Validation

Here's a quick pic of the fam from our Disneyland trip. When I have a chance, I might post some more.....We had a blast!! This was taken in California Adventure toward the start of evening, which is why we are wearing our hoodies. The weather was awesome - high 70's to mid 80's. It was somewhat overcast in the mornings, which burned off later on in the day. We were in the parks for two days, so we got there at opening and stayed until closing. Needless to say, my joints in my legs are still a little stiff! My new Nikes saved my feet (which usually get really sore), but my joints had it by the end of our second day. It didn't matter, though. It was SO fun being on this trip with my family. I was teary at first, thinking about how everything must be through the eyes of Ben, a seven-year-old, and how much fun the girls were having......It had been four years since our last trip to Disneyland, and Ben was so little, he doesn't remember it. So, this time it was...

As if you haven't heard enough about my grades....I got my Psychology and PE grades - 4.0 in each class! Yahoo! I sent off my transcript to the ultrasound program, so now my application is complete! I was so proud of myself when I saw my cumulative GPA for the past two years: 3.81!! Wow - I don't think I ever got that in high school! I'm SO hoping my grades will be my ticket to being accepted in the program. I'll find out very, very soon!! So. Swimsuits. I need a new one for our Disneyland trip. I went to Sears the other day, and afterwards, vowed to never swim again. Ugh. I don't like my body right now. It's better than after I had Ben, of course, but, I'm seeing that I'm almost 38 years old and in need of exercise.....Even though I still think I'm 20, my body doesn't quite respond in the same way......Well, I went to Wal-Mart for a swimsuit yesterday and found a tankini-style suit with boy short bottoms. I'm still almost 38, but the suit wa...

This is probably not a new idea in the least, but it dawned on me a short time ago, that I could get more use out of Ben's "high water" pants. Cut 'em into shorts! He's so thin, the waists on a few of his blue jeans and sweatpants still fit him, but he had grown too tall for them. I cut all the legs off of them, and presto - instant play clothes! Are there any moms out there more with money-streching ideas for kids?

My husband has been working hard to take the kids and myself out on regular "dates." Our dates are usually weekly, and I recently asked for more "activity" type dates, rather than just eating out somewhere. So, yesterday, he took me to the golf driving range. I have only been golfing one other time in my life, and that was many moons ago..... Yesterday, I did OK. I was concentrating so hard on my form, that my left arm and shoulder got really tight and sore. I had to swing my arm around for awhile to loosen it up. Once I relaxed that arm, I hit a really nice one with a wood. Thinking I could repeat it, I tried again. Nope. I just couldn't figure out what I did right to hit that one so well. I tried and tried and tried. I really wanted to be good at it. Then, I got a blister, so I had to quit. I realized that when I do something, I want to do it well. Really well. Well, with golf, I have a long way to go. I do think it would be fun to take a class ...

I recently answered a question on a blog I read: what's your least favorite chore? I answered: cleaning up pet and people barf. I knew my answer immediately, because I've been cleaning up kitten barf today. Not sure why she's barfing, but there ya go. What's your least favorite chore?

Every June, all of the 9th graders in our school district come together for a formal dance. It is a tradition that goes way back, and this year was Melanie's turn! Right after school, I picked up Melanie and Kelly to go get their hair done. Melanie got acrylic nails the day before. She got a "French" manicure, but instead of white tips, they are black! Mel getting curls Mel fixing Kelly's hair that didn't hold up so well between the salon and Kelly's house Best friends Melanie's dress is white with black and silver glittery polka dots. She wore silver shoes, silver jewelry and carried a silver purse. What a good-lookin' kid, huh? Kelly, Faith and Melanie. We realized they had a polka dot theme going on! Kelly had silver sequins on her dress, and Faith had polka dot lace! Don't they look great?!

I hope all you Dads out there have a VERY special day! We celebrated last night after Joe's Men's Fraternity graduation. Each of the kids picked out something they wanted to give him. I got him my favorite cologne (Drakkar) and a Men's Fraternity Bible. After church and graduation, we went out to eat at Famous Dave's BBQ, which was awesome. It was our first time eating there, and we were impressed. I had the BEST salmon! Anyway, I think he was honored on his special day.

For the past 24 weeks, my husband has been getting up on Thursday mornings to show up at church at 6:00 AM. He, along with about 300 other guys from our community took part in what is called "Men's Fraternity: The Quest For Authentic Manhood." They would gather for a corporate teaching, and then separate into small groups for discussion. They each had a book with fill-ins during the message, and places for personal notes. During these past six months, they have explored what the Bible says about being an authentic man, as well as past wounds that needed healing. It's been a learning experience and therapy session at times. This Saturday, was their graduation. Each man had to complete a "Man Plan" in order to take part in the ceremony. There were 215 guys in all, graduating this weekend (about 90 per service). Joe graduated during Saturday night services. I was his accompanying witness. It was pretty awesome, and our church made a big deal out of it. Our past...

On Friday, I went with Ben on his first grade field trip to the zoo. We all rode the school bus, and I had two other boys in my group. Whew! Keeping track of boys at the zoo is hard work! One boy was pretty hyped up, so Ben's teacher took him for the second half of the day. Then, I hooked up with a friend of mine and we got to team up and talk while we went along. Lunch Break! Ben's class (Ben in the center with the grey sweatshirt) At the zoo, there was a play ground with an "otter slide." There were SO many kids - I think it was field trip day for a lot of other schools. We were a little afraid to let them loose, so, we told the kids in our group that we would stand in one spot, and when it was time to go, we would wave at them. We didn't lose one kid! Yay!

I've been very negative lately. So. I will now post something happy and crunchy. Strawberry Spinach Salad (I know it sounds weird, but you will love it) For dressing: 1 cup salad oil 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon celery seed 2 tablespoons corn syrup For salad: 6 cups fresh spinach, washed and dried 2 cups strawberries, sliced (or any fruit desired for color) 3/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced For dressing, shake together all ingredients. Toss together salad ingredients. Toss dressing with salad just before serving, sprinkle dressed salad with pecans or slivered almonds (if desired). *I made it without the onions (I forgot) and I don't like pecans, so I left those off. This is one of those salads, that you're not sure will taste good - especially if you're a picky eater like me. Then, you eat a bite, and can't STOP!!

Finally....Hillary is out of the race, and McCain can be back on the radar screens of the media like he deserves. Finally....when are we finally going to get some sun in Washington? It was actually snowing in the mountains and passes yesterday! I'm sick of this! Finally....when are people going to finally return to proper etiquette and start sending thank you notes for wedding gifts, baby shower gifts, graduation gifts and birthday gifts (sent through the mail)? What is your "finally?"

I observed ultrasounds at the hospital yesterday. They were having an atypical, slow day, but it was pretty cool. The guy I shadowed just happens to be one of the teachers at the program I'm applying to! So, with some down time, he spent some time teaching me some stuff and answering my gazillion questions. I also grilled his counterpart, a younger guy who just happened to graduate from the program I want to attend! Hmmm....I'm seeing all these possible God-cidences.....Anyway, I got to see the coolest, coolest thing. I watched them do a brain scan through the fontanel of a 3-day-old infant. I was SO excited, I could feel it wanting to burst within myself. When we got done, I just kept saying, "Now THAT was pretty awesome!" I also got to see an OB ultrasound on a 14-week-old fetus. Pretty awesome, too. The rest were abdominals, a pelvic and a couple of intravaginals. It was a great day. TODAY. I did it. I dropped off my application paperwork to the sonog...

Did you know that you can take free Christian courses online? Go to www.Christiancourses.com and check it out! I thought all you stay-at-home moms out there might like to know that you can still keep those brain cells alive for FREE, and enrich your life at the same time.....I think that I will be doing some of these this summer myself!

Yes, this summer is my 20th high school reunion. Kentridge High School. I didn't go to the 10th reunion. Didn't want to. I probably won't go to the 20th either. Since I knew more people in Joe's class (from the year before), I would have enjoyed his reunion last year, but he didn't want to go to his, either. He already sees the people he enjoys seeing from high school on a regular basis. The thing is, I just didn't enjoy high school. In fact, on the last day of my senior year, our teacher let us out two minutes early. I made a bee-line for the "check out" table, and then to my car, so I could LEAVE. I didn't hang out. I didn't say good-byes. I just left. It was a great day. I just didn't fit in anywhere. I was a pretty girl, but didn't have much money for trendy fashions, and lacked some social skills, too. I made the JV cheer squad, but that was only because one of the cheerleaders was found drunk at a dance, so they called me (the run...