2 new pics

Chloe and her brace... and thanks to my favorite occupational therapist Val, now Zoe has one too!

Chloe and Charlie at the Girl Scouts Christmas Party! SHHHH... Charlie has no idea that he isn't a girl scout!

The tree is up...

"Charlie... leave the tree ALONE!"

chloe's new brace

We picked up Chloe's back brace yesterday. She was a little nervous about wearing it at first, but has gotten used to it quickly. It fits great, doesn't rub or hurt and she picked a great pattern... purple with butterflies! Luckily, she doesn't have to sleep in it and she can take it off for P.E. Now you see it...
Now you don't! Can't even tell it is under there!

NEW POST

As fans of Hells Kitchen, we have long been wanting to try Risotto. Nearly every episode features some form of Risotto. This recipe was very easy to follow, made the house smell fantastic, but was very rich. If I choose to make this recipe again, I will cut the Parmesan in half. I may have to alter the fluid a bit then, so it doesn't end up too soupy. The recipe says that the cream is 'optional'. We did use it. http://http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-mushroom-risotto-192083

After dinner, the kids and I decided to play Barbies. Chloe chose Barbies that looked like each of us...

And lastly, my Barbie...

GRRRRRRR :(

Chelsea's 15th birthday

My lop-sided cake. Hope it tastes better than it looks :)

Very Cute... Thank you, Grandma Otterman!

Lots of Loot!

My biggest pet peave

not washing your hands... GROSS!

What is in my purse...

• wallet with 58 cents, drivers license, debit card, Costco card, library card, insurance cards, Starbucks rewards card, Once Upon A Child reward card, Borders rewards card, Nursing license card, BLS card, PALS card, Carseat tech card, etc
• 3 diapers
• wipes
• sunglasses
• a pony tail holder
• pay check stub
• small pack of raisins
• lipstick
• hand sanitizer
• lotion
• perfume
• 2 tampons
• church bulletin

My worst habit is

picking my finger nails and cuticles.

My week... in great detail

Monday: wake up, stumble into the shower. Wash. Stumble out of the shower. Get jolted into reality by, "MOMMY... me EAT!" Fix breakfast for the kids. I'm sure it was something very healthy like Fruit Loops. Then I usually go back to my bathroom to finish getting ready. A little make up and a little hair gel later, I make sure Chloe is getting ready for school. We argue about her pants. We argue about her socks. We argue about her shoes. We make up and vow to have a good day. I get Charlie ready against his will. We all pile in the SUV and head to Kindercare and then school. After signing each kid in their proper place, I head to highway 70 to sit in traffic. I finally get to work and I save some lives until lunch. Then I eat my mushy, tasteless left overs and gossip about the people that are not there. Then I save some more lives and go home!! I investigate dinner, only to find that my beautiful, wonderful husband has already started cooking. We sit down to dinner, then plop on the couch to relax. After listening to our children argue about the most amazing toy in our home, i decide that it is time for baths. I first toss Charlie into the tub, scrub him clean and allow him to play... flooding the bathroom in the process. I retrieve him from the tub, dry him, lotion him down so that he smells delicious and dress him as he squirms and fights. Then I chase Chloe all over the house. I catch her and convince her that showers are not toxic. I ensure that she actually uses soap and shampoo, then tell her that 45 minutes is long enough to play in the shower. I then supervise the kids playing. It is my job to make sure that they do not hurt anyone or anything. Then it is time to brush teeth. Charlie consumes 1/4 pound of toothpaste, Chloe is done in 10 seconds. It is finally time to put the children in their beds. AAAAHHH, it is quiet. No, wait... "MOMMY... I need a drink". "MOMMY... I need some chap stick". "MOMMY... I'm scared". After threatening them, they both finally fall asleep. Chuck and I play a little X-box, I steal a little Facebook time, check my email, make an adult beverage, and call it a night.

Tuesday... stay tuned

My favorite Holiday

This is an easy one... I LOVE EASTER!! I love the drama, the sadness and lastly the hope and peace. Holy week is my favorite week of the year. It hasn't totally been ruined by commerciality and business opportunity. I love the emotional highs and lows that you experience during the week. We go from the joy of entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the sadness of the Last Supper, the drama of Good Friday and then the hope on Easter.

where I live

Smack dab in the center of the continental US of A.

A you-tube video

This video has really impacted me... this was the song that makes me cry (if you'll remember back to day 14)

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

catch up on my challenge

Day 21: A Recipe
My favorite pumpkin bread... use real pumpkin instead of the canned crap!
http://http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinbread.php

Day 22: A web site
When I turn on the computer, I usually visit:

• www.gmail.com
• www.facebook.com
• www.espn.com (especially during fantasy football season)
• www.blogger.com
• www.ksdk.com
• www.msnbc.com
• www.wfaa.com

in that order!

A hobby

um... I like to eat, shop and play (in that order)

day 19: A talent of mine

um... I dunno.... leave me a comment and let me know!

Day 18: My wedding

awaiting my husband to scan a pic...

An art piece

This first piece of art was done by my sister. She does amazing work. It took me a couple years to get this piece back home because it is so large. It was too big to take on an airplane, too big to mail and almost too big to fit in my car. It looks fantastic in Chloe's room, though! See if you can find all of the hidden fairies... This is my favorite picture that Chloe has done. It too, hangs in her room.

A song that makes me cry

turn your volume up!
http://http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

Day 15

Favorite meal

This is actually an easy one. I absolutely LOVE snow crab! However, since it is so much work (and you don't get much in return), I will have to say that I want my crab wrapped in rice with a slice of avocado and cucumber... aka a California Roll!! With my sushi, I think I will be having a brewed beverage, flavored with hops... aka BEER! To finish my meal, I must have something smothered in chocolate.

My favorite non-fiction book

I read this book while I was in high school. I spent the next month sleeping on the floor next to my parent's bed. I spent the next year terrified that aliens were coming to get me. When I say this is my favorite, I don't mean that I enjoyed it. No book has ever affected me this much!

day 13: fave fictional book

Favorite Childrens Fiction: Favorite Adult Fiction:

Something I am OCD about

HANDWASHING!! Do it, and do it right!

Challenge day 10/11

my fave vacation spot

Although not exactly relaxing, Washington DC is a great place to visit. Probably one of my most favorite vacations was to Disney. I can't wait to take the kids back!
Unfortunately, this is not me... but a beach with your honey... what could be better?!?

A photo that makes me sad

All of these make me sad in one way, or another.

My grandparents... I really wish they could have met my children :(

I hate it when my kids don't feel good

I really wanted to keep this kitty. She was so sweet. Just wasn't meant to be part of our family, though.

Day 7, a photo that makes me happy

I could not narrow it down to just one. this was taken at NRH2O while visiting my parents in TX. Reminds me of warmer weather.
This was taken at the American Girl Doll Cafe in Chicago. This was a very fun "girls vacation"!

This one always makes me happy, too :)

Blog challenge day 6

oh no! Although I did blog yesterday (Blues game), I forgot to do my challenge question:
20 of my favorite things:

• my family... I have the most forgiving, generous, loving husband and the most beautiful, smart, talented children. I have fantastic parents and a wonderful sister that I miss terribly. They always make me laugh and continually accept my many faults. Love you guys!
• the beach... nothing more relaxing... someone remind me again why I live in the midwest?!?
• dining out... no prep, no clean up!
• the color of the tree in my front yard in fall
• house hunting
• shoe shopping... a girl can never have too many shoes :)
• taking long afternoon naps
• fireplaces
• beer sampling
• romantic comedies
• The Office
• road trips
• sweat pants and tennis shoes
• the feeling I get when a parent acknowledges me at work and is thankful for what I do
• deserts
• pets... with the exception of rodents and reptiles
• playing on the computer
• coffee coffee and more coffee!!!
• a good thunderstorm
• calla lilies

Charlie's first hockey game

LETS GO BLUES!!

Chuck and Charlie decided to go to a hockey game today... Bang that glass, boy!
Charlie got a puck!

That's my boy!

American Girl Doll Tea

at Aggies Tea Room in O'fallon http://http//www.aggiestearoom.com/ Tea time!

Great Aunt Ann, Chloe and "Zoe"

delicious food, beautifully presented

American Girl Doll Bingo

Mrs. Aggie (who teaches Science full time at South Middle in addition to running a restaurant) reading a book about having tea with the Queen, written by Sarah Ferguson before her legal woes... See above picture (wouldn't let me move it for some reason GRRR!)

Chloe enjoying tea

Chloe and "Zoe" in the gardens

And one of Chloe and daddy being twinkies just for fun :)

My favorite quote:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
-Anna "Eleanor" Roosevelt

I also recently saw a bumper sticker that I like:
When the power of love is greater than the love of power, the world will be at peace.

Favorite teacher

This is one that I added. I think that teaching is one of those professions that "is what you make it". We have all had really good teachers that spend a lot of extra time (and sometimes money) to make their classrooms fabulous. We have also had teachers that are either burned out, too strict or had no expectations at all of their class.

The good teachers have truly made a lasting impression on us. Luckily, the vast majority of my teachers have been wonderful, so it was rather difficult to pick just one.

The teacher that stands out the most was Mrs. Sue Barnum. She was my second grade teacher. She was kind, but stern. She expected a lot from us, but praised our efforts. She also took the time to write notes home. Not just notes that told our parents what all we did wrong, but notes to tell our parents that they were doing a good job and had wonderful kids. Also, she drove a "car-truck". I had never seen an El-Camino. SOOOO COOL!

My favorite of Chloe's teachers has, thus far, been Lisa Goddard. This was her 1st grade teacher. Similar to Mrs. Barnum, Mrs. Goddard had expectations both in academics and in behavior. She never hesitated to take note of good behavior and hard work. Chloe did well in her class and had a great time. Both signs of a good teacher!

Lastly, MOST FAVORITE TEACHER OF ALL has to be Amy Schwartz!!!! Love you!

Day 3: favorite TV show

The Office... so funny, and I can totally relate!

Favorite movie

Hands down... Steel Magnolias. I can quote this movie line for line and still, when I watch it, will laugh and then cry. Excellent movie!!

Day one of my challenge

My favorite song is probably BonJovi's Always. It is on my playlist below. I love the sound of BonJovi's voice and the lyrics in this song are just beautiful!

30 day blog challenge

I came across this cute idea while blog surfing (one of my favorite past times):

http://http//www.themeckleys.com/blog2/2010/09/27/30-day-blog-challenge/

The idea is that you blog every day for at least 30 days. The 'Challenge' gives you a different topic to blog about each day.

This should be fun! All my blogging friends, I challenge you to a... er... Challenge?!? Just be sure to send me an email or a comment so that I pay attention to your blog!

30 Day Blog Challenge:

Day 1: your favorite song
Day 2: your favorite movie
Day 3: your favorite TV program
Day 4: your favorite teacher
Day 5: your favorite quote
Day 6: 20 of my favorite things
Day 7: a photo that makes you happy
Day 8: a photo that makes you angry or sad
Day 9: your favorite trip or vacation spot
Day 10: a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11: a photo of you recently
Day 12: Something you are OCD about
Day 13: your favorite fictional book
Day 14: your favorite non-fiction book
Day 15: your favorite meal
Day 16: a song that makes you cry
Day 17: an art piece
Day 18: my wedding
Day 19: a talent of yours
Day 20: a hobby of yours
Day 21: a recipe
Day 22: a website
Day 23: a youtube video
Day 24: where I live
Day 25: your favorite Holiday
Day 26: your week in great detail
Day 27: my worst habit
Day 28: what's in my purse
Day 29: your biggest pet peeve
Day 30 : hopes, dreams and plans for the next year

... wow, I'm pooped. That was too much typing. I think I'll start my challenge tomorrow :) Can't wait to see all of your posts!

conversation with Charlie

As Charlie put on his favorite shirt (see below), he kept pointing to characters, asking "Who's that?" then... Charlie: Where's Mickey?
Mom: these are only Spongebob's friends
Charlie: Where's me?
Mom: (again) These are only Spongebob's friends
Charlie: But I am Spongebob's friend :(

Sidewalk Chalk fun!!