November 1, 1942- September 3, 2008

Rick passed away suddenly Wednesday morning.

If you are not familiar with my blog then you do not know all that Rick has done in the last month to prevent this from happening.

I am in Cleveland with my Mom and family to support one another.

Services will be held Saturday afternoon.

Please send your prayers my way as this is almost more than I can handle.

Little ones to Him belong.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

The Lighter Side of Life

What I heard coming down the stairs just now:

Cecelia: "Who's ready to rock!?!"

Delaney: "Me!!"

In the End.

In the end, it didn't really matter what my house looked like.

We had a fabulous weekend.

Friday we picked up my mom from the airport but didn't make it to Alexandria because my cousin called (who had rented the cabin for the week) to say the weather was less than desirable. So instead, they came to us!!

Cecelia and Delaney were thrilled to be able to play with their cousin, Alex, who they rarely ever see because they live in Colorado.

Saturday morning my Grandma drove over from Little Falls to see all of us. We took the family and the two Grandmas (one Great-Grandma :-)) to a local regional park for a picnic. Even though the weather was cool Cecelia insisted on swimming in the lake. We took a nice long walk so we could chat and wear the kids out.

Before my mom flew home yesterday, her and I and the two older girls went to the MN State Fair. We saw baby pigs being born in the Miracle Birth Center, ate plenty of food on a stick and took the girls on the Sky Ride. Before we knew it, our 4 hours were up and it was time to head to the airport.

It's a shame the time goes by so fast.

Back to Monday. Laila didn't sleep well last night so I'm sort of running on fumes today.

I hope you all had a good weekend and enjoyed the cooler weather for a change.

Neurosis

My mom is flying in tomorrow (bright and early!) to meet her newest (and most adorable) granddaughter.
I don't know why, but whenever I am going to have company (especially my mom) I go nuts over how clean (or unclean) my house is.
I realize I posted not all that long ago about how we need to just relax and stop making excuses over our messes, but I'm over that today. Today, I am freaking out about the lack of time I have to clean. I have daycare kids here today so that means I can't clean until tonight. Since CeCe has swimming lessons that means I'll have to try and get some things done with Delaney and Laila tugging me in two different directions.
Plus, I need to pack bags for tomorrow because we are heading to a beach house in Alex straight from the airport. Did I mention we have to be at the airport by 8:15am?
At any rate, I just needed to vent a little to relieve some stress.
Some days I feel like such a nut job.

Miss Bee

Four and Frustrating

Forget about waking at all hours of the night for feedings.

Forget the "Terrible Two's"

Four is frustrating.

Our Cecelia is, and always has been, a very outgoing, energetic and gregarious child. She is funny and quick and all of those wonderful things that come along with being an extrovert.

On the other hand......

Sometimes Bill and I find ourselves at our wit's end with her.

It seems like almost everything is an argument - from eating, to bathing, to what to wear. And, if she doesn't like the outcome we get tears and whining. She has tried the crossing of the arms and stomping of the feet, but after being sent to either time-out or her room that has pretty much stopped.

The other main problem is a little thing called "listening." I seriously feel like a broken record on most days. "Don't bug your sister" "Put the toys away" "Go sit down for lunch" and on and on. Each instruction needs to be said about 10 times before she actually LISTENS.
She will even ask me a question, I will answer her, and then she will ask again and again after being given the answer. She just DOESN'T LISTEN.

At any rate, if anyone has any advise on how to deal with my willful and stubborn little girl, please share!!