't have a cart) Starbucks $1.99 used $1.00 off cvs coupon, cadbury egg. 75 cents - got back .75 in extra bucks. colgate $2.99 - had 2 $1.00 off coupons -got back $ 2.00 each in extra bucks. Filippo olive oil - $3.99 - had $1.00 coupon and used $6.00 in extra bucks from a previous CVS shopping trip.   
 

9. Don't cook dinner thursday night - go here http://thejebbers.com/wp/2011/02/food-to-fuel-the-soul/  help support a local family and get your big mac fix. I know the boys and I will be going. Eddie works late on thursdays, and it might be my birthday and I know I won't feel like cooking.

10. Whenever I need some mindless celeb news I go to www.gofugyourself.com. I love Gwen Stefani - but she might need a new look- the harsh blonde hair, dark eye make up and blood red lips is so 1998. 

 

10 on tuesday

1. Out with the old, in with the new. Happy New Year!  I am looking forward to 2011 and all the possibilities. Hoping this 10 on tuesday will explain my lack of blogging...

2. The last 3 months of 2010 were full of  stressful, wonderful, difficult, take your breath away moments.  The biggest moment :To make a long story short - I was diagnosed with stage 1a1 cervical cancer- but it's gone. I didn't know I had it, until I had outpatient surgery to remove all those bad cells in November.  So the next plan of action - a partial hysterectomy in 6 months.  This brought on so many bittersweet emotions. We were done with having kids, but when that option is taken away from you, it makes your heart heavy. And suddenly everyone around you is having babies.  My wonderful doctor called me the day before thanksgiving break to give me the results of my surgery and diagnosis and a brief next step. I went into the thanksgiving holiday with a full heavy heart.

3. The next biggest moment: While away at our traditional thanksgiving getaway in Hocking Hills with wonderful friends, our dear friend JD called home to talk to his parents, only to receive the devastating news that his father suddenly passed away hours before from a major heart attack.  JD is the only child of Big Joe and Helen. And Big Joe was simply a gentle, kind man that took care of his family. He will be missed.

4.  I spent the first week of December in a blur. Just wanting to hibernate with my little family. But it didn't last long, thank goodness, with the holidays right around the corner, it forced me to move and cross things off my list. But I wasn't fast enough - I was out shopping on Christmas Eve morning at 6:30 am to finish up.  My christmas card barely made it out in the mail.

5. We no longer have carpet in our kitchen! In it's place - 4 inch all wood planks of birch or maple. I love wood floors. Now I can't wait to tear the carpet out of the whole house- but don't tell Eddie.  No more paneling, nice walls covered in drywall and paint. New windows and beautiful white trim with shelves on top.  Eddie amazes me with his home improvement skills. 

6. We did the Polar Express this year with the D'Amicos. When we pulled in the train station - Riley's response when he figured out where we were - is this for real? I hope he still believes a couple more years. I don't want him to lose the magic and wonder. Brady was happy to see Santa.

7.  I was surprised with my very own Kitchen Aid Stand mixer on Christmas morning. (Thanks to call from my mother in law to my husband months before - you need to buy your wife this - and she used a coupon and got a rebate!! yeah!!)  Now it's official, I am really a grown up.

8. So glad that my sister missy started me on this wellness journey. Working out is good. And even better we can do it together. Everything is better with friends. I love you girl!!

9. My word for 2011: Breathe.   Breathe in life, friends, family. Breathe out: negativity, bad thoughts and stress. I need to remember to breathe. Sit up straight, inhale and exhale. Notice what it brings to my body, listen to my body.  I might have to make a post it note at work - so I remember to breathe - work is one of my biggest stresses right now. You know you are stressed if you upload the same pictures to 2 different photo sites (because they keep sending you coupon codes) and don't realize it until you receive double prints in the mail!! Breathe. Just breathe.

10.  I thought about shutting my blog down, but realized this is the closest record I have of my life right now, details I don't want to forget. I had to get this 1st post out of the way with all that heavy stuff. Sorry for being so blunt. (PSA: Ladies, don't skip your annual gyno appointment. If you notice anything or just don't feel something is right - call your doctor today!)  

Now that I have gotten past this post, I hope you will come back and read more.  Lighter subjects: pictures of the boys, kitchen pictures, Riley stories, Brady is potty trained! coupons deals (recent deal: 7 loaves of Roman meal bread for $1.00 at giant eagle) and other stuff... 

 

progress

eddie has been working on the kitchen project.

before:

 

 and after (so far)

with lots of stuff in between. I will add an album with the progress steps if you care to see.

so far we have done:

replaced black textured counter tops with smooth formica

replaced green 70's sink with stainless steel

removed fake brick - replace with small tile back splash

new dishwasher

new stove

removed oak paneling (3 walls and a ceiling of oak)

added LOTS of insulation

drywall

2 new windows that open! yeah for fresh air!

replaced wagon wheel light fixture & 70's orange chandelier

Left to do:

mud, tape drywall

SAND

trim out windows

paint

pick and install flooring

new refrigerator

paint kitchen table and chairs

window treatments: drapes or blinds

I am so happy this is moving along. Even though we are living in chaos and dust. I am also so thankful for a handy man husband. He is the demo, labor, contractor and bank on this job. I get to part of the design and general laborer. I am trying to convince him I can be the painter too. I think he is still getting over my first painting job.

my 2 new favorite pictures:

 

brady & riley in grammy's back yard.

I have been learning to crotchet. Which would mean no blogging at night -instead I am curled up on the couch watching dvr shows. But apparently you have to COUNT when it comes to each row. So I had to rip apart 1/2 of the prayer shaw I have been making for our church ministry. It's my first project so I guess there is a learning curve.

I feel like OCTOBER has flown by, my favorite month of the year. i finally stopped to get a picture of my favorite tree - it just happens to be in the cemetery down the street. But I was a little late -as half the leaves already fell off. Trust me when I say it was brilliant when it was full. 

 
 

 

in other progress:

thanks to my SIL missy, I am making some personal fitness goals. Working out twice a week. Taking time for myself to get healthier. healthy = happy. Now to work on eating good foods 80% of the time...