Lean n' Mean

Marshall bought himself a new addition to muscle beach for his birthday. Let me first start by telling you what muscle beach is, and why I hate it so much! "Muscle Beach" is Marshall's work out room. It is filled with exercise equipment. But not just your typical bowflex, or some other compact machine. This room is full of heavy duty, gym machines. Including almost 1000 lbs of dumbells! He actually bought them from a friend of his who makes the machines for gyms. This by itself is fine, but why I hate them is for a couple reasons. First, muscle beach used to be the play room. A nice place for the kids to leave their toys out, and out of the way. Second, I hate lifting weights, and everytime he's down there he trys to get me to do it with him. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about spending time together, but not doing that! Its a great way to stay fit I know, but I get enough of a work out carrying these machines off the trailer, though the door, down the two flights of stairs and into place. Carrying a sleeping 45 lb. boy out of the car, carrying a 25 lb girl everywhere, plus sometimes carrying groceries, bags of other daily items, or even carrying Callie and Molly and the bags all at once keeps me lean n' mean! I can't fault Marshall for working out, or wanting to be closer to home, but that doesn't mean I still can't complain about it! At least the kids love doing it with him.

Something Fishy

Trent had off school so we went to Chicago to visit the Shedd Aquarium. We hit traffic as usual. I was excited because I finally remembered to use the express lane. It turned out to be slower than the regular lanes. Why are there so many cars on the road at 9am on Thursday!

My Mom called me with an urgent sound in her voice. "Where are you?" "Listen to me!" Yikes whats wrong? Katie has extra Cats tickets do you want to go tonight. Sigh of relief! Perfect! We're in the area anyway.

I wanted to get there early, so planned on letting the kids sleep in the car and then getting them dressed when we got there. I had everything packed the night before. I felt so organized, until we got there and Trent says, "Mom, do you have shoes for me?" Ugh! Luckily Target was close and he needed a new pair anyway.

The aquarium was fun. My favorites were the sea turtle and the sea dragons. (In pic. w/Callie)

Trent's favorites were the hammerhead sharks and the stingrays.

Callie's favorites were the dolphins.

We got popcorn, but had to put it away in the dolphin area. We had to explain to the kids why we couldn't have our food in that area because it wasn't good for the animals to eat it. Trent immediately asked me if I had any fish.

This chameleon crawled from the far tree branch right up to the window by Trent. It was so cool!

It was a rough day for my car. When we were pulling out of the parking lot the barricade arm came down on us! I was following Marshall and the GPS out of the city, but had to ride 2 inches from his tail or I would get cut off. After that happened 5 times I decided I had to drive like a F.I.B. ! Even a that someone wiggled their way in. I complained out loud and Trent suggests I "ram him!"

Went out to dinner, then Cats. (It was great dancing and choreography, weird story.) I left my car in the structure at KD's work. On the way home I noticed a business card in my windshield, but figured it was from security. Couldn't reach it while I was driving, so I read it when I got home. It was a note from someone who backed into my car. At first I thought it stunk, but didn't really care all that much until I drove it the next day and realized it rubbed on the tire every time I went over a bump!

Enjoy the Jennyography. Can't get the kids to both look at the camera at the same time to save my life, but it seems the fish were very interesting.

Quirky

You never really notice your own little quirks until your child starts mimicing them. Whenever I use a public bathroom, if there is a hair on the seat I blow it off. Never mind not sitting, I still don't want it there. So I take Callie into the stall and the first thing she does is Fff, Fff, Fff. (More of a huff, than a puff.) Not a hair to be found, but if that's what Mom did yesterday....

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Trent and Marshall! Another crazy busy couple of days.

Ever since the new year started Trent has been asking me to have a "friend" b-day party. I kept telling him no. He had it all planned out. They would have a glowing lightsaber fight with the basement lights off. He needed one for each kid and planned on doing the required amount of chores to earn the money to buy one glowing lightsaber for each boy. Mind you, he already has 2 glowing lightsabers and 7 non-glowing. (All I can say is he is a collector!) But the non-glowing just won't cut it. Every day on the way to school we do the math. 5 boys, minus 2 glowing lightsabers = 3 still needed. $20 per glowing lightsaber x 3 = $60. I'm generous, $1 per chore, that's 60 chores. We then talk about the jobs that he can do when he gets home from school. Everyday we did this! Everyday we got home and he chose not to do any chores. (This is why I can afford to offer a whole $1) Finally he decides to just have a regular lightsaber fight. I still haven't even said yes to the party. Then, he convinces himself he doesn't even really want to have a party. I feel bad, but am glad. We have enough things going on this month. Then I realize it is his Golden Birthday. 6 on the 6th. I had to wait forever for my golden birthday, and wanted it to be a pretty special thing. It wasn't....boo hoo for me. Trent's needed to be great, so I agreed to the party and started planning. Talked to the Mom's and we had ourselves a Golden Birthday party!
The day started with me going to Trent's classroom for the birthday celebration. A Montessori Birthday: They sing a special song and hold a model globe as the walk a circle around a candle representing the sun, they do this as many years as they are old. Then we had the special snack I brought in, Trent's choice Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats at 9am, as I read the book Trent picked out. When I asked him what book he wanted to bring in, I was happy because he thought of the same book I did. The book Auntie Kate gave him for his first Christmas. ("Where there's a bear, there's trouble." Fun book!)

I raced home to do my last minute cleaning and party prep. Marshall wasn't due in til Friday, but was able to change his flight to get home for the party. He called saying the flight was cancelled, but he was able to reroute, so I spent the morning trying to figure out how to get him back home! For some reason my internet searching skills were failing me! I could not get the information I needed!

2pm rolls around way too soon, I borrow my Mom's car and pick up all the kids from school. The "Mitzi Van" is back in action! I had about an hour and a half of free time before I wanted to get the dinner going, so I planned some structured activities to delay the inevitable jedi battle and possible eye injury. The kids colored and cut out their own lightsabers and we played "pin the lightsaber on the jedi" (I made it up, it was awesome!) I got a Darth Vader pinata, they hit it with the lightsabers, we opened presents, that took all of 15 minutes! So much for structured activities! Lightsaber fight! Boys will be Boys! All and all it was a great party. He might be too young to remember all the details, but at least I know I did everything I could to make his Golden Birthday special. Look at the hug I got! Thanks to everyone for the gifts. Trent is over the moon!

Marshalls birthday is the day after Trent's and he has sort of gotten lost in the mix. He bought himself another addition to "Muscle Beach", so he is happy.

We had the Spring Fling fundraiser for school on Saturday. Great fun. I won $100 and a $25 dinner gift certificate. We bought tickets for the $200 Million Powerball, but didn't win. There's still a chance though, because nobody won! Come Wednesday we might be millionares! I think we are lucky enough to have the relationships we have and the fun times in our lives.

Virtual Open House

We moved into our new house a year and a half ago, and have yet to have a housewarming party. Most have been over, but some have not, so I decided to have a virtual open house. WELCOME! I thought I would do something a little bit different than just take pictures of the rooms. Here are some of my favorite things and spaces in the house.
Jennyography Style!

Our back yard is wooded. Everytime it snows a Mom and her twin deer bed down back there.

Lots of sunshine!

From the front door looking right, steps leading into our full basement. Not yet painted, boring pictures. Lots of kids toys, couch, entertainment center, fireplace/sitting area, Marshall's office, bathroom, closets and "muscle beach" (Marshall's weight room).

From the front door looking in. The windows look out into the back yard.

"My Couch". I don't read much, but the thought of a reading couch is so relaxing.

Fireplace.

I love old keys. I made these shadow boxes from keys I found at my Grandpa's house. (This is looking from the living room into the kitchen.)

Dining area. Overlooking back porch.

Kitchen side of double sided fireplace.

Corner sink. More sunshine! (This picture was taken late afternoon.)

Love to have this pot rack.

From the front door looking left to the bedrooms. Master bedroom to the left, kids rooms on the right.

Master Bedroom with our new "Adult" furniture. We had my childhood bedroom set prior.

Our wedding picture, reflecting the arched window.

My jewlery box, Christmas present from Marshall years ago.

Master bathroom, corner tub! My favorite knick-knacks.

Framed tiles from Grammie.

Shells from our Honeymoon in a glass bowl made by my Grandpa.

Watercolor painting from Marshall for my Birthday after we got back from our sailing trip in the Apostle Islands. (Toliet and Walk in Closet Doors)

Callie's room, Marshall's Mom and I made the roman shade.

Trent's room is too messy for pictures!

Bling, Bling! Chandalier from Grammie. I wanted to put it elsewhere in the house, but loved this idea. A girl's gotta have her Shabby Chic!

Name mirror's made by Marshall's Mom.

Kids bathroom, connects to both their rooms.

I got a little paint crazy in here! Bubbles!

I love living here. Sometimes I curse Marshall for moving us so far away from everything, since 85% of our life is still in E.T. but it's a big, comfortable house. We live in a small, older subdivision, with tree's in our back yard and a park in the middle, right across the street. We are 7 miles from just about everything we need; Super Walmart, Blockbuster, Culvers, Target.... And bike riding distance to the library and the beach. I really do want to have a BBQ sometime. Maybe more people will actually get to see the house in person.

All Polished Up

This weekend was scheduled to be a busy one, and it was! Hockey, Movie night at Trent's school, Marshall's flight which we just made it to 30 minutes before take off! And a Birthday Party for our neighbor girl. While getting ready Trent asked me to get his clothes, "all polished up for him." He said he really wanted to look "sharp" for the party. The whole time he was in the shower he was asking me if I got his clothes "all polished." When he was getting dressed he even asked me to iron his clothes for him! He got all dressed, brushed his hair, took a look in the mirror, and asked me how he looked! Then, he puts on his Jedi costume! I guess it was a time for ceremonial garb.

Is that art??

Marshall's parents got us a painting from an Aboriginal artist when they were in Australia visiting his Aunt and Uncle who live in Perth. (Run on sentence!) We took a family trip to the frame store today. Trent asked where we were going and Marshall told him we were going to get a picture of his (Marshall's) toes. While at the frame store, Callie asks, "Daddy, where is the picture of your toes?" Then she wanted to call someone on my phone. Her new favorite thing to do. Am I in trouble or what? She called Gran and told her she was at the "toe" store. Funny what she picks up and runs with.