I have been feeling really worn out and like I'm not getting a break from the kids at all. Every day has been running around getting things done, so we've been too busy for me to even just get a couple hours to myself. I did, however, feel like that's how it should be, and like I didn't deserve to ask for anything- with all that's been happening. But even yesterday while Big Hunk was at his baseball game (he plays every Sunday) I decided to take the kids to church just because I needed a break from them. I seriously don't remember the last time I've had a couple hours away from them without it being for something like grocery shopping. ;)
So last night while I was heading to church, he told me he had an idea. This morning before he left for work he told me to drop the kids off at his office and he'd take them to see Wall-E (which I have not kept a secret AT ALL that I have no desire to watch!! lol). He only said that I could go out and do something while he took the kids.
Well he just called and said I could drop the kids off at 1pm; he was going to take the kids and our nephew to see the movie, and I can go to the day spa for about 4 1/2 hours.
:D :D :D
I hate going by myself, but I so need this! He was getting mad when I said I couldn't do that, so I guess I have no choice. lol I can just go sit out by the pool and read a book the whole time, after lather myself up in mud. This will be a nice day.
***************ETA:
LOL! I texted my friend Gabe to tell him his wife had to go with me to the spa. He started getting all cranky saying they couldn't afford it and they had 6 kids at their house (their 3 plus their neice and our friends' 2) blah blah blah. Well I told BH so he called Gabe. Tom: "Dude. Heather is going to the spa with Mel today. My treat. Bring the kids over, we're taking them to the movies." LOL So it's going to be the 2 of them with NINE kids. ROFL I can only imagine how freaking expensive that is going to be. And because I wanted our other friend Darci to go (that I just met and LOVE- she is the one whose kids Gabe & Heather are watching) she is going too! It's going to be fun. :) I'm leaving in 1/2 hour!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
An arteest.
I mentioned in my earlier post that Mikey just had his last art class today. He took a 2 day a week workshop for the past two weeks from this AMAZING artist that we have come to adore. We met her for the first time down at Spirit West Coast last month in San Diego, but turns out she lives just a few miles from us. :-) I love this woman. Never have I met a more talented, God-loving and God-serving artist in my life.
Well that day we bought two of her paintings. We must have visited her booth 12 times that day in between concerts, and we loved ALL of her artwork so we couldn't decide what to get. So we started out with this cool patriotic painting that she had actually just painted the day before (at SWC) that Big Hunk loved. We immediately took that out to our car and pondered our next one. lol It was a hard choice!
She had so many others that we LOVED. Several different types of Jesus' profile (my favorite being one that was red, green & yellow- very me); two separate paintings of a boy and a girl on their knees praying; a beautiful painting with a monarch butterfly... We seriously were giving ourselves ulcers. Well, after our gazillionth visit we finally made up our minds. We had decided on this:
A picture could not even begin to do it justice. I fell in love with it at first sight, but you can't truly appreciate it and all it means until you watch this. (Seriously. Watch it! ;))I was in complete awe and love with it from that moment. It just has so much meaning. The finished product at the very very end of the video is what we have- but the video is what makes the painting so amazingly special to us. And what is even more awesome about her paintings is that every one of them has things hidden. This one, for instance, when you look at it from an angle (so that you can see the light reflecting off the glaze) has several words scratched into the surface like heaven, joy, forgiven, etc. It's so beautiful. Other paintings are painted over pages of the Bible, or have mustard seeds painted into it, among other things.
So naturally, when we found out she was doing summer workshops for kids, we couldn't pass it up! Even if Mikey decided that he didn't like art that much after this, the fact that we'd have 4 originals of this legend made it worth it. Something we'll definitely treasure forever!
But turns out Mike LOVED his art classes and Charlene is madly in love with him now, and we may even sign him up for a second session later this summer (next week if Mikey has his choice). (When I picked him up from his first class she said she just wanted to make him cookies. lol) And he did so well!! I think he really needs to do stuff like this- get out with other kids and have someone other than his mom teaching him all the time. I love homeschooling, but I think just a couple times a week once in a while he needs this. He created 4 paintings- a Monet style of lilypads in a pond; a tuscany style with a house on a hill; a still life of a pitcher of flowers (probably his best) and a small red white and blue one of some blue stars on a white canvas. Click here to see Charlene's video from today, with Mikey on it. :) He's the cutie with the lisp. And just you try not to fall in love with him too!! (I keep watching the video over and over again, and he is so freaking cute!! Gosh I love that kid.)
If you like Charlene's work, her website is www.worshipthruart.com She also puts up new videos on YouTube and GodTube every Thursday, so you can even subscribe to those to get emailed when she has a new one. She is one awesome woman!!
Well that day we bought two of her paintings. We must have visited her booth 12 times that day in between concerts, and we loved ALL of her artwork so we couldn't decide what to get. So we started out with this cool patriotic painting that she had actually just painted the day before (at SWC) that Big Hunk loved. We immediately took that out to our car and pondered our next one. lol It was a hard choice!
She had so many others that we LOVED. Several different types of Jesus' profile (my favorite being one that was red, green & yellow- very me); two separate paintings of a boy and a girl on their knees praying; a beautiful painting with a monarch butterfly... We seriously were giving ourselves ulcers. Well, after our gazillionth visit we finally made up our minds. We had decided on this:
A picture could not even begin to do it justice. I fell in love with it at first sight, but you can't truly appreciate it and all it means until you watch this. (Seriously. Watch it! ;))I was in complete awe and love with it from that moment. It just has so much meaning. The finished product at the very very end of the video is what we have- but the video is what makes the painting so amazingly special to us. And what is even more awesome about her paintings is that every one of them has things hidden. This one, for instance, when you look at it from an angle (so that you can see the light reflecting off the glaze) has several words scratched into the surface like heaven, joy, forgiven, etc. It's so beautiful. Other paintings are painted over pages of the Bible, or have mustard seeds painted into it, among other things.
So naturally, when we found out she was doing summer workshops for kids, we couldn't pass it up! Even if Mikey decided that he didn't like art that much after this, the fact that we'd have 4 originals of this legend made it worth it. Something we'll definitely treasure forever!
But turns out Mike LOVED his art classes and Charlene is madly in love with him now, and we may even sign him up for a second session later this summer (next week if Mikey has his choice). (When I picked him up from his first class she said she just wanted to make him cookies. lol) And he did so well!! I think he really needs to do stuff like this- get out with other kids and have someone other than his mom teaching him all the time. I love homeschooling, but I think just a couple times a week once in a while he needs this. He created 4 paintings- a Monet style of lilypads in a pond; a tuscany style with a house on a hill; a still life of a pitcher of flowers (probably his best) and a small red white and blue one of some blue stars on a white canvas. Click here to see Charlene's video from today, with Mikey on it. :) He's the cutie with the lisp. And just you try not to fall in love with him too!! (I keep watching the video over and over again, and he is so freaking cute!! Gosh I love that kid.)
If you like Charlene's work, her website is www.worshipthruart.com She also puts up new videos on YouTube and GodTube every Thursday, so you can even subscribe to those to get emailed when she has a new one. She is one awesome woman!!
Q: Melody? A: Absent
I haven't posted here in ages. There has been a lot going on in our lives, so this blog has been the least of my worries.
The kids are well. Ikey just celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday and her party is this weekend. To say she's excited would be the understatement of the year!! We began counting down to her birthday probably about 2 weeks ago, and she was the happiest girl when we woke her up with our singing (I know, yikes) yesterday. But she still refuses to believe she's 4 until her party, and she is looking forward to her party more than I've ever seen her excited for something! It's so cute. She keeps asking me "How many sleeps Mommy?" and she corrects me every time I say "party" by saying "No Mommy. My birthday pawty." LOL We are having a Littlest Pet Shop party but Mommy has been a real slacker. Normally I am all gung-ho with their parties but with getting back from vacation 2 1/2 weeks ago, Mikey's K graduation and all the other chaos surrounding us, she's getting minimal. ;) But we're having about 35 people over (over half of those kids) for swimming, lunch and a pinata.
Mikey is doing well! Like I said, he just graduated Kindergarten! I really need to share those pics. Well, tons of pics actually. He just got done today with an art workshop with our new favorite artist Charlene Rice (check her out!! We <3 her!!) and he did so well. She fell in love with him, understandably. ;) She only lives 2 miles from us, though we "found" her when we visited her booth at Spirit West Coast last month in San Diego. She is an AMAZING artist and we adore her!! We bought two of her awesome paintings that weekend in SD, and can't wait to get more! But now we have Mikey originals and those are even better. :)
Anyway, Mikey's birthday is next month, and he'll be 6! He's so happy to be all done with school for the summer and did SO well last year. I can't believe he'll be in 1st grade now!
Well, I need to get things done for Ikey's party this weekend: pinata and loot bags filled, food planned, etc. Bye!
The kids are well. Ikey just celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday and her party is this weekend. To say she's excited would be the understatement of the year!! We began counting down to her birthday probably about 2 weeks ago, and she was the happiest girl when we woke her up with our singing (I know, yikes) yesterday. But she still refuses to believe she's 4 until her party, and she is looking forward to her party more than I've ever seen her excited for something! It's so cute. She keeps asking me "How many sleeps Mommy?" and she corrects me every time I say "party" by saying "No Mommy. My birthday pawty." LOL We are having a Littlest Pet Shop party but Mommy has been a real slacker. Normally I am all gung-ho with their parties but with getting back from vacation 2 1/2 weeks ago, Mikey's K graduation and all the other chaos surrounding us, she's getting minimal. ;) But we're having about 35 people over (over half of those kids) for swimming, lunch and a pinata.
Mikey is doing well! Like I said, he just graduated Kindergarten! I really need to share those pics. Well, tons of pics actually. He just got done today with an art workshop with our new favorite artist Charlene Rice (check her out!! We <3 her!!) and he did so well. She fell in love with him, understandably. ;) She only lives 2 miles from us, though we "found" her when we visited her booth at Spirit West Coast last month in San Diego. She is an AMAZING artist and we adore her!! We bought two of her awesome paintings that weekend in SD, and can't wait to get more! But now we have Mikey originals and those are even better. :)
Anyway, Mikey's birthday is next month, and he'll be 6! He's so happy to be all done with school for the summer and did SO well last year. I can't believe he'll be in 1st grade now!
Well, I need to get things done for Ikey's party this weekend: pinata and loot bags filled, food planned, etc. Bye!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tornado watch
We are in Michigan right now; this is actually our last night. For the past week we had been staying in Northern Michigan but drove back down to Detroit this afternoon for our flight tomorrow.
I know that tornado watches aren't a big deal to a lot of people that live out here (or other areas that have them), but I will just say they scare the crap out of me! Just like people always say they could never live in CA because of the earthquakes, I always shrug that off because we get SO few- and ones that are never too serious at that. But why is it every time I come to Michigan there is severe weather?
Last year (to the day) when Mikey & I came out here with my mom, our first night at my grandpa's house we had massive thunderstorms and supposedly a tornado watch. I was so nonchalant before we went to bed (and before the storm hit) but when I woke up at 2am to loud thunder and almost constant lightning, my teeth were chattering and I couldn't stop saying the name of Jesus! Now, here we are again and as we sat at the Tigers game I watched the evening sky go from a beautiful blue to an intimidating gray.
I can say though that I feel safer here than I did a few days ago! At least here we're on the bottom floor of the hotel!
I know we'll be fine and the more massive storms are hitting in IN, but I'll be happy to be away from this. :)
I know that tornado watches aren't a big deal to a lot of people that live out here (or other areas that have them), but I will just say they scare the crap out of me! Just like people always say they could never live in CA because of the earthquakes, I always shrug that off because we get SO few- and ones that are never too serious at that. But why is it every time I come to Michigan there is severe weather?
Last year (to the day) when Mikey & I came out here with my mom, our first night at my grandpa's house we had massive thunderstorms and supposedly a tornado watch. I was so nonchalant before we went to bed (and before the storm hit) but when I woke up at 2am to loud thunder and almost constant lightning, my teeth were chattering and I couldn't stop saying the name of Jesus! Now, here we are again and as we sat at the Tigers game I watched the evening sky go from a beautiful blue to an intimidating gray.
I can say though that I feel safer here than I did a few days ago! At least here we're on the bottom floor of the hotel!
I know we'll be fine and the more massive storms are hitting in IN, but I'll be happy to be away from this. :)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
M to the I
Today is day 5 that we've been up in northern Michigan visiting my grandpa. We have had the BEST time and though we're not leaving here until Friday, I am already missing it here so much.
In the 5 days we've been up here we have rafted 10 miles down the Au Sable River, visited Mackinac Island (my new favorite place on earth) and biked 10 miles- and bought tons of fudge!, went bowling, kayaked and went out on the paddle boat, and have gone to our favorite ice cream house twice (so far!). Yet with all the fun we've had and the time we've spent with my grandpa and his wife, it is all marked with a hint of sadness because I am so so sad to be leaving here in two days. I already miss my grandpa so so much.
I feel like I could spend the next 3 years with him and it wouldn't be enough. Why is it you don't really appreciate your grandparents and the time you get to spend with them until you're older (as are they) and your time together is so seldom? My grandpa is 78 years old and I don't know how much time I have left with him, but I wish I could just move here now and spend every moment with him.
My grandpa just adores Ikey. It is so cute. He has only seen her once before, and she was just a month old. She just has him wrapped around her little finger. :) My grandpa never smiles much, but the few times I have seen him grin ear-to-ear the past few days are when Ikey is in his sights. Today we went out for ice cream and she kept making funny faces while she ate her bright yellow, red & blue ice cream. He couldn't take his eyes off her and would laugh at every little thing she did. She could ask him to rope the moon in full daylight and he'd find a way to do it.
Like I mentioned, we went to Mackinac Island on Monday. My gosh, how I love that place!! Mikey & I had gone last year when we came out here with my mom, but I never realized how much of the island we had missed! I think last year all we saw was several fudge shops (they are 10 feet apart there!) and the Butterfly House. So this year we rented bikes (Mikey on a tandem with Big Hunk & Ikey in a toddler seat) and went the 8.5 miles all the way around the island. I took sooo many photos. The kids had a blast too, and were so worn out! Mikey was falling asleep on the ferry ride back and slept so good that night. :)
Well, we're about to watch a movie. Bye!
In the 5 days we've been up here we have rafted 10 miles down the Au Sable River, visited Mackinac Island (my new favorite place on earth) and biked 10 miles- and bought tons of fudge!, went bowling, kayaked and went out on the paddle boat, and have gone to our favorite ice cream house twice (so far!). Yet with all the fun we've had and the time we've spent with my grandpa and his wife, it is all marked with a hint of sadness because I am so so sad to be leaving here in two days. I already miss my grandpa so so much.
I feel like I could spend the next 3 years with him and it wouldn't be enough. Why is it you don't really appreciate your grandparents and the time you get to spend with them until you're older (as are they) and your time together is so seldom? My grandpa is 78 years old and I don't know how much time I have left with him, but I wish I could just move here now and spend every moment with him.
My grandpa just adores Ikey. It is so cute. He has only seen her once before, and she was just a month old. She just has him wrapped around her little finger. :) My grandpa never smiles much, but the few times I have seen him grin ear-to-ear the past few days are when Ikey is in his sights. Today we went out for ice cream and she kept making funny faces while she ate her bright yellow, red & blue ice cream. He couldn't take his eyes off her and would laugh at every little thing she did. She could ask him to rope the moon in full daylight and he'd find a way to do it.
Like I mentioned, we went to Mackinac Island on Monday. My gosh, how I love that place!! Mikey & I had gone last year when we came out here with my mom, but I never realized how much of the island we had missed! I think last year all we saw was several fudge shops (they are 10 feet apart there!) and the Butterfly House. So this year we rented bikes (Mikey on a tandem with Big Hunk & Ikey in a toddler seat) and went the 8.5 miles all the way around the island. I took sooo many photos. The kids had a blast too, and were so worn out! Mikey was falling asleep on the ferry ride back and slept so good that night. :)
Well, we're about to watch a movie. Bye!
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