This post is for LA

We had a great time at Eli's Weeding. I know my video quality is bad, but I wanted you to see all the action. We really missed seeing you three there.

Okay: Here comes the bride!

And the big kiss.



We'll see you at the reception!

Ella's snack time

Ella has proven her heritage. She loves to eat chips and salsa with sour cream! It's about damn time, we were beginning to wonder if she was an alien implant!



I have got to work on making more interesting movies... Maybe I'll get some good ones this weekend in Iowa?

Tuesday

The weather place says it may get up to 74 degrees today, and I like the sound of that. A little sun and warm help my mood.
Ella was sick all of Saturday night and Sunday with vomiting and diarrhea, absolutely no fun at all, so yesterday she was with me at work. I like to have her with me all day. It makes me feel solid. Substantial. Purposeful. Valuable. I never thought one little person could make me so complete.
Today she woke up in a good mood and headed off to school. I think some sun and playing outside will complete her recovery. She is such a bright light in my life, and I feel so overwhelmed with love at times.
I have been working on a project at work to update the library catalog and properly shelve every book. I came across The Handmaids Tale and decided to read it again. Boy has it been depressing. When she has the dreams of her daughter, who was stolen from her, it breaks my heart and I begin to cry. I reach for Ella to feel her reassuring warmth. No one will ever take her from me. I'd kill them. I'd die.
So a sunny day is what I need to get that damn story out of my head. Why do I worry that our country is heading towards that fate? Maybe because books like this are soaring? Or laws that we take for granted are being threatened? Will our country turn that frightening corner towards a police state, or has it all ready?
Okay, I'll get out in the sun for a while. I'll take my daughter on a bike ride. I'll think of the fun we will have this weekend with friends in Iowa. Maybe I'll get the dishes done, to soothe my inner housewife soul.

How much does it really mean to me?

The preliminary estimates on getting our fire place operational and up to code are just not in our budget, the price of the downstairs windows is about the same. To get these two projects done would be about $7K, or maybe even $8K. If I had to chose one it would be the windows because arctic cold blasts through the house are really no fun at all, but we just don't have the $3,600 to get the job done. So I think we are going to try and get the interior cosmetic stuff done this year. It's gonna suck, because it's all wall paper removal patching, sanding, and painting... I wish I had a crew of volunteers to help. I just can't face it alone! Who am I kidding, we don't even have enough money to get the brakes done in the Nissan! Makes me wanna give up and move to a cave.

The Greatest Moment Ever

Okay, so I can't get the embed code to work and it is very frustrating. I think I could copy and paste all day long and the string would get cut in the same place every damn time. Maybe I'll try copying to a word document and then pasting onto blogger? Let's try...


Eureka!

My Sweet Baby

I asked Ella to please put away her shoes... I wonder where she gets these ideas?
Mother's Day and she looks so very beautiful. On her lap is "baby chick", who came with us to brunch at Fratello's
I am a very lucky Mom.

Feeling Inspired

Last night we watched some home movies. Ella sure was a cute toddler! It was cool to see how much she has changed, and how some things are still the same. We had big plans to send out tapes to grandparents in Iowa and California, but never quite got it done... Then today I went to LA's page with her baby's pictures and she had MOVIES posted! WOW! I signed up for one of the free accounts at the YouTube place that she used. Now I just need to figure out how to load a movie. I can't wait to get one posted! I think the first one I'll put up is of Ella's first few minutes of life. I hope I can upload from my camcorder.
Mother's Day weekend was pretty good. It rained all the time, but I did get to go shopping for sheets! Yippee! I also picked up a new three pack of socks. I am so lucky. We took G-Peg out for brunch and she said she enjoyed it very much. We got her a beautiful potted hydrangea. We sent my mom a charm bracelet with pics of all her grandkids. I wanted to get one in the mail for Grandma Esther, but my jewelry rep for those bracelets is off having a baby... drat. I guess I'll send her one for Grandmother's Day (or have I missed this holiday).
My summer work hours have changed. The director and I decided to work longer days Monday through Thursday and close on Friday. Now every weekend is three days long, unless there is a training or something that I need to do. My boss rocks! I am really going to miss her when she leaves in June. Who will the new Director be??????
Back to work...

Report to the General

Ma'am: I am down, but not way down. Feeling confident that my 5 pound loop of Feb/Mar/April has been busted! On to the next 10 pound loss!

More from our weekend and new stuff, too

Here is Ella's lovely Unicorn face painting.
And Eleanor and Sierra having a snack...
The cutest little sack racer in town!

So I was feeling so darn great on Friday with all my weight-loss progress and then I got on the scale this morning to a very frightening reality: Junk food makes me fat. I hope the 5 pound gain is due to PMS or something because besides that pasta for dinner on Sunday I didn't think I over indulged THAT much. Or perhaps my two pound loss was wrong? In which case I am only up three pounds? I think I need to restrict myself to Friday morning scale times ONLY to help counter little (or huge) day-to-day fluctuation. It's just so disheartening.

I pulled a muscle in my back. It could have been lugging around my bag on Saturday with all the extras in it, like juice boxes, sunscreen, sweatshirts, prizes, ballcaps, etc... Or from helping my friend Michelle on Sunday with some house project stuff, or from when Ron and I played catch with Ella (as the ball) over at Mandy and Justin's new place. All I know for sure is that it hurts pretty bad and I did not sleep well because of it. I don't even want to walk to work today because every step I take sends a shooting pain through the right side of my body. But I think I will walk, nice and slow with hardly anything in my bag, because I think a little gentle use will loosen up the spasm.

I have a million things to do today. Why are Mondays so darn busy? I bet I don't get to half my list. I better have a cup of coffee and rethink my list.

Saturday, May 6

Ella had such a big day that I think the pictures will speak for themselves... waiting for the bus

playing music with Sierra

Sack Races!

Hanging with Kay and Jenatta

Soccer! What a kick... She shoots and she scores!

Mommy got a sunburn even after applying and re-applying sunscreen, but Ella had a way fab afternoon.

Party!

Yeah, that's right, I am having a party. I am two, not a half or one and a half or 1.5, but TWO pounds down from my lowest weight. An all time low... Well, just since I got pregnant 5 years ago. So I have officially broken my five pound cycle and must keep on going. Unfortunately I am having a real party at my house tonight with lots of yummy food and drinks, but I'll just try to go the moderation route and then tomorrow be super duper focused on my goal again. I'll take some yummy food pictures tonight to share with ya'll.

Bird Flu

It is nice to know that we will basically have to take care of ourselves... Seriously folks, get a few extra weeks of food and supplies stocked up. And cold and flu medicine. It is just a good idea. I am not trying to say that you need to build a bunker and prepare for nuclear winter, but fill that pantry!

Happy May Day

Anyone affected by the National Day Without Immigrants?
I am trying to show my support for them by talking about the day and their plight, but have not been around or heard any news on whether or not it has been a successful display.

Well, I hope my sister had a nice time on her birthday (You so old, lady! Ha-Ha), and the rest of you had a nice weekend.

It was cold and rainy here. Ron was out of town for most of the weekend so it was just us girls. We went birthday present shopping for Jakob on Saturday, then had Thai food for lunch. Ella's idea. I LOVE her. Then Saturday evening we pulled out the ol' couch bed, made popcorn, and watched "Zathura". It was full of excitement and Ella seemed to get into it. We had to snuggle up on a few of the scary parts, but a happy ending made it all okay.

I woke up on Sunday to my ceiling dripping onto my bed. No Fun. We just spent a couple thousand fixing the leaky roof LAST spring, remember? I think Ron is calling the same roofing guys to come out and take a look. The leaks are in a different place this time. So, Ella and I had a work out first thing in the morning moving the bed. It's a huge-o KING sized number with a not-new frame so it kind of has to get disassembled, moved, and reassembled. I aint trying to bitch about it because it was free and all, but dang, that thing is a pain in the ass to move. And it is very lumpy. I think after JoAnn gives us her old bedroom set we are going to give back, sell, or somehow ditch the king size bed. But, then again, it may be nice to have two guest rooms. Oooh, we could put the king bed in a guest room. Yeah, that f-ugly blue tie-dye room. It would cover the whole floor! We could paint the room like outer space and Ella could jump around playing astronaut! I am seriously going to have to look into this idea!

Ron and I did some yard work this morning, in the cold rainy-ness, and I think that cherry tree is finally in it's home. When I left for work Ron was finishing up the weed screen and mulch. I bet it looks just beautiful when I get home.

The first case of bird flu has been reported on the East cost, but not the super deadly strain. Am I the only person who has emergency rations and household supplies? I am going to get the last few things for our stash this weekend. And to re-stock a few things we used. See, you have to keep them on rotation so stuff does not get yucky, and that's the challenge of keeping rations on hand. Who has time to use and restock all the freaking time?

The Decider

Every now and again I get a chance to read Jesus' General and get a good chuckle. Today I heard this. You may have all ready seen/listened to it, but it's worth hearing again.

Maybe next month?

No new Hardy's in December... Maybe another January one?

Ella survived her shots. We did the whole 5 year old check up early and she passed all the tests. I can't believe she will be five...Now she is at work with me for the afternoon. We walked here and she picked dandelions the whole way. It is beautiful and sunny and warm. I have my office window open. Yay spring.

Mumps

Yes, Mumps has come to Oshkosh. I am taking Ella in for her second shot (given between ages 4-6) tomorrow morning. The newspaper said a four year old was diagnosed yesterday and two college kids on our campus were tested last week. Shit. I hate taking E in for shots, but it is much better than the alternative. Have the Mumps come your way yet?

April 18

According to my baby making tracker it is day 23, so I decided to take a test and it was negative. I told Ron and he says he does not believe it because there's no "proof" yet.
Warning: Non-sequitur ahead!
Today is absolutely gorgeous! My walk to work was perfect. Not hot, not chilly. I took down the plastic from the dining room windows, too. Anyone know how to get the tape residue off woodwork? I have not removed the living room plastic because it still gets below 40 at night, but soon for sure because I really need to clean those windows. If anyone wants to donate some money to our "new window fund" please do it quickly. I really need them before fall. We are trying to save up the $3,600 on our own but are sure to miss the mark this year. Windows downstairs would be a dream come true...
Ron's aunt and uncle are coming to visit us this weekend. Ella is sure to have a grand time with them. I hope G-Peg does not stress out too terribly much. I wonder if I'll get my house clean on time? I do have Friday off so that will be a big help. I really need to dust.

a whirlwind of a weekend

Shopping was fun and I stayed under budget! Tornadoes are not so fun, but none of my family or friends were hurt. So that's good. I am heading out to work. No time to blog.

Sweater Complete

I have finally finished Ella's sweater! Yeah! She tried it on for about 5 seconds last night and it fits funny, is a little too bulky, looks odd, but was made with love. I do not think she will ever wear it again because it's too short and wide plus the weather is much nicer these days, but I think I am going to make another one for the fall. I'll pick a lighter weight yarn and use her measurements instead of a kooky pattern from the back of a yarn package.

The other project I did this week was to put Ella's pictures in my new charm bracelet. I really love it. I know, I know, this is a blurry picture, but it's hard to get a close up of such a small thing with my camera. I have high hopes to one day upgrade to a new camera and give this one to Ella. She loves to take pictures. Sometimes when we are on longer car rides I give her the camera to take pictures of the "world" we are driving through. She enjoys it and creates funny stories about the "world" to go along with the pics. I really should get her to blog about it. That thing has not been updated in ages. We have just been so very busy! Maybe after Easter stuff on Sunday.

Oh, and my report to the general will be right now as I am going to Chicago tomorrow morning: the same. Always the same 5 pound loop... It's getting old.

Have a great weekend everyone! (I guess that means the small handful of people who actually read this thing)