Happy Birthday Becca!

My sister's kids last summer. Can you believe I don't have a picture of Becca?! We are going to have to take some pictures the next time we see each other!

Becca, it's times like this that I really hate living so far away from you! I would love to take you shopping for a new pair of shoes, or maybe a book:-) Then we could get something to eat at a fancy restaurant and catch up over a good cup of coffee, all my treat of course!

Doesn't that sound like fun?!

Sister Quotes:

Going through life with the family thighs is a lot easier when there's somebody else out there with two more just like them.

Your sister will do anything for you, as proven by the bridesmaid dress she wore at your wedding.

Whoever said "a sister is a sheltering tree" clearly never had to fight for her share of the umbrella.

What Sister's Share by Jennifer Fujita

Happy Birthday Becca! Even though we are so far away, my thoughts have been with you all day. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Jump into your imagination!

We have a small table in our living room which is actually my favorite piece of furniture because it used to belong to my Grandmother. On the table is a framed picture of a little cottage surrounded by trees and flowers. A stream is running through and there are fat, white clouds hanging in the sky.
The boys are intrigued by this little picture and talk excitedly about their desire to jump into it! Is it a hot day with the sun shining bright? Are there flowers in the grass that we can pick? Can we catch fish in the stream?
The answers vary according to mood. Tonight it was cold and winter but in three weeks it will be summer and we can swim in the stream (says M). Doesn't that sound like fun?
I remember playing this game is a little girl. We had a picture in our living room hanging over our couch. There was something about the colors which were muted blues and greens that just captured me and pulled me in.
I asked my husband if he could jump into a picture where would he go? He said that he would take me to Paris so we could dine on champagne and pastries in a snooty french restaurant. Oh, that sounds good!
If you could jump in a picture, where would you go?

Hide and Seek

Yesterday M and N decided they wanted to play Hide and Seek.


This is how it went:

"You count Mommy" (both boys)
I start counting slowly, and as I say "10"
"I'm in your bedroom Mommy!" N yells from my bedroom.

I begin counting again and as I reach "10"
N comes running down the hallway "I was in your bedroom!!"
After about the 5-6th time he would just yell "ta da!"

M's favorite hiding places were under the blankets on his bed and inside the refrigerator with the door halfway open (hum, I wonder where he is?!).

These pictures aren't from yesterday but I wanted to show some action shots, and N is King of the slow motion run (so cute)!

Spending Fast

The idea of a Spending Fast came from Denise a good friend and workout buddy of mine. We are both dissatisfied with all of the excess in our lives. All of the mindless spending eg: trips to Starbucks, diet Cokes from Sonic, going out to eat, trips to the mall, the movies, and the list goes on and on.

I have really been thinking of ways to simplify my life, so Denise told me about the spending fast. Basically, for one month, we have decided not to spend money on anything that is not essential. Spencer and I sat down and made a list of things that we would not spend money on.

The List:

1. Starbucks (I can make coffee at home and I have a pretty pink thermos to transport it).
2. Barnes and Noble (we both have at least 3 books at home that we have not read yet).
3. Going out to eat (we both love to cook, but we also love to go out so this one has been the most difficult).
4. No theater (This one is for my husband. I love movies too but don't mind if I see them at home).
5. Stay away from the Mall!!! (This one is all me).

This has been a very liberating experience for us. We feel so in control! My husband and I have decided that this is going to be the year that we conserve. Not just money but other things as well (more about this on a future post). We are going to try the spending fast every other month this year. Wish us luck!

This is a great first step toward Simplifying my life.

Do you have any idea/things you do to simplify your life?

Please share!

Cute Boys

Back Among the Living

Today is the first day in a week that I have not had a constant stabbing pain in my chest. I'm sorry "Stabbing" isn't the word I would use to define my pain. It's more like a "sharp" pain and I would rate it as a 7 on a 1-10 scale. I understand the need to ask specific, measurable, definitive questions to what is a very personal, subjective response. Pain.
I like the idea of having someone describe pain, is it: burning, sharp, dull, radiating etc.. And that the intensity of the pain as well as location can tell you what organ or system of the body is affected. As a pediatric nurse I have asked these questions myself more times than I can count.
But as a patient all I wanted was medication, fast!!

Today, in the middle of winter, we went swimming! N came up with the idea. Of course. But M and I (both sharing a love for silliness and water) joined him. It started in the kitchen where we splashed each other and floated on our backs. Then we moved to the bedrooms and used all of our soft, wonderful pillows (M's words) as floatation devices. We also swam in the living room for awhile until all of the furniture started to sink! I don't think our home owners insurance covers repairs for pretend water damage.
We had a wonderful time, worked up quite an appetite as you often do when you spend all day at the pool. And the best part is no sun burns:-)
Then M realized that it was the middle of winter and the pool is closed! To be opened again sometime after Memorial day of sooner in N's imagation. Such is a day in the life with my two boys!

Health Lesson

Pleurisy
By definition it is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs). It is also called Pleuritic Chest Pain.
It can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection, pneumonia, TB or the cause could be idiopathic.
Treatment is typically antibiotics, steroids, pain meds., and rest. Other treatment can include hospitals and scary stuff like draining fluid off the lung (which sounds really interesting when you are a nurse and observing and not so interesting when it may become a reality!)
I spent yesterday afternoon in the ER having yet another doctor assure me that no I was not having a heart attack, just really bad chest pain!
So today I have been laying on the couch drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain meds. My husband yells at me every time I move! M has been patting my shoulder and giving me kisses and N has been giving me pretend chocolates from his pretend candy store which is just what the doctor ordered for my road to recovery.
I am trying really hard to think of nothing but rest and what my body needs to heal itself. And not the cleaning and organizing that I had planned for the new year.

What does your Latte say about you?!

This is what mine says about me!

• When it comes to what you like, you have your own unique tastes. And people don't really understand them.


• You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious.


• You have a good deal of energy, but you pace yourself. You never burn out too fast.


• You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it.


• You are responsible, mature, and truly an adult.


• You're occasionally playful, but you find it hard to be carefree.


• You are exotic and cosmopolitan, but you are never a show off.

I saw this on my sisters blog and thought it would be fun to take the test, very cosmopolitan;-) Take the test and let me know what you are!

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourlattesayaboutyouquiz/

Merry Christmas! (Belated)

I know, I have antlers on my head. This picture begs the question, who are the kids and who are the grownups?
M and N got this red Mustang and a green Jeep from Santa. They were excited to drive it that night but have refused to drive it since and wouldn't even sit in the Jeep! So much for expensive toys! We should have kept the box that it came in.
This castle and Knight display was sitting in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning thanks to one tireless elf (Husband) who stayed up late into the night to put it all together! He did tire at one point and feared that he could not go on. But milk and cookies appeared to give him an extra boost of energy. That is the magic of Christmas!
We hardly ever get a decent family picture. But this is the best of the lot. The other attempts will not be shown here for vanity reasons.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Its always nice to have all my boys home. We spent Christmas Eve with MeMe and PaPa (Husband's Mom and Dad) and Shawn, Jayme and Mark (brother-in-law, sister, and nephew). It is always a special time at their house with wonderful food and good conversation! Christmas morning was just for the family! Wrapping paper and bows were strewn all over the living room and all of the toys were played with at once! That afternoon was spent with my Dad and Sara and brother Seth and Grandma and Grandpa and extended family. I always have such a good time at their house. I remember Christmas at my Grandparents house and am glad that my boys will have those memories too. Christmas night we made a vegan spaghetti and stuffed mushrooms for my Mom and Neil and his son and family. We opened presents again! At one point M made the comment that Santa must have done all his Christmas shopping at Toys-R-Us this year!
It was a busy, wonderful holiday.