Santa

So here are my girlies tonight. Thought they looked pretty cute. I get their picture taken every year with Santa. I like to go early and in the middle of the week so we don't have to wait. It's great...just walked right up to him. I have seen lines before that look at least an hour long...no way would I do that. Anyway, it was very cute. Emma was so excited. She was non-stop jabber with him. I heard her say she wanted a drum and a harmonica. I also heard her tell him to put them under the Christmas tree. She just kept talking and talking. Bella, on the other hand, was her usual quiet {in public} self and whispered what she wanted and posed for the camera the rest of the time. We had fun. That's all for now.

Nothing too exciting

Here is the layout I was too lazy to scan last night. It looks crooked here....much better in real life. I really don't have much to say tonight. I feel as if I'm getting ill. Haven't been sleeping as much as I should, too many sick kids spewing germs on me....think I better go rest. Have a good day.

A little bit of everything

So this is the Christmas tree. Not very exciting. It's not a matchy, matchy Christmas tree. Just a big conglomeration {is that a word?} of all sorts of things {most of which is hung at 3 feet or below thanks to the girls}. We have a teletubby, Blue from blue's clues, a dressed up Iowa corncob, a dressed up rifle shell to remind us of Idaho =) {thanks Tracy in ID!}, some antiquish ones from Kent's childhood {hee, hee}, basketball, a doctor lady, ballet shoes, a beenie baby duck, fancy glittery ones that Bella picked out, etc. etc. It is so fun to watch Emma with all of the Christmas stuff...it is all so new to her. She is so excited. She loves the lights on all the houses...she yells "look at that house" at every house we pass. She was quite excited to find out that Santa might bring her a present. She wants a drum and today she added a harmonica to her list. Don't know what her obsession with musical instruments is {she got a "tar" [guitar] for her potty training efforts which by the way is going wonderfully}.

Anyway, I made another layout tonight, but was just too lazy to scan it...what a pain in the butt. Maybe tomorrow. So instead I will do something else. Saw someone else who did this so I will add my list. So I made a list of 20 things I like to do. It is so easy for me to think of things I dislike....so I thought I should try to think positively and think of things I like. Here are the 1st 20 things that popped into my head.

20 things I like to do {some of which I don't get to do very often}. By me.
1. Reading magazines
2. Going to the beach
3. Scrapbooking (huh?)
4. Surfing the web
5. Shopping
6. Sleeping in {one of the ones I don't get to do}
7. Spending the day with my girls
8. Watching Letterman
9. Hiking
10. Lifting weights {did I just say that?}
11. Trying new recipes
12. Sitting in my yard {summer only}
13. Going to bookstores
14. Traveling {seeing new things minus the driving....I dislike that very much}
15. Blogging =)
16. Seeing new babies in the clinic
17. Gardening {pulling weeds is therapeutic...try it sometime}
18. Eating Mexican food
19. Taking pictures
20. Hanging out with family {even my sister}

There it is...pretty exciting huh? Have a good day.

Back to normal

This is Emma last February when she turned two. The colors are a little off on the scan, the pink isn't quite so dark in real life. The little book has pictures of all who were there and all of her gifts.

Well Bella and Kent came home this afternoon. That sure increases the noise factor here. Bella and Emma just pick on each other....causing squeals, screams, crying, etc. etc. It was actually kind of nice to have some quiet for a few days. Even though it was nice....it's better to have her home. We put up our Christmas tree tonight. The girls were super excited. Emma was very excited....since we didn't have a house last year, she probably doesn't remember the other time we had a tree {she wasn't quite one yet}. She was very good at hanging about 5 ornaments to a branch. Think they had fun.

Well that is all for now....have a good day.

Holiday synopsis

I'm back after a long holiday break. Aren't you excited? I was on call on Thanksgiving day and so it feels like I spent most of the day on the phone. Even had to call Mexico (!?!) for some patient to talk about non urgent issues. I found out the day before Thanksgiving that our pagers roam the whole state so I actually ended up going to my Grandma's house for lunch. Me and my Emma. Bella and Kent went to Lincoln to see his mom since it was our "turn" to go there. I can't believe it, but I think it had been since 2002 since I was last there for a holiday. So it was nice to see cousins, eat cheesy potatoes, and talk on the phone {largest portion of my day =( }. But I'm not complaining too much about the phone.....NEVER could have roamed 90 miles away from the hospital with my old job while on call. My job is pretty cush.

So Emma and I have just been hanging out together. She went to work with me on Friday {no baby sitter} which she seemed to like. She just roams around playing, hanging out at the front desk, trashing my office.....stuff like that. She is very cute....and tough, she has an ear infection, and other than one episode of crying on Thanksgiving day she has been in great spirits. She really misses "Bubba" {Bella}....keeps asking where she is, she even kindly picked out a piece of candy from her potty prize sack to give to Bella (and then ate it herself). Speaking of potty training....she is doing great....definitely making progress, even going #2 now. Yeah....diapers may be gone soon!

In scrapbooking news, I entered another design team contest and was one of three {I think}picked. This is a monthly club...so I will be getting supplies each and every month. Just trying to support my habit. Will post more about that when I know more details.

Well....Emma seems to be taking a very long nap, need to go check on her. Have a good day.

It worked.

(click to make larger)
So this is the layout I was trying to upload yesterday. Finally worked. It talks about our time over Christmas last year, traveling, living out of suitcases, filling our car more full with stuff with each stop. It will be fun to have a Christmas tree again. Although I always just hate putting the thing away after it is all over with. I think I will put it in the front room....the Christmas tree gets it own room....that should work. Emma should be excited, this will be her first year participating with putting on ornaments, etc. She keeps asking about Christmas....."Is it God's birthday today?" Me: "no, at Christmas" Her: In a very cute, amazed voice "ohhhhh, Christmas?". {Repeat this conversation almost everyday}.

I came across this blog awhile back called Ah yes Medical School . It cracks me up. Don't open it if you don't enjoy talking about blood, guts, and bodily functions. It seems like that's all I talk about all day {bodily functions anyway.....parents are very obsessed with the whole topic} so I'm kind of immune to the stuff. But anyway this guy is a third year med student and has apparently been blogging his way through it all. I've only read bits and pieces here and there, but the stuff he talks about is so universal, it's like reliving your whole experience {without the pain and suffering of course}. Anyway, I find it rather amusing.

Anyway, that is all for tonight. Have a good day.

It's Betty's day

Well, I tried to post a layout tonight, but it refused to upload it. So I give up. Instead you get to gaze on the beauty of Betty the crazy Idaho Cat. I believe it is her birthday. I can't remember. I know it is sometime this week.....maybe today, possibly tomorrow. I'm not a very good mom. She is turning 2...just like Emma. Betty has had quite a year. She traveled 1500 miles all freaked out in a Ford F250 diesel truck, she survived Big Grandma's basement for 3 weeks, she then lived at the old people's home for 6 weeks and finally freedom in our lovely wild yard. She made a trip to the vet for a infected foot and got "high" off of pain medicine. She continues to paw at the door like a complete idiot when she wants in or out. She likes to bring gifts to the front porch of moles and mice. She likes to bother the girls in the middle of the night. So anyway, that is Betty's life in brief over the past year. Happy Birthday kitty.

Speaking of Idaho....a year ago, I was frantically packing up our whole house {while working full time, being on call, momming full time, etc, etc}. We moved out over the Thanksgiving weekend and were "homeless" until mid February. Hard to believe that was already a year ago.......time flies. And what is so sad about the fact that we moved a year ago......still have a ton of boxes in the garage that haven't been unpacked. We have no pictures up in our house. I have two rooms painted, the rest of the house is stark glow in the dark white. I have one set of curtains up in my office and the bathroom still has it's baby blanket up as a curtain....the rest of the windows are naked. We have no furniture in the front room. Maybe someday.......perhaps I'll get motivated. We do have some grass in the yard now.....I guess that is progress.

In potty training news {I know....you all have been waiting so expectantly for this} I think we are making progress. I am definitely seeing her making an effort. Usually it is doing the "potty dance" jumping and running around saying "my can't pee in my underwear". Yesterday we even did the "poopy dance" and she actually did it in the toilet.

Bella is looking forward to Wednesday when Grandma Cindy Lou is coming to spend time at school. They are doing a play for the grandparents and she is super proud to know her lines without even looking.

Hawks win! Hawks win! {basketball....over #8 Kentucky}. Gotta like that. However....you can't get too excited as it is November and we always do very well every November. There is still plenty of time for half the team to quit, get arrested, play terrible, and end up 8-10 in the Big Ten and miss the NCAAs. {don't I have a positive attitude?} Play Texas tomorrow....think they are #2.

Have a good day.

I'm back

These are photos of Emma from summer 2004. She loves to draw just like her big sister.

Well the situation that I have been so upset about seems to be resolving itself. It unfortunately, is something I do not have ANY control over and it is not the way I would have wanted it, but I am not the boss. Guess the Big Guy upstairs has other plans.

That is all I can muster tonight. Have a good one.

Stress

I'm a bit {a lot} stressed about a certain situation in my life.....so any thoughts, prayers, "good vibes" anyone wants to send my way would be appreciated =). So that is all for tonight, going to go sit in my warm cozy bed and try to relax.

Gotta love the weather

So this is a view from my front porch tonight. A few days ago there were thunderstorms and tornadoes, prior to that it was sunny and 70 for many days. Tomorrow there is a high of 25 with 50 mph winds. Not really enjoying this too much.

Had a cute conversation tonight with Emma. We were eating supper when she started saying "owie". I asked her if she burnt herself. She said, "no, I ate myself". It made me giggle.

Anyway, I have absolutely nothing to say tonight other than I am looking forward to summer. How sad is that? Have a good night.

Reliving the past

Hard to believe...but this was almost 2 years ago. Time flies. My little Emma is soon going to be three {3 1/2 months}. She still LOVES to swing. Unfortunately, I hate it. Hate pushing the swing, hate standing there. I'm a bad mom =(.

Bella and I were looking at an old photo album from high school tonight. I don't think she realized that I had a life before she was born. She was quite impressed with my senior year banquet {prom like function} dress, thought it was very beautiful. If I remember correctly, I paid $15 dollars for it, tried to dye it black with Rit dye {it turned a dark blackish/purplish/gray}. I don't know that beautiful was a word for it. She was a little confused that I had a boyfriend named Noah and where was Daddy and why did I marry him instead? I think she was surprised to see pictures of me running, playing basketball, softball, etc. And she was very surprised to see Grandma with gray hair. Oh yes, someone requested a photo of my high school big hair. Gotta think about that one. It is pretty embarrassing so I'm going to hold off on that for now.

Anyway....I'm tired again. Gotta go sleep.

Not much going on.

This is a picture of Bella this fall in the middle of a soccer game. She just scored a goal....saw that I was taking a picture and stopped to pose. She has always loved the camera.

So we bought the "tar" (guitar) for Emma this weekend when she went #2 in the potty. Little good it did as about 2 hours later she decided to have an accident. I think the "tar" was a little premature and needs to go in the closet for awhile.

Well it seems that our abnormal weather is gone....after all those tornadoes came through yesterday...the wind and cold air came. Sure am going to miss those 70s. It was lovely while it was here....spring is sure a LONG way away though. That is all for tonight....have a good day.

I'm on call

I'm on call today. Lots of calls. Bella and I were just discussing how to clean goopy belly buttons of babies. She has been listening to me talk to parents. She has been scrapbooking while I am talking. We are actually posting one of her layouts {see below}. She thinks scrapbooking is super fun. The layout above is from her "graduation" from kindergarten. I always think of Mr. Incredible when I think about her graduation. In the movie he talks about how we keep coming up with ways to celebrate mediocrity {in regards to his kids "graduation"}. I kind of agree, but it was a fun day anyway. The layout below is my version of a photo taken of Bella at Club Libby Lu and then of course Bella's version.


Bella's first online scrapbook page. She has a few others she has made....maybe I'll post them every now and then.

Some cool news (if you are a scrapbook nerd)

This is the first page I have ever done about myself. Decided I should do that as my kids might like to see more about my life some day. I hate this photo {sorry mom, I know it's your favorite}. A larger than life color copy of this photo was in the entry to the clinic for months....it was terrible. I wasn't smiling very nicely because I still had those nasty braces on my teeth and didn't think I'd look very professional with all the metal shining in the picture. The little book talks about all the jobs I have had and how I finally got my first "real" job.

In other scrapbooking news, I opened my email tonight to some really cool news. A layout I submitted was accepted and is going to be published in a Creating Keepsakes "School Memories" book. This will be my first time ever published. Creating Keepsakes is kind of the "cool" scrapbook magazine, so that is why I called it kind of cool {if you are a big nerd like me}. It is a layout I'm not even that crazy about, but oh well.....they must have liked it enough. I think I even get paid for this =). I am unable to tell you which one, as then they might have to kill me.....so you'll have to wait until the book comes out {no clue when that is}.

I can't think of anything else to say right now.....have a good day!

Famous Bella

Bella is now famous. She entered a Halloween coloring contest and won her age group. Her picture was in the paper today (see above second row, middle). She is quite proud of herself. She won some movie passes. I thought it was only for school kids, so Emma didn't enter. Had she I'm sure she would have kicked Carter Phillip's butt in the 2 year old division =).

We are still working on potty training. Emma is doing pretty well and has been dry for the past few days. It is the going #2 that is the problem. She says, "she can't". She has her toy all picked out though when she finally decides to go. Number one on the list is a "tar" (guitar---would make grandpa and uncle B. proud), followed closely by a drum and lastly a Buzz Lightyear. We'll see what she chooses should it ever come about. In other cute Emma news, I bought a rotisserie chicken the other night and gave both her and Bella a leg from it. Emma was quite concerned about the "huge seed" (bone) in it. Guess she has never had chicken on the bone before.

I made a lovely homemade mac and cheese tonight. VERY bad for you, but VERY good. Maybe, I'll post it tomorrow for any mac and cheese lovers out there. Until then, I am tired and must go to bed. Adios.

A good weekend

We had a good weekend...nice and slow, no soccer, no obligations. My kind of weekend. The girls and I cleaned the upstairs on Saturday A.M. It took quite a bit longer than I anticipated. I had Bella pick up her room a few days prior to that and when I really looked a bit closer at it, realized that she had pretty much just shoved everything into whatever crevices she could find....under beds, dresser, bookcase. Oh well....guess that's how kids clean. Then we went to the mall area ate at one of our favorite restaurants (Z 'mariks--there is one in I.C. too), went to Best Buy to look for a computer game and then of course to Target. Can't go out and not go to Target.

I made the above layout the other night. This is the first one ever that has had me and Kent in it. Occasionally we make an appearance, but until now never the four of us all together. The scan is a little messed up, but you can get the picture. In other scrapbooking news, I entered another contest last week. I wasn't one of the three chosen, but I did get an "honorable mention". I have been asked to be a guest designer at their site for either Jan or Feb. Rustic Artisans is the name of the site. Will post more info when I know it.

Made a good recipe tonight for supper. It is a keeper. Sorry for you vegetarian readers out there, but it is a chicken dish =). It is from Cooking Light magazine.

Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Sandwichs with Fontina Cheese
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 T Dijon mustard
2 tsp extravirgin olive oil
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
5 garlic cloves, minced and divided
Cooking spray
1 cup vertically sliced onion
1 tsp sugar
3/4 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 (7 oz) bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained and sliced
1 T red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 (12 oz) loaf rosemary focaccia, cut in half horizontally
4 tsp low-fat mayonnaise
3 oz fontina cheese, thinly sliced

1. Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and pound to 3/4 inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
2. Combine juice, mustard, oil, marjoram, thyme, 1 garlic clove, and chicken in a large zip-top bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add remaining 4 garlic cloves, onion, sugar, fennel, crushed red pepper, and salt, and saute 1 minute. Add roasted bell peppers; cook 5 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring frequently. Stir in vinegar and black pepper.
4. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
5. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side or until done. Cool slightly; cut chicken into slices.
6. Spread cut sides of bread evenly with mayonnaise. Arrange cheese on bottom half of bread. Arrange chicken and pepper mixture over the cheese. Top with top half of bread; press slightly.
7. Place stuffed loaf on grill rack; grill 3 minutes on each side or until cheese melts. Cut into quarters. Yield: 4 servings 462 cal. 12.2 g fat

I made a few changes to it either because I forgot to buy the appropriate ingredients, couldn't find the called for ingredients, can't seem to read the directions appropriately and am just plain lazy. I used white-wine vinegar instead of red, asiago instead of fontina cheese, cayenne pepper instead of crushed (that's the one I misread) and was too lazy to walk outside and start the grill so I cooked everything on the stove top and then baked it in a 450 oven for about 5-10 minutes. It turned out well.

Have a wonderful day!

Something is very wrong with me

{Layout removed for publication}




I made this tonight. It was quite fun. I am rather fond of it. Used my Paper Heart Studio papers again. It is miss Emma when she was a few weeks old (before she became obese). Such a beautiful baby, such a beautiful girl now too =).

Well as you might have read in my title, there seems to be something terribly wrong with me. As some of you know I have been working out since August and have done 5 days per week each and every week. That's weird just by itself. But, I have been getting frustrated as I don't always have time to workout as much as I would like to. Because of that time issue, I tend to skimp on the cardio and mainly do the weights. I hate cardio....it hurts =). So because of my relative cardio neglect, I now have nice muscle that is covered with approximately the same amount of fat as before. So I do look better, but still am frustrated with the coating of fat. Anyway, for some reason, and I have no idea why, I got up a bit early today and actually did some stairs (run up, walk down) for about 10-15 minutes. How weird it that? I HATE, I repeat HATE getting up in the morning any earlier than I have to. Therefore....something must be wrong with me. That said....I'm tired from my excursion this morning, so I will say goodnight (probably not going to do it tomorrow either--need my rest).

Nice 1/2 day off

Here is one I made last night with my Paper Heart Studio paper. Emma is 4.5 months in the picture....thought she looked pretty cute!

This afternoon I actually had some adult conversation not related to snotty noses, fevers, constipation, bad behavior, vomiting or teething....just to name a few. It was kind of nice. Went with a friend out to eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant. Then I went to the scrapbook store (shocking I know!)....but the thing is in my stack of 3000 sheets of paper, I am lacking in plain white cardstock. So that was the purpose of my trip and I am proud to say that I did quite well, bought about 10 sheets of paper and a book.

Anyone know how to fix scratched up CDs and DVDs? I have too many around here, too many sticky fingers, too many years spent in the car being tossed around.

Have a wonderful day!

Play-doh in my belly

Here is a layout I made recently. Paper is from Paper Heart Studio. This is Bella in 2001 (about 2 3/4 years old) on the beach in Door County, WI. I printed the picture on textured cardstock....kind of gives it that dreamy look =).

The girls were looking at their scrapbooks tonight. Emma and I had a little conversation about one of the pages. We were looking at a picture of when I was pregnant with her. Me: "Look at mama's tummy, it's so big....what do you think is in there?" Emma (very seriously): "play-doh". Then she just kept flipping the page. It was kind of cute.

Really nothing else exciting to report. Sorry....maybe tomorrow.