Just your typical summer day...

We went to the river on memorial day weekend. The kiddos always have such a great time. I love to see how dirty they both get. One of their very favorite things to do is dig in the dirt/sand. Chick digs these really huge holes that she can almost stand in, and the others try to follow suit. Then they try to connect the holes so they try to dig tunnels. It is fun to watch. Not much going on in our world. We take mom back to the dr today, hopefully we will have a course of treatment so we aren't in limbo. Glad to hear my nephew Noah is doing good. He had that nasty Rotovirus. Icky. Glad he is home and doing well.

Some great news in our household. Ms. Riles has now figured out how to ride her bike without training wheels! We stopped at a friends house in town the other day cause riles had to go potty. Her granddaughters were riding without training wheels, and riles hopped on a bike and started to go. It was such an amazing sight.

Danny has been asking questions lately. A lot of questions. Questions I can't answer until we know more info about mom. She is truly his best friend. If he doesn't call her to go play, she calls him. He loves her so much. It is good to see they have a good relationship.

Well, I will leave you with some pics from the river.

whimp

stacy and baby hadleigh

AUNT BRANDY ROCKS! (screamed by Riles)

digging for treasure

(Hadleigh and Turtis)

Kevin and Kynnedi Chick and 411

no trainers

baby feet

Faylynn

Life and Drama:
Life has happened here in our household. We found out a week ago my mom has cancer. This time in a totally new place than when she had it before, 32 years ago. We went for a consult with the oncologist, whom I LOVED. He is such a nice, informative, doctor. I know he is just right for my quirky family. Unfortunately,
the drama cannot be spared. I refuse to argue with anyone, fight, or place myself in the middle of any situation. I REFUSE.
I am here to be strong for MY MOTHER. I am here to support her and my family in anyway I can, but I will not fight. I will not argue. Please don't attempt to try. I will walk away.
My sister and I will be made her power of attorney in case life should get bitter. If this time should ever happen I will not accept the criticism from anyone. I will do my very best for this ENTIRE situation. I can guarantee I will give 200% of myself. I promise to do my very best.
wendy

I Remember...
I will always remember. The people who have served our country. In some way or another. I remember.
I remember being a small child and my dad telling funny stories of when he was in the Navy. Something regarding a 5 gallon bucket, and having to yell something into it. I remember him telling us about being near the Suez Canal, or had just been there when it was bombed. I remember looking through his Navy yearbook.
I remember being in Kindergarten, and my big brother joining the Army. I remember him sending big boxes of presents home from Korea. Coats with our names on them. A complete set of fatigues, complete with our last name on them, for Mike, brass statues, kimonos for shell and I.
I remember being in High School, and Ron going to Desert Storm. I remember being so scared. I remember driving down a runway to go pick him up when he came home, I remember the signs we made, and how happy we all were to see him home ALIVE.
I remember picking my brother Mike up from the airport after basic training. I remember gathering with my sisters at Deanne's and making, I believe, EIGHT 6 foot banquet tables FULL of homemade goodies to send to him while he was in Kosovo. We had such a good time doing that. I remember how proud I was to watch him give his son his army papers to hang on his bedroom wall.
I remember looking at my husbands Navy pictures. How proud I am he served for our country. So far from home for so long, for someone who has to have his family around him.
I am proud of my father in law, who served in Vietnam. My husband's grandfathers who learned how to make the best coffee in a helmet, in the depths of hell during WWII. I am proud to display Pa B's flag in our home. I am proud of my brother in law, who served in the Airforce. I am proud of the wives who get left behind. Left behind to take care of the family, and keep going strong.
To all who have served, to all who are serving, to all who wanted to serve and couldn't. Thank you.
Chris, whimp, danny, and riles.

My Mother....
has cancer. again.
Prayers appreciated.
love
whimp and family

The Graduate..wore John Deere boots...

Riles graduated on Wednesday night. I was so very proud of her. She had volunteered for a speaking part, and stood so very nervously on the stage and welcomed everyone to the graduation program.

Here are some pictures of the festivities...

and here is the dork look:

Bad Mommy of the Year award goes too...

ME

Yesterday Riles had preschool. It was SUPPOSED to be her snack and share day. Yep..guess who forgot to send snack? You guessed it. ME.

Then when she gets home, guess what happened? Her fish had died.

So..I went to the city and got her two new fish, and TWO frogs, plus a new aquarium to put them in. One frog is for her, and the other frog is for danno.
Now I can be a good mommy again.

(Riles graduates tomorrow night..stay tuned for pictures!)

whimp

Guess What I got??
When I got my new cell phone, I was devastated to learn I could not download my trademark ringer. A ringer so rare, I haven't heard anyone else use before me. (Well... i am sure someone did, or why was it made...anyway, it was unique to ME).
Well.. guess what I got last night? Yep..my "old" ringer back. for FREE! I feel complete again. Now, would you like to hear it?
http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:147349/

Happy listening.
whimp

I hugged my child today...hard.
In our rinky dink, small town, population (of combined high school, middle school , AND elementary school) 500 kids, there was a bomb threat. Yes, I said BOMB THREAT. Deep down, I knew it was probably a hoax, but still..my heart was pounding, and i waited frantically with other parents to pick up my son. When I got him off the bus, I hugged him, and started crying. In front of his friends, so I was probably the most uncool mom ever, but man, I didn't realize how relieved I would be to see him okay. I wasn't the only mom crying either. I hope I'm the last. I hope.
I don't understand while children think it is funny to write things like this, to get out of school, why not just skip? That's what we did..if you got caught, at least it wasn't a FELONY. You got a day in ISS, and your parents were called. yep..makes me glad to be raising children during these turbulent times.
wendy

Lost...
so lost....can anyone explain this show to me? I haven't a clue, and it looks like a great show! thanks for your help!
whimp

whew...

danny's EKG came back normal...riles keeps asking him if he is really normal now...haha. Gotta love her..

(Today I asked her if she washed all of her body..she said yep, even my vag ---! (don't want to type that word here!lol). She is so funny sometimes, and that wasn't the part I was completely worried about either!)

Things have been going pretty well..got some scrapping in today, and GUESS WHAT?? Only ONE more SATURDAY class to go! wahoo! yippee...

wendy

This too, shall pass...
We got the results of danno's EEG today. It was within normal range, BUT... they noticed something with the EKG lead placed near his heart. So, tomorrow, we go back to Children's to have an EKG test done. I am scared. I am nervous. I am a wreck. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers while we wait ANOTHER week I am sure, to hear more results.
whimp, chris, danno, and riles.

Had a test today...
We won't know any information from it for 2-3 business days. Ughh....i hate the waiting game!
wendy

Please keep us in your thoughts..
Danny goes tomorrow afternoon for an EEG. We have to keep him (and us!) up until midnight tonight, and then get him up at 5:00 am. UGH.. can't wait for that one.
Anyway, we are getting him a haircut, then going for breakfast, he gets to spend some of his cash at the mall, and then we will go to his appt.
Wish us luck
whimp

Say a prayer today..
My sister, Cindy, received some sad news yesterday. Her longtime, super, terrific, great friend will eventually loose her battle with cancer. They are only continuing Chemo to keep her comfortable. I am so saddened to hear this. She has truly been a super friend to my sister. Please say a prayer today. For all families involved.
Thank you
wendy

my heavy heart..
lots of things going through my mind today. lots of questions, lots of negative thoughts. I try to see the good in people, I really do.
I must, must, MUST, give my hubby a HUGE thank you. He helped me move a friend today with only a 15 year old to help him move heavy furniture down 2 1/2 flights of stairs. I am so thankful for him. So very glad he was there to help. On a negative, dark gloomy side of my life...I am questioning so called friendships today. Have you ever helped (or done something for someone) and it wasn't good enough for them, or up to their "expectations?" I have. (didn't claim to be a professional at it either) It sucks. It helps me realize my effort wasn't appreciated, and helps me realize next time, I won't bother. I hate to feel that way.
I believe in this world we are here to help others, help without expecting something in return. So, what I found out by reading what another has written, and listening to them criticize, next time, I won't bother. I know this doesn't make sense, maybe it isn't supposed too, but next time..I won't bother.
Have I told you, dear readers, that I am part of a big family? I am. I am the youngest of eight. There are 5 girls and 3 boys. For the most part, we get along well, we like to go to the river (I only visit, others camp), get together for children's birthdays, holidays, and we use to get together on Friday nights, just because we could. We don't do that anymore, (or if they do, I don't know about it). We used to call each other, and say hey.."let's take the kids and go____________" we don't do that anymore either. I feel like an era has ended..maybe with warmer weather coming and camping season upon us, things will change. i miss them.
love n luck
whimp

just an FYI....
yes..a thank you card will be made by the students when the castles get to our school. I plan on having the students seated around both castles, take a picture, and place that on our thank you card. Then all students will sign their names.
whimp

So ultimately cool and generous:

I just have to share a generous moment with you dear readers...

About a month ago, I went to the Kindergarten readiness meeting at Riles' preschool, and the ever so very cool Mrs. Barney showed me the cool new castles she had just purchased for the classroom. Well..these little castles were so very cool, and my little teacher heart immediately thought, " OMG, my kids would love these for our classroom (kids meaning students)." So, i looked those puppies up, and much to my dismay they were at least 80.00 a piece. So, I sent an email to ask the company if they would donate A castle (notice the singular part of this sentence please). I honestly forgot I emailed them, fast forward to today, I get a phone call saying, "Ms. B_____ this is so and so from said company, I am just letting you know our company has decided to donate TWO wooden castles to you for your classroom use. Where would you liked these shipped?" WAHOOO! I get two of these AWESOME castles for my kiddos to play with at school. I have been looking for ways to get the girls in the block area, and one of these castles will surely do it. Here are some pics:

what do you think?

2nd verse same as the first...just one year later..
Well..we had an interesting night last night. We got a phone call from Grandma C at about 1:30 in the morning. Danny had another seizure, probably scared the last 10 years off her life, and we got to go to children's in the ole ambulance again. This time he had another seizure IN the actual ER. We got admitted rather quickly after that, and we came come late this afternoon. GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT TO GRANDMA PAT...THANKS FOR KEEPING THE RILES FOR US! So, they sent him home today on a drug called Keppra to take to help keep seizures under control. I have to make an appointment for him on Monday to have an EEG done. Then we will go from there. Please keep us in your prayers that these are just flukes and won't amount to anything. We can only hope. Peace and hugs to all,
whimp

Miss Fix-it..attitude required...

If you know my daughter you know

1. She is a TOMBOY.

2. She loathes the color pink...see #1.

3. She has aquired an attitude from some descendent way down the line (ahem...mom).

So...at her 5th birthday party noone was surprised when her presents were, hotwheel cars, hotwheel car playset, CARS carwash, a john deere bike, a spiderman bike helmet, a stick pony, AND a John Deere TOOLBOX. Now, she plays with them all, her brother plays with her, but that toolbox...has become her third arm. She loves it, and carries it everywhere. She laid down on the couch last night "just to rest mom" and put it beside her on the floor. She fell asleep with it next to her. So, lots of thanks to "aunt deyanne" for finding the toolbox. It totally makes the outfit when she rides her john deere bike, with her john deere boots, and her john deere toolbox is "bungeed" to the rack on the back.

going green in Iowa,

wendy

Happy Birthdays and sugar highs...

We have had a super exciting week here in disproportioned land. Riles celebrated her 5th birthday on Thursday, and Danny celebrates his 11th birthday today.

Happy Birthday Danny!

We had grandma pat and papa over on Thursday to celebrate the birthdays with them. Both kiddos got new bikes and are wishing it would warm back up to ride them again. Danny also got a knex ferris wheel, which he has already put together, and Riles got a stick pony! I think the highlight of Danny's night Friday was cash, and his lego starwars kit. Riles made out like a bandit with hotwheels cars, a car port, and car wash. lol...not a girlie toy in sight for her.

We celebrated with the sisters (and brother) on Friday night at shell's, and afterwards we stuffed easter eggs for the hunt today. Both kiddos are excited.

I hope everyone has a special day today, and god bless us all.

Movie Lines:
Can anyone guess which movie these came from? Thanks to michelle and dianne, I have a song from the wizard of oz running through my head. It has to do with mortimer.
wendy

movie lines:
"Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking"

"For twenty-three years I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you! And now... well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it!"

"Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.”

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.

Good luck!
wendy

Waisted...
I have decided to join weight watchers again. I will be attending meetings in a town near me with a coworker. I am thinking positively about this. I need to do something to lose weight again. I was on a great track, but need to start again.
I ordered the kids laptop lunches lunch box. I am going to order one for me.
What I used to think was a positive thing, turns out to be not so positive. In Head Start, we serve family style meals. That means, the adults and students sit down and eat breakfast and lunch, together. We pass the food around and round, and then when everyone has their serving, we eat. The only thing is, even though we have a dietician, I will take my own lunch. This way, I can actually measure, and prepare my own food. So, I am going to order my own laptop lunch system, and hope it works for me.
Here I go again.
whimp

Archiver's Here We Come!
Fickel, Mindy, Mrs. Robinson, and I are all going to an all day crop at Archiver's tomorrow. I plan on making the PARTY album for the annual Halloween Spooktacular parties. I think I am going to pick up a couple more of these little albums to have on hand for the next couple years. God help us! On another note, to my FAMILY we are holding Riley and Danny's BDay parties at Shell's on Friday March 21. Then we will stuff Easter Eggs for Sunday. I don't know the time yet, I have to plan with Shell.
It is hard for the kiddos this year with their birthdays being so close to Easter. Riles is the 20th, and Danny's is actually Easter. What can I do to make his day special?
Chris is taking the 21st off, and we thought about taking them out and about for some fun FAMILY time.
I resume classes on the 15th, but I don't have class on the 22nd, so it will be a nice long weekend.
We also have a SISTER'S BREAKFAST coming up. We are celebrating Dianne and Deanne's bday this time. Then it is time for Cindy's. Of course nothing is going to be able to top last year's for her. SO..I hope your thinking of things for your list Cindy!
Well, I need to go get some sleep before I have to get up and pack my stuff for scrapping.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
MWUAHHH
whimp

1 proud papa, 2 proud mamas, and 2 energetic young boys=priceless entertainment, and proud moments

We went to the Spelling Bee today. Mike, Brandy, Brandon, Danny, and I. It was a moment to see your child up on stage, nervous, (the turning green nervous), and realizing how very proud you are as a parent and aunt, to see, witness, this moment. Brandon won third place, and Danny won an out on his very first word. I am still proud of him. I wish you could have seen him sitting up there, giving me the deer in the headlights look (course this could have been his signal for telling me...PUT THE DARN CAMERA DOWN!, nah..he loves having his picture taken!), and gulping a few times. Brandon sat up there and beamed. He was nervous, but he was smiling sitting up there. What an honor I had today, witnessing the greatness of adolescence. So very happy they could experience it together.

whimp

Touching Base
Riles has decided to play tball again this year. She said she DIDN'T want to play soccer (WHAT??). I can't believe I won't find a soccer ball cooling off in my refridgeraor this year, sigh.
I am home from school today, as is Danny. I cancelled due to the windchill, danny had a 2 hour late start, and I am sick. So, he gets to play hookie (i am sure i will go to hell for being a bad mother). Riles on the other hand, went to school :) The bus picked her up, and will drop her off at grandma's so I can get homework done.
We went and saw The Spiderwick Chronicles on monday. We took kenna with us, and we all liked the movie. I thought the books were so much better, but I usually think that. I know they can't fit it all in a movie, but I sure wish they could try.
Danny picked up a new DS game (zelda) with a gift card Grandma Pat gave him for christmas, and riles' picked up a furreal puppy friend. Kenna couldn't find anything to buy, and said she would put her money on her gift card her dad carries for her! Lol..i love it when she says things like that.
Guess what Miss R and Danny are getting for their bdays? BIKES. yep..we found a john deere one for miss riley, and Danny wants a new red one, and hopefully he will attempt to learn to ride it..oh well. He is good at other things, like SPELLING. Yep, he made the spelling bee, and we get to go watch him and Bubba spell next week.
I will include pictures another time. Blogger is being naughty.
Staying home,
whimp

Here she is in all of her glory...

Introducin Miss Riles and her dancing cowboy boots(please do not use the term cowgirl...she is a cowBOY!..whew..glad we got that settled...after a much heated debate about why i called her a cowGIRL uh..cause maybe she's a GIRL didn't matter..) she was using them to tap dance with her "cooties" bugs this morning. Don't ya just love snow days?

Here she is.. performing to her very own music and choreographed by Riley..the dancing boots.

What do you think?

Danny doesn't eat well at school. He eats maybe 1-2 things on his lunch tray. So I thought about packing his lunch, but want to do more than the standard sandwich and chip variety. I had heard about this laptop lunch box awhile ago, and thought it was a neat concept. I like the idea I can pack leftovers or different things in it, different than the brown bag concepts. So, what do you think? I hope it will make it easier for me, I can add the main course, fruit, veggies, (and dipping sauce in the little container provided..even caramel dip for an apple!) and silverware. It also comes with a nice bag to carry it in. If he likes it and wants to take some soup or something with him, I can get a thermos for cheap to go with it. Now, if I decide to get it, I hope I can at least get him to bring it HOME.

(want to look up something fun? Go to flickr and search for bento. They are so freaking cool!)

whimp

Look what we have now!

Aren;t they the COOLEST thing since marshmallows? I went to get hamburger at no frills, and had to park in front of the cowboy store. Well...these little buggers were sitting in the front window, as pretty as you please. So, of course I went in to investigate, and came out with them in hand. They are for Miss Riles of course, and she absolutely loves them. Now, yes they make these in pink, but we all know miss riles would have told me, "PINK IS FOR GIRLS!" so we went with the green ones. Here is a picture of what they look like, yes it is an internet picture, because my house is too dirty to take a picture of riles in the boots inside, and since it is 1000 degrees below zero, we aren't going outside either. (the boots are green with yellow stitching)

happy kicking,

whimp

The glory of parenthood...
It all started on Wednesday of last week..at about 11pm. Riles had fallen asleep in the living room, and I had just let her sleep (who messes with a time bomb?) So at 11 she comes into my room crying and says, "Mommy...come look at piggy (stuffed animal she slept with). MOMMY! COME LOOK AT PIGGY!" So I get my kiester out of bed and mosey into the living room, w/o my glasses by the way..and see her pointing to the chair where she had crawled to sleep. I couldn't see what she was pointing too, so i get closer for a better look...WHAM! The smell hit me, and I almost lost it there right along with hers..yep...you guessed it..VOMIT. WOW..so we get her cleaned up, I tucked her in with daddy, and i come out and sleep on the couch. Thursday morning, she dry heaves, eats a pancake, noodle soup, and goes to bed about 8ish. Friday morning, 5:30 she had crawled in bed with us, i heard her swallowing, ya know the swallowing I am talking about, the "too many times to be normal" swallowing? Yep..she throws up, but it hits the spare blanket on the bed, so not a big deal..strip the bed and her, and daddy stays home. She eats all kinds of stuff, drinks lots of water, and goes to bed at about 8ish. Saturday, she wakes up throws up at 6:00 am, drinks some water, eats all kinds of junk, skunks momma pat at chutes and ladders, and sorry, and goes to bed at 6:30ish. Sunday was a good day. Didn't eat real good, but mostly healthy things. Then we have this morning, I heard this little voice from my doorway, "mommy, will you take me to the bathroom?" Now, mind you she had to pass this bathroom to come to ME. I said yes, and she took off for the kids' bathroom, and proceeded to, yep you guessed it. Now, I stay home, and she is acting FINE!
So.. I am wondering if we will EVER get over this, and what happens if danno gets it? Is it another week of this fun activity?
UGHH!!
whimp

Congratulations Danny!
for bringing home the bestest report card ever! I am so proud of you! Let's hear it folks, he brought home ALL A's and B's! GPA is 3.5! Honor roll for quarter and semester! I am so proud!!!!
Love ya dude!
mom

Update on miss tucker,
Well, we had to bring miss tucker and her litter inside because of the temperatures, and guess what my friends? There are TEN puppies! We talked to the vet about how to go about giving them away, screening people, etc, and he gave us some good information. So when the little suckers are ready to be weaned, we will have a game plan. Then, miss tucker will be spayed so we have no more unplanned pregnancies in this house! lol..they sure are cute!
whimp

I am a Grandma..

well almost anyway! Our sweet dog, Tucker, had puppies on Saturday night. So far I have counted six. She is in the very far back of the "dog house", and the door isn't very accomodating to a person with a rear end the size of mine. They all look to be black and white like their daddy whose name is Oreo. Tucker seems to be a good mommy, she is keeping them warm, and staying with them. Let's hope she raises them well. So, my friends in 8 weeks we will be giving away FREE PUPPIES! Any takers?

Hugs,

whimp

Aching for you,
I just want to give a shout and a prayer to Fickel today. Right now she is at her brother's visitation as he passed away on Thursday. Riles and I went to see her this morning, and told her we loved her. We are saying a prayer for you and your family. Please remember we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and will be here for you always.
love,
whimp

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..

please don't die, please don't die..

Meet Riles' new pets (aka goldfish) Gold and Fish. This is our second set of fish, the first didn't last more than 24 hours, cause miss r decided they were lonely and she needed to pet them. Yeah. Good thing these little suckers are cheap!

happy swimmin,

whimp

What a merry Christmas...

Kiddos are both happy. Danny's favorite gifts include the roboraptor, and the nerf tommy gun. Riley's favorites include her RC jeep, her digi camera (fisher price) and her fish. Yes. Real.Live. Fish. Daddy decided to buy the bowl, gravel, and food before christmas and then give her a gc to get the fish. She is absolutely in love.
Danny has been chasing army men all over with his raptor, and shooting every thing he can stand up with his nerf tommy gun.
I hope everyone had a merry christmas. Enjoy the new year, and be safe.

whimp

Lookie what i made...

I made this for Riles' bus driver, Joann. It opens up and is a mini album. So very easy to make. We are also giving her some chocolates, and an ornament. Danny chose to give his bus driver just some chocolates. He said he didn't want to give him anything homemade, because it is too "girlie". Oh well, I think Mr. Nelson will like chocolates just the same. I am going to throw in some homemade cookies as well.
Happy Holidays,

whimp

Christmas Program

Riles' preschool teacher really outdid herself this year. The program was absolutely wonderful, and I am so glad we kept her in Pooh. She has had an amazing experience in preschool, and I hope she has one all through elementary school.
Here are some more pictures from her program. We did not make it to Danny's program due to the weather that night. We got a bunch of snow, and the roads were pretty yucky. I feel bad, but you should have seen danny do the happy dance. It seems the new music teacher hasn't made a great impression on the students. I still inform him to use his manners and be polite.
Here they are
whimp

Santa Claus is coming, to town...

He sees you when you're sleeping,

He knows when you're awake.

He knows when you've been bad or good,

So be good for goodness sake!

I think for THIS littlest sheep, it will be mighty difficult to be good!

Happy Holidays!

from,

chris, wendy, danny, riley ( this picture was taken at riles' christmas program. The teachers get the students a present, and they get it from Santa! This year, Riley got a see through put it together frog ,including organs, a stuffed frog, a package of rubber insects, a package of rubber spiders, and some candy. Do they know her or what? Not a girly thing in the package!) Danny informed me this year, I am not sitting on santa's lap. I am entirely too old to do that! (Said to me in his most forceful 10 year old voice.) So, i will try to get him to at least pose by the big snowman at the mall.

whimp

(ms goofball at her finest!)

Here is another one..

I took this photo of chick when i did a (not so good) photo shoot of mike/brandy kids. This is one of chick.

enjoy

whimp

More tweaking in photoshop...

what do you think of these?

I posted befores and afters..drop me a line. Let me know which is your fav.

whimp

before after

before after

Here is another version of this photo..

Happy Birthday Mike and Michelle!
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear wierdos,
Happy Birthday to yous.

love whimp, chris, danny, and riles.