A different kinda Night.

Laundry NIGHT!!! woo hoo! Gotta love it.

Actually tonight was one out of the norm. Usually it's the rush home, pick up the little ones, drop the stuff off at the door to start dinner, homework, baths and the tuck in routine followed by cleanup! Today was different. After work I went to Borders. Yes BORDERS the book store. I wanted to sit and check out a book that I've heard much about, no purchases yet but maybe soon. It was nice to just sit with a toasty drink and plum through the pages. I will be going back, that's for certain.

Then I went to a Bar 'N Grill for dinner. Yeah... I never do that either. I sat there at the bar, ordered a drink, wathced a couple basketball games (at the same time!), and had a yummy yummy meal. It was just Great. AND....I was invited to go back, next Thursday. That was nice.

My favorite part of the night however, was coming home to meet my three babies. That REALLY made my night. I'd only been away from my little guy one night and he couldn't have seemed more overjoyed to see me.......and me of him. Now 5yrs and 7yrs old may be getting big but apparently not too big to show "Mommy" how much she's missed in one afternoon. We did our usual routine of books, prayers and snuggles....until they were all sound asleep.

Then I, of coarse, had to catch Grey's Anatomy. Man, I'm hooked. I thought it was a great episode. Poor Derick. :-( I was considering shuting cable down, but it won't be easy....between Grey's Anatomy and 24, the ONLY two shows I watch.

So now I wait on the lovely drying machine. As much as I dislike walking in the freezing cold to do my laundry...I've had such a great day........I'm okay with it.

I RAN!

I got back from Sunday morning service yesterday and was just itching to get out of the house. Granted the house needed my attention with it's many messes....but no, I couldn't stay in another minute.

So I FINALLY went to the gym. Yeah!

I ran just over 5 and 1/2 miles with an avg pace of 9:40. And I am happily paying for it today. I can barely walk. Love that pain! I'd imagine I'm going to feel it twice as much when my sisters show up tonight for our routine workout. That's okay though.

I just hope it's not months til my next run.

YUM-YUM

I love cooking. Hate the mess, but love the result. I LOVE cookbooks. Hate when I can't remember what book, what page that one recipe was on but love the new inventive ideas and colorful photos.

Last night I made some Italian chicken with homemade sauce, some fresh garlic green beans, and pasta. It was SO yummy. And let me say, not just yummy because it's what I was craving and what I made but my kids ages 3, 5 and 7 asked for SECONDS. If that doesn't say it all just by looking at the menu........well, I don't know what other clue could possibly be given.

I was just bummed I didn't put my left overs away fast enough. We have the habbit of PLAY right after eating that sometimes I let our dinner sit too long until it's cleanup time (after the kiddies are all tucked into bed) and by then I refuse to keep food. I am so grosed out by food that's sat too long.

Anyhow I have a few other new ones I am excited to try, one for the crockpot tomorrow. I love those. I have trouble finding recipes that cook long enough in the crockpot for me to leave it while at work. So those are usually weekenders!

Thoughtful Surprises!

Tis the Season.

After another long day yesterday (haunted by a migraine from HELL) I drag myself back to work this morning with much pain still lingering. BUT!! An instant smile as I walk around the corner to my desk. And find.....a sweet Surprise all wrapped in pink. I'd take a picture to share but don't carry my camera around so we'll leave it at that.

I guess someone just wanted to make sure my desk wasn't left out this season... how thoughtful, unnecessary but thoughtful.

:-)

Long DAY

Today was just torture...there's no doubt about that. I was feeling ill the minute I rolled out of bed but was determined to go forward with my day. Until I got to work and my boss sent me home, wasn't that nice? I guess I was looking a bit rough. After puking my guts out, my dad came over for a visit. It was a really good visit. We sat with the T.V. off and talked for a couple hours. I love that man. When he left and I stood outside my door.....oh..I wanted nothing more than to go for a 8mile run (unlikely since my last run was in Septmeber/October, plus I had absolutely no energy anywhere within my body). All winter long I've wanted a treadmil so bad but with the snow melting today and the temps at what, 60 degrees? I could smell the running season approaching and it made me smile for a minute. Now, I realize this is Michigan and the winter ain't over yet.....but, I CANNOT WAIT for that first run. So dad left and I never felt so tired. I slept 5-6hrs. And woke up feeling worse...only because my body was still drained and I had accomplished nothing on a day I wasn't working. I hate that. But, it struck me with determination to get things really moving. And I will.

On a different note, I went shopping today and finally picked up a new Brita water pitcher thingy... my last one got broke. FYI-I was told that you can save over $100/yr just by eliminating water bottles.

My weekend

Well, new perspective isn't alway so easy. But I won't quite trying.

Friday night my little sis came over for some scrappin. I got one page done and she....well she was pretty taken by Episode IV of the Tudors.

Saturday...busy...busy...busy. I took my son to the first part of his basketball game (didn't realize times were off) til we had to rush off to my Daughters Ballet. From Ballet we caught lunch on the road, they love Subway and then straight to the roller rink. That was fun. I was so impressed by my kids. My oldest has his own roller blades so I expected him to do well but the other two had never roller skated. My daughter clung to the walls for dear life but had fun because they played some Hannah Montana Music!! whoo hoo!. And my three year, little guy got right out there. He held my hand for the most part but braved it on his own a few times. His cousin was there with him so he was bound to have a good time.

So after that we headed home and packed them up for an overnight at Papa's. And I headed out with my girl friends. (SO OVERDUE). I'm not big on going out and doing my own thing very often... I LOVE FAMILY time but it's healthy every now and then. We hit 2 different bars and I bailed on the third. I knew if I had anymore to drink I wouldn't be driving home. Matter of fact the last order I had was for WATER! It was fun. Sometimes there is nothing better than dancing until your legs are going to fall off...and that's what I did. My girlfriend and I were, for the most part, the only ones taken up the floor.

Sunday nothing went has planned or as I would have hoped but.....I guess that happens. It was a chill out day with my kids after meeting them and Papa for breakfast. But, good. We played games, snuggled for a movie and RELAXED!

....In a different LIGHT.

Do you take the time to tell people how you feel about them? Even if your not sure it's the right thing at that moment?

I've heard it said and I believe it's true that you should tell those special people in your life just how much they mean to you... why make them wonder or guess? It's so simple.

We have a patient (I work in the medical field) who had to deliver her twins @ the University of MI in Ann Arbor and both were born with stage 4 cancer known as Neuroblastoma. The mother (our patient) keeps a blog full of pictures and updates. As of her last post December 15, 2008 both were clear of cancer. Two very lucky very beautiful girls.

I mention them only because reading their story through their mothers' eyes is amazing and it's so unfortunate that it takes a tragedy or near Tragedy for people to see their lives as a blessing. To see their children and loved ones as a blessing everyday. They see how fortunate they are.....WE ARE FORTUNATE TOO. Fortunate that our loved ones are alive and healthy, fortunate to have people in our lives who care so much about us.

I challenge my self to try and see things DAILY in a new light, although I may never see it in the light that some have or do.....Nevertheless I will TRY. Which with things the way the have been lately will not be an easy task. I say that due to the never ending busy schedule (I've asked life to slow down but it doesn't listen), kids that can't seem to shake the flu, relationships that feel distant and confusing with every concious effort being made, college courses that REALLY need to get underway and SO much more. But, I'm taking on my new perspective NOW.

Photo Meme

Here it is, my sixth folder and sixth picture.

Kierrah only 6wks old on her very first trip to MI to meet all the family. What a baby...and how she's grown. :-(