i would like to admit to dorkiness right now

i can't believe i'm comfortable doing this. it's probably all the medication.

i am in bed with buz's laptop. checking blogs. checking ebay. checking the weather channel and smiling that it will only be in the low 80s most of the week. making my christmas list.

and buz is happily reading his JCAHO manual.

i did it. i laid it out there for all to read.

we are geeks. and totally ok with it.

yesterday, i didn't feel so good. nothing big. just a little hoarse. kind of sexy, really.

had donuts with my little people. dropped them off at school. had one more teacher (the Spanish teacher) tell me that she loved that big h was the only one in her class who sings all the songs with all the words at the top of his lungs. makin' a mama proud. i heart my musical-lovin' little man.

ran errands. lots of them. and was alone for a long time. didn't really accomplish much. but didn't really care. just was glad to refresh my soul.

ate some ice cream after school. then off to a playground. dinner at chick-fil-a. baths and bedtime. buz played playstation. and i went to bed.

woke up with NO VOICE. whatsoever. those of you who don't know me? um, just know that not having a voice is like not having a limb. i love to talk. sometimes surprisingly i don't even have anything to say. i just like to get my words in. big h said i had a frog jumping around in my "froat." goo just kept staring at me. like "yeah, hi. where is my mama? what have you done with her?"

i went out to photograph a former co-worker and her ultra cute family. headed home. and here is what happened the rest of the day...

lunch was made and eaten. brownies were made and eaten. naps were taken. there was playing outside. boz was watched. cinderella was watched. dinner was made and eaten. baths were taken. and children were put to bed.

i say all of that in third person. because i took part in not much of what happened today. well, maybe the nap part.

i was a worthless member of the family today. buz, however, was king of the ranch. or the house, in our case. dude did EVERYTHING today. and the times i did try to engage? well, nothing happened. because remember? have no voice.

totally praying that it comes back tomorrow. course, i bet the couple in front of me at church isn't necessarily praying the same thing.

(don't think i didn't consider recording it on camera for you to hear.)

so tonight. i'm off to take my concoction of mucinex and tylenol cold nighttime. ahhh...the joys of a blog. a place where you can feel comfortable to tell of your illness woes.

see, aren't you glad you stopped by?

ever have one of those days?

that was so good you pinched yourself as you got into bed?

today? was that kind of day for me.

i dropped big h off at school. he was elated, and all was well at drop off. goo left a morning gift in her diaper, so we changed it at school before heading back home. when we finished, we ran into one of big h's teachers from last year in the hall. we talked and talked and did some more talking. and then she suggested we go to chapel to watch. i had never been. i felt funny because goo still had on her jammies and no shoes. i know. we're white trash. and proud of it.

but then we saw big h in the hallway walking quietly to chapel. and i said "what the heck, we're going."

oh. my.

i am so glad we went. all of the children walk in very quietly and respectively, while a pianist plays hymns. they begin by praying. then, they sing a beautiful worship song, with hand motions. then, a bible story with practical lesson. and then, they finish with a more lively song, also with hand motions.

the music teacher asked the kids "what's the first thing we have down in our heart?" and the kids answered "JOY" very loudly. then, "love of Jesus." and then she asked, "is there anything else?"

and big h. my big h. answered louder than anyone else, "PEACE THAT PASSED SOME UNDERSTANDING!!"

i can't describe how big my smile was. and because i was the only parent there, the sweet music teacher said loud enough for me to hear, "thank you, big h."

and then. then, he sang the song. with hand motions. lots and lots (or "yots and yots") of hand motions.

and then, goo ran down the center aisle. and that concluded our time at chapel.

i left with a big smile on my face and a lump in my throat.

took goo home and played polly pockets for hours. she took a nap. i ate chicken spaghetti.

we headed to get big h. not only was i still high from earlier, i had the music and movement teacher stop me in the hall and tell me that "i'm sure you already know this, but big h is the only kid who sings everyday. and sing? oh, he sings at the top of his lungs. everyday."

the smile actually got bigger.

we headed to the grocery store to pick up some milk and fruit snacks. watched a show and headed to the park.

and my kids and i had a ball. and then dad showed up. and the day got even better.

dinner time was easy. bath time was easy. i've read blogs and done all of my computer "stuff" for the night. and now i'm going to get in bed and look at catalogs and make a list of things to do tomorrow during my five hours alone.

God is good. and today was one of those days that He kicked me in the pants to help me remember it.

fun way to start my morning.

to be honest, i don't know how to start this.

other than to say...what is my deal with meeting bloggers these days?

this one was different, though.

perhaps you're familiar with my children's involvement with ECI? you're not? well, it seems that neither of my children had any interest in speaking "on time." which is funny. seeing as big h talks literally non. stop. all the time. every day. sun up. to sun down. every waking minute, the boy is talking.

it just took him a while. a LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG while. stubborn, i guess. (cough, cough. understatement.)

and goo? same thing. however, she's blossomed into a little talking flower herself.

anyhoo. during our second go-around with ECI (with which we are now finished), we met a lovely girl named krista. who was our early intervention specialist. she has since left the organization for a new career. but when she was leaving us, she mentioned that she had a fellow client that she believed i might enjoy. and would it be alright to give her my email address?

sure. no problem.

we've emailed several different times, back and forth. and i thought, "well she seems like a nice girl."

until i actually met her.

and LOVED her. seriously. i called buz, my mom, and my mother-in-law to tell them all about my "new little friend," (as buz has referred to her).

our list of similarities include but are not limited to the following: we both love Jesus, drive 4Runners, love Dr. Pepper, love the Office, "do" photography, were in the social work field, and are stay at home moms to 2- and 4-year-olds.

the odds of us being friends? um, i'm say pretty decent.

and she happens to be beautiful. please. go look. see?

so krista, oh ECI girl. thank you. thank you for setting us up. we're so grateful.

oh. and of course, just some pics from the very hot afternoon.

at the bottom of the priority list

which is where blogging has fallen.


that's not to say that i haven't been ON the computer. i'm just too busy reading all of your blogs. sheesh. you people have a lot going on these days.


and in the spirit of channelling my inner simple mom, today i plan on getting stuff out of my brain.


you know the drill. go grab something caffeinated. it's possible this could be long.

• goo got a haircut. she didn't really need one. however, her baby mullet had become too distinguished. no one has noticed. even i don't really notice a difference. except right out of the bath. i would love to be able to describe what goo's stylist initially tried to do to her hair. oh. my. we opted against her wishes and she was excited to do pigtails in goo's hair. goo ended up with the lovely inside out ponytail. she was enthusiastic as usual.

• big h got one too. i don't like it. i like his long, shaggy hair. but such is life.

• as i sunk into the couch this morning with my coffee and creamer, i turned on the today show. first of all, i have NEVER not had something to do when at least one of my children is in school. i am a to do list girl. an errand girl. a pick-up-my-house girl. i like to relax. but never do i sit and watch tv during the middle of the day. but this morning? well, i had a bit of a "tummy ache." you're with me, right? and so. i made the decision. the decision to do nothing today. and i didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. and as for the today show? i haven't watched this show since big h was about six weeks old, and i had nothing else to do while nursing. and i was already tired of a wedding story, an engagement story, or baby story on TLC. i was getting ready to watch me some hoda kotb (whose name frustrates the he-- out of buz) and kathie lee (deep breath). and then i got a phone call. the phone call. you know the one i'm talking about. the one from school. surprisingly, i've only received this call ONCE since big h started back in 2005. once. last year. because big h complained of a tummy ache. only, i figured out later that he had eaten his lunch too fast. because it was "too good." not a bad thing, i guess. anyway. they said goo had a runny nose and a fever of 99.8. (deep breath.) so i got out from under the covers, put my shoes on, poured my coffee in a to-go cup and headed out the door to get my angel. when i arrived, she was in the office. sweet goo. i carried her to the car. we played for a while and i decided to give her an early lunch and put her down. she ate her entire lunch, which was HUGE for my little punkin' and then i put poor sick girl down. and poor sick girl decided she was feeling so much better and proceeded to stay awake and read books and play with baby tad for about forty-five minutes. and only slept for about forty-five more minutes.


• monday. went to pick up big h from school. talking to kelly and listening to her baby coo (or cry at a high pitch) on the phone. turn into the parking lot and instantly realize that all is not right with the car. flat freaking tire. nice. and you know when you're a parent of toddlers, all of your common sense or intelligence literally goes out the window? i was paralyzed with indecision. for the life of me, i couldn't think of what to do. i called the school to let them we'd be a little late. (even though it happened in the parking lot. thank the Lord.) goo and i walk to the completely other side of the church. and i kid you not. within two minutes, i had five different people telling me they'd watch big h and the goo at the playground while i took care of things. and within one more minute, i had one of the ladies in the front office letting me know that there was a guy at church waiting for me at my car, ready to change my tire. what? he changed my tire. my kids were taken care of. and i went home feeling so blessed.


• the office and grey's anatomy starts tomorrow. period. and clearly, i am not the only one who knows this information.


• and big h? well, his social circuit has begun. the kid has freaking THREE birthday parties this weekend. seriously? he's FOUR.

i think that's about it. this post has taken me most of the day. and i can't imagine how boring it's gotten.

so i'm looking out for you. i'm turning in. and off to watch david blaine. freak of nature, really.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

guess who's here?

SHE'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

was that subtle enough?

kelly? who has two boys, ages 5 and 2, had a GIRL on thursday.

lizzy gray bilau.

and i'm already in love with her. and in love with buying her clothes.

i love you, k. and am MORE THAN THRILLED at God's blessings in your life.

prayers for kelly

tomorrow, my best friend kelly is being induced with her third child.

if she comes to your mind tomorrow, please pray for a safe delivery.

i love you, k. can't wait to find out if your little peanut is a boy or a girl.

just another thursday night

so i cleaned out my purse again tonight.

i'm often amazed how my purse and my car can get so dirty and cluttered in such a short amount of time.

oh right. big h. goo.

anyway, my take along camera was in there, and i don't remember the last time i took a picture, so i decided to download whatever was on there to the computer.

and i SO enjoyed what i found. so i thought i'd share some with you. nothing that exciting or life-changing. just a little bit of everyday around here.

isn't this exciting?

goo's first pair of pig tails. hi. i'll have the angel hair pasta. and one of goo. to go, please.

goo doing the dishes. our little *helper.* or not, really.

my 7-layer salad that i love to fix. it's delicious. and besides -- it's gorgeous. (i'd give you the recipe, but it's a little self-explanatory.)

when did my daughter turn into a bag lady? her plastic bracelet. her Amish-looking dress that i (should not have) purchased at a consignment sale last spring. her boots. on the wrong feet.

clearly, big h struggles with excitement. sometimes, he's like so mellow.

and really. that's about it for now. thanks for stopping by.

oh. and i got an iTunes gift card for my birthday. i need suggestions. anything from top 40 (what they used to call "current" music in my day), christian, worship, country, you name it. i am in desperate need of some new stuff. even my iPod is bored.

thanks in advance.

my sweet buz

tomorrow (09.07.08) is buz's birthday.

today he went with my cute dad to a football game 3.5 hours away. that's 3.5 hours each way. clearly, my husband and father get along.

so tonight, before he gets home, i want to try to honor him.

which is tough.

because he's that guy. the guy that does NOT take a compliment well. the guy that never asks for anything specific. the guy that never has anything on his birthday or christmas list. the guy that is totally content giving ME something for HIS birthday.

i know.

so tonight, i am determined to make a fuss over him. and lieu of the time i have before he gets home, none of this will be in any form of chronological order. forgive me. (yes, it's killing me that it's out of order. oh well. anything for my man.

always helping goo be a part of what big h is doing. even though she doesn't ever thank him. ever.

the one time a year i see him OVER THE TOP excited. when the newest version of either Madden or NCAA football comes out on playstation. this year was even bigger. what my parents and his parents got him? playstation THREE.

oh my word. since he's a guy and doesn't care about age like women do, i'd like to go ahead and share that he is THIRTY-NINE. see the grey in his beard? yeah, but he still loves playstation.

always doing the job that no one wants. in this case, making sure goo doesn't fall on her face (i.e. goo duty). he even asked, "who do you want? goo or big h?" and selfishly, i said " big h." because he's easier.

(for those of you know me in real life and HAVE KNOWN me for some time, can you believe i would ever say "because big h is easier?")

this guy does ANYTHING for my little boy. anything. he loves him to the moon and back. and my little man? feels the exact. same. way.

see? cut him some slack. this is july 4 of this year. they are out past big h's bedtime. big h is wiped out. and already in his jammies, i'll point out. but buz? smiling. because like i said...he will do anything for him.

where am i in this picture? at home. with goo duty. because she was asleep. see? i got the easier job.

cute. that's all.

there is dad. always in the middle of all the action. what was i probably doing at the time? laundry. making someone's bed. reading a blog or eight. not buz. he does not want to miss a minute.

seriously. i am head over heels for this guy.

oh my heavens. our first official date. new year's eve. first of all, what material is my dress made of? anyone (other than my mother) noticing my sweet watch? i'm cool. and the bangs? kelly and i have a tendency to get our hair cut when we're together. this was an unfortunate event. but then, just look at buz. he's going to KILL me when he sees this picture. clearly, it was december. because the color of our skin? i'm blinded just looking at it.

and if you really want to know...no kiss. because it was a group date. awkward. that's another post for another day.

buz being THRILLED on my baptism day. i was honored to have him right next to me.

again with the always doing anything for big h.

i have to tell a fun story about the next picture. we took the car seats out to clean one saturday. and in true buz fashion, he decided to make a game out of it. he pretended they were rocket seats. he would shake them. then say blast off. and they would go flying. they both loved it.

know what i would've done? just cleaned the carseats.

i know looks aren't everything, but oh. my. right here -- green bay, wisconsin. another time i saw buz totally pumped and full of excitement.

see the theme?

grrr...

big h took this picture. impressive. and for you photographers out there, what do you think of big h's use of flare?

mavericks game. straight from work. seems as though buz had a long day.

buz dancing with my mom at our wedding. and i'll say it. he is the BEST son-in-law. ever.

when buz surprised me with my fantasy dream vacation -- new york city at christmas. he is so thoughtful. that was on my list of things i wanted to do in my lifetime. and he made it happen.

first time we ever went to the horse races together. and he won. and i wore a "horse race hat" because his mom told me to. and she knows best with these kinds of things.

i love that he is SO handy around the house. he does so many things himself that we could probably just hire someone to do. but the pride that comes from doing it himself is so fun to watch.

the first time he met my brother and his wife. they totally hit it off. that sealed the deal for me.

the night we got engaged. please tell me i've told that story. i haven't? a different day.

buz and my awesome father-in-law doing a house project. that's where he learned his mad handy man skillz.

our first date once we were "dating." after dinner here at the magic time machine, we went to the movies. and held hands. and i can't begin to tell how my heart raced.

when we went to dinner with our moms. they loved each other instantly. which again...sealed the deal. oh, and look how sweet he is with his mom? holding her hand? in his thirties? he's the whole package. (and when i scanned the picture, there was a piece of paper on the scanner. which is why i appear to have a huge white triangle on my arm.)

i love that buz is willing to do anything for me. like to take sorority pictures in the backyard. this is part of the dating era.

this was, according to buz's brother "the first time you will see janet in a swimsuit." good times. nothing like bringing the obvious to the table. but let the record state that the enormous fish on the left that i am holding? yeah, i caught that. those fish that buz is holding? someone else caught. he just wanted something to hold. that picture is on the wall in our room. it makes me happy.

big h. daddy. no more to say.

goo's first birthday. she's thrilled, obviously.

vacation without children. and me with an ice cream cone.

buz swears that goo isn't that into him. i beg to differ. so does she.

big h. daddy. right. got it.

the day we brought goo home from the hospital.

the day after goo was born.

the spiritual leader of our family. always loooking towards Christ for our every need.

bottom line. my mom summed it up best one time when she said, "there is nowhere that guy would rather be than with you and your childrne."

and as conceited it sounds, she's right.

buz gives me/us 110% of himself 110% of the time. and never, NEVER asks for anything in return.

buz. thank you. thank you for being my best friend. for being my husband. for being the best father big h and goo could ever ask for. and for being the leader of our home.

i love you. i hope you have a wonderful birthday. you deserve the best.