We Are Family

Guess who I get to see this week???!!?!  Below is a video jeopary clue:
(you don't have to watch the whole thing, but if you want a giggle, watch starting around the 1:15 mark)

Let it out, PSA Edition

A series of public service announcements.  Because I care about you.  It’s how I roll.


• If you don’t show up for work until 10am and leave at 2:30pm, your work day will go much faster. Just don’t forget to check your inbox before you dash out, as there might be something important in there. (me: oops!)

• Quaker Oats Weight Management Instant Oatmeal is yucky. It has Splenda in it, so if you like Splenda, this may be nectar of the gods to you. But if you don’t like the little yellow magic sweetner, stay away from this nasty mush. (If you enjoy this divine dish: A) my apologies if I offended you and B) would you like 19 free packets?)

• Speaking of nutrition, if you have a latte for breakfast, cake for lunch and then cake again for dinner, sneak in some veggies somewhere, as there is always the chance your youngest will come up to you at 9pm and say “Mom, for my health report I need you to write down what you had for breakfast lunch and dinner today”. (At that point, do you set the bad example by lying, or by honestly admitting what you ate?  At least I had that glass of milk with cake slice #1!!)

• Dance leotards are very constricting. I don’t think I have worn one since I was 5. I have had this one on for an hour (with at least 3 more to go) and I am overheating. I, who am never hot, am suddenly having much better empathy for the hot flash ladies. (update: after 4.5 hours, I did figure out what I can now wear when I am freezing and just can’t get warm – my new leotard! This will nicely help justify the cost!)

• Don’t let your husband venture far from your sight if you are at church on a Wednesday he is not on tech duty. If you do, he will not be off duty much longer. (update: ha ha ha! Totally different ending than I expected. He found out he is coaching a basketball team of 3rd through 6th grade girls! If you know Jim, this is hilarious. First meeting: tonight. At church. At 6:30. He found out at 6:25.  Did I mention tee hee hee?)

• Burger King sells bags of ice. Not sure why or what the drive-thru demand for bagged ice is. But now, if you are desperate for ice, don’t want to get out of the car (and would love a jr whopper with cheese), your life is now bliss my friend.

Barry and Levi

Had a lovely visit last week with my brother, Barry, and nephew, Levi. (My sister-in-law, Caroline had to stay back in CA - she was teaching summer school) Took lots of photos - will only subject you to a few...

This is Allison. She is the daughter of my cousin Clay and his wife Mary. Allison and Levi are just a few weeks apart in age.

Dad, Grandma, Levi, and Bart - Levi's first four generations photo with this segment of the family. (Well, four generations plus one ham)

Liked Levi in this one, but you can't see Grandma's face :(

Big ole tenderloin!! An Indiana treasure. Nothing to do with Levi, except that he was there. But, yum!!

Guest Blogger: Levi!

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Officially an adult

So I really have to grow up now. Our wills have been drafted and I got them in the mail yesterday. As a notary and having worked in financial institutions and with financial folks for years, I have seen many a will and ancillary document, but it was very freaky seeing my own.

I feel so grown up and responsible now. Totally misguided, because unlike the clients I work with daily, beyond my two most prized "possessions" (Hannah and Kaylie), I really have nothing much to leave to anyone. But it still feels so responsible and mature, anyway. Can't really describe it, but it is weird. I am officially an adult now.

Next step: get them executed and then I have a HUGE to-do I can check off my list!!! Hurrah!! It will be such a relief!

Smooth Talker

We were at Bob Evans with our good friends the Breens after church on Sunday. The girls were at one table and we were at another table. Kaylie had finished her lunch and came over to ask Jim something. She starts out talking to Jim about something random and Jim leans over and whispers to me, "Can I have your biscuit?" indicating what he is certain she is leading up to. Sure enough Kaylie asks if "Mr. and Mrs. Breen can come over to our house after lunch" and then without pausing or even missing the slightest beat adds "Can I have that biscuit?" I think she was hoping one yes would cover both questions since she asked them so close together.

I read on another blog about creating a Laugh Book - a journal for each of your kids where you record all the wonderful things they say. (http://alastingfoundation.blogspot.com/) I think I am going to have to stick a notebook in the car just for this because even though the girls are getting older, they still say so much that just cracks me up (especially when they have conversations between themselves), or is really touching but I have trouble remembering it . I wish I had thought to do this 10 1/2 years ago when Hannah was born. :( I have some stories recorded, but not near as many as I wish I did.

Where there's a will...

When I was growing up, my dad (an attorney) had this sign in his office that said, "Have you made your will yet?" I was maybe 8 years old and this sign would stare me down everytime we came to visit him - he had his own law office, so this was a lot - and I think I really felt like I needed to get my will done right then. It was the same feeling you would feel if it said, "Have you made your bed today?" and you knew you hadn't. Eek.

Well, finally, finally, can take that weight off my shoulders, because very soon our wills will be done! Hurrah! (I know, who says "Hurrah" at this, but we are talking like 30 years on the to-do list, so it deserves celebrating) Have had all kinds of excuses, from not having assets, to not knowing whom to have prepare our wills, to not feeling like we could afford the expense, to not wanting to make decisions about guardians of our kids, to whatever. I planned to do it after Hannah was born - no dice. Again after Kaylie - nope. Again, a few years ago before my friend Lori died when she and her husband did their wills - even knowing I did not want to prepare wills on mine or Jim's deathbed, still did not get it done. When I became an employee of Ronald Blue, I became eligible for a benefit of partial reimbursement of the expense (even met a Christian attorney who said he would do our wills, even though Jim and I are not big bucks people like the average Ron Blue client) - got as far as the discussion with him and got stuck at data gathering and decision making.

Seems like one of those things we keep saying: We need to do that. And you always think there will be tomorrow. But we never know. So finally this week, was discussing with my co-worker, Marilyn, her mother-in-law's illness and living wills, etc. When Marilyn learned we still had not completed our wills, she agreed to be my Estate Accountability Partner and harrass me until I got it done. (Yay, Marilyn!) So, I talked to the attorney again, and Jim and I have talked again and I think we have everything lined up, we just need him to write it up and we sign it and we are good to go. (or not go..maybe..um.. you know what I mean).

It is hard to make these decisions. I am someone who worries too much about what other people think and while part of me doesn't care (I'll be partying up in heaven - yee hah!), I still am afraid of offending someone when it comes to the choices we have made. Especially when it comes to guardianship of our kids. But it is just way too important to us for them to grow up in a Christian home, knowing who their Savior is, continuing to love Him the way they do now, that people are just going to have to get offended if need be. Hopefully they understand and will respect our wishes, but if not, tough.

So I ask you, "Have you made your will?" Especially if you have kids I STRONGLY encourage you to do this. You don't have to do anything fancy, most of us are in a fiscal position where we can have a very straightforward, simple will. I did not elect to use any of them, but there are even tools online and at office supply stores to help you out. Do it now so you are not ever in a position of regret. And let me know if you need me to be your "Marilyn".

balance

Am struggling with balance in my life right now. Having a very hard time being a good mom and a good employee and trying to take care of myself and, oh yeah, Jim would probably appreciate having a good wife. Yes I know if I just wasn't an evil working mom I wouldn't have these problems, but thanks to some debt created when I was staying home with the girls, currently that is not an option. (and I probably wasn't perfect back then, either) Blah.

Uninhibited joy

As I get old and grey, my kids get older and not quite as cute - well cute to me, but maybe not cute to other people. So, for your viewing pleasure, I give you my nephew Levi, having quite the ball in the bathtub. LOVE his laugh!!!

Another baby in the family!

No, it is not mine. :) My cousin, Clay, and his wife, Mary just had their first baby! A precious little girl named Allison Grace. They induced Mary a few weeks early due to a possible complication, but Mary and Allison are both doing fine. Yee hah!