Girls Trip To KC...

Last weekend I headed to KC with my sister and my mom for our annual spring shopping trip...as usual there was never a dull moment. Thought I would share the "mistake" photos that actual capture the real trip!


Not a good angle to take a picture by the fountain!


Mom is having a moment...flashing back to her hunting and gathering days.

"Just take the stinkin' picture by this big plastic horse!"

Very small stall walls. I started wondering...if there was a person in there that you didn't know, would you say, "Hello."

Megan's survival kit...she can do hours of shopping with these supplies!

Ate something that wasn't too yummy.

Megan needed a bit more hairspray for the windy day!

Our hotel room was very cold...this is me sleeping. That black thing is actually my jacket that I had wrapped around my legs.

Megan got her beauty sleep, too!

Right Now...

People have asked why I blog.  Really, the only reason i do blog is because I am not the best scrapbooker!  Scrapbooks tell stories...and if I rely on my scrapbooks, Jack will think he was never a baby!  So, at the end of each month, I print out the posts and put them in a binder.  My hopes is that the boys will have a "family" history to look back and read some day...from my bloggings.

What I am really enjoying are my "right now" posts.  In a few words or lines, it tells what a person is liking, doing, etc. right now. I ran across a list and thought it would be perfect for a "right now" post or a good scrapbook page (if I get to that!)...use it to record what you are doing RIGHT NOW!!

Right now...

listening:  Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers
reading: Finishing up Hunger Games
watching: reruns of The Dog Whisperer (I love Cesar Millan)
eating: everything, unfortunately...especially Palmer's spinner salads
drinking: grande Carmel light fraps from Starbucks and kiwi strawberry propels
wearing: favorite jeans and cotton shirts (imagine that)...flats and flip flops
feeling: tired and needing to spend time with my boys...and some alone time for myself
bumming: that Oprah is really done, no matter how much in denial I am
weather: very warm, storms and now chilly...always in Iowa
playing: with my new SMASH book (will post more about this soon!)
wanting: magic balm to rub on my muffin top and then it will magically disappear
needing: to start yoga up again
waiting:  for the weekend, because all four of us have NOTHING going on
enjoying: watching Moose develop individual relationships with each of us
thankful: for that I have and all that I don't have..

Good-Bye...

As we all know, today is Oprah's last show...*sniff*  *sniff*

I remember when the show started...I was 14 years old and even saw the first show!!

I also purchased the first issue of "O Magazine" and still read it each month.  I still have the first issue in a safe box...somewhere!

When Oprah came to Iowa to support Obama, I was there in the audience!

When Obama was elected, Oprah was in the crowd in Chicago..I remember seeing this shot of her and wondering who the guy was that she was leaning on...

I kept this issue of O Magazine because the on the very last page she talks about when she was in Iowa with Obama!

I went to the Oprah show once...We got to watch the premiere of the movie "Wild Hogs" in the morning and then watch the taping..with the above stars..in the morning.  That was some day!  I actually have a 5 page story written about it...

I took my picture standing beside the Harpo Studio sign that day...

My friend Heather lives in Australia and hoped that she would hook up with Oprah while she was down under!

and who isn't going to miss Oprah's favorite things...and how many of those favorite things did you buy (if possible)

At least I will have the own network....

I can also listen to Oprah radio while in the car....

Good-bye Oprah...I will miss you!

YA Books...

Every once in awhile, I will pick up a young adult book...here's some that I have recently read....

Right now, Hunger Games, is all the buzz.  It is set in a post-apocalyptic world, which is divided into 12 different districts.  When a child turns 12, they must put their name into a drawing for their district.  (When they turn 13, they put their name in twice...and so on.) Then, once a year, each district must draw two names from the bowl (one girl, one boy) and those children are sent to the Hunger Games where they compete against each other until one person is left standing.  Yep, the kids, ages 12-18, kill each other off to win.  The entire games is also shown on TV...a reality show for all to watch..but you never hear about the families watching their children get killed by another child.  The entire premise got my attention but as I was reading, I do know that there is a second book...which means that it is a bit predictable. 

I read this short story by Stephen King years ago and it is still one of my favorite short stories.

Ray Garraty--along with 99 other teen boys--has entered the Long Walk.  The Long Walk, is also a contest where the boys must walk at least 4 mph or they will get a warning.  after three warning, they are shot in the head. This continues until only one person is left standing. What this book has, that hunger games is lacking, are the stories that are told between the boys about their lives, why the boys choose to participate in the walk, interactions between the boys, changes in the characters as the walk progresses and stories about the young boys' families  You really get to know the characters...which made it even more intense. And instead of watching it on TV, people come out of their homes to watch the walkers pass by. This isn't a YA book, but it is what I think the Hanger Games was trying to be.

This is one of my favorite YA book. The Book Thief is a story narrated by Death...which explains why he needs or has to take a person with him. The main character, Leisel, and her brother are sent to live with foster parents in "Nazi" Germany during WW II. On the train ride to Germany, her brother dies and Leisel steals her first book.  As you know, during this time, books were burned and it was "illegal" to have a book, so Liesel begins to look for, finds and steals books...She also finds an unexpected book lover. It is a wonderful story and I would highly recommend it to all!

An Introduction...

Meet Moose...

Moose is an 83 pound golden retriever.

Her owners had to find her an new home.

So....

Moose is now the newest member our family!

(SERIOUSLY, Katie...after everything that we went though with Alice?)

Yep, she ours and we are completely loving her!

Let me share with you a little about our Moose...

 In the week that she has been with use, we have learned that she always has something in her mouth...a ball or a bone  is preferred. (Doesn't she look like she is smiling!)

We do wear her out and she is more than ready to head to bed by evening. AND she sleeps through the night on her huge bed in our bedroom. (No getting up three times a night to let her out!)

The boys just adore her. Sam often says, "Moose is just the dog for me." Jack told me the other night that he feels safe with Moose at our house. She loves them back just as much. She jogs beside them when they ride their bikes or scooters, chases them when they run around and she follows them everywhere. 

She has got a nose for squirrels...she has "treed" a few, but always comes back.
 She watches the squirrels from our window all morning to see what they are up to...

She absolutely loves to be outside.  Thank goodness the weather has been amazing!  I have been planting flowers and she just sits and watches...I love it!

So the lesson I learned was that puppies are not for me...but a grown dog is perfect for our family!

What a Birthday!

(Warning: Loads of Photos!!)

Sam had a great time celebrating his birthday for three days!

On Saturday, we headed to the bowling alley with a car full of boys! (that was interesting conversation to listen to!) When we got to the bowling alley, this awesome bowling pin was waiting for Sam!

This year Sam had a football cupcake cake. I loved it..no need for knives or forks...just pull out the cupcake that you would like!
Supper easy!!

On his "real" birthday, we headed to his favorite Mexican restaurant for quesidillas and of course the wearing of the sombrero!

Don't forget the fried ice-cream!

We headed back to our house to meet all the relatives...someone was excited about the whole thing!

The opening of MORE presents!

Such excitement!!

And the blowing out of the candles...again!!
Sam had a great birthday...he's bummed it only comes once a year!

One more birthday shot...who is this with the boys??? Stop by tomorrow to find out!!

Some Visitors...

I had some visitors come to me door da other morn'...


Sharp Shooter Sam and Marshall Jack.
Marshall Jack was all dressed in his finest khakis and them der dress shoes from Halloween.

They walked right in without bein' invited to stay.

Marshall Jack was all business...

Sharp Shooter Sam wasn't messin' round niether...pulled out one of those new model Jengo Fet Star Wars guns...pure Western.

I believe Marshall Jack was sayin' "I'll be back...after I get dis mustache fixed."
And off they went..into the sunset.

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Right Now...
Sam is reading the last Harry Potter Book.
Sam has two weeks left of third grade.
Sam loves Legos, video games, hiking in the woods and being around his friends.
Sam biggest fears are ghosts, zombies, the basement and our outside garbage can.
Sam wants to meet Adrian Petersen and Percy Harvin.
Sam is looking forward to summer and swimming.
Sam would like to have a cellphone. (which shows he has big dreams!)
Right Now...
I love how Sam is such an awesome big brother.
I love how easy it is to explain things to him.
I love how he has such a big heart.
I love how he can carry on a conversation.
I love that he is still a little boy (but trying to be "bigger.")
I love his sense of humor.

Happy 9th Birthday, Sammy!

Reading...

I love that the boys love to read...

Right now, Jack loves to read with a flashlight. His favorites are "The Foot Book" and "Hand, Hand Fingers, Thumb" by Dr. Seuss.

Right now, Sam is finishing up the Harry Potter series. He started the first Harry Potter book at the beginning of school and set the goal to have them all finished by the time the movie "Deathly Hallows Part 2" would be out...I think he is going to make it!