on basketball...

I love sports....so with mild interest I kept an eye on the NBA draft this evening (normally, I only pay attention to college basketball.) So, sadly we saw Yi JianLian get traded (Kate & I are "Yi" fans)...we traded Yi and another forward (Bobby Simmons)...for a different forward.

...they say this is to save $$$ under the salary cap.

So, we got this new forward...averages 22 points a game they say.

Still not happy, but fine...apparently this isn't good enough, however.

With the 8th pick in the first round...the Bucks select a forward,

?huh? okay, do the math...got rid of 2...got 2 more. (In business that's breaking even.)

With the 37th pick of the 2nd round...the Bucks select another forward.

I guess you can never have too many forwards. Maybe we could get rid of 2 guards and trade for a couple more forwards. Then the frozen tundra could continue to have a disappointing team, but at least they would be tall. I guess that would make it seem more like a basketball team...cause they are all tall.

I guess I better stick to college basketball.

Zai jian Mr. Yi

oh, yeah...

Even though we went to get Kate's hair "cut"...it was just a trim.

She still insists on having "long hair come down her back." And she wants to have: "one, two braids come down her shirt." And she wants to have "one, two bows like Kai*Lan" on Nick Jr*.

a little treat

are they cyanotic? do they have a virus? too much mercury in their energy-efficient-compact-fluorescent-expensive-madeinChina-government-mandated-dim-lightbulbs?

nope...Kate got haircut, Sam didn't tear about the salon...they were rewarded with cotton candy lollipops...they savored every lick and plastered their sticky little fingers everwhere...

Well said...

When you start to let go of something that you have hoped for, sometimes it's hard to believe there could be anything better out there. I found this post on one of my favorite blogs recently...ahhh, I'm not alone.

giving up a dream...

I am a regular reader of a weekly syndicated article that appears in our local paper. The theme of this week's column was giving up a dream that had just been within the author's reach. He had always dreamed of living overseas and was making the final plans when he and his wife had a heart to heart talk and decided against the move. He described some of his feelings in his piece.

For some reason, I really resonated with this article. I think it's because there are times in our lives when we finally have to let go of something that is just not going to happen. I am there. I had hoped for this dream to be realized, but for all intensive purposes...it won't. Things changed and it's no longer a practical pursuit. I considered really pushing hard for it...but in my heart, I know it's not the right thing to do.

I have, at times, tried to force issues in my life, hoping to drag God along with me. (Then hoping He'll bail me out if need be.) I believe He has a plan for me, but honestly, my idea seems better. (I know what I'm planning, I can't say I have much insight into His plans.) So, I started a little preemptive pushing, but stopped to pray. (This is always the dangerous part for me--I have to stop pushing and listen.) Then my heart started to change, and I got honest with myself. The reality is that prayer is often not about changing circumstances, but the process of God changing us. So, I have to let go of this...even though I can't think of a better dream out there. Thus, my finite limitations show through again.

Maybe I fear that God really doesn't realize how important this was to me. (Sounds stupid...omnipotent God doesn't know minor detail about one of His followers.) Maybe He doesn't know how disappointed I am. (Equally stupid...omnipresent God doesn't see my tears.) Or maybe I just can't imagine that He sees beyond my questions into my future...the circumstances, events and changes that will take place. (Additionally stupid, everlasting God, can't see into future.)

So, I am left to decide to actively trust my God or wallow in my disappointment and maybe get a little bitter. I think active trust is way to go. To intentionally pursue His plan for my life and that of our family. I know that bitterness is not an option, I'll choose to believe.

tgif

ever have one of those days?

you go to work and your schedule is blown to bits...

no one seems to notice the extra effort and attention to detail...

your kids assault you with demands when you get home from work...

and then...

you go out for Chinese food and your fortune cookie is empty...

...hope tomorrow is a better day...

talking to myself?

today is a lovely day in the flooded, thawed, formerly frozen tundra.

we went for a walk...kate, sam & mommy.

i took a little time to pray quietly as kate road her bike and sam relaxed in his stroller (he loves his ironman stroller--makes him feel cool 'cause its contruction yellow...)

kate heard me and turned around to say, "you talking to yourself mommy?"

i hope i'm not just talking to myself...i could use more help than i can give myself...

we have an awesome daddy...

Daddy found Sam sitting on the couch with a "few" of his favorite wheeled objects...this boy loves his cars...and he comes buy it naturally...

Daddy's day turned out to be lovely. We had planned to spend the morning at church, but a runny nose kept Sam from going to the nursery. So, we loaded everyone up for a morning on the shores of our favorite Great Lake. We got Daddy coffee and a cherry turnover and the kids shared a black 'n white cookie. Then...came...exploration...

Sam set out looking for sticks, rocks, dirt, sand...

Oh yeah...the playground...this boy loves his slides...

...bingo...he found the sand...see our favorite Great Lake in the background?

Sissy, was quite taken by the playground...climb...

attempt to summit...

charm with a smile...

then do it all over again...


these happy kids have a good reason to smile and have joy...they have a wonderful Daddy!

their Daddy:
-takes K to gymnastics...then to get doughnuts...just for fun...
-makes S laugh til he can't breath...
-works hard to provide...
-takes the time to teach, encourage and guide...
-chases them until they are breathless...
-reads them stories...over and over and over again...because they love their books...
-pushes K on the swings...higher and higher...
-comforts when they are sick...kisses boo-boos...cuddles when they're tired...
-prays with and for them...teaches them about how much God loves them...
-loves their Mommy...and her kitty...
-the list goes on...

no one has a better Daddy!

thank you Runner Boy...

learn somethin' new every day...

everyonce and a while you learn something about someone you didn't know. like today.

Runner Boy was priming an area in the house that we are about to paint and listening to the "oldies". ...then the Carpenters came on.

"Ughh!" i said..."reminds me of the Carpenters' concert i went to when i was like 5 years old."

"you went to a Carpenters concert?" asked Runner Boy with a look of shock.

"yeah." i admitted.

then he said, "i went to a barry manilow concert once...for a chick...it wasn't my idea."


(at least i wouldn't do THAT to him...good thing she's out of the picture...)

i'm still almost speechless over this act of infatuation.

wow...i had no idea how good he had it with me until i heard what he had to do for her. all Runner Boy had to do for me is become a cat lover, adopt a child from china, move to the frozen tundra, put me through college, put up with my starbucks addiction and shell out some money for clothes once in awhile.

you are a lucky man, Runner Boy. ...next on her list of concerts would have been Hanson and the Backstreet Boys...

Heard on the Street...

Kate is currently trying to live on a diet of fruit and yogurt. At supper, she asked for a refill of melon and blueberries. When I suggested she eat some of her pizza first...she thought...then said...

K: I have to go pee-pee, Mom...

M: Great...maybe you should wait and eat something first...

K: I have to go really bad Mom. really bad...

daughter then sent upstairs to alleviate enormous bladder distress.

from upstairs we hear...

K: Mom...there's a bug-o (insect) up here!

M: Great...just come down when you're done...

K: Mom...I moved da bug-o...it was an ant.

M: What'd you do with the ant?

K: I put him in da potty!

Flush...prolonged silence...

M: What are you doing up there?

Flush...prolonged silence...

K: I can't get da ant to go down the "tundel" (toilet pipe)

M: Just wait...

run upstairs...peek in potty...no evidence of ant...

wash hands...back downstairs...

eat 3 bites of pizza...

polish off more melon and blueberries.

note: memorial service for the poor ant held before bed-time

Bugs, Bacteria, Viruses...

ugh...sniffle, sneeze, cough...

feels like an urgent care clinic around here. little guy woke up from his nap yesterday...wailing...fever...miserable. tylenol marginally helpful. poor dude wants to play, but just feels punky.

older "sissy" has pneumonia and is on antibiotics...antibiotics causing GI issues. she is sad that she now has the "diet-er-ee-ahha". she still manages to play, but cries at the drop of a toy, bump of toe nail, if you look at her wrong.

mommy has some sinus gnarliosis which makes her feel like she's been beaten in the head...

daddy wants to hit his head on the wall because it feels better when he stops...


...surely this has got to get better...sniff, sniff...

zoo camp...

what do you do after 7 inches of rain falls in a few short days and the playground is too wet?

go to Fin-tastic Fish Camp at the zoo, of course!

we've been talking about going to fish camp for a week and kate was so excited to go. we had hours of fun...learning about fish, making projects and visiting the "ark" (aka the fish house at the zoo.)

*nemo* helped us learn about fins, tails, scales, gills, anemones, and SHARKS (eeek!)


there was free time to paint...kate felt like monet, rembrandt and picasso all rolled into one...


i think this painting has a very monet-like feel...kate may be a budding impressionist...

she took a few moments to reflect before starting her next project...

time to learn about where fish live and what they eat...

...glue sticks, markers, sand...3-year old heaven...

remember that *nemo* hung out in an anemone? well, this is the zoo's version...

oh, yeah...stamps and paint...that's cool, too!

we were quite proud of our big project...the fishy costume! kate beamed as she showed her daddy what she made...please note the really cool tail and fins...have you ever seen such a cute fishy?

you know whenever you take a 3 year old anywhere, there's bound to be distractions...she was captivated by the new "flamming-o" exhibit.

seasonal changes...

it all started innocently enough. a lovely day full of sun and warmth...

a good cup of mocha...

playing with the kids, moving perennials around the yard, trimming bushes...

then...

big, fat blogs of red on the local radar, crashing thunder, lightening illuminating the sky, rain coming down in sheets...

river forming in the basement...

new lake on the patio...

quite a changes from a few short months ago...


runner boy tried bailing the patio out...but gave up...i wonder why...

You wanna Mocha?

I have a problem. I admit it. I love *Starbucks. Well, I am addicted to *Starbucks. It's part of my daily routine....work out, swing by *Starbucks...leave for work, stop by and purchase a mocha to sip on my one mile commute...feeling down, *Starbucks...have a mild case of work-induced malaise, *Starbucks...etc.

It's not just the taste, it's the routine...and it's now reflected in my kids. I'm not sure if I should be proud, or in the case of Runner Boy, disturbed.

Kate got into *Starbucks the day the barista gave her a specially made chocolate milk...(they get 'em young.) She now drives around the house on Sam's fire truck and orders "tall peppermint mochas" from her imaginary drive through.

She bought one for me today and delivered it in front Runner Boy...then she brought me a "tall raspberry mocha"...Runner Boy responded with, "is there such a thing as a raspberry mocha?" To which I responded with mild shock, "Yeah, that's my summertime mocha...the peppermint is for the 11 months of winter we have here." (I think he's concerned that Kate knows about all these flavors...)

"Ughh...they are inculcating her with coffee world view..." Runner Boy bemoans.

Sam then runs up to him, brings him a pretend drink and yells, "MOCHA!"

"Did he just say Mocha?" Good Boy...

Bug-O!

Kate's not too sure about bugs...also called "bug-o's"

While she was outside this afternoon she says,

K "Momma, I stepped on a ant--I broke him!"

M "You what?"

K "I broke 'da ant."

Visiting Family...

Last weekend we took a 1500 mile long road trip to go visit Grandma & Grandpa (aka 'Bama and Granpa). They live on 40 acres of prairie and it's a kid's wonderland. There's trees, creeks, a well-loved swingset...and space to run!

Kate loved swinging and running around the yard...

Sam wasted no time on the swingset...he found something better...Grandpa's tractor. He made himself comfortable immediately and made quick use to the beverage holder...levers, buttons, gadgets...little boy heaven.

...he stopped "plowing" briefly for this photo op...so much ground...so little time...

Grandma introduced Kate to a new favorite...popsicles! We found her digging through the freezer looking for more at one point...

Sam isn't just about farming, he's also a little "Mozart". Here he is performing his first concerto. (Kinda looks like the Peanuts character that Lucy had a crush on doesn't it?)

We also stopped to visit dear friends. Kate immediately located the swing...

...and the goats...Peaches, Martha, George, Pedro and Paige...she loved them

All this running, swinging, plowing, eating, playing with goats, visiting family and....driving...took the stuffing out of our little ones...

They hardly had the strength to jump on the hotel beds...zzzzz...


did I mention that we drove 1500 miles? In 4.5 days?

Note to self: when driving to visit relatives who live on the prairie with 2 kids under 4...take more time to do said trip or more valium to survive said trip...