Poor dogs..

These dogs have been lingering around our house for about a week now. They are skin and bone, smell awful, and shake because of the cold weather today. I called The dog warden to have them taken away and hopefully adopted. They are the sweetest things you could ask for. They obviously were in a home prior to being dumped off or lost. They Are at Franklin County dog shelter if anybody is interested in adopting these cuties.

They are coming back!

I am ecstatic. I know I have posted already today, but rumor has it that the New Kids on the Block are making a comeback...My walls were plastered with this boy band back in the day. I had several shirts, saw concerts (Joey Joe was sick and I was soooo disappointed), knew (and still know) every song. I still have all of their cassette tapes (that my car cannot play due to advancement in technology). My friend Shannon will probably be the only one that will comment on this great news. We were the true NKOTB fans. We stuck up for them like they were our brothers.

For all of you NKOTB fans, this is good news!!!

http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/56462728

Owen's work of art...

Owen came home from school today with this masterpiece...
This is the Statue of Liberty in the eyes of Owen.

Can you see the resemblance?




I love when my kids bring home art.

Last year, Andrew brought home this piece of art.

When I first looked at it, I thought "wow, that's nice"...not knowing what the world it was. I said, "explain what this is Andrew". He said "Mom...it's a water park, here is the ladder, here is the slide, here is the tube that pumps water and here is the roller coaster". After he explained it to me it clicked. It WAS a water park!! TOTALLY! In real life, sometimes things are perceived in a totally different way than they are intended to. To Andrew it was a water park, to me, it looked like straws, bent paperclips and wire. I misunderstood the concept of the water park until it was explained to me.

This week, I have dealt with a situation in my personal life that made me think back on this time of perception of how Andrew and I saw his project so differently. My 7 and 5 year olds art projects sure taught me a lot this week. It clicked.

Things that I love...

So, I did a hate list in an earlier post. Most of the things on my hate list were pretty silly. I have a hard time hating anything...not a big fan of turds in the toilet though. I can honestly say, I hate that.

I thought I would do my love list. Here it goes...
1.) I love Jesus.
2.) I love the feeling of love.
3.) I love when my kids hold my hand.
4.) I love fixing things
5.) I love the memories with my mom and dad
6.) I love my family
7.) I love throwing parties
8.) I love eating ketchup and butter on bread.
9.) I love creating and being creative
10.) I love a warm house on a cold day
11.) I love being snowed in.
12.) I love photographing
13.) I love music...especially Prince.
14.) I love animals
15.) I love learning new songs on my harmonica
16.) I love writing my thoughts
17.) I love when people give their everything
18.) I love my friends
19.) I love pink
20.) I love authentic People
21.) I love serving people
22.) I love my husband (actually should be first on the list, but I screwed up the countdown)
23.) I love being in a church where there arent "religious" people, but people who love God.
24.) I love decorating my house
25.) I love going to coffee shops every friday morning with owen.


The list goes on and on. I am glad I have more on the love list than my hate list. I am trying to keep a positive attitude this week. So many things can drag us down. It is amazing when our thoughts are positive, our actions are as well. I firmly believe that our actions are a reflection of our thoughts. Keep smiling this week and look on the sunny side of life.
Make a love list...you will be surprised of how it gives you a warm feeling inside.

Everything will be ok...

For the past several months we have been contemplating on whether or not to have another baby. We would go back and forth and forth and back. There were days that we said WE ARE SOOOO done. Usually those were the days the kids were driving us up the walls. Then there were the days that we would get all mushy when we saw a baby in the grocery store. I didn't consider the "costs" involved when thinking about having another one. In the past couple of days, I have thought about all of the changes our family is going to have to make. Also, in the past couple of days I have had SOOO many people say to me that they have swings, highchairs, clothes for both a boy and a girl, car seats, and toys for us if we want them. I am only 6 weeks pregnant and already God is meeting the needs of the baby. We have absolutely, positively nothing in regards to baby items. I know we have a lot of time before the baby comes, but it is really cool how God makes it all good.

Pinewood Derby...Here we come

Being the nerdy, dedicated Cub scout leader that I am, we finished our pinewood derby cars today. Let me tell you, the rules that one must follow to enter the race really can stress someone out. My luck, I would be totally unaware of one of the most important rules of the race and It would be my fault my little Tiger scout would have to sit on the sidelines and watch all of the other participants.


Here are the cars. The race is Saturday, and the boys are excited. Andrew wanted a "traditional" race car, Owen wanted a Skateboard car with a baby in a diaper on it.

Since the adults can participate, I thought it would be fun to create a "weird" car. I think all of the scouts will get a kick out of this one..... Oh, by the way, Owen wanted me to stick a stinky diaper in the crib. Do you see a pattern about stinky diapers and Owen? He thinks they are hilarious. Boys.


So, the process of these particular pinewood derby cars have given me...well, quite the headache. My house is in shambles too. There is saw dust everywhere. Anyway, we couldn't find anybody to cut these blocks of wood out for us. One day after school, I took the boys to 6 schools (wood shop programs are cut from most schools now), Lowe's, Home Depot, and friends of ours. Nobody could help. Thanks to our kind neighbor, he let us use this tool called a dremel. I LOVE IT! With a little more work, we were able to cut it out slowly but surely. Tomorrow is the race and we are pretty excited. Wish us luck~

Yes....

We're Going to have a baby!!!

Coffee Welfare...

So, I am on Coffee Welfare. I had to put my Bennoti away for the time being because I am trying to simplify my life. Keeping my Benotti on my counter top was complete torture for me... It seemed so hungry for those Espresso Capsules. In the process of "simplifying", I am miserable because I have to drink Maxwell house Coffee...sniff sniff. . Yes, I am a snob. If you would like to give me a congratulations gift or something...here is an idea. A Momma to be needs her good Italian Espresso. (This post is actually for my husband. I send him the link that offers free shipping quite frequently lately.) Here it is again my sweets... www.everyespressomachine.com

P.S. Free shipping on orders over $49. That means 4 boxes of capsules to last me for awhile.

A message from the boys...

Maybe my mom will keep

her promise... I love you.

(owen made me make the diaper stinky)

I hate it when...

In our house, we aren't allowed to say the word "hate". Andrew and Owen try to use other words to express their dislike for things. It is actually quite funny because today Andrew made up a word (I cant even pronounce it) for the word hate. I thought it would be an interesting blog to say the prohibited word multiple times...I told you I am a rebel. Yes, I am a freak too. As a comment, write a sentence of what you hate. We can call it National Hate day on Judy's blog.

I hate it when... you run out of Miracle whip when you already have a can of tuna fish open.
I hate it when... you go to use the toilet and there are huge turds in it already.
I hate it when... you try to flush the turds and they DON'T GO DOWN!
I hate it when....it is 10:00 pm and you realize you don't have any of your much needed meds
I hate it when....I get kicked of my beloved video game Rock Band because the band thinks you are horrible.
I hate it when...I realize I have an appointment AFTER they call you and say you missed it. Duh
I hate it when...my husband brings containers with 2 week old food from work home (from Lunch)
I hate it when.....Andrew tells me that he needs something for school 5 minutes before I drop him off at school
I hate it when....3 pregnancy tests say you are 1/2 pregnant.
I hate it when...my kids have to use EVERY public restroom they see.
I hate it when...Owen sucks his thumb before washing his hands in the public restroom.
I do love that I am a mom and my boys are old enough that they shouldn't be going into woman's restrooms. I love it that Aaron has to take them...I digress...back to the hate list.
I hate it when...people stab you in the back.
I hate it when...people twist the knife as they stab you in the back. It hurts.
I hate it when...people try to bandage up the stab wound by blaming someone else.
I hate it when...my doctor cant fit me in the schedule when I need to see her.
I hate it when...my car doesn't have gas in it.
I hate it when...I cant fall asleep.

Well, enough of my hate list. Nothing profound. Gotta go park the car in the garage...I hate when I realize that I forgot to do that.

Another Party in the Crawford house...

Saturday night.

Rock Band.

Mexican Food.

Great Friends.

Rockin' Costumes.

Good Tunes.

No Kids.

Again...Totally Sober (believe it or not)- We really do act like this on a day to day basis.



Emo Rockers, Hippy Rockers, A Country Singer, The Pregnant Rapper,
and....
The Drum Roll Please....

A Tea Party Rocker (?)

Yes, Another party at the house. I just can't stop. I love this Rock Band game. It is the next best thing aside sliced bread. I guilted everyone into dressing up this time. My friend Kristi tries really hard to be a bad girl. I'll just say, some people got it and some people don't. I thought she was coming over for a tea party. She tried.

Kristi, the Upper Arlington Tea Party Rocker

This video is SOOOOOOOOOO worth posting. My dear friend Heidi is quite the performer. I couldn't stop laughing at her.

Ahhh...the treasures one finds AFTER the party. Aaron and the Tea Party Rocker Rockin out the house. (having trouble uploading video...it will be here soon)

sigh.....

I am tired...Long stinky day. My brain is dead.

The shoe.

Well, my dad and I have had this thing go on for years about this sandal. While in Junior high, I found these sandals for my dad. I thought they were spiffy and cool at the time. I gave them to my dad and he laughed. I guess a 60+ year old man didn't think they were as cool as I thought they were. Well, I eventually found these sandals in my room under my bed. At the time, I thought my mom just put them in my room to get them out of the way. I put them in my dad's room. A few days later, I find them under my pillow...and the story of the shoe begins.

Over the years, we have tried to place the shoe in places the other person least expects. Also, over the years, we lost one. Here are some ways the shoe has gotten to the other person... Through a pizza delivery box, served on a platter to my dad at Lonestar steakhouse, at the birth of my first born, graduation party gift, through the mail, in my backpack, in my bags at college, tied on the front of the car, as gifts many times and the list goes on. I wish I would have kept a journal of the places it has been.

Well, my sons don't really know the reason this shoe keeps popping up. In the past year, some child left a Barney book at our home. We aren't sure who it belongs to. The boys have done this "trading the Barney book" idea among the members of our household. It is really funny because they really do not have a clue that my dad and I have done this with a shoe for YEARS. They came up with it on their own. The kids favorite place to hide the Barney book is between the pillow case and pillow. Almost every night, someone groans about hitting their head on the Barney Book when going to bed.

As for the shoe...I HAVE IT and am trying to come up with a crazy way to get this into the hands of my dad. Watch out dad...you have one coming. Any ideas welcomed. I can't promise you they havent already been done, but I am open to your suggestions.

We are waiting for Evan...

My sister in law and brother in law is waiting to go over to Vietnam to get this little cutie...the countdown begins. This video was sent to them by a friend who is over getting their little guy

I really am a....

Need I say more??



I'm official now...uniform and all! Yes, I felt like a dork wearing it. Worse yet, I am not required to wear it. I chose to wear it because I am a NERD and because Andrew wanted me to. Peace out from the ghetto cub den leader.....word.

Please do not submit this to Boyscouts U.S.A., I may be featured on their next Den Leader's Gone Wild video.

Brother builder...

Lego's are beautiful in building brother relationships. No pun intended

Concentrating...

His Masterpiece.
Lego's are...

Brotherly Love...

Terms of Endearment...well, maybe not

Andrew came up to me today and opened up my hand and said "Mom, read this later". He then proceeded to close my hand and walked away. I was shocked when I opened the note. The letters were so perfectly written and I guess I was excited that he wrote something on his own without me asking him to practice writing...but the message cut to my heart. I didn't know what to say at the moment. Any advise on sibling relationships?

Coffee boy...

Owen wants to open up a coffee shop soon. We were going to do it over break, but things got a little too busy. We are planning Martin Luther King day. I finished his "logo". He is ready to go. The local Starbucks was kind enough to provide some cups, stir sticks, a hat, some lids and some empty gift cards. They see our faces frequently, so I am sure they felt guilty seeing a 5 year old ask for coffee shop supplies.
Really, how would anybody say "NO" to a future entrepreneur?

Call me crazy...

So, I have been bugging my dad to start a blog. My dad is pretty computer smart and if the opportunity was available to him many years ago, I think he would have had a side career as a computer nerd. He has fixed my computer time and time again. For instance, the whole picture upload that I have been having since July...he fixed. He told me to download explorer 7 about 3 weeks ago and I didn't. Not sure why I didn't listen (that is that stubborn part of my mom that she can have back). Well, the other day, I thought to myself, I am going to try it...what is the worse that can happen? He was right and he fixed the problem. If my stubborn head would have only listened to him a few weeks ago, I would have saved many headaches (and sleepless nights). Anyway, I feel the blog will be good for his soul. It is sure good for mine.

So, Aaron and I decided that we are going to have a "no manners' dinner sometime. Yes, you heard it right. We are so tired of always telling the boys to "not say that at the table", "don't play with your food", yadda yadda. We are going to have a night where anything goes. If they want to burp at the table....it is allowed, if they want to eat with their hands....it is allowed. I know you are asking "What the world?" Yeah, I thought that too at first. I once heard a person speak on fun things you can do with your kids. He had said that he and his family have "no manner" dinners when their kids were younger. He said that his wife would fixed spaghetti and they HAD to eat with only their hands. They threw noodles at each other and just had fun being a family. Well, the girls are much older and they continue to request for the no manners dinner (I believe they are now in High School). Of the many things these loving parents did for their kids, the "no manners" dinner was something they Loved and still continue to do. Sometimes we can be too stuffy with our kids. The things I remember about my childhood were the things my parents DID with me. I know I would have remembered a "no manners" dinner. Call me Crazy.

Hey, if you want to join us for the "no manners" dinner, I will make sure you have a seat reserved...between both boys.

why so tired??

For the past few days, I have been feeling so incredibly tired. I am not sure if it is the end of season holiday blues or what. I don't believe I am pregnant, so you can save yourself any speculation. I am trying a multi-vitamin (they usually make me sick if they are in tablet form). I found a one that is in a capsule and hoping this will allow me to get the vitamin in my system without getting sick. So far, it has been ok.

Yesterday, I took the boys to the recreation center to sign up for a class. The boys and I will be taking a self-defense class starting next week. I also signed up for a pottery class. Prior to my mom's death, I was in a potters class and really loved it. Now that things have settled down a little, I am ready to do it again. Besides, I need to make a hat for my snowman dispenser Aaron broke last week. :(

I also am going to be doing a fitness class/accountability program starting next week. It sounds like a pretty good program. If you stick with the program and make the recommended lifestyle changes, the average person loses 25 pounds. This is exactly the amount I wanted to lose. I know of a few people that have done the program and they went away losing weight and being more knowledgeable about their bodies and health. I think I am ready for this.

On February 1st, I am throwing a Pampering shower for my sister in law Jen. This will be her 4th baby and is well deserved on her part. I finished up her invitations yesterday, and think they are so much fun. I have been learning how to create Andy Warhol like projects using Photo shop. Here is the front of her invitation. It will be fun to have her friends over and give her some pampering that every momma needs.

Birthday video for my dad...

Yesterday, I was pretty tired and just feeling a bit down. It was my dad's birthday and we were not able to be with him. Things like that really get to me. Anyway, Aaron worked from home yesterday and he knew I was feeling pretty sad. I was trying to figure out something to do for my dad for his birthday. For those of you who don't know, my dad lives in Michigan about 4 1/2 hours away, so being with him during the weekday is impossible. After alot of thought, I thought it would be fun to make a video for him. Aaron is such a great sport and knew this would make me feel better about being away from my dad on his birthday. HE WOULD HAVE NEVER DONE THIS...EVER...ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC. I thought I would post the video because it was a bit funny....

Aaron is taking his first trip out of town since the end of November. He will only be in Chicago for a couple of days. I will be cleaning, pitching stuff (the whole simplifying my life goal), and maybe doing some scrapbooking. Maybe I will even try to figure out this stupid picture upload problem I am having.

Looking ahead to the Month...

Well, today...I am tired and worn out. I dont feel quite like myself today. Maybe all of that head banging last night did me over. I finished up a project for Andrew's school this morning. I photographed all of the kids in his class before we went on winter break. I plan to do the bulletin board for the teacher this week. All of the kids had these huge snowflakes in front of them...all different colors. Well, now that there is NO snow and almost 65 Degrees outside, I am not sure what to do for the board. I know the snow will eventually come (I hope). Here is the pic... any ideas for the board?

Rock band...

I orinally purchased the game Rock Band for myself for Christmas and disguised it as a gift for Aaron....Did I just say that? Let me rephrase that...I originally purchased the game Rock band for Aaron for Christmas. He made me take it back because it was a pretty big purchase for someone with a spending problem and he figured my whole plan out. Well, a few days later he went back to Target and purchased it for "us" after playing the game Guitar Hero. It is so much fun. We had some of our friends over tonight for the OSU game but the game was so bad, we ended up jamming some tunes. Keep in mind, we are all totally sober. The funny thing about playing this game is you go away thinking you are really good at playing the guitar, singing and playing the drums. We have a great group of friends that are all good sports.
Check out the video....

January 7th, 2008

Well, as many of you know, my dear mom passed away this year and I am really getting hit hard recently. I think with everything with the Holidays it stirred up some feelings. Yesterday, when I was in the store the song that was played at her funeral was played and I burst into tears. It didn't bother me that others were looking at me as I am sobbing. It was a good cry~if that makes any sense. I just wonder when moments like that will be gone. I am not sure if I will feel guilty when they start to become numb to me and am not sure if I really want them to go. Until about a month ago, the first thing I thought of when I woke up was my mom in the hospital and her last day here. It is now almost 7 months later and I think of that time about 4 times per week...progress I guess you can call it. I miss her dearly. She was a very special person and I am now seeing a lot of her in me...which I wouldn't trade for anything (well, maybe the inheritance of cold sores and a little bit of her stubbornness, but everything else is for me to keep). I miss her.

Here is the memorial video I made for the funeral...

January 6th, 2008

Well, the Holiday season is over and I am concentrating on the New Year and all of the my resolutions that I will break. Hmmm...resolutions. I never really was keen about those New years Resolutions anyway because I never have been disciplined enough to actually keep them, which then results in feeling like a complete failure...Why would I do that to myself?
Well, this year, I feel a little differently about them for some reason. I have thought about the things that I need to do to improve my life for the year 2008. Here they are in no particular order.

1.) I have come to grips that I am never going to look like a super model...nor would I really want to look like one for that matter. I want to live a healthier lifestyle. I don't really care if I have an extra roll around my belt. I just want to be healthy and instill healthy eating/recreation habits in my kids.
2.) I need to control my spending. Yikes. I am bad and really think I have a problem in this area. I am a pretty impulsive spender and am thankful I do not live near a casino. I would be in trouble.
3.) Simplify my life. I think If I can learn to simplify my life, the spending thing will be a little easier for me. I want to go through my house (like I have done many times) and give things away. The last time I did this, It felt awesome...then I got plagued with this spending problem and bought everything that I gave away (plus some) back.
4.) Draw closer to God (I dont need to explain this one...it is between me and the almighty).


Catch ya later...gotta go spend some money. Just kidding.