It's Sunday and I actually got to attend Church for the first time in a long time. I didn't realize until I was there how much I missed it. Our church is awesome! They had the worship team who normally does the music in the Cafe which is in the same building as our church but at another end of the building from the sanctuary. It's more hip, laid back, young perhaps. They have coffee and doughnuts and most of the people are younger and are wearing jeans. We have never been to a service in the cafe but we have definitely snuck a doughnut or two from the cafe, don't tell! Our pastor preached about how most churches, ours included, are trying to find new and exciting ways to attract more teens to the church. He then said we do a sucky job once we get them into the church. Thinking back to my teen years, he's absolutely right. I went to a Catholic church/school so my story is a bit different, but the same in so many ways. So he's challenging him and the church to make a change. We need to stay connected with our young adults even after they are out of high school. We need to always be impressing on their hearts how important it is to have faith. He gave a statistic, but I'm not a numbers person so I don't remember it exactly, about how many young adults go into college and still believe in God but are drinking and smoking and jezebelling (that is one of my favorite movie quotes but I'll be darned if I can rememeber the movie....anyway, I digress.). It made me think of my time as a young adult. I went to church every now and then but I wasn't living the life. I guess I mostly felt like a fraud. I considered myself to be a "believer" because I always knew Jesus Christ died to take away my sin and church was always a part of my life. However, until I found my current church I was talking the talk but wasn't walking the walk. I sincerely hope I can teach my children how to walk the walk. If I can save them even 1/4 of the hurt I went thru trying to belong and turning to drugs and alcohol and sex to try and find happiness it will be worth it. It's going to be a long, hard, tough road, but I am going to do everything in my power to help pave the road for them.

So even though Dad is gone, it is Sunday, which means after church we eat! But before that we needed gas. Ever since Bryce was old enough to reach the window he would bang and bang and bang on the window whenever I was pumping gas. He would sit inside and yell, "MOM! MOM! MOM!" I could never figure out why he felt the need to yell at me from inside the care. Maybe he thought it was cool that he was in there and I was out here and I could still hear him. Well, he's old enough to not only knock on the window but unbuckle his seatbelt and open the window. And now he has an accomplice! I'm pretty much walking around with my Canon point and shoot lately so when they poked their heads out of the window I snapped a shot. As much as it irritates me I can't help but find them utterly adorable. They do look like me after all! ;)

This shot of me was taken by Bryce. I would so love to pass along to him my love of photography. His birth father also had quite a photography passion, so hopefully it's in his blood.



Hello Golden Corral! I wasn't sure what to do for lunch after church and then realized a buffet was a great choice. It just amazes me everytime I go to a buffet the kind of people who are there. To be honest, I sit in awe at the different types of families. My uncle Mike always liked going to buffets and he insisted on sitting close to the desserts. He said he liked sitting there so he could watch the kids get their dessert at the buffet. One time we were at OCB and he pointed out some kids to me. They were licking their fingers and sticking them into the food and eating food right out of the bins. It was amazing and disgusting all at the same time. So now whenever I go to a buffet it's kind of like a horror movie...it's scary but you can't look away.

As long as there is mac and cheese, shrimp and chicken legs we are good! And score, the Golden Corral had it all today! It was so nice to enjoy a Sunday without worrying if my phone was going to ring or rushing off to an open house. I did stop by the office on the way home to clean out my desk. I wasn't sad at all. But I did steal my name plate to put on my desk at home! We came home and rested together in my bedroom for a bit before the kids each ran off to do their own thing. A king bed all to myself is a very lonely place. I can't wait until Friday when my bed no longer feels so empty!

Rattlers VS. River Bandits

Saturday was a cool 76 (or so) degrees. It was the perfect weather for baseball. We had free tickets to the game and dinner was included...bonus! The only thing missing was Daddy. We couldn't find our seats right away and ended up walking all the way around the stadium before figuring it all out. The Timber Rattlers were playing my hometeam, The Quad City River Bandits. Bryce made me decide before the game even started who I was rooting for. I chose the Rattlers which proved to be a mistake. I tried to take it back but there was no way Bryce was going to let that happen.

Our seats were in section 114 but the section was really full. Section 116 is the family section and it looked fairly empty, so we scooted across the isle and found a cozy spot. Shortly after we found out seats two different families found their seats close to ours. One family was a mom and her two children. The other was a dad and his two sons. The dad looked like he was someone important but I didn't know who. Do you recognize him?

Hannah was all over the buffet. The buffet consisted of everything Hannah loves...not. They had potato sald (no way) and baked beans (ain't gonna happen). Luckily they also had potato chips. She started with a hot dog and ended with a brat. That's my girl!

I wish she had a baseball shirt! She brought her baseball hat all on her own. Thank goodness she remembered it because the sun was right in our faces. Even her brother didn't think to bring a hat. She looked pretty in pink even if she didn't look like she should be at a baseball game.

Baseball is one of my favorite sports. I played softball from as early as I can rememeber until 18. I would've played longer but 18 was the cut off age for the travel team I played with. I wish I would've stayed playing though because as soon as I was done I got fat and old...but that's another story for another day. I'm having a good day, I don't need to depress myself.

The kids saw Fang and instantly Bryce was looking for something for him to sign. I convinced him one Fang signature was enough. (We scored an autograph at the first game we went to this season.) I did, however, talk them into standing close to Fang to get their picture taken. I was hoping they would move in a little closer, but hey, I'll take what I can get.

I was a little nervous about where we were sitting early on. The sun was right in my face and I was afraid we'd take a foul ball to the noggin. Luckily, everything that came in our direction was either a bit to the right or way behind us. Hannah brought her glove so I was pretty sure she'd protect me. I realize I'm getting older and more nervous/cautious everyday. Things like fly balls never seemed to bother me when I was younger. This getting old thing is no fun!

I think Hannah needs a pretty, pink glove. She's got an arm on her like I can't believe!

Hey, who's Mountain Dew is that? I'll give you one guess.....free soda is the best kind of soda! Thanks Gulfstream!!!! The kids and I had a total blast. We had to go back to the car during the 6th inning. Bryce's cough got really bad and he needed a cough drop. I'm not organized enough or prepared enough to have taken one in my pocket. I dropped off the camera during our trip to the car. I kicked myself for doing that later because they had fireworks after the game. They were the best fireworks we've seen this year. They were right on top of us, which made them look 100 times bigger and brighter. Bryce hugged me, told me he loved me and that he had a great day. I think I fell asleep with a smile on my face after that comment. The game, free food and fireworks were the perfect ending to an almost perfect Saturday.

Another Friday into the history books

One half of my heart is in Isreal. Isreal is really far away. I know this because my 4 year old tells me almost hourly. My love is working in Isreal and he only has one pair of underwear. I'm sure he'd love me telling you that. What is it with airlines and losing luggage? Isn't it their business to get their passengers and their luggage from point A to point B? I'm just glad I'm not there or I'd be mad (I'd be more than mad but this is a family show)! The kids and I managed to make it thru day one.

I was looking through the pictures I have loaded on my laptop and forgot I had taken this one. My dear friend Sarah sent my daughter a page full of googly eye stickers for her birthday this year. A few weeks ago we pulled out the sheet of googly eye stickers and I let Hannah place them wherever she wanted on pages out of her coloring book. There were eyes on arms and legs and randomly placed out in space. Normally I would've freaked and told her she was doing it all wrong, but this time I didn't. She seemed to enjoy it. Quite honestly it drove me batty. Well, a few nights later I was walking through the kitchen and something caught my eye. My son, my boy, the apple of my eye, strategically placed two googly eye stickers on the knobs of my kitchen cabinets. I literally laughed out loud when I saw them. How smart and creative of him! Then I grabbed my camera and snapped twelve shots trying to get the perfectly exposed shot. This isn't that perfectly exposed shot I was shooting for but it's close enough. Just when I feel like having children was about the dumbest thing I could've ever done with my reproductive organs they go and do something cute like this. I, ofcourse, have to document it for the next time I want to walk out the door and never look back!

Look at this girl! That hair, that nose, those lips! She is the perfect combination of the best parts of us! She is the princess I prayed for as a little girl. I just put her to bed and she cried for her Daddy. Most kids cling to their moms and some to their dads but it's unusual to find a kid who will take either parent when they are sad even if both parents are sitting in the same room. Hannah is a kid like that. One time she can get a boo boo and want me and the next time she'll want her Dad. I love that she's like that. It makes it easy for me to go out at night...wait, what? I mean it's great that she shows her dad as much affection as she shows to me. She's sweet and sassy and I love the snot outta her!

The relationship between the two men in my life has been up and down, as I'm sure it always will be. My son's birth father died two years ago this summer. He was hit by a drunk driver on Father's Day 2006. Luckily Bryce was young enough that it didn't effect him as much as it could've. Bryce is difficult to get along with. He is the most oppositional person I have ever met...and I thought I was pretty bad! You can say it's blue and he'll say it's green. This is just his personality. It causes a lot of struggle within our home. I've noticed as Bryce gets older he's growing closer and closer to his Step-Dad. He calls him Daddy now which I think is awesome. I sincerely hope as time goes by and Bryce grows up his relationship with Brent will only grow stronger. They have similar interests and Bryce has a strong desire to spend time with Brent. I pray for patience for Brent to learn to deal calmly with Bryce. It's a struggle anyone who comes in contact with Bryce has to face. They love each other very much and for now that's all I need to know...

This is the look of a man who is beyond sick and tired of his wife sticking her new camera in his face. This look says, "If you take one more picture of me woman I might stick that camera down your throat!" Ok, maybe it doesn't say that, but to me it sure says enough is enough. When I first got my DSLR camera I played with it every minute I possibly could. It didn't take long for my kids to run away as far as they could when they saw me bring out my camera bag. My husband has always been supportive of whatever I wanted to do. When I told him of my plan to make millions with marble magnets he helped me search the internet for bulk, round magnets. I know he secretly wants to put his hands around my neck and squeeze, but I praise the Lord he resists the urge! My greatest desire in life is to be a good wife to my husband and a good mom to my children. I'm so thankful we've found a place that allows the both of us to be who we are while still trying to figure it all out. I love you Brent. I miss you and don't forget to bring me home some sand!

Oh, and when I started this the Packers were leading 6-0, then they were losing 10-7 and now it's tied at 10. I can't believe I'm watching the game when I have free reign of the remote....

A survey, a picture and a promise

I found this survey on another blog and thought it would be a good post to get me back in the swing of things. If nothing else it helped me to remember the password to get into this blog that I never use.

1. Where is your cell phone? kitchen

2. Your significant other? Brent

3. Your hair? hmmm, good question. Redish blondish

4. Your mother? gone 20 years now

5. Your father? Dan

6. Your favorite thing? my family

7. Your dream last night? very strange...it had to do with Fantasy Football and cross dressing

8. Your favorite drink? Mt. Dew

9. Your dream/goal? to be happy and healthy

10. The room you're in? Living Room

11. Your hobby? Scrapbooking, Writing and Photography

12. Your fear? losing someone I love and a house fire

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? in a 2-story house!!!

14. Where were you last night? ST meeting until almost 11 o'clock. We are a chatty group!

15. What you're not? good at math

16. Muffins? Yum-O

17. One of your wish list items? new lenses for my camera

18. Where you grew up? Illinois

19. What are you wearing? work out capris and a t-shirt

20. Your pets? Dopey and Lion Head kitties

21. Your computer? Toshiba laptop

22. Your life? gets better everyday

23. Your mood? mentally drained, but happy

24. Missing someone? yes

25. Your car? Enclave

26. Something you're not wearing? shoes

27. Favorite store? Hobby Lobby

28. Your summer? almost over

29. Like someone? Yes

30. Your favorite color? purple

31. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

32. Last time you cried? this morning

So there you have it. Everything you need to know about me but were afraid to ask! Yeah right. I will be better about posting, I promise. Not because anyone is reading but because I need to sharpen my skills!

Here's to a great Friday!