We signed him up!

My darling Michael is all signed up for his first class. He will be taking Gymnastics on Thursday mornings. He has the same teacher that Drew had, and she is a wonderful woman with immense patience! Each of our boys does this the year before they start 4 year old Kindergarten to give them some time away from me. We are actually not sure if Michael will go next year because he misses the cut off by one day. Our principal has assured us that we could put him in next year, but we are still on the fence with this decision. He is extremely bright, but we do worry about him being a boy and the youngest in the class. On the other hand, Drew is also the youngest in his class (July birthday), and he is just fine...We will have to just wait and see...All I know is that come September 4th, I will have one glorious hour to myself! I don't ask for much, do I?

The Secret Came Out...

Andy and I took the kids out to lunch today. This was, of course, before we knew Drew was coming down with stomach flu-AGAIN, but I digress. So we are at lunch, and I feel like I have a stray hair on my nose. You know, one of the longish ones that won't seem to stay in place. I couldn't find it, so I ask Andy if there is something-on my nose. He reaches over and pulls at a hair-on my cheek!



Yes, ladies, the dreaded granny hair! I don't know what other regions call them, but that's what we call them here. Those hairs that seem to sprout overnight in places they are not supposed to-like my cheek. Andy looked quite surprised when he saw it, and kind of grossed out. I explained to him that I didn't have them before we had kids (like skin tags, but that is another post). I now have them sprout in 3 places: the aforementioned cheek, my forehead and my neck.

You know what I hate about them? They will be gone for a long time, and then I will wake up one morning, and BAM! There it is, and it is like 2 inches long! Only this time, I missed it. And I grossed out my husband. The secret's out, and it isn't pretty!

Hair

This is me. A rarely seen picture of me, but I am posting it here because I need advice. You see, I am in a hair funk. I have pretty much worn my hair the same way for at least 15 years. I flip between 2 styles-long with layers or bobbed. I don't do the bob anymore because it emphasizes my round face. So, now, I am here and looking for a change. My husband likes it long-as long as possible, but I usually cut it when it gets to about where it is now. I have moderately curly, really thick hair, but don't do a lot with it other than pull a bit of it back with clips as it is right now. So, what should I do?

The next award...

Waaaaaaaaaaay back in July, Sydney over at Diapers and Deadlines presented me with this award. Life's been crazy-busy, so I am spending some time while I am on-call at work today catching up!

Here are the rules:
Once an award is received, the rules are as follows:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.


Here are my award-winners...Oh wait, we are all winners...Ahem...The award goes to:
1. Gramma 2 Many at Yes, they are all mine: I love this blog! She has become someone I look forward to reading, and someone I love to hear back from on my blog as well. I feel like I know her even though we have never met.

2. Deanna at Eight is Great: A fellow Wisconsinite, and mom to 8 kids-another blog I look forward to!

3. Jessica at The Life, Faith and Creativity of Jessica Turner: OK, I know I'm biased, but Jessica is my cousin, and a very talented person as well as a new mommy. You should check out her blog just to see pictures of her baby, little Elias! Too Cute!

4. Sometimes Sophia at I Hope You Have a Good Day, Charlie! Another read I look forward to! Beautiful photography as well!

5. Karen at Food, Glorious Food...and life in general: I just found this blog when Karen stopped by yesterday, and I am hooked!

6. Amy at Escape Into My Thoughts: I have read Amy for a while now. I consider her one of my first bloggy friends! I love reading her thoughts, and she loves Rick Springfield as much as I do!

7. The Wilson's House: Another blog that I can't get enough of! Make sure you stop by and say Happy Anniversary!

Tag! I'm it!

Within the past couple of weeks, I was tagged by 2 people-Mrs. 0309 at Outnumbered Two to One and Deanna at Eight is Great. Because I am unable to come up with 12 quirks about me, I am putting them together, so you only get 6! Now, for the rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my unspectacular quirks:
1. I don't like bugs-of any kind. They really kind of freak me out!
2. I tend to be kind of OCD. I used to really get worked up if a virus was going around, but then we had rotovirus in the house for 3 weeks, and puke really doesn't faze me any more.
3. I am addicted to reality TV. The Amazing Race is my favorite! I can't wait for it to start up this fall!
4. I love rainy days! I love to curl up in my chair with a good book or my crocheting and listen to the rain.
5. I don't like seafood. Enough said!
6. I am very allergic to cats. I wheeze, need an inhaler, and get hives. It's not pretty!

I am not going to tag anyone specifically. If you want to play along, please do!

I got an award!

I am trying to play catch up this weekend on awards, tag, and such. I am going to start with the newest and work backwards.

Sherri at Kaysville Momma gave this award, and I couldn't be happier! I showed up late to the party going on at her blog, but she welcomed me with open arms! Thanks, Sherri!

So here are the rules:
* Pick 5 Bloggers that you feel are Kick A** Bloggers
* Let em' know in your post or via email, twitter or blog comments that they've received an award
* Share the love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to
Kick A** Blogger Award
* Hop on back to the Kick A** Blogger Club HQ to sign Mr. Linky then pass it on (which you can also get to on the above link)

Pretty simple, right? The award goes to:

Sydney at Diapers and Deadlines: One of my real-life best friends. We met through book club, and just clicked. Check out her writing-it's really good!

Sue at Susie's Homemade: Another real-life best friend. Sue and I have known each other since high school (we just celebrated our 20th reunion!). She's a foodie with a lot of entertaining ideas-and her own ETSY business!

Who Says 8 is Enough? is a blog that I literally just found, and have fallen in love with! Mom to 9 kids, some natural, some adopted, but all hers in her heart! I love big families!

Tressa at American in Norway: I have been reading Tressa's blog for a while now. She is, just like her title, an American living in Norway, and I love the comparisons between the two countries! I went through withdrawal while she was visiting her family stateside, so I am glad she is back!

Kelly at Song for Whoever: Kelly is Tressa's best friend from high school, and a great writer herself! I always look forward to what she has to say!

Please check these ladies out! Thanks again to Sherri for the award!

Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta

Better late than never...This picture is one of my favorites from my parents' 45th Anniversary Party. With thoughts of my Mom this week, I wanted to share this. Mom died 5 months after this party, so I was so glad that we had been able to be together with all of my siblings, nieces and nephews. Mom is having a stare-down with my niece, Annie, who will be leaving for college again next week with 2 of her sisters.

For more great pictures, check out Candid Carrie!