"I Don't Need A Bath Now"

Saturday we spent the afternoon washing the cars..... well, Pete washed them.  I just took pictures.  The kids had a blast playing in the water with him, and our little neighbor Penelope was playing, too.  If you didn't know Annie and Penelope, you would think they were twins.  They look the same, move the same, talk the same..... 

Cooper, by far, had the most fun.  

They ran back and forth between houses, getting sprayed by Pete and Penelope's mom.

Little twinners.

Freudian Move?

Pete attempted to take a few pictures of the kids and me on Mother's Day, and although none of them turned out (thanks to three wiggly kids), this one had me laughing out loud:

Look where Noah's hand ended up.

Combine that with the look on his face.

What have we created?

Happy Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all my mom friends, all those who aren't moms yet, and to all those who are like a mom to me, even if we aren't related!  I love you all!

I woke up this morning to Pete making my favorite breakfast ever, Arroz Con Leche (rice and milk).  It's something he made on his mission, and started making for me after we got married.  I love it!  The kids made me cards, and we had fun spending time together.  Noah also brought home a flower and a pot he decorated himself.

I am so grateful to be a mom, and although it is definitely the hardest job I have ever had, it is also the most rewarding.  I love seeing all the new things they learn and discover, and I love that I am the first person they run to and tell about it.  I love waking up to an adorable face greeting me, and I love all the hugs and kisses I am rewarded with each day. 

I also need to tell my own mom how much I love her.  She is awesome!  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother, who supports me in all that I do, is always encouraging me, and has never given up on me, even when I have given up on myself. She loves her grandchildren "to the moon and back" and always has them on her mind.  

Love you mom!

PhotoStory Friday: Sinners Welcome

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Anyone who has ever lived in Glendale, Wisconsin knows this church as a landmark:

(look closely at the neon sign)

When giving directions in Glendale, we usually said something like

 "take a right after the Sinners Welcome Church"

or

"If you pass the Sinners Welcome Church, you've gone too far."

We passed this church every Sunday on the way to our own church.

Oh, and those guys standing there... they're Valet's. 

Yep, you can sin, and then have someone park your car for you at this church. 

Isn't that awesome? Who wouldn't want to go?

Girl's Trip... Again

I spent the weekend back in Chicago and Milwaukee with some awesome girls.

Through the four years of dental school, we lived in the Glen Court apartments, along with other medical and dental student families.  When you are in this kind of situation, you become very close with those around you. As our husbands were staying late at school, the wives were spending time together, and this created a group of girls who were bonded at the roots.

Last year we took a girls trip, and decided to make it a yearly thing.  We ALL made it this year, even the four of us who don't live in Wisconsin anymore.  

Past and Present: Carolyn, Abby, Jenni, Amber, Pam, Mandie, Becki, Kim, Shalet, Pam and Marianne.

(Yes believe, it or not, there were two Pam's)

Becki and Amber

Pam and Jenni

Abby, Carolyn and Mandie

Our dinner at Ma Noo Ben, a Japanese Restaurant.

Deep fried green beans.... is that still considered healthy?

Hanging out in the hotel room.

A bunch of hot mommies.

After out session at the Chicago temple.

Lunch at a steak house.

More yummy food.

This is what we spent the majority of the day doing.

My best friend, Mandie.

This is how we act most of the time.

I would have never guessed that I would find my true girlfriends all the way out here.

Love you girls! 

They Crack Me Up

These kids made me laugh out loud yesterday...

Noah: Mom, tomorrow night can I soil an egg?

Me: You mean boil?

Noah: Is that it? I thought you soiled eggs.

(As I pull in to the bank)

Annie: Mom, what is this place?

Me: It's the bank.

Annie:  So, do they have bacon here, or what?

Druggie

So I have had allergies as long as I can remember.  I've never had a summer-except for the ones that I was pregnant or nursing- that I didn't have to depend on allergy medication to survive.  Here in Tennessee, my allergies have started a little early, so along with the rest of the state, I headed to the pharmacy for Claritin-D.  Now, I usually get the 12 hour kind, and take 2 per day, because the 24 hour stuff just doesn't last long enough. 

Last week, after taking the Claritin for a few days, I started feeling strange, like maybe I was getting sick.  My body was a little tingly, I was completely dehydrated, however I had tons of energy. I also went through a few days of complete insomnia.  So, one day I was taking my Claritin and noticed that there were only 15 pills in the box, which I thought was strange because there are usually more than that.  I looked harder at the box and realized that they were the 24 hours pills.

Everything made sense.

I was totally overdosing myself!

I laughed at myself for a minute, and then sent a text message to my friend Jon, who is in the pharmacy business, explaining to him what I had done.  He responded saying that I should stop taking it for a few days; what I had been taking was slow-release, so I kept giving myself a bigger buzz every time I took it.

I stopped taking it and went 4 days without needing anymore! 

The story was even funnier at 2 in the morning with a bunch of girls (just got back from my girls trip).  We laughed every time someone brought it up.

At least now I know I don't really need to turn to street drugs ever... just need some Claritin.