Thursday update

I felt like I've dropped off the edge of bloggy world. It is fun to keep up to date, plus fun to read friend's blogs. Lately we've been so busy, I haven't spent much time on the computer, unless I desperately needed to get something e-mailed. I figured I should do an update, since I'm not exercising this morning, but feel ok enough to blog and read blogs!

Last week, I hit a deer on the way home from CAP. Make that my 5th deer in 6 years. Since I didn't hit one this fall, I thought I was home free. Nope, this one just leaped in front of me. We (son, Drum, & I) took the deer to some friends. My dear parents (no pun intended) are helping with the process of getting it fixed. Broken headlight, damaged hood, etc. No personal injuries at all. I am so thankful for their help. Sometimes it doesn't take much to feel totally overwhelmed.

My folks have been taking our 3 older children out for supper every Wednesday night. They, the kids, are in town where they live and have extra time every Wed. It is so sweet. The kids love the eating out and one-on-one time with their grandparents. I hope to get to do the same when I have grandkids.

Saturday, the older 4 helped out at Feed My Starving Children with their youth group. It was a great experience! Dh and Duke went to a service call. Dessert, Darling, and I went to a business expo and hung around with my folks. The two youngest had a blast there and Dessert got a ton of candy which totally made his day. :-)

Sunday after church, I went with the crew to a movie! We saw "Inkheart." I actually thought it was better than the book in some ways, and less scary than it could have been. Dot had read the book to the younger boys, so they were very buzzed about going. I went to cover eyes and to be a security blanket, but I was hardly needed. My brother and his two oldest joined us. He even bought the kids icees or candy! Who has an Uncle that cool!! Dot's friend and parents came as well, and she was so excited to get to enjoy the movie with a friend.

Monday is my busiest day of the week usually. We have school in the am and early pm, then by 3 need to have the house clean and ready for the ballet group that comes. (Anyone else have a Monday clean house problem after the weekend - we do!) A former student of mine, who continued her training, teaches (PTL), so I get to visit with the ladies, and the other kids get to play with the siblings of the students. Then Drum, Dime, and I leave just after the end of ballet for CAP. We usually get home just before 10. Whew!!

Tuesday, I got to see Sarah's baby. Her new baby is GORGEOUS!! So sweet and soft! Just so precious!

Wednesday, I came down with the flue. Horrible. Bad Day. Been praying for Sarah's family all day that I didn't pass anything on to them. So sorry if I did, Sarah. I hear this crud has been going around at the Christian school and church, so I could have caught it anywhere. I'm really hoping the rest of the family doesn't get it! It is supposedly a 3 day bug, but I'm keeping my light breakfast down this morning - PTL. And feel good enough to sit and blog a bit. But I'm getting tired. Well, that's my update.

Happy Birthday Darling!!

Yesterday, my baby turned 2!

How fast the time flies.

She had a great day, except for the baking cake process. I called my friend, Lisa, who sweetly let me borrow her cake pan and a few colors last minute. Darling loved the pan, hugging it and carrying it around. She had to hug it and then kiss it before letting it go.

I took Darling with when we went to the dentist. Dot put the cake in (I got it all ready before we left.) so it would bake while we were gone. When we got home and I took the cake out. Darling was so upset that it was upside down! Finally I took the cake out of the pan. She was so happy with it!

Then I cut off its ears and put it in the freezer. She was horrified!! Finally I just took it back out until Deer had her distracted enough that I could return it. (I like to chill the cake, so it is firmer when I decorate it.)

Well, then I went to decorate it. She watched me put the frosting on the face. Her face was one of "I don't like this." The kids told her the bear was hiding, and Mommy was decorating it, and that she'd like it.

She finally said, "Peek-a-boo?" "Yes!" I assured her.

The decorating process took too long, but company arrived. She enjoyed the cake. When Papa tried to look at it, she told him, "Don't touch!" Daddy helped her by getting her spoon after pictures so that she could taste the cake in the back. That helped so she was willing to take a piece and let everyone else have a piece.

40 pictures (exaggerating) later and the "best ones" are not exactly posed.

She loves to lick the ice-cream lids. Of course, on her birthday she got to lick all she wanted! Papa tried to get a turn, but "No! Papa!" was all he got.

Papa helped her to do "2".

Opening presents was fun!

She would look intently at the cards while they were read, and then dump them on the floor. lol.

She got clothes, a book, and a cute towel!!

She had opened our gift to her a week before the date. She found Baby Moses in our closet. Instead of listening to cries, we decided to just let her have it early. She's had a blast taking a bath with a baby. It is a drink and wet doll, so could go into the tub. Such a cute face!! I'll take a picture of her with it sometime soon. It looks like a boy, and since it goes in the water, we decided to call him, Moses. :-)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Daughter!! We Love You!

Winner Update

And the winner is Losing It! I put all the names in a basket and let Darling draw out the name. :-) I'll be sending her a non-edible prize per request. :-)

As you can tell by the lack of blogging, we started school up again. Plus, I started my new exercise program (gotta have New Year's resolutions). I've been getting up and working out on a rebounder and then doing some situps, etc. I've made it 6 days in a row!! I'm pretty proud of myself. I miss going outside. It seems like I sweat more and work harder running than inside. But per Dr. orders, I gotta take it easy starting up on my shin bones. I'm hoping to get stronger muscles and a workout and then be ready to hit ground outside when the snow melts and it is prettier outside. I don't miss the artic blast to the lungs when it's below zero out.

I can't say I've been perfect with my eating, but I keep trying. I've been working on including more veggies. Check out the salad I made on Friday!! :-)

I covered it in Ranch dressing. :-) I felt a bit like a rabbit, but it was very tasty.