Hide-n-seek!

I just had to post this sweet picture of my little girl...I can't believe she'll be 4 years old in less than 2 weeks. "You blink...."

Another Wacky Wednesday SURPRISE...

If you haven't read my first "Wacky Wednesday" post, this post may not make much sense so read that one first, then come back to this one... :)

It turns out that I did not have my facts straight about Pat's car trouble. (I was a little distracted getting the kids out of the car at the Children's museum that I didn't get all the details.) It was actually a lot worse than I thought, and I really think that Heavenly Father was watching over Pat today. He was driving the truck to get lunch and had just got on the on-ramp to get on the freeway so he was only going about 30mph. All of a sudden, he heard this loud clunking sound and then heard something dragging underneath the truck. He pulled over onto the shoulder (before getting on the freeway) and looked underneath to see this long metal tube about 6 feet long hanging from the front of the truck all the way back to the rear axle. (SURPRISE!) When he called the towing company, they told him right away that it must be the drive shaft. It was so loose that when the tow truck arrived, the guy just pulled it off and put it in the back of Pat's truck. Who knows what would have happened if that thing had come loose on the freeway... I'll be glad when Pat is home safe and sound.

A Wacky Wednesday...

You ever had a day (or two) full of surprises...some good, some not so much?

Yesterday afternoon, Pat tells me he needs to go Raleigh for a conference today (SURPRISE!)It's about a 3 hour drive. So after we got the kids in bed, he drove his truck down there. He was supposed to call me on the road around 9pm, but I never heard from him. So I tried him, but the call wouldn't go through. My cell wasn't working either so something must have been up with the network. He finally called around 10:30pm and got there safe and sound @ 11pm.

So today I go about my normal business and decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum. They love it, but I'm usually worn out by the time we leave since I'm chasing them around everywhere. I decided to try something new and go after having an early lunch today to try to miss the school groups and daycares. When I got there, Pat called to tell me that he had gone out to his truck to go to lunch and it wouldn't start. (SURPRISE!) I think he was expecting me to grumble and moan about it, but the first thing that popped into my mind was "Wow! You are so lucky that this didn't happen last night when you didn't have any cell phone service. At least you are in the parking lot of your conference." It made him feel a little better, I think. (Surprise for him!) I gave him the number for our roadside service thing I just signed up for (thank goodness!) and the tow truck arrived within about 20 minutes. (Major Surprise!)


I went ahead and took the kids inside the museum. I was still expecting it to be kinda hectic...BUT IT WASN'T!!! It was probably the most fun I've had with the kids at the Children's Museum in a long time. They were even good about leaving when I said it was time to go. (Pleasant surprise!)


(These are from @ 3 months ago. I didn't have my camera today.)

When we got home, I heard from Pat again about his truck. The dealership said it would cost about $375 to fix it, not too bad, but they'd have to order the part which would take about TWO to THREE WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!! (SURPRISE!!!!!!) So now we're talking about Pat getting a rental car to come home and needing one for the next 2-3 weeks, etc... and then he says, "Well, what would you think if I traded it in and got something else?" (Kind of a surprise...we'd talked about this a few months ago since the truck is literally guzzling gas and as you all know, gas keeps going up! AAAHHH! And it just hit 100,000 miles, and it needs new brakes, and the power doors aren't working, etc...)

So to make this long story a little shorter...after doing some research price comparisons on the internet, talking to Pat on the phone 9 or 10 times, the salesman coming back with 3 different offers, we are now the owners of a silver 2006 Mazda6. (SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!) and an even bigger surprise than that is Pat being willing to let his truck go. He's had it for 7 years and he really loved it, but he has to drive around so much for work, he has to fill up at least twice a week. (It only gets 15 mpg..yikes! We are "depleting the ozone layer" & our bank account at the same time.) Still, I feel bad for Pat. A little Mazda isn't quite the same as a BIG, RED TRUCK...but maybe he'll feel like a race car driver now...if only he were into Nascar. :)

A Marvelous Monday!!!

I just have to say "WOW!" I have not gotten this much accomplished in one day in I cannot even remember when... definitely before I had kids. I love my kiddos more than life itself, but all you moms out there know that when it comes to running several errands with two (or more) kids in tow..it just ain't happening. I have to say a BIG "thank you" to my husband for making it possible. He said he'd come home early today to help me out and then go back to work tonight. So take a look at everything I was able to check off my TO DO list today...
Kelli's TO DO list -
1) Hair appt. Cut and color for me (boy did I need it!), trim for Abby. X
2) Target (we were out of everything...TP, laundry detergent, wipes) X
3) Grocery Store (There were a ton of organic fruits and veggies on sale today and milk was even on sale!!! BONUS! I've been trying to be more mindful of what's in our food...do any of you buy organic?) X
4) Taught 2 dance classes (Abby is so cute doing her "fishie" dance.) X
5) Michael's (picked up some craft kits for Abby's b'day party and
they were on sale 50% off! MAJOR BONUS!) X
6) Party City (Got a couple more things for Abby's party...in and out...it was awesome!) X

EXTRA BONUSES -
I got to spend some one on one time with Abby at the "beauty shop" and then she went with me to Target and the grocery store. She was just so cute and fun. We were singing songs, got a free cookie, and she picked out some banana popsicles. When we got home, she helped me unload the groceries. While Pat and I were putting them away, she and Noah were playing on the screened-in porch while it rained outside. She peeked her head in the door and said "Look, it's a beach party!" She had set this up all by herself. (The umbrella was already open drying out from the rain...)

Too cute, huh?

EXTRA EXTRA BONUS -
Pat had the kids in bed when I got home @ 7:45pm and he cleaned one of the bathrooms today too!

Like I said...it was a MARVELOUS Monday!!!

The Shoe Shoppin' Blues

My trip to Target with the kids today inspired the song writer in me...so humor me and sing along! Be sure to scroll way down and click pause on my playlist first! :)
.....READY?

(To be sung in the style of Babysittin’ Blues from the movie Adventures in Babysitting from the late 80’s…sing “da DA da da da” between each line for the full effect! I’ll get ya started…)

da DA da da da
Took the kids to the store…
Had to buy ‘em some shoes…
Hoped it’d be quick and painless…
But now I feel so abused…

da DA da da da
Got some icees and popcorn…
That was dumb on my part…
Thought it would distract ‘em…
But it got all over the floor and my cart…

(Build up to the chorus)
And it’s so hard…baby, baby
Shoppin’ with the kiddos…oh yeah.
I’ve got the….shoe shoppin’,
Shoe Shoppin’ Blues, baby, baby…
Yeah…The Shoe Shoppin’ Blues..

da DA da da da
Noah is climbing…
Right out of his seat…
Abby‘s sitting in the basket…
I’m trying shoes on her feet…

da DA da da da
Need to call in some back-up…
Need Dad to bring in some force…
To get our boy back in his seat….
But Daddy can’t ‘cuz he’s on the golf course….

Ahhhhhhhh! (James Brown style)
I’ve got the…shoe shoppin’…
Shoe Shoppin’ Blues…oh yeah, that’s right.
(Back-up singers…)
She’s got the…shoe shoppin’
Shoe Shoppin’ Blues, baby, baby…the Shooooooe Shoppin’ Blues.


At least we got out of there with a few pairs of shoes...my kids have grown out of everything!

Hey Moms! Check out these "wheels"!

I know you've heard this song a million times....maybe a million times in one day! But you've never heard it like this before. Scroll down to my playlist and click on "Wheels on the Bus". You'll get a kick out of it. :)

Songs that make me smile :)

So I've started a playlist of songs that make me smile! Funny thing is that I'm so used to listening to kid songs that I'm having a hard time thinking of songs I used to listen to in my "former life" (before kiddos). There are a lot of kid songs that could make my list (and I'm sure I'll post some...I had to put in "Return to Pooh Corner" for my kids. They love Pooh). So I need your help... what songs make you turn up the radio and sing along????

P.S. A few song dedications if I may....
"Stay" is for Diana (Summer of '94)
"I Will" is for Abby and Noah
"If I Had a Million Dollars" for anyone who owns a small business or has student loans (aaahhh!)
"The Promise" is for Pat (one of our 1st date songs)
More dedications to come...I've GOT to go to bed!

P.P.S. If you want a little peace and quiet, you can scroll down to the bottom of my page and click on the pause button to turn off the tunes. :)

2500 characters??? You've got to be kidding...

Wow! I did it! Some of you know that my mom & her sister were recently on a radio show to tell the story of my late grandmother being crowned "Queen for a Day" & my mom's journey to find a special souvenir of that day for my grandma. I was able to go with her to the taping in NC which was really fun. It is an awesome story, and I just couldn't resist the urge to send an email to my mom's favorite show "Live with Regis and Kelly". They have a Mother's Day special every year, and I know this story would be a great Mother's Day tribute. Of course, I had to convince them of this in 2500 characters or less (not words, but characters...spaces, letters, aahhhhhh!). It was difficult, but I finally whittled it down as much as I could without ruining it completely. I want to share it on my blog in hopes that you might enjoy the story too and send out some "positive energy" to the universe & the Regis show so they'll want to use it!!! (It's about 30 minutes if you click the link to listen to it...but a well spent 30 minutes!) No one tells it better than my mom. The love that she has for my grandmother radiates through the sound waves as you listen to this story unfold. Here's my email to the show & few pictures....

“Would you like to be QUEEN for a DAY?” These were the words my grandmother, Evelyn Stuart, heard 50 years ago before being crowned “Queen” out of 25 other women who shared their stories of hardship and hopes for a better tomorrow. After telling their heartfelt stories, each woman was asked to share one wish she would like to be granted. Evelyn, mother of nine children and nine months pregnant with her tenth, told of the tragic loss of their seven-year old son and the devastating fire that destroyed their home. They moved to California for a “change of luck” and dreamed of winning “Queen for a Day”. She wished to receive “300 springs” and a drill to use in the construction of “The Bunny Hop”, a new baby swing she had created. Evelyn hoped the success of her “Bunny Hop” would relieve the family of financial burdens. Not only was my grandmother’s wish granted, but their family received several prizes: a washer, a range, a bedroom set, but most of all, a life-changing moment she and her family would cherish forever. Only 15 days later, Evelyn gave birth to a baby girl, my mother.

My mother grew up hearing about her mom being crowned "Queen" and knew what a special memory that was in her mother’s life. Over the last several years, my grandmother's health began to deteriorate. In an effort to commemorate this moment in her mother’s life, my mom, Debra Cotich, was determined to find a special souvenir from the show. More than anything, she wanted to find footage from the actual show my grandmother appeared on. After years of searching, she finally came in contact with the president of “Queen for a Day”, Mr. Ray Morgan Jr. in Hollywood. It was he who confirmed the footage did not exist.

As a consolation for my mom’s heartfelt request, Mr. Morgan sent her a rare souvenir photo of a “Queen for a Day” audience. He did not know the date the photo was taken. He only knew it was from the same decade my grandmother had appeared on the show. My mom was elated to receive this photo, however, her state of excitement turned to one of complete disbelief when she discovered that her mother was one of the women pictured in the audience!

My mother was able to share this amazing story on a radio program recently. For more info & pictures, visit this link. What a wonderful tribute it would be to mothers everywhere to feature this awesome story on your Mother’s Day special. It would truly be a wish come true for my mom!

Keep your fingers crossed!!! :)

The famous photo...



My mom with the radio show host, Dick Gordon, and the producer, Denise.

Playground bloopers...

A little boy, maybe 4 years old, is wandering around your freshly laid out picnic at the park, when all of a sudden he breaks out into that fateful dance - legs crossed, quickly shifting from one leg to the other. Nature is calling... and instead of calling for his mommy, he notices the nice tree only 12 inches away from your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Before you know it, he's in his birthday suit from the waist down and aiming for that tree...and mom is none the wiser. She's about 15 yards away and her view is blocked by the twisty slide. Do you run over and alert the mother of her son's intentions OR do you sit awkwardly hoping that the wind doesn't shift direction?

What would you do???

(I actually did witness all of this yesterday...it was pretty funny. Of course, it wasn't my pb&j that was in jeopardy.hahaha)

Facelift!!!

As you can see I gave my blog a much needed facelift! I'm pretty proud of myself that I'm kinda figuring this thing out...slowly but surely! Thank you, Diana, for telling me about this other template. She's only been at this one day and she already knew more than I did! haha :) Love ya, girl!

Revelation at the dentist's office...

Don't ya just love to go to the dentist? A piece of my tooth/filling broke off a few weeks ago (while we were in Disney) so I had to go in today to get it fixed. Four shots of novacain (sp?) later, my old filling was removed and new one was put in its place. This will prove to be a good thing, of course, after the soreness and sensitivity subside, but right now I'm cursing that I even went. Dental instruments are scary looking...especially the syringe that numbs you up. It looks like some kind of weapon out of a science fiction movie. And the drill!!!! The sound of it just makes me cringe. They told me they used every dental instrument on me today. Boy! I feel special...special and sore.

Now...getting to the "revelation" part of my visit...I was talking to the dental assistant, Nancy, about the kids. I've been going to this practice since I was in 8th grade so they feel more like distant relatives than just people at my dental office. We were talking a little about preschool and how I've been going back and forth about putting Abby in. I told Nancy I've really been leaning toward keeping Abby home with me & just waiting for kindergarten. As crazy as it can be sometimes, I know this time I have with them is so short-lived. They are only this little once & time is flying by so fast. Before I could even go into my explanation of why I want to wait, Nancy began reflecting on her own children and how much she enjoyed being home with them and how much the children benefit from being home with mom. She also said how the time flies by..."you blink and they're in kindergarten, then high school, then college...it's unbelievable." I thought I might start crying in the dentist office. Am I a sappy mom or what?

I think as moms we really need and appreciate encouraging words and praise for the work we are doing as mothers. (Thank you to Elder Ballard yesterday for his talk on motherhood.)Sometimes the world makes us feel like we could be doing something more productive than staying at home with the kids, making pb&j for lunch, going to storytime, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, going to the grocery store, making meals, etc..., etc..., etc..., but when I stop and think about all the teachable moments there are throughout the day, when the kids give me hugs and kisses, when they want to play hide and seek outside, when Abby asks me to color with her, when Noah wants me to sing the "Pooh bear" song, when they come in and snuggle with me in my bed in the morning, when we read stories and sing songs at bedtime...there is no other place I would rather be & no greater work I could be doing than spending time with my kiddos.

The Fairy Tale Ball

Abby and I went to the Fairy Tale Ball at Theatre IV tonight with "Papa" & "Gramma Peggy" to see Ali and Michael. They are in the upcoming production of Peter Pan, which we are very excited to see. We did get a little sneak peek of "I Won't Grow Up." One of my favorites! The Lost Boys are cute (Michael included...he plays John too.)but I just cannot get past the fact that the director cast a close to 50 year old man to play Peter Pan. WHAT???? Believe me, I know. No one gets it. Yes, he is a little man. Yes, he has high tenor voice. Yes, he played the part before....like 15 years ago...even then that would have been a stretch. Traditionally, on Broadway & off, this part is played by a young woman who's made to look boyish. I seriously doubt a 50 year old man has ever been cast before....so weird. I mean, really, do they think the audience won't notice???? Come on now! the rest of the cast seems great though...especially John and Tiger Lily. :)

Sorry to vent....Back to the ball! It was really fun. Abby got a little freaked when we first got there, but once she started making an Indian bead necklace, she was good to go! We had fun getting ready today too. Abby and I painted our finger & toe nails. (I can't remember the last time I painted my toe nails. I even curled my hair...I really can't remember the last time I did that.) I let Abby wear a little make-up too so she was thrilled. We even wore little matching tiaras...
Princess Mommy & Princess Abby

Check out this facebook link to see a few more pics!

Ordinary Miracles

Thank you to my friend, Amanda, for your thoughtful words today and for sharing this song. I've heard this song before, but I had never really listened to the lyrics. It is such a beautiful reminder to be grateful for the "little" things in life and how important it is to focus on the positive and all the wonderful blessings we have been given.

It’s not that unusual
When everything is beautiful.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
The sky knows when it's time to snow,
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday;
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own.

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a rain drop falls,
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
Birds in winter have their fling
But always make it home by spring.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away;
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we’re all a part
Of the ordinary miracle.

Do you want to see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional
That things just work out after all.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

-Sarah McLaughlan

My little miracles

Happy April Fools Day!

Are there any pranksters out there? My old reliable April Fools prank is usually pouring a cup of cold water over the shower curtain right on top of Pat. hahaha! He lets out a pretty good yelp & I can't help but laugh my head off! Evil, aren't I? But I missed my opportunity for that this morning so I'll have to think of something else... What's a good joke you've pulled on an unsuspecting someone? :)