Just One More…

I have been given a great life with little tragedy. I have been given great love of all my parents, grandparents, great grandparents and many family and friends. I have been able to see age at its beauty. I have been able to see traditions passed on from one generation to the next. I have been able to receive gifts from other family members that have been handed down from generation to generation. I never realized how lucky I was to experience age until I listened to our phone messages yesterday. "Uh Casey, this is (person from the Guard). I am sorry to put this on your answering machine, but I wanted you to know that Heidi passed away this afternoon." GASP! Gulp! Heidi. We knew that Heidi was sick with cancer and we knew her days were limited on hospice. But to actually have it be real, hit me harder than I thought it would. Heidi was Casey's boss when he started his current job (which was less than 3 years ago). Did I know Heidi well? No. I did know that Heidi was a beautiful 40-50 year old single mother of twins that she adopted. I found out later last night that Heidi's sister just passed away 6 months ago from cancer. Her parents are not living and the only family member alive was her niece. Ugh! My heart just aches for her children, who I believe are 2^nd or 3^rd graders. My heart aches for them because they won't get to see their mom age, have their mom pass on things from generations past, have a grandma around to hug/call/love on them.

I am unsure why this death has hit me harder than others in the past. Maybe it is her twins having to go to a home of one of Heidi's friend instead of keeping them in her family. Maybe it is her age and how close it is to mine. Maybe it is me stressing over the little things that don't mean anything when they interfere with making memories with my boys. Maybe it is a reality check that I need to let my family and friends how much I appreciate and love them.

For tonight…I went into the boys' room for JUST ONE MORE hug!

What we have been up to...

making forts inside and getting to sleep inside them.

smiling and almost giggling (ike).

playing OUTSIDE. Our neighbor Lina has a ton of great toys. Her mom said she has been waiting inside all winter and any ounce of noise that Lina hears, she comes running to her mom and says, "THE BOYS ARE OUTSIDE, THE BOYS ARE OUTSIDE." We are very lucky to have a neighbor to play with.

saying things like this to get out of work, "Uh mom, Kenner will pick up my jammies...he is the BIG brother and that is what big brother's do."

waiting on word from Boise for yet another cousin...will is be a boy or girl?

working on the van and putting a new motor in it.

moving our big honkin desk downstairs and replacing it with a computer hutch to allow us more room in our TV room.

sleeping 5-7 hours (not EVERY night) (ike)

Hope you have been up to a lot as well!

Meal plan for next week

Mon:
L: Left overs Spaghettin and Meatballs
D: Tuna and Noodles w/ peas

Tues: Santa Fe Chicken Nachos

Wed: Runzas with veggie on sale

Thurs: Chicken Pot Pie

Fri: ham, cheese and potatoes in crock pot

Sat:
L: Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches
D: Homemade pizza

Sun:
L: out to eat/left overs
D: Grilling

Homemaking

Some of the greatest homemakers aren't allowed to share in their "trade" because frankly they are too busy to stop and share. As women, we all have our own talents and unique ideas to run our households. I am so lucky to have so many women and so many different styles of women to learn from. Those ladies that do have time to share make money off it through books. One lady I am LOVING at the moment is "The Fly Lady." If you have heard of her before, many responses are "She is intense" "She is way over the top." I am not sure of her in the past, but her principles are simple. She doesn't have one system, instead she shares her way of doing it and suggests you make it your own. She always says, "You are never behind, just jump in and get started." I was given the opportunity to blog surf this afternoon, while the boys were watching a movie and Ike was sleeping. I have found blog surfing my way of getting new information to make my household run more smoothly. So in the spirit of sharing, I thought I would write some things down that help me make my life easy. You may find these old news or some you can try to apply in your house. Note: none of my ideas are orginals...they are all from someone else and I have made them my own.

1) Meal planning. I am not sure what we would be eating or how I would be able to go through the week without meal planning. This relieves stress when grocery shopping, coming home at the end of a hard day, adding variety to our meals, serving a variety of fruits and veggies.

2) Freezer cooking. I belong to a group of families in Lincoln that get together once a month. Each has been given a recipe to make. They make that one recipe x the # in the group. This allows my family to have a few convience meals in the freezer, so I have a "night off" some time throughout the week. This also allows me the opportunity to bless others with meals w/out trouble or stress on me to find the time to make a meal. Pot lucks aren't a chore either. I take it out of the freezer, cook it, and off we go.

3) Setting out clothes for the next day. The boys have a designated drawer in their room. On Saturday mornings, I put 5 outfits for the next week in their drawer. This gives them the flexibilty to choose which outfit they want, but it also decreases frustration with not being able to find a certain shirt or having all the shirts and pants on the floor from the long decision process.

4) Using leftovers up. Planning meals allows a person to help in re-cycling their left overs. For example, we had meatballs last week, but I wasn't able to use all the meat. I am making spaghetti this week, so I will put the rest of the meat balls in that dish. Then in a few nights we will be having Strombolli, which needs sauce. I will use the sauce from spaghetti to use as sauce for the Strombolli. I might also make a huge batch of spaghetti, so I can make Lasagna the next time cottage cheese goes on sale.

5) Shining my sink. This is the Fly Lady's key principle. It is so simple, yet so productive. If you "shine" your sink every night, this means you will have all dishes put away for the next day. Which in turn causes you to clean off your counters/tables, since your sink is cleaned. It makes a person (i.e. me) want to make sure everything is picked up throughout the whole house. It doesn't take any time to do this. She has many other key points to make your household run much smoother.

Share any great ideas you have:

I LOVE my life!

I love my boys, I love my husband, and I love my job. I was reminded of this as I was able to stay home with my two boys on Monday in the morning, Casey came home at 2:00 and I was able to go to work for a few hours Monday night. My AWESOME daycare lady, Sarah, was home with some sick kiddos. This, in the past, usually caused mass chaos in my day as I had to run around, make sub plans, get the sub plans to Crete, attempt to find someone else to watch the boys, and then take yet another day off that I didn't have. Instead, I just called into the Ambassador and told them that I was going to work later that day. Ahh, I DO HAVE THE LIFE!
This is what I got to start the day off on my surprising morning off... That is a BIG yawn!

Look who is 2 months old

After a hard hours work on new toys. Ike is looking, tracking and even attempting to hit these toys. Now clarification needs to be done through more observations...actually attempting to hit them or they just happen to be in the line of his reflex. Look at me the chubbi-wubbi. We got to weigh him at our check up on Wednesday.

Look who smiles now...(and no he didn't have gas for this picture). Just relaxing and resting...that is until my one or both of my brother's try to love on me.

This was an attempt to get a photo of his cubby arms. The rolls keep coming.

Why my camera doesn't work right?

Hence another reason why we DO buy the extended warranty at Best Buy.

*note: these along with the 12 others I deleted were taken in a matter of 2 minutes of me leaving the room and returning. This is another example of Patton = Devil child

I love my mom!

This morning, Kenner woke up and came downstairs. He said, "Is Gramma here?" I replied, "No, she is at home. We have been super lucky to have Grandma at our house so much, haven't we?" Kenner looked at me and said, "Yes." After a while, Patton woke up and came downstairs. W/out saying anything, Kenner informed Bubbi, "Hey Bub, Gramma isn't here today, but aren't we lucky to have such a great Grandma." Ahh, music to my ears. I am blessed to have so many people to help me out. It has been such a blessing to have my mom here to help me with a transistion from 2 to 3 kids. I think it is strange that I have children at the same distances apart as she did, she had 3 girls and I have 3 boys.

My mom was here the night I came home from the hospital. I remember (and don't think I will ever forget) looking at her with tears in my eyes, "I am not sure how to do this (pointing to Ike)and that (pointing to the boys running around)." Everyone knows that people are crazy after they have babies w/ their emotions, but I really wasn't sure. I was able to stay in the hospital for a few days longer d/t a c-section, so I had the "baby" thing down. I was completely overwhelmed to come home w/ calm little baby to the craziness of the other two boys. My mom looked at me and said, "You can do it!" Those 4 words couldn't come from anyone else to make me realize that yes I could do it. I don't think I would have been able to do it w/ confidence these last 8 weeks w/out her help. She was able to take the two older boys for a week to Hebron, she came and cleaned and did my laundry last week while I went back to work for the first time. Again, it is the little things that help a person get through the toughest times. It is SUCH a TREAT to have her here to talk, play with the boys, and watch TV shows together. I know that sounds funny, but it is fun to have a best friend in a mom to do all those things together with.

I love you mom and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all the things you have done for me! I hope to be a mom like you to my boys!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Jimmy

There are a few people in this world as special as my Grandpa Jim. (Photo courtesy of Patton). My Grandpa turned 86 this week. To anyone that knows him, you wouldn't guess his age d/t to his inability to act like it. Instead he camoflauges himself into a 60 year old. My mom allowed the boys and I to ride down w/ her on Thursday to Gilead for $1.00 burger night (yes that is a dollar no typo) to suprise him. My mom came up with the idea because it is hard to give him something as gift to him for his birthday...but she immediately thought of the boys. Although a HANDFUL, the boys LOVE LOVE LOVE hanging out with their Great Grandpa. He takes them to play down in his train shop, to the bottle shop to get treats, ice cream (in season), and drives to Belvidere to see real trains. I am so blessed to have so many grandparents in my life and my boys are continually blessed to get to make such great memories with not only their grandparents but great grandparents as well!

Happy Birthday to my Grandpa w/ pictures.

I am so glad that my dad was able to get these two ladies in pictures. Marilyn (who is on the left) and Betty (holding Ike) hold special places in our hearts as well. They are our "adopted" grandparents (as if we needed any more:)). Both have grandchildren who aren't very close in proximity to their house, so they help us join in celebrating things in life (birthdays, weddings, etc). We have some great memories w/ Marilyn and Betty! They were there to help my grandpa celebrate his bday.
4 Generations of CRAZINESS. The looks say it all.
Me: "Just take the picture before Ike falls."
Dad: "Boy am I glad I don't have load on my lap."
Grandpa: "I couldn't be happier to have the Generals come for my birthday."
Kenner: "CHEESE"
Ike: "What is going on and where am I?"
Patton: "Don't I look sweet?" (looks are deceiving)

Great Grandpa with his Generals

Dad felt left out that there wasn't any more room on Grandpa's lap?!

Modern techonology...games on Grandpa's phone to tide them over until the food came.

This picture was taken from my camera...hmmm makes me what a new camera, BUT not when my two older generals are wanting to take pictures themselves. I will keep my little Canon:)

Hanging w/ Ivy

Last weekend we were able to go see Ivy's new room and hang out w/ Uncle KK, his girl friend Abby, My mom and dad, and the Schure's. Here are some pics of the weekend.

Ivy: "Psst... can you tell me about this thing they call the world?"
Ike: "Uh, all I know is cry and they will feed you, sleep and they will snuggle with you."
Ivy: "Thanks keep me updated if things change." ike and ivy 6 weeks apart. PS Thanks Ivy for coming aweek early so aunt rhiannon could visit you in the hospital!

Uncle Mike showing the boys his new toy. it was really cool. hands free

oldest and youngest cousins (not for long though another one coming in a month

cousins and their mommies. I love that i can no longer pass by the girls section!

first husker game

For Grandma Kelly's birthday we were able to help her celebrate by dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and the NU Basketball game vs. Kansas State. Too bad we lost (it was a close one!) Ike was a bit overstimulated, but survived. Not necessarily the best look, but I made it onto the blog w/ Bub.

birthday girl w/ her little snuggle bug.

Ike's first NU basketball game. Here I thought I was dressing him in husker gear only to find that it was a football outfit...oh well, it was red.

new cousin

My sister Becca was blessed with the birth of our family's first baby GIRL! IVY MARIE born on 2.11.11. what are the chances that ike was born on 1/11/11 and Ivy 2/22/11. Now Annie just needs to have her baby on 3/33/11 or 4/2/11, which really could happen. I now no longer need to pass over the girls section...watch out Aunt Becca! I have been wanting to buy girl things for a while:) Ike and Ivy 6 weeks apart.

Kenner and Patton weren't really into the new baby, but they did like the edible arrangements.

Aunt Becca and Me w/ our babies. it is so nice to have babies w/ other people. When I had Kenner and Patton, there weren't too many others having babies at the same time. I was somewhat of a lone ranger. This time around, I am so blessed to have so many babies and mommy's to learn from and share with. You will be an awesome Mommy Becca! I Love you!

50 for mom

Suprise! Not only was the party a suprise for my mom but it was for Aunt Becca too...as she went into labor the day of the party and HAD her baby girl on my mom's 50th Birthday! Cake courtesy of Grandma Jackie...German Chocolate (YUMMO!)

Happy birthday to the world's greatest mom!

Here is a picture of mom and dad with their favorite grandchild (who was around for the picture):) We have a running joke w/ my grandma Jimmy about his favorite grandchild. He always says, Is this my favorite granddaughter (pause) that lives in Sprague?. This was we are all his favorite. The funniest part about this "clause" at the end was when my sister Annie called them and said, "Hi Grandpa, this is your favorite granddaughter." (w/out a clause at the end). Grandpa responded, "Hi Becca." It was funny and continues to be a joke w/ all of us.

Still can blow out her candles after 50 years!

one cool dude

Since Ike will be my last baby, it has been nice keeping him in baby clothes (Sleepers, etc) instead of dressing him up like a little boy. We had to dress up for Grandma Carlece's birthday party, so we pulled out the stops. I love this little guy!

Mr. Serious

fun in aurora

Since Casey went on a trip to Colorado, we thought we would make a trip to Aurora. *see stranded post for our trip out:))
We had some nice weather and some cold weather to enjoy both the outdoors and the indoors. Grandpa Dennis spoils the boys by not telling them no. Both Grandma Kelly and I tried to rescue him so that he could get some productive work completed, but he continued to make memories w/ the boys. That Grandpa Dennis is one of the nicest men I have met. It is the little things in life that I take forgranted that Grandpa Dennis doesn't. He always compliments his wife after each meal and also reminds the boys to do the same. It is the short phrase that helps build up a person after taking time to do something (like make a meal). This is one example of the little things that he does. He always asks to help me w/ our bags and looks at my vehicle's fluids and tires before we leave. It is the little things that he doesn't do for attention but rather in love to take care of us. I really appreciate all those little things.

Fourwheeler rides are always on the top of the list to do at Grandpa's house. Note: Kenner's hat is kind of silly, but Kenner didn't realize how silly it was. Rather his response to the hat was, "It is my favorite color." Power of Postive:)

Bub in his barrel w/ grandpa's glasses on.
This picture is not set up...love of a Grandpa, his grandson and nap time

Boys looking like they can drive the 4 wheeler by themselves...think again!

i am not sure what I was doing prior to this picture...but this is a true example of the attention spans of the two boys. This picture makes me laugh and laugh a lot! Here you can see that Kenner and Patton are both watching cartoons. Kenner's attention stays on the screen (so much in fact that you can't get his attention off of it until you turn off the TV or stand in his way). Patton's attention is on the TV, but then he gets bored so he finds something else to do (i.e. play w/ the helmet), but returns to the first orginal activity after a short break. I love these boys too!