Happy Birthday Michael!

Today Mike is 39 years young. The kids went in and sang him Happy Birthday first thing this morning...and they tried to give him birthday spankings. Megan was using 2 hands so she was counting by twos. Tonight we are taking him to dinner at Don Pablo's. So maybe later I will have some more recent pictures to share. These ones were taken last June at Franklin Park Conservatory.

I got tagged by my Sister and Callie so I have no choice here goes something.

The question: "What are five things you are obsessed with?'

1) I am obsessed with being a good mom to my kids. Reading to them, taking time to play games and talking with them and listening to them.

2) I am obsessed with my dogs, teaching the pup, Rebel right from wrong. Making sure Rowdy still feels like he is my best buddy.

3) I am obsessed with my Blog...I love to share pictures of my kids and their silly stories with my family and friends. It makes California and Oregon not seem so far away.

4) I am obsessed with waiting for my Dad and Carole to come visit in May. I want to make them some nice meals and I am obsessed with reading recipes. I know that whatever I make them they will be pleased with but I always want it to be special.

5) I am obsessed with just trying to matter...to make a difference...to be kind and treat others as I would like to be treated...to be a good role model for my daughters.

Last Friday Paige and I went to Target and she picked out some sun dresses. She has good taste and seems to know what looks best on her. This is one of her favorites and she wore it today since it will be so warm. She had to wear sneakers with it since it is gym day, but at least they are clean sneakers.

I have to go pick her up at school later for her first orthodontist apt. They say that they usually like to see kids by the time they are 7.....so we are a few years late since she will be 9 next month but at least we are going before all her permanant teeth are in.

This morning I took Rebel over to get his stitches out. The vet said he could have a bath, thank goodness cause he sure did need one. I gave Rowdy a bath first and the entire time Rebel is nosing around trying to look in the tub just being a pest and I swear he was laughing at Rowdy. Then when it was his turn he turned into sad pathetic pup....see photos below. When it was all done I could tell he felt refreshed and he smels like a clean clean pup!

Get back in there mister we still need to wash the soap off!
Rebel giving me his saddest puppy look.
All clean and dry ready to run out the bathroom door.
Clean, clean puppy resting in a sunny spot.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What are you proud of?

My girls, Paige and Megan they are smart, funny, beautiful and compassionate.

I am also proud of my Grandma, she has lived an amazing life and she is so talented she's a wonderful gardener, bakes the best pies, hunts, fishes and she drove to Alaska all by herself in the early 70's. She is my inspiration!

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?

I won a beautiful scrap book album a few years ago on Mother's day weekend.

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.

Picking up the dog toys, because 5 minutes later they are spread all over the house again, but yet I continue to pick them up.

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?

I would have to say my 24th year when I moved across country with the family I nannied for.

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?

Sitting on the big rock at the wide end of Saddle lake...I haven't done it for a long time but I have a picture of it in my mind and it is peaceful.

Another warm weather day here in Ohio. Since the girls are off school for Spring break we went to the park today. Paige had a fever over the weekend and was feeeling a little better, I thought a little fresh air would do her some good. By the way did anyone see that show last night, Planet Earth on Discovery channel? It was awesome. Paige and I watched the entire thing. Some amazing footage and interesting facts.

Rebel had his first encounter with bubbles today. When Paige and I came back from walking the dogs Megan was out front blowing bubbles while Mike was working in the garage. At first he just wanted to chase them then he figured out how to pop them. Silly puppy!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?
I would have to say Ann Curry, she is smart, her voice is easy to listen too and you can tell that her heart is in her work, you can also tell she is a real person just trying to make a difference.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Trader Joe's Guacamole
Mrs. T's mini pierogies
Edamame (shelled soybens) they are great in salads!

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
There!
That way you could say "I'm from There!" and mean it.

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?
Depends on what catches my eye next time I'm at the library.


Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
nice smile/teeth

{These pictures are for Aunt Shann...hope they make you smile!}

We woke up to big rain this a.m. Actually I woke up to a 5 year old crawling in bed with me at 5:30 a.m. saying she was scared. I think she was just cold, her arms were freezing. I snuggled her up and we slept until 7.
We have a huge puddle almost a lake in our backyard...we will need to fill that area in with more top soil this summer. Our poor sump pump is getting a workout.

Paige and Megan waiting on the porch for the school bus.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING 2007!

Here are some of our Crocus that were in full bloom yesterday....the sun was shining and they were looking glorious. We are to have thunderstorms today...so they will get a drink of water!
Hope all is well in your part of the world.

The most important part of pizza tossing is pizza catching! If he were to drop it there were two dogs at his feet ready to catch it for him!




The finished product....going in the oven!

LIFE IS GOOD!

This is a scene from Friday...it was after lunch and Megan and Rebel are watching cartoons on the Disney channel. I don't know who looks more comfy the kid or the dog.

MY Leprechaun Name Is: Plucky Greentoes

What's yours?
http://www.blogthings.com/leprechaunnamegenerator/

Happy St. Patrick's A-Day Early!













The girls are wearing their green a day early they are making sure not to get pinched. This was at the urging of Megan. I told her St. Patrick's day is not until the 17th but she insisted that she needed to wear green. So here they are in all their green glory!

Oh, to be young and free and riding your bike on a warm Spring day....doesn't get much better than that!


We had another beautiful day 75 degrees and sunny. Two nice days in a row... we are getting spoiled. They are predicting cold and possible snow flurries tomorrow so that will snap us all back to the reality of March in the Midwest. The girls could not wait to ride their bikes when they got home from school today. I made them take Rebel for a walk around the neighborhood first. They didn't seem to mind and Rebel was thrilled to go.
P.S. I told them to look tough when I took this picture....LOL pretty-tough girls don't ya think?

FUN DIP!!!!

Megan went to a birthday party today and got some "Fun Dip" in her favor bag. She was all about taking that sweet tart stick and dipping it in the colored sugar. That's the kind of candy ya have to enjoy when your'e young....cause when you grow up you realize it's a lot of work for nothing but a green tongue.

Rebel our little sun puppy. He loves the sun and being outside in the fresh air. Yesterday it was a balmy 60 degrees here. I know 60 does not sound all that warm but after a winter of temps in the single digits 60 is balmy. We took Rebel on a long walk yesterday plus I took him on a few short walks too...he slept so good last night...I don't think he moved at all. Today when I got home from work he was outside on his tie out watching the girls play. He was also rolling in the grass. I had the girls take him for a walk then when they got back we gave him a bath...he was a very stinky pup. I was so proud of him, after his bath he sat still and let me blow dry him. He usually tries to attack the blow dryer. He must have figured out that it feels nice to have warm air blow on him. Our little pup is growing up!

FRIDAY'S FEAST...........




Appetizer:
What is your usual bedtime? I try to get to bed by 10:30 I also try and read before I go to sleep so sometimes if it's a really good book a little later.

Soup:
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more? I would have to say it's 50/50.....or sometimes 60/40 or whatever just depends.

Salad:
Descrive a memorable meal you've had. I had an incredible meal with my sister one August...I think it was about 7 years ago or so...we were going downtown to see Music Circus...she got me tickets for my birthday. We had an incredible dinner at "Bibba's"....from salad to dessert it was perfect...great food and great company.
I also had a great steak up in the N. Eastern corner of Nevada...just the other side of "Slide Rock Ridge" with Bill Peck and company from the Smith ranch. The steaks were cooked on an open flame high in the mountains after a long day of riding horses...those steaks were so pretty on the grill I took a picture of them.

Main Course:
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something. Oh this one is hard I have read so many great books. I guess one that comes to mind is "Widow of the South"....it was a novel based on a real battle that took place in TN. during the Cival War. They gave the facts of the lives lost and it was a huge number...like the combination of those lost in Pearl Harbor and those lost in Normandy....and to think they were all Americans fighting each other just over 100 years ago. They named some of the places in TN. and I have seen those names on exit ramps driving down to GA. Makes you think about all the history that has come before us.

Dessert:
What is your favorite type of fruit juice? Orange-Pineapple juice over crushed ice!

I found a mermaid in my bathtub....a very magical, mystical mermaid named Miss. Megan!
This silly girl loves the feeling of floating in the water and having her ears submerged...gives me the chills.....when water gets in my ears. I am glad she's a water baby...loves to swim like a fish.