Ahhhh...the sound of nothing

So I am in Tampa. We are staying at a really nice Marriott Hotel this is thanks due to two people. Jared's work and his mom. His work has paid for his entire trip, you just can't beat that, and his mom is letting us use her Marriott Rewards Points. (the bank will be paying her back not us) Now I have never really traveled with Reward Points and I have to say these are the greatest. I want to sign up to be a member because this is the way to travel. These points have put the title "Gold" in front of Jared's name. This simple word is worth it weight in gold. Because of this lovely title I am sitting in a peacefully quite room drinking Starbucks coffee and blogging. I had a delightful breakfast of fruit and chocolate stuffed crescents...yummy. This lounge also has two flat screen TVs and free access to the Internet. This is heaven. There are no children crawling on me, no verbal arguing and most importantly no snow! My agenda for the day is going to be reading by the pool and eating sushi for lunch...does it get much better? Check back later when I have time to load some pictures from this trip and pictures of this hotel. If your on Facebook, just look at my Mobile downloads. I have 3 pictures posted.

Have a great day...and enjoy the quiet! :)

T.G.I.F.

So I am what you would call a procrastinator. I pretty much have been my whole life. I seem to work best under pressure and late at night. Tonight is a perfect example. It is 12:44 am and I have a plane to catch at 5:45 am. Yep that is right, even if I go to bed right this minute I will only get 3 hours of sleep. Anyway you look at this, it is not good. If we are being real honest, I am not even done packing, and yet I am finding the need to type on this blog instead of finishing up for my trip. Yes that is a procrastinator. It is funny, I am waiting on the dryer so I can finish up with my clothes. Tonight I have cleaned this house like the top of the Chrysler Building. I have done this for 3 reasons. 1. I don't want to return to a mess. 2. I don't want my in-laws coming here to sleep and thinking I don't keep a clean house. & 3. I want my in-laws to leave it the way they found it. What really cracks me up is the fact that my house has looked like a bomb for a couple of weeks now and I choice the 11th hour before a trip to clean it. I guess deep down I know I have 3 hours left so I don't quite feel pressure yet. Now that fact that I am typing away would send my mother over the edge. You see, she would have packed 2 weeks ago.

So I am off to sunny Florida for a quick trip with Jared. I am pretty sure I will be sleeping on the plane and not reading, but that is OK, because I have 4 whole days of peace and quite! And just for the record, Jared is still up too. He is watching some game that went into overtime. I am pretty sure he is not done packing either. You know what they say, "birds of a feather flock together." I guess we are truly meant for each other!

See you in a few days,

Old man winter.

So yesterday it was a rainy Wednesday and today it is a snowy Thursday. The snow is definitely prettier than the rain, but I would much rather be blogging about the sun. I wish my predicament for the day was should I wear my black shorts or navy ones. Since it is not I guess I will just have to focus on what shorts to pack for my trip.

Yes you read correctly, I am heading to the sunny south in just 2 days. Jared is taking a CPE class and I am tagging along for a little R & R. This will be our first time away without kids since Gia was born. This is almost 2 years. The thought of me the beach/pool & the Twilight Series book is so exciting I can barely stand it. But getting to Saturday is going to be the rough part. The laundry is piled up and the house is a pit. I can't have my in-laws staying here while the house looks like a tornado just hit. I am waiting on the dryer as I type and the tornado is going to have to wait until the kids go to bed tonight.

Since 7:45 am I have done 4 loads of laundry, taken and pick up a Preschooler. Mopped the floor, vacuumed, cleaned the refrigerator out, been to the grocery and put dinner into a crock pot. I still need a shower and must be ready for a school conference by 4:45 pm. In between all of that, I have changed 3 diapers, one dog mess (he got into the trash, thus the mopping and vacuuming), made breakfast & lunch ( dinner too since it is in the crock pot), and attempted to shovel the driveway. I gave up on that last one, because as I type it is still falling from the sky. I still would love to walk on the treadmill and take a nap. I am very doubtful that those two things will happen. This is a life of a stay @ home mom. Exciting...right? At least I have FL...that is if our plane is able to take off @5:45 am on Saturday. 6 more inches are in the forecast for Friday pm. Gotta love the Midwest.

Rainy Days and Wednesdays Always Make Me...

I know the song is Mondays always make me blue, but today is a rainy, rainy Wednesday so I thought I would go with it. So when is spring going to be here?

Love is in the air

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Love is in the air, and I will be working down at the restaurant tonight while all the lovey dovey's come in for a romantic pizza dinner. :) I am not big on PDA so this might be a rough night for me.

Valentine's came a day early in our house. Jared and I enjoy a nice dinner out and then went to Walmart to buy stuff for the kids. His parents kept them for an over nighter. We shopped and then came home to watch a movie. A nice quiet evening. The best part was no kids at 7 am saying they were hungry. I love sleeping in!!!

Today I am off to buy swim suits for the girls for spring break. It crazy to me that if you do not buy these before March 1st they will be gone when we need them. Spring Break is starting to seem that it is within reach. 6 weeks away...that's it... So close, yet so far.

Tomorrow Gabby has a swim meet. I am excited for her. This is the first meet that she will only be up against girls her own age. Usually she is swimming against girls 8 or 9. I think this is her chance to shine.

I will be sure to post pictures tomorrow. So make sure you stop by again.

One of a kind.

I have always wanted a job were I can give my opinion and make tons of money. I would make a great Robin (Howard Stern) or Kelly (Regis and Kelly). These people are paid to say what they think. So here is what I think, minus the big paycheck...

Let me start off by saying, I do not have the answers, nor do I pretend to have the answers, and my facts may not be 100% accurate, but this is America and I am entitled to my opinion. And if you don't like my opinion then you are more than welcome to stop reading my blog and leave.

As a side note, I do want to add that I love the fact that he is young, and a father. And I think it is awesome that we finally have voted for an African American.

All that being said, based on the election roughly 40% of Americans do not think Obama should have been elected. Now I get it, he won fair and square because about 60% of you thought he should have been elected. Why I am not sure. Oh ya because you wanted CHANGE. CHANGE...Hummm...

What to start with....I could write for days about my angry over government but I will try to not do that and stick with a few things that are really bothering me a the moment.

Come on people, a road trip to Elkhart Indiana? Are you kidding me, is that really necessary? Oh I hear ya, I hear ya...15% unemployment and counting, but him coming here completely crazy. Here is a great idea, let's find a city that is down and out and struggling and take a really expense road trip to speak about all the great things we are planning on doing. Even better lets take a city that has cut it's budgets so much so that roads weren't getting plowed because the money isn't their to buy sand, salt, gas, and pay the drivers. (The roads this winter have been a sloppy dirty unpaved mess) It is amazing how the money was scrapped up pay all the extra security and police so President Obama could be protected.

I just so happened to be out on Monday...I was trying to put money back into the economy by shopping at the local mall. I had to pick Bella up from school first and then off to shop for my trip that Jared and I are taking next week. What a horrible mistake shopping turned out to be. Almost half of the streets in Dunlap were shut down. The kids and I sat for a total of 2 hours coming and going. All because I needed to get a cross the rail road tracks. Apparently the presidents needs 5 lanes of road and a by-pass to drive on. Which brings me to my next comment. The amount of local money spent on vehicles to escorts him is was unnecessary. Does no one else find that ironic? We are in a finical crisis and yet we were able to find the money for him to make a road trip to speak about the lack of it.

Now don't get me wrong, was it cool to say the president of the United States was at my former high school? Yes. Yes it was pretty cool and historical, but what a complete waste of money. That speech could have been given from the White House ( oh wait it was, a few hours later practically the same speech was given) and in the mean time a lot of money could have been saved.

Which brings me to my next point...Does anyone else seem to remember that the biggest difference between voting Republican and Democrat was suppose to be the War on Iraq? I believe if you were in favor of this war ending Obama was your man. Remember that word CHANGE? It was going to be coming. Starting with the war was ending. Hummm has anyone even heard the mention of the war lately? That is what I thought. It is because the new commander in chief is to busy spending money making speeches about how he is going to fix everything. People are listening, that's for sure. But, seriously who isn't intrigued by a man that actually knows a thing or two about public speaking.

So if you haven't figured it out, I voted for McCain. Honestly, I am not sure he was the best man for the job either, but in my opinion his experience and ability to vote outside his own party lines telling you he was really going to do what was in America's best interest. I mainly voted for him because I am not a believer in abortion and frankly Obamas health care plan scares the crap out of me. Many of you voted for Obama because you feel like you are middle class and he has your best interest in mind, well I hate to tell you that in his plan you are not middle class, your considered upper class. I know this, because I fall in this category. I am middle class. I have a nice home and cars. I can put food on my table and clothes on my kids. Obama isn't going to help me. If anything he is going to hurt me. The rich will always have there money and can afford to buy what they need, and the poor well they get lot of outside help. Free and Reduce this and that. But middle class, we get nothing, for just that reason. This topic alone makes my blood pressure rise. I could write pages and pages on it, but I will refrain because I can feel my temperature rising already.

Don't get me wrong, it was time for Bush to go, he made some costly mistakes and he was a horrible public speaker. I firmly agree with that, however, I am going to point out he was popular until 9/11. After 9/11 any agenda Bush wanted to try to do never got considered. The USA's problems were bound to happen. They just were. The bubble can only get so big before it burst.

So that is were I stand...confused...it's OK I am too. I hope Obama does great things and I can eat crow, but in the mean time I am going to sit back and watch all of you who think this CHANGE is coming getting angry and pissed off that it doesn't. It is just the facts of life you can never make all of the people happy all of the time.

Thanks for reading and come back soon...I have a feeling I will have a lot to say about the next 4 years!

Time Flys

Well my friends, it has been a few days since I have given my two cents and frankly I have missed it. I have come to enjoy my nightly blogging. My dad told me that if I have time to blog, I must have to much free time. Nothing could be further from the truth than that. Maybe he isn't aware that I am blogging after 11pm on most evening. I must admit, I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, but I find it way to amusing to say what is on my mind. It is great, I get the first, last and only words in. I don't even have to worry about offending anyone, because if they don't like what they are reading, they don't have to read it. It is a perfect soap box!

I really have a lot that I want to say about President Obama coming to good old Elkhart on Monday, but I am going to save it for tomorrow because I have quite a bit to get off my chest and it is way to late for politics tonight. See dad, I really don't have enough free time, it is 12:20 am and I am just now finding the time to check my email and facebook accounts.

On the home front...the kids are finally feeling better. Still fully medicated, but up and around. Today it was 50 degrees and sunny. Bella danced around in the yard in a skirt without tights and a jacket. She kept saying summer is here and I don't have the heart to tell her old man winter is just on vacation for a few days. I must say it did feel so wonderful to breathe that warmer air in. I even open a few windows for a little while this afternoon. It was just a little teaser thought, I hear the snow will be back by the weekend. Maybe this time it won't be so cold that you can't be outside and play in it. It is actually kind of sad that we had all that snow and my kids didn't get to sled once. It was never warm enough to be out for more than 10 minutes. When you have to wear a coat, hats, gloves, boots and a scarf just to walk to the mailbox you know it is cold. When your coat is already making crunchy noises before you get to the mailbox you know that isn't above zero. Let's pray those harsh winter days are over and that today was a little taste of what is to come. I guess that is a perk for living in this crummy environment. The perk being seasons. Winter makes spring and summer that much better I guess.

Come back soon grab a cup of coffee and plan to stay awhile because next up is my views on the good old president and his trip to Elkhart. See you soon !

Another One Bites The Dust.

Gabby Lost a tooth tonight! It is the bottom right one. It is about time. That mouth of hers is pretty crowded. We have been waiting for over a year for her front right tooth to come in. Actually her mouth is a dentist's nightmare, or maybe a dream come true. Either way a lot of money will be invested in that mouth of hers.

I guess she will take after me in that area. My dad used to drive by my orthodontist house and say things like...Oh, I see he's got a new deck, hummmm could that be thanks to us. I had braces in 4th grade and wore them until 9th. This was very uncommon back in the 80's. I then had retainers until college. I guess you could say I had bad teeth. I can still feel the holes in the roof of my mouth from where teeth had to be removed.

So the tooth fairy is coming tonight, I sure hope he has some spare money laying around. What is the going rate for a tooth these days? Jared and I can't decide. I think we are going with $2.00, but that seems awful high to me. I guess it did bleed a lot more than I remember teeth bleeding, so maybe it is worth $2.00.

This is just another sign that I am getting older. I am gripping about $2.00 for a tooth, just told a story about back in the day and I am about to complain about the future. What will the exactly will the going rate be in another 5 years when Gia is hiding teeth under her pillow for the tooth fairy? It scares me to even think.

60 seconds

Have you ever thought how your life could change in just 60 seconds? I haven't either. Well that was until this afternoon. . .

I was running about 10 minutes late from my haircut today when I called my neighbor to see if Bella had been dropped off from school. Carla said told me she was sitting in my driving way waiting with Matthew's dad. I explained how I was 5 minutes away and would she mind watching Bella.

To speed this story up, Gia had fallen asleep in the car on the way home. I left the car running in the driveway with the heat on so I could go in a get Bella. I haven't seen Carla in a week or so, so we were talking. I was standing at the front door with the storm door opened checking on Gia every 60 seconds or so. In the mean time Bella and Carla's daughter went out to play in the snow on the front lawn. While I was talking Bella decided to open the door and get in the car. The only problem, she locked it and then got out. A few minutes later as I go to leave, only to discover my baby is locked in a running car. My stomach dropped to the ground. I wanted to scream and cry all at the same time. When I looked at Bella she immediately started to cry, telling me all I needed to know.

What's a mom to do? To complicate the story, I was driving my mother-in-laws car because mine has a dead battery in my garage at the moment. The logical thing was to drive the 5 minutes to their house to get the spare key. Carla's husband happened to be home for lunch and drove me over while Carla stayed out with the car and the girls. Moving ahead, after arrive at my in-laws, I looking through their entire kitchen. I had this bad feeling. I just knew the key wasn't going to be there. After a few phone calls, I discovered that the spare was being used by me! It was what was locked in the car. This would be a perfect time to have On-Star, that is for sure! At the same moment I was about to have my mental breakdown, my phone rings. It is Carla calling with what has to be the greatest news I have ever heard. "Courtney, I have Gia, we are sitting inside the house" What? How? HUH?

I have discovered there are something that just can't be explain. Today was one of those things. Carla was outside and talking to Gia thur the windows. When she noticed the one lock in the back happened to look unlocked. She tried it, and sure enough, she was in and Gia was out.

Things happen for a reason. God graced me today. This was truly an act from God. My guardian angels were looking out for Gia and me today.

60 seconds, that is all it took. We were lucky today. Very lucky. Thank God for that!

Kiss you children goodnight, and hug them a little longer, I know that is what I did.

Antibiotic of choice

So my baby girl is sick again. Ear infection and bronchitis. Gabby came home today and was so upset to learn that Gia was put on another antibiotic. When I told her that the Dr also wanted her to do nebulizer treatments she said I will help. That is my first born for you, so sweet and tender hearted. She held Gia for the whole treatment and talked to her ever so sweetly. "Gia" she said. "Gabby understand". It brought tears to my eyes. You see Gabby has asthma and has really had a rough winter. She is on her 5th round of antibiotics to clear a nasty sinus infection up. These sinuses are giving her asthma fits. Today was the 1st time in 8 days I didn't notice Gabby coughing after school. This is a blessing. She could be on the upward swing, we can only hope. Now let's give sissy #2 a little praise...don't get me wrong Bella is also a great helper, but usually only on her terms. However, today was Bella's moment to help out. She was so great with Gia in the doctors office and before her nap at home. Singing lullaby's off my ipod while snuggling under a warm cozy blanket. What a great feeling for Gia to know that she has the love and support from two wonderful big sister's and a mom and dad. Oh and for the record, the antibiotic of choice this time around is amoxicillin. Bella is the only one not currently taking anything. Let's pray it stays that way, because she truly makes a better doctor than patient.

A mother's love.

A face only a mother could love. This seems to be the look that I receive 89.9% of the time from my two oldest children. (I think the baby would give this look if she knew how to make her face work like that. She uses the word NO instead. It right now is the only word that she can say clearly. ) Wait that's not true, she says mama, cold, hungry and NO.

What exactly does this look mean? Seriously, I am so over it! I mean really over it! This mom needs a vacation or a stiff drink. Or even better, both! :) Don't worry I went for a carmel coffee instead, and the vacation well that is coming on Feb. 21st. January has been a tiresome month for me. Between the 3 children I have been to a doctor of some type each week since Christmas. Since the start of 2009 all three of my children have been on an antibiotic at least once. Gabby is actually on her 5th round. And yes you read that correct, 5th!

So the more I think about this, maybe the "look" isn't being directed to me, but the month of January. Or better yet the weather gods. Okay kids, I get it, you see all this wonderful, fun looking snow and we haven't been out to play in it yet. I am not even sure Gia know that you can play in it. What's a mom to do when the average temp has only been about 15 degrees?! Maybe the month of February is going to be our month! Although we are not off to the greatest start seeming since today was only day #2 and I had to take Gabby for an appointment this morning. And honestly, day #3 isn't looking to promising considering Gia has been coughing for 4 full days now. Well at least February is a short month.

Happy Ground Hog Day...I hear that darn thing saw his shadow which I believes means 6 more weeks of you guessed it winter!!! Well it least Mr. Groundhogs mother still loves him even though she is probably way over it too !

Friends for Life?

Tonight Jared & I went to a Birthday/Superbowl Party for an old Friend of his from elementary school. As I watched the people there I began to think how do we pick a friend for life? Are the friends my children have now going to be the ones they have in 20 years? Friends are the greatest. At times they are your family. I consider myself lucky. I have three really great friend from Jr. High School, and another one that is practically an adopted family member. She is actually my sister's best friend, but I am borrowing her now that she has moved back to Goshen. I also have some super awesome friends from college. I hardly ever seem them or talk to them, but when we do find the time to catch up it is as though no time has passed. These are my inner circle, I can tell them anything and never worry about be judged. It is a great feeling to have.


Baby Gia and her best friend Lily. They are 2 weeks apart in age. Lily's mom is like a sister to me. Are these 2 girls destined to be the best of friends because there moms are?



Since moving on to Cambridge Drive, I have met some amazing women. I often wonder if we would have been friends when we were small and if so would our friendship survived this many years. In a way they have become my new girlfriends. Jennifer was the first one I remember meeting. She lives straight across the street from me. She has a smile and laugh that is so contagious. Carla is my next door neighbor to the left. She is who I remember meeting next. She is so friendly and nice. I can't imagine not having them in my life. They are the friends who see me in my PJ's and hear me yelling at my kids. They are who I call when I am angry with my hubby or mad at the mailman. I love my neighbors. I have many more: Leah, Janilyn, Ellen, Leigh, Betty Jean, Sara and newbie Lori. It is a great place to live.


It was fun watching Jared and his friend party to tonight. It reminded me how important friends are. I can only hope my children will be as fortunate as Jared & I have been when it comes to friendships.