The accident waiting to happen......

happened.

I knew this was coming sooner or later. I've been saying for the last few months that Sarah was an ER visit waiting to happen and today it did. She couldn't have had better or worse timing. Better - because the twins had left for school and Jeff was actually home today so he could drive to the hospital while I held Sarah and kept a towel on her bleeding lip. Worse because we were working on the finishing touches on the house and the realtor was scheduled to be there in an hour to take pictures for the listing of the house.

So here's how it happened. I was in the twins room standing on Emilie's bed hanging something on the wall when Sarah climbed up on the bed behind me. I knew this was a bad idea and I was just about to turn around to get her off when she lauched herself towards Ada's bed. Her jump was a little too good and she landed on the far side of the bed and smacked her mouth right into the nightstand and bit into her lip. I grabbed her (yes she was screaming) and saw the blood, ran into the bathroom and started washing out her mouth with water, got a towel to try to stop the bleeding, ran downstairs and yelled to Jeff and off we went to the hospital. Gratefully there was only one other kid in the ER, who coincidentally also had a split lip and was about Sarah's age, so we got right in. The nurses and the doctor were so nice and really great with Sarah. About an hour and fourty-five minutes and 6 stitches later we were home. Overall she did really well. She didn't like being strapped in to have the stitches done, but who would?

The top cut is where her bottom teeth cut her, the cut with the stitches is where her top teeth cut her. The only reason the doctor stitched the one is because it was right along the lip line and for cosmetic reasons wanted to make sure it healed properly.

She has been pretty happy the rest of the day. Just a little sore and it's been a little difficult to each and drink much. She will get the stitches out on Saturday.

I think our bedtime story tonight will be
"NO MORE MONKEY'S JUMPING ON THE BED!"

On a side note - the realtor came this afternoon and got pictures and our house will be on the market tomorrow!

Two Cute

Sarah is two today!

Here is what she did to celebrate:

Had the door decorated in her honor.

Ate a very hearty breakfast of two bites of cereal.
Had her favorite treat of "popies" multiple times during the day. Helped with the many projects going on around the house.
Played in the water (one of her favorite things to do).
She is always asking to take a shower!

Refused to take a nap due to so much excitement around here!

Took calls from many family members and skyped with her cousins.

Played with her cousins who came up from St. Louis to help with the many projects going on around here.
Took a shower and went to bed early due to no nap.
It's pretty good to be 2. Happy Birthday Sarah!
We'd like to add a little shout out to our friend Gage

Happy Birthday to you too!

Back in the saddle........

......well at least I am going to try to be when it comes to blogging.

I would love to say I have some great excuse like "I wanted to see how long I could be at the bottom of everyone's blog list that shows when the last update was" but I can't. Basically it comes down to taking a bit of a break and then lately it's been a lack of time.

So I'm going to give the rundown of the last 3 months and hopefully I will be better at updating in the future!

Rest of May:

Went to St. Louis for nephew's graduation.

Niece and nephew came up to visit and went to a Cubs game.

June:

Emilie and Ada finished 1st grade!

My sister, her husband and kids came to visit for a few days.

Made our annual trek to Utah via South Dakota. Went to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Custer St. Park and down to Martin's Cove.

During trip to SL Jeff and I flew to Kansas City, MO for a few days. Then I went back to SL, Jeff flew back to Chicago.

Jeff came back to SL for his Aunt's funeral - the girls and I started our drive home with my friend Tiff and her niece Paige. Stopped at Winter Quarters and Nauvoo on the way home.

Tiff and Paige stayed with us for a few days to party!

**Decided to take a job offer and move to Kansas City, MO.**

On the 19th celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary.

Two days later drove to St. Louis for the wedding reception cross country tour of our nephew who got married in SL in June. Next day drove to Branson to party with Jeff's family for 5 days.

During our trip to Branson we decided instead of driving back to Chicago, we would drive to Kansas City and spend a couple days so the girls could see where we were moving. Our nieces Megan and Becca drove with us so they could drive back to Chicago with me and spend a couple days here.

In the 10 days since we have been home we've been finding a real estate agent, packing boxes and getting the house ready to sell. Honestly I'm feeling like a chicken with it's head cut off but I am excited to get it all done and start our new adventure!

I'll try to post pictures soon!

Happy Mother's Day...... And the winner is......

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

But first - AND THE WINNER IS.....

I know you probably think I have forgotten about the giveaway. I promise I haven't! It's been a crazy week at our house and everytime I went to sit down and post the winner, something else came up. So I have decided to make everyone who commented the winner!

So congratulations to the lucky 7:
MEG, ANGIE, JOLEEN, JILL, KARA, MINDY and KERRI!

You will all receive something from me in the very near future!

Thank you all for being a friend, example, influence and part of my life in some way!

and now - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

My mom sent me this email to me for mother's day and I wanted to share it. Thanks mom, I love you!

I think I'm going to use the same title as the woman in the story next time I'm asked!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.'
'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed

of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.' 'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.

'The clerk paused, ball -point pen frozen in m midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,'just what you do in your field?' Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out.) I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'

Motherhood! What a glorious career!

Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' and great grandmothers' Executive Senior Research Associates?'

I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts Associate Research Assistants.'

Want a good read for Mother's Day? Go here to read a fantastic talk about women by Sheri Dew back in 2001.

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Give oh give away....... and Christmas in April/May

First the give oh give away - I haven't forgotten about the giveaway, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Today I have been playing catch up all day from being gone for 4 days. I think it will take me a week to catch up!

Now for Christmas in April/May. For Christmas my sister Laura and I were given a few days off from "being the mom" by our husbands to attend Women's Conference that was last weekend. I don't think I have ever waited so long to use a Christmas present except for the time Jeff gave me a trip to Poland (where he served his mission) for Christmas that we took in May after he graduated with his MBA. Anyway, I was very excited to go mainly to have a break from being the mom for a few days and getting to spend time with my sister, which I don't get to do often enough.

I flew to Salt Lake late Wednesday night and then Thursday and Friday we went to Women's Conference. This was my first time going to WC and it was quite an experience! We actually didn't go to the opening session, but we made it there in plenty of time to make it to the first class. As we were walking across campus, I thought for sure we were going to get run over! I didn't realize how serious women take this thing! My sister tried to warn me, but I really didn't realized it until I experienced it! We joked that it was "Time Out for Women on massive steriods!" We made it into all the classes we wanted too and for the most part they were all really good. After the closing session we headed out. We were starving and I had to get my fill of Training Table. It was well worth the wait! Then we did a little shopping and headed to the hotel. It was nice to finally rest and relax and chat for a while before going to bed.

Friday we were back at it. But by 1:30 we were done and starving again. So I'll face up to it, we left early. (Sorry Jeff!) We went to Cafe Rio for lunch and then did some more shopping. By Friday night we were both exhausted from having so much fun over the two days! :-)

There were good and bad parts of WC, but if anything we definitely laughed a lot during those two days and I had a great time just being with my sister!

Saturday we hung out some more, did a little more shopping and ran some errands. Then Saturday night we went over to my brother Mark's house for dinner. It was fun to see everyone and hang out. We missed you Mom and Dad, Matt, Andrea, Max, Sam,and Daniel! After dinner we went back to Laura's house and we played a little Guitar Hero for my last night there.

Sunday morning I flew home. It was nice to have a break, but it was nice to come home too. I missed Jeff and the girls. And I think they missed me too. I loved the fact that when I pulled in the driveway Emilie and Ada came running out saying "mommy, mommy" and trying to get the car door open before I could even pull in the garage and Sarah waving to me and then clapping her hands and grinning from ear to ear. Best feeling ever! I didn't miss cleaning the house, doing the laundry and making dinner - but it was all waiting for me when I got home! Thanks Laura for a great weekend - I miss you already. See you all in a few weeks! Thanks Jeff, Emilie, Ada and Sarah for letting me go.

Love you guys!

My only regret of the weekend - We didn't take any pictures! I guess we'll have to make up for it in June!

Happy Birthday Tami! My gift to you!

I don't know if they have birthday parties in heaven, but if they do I guarantee my friend Tami is throwing a big party today. Today is the day that she would have turned 35.

I met Tami when I was 15 months old. She was the first best friend I ever had and we were always friends until the day she passed away in January of 2002. In the 27 years I had the privilege of being her friend I think we went through and did just about everything that friends can go through and do together. She is one of the most incredible people I have ever known. She was and is a huge part of my life and helped me become who I am today.

Oh how I miss that girl!

My friend Chelle did a giveaway on her blog and although I was not the winner I'm going to pay it forward anyway. Since I can't give something to Tami, how about I give something to one of you? In honor of Tami and her birthday today I am going to do my own little giveaway. So here's how it works:

Leave me a comment, everyone is welcome - friends, family, friends of family, even you blog stalkers! Hmmm, but then you might be busted! HA HA! I'll choose the winner at random on Sunday May 3rd. The winner will receive something fanastic from me - I might buy it or I might get crafty and make you something! - but no matter what hopefully it will brighten their day they way Tami always brightened mine.
Happy Birthday Tami!

Inspiration

I was reading my friend "Meg's" blog today and her post today was about someone or something that inspires you. I had many thoughts today about who and what inspires me and figured it would just be some good "food for thought" for the day. But then I saw this on the fox news today and thought I would share.

It gives new meaning to the phrase

"Never judge a book by it's cover".

Hopefully she inspires you too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY