Merry Christmas!

Doug and I are in a production of a Christmas Comedy called "Rewind" We are having a blast laughing our way through Christmas...although we don't have a video of our performance, here is a clip of the original...if you have 20 minutes...take a look. It's a great coffee break!

Merry Christmas!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4375579612346863995

Do You See What I See?

I love kid art!
Jed brought home these sun catchers from school yesterday, he said they were having fun with symmetry. He was so proud of them and told me the red one was a snowman. It was dark last night when he taped it on the window, but this morning the sun was shining...and Doug looks at me and says, "Uh, what's with the...It doesn't look so much like a snowman to me."

Update on my life

Hannah Montana was awesome, Emily loved it. And I loved watching Emily!

Emily is the lead role in the Christmas play this Friday, so we have been stressing over learning lines and going to practice three nights this week.

Doug and I are in the adult Christmas program this weekend. Doug is singing and I am directing so we have been busy at those rehearsals.

The two of us are in a Christmas comedy that will run on Christmas eve eve and on Christmas eve. It is a 30 minute play called "Christmas Rewind" So we have been at many rehearsals as well.

I won a Christmas gift on Ebay(I will not tell you what it was because my kids read my blog) and was shipped a box filled with copy paper instead. It seems that someone at UPS will be giving this awesome gift to their family instead of me...and we(the seller and I) are involved in a case with UPS. I just want my money back.

The kids are home so I have to go.

Oh, and best news yet, Wesley is officially potty trained...poop and all!

The Hannah Montana Saga

Emily, my baby girl, and I have been battling to get tickets to the hottest show in town, Hannah Montana. We joined her website in the summer to the tune of $34.95 with the promise that if HM ever came to town I would take her to the concert. When her tour was announced we received a pre-sale code because we were members of the site. The email said that those of us who were members would get first crack at the tickets. Well, Emily and I were so excited...she wanted to stay home the day of the sale but I wouldn't let her. When I logged in about 30 minutes after the sale opened I found that there were no pre-sale tickets left! I couldn't believe it, it just didn't seem right. But not to worry, I received this nice note that said if I didn't get pre-sale tickets, there would be another sale of general tickets in 3 days. So, Emily and I bravely waited, watched the clock the day of the sale and at the tick of 10am we logged in and searched for tickets, at 10:01 there were none. Em cried, I was at such a loss...when we searched ticket broker sights they seemed to have more than enough to sell me starting at $300 a pop.

Fast forward 2 weeks... Emily's best friend calls with the most exciting news, her dad got her a ticket for the concert! My baby girl sat on the phone silently weeping while she tried to be happy for her friend. It broke our hearts! She must have cried for an hour...wanting to be happy, but still saying over and over, "It's not fair!" But she picked herself up and said to me, "It's ok mom, I understand. Maybe she can buy me a T-shirt."

She's amazing...so mature, so brave, so gracious. She is amazing!

I on the other hand was so outraged at the injustice of the "presale" bologna that I joined a class action lawsuit against the concert promoters. I don't think it's right that they promise club members presale tickets only to find out that the ticket scalpers got theirs fist and had more than we did. Suing HM was an easy choice...I'm taking Billy Ray to the bank!


So, here's the great part of the story.

Yesterday, my girlfriend Tina calls. When I answer the phone she's talking to herself, "Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness."
I'm like, "What's wrong?"
Tina, "I'm still trying to digest this...Ok, Randy works with a guy who has 4 tickets to the HM concert and he wants to sell them to us at FACE VALUE!"
Me, "Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness!" LMAO! Jumping up and down! "Shut Up!"
Tina, "No, really. They have four tickets, his wife works for Disney and just got better tickets so now he wants to get rid of the ones he has!"
Me, "Shut Up!"

Emily screamed and almost fainted when we told her last night, it was awesome! We gave her a gift bag and told her it was an early Christmas present. When she pulled out the card that said, "Two tickets to the HM concert this Saturday!" She looked at me and then Doug like...is this for real? She danced around the house for 10 minutes. Half and hour after I put her to bed she came down crying..."Mom, we have to skip Grandma's party to go to the concert....I don't want her to be sad." She has a heart of gold, don't you think?

I'm hoping it's one of those memories we talk about when she's my age. She's been walking on cloud nine ever since...I can't wait to see her cry when we actually get there. I'll try to take pictures and post them this weekend!

Wes Pooped on the Potty!!!! Hallelujah!

HE DID IT!!!! After a year of potty training my youngest finally dropped the kids off at the pool! I can't believe it!!! Now let's cross our fingers and hope that he will do it again!

Shopping

Our Christmas card picture

About 14 years ago, Doug and I got married. We had a beautiful March wedding; 4 attendants, and 1 flower girl and 1 junior bridesmaid. On Friday, that junior bridesmaid got married and Emily was her junior bridesmaid...it was a full circle moment! The wedding was beautiful, we had tons of fun...and now we are all very tired.

I'm in the middle of contemplating going back to school. Contemplation has always sounded like a very passive excersise to me however, this time it is a large consuming fire in my life. It eats up my time and robs me of my energy lately.

I sat with someone on Friday and spent an hour talking about my dreams, where I felt the Lord nudging me and what my action steps were going to be. And I wonder, I wonder where do I find the courage to make the first step?

It's so easy to stay comfortable...to stay still and to just be. But where is the fulfillment in that?

As I prayed with this friend on Friday, he told me that the Holy Spirit was saying to me "Don't miss it!" I'm so afraid...afraid of missing it....afraid of finding it...afraid of wanting it...just afraid.

Don't miss it... I'm praying for the courage to look, to act, to believe.

Halloween Fun

All I can say is the older I get the more fun I have at Halloween! Carol and I dressed up and went shopping, picked up Wesley from preschool and went out for lunch. Then when the kids got home from school we put on our costumes, did the proper make-up jobs and went trick or treating until our feet hurt. Every single time Wesley walked away from a house he was yelling, "Mom, I got Candy!" After awhile he was singing the "I love Halloween" song--an original; and finally he was literally dragging his bag behind him. Today he asked if we could go again after it got dark...sadly "No" He really didn't understand.


Colin, Owen and Wesley were Bears fans. Jed a Ninja, Christian was simply scary and Alaina and Emily were Cosmic Twins...how fun!
Look closely at Em's eyelashes...aren't they cool? She kept them on all night!

BEFORE




AFTER!



Yes, I did go out shopping and for lunch dressed liked this...it was awesome! We had such a great time! I wish I could figure out how to get my phone pics on my blog because Carol was awesome! Wish you all could see her green hair.
Laura says she vowed never to dress up again until she met me. She called at 4 saying, "I have nothing to wear!" Luckily I had gone to Carol's house and had like 8 wigs on my kitchen table for her to choose from. She said she was Billy Ray...I wish I had a Hannah Montana costume!
My little Ninja "Look at all my loot mom! I got the most candy of anyone!"

A belated birthday wish to Pigpen

Last Saturday we had Pigpen's birthday party. We had so much fun painting pumpkins, opening presents, playing with Lightning McQueen and meeting our newest cousin! We made a mess, we ate like pigs and had a hard time saying good-bye. Hope you enjoy this photo journal.






The foreman paints his pumpkin. Let me tell you Christian is very elusive and I have hardly any pictures of him because he is never around, so enjoy this one. And he's smiling too!


Wesley's whole pumpkin ended up this turquoise color...and so did my patio.



Em and her creation. She was the only one who ended up with a pumpkin with a face. She promptly and proudly displayed her pumpkin outside only to have it rain and the wash all the paint off. = (



Clara's pumpkin was a nice shade of pink. She wouldn't smile for me at all!








Becky and Noah!






Finally, Uncle Dan and all the Bierma cousins. Doesn't this just make you smile?


Happy Birthday my baby, my youngest, my buddy.
Love you Wesley!

Why?

Why would I ever have to hear this sentence?

The Philosopher "Mom, my car fell into the toilet!"
The Popstar "There's poop and a car in the toilet...GROSS!"

Me, "Remind me to ask for a new pair of salad tongs for Christmas.

Mom's William Tell Overture

I've watched this 4 times this morning and by the end I'm crying and laughing so hard...it gets me every time!

OMG Why didn't I think of that!

We went to Jen and Tim's last night for dinner...had a fantastic time! The kids are all getting to an age that they can play without constant supervision which makes for a nice night for the grown-ups. The Lampen's spared no expense when it came to the wine they brought out!

1, 2, 3, 4 expensive and brilliant bottles! BRAVO!





Well, after the night was almost done Tim suggests that we make smores over the fire pit...and then in an act of shear brilliance he gets out a bag of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! What!?!?! Yes, he says, you CAN make smores with the cups!!! BRILLIANT! DIABOLICAL! INSPIRED!



Well, I never! It was amazing! I highly recommend trying this...it was truly a happy time!

Oh, fellow women if we could unite we could change the world!

Since I've graduated from college I've worked at many different places. Sometimes the organizations have chosen to pay me other times I've put in hours for free but the one thing that unites all of these experiences is that I've primarily worked with women. The women I've worked with have all been strong, smart, talented, some of them have been driven, crazy or haunted; others have been insecure or sad, unhappy or disappointed. I've learned that together we can care for each other in a way that no one else could, we could hold each other up and help each other get through hard times. I've learned that women together can solve a world of problems, we can make a community wake up and take notice, we can face any obstacle and overcome it with grace.

And when we turn on each other it can get really ugly. I've known a woman who committed crimes to get attention and was forced to leave her small children to serve her sentence, seen a woman leave her family in search of a love she could never find. I've been in friendships that I bared my soul only to have it used against me. I've had to say good-bye to a woman who first taught me how deeply connected friendships can be.

I wonder why we woman search so desperatly for relationship and connection only to feel so insecure in them when we find them. Why do we so vigorously protect ourselves from letting others see the true us? Why do we attack those we love to make ourselves feel important when we know that it will crush others? Why do we doubt the sincerity or commitment of the friends we find.

I believe that there is no one stronger in this world than a woman who is confident. Confident in herself, confident in her relationship with Christ, surrounded by other women to share her life with.

Together we can tear each other apart or together we can change the world. I wish we could learn to trust each other...only God knows what would happen then!

Rule #1 You can't go comando in IKEA

Have you ever found yourself confronted by an organization with rules that make no sense and been forced to obey against your will??? Well, that was my morning today...and I didn't go quietly!

We took a day trip to IKEA today and on the way I told Wes all about the great kid room they had there...he was very excited to try out this new "store school." We walk up to the counter and the lady behind it says, "Good morning! Does he have a diaper or pull up on?"

Yes, I answer cheerfully back...he is potty trained, but we have a diaper on him in case he has an accident.

"Well," says the lady behind the counter "If he is wearing a diaper or pull up he is not allowed in the play room. We have strict policy of no diapers -- no pull ups."

I thought this was crazy and proceeded to tell her that. Wouldn't it just make sense that you would want a child to wear a diaper or pull up if they might have an accident...wouldn't you want them to be protected...to protect the furniture and toys???

"No," she answers back..."diapers and pull ups are a santiary issue...if he has an accident in the ball pit we would rather just close the ball pit and wash all the toys...he may not be wearing a diaper if you want him to come in." Is this lady on crack?

"FINE! I say, I'll take him into the bathroom, take off his diaper and he can just go comando! I'm really getting ticked now!"

So I go and so just that...bring him back to the counter and there is a new lady there...waiting for me.

"Um, the girl that was hear heard what you were going to do and called our manager....he said that you may not bring him in here the way you were going to...he must be wearing underwear."

To which I answer back..."You mean to tell me that a thin piece of cotton between his bottom and his shorts is the only thing keeping him from entering this kid's room? Is a thin piece of cotton really going to make that big of a difference? Do you really pull open every child's pants to see if they are wearing proper underpants? Really...??This is the craziest thing I've ever heard of...I have underwear in the car...do I have to run all the way back to my car and get them now?"

"Yes mam...if you want to use this room."

"Fine" I said, "I'll just take him shopping with me." So, we start to go up the escaltor when my precious little man says, "Mommy, I want to go in there...I want to go on the slides!"

Ok then I think...don't worry..."I'M GETTING YOU IN!" No one is gonna treat my baby this way!!!

Now I have to run back to the car...have you ever been in IKEA? That place is a total maze...and it's impossible to get anywhere fast. But I do...I run to the car...of course I have no underwear in there...but I do have another pair of shorts...awesome...now he can wear these as boxers...BRILLIANT!

I run back in again, strip him down AGAIN, put two pairs of shorts on the poor guy and march him back yet again to the front desk. Now, I smell blood...if this woman doesn't let my man in I'm gonna tear her eyes out!

"Does he have proper underpants on now?"

"Oh, yes!" I answer "He has underpants on now!" Ha! If she only knew!!

He did get in and she was kind enough to give us an extra 5 minutes on our hour...big whoop!

By the time I actually got into the freakin store I was so irritated... but he did get in...don't mess with the mommy!

QOTD

Me to my children..."I want this house Auntie Carol clean...do you understand me!"

Wesley quote of the week

"Don't worry Lightning I won't put you in the toaster...you're a car."

Congratulations! Your search is over!

That's what the website said...I'm so relieved! If only I had known to this say...three months ago!
I found this ad at the bottom of Mommaoffour's website...I'm so excited....after months of trying in vain to get Wesley potty trained now I find out this is "all I need for my child's potty training and toilet access" You've got to click and look at this site...it's hilarious! So for any of you potty training moms, please don't overload my email with "thank you's" now that I've just solved your problem. = )

Want to get more organized?

Ever wanted to get more organized with your calendar? Ever wished your husband didn't use the phrase, "But you never told me about that!" Check out Cozi.com and then come back and tell me what you think.

Top Ten things I love about Fall

1. Comfy sweatshirts
2. Wearing socks
3. Sleeping with the window open and snuggling under the comforter.
4. Fire's in the fire pit
5. Holding coffee with cold hands
6. Fall decorations
7. The availability of snack size candy bars at every store
8. Football
9. Darkness at 7:30
10. The smell of pumpkin spice candles

Psalm 27:13-14

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Sometimes the wait seems so long...you forget your waiting. And even though you lose your way, God never does.

HSM II

I thought I should show you all some pics from our HSM premier party. It's taken a long time for me to get these on the blog because I have this new photo program that seems to hide my pictures from me...and I can't find them...I know they are there but I can't seem to locate them...kind of what it's like when I'm looking for my keys and cell phone...or when I find one of Wesley's shoes but not the other one or when a recipe calls for an ingredient you know you have who knows where it is...because even though it should be in your spice cabinet...it's not!







We had a great time on the red carpet. The girls all struck a pose to get their pictures taken...aren't they cute? The inside of our house was covered in streamers and the floor was covered in red, white and black balloons. We pigged out on pizza, M&M's, twizzlers, double stuffed oreos and lots and lots of popcorn! The girls couldn't believe I let them have all that junk food but I wanted to be sure to make their first sleepover a good one...and what's a sleepover with out Oreo's? The movie was kind of a bust...but they liked it. And now I find myself singing, "You are the music in me" all the time...ahhh the life of a mom.

First Day of School

I now have one in fifth grader, a third grader and a kindergartener! I followed the bus to school that first day so that I could walk Jed into his classroom. He didn't really see the need for that because when he got off the bus and I greeted him he said, "Why are you here...I already know where my class is!" And then on Friday when Doug picked up the kids from school for a surprise Jed walks out of school looks at Doug and says "Hi dad! Bye Dad!" The proceeds to get on the bus...Doug of course says "Hey bud, you can come home with me." Jed looks like he's gonna cry as he tells Doug, "But Mrs. S said I have to get on the bus!"

Well, since school has started Christian has been home a day and a half and Jed has been home a day because they are running fevers. Um...hello...y'all need to go to school!




I know Christian looks homeless here...but I guess it's his amazing fashion sense that put this outfit together...in his defense he made the shirt he's wearing to celebrate his New York report...I guess that is a good reason to wear it?? For those of you that have all girls...boys this age acquire an enormous ratty T-shirt collection and they love every last one of them. I'd give my eye teeth to dress him like a prep...but I also don't want him to get beat up on the playground...anyway....just be grateful for stuff like bows, pink camo and little girls who want to wear skirts everyday!!!




See ya later bud...I'll miss ya! Love you!

Rainy Days and Mondays...

I'm beginning to hate the sound of the rain...our basement has gotten water at least three times this year. It's been a huge mystery because there are no cracks in our foundation and the sump pump is working without fail...so last Thursday when it looked like Armageddon and the tornado sirens were going off we were down in the basement waiting for the water to start filling the basement floor. And there it was...coming over the top of the bump out and running down the walls.

We talked this over with Dave D and he said that it's possible that the step at the kitchen door had come away from the house and that the water was getting trapped and was coming in from there. So he cement caulked it and now we are crossing our fingers hoping that did the trick. I'm a bit of a skeptic just because fixes usually don't come that cheap or easy...but we'll see. I'm hoping but not hopeful...now we just need to wait for rain.

On another note...the kids have been in school for a total of 3 1/2 days and today the office already called and told me I needed to come pick up Christian because he wasn't feeling well...this better NOT be a pattern!!!!

Well...Happy Monday to all...

Big Shout Out to Dave!

This is a shout out to Dave D. for volunteering to fix our water issues in the basement and for making my laundry room look like a real functioning room! Thanks so much Dave! Thanks!

Welcome Noah!

Via C-section baby Noah has arrived and entered the biermaclan. Congratulations to Dan & Becky & Clara. He was 9lbs 7ozs and was 23 1/2 inches long! Becky posted this info on facebook, so I think I'm safe letting you all know!

We do think it ironic that Noah arrived on the morning of the worst flooding here in the past 20 years! = )

Is it wrong?

To love movies like Waterboy, Ricky Bobby, Scary Movie and American Pie?
To really enjoy a glass of two buck chuck on a Sunday evening?
To count the days until school starts?
To not only crave french fries but to go out and buy them?
To ignore the dishes and hope someone else sees them?
To love driving a mini-van?
To relish the return of big earrings and wide belts?
To to cry when Troy and Gabriella got back together?
To be jealous of another woman's butt?
To tell your two year old to just go in his diaper?
To buy a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee when there is a full pot at home?
To check your email more than once a day?

I took all your advice...

After Jen's comment I took off my name, address and phone number...after Jana's comment I took off everybody else's last names...although what I'm saying is completly my opinion and I don't think I'm slandering anyone??? But I'll take your advice everybody...I'm starting to cool off can you tell?

Which is sweeter?

I love summer! I love hot weather, the pool, relaxing for hours, spending time with friends, sleeping in, corn on the cob, popscicles and fireworks. BUT there is always a moment in time when in the blink of an eye I NEED summer to end. At that point I start dreaming of cooler temps, quiet time, clean floors, schedules, bedtimes and camp fires. So my question to you all is which is sweeter...the beginning of June or the end of August?

I HATE DUTCH CR'S WHO FEEL THEY ARE BETTER THAN ME...HERE'S A PIECE OF MY MIND!

To: The Southwest Transportation Committee
From: Doug & Christine
CC: Jack, Bob, Terry, Jane
Date: August 9, 2007

We are writing to express our disappointment and concern over the New Life, New Lenox bus route. It is our understanding that this year the bus route has been redesigned to include two bus routes in order to conserve gasoline and cut costs. The consequence of that decision is that our children have to get on the bus 25 minutes earlier than last year and off the bus 30 minutes later than last year. The actual times are on at 7:05 and off at 4:36; that is a 9 ½ hour day for my 5, 8 and 10 year old children. This consequence, in our opinion, is too high. It has been presented to other concerned parents that this long day is because of our choice to live outside of the boundaries but we believe this consequence our children have to make is because of your decision to combine the bus routes because of the monetary bottom line without considering the individual students it effects.

The individual students include JB and AE who are 5 years old and entering full day kindergarten which alone will be a big adjustment, JM a 6 year old who is entering first grade, EB and OE who are 8 years old entering third grade and CB, CE and JM who are 10 years old, entering fifth grade. It concerns us that the committee finds it appropriate to have these children travel for more than an hour on the bus both in the morning and in the evening.

In the winter, these children will be getting on the bus in the dark and off the bus in the dark. They will have to go hours without eating, have severely limited time to do homework or any other outside activities that would encourage their personal growth. Their daily schedule will consist of getting up at 6 am traveling on the bus for over an hour, spending 6 hours in school, traveling on the bus for over an hour again in the evening, getting off the bus close to 5pm, eating dinner and going to bed at 7:15pm in order for them to be well rested enough to learn the next day at school. We believe that this schedule will negatively impact their learning ability and severely impact their ability to get enough sleep, time to be with their families or time to be a child.

We urge you to reconsider your decision to combine the bus routes, not for our personal comfort but for the sake of the students. We urge you to reconsider the boundaries that exclude our families. We understand that the bottom line needs to be considered but we also believe that the school has a responsibility to consider the learning environment it is creating both on campus and through the buses it provides.

Concerned Parents,
Doug and Christine

Christian's 10 year birthday trip

Many years ago my oldest son was complaining about never flying on an airplane. We explained to him that because he was from such a large family chances were that we'd never take a plane on vacation because of cost. I came up with a brilliant plan that when the children turned 10 years old Doug and I would take them on their very own trip and they could choose the location.

Well, in the blink of an eye Christian turned 10! I can't believe how fast it happened and he never forgot that promise I had made him. So, he chose to go to New York and more specifically Niagara Falls. Part of the deal was he had to do a report on the location and explain to us why he wanted to visit that state. He did a bang up report and I made the reservations.

We had such a good time with him last weekend. It's not often that we get to spend so much quantity and quality time with just one of the children. It was strange because it seemed that he got younger and more innocent when we took the responsibility of being "oldest" off his shoulders.

We did all the typical things the Maid of the Mist(a boat ride straight to the center of the hose shoe falls), "Journey behind the falls"(traveling through tunnels that actually take you straight behind the falls...it's amazing!), touring the American Falls(my personal favorite) and many other "junk" touristy stuff.

The maid of the mist boat ride was probably my favorite "ride". As you enter the building they give everyone a yellow rain poncho...and you wonder, "will I really need this?" As you get closer to the falls themselves and enter the mist cloud it feels as if you are standing in the middle of a downpour. The water comes at you from all directions. It is amazing!






When you are on the maid of the mist this rainbow follows you all the way into and out of the falls. It's really cool... whenever you look toward the bridge...there it is.

This is the rainbow bridge into the United States. The line of cars never gets shorter all day long.

These are just a few pictures because my digital camera died and I haven't developed my old fashioned film yet.

It's Wednesday...I'd be wrong not to serve coffee!

In honor of my Wednesday morning coffee club I thought I'd give you all the opportunity to get free coffee! Hope you enjoy it!

Coffee is a Vitamin Not a Drug!

My new blogging friend will make you laugh

...and most certainly blush but I promise you'll laugh. Laugh like you do at movies like "Ricky Bobby" or "Dodgeball" or "40 year old Virgin" I love those kind of laughs. It's not wholesome, she doesn't talk about laundry, potty training or have cute antidotes...so beware! Click here if you want to share in her crazy job! Her blog is called Miss Sarcastic.

Keep up the good work Heidi. Survival is the name of the game in customer service...I'm glad you can keep your sense of humor.

So if you do stop by say "hi" and tell her I sent ya!

Indescribable!

I had the privilege of leading worship this week at our church. As I was praying I asked God to shock us today, to stop us in our tracks and show us his indescribable beauty and power. We have three services at our church so even though I don't read off of a script I pretty much say the same thing each service ...I prayed this prayer in full worship three times.

On the weekends I lead worship I always come home completely exhausted. I've never run a marathon but I think that what I feel after a weekend is similar to what a runner must feel. Exhausted from giving every part of yourself to something you love!

I slept most of the afternoon away sinking into the kind of sleep that is so deep and so relaxing you have to climb out of it....does anyone know what I mean?

Anyhow, I went out around 8:15 to pick up a sandwich for Doug and I to have for dinner as I drove home I was stunned by the view I saw as I came around the corner. An orange moon so large it filled the entire sky, it was Indescribable! I uttered somewhat speechless a feeble thank you to God as I continued to drive and searched in vain for another glimpse of this amazing moon. No matter where I looked the moon had disappeared from my view...completely. No matter where I went or where I looked I couldn't find this gigantic moon. At that point I started laughing...and laughing...and laughing so hard I had tears coming down my face.

"Lord", I thought, "You've shocked me!" "How awesome!"

I'm still laughing... God rocks! Serving God is great...hearing form God is even better!



Who imagined the sun and gives source to it's light, yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night? None can fathom! Indescribable, uncontainable you placed the stats in sky and you know them by name...you are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim you are amazing God!

My famous husband featured in Chicago Parent Magazine

Take a look see at what Doug's been up to...he said that a child psychologist called and said he saw Doug's article in Chicago Parent Magazine and would he please see a couple of children that needed to be seen...how cool is that? I'm so proud of him!

It's so pathetic but I love to play on...

Webkinz! Emily got one of these stuffed animals that comes with a special code for internet access. When I was telling my mom to get her one I couldn't figure out what the appeal was...but after a day on the website I'm totally hooked. How pathetic! The whole gist of the site is that you play games for Kinzcash and then you get to go the the W store and spend it on things like virtual clothes, furniture, decorating, food, vehicles...and this store has it all. There are 17 different types of beds to choose from an assortment of clothes and every hour they have different sales...can you believe this? Emily has been whinning that she hasn't gotten to play because I'm hogging it all...but what does she know? I think I need my own...that's what she's been telling me. How sad!