Happy Birthday Fickel!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Fickel, Happy Birthday to you...i got you a six pack (hee hee..so i already had two..i know you don't mind sharing!)

I just wanted you to know you are an amazing friend and woman. Your spirit in which you live, inspires me. You are such a great person and friend. I hope our friendship grows even stronger.

whimp

(I always joked with him about this pic, I couldn't tell who was the turkey).

Remembering Dan...

As many of you have heard, Chris' best friend (Robert) died Friday night. At this time, what it looks like, it was a heart attack. How sad..he was only 36. He leaves behind twin girls who are 8.

This has been an emotional roller coaster for me. I don't know how to help my husband with his grief, and brings back the pain of losing my best friend 14 years ago.

His name was Dan (hmmm..wonder who my son is named after...). He was a wonderful soul. (My Chris reminds me alot of Dan. Quiet, respectful, willing to help anyone who needs it.)

I met Dan when I was 13, and visiting my brother in Milford, KS. (My brother was stationed at Fort Riley). Dan was 15 when we met. I loved Milford. Everything about it. It is so small it only had 2 bars and a gas station. However, it had an enormous lake. Dan and I would take a shortcut, and be able to walk along the rocks around the lake. This walk would take us to many private beaches, where we had A LOT of evening BBQ's, and would lead us to an old tree where teenagers before us, had tied an old rope to a branch, and we could swing out and land in the water. We would sit on the rocks or beaches and talk for hours. He was truly my best friend. We wrote each other, not a lot of letters, but enough I have a shoe box full. I haven't looked at them in years. Until Saturday. Saturday brought back the pain, and memories, and the questions..I wonder what he would be doing now. Would we still be friends? What would he think of my children? Where would he live? I know what he would look like.. I remember his lake green eyes, his lopsided smile, his gentle touch, his funny little lisp, and his wavy brown hair.. He was an amazing friend. Sadly, he was taken from me in 1993. He worked at a construction site, and was killed in an accident. I will always feel guilty about when it happened. June 25, 1993. I was to have gone to Milford and spent a week with him at his parents house, and then he was going to bring me home on Friday and spend the next week with me and be in my senior pictures. I didn't have the money to go, and wouldn't let him pay for it. He was killed on the Friday he would have taken off to bring me home. I loved him. I miss him. He is eternally young. God Bless you Robert and Dan...wherever you may be.

whimp

Please say a prayer today....
Last night, Chris' best friend died. We are unsure of the circumstances surrounding his death. Please include this man's father in your prayers. In the last 3 years he has buried a daughter, a wife, and now his son. Please pray.
On another note, how do I help my husband through this? I know what it is like to lose a best friend( two actually) I know how I felt, but how do I help him? Chris is so angry about this..how do I help?
Hug your family today, I am hugging mine.
wendy

I have been tagged....5 quirky things about me....
1. I eat goldfish crackers, hot tamales, and mini marshmallows together (think trail mix). Yummo!
2. I have to unplug all the appliances that do not need to be plugged in before I leave my house(can we say OCD?)
3. I sleep with socks on...(well except..)
4. Absolutely NOONE can eat or drink from my utensils (plate, bowl, cup, etc)..including my hubby and children. Yucko!
5. I only get 4 pages done at an overnight crop..HAHA!!

I tag..Karen and Jen. Happy blogging!
whimp

WELCOME HOME SNATCH (er...ZACH!!)

I just want to give a warm welcome home to my brother's weird, wacky, and wonderful friend..snatcheriah..uh...i mean Zach. Welcome home zach! We worried about you, and I am so glad to hear you made it home safe and sound. On behalf of my family, I want to salute you (and all other military personnel) on the job you do for our country. Thank you for fighting for us. job well done.
Welcome home, buddy, welcome home.
whimp

I make a difference....

What Teachers Make......
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he said to another guest;"You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?" Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...) "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an iPod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, because we live in the United States of America. Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)"Then, when people, like you, try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"
Just got this in an email from a fellow teacher. I guess I never thought of my self this way. But we do. We make a difference everyday. Sometimes we are the ONLY safe place a student has. Sometimes we are the ONLY ones who make them feel good about themselves, sometimes we are the ONLY people who will help THEM make a difference in their lives. You know what? It is all worth it. I know I am blessed as a teacher when Ihave been gone for a day (or two) and when those wonderful faces walk through my door in the morning and say, "Miss Wendy! You're back! I missed you!" Yes..I am blessed.
whimp

Hello friends!
No, I have not been abducted by aliens. I am just super busy. I have been so busy, that I do not have any new pictures of my children. Well, I do have a picture of Danny's city he made out of broken chalk pieces, (but i will wait to post that when I have some new pics of mr. man). Wait till riles wakes up and discovers her chalk is broken..aye aye aye! The wonderful joys of motherhood.
Nothing new here, except I am scrapping this weekend at the store. Can't wait for that, and just trying to make it to the end of this school year with my sanity intact. Chris has been begging me to resign, but i love those kids! I just don't like one CERTAIN adult in the room! lol...more of that later.
Have a great week everyone!
wendy

I hope i have not offended anyone with my previous post..
I know karen is a wonderful, kind, patient, mother. I DID NOT think for a minute she didn't want her children. NEVER did i think that..i could tell by her post that she was having a hard day. She feels like she lost herself to this role of motherhood. I think we all feel like that sometimes. w
EDITED TO ADD: Karen, i remember how you were in high school, full of life, loving everything about living. I have watched you grow along side of me, and blossom into a wonderful, beautiful young woman, who loves her children, husband, and family. You have such an amazing spirit within you..sometimes when we first become mothers we lose sight of that spirit..sometimes misplace it. We have to remember to find it, hold on tight, and enjoy just being. I know we hear that a lot, enjoy just being. You will find all these things again. Sometimes you have to have a little power struggle with yourself on what you are willing to change, for the sake of sanity. Usually, when you do this, they are the little things that used to matter, but no longer do. You will know what i am talking about. I think it is time to take a well deserved break. Come home and scrap for awhile! love ya w

What would it be like??
My niece, Karen, posted this on her blog. I can totally relate to how she feels. I think at one time or other, ALL moms can relate. If you say you have never felt this way, well...i will call you a liar. (I know this post wasn't JUST about being a mother, but this is what spoke to me..it will speak differently to each person reading it..)
what is it like?
to be full of life, to have confidence, to be passionate, to feel loved, to be motivated, what does it feel like to have a life? a life other than my own? to have a good meal with fruits and vegetables that don't come from a can, to not get peed on, to not be so damn tired, to live in civilization, to be talented, to have a passion and be able to completely embrace that passion, to run, to feel beautiful, to not hurt, to not question, to dream, to follow those dreams, to put your thoughts into print in front of your eyes, rather than behind, to live in CA or NYC, to get a FULL nights rest gosh,
what is it like?
Having felt like this before, and when I was a single mom, I often asked myself "what would i do if i didn't have a child?" Would I travel? Would I have different dreams? Would I get to sleep till noon? Would I be the remote queen? Would I be rich? Would I be pretty? (ok...that is a kid's song..sorry) Would i still party like a rock star?Would i still be in the same rinky dink town i grew up in? Would i....?
I know this... if i DIDN'T have children....my life wouldn't be as enjoyable, i wouldn't be so understanding, i wouldn't get to sit on the sidewalk and watch ants build a colony, i wouldn't get to squirt shaving cream on the table and write my name in it, (works with pudding too...on a side note..if you try this..introduce shaving cream FIRST..cause if you lick your hands with shaving cream on them..it sucks)..
I wouldn't get to lay in the grass on a nice spring day, eating an ice cream cone, and trying to guess what the clouds looked like. I wouldn't get to buy sidewalk chalk, bubbles, hot wheel cars, tricycles, helmets, Dora or Batman bandaids, cute little animal shaped paper plates, would i even watch wonder pets, dora, diego, blues clues, cartoon network, or play cake mania? Probably not..believe it or not, my son changed my life. Suddenly it was no longer about me. I had to grow up..be responsible, and watch my heart walk around outside my body. I am stilll on the bench about riles.. snort...love you karen, we will live through this..just be sure to pass on the curse..(i hope you have a child who acts just like you)..lol..

Also..WARM your plate in the micro for about 3 minutes..leave it there, fix your kids plates, get them situated, fix your plate, help the kids with whatever, start eating and your food will still at least, be tepid. :)

Kynnedi Update

Remember this beautiful girl? I posted on my blog (September I think) about a benefit/fundraiser to help Kynnedi receive cochlear implants. Kynnedi was born deaf and insurance would only pay for ONE cochlear implant. Good News!

Well...on December 11, 2006 Kynnedi underwent the operation to receive TWO cochlear implants. She is doing well. It is my understanding that she will start speech and other types of therapy in the future to help her associate the sounds with objects. She is truly blessed. How wonderful is it to live in a time where we can bring sound to the deaf?

Hello friends. Did you miss me?
Things have been busy here in dead cornfield land. Lots of stuff going on with school and stuff. Sorry I haven't had time to blog.
We started back to school on Monday, and then had a four day weekend. It was wonderful...except...i have caught a cold! I feel yucky and blechy. I ache all over and my nose won't quit running. To top it all off, I have run out of puffs plus tissues. Ugh..nothing quite does the trick accept puffs.
Of course, i could be feeling yucky because I had to get a MMR shot...yes, you heard me, I had to have an immunization! Why? BECAUSE.....
I am now an official member of the student body for UNO. Yep..going back to start (and hopefully finish) my masters degree in Early Childhood Education. Not so bad for a child whose third grade teacher told me I wouldn't make anything of myself huh? Enough with the horrors of growing up as a student in the MSD....
Kids are doing good...both got their haircuts last week. Danny still does his same old haircut..something he doesn't have to comb, and riles' got hers cut just above her shoulders. She really does look like a tomboy now! lol...just as ornery too.
Well, I hate to say i do not have any pictures to upload..well..i do, but my house is an absolute PIT in them, so I can't share. sorry..i am not THAT rednecked!
OH...to all those scrapbookers out there..I did buy Opposites Attract AND Zooballoo for the cricut machine yesterday..needless to say, i won't be having any fun for the next week, cause i blew all my spending money! Oh well, chris will float me a loan..lol..he really is such a good man. love him.
see you soon,
whimp

Snow Raspberries...



Finally..got this picture scrapped! I was so impatient to get this picture scrapped, that i worked around riles all night to get it done. Whew! Here it is...i am going to add something to the right side of the picture..just can't decide if i want a word there or some ribbon.

cheers,

whimp

Sing it sister!

A fun time was had by all....


We had such a wonderful Christmas. We are truly blessed to belong to such great families. We celebrated Christmas with my Mom on Saturday (23) and danny got sick..poor guy, so we had to leave early. Christmas Eve was pretty boring..we stayed home and got ready for Christmas! Christmas morning is always a rush..we open presents, then start the wonderful process for going to Grandma Pat's and Grandpa Blackie's (Chris' mom and dad). I truly love going to my in-laws for christmas. Pat is such a wonderful person. She makes sure everyone is so taken care of. She is constantly asking if we are ok..always asking us..would you like something??..love her tremendously! (not to mention she makes jello poke cake at christmas..one of my FAVES!) Anyway, this year she got me an awesome bracelet that has hearts that danlge from it. The kids in my class are gonna love it! I know I do! She also got me a new wallet (will love this for my crops..I can put everything i need in it and take it instead of my purse). I also got a gift certificate to the Avenue..a fluffy person's store (this means i am disproportioned). This is one of my favorite stores..isn't it great she knows me so well?? The kids got more presents than they truly deserve...the little monsters anyway. Santa was definitely good this year. Riles' favorite gifts include her desk, her teaset, tinkertoys, and most importantly, her Curious George stuffed animal(he makes noise). Danno's include his X-BOX, his mp3 player, his Bass Pro Shop gift certificate, and his foot locker..complete with his name (thanks to uncle kenny for purchasing it, and grandpa blackie for painting the goodies on top!). All in all...we were truly blessed this year..me definitely. Look at everyone i get to call family! (I think my sister michelle has the BEST photo frame..it says Remember, everyone thinks we are a NORMAL family!)...love it. Here are some more pics of the wonderful monsters that invade my home.

Peace
whimp

and last, but not least...the one and only...true fruit loop of the family..Uncle Kenny (Chris' btother, aka..the man who had danny convinced he had a pink elephant with yellow running shoes in Pat and Blackie's Basement).

Making a Snowman....

First you have to have SNOW..and we got lots of it yesterday. I bet we got at least 6 inches of snow. Riles has been waiting for snow since July. At least once a week she asks us when the snow will come. "Will it be one more sleep, mommy?" Is what she always asks. Well, yesterday morning it started to snow. She was so excited, she was constantly asking when she could go outside. This morning Daddy and I dressed her in her snowpants, gloves, hats, boots, and winter coat(none of which match by the way!) and played outside. She tried so hard to build a snowman, but decided it was too much work! So she just played instead. Here are some pictures of what she did.
(Danny was at grandma's (of course) and didn't want to come home to play).
whimp

The skivvy on marriage..

I found this on another blog (True Wife Confessions).. I lifted most of it, and rewrote some of it to suit me. Most of it tho..is things I want to say to Chris. So..here goes..

Being married is alot harder (even the second time) than I thought it would be but not for the reasons everyone else (myself included) thought.I knew going into this, it wasn’t going to be easy. I thought... "hey, I have been through divorce before, I know I can make it on my own.”

Thank you for being so great, that I NEED to make this marriage work. (besides..could you handle being a single parent to our daughter?? I didn’t think so ;)

I knew going into this, that marriage IS a lot of work. It is constant work, but I am
willing to keep working to make this marriage even better than it already is.

What I didn't realize was how much more special our time together is because our lives are even more busier now than when we walked down the aisle. Being able to cuddle up with you every night is amazing and I sleep so much better now.

What I didn't realize is how lucky we are to have been brought together and have our lives in enough order to be able to get married and continue our family.

We have been together for six years and we have made it through more rough times than I would like to admit but we have worked hard to make our relationship a success. You have been the greatest father a little boy could ever dream of having to my son..... he's yours now too, every way but legally, (hopefully that comes soon).

Even though you make me want to punch you in the throat for the stupid things you say and do at times, I can't imagine my life without you. I consider myself to be the luckiest woman alive. (By the way, I think you are the luckiest man alive!)

You understand me more than any person ever has and you put up with my sometimes bratty ways.

I understand that you are not very good with your words and shove both feet in your mouth at the most inopportune times.
But, despite everything that we have going against us, I think we have found the secret to a successful marriage.........as long as you get to watch t.v. and drink beer, and I get to scrapbook.. everything is hunky dory!
I love you!

whimp

There was a chubby snowman...
Friday night was Riles' Christmas program for Preschool. They were all so stinking cute! It made me want to run up and hug them all...then reality set in and I brought my 3.5 year old home. Santa made an appearance, and when I realized it was miss r on his lap...someone stepped in front of my camera! One of the finger plays Riley has been singing is "There was a chubby snowman...who had a carrot nose...along came a bunny, and what do you suppose...that hungry little bunny...looking for his lunch, ate that snowman's carrot nose...nibble, nibble, crunch."
It is cute the first 19,000 times nibble nibbe crunch is screamed in a minivan by 2 children who have decided all the want to do with each other is fight, and see who can scream nibble, nibble, crunch the loudest! lol...
I have been playing with my camera, and decided to take the free class offered by the company I bought it from..
In the mean time, here are some pics to keep you company...
Cheers,
whimp

I know this one is blurry..but just imagine how great it would have been!
This is from Halloween...creepy!

Holy Hell Batman!

Woke up at 1:00 a.m. with a stomach bug. Uggh...i really hate being sick. It puts a damper on my day. I really hate to use sick days to be actually sick..kwim? lol..
Not much going on at my house. I got my new camera..Canon Digital Rebel xti..I LOVE this camera. Wondeful goodness at my fingertips. I want to go to the Old Market while Dickens in the Market is going on, to try to get some photos of the people dressed up, and the carriage rides.
I finally got my Christmas Tree up. I don't have any presents wrapped at all, but they are all bought. I am not feeling in the holiday spirit this year at all. I don't know why either.
If I don't update before then, I hope everyone has a great holiday season.
whimp
p.s. here are some photos I took with my new camera..

I am officially in my 30's...again.
Yesterday was my birthday...well...yesterday as in 30 minutes ago. As I look back at my life, I have realized all I have accomplished, and a lot I still want to do.
There are many things in my life I still want to accomplish.
1. finish my Master's Degree..I will start classes in January.
2. Be more patient with my own kids...this is a catch 22 for me. All day long, I can be as patient and pleasant as can be with other people's children..but when I get home..holy hell...frakenwendy emerges. I am not proud of this..it is something I want to work on.
3. Be a better wife, mother, lover, sister, friend. I want to be there more for my family and friends. I will work on this, too.
4. I want to let things people say roll off my back more..ya know..the things people like to pin on you.. something that 1) you had no control in, or 2) something that was totally not your business..sorry..I get caught up in my own life
5. Be more assertive. I used to be very outspoken..now I tend to bite my tongue in order to keep the peace..well..I am not willing to do that anymore.
6. Be a better, more effective teacher. There are certain aspects in my teaching I would like to refine.
7. Be more optimistic. I tend to be pessimistic, and I need to generate hope in my students. I work in an inner city school..these children deserve optimism.
8. Be more creative. I tend to get stuck in ruts, and I want to make sure my children have family traditions documented to pass down to future generations.
9. Be more open to change. I am a creature of habit..certain things have to be a certain way..i am willing to change some habits.
10. Just be..enjoy being just me..plain ole wendy.
Wendy

Hello y'all!
I thought I would check in with everyone since I have not been a very good blogger. The new job is still very challenging. I have tried to implement some things I think will work, but I am finding some co-workers resistant to change. I guess I am way to flexible in my teaching..who knows. I do know that I will NOT let this situation that I walked into and have had no HELP in creating tarnish my teaching career..so with that, if before christmas things have not gotten a bit better...(now I am not asking for giant leaps and golden rainbows here...I am talking baby steps..as little as they stop and look at me when they hear my voice..or they can stand in line without kicking, shoving, biting, hitting, spitting, or yelling.) I will ask for another assignment within the Preschool programs. Who Knows what will happen..I do know I will NOT let 20 3, 4, and 5 year olds run my classroom any longer! lol
till next time..
whimp

P.S..i still DO NOT have my tree up, presents wrapped (at least they are bought), stockings taken care of, or gotten into the christmas spirit..now, for my birthday don't you wish you knew what Chris got me! lol