My Little Life

Mr. Wonderful and I had an impromptu date night...just got back, as a matter of fact. It was fab. So nice to reconnect, laugh, flirt, enjoy each other... sigh , it was just like dating. I asked him if he'd still think I was "hot" when we were old and gray... He said, "No, probably not." I gasped, " What!!!???" He looked at me, like "duh" ...and said, "Uh, yeah. Pretty sure I will since I think the sun rises and sets on your a**!!" Mmmmm ...ain't he the best?! Man, I love him.

I am so honored to be guest blogging for Mama M today! Besides being my bestie, I admire her as a woman and mother and friend SO much! Plus she laughs at most of my jokes, so bonus! She first told me that I needed to guest blog when I told her the following story (which doesn't involve Mama M but did involve her laughing so hard she cried when I told it her)--so I thought I'd share the joy that was my humiliation :) I'm not a runner. I'm barely what you'd call a "walker". I'm what you'd call " indoorsy " (took that from a Jim Gaffigan bit). But I have this idea of a future self that's much like an action figure: Action Figure Tara! (can you here the "da-da-DAAAH!" and see the bright yellow cape flowing in the wind? Yep, my cape would be yellow--such a happy color!). Anyway, I fancy myself an action hero but reality is far from it. (that's me in the blue tank pretending I can go fast) So when a friend of mine from Bible

Last night, at work, I was surprised by this: My sweet Mr. Wonderful sent me these gorgeous flowers...'cuz he missed me! Between camping in the wild with our children, business conferences, and my evening work schedule, we haven't seen much of each other! What a fun surprise...he used to be the most romantic guy when we were dating...fun little surprises, flowers, candy trails leading to a sweet card. Then, well, we got married! I joke that he stopped being Mr. Romance as soon as the church doors slammed shut! Sigh ...looks like he still has it in him! I also have ( Achoo!) this nasty summer (Achoo!!) head cold...seems like (Achoo!) I can't go for more than (Achoo!) 14 seconds without (Achoo!!) sneezing! Darn colds (Achoo!) , I hate being sick in the summer. (Achoo!!!) He thought maybe the flowers would brighten my day...and they did (now, if they could only make this cold go away !). ---------------------------------- In other, fun news...I'm handing over

Anyone else ever notice how, when gas prices go up, so does the rate at which you consume your gas? Seems like, way back when, when gas was under 2 bucks a gallon, I could go for ever on a tank of gas. Now, gas is somewhere around $2.40 (at least here, in the Upper Midwest!), and I need to "fill 'er up" weekly (or better). When prices were around four dollars, I felt like I needed to re-fill as soon as I left the gas station! I think they must dilute the expensive gas, or something... Okay, so I'm not really a conspiracy theorist, but sheesh ! I'd really rather spend that money on a fab pair of shoes, you know?

We had a fabulous summer day for our annual tradition: ValleyFair ! ValleyFair is Minnesota's version of Disney World, ' cept it's more like, um, a teeny, tiny, eensy , weensy Disney World...still good for us Minnesotan's ! Tradition holds that the Monster is our (oh, who am I kidding) their first ride...I don't do it, makes me barf in mouth a little... Here's Tiny Girl, chillaxin ' in her new stroller . I went against everything in me and purchased a second hand Maclaren , for $2--yes, that's right. Two bucks . I couldn't pass it up! Little A., trying to see how much "peed in" pool water he can drink: And last, but certainly not least, the lovely Miss E., atop a carousel pony... lovin ' life. Oh, what a great day it was! Even my Grandpa, at nearly 80, went on the big thrill rides! And we didn't even lose any children, whew !!

As many of you are well aware, sweet Stellan McKinney is being airlifted to Boston Tuesday. Seeking prayers for the doctors (guided by the Great Physician ), that they are able to obliterate Stellan's SVT once and for all . Poor little guy has been fighting all weekend, he deserves some reprieve (and so does the MckFamily!!). My prayers are with them, my thoughts are with them, my heart goes out to them. --------------------------- And here's my photo! I wanted to pick an "older" photo...here's my lovely Miss E., at her second birthday party. Totally partied out and lovin' on her Great-Grandma H. Don't have a ton of photos with my kiddos and G.G H. (she's still alive and well, we just don't see her often enough!), so this one is "especially" special! I love how it appears that Miss E. is "worrying" G.G.H's shirt...Tiny Girl does the same thing when she's sleepy!

This may very well be a "you just had to be there" story, but we'll see if I can do it justice! This, is my mama: (well, okay, not just my mama, also my Grandpa , and my goofy aunt, Nature Girl...) Note her pearly white, gorgeous teeth (my mom's, not my aunt's...not that they (my aunt's teeth--hmm, can you parenthesis in a parenthesis?), aren't you know, pearly and white). They didn't come easy to her. No, indeed they did not...as those teeth would be veneers! I have an uncle who works for a large dental company...a dental company that does cosmetic dentistry. Since they (my parents, not my the dental company), you know, know my uncle, he was able to get them those gorgeous teeth "for just the lab fees" ( essentially , for cost)...here's the catch: those performing the procedure were "learning" it. Know what it takes to learn something? Yup, practice! It makes perfect, right? Well, I dunno 'bout you, but there are somethin

"The boys (and girls) are back in town ( the boys (and girls) are back in town), The boys (and girls) are back in toooowwwnn !" The camper girls!! The BWCAW (or "Boundary Waters") was a blast for the fearless campers! Everyone came back alive and unharmed (save for the gash one teenager got that "probably" should have had a "stitch or two"...but, alas, it was not one of my children...so all's well, right?!)...they are down one Barbie fishing pole, but the story goes, they were told, "That's okay Dad, I can just get another one, right?" And that would be my lovely Miss E., speaking like the princess she is (good thing she has a birthday comin ' up!). Their large group of twelve (9 children, 3 adults) got "caught" by the Boundary Waters police...who was asking my BIL in one canoe "Are you with that red canoe?" (he was) To which my BIL replied, "Nope, I don't know them." Mr. Ranger says, &qu

A few months ago, we were visiting our awesome friends, Dr. J and her hubby, Mr. Patient (as in, patience not patients!)-- (who missed his professional baseball calling, and instead, stays home with their adorable kiddos!). Dr. J and I have known one another since first grade. It is an awesome, easy friendship. One thing that is also awesome about our friendship, is that we share the same beliefs in our faith (now, politics? That's another story!!). So, it goes, we were dining at their home one night, we said our pre -meal prayer, and Dr. J says, "Okay, Roses and Thorns ?" And her daughter began to list off the "roses" for her day (friends, fun, candy, etc.) and the "thorns" (rain, having to share, etc.). What a fantastic idea! Well, being the thieves that we are, we stole their idea and now enjoy hearing about one another's "roses and thorns"! In our crazy home, we sometimes have a hard time getting a word in edgewise, so this provides

Okay, so it turns out you'll just have to take my word for this...it appears I'm obscenely a bit computer illiterate and can not find a way to post the little thing from random.org that gave me our winner! But, anywho ... Out of ten entries, number 4 was the "chosen one"! Congrats to Meghan , send me a little note via email (right sidebar on my blog) and I'll hook you up with somethin ' sweet! And, since many of you were curious...it actually wasn't my children who lost my phone. It was tucked away, safe and sound, in my purse. Where it belonged !! I found it funny that Little A. so confidently told me where it was( n't )...stinker!! Oh, and if any of you feel like helping me out...how the heck do you take "snapshots" of a computer screen and post them? Or is that something deserving a college degree in computer science, or at least participation in a college course in it?

Updated update : Comments are now off! And if it weren't so dang late and I weren't so darn tired, I'd head on over to random.org and find us a winner right now. But, alas, it's late and I'm tired. So, tomorrow, my dear friends! G'nite! Update: Oh, sweet lurkers, come out, come out where ever you are! Just a little FYI--I'll shut off comments to this post tonight, midnight(ish), and determine the winner a bit later (like tomorrow)! :) ----------------------- Dearest, lovely, charming, intelligent self, The next time you have grand ideas or blissful images about taking two small children out for supper, on your own , please disregard them. You should know better than to think it would be enjoyable...or at the very least, make sure you visit an establishment with appropriately working restraints on their high chairs. Just sayin '... Oh, and while we're at it...when you ask your three year old, "Did you see where Tiny Girl put my cell phone?

I know I'm just one little person, one small voice...but I have to throw this out! I love great customer service... love it !! One of my newest discoveries is, Trader Joe's ! I have been there twice, and each time I was overwhelmed by the kindness and helpfulness of their staff! So, with that, "Thank you, Trader Joe's"! You are fantastic!! I'm sure my bestie, Tara , will be proud of me for spreading the "buzzzz" about great customer service (this is her expertise, afterall)! But, really, doesn't it make a difference when you are treated like you are valued?! It does to me! P.S. FYI, any and all advertising is just from my kind and generous spirit (aka, uncompensated !!)...I just believe in both of these great companies!

My Gram is one fan tabulous cook! Self taught and pretty darn amazing, she is! Nothing fancy, gourmet, or frou-frou ...nope, we're talkin' strictly comfort food! Stick to your ribs kinda cookin'! This is one of my family's all-time favorite recipe of hers, a bit "putzy-er" than I usually do...but well worth the effort! Hope you enjoy it! Swedish Meatballs 2 lbs. hamburger 1 lb. fresh ground pork 1 medium onion (process in food processor until slightly watery) 1 "sleeve" onion cracker crumbs (fine crumbs...food processor works great!) 2 eggs 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp allspice 1/2 tsp sugar salt and pepper (to taste...just don't, you know, taste the raw hamburger! Use your best guess!) Mix all together, form small balls (I use the smallest "Pampered Chef" cookie scoop) and brown (**see note below). Remove meatballs from pan. Save all drippings from pan and/or cookie sheet. In large frying pan, mix 2 cans cream of chicken soup along with a

When people find out I have five children, I usually get one of two responses: "You don't look old enough to have five kids!" (I am. I promise...in fact, I am probably old enough to have more than five kids!) Or, "Wow! You must be crazy!!" (Crazy to have had five children or crazy because of five children, I'm not sure...I've never clarified with them!) Well, tonight, I came to a startling revelation. Amazing really! (And now you may think I'm crazy too!) Mr. Wonderful and the three older kiddos left this afternoon on their annual Boundary Waters camping trip. A bit of quick math tells you that I'm left home with two . The little two. 3 years and 17 months. I'm sure most people would breathe a little sigh of relief at the ridiculously easy week I have ahead of me, right? I mean, certainly , numbers-wise, two has got to be easier than five, hasn't it?! No. No, no, no !!! It is not! I had a eureka!!! moment today when I

The ever fabulous and creative MckMama is hosting a spin on our traditional "Not Me! Monday"...who doesn't love to tell stories about their kiddos? All things that did (not) happen, of course! It wasn't MY child who, when staying at a very accommodating hotel for a baseball tournament, decided that pulling the fire alarm would be a wonderful pastime. And, no, of course the fire trucks and police cars weren't en route when it was determined that someone's unruly child caused the false alarm. No way would my child do such a thing! They are closely supervised at all times. Always. My beautiful second born baby, when 6 weeks old, went through the common "breastfed, no poops for days and days on end". Being a nurse, I kept myself calm, knowing when she did finally deliver, I'd be longing for the days of no poops again. Low and behold, we weren't at my BFF's bridal shower when it happened. And not at my oldest son's kindergarte

She came in with a "bump on the head", a sore throat, and a baby in her belly (which meant a visit to the birthing floor, not the ER). She thought that, maybe, her bump was causing her sore throat. ( Ahem, huh?) After being cleared "OB-wise" (aka, nothing wrong pregnancy or baby related), doctor's orders were that she was to be released from our floor to go to the ER. " Hmmm ", said she. "I don't really want to go to the ER. Don't you just have a pill you could give me?" Uh...no.

It all started with her, giving everything back at us . Then she started... So as not to be left out, he joined in the fun. The only one spared, was E.W. For nearly twelve hours we dealt with one combination or another of children throwing up. Finally at 5am, we were all able to rest our weary heads! And when everyone woke up? Well, aside from a slightly sour smell that had permeated our home, you'd never have known anything was amiss. Now, it's just amess !! Let the laundry begin!

Know what I woke up to this morning? At 4:45am, Mr. Wonderful, deep in dreamland, punches me in the butt and yells, "GO!!!" Great. Just real, stinkin ' great. Think I got any sleep after that? And, now, he thinks it's funny, hilarious even! It's a good thing he's cute.

Does anyone else ever, sometimes, long for the "good ol ' days"? I'm finding myself frustrated at times over today's society and expectations (or, maybe, lack thereof). What happened to a good face to face talk? Picking up the phone and calling someone to see how they are, rather than texting "what up dawg ..." or something else equally appalling? Do you think " Generation Text " will ever know what it is to have a "real" conversation with someone? Do 5 th graders really need cell phones? Will our children spend their time communicating via text with people in the same room? I'm not "anti" technology...more "moderate" tech...just think of the ease young adults now have with dating and Facebook or MySpace to help them out. No facing the rejection up front...just via a computer screen (good? bad? otherwise? Not sure!!) How I wish for the days when children could play outside from dawn to dusk wit

Hmmm...three things you don't know 'bout me, huh? Well, let's see... 1. I used to be a model. Ahem. Yup, totally serious, scout's honor, no lie. Okay, so I was, like, five (and who isn't cute at 5?), and it was for our small town children's clothing store, and my grandma did work there (nepotism at it's finest!). But, I did strut my stuff on a catwalk! Think New York Fashion Week, minus the celebrities, paparazzi and uber chic designers. Take away the posh, swanky venue, the rail thin models and, instead, imagine cute, chubby 5 year olds, knicker pants with matching vests walking a makeshift "catwalk" at our local ballroom with it's beer stained floors and perpetual smokey haze. Uh, huh...I used to be a model. 2. I once whacked my racquetball partner upside the head with my racquet (or is it racket) while playing an intense game of, well, racquetball. That'd be Tara, my BFF, and we then proceeded to laugh so hard we peed our pants...or mayb

Little A. with my Uncle J.

If you are in any way, shape or form offended, grossed out or bothered by a little potty (or poo) talk, this story is not for you...read at your own risk, or something. A while back, I was bothered by a tummy bug... crampy , runs, that kind of bothered by . It just never seemed to get better. After a few weeks of this, I decided to see the doctor. He promptly ordered not one, but two stool samples. Since I could basically poop on cue, I left my first sample before I even left the clinic. Now, remember that I work at a hospital? The hospital is affiliated with the clinic, so, conveniently , I could "just drop off the second sample at the lab", easy peasy . And it was...the next time I went to work, I carried my second BM collection in a little brown bag (well, you know, in a plastic container in that little brown bag, not in the bag itself...gross.). I hand it over to the lab tech, who quickly hops on the computer to check the order (the order that calls for two stoo

3rd out of 32!! What an AWESOME weekend we had! Our boys finished in 3rd place, played like the fabulous players they are and made their mama's (and papa's) proud! Not sure how he manages to do it, but Big A. spent the majority of the weekend in this position: My math skills (which means this number could be waaayyy off) tell me that Big A. did this for about 9 hours!! I'll tell you what, if you made me squat like that for 9 seconds my legs would be wobblin ' like a bowl of jelly! It's always a challenge to keep the younger four contained during these marathon baseball weekends, but they do pretty darn well! Ahem , I guess it helps if you feed them a steady diet of ring pops, Dippin ' Dots, and soda pop! And keep them entertained by photographing said ring pops if they beg ask very nicely like the polite children they are. Well, whatever it takes, huh? And just because it's too hilarious not to share...Little A. wanted to play dress up during our Fo