Mr. Roboto

Aaron made this robot out of items he took out of recycling. I thought it was pretty creative.

Do You Think We Will Still Be Friends When We Are Thirty?

Jennifer and I met when she transferred to my school in the third grade. She wanted to be my friend because I had long blond hair and she wanted long hair. We didn't become really good friends until about 4 years later. By that time I had shorter hair and it was brown so I am sure she wasn't just being my friend because she liked my hair.

Until that time, we were both in the same group of friends, but we weren't great friends. Our seventh grade year was the year our school district switched from a k-8 model to elementary and middle schools. A lot of kids came in from another school. Jennifer and I were placed in the same homeroom without any of our other peeps and a bunch of strange kids. I'm sure they weren't strange in a bad way, just unfamiliar to us. From that moment on Jennifer and I were buds. We spent countless evenings hanging out.

I remember one particular day we were riding bikes around her neighborhood and I asked her if she thought we would still be friends when we were thirty. She said, "If we stay in touch." That was about 25 years ago and I'm sure neither of us could have realized how much of a job staying in touch would be. We had to attend separate high schools. Jennifer stayed in the town we grew up in and married a local guy. I went away to college, got married and haven't stopped moving around.

We were bridesmaids in each others weddings. We always get together when I am in town. She and her oldest son flew out to California with my mom right after Hannah was born. This past week she and her family stopped by our house on their return trip home from visiting family in Alabama.

These two little girls were instant friends. Hannah and Jennifer's youngest daughter, Madison, are about a year apart. When Jennifer came to visit after Hannah was born, she went home with baby fever. It was less than two months later when she called to tell me she was expecting.

Here are the seven kids, Jennifer's four and my three. The little guy in the middle is Jennifer's latest addition. His name is Michelle and he was seven weeks old when we took this picture.

Where Does She Come Up With This Stuff?

I’m sitting in my room and Rachel yells that there is a house centipede in the bathroom. I ignore her hoping that PK will jump in and take care of that blue job. Rachel comes in my room and tells me she doesn't think it is a house centipede but a regular old centipede. I tell her to get daddy. She yells down the stairs to ask PK to get the bug. Then I hear Hannah chanting, “Don’t kill it. Free it. Don’t kill it. Free it.”

Our neighborhood started a neighborhood watch program a couple months ago and the sign warning would be criminals that this neighborhood is part of the neighborhood watch program just went up more recently. Hannah noticed it as we turned on our street and said, “See. That sign means spies are not allowed in our neighborhood.”

I was cleaning my bedroom when I notice Hannah peaking in at me. I asked her if she was spying on me and she replied, “Just like a good magician a good spy never reveals her tricks.” I should have reminded her of the sign at the entrance of the neighborhood.

Who Doesn't Love a Man in Uniform?

May we as a nation never take for granted the time, energy and sacrifice made by

...those who wear the uniform, past or present.

...those who leave their families time after time.

...those who fight for our freedom.

...those who stand watch and keep us safe.

...those who take the fight to the enemy in order to keep the enemy off of our soil.

...those who don't argue the politics of every decision and just follow orders.

...those who give their very lives in the name of freedom.

...those who are married to service members and make everything work out at home.

...those who didn't see their loved ones come home alive.

...those who lay down their lives.

Our Last Week Together or The Last Week of School

Today was the last day of school for Rachel and Aaron. I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as I dropped them off this morning. There was just extra excitement in the air and I'm always a little emotional on the first and last days of school.

Winding up this year marked a special milestone. This was my last week having Hannah at home as a preschooler. Our final moments with just the two of us. Well, not forever, but on a regular basis. I decided we would make the most of it.

Tuesday I gave her the option of going to the zoo, the aquarium or the museum. She chose the museum. We had been there before as a family, but it was different with just the two of us.

This display teaches how a tornado is formed. The mini tornado can been seen in the background. My kids think it is hilarious to pretend to run away while we snap pictures.

Making giant bubbles is lots of fun!

Hannah is pretending that the T-Rex is chasing her. I didn't get a very good picture. Probably because I was laughing so hard at her pretending to run away.

She was really checking out the fossils in this display. The look on her face would be what we call "the PK stare."

Wednesday was her last official day of preschool and the parents were invited to join the class for a banana split party.

Hannah is looking at books with her friends while the adults got the party set up.

A perfect banana split complete with a cherry on top.

All the kids got a chance to sign Dante's cast. He fell and broke his arm at his brother's birthday party. He was so sweet. He watched very carefully as each child wrote his or her name.

As we were walking to the car, I asked her how she felt about her last day of preschool. She said she was happy and sad at the same time. I explained what the phrase "bitter sweet" means and told her it was a happy and sad day. In July I am going to email all the parents from her class and see if they want to do a play date at a local park.

Thursday Hannah and I went strawberry picking. We filled four whole buckets and probably could have kept on going. Last year we bought strawberries from a local farmer, but it was much more fun picking our own.

Last night I made the first batch of jam. This year I bought some smaller 4 ounce jars to use as gifts. One bucket of strawberries was enough to fill 12 - 4 ounce jars and one 8 ounce jar. I'm going to use 2 buckets to make jam and we are eating the fourth bucket. Now that we have done it twice, it can be considered a tradition.

Weather permitting, I am going to take all three kids picking again on Wednesday. I think Rachel and Aaron will really enjoy it. Plus, we want to freeze some in small containers to throw in smoothies, oatmeal, etc.

The kids got to take a jar to each of their teachers and some of the support staff.

Their teachers also got a gift card to Starbucks in case you were thinking I got off too easy.

Last year my friend Kari and I surprised the kids and took them out for ice cream after school. I decided that was a great tradition so we all went out for ice cream after school today and then added going to see a movie. I hope that part becomes a tradition, too.

Awards Day 2009

Rachel had awards day yesterday morning at school. She received five awards.

Certificate of the "Shining Star" - all the kids received one of these

Student Council - obviously for serving on the student council

Certificate of Attendance - The school gave out a perfect attendance award and a superior attendance award. The superior attendance award was for those students who had only missed a day. Rachel had only missed half a day when I pulled her out early to go to a funeral. I thought recognizing those who had great but not perfect attendance was really neat.

Certificate of Honor - for diligence, excellence in character and cooperation in school spirit

Certificate of Merit - for outstanding achievement in all academic areas

Crazy Hair Day

Graduation 2009

Yesterday was Hannah's preschool graduation. We could not have asked for a better preschool. It is a Christian preschool and not in name only. God's love flows out of those teachers and the director. Mrs. Libby, the director, had me from the first Southern hello to leave her lips. She really does love the kids who attend her school. Hannah's teachers showered her with "I love yous" and hugs every day. There were only nine kids in her class and they have formed tight bonds. It is sad to see them all split up, but it is part of life.

Without further delay, it is my pleasure to present our part of the graduating class of 2009.

Mrs. Suzie in the striped shirt is the lead teacher and Mrs. Wendy is her assistant. They are both wonderful. The teachers had asked the kids two questions prior to graduation. What was your favorite part of preschool and what do you want to be when you grow up. Hannah's favorite part of preschool was music and p.e. and she wants to be a vet when she grows up.

Back on Track

When we were living in California I woke up one day and decided it was time to finally get myself into shape. I joined Weight Watchers and started exercising more often. I've always loved to take long walks, but I started walking with more frequency. We received a jogging stroller as a gift when I was pregnant with Rachel from P.K.'s dad. When I was pregnant with Aaron we bought a double stroller. Pushing the double stroller with 30-40 pounds of kid was a work out in itself. My sister-in-law got married the fall after I started Weight Watchers and I was a bridesmaid so that was extra motivation. At some point several friends and I started going to the gym on base at 4:30 in the MORNING! By the time my sister-in-law got married I was about 5 pounds from my goal weight.

Later that year the weight started to creep back on and I was not attending Weight Watchers meetings, but would occasionally stay on program. My neighbor was going back to Weight Watchers and I decided to join her. About 2 weeks back into the program I found out I was pregnant with Hannah.

Just the excuse I was looking for to let loose. I never got back to the "before Hannah" weight. I did buy a triple stroller and walked three miles most days. I even worked up to running three miles (without the stroller). When we left California the exercise routine took a backseat. I did eventually rope my new neighbor and later another good friend into going to the gym with me oh so early in the morning. Those workout sessions helped me maintain, but I was never disciplined enough to lose the weight again.

When we moved to Valpo, I continue to gradually add the weight back on and that trend just continued with our latest move. A couple months ago, I started walking the track more regularly. I had an appointment with my doctor coming up and the last thing I wanted to hear was that I needed to lose weight. As if I didn't know that already. In case you are a skinny person who feels the need to tell a not so skinny person how to lose weight, and you have never faced the struggle of loosing more than five pounds you should know you are risking being sat upon!

The first appointment with my doctor went well. We were checking out some non weight concerns I was experiencing and all seem to have checked out fine. But when I went back for a follow up and to review tests from the original appointment he threw a physical on me. My blood sugar was a bit high. I told him I had just started following Weight Watchers again and walking more. Those were good, but I had to come back in two weeks for a three hour glucose test. Yeah, me!

I went in yesterday. I had lost 7 pounds since my previous visit which brings me to 10 pounds total. The results of the test wasn't bad, but it could have been better. The doctor said he is not worried, but he is concerned. The test is a fasting test, nothing after midnight the night before. The first time they checked my number was perfectly where it needed to be. Then I got to drink that sugary orange stuff and read magazines in the waiting room for an hour. The goal was that my level would be lower than 150. It was about 147. Good. Then I got to go back to the waiting room and read magazines for another hour. This time my level should have been below 100. It was at 130 something. It went down which was good, but the doctor really wanted to see it a bit lower. He said it doesn't mean I am prediabetic, but that I should take it as a wake up call.

I have been at the track almost every day. This morning I was able to RUN 2 miles! I know some of wish you only had to run 2 miles and some of my readers have been knocking out half marathons, but it was huge for me. I should be able to work it back up to running 3 miles before too much longer.

It feels good to be back on track. Now I'm wishing I hadn't given all those "skinny" clothes to the Goodwill before this last move.

My Treasures

I had a great Mother's Day. Here are pictures of the treasures my kids presented me with.

Aaron made this flower at school. I had to make it bloom by opening each petal. He wrote a word on the inside of each petal to describe me. In my son's eyes I am pretty, cool, I rock, I make good pizza, nice and love. As I was opening each one and reading them out loud to the rest of the family, he said, "I had a really hard time thinking of those." I'm sure he meant that he doesn't like to write and this was a school project not that he couldn't think of good things to say about his mom.

He also made this book. It talks about all the many hats a mom wears and he had to fill in the blank and draw a picture for each page.

On the back is a coupon which entitles me to have Aaron make my bed.

He also added to my rock collection. He has been giving me rocks for the last few holidays.

Rachel went to a birthday slumber party this past Friday. As the craft, the mother of the birthday girl let them paint flowers on canvas with acrylics. I'll have to get a frame for it.

Hannah, with a little help from daddy, gave me a Starbucks gift card. That girl can really speak my love language.

New Do

Never ask "Why?"

Aaron and I were sitting quietly together last night having a nice little chat. Then the conversation went south.

Aaron: Mommy, do girls shave?

Jody: Yes.

Aaron: Their legs and arms?

Jody. Yes. Well under their arms. (I didn't want him to encourage either sister to shave her arms.)

Aaron: Not their faces?

Jody: No. Why?

Aaron: (Points to his upper lip) You have a little some....

Sometimes as a parent you really do not want to know "why?"