Happy Birthday to You!

Today two of my dear friends have birthdays! Happy Birthday Jane! Happy Birthday Gene! Also, Carly is officially 2 1/2 months old today. So much to celebrate! Happy day everyone!

Walk on By

Carly and I took our first walk today. It was such a nice day out that I got her stroller out and we went for a nice long walk. It was warm but also windy enough to have a nice breeze cool us off as we were walking. Her stroller has a nice cover over her to protect her from the sun so she did really well. It was great to get out and get some exercise.

It's weird though, we are expecting a cold front in overnight so we may get some snow showers. Well you know what they say, hang around here for ten minutes and the weather will change!

Carly Has A Little Lamb; Little Lamb; Little Lamb

OK,it's really a bear and it's really cute--but you can't tell that from the photo. She just got it in the mail today from a friend and she loves it! Isn't it cute? Most of all--isn't Carly adorable?! You don't have to answer that-I already know what you're thinking.

Let's Get Physical, Physical!

Carly getting ready to go to the gym for a workout with her sister Julie! Yah right!

GIMME A BREAK!

Have we covered the ridiculous cost of healthcare lately? Remember when I told you Rob caught his finger in the door of his car and ripped it and had to go to the emergency room for stitches? Luckily, he was working at the time and it was covered by Workman's Comp. because those four stitches ended up costing almost $950.00. Now, they did take an Xray of his finger to make sure he hadn't broken it--but still--NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS for four stitches and and X-ray? C'mon people. Let's get real!

How can that be justified? No wonder insurance rates are skyrocketing. You almost can't blame the insurance companies. I said, "ALMOST."

Baby Contest

It's almost 1:00 a.m. I sent Rob to bed at 11:30 p.m. because he has an 8:00 a.m. meeting tomorrow. He was feeding Carly and trying to get her to sleep so we could go to sleep but she wasn't having any of it so I told him to go ahead to bed. She's been pretty good lately about going to sleep by midnight except for the last two nights when she's gone back to her 1:00 a.m. schedule. Anyway, Carly has now finished two whole bottles and I've changed three wet diapers and it is 1:00 a.m. It appears she and I are having a contest to see who can stay awake the longest. Problem is it looks like the baby may win. She is wide awake right now with no sign of dropping off to sleep. I think I'm in for a long night. Oh No!

Has Anyone Else Noticed . . .

That the price of a gallon of gasoline and a gallon of milk are edging ever closer to the $5.00 mark? I'm afraid if we actually hit the fiver it will be a point of no return.

And somehow, even though these items are both commodities we can't seem to live without, I don't think the dairy farmers are getting as rich as the oil execs--and I'll bet they are working a whole lot harder. How does that work exactly?

WHAT YOU DOIN'?

The Bewitching Hour

It's midnight and the I just got the baby to sleep. She's been going to sleep a whole hour earlier than normal the last few days. Yay! She's also been sleeping 6-8 hours since we've been adding a little rice cereal to her bottle. So, not only is she sleeping a little more but so are we. That has been so nice!

Carly is at such a fun stage. She is really aware of people right now and she loves to be talked to and touched. She coos and talks back--of course not in our language--in her own special blend of sounds and songs. It's so cute. She also makes the funniest faces and she smiles so sweetly.

I am loving being a mom to this sweet baby. I feel like I am on cloud nine some days. For a while I thought I would never get this opportunity and it is just so amazing. I am so grateful for a supportive and loving husband and family and for my Heavenly Father who blessed us with this miracle. She is just so absolutely amazing and I love her soooooooo much!

To Dream the Impossible Dream

Tonight Julie was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. We are very proud. It was a nice ceremony--as ceremonies go. There were several youth speakers, a candle ceremony, a keynote speaker . . . here's where it gets interesting. The keynote speaker was going along pretty well when all of the sudden he decided to break into song--unaccompanied. He sang us the impossible Dream. It was a little bit strange-I must admit. Keep in mind he's speaking to 8th and 9th graders and their parents. I mean, he had a decent voice and all--but I'm telling you he went out on a limb. The kids were good--no one lost it. He's lucky they were honor students. Any other students would have been snickering, giggling and rolling on the floor. Hmmm. Maybe that's why I was never an honor student.

Julie and Carly

OKAY, WHO SPIKED HER BOTTLE?

Sisters, Sisters

THERE WERE NEVER SUCH DEVOTED SISTERS

Someone's Been Sleeping in My Bed Said Momma Bear

Funny Things

I have to admit that having a baby at my age sometimes brings remarks from others you don't expect or like. Mind you, I'm not even out of my forties--but every once in a while some stranger will ask me if my new baby is my grandchild or if I am her grandmother? I hate that. It always catches me off guard and I never know what to say. I mean, I always say "no." But I never have the quick, clever, smart reply at the moment it happens that will keep them from doing it to the next person who happens to have a child when they are just a few years older than normal.

I'm a little bit used to it because I used to babysit quite a bit for one of my friends and I would get the same thing from people when I was with her kids. I mean c'mon I was only in my early forties at the time. I know people are becoming grandparents early these days--but I really didn't look that old! It used to really hurt my feelings--mostly because I wanted to be a mom so bad and hadn't had the chance yet. It would make me cry any time it happened.

Well, yesterday I was watching a nephew and niece while their parents did some errands. The nephew who is about four kept having Rob change out some sing-a-long videos they were watching. One of them ended and Rob was busy so I told him I'd change it. When I came over to do it - my nephew didn't seem to want me to change it. He said "No, no you don't do it,"--then he pointed to where Rob was and said; "go get your father--he'll do it."

Needless to say--that made up for several of the "Grandma" comments--though for some odd reason--Rob didn't find it very funny . . .

Two Feet of Pure Sugar

I took Carly for her two month check up today. She is 24 inches long. I can't believe how much she's grown. My little girl is 2 feet of pure sugar! I am amazed by how amazed I get by her. Lately, I find myself feeling pure joy when I just hold her and talk to her and she smiles and chatters back. I love this little girl so much I can hardly hold it all. She makes me smile all over.

Chocolate Makes Me Happy

My t-shirt in life says "Give me chocolate and no one gets hurt!" Actually, I don't have a shirt like that but I should have one. I am a serious choc-o-holic! I've been especially bad lately. I've been so bad I've even rub off on Rob (formerly known as hubby.) What's funny is I actually caught him eating a piece of dark chocolate this morning which surprised me because he hates dark chocolate. We had bought one of those mixed bags of chocolate and all we had left was the dark chocolate which everyone always leaves for me. Anyway, I said, "Are you eating dark chocolate? And he said, "Yes, I'm desperate!" I knew he really was desperate to be eating that. He never touches the stuff. So, tonight after dinner I made some Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I have a really good Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I actually got it years ago from my cousin Sheila. But, I did find it again years later in a really old recipe book called "The Best Recipes of 1934." I thought you might like to have the recipe. It's best if you make it by hand. I usually substitute Crisco butter-flavored shortening for the butter and shortening. Other than that everything else is the same. Here goes.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 Cup Shortening
2/3 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
1 12-ounce package Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream shortening, butter, sugars, eggs, salt, soda and vanilla together. Add flour 1 cup at a time. You may not need all the flour--usually 2 1/2 - 3 cups is needed. Work flour in until the dough feels right. Add chocolate chips and roll into balls and flatten. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until light brown.

Enjoy

INTRODUCING

HUBBY AND ME

Fun Family Day

Today was a fun family day today. Hubby had been gone this week for a few days to a work conference out of state. So, Julie, Carly and I were all glad to have him home again. We had lunch together and then did one of our special movie dates. What we do is make a run to the dollar store and everyone gets a dollars worth of their favorite candy. Then we head to the dollar movies for a family film.

However, we shook things up a bit today by going to the regular movie theater to see a movie before it hit the dollar theater. Hubby and I still had a gift card left from our wedding (a present)that we had forgotten to use. So, we made the usual dollar store run for candy and then went to a matinee at a real theater. We saw the new Jackie Chan film "Forbidden Kingdom." It was good. We like Jackie Chan--but then I think I mentioned that before. Afterward, we went shopping for a bit, then out for dinner and a milk shake. We had a fun day with the girls!

Old Friends Are Dear Friends

I spent today with an old friend. Actually, I should probably rephrase that. I know neither of us would like to be called "old". Let me start over--I spent today with a dear friend I've had for many years. There--that's better. She brought a couple of her young daughters with her and we spent the day together with a couple of my girls. It was the first time she'd gotten to see my baby. We hung out for a while and caught up with each other's lives, went to lunch and then went shopping. It was just nice to spend time together again. Sometimes you just need to take a day and do that with friends you miss. I'm glad I did today. It was fun and even though our lives have changed a lot over the years in some ways it was just like old times. Besides family . . . friends are one of the best parts of life.

Sing, Sing, Sing, Something, Something

Julie had a recital tonight and she did a great job! She's been taking voice lessons for the past three months. She has a really good voice to begin with and add voice lessons to that and WOW! She knocked our socks off. There were around 50 people there to perform in front of and she got up there and didn't even seem nervous. She was nervous but she didn't act nervous. She did wonderfully! Do I sound like a proud Momma. Well, I am! Plus, have I mentioned how beautiful she is? Well, she is and lovable and kind and good and . . .

A Couple More of Cute Carly-kins

OKAY-Just a Few More

This is one of my favorites from Megan's wedding reception-Julie, Carly and Megan. Isn't is great! Here are some more recent ones of Carly. I didn't realize how much she was changing until I compared these tonight. Wow!

Dat Dat Dat Dah!

HERE SHE IS! OUR BRAND NEW LITTLE GIRL--FROM THE FRONT AND ALL! Hee hee! Isn't she beautiful? We are all so in love with her! Carly (formerly referred to as D5 is a bucket full of fun! Plus she keeps us ALL busy. She has just started to smile a bunch and we love it. Hubby has the best touch with that. He can get the most grins from her in a single sitting. One thing is for sure--she keeps us hopping.

Meet Swim Chick

Now understand that's not our name for D4--it's her own chosen moniker. Julie loves to swim and made the swim team this year. She also loves to give hugs, play volleyball, sing, dance and get crushes on boys. She is a great help with her new little sister. By the way, Julie is only 14 and yes, everyone thinks she's older than she is!

The Dancing Queen

D3 is our dancer. But of course we don't really call her D3. We just call her Sara. She's a very talented dancer and is on the dance team at the university she attends. She just got back from going on their spring dance tour and will be leaving again in soon for their summer dance tour. She's studying dance and finance.

Smile for Me Baby

I've been bragging to my family and friends this past week that D5 has started to really smile. You know, the kind of smiles you can't pass off as baby gas. You talk to her and smile and laugh and she smiles back really big. So, today when my little sister asked about her I told her how cute it was when D5 would smile like that. She was excited and asked if I would send her a recent photo. So, proud Momma that I am, I pulled out my cell phone and proceeded to try to make D5 smile so I could take a photo and text it to my sister. Everytime I tried to make her smile she would look at me with this sad face and pull out her bucket lip and start to cry. I couldn't believe it. Finally, I realized she wanted a bottle--so I gave up on the smile for a bit and fed her, changed her diaper and then just as I was ready to try again she fell sound asleep. Not to be easily put off--I waited through her nap and then tried again. Still, no smile. At best, I would get a yawn or a ho-hum--"Don't you have anything better to do than that, Mom" look?" Time after time I'd take a picture only to delete it a few seconds later because it wasn't the smile I was hoping for. Finally, I gave up.

A few hours later. Hubby (that would be Daddy) comes in and picks her up and just starts talking to her--and what do you suppose happened? That's right. Big smiles--all over her face. Do you think I could catch them with my camera phone? Not so much--and not because I didn't try. I was in such a rush to capture them that the three I took in a row were so shaky they weren't worth keeping. I have a sneaky suspicion this little one is going to be a Daddy's girl. Hmmm.

Dumpster Diving for Treasure

One of my friends called me this morning to tell me how she spent her evening the other night. It involved two of her children, a couple of her son's retainers and the inside of the junior high school trash dumpsters. Let's just say it was not her favorite family home evening activity and she won't be enjoying pepperoni pizza or hamburgers for awhile. Groty man!

Oh, they did find the retainers--saving the son $300.00 (as he said - his allowance until he was 18.) as the parents paid for the first set but he had been told he would have to pay for any lost retainers. Though just think--he actually had to put those dumpster worn retainers back in his mouth. Consider this. What if he wasn't the only junior high student who threw away his retainers that day? Hey, I'm just saying . . .

Poor Hubby

He's had a rough week. First he slams his finger in the car door and ends up with stitches in his finger. Then today was his appointment to have a dental implant. He's had this hole in his head, er, I mean mouth for several months now prepping him for this implant. So, today they put a screw in and then tightened it in place. Sounds painful to me. But, I think it is accurate to say that for at least a few seconds he had a screw loose in his head! Don't you? Yah, I think I'm gonna use that for awhile. :)

The Last Lecture

This is really an amazing thing if you haven't heard about it. Dr Randy Pausch is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University who found out he is dying from pancreatic cancer and is one of the most upbeat people you could ever meet. Anyway, I heard about him this morning on Good Morning America and then watched a program on him this evening. He gave a lecture called The Last Lecture which is a tradition at Carnegie Mellon each year. His just happens to be truly his last lecture. It's now a book as well but the lecture he gave is one that's suited toward making life choices and living a happy and good life. It's an amazing lecture and is well worth your time to watch. Life changing in fact. You can just google "The Last Lecture or Dr. Randy Pausch and the video will come up for you to watch. Enjoy!

The Biggest Loser Finale

Has anyone else been watching this? Hubby and I usually catch this show and tonight was the second to the last episode. You have to be a watcher to understand but Roger fell below the line and the girls had him in their sites and then the show changed the rules! Can you believe they did that? Now it's up to America to vote! C'mon America vote Roger off. He's mean-spirited. He's gotta go. www.nbc.com Vote for Mark to stay. Go, Fight, Win. Oh, who really cares. Have a great day. :)

To Be Seen or Not To Be Seen . . .

That is the question. I've had this idea that on this blog I was a little like the neighbor (Mr. Wilson) on Tooltime whose face you never got to see. I kind of like the mystery of not fully revealing myself. It lets me get away with more than I would otherwise--at least that's the theory. Or at least that was how it started out.

However, I've had a few requests and at least one demand that I stop changing the names of the innocent (or guilty-as they may be) to alpha-numeric characters and just plain tell you who I'm talking about. Apparently, even those who know who I'm talking about can't keep track easily between D1 and D5. Plus, I'm told half the reason people turn to your blog is look at the pictures you're posting.

Well, anyway--if you see us turn around and wave anytime soon or if you start to hear real names in the text you'll understand why. So, I'll probably be seeing you around . . .

Bargain Shopper Supreme or What

I am the Queen of Bargain Shoppers. I learned it from my mother. It really wasn't something we ever talked about. She was just good at finding good deals. I think I've taken it to a whole new level, though. I'm not the kind of person who talks people down in price at a yard sale or anything like that. It's just that I know a bargain when I see it and I also know when something isn't a bargain and I leave it on the shelf. Anyway, one of the things I love to do is to hit the local "Savers" (To those of you who don't know what that is-it's a second hand store that's a chain in the west.) and shop only their bargain tag colors. For instance, every day a different color tag is on sale. It used to be that the color tag for that day was half off. They have changed it now and let's say the color for the day is RED--well, all red tags are $.99 cents. Yep, you can by a lot of cool clothes for a buck a piece. Remember--people don't just get rid of their old tired junk. They get rid of nice things, too. I find things with new store tags still on them sometimes.

My favorite thing to shop for, though is baby clothes. I just got back from a Savers run and I got 28 things for $30. I made one exception and bought something that wasn't on a sale tag. But they all look brand new and I've got all the name brands everyone else paid tons of money for. And no one else is the wiser. Well, that is until now. Duh. (Don't tell D5. K?)

I Need A Break

from all the election hype. I mean we are 7 months away from the general election--don't you think we could handle a 6 week news black-out where we don't hear the names Clinton, Obama or McCain? I know I sure could and I wouldn't be any worse for wear. Do you notice the news doesn't really change--it's always the same--I mean, the names get rearranged--but it's the same old garbage and frankly, I'm just tired of hearing it. I'd be more likely to give a campaign donation if they would just be quiet for a while. Actually, that's not really true either. I think they all have too much money as it is. It's just all so disheartening. Am I the only one bugged by all the election infighting? Honestly, I'm so tired of hearing the candidates turn each others statements into something other than what they said. Are there no honest politicians? OK, that was a dumb question. Over and out.

WOW

So, I was a little crabby last night. Grrr. Sorry. No sleep and being annoyed will do that to a person. I've had some good naps today and I'm in a much better mood. D4 watched D5 for us so Hubby and I had a lazy Saturday afternoon nap. It was wonderful. Then we rewarded D4 by taking her to a movie. We took D5 with us too--so it was her first movie. She slept all the way through it--so that was good. I just held and loved on her all the way through the movie. I'm a mommy and I love it.

Have I told you how adorable my baby is? Well she is. Adorable that is. She's singing her poo song for me right now. I wish you could hear her. She's so funny. Although, it's a good thing this isn't smellivison . . . if you know what I mean. Ba dum bum.

IT'S THE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW THAT WILL TAKE YOU DOWN IN LIFE

Let me say that again. It's the things you don't know you don't know that will take you down in life. I am so frustrated! It is very difficult to deal with people who will not listen--who will not hear--who will not take the time to find out on their own the things they need to know to be successful in their lives. Mostly, it is hard to deal with the ones who are sure they know--and are wrong. Please be open to the things you don't know you don't know-because I promise you they are out there around every corner. Be humble. Be teachable. Be open. Be willing to learn and you will. I promise you do not know everything. Stop saying you know. Start wanting to know and start listening and seeking and maybe you will learn more than you ever dreamed of knowing.

Long Night Longer Day

D5 went to sleep at midnight, woke up at 4:00 a.m. and hasn't had anything but tiny catnaps since then and it's nearly 11:30 p.m. now. It's almost like someone slipped some NoDoze in her formula. Her eyes are wide open and she's not even tired! It doesn't seem to be a problem for her but her Momma is wasted.

Hubby stopped just short of slamming his finger in the car door today and tore his index finger pretty good. He ended up with 4 stitches in it. Lucky for him he was just leaving a hospital when it happened so he headed into the ER to have it stitched. Then he came home and took D5 for me for a couple hours so I could have a nap. I love my hubby.

Tomorrow is D2's 21st birthday! The newlyweds are doing well. We are going to celebrate her birthday together. Rumor has it she's missing us. I think that means she missing her new little sis--but I am going to take it to mean she misses all of us.

D5 just fell asleep. Night all!

Four of the Five Weren't Bad

Just an update--apparently the police have released four of the five men they took into custody last night for questioning. The little girl was found in the bathroom of the basement area of the apartment where one of the men lived by himself. The other four lived in an upstairs area of the apartment and apparently had no idea she was there or had even been there. So, they have the fifth young man in custody. He's a 21 year old. He's been arrested for aggravated kidnapping and murder and more charges may be added. This was the family's only daughter. It's just so sad and heartbreaking for the family. Please keep them in your prayers.

What's Wrong with the World?

We woke up to an Amber Alert today. Last night it was just a little 7 year old girl who had fought with her 10 year old brother and left her apartment and not come home yet. This morning they escalated it to an Amber Alert. Police, the FBI, volunteer searchers and family looked for her all day. Tonight her dead body was found in the bathroom of an apartment not too far from her family's apartment. Five men were arrested and are being questioned. How horrific for the family-especially for the 10 year old brother. That poor little girl. I know she's with a loving Heavenly Father now--but I ache for what she must have suffered. The evil of it all is stunning. It really knocks the wind out of you. It makes you wonder how people can be so evil and why they make the choices they do. It makes me sad and angry.