Question of the day

Today The Daughter looked at me and said,

"Is God okay mommy?"

"Yes baby, I'm sure He's fine, why?"

"Because I think I heard Him crying."

"Maybe He was really happy about something and was crying because He was so happy."

"No mommy, God only cries when He's sad."

...and off she went to play with her dollhouse.

Oh how I love the innocence of a child...

The new vinyl

I'm addicted to those new vinyl lettering systems for your walls at home. I've ordered them for my living room and Jo-Jo's and The Daughter's rooms. Bet you can't guess which one goes in which room...







Go ahead and try to guess...

A treat for mom too

So many fellow bloggers are hosting auctions right on their blogs with the proceeds going to the Nie Nie Fund. Isn't that awesome? I bid and won this sign on a great blog called Naming a blog is hard hosted by the wonderful and friendly Amanda.



Of course mine won't say Boyle Family, LOL. She is having it personalized just for me! Isn't it great? Now I have to figure out where to hang it...

Thank you Amanda!!

More goodies for The Daughter

I recently completed my first Alchemy on Etsy. What is an alchemy?? Good question! It is where a non-crafty person, such as myself, can post ideas on a project they want done and the creatively cool people of Etsy can bid on your project. I was looking for hair clippies with crystal accents and toppers. We are trying to grow out the daughter's bangs and these things are invaluable for that!! So I got a great bid from PinkTigersDen

Here are the clippies she made...isn't she talented!



The daughter was so excited when she saw this picture. Thank you so much N!!

Isn't this gorgeous??

As you know I've been following the story of a wonderful couple in Arizona who were involved in a terrible plane crash in August, the Nielson's. The absolutely WONDERFUL, TALENTED, and AMAZING bloggers who check out the NieNie Recovery blog have donated deliciously gorgeous crafty items to be sold on Etsy, hosted by a woman I admire, Morgan Moore. So on Tuesday I logged on promptly at 12PM my time (10AM Pacific Time) and waited patiently for the sale to begin. All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS the sale was online! If this had been a store I picture hundreds of women standing in front of a shelf all grabbing and diving for the same items. YIKES!

I was lucky enough to snap up this stunning bracelet…made by the talented Chris Worthy. I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival!!



As usual I am a day late and a dollar short because there is only one day left for the sale! Monday, September 29th at 7PM Pacific Time (9PM CST) is the last day to shop. I’ll be there trying to buy, but if you aren’t quick with the refresh button and getting items into your cart and paid for – well, you’re just out of luck for this sale. No worries though, there are always other places you can donate or pick-up a little something with the money benefitting the Nie Nie Fund. In a matter of fact, just search Nie Nie on Etsy and you will find a lot of brilliant sellers with great crafty items for sale with some or all of the proceeds going to the Nie Nie Fund! Happy shopping!

Bummed out

Right now I should be heading off to work...but for the second time this week, fourth time this month, I've been cancelled. Low census is what they call it. Too many nurses, not enough patients. I love my job so much and can only schedule myself for 2 nights a week that being cancelled really bums me out. I know there are worst things in life, and I'm thankful I won't have to sleep part of tommorrow away, but I miss the patients and I miss the babies. I've met so many amazing and brave women in my job, and I love that I am allowed to be a part of their lives at such an amazing time.

Sorry - I just had a vent a bit. Now back to my regularly scheduled blog!

Woof Woof

So last night I was blogging about another mom memory and the dogs suddenly start barking. I quickly shush them as Bubba is sleeping in the next room over. I look and see both dogs are sleeping at my feet. Whoa! Scary. Then I realize the barking sound is Bubba COUGHING! AHHH!!! I run into his room and he is still fast asleep...and breathing just fine. Weird. I know you all are thinking IT'S CROUP, but it just happened the one time last night and about a week ago when I was working nights my hubby heard it too. Otherwise Bubba has been healthy. No cold symptoms, no fever...nothing. I'm waiting to hear from the pediatrician now...



He did finally finish cutting both his top teeth...so now he has four perfect little shiny white teeth...two on top and two on the bottom.

When I grow up...

I want to be a firefighter...



or a food taster...



and my sister will be a ballerina...

Yay! The pictures are in!!

Check out my sweeties!









I had to buy this one too. It will come as a framed 20X16 canvas print...

This...this I like....

Since joining the wonderful world of blogging, I've wondered where I fit in. I read blogs of all natures...mommy blogs, creative blogs, food blogs...heck...I was even reading a blog about how to do The Daughter's hair! It's wonderful. Today I found this quote, and you know what...it's perfect for me...


"I am a part of all I have read"
By John Kieran

Don't you just have to agree???

Heaven

My Jo-Jo has been asking a lot of questions about my mom lately. He mostly wants to know why she had to go to heaven and what heaven is...and of course if she can see him. I welcome this curiosity. My kids never got the pleasure of meeting the wonderful, dynamic woman who raised me.



Heaven (hěv'ən)

• The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation.
• An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss.

Definition of L O V E

Have you ever taken a moment to find a definition of what the word LOVE really means?? Here are a few of my favorite definitions from Wikipedia (my favorite website)...

1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2. the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.

3. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.

4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

My definition of love...
The feeling I get each time I look into my children's eyes, hear them tell a story or ask me an important question, like "Why is the sky blue" or "Why did your mommy have to go to heaven?" or the visceral reaction I feel when I peek in on them sleeping soundly in their beds. Love just is.

The five things that help me WAKE UP in the morning...

1.



2.


3.



4.



5.



Isn't life sometimes more perfect than you ever thought it could be???

Christmas is just around the corner...

Okay -- this is my first memory story.

It was the end of summer and my sister and I were ready for school to start and the monotony of summer to end. We were pestering my poor mom nonstop about everything and anything we could think of. When we asked her when Christmas was coming she told us it was just around the corner. Our faces broke into huge grins and suddenly we had a mission!! We jumped on our totally cool banana seated bikes and took off down the block ready to turn the corner and see Christmas waiting for us. We hit the first corner on our block and....NOTHING! Huh?? What?? Oh wait! Mom must have meant the OTHER corner!! We turn around and pedal madly down the block to the other corner. With bated breath and red sweaty faces we turn the corner and find.....no Christmas. Not one Christmas tree in sight, no Santa Claus lawn ornaments and not one tiny snowflake. We rode home dejected and angry with our mom for fibbing to us. When we told her our story she burst out laughing. She hadn't realized we would take her quite so literally. That's what I loved most about my mom...her ability to make even the most boring, long and hot day in August exciting without even trying....

Psssst...

Forgot to add that the picture taking experience went well! All kids cooperated and there were no tears. Only problems I encountered was trying to choose which pictures to buy AND that The Daughter starting feeling slightly miserable while we were there. I can't wait to get them and show my babies off! I opted in for them to email me ALL the pictures so I can post them before we physically get them. YAY!

Autumn = Good Memories

I'm excited that autumn is upon us. There is nothing I love more than the smell of fresh falling leaves on a cool crisp morning...the beauty of the trees changing to beautiful hues of yellow, orange and brown and finally losing their leaves preparing for the long Wisconsin winter.

With autumn I often find myself doing a lot more self-reflection. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my mom. For those of you who don't know she passed away on February 14, 1999. Her birthday is in October and I always longed for an October baby, but my mom, knowing I shouldn't always get my way, gave me a beautiful baby born on the same day as the great man I call Dad.

I think over the next few weeks I'm going to post good memories about my mom. Memories I would like to share with those of you who never got to meet her.

Her birthday is October 27th. She would have been 58 this year (and would've SHOT me for telling you that!!)

I look forward to talking more about my mom and letting you get a peek at what a great woman she was. Stay tuned!!

Off to Target we go!!

I'm excited. Tomorrow we get to take the kids for portraits at Target! I haven't had them all done together since Bubba was born! I went shopping today and got some cute fall outfits for them all to wear. I can't wait until I can post the pics here. Keep your fingers crossed that they all cooperate. Of course, The Daughter has a nasty cold bug so hopefully we can keep the snot rainbows out of the shots!

Auction for a cause...

Below I wrote about the Nielson family and the plane crash that has left Stephanie and her husband in the hospital recovering from very serious injuries. What I forgot to mention was there is a great way you can contribute to their family...the wonderful hostess of Today's Creative Blog is holding an auction of wonderful homemade and other crafty items...all the items have been donated by her blog followers AND all the proceeds go directly to the Nielson fund. All you have to do is leave a comment under the item you want to bid on including the amount you want to bid and your email address. It's that simple! I just bid on a beautiful scarf and I hope I win!!

Check it out -- get cute stuff AND help a wonderful cause!! Click on the "I LOVE TODAY'S CREATIVE BLOG" button on the left side of my page!

Good luck bidding!!

SHOES!!

Well, everyone who knows me knows I love a bargain...now enter in the Reader's Digest (not the one currently covering my "friends" lifeless body) and their recent article about saving $$$. Oooo, I L O V E articles like this one. All sorts of goody ideas on how to save coin when shopping online. Like using sites like www.retailmenot.com. LOVE THIS SITE! Has saved me a LOT of $$$. I NEVER buy anything online without looking for a coupon code there first.

Anyhoo, got a message in my inbox today for $20 off $50 or more at www.shoebuy.com. I've bought from them before and this seemed like a great deal. So I went online and purchased these adorable shoes...



Here are my "deal" details:

Original Price $73.00
Online sale: $60.45 (17% off)
Paypal Discount: -$20.00
10% Member Discount: -$4.05 (Got this because I've ordered with them before)
GRAND TOTAL: $36.40 (No shipping charges and no tax in Wisconsin with this company!!) That's about 50% off the original price!! WOW!

These are Klogs. I own a slightly different pair of white ones for work and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. They make working an 8 or 12 hr shift like walking on a cloud. Seriously - my feet NEVER hurt!

EWE!!!

Okay - so everyone has phobia's, right??? Why does mine have to be centipedes?? I thought about posting a pic here of one, but I would probably never visit my own blog then. I cannot stand those nasty, leggy, fast-moving, gross bugs.

Why am I complaining?? Well, try having a husband who is never home when the darn things decide to appear. I swear they have a calender downstairs in the basement, where I know they hold their daily meetings, outlining when my husband will be home.

So tonight I go upstairs to collect the dirty towels from the bathroom floor and whoosh, one of those buggers jumps out at me. I screamed in the most lady-like fashion I know and then procede to watch in horror as it runs around admist my dirty towels. Finally I gulp down the courage to stomp on it when it take up hiding under one of my hand towels. Of course I cannot just stomp once...nope...it's an all out frenzy with me cursing at the darn thing. I'm surprised my children slept through the wrath. So now there is one towel that won't be washed tonight because it houses the corpse of my nemisis...waiting until my husband comes home in the morning to give it a proper burial involving a tissue and the toilet. Thank goodness we have a half bath downstairs I can use in the meantime as I really truly believe these nasty creatures have super powers and I will see my towel slowly creeping across the bathroom floor.

Should I mention that for good measure I threw a Reader's Digest on top of the towel and stomped a few more times. I don't know why...I just had to do it.

Yuck.

Aww..............................

Old pics in the photobucket account...


The daughter's 1 year picture



Christmas 2006 picture


Disney trip 2006


Intent on the cake


Jo-Jo's 1yr pic


Our third angel's first picture


Our third angel makes his debute!


My three wonders...

Blogger's unite...

For awhile now I've been reading stories about a wonderful family and a tragedy that happened to them that has united bloggers from around the world to ban together. The story is amazing...a young beautiful couple married with four children...then in August, a private plane crash that killed one man and left Christian and Stephanie Nielson with severe burns...Christian with burns over 1/3 of his body and Stephanie with burns over 80% of her body. You can read more about their recoveries and how to help by clicking the below link...and say a prayer not only for them, but for Stephanie's sister who has taken on the awesome responsibility of caring for their four children and for those sweet babies...

The Kiddos

Well, the camera is sort of working after it's bubble bath...the pics are blurrier than before...I'm just waiting for a sale or code to get my dream camera...

I'm Thinkin' Arby's!!

Oh the things we do when we are bored...

As you go about your busy day today...please take a moment...

...and remember the 2,751 people who died on this day 7 years ago. God Bless them and God Bless their families on this difficult day.



Lady Liberty Cried
Another bright September day
Another sun-filled sky
She stands her ground with endless pride
As planes above her fly
She looks upon her children
Her loved ones dear to heart
As they go through their normal chores
Some only just to start

But soon the peace was shattered
As men so filled with hate
Soon turned their rage to senseless acts
To meet their horrid fate

First one and then another hit
Impossible to seem
Two other impacts hit elsewhere
As in a horrid dream

Tho some did fight the evil
As heroes they had died
And as the proud twins met their fall
The Lady Liberty cried

© "Amalthea Celebras" K.C. Fahel 11 September 2001

Nah nah boo boo...

While in the hospital after having Bubba I hit a pitfall with breastfeeding. Bubba just didn't want to do it. Every time lactation came in to help me he would latch on and go crazy...the minute they left he would pull off and cry cry cry. One of the greatest post-partum nurses I ever had, Julie, came in to help me. She assessed Bubba's suck and noticed that he was tongue tied. Later, he went back to being a breastfeeding champ, but our pediatrician agreed he is tongue tied, but he won't clip it. That's why pictures like this make me pretty happy -- and they are funny to boot...

Family Lovin'

Aww, can't resist the kissy face pictures. Both kids wanted to be shot giving their little brother kisses...

Fun with baby...

Bubba is now 6 months old...and apart from teething crankiness...he is a lot of fun and becoming quite the ham for the camera. Here are some examples: