Cleaning Woes

So I'm frantically cleaning for an upcoming Silpada party I'm hosting for a friend who is just getting started in the business. Armed with carpet cleaning spray and a toothbrush, I attacked the many dark marks on my living room carpet.

Now what do I have to show for all of that hard work? I now am looking at lots of obvious clean spots all over my living room! Time to clean the whole carpet, huh?

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love My Husband

He says to me, "You only came up with 10?"

I've been blogging for about 5 months now about everything under the sun. I think it's time to dedicate this post to my wonderful husband who puts up with me!

Here are my top 10 reasons why I love my husband:

10. He's got great legs. ;-)

9. He's ok with me making decisions, and then telling him about them later.

8. He gives Weston a bath and puts him down for bed every night. He has done this ever since Wes was born.

7. He makes me laugh, especially when I need a laugh!

6. When I'm gone, he'll take all the boys out to eat. No, not a drive-thru. A sit down place with menus and waitresses!

5. He's a great role model for the boys.

4. He is kind, giving, has integrity and is honest.

3. He cooks.

2. He cooks.

1. He cooks.

"It's Just Like a Snow Day, Without the Snow"

Proclaimed Jack this morning while playing with neighborhood friends in the cul-de-sac.

Today marks the beginning of the downhill slide where, come Tuesday, not much is going to get done in school. My boys are all hyper, the teachers have checked out (ok, some of them), it gets dark so much later so the kiddos stay up later and wake up tired and cranky. Oh joy! Can't wait for June 6, the last day of school!

Couldn't we just have school beginning after Labor Day (new state mandate or law or whatever you call it) to right before Memorial Weekend? Lessen some of the other "breaks" and start our summer earlier! That's my vote! Oh wait, no one asked me!

Lovely Lux

Laurie and I went to the Lux Land concert last Saturday night at Brian Kelly's Photography Room in downtown Grand Rapids. Guest musician Dan Matheny joined her and they put on a terrific show! Her voice is beautiful, very soothing and sweet. She called her music "sleepy" and you could say that because it's not the "get up out of your chair and dance" kind of music. She writes all of her songs and I love the way she introduced them and gave us a little background before she sang. What talent she has!

After the concert we walked over to meet Lux and chatted with her a little bit. Then, after calling to check on the kiddos (we shared a babysitter because our husbands were off with the older children) we decided to go to San Chez to top off the evening. Great place, great food, we shared an amazing chocolate creation for dessert.

We had to walk back to the gallery to fetch my van from the valet. As we were walking up, Lux was just coming out and getting ready to leave. Her arms were full as I opened up the door for her. We chatted again as we waited for her car to be brought around. I was a little starstruck... here we are talking to Lux Land...again! However, when you think about it, we were just three moms having a conversation on the sidewalk! (Although one of those moms is a very talented performer and married to Brian Vander Ark, who I have also seen in concert and was out of town on tour that evening.)

But, where were her peeps to see her out the door? I've been meaning to give Brian Kelly a hard time about that! ;-)

When the valet brought her car, we helped load up her things and said goodbye! I guess we were her peeps that night!

Very Special Arts of Grand Rapids

I was invited to a luncheon yesterday by a friend who is on the board of Very Special Arts. This organization brings students with disabilities and artists together. Not just visual arts, but performing arts too. The purpose of the event was to tell their story and raise money for the organization. Just like at church, they did their own version of "passing the plate" toward the end of the program, and I was happy to give. The luncheon was short, yet very effective in getting their message across.

I'm so glad that I went. What a great organization! It is truly inspiring what these students can accomplish given the right teachers and the right tools. As with any nonprofit organization, they are always looking for supporters. Take a look at their website to learn more.

Items Found in Bottom of Washer and Dryer

• Money, both coins and paper (that's a given)
• Barrettes and other hair accessories (found on playground, the boys call them "Alien Torture Devices")
• Dice
• Rocks
• Chain from a light fixture pull
• Ben's school ID card
• Buttons
• Magnets
• More rocks
• Heavy rocks (how did I not know they were there?)
• Fossils
• Pieces of blacktop
• Cement pieces
• Ipod case
• Keychains (with no keys)
• Marbles
• Paperclips
• Binder clips
• Chuck E. Cheese tokens
• Wad of Kleenex

Another SAHM confession: I don't check pockets!

More Confessions of a SAHM (Stay-At-Home Mom)

• I don't fold the boys' clothes. Everything gets thrown in a drawer or hung up.
• My vacuum LOVES teeny-tiny little Legos and other items not worthy of my bending over to pick them up.
• Bedtime routine has been broken down to an acronym: BFFP = Brush, Floss, Fluoride, Potty. Even the babysitter knows the drill.
• Holey socks are disposable.
• I avoid ironing at all costs. Even the boy's dress clothes. Sheldon's does a much better job than I could anyway. I love it when their little khakis and button-downs are washed, pressed, and hanging in their closet ready for the next special occasion.
  
  

Bring On The Night...Bring On The Police

Photo from the Grand Rapids Press.

Sitting in the Van Andel Arena on Sunday I couldn't help but think back to my high school years. I'm sure I wasn't the only 40-something waxing nostalgic!

My mom had this very old stereo system spread out on a coffee table pushed up against our fireplace in the living room. My sister would listen to Prince and Pat Benetar. I would listen to The Police and Pink Floyd. We both loved Elton John, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles. Ahhhhhh, those memories of spinning the records and hearing the click of the 8 tracks!

So, fast forward 25 years or so and we now own 3 Ipods. I haven't listened to my Police albums in years, yet I still managed to remember almost every word of every song. To keep us old folks on our toes, some of the arrangements were a little different, yet very well done. They also gave us some great drum and guitar solos. I loved every minute of the concert! Not really being a big fan, Scott was even impressed!

We were also treated to Elvis Costello as the opening act. I'm not as familiar with his songs but he and his band were awesome! He has a new CD out that I'll have to check out.

Thanks Sting, Stewart and Andy for getting over whatever made you guys break up. You gave us a terrific concert. You 3 guys still rock!

And thanks, Scott, for a terrific Mother's Day present!

Reverse Pack Rat Disorder

Yes, I have this disorder. There has to be a name for it, we give names and labels to everything and everyone!

Here are my major symptoms: I must take things out of my house that we don't need or want and I must throw them away or give them away.

There is something in my brain that says, "if you haven't used it in a year, out it goes." Seriously, I could make some money if I wanted to hold a garage sale. However, I just can't save anything for a garage sale because that goes against what my brain is telling me. It says "get rid of it" all the time. (I don't really hear voices, but you know what I mean.)

You see, with 6 of us in this house, there just isn't room for extra stuff. Just last week, Scott and I went through his closet and found 27, yes 27 shirts to take to Salvation Army. And, 6 pairs of dress pants and 7 sweaters. Out they go! BUH BYE!

It's euphoric for me. If I smoked, I would probably need a cigaratte after my drop off to Salvation Army. It just feels good to me, but I'm weird that way.

Bumper Sticker Wisdom

"Some day we'll look back on all of this, laugh nervously, and change the subject."

Proud Mama Moment

Disclaimer: This post is pretty much about mom bragging about son. Feel free to skip reading this and wait for my next post.

Jackson has been taking piano lessons once a week for almost a year. Recently, his teacher wanted him to go twice a week. (You can imagine my glee when hearing this, as if we weren't busy enough already!)

Even though it requires the Baldwin bus to rack up more miles, I'm happy to do it. He continues to amaze me with not only his talent, but his interest. I'm so impressed that he will just walk up to the piano and play. He must have gotten the music gene from Scott's grandmother who played piano for silent movies many, many years ago.

Last night he performed at Pine Ridge in front of the entire 2nd grade and a gym full of parents and grandparents during the 2nd grade musical. He did a great job...it was such a proud mama moment! So glad you were able to come, Grandpa and Nana!

I guess this means a lot to me because growing up I always wanted to take piano lessons. But, we were lacking one major item, a piano! When my neighbor approached me a few years ago saying that they wanted to sell theirs, I jumped on that opportunity with the hope that our boys would take lessons. I suppose I still could take lessons...one day I may!

Way to go, Jack! I am so proud of you!

I Can Be SUCH A Flake

That's my Nick giving Tara the moose hands and rabbit ears

on a camping trip back in the summer of 2006.

My humblest and most sincere apologies to my good friend Tara. I was supposed to watch her daughter, Avery, this morning. But I flaked out and forgot because I didn't write it down. And this is not the only dumb thing I have done lately, right Amanda? (I won't be blogging about that story, too embarrassing!) I swear that I'm having senior moments WAY too early!

What makes me feel like even more of a heel is the fact that Tara has been so very helpful to me lately with watching my kiddos!

So sorry Tara. Hope that Avery wasn't too bummed about missing out on some playtime with Wes Wes. We'll try again, and next time, I'll write it down!

A Month's Worth of Photos

Here's what we've been up to lately:

Went to the Impression 5 Museum in Lansing with Grandpa and Nana over Spring Break

Another road trip during Spring Break to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo.

My goal was to keep them super busy during a LONG Spring Break. Even after spending a terrific weekend in Chicago, I still had 6 more week days to fill with activities.

The trampoline is up!

First back yard party and campfire of the season.
Beers, S'mores, good friends, and sparklers, can't get any better than that!

Weston's buddy Lee came over for some fun playtime.

Super windy day at Cascade Park.
Thanks to Grandpa and Nana for the kites!

Licking every possible drop of cake batter!
Check out the spiky hair fresh from the salon!
We were frantically getting ready for Jack's First Communion.

Where's Weston you may ask?

At home with a sitter...MUCH better that way!

Thanks, Laurie, for helping out!

I'm Not Normally A Complainer, But...

Over here in Cascade we have these wonderful bike paths along some of the major streets. Why is it that some cyclists choose not to use them and instead force the drivers to slow down in order to pass them?