Maggie's Dream!

Maggie was a Spotlight Author in her class this month. Each month 5 students get picked to have their paper posted in the hall for the entire school to read. I have to admit...her paper was pretty darn good, and I just love all the misspelled words, it reminds me that she's still just a little girl.

I hope your dreams come true too, sweetie! Every single one of them!

Max's 100th day!

Yesterday was Max's 100th day of school. He was asked to bring in 10 of something. Whatever he wanted. Since there are 10 kids in his class, if they all brought in 10 items, they would have a total of 100. So we gathered 10 matchbox cars, put them in a labeled bag and off to school he went.

I was excited to hear about all the different "10 items" when he got home. There were: 10 guitar picks, 10 headbands, 10 magnets, 10 chocolates, 10 sweet tarts, 10 grapes, 10 Star Wars guys, 10 Barbies, 10 Little People and Max's 10 match-box cars.

He also came home with this beauty of a necklace (oh, sorry its not a necklace...it's the special gold metal holder!). Doesn't it look yummy! I think he ate 3 sections of colored Fruit Loops when he got home! We should have saved them for this mornings breakfast! Oh well!

I'm beginning to wonder...

The past two Tuesday nights we have eaten dinner with our "neighbors" next door. We are having so much fun doing these Sullivan family dinners all the time. Janelle & I are even coordinating who cooks what on what day. It's kinda nice not to have to worry "what's for dinner" all day!

However, this brings me to today's problem.

Last Tuesday night we ate dinner there and we joked about eating Papa's frozen cheese from 2007. We ate it and we were all just fine...until about 10 o'clock later that same night when Max was puking in his bed.

Then it happened again...last night. We ate dinner, visited for a while and then came home to watch American Idol. We put the kids to bed and that's when Maggie started complaining that her stomach hurt. We got her the garbage can and put it next to her bed. Then about 10:15, I heard that dreadful sound. I raced in there to see that she totally missed the garbage can...by a long shot, (basketball probably isn't in her future) She continued most of the night and more already this morning. The poor thing!

So we are hangin here at home again this Wednesday. Washing bed sheets, blankets and a bed skirt, Drinking Sprite and eating mini saltine crackers. Doing word search puzzles and I'm sure watching way too much t.v., and hoping that this is the last Wednesday for a long time that someone is sick.

Oh, and I think I'll cook dinner next Tuesday.

Save the date!

I know it's a little early, but I wanted to make sure that you get this on your calendar. The MS Walk 2010 will be on Sunday, September 12. So mark it down...highlight it in orange and lets get ready for another fun year!

I think it will be a great kick-off for those of us living in The Pumpkin Capital of the World! The P-fest is September 15-18 this year and with the walk being on the 12th, we will get a head start by getting all decked out in orange. What a way to get into the spirit!

Remember, there is no fee to walk and it's a great family-fun-filled day. We had a *HUGE* turnout last year, and I'd love to have all of you and more this year!

So mark your calendars and save the date, and go ORANGE!

The big debate!

This past Saturday morning, we got our "team" together for a little cleaning of this house of ours. The sun was shining, the music was loud and together we knocked it out in a short period of time.

However, the discussion started between "Mr. Clean" and myself. I have always done the dusting first....then the vacuuming. That's just how I was taught to clean. I always thought that if you did the dusting after the vacuuming....you'd just be wiping all that dust on to your clean carpet/floors? Right?!?

"Mr.Clean" thinks it's okay to vacuum first, because your dust cloth is picking up the dust and not "dropping" it on the floor!

Anyway...I'd love to know what you do first....the dusting or the vacuuming? Not that I'm going to change my ways or anything (unless someone has a really good reason for me to!)

It's kinda like how the toilet paper goes up and over, NOT down and under!


** Oh, and just for the record....I'm totally grateful for a hubby who is willing to help clean....so please don't think I'm complaining! **

Fun Friday!

Here is a video showing the winner of my little giveaway! Thanks again for playing along and a big "thanks" for reading our little blog. As you can tell, the kiddos had a lot of fun doing this little drawing...we might just have to do them more often!

Have a great Friday and a fabulous weekend everyone!

Strictly Business!

Janelle and I are heading up to Glen Ellyn today for the home inspection of their new place! Yippee!

However, this is NOT a leisure trip by any means. There is work to be done.

We will be checking on the heating and air conditioning unit, making sure the wiring and plumbing are up to code. We will be looking for water and making sure the roof is okay. (the roof is the big thing on top of the house, right?!)

We will NOT be sketching plans for furniture placement or going over paint choices for the walls. We will NOT be making lists, or decorating the entire house in our heads.

And we most definitely will NOT be going to one of my favorite stores (HomeGoods) conveniently located only five miles from their new place.

This trip is strictly business people. It's not the most fabulous job, but someone has to do it!

Thank you!

Thank you ALL so much for the comments yesterday! It totally made my day!

Since I've been home all day with a sick boy, I decided to change things up again...I might keep this design around for a little while...it's kinda cute!

Anyway...I have a little something for that one lucky reader who commented...so be on the lookout for that and thanks again for letting me know you are there!


**Please add my sweet friend's daughter Kate to your prayer list. Please ask the Lord for peace and guidance as they wait for test results!**

I ♥LOVE♥ my readers!

The other night while attending a evening church function, I was approached by a family friend who simply said, "I never knew about the arrow on the dashboard telling you which side of the car the gas tank was on." I got a huge smile and proceeded to tell him how excited I was that I wasn't the only one who didn't know about that! (You can read that post here...if you missed it!)

I was glad that I was able to share a little piece of knowledge with someone, but what truly "got" to me was that someone was actually reading this little blog of mine. It got me thinkin'!

I'd love to know who you all are. Sure I've got the sitemeter thingy which tells me a little, but either I don't know how to use it correctly (most likely the case) or it's not detailed enough for me to get any real information. It tells me who's on...and where they came from, but other than that, I really don't know who is really reading this ol' blog of mine. So that's where you come in. I want to know who you are...whether you stop by daily, or just when you think about it? Whether it's when I post a link on Facebook, or if you have me on a list of other blogs you check on a regular basis.

It doesn't really matter who reads this, cause it's really just for me anyway....but I'm just being nosy and I really want to know. So leave me a comment, or if you don't know how to do that, (which it's really easy...I promise) you can just send me an email (sullifam4@gmail.com) or Facebook me.

There just might be a little drawing and something in it for YOU if you do!

It was my fault...I know!

When your mom tells you "I'll be there in a minute!" one too many times....you have to make adjustments...and just do it yourself!

Sorry buddy...it was a bad mommy moment! Happy Monday!

One year!

A year ago today, I posted this request for you to pray. YOU did! And I am so thankful! Then I posted this explaining what was going on....I have to say that I honestly never saw it coming...who ever does really? We tend to think nothing bad is ever going to happen to us.

I've learned so much in this past year, and I know that God puts these challenges in our lives for a reason. I've learned that I have to listen to my body. That's a hard thing for this "I-love-my-routine" girl. Sometimes I have to just slow down, take a rest and refocus on what is really important. Fatigue is the worst complication I've had so far. And that is something I can deal with.

Back in June, I started a treatment program. The medicine is basically to keep the MS from progressing as fast. It's not a guarantee and honestly, the doctors don't really know if it will work...but I feel like I at least have to give it a go. So I do a daily injection...remember my friend, Polly...she and I have become the best of friends. The injections aren't too bad. Most of the time, I swell up a little at the injection site...followed by a bruise and/or lump...but nothing a long sleeve shirt can't hide. I keep telling my friend Laura who has some pretty amazing artwork on her arms that I might need to think about getting a tattoo....just to hide the bruising.

There will always be hurdles to face and struggles to overcome. There will be rough days, when I have to rely on others to help me through....but I'm not going to sit around and wait for those days to come. I'm going to enjoy the everyday, great days that are here now!

I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful, supportive family and group of friends. People who check in on me, friends who make sure I'm not overdoing it, and most importantly a husband who is by my side every moment of the way.

God has blessed me more than I could ever imagine. I am so thankful for all the challenges He sends my way. For in those challenges, I grow closer to Him and that is the greatest gift.

Darn cold!

Sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose...

Sniffing, blowing, wishing I could smell a rose (or even just a little coffee)!

Why is it the same time every year?
Hubby says, "It's cold season...that's why my dear!"

Bring on the tissues, the fluids and meds...
This sick mommy is headin back to bed!





(I know its bad...but I had to post something today!)

Maggie's Snowman!

Maggie's little pee-wee snowman she made yesterday, could turn into a big guy by tomorrow...they're calling for 7-9 inches of snow tonight!
Guess we'll have to wait and see! Be careful out there!

My new communication tool! Try it...it works!

I originally saw an ad for this store on another blog. Then I'd find it again on another blog, and then see it again. It was almost like this site was haunting me. There have been many giveaways on different blogs for something special from this store and of course, I never won. But I always, (I'm talkin every single time) kept coming back to the same necklace. This one! Isn't it just beautiful!

So I left a GREAT BIG HINT in my hubby's email in-box. It said something like this:

"If you still need an anniversary gift idea, this is it! And I would want to be exactly like this...."


I'm just hear to say, the hubby's email in-box is a great communication tool. I think I'm going to be using it a lot more often!

Our new neighbors!

We are having a ball hangin out with our new temporary neighbors. Aaron and Janelle sold their house in Peoria and are staying next door with Papa till they find a new house in the Chicago-land area. We are all having a blast and enjoying this very special time together.


The kids even have a new saying when they leave each other for the night. They say, "See ya later, next door neighbor!" It's so cute!

100th Day!

Today is Maggie's 100th day of first grade! They are celebrating! She had to wear a hat with 100 items on it. We choose ribbon, cause we all know that I have a little extra ribbon laying around.


Have a super-fun day Mags....don't let the boys rip off those ribbons...my fingers are still sore from all that hot-glue!

8 Years ago today!

**This post was originally posted last year on 2-2-09...I love sharing our story, so I thought I'd post it again today! I did change the dates...so you didn't have to do the math...enjoy!**

Thirteen years ago today (February 2, 1997), Andy and I went on our first date. It was a very casual, get-to-know-ya-again kinda date. We went to a local Italian restaurant and after dinner he asked if I would mind running into Wal-mart (so romantic) so he could pick up a birthday gift for his sister. Now Wal-mart would not have been the first place to get a gift for your sister, except he was buying her 2 new Disney VHS tapes. (she was collecting them all) I thought it was just totally sweet that he was buying his sister a gift, I didn't realize till later that he was a week late in getting and giving his gift. But hey, I guess it was the thought, right?!

We had a great time on that date, I felt really comfortable and relaxed around him. We had several more casual dates in the weeks to follow. Then we started spending pretty much every weekend together along with several times during the week. This continued for 4 years.

On May 4, 2001, we purchased our very first home. We knew we were going to get married, but he hadn't actually proposed yet. On the day of the closing, we were both so excited. Neither of us could sleep the night before. We were closing at 9:00 in the morning and the plan was for us both to take the day off work, close on the house and get movin' in. I got a little bent out of shape when Andy informed me the night before closing that he had a meeting with his boss in the morning BEFORE the closing. Hello....who schedules a meeting before 9:00 a.m.??? Now this might not have been that big of a deal except for the fact that my man isn't the most "on time" person. He could have walked in 5 minutes late to the closing and not been phased one bit...if that was me, I would have been devastated! I'm just not a late person...I like to be on time if not a tad bit early. Anyway...it turned out fine and he was there on time. We did all the paperwork and signed our life away.

We both had our own cars loaded up with all the goods we were taking to the new house and headed straight there after the closing. I was so excited! When we got there all the blinds/window coverings were closed, so it was dark....I walked into the living room and headed right for the kitchen to plug in the phone to make sure we had service. (calling someone from my new house was obviously my priority!) Andy hollered for me to come into the living room. As I walked in the room, he flipped on the light above the fireplace. When I finally looked over there, up on the mantle were several long stem roses laying down with a white ring box in the center sparkling like I've never seen sparkle before. HE GOT ME! It had been a running joke for quite some time that he wouldn't be able to surprise me. That I would totally know when he was going to propose. I totally walked right by his set-up the first time. He totally surprised me! It was awesome! Oh, and he didn't have a meeting with his boss that morning before closing. He had made arrangements with our realtor to have her let him in the house to get everything set up. He had it all planned out. Perfectly!


So not only did we have a new house, now we were planning a wedding. Looking ahead at the calendar we figured out that February 2 was going to fall on a Saturday! Perfect. So we got married on the 5-year anniversary of our very first date and to top it off, the date was 02-02-02! How cool is that!

We decided on a small, intimate ceremony. We wanted an evening ceremony at a local botanical garden conservatory. Being that it was February, the conservatory was warm and we had the entire event lit by candlelight. The ceremony was beautiful. Andy asked his brother and dad to be his best men and I had Andy's sister, Jodi and my cousin, Tina stand up with me. Simple, yet elegant with all our family there to witness our union. The ceremony was followed by a huge party with a sit-down dinner for all our friends and family. It was honestly the perfect day!



Andy,
Today, eight years later, we are celebrating our anniversary. So much has changed in those eight years and I wouldn't want to share those times with anyone else. Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. This past year has brought new challenges our way, challenges we are facing together. Thank you for being there through all of it. What is even more exciting to me is that I can't wait for all the adventures we still have waiting for us. We have been blessed with two beautiful kids and everyday we are learning and growing together. Thank you for being the person you are and for sharing your life with me!
I Love You!
T

The songs you are hearing are the two songs that we danced our first dance to....Etta James, At Last....you know cause it only took us five years and Grow Old with me...just cause all the words are perfect....Enjoy!

Friday night Family Fun!

It all started with this...Maggie taking our picture!

Then Daddy had to get all goofy!

Then the rest of us joined in!

again and again...

while we laughed and laughed..

and laughed some more...

Friday night family-fun time!

Sometimes it's the simple things that create life-long memories!