1930's Wife Test

42 As a 1930s wife, I am Average Take the test!

I think I may have answered some of these questions wrong!!

Mother Nature's Fury

Mother Nature truly amazes me. She creates world wonders like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. Places that people flock to just to get a look at them - places that take your breath away. She also creates disasters - hurricanes, wild fires, tornadoes, and floods.

Over the weekend we visited the Dells. It was the first time I had been there since the big flood in June that completely wiped out Lake Delton. I found this video on YouTube that I hadn't seen before. It actually shows the road washing away . . . .



We parked our car at what once was a boat landing. We got out and took a first-hand look at the small stream that was now Lake Delton. It was one of the saddest things I've seen. People were actually walking on the mud that was once the lake bottom.

Obviously from the video you can see the tremendous power this raging water had. There was a pile of tangled debris on the boat landing . . .

We got in our car and drove around trying to find another view. We found many houses, condos and resorts all built around the once beautiful Lake Delton. Their backyards were now just a pile of mud and weeds.

This final photo is the section of road that washed away that day . . . as you can see the road is still closed.

Lake Delton was formed in 1927 - can you believe it had been there for over 80 years! Over 80 years that lake was enjoyed by tourists . . . it took only 4 hours to completely drain. I truly believe Mother Nature has a plan when things like this happen. When there is a wild fire, it promotes new growth and actually helps keep our forests healthy. It's hard to find the reason why this happened - I do know they hope to have the lake refilled by next summer - maybe in time for my next trip to the Dells.

The World Loses A Mentor

I was saddened today when I was poking around at my usual internet sights and I read a terrible headline: "Randy Pausch dies at 47"

I posted an entry awhile ago when I first came across this story. It captivated me and still to this day I'm not exactly sure why. Here was a man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told he only had months to live. He was a successful professor at Carnegie Melon University and had three young children. He lived only 10 months after his diagnosis.

Perhaps it was the way in which he lived his life that intrigued me. Always looking on the bright side, never giving up, and living each day to the fullest. Perhaps it was because I wished I lived my life that way - never looking back, never holding on to the past, always appreciating everything good in life.

I would listen to his "Last Lecture" and immediately feel grateful for everything I had in my life. He truly was a motivator for me and for millions of people across the country.

I'm saddened that the world has lost such a true great example of how I think we should all live our lives. Be thankful for the families we have, the jobs we have, the things we enjoy, and even be thankful for those times when our faith is tested. It's those times that allow us to grow as human beings and really prove to us how bad we really want something.

I'm sad for his wife who will have to raise her children with only the memory of their father instead of the man. I am sad for his children who will not remember the man they spent their early years with.

Let the values of Randy Pausch be a teacher for all of us. Don't take the time you have for granted. Give your kids an extra hug, your spouse an extra kiss, and put that extra effort into your job. You will reap the rewards.

Our House - The Cabin??

Awhile ago Brian sent away for tourist information from all 50 states - yeah, don't ask - that's a whole other blog post! Anyway, 48+ states later, they are still trickling in and yesterday we received this magazine from Pennsylvania. Apparently you can explore the wilds of Kinzua Country and the Allegheny National Forest - the best part is they have these cabins you can rent.

I tried to make this as big as possible so I hope you can see this. Take a look at the top picture of the outside of the cabin. Do you see anything familiar???

Umm, yeah it's pretty much our old house, minus the bottom floor. I can't tell you how freaked out I was when Brian showed this to me. Apparently our house was a make-shift cabin. What's even scarier is that even the yard could pass as our old yard with all the trees and stuff.

In case you think I'm crazy . . . here's a picture of what our house looked like when we moved in seven years ago:

Perhaps we shouldn't of sold it. According to this brochure the going price is $175/weekend.

Inside The Mind Of A 4 Year Old

We always thought that when Kadin wakes up in the morning, before he comes and wakes us up he usually sits in bed for awhile. I've always wondered what he thinks about when he lays there - is he contemplating what he will do that day, what games he will want to play. Or maybe he is thinking about what cartoon he will pick to watch that morning.

Well one morning after I went to work, Brian caught a glimpse of what actually does goes on inside Kadin's head while he's lying in bed.

Kadin: Dad, wake up. Wake up dad!
Brian: I'm up . . . just a minute.
Kadin: Dad, you know what I heard when I was lying in my bed?
Brian: No, what?
Kadin: I heard the little birds talking outside my window. Do you know what they were saying?
Brian: No.
Kadin: They were saying (in a sweet little voice) "get up Kadin . . get up Kadin . . . time to get up."
Brian: Oh really?
Kadin: Yes and then I heard those nasty crows. CAW, CAW, CAW! And they were saying (in a loud screechy voice) "GET UP KADIN . . GET UP KADIN!!!"

And the best part of all - according to Brian - it was the best crow impression he's ever heard.

It's Fun To Play . . .

at the Y-M-C-A! Yup, you're lookin' at (ok, maybe not really looking at) the newest family to join the YMCA. I'm so excited!!!!


Brian and I have always been too cheap to join a fitness club. We've actually been thinking about joining a club for awhile now, but always found that they just were not affordable. Well, one of the perks of my new job is that they will reimburse part of my membership fee if I attend at least twice per week. I figure I can swing twice per week - so we took the plunge.


I LOVE the YMCA. It's such a cool place. Not only can we take the kids swimming - but they have this awesome thing called DROP-IN DAYCARE!!! Whoever thought of this idea should be given some kind of award. Now, Brian and I can workout together AND the kids are uber excited to go and play on the McDonald's like play land. A trip to the YMCA is so exciting!


No more walking on my treadmill in the dungeon of my basement. Woo Hoo! That alone is worth the membership fees! I get to try out cool machines that I've never tried before and my ZUMBA class is back! (although I have to say that Iola's Zumba class was a little better!)

Let's all go out and get moving!

Creepy Kid - Part II

I'm sorry . . . I know it might appear that I am obsessed with the creepiness of the neighbor kid. I admit it . . . perhaps I am. It's just some of the things this kid does just blows my mind. Just when I think I've seen it all - WHAM he goes and does something else that creeps me out even more!

Let me start by saying that Phillip informed Brian and I that he was not allowed to come in our house anymore. Apparently his parents had a hard time keeping track of the little goober and now want him outside at all times so they can see him easier. Hmmmm . . . I'm sure it's kind of hard to see him when you're not even outside - I digress.

So two nights ago the kids are settled in the house for the night and are watching their evening dose of Dora the Explorer. Brian is downstairs on the computer and I am cleaning up the kitchen from supper. I get things cleaned up and I go to sit next to Kadin who is on the couch. (Just so you can visualize this - our couch is right in front of our window) So I go and sit down next to Kadin and out of the corner of my eye I see just the top of Phillip's head. He is crouched down on our front porch - outside - watching our TV through the window - not saying a word, just watching.

Of course I go downstairs and tell Brian the peeping-Tom is back. Brian goes and has a "talk" with Phillip about how it's really not appropriate to peek inside people's windows . . . . blah, blah, blah. Phillip's response - "Well, I like that show."

It gets better - today, Brian goes and drops off the kids at my Mom's house. He returns to find Phillip on our front porch - you guessed it - peeking in our windows.

Obviously "the talk" didn't get through. This kid seriously needs to go to summer camp . . . for like the rest of the summer!!

The Brewers, Kadin, & Mt Dew

So, last week Kadin saw his first Brewer game. Brian has been wanting to take Kadin for awhile, and since this was C.C. Sabathia's first time pitching (for those of you who don't follow baseball - apparently this guy is a GREAT pitcher the Brewer's just acquired) Brian thought this would be a great game to see.

It's hard for me to write about this because I wasn't there, but I will tell you the version of events that I received second-hand. First, Brian called me during the 4th inning and said that Kadin was really hyper and already bored with the game. When I asked why he was hyper he said "well, it might be because he drank an entire Mt Dew." Of course my motherly response was - "Why in the world did you get him Mt Dew??"

Dad's response - "I didn't get him Mt Dew. Julie got herself a Mt Dew, but Kadin drank it all." Ummm . . . ok.

Julie was kind enough to take Kadin around the ballpark to burn off some of his sugar rush. This is Kadin's shot at Bernie Brewer's slide. Brian told me he made Kadin go down this slide five times because he couldn't get a good picture. Apparently this slide is pretty quick and by the time Brian would take the picture - Kadin was already at the bottom.

I honestly don't know what they did for the remaining three innings of the game. Julie tells me that Kadin was a riot and everyone around them thought so too. Now - this information is coming from a person that thinks everything Kadin does is a riot - so I'm taking that for what it's worth! Sorry Jules!

I'm not sure what Kadin enjoyed the most. He told me many stories from his trip with Daddy - one being the entire Mt Dew that he drank. The other was how he got to race Corey Hart in the KidZone and apparently (from Kadin's story) Corey went "VROOOOM" right past him. I also think he enjoyed staying up W A Y past his bedtime.

Nope, that's not 11:30 in the morning folks . . .

As always, thanks Jake & Julie for taking in my crazy boys and showing them a great time - sugar rush and all!!

Farewell Friend

I am writing this post with a heavy heart. Several days ago I lost something that was very dear to me. I'm not exactly sure how it happened . . . one day here . . . the next day . . . gone.

This experience has taught me that you can't take life for granted. You just never know when it might be your time.

I think it was a case of - accidental drowning.

I'm so sorry little flower - for not taking care of you and your beautiful pink blossoms. For not shielding you from the heavy rains. You will never get a chance to grow, see another sunny afternoon on our front porch, or grow another pretty pink flower. I have failed you.

Let this be a lesson to all of you . . . learn from my tragic mistake! Don't let another flower die a senseless death.

"No . . . Daddy!"

This is the phrase I hear my daughter say at least 20 times a day. Apparently, I cannot do anything right. I have been completely replaced by . . . you guessed it . . . Daddy.

Here's the list of things I am not allowed to do for Bella:

• Brush her teeth
• Brush her hair
• Get her pajamas on
• Change her diaper
• Put her to bed
• Wash her up after dinner
• Help her with her shoes (or anything else really)
• Buckle her up in the car
• Take her out of the car
• Push her on the swing

Yup, that's pretty much everything you do for a child. And, on the mornings that Brian gets to sleep in - what do you think is the first thing Bella asks me when I take her out of her crib? Oh come on, you can guess . . . "Where's Daddy?"

Yesterday, I was home alone with the kids and I was getting them ready for bed. Of course on nights like this, Bella doesn't really have a choice when it comes to me doing things for her because I'm the only one there . . . . . . . right? Oh, no. I still wasn't allowed to brush her teeth. You know who did - Kadin. I guess even a four year old brother is better than Mommy.

We'll see how she feels when she's sixteen and her Daddy is scaring all her boyfriends away!

Water, Water & More Water!

Whew! Have you ever had one of those weekends where you need a vacation from your vacation? I AM TIRED!!! Our 4th of July weekend was jam-packed with stuff to do.

Friday we packed up the kids and headed up north to The Lodge waterpark. It was a splish-splashy good time. Thankfully Bella was not her brave little self and she did not want to go down all the waterslides by herself. In fact she didn't go down even once. I was very surprised. Her and Grandma even ducked out of the water early and she WANTED to take a nap.

While in town we caught another carnival where the rides and games were WAY to expensive. I think Bay Beach spoiled us with their fifty cent rides! BUT the kids loved it and that's all that matters. We even got Grandpa to go on a few rides!

Saturday we re-packed our suitcase and headed to the cottage with Jake and Julie . . . or Ake & Ulie as Bella calls them. Another round with the water, this time with sand, shells, clams and muck. The weather was perfect, and by the end of the day the kids were water-logged . . . again.

I really can't explain the energy level my children have. After two days in the water and sunshine they were still able to stay awake for the fireworks on Saturday night and didn't crash until about 11:00 pm.

Now it's Sunday - filled with unpacking, laundry and nap-taking (yes even I took a nap!) It was an awesome weekend spent with family and great friends. I couldn't ask for anything more . . . except maybe a little more sleep!

Happy 4th of July!

The Pretties In My Garden

I am completely in love with my yard. Perhaps it's because I absolutely hated our last yard . . . it was rocky, hilly, bug infested, shady. I never had a good time planting anything there.

At this house since our yard was completely barren when we moved in I was able to create anything I wanted. It was like a painter with a blank canvas. I remember last summer Brian and I overlooking our yard full of dirt and wondering where the plants would go and where the shrubs would go. (and where the grass would go!)

Although I'm not completely satisfied with the lawn, I am absolutely thrilled with the flowers. My hydrangeas are in full bloom and they are gorgeous. You don't know how badly I want to clip them and bring them inside!

This is the biggest hydrangea plant in the yard. It is almost twice it's size from last year.

Here's a close-up of it's blooms. They are so pretty.

For Bella's birthday our babysitter got her a flower. We brought it home and I planted it in this little pot I had. A couple weeks later these great bright pink flowers started to bloom. It is on of my favorite flowers in our yard.

I have no idea what kind of plant this is, but I love it.

I hope your gardens are in full bloom!

Phillina-O-Meter

I've already discussed with you the weirdness of our neighbors and especially their two kids Phillip and Christina.

I really can't put into perspective how many times those kids come over to our house. They are ALWAYS over here. So I wanted to try something fun . . .

Since it's July 1st, I thought it would be the perfect time to put my plan into action. If you look over at the side-bar, I've added a little something I like to call the Phillina-O-Meter. This little meter is going to gauge how many times Phillip and/or Christina come over.

Here are the rules:

This will log each time they come over. This doesn't mean that Kadin actually plays with them every time, but it will represent how many times they come by and ask if Kadin can play.

So as you can see, today alone they were over six times. Oooh, this is going to be interesting!!

Let the games begin!