Pappap's 90th

in PA. It was a whirlwind weekend... but also a blast.

happy anniversary- a rough weekend, but counting blessings

This past Friday Erik and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. Erik planned a night away from home, just the two of us. He arranged for his parents to come to our house and watch the kids while we went to Indianapolis. Earlier in the week, Erik was feeling a bit ill, but I believe that by sheer will he MADE himself feel better so that we could make the trip.


We had a great time walking around the downtown area of Indianapolis exploring the city- and had an awesome dinner at Fogo de Chao (click the link to read about how this restaurant is different)... afterward though, Erik was having major stomach pain and issues. Believing that this was due to eating too much meat, we walked back to the hotel, changed clothing and then walked to the movie theater where we saw 'date night'.

The next morning we were formulating our plans to head to one of the many museums in the Indianapolis area after breakfast (even though Erik's tummy wasn't back to it's normal self)... then we got a call from the hotel front desk... our van had been broken into:

BUMMER!

I don't know what I expected a "broken into" van to look like- but I was a shocked by all of the broken glass.
Luckily the thief only took our roadside assistance kit and my super awesome leather backpack turned diaper bag.

I went through a lot of the stages of grief... with anger being the strongest... although it really only played out in me wishing to be detective like- spotting our diaper bag on the street where the thief would have thrown it having realized the contents- or me seeing the thug and clobbering them with the roll of duct tape we had to tape cardboard to our van.
Luckily our state is one that requires no deductible for broken glass on a vehicle and Erik's stereo (one of his Christmas gifts) was still in the van. Our only true loss will be that of the time and energy to get everything fixed.
Still feeling a bit sick, Erik decided we should head home (and I readily agreed, I was missing my kids).

When we arrived home, my parents hosted a nice pizza dinner. Then we went home- we were exhausted, and so were the kids from all their fun playing with Mia and Bebop.

thinking that was the end of the bumps in our weekend, we went to bed.

Then... at 4am, Erik woke up with a great pain in his side... he dealt with it for a few hours, but then as morning came, and the pain worsened, he decided he'd like a doctor's professional opinion- so we headed to the ER.
Thankfully Erik's parents were still here so we didn't even have to blink and eye to think about where the kids would go.
At the ER, blood work was done and a scan was ordered- there was talk about surgery for his appendix which appeared swollen and a surgeon was sent in to talk to us about either admitting Erik to the hospital for observation, or sending him home with the thought we'd come back in on Monday for surgery if the pain worsened. Then the blood work came back and we found that luckily Erik had "only" picked up a nasty virus~ we were sent home with prescriptions to ease his pain and nausea.

By this time my parents had already picked up the kids to take them to (my) Grandma and Grandpa's house for the belated Easter celebration there... so luckily they get to have another fun day of play- although sadly I'm stuck here missing them, wishing I could remember all of the things that are always on my list of things to do~ you know, the ones a mom of young kids has a hard time accomplishing because the kids want to help? yep. funny sometimes how that works uh? we always want what we can't have....

so- even though I'd like to say this was a really bad weekend- I'm trying to count my blessings
*Erik felt well enough we were able to enjoy the day of our anniversary and have a great dinner and even catch a movie
*we only lost a bag and some clothes from our car break in deal
*Erik's parents were here to seamlessly cover the care of our children while we rushed off this morning
*Erik does not have to have surgery
*the kids get to have another great day being doted on, Egg hunting, and visiting with their extended cousins, Aunts and Uncles
* I have some alone time~ in which I'm realizing that no matter the circumstances, the to do list will remain and so I should just enjoy life fully every day and forget my endless list of things and wishes do be done. I can learn to just sit and be content.

If you've stuck with me though all of this, thanks.



(the kids- egg hunting on Easter Sunday)

makes sense to me...

extra goals to add to the mix: here.

mainly for me-
1- self- suficiency (to take the time to work on teaching Matthew to do things by himself- mainly now: the potty, cleaning up toys, washing hands)
4- regular cleanups
and
14- create a weekly routine
Matthew and I decided last week that Friday would be pajama day- where we stayed in our pajamas all day and clean stuff up- adding more "days" to our week would be a good thing- especially in the summer.

STAYIN' ALIVE...

We're all stayin' alive this week...

and it's been a busy week...

The story of what happened to my Grandparents on Monday as told by my mom:

Mom felt sick after eating lunch - thought it was the food, went and lay down on the bed.
Dad checked on her a little later- couldn't get her out of bed.
Sat down in his office chair to call someone but seemed to pass out.
Grandma and Grandpa say now they could both hear the phone ringing (it was Margaret, their neighbor) but couldn't get to it.
Mom said she was yelling for dad to come back to the bedroom - thinking he went back out to work in the garage.
She prayed that someone would come to the house. She could not get up.
After Margaret called several times, couldn't get anyone to answer, I would say God used her as a vessel and she came to check on them.
Margaret called Cindy and Kenny who came up right away. Cindy helped mom walk outside sitting her in a chair outside with a blanket. Margaret sat with grandma outside. Kenny called 911. Then they both pushed dad out in his 'wheeled' office chair - thank God that's what he sat down in as he was not responsive at all...Mom was barely responsive.
Fire dept, ambulances came, checked the house, took them to the hospital.
After receiving the oxygen in the ambulance, there was a world of difference in Grandpa - by the time they were in the ER, both were sitting and responding. They are expected to have a room together at the hospital tonight.
They had not seen each other since they left their home in ambulances...they each were asking about the other as they were in different ER rooms.
They are tired.

Thank GOD for his miracles.

Fall Decorating

There have been so many great posts out there by bloggers about how to decorate for fall. Reciently, I saw much more beauty than they could ever dream up...








check out those porch flowers and spruces- I'm definitely after one of these for our porch- and I think I could keep it alive too since it's on the porch and right by the door...



these baby potpourris are adorable. I wouldn't be able to have them until Matthew (and Sophia) were much too old to think that they were fun to throw and pretend to eat...



I think this is a great centerpiece... it'd go with my kicthen's colors too...



if only i had a window sill large enough to sit something on...





I really liked this little guy- and Matthew left him alone too... wonder if I'd have that much luck here...



I think I could make this... with my dad's help/ guiding hand/ tools.



I've noticed lately that my preference is leaning towards this kind of art- what would you call it? Folk/ Primitive?







their outdoors was gorgeous too... be still my heart...



I wouldn't even have to have that hot tub....








I really want to do something like this in our back yard... we only have enough of a hill for say- 3 or 4 steps though... it'd make the hill look nicer.



so much cuteness, I can't even say...





if I could find a small grapevine wreath, I could make this wreath above, I'm almost certain.



My only wonder is what she does with all of the potted mums when the season is over? plant them and buy more? store them somewhere for next year.... will they go dormant and live through the winter in a terracotta pot?

Steeler's fan pictures

Sophia recieved two Steeler onesies in the mail from our provider of Steeler gear, Erik's Aunt Chari and Uncle Jeff. How could I not at least attempt to take a picture??

Attempt one turned out ok...

Attempt 2:

attempt 2, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Sophia seems to look like she's slipping a bit... lets try another pose...

attempt 3, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

ok, I think they were in kahoots on that one- how else would you get two smiles, but both so silly and mischevious looking?

all right... enough sillyness guys, lets try again...

attempt 4, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Woah- somebody is a little too happy in this picture... and I think I'd be a little shocked if someone's belly were bumping into the soft spot on my head....

attempt 5, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

this one is decent... but it's best to be fully clothed in a picture taken BECAUSE of your clothes...

attempt 6, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

and then we lost one- and Sophia wasn't going to smile by then... so I gave up too... oh well. The Steeler onesie is still a little big on her, so we should still have plenty of time to try again...

escape artist

escape artist, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Sophia is an escape artist.
We got this blanket from a friend as a baby shower gift. It's a great swaddle blanket and we used it a lot right after we brought Sophia home from the hospital. She was sleeping a little bit too much though, and not eating enough- and since we needed her to be awake more often to eat, we quit using the miracle blanket during the day and decided just to use it at night... Sophia cracks me up, because even through she's wrapped tightly, in the mornings she looks like this.

Matthew, Memaw and the monor-bikulkulkul., originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

In other news...
Matthew told us this morning that he and Memaw (and Mommy too) had a cake and ate it all. That must have been a good dream.

thinking...

thinking..., originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

I came up with this thought just as I was ready to try to free hand something on the wall (inspiration from here). I'm wondering what you think about it? Am I crazy, is it cute?

I was thinking I could maybe use this technique to secure them to the wall. I'm a little scared though- the starch isn't supposed to damage walls- but it's not the walls I'm worried about... what about the fabrics? These were hand crocheted by Erik's Great Aunt Jenny. I'd hate it if they weren't able to come off of the wall in one piece... still, I'm not sure what else to do to display them, and I love the handmade love added to the room.

edit to add: after a little further research- looks like there are people out there that claim you just have to wash the fabric for it to be like 'new' again...