They just FEEL better!

I was reading this post today from another Blog Her blogger.

I totally get her high! I do the exact same thing all over the Internet. I love Internet shopping. I put thousands of dollars of merchandise into my "cart" knowing I can't REALLY buy it, but it feels good to shop anyway. Any form of retail therapy I can get, I guess. There really isn't anything as exciting as walking the perimeter of Tar-jay checking the end caps for insanely discounted goodies. Tim's even addicted to it...especially him! Anyway, in the comments, Michelle was talking about going home and instantly wearing the new clothes! I DO THAT! I LOVE LOVE LOVE how new clothes feel and look BEFORE they're washed. We have a friend who is a touch on the psychotic side when it comes to new clothes(I mean that in the BEST possible way, Adam) and thinks that we're all going to die of formaldehyde poisoning from wearing new clothes. Never mind the fact that they never get as clean if you wear before washing. So, which side of the great divide are YOU on?

Crackin' the whip

Time to get moving! We're hoping to put the house up for sale this spring, no matter where/if Tim has a job (or not). So, as I've posted before, we're working hard on some projects. Monday, Tim was off school and so were the boys, so they took the long weekend to put in a new railing to the basement! Can you believe it?! We're FINALLY rid of the wrought iron railings in the house....outside is another story, but I can handle it there....it's where it belongs. Anyway, here's a picture for you.

Adam and the boys

A couple weeks ago, our friends Adam and Kelly took the older boys overnight. When they got to their house, Rugby and Riley MADE Adam wear an orange hat just like theirs. Kelly saw fit to capture the moment on digital film.

Want a new blog design?!

I found a contest for a free blog design. It's Doodlebug Designs and they're just starting up. Go here: Doodlebug Designs for all the info. You've only got til the 22nd! If I don't win, maybe you will!

For the Grandma's and Granndpa's:

(BTW, that's TJ blowing kisses...)

Happy VD!

Hope you all have/had a great day! I spent it sick and making spaghetti for at least 40 people.

Random Thought of the Day

"Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't think you've done a permanent job." Barbara Johnson


Thanks to all the friends in my life that think I haven't done a permanent job.

Unresolved

Unexpectedly tonight, I got a call from United Hospital in the Twin Cities. If you'll remember, that's where I got to end up after my lovely ambulance ride 6 months ago and where Mom and Grandma had to come find me to bring me home. I was sent home after being in preterm labor and told just to "rest more." And that day, I did. We stopped on the way home to eat something and then Mom and Grandma did 4 loads of laundry, made supper and went home that evening. I only had to put the kids to bed. So, I did as I was told. (I know, the ONE TIME it actually happened!) Anyway, that night my water broke. Honestly, seconds before it happened, I could feel it coming. It was really weird. So, I rallied friends and family and back off to the hospital we go. Luckily, everything turned out ok. Yesterday Tucker turned 6 months and I thought I was over the bitterness of the whole event. I really felt like a number, that my health and my baby's health wasn't important enough for the docs in The Cities to keep me there. I had FABULOUS docs here in Menomonie and made sure that they knew I appreciated the care I received.

Back to tonight. The phone call from the hospital was to raise money for more beds in their emergency department. I calmly told the gentleman that I was not impressed with the care I received and proceded to fall apart from there. Poor guy called for money and ends up with an emotional mess on his hands. He was gracious and gave me the number to the patient representative that I should call and voice my concern. HE didn't treat me like a number. Even though it wasn't his job to care, he did....or at least acted like it. Which I feel is more than I got from the docs and nurses there. Anyway, I didn't realize that I still had all these unresolved emotions from Tucker's birth. I really think it's time to sort through it and put it away. We have a healthy happy boy and that's really all that matters in the end.

Crazy Margie!

Picture this:

1 SAHM
4 active little boys
40 hungry people


Now, how does that SAHM end up feeding these people? Should be interesting..........

We have our Valentine's banquet at church on Friday and there aren't enough people signed up to get the caterer, so I was volunteered (thanks, Timmy) to make a spaghetti dinner for 40. I did agree to do it, and I'm not complaining. I LOVE having people eat (and love) my cooking. It's just that 40 people will be the largest crowd I've fed and I'm a bit nervous. I'm sure it'll go fine....besides, how can you go wrong with Aunt Harriet's spaghetti? I'm doing the shopping tomorrow and the cooking on Thursday (since dear Timothy thinks the sgetti is better the 2nd day and it'll be just plain easier for me to do it then.) Anyway, that's what's on my mind today.

Daddy's been BUSY!

Friday night our friends Adam & Kelly took Rugby and Riley overnight so Tim and I had just the babies. It was SO NICE! We went out to dinner at the Bar Chord in Knapp and came home, stained trim for the kitchen and Riley/TJ's room and played cribbage. Then, Saturday morning we put the trim on and worked on some other misc. projects. They brought the kids back, did some laundry and visited (Kathy came over with Trett and Naizy, too!), had supper with us and went home at which point Tim FINISHED INSTALLING MY BREAKFAST BAR! That's right, the end cap is on the countertop, it's screwed down and it's fabulous! Of course (in true Timmy fashion), there's some trim left to do, but it's so much closer than it was in the morning. Here's a few pictures.....

Staining the back of the breakfast bar...

JoJo helping Daddy put the cap on the brace piece...

The detail on the breakfast bar cap...

TADA! Almost done! We're going to put some panels on the oak to break up the flatness, but the end post is on and the countertop is good to go!

Carrots in your oatmeal?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Well, someone thinks it's yummy. Friday night, Tucker got his first taste of REAL food. (Other than some baby cereal and ice cream he's nibbled on. He loved it! He eats half the jar straight and then when there's room, I stir the rest in with some baby oatmeal and he gobbles it up! Then, drinks half a bottle to wash it down.....before talking a long snooze!

It's good, right, Tucker?

Let's Go For A Ride

"Come on, Tucker, I'll drive...."




Daddy, this is the video I was telling you about...

NO MORE CRITTERS!

Does this bother anyone else or am I the only one??

My kids have WAY TOO MANY STUFFED ANIMALS! UGH!!! Every time I turn around I'm stepping on, tripping over, or picking up one critter or another. Last night, 4 more hit the trash can. I just can't handle it! They each have a couple that they like to sleep with, but for the most part they are just dust collecting clutter balls. I'm thinking I am banning the stuffed animals from the house. I'll let them each have a couple (like 2 or 3 each, that's still up to 12 stuffed animals in the house.)

And really, do they serve a purpose other than being something cuddly to sleep with? Not here. They aren't play things like they might be if there were four little girls around here instead of the four little boys. They don't even use them for dumping out of the dump truck or driving over or ANYTHING other than sleeping with. We've got a few stuffed fish, I think Nemo and Flounder, that are supposed to be in the fishing room in the fish basket, but they think it's fun to take them out of that, so they're rarely in there either.

So, it's on: THE GREAT STUFFED ANIMAL BAN OF 2008 AND BEYOND! Making my house critter free! Who's in?

Rugby's New Coat

Rugby had a nice, warm Columbia jacket this year. It was a really nice coat....thin but warm. Problem was in the zipper. Even I had a hard time getting it to work properly. Rugby wrestled with that thing every single time he put on his coat. It was terrible and frustrating for both of us. Yesterday, I was in Walmart and their winter coats were half off so Rugby got a new coat! He likes it and it's so much easier to zip. Plus, it's got a zip out liner so he can wear it as his spring coat, too!

Word of the Weekend

(2 updates in one day, are you shocked yet?!)

Sunday, we started a new game with the kids. It's intended purpose (at least for me) was to get Rugby to quit saying "Yaaaaaaaaa" instead of "yes". Didn't quite turn out that way, but it did morph into a fun awareness game.

The idea is that every time ANYONE (Tim and I included) say "the word of the day" that person has to pay a dime into the bucket. Sunday the word was "Yaaaaaa" and Rugby had to pay ALOT, but yesterday, the word was "No" and we ALL had to pay alot. We're using it as a way for all of us to become more aware of what we're actually saying. It's been fun, Rugby and Riley are learning about making change since they have lots of quarters, but not as many dimes and nickles. All the money that is accumulated will be for something fun like going out for ice cream. (I wish there were a Dairy Cove out here!)

We were planning to play daily, but even just playing it after school was out yesterday was EXPENSIVE, so we've cut it back to Friday thru Sunday. There's already close to $5 in their bucket!

So, anyway, that's another little something we've been up to....

Catch up!

I'm going to attempt to catch up on the last couple weeks. At least the stuff I have pictures for....

Rugby post-tubes....all he wanted was a popsicle.
Rugby and his awesome nurses....
Dr. Kimberly even posed for a shot with Bug!
Playing "Slap Jack" a couple days later:
Ravioli boy:
Can't sleep? Crawl in bed with Daddy!
Helping Mom make cookies
I helped TJ in, but Riley was already there. They were making sure Tucker was alright. He screams like you would not believe when he rolls onto his back. He doesn't like it one little bit! (Plus, he's teething)
Riley and Rugby playing Cribbage. Yes, actually PLAYING Cribbage. Tim taught Rugby and Riley wanted to learn, too, so he has been teaching them both to play. Rugby beat Tim on the second game! He's looking forward to the Harmelink party because he wants the trophy! We'll see how he's doing then, but that is a year away and he's been playing about every other day. Rugby is doing better with it than Riley, but Riley's still awful young....it's been improving math skills and number recognition for both of them, though.
HELP! It's an exotic blue polar bear sleeping under the blanket of snow we got yesterday! (Actually, it's TJ's sled that the boys left lay in the yard) We got a pretty healthy dose of snow, but nothing major.
I'll try and be better about the updates from now on! PROMISE!

Oops

Sorry to leave ya'll hanging for so long with no updates. I am charging camera batteries RIGHT NOW and will update later....hopefully tonight!