my own day

so i have decided to make my own "National" WEEK!! So it's "National tell me something someone told you you couldn't do but you did anyway" week!!

Mine is: Have a baby! Doctors told me I could never have a baby. This one is for you Doc!


(here's me with Noah the day he was born)


what's yours????

am i nuts????

so i turned down a trip to France. a Free trip! A free trip to France!! For a week! am i nuts?? probably. But the trip was not going into the city of Paris. Not at all. When I go to France, I am going to Paris...First!!!

World Cancer Day

I HATE FORWARDS!!!!!! I usually just delete them from the title (sorry mom and dad since you 2 send me more than anyone). I mean every now and then you get a good one but i especially HATE the "prayer chain" ones that usually have some superstition attached to it or ones that aren't even real days. For instance, in the last few months I have received emails saying "Tuesday is National Pet day" , Thursday is "National Wear Green to Work Day".... I mean come on!!! I guess if you put "National" in front of it then it is supposed to sound official. Well I just received "Friday is National Cancer Day" so in good fashion I sent it to all my friends who love to make fun of me having cancer (all in good fun of course, and hey, I join in with them). So this year I expect everyone to shower me with presents and cash to celebrate my big day!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

Happy National Cancer Day!! whatever that means....

weather

This weekend Noah and I are headed to Rockford, Michigan to see my 95 year old grandmother. Allen can't come with us since he has to work on Sunday. My dad was originally coming with us but had to cancel last minute so it is just Noah and I. We fly into Flint and then have to drive 2 hours to Rockford. I just checked the weather and it is supposed to snow every day we are there with a high of only 16 - 20 degrees!! HOLY COLD!!!!!! I am a little nervous driving in the snow/ice that far on a road I have never been on. Well, not never been on it but never driven on it myself. Usually my dad drives while i sleep in the backseat. Yes, even in my adult age i like to sleep in the backseat. But this time I have to be the adult and drive...in the snow...with my child in the car...eeeeek! Luckily Noah has always been a good traveler
(see: Nintento DS). He and I have been lots of places together. So how does one pack for 16 degree weather?? Especially now that you have to pay to check a bag! We are planning on going tubing one day at our favorite tubing spot...it is cheap and they pull you UP the hill so you don't have to walk every time you slide down...AWESOME!!! But that requires LOTS of layers! Suggestions welcome.....

so annoyed!

Sunday is my favorite day of the week! I teach 6th grade CCD while Noah is in his kindergarten CCD class and then we usually either go home and watch movies/clean out a closet/play video games, etc or sometimes we go to my mom's house for a few hours and hang out with her. Being a youth minister and all, Sunday's are Allen's busy days so usually Noah and I are on our own. We have to stop doing whatever we are doing and head back to church by 5pm to make it to 5:30 Mass. Since Noah shares his mothers LOVE for Mexican food, we often stop by La Parilla on our way home from Mass. Sunday nights at La Parilla are interesting to say the least. The mariachi band is always there (which Noah loves) along with several strange people who usually have been at the bar WAY too long for a Sunday evening. There is also this one older gentleman who always sits at the same table and is clearly a friend or relative of the mariachi band. The band usually plays 3 or 4 songs and then always heads over to this mans table. They sit, drink, and sometimes they start playing again and the older gentleman stands up and belts out the song.

The past couple of times we have been there, Noah has wanted to request a song for the band. He so badly wanted them to play Feliz Navidad! He even had his money ready to tip them with. When they weren't coming near our table I asked one of the waiters if he would send them over our way. He never did and they went on the longest break ever! We left before their break was over and of course Noah was bummed. Somehow this happened the next few times we went there. We asked for them to come to our table, they never came. So Tonight, Noah and I headed back there for some cheese dip and tacos and I asked our waiter again to send them our way. I did see him ask them to come to our table but before they did, they went on a break! I understand they need a break but seriously, I saw them sitting down more than actually playing in the 30 minutes we were there. So one of the guys in the band comes over to me and tells me they will come over to our table right after their 10 min break. Great! We had already finished eating so we would just wait for them. Well, their break was over and did they come to our table?? NO! They circled around the older gentleman I mentioned before and sang 3 songs before I was pretty pissed. Not to mention, poor Noah had his money in hand just waiting for them to come over AS PROMISED! I probably looked like a crazy woman but i found someone who worked there, explained the situation and how Noah has been at the restaurant several times and we were just waiting to go home to go to bed but we were not leaving until we got our Feliz Navidad damnit! Well That did it! The next few minutes they were surrounding our table and singing Noah Feliz Navidad! Thank goodness I had my camera with me and got it all on video. Noah was one happy dude!!

I speak the Truth

• The Movie Megamind was great! Entertaining with a good message. It's at the dollar theater right now...go see it.
  
• Allen and I watched 'The Hangover' last night and I was sad it wasn't as funny as everyone said it would be. I was expecting brilliance. It wasn't.
  
• My husband talks A LOT about technology. i mean A LOT.
  
• I am bummed we are almost caught up to the current season of Psych and we will have to start watching it week to week.
  
• I miss Barrett and Aimee.
• This week I saw 2 teenage girls following a boy around the mall and the boy had no idea. I immediately thought of Alyssa.
  
• Tonight we snuck fried chicken into the movie theater for dinner.
  
• Noah has his first indoor soccer game tomorrow morning and I might be more excited than he is.
• Allen and I are sporting new backpacks and we are soooo excited about them...can you say nerds???
• this weekend Noah and I are flying to Michigan to visit my 95 year old grandma. I can't wait to see her and go tubing in the snow!!
• I drink way to much sweet tea and diet coke and not enough water.
  
• i got some new tennis shoes and i LOVE THEM!!!
• I eat out for lunch every day and I am sooooo sick of it.
  
• did i mention my husband talks about technology A LOT??????
• I love my smart phone!
• I spend so much time every day checking facebook and playing phone tetris because Archie falls asleep and I am stuck with nothing else to do.
• Most of my friends quit blogging and I am mad at them for it (hint hint).
• we have had a fire in our fireplace almost everyday this year!
• i need some new dinner ideas.
• I need a haircut!
• I am LOVING the pictures my friend Meghan Williams keeps sending me from college days! Oh to go back for just one day would be so much fun!!!
• One day I will see the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes!
  
• My life is wonderful!
  

Blah Blah Blah

so many of my mom friends (with older kids) told me once school started and Noah was gone all day I would get used to him being away and would dread days and weeks that he was home all day. They were wrong. I LOVE snow/ice/sick days/days off/weeks off/ Christmas break/summers! I LOVE being able to hang out with Noah all day! I know Allen agrees with me. It's even better when all 3 of us are home all day. I hate school days when i have to wait until the end of the day to see him. I LOVE picking him up from school instead of him riding the bus home because i get 45 extra minutes with him! I Love Wednesdays because I get to help out in his classroom! It's so fun seeing him interact with his friends! so fun!

I have to give props to my rapper wannabe husband. Before Christmas he came to me telling me about this new video game system for XBox360 called the Kinect. I dismissed the idea immediately but luckily my husband is VERY persistent and kept telling me about it until I finally decided to give it a chance. We (aka Allen) ended up finding a great deal on an XBox on Craigslist and Allen's family bought us the Kinect for Christmas. IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!! It has brought HOURS of family fun!! We have even had lots of people over to play! If you think you can beat me in Kinect bowling, you are welcome to come over and try!

Okay, It's Wednesday morning, Allen left early for his Wed meetings, Noah is in school and I am home alone. I could waste hours on the computer until it is time to go to Noah's school but I think i might actually go to the gym...over and out!

2010

My dear friend Elizabeth had this on her blog so I stole it for mine. I don't think she will mind :)

20 Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

Gosh, there are a lot of things that are attached to this but the best thing was personal growth...on many levels.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

sending Noah to Kindergarden. It was a really hard couple of months leading up to it. It was much harder on me than it was on him and it turned out to be a great thing...

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Barrett and Aimee getting engaged. I mean I knew it would be exciting when it happened but it was really awesome to be a part of the actual engagement night.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Barrett moving to Florida. It really hit me hard. i miss not being able to see him every day.

5. Pick three words to describe 2010.

growth. blessed. giving.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2010 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

giving. change. exciting.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2010 (again, without asking).

Blessed. fruitful. fun.

8. What were the best books you read this year?

• hands down the best book is "How Does A Dinosaur Say Goodnight?". It is my favorite book to read to Noah cause he knows it by heart and we make funny dinosaur voices and we laugh a lot when we read it. Plus it involves hugging him tight and he loves it when i do that.
  

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

First with My Savior! Quitting Youth Ministry was the best thing I ever did for my faith! This past year has been incredible for MY faith. I was in a bad place in my life the summer 2009 after being in youth ministry for way too long with people who should not have been in any kind of ministry and 2010 really changed a lot of things for me.

Of course my relationship with Allen and Noah has a changed a lot. I love Allen more today than the day I married him and being a mom is the best thing in the world to me.

I really value the friendship I have with my girl friends. I am especially thankful for my friends that I met because our kids were in the same preschool class. Even though I don't see them everyday they will always be my best friends. I am also thankful for my other girl friends and wish i saw THEM more often...even for our coffee dates!!

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

i think it was really being able to let go of relationships that were not healthy and to focus on the people in my life that are really important and REALLY care for me.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

to understand that just because i have been friends with someone a long time does not mean they have my best interest at heart and it is okay to sever that tie.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

Total trust in God.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

well i had great plans for up-ing my running but it didn't quite happen. check back next year. :)

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

After I got rid of some unhealthy friendships (some my choice, some by the Grace of God), it is amazing how many areas of my life improved including my relationship with my husband and child.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

Professionally- I surprised myself with how much i LOVE taking care of the elderly, especially those in the memory loss area! LOVE IT!! I love spending the time with the people.

at home - spending time with Allen and Noah playing games and watching movies.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

Professionally - balancing time between work and home since I set my own hours.

At Home - cleaning. I hate it!!!

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

Facebook

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

helping my neighbor.

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?

to forgive myself. to forgive others. to love more deeply. that my child will grow up no matter how hard i wish it away. that God really is in control even when we pretend to be and His plan is so much better than ours.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2010 for you.

I am so unbelievably blessed and have the most incredible husband and child a woman could ask for!!

Snow Day....again

we are on day 3 of our snow day. really it is all ice out there so lets just call it Ice Day. We have already been called off for school tomorrow and Friday. Monday is MLK day and it's a holiday. Yikes! Does this mean we will be going to school until July?? hmmmm, i hope not. I have to say, it's been fun not being able to leave and being forced to do a whole lot of nothing. I did manage to get all my Christmas decorations down but other than that our days have been filled with movies, video games, the Kinect (which also doubles as my workout), snuggling by the fire, LOTS of baking/cooking and even more eating!! All my laundry is done but somehow it quickly appears again every time we go outside and come back in and take off our layers and layers of clothes.

I did TRY to get out today and go to work. it didn't happen. I had a hard time getting down my street and when i got to the front of the neighborhood there were 20 cars stuck on the main road and couldn't get up the hill. There was a police man and a truck pulling cars out with a chain and they told me to go home and not leave until all the ice was gone. I guess that's the downside to living on a hill. Oh well, another day snuggling with my boys was just what the doctor ordered. I hope I can get out tomorrow but I guess we will see. Temperatures are not supposed to get over freezing until Friday. Noah will have to go with me tomorrow and he was praying earlier we can't get out. He gets so bored when he goes with me cause it is a "bunch of old people and (he) has to act so good" --Noah's words. Luckily my friend Kate offered to watch Noah for me and if I have to, I will take her up on that. That is, if her 2 sweet, mild girls can handle Noah...Oh wait, hers are as wild as ever!!

Okay, that is enough for now. I must go kick some Kinect bowling butt!

SNOW Day 2011

I take back any words i said about not wanting snow. Today was so much fun! We LOVED waking up to a blanket of snow on EVERYTHING!!! We slept in, then got up and played in the snow, walked around our neighborhood, threw LOTS of snowballs, played lots of video games by the fire, made breakfast for lunch, smoothies for dinner AND we get to do it all over again!!! School has already been canceled again tomorrow because of all the ice on the roads. I am pretty sure God sent us this snow to just stop our busy lives, hang out with our families and enjoy each other!!! Loving it!!!!

I love these boys....

Bring on the snow...or maybe don't.

I am having mixed emotions about the snow that should be arriving tonight. Of course I love a good snow and a snow storm is even better but if i get snowed in I can't go to work and then i won't get paid. so i am torn, not that i really have a choice in the matter. But a day at home to play all day in the snow with Allen and Noah sure sounds fun!!! so bring on the snow...or maybe don't...either way is alright with me!!!

know your audience

would you ever walk up to a blind man and complain that you needed new contacts because yours were a little blurry? Would you ever walk up to someone in the mall in a wheelchair and complain you are tired from walking from store to store? would you ever walk up to someone who was missing an arm and complain that you had a hangnail on your finger? would you ever walk up to a bald man and complain you were having a bad hair day? Would you walk up to someone who just miscarried a baby or couldn't have children and complain about your pregnancy? you would think not. know your audience before you complain people, someone probably has it worse off than you and they don't pity you for your problem, they want to punch you in the face. that is all.

SNOW!!!

How fun is snow???? SOOOOO fun!!! I LOVE Cold weather! And snow on Christmas is a dream come true.
you don't see that very often....





We had so much fun playing in the snow!!! Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day Noah woke up nice and early and Allen, Noah, and I made breakfast and opened presents (pictures on my new Bloggie and once i figure out how to get them off i will post them). After we played with all our new stuff, we headed over to my mom's house for Christmas. There was a house full as usual and it was great to catch up with everyone.


Aimee and me...
our awkward head tilts...

Aimee and Kyle...
dorks...


Emily and me...
Noah playing with his stuff...
Noah lovin on the pup....
Noah and Robbie...
the ladies...
oh, our tree..LOVE it!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to my dad and Diane's house. Barrett, Aimee, and Aimee's family all joined us for dinner. Noah had about a million presents waiting for him.
this was only some...
they just kept coming from under the tree...

how cool is this...Noah's own Darth Vader luggage with Noah's name engraved on it...
not sure why Allen is making this weird face but he enjoyed his grill brush...
Dad's new book...
Noah and his loot...


Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas break...

Over the break, Miranda came to spend some time with us. Noah just LOVES having her around (and so do Allen and I). We took some photos to update some around our house...
and this one was just for Father Flanagan.

Christmas Break...

Christmas break started kind of rough with 2 trips to the doc, lots of over the counter meds and 2 antibiotics. Luckily, Noah is a champ and even when he is sick has more energy than Allen and I when we are healthy. The feeling yuckies only lasted about 24 hours and then we were back on track for Christmas break fun!