We Won!!!!!!!!!

 

Why is she so excited?? I am sure that is what you are wondering . . . (No, Mom, I’m NOT pregnant!!) I have just realized that every single room in our house is a mess! I could not do this alone, so I would like a chance to thank everyone for their efforts too . . .

I would like to thank my hubby and kids for helping me be soooo busy that we “forget” to pick up after ourselves.

Thank you to my laundry, both clean and dirty, without you I would have more time on my hands for things like reading and crafting and boring non cleaning activities. (Please note the sarcasm.)

Thank you to the flu bug that wiped me out about 3 weeks ago. Just when things were looking a little tidier you came along and made things very untidy. (I’m still dealing with that week and half long do-nothing-sickness.)

Toys, toys, and more toys- Thank you for jumping out of your neatly marked boxes and scattering yourselves on the floor. My children tell me they pick you up and put you away all the time but, somehow you get out all by yourselves. Then you cleverly arrange yourselves right where I tread. Ouch!  Thanks!

I would like to thank my dirty dishes. If you were self-clean I would be so distraught because I thoroughly enjoy dipping my hands in hot soapy water and scrubbing you clean. Thanks for hanging out in the sink until I get home from work.

Last but, not least . . . Thank you endless school papers, receipts, mail, and junk mail. Yes, even mail ladies HATE junk mail! I appreciate you evenly distriputing yourself all over the house everyday when I leave for work. It’s as if you have created a little scavenger hunt just for me. This morning when I came home from work (on my lunch break)  to search for my missing Drivers License extension paper I was overjoyed to see that I had at least 3 different piles to search though. Fun! Fun!

This has been quite an easy accomplishment but, I still could not have done it without all of you. Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you.

Now, because Randy encourages it, I will start the sad process of putting you all back away so the “Messiest House Award” can be passed on to another family. (Who knows, it could be YOU! :) So, unless you are Niecy, from Clean House, I will be ignoring anyone else knocking on my gate. And please don’t test my ignoring abilities- They are pretty good!

Goodbyes are tough!

 

It’s happening all over again . . . My sister (Kami, the one on the left. This is our sister picture. Kami, Tay (Me) Tab, and Keela) is leaving to return to the mission field. They were here for about 2 months to have their son Micah. (Fun birth story. You can read her memories about it here and here.) We have loved having them home but, we know this is not where God has for them to stay . . . for now. :) It’s going to be a loooooonngg time till we see each other. I sure will miss them.

Pray for them and my mom as they travel to St. Barths today. Pray for them as they spread the Gospel and reach the lost for Christ. Pray for the people of St. Barths that their hearts will be ready to accept Jesus and turn from their former beliefs. Pray!!!

Candle List Revisited - (the real one!)

 

Sooooo . . . Clearly my tired mind was not thinking right last night at 11pm. I get the whole Bucket List idea but, for some reason my mind thought Resolutions . . .??? Weird . . . So after some thinking on the way home tonight from a Blades game (which they won! Kelly Cup here we come! One game away!!) I made up a real Candle List.

Read through the New Testament.

Sew a quilt (even if it’s for one of Chloe’s babies).

Learn to drive a stick shift.

Learn to play a song on the guitar that I have had for about 8 years.

Help the kids build a huge 3 layer sand castle, complete with a moat.

Join a book club.

Get a manicure.

Learn to ice skate without the jerky arm movements for balance.

Do a video tutorial on my blog.

Run in a race.

Completely change my last name. (I am a KLINCK! But some stuff still comes in Willoughby (such a pretty name!)

Read a how to book on hockey. :)

Learn to walk in heels.

Have my parents over for a REAL dinner.

There! I did it!! A real and official Candle List! 28 is looking great! I can’t wait!!

Candle List

 

I have put lots of thought into my Bucket List. But I am getting a little concerned that I won’t be able to cross them all off. There isn’t something that sticks out that I HAVE GOT TO DO. It’s just a bunch of “I think this would be fun to do’s.” I might be kicking the bucket soon by stressing about it so much. I am going to make my “Candle List” instead. This is the list of things that I would like to finish before I blow out my Birthday candles again. (Cute, huh?) It’s not very long . . . maybe it will be an easy list to stick too! ;)

 

Read the New Testament through. Every New Years resolution is to “ read my Bible through.” And it never happens, not even close! So I am going to start with the New Testament and then move onto the Old Testament when I am done. ( Maybe I will shock myself and finish both. I guess I better start working on my surprised face! :)

Relax. I want to enjoy my time  with my husband and kids more. I get to focused on the next place we need to rush to that lose the precious moments I could be enjoying with them. Randy is always grabbing (sweetly) my arms and looking into my eyes and saying “Relax.” Maybe I should start listening to him when he says that.

Find my collar bones. I want to lose just enough weight to see a hint of my collar bones. I miss them. I don’t want to set a certain weight or dress size to get down to. I just want to feel healthy . . . and see my collar bones.

Hands-free. I want need to spend less time on my phone/computer wasting time. Sometimes I do need to be on there for some reason or other but, not as much as I am. The bubble popping game can wait. ( It’s so addictive! and fun!)

Get a manicure. I want to stop the icky habit of biting my nails. It’s gross! I know! Yuck! For some reason it soothes me when I am running late.  And I run late a lot! Weird! But I want to have pretty nails, so no more biting for me! (This reminds me of the time that Sister Bear bit her nails. I love the Berenstain Bears!)

Love. Most of all, I want to love others more. I know I sound like Gracie Lou Freebush and “world peace” but, I mean it. I want to be more loving towards my husband and kids. Towards my family and friends. To everyone. I want people to know that I love them and care about them. When a visitor comes to church I want to have the courage to walk up to them and thank them for coming. I like when visitors come but, I need to do more then flash a big smile.

Got a candle list? No????!!!! I do! ;)

Fred, a Bday, and a Bucket List

This is why we were late to church today . . .

We have a duck that hangs around our neighborhood. We first met him when he chased us home from the pool. We see him just about everyday. We decided that he needed a name. After much thinking, I we decided on Fred. I think he hangs around looking for Gigi . . . miss that girl! (I wonder if Fred is a girl or a boy?)

 This morning I got a picture mail from Randy that Fred was close to Randy’s car. I thought “ Oh great, I hope he isn’t still hanging around!” Sure enough Chloe opens the gate and then slams it shut. “Fred is right ‘dare!’ (there)” I see him trying to peck through the gate and I can hear him making a hissing sound. (I thought ducks quacked?) I panic a little and call Randy who is no help at work. Finally, I come up with a plan. My “great plan” is to throw bread far enough over the fence that Fred would go after the bread so we could escape. I guess he didn’t see the first few throws, but then I saw a little twinkle in his eye as he got a glimpse of bread. And he went after it . . . BUT my throw wasn’t far enough and Chloe someone was a little scared to go out. I had to get him further away. So, in one quick fluid move I throw the rest of the bread, grab Chloe by the hand, and grab the broom for extra shooing of the duck. I walk backwards for a few steps to make sure we are in the clear then, I yell “RUN!” and the kids and I made a mad dash for the van. As I buckle up I see my neighbor cracking up at us. It would have been nice for him to show some neighborly love and help me out. I hope nobody at church saw the broom in my car and think that it might be my other mode of transportation. ;)

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That little cutie up there is me 28 years ago! (Time sure does fly doesn’t it?) Yes, 28 . . . that means I am only two steps away from the big 3-0. Yikes or Yay? I’m not too sure. 30 is the new 20, right? No matter what it’s coming so I might as well embrace it . . . Right???

Lately lots of conversations have been about people’s Bucket Lists. Even my niece has one. I had one during my junior year of high school but, after reviewing it I think I need to make one that is a little more . . . practical. My sister said it’s ok to add some to the list that I have already done. (If my sister Tab said it’s ok then it is. She’s the boss!) I am going to have to come up with a really good list and I will share it soon. Got a list? Crossed a fun one off your list recently? Tell me about it! I would love to hear about it!

Mother’s Day 2012

 

My Mothers Day was awesome!!! (I hope yours was too!) It started off with sleeping in (on accident . . . oops!) and then a trip to Dunkin Donuts where we ate INSIDE! My kids were shocked that we could go inside. Then it was off to a great service at Church. They always do a special flower giveaway at the end. And of course we did that again this year. I love that tradition. Then we headed to my sister Keela’s house for lunch. My mom had all four of her daughters with her on Mother’s Day. I just now realized I didn’t get a picture with my Mommy on Mother’s Day. :( (Mom, can we do a retake?)

 

I got spoiled with some new presents too! I got a new way better lens for my camera. Logan thought I needed a blue PS3 controller. :) Plus he also gave me his toy from his Wendy’s meal. I am loved!

 

As sweet as those presents were my absolute favorite “presents” were my homemade cards and pictures. Such sweet little drawings. I love that kind of stuff. And the present that touched me the most was during altar call. My husband tugged on my hand and led me to the altar at the front of church. There he prayed with me and thanked God for me being the mother of his children. He also prayed for blessings for me as I go through Motherhood. So sweet! (And sooooo needed!)

I am thankful to be the mother of these two sweet kiddos – Logan and Chloe. They have made my experience in motherhood a very memorable one. No one can prepare you for motherhood. It’s something you can’t describe you just have to experience it for yourself. When you become a mom your whole world changes. You no longer sleep in or go out late. Elmo’s theme song goes through your head all day long. (such an annoying theme song . . . “La-la-la la La-la-la La Elmo’s World.”) Your new friends are their imaginary ones. (By the way, does anyone want to adopt Chloe’s “tid”? Her name is Bad Dora and I am kicking her out of our house!) You realize that you did all your best parenting before you had kids when you knew everything. I love my life as a Mom! And I am thankful for all the changes my kids have brought to it too! I love you Logan and Chloe.

I have the best mom in the world! No, I really do! Everyone likes to say that about their mom but, we all know it’s true when we talk about my mom! :) Whenever we talk we hit all subjects. Sometimes we cry, and then we laugh, and then we laugh even more. I love being with her. Thanks for being you, Mom! I love you!! Deadduck!! (Deadduck is an inside joke! And so will her comment back to me. :)

Don’t Forget!!!

                   

Today is the Letter Carrier Food Drive. Leave some non-perishable food items by your mailbox for the mail person to pick up. It’s a simple way to help a hungry family.