DECK

Hank and his family have made big progress over the past 2 days on the deck. All the hand rail is up and the tub is wired. There is still more to do, but now we can enjoy it. Hank nailed up scrap boards so Hayden can run freely, its nice

Next id lightins and concete. . Moe to come...

HELP:>

So, I need some motivation. Last Novermber I started running and I lost over 20lbs. The last few weeks have not been good and I am up 8 lbs. Working 5 days a week has affected my running, I can't find the best time. I am not as physically active, so I am more hungry. I can eat all day, I am like an empty pit. I am frustrated with myself and can see me creeping back up towards my previous weight. Does anyone have any good advice or motivation. Too bad I can't get the gout.

Baby Stuff, Goodbye!

I finally did it, I gave all of my baby stuff away. Stroller, 2 car seats, pack and play, 2 bouncy seats, monitors, clothes, toys, ect. went to Sarah for my new nephew who is coming in December. It was bittersweet. I carried it all upstairs, thinking about never being pregnant again. Never bringing home a new baby or experiencing the "firsts" again. Knowing Hayden is my last and everyday he is getting bigger and more independent. As I was carrying up the items and reminiscing, I was a little worried I may want another baby. Then, Emily started yelling and Hayden crying and I realized how stupid I was acting. I am extremely fortunate to have a daughter and a son and for them to be healthy and happy.
I quickly handed over all my things and prayed to God I never again feel like I need them.

Handy Smirff and Jesus

Today Emily and I were talking when she said "you know mama, Handy Smirff is like Jesus, well you know, invisible. I of course said, yes I know. She then informed me Hayden wasn't really Hayden, he was a robot and Handy Smirff had made him. I asked where the real Hayden was, she told me he was still in my belly (I must be bloated). I asked her if she liked Handy Smirff and she said "Yes, he's beautiful and he makes beautiful stuff just like Jesus". Okay then!

I think Emily may be the first individual to link Handy Smirff to Jesus.

While looking at the smirffs on-line, I found the following questions.

Top 10 Things Inquiring Minds Want to Know

10. Exactly where was the smurf village located?

9. Was Smurfette a real blonde?

8. Did Gargamel have dental insurance?

7. How did Hefty smurf stay in such great shape and would he be willing to share some of his health and fitness tips with us?

6. Does Handy Smurf plan on creating a hybrid version of the smurfmobile?

5. Did you only have one pair of red pants and red hat that you wore over and over again, or did you have 7 pairs of the exact same outfit?

4. Where did you receive your training for magic potions and spells?

3. If Brainy smurf was so smart, why was he always wrong?

2. Was Lazy smurf ever checked for a thyroid disorder?

1. Where was mama smurf, and why did you have so many kids?

Now Presenting....

Hayden Baltzell with his new hair cut. Hank, Hayden and I went to get hair cuts yesterday. I was running late, big shocker, so Hank took Hayden and I met them 5 minutes later. 5 MINUTES is all it took for Hank to have Laura cut off all of Hayden's hair. I walked in and saw Hank holding Hayden with a skinned head. Good thing I liked it, I think Hayden kinda resembles his dad now.

Day 4

Today Hank, Travis, and his dad Dick worked on the deck. Of course, as soon as they really got going, the hall called for Hank to go to work. But, they got a lot done in a short amount of time. The hot tub got its deck and privacy fence, and the back side of the privacy fence got its lattice. I am so excited and so is Hank, he thinks we may need to submit a photo of the finished product to Better Homes and Gardens. I think its pretty darn good for a couple of Boilermakers.

Thank goodness for Friday

Whew, its been a week. I have cried, laughed crazy, and even threw around the idea of needing medication, but its OVER! To top off the week, Hank and I are going out to eat with a group of great friends. We both need a night out to let loose. I am more excited about girl talk than anything. I have missed my weekly class meeting to talk about husbands, sex, kids, or whatever. I think a little adult play is just what I need to recharge. Hope everyone else has a great weekend.

The hot tub is here

Our hot tub is set and the deck is started. I am so excited. Hank is doing a great job and soon I will be able to come home from a long day, feed the kids, bathe the kids, put the kids to bed, and then join my husband in our hot tub for drinks. Also, I will be able to grill a hamburger. Since I haven't had a grill all summer, I can't get enough of them. More pictures to come...

I'm a seller

I posted my first sell on e-bay yesterday. We'll see how it goes, so far no bids. If it doesn't go well I am going to try Once Upon a Child. If anyone knows of someone with a little girl who would like to look before I take it to OUAC, let me know.

My pity party

The last few days have been rough. It seems like I can feel a bad day coming and I can't stop it.
Yesterday started with my urine drug test for school. I went to the local health department and I couldn't pee, no pee no test. So, after an hour and a half and 2 bottles of H2O I finally had enough to finish the test. I arrived to work an hour and a half late and my day was down hill from there. The harder I tried to work the day out, the worse I messed up. I was glad when yesterday was over and today started, but it was just as bad.
I sure hope tomorrow is better, I am praying for it. Twelve hours of hospital work should cure me, or kick my butt so hard I am begging for Monday morning at the clinic. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Need your advice

As many of you know, Janice Baltzell (my sister-in-law) and Sarah Jackson (my brothers girlfriend) are both having boys this fall/winter. That takes the tally to 6 boys and 1 girl. I have been saving all of Emily's cute clothes for someone, but I don't see it happening any time soon and I am ready to clean house. I have totes upon totes of little girl clothes from ages 3months on up. I am thinking about putting them on e-bay, but I don't know how time consuming it may be or how hard it is to list items. I am looking for a solution and a garage sale is not an option. Has anyone opened an e-bay store or had good luck at 2nd hand stores?

Its finally happening

After 2 months of "planning" our deck is finally taking shape. At this point, I would take a few bricks out the back door with a grill set on it. I love my husband but it takes him forever to start a project. Thank goodness for my father-in-law, he always gets the guys going and usually finishes their projects for them.

Hayden

I always seem to post cute pictures of Emily, so I thought I would throw this one in. Here is Hayden on Sunday. I think he was really happy to see me.

Weekend Trip

Emily, Mem, and I had a girls weekend in St. Louis at the Bolander Wedding, we had a blast. For me, the best part of the weekend was visiting with Amber and watching her and Rick in action. For Emily, the best part was playing with R.J. and Heidi and swimming.

Hank and Hayden stayed at home to "live it up". I think they spent the weekend missing us girls.

Emily at the church.

Emily and Piggy, he of course didn't miss out.
Hank has introduced Nintendo to Emily, she is addicted. She played it the whole way to St. Louis and then before she went to bed.
Sunday morning we went swimming for a couple of hours before we left for home. Emily has bacame really brave and loves to jump off the edge. She won't even let me close by, she wants to do it all by herself. Here she is jumping in the deep end.
Her fearlessness continued when she decided to jump off the planter into the pool.

What the heck

Okay, this morning I was watching The Early Show like I do every morning. After an interesting interview with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gene Simmons was interviewed for his upcoming book release. And guess what he is writing about.....prostitution. Imagine. It may be worth picking up just as a conversation coffee book. One a side note, Gene Simmons is one ugly man. I wonder why he doesn't just do something to that gross ass hair of his.

I like this gal

Does anyone besides us watch Chelsea Lately on E!? I love her humor and her honesty, plus she has a midget named Chui who really likes argyle. If you haven't caught it, try. I don't think you will regret.

Givin the love

I got this, so I am passing it on. I don't have many blogs I look at daily, but the ones I look at are all from people who hold special places in my life. I copycatted my blog after Sarah Sez at http://www.sarahsplayground1.blogspot.com/, so I want to give it to her. Sarah is a wonderful person who gives love through her wittiness and humor every day. I sometimes think she is the female version of my husband, and if it wasn't for her I would not be married to him.
I want to thank Amanda at http://www.littlemankingdom.blogspot.com/ for giving me this award. Pass it on Sarah.

New Neighbor

We have a new neighbor. The house to our west has been for sale for a few months and it must have sold last week because the new neighbor moved in over the weekend. Apparently he is a single guy, late 20's, with a loud old truck and some kind of boat.

Tonight Hank had to go to work. On his way he called me and told me the new neighbor was sitting out in the front yard drinking a beer. He then followed this with a quick, "There is no need to wave or go over and introduce yourself when I am not home." My immediate response was, "I would never do that" with which he followed "Yeah ya would, how do you think you and I ended up where we are today." So OK, point taken. But, as long as he doesn't need to borrow a mower, Hank is safe. Kidding of course.

My only concern is he is going to have some wild party and wake up the kids. Man, I am getting old in a hurry.

Glimpses of my weekend

Emily on the Dragon Ride.
Hayden and I on the carousel. He wasn't too much into it

Emily and Nana in the Bears
Hayden and I on the big slide, he really liked this one
After the ride is over and right before Hayden stepped into a huge mud puddle. Of course, the upstanding citizen running the big slide ride didn't even try to stop him from walking right into the mud, he just laughed.
Hayden and Emily on the cars.
Meme and Emily on the carousel

Emily on the cars. This was on Wednesday night with Dalton (my nephew).
Dalton in the truck, he thought he was cool
Emily and Dalton in the cars. The are best friends, they are going to get in a lot of trouble one day.
Happy 4th of July everyone.
Emily doing dishes for the first time. I told her she was going to help me rinse dishes if she wanted to go swimming. She did a really good job and there wasn't very much water on the floor, so I kept my end of the bargain and we went swimming.

This picture fast forwards me 10 years because Emily looks so grown up standing at the sink. Time is flying by and I have to remember to slow down and enjoy Hank and the kids. I have thought a lot about that this weekend. Without getting sappy, lesson learned. My goal is to do better.

Houdini in the house

Lately, Hayden has been getting on top of the table. We haven't been able to figure it out because all the chairs are pulled in. The only thing I could think of was he was crawling onto the spare chair next to the wall and somehow getting from there to the table. Well, the other day I caught him in the act.

Notice the chair by the window, he uses this to get his big gut onto the table.

After he secures his gut, he then wiggles up until he can get a leg onto the table.

Ah, mission accomplished.

My Little Miss Princess

Emily was in the Little Miss Pageant last Monday. I was nervous all day, thinking she wouldn't go onto the stage. Boy was I wrong. Emily entertained the entire crowd with antics which included running around the stage, talking to Rudolph, giving the judges a "thumbs up" (which was not practiced) and sword fighting with Geron Skates (my personal favorite). At the time I wanted her to do what all the other little girls were doing, but looking back I am glad she owned the stage. Emily has personality and I am sure it will take her far one day. I hope I am around to see what she does with all her energy and imagination.

Luckily, my good friend Amber Lindermann took pics of Emily. I was laughing too hard to snap any.

One Liner of the Day

I have decided Hank and his clever friends come up with some great one liners, I am going to try to post one a day. Here is one for today
As Hank was talking to a friend tonight, the subject of food came up. The friend (nameless of course) asked "Curry, is that some kind of meat?"
And that's the one liner of the day.

Lisa French

Even though I am a nurse, and I deal with sickness and grief frequently, its hard for me to personally deal with illness. I have a friend, an old friend, her name is Amanda Massey. Actually, its Amanda Martin, but she will always be Amanda Massey to me.

Amanda's mom has been battling cancer for quite some time now. First she was diagnosed with breast cancer and it went into remission. Then, a few years ago it came back in other places.

Lisa is a strong and fiery woman. I have a lot of great memories of Lisa, most of them involve her and Amanda feuding like all mothers and daughters do. Throughout all of Lisa's trials and tribulations, she always has kept her sense of humor and her radiating smile.

Lisa is a great mom. Please pray for her and her family.