Finally...did it work?

So I will try to recreate my post from last night that disappeared....Anyway the first photo is of Emma getting ready to go. I let Emma choose what we were going to do yesterday, except for 2 things....working out and the grocery store.


Our first stop was the gym where she so very nicely played, running around, covering babies, running around, starting the whole cycle again. She seemed to have fun.






Next, we went to Applebee's where Emma enjoyed nutrious fried chicken and french fries.




She wanted to go to the car wash next, so that we did. Here she is enjoying the sprayer spraying her window.




Our next stop was Target. Here she is exploring the toys. She spent much of the time singing Happy Birthday to herself. I let her pick out a toy. She chose a barbie mermaid kit complete with purse, sunglasses, shoes.




Our next stop was Hy-vee (where she didn't want to go because she wasn't hungry). She kept throwing random objects in the cart. I let her keep the colorful marshmallows which you see in the next picture (along with the purse and shoes)

Here she is watching Dora clutching the new purse.



Ending the evening was story time with Bella and finally in her own bed, looking at a book in the dark and listening to the Wiggles to fall asleep. Overall a successful birthday!




In other news, I was quoted in the paper today about the new Rotavirus vaccine that will be coming out soon. I'm famous! Now maybe people will read that and come flocking to the clinic....Hmmm, I can always hope. Have a good day!

Bad Blogger

So...Last night I posted this very long post regarding Emma's birthday complete with many lovely photos from our day yesterday. However.....blogger decided to just throw my post away giving me an error message. Nothing left of it. It was late and it took me forever to upload those photos so I didn't try again. I will try tonight though. Sorry. Anyway the only other thing I said was about one of my layouts being requested for a book (www.cantatabooks.com). They also may want to use it in marketing the book....so that is kind of cool. Anyway, have a good day and I will try again tonight.

An eventful weekend

Had a busy weekend. Bella had her last basketball game of the season. She is already asking to sign up again...this from a girl who wanted nothing to do with it to begin with.

Went to a new church today.....really liked it. Not sure why we haven't been looking around before. Laziness I guess. Been going to a church we are not really crazy about for over a year.

Here is a layout of Bella from Halloween...made it on Friday I think?


So tomorrow is Emma's third birthday. We did some celebrating today though. First we went to Chuck E. Cheese as that is where she wanted to go. I hate that place. It was a mad house. Just went for the games though....no eating of the yucky pizza. Emma wanted a quesedilla so we went to a mexican restaurant. Here she is eating chips and queso dip. She ate a TON! She loves chips, salsa and cheese dip.

Here is Bella also enjoying the food.

They sang to Emma and she got a brownie and ice cream.

Here we are at home with more cake and ice cream. Emma blowing out her candles. On the way home she kept talking about having an Elmo cake which is kind of amazing because that was from her birthday last year and we haven't spoke of it since. Good memory for a 2 year old! This cake was just a pull off of the shelf grocery store cake since I am too lazy to make one myself.

Emma showing off her green tongue from eating the green icing. She has a lovely Dora Party Hat on.

Why did you buy your child dishtowels for her birthday? ...you might ask yourself. Well see, Emma has an obsession with dishtowels, handtowels, etc and will steal them from wherever she might find them....towel rack, kitchen counter, laundry. No towel is safe when Emma is around. She uses them to cover up her babies. Now she has her own personal dishtowels and hopefully mine will no longer be needed. My mom had the same idea...so now she has a whole fleet of dishtowels to wrap her babies in.

That is all for today. I am taking the day off tomorrow to spend with Emma. I asked her what she wanted to do and of course the answer was, "Go to Target". So I guess we will be going to Target tomorrow. And if all holds true to her current behavior trends she will be very upset unless we go "two places"...so we will try to find another place to go also. Have a good day.

Is it summer yet?

Just a quick layout of my Emma enjoying the water and sun last summer. She very frequently talks about summer and how she likes it hot outside.....can't wait until it is here.

Target is evil

So I went for my weekly Target fix today. Went to buy shampoo and conditioner. Well over an hour later and gazillions of dollars I left. What did I buy? Let's see. I bought Emma a new Dora DVD as she is completely obsessed with Dora {in fact she called me Dora the other night....she thought that was funny} and I'm tired of listening to the "sticky tape" episode. So if you buy Emma something....It is required that you buy Bella something. She got a book and an American Girl quiz book. I then had to buy a video for myself. I didn't really watch any particular show on TV until about 3 weeks ago when I caught an episode of Grey's anatomy. Now I am apparently hooked. Had to buy the first season to catch up....
My life as a doc is not nearly as exciting as theirs...maybe it is the surgeon thing. Any surgeons wish to comment?
Lets see....also made the mistake of walking through the furniture aisle where they had some kids storage units on clearance....which I have been meaning to get for the past year (you all know my issues with actually accomplishing any decorating in my house). Well I couldn't pass up $20 off of each of them, so I bought 2 for the girls and a bookcase for me...gonna use it as a nightstand. Of course I couldn't leave without a magazine. Oh yes...and I did remember to buy the shampoo, but forgot laundry detergent.
Then I went next door to Kohls. I have had my current running shoes for at least a year and since I have actually been running in them decided to buy some new ones. I like to do this at Kohls as I have never had to pay over $40 for a pair, and seeing that I continue to spend my life savings at Target every week, I can only afford $40 for a pair of shoes. Here they are in all their pink and black glory.

And finally, I went back to the glorious HyVee to see if it really was as glorious as I originally thought. It was. You can almost browse in there it is so cool. I also found my salsa there as well so I am super excited {bought some Starla salsa too to try....can never have too much good salsa}
Spent the rest of the evening assembling fake furntiture. I am a professional fake furniture putter together-er. Maybe someday I will be able to buy real furniture and someone else will assemble/move/whatever it. Anyway that is all for now, have a good day.

Blowing Bubbles

*Just a layout I made tonight....it didn't scan very well at all. Not sure if I like it or not....the picture is cute though.
*Bella had parent teacher conferences tonight. She of course is doing very well. The only thing she once again needs to work on is not talking at inappropriate times to her friends. She is reading 116 words per minute at a third grade level {with the goal being 40 words per minutes at a 1st grade level}. Nothing else to report there.
* There will be no bodybugg update tomorrow. My trainer cancelled on me. Oh well....I don't think I did very well again this week....so I will have another week to recover.
*Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon off....seems that I live for Wed afternoons and weekends.
* That is all for now, have a good day.

The progression of a child's anxiety

These pictures are of Emma at Bella's Basketball game this weekend. She wanted me to pick her up. Being the good mother that I am, I took her picture instead. Note the progression of anxiety {that pink thing is my shirt}. By the way...I did pick her up after I snapped these....she was quite happy with that =).




So I think my party was actually a success.....people actually showed up, which I was very greatful for. I was concerned that it would only be me and my sister. I bought some cute stamps and I got a bunch of free ones too!!! Gotta like that! Nothing much else to report this evening. Gotta go put some socks on.....it is cold in this house {and a balmy zero degrees outside....can someone explain how you can have a 60+ degree temp differential in one week?}

A quick one

***Decided to scrap the picture I posted last night. I think it turned out nice....but what layout wouldn't with such a cute subject?
***It was 62 degrees here on Tuesday, tomorrow it's supposed to feel like -30 with the windchill....how terrible is that?
***I weighed myself today at the gym....down 1.5 lbs since yesterday, think I like that number better.
***Bella is sick....think I need to take her for a strep test tomorrow...poor girl.
***People keep canceling for my stampin' up party....think I'm going to be the only one there....wonder if I can spend $150 to get my free hostess gift =).
***I am the only one at the office this week....really liking it, like being busy....wish my partner would retire {not going to happen}.
***I would sincerely like to thank all of the "newer" people who have commented on this blog....truly makes me happy. Feel free to comment more often. And to my old faithfuls...thank-you also, don't want to make you feel left out =).
***That is all for now. Have a good day.

Another Wednesday Afternoon at Target

Super cute picture of my Emma taken yesterday afternoon {altered a bit in photoshop e.}. Hard to believe she is going to be three soon. So grown up.

So I visited my trainer today. According to that nasty scale I didn't loose anything. I really don't think I cheated so...who knows? Maybe some water weight? We'll just call it that and look forward to next week =).

So anyway, after my workout I went to my favorite store....Target. Wanted to buy birthday presents for Emma. While there I tried on swimsuits {thinking of going somewhere warm for spring break}. Bad idea. I hate swimsuits. Let's just get this straight...even though I am trying to lose some fat and have already lost about 10 pounds....I am not a big person. But would someone please tell me why in the world can I fit into size 6 pants {just brought them out of storage =) } but can't fit into a medium bottom in a swimsuit. No.....to fully cover my bottom I need a XL. What the heck? Maybe these are made for those teeny teenage girls? That's what I'm going to tell myself. It's probably just that I have a large butt......but it makes me feel better to say the other. I refuse to buy a size zero top and and XL bottoms. That's just not right. So needless to say, I left Target without buying any swimwear. I did buy the INXS CD with the song Pretty Vegas on it. While I was trying on the swimsuits the lyrics "It ain't pretty" from that song kept going through my head....so in honor of my swimsuit failure, I bought that =). Also got Emma some cute things for her birthday and managed to spend plenty of money anyway. I am also pleased to report that those who might be coming to my stampin' up party and feel the need to use the bathroom will be able to do so in privacy as the baby blanket window shade will be coming down tomorrow if all goes well. The shade has arrived and is waiting for installation. Also....more exciting bathroom news....I bought a TP stand so you will no longer have to locate the toilet paper {it seems to run off quite frequently} and there is now a dedicated towel for that bathroom as well {Emma has been very clearly instructed not to steal it}. It only took a little over one year to accomplish all of that....better late than never. Anyway that is all for tonight. Adios.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Took this picture tonight (outside!!!! what great weather!!!!) and decided to use some new stuff I acquired to make this layout. {what can I say....I'm a sucker for attractive marketing.... Look here } That's all for now. Bodybugg update tomorrow.

Valentines day, a pizza and a wedding

Here are my girlies frantically trying to open the box
that arrived from the great metropolis of Frytown today. They were quite pleased with its contents....thank you Cindy Lou!

Here is a photo of our supper tonight. Bella {the great hater of tomatoes, but lover of all tomato products} declared it to be an A++++++++ supper. Guess she liked it. Here is the recipe:
Garden Tomato and Basil Pesto Pizza {from Cooking Light magazine}
1 (12 oz) prebaked pizza crust
Cooking Spray
2 T commercial pesto
1 cup (4 oz) tinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
2 cups chopped tomato (about 2 large)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced basil
1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Spray crust with cooking spray.
3. Place crust on a baking sheet; bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Spread pesto evenly over crust, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Top with mozzarella cheese slices and tomato; sprinkly with pepper. Bake at 450 for 5 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is golden. Sprinkle with basil.
Yield: 4 servings (1/4 pizza) 377 calories 13.5 g fat 14.8 g protein 48.1 carb 24 mg chol 3.2 mg iron 687 mg sodium 209 mg calcium

And finally to end the evening another layout made from the February Scrappy Giraffe kit . Taken on our wedding day so long ago. The first page I have ever made about us. Strange, huh?

Another weekend gone

I know I say this every Sunday evening....but jeesh...the weekend just goes by too quickly. And I think I'm on call tomorrow...yuck. Guess I'm not complaining too much about my call...as only if I were a dermatologist would it be easier, but I still could do without it.

The above layout was again made with the February Scrappy Giraffe Kit . Seems to look better in person....but I guess they all do. When I was looking through old pictures at Grandma's house this past Christmas I think that egg carton christmas tree has been hanging every Christmas since the 1970s. My Grandma doesn't like to throw anything away....even if it is ugly =). Also a picture of Grandma's fluff...always a favorite at every holiday.

I went to the bank today to put some money in...so ended up going again to a different grocery store. This one wasn't quite as exciting as the Hy-Vee in Ankeny, but look what I found
I know that doesn't mean much to many of you, but I'm kind of picky with my salsa. I strongly feel that the people who make Pace and all of the similar salsas should be embarrassed to call their product salsa and shouldn't be allowed to sell it...hate that stuff. I found a great salsa in Idaho too..... El Pinto I even ordered a case of the stuff since we moved. Anyway.....that is all for now. Have a good one.

Fish and Candy

Here is a lovely painting by the great Isabella. I thought it was quite beautiful. She is quite the artist...always drawing something.

Well, as I am typing I am eating candy. I have truly loved candy, not obsessively, but I wouldn't turn it down if offered to me. In fact, I love Halloween and trick-or-treating....enjoy stealing candy from my kids =). Since I've been on my "diet" I haven't hardly had any. Now I actually do eat chocolate frequently....just a bit. It has antioxidants in it, especially the dark variety....and who am I to argue with antioxidants? In my mind, chocolate is a health food...not candy. So currently I am having Dots . These have always been an all time favorite of mine. However, as I eat my one serving of dots {which by the way is only 12 measly pieces} I am not impressed. They are incredibly sweet, too sweet and I can honestly say I don't think they are worth the calories. Wow....can't believe I just said that. Never thought those words would come from my mouth. So....I think I won't go out of my way to eat candy anytime in the near future. That's all for now. Adios.

Quick one

Nothing much tonight....very tired, Emma has been sleeping poorly....bugging me at night. Part of her obnoxious phase I think.

Had another training session today. I lost another pound. That is 9.5 lbs total since I started. Yeah!!! Almost to my goal. My body fat is just right at the upper limit of "healthy". He stretched me out again today. Feels good after it is done...but during....not so much.

I am going to be having a stampin' up party on February 18th at 2:30 p.m. www.stampinup.com If you live in Iowa and are reading this...you are required to be there. You don't have to buy anything, but you must come. If nothing else, you can come to my house, eat some food, play with some stamps, see me....what could be better? =)

Anyway....gotta go. Have a good evening.

Nothing much

Another layout from the February 2006 Scrappy Giraffe kit . The picture was a mistake....but I kind of like it now. Makes her look super speedy.

Well it seems that Emma is getting all of her "terrible twos" out now....only three weeks to go til that is over...she better shape up soon. She has been terribly obnoxious lately. Kind of annoying....want my little sweetie back. In other Emma news, she was bit by some obnoxious kid at daycare today. Apparently just came up and bit her in the stomach for no reason. Left teeth marks and everything. Lovely.

Well tomorrow is the next bodybugg update...hopefully I will have progressed some, we'll see.
That's all for now...except for one more thing. To my sister-in-law in VA who shall remain unnamed....your email doesn't like my email. Haved tried three times to send you a email and it just keeps rejecting it. Sent it to Brian and told him to forward it to you. Hope you got it. Feel free to comment here...I know you are dying to.

Scrapbook and grocery shopping

More supplies from the February 2006 Scrappy Giraffe kit . This is the house I spent my first 11 3/4 years in. Then we moved 5 feet into our new much sturdier house my dad built. Trying to scrap some childhood stuff.

So you know you have a scrapbooking problem when you go to the scrapbook store and can't find anything to buy because you basically own everything of interest that is in that particular store. I left with a package of rubons and some glue {and a magazine...you know my magazine problem...that's another issue}.

Across the street from the scrapbooking store is a big large Hy-Vee {Iowa/NE grocery chain}. Holy crap....I was in grocery store heaven. I have not shopped at a real grocery store for quite some time and it was lovely. Produce as far as the eye could see...more than one type of apple to choose from, fresh herbs...multiple kinds, other kinds of mushrooms other than button...it just went on and on. A cheese refrigerator full of fancy cheeses bigger than the regular cheese aisle at my puny little Hy-Vee. Pita bread, foccacia, etc. Tons of meat if you are into that sort of thing. A big area full of organic stuff/health food stuff. Nothing was out of stock, I left with EVERYTHING on my list {wish I had made it bigger}. Yipee!!!!! I totally forgot what it was like to leave a grocery store with a happy feeling instead of an "I can't believe they don't have _________ (fill in the blank with multiple items)" Oh yeah.....a great magazine section too =). There was the floral shop and a bank and a video store and a picture processing place and a salad bar and a starbucks. WOW!!!!!!! Alright....yes you officially know how sad my life is now that you can see how excited I get about a grocery store....but I have not been in such a lovely one since July of 2003 when I lived in Iowa City. I may just have to make the effort to go there instead. It sucks though as it is about 19 miles from my garage to their parking lot (90% by interstate) instead of the probably 5 miles to my piece of crap grocery store. Oh well....such is life living out in the "country". Well that is all for now. Have a good day. Oh and by the way for all of you slackers that don't comment...it is breaking my heart. I live for comments. =).

Monday already?

Why oh why do the weekends go by so quickly? I am just not ready to go back to work tomorrow. No good holidays coming up either to get a day off. I am going to take Emma's birthday off in a few weeks and then the end of March I am taking Bella's spring break off. Might try to go on a vacation. But that just seems too far away. Yuck. Who invented the two day weekend anyway....shouldn't it be longer?


Anyway....here is another layout from the February Scrappy Giraffe Kit . The photos were taken Christmas 2004. Just found them a day or so ago stuffed in a Christmas card....thought they were cute.

Emma seems to be much better. She is on medicine now....heard a bunch of crud in her lungs (like that technical medical term?). I really try not to treat my own kids....but as I was the only one in the clinic on Friday, I was the only one available to treat her. Oh well. She was completely obnoxious today so definitely feeling better.

That is all for now....have a good Monday.

Emma is sick

Not going to post much tonight. My Emma is so very sick. She is sitting on my lap right now. She really hasn't moved since we got home, has a fever, not well at all. Very unlike her not to move. Anyway, the above layout is from the Scrappy Giraffe February 2006 kit Maybe will have more time tomorrow--see ya.

No picture tonight

Sorry...tried to post a picture, but blogger is not cooperating tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

I am happy to report that in approximately 11 business days, my bathroom will have a permanent blind on it. Just went with a plain white one....durawood.....fancy way for saying fake wood. I had to custom order it because our windows are not a standard size...isn't that lovely? Means I get to spend more money to cover them up. That would partly explain why none of them have anything on them (except here in my office).

Yesterday, I found out as I was looking through the phonebook that someone screwed up and our clinic is not listed (clinic administration knew this....just didn't bother to tell us...maybe we weren't supposed to find out?) That's right, we are not in the phonebook. I about died. Not only am I struggling to get patients....even if they happen to know we exist (which many don't since we refuse to advertise, obviously not by my choice) they would have to figure out how to call us. And anyone who is looking for a pediatrician under the "Pediatrician" heading in the phone book will see NO mention of our clinic. Very upsetting. I guess I'll just add this to my list of "Why you need to prolong my guaranteed salary". I got a big one going.

That is all for tonight. I'll try to put my picture on tomorrow...maybe after Bella's basketball practice and our weekly trip to Subway (which by the way is about the only place you can eat out at on a 1500 calorie diet). Adios.

Bodybugg update

This is the third line from paper heart studio. It is called shortcake. I struggle with this paper....so here is the only layout I have made with it. Not the best....but the subject sure is cute. This was Emma last summer having a little tea party on the deck.

So today at my trainer appointment I lost another 1.5 pounds. That makes a total of 8.5 since I started about 5 weeks ago. I'm pretty pleased. Getting closer to my goal all the time. I can really tell a difference....clothes are getting baggy, I actually have some muscle definition in my arms (don't believe I have ever had that) and praise god my butt is getting smaller =). So today we also did some stretching of my incredibly tight hamstrings, hip flexors, etc. I have never ever been one of those limber girls....doing the splits, laying their face flat on the floor while stretching, etc. etc. And since I have new muscle and never, ever stretch (I hate it!!!!!!!) I am even tighter than ever. So that was one of the most painful things I have felt in a long time....maybe not since labor with Bella.....might even be close to that.

Well, that is all for tonight. Hope you are all having a good day!