In Loving Memory

Sheri Zimmerman Klein passed away yesterday after delivering her 2nd daughter. Sheri was due in 2 weeks but went into the hospital in a lot of pain Sunday morning. Sheri's blood pressure was very high and they gave her medication to lower it which put the baby in peril. The baby was born emergency c-section--Ava Lily Klein is 5lbs 5 oz, 17 inches, healthy and beautiful. Sheri's blood pressure plummeted and she did not recover despite all the doctors and nurses did for her. We celebrate her life and the birth of her daughter.

Ava Lily Klein

I'm out of the running.

I have a lengthy list of "good mom" criteria constantly scrolling through my hormonally and emotionally ravaged parent brain. I try my best but here is picture proof that the Mother of the Year award will be going elsewhere.


My otherwise easy-going, affectionate, happy little guy is angry at me in these pictures because...
I insisted that we would eat dinner (lovingly prepared by Pizza Hut) as a family at the table instead of in front of the T.V. watching Sponge Bob.

Like (LOOOONEY) father, like (CURAAAZY) sons.

Remember THIS?

Alfred Bandura must have gotten it right. His Social Learning Theory basically states that children learn and do what they observe. Todd and Alec are demonstrating this quite nicely thanks to their exemplar father. I suppose having your mother laugh her head off and think you're funny enough to grab the camera counts as the appreciable reinforcement that will certainly encourage this type of behavior. [Guilty.] Looks like we're going to have generations of pale, shirtless guitar heroes. What a legacy.

What a cute, smart 4th grader looks like.

My favorite little girl got a little bigger today. Kenna's elementary school is on a track schedule so she began her year as a 4th grader today, two weeks before Todd will start Jr. High. This happy picture was taken right before some small tears of anxiety came. I hate it when I see signs of myself in my kids. I rescued her from her genetics and drove her to school, sparing her the bus ride. After I walked Kenna to her classroom, I was directed to the gym and then back to her classroom for the school's "Back to School Morning" which I had completely forgotten about. I'm sure Kenna was very proud to have a sweaty, disheveled parent dressed in her running clothes attending the informative event. Oh well, she'll be much happier to get on the bus tomorrow morning!

Small changes. Big improvements.

One of the by-products of my not working during the summer is that I have the time and energy to NOTICE and work on things that have been neglected or just need refreshing around the house. Sadly Brent gets roped into a lot of these projects. He's definitely the brawn for these ideas but he's usually the brains on the job too. He has been very cheerful about his reluctance and I do so appreciate his help. I love that guy!

Here are some pics of the small things we've done lately.

Brent helped me make this cornice board last year. I finally found some drapery panels that matched the fabric and Brent got creative and hung them for me which was no small task. See, I am good at buying stuff for the project, just not doing the project.

We had to replace our kitchen light because of a bad ballast. (Did that sound like I know what I'm talking about? Because I don't.) Finding a fixture that fit Brent's budget restriction and my design desire didn't happen but we compromised on this one. The end embellishments we actually cream colored with gold specks and not my favorite. I grabbed a can of spray paint and, voila, better :)

I purchased 4 sets of these darling daisy hooks a while ago. Two are stylishly holding keys and cameras next to our garage door. One is in Kenna's room for various bags and pencil holders and this one keeps some of my bracelets and necklaces off of the dresser. Love them everywhere they are!

Swampwater. That is the name of this yellowy-lime green that I painted our front door. The name doesn't do do justice to the bright cheery color. I love it and the fresh coat of white trim improved the area as well! Brent put up the cute dragonfly knocker that I bought on clearance last year. I also spray-painted the brass knob and lock to coordinate with the dragonfly.

I actually dreamed this next idea...really. I had a dream that I put up some wrought iron shutters aside our front window. The next day I checked out two stores in town and found these. There are actually two iron pieces stacked on each side. Brent and my partly-willing, mostly-tricked/coerced brother-in-law put them up in the dark! They did a pretty good job, huh?

I should have taken before pictures for this next project explanation. This garage door started out white. B-O-R-I-N-G. I bought a gallon of yummy-sounding Opaque Cocoa paint which turned out to be the secret paintland code for the color of post food poisoning re-fried beans. My friend Mandy encouraged me to try again. I couldn't go wrong with Bittersweet, right? NOW I like it. The house numbers also look better brown instead of brass now.

I love my latest yard/garden decorations. Metal flowers and insects don't encourage weeds and don't sting :D

Here's the view from across the street. My friend Mandy also suggested shutters next to the bay window above the garage. I looked for some today but the store was out. I'm crossing my fingers that they're not gone for good!
You can't see it well but last year we gave up on the attempted flower garden turned weed patch below the front window. A stamped concrete patio now adorns the space. BEST idea ever. We love it and are saving our pennies for a similar space in the back yard.

Busy kids are happy kids.

Flexible summertime schedules are great but the laid-back expectations, increased together time, and general ease of life can wreak havoc on my kids' moods and ability to 'enjoy' each other's company. We found a small solution. Todd and Kenna have been looking after vacationing neighbors' pets and homes. It has kept them busy and I've been impressed with their willingness to work together and follow through on their commitments. Great kids :D

Winner!

Were any of you bored enough to read my list of 100 things about me ? If so, I'm sorry that you will never get back those wasted minutes. If not, here's what random fact #92 was:

92. I win stuff--books at conferences, makeup, jewelry, cooking utensils and other wares at home parties, a bike, photo session, $50 gift certificate to a clothing store, etc.

I am happy to report that I did not jinx myself by writing down this ever-evidenced life phenomenon and have won yet another prize to add to my list...

a year's supply of KT Tape

I became a *fan* of KT tape on FaceBook and won 12 rolls of the magical, mystical sports adhesive from Runner's Corner in Orem, UT which my darling sis-in-law picked up for me today. I am anxiously engaged in researching its uses but have yet to discover if 'cover the mouth of your loud and/or snotty child' is a recommended employ.