ANOTHER idea...

What do you think of this? They call it a "floating" hutch. I think I LIKE it!

Grandpa and Grandma on a road trip

Today is the day that Grandpa and Grandma are headed to California for 2 1/2 months! They are going down to Loma Linda, so Grandpa can receive radiation therapy for his prostate cancer.

We will be busy while they are gone keeping up on all of the chores at their house, and eating their eggs and all of the meat in their freezer. It will be hard work. We will also have to get the garden in without Grandpa, which will really be hard work!

But most of all, we are praying that this treatment will be successful and that he will come home healthy and cured. Grandpas are a special thing to kids and we want him around for many, many, many, many years to come. He has been, is and will keep being a very instrumental part in the boys lives and we are grateful for that!

So, good luck Grandpa! We love you and will look forward to your return!

Almost instant migraine

I was visiting another blog today and had to laugh out loud...she has the same feelings about these little gems that I do.

SOMEONE (uh, me) purchased a certain soundtrack a few weeks back. She did so because she thought that the music from the movie was pretty cute. She failed to realize that in the movie, they only share SNIPPETS of the songs...not the ENTIRE song. And 15 songs I might add.

That, my friends, is ALOT of chipmunk singing. Unless you know the songs already, there is really NO way you could understand a word they are saying...but my kids LOVE this CD.

My sister and I watched this cartoon religiously on Saturday mornings as kids and I think I remember having a cassette or two...but, as with my kids, I was YOUNG. And tolerant.

I think I will have to agree with my fellow blogger...with music like this, it IS completely appropriate to buy your 7 year old an ipod.

Just for sanity sake...hey, you do what you have to do.

Back in the swing of things...

Ahhh...Capitol Hill ( and I think they call it that for a reason...my thighs and rear are telling me that they do)...SO COOL!

We are back and glad to be. What a whirlwind trip! We packed so much in eight days I am not sure if I will recover anytime soon. I like to go, go, go on vacation, but this trip took it to a whole new level! I don't think we missed much.


I will make this short, because I don't think you would want me to post the 1300+ pictures I took here...YES, I really took that many. Oh. my. That is going to be one FAT scrapbook.

Highlights...

World War II Memorial..one of our favorites:

Lincoln Memorial:


Dorothy's slippers at the Smithsonian:

Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home:

Statue of Liberty...BRRRRR!!!


A bunch of wide eyed country kids in Times Square!
After all of this, it makes me glad to be from a small town...to many people and too much commotion, but super fun to visit and take in.

I hope to go back again someday and revisit all of the sites, and spend some more time looking longer and deeper.

We had an awesome time though, and I realized that my son is ALOT like his father in the traveling department...he likes his home turf and routine. But, I think he enjoyed himself!

Leavin' on a jet plane....

Well, after a year of waiting...our trip is RIGHT around the corner! Am I ready? I think I am, and then I realize there are 100 other things I must do before I leave, and then I realize I am NOT. I will probably be pitching things in my suitcase (and wherever there is room left in Jared's suitcase) at the last possible minute.


There is quite a bit to organize when the house manager is out for the week. Hopefully, the littles will survive ( I am sure they will) and won't miss me too much.


We are set to see a TON of things....just looking at the schedule makes me TIRED.


We will be here:

And I am looking forward to being here:

And, this should be fun too...mostly WINDOW shopping I would guess....
Picture these, and a few pretty important historical sights, which would probably be the point of the whole trip!

Here's to hoping that we have a blast, enjoy each others company, and get completely exhausted, instead of "resting" on Spring Break!

People laugh at me when they realize that I actually PAID to spend Spring Break with 30+ middle schoolers.

I am just hoping that I don't end up like this by the end:


Enjoy YOUR Spring Break...see ya next week!

Just a tidbit....

I came across this tonight and thought it was a bit encouraging. Enjoy!

Just think you're not here by chance, but by God's choosing.

His hand formed you and made you the person you are.

He compares you to no one else- you are one of a kind.

You lack nothing that His grace can't give you.

He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.

Hat's off to ya boys!

Anyone out there watching the Amazing Race right now? We never used to watch it, but kind of got hooked on it last season...now, it is a staple on Sunday night for us, and Jared has taken a liking to it too. Since he usually stays up until 9 pm anyway, we have been putting the littles to bed and watching it, just the three of us.

This season we are totally enjoying watching these two brothers...Jet and Cord. We have gotten some great laughs out of their goofiness. They are so fun to watch because everything seems so new to them, and you can tell that they are having the time of their lives! They are from Oklahoma and I don't think they have been much farther than that. Their innocence and wholesome nature just draws me in...I really hope that this is how my boys are. They are 29 and 30 years old, and last night, one of them said (as they were trying to chug a HUGE boot filled with beer in Germany) he had never had a beer before! Wow! Really? That's impressive. I hope my boys can find friends like that, and BE a friend/person like that. You can't help but like them. At least I can't. Many people are probably calling them pansies, but not me. They keep winning because they respect each other, and they work together, like brothers should.

If you haven't watched it, tune in. Sunday nights at 8 pm on Channel 6. I sure hope they stick around for awhile, the race won't be the same without them in it...here's to hoping that the OTHER set of brothers who whine and argue go home soooooon!!!