The Extra Mile

My Excellent Adventure or the day I cleaned the junk drawer

I decided that the junk drawer in out kitchen needed to be cleaned out.
I don't think it has been completely clean since we moved in 2.5 years ago.
Actually, I am sure it has not been cleaned since we moved in based on some of the items I found in the drawer.

Here is the drawer when I started

In the middle of my adventure

Some of the 57 packs of *free* labels from charities

A list of the items found in the drawer... yes, just one drawer
12 - requests for $ from charity
15 - various school papers... some from 2007
1 - stapler
1 - checkbook
1 - calculator
1 - roll of stamps
1 - set of Christmas stamps from 2007
36 - 1 cent stamps (so we can use the 2007 Christmas stamps)
1 - bag of buttons
1 - set of headphones
1- pair of reading glasses (and none of us wear reading glasses... possibly Mom Diekema's?)
2- hair bands
57 - packets of return address labels from various non-profits (?) who want a donation
2 - sewing kits
7 - glue sticks
1 - roll of tape
4 - nail polish
14 - thank you notes from Christmas 2007  - all written (oops - thanks, everyone!)
9 - markers
3 - Sharpies
10 - various legos
1 - outlet extender thing
7 - envelopes
1 - pair of scissors
5 - clips
2 - hearing aid batteries (?)
1 - soccer pin from the Libertyville tourny
1 - necklace from SB2W (which makes it at least 16 years old)
1 - letter from Matea to Peyton Manning (written on Hello Kitty stationary)
1 - Happy 16th Bday card to someone from Matea
1 - letter opener
10 - unpaid bills
4 - packs of post it notes (YES!)
1 - Myah's preschool picture
7 - Matea's preschool picture
10 - tax documents
2 - measuring tapes
4 - packets of cut fresh flower food
3 - key chains from CHA 2006
4 - bracelets
2 - rulers
1 - voter registration
2 - starbucks gift cards
$10 - Max & Erma's (is this place still open?)
$40 - Beltline Bar, etc
Dinner for 2 at Seoul Garden
2 - sets of culture passes to various things in GR
$5 to Coldstone Creamery
1 - free cone at Jersey Junction
1 - free tote bag at John Ball Zoo
1 - free video from Blockbuster
10 - Meijer Gardens tram passes
1 - free Egypt mug at GR Museum
$40 to Mountain Jacks (closed for at least 2 years)
5 - coupons from Bed, Bath, & Beyond
7 - coupons from various pizza places we have never gotten pizza from
2 - oil change reminders
9 - various other coupons that were expired

*new additions to the list*

1 - motorola phone battery

1 - nextel phone clip from a phone that has not been in our house for at least 18 months

20 - photo turns

Amira's visit to GR

Even though we missed them at the airport, we were so excited to spend some time with Mike, Megan, Amira, and Nico Ribbens.
We loved hearing talking to Mike and Megan about life in Nigeria.
Matea and Amira picked right back up where they left off 18 months ago - we could hear lots and lots of giggling coming from those two.
Nico was so excited to show Creaghan the snow - I wish I could have videotaped their conversation.
Megan had two awesome skirts made for me by a Nigerian tailor... who must think that American women are very, very small. (I am pretty sure they fit my girls perfectly - I couldn't even get them much past my knees! LOL!)
Mike found the perfect salad bowl and tongs - absolutely beautiful!
(I will eat lots and lots of salad when I can actually chew again - just so I can use the bowl)
We hope to see them more in the next week... and for sure in July when they are here for the entire month!

Creaghan's Inauguration Insights

 

 I noticed... that there were people of many cultures all coming together to witness the inauguration.

I wonder... if Barack Obama will be able to fill the huge shoes that were given to him.

I learned... people stay overnight to get good seats at the inauguration.

I think... this is a huge moment for our country.

I like... that almost all black barriers have been broken.

Micah's Dedication

I love baby dedications and baptisms.
All of my kids were baptized, but the churches we have gone to for the last few years all have dedications instead.
I can still vividly remember all three of my babies when they were baptized.
And I know I cried (very silently) at each one.
I get choked up thinking about it right now.... and my babies aren't even close to being babies anymore.
My brother and his family go to a church that has dedications.
I have to admit that I miss the symbolism of the water being poured on the baby's head.
(Matea had water poured on her from the Jordan River that my mom brought back from Israel)
Even so, the letter Brandon read to Micah got me emotional and teary, too.
Our one hope as parents - and family - are that our kids know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

We love you little Micah.

Reader's Theater

It seems like I am doing too many things for the last time.
Today was another one of those things.... Reader's Theater at school with the first graders.
Matea was so excited about having a part (all of the kids have a part LOL!)
She told me the entire story ... multiple times.
When she gave me the time and date, I panicked a bit.... I had a doc appt just an hour or so before it was scheduled to start.
Never fear - I made it in plenty of time.
My cheeks hurt when they were done from smiling the entire time.... I probably looked like a complete idiot!
Here is Matea and 3 of her friends ... don't you just love their hats?
(oh how I love my iPhone!)

My New Toy

I am so very, very excited about my birthday present from Paul and the kids! :)
I guess I dropped enough hints.... and it didn't hurt that my Nextel coverage was so bad I couldn't even make a call anymore.
So call me - on my cell... not just on my home phone!
(sorry for the blurry picture... my camera/lens combo is pretty heavy for one hand and I am still on Vicodin... a little shaky! LOL!)

A List of 37

In honor of my 37th birthday, here is a list of 37 things I love... in no particular order:

1. My husband Paul. Who else would set an alarm every 3 hours through the night to give me pain meds and make sure I am okay? What a guy.
2. My kids. Every day I am so thankful for the three kids in my life. Yes, there are times I want to knock their heads together, but the good far outweighs the bad. Far outweighs.
3. God. Enough said.
4. Running - especially on a summer morning and if it is on a trail, that is even better.
5. Reading - fiction for the most part. If I don't have at least one unread book in my possession, I start to get panicky.
6. Soccer - watching my kids and Paul play. No better day then one spent on the sidelines of a game (if it is warm and sunny).
7. Photography - I love taking pictures. I love capturing something that isn't posed. I love looking into people's eyes and seeing the real person.
8. The Beach - specifically my in-laws cottage on Lake Michigan. We are so blessed.
9. Chicago - my favorite city... the museums, the shopping, the food. sigh.
10. Warm vacations
11. Summer
12. Chai tea latte
13. Dinner with my girlfriends
14. Date night with Paul
15. My friends - those I see often and those I see just once in awhile
16. Oreo cookies
17. Ice cream
18. NCAA Basketball
19. Calvin College
20. A run around Reed's Lake
21. Hiking - preferably somewhere with some elevation
22. My Prius
23. Trader Joe's
24. New running shoes and/or gear
25. My Mac - both iMac and laptop
26. Music - listening, not singing (my voice is scary and completely off tune)
27. Friday Night Lights (the tv show)
28. Matea reading me a book
29. Hearing my kids laugh... the good kind, not the kind where I know there will be trouble soon
30. Canon 5D
31. 24-70L 2.8 and 70-200 L IS 2.8 lenses
32. Facebook - time waster that it is, I am having way too much fun re-connecting with old friends and making new ones.
33. Saturdays
34. Mondays
35. Birthdays
36. Christmas
37. My SIL Amy - just as good as having a sister of my own

Two pics the kids and I took this morning with photo booth in honor of my birthday :)
(yes, my cheeks are a little puffy.. but not too bad)

Wisdom Teeth and Good Intentions

I had every intention of keeping up with my blog.
Good intentions.
Really.

Paul and I went to Chicago to celebrate our 14th anniversary.
I took pics to post - just a few, but I took them.
Yeah...that was Dec 30-31.
Didn't post them.
We did have an amazing time, though.
A former student recommended the most amazing restaurant - La Madia - thanks Kristina!!!
We did some shopping (of course).
I bought my new favorite coat and got an incredible deal.
I got 10+ hours of uninterrupted sleep (possibly my favorite part of the trip?)

My dad turned the big 6-0 on 01.07.09 and there was a little surprise party for him.
I didn't even take my camera.
Happy Birthday, Dad - we love you!
Didn't post about it.

Then, on Friday I had my wisdom teeth taken out.
I know, people have them out every day - lots of people.
I don't think lots of people have wisdom teeth sitting on their jawbone, intertwined with nerves... and impacted.
Repeated suggestions by my dentist to have them out earlier had all been ignored.
In the future, I might start listening to those types of suggestions.

Now, I am in a blur of pain meds.
Supposedly, I asked Matea to take a picture of me on Friday night.
I have absolutely no knowledge of this and if there is such a picture, it will never see the light of day.
My amazing oral surgeon avoided breaking my jaw and I do not have any permanent numbness or paralysis - yet. (see why I avoided this surgery for years?)
I have a hard time typing or speaking coherently, so this post might be slightly confusing.
Oh well.
I am 3 days into an 8 week liquid diet - and I am a person who enjoys chewing her food.
My birthday celebration - complete with food I can chew - will take place in March instead of on 01.14.09. (My kids think we should have birthday smoothies tomorrow... I am wondering just how those will be different from the ones I am eating repeatedly every day)

So, I intend to keep posting.
I don't know how regular the posts will be, but I will post.
(My kids need something to read)

Sweet Girls

The girls and I got to spend a little bit of time with the Knoesters today.
Not enough time, but we will take what we can get.
Jonah and Aidan were a tiny bit shy around my girls... maybe playing in the pool this summer will warm them up. ;)
Micah is the smileyest (is that a word?) baby I have ever seen - I just want to kiss her cheeks!
Of course, I had to break out the camera and get some shots of our girls... and some early 6 month shots of Micah Joy, too.
We can't wait until they move back closer to us!