Spring Break 2012

Just a little peak at what we've been doing here this week. My nephew and his girlfriend are staying with us until Thursday. (You'd never know she was here by the picture at the top. The boys have been playing a lot of video games!) 

The weather has been wonderful so we decided to go look for mushrooms tonight....still must be too early. Joey, Simon and I had a great time in the woods. Except for the snake we saw. Ek. Still gives me the heebie jeebies to think about it. Simon tried to tell me it was ok. It was just a "Gardner Snake" and that he was nice....but I wasn't buying it! In the woods we were in we came across an old barn that had collapsed and noticed a cool water pump. Joey (and Simon) pumped away and actually got water! Had a sip and it tasted just like well water. Even more amazing than that is that the pump came from Flint and Walling in Kendallville, Indiana...my last home was right down the road from that factory!

Little bit of ninja action, little bit of lego building, lots of sleeping in and just being lazy. Which if you ask me is the best way to spend Spring Break!

Oh wow, time flies when you're having fun....

Today is our 4th Anniversary. I can't believe that 4 years ago on this hot July day we were married. In a way it seems like we have always been together. I can't believe how much the kids have changed over the years. It has been a wonderful time. Of course we've had rough times, but the good seem to way out number those rough days. I really feel like the luckiest woman alive to be married to a wonderful husband like Joey.

Another aspect of my life that is flying by way to fast...my summer vacation! I can't believe it is half over. I am just starting to feel rested up, and before I know it August will be here and volleyball practice will be starting, Alex and Mariah will be running Cross Country, and I'll be back on the big yellow turd.

Simon this morning was helping me put laundry away (he actually does a pretty good job) and noticed his Scooby-Doo pants I made a while back for him. He got all excited and said, "Thank you, Mommy for the Scooby-Doo pants. You made 'em for me?! Thank you, thank you, thank you." So today instead of running around in his undies, he actually has some pants on!

**so much for the pants. they are officially off.**

Simon is quickly turning into my best friend this week. Since Alex is with my mom, it has been just me and Simon. He really misses his brother so I've been trying to do more with him. Like right now....I'm on my laptop and he's in the other room watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua. :) Anyways we were messing around with the video functions on my computer and Simon spotted an ad for a cell phone company. Simon pointed to it and said, "Centennial Wireless" which is the company we use. I do not know how he was able to make the connection, but I told him that he was just too smart. "Yep, I'm so smart, Mommy."

He's just growing up too fast. He says he wants to be big like his daddy and that he won't stay my baby forever like I ask him. :(

This is what happens when you leave the camera home alone

Actually Joey had the camera to take pictures of Taylor and her prom date, Alex. I thought he actually did a pretty good job, and of course Taylor looked very pretty. Alex....eh, not so much. :) Just kidding, he's a good kid.
Here's a shot of the couple they went with. Both of these girls I have to say are only freshmen. I hope they realize how lucky they are to be able to go to prom. My parents would not even let me think about it until I was a Junior and at the allowed age by our school's 'rules'.
Taylor said she had a great time. Her boyfriend and his brother had a few friends over for a bonfire. She was home by her curfew time, and even called to say she was on her way. She handled the evening very well....as far as we know. It was prom ya'know.

Now that it's bird season you will probably see several pictures of birds here and there. I just love watching them and snapping some shots. The bird on the left here appeared to be a cardinal that was more of a gray color. I don't know if that makes it female or what the deal it. It was neat to see though.
And my current favorite bird....my finches. A beautiful yellow and vibrant red one. I really need to do some research. I believe the bright yellow is a male, and the red I'm not sure. Guess I'll have to do some Googling.

What a Wonderful Weeked

This past Saturday Joey, the boys and I went to see the Michigan football team play their Spring Scrimmage in Ann Arbor. It turned out to be a great day. Simon ended up sleeping through most of the game, which was a plus for us. He saw the football field, and the players and once he had enough he was out.
I have to share a funny story. While I was posting some of these football pictures on facebook Joey came into the room and I was asking him who some of the more famous past players were that I had gotten photos of. He asked why, who are you blogging that to? And I don't know why but this had me in tears. He is always making fun of me Tweeting, and Blogging and being on Facebook. He really needs to get all the terms straight. I mean come on, I wasn't blogging it to anyone. You don't blog to someone.

He feels that we are all 'friendless' people. If we all wouldn't be on the internet so much we could have friends.

While I'm on the computer he's busy doing my chores around the house. Dishes, cleaning, putting the kids to bed.

My reply was, "I know. I've blogged about that already." Geez...just lay off, Joey!
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled blog post.....this is for Aunt Staci. Simon loves his Diet Dr. Pepper. I wonder who he gets that from?
Simon, Alex, and my niece Ali with their eggs. We had wonderful weather. The kids all had fun. There was just enough to eat. It was just a great day.
The high school was supposed to have an away track meet tonight that I was going to drive the bus to, but it was canceled because of the weather. Didn't hurt my feelings too much because I didn't get the call until my sub was already at the school getting ready to take my afternoon kids home. So I was able to go to our Middle School track practice, and help the hubby.

When we got home it started to rain and I noticed the sun shinning too. The rainbow I saw out our front door was the brightest, biggest rainbow I think I've ever seen. I just wish this photo captured the beauty of it better. I just love seeing rainbows.

They really are a promise of a new day. And thank God for that. I'm ready for today to be over...after reading over my shoulder Joey is going to beat my ass tonight. So pray for me. [Just kidding, he doesn't hit me. Simon would never let him!]

Writer'sWorkshop- Joey and I are SO different

I don't know if there was 1 day in particular when it hit me that Joey is totally different than me, but I know he is. You may get agitated at your husband for just sitting around and not helping with the dishes or laundry or picking up after himself. I on the other hand get agitated at how anal clean my husband is. When I first asked about him at work the first word given about him was meticulous. And I though ok, that's something I can handle.

After a hard day's work he comes home and immediately starts to straighten up the house. He will clean off any little thing that is left on the counter. He will get the antibacterial spray and start cleaning off the counters and table. He will wipe down anything and everything he can. He will then go into the bathroom and complain about 'All this hair' and start picking it up. Then he will get the swiffer out and clean all the tile floors.

Then he's off to the boys' room. If there are toys laying around that he doesn't think they need, he will trash them. Then it's on to laundry, and whatever else he can find.

Now mind you I'm home all day and keep up with the cleaning fairly well if I do say so. I will admit some days I just really don't feel like doing the dishes so they sit. But for the most part I'm a pretty good housekeeper.

But the other day I saw a wonderful episode of Dr. Phil, and I knew all my prayers would be answered. You have to click on this link and you will see what I mean.

“It’s an anxiety issue, really. You’re transitioning from one world to another and when you get there, it’s like, ‘If I can order everything real quick, then everything will be OK,’ but it’s an internal disorder that most people feel, in the form of some kind of anxiety,” Dr. Phil explains.

Joey doesn't agree with the anxiety disorder garbage but hey he's not a doctor. And Dr. Phil is, right?

So in conclusion Joey and I are different in the fact that he can't sit still if there is a mess lurking somewhere in the house and I can. He does need to just relax. But not too much, his help is wonderful. And I wouldn't want it any other way. :)