Happy New Year!

If you are wondering about the status of my 2010 Christmas letter, rest assured that you didn't miss it. 
Because it doesn't exist. 

I had planned on getting one out in some fashion for 2010. 
But sometimes plans just don't cooperate with reality. 
Somehow, that seemed to be a theme weaved throughout the year 2010 for me. 
And as I look back, I'm thinking that maybe that is okay.

The kids and I started last year out in a new home. 
I had spent the last half of 2009 looking to rent or buy a home in the country that was still within our current school district.  Places we looked at were either not in my price range or not in our district. By November of 2009, my (step)dad had been doing some work for a lady who owns properties in Durant and she had a house coming open in December.  It is not a home in the country; however, it is an old farmhouse on the edge of town.
While this wasn't what I had been planning for, it turns out to be better. We rent a house that was probably a farmhouse when it was first built. It is on a fairly quiet street on the edge of town and I have great GREAT neighbors. We fit well in this house and the kids can ride their bikes or walk over even when they are staying at their dad's house. (this has turned out to be an important plus)
I'm happy that my plans didn't work out.

I started out the year working at a local printing company. 
I did a variety of jobs at Images in Ink.  From basically making copies, to editing to writing ad copy. I really enjoyed some of the behind the scenes work at the printing company as well.  There is an art to working at a place like this.  I liked going to work.

It was sometime in early February when my work there ended.  Unfortunately.
I woke up one morning in excruciating pain.
If you have never felt nerve pain, then let me just tell you that it is the worst physical pain that I have ever felt.
(Not to discount emotional pain and heartache. It's just that now I can say that I've felt the worst of both. As far as God has let me experience.)

The pain I felt was shooting down my right arm. I was weak and could not do anything with it.
My employer would not let me come to work until I had a full release.

The long-story-short is that it took me 7 weeks of jumping through medical insurance hoops to find out what I already knew:  A herniated disk was causing the nerve pain in my arm.

The answer:  surgery.

The last of March I underwent a spinal fusion between C6 and C7 in my neck.

For 6 weeks I wore a neck brace, didn't drive, didn't lift anything over 5 pounds and generally spent my time.....sitting around.
Maybe depressed.
Probably healing.
Definitely worrying.
And not able to physically do anything.

I had a lot of time to spend with myself.
And with God.
And it wasn't the best time I have had in my life.
I had to depend on other people to help me out.

I healed.
Surgery was a success.
No more pain in my arm.

I got a full release from the University of Iowa by the end of June.
I also learned that my job at the printing company no longer existed.
That didn't really fit in with my plans.

I spent the rest of the summer at all of the kids' ball games and looking for jobs.

The ball games part turned out to be great fun!
The job-hunting wasn't so much fun.

As it turned out, a lady that I had reconnected with at the Quad Cities Christian Writers' Conference had introduced me to someone she knew who did a lot of online writing.  I was able to learn how to do this and make some money while writing online. From home. 

Not the "writing" route I thought I would ever take.  But it is turning out to be profitable.
And I did find a local job once the kids went to school working as a cook at a coffee shop in town.
It turns out that I am pretty good at cooking multiple orders and for a crowd.
Who'd a thunk it?

Job wise...I am working as a cook at lunch time and writing articles for online outlets throughout the rest of the week.

It is a good fit for me right now.

Definitely not ANYTHING I had hoped or planned for.....
....but again....
maybe better.

I had an opportunity to become involved with a ministry for women in crisis this last year.  It seemed so right. So perfect. So....exactly what I would have loved to write and speak about.

But the finances were not there.  Meaning.....maybe it wasn't the right thing.

But the opportunity planted a seed.
And it is something that I may be able to do in the future.....but not exactly the way I thought it would work out this summer. 
I have to sort of think that maybe this is part of a bigger plan as well????

I still continue to pursue print publication.  I have had articles published in LA Family Magazine, The Virginia Child Guide and Texas Suburban Parent Magazine. 

So far, this is all about me......
.....and I am just not me without my kids. 

So I gotta talk about them.


Nathan:

This is one busy guy.
Nathan is in 8th grade.
Summer was spent mowing lawns, playing baseball and golfing.
This fall he was the quaterback of his football team.
After Christmas break, he will be starting his basketball season.
And taking his test to get his drivers' permit.
I'm not sure when or how it exactly happened....but I think it went something like this:
One day, I blinked.
And my baby boy grew up into a handsome young man. 
He takes such good care of his mama and his sisters. 
I do not know what I ever did to deserve such a gift.

Marisa:
Is in 7th grade this year.
Fully enjoying Jr. High.
She was busy playing sports this year too.
ASA softball this summer.
And her 7th grade basketball team just finished their season going undefeated.
She loves (loves loves) to read. Over the summer she would have her nose in a book every spare minute she had.
Marz helps me out a ton with the little girls.
And she is probably my best friend.
I'm not sure exactly when or how it happened....but I think I did something silly....like blink my eyes
.....and she went from being my baby girl to a beautiful young lady.
No idea what I ever did to deserve such a precious gift in Marisa.


Claire:
Something about this girl makes me smile and want to pull my hair out all at the same time.
She is tough, strong willed, smart and beautiful.
She is sort of a comedian....always quick with an off-the-wall one-liner.
She always seems to know what she wants and stops at nothing to get it.
Claire-bear is in 4th grade this year.
She plays basketball and softball and loves being a part of girl scouts.
This girl likes to "hang out" with her friends.
I'm keeping a really close eye on her. Becuase I'm afraid that I am going to do that blinking thing again....
....and my little girl won't be my little girl anymore.
This kid challenges me to be a better mama and a better person.
I am not deserving of such a gift as I have in Claire.


Danielle:
My baby is in 3rd grade.
(I can't believe my baby is in 3rd grade!)
She's all beauty and brains....but she uses her "baby-of-the-family" status to get what she wants.
She was busy with softball this year...and is going to start her first basketball season after Christmas.
Recently she was wondering what someone who is sort of a tomboy but likes to wear earings and nail polish is called.
I don't have a name to describe this other than to say this is what I call "Danielle."
I'm just so sure that my baby girl will always be my baby girl. But just in case....I'm not gonna blink.
I'm a lucky mama to have been given this precious baby girl. 
She's not a baby anymore....but I'm choosing to live a little while longer in denial about this. 

Denial is a gift too. 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have some new year's resolutions.

But I am hesitant to say what they are.....as I've learned my lesson when it comes to plans. 

Needless to say, my resolutions revolve around those I love.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not harm you
Plans to give you hope and a future.

Yeah Me.

'Cuz I got me a new writing gig.
If you can imagine that.
Might be difficult as I tend to, at times here on the blog, ignore some of the more important rules of grammar and style.
(doesn't mean i don't know 'em)

Ha!

A Comment About Comments

Are you reading this?
Do you visit me here...
....often?
.....ever?

Feel free to leave a comment.
I mostly like those.

And if I don't like it, no worries.
I will just delete you.

Rubber-Band-Ball-Resolutions

My 4th grader and I were chatting about new years' resolutions.  She asked questions about what it means when people say "what is your new years' resolution?"

I told her that people like to set goals for themselves for the new year.  Like eating healthier or exercising or some of the more popular ones.

She asked if a new year's resolution could be just as simple as doing something you have always wanted to do or do more of something you enjoy.

"of course," I explain.  "Those are the best kind of resolutions."

She says her new year's resolutions are to take pictures and make scrapbooks.
And to create a rubberband ball....
....'cause she has always wanted to make a rubber band ball and maybe if she makes it a goal, 2011 will be the year she finally accomplishes this task. 


So I ask the other kids if they have new years' resolutions.

I got answers like get better at playing sports, read more books, take more pictures, hang out with my friends, see how much junk food I can eat before I puke....

So I am inspired by these ideas. 

I think in 2011 I resolve to:
Play more
Hang out with people I love
Read things of interest
Eat good food (but not till I puke)
Capture and share moments on camera
Make something I have never made before, just cuz I want to try it.....probably not a rubber band ball...but you never know.

And maybe, just maybe, take a step or two or three out of my comfort zone and towards a dream. 

Or just make a rubber band ball. 
Because, random as it may be, it does sound sorta fun...
And it is good to have a goal.

Another thing I didn't get done....the Christmas letter. 
Oh well. 

Christmas Card

I think I'm gonna post my Christmas letter here to the blog. 

Right after I write it. 

Ya. 

Feeling on top of things right now.....

sarcasm

Challenge Day, Changes & Chips...

....that sums up my week.....

Challenge day was, in a word, amazing. 

I had the opportunity to be an adult participant in Challenge Day this last week.  And let me just say that I was fully prepared to be there as a volunteer in whatever way was needed.  I was thinking that I was so in to just learning about what Challenge Day was all about, and so why not volunteer.  Maybe I could make somebody else's job easier that day.  Maybe I would get a chance to make a difference in somebody's life.  Maybe I would be able to help somebody out. 

Maybe.

What I wasn't prepared for was how much of an impact that Challenge Day had on me.
How much being around the leaders
and students
would impact me.
For the better.

The day was amazing.
Powerful.
And in such simple ways. 

A big thing that I got out of the day was just how much oppression goes on all. over. the. place.
Just when you thing you might be the only person in the world going through whatever it is in the world you are going through....
....you are probably wrong.
Our friends and neighbors are going through the same stuff.

And we all probably want to reach out.
To each other.
But maybe don't know how.

I can go on.
and I will.
nother time.

*******************
Changing things up.....
So I've had some pretty good success with doing some online writing and reporting.
Gotten some decent writing gigs. 
Paying writing gigs.

And a year ago, this avenue is not the way I would have thought that I would want to pursue writing.

Because real writers have published books.
Impressive bylines.
Signature plantforms.
Income.

But life happens.
And priorities cannot always be where the heart is.
I get that.
Cause I'm a grownup. 
(Most of the time.)

So my priority this last year became to produce an income.
While in a neck brace.
While unemployed.
And for some of the time, while I couldn't lift anything over the weight of a gallon of milk, turn my head more than a few degrees one way or the other and not drive my car.

Hmmmm.  that pretty much leaves....
....not much.

So I am thankful for the friend from the Quad Cities Christian Writers' Conference who introduced me to someone who makes her living by writing for online outlets.  She taught me how to do this. 

And even though I don't make a living by writing for the world wide web, I have made enough to make up for some lost income over the year and even to help Santa out a bit. 

I love helping Santa.

And, I have changed the way that I perceive myself.
I.
Am.
A.
Writer.

I'm good at it.
Even the not-so-fun stuff that needs to be written.
Somebody has to write it.
And somebody is gonna read it.

The book deal????

It's on the bucket list.

Along with some other dreams that I am getting a little bit braver about sharing.  And maybe daring. 

Yep.

Me. 

****************

This is because I  don't want to pass up trying new things.

Especially when it comes to carbs.

Or something new at Jeff's Market:

For Emily

The heavens are so lucky tonight
To have a new angel
Whose smile is so bright
I'm sure you are laughing
And dancing along
Some streets of gold
Sharing your song

I wonder
Did Jesus himself reach his hand out to you
And escort you through heaven's gates
Did he mention that he had been waiting for you
To meet with you face to face

I bet there was a choir of heavenly hosts
Welcoming you to the place
That you thought you would know when the time came
To enter into His grace

Was there a huge party?
I bet there was.
With you, their awaited for  guest.
And all of the heavens were ready, on cue...
To show you the best of the best.

I have to say that
Things feel so wrong
When we look at the spot where
we think you belong.

But because of heaven
And because I know
Your heart was there
It was just your time to go

I can say that it's true
that heaven is lucky tonight.
And even though, it doesn't feel right
You are where we all long to be
Even if it isn't clear
for us to see.

You are in our hearts
You are filling them with love
You are with our creator
Jesus, above

The heavens declare the glory of God
And tonight
You are leading the show
Every time
We look up at the stars
And we see their glow
We will see the glory of God
And remember that you sing his praise
You will be in our heart
In our song
In our thoughts
You will remain
For~Always. 

Dear Bad Day,

Dear Bad Day,

You have ticked me off enough for one day.
I think I am going to kick your ass. 

Sincerely,

Robin

um.
so.
apparently my patience and sanity is being tested everywhere i turn.
okay then.

as soon as i get done having a good cry, i'm gonna put on a better attitude and say:

"Bring it."

Issues plus a little bit of Christmas Advent

Now, before I really start spilling this story and trying to make sense out of something, you need to understand that, while I consider myself to be a religous person, my views of theology tend to come out sounding like....maybe I'm in third grade.  Fourth grade on a good night. 

Okay?
Okay.

So let's talk some Advent, shall we?
The word Advent means "to come." 
And when we talk about the Advent season in our house, we talk about how Advent refers to Jesus coming to earth on Christmas Day. 
We might not do all of the candle lighting in our house to recognize the Advent season, but we do participate in the spirit of Advent.


And we do what just about anyone would do when getting ready for someone to come....we clean up a bit.  Maybe decorate.  Prepare a nice meal.  Get some gifts.  Have a party.  Pour some wine.  Play some music.

So here I am doing all of this outward stuff to celebrate the season, and I have been hit unexpectedly straight on with something that is apparently a HUGE issue for me on the inside.  And I am feeling that voice inside telling me that this Advent season is a good time to tidy up some things I have going on in my heart. 

boy i hate that. 

So here's the deal. 
I've got some pride issues. 
There, I said it. 

I'm not sure exactly how to just let go of it. 
I wish that it was just enough to acknowlede it and POOF....the issue would just disappear.
Or I would never have trouble with it again. 

But it's something I need to work on. 

I have some dear friends who have offered to do something really super and extremely nice for me. 
And I refused to accept it. 
And I am sorry if my refusal came off as being ungrateful. 
I sure didn't mean for it to seem that way. 
It was a Pride thing. 

So this year while the kids and I do some of our little traditions and things that we like to do to prepare and celebrate the birth of Christ, I will remember that there are some inner housekeeping things that I gotta work on to get my heart in better shape as well. 

***************************************************

So what do you do to celebrate Advent?

Do you do the Advent wreath? 
Do you have an Advent calendar?
Do you give little gifts in the stockings before Christmas?


When my kiddos were little, we used to do a "Kiss for a Kiss" countdown to Christmas. 
They would stretch out colorful plastic wrap and line up 25 candy kisses.  Wrap them all up and tie a peice of curling ribbon in between each one.  Then they would hang their string of kissis up and each day we would trade a "kiss for a kiss." 

Fun memories. 
I think I'm going to the store to buy some candy now. 

A Little Thanksgiving

Spent thanksgiving with the Grunder side this year. 
(my kids were at their dad's)

Got lots and lots to be thankful for this year.

Family: Oh my, where do I even start? So thankful to have such a great family.  And friends that are like family.  Awesomeness. 

Friends: You are so amazing.
Work:  A good job.  Good boss.  Flexibility. 
Writing:  Have built a foundation for doing online writing.  And building on previous experience of writing for print.  Another good thing. 
Dreams:  Still there.  And I'm getting braver about sharing them.  And living them. 
Community:  The feeling of being at home in my surroundings.  Good. 
Faith:  Has totally carried me through this year.  In a way that has been different from any other year.  I'm a stonger person than I was a year ago. 

Other random things I'm thankful for:
My cat.
Bottle of wine. 
Awesome neighbors!
Homemade pizza.
Cheese.
Tires that are not quite flat. (please don't be flat today. please don't be flat today)
The teachers at school.
The Olive Garden.
Calvary Church.
Debbie.
Scrapbooking stickers.
A big beer and the ultimate trio at Applebees.
Highlights in my hair.
Lipgloss.
Jr. High Sports.
Big Cozy Blankets.
Sweatpants.
My camera.


I really could go on and on. 
And on. 

But I'll stop. 
For now. 

Christmas ADVENTures

We all know that Jesus is the reason for the season, right?

But I cannot tell you how many times that I have heard some variation of a phrase that goes something like this:
Kids don't care about that.
Kids know...but they don't know.
The kids know this....but they only care about the gifts and the parties and Santa.

So is it enough to read the Christmas story and sing some O Holy Night Christmas songs and think that, as parents, we are passing on a legacy of what the true meaning of celebrating Christmas is?
All the while, we are getting caught up in the shopping, baking, partying, Santa stuff, etc.?

Is Jesus in any of that, or are we all caught up in the commercialization of Christmas rather than the true meaning of Christmas? 

I'm going out on a limb to say that it is okay to get caught up in it.
To celebrate.
To shop.
To go to the party.
Decorate the tree.
And yes....even go see Santa.

Because Jesus is there.
He wants to meet us in the celebrations.
He can be found at the mall.
In the gifts.
In the lights on the tree.
In the colors of the season.
And even hiding in the story of Santa
.....and the partridge in a pear tree. 

It's true. 

There is a ton of symbolism in what we may think is the world's commercialization of Christmas....and we don't have to go too far to find Jesus in it all. 

I didn't always realize this.

And I used to get frustrated by all that seemed so worldly about Christmas.

Now I'm all over it.

Because Jesus is coming to the party.

And you are invited too.

Come visit me here as I share some of our Christmas ADVENTures. 

7th Grade Girls Remain Undefeated

I think it is like 7-0 ??
And maybe like 6 -1 for the B team(?)

Numbers really aren't my thing, if you couldn't tell.

Parent Day

Thankful for these girls.
Thankful for parent day at school. 
Tookie in 3rd Grade

Claire in 4th

Love this guy

Celebrated a birthday on Saturday.
So thankful for another year....

2 Birds + 1 Stone = Good Math

Math, social studies, home economics....it's all acedemic.

Last night I got to stand back and supervise Claire Bear mix up some made-from-scratch blueberry muffins.....for a social studies project.  And it just so happens that today is her snack day. 

I love it when one project can serve two purposes. 

Tookie

Just Because.
She's beautiful.
and I love her.

Neighbors....

I'm not a professional.
But I'm not that bad!

I did a little photo shoot for my neighbors.
I took tons of photos.
And some of them are what I like to call "WALL WORTHY"
Most are what I like to call "PHOTO BOOK WORTHY"
And some are just for fun....
....because who doesn't like fun?

....I like fun.


Want me to take some photos for you? 
I can.

I'll give it my best shot to get you some "wall worthy," "photo-book-worthy"....and the fun ones too.!

7th Grade Girls Basketball vs. Wilton

I think I will let the scoreboard speak for itself.....

Here's Brinny taking a shot.

And Marz getting after the ball.

There is alot I could say about these two games. 

Like I haven't had this much fun watching girls basketball in a long time.

Or tonight how Marz kept saying how much fun she had playing.

And how I usually don't like to let the scoreboard determine whether it was a good game or not...

....but tonight, it's sort of a significant indicator of just how good the game did go!

Loved this....resonated with me today when I read it.

"It's never too late to make a comeback."
~Christina Katz in her newsletter, The Prosperous Writer

Yahoo....My article was picked up by Yahoo! News....

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2 Days Off; 100 Behind

We were so busy this weekend with ball tournaments, church and halloween stuff, that I had no time to do any laundry.

Just TWO days.
Of skipping the laundry.

And now I am about 100 loads behind in it.

How does laundry multiply like that?

I never have been good with  numbers and math equations. 

Happy Halloween

Tis the season of pranks, fun and too much sugar.

Love these kiddos. 

"go cubs"

Have I ever mentioned how much I just totally adore my wildcat?

There is just something about that mother-son relationship that can stand up to anything. 

Anything.

Last night, I am at a football game.  It's cold.  It's a playoff game. 

The little girls are at their dad's house.  his time.  (blah)

My Marz rides the pep bus.  Cuz it's cool to go to a game with all your friends.  Meaning....not your parents.  I get that.

My wildcat goes with a friend to the game.  If you have to ride with a parent....it's cooler to ride with a friend's parent than it is your own.  I get that too.

But at the game we all were. 
And the wildcat said "hi" to me.  In front of other teens.

And welcomed me standing next to him.

And put his head on my shoulder.  Twice.
(yes i counted, cuz, i wasn't sure if i was in some sort of parallel universe.....one where it was cool to hang out with your mama) 

The wildcat and I, you see, we have something special going.  For a while.

It goes back to birth.  His.  And how un-natural the only "natural" birth experience I had....was.  With him.

I remember when it used to be cool to show up to places...school, playground, etc....with your mama.

And I remember when it became "uncool."

So we came up with a code to say "i love you."

I promised to not say it in front of his friends or strangers or anyone.
As long as I said "go cubs".....he knew that this was our code for "i love you."

So last night, when I said "go cubs" at a wildcat footbal playoff game....he says....







 

"oh mama....i love you too." 





And my heart.

It melted.

Like right there.

Even though it was freezing outside.

Award Winning Children's Author visits Durant Students

Bully Beans.

Volcano.

Scoop.

A raindrop.

And, according to an informal poll I took out at recess, the best story.....a Booger.

Who woulda thunk it? 

Children's author, Julia Cook paid a visit to students at our elementary school yesterday. 

Totallly engaging, entertaining and educating. 

Who woulda thought that a "booger" can teach a lesson? 

An award winning author....that's who!

She was amazing.  The kids were totally into her high energy presentation.

She travels with her two working dogs, Angus and Jake.  Cute little dogs.  Dogs that made the kids go all gooey and "ahhhhhhh!" when she took them out of their little doggie suitcase.

 

BUT....the lesson she teaches with these cute little dogs is to get them to think not  "ahhhhh," but "oh" when they see a stranger with a cute dog. 

A stranger who could be a "scooper."

Someone who could be using a cute dog to "scoop" kids up and take them away.

 

Fascinating presentation. 

Like I said, educational, entertaining and engaging. 

I wanna be like her when I grow up.

Except different.

But sorta the same.

You know!

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

8th Grade Football Pictures

Since I never pay for a photo if I do not have to, I force my wildcat to pose for shots while the rest of his team is warming up. 

There are some serious social-related consequences to having your mama show up on the football field while everyone else is warming up. 

And it isn't just limited to comments from the other players.

I'm pretty sure a coach or two razzed the wildcat as well.

It probably wouldn't be quite so bad, except that for one of my favorite shots, I actually have to lay down on the field to get the angle just right. 

I want to feel bad about embarassing him.  But then I think back to the days when wildcat was a toddler/preschooler and some comments that, although innocent enough, totally embarassed me.  In public.  Probably public restrooms. 
And I no longer feel bad for the public embarassment that had to take place for me to get these photos.

Enjoy.

I love this wildcat!

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Claire

Dear Claire~

You are 10 today.  Double digits.  And once you are in the doubles....there's no getting out...unless, of course you are one of the fortunate few who hit the triple digits!

You stand out in ways that that your siblings do not.
Since you were born....or more acurately, since BEFORE you were born.

I thought of you before I ever knew you.  I prayed for you and hoped that God would grant me the gift of being a mama just once more.  He answered with you.

You have made your presence known since day one.  You have a mind of your own and when you set your mind on something....watch out!

One of my first clues as to your willful spirit:
You were due to arrive in the world on October 19.
The doctors told me that we would plan a cesarean on October 11.
You had other ideas.
You arrived October 7th. 

As a baby, you had your own preferences about nursing, when you would sleep, and who you wanted to be around.

As a 10-year-old, you still have your own ideas about what you will and will not eat, your sleep habits and who you want to be around.

And everything in between.

There usually isn't any question about what you are feeling or thinking. 
And you often have a funny comment to say. 

You challenge me as a mama. 
Because of you, I am a better person.

And oh so proud to be your mama. 

Processing here, that's all

I have, like, so SO much to do.

And I'm trying really hard to NOT live by lists of "to-dos" and trying to just "have faith" and trust God when stuff comes up that all of my plans and structure and what-nots-and-to-dos don't really matter anyway. 

Faith.

I understand it's a great way to live.  And have had periods of my life where there was nothing but faith to go on.

But Faith tends to butt heads with structure I like to pretend I have in my life. 

So when I have something going on every night of the week....sometimes two somethings....like, say a game and a parent meeting.....
....and I have dinner
....and laundry
.....and a regular job
....and a job that I have VERY Little time to devote to...even though it's my dream job

....and the most important thing....being physically, mentally and emotionally available to my kids....
....and Brian and his kids


It's alot. 

Especially when I worry.

Pre-Birthday Birthday

I bought $a-hundred-and-something -$ worth of junk food and candy that will be fit for a slumber party full of 9 and 10-year-olds. 

'Cause I love my almost-10-year-old. 

The party is tonight.  (her birthday isn't till thursday, but unreasonable circumstances that surround her "next" weekend deem this the most-bestest-appropriate-day for celebration)

Did I tell you all about how Claire had me believing that she was 10-going-on-11? 
Yes....for like, the last couple of weeks.
Now I ask you....what sort of mother forgets the actual age of her kid? 

Let me answer that for you:  That would be me.....this sort of mama. 

Luckily, I am really good at math (not) and it dawned on me that she was born in 2000, and this is 2010 and so her math isn't quite adding up right. 
....which she knew darn well, and loved every single second of my two-week-long brain fart. 


So...these pics are of my fantabulous culinary skillz: 

This first one is my practice with all of the decorating frosting.

And this last plate is just the plain old cupcakes with plain old frosting and sprinkles to cover up the little artsy stuff I tried to do but failed miserably at.

So you know what this means, right?

I'm totally gonna eat the "practice" cupcake.
And maybe decide I should "practice" some more.
And eat those mistakes as well. 

************************************************************************

Since I made mention of my great-brain-skills that lean towards the mathematical(not), allow me to fill you in on a fact that I am drawn to and horrified by at the same time:

There are 2925 beads in this jar......

The significance?

That is the exact number of days till this soon-to-be-10-year-old turns 18.

Drawn to this because it seems like alot.
Horrified because it doesn't take a mathematical genius to figure that more than half of her days at home with mama are gone.
Drawn again....to make sure that every day matters.

Mid Prarie

Last night was one of those rare nights when more than one kid plays a sport, albeit a different sport, in the same town.  I'm always thankful when I can hop from one game to the next and see everybody play.

Even if that town is an hour away. 

Volleyball was a big success.

We lost football game 26 to 20.  Nathan had couple of touchdown passes.  Fun.

And I only about jumped over the fence just once to give the ref a good shaking and argue with him about what game he is watching....since he clearly missed that face-mask to my wildcat. 

But I didn't. 

And I didn't even follow the ref to his vehicle to make sure he knew all about his mistake.

Nope...didn't do that either.

So I'm feeling pretty mature about practicing some mama-restraint.

Yes, I am. 

Better Pics of Homecoming

oops...this was a repeat....here are the better pics....

8th Grade vs. North Cedar

No scores posted here.

Because we win when we don't give up. 
Even if the scoreboard doesn't show it. 

The end.

west liberty

Homecoming Pics...the ones I have

Work, Home, Homework

Work is going well.  I like the job, but it is putting a crunch on my writing work.

Home is suffering a bit more than I would like...cause of the time that I am spending at work and trying to write.  But it isn't like there is anything seriously suffering....Just some dust and laundry waiting for my attention.

Homework...for my class.  Focusing right now on that. 

Still trying to work on the whole idea of balance.

Because Iove love love The Lion King

Hakuna Matata

Full Moon

All I can say is "thank goodness." 

I always feel better when i can put an explaination on why today was a bad day.

Today, that reason is:  A Full Moon.

The End

U of Iowa and Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing

My list of things I am thankful for today:

For Brian taking the day off to take me to the University for a follow-up Dr. appointment. Good news, by the way. Spinal fusion is looking great at 6 months out.

And for this sweet girl....who wanted to take time out of our million-things-to-do-day and read out loud to her mama on the front porch.

Sweetness.