I recently spoke here about Aimee and how we have had some pretty phenomenal times throughout our friendship. Still having them. Had one today actually. P-Daddy, JD and I packed up the family truckster this afternoon to head over to the Ash household for a nice Sunday playdate and dinner! I have to say this gets more and more fun (and interesting) each and every time we do this.
I must go back in time though to a moment where Aimee, Jeremy, P-Daddy and I did weekly dinners. This came to a screeching halt when we both found out we were prego...we both had just recently moved to our homes we reside in now and that happened to put us 30 minutes (on a good day) a part and we were some tired beaatches after long days at work and the fact that we were growing babies (she was growing TWO). Regardless of our many excuses I think I speak for the group when I say we were truly sad to see this tradition go. Truly. I think I may have even shed a tear about it. If you, as a couple get the opportunity to do this with another couple that you enjoy spending time with, I would encourage it big time!
I digress though...back to today. So our kids are big kids now. They hug, they laugh at each other, they laugh with each other, Addy and Lilly know JD's name and say it frequently. He thinks they are the neatest girls he has ever seen. And the parents...well we laugh, referee when needed and try to have some adult conversation in there some where. We used to joke that they would go to prom together, or be boyfriend and girlfriend, or just be friends. But that was then...
Lilly, JD, Addy
Addy, JD, Lilly
The start of the baby conspiracy to become BIG KIDS
And now...well I see this all as a possibility. That our friendship will give our children the potential to have life long friendships together too. Sure they will most likely go to different schools and have their own neighborhood friends...but these girls will be the ones that JD literally grows up with. I didn't have that and am so glad he will.
Addy, JD, Lilly
Their first lunch date...awwww
Probably not the only time JD will make Lilly cry...JD will get his though, I am sure of it!
First trip to the Children's Museum together
First hug with Addy
And finally...the reason this blog was written today...the little (BIG) ones eating together at table, with plates! Time flies when you are having fun!
JD, Addy, Lilly
Thank you Aimee, Jeremy Addy and Lilly! We always have a great time with you...all of us!!
...that I want to be all alone, just one of them days, that a girl goes through(aooo), you know you are singing this sweet sweet song along with me! On a side note, I had this on an answering machine message once...yes I was singing it and yes this wasn't the only song I sang on that there message. It went something like..."Hey this is Mamalouise and I am glad you called and plan to call you back unless (insert break out in song) its just one of them days.... and so on and so forth. Everyone who left me a message was laughing out loud (at me) as they left their message. If this doesn't confirm that at heart (or in general) I am a big fat dork...I'm not sure what will. :)
I'm having one of those days too mom...quit taking pictures and come and play with me!
Its really NOT one of those days in general...but it IS one of those days that I don't want to blog. But I have to blog. Because I made a promise. To you. To me. To God. Okay the last one was just for dramatics but you get the point. Saturday should not be a day for blogging. Saturday (and Sunday) for that matter are days for resting away from blogging. But I am here. Sigh...
I am really tired today actually. P-Daddy and I both dragged our butts out of bed this morning (who am I kidding, JD dragged our butts out of bed) for Spinning at the gym (we dragged JD to the gym though...). I was WAY excited to drag him there because the gal that teaches the class I go to on Tuesday mornings also teaches today. EXCEPT SHE WASN'T THERE and the class totally stunk. The lady that taught it played slow songs the whole time from the early nineteen sixties. Miserable. If you have never been to spinning before...believe me when I say you need FAST, LOUD, UPBEAT music to get you through the pain and sweat. So P-Daddy and I just made fun of the ridiculous music and worked through it. :) My teacher, in case anyone cares is AWESOME and plays tons of amazing music while kicking your butt and you leave feeling extremely accomplished and in a great mood! What a great combo that would have been awesome to start a Saturday off with! Next Saturday it is!
I had some alone mommy time today too which was AWESOME! I placed myself on a chair at the pool, by myself (literally no one was there but me and the lifeguard), with an earful of either my girlfriend or my ipod. It was wonderful bliss that brought me back to a time where I would do that all the time AND DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT ENOUGH! Which brings me to...maybe I should appreciate this blog MORE and quit my bit*h*ng eh? :)
P-Daddy didn't have AS good of day as me though. He came to the pool a little later with JD and right when he plopped himself on a chair...a bird pooped directly on him! HA! That has never happened to me before so I was cracking up for some reason! I know, its just bird poop but its so gross and so funny that more of us don't get crapped on more often as those suckers are flying around all over the place just dropping deuces whenever they please! Hilarious.
I hope YOU are having a great weekend! I will see YOU here tomorrow (or maybe its that you will see ME)?! :)
Guess he couldn't feel the breeze because it didn't seem to bother him. :) This will be the only time where this is cute in his life so it was worth snapping a shot! :)
In other news...JD peed in the potty TWICE in the last two days?! Our pediatrician told us at our last appointment (about a week ago) to start introducing the potty to JD but not to push it on him. So once a day we sit him on the potty and read a story (or rather I typically tell him a story). He gets up several times but so far always comes back and sits down. He is really into it so we are going with it! I do not think he knows what he is doing AT ALL though. The doctor told us to make a REALLY big deal about it though so we have. Our treat of choice has been a little bag of fruit snacks as he doesn't ever get to have his own bag of anything. So he is in love, hopefully with the treats AND the potty!
Pool time!! We are so excited to help JD learn how to swim this summer! Last year, lets be honest, we were pool rats. And because we are completely fine with this title, we will be going for that again this year! :)
Over Memorial Day weekend we went to the pool several times and tried out some of our new "floatie" gear. We didn't get pictures of JD's new outfit, namely the all spandex garb that has a floatation device that resembles a kickboard built inside of it. Don't worry...we will get some pics next time! Needless to say he doesn't heart that outfit and its kind of awkward in the water.
So we went straight for the water wings which he has taken a liking to. Its amazing to us how confident he is in the baby pool this year. Last year he was barely walking in the summer and used his floatie as a walker in the baby pool. This year he is so freaking tall and walking all around and using his water wings to leverage himself (or his face) above the water. So fun!
I can't believe its summer already! Hallelujah! I feel like last winter went by soo much slower. Probably due to the fact that I was sleeping about 2 hours a day then! Crazy how fast things change.
PS-I am only five days in and this is already HARD!
LAST year about this time Aimee and I took our children down to our good old alma mater to snap some photos, take a walk as our old campus is beautiful (if I do say so myself) and just enjoy some mommy time! :)
Yes we TOTALLY were trying to make our kids "Butler Famous" (hence the "almost famous" title above) with this picture as we dropped by the bookstore right before so they would be wearing some Butler gear. I am not ashamed to admit this for a few reasons...
1. Its fun to get the Butler magazine and seeing pictures of people I knew back when's wedding, children, etc. So I am thinking it would be the same for others?! :)
2. I was and will never be that girl that submits my information in that same magazine to be published in the "Class Acts" section, namely the "brag on yourself" section. Yes my friends I just totally called you out if you have ever submitted yourself. But you can point the finger back at me for submitting my child, so we are even. :)
3. Aimee and I were best friends through college, post college, currently (you get the point) maids of honors in each others weddings, found out we were prego on the same day, and I am sure more crazy-weird-fun stuff that I am forgetting. So it really was rather important that Butler publish this photo as our whole friendship is pretty cool and its cool that our kids will probably (at least consider) going to Butler and they would be there together...awwwwwwwwww! We are so cute aren't we?! :)
So here is our "almost famous" children making their Butler debut!
After last nights Jon and Kate + 8 episode I thought it would only be appropriate to do a little TiVo talking today! I will get back to the train wrecks a little later. First we need to cover the amazing season finale's that have happened.
Lets get right to it...
Lets talk about the first annual Network TiVo Talk award...I didn't really plan on doing this but it needs to be done I think. Why? Because this Network rocked it out this season with some seriously good season finalies (and in general). So...without further ado...the first annual Network winner of TiVo Talk is...
Grey's Anatomy-I start with this because they were REALLY about to lose me this season. I just didn't think that this show could go anywhere else...and then the writers started to show BACK UP to work (apparently) because this show ended AMAZING. By amazing I mean, I am still on the edge of my seat because I don't know...is Izzy dead, is George gone? Rumor on the PEOPLE streets is that they both are finito but I don't know...their reps aren't commenting (yes I did just say that as if I am the one who spoke to their reps). The last two episodes of this show were UNBELEIVABLE. I was moved to straight up SOBS for Izzy's wedding. Speaking of...I seriously need to go to the dermatologist.
Desperate Housewives-Let me just say that I am so glad that MJ is okay. That was an evil scene with making Susan potentially watch her son's death. I was freaking out, not gonna lie. But seeing little MJ on the side of the street, I breathed again. I don't think that Dave is gone forever though. That whole thing will be interesting. Here is my overall deal with DH though...it is TOTALLY an evening soap opera. I have to keep this in mind while watching because sometimes I find myself getting all wrapped up in the plots and then I remember that this show strongly resembles one of the soaps I used to watch (The Young and the Restless to be exact). Everyone ends up marrying everyone else's husband and they all have kids together, and people die or you think they do and then they come back and you totally believe all of this and still watch even though it is totally ridiculous and would never happen in real life. But real life right now kind of sucks for most people so this kind of show is perfect.
Brothers and Sisters-I went directly to Itunes after the season finale and downloaded Bryan Adam's version of "Wonderwall." I am a music freaking fanatic and that song really got me so it had to be purchased. Although this was definitely worth mentioning to all of you because I believe that everyone should also own this song...this was not the most memorable moment in the finale. I think they are trying to write of Rob Lowe, which is fine by me. But its almost like they are teetering on the idea because they made him this huge jerk who became the worst husband/father ever (lying, passive-aggressive, etc) and now he is the one fighting for the marriage. Interesting. This whole show fascinates me really. I think big families are so neat...but don't really think I could have one considering I really am struggling getting pregnant ONE.MORE.TIME so I live vicariously through theirs every Sunday. I also really enjoy southern California (which I think I mentioned this before), and my family HAS a family business so this is also interesting to me how all of that plays out. In general this may be my favorite show on television right now.
Private Practice-I still have nightmares about this season finale. Seriously. The worst part was that I didn't realize it WAS the season finale and there I was, laying in bed, P-Daddy was asleep, freaking out at the crazy lady about to slice Violet's belly open and then they LEAVE ME LIKE THAT?! Needless to say, I pressed the "info" button to read the description and thats when I notice it was THE SEASON FINALE and then I couldn't sleep at all that night because I seriously was nautious at the thought of someone doing that to me, knowing I would most likely bleed to death and my baby would be in the hands of a crazy person. I know, I know...its TV and all will be fine in the world...still though, they got me with that one!
Saturday Night Live-They REALLY stepped up their game this season. I mostly feel this way because of the digital shorts. Please enjoy my personal favorite that did not happen on the season finale but on the show before...I heart JT, we know this so this video shouldn't be surprising to any of you. PS-its uncensored so "earmuffs" for the kids might be good idea. :)
American Idol-so glad Kris won. Lets be honest, he will sell way more records than Adam ever would have. I also lived in a fantasy world with some of you (Adam fans) a few years ago when Taylor Hicks won. I so was on board with him and I was DEAD WRONG. He isn't very good and no one buys his records. The fog will lift for you Adam fans too when you realize that at best he will end up on broadway. This show is good, don't get me wrong but it may be on its way out...I just don't know if I can take it anymore. On a side note, I SOOO watched the interview with Paula Abdul where she COMPLETELY denied ever TAKING pain killers, addictive drugs or EVER getting drunk for that matter. I felt for the woman...until like two weeks later when she revealed in Woman's Day (or something like that) that in fact she was addicting to prescription pain medication until this past November when she went to REHAB. Celebrities kill me, they really do.
The Office-the season finale was good but this show is starting to physically make me feel uncomfortable.
Those are really the only noteable season finales. I enjoyed this season though and am not looking forward to a summer without any good TiVoing. I say that and then there are a few shows that may end up being worthy...
I wanted to mention a few of the members that became a part of the Rhyme and Reason television graveyard. We just couldn't handle all of this TV load (ha!) and some of these shows just fell off our priority list!
RIP Chuck-it got really hokey, a big thumbs down!
Boston Legal-sad that it was cancelled, we would still be watching this show as it was brilliant!
The Biggest Loser-although we did tune into the finale (because it is so neat to see all of those amazingly healthy and SKINNY people) we no longer watch regularly. I do give this show a THUMBS UP because of its impact on obese American's, but I can't watch anymore.
Lipstick Jungle-another cancelled that I would still be watching...I am definitely a member of the "bring back Lipstick Jungle" group on FB-HA!
Kath and Kim-it just wasn't funny
On a side note...did anyone else see the Oprah with Dane Cook? He is HILARIOUS but his impersonation of her is priceless. See below (the video isn't the best and the girls laughing is kind of annoying, but what he says is priceless)...
One of the shows that the TiVo is set and ready to go for the summer is Jon and Kate + 8. We tuned in last night to see what all the hype was about and it was soo worth it. Although I have to say that I had trouble falling asleep because their distaste for each other really did bother me. I could say a whole lot about what went on but there are really two morals to what I believe their story is:
1. Money has gotten the best of them. Wonder where they would be had they NOT become TLC's hit show? Bet you it would be suburban bliss of sorts.
2. They are so kidding themselves when they say "we are just focused on the kids and making sure they are okay." Ummm the kids would be PERFECT if mommy and daddy got their heads out of their asses and start focusing on their marriage! Note to the Gosselin's: Your kids will never be the same after your divorce.
See you next Fall for TiVo Talk 2009's Fall Season Lineup!! Here's to hoping summer TV doesn't stink! :)
JD has been working really hard on a lot of things (see yesterday's post) and saying WORDS are at the top of his list. Although we still don't hear a lot of anything but "no" he sure is trying his little heart out!
Today JD wanted to say "Thank you" to all of our soldiers out there, past and present who help us to live in the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE! He even wore his SWEET American Flag t-shirt in honor of today (yes GranBeck it still fits!) :)
...before you can BE the part (in this case the "part" would be the next Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods)! I have blogged about it before...and expect it again and again after this! :) Golf is a big deal around these parts and P-Daddy couldn't be prouder of his little man, dressed up for the game we love, ready to hit the course! :)
Although the course is currently our back yard, JD is really starting to get the hang of things! As you can tell we are trying to document his progression (or maybe this is just another example of how we can't get enough of our little JD!)
Enjoy the pictures (and this beautiful Memorial Day Weekend weather!!)
Its nice outside, can we PLEEEAAAASE play golf?!?
You said "yes" so what are we waiting for?
Okay, NOW we are ready...so lets hit it!
Look Dad! I'm a pro!
Dad says I need to practice my chipping so I'm gonna go down here!
What is "chipping" again?
I like to drive the ball better dad, so I'm gonna go tee it up again!
A HOLE IN ONE? I don't even know what that is but you guys seem pretty excited so-YAY FOR ME!
I am going to work on my short game, follow me and I will show you where we need to do that
Okay, I guess we can go inside. It was a pretty successful day though if I do say so myself. :)
I decided a while back that for my 1 year blogiversary I would do something memorable. Memorable at least for yours truly! :)
I looked at the date of my very first blog (June 15, 2008) and decided from where I was at that point I would do 30 BLOGS IN 30 DAYS to make 100 blogs in a year! That, folks is a memorable thing for yours truly because sometimes this girl has a hard time getting material in her head together for a good blog. I haven’t yet been able to grasp you daily bloggers out there. Yes, my head is filled with a lot of stuff that could potentially turn out good blog, but how you so eloquently put those thoughts together EVERY DAY has amazed me (especially Angie from A Book a Day…she reads a WHOLE book and BLOGS every single day)! So while I do not promise that it will be 30 days of beautiful writing compiled of the amazingness that is in my head, I do promise you will get some good stuff from up top.
In preparing for this daunting task I had a moment with all of my blogs and realized that it is kind of been a while since a good Tivo Talk, a recipe, or you have gotten some fabulous material about the fam! So grab your popcorn and favorite cocktail cause it’s all coming out in my next 30 blogs!
I thought I would start this off with highlighting my fav’s from my first year of blogging…
Favorite Overall-I couldn’t decide between these two (which translates to “I really like these because I completely “let go” and just wrote. Basically I used my blog like it was a diary which can be REALLY hard to do, but VERY freeing once you do it). :)
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you hot, amazing, and oh so talented momma's out there in blogger world! I have no good excuses at all why I didn't post this yesterday other than I was enjoying my own Mother's Day! It was finally nice here in good old Indiana so we were able to enjoy some outside time! I am crossing my fingers that we will be able to do this on a regular basis now and that the RAIN is OVER! :)
Some pics of Mother's Day 2009 (a rare occasion that Mommy and JD get a photo shoot...a perk of the day!) :)
I first off want to thank my own mother, we call her Granbecks :) (she too has a blog and posted a lovely mother's day post which includes some very embarrassing photos of yours truly...if you get a chance, click on her name and give her some blogger love) for being such a wonderful momma to me! My mother, if you don't know her, is one of the most caring, thoughtful and amazing individuals you will ever meet. She is also very kind. I am so glad and proud to call her my MOM and hope to instill in my children the kindness and love for others as she has done for me! I LOVE YOU mom, and Happy Mother's Day.
Second...some of you may have figured out that a lot of my REAL LIFE friends also have children around JD's age. Aimee, Brooke, Laura, Ashley, Brooke, Talia, Jessica, Jaimie, and Tara to be exact. Aimee is my closest of all of those real/blogger friends and between our really close group of friendies 3 of us were prego together (not planned because lets be honest folks...that would be creepy). Through the blogger world I have had the opportunity to "reconnect" with some of the ladies above and see their grown up mommy selves. I have to say that I am so proud of the women that are in my life! You are ALL phenomenal women and wonderful mommies! I think it is so fun that we all have children around the same age...we need to get together for some playdates so these children know each other! :)
Last but not least...yesterday in church our pastor had an interesting spin on a Mother's Day sermon. He read out of Mark Chapter 10:1-16. That chapter actually talks about divorce...so when I looked it up and saw that I was confused. But as usual he did a wonderful job of bringing God's grace into the message. A couple of things that stuck with me dealt with the priority order of family. Meaning most of us put our children FIRST, and ourselves last. But God teaches us:
GOD FAMILY
CHILDREN
...and that really got to me. Mostly because JD has been the "center" of our world since he was born. And that sometimes (as you even know as I have blogged about it) I have lost myself, and admittingly P-Daddy and I have had to find each other (through the poop and bath time and spit up). I always knew God should be first and we strive to make him that way, but I thought it was more like...
GOD
CHILDREN
HUSBAND
ME
...or maybe that is how I LIVE most of the time?! Well anyway, its nice to regain God's intention on our lives. The second and last thing that he said that I loved is: " HOME is where God is at center stage...when God is there we can all find our proper place."-Pastor Greg McGarvey
I am certainly not trying to preach to you, at you, NOTHING like that dear readers! This blog has always been about me sharing my thoughts on life...and I found this refreshing and powerful. :)
Before he went into his sermon, Pastor Greg read the below. Something many of the mothers out there have received as a forward I am sure...but I couldn't resist posting this because I think it is perfectly said and very witty! :)
POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma
JOB DESCRIPTION:Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills! and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities.Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair,mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls,maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
I hope each and every Mom out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!
