Tackle It Tuesday (9.1.2009)

I love to tackle a project...but today....I have a list of things that I need to get done instead of a project where I get to show you a before and after picture...maybe next week!

1. HS Girls CMSL Schedule
2. Scan and shred MYSA paperwork.
3. Laundry...need to do a load of darks and lights.
4. Take girls laundry to their room.
5. Clear off kitchen table today.
6. Put weekly routine on calendar.
7. Update big family calendar.


The list doesn't look to intimidating but #1 and #2 will take a majority of my day.

Menu Monday (Aug 31, 2009)

I am slowing working on getting back to my regular routine and one thing that really helps me stay on track with meal planning and my budget is to sit down every Monday morning and look over my freezer inventory, pantry and calendar and plan my meals for the week. Here is my menu for the week of August 31st:

Monday (soccer practice-CWH, GLH and SJH):Tangy Curry Pork Chops, Twiced Baked Potatoes, and Green Beans.

Tuesday: Grilled Spicy Peach Chicken

Wednesday (Soccer Game-CSH): Southwest Pasta Bake

Thursday (Dance-GLH & SJH, Soccer practice-CWH, & Booster Meeting): Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions

Friday: Out of Town

Saturday: Out of Town

Sunday: Out of Town

Monday: Out of Town

Tackle It Tuesday-8.25.2009

I haven't done a Tackle it Tuesday in quite sometime now...so here goes...figure this would be a good route to get started on my new school year routines and goals...to start with a TIT blog posting (since one of my goals is to blog daily!).



Today, I have a couple of items that need tackling today....



1. Freezer Chicks Cooking for Meal Exchange - we exchange this evening and I haven't started cooking yet! I have 3 meals to make times 6! Why do I wait until the last minute to do these things???? Why!!!!

2. Set goals and routines for the next month. I am going to tackle one month at a time because my life seems to change by the week!

3. Three loads of laundry...my laundry is so far behind!

Another School Year Started....

School years come quicker and quicker each year...it feels like yesterday that I was sending my first born off to Kindergarten and he is starting his junior year! Wow...where has the last 12 years gone!

With the start of the new school year, for me comes a time to reflect on last school year, make changes to routines and schedules. This year, I am going to do a "New Year's Resolution" and make some new goals for the school year for me, the kids, and my family in general.

I also want to reflect on my 40-before-40 list and see if there are some things that I can cross off before I turn 41 in July 2010.

One thing that I am going to do is to post regularly to my blog...I feel like my blog friends give me support and some accountability that I need! So check back tomorrow to see my goal for the remainder of August!

It's Official....I am 40 years old!

I have reached a milestone! This year has been full of milestones for my family...Connor turned 16 in January, Collin turned 13 and both Sean and I turned 40!

I woke up early on my birthday...yuck! But I have had some time to think and ponder on the next 10 years! They are going to be great! God has given me a wonderful husband and four beautiful children!

"I'm not 40...I'm 18 with 22 years of experience!" Author unknown.

Happy 40th Birthday to me!!!

Well....my fortieth birthday is tomorrow! I started this blog almost 3 years ago to track my progress of things I wanted to accomplish before I turned 40 years old. I plan on taking this year to work a little harder on my list and figure out what I am going to rename my blog right before I turn 41! I accomplished some but still have a lot of things that I would still like to do...here is my list:

1. Clean/Organize Garage (cleaned last summer...need to clean it out again!)
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (need to get serious about losing some weight. This Easter I had a heart scare & cardiologist recommends losing 75 pounds!)
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)
5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook.
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows. (will look at doing when we have our 20th wedding anniversary in 2011)
8. Read the Bible completely.
9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks. Started working on our Disney trip photo album a couple of weeks ago. (plan to finish Disney trip album, work on New York next and then work on catching up the kids.)
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet! (Cardiologist recommends this for my heart condition...made some progress but started drinking dt dr pepper again.)
12. Make a quilt.
13. Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents.
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs.
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. Go to a spa for a massage.
17. Get a pedicure.
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off. (just about there!!!)
30. Take family to Disney World.
31. Send out Christmas Cards (last time was 1997)
32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Hickman High School FBLA Winners

District 6 Future Business Leaders of America Conference
February 23, 2009
Jamestown, Missouri

Twenty Hickman students and advisers Jeaniene Thompson and Colleen Goss attended the conference. There are 22 schools in the district. Ten students will represent Hickman High School at the state competition competing in 11 different events; these students' names are indicated by an asterisk. In addition, Hickman won second place in total points. Hickman had the following winners:

Accounting I -1st Place, Kristen Bailey*
Business Calculations - 5th Place, Melissa Green
Business Communications- 1st Place, Ben Hoffman*
Business Ethics (team event)- 3rd Place, Ashlie Anderson-Rice, Connor Hollrah, Brock Loesing
Business Math - 4th Place, Connor Hollrah
Business Procedures - 5th Place, Charlie Chau
Computer Problem Solving - 1st Place, Alan Gatica*
Computer Problem Solving - 3rd Place, Skye Ramseyer
Economics - 2nd Place, Joe Langworthy*
Economics - 5th Place, Josh Jacobi
Electronic Career Portfolio - 1st Place, Erin Chambers*
Entrepreneurship (team event) - 2nd Place, Yohana Ghirmazion, Connor Hollrah, Avy Kea
Global Business (team event) - 1st Place, Kristen Bailey*, Joe Langworthy*, Trey Nelson*
Help Desk (individual event) - 2nd Place, Kyle Bogden
Management Decision Making (team event) - 2nd Place, Grace Cripps, Alan Gatica, Josh Jacobi
Marketing - 4th Place, Trey Nelson
Network Design (team event) - 1st Place, Kyle Bogden*, Josh Boyer*
Networking Concepts - 1st Place, Kyle Bogden*
Personal Finance - 1st Place, Grace Cripps*
Personal Finance - 3rd Place, Gavin Hart
Sports Management - 1st Place, Gavin Hart*
Technology Concepts - 2nd Place, Alan Gatica*
Hickman FBLA Total Points - 2nd Place

One More Down.....34 More To Go! Disney Vacation

We just returned home from a family vacation to Disney World on February 17th. We had 8 awesome days of Florida sun and Disney fun! The girls' dance competition team decided to attend the TwirlMaina competition that is held every February at Disney World and when it was presented at a Booster meeting in August, we decided that it was the right time to take the family to their FIRST Disney trip! Not to mention that it allowed me to cross off another item off of my 40-before-40 list...yeah!!

Our trip started early Tuesday morning. Our plan departed at 7:30 am and we arrived in Florida around 11:00 am (Eastern Time). We caught the Magical Express Shuttle to our resort-All-Star Music. We arrived around noon, got checked into our room, which was a family suite, through on our swimsuits and headed to the pool. I stayed in the room and unpacked our suitcases. I had also pre-ordered groceries prior to leaving Columbia, they arrived around 2:00 pm. The girls participated in the hula-hoop contest, a dance party and a hot potato contest (which both Gracie and Sydney were the winners-they tied). We had reservations at Chef Mickey's so we left around 4:15 to catch the shuttle and to make our 5:05 pm reservations. We were greeted at our table by Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto. The food was okay...for the price, I wouldn't recommend Chef Mickey's and if we get the opportunity to go to Disney again, we won't go there again. After dinner, we caught the Monorail and rode it through Magic Kingdom...watch the castle change colors, it was quite a sight!

The next day we were up early and off to Magic Kingdom for breakfast at the castle with Cinderella and the other princesses! We were greeted at the castle gate and were treated like royalty! We were "My Lady," and " Princess" and "Young Prince", etc. The breakfast was fabulous! I would recommend the Royal Table to anyone going to Disney for breakfast, lunch or dinner! It was a pricey but the food and service was fabulous! We also got our picture taken with Cinderella before our dinner and those pictures came with the meal! Belle, Jasmine and Snow White greeted us during our breakfast. The girls (and boys) had a great breakfast and dining experience!

The boys took after to ride rides and the girls and I stayed close to the castle because they had an appointment at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique to get their hair, make-up and nails done for the day. They were absolutely gorgeous after their appointment!

After being transformed into a princess, we were off to enjoy Magic Kingdom. We rode lots of rides, including Splash Mountain and Space Mountain and ended the day at Magic Kingdom enjoying the fireworks! It was a magical first day at Disney.

Our second day at Disney we did a lot of park hopping...started at Animal Kingdom, hopped over to Hollywood Studios (MGM) and ended at Epcot. We were at Hollywood Studios when they had the American Idol Parade and got to see a bunch of American Idol Past Winners, Contestants, Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul! It was quite the experience!

The next day we went to Universal Studios and Island Adventure. The boys really enjoyed this park! Lots of daring rides some that Sydney could ride and some that she couldn't ride. She was a little upset when she discovered that she couldn't ride all of the rides! She is a dare devil and riding the roller coaster was exciting for her. Her and Gracie did ride the water raft ride two times and was soaking wet! They enjoyed this ride immensely! We closed the park down and headed back to our resort. We ordered pizza and relaxed in our room that evening.

The weekend was rather busy for Gracie and Sydney, the TwirlMaina competition took place on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we started the day at Epcot and then headed to Magic Kingdom for the parade that Gracie marched in...which was exciting that she was able to march in a parade at Disney. After the parade they had two performances at the Milk House at Wide World of Sports. We then headed back to Magic Kingdom to rides a few rides and eat dinner with the Patty's and Mary Jo & Cassie. We turned in early that evening because we had to be up and ready for competition to catch our bus at 7:00 am the next morning! Sunday was competition, performance at Downtown Disney, off to Epcot for Showcase and back to Milk House for more competition. The girls, Collin and I headed to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom for some Disney fun after the competition...we were planning on staying at Magic Kingdom until they closed that evening, which was 3 am but we pooped out and headed back to our resort around 11:30!

The next day we went to Sea World...it was great! The girls loved the aquatic animals, the shows were fantastic! Collin was sick that day so he didn't get to ride the rides, he toured Sea World in a wheel chair and slept off and on all day. I felt really bad for him. We stayed at Sea World until the park closed, headed back to our hotel to start packing for our return home.

Our last day, we spent the morning at Epcot walking through the different countries...we stopped and had pastries in Paris. They were yummy! Collin shopped at the Sportsman's Shoppe in London and got a rugby ball and a Chelsea jacket. We were sad to leave but headed back to our resort to catch the Magical Express Bus at 1:00 pm.

We had a great vacation!

Not Long: Disney Schedule

Last night I laid out what days we were going to the different parks. I have to fit in Dance Competition/Performances, Sea World and Universal Studios into our schedule. I feel like we need to at least have a schedule before we go or we won't get to do everything that we would like if I don't do all of this planning. I know some of the other parents that are going are teasing me because I am planning on laminating my schedule....this doesn't mean that we will stick to that schedule but I just want a "master plan!" I am all about spontaneity!

So far this is what my "plan" for the week is:

Day One: Arrive, Swim at Pool at Hotel, Dinner at Chef Mickey's, and Explore Disney via the Monorail after Dinner, Bed at a descent time.

Day Two: Breakfast at Castle in Magic Kingdom, Girls have appointment at the Bippity Boppity Boutique-Hair and Nails, and spend the day at Magic Kingdom.

Day Three: Sleep in (everyone will be awake & ready by 8 am-I'm sure), Spend most of the day in Magic Kingdom. Eat lunch at one of the restaurants in Magic Kingdom (one with no reservations!). Spend late afternoon/evening at Hollywood Studio's.

Day Four: Animal Kingdom in the morning (so we can see the animals) and Sea World that afternoon/evening. Dinner at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Extra Magic Hours at Epcot from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Day Five: Morning at Epcot, Gracie has parade from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Girls Perform at the Milk House (Wide World of Sports) from 4:30 to 5:00 pm, Evening at Epcot until closing. Bed by 10:00 pm (girls are up early for a day of dance-meeting bus at 7:15 am in make-up, hair done, in first costume!) Sean and I have reservations at the California Grill for Valentine's Day at 9:00 pm.

Day Six: No Park fun-Performing all Day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Day Seven: Universal Studios. Pack that evening, make arrangements to get luggage picked up. Print boarding passes.

Day Eight: Hollywood Studios until we need to leave for airport. :-(

Countdown to Disney-6 days!!!

I am counting down to the day we leave and I feel like I have so much to do! I have 5 days to finish planning our trip, clean my house and pack!

We just watched the DVD that Disney sends to get us excited (not that we already aren't excited) but to see what the rides look like, the shows, etc. and to get an idea of where we want to go! Sydney was a little worried that she wasn't going to be tall enough to ride the roller coasters! She looked up at me and asked (with big tears in her eyes!), "Are you just going to leave me, if I'm not tall enough?!" I got the tape measure out and she is 51" without shoes on, all of the ride requirements are 40-48" except for the race car ride, which she has to be 52" to drive by herself. She is a happy camper!

The kids then asked about where we are sleeping, I said that each of you will have a "bed" and no one will have to sleep on the floor, etc. I said that they have pictures of our rooms online and I showed them. They were very ungrateful! None of them want to "share" a bed! Collin doesn't want to share, but wants the bigger bed that folds out! Talk about ungrateful! I am spending all of the money to go to Disney and they are more concerned about what they are sleeping in....be thankful that you are getting to go!

Oh well....I am sure that once we get there, get settled in and start our vacation that they will be happy with where they get to rest at...after all we are going to Disney! We are going for the rides, the shows, the food and the fun!

The other cool part of this trip is that I get to cross off one of my items on the 40-before-40 list! Taking my family to Disney!

40-Before-40 List

Oh my! I haven't posted on my blog in quite some time. It use to be that blogging was one of my daily activities, something that I really enjoyed now I spend my time on facebook. I still enjoying reading my friends blogs and I am going to do a much better job of posting!



I am about 5 months away from turning 40 so I thought I would revisit my list and start working on a plan to complete some of these items!



1. Clean/Organize Garage UPDATE: Need to organize the area in front of car and then garage is clean....will do when it's not so cold outside!

2. Clean/Organize Attic

3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great!

4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)

5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook.

6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.

7. Renew my wedding vows. UPDATE: Would like to renew vows on our 20th Anniv in July 2011.

8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)

9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.


10. Catch up on my scrapbooks.

11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!

12. Make a quilt.

13. Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23. 2007

14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs. Purchased a program for my computer & will start working on this next week!

15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.

16. Go to a spa for a massage.

17. Get a pedicure.

18. Take a cooking class.

19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.

20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.

21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.

22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.

23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.

24. Try yoga.

25. Try pilates.

26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)

27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked) UPDATE: Wend to NYC in June-July 2009. Saw Wicked the first night there!

28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.

29. Get finances in order and everything paid off. UPDATE: All but house will be paid of in Dec 2009!!!

30. Take family to Disney World. UPDATE: We are leaving for our Disney Trip on Feb 10, 2009!!

31. Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!) Mailed out cards for 2007 and 2008!!!

32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.

33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.

34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.

35. Go ice skating with my family.

36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)

37. See "Gone with the Wind."

38. Take Tennis Lessons.

39.

40.

Menu Monday (Week of 1.26.08)

I haven't posted since September and I don't think I have done a menu plan Monday it quite some time. I want to get back to my routines and after two busy weeks (one with dance/soccer and the other sick with the flu)- I am finally getting back to my routine this week.

Here is this week's menu for the Hollrah family:

Monday: (Dance)

Steak Soup and Sandwiches

Tuesday: (Dance, Soccer, Piano)

Bourbon Chicken w/ Veggies, Rice and Salad

Wednesday: (Soccer, Basketball)

Parsley Parmesan Chicken, Veggies, Baked Potato, Salad

Thursday: (Dance, Soccer)

Pork Roast with Apricots and Cranberries (Crockpot), Rice and Salad

Friday: (Basketball and Dance)

Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread Sticks

Saturday: (Basketball, Soccer)

Beef Barley Soup (Crockpot), Sandwiches

Sunday: (Soccer)

Eat out

God's Pharmacy

A friend sent this to me. It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.


A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine
and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are
also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These
foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23%sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the
womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of
these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well
to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the
glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and
the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce
tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Tips For An Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning ask yourself, "What do I really, really, really want today?"

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your
energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the
lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out chargecard.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides remember?!

34.) The best is yet to come.

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your friends/family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statement: 'I am thankful for __________.'

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it
and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends!
(Received list in an email from a friend-source unknow.)

New York: Day 2

Day two started out with leaving the hotel at 6:30 am to head to Bryant Park to see Maroon 5 in the concert in the park series with Good Morning America. Gracie befriended one of the stage guys and he gave her the script of the days show.



We then got on the Hop-on Hop-off bus and went Downtown to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.



We returned to the hotel to dress and head to see Xanadu. Xanadu was great! Lots of great music and funny!



While at Xanadu, my Mom returned to our seat and said she saw a movie star but couldn't remember his name. I asked what he looked like and she said she thought he was in Boston Legal. She said that she recognized him and almost went up to him and asked if he was from Sedalia!!!! We have teased her about it! After the musical was over, we waited outside for him to come out.....can you guess who it is????

It's the guy in the black suit...he was in the Titanic and Legally Blonde.....Victor Garber. He walked within a foot of me and smiled!

Wicked!!!

Oh my! I LOVED Wicked! We saw it the first night we were in New York City! I completed one of my 40 before 40 things! I got teary eyed at the end of the show! It was fabulous!!!! I would recommend it!

New York: Pictures with the Stars

On day one, we had our pictures taken with the stars....wax stars that is ....at Madame Toussad's. It was quite interesting seeing how tall or short some of the stars are!

Jessica Simpson and the girls.

I will post more pictures. (my battery went dead and I used my Aunt's camera and she will get the CD of pictures to me when we get home!)

New York City: Day One

We are in New York City! We took off at 7:00 am from Kansas City and arrived in New York City around 11:00 am. We had a great flight...it was Sydney's first time on a big airplane!

After a horrible experience with our shuttle (we were placed on a shuttle and the driver turned around and took us back to the airport because he picked up the wrong group-we changed shuttles, moved our luggage around, etc.) But we finally made it on the road to our hotel. I took lots of pictures on the bus. After checking into our hotel, we headed down time square to get our tickets for the NY Pass to see the sites. We picked our tickets up at Madame Toussad's Wax Museum. That was a treat! I will up load those pictures later (my camera's battery went dead, we used my Aunt's camera and her batteries went dead too!) After touring the museum, we changed for Wicked! It was fabulous! One of the best musical's I have ever seen! We loved, loved, loved it! The girls enjoyed it! Enjoy the slide show of our first day! I completed one of my 40 before 40 things today....seeing Wicked in New York City!

My Summer Resolutions

Yes, you read that correctly....summer resolutions! I am one year and almost a month away from turning 40 years old and I have not even put a dent on my 40 before 4o list! Also, with each new transition, I always set goals and try to achieve them....start of summer, start of the school year, start of a new year. It's an opportunity for me to look at what's working in my life and what isn't....and work on improving and making changes that will not only benefit me but my family as well. So what are my summer goals?

We will be having our family meeting on Monday, June 9th....figure I will let my kids relax and enjoy the first three days out of school and I am planning on sleeping in and enjoying the first couple of days.

1. Developing and establishing new routines with the kids. Bed made each day. Showered and dressed each morning by 10:00 am.

2. Chores. This summer the boys will get the opportunity to learn how to sort, wash and fold their laundry. Each week they will rotate who's job it is!

3. Each week, two will help with the grocery shopping. This means, cutting coupons, looking at ads, planning what we will eat week, help with the shopping, cooking and cleaning up.

4. Setting and enforcing house rules. We just had new carpet installed downstairs from our sewer back up in January and had the upstairs carpet cleaned so no time like the present to enforce the shoes off at the door and no eating/drinking in the living room & family room.

5. TV/Video Games/Computer Time will be limited each day this summer. I want to spend each afternoon at the pool soaking up the sun and working on my tan to hide my cellulite-tan fat looks better than white fat!

6. Workout each day. Connor has a 1 mile run that he must meet under 6 minutes 4 out of 5 times during HS Soccer tryouts so we will be spending some time training on the track and trail. I would like to achieve my goal of losing 20 pounds over the summer.

7. Putting in a garden. We are planning on planting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and a herb garden.

8. Finish deck.

9. Finish painting house.

10. A Garage Sale, start working on cleaning out the attic.

11. Sort Christmas decorations that have been piled on the saw horse table in the garage and placed on the shelves in garage.

12. Plus have fun this summer reading, spending time with my family and soaking up the sun at the pool.

What's your plans for this summer????

Mother's Day 2008

What I Would Like for Mother's Day 2008

I made a list last night before I went to bed. Sean came down this morning and said that he thought that they would be able to meet my Mother's Day demands :-)

1. Breakfast-kids clean kitchen afterwards.

2. Sydney-pick up bedroom, take sheets off bed to wash, take things to bedroom from other rooms (living room, etc)

3. Gracie-pick up bedroom (I have asked her several times this week to pick it up from her sleepover & it's still not picked up), take sheets off bed to wash, take things to bedroom from other rooms (living room, etc)

4. Collin-take sheet off bed to wash, clean shelf by bed, all trash in bedroom thrown away, clothes put away, clean/organize desk

5. Connor-take sheets off bed, all trash in bedroom thrown away, clothes put away, clean/organize desk

6. All-be respectful to everyone, no yelling, no ugly words to any other family member, help keep living room/kitchen picked up, shoes in basket if wearing the next day or put away, back packs hung up, trash thrown away, dishes put in dishwasher-not in sink, blankets folder after using, pillows neatly replaced on sofa

I would like to see my children take responsibility for their belongings and the imitative to help keep the house picked up and in order.

Wishes for EVERYDAY....not just Mother's Day:

1. Less time in front of TV, computer or video games. More time with family, reading, playing outside, etc.

2. Help with dishes each day-put dirty dishes in dishwasher.

3. Take out trash when full.

4. Make beds everyday.

5. Keep bedroom clean-clothes put away each day-after being washed and placed in bedroom.

6. Empty soccer bag after game day so uniform, socks can be laundered and bag aired out each week.

7. Dance bags cleaned out each week-dirty clothes put in laundry-trash emptied.

8. Car cleaned each day-take in trash, jackets, clothes, etc everyday.

9. When asked to help-not put job on someone else because you didn't get it out, etc. We are a family and we are here to help each other make our home and family run smooth.

How was your Mother's Day celebrated?

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends!