We've planned a last minute trip to Iowa to visit Monte's brother. We leave tomorrow morning!
The trip, according to Mapquest, should take 8.5 hours. But the last time we visited them, it took 10 hours. We've decided that any mapping software should ask for the number and ages of children to determine true driving time. A nursing infant and a recently potty-trained toddler will significantly delay us.
It'll be our first time seeing their new house, so I'm pretty excited about that.
I have spent all day getting ready for this trip - three loads of laundry with two more to do; car washed and gassed up; new drive belt for the car (still needs to be changed, but at least we have it); oil change; packing; cleaning the house (can't come home to a mess); and I still have to run to the store for drive-time snacks and food for Audrey.
Crazy busy, but it'll be fun!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Serious topic
On Monday, I purchased a book at the local Christian bookstore. It was on sale, plus I had a $5 coupon, so I picked it up pretty cheap. I didn't really read the synopsis, but it was by a very popular author, and it wasn't part of a series, so I figured it couldn't be too bad.
Bad idea. One subject that I hate to read about is divorce. The basic story is about a couple that has grown apart, stayed together for the kids, and is on the brink of divorce. They just need to get through their daughter's wedding first. So after 300+ pages of non communication and misunderstanding, they decide that 22 years of marriage cannot be tossed aside. But, while the book mirrors my personal philosophy (God does not like divorce, and He never encourages it), it was so formulaic and trite. Much of it read like a comedy of errors of sorts, but without the comedy. As pat an answer as it seems, communication is so important. Why are people so fearful of talking to their spouses for fear of being misunderstood?
So I got to thinking - why do so many turn to God for comfort through the process of divorce? When did the Church start offering healing after a broken relationship instead of healing of it? We are so quick to offer reconciliation for other strained relationships, but at some point, we've decided that repairing the hurt of betrayal in marriage is beyond God's abilities.
That's where I'll leave it. Feel free to discuss in my comment section.
Bad idea. One subject that I hate to read about is divorce. The basic story is about a couple that has grown apart, stayed together for the kids, and is on the brink of divorce. They just need to get through their daughter's wedding first. So after 300+ pages of non communication and misunderstanding, they decide that 22 years of marriage cannot be tossed aside. But, while the book mirrors my personal philosophy (God does not like divorce, and He never encourages it), it was so formulaic and trite. Much of it read like a comedy of errors of sorts, but without the comedy. As pat an answer as it seems, communication is so important. Why are people so fearful of talking to their spouses for fear of being misunderstood?
So I got to thinking - why do so many turn to God for comfort through the process of divorce? When did the Church start offering healing after a broken relationship instead of healing of it? We are so quick to offer reconciliation for other strained relationships, but at some point, we've decided that repairing the hurt of betrayal in marriage is beyond God's abilities.
That's where I'll leave it. Feel free to discuss in my comment section.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Funny
Who doesn't like Calvin and Hobbes? Of course, it's a lot easier to love Calvin when he's just a kid on paper. When you have the incarnate version in your home, life gets a little harried.
Not funny, but don't I wish it were true? I do love that Isaac still thinks that I have all the answers:
Not funny, but don't I wish it were true? I do love that Isaac still thinks that I have all the answers:
Picture Time
I never post pics, but I don't know why not. I love taking pictures, I have thousands on my computer, and I have adorable children to show off. So here are some of my favorites.
Happily Married
Monte and I will celebrate our 7th anniversary next month. I love him even more than I did on our wedding day. That's it, just a declaration of love.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Birthday Party
As some may know, I started thinking about Audrey's first birthday party last August. I was discouraged because Isaac's first birthday party was so awesome. It's really hard to beat a backyard BBQ at the start of summer. Fall is so unpredictable, and my house can't house that many people comfortably, and I wanted something unique. So I had the idea of a hayride. Not living on a farm, I knew I'd have to reserve a local site. Since I thought it'd be a little weird to reserve a site before she was actually born, I waited.
Time got away from me, but last week I realized that her birthday is only 2 months away! Almost time to send out invitations! Time to make a reservation somewhere, but where? I called a local greenhouse, and they have a pumpkin patch and hayrides in the fall. I had no idea if they even hosted parties there, or what the cost would be. But it was my only idea, so I was really hoping for something reasonable.
Come to find out, they do host parties. With real activities. Besides a hayride, they offer a playhouse for the kids, story time, a corn maze, cider and donuts, and set-up for the party. The only thing I have to do is supply food. And it's very reasonably priced.
So now that I have the site reserved, it's time for invitations. Again, Isaac's first birthday invites were so cute, how could I ever top them? But I worked on them today, and they are so cute. I think they're on par with Isaac's, so yea! Mission accomplished. Since Karen's the only one who reads this, I can safely say that you'll be getting it soon, and you can concur.
Now I just have to plan the menu, decide on decorations, and organize pictures. Once again, not to have Isaac's party remain superior, I will have pictures of my precious girl from throughout the year.
Time got away from me, but last week I realized that her birthday is only 2 months away! Almost time to send out invitations! Time to make a reservation somewhere, but where? I called a local greenhouse, and they have a pumpkin patch and hayrides in the fall. I had no idea if they even hosted parties there, or what the cost would be. But it was my only idea, so I was really hoping for something reasonable.
Come to find out, they do host parties. With real activities. Besides a hayride, they offer a playhouse for the kids, story time, a corn maze, cider and donuts, and set-up for the party. The only thing I have to do is supply food. And it's very reasonably priced.
So now that I have the site reserved, it's time for invitations. Again, Isaac's first birthday invites were so cute, how could I ever top them? But I worked on them today, and they are so cute. I think they're on par with Isaac's, so yea! Mission accomplished. Since Karen's the only one who reads this, I can safely say that you'll be getting it soon, and you can concur.
Now I just have to plan the menu, decide on decorations, and organize pictures. Once again, not to have Isaac's party remain superior, I will have pictures of my precious girl from throughout the year.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
California Dreaming
Monte really wanted to attend a solar energy conference in Long Beach, CA, in September. After much consideration, we decided it was worth the expense, and we'll all go. The conference is for two days, and we'll go for the whole week. It's the week of his birthday and our anniversary, so we'll have a nice celebratory vacation.
Of course, we don't have a place to stay yet. The nearby hotels are booked, but we're looking at some condos for rent. We've found a couple that are right on the beach, but we just need to verify availability.
Isaac heard us talking about California, and asked if we were going. We should have known better than to tell him this early. He is so excited about going, because that's where Lightning McQueen went to race. He believes that he will go there in Daddy's truck, and he'll see Lightning. As he put it at bedtime the other night, "Lightning McQueen loves me. He wants to meet me. Thank you God for California." We believe that Disney's California Adventure has a Cars character meet, so we're looking into tickets for that. But we won't tell him! Shh - it's a surprise!
Of course, we don't have a place to stay yet. The nearby hotels are booked, but we're looking at some condos for rent. We've found a couple that are right on the beach, but we just need to verify availability.
Isaac heard us talking about California, and asked if we were going. We should have known better than to tell him this early. He is so excited about going, because that's where Lightning McQueen went to race. He believes that he will go there in Daddy's truck, and he'll see Lightning. As he put it at bedtime the other night, "Lightning McQueen loves me. He wants to meet me. Thank you God for California." We believe that Disney's California Adventure has a Cars character meet, so we're looking into tickets for that. But we won't tell him! Shh - it's a surprise!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Isaac "Tiger" Lee
Isaac has always been interested in sports. Playing or watching, it doesn't matter; he loves sports. The obsession started with the usual: football, baseball, basketball. Then we took him mini golfing. Oh, he loved that. So of course, we had to buy him a set of plastic kids' clubs for the back yard. Being the natural athlete he is, he excelled at kiddie golf, too.
Then a couple of months ago, he discovered Monte's golf clubs in the garage. Plastic kids' clubs just don't cut it when full-size graphite clubs are available. Considering that those are designed for someone twice his height, he does really well.
But as one could imagine, a city yard is just not big enough for a budding golfer. So off to the driving range we went. The clubhouse no longer offers kid clubs for rent, so Isaac just used Monte's. He was able to drive the balls about 10-15 yards. Pretty good for a three year old, I'd say.
Now, every time he prays, he thanks God for golf. If we forget at bedtime, he interjects, "And golf!" It's so cute.
As a mom, I'd prefer the discipline of golf to the aggressiveness of football, but I just looked up the price of clubs. Ouch. Maybe football is his future after all.
Then a couple of months ago, he discovered Monte's golf clubs in the garage. Plastic kids' clubs just don't cut it when full-size graphite clubs are available. Considering that those are designed for someone twice his height, he does really well.
But as one could imagine, a city yard is just not big enough for a budding golfer. So off to the driving range we went. The clubhouse no longer offers kid clubs for rent, so Isaac just used Monte's. He was able to drive the balls about 10-15 yards. Pretty good for a three year old, I'd say.
Now, every time he prays, he thanks God for golf. If we forget at bedtime, he interjects, "And golf!" It's so cute.
As a mom, I'd prefer the discipline of golf to the aggressiveness of football, but I just looked up the price of clubs. Ouch. Maybe football is his future after all.
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