back home again...in Indiana....

We decided on Wednesday to go home on Friday last week. A spur of the moment decision. It was great planning as there was a lot going on at home. We got to see lots of people at the Willis/Deckman reunion and Chris got to play in a really fun golf tourney and I got to putz around Farmland, one of my very favorite things to do! I played kickball at the reunion. I don't remember the last time I played kickball. It was a blast!! I woke up the morning after and my shin hurt and I was like WTH? Then it dawned on me that I had been kicking a ginormous ball the day before. Getting old sucks! Since when does kickball cause sore muscles??

I love it when Ellie spends time with her family. People treat her like she is always there and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I just wish we could spend more time there so she is her real goofy self with them and not her shy2yearoldIdon'tknowyou self. But fun was had by all.

E usually travels quite well but on the way home this time she was over tired and not happy to be stuck in her seat. "We home yet Mommy?" "We home yet??" It was basically her first "Are we there yet's!" I see long car rides in our future. She did finally pass out and sleep right until we pulled in our driveway. BONUS!

Guess what I didn't do bacause I am such a horrible mother...take pictures. Not One. So instead, here is our Virginia Beach vacation that we took this time last year. Look how much she has grown!

felt fun

When I was a little girl going to Sunday School, they used these felt board with little felt pieces to teach the bible lessons. All the kids got to take turns putting pieces of the story on the board. I used to LOVE that. Then the other day I was reading another blog and she wrote about all the felt her kid plays with. I thought to myself "Self, you can make a felt board for Ellie!" We stopped at the craft store on the way home from storytime (don't I sound all motherly and June Cleaverish again) and got loads of felt and a foam board for $10. After Ellie went down for her nap I got to work. What do you think??

So far I have only done a fall scene since it's that time of year but I have grand plans. I want to do Christmas, Easter, Spring, Summer, 4th of July, and Winter. When I get brave enough I want to try some characters such as Dora and the 3 pigs. I am not crafty though so I am not sure about those. Ellie loved it. She kept saying "they stick!!"

She decided to give it a try. She played with this for 45 minutes. 45 MINUTES! As any mom with a toddler will tell you, that is a long time!

Her pumpkins levitate!


I plan on storing each "story or theme" in a separate marked plastic bag. Aren't I clever?

the river

Our city has a great metroparks system. I mean, really great. This summer we discovered this little river about 2 minutes from our house. We go often after dinner and let E throw rocks in the water and go the the "spooky forest." It is a great way to end the day. As you can tell, my computer is fixed (yea!!) so I can post pics again.

Here is my sweet girl.

Here she is throwing some rocks.

Here we are. I occasionally make Chris take a pic of me just as evidence that I am really here and not always behind the camera.

Sorry baby. You just make it too easy sometimes.


After this we went for ice cream. Vanilla peanut butter for mommy. Chocolate peanut butter for daddy. Chocolate for Ellie.

you're it!

Yesterday we were inside most of the day watching the Ryder Cup and the Colts.
The Americans won! Yea!
The Colts lost. Boo.
So about 7 we took Ellie outside for awhile to "blow the stink off," as my mom used to say. We went for a walk around the block and then we taught her to play tag in the front yard. It was just the cutest thing to hear her scream YOU'RE IT! She didn't quite understand that you can only say it when you actually tag someone.

I pretended to fall down and she kept yelling for me to get up.
Get UP mom!
Arriba!! (that would be the spanish word for up. Thanks Dora.)

I was laughing so hard I couldn't get up. When I finally made it to my feet what did she yell? You guessed it...YOU'RE IT!

Computer to be fixed tomorrow. Pictures to come soon!

guilt be gone!!

Now that Ellie is 2 1/2 I am getting the "so when are you going to get pregnant again?" questions. I hate that question. Do people not realize how rude that is? And then, when I tell them we are only planning on one child they always GASP and give me several reasons why I should have another.

"But she will be so lonely"
"But she will be so spoiled"
"But she will be all alone when you are gone"

Umm, I am an only child and am none of those things. I strongly believe that family is who you love, not who you are related to. I have many friends I consider family.

I was really feeling guilty about not giving Ellie a sibling for a long time. Am I being selfish? Would she like a brother or sister? Am I spoiling her? Then my friend Jen came over with Enzo (2 1/2) and Sascha (2 months). I was holding Sascha and had the following conversation with Ellie:

Me: Ellie, would you like a little brother like Sascha?
Ellie: NO!
Me: Are you sure? He is awfully cute and cuddly!
Ellie: Yes! I am sure!
Me: Well, why don't you want one?
Ellie: I want you to carry ME, not a baby!

You gotta love her honesty. So for now, I can let my guilt go. She doesn't even want a sibling. When she's 4 and begs me for a sister, I will just get her a puppy.



Disclaimer: There is a miniscule possibility I will want another child in the distant future. This post doesn't mean I never want to even consider another child. Just throwing that out there...

Also, I will post pics again soon. Our computer is down and I am currently on Chris' laptop from work with no pics on it. Soon!

raindrops on roses

Today is my mother's birthday. She LOVED her birthday and really expected a "birth month." She would have been 68 today. In years past on her birthday I would go out and buy myself something extravagant as "her present". One year I got a really, really nice soft comfy sweater. I love that sweater and wear it all the time but every time I put it on I am sad and it makes me miss her more, so I dropped that tradition.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when it's your mothers birthday, you simply remember your favorite things and then you don't feel so crappy (please hum the melody as you read that!!)

So today I am thinking of:

the first sip of coffee in the morning
a cool breeze through an open window
jeans that fit just right
robins
new pajamas
cherry Coke
milk Duds
getting a card in the mail for no reason at all
a glass of wine
when chris kisses me after he shaves
organized cabinets and drawers
clothes shopping for ellie
clean sheets
popcorn
pretty bowls
Thanksgiving dinner
rainy Sundays on the couch watching football

Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you.

my morning is worse than your morning

I wrote this last friday and then my computer crashed...so pretend it was last friday when you read this.

Ok, let me set the scene...

Chris is out of town at a conference and has been since Wed. night. No big deal. That just means less cooking and laundry. I never sleep quite as well when he is gone though. Even though the middle of the bed is awfully nice. So last night I had a horrible time falling asleep. I kept thinking I was hearing things. Then I kept telling myself I was being silly and that my imagination was running away with me. I finally fell into a fitful sleep.

So this morning, I went down to make Ellie's breakfast and found this...

and this...

and this....

and this.

At first I thought how in the world did Hoosier (our fat cat) get her fat ass up that high, and upon closer inspection realized those were much too big to be kitty prints.

SOME CREATURE IS IN MY HOUSE! OH MY GOSH!

Now I am ok with killing bugs and spiders and am ok with seeing some creature in my backyard, but this was my KITCHEN. And I was HOME ALONE with a 2 year old. This is when I started freaking out a little bit. I called Chris and told him what was happening and he told me to get a broom and investigate. Are you kidding me? Not gonna happen. So then I called my nice neighbor next door and he came over and looked around. He didn't find anything. The weird thing is that nothing was amiss. There was food on the counter that was untouched and I know the creature was up there because there are footprints up there (shudder!) Maybe it doesn't like rice?

So Animal control was called and now I am sitting here waiting for him to get here. Hurry up animal control guy!!!


Ok, it is Sunday again. Animal control came and told me it was a raccoon. A COON IN MY HOUSE!! He was 100% sure he was no longer in the house and a trap has been set to catch the little f*^ker. So far, no coons in the trap. Can you imagine if I had heard something and gone down and investigated? It would have been a scene straight out of the Great Outdoors! We have moved the couch in front of the fireplace (the place of entry) until he is caught. Chris is really no braver than me, bless his soul. He strategically placed a 3 iron within reach if battle must be done. Wish us luck that we catch him soon!

interesting video

Be thankful for what you have.

http://videos.komando.com/2008/09/10/the-miniature-earth/

I needed this reminder today. Ellie woke up at the butt crack of dawn, Chris is out of town at a conference for a few days and I feel crappy and grouchy. I should stop complaining.

yuck! gross! ewww!

As you know, I did the 3 day walk and had a wonderful experience, blah, blah, blah...

Well I am just now able to wear normal shoes and thought things were getting back to normal with my feet. They don't hurt anymore or anything. So why all the yucking and grossing you ask??

MY PINKY TOENAILS HAVE FALLEN OFF! As in GONE! YUCK! GROSS! EWWW!

The medical people at the walk told me it would happen due to the nature of the blisters and I just ignored them. Last week I was mentally patting myself on the back for managing to keep them attached and then BAM! I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and just peeled one off. It didn't hurt but I was (am!) so grossed out by it that it turns my stomach. The other one fell off yesterday. I am just going to keep them bandaged for a year or so until I think they have grown back and then hazard a look at them.

I will spare you pictures.

elephants performing tricks

Ellie is huge into her little people lately. We got them all out the other day and made a "scene." I love this kind of play so I was having just as much fun as she was. I would hold up a person and ask where they should go and Ellie would tell me. It was scary how she got things right. For example, the little boy at the zoo needed a mommy, the clown should be at the zoo, the 2 mommies at the kitchen table "talking", and the worker guys in the garage with the car. It is amazing what she is picking up just looking around!

The whole scene with my girl in her jammies and crocs. She can really rock an outfit!

The zoo with the snack shop and merry-go-round.

The house. See the mommies talking?

The barn. She even put the bunny at the crate of veggies.

I left the room for a few minutes and this is what I came back to. Apparently EVERYBODY wanted to see the elephant. He must have been doing something very cool.

my first mommy heartbreak

Ellie is quite spirited these days. In fun places too, like the library and the mall. There have even been a few (gasp) tantrums! Loud, embarrasing ones.

For example, here is an account of what happened at the mall the other day. I should mention that before all this happened we had read lots of books at the bookstore, played on those damn little motorized things (you know what I mean, the little trains and animals that are like .50 a ride, I hate those things. HATE!), went to McDonalds for lunch (where we had a plain cheeseburger, apples, and milk, thankyouverymuch), and played at the Disney store. Also, we were on our way to the indoor play area to play SOME MORE. All I had done for me was return a dress that didn't fit at H&M. So anyway, this was the conversation...

Me: Ellie, why don't you get in your stroller so we can get to the play area faster. You can eat the rest of your apples on the way.

Ellie: NO! I WANT TO PUSH THE STROLLER!

Me: Oh, let's take a little ride so we can get there really fast!

Ellie: I SAY NO MAMA! I WALK AND PUSH STROLLER!

Me: (stooping down to her level trying to remain calm and optimistic and talking in a calm soothing voice) Ellie, mommy does not like that voice you are using. It hurts my ears and is unacceptable. Do you hear me?

Ellie: (now laying on the floor crying loudly) I WANT TO WALK!

Some PerfectMom in line at the pretzel place talking to her 4ish year old son: Someone needs a nap (and looks pointedly at Ellie)

Uh, mind your own business Prada and keep feeding your brat nitrates and Red Dye 40!

Well now it is a matter of her minding me when I tell her to do something. It is not about walking or riding in the stroller, it is about minding her mother. If she had remained calm, I probably would have let her walk to the play area (even though it was at the complete other end of the mall). It was the yelling that got her the timeout in the stroller.

Me: Ok, that's it. In you go. Little girls who throw fits need to calm down in the stroller for a bit. (and I scoop her up and put her in the stroller and wheel her to a corner for 2 minutes.)

Ellie: Mommy, you are MEAN!

Me: (Pause, stunned, heartbroken, teary. I knew there would come a day where she would say this and I know there is worse to come, but I was unprepared) Oh honey, I am not mean. I am a good mommy and I love you and I need to teach you the right way to act.

Ellie: (taken aback by the tears in my eyes) You a good mommy. You not mean. We go play now?

And that was that. After her 2 minutes, we went to the play area (with her in her stroller!!) and played. I did talk to her on the way home about nice words and hurtful words. I am not sure how much she got but I felt better. This parenting thing is getting harder. Almost a week later, I am still sad when I think about it. I want to still be her hero, not some meanie who won't let her do things.

I should mention that all tantrums (and there aren't that many, she is a good girl) are not handled quite that well by me. This particular tantrum, I had just eaten, was properly caffeinated and therefore equipped to handle her little episode with my June Cleaver side.

max

I need to break from my usual blogging for some sad news. I promise I will get back to my usual musings next time.

I have been following a blog for a few months now about a brave little boy who is battling neuroblastoma, a form of cancer. I am not even sure where I ran across it but as soon as I started reading I was hooked. This family is so strong, so courageous. They fought as hard as they could against the cancer that was taking their little boy, with smiles and grace and laughter.

Sadly, Max became an angel on Sunday. I woke up and went to check my blogs and was devastated by the news. He leaves behind loving parents, big sister Hannah, and little brother Nicky. He will always be 7 years old. I cannot even began to wonder how his mother, Melissa, is feeling. How she is coping with all that must be done, while being a mother to her two other children? I am praying for her and her family.

Why am I blogging about this? Well, for a few reasons. This blog continually reminded me how easy I have it. Ellie is throwing a fit? Thank God she has the energy for it. Ellie only wants to eat cookies and ice cream? Thank God she has an appetite. Ellie won't go to sleep at night? Thank God it is not pain that is keeping her awake, only stubborness. It also reminded me not to take any day for granted. You just never know what might happen.

So go hug your kids, remember how blessed you are, and enjoy each minute.

Here is the blog if you are interested. http://mikulak.blogspot.com/