I couldn't decide if today's activity was a cop-out or not. Bill assured me that it wasn't, so we did not add to what we had already planned for the day. Today was Parent's Day Out at church. What this means is, parents of children who go to our church, can drop off their children from 9:30-3:30 and get done whatever they need to get done while the children are supervised and play together. It's a wonderful thing for the parents as well as the kids. Rori and Liam love it especially, because they get to play with friends that they often don't get to have free play with--usually just see them at Sunday School and AWANA.

Brendan went from this to

this. Thanks to the lovely ladies and gentelman that were there!

We have been so blessed by the church we attend. We have developed some incredible friendships, and so have our kids. When Bill and I first got married, we attended a large, well-known church with a Pastor who has a real gift for preaching. However, we never really felt connected. I know that this is large part our fault. Neither of us is terribly out-going, and you almost have to be, in order to get involved at a large church. Near the end of our time there we got involved in a lovely small group, and still keep in touch with some of those people. The problem was that we rarely saw those people at church due to all attending different services, I came to realize that, for us, the church we attended needed to be more about community. I wanted my children to see the same friends every week, to grow up together. My memories of the church I grew up in, was that everyone knew each other. We stayed after church and visited with our friends. We had a small youth group that we were comfortable bringing friends to. We became saved at AWANA clubs. I remember all of my Sunday School teachers--and still keep in touch with some on facebook. I had my youth pastor perform our marriage ceremony. That's what I wanted for my children.

All the kids made a craft for us

Liam looooves playing with his besties (from left to right, Liam, James, Micah, Andrew) --please tell me I got the twins right, Leslie

At the large church Bill and I went to, we didn't know anyone and we ran out the door to beat the ridiculous line of cars out of the parking lot. When we lost Faith, the hospital asked if we had a pastor or anyone to call. We didn't. Our Pastor didn't know us from Adam. Thus our hunt for a smaller local church.

We ended up at Calvary (after visiting some WEIRD churches). We were immediately welcomed into a group of young families that I love dearly and I love their children. We are a part of the community. Our Pastor knows who we are, has helped us out with advice and followed up to see how the situation went. He visited us in the hospital when we had Brendan, and I know that if we had lost a baby whilst at Calvary, there would have been a long list of spiritual prayer warriors to call and pray with. Almost every Sunday, we stay after church and let our kids play in the gym. We help at AWANA clubs. Brendan is too little to attend AWANA, but one of the Sunday School teachers happily watches him and he loves her and acts like the big cheese when we drop him off. Our kids have made, what I hope, are lifelong friends. Frankly, I wouldn't mind if there were some marriages in the group so we could all stay family--I've been working on their dowry's ;-)

Rori was worried that the day would be too long and thought we should check on her and see if she wanted to leave early. She cried when it was time to go....

Rachel, her bestie, Rori, and Rachel's sister Maya, whom I think has potential for America's Next Top Model Cycle 78

So, I think keeping Parent's Day Out as an Advent activity is appropriate. It is helping teach our children what a church community feels like, hopefully helping form memories that will help them decide what type of church they really need for their families. Thank you Calvary for helping us to do and be the church, not just attend! We are so blessed and thankful to have been brought there! And thank you to all who gave up your Saturday to watch our children!

**I do want to add a disclaimer that there is NOTHING wrong with Mega churches. Bill and I just don't have the personalities to jump in and get involved. It just wasn't right for our family at this time. They can be wonderful churches and, I know, a tremendous blessing to those that attend.

Day 2 of our 2011 Advent Calendar

Have you ever tried this popcorn? The first day I ever popped it in our microwave it smelled like a squirrel had died and was covered in Gruyere cheese. Yes. That bad. Even worse, the smell lingers for days. Everytime you open your microwave, you hunt for the dead squirrel covered in stinky cheese. Unfortunately for me, the kids loooooove it! I would've never thought that something so foul could be redeemed (wow, I can see a biblical lesson here, but I will skip it for today because it could be really "cheesy" wow--I must move on before it gets worse) anyway, I never would've thought it could be redeemed. However, one day I was at my dear friend, April's house. She opened her microwave and commented on the dead squirrel cheese popcorn smell. I smiled and immediately felt a misery loves company sort of camaraderie with her. So, now, everytime I make this popcorn, I smile and think of my lovely friend, April, how blessed I am to call her friend, and how she has also experienced this particular kind of foulness. Thank you, my friend, for redeeming this horror for me--it's reason number 784 why I love you :)

Now for tangent number 2,  I will take a minute and explain our advent calendar. Some days are fun things we get to do together, some are little treats (that's right, there may be a whole post devoted to smiley face cookies or Wacky Pack Wednesday at Sonic--hold onto your seats this could be a wild ride), some are things we are doing together for other people, and fortunately all the days are written on post-its (can anyone think of post-its without thinking of Romy and Michelle?) so that I can switch them out if I need to.

So, on that note, for day 2, the kids have school and right after school, Bill and I are bringing them to Grandma Casey's so that we can go get beautiful. Well, I'm getting beautiful. He already is. (We're getting our  holiday haircuts). So, I thought that for Day 2 it would be fun for them to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and eat cheesy popcorn. Sorry about the smelly popcorn Grandma Casey! :)

First Day of Advent 2011

I buy Advent calendars every year, for the kids. This year, my friend Leslie, said she was making one. I asked her what she was doing. She directed me here. I got super excited! This is totally something I could do. I am not very creative, but I can copy others' ideas well :) I think this is the perfect type of calendar because it creates intentional memories. It's all about things we are doing together (well most days are). I have decided I am going to blog about each day so that I can keep the memories for the kids--we'll see if I can do it. Just because I say something doesn't make it true :) 

The kids have been super excited to open day one. So, this morning, they found out they were going to meet Santa! I got them dressed for school, loaded them in the car, and we drove off. Rori noticed immediately that we were going the wrong way--she's as smart as her mommy ;). I said, we're not going to school, we're going to see Santa now! They were super excited. I told them not to tell their teachers we went to see Santa, because apparently even though I am a grown adult, I'm still scared of getting in trouble from teachers. Liam pointed out, that was a lie. Crap. Love it when my kids call me out. 

I brought my point and shoot camera and it wasn't focusing, so forgive the pictures. I finally looked at the lens and it's slightly sticky with a fingerprint. Hmmmm... not sure who did that....Brendan. Anyway, I didn't have my lens cleaner on me so, oh well. I'm just keepin' it real. 

So, my super-friend, Leslie, also told us about this place to see Santa. (Seriously, she's super-mom, she has 4 boys--set of 5 year old twins, 3 year old, and 6 month old, she runs half marathons, bakes, made the advent calendar, and oh yeah, we got her Christmas card yesterday and she actually wrote a personal message on it. I haven't even ordered ours yet--and nobody is getting a personal message!) Anyway, so this place had Santa as well as other fun activities for kids and they give you a picture of the kids with Santa and it's all free! 

We got there right before Santa and he walked around and talked to the kids. He was the most realistic Santa I've seen in a while. The kids weren't scared, which is a change from last year. Liam told Santa he wants Rescue Bots, Rori wasn't ready to commit to something (I think she's worried she couldn't change her mind later) and Brendan was more interested in the reindeer. We stayed for about an hour and a half--the kids shot guns, bows and arrows (this was at a hunting store), raced cars, and played in the dune buggies, or whatever they're called--I am not a hunter. That's gross.

Sticky culprit?

what? There's Santa? Who cares! Look at this super cool Dune Buggy!

I didn't crop this because of sticky blur and I wanted to show the cool decorations

Anyway, it was a super time, and a great start to the Advent season! I just hope I don't get detention tomorrow...

The Princess Bride Analogy

I now have two children in school. Rori goes all day to first grade and Liam is gone in the mornings at pre-school. People have asked me how it is with just one child at home in the mornings. Understandably, they would assume that things are easier, that I get more done. This, however, is not the case. The best way I can explain it, it by using a Princess Bride analogy. I believe that most things in life can be explained with a Princess Bride analogy. Ok, not really, but let's pretend it is the case.

Anywhoo, if you have only seen the movie, you may not have been able to understand what Fezzik is saying whilst Westley is wrestling with him. However, upon reading the book, that part becomes quite clear. Below is the conversation that transpires between Fezzik and Westley AKA the Man in Black.

FEZZIK

I just feared you would give me so much trouble.

THE MAN IN BLACK
Why is that, do you think?

FEZZIK
Well, I haven't fought just one person for so long ... [struggling] ... I've been specializing in groups - fighting gangs for local charities, that kind of thing.

THE MAN IN BLACK
Why should that make such a ... difference?

FEZZIK
[Slowing down] You see, you use different moves when you're fighting half a dozen people, than when you only have to worry about one.

FEZZIK falls to the ground, unconscious. THE MAN IN BLACK checks to see if he is still alive.


Now, this is how the scene looks at my house.
MAMA
Brendan, I just figured out why you are running me ragged.
Mama is in the laundry room putting clothes into the washer

BRENDAN
Why is that mama?
Brendan climbs to the top of Rori's dollhouse MAMA exits the laundry room and gasps

MAMA
Get down right now! Well, I haven't taken care of just one person for so long ... [struggling to get Brendan's foot out of the dollhouse window] ... I've been specializing in groups - taking care of you and your siblings and the neighbor girl that won't leave. You all tattle on each other, so no one does anything crazy.
MAMA folds laundry and Brendan grabs the cats tail and then sticks his fingers in the dogs mouth. MAMA stops folding laundry

MAMA
Leave the dog and cat alone!
MAMA resumes folding laundry while Brendan puts the vacuum attachments together so they are like a sword


BRENDAN
Why should that make such a ... difference?
WHACK! Brendan is much too small for his makeshift sword and accidentally gets MAMA in the head.



MAMA
[Slowing down] You see, you use different moves when you're taking care of half a dozen people, than when you only have to worry about one.

MAMA falls to the ground, unconscious. BRENDAN checks to see if she is still alive and then scurries off to his next act of destruction.

End Scene.

My Movie List

The Pioneer Woman has started an entertainment section on her blog and it has brought up discussions among my friends about what movies we like. So, I have decided to share the top 10 movies that I think everyone must see in order for their lives to be complete. These are in no particular order except whatever order I could come up with a clever segue.

10. Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea. I realize that it is technically 2 movies, but I am counting it as one. Note that I did not include the third. It was just ok in my estimation. But the first two. sigh. Gilbert Blythe, the dresses, the bosom friends, and the Gibson Girl hairstyles. How I wanted to wear my hair like a Gibson girl while I was a child. Unfortunately, when I was 17 I had my hair styled for the Senior Prom. I did NOT want a Gibson girl hairstyle that day. That would be the last thing a girl would want to look like at her prom--as if I had stepped out of the 19th centruy. However, I pretty much got one, but we pinned it down, thank God, because that night I kind of had two dates to the prom. That's right, nerdy me, two dates. My best guy friend Garrett and I had made a pact that we would go to prom together, even if we had boyfriend/girlfriends. I was a woman of my word, even though I had a boyfriend. So that night, I did "a woman's most difficult job, juggling wolves." Can you name that movie? It's number 9.

9. Rear Window. Grace Kelly says that to Jimmy Stewart while he is spying on Miss Torso. I love this movie. Grace Kelly is so exquisitely beautiful, it is hard to understand why she is so in love with Jimmy Stewart, except it's Jimmy Stewart, so you can kind of understand why. The story takes place in a tiny apartment and is done brilliantly. One of Hitchcock's best. Which brings me to number 8.

8. Dial M for Murder. This is also a Grace Kelly/Alfred Hitchcock movie. It has been remade as A Perfect Murder, but clearly the original is the best. Grace Kelly plays a woman who has been having an affair and her husband finds out. He needs money so instead of divorcing her, he decides to hire someone to kill her. His plot goes amuck when she kills the man hired to kill her, and is then put in jail for murder. It becomes a race against the clock for her boyfriend to get her off of death row and clear her name. Fine directing by Alfred Hitchcock. Which brings me to number 7. It wasn't directed by Alfred Hitchcock but I always mistake it for a Hitchcock movie.

7. Rebecca. I don't think I saw this movie and truly appreciated it until I was married. Lawrence Olivier makes my heart all aflutter. I can totally understand  (but of course not condone) why Vivien Leigh had an affair with him. He is all man. Strong, handsome, mysterious, and a little scary. The interesting thing about this movie is that you never learn the first name of the female lead. She is only knows as Mrs. deWinter, played by Joan Fontaine, the completely underappreciated sister of  Olivia de Havilland--Melanie Wilkes from number 6. (remember no particular order)

6. Gone With the Wind. Possibly my all time favorite movie. The costumes, Scarlett O'Hara, Rhett Butler, Mamie, Melanie Hamilton, I could go on and on. I can pretty much quote this entire movie, I have seen it so many times. However, as an adult I have watched it through a different lens. As a child I couldn't stand Melanie. I wanted Scarlett to end up with Ashley. Melanie was plain and boring. Now as an adult, I love Melanie, perhaps even more than Scarlett. She was such a sweet spirit that deserved so much better than Ashley Wilkes. And Scarlett needed Rhett Butler to tame her wild heart. Which brings me to...--(lame segue--some aren't as smooth as others, I take what brilliant creativity I can get)

5. Wild Hearts Can't be Broken. Sonora Webster, the blind horse diving girl. This is based on an incredible true story of a girl who rode horses of a giant tower into a pool of water...blind. As many of the movies I enjoyed in my preteens, this had a huge hearthrob for me as well. Al, Sonora's eventual fiance was so goodlooking. I used to rewind parts that I found extra dreamy. But really, the incredible part is that she overcomes her blindness that she develops as an adult, much like...

4. Wait Until Dark. This is a completely under appreciated Audrey Hepburn movie. She stars as a woman who has recently become blind. Again this movie takes place in a tiny apartment. She is terrorized by two mostly bad men and one very bad men, played Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna, who are looking for a heroin stuffed doll they think is in her apartment. The last five minutes of the movie are especially suspenseful. I am pretty sure that I've heard that when this movie was in theatres they turned the lights off completely so that people could get the true feel of her blindness. This is one of the most suspenseful movies I've ever seen--if you've seen it, let me know I'm not alone. A movie I KNOW that I'm not alone in seeing, is

3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I know that a lot of my friends have seen this gem--I thought I was one of the only ones. It is complete with lovely girls, handsome guys, singing and dancing. Really, what more could you ask for? Somehow it is incredibly romantic that 6 men kidnapped 6 women and kept them from their families by causing an avalance. Trust me, it really is dreamy. Thinking about dreaming, makes me think about imagination...which is

2. Harvey. Harvey is an imaginary 6 foot rabbit that lives in Jimmy Stewarts imagination. As an adult, I learned that Jimmy's character, Elwood P. Dowd is actually quite the lush, which explains why he sees a 6 foot rabbit with him, wherever he goes. However, he's a wonderful brother and friend to all he meets. The supporting cast is divine. The movie is chock full of laughs and even a bit of tears. This is a movie that I grew up with, and introduced Bill to. He didn't want to watch it because he doesn't believe in Black and White movies, but now is a huge fan. If Bill likes it, I know you will too!

1. This movie actually does deserve the number 1 spot. The Princess Bride. I can quote this movie from start to finish and not miss a beat. Bill finds this mostly adorable and just a little annoying. At least that's my interpretation and it's my blog, so I can interpret it any way I want. Anyway, this is truly the best movie ever. There are so many quotable lines. The most profound--"As you wish." sigh. Just three small words, that have such romance behind them.All of the actors are perfect, from Cary Elwes as the incredibly suave Westly, Robin Wright is exquisite as Buttercup, Inigo Montoya breaks your heart as he fights the 6-fingered man, I could go on and on, but I know you've all seen this movie and must appreciate it as much as I do. I have also read the book, countless times and highly recommend it--it's as witty as the movie!

So there you have it! The 10 movies that you must see before you die. Go, now, rent them, buy them, come to my house and borrow them--I love to share movies that I love with friends. Trust me, your life will be richer, colors will be brighter, smells will be sweeter. Ok, not really, but I promise they will each give you at least 2 hours of joy :) Let me know if you've seen any of them!

Goodbye sweet Chili Dawg

I have been trying to write this post in my head all day. I can hardly type the words for the title without hyperventilating. I want to think of something encouraging to say to my dear sister. You see, she needs to put her souldog, Chili-Dawg to sleep tonight. He has very bad cancer, and after amputating his leg, the cancer has returned with a vengeance. I want to have the words to comfort her as they do what is best for the dog who has given them so much. But I don't have those words. What I do have is a heart that is broken for her, tears that have been shed for her, and hope that perhaps our beloved pets will be reunited with us in Heaven--Billy Graham is quoted as saying, "God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there." Who am I to argue with Billy Graham? :)


She found out last Friday that the cancer was back and it would be a short matter of time before she needed to say goodbye. If you have never loved a pet, you cannot imagine the pain she is feeling. If you have, then your heart is breaking along with hers. I can't even begin to describe the relationship that she has had with this dog--it is a once in a lifetime experience. God gave Chili to Jenna when she needed him most, and for whatever reason, has decided that his time on earth has come to an end. So my soul cries out to God for peace that transcends all understanding as she says goodbye for the last time tonight. That she will be strong and courageous when she returns home. And most of all, I thank you, Lord Jesus for the years that you allowed this precious animal to be her comforter, protector, and most of all best friend. Please, sweet Jesus, be with her now.

Allergic to Exercise

That's right, you read the title correctly, I am officially allergic to exercise. It started in high school. I had been playing basketball in the gym and my eyes swelled up. The doctor told me that I could take up to 6 or 7 benadryl whenever it happened. It would happen occasionally with different forms of exercise, but nothing terribly severe and the benadryl always knocked it out.

Earlier this month I was running on the treadmill at the gym and I could feel my eyes start to puff up and swell and my feet started to itch. I don't remember ever having the itchy feet part before. I drove myself home and took 6 benadryl and hopped in the shower hoping that if it was an environmental thing that triggered it, showering would help. It gradually got better. I worked out several times since. But I have been trying to remember to take 2 benadryl before working out as a precautionary measure. Yesterday I forgot.

I went for a run outside, after dinner, because it was a beautiful day. I was about a mile from home when I started to feel my eye swell. I had no choice--the fastest way home was running. By the time I got home my feet were super itchy. I came in--told Bill I was having an allergy attack, took 5 benadryl, ripped the contacts out of my eyes and my hands and feet were itching really badly by this time. I got in the shower and scrubbed my face and started to feel my gums swelling and my chest started to get tight. I kept feeling my face getting puffier and puffier. I am not sure if I even rinsed out the shampoo but I was starting to worry that it was going to travel to my neck and airways. I called Bill and asked him to call 911 because it's a good 10 minutes to the ER and I knew the paramedics would have an epi pen on them.

It felt like it was taking forever and Bill was shocked by how puffy I was and it was hard for me to swallow. My sick brain could only think about an article I read about a boy who had a peanut at a friends house and didn't have his epi pen on him and died before paramedics could get there. Of course that was going to happen to me. I could tell the 911 lady was giving Bill instructions. I asked him what she told him--I was hoping she gave him instructions on how to perform a tracheotomy with a pen :) Yep. That's the way my brain works.

By the time the paramedics arrived, this is what I looked like, except actually much worse. I wanted to tell the paramedics that I normally am much more attractive, but I don't think they would've found that information as important as I did.

They asked me what I had taken while they were putting in the iv. Then they injected even more benadryl and almost immediately the itching stopped and I could feel my gums returning to normal size. My eyes were still ridiculously swollen, but at least most of the chest tightness had gone away. The paramedics insisted I go to the hospital because benadryl could wear off fairly quickly. So I got to ride in the ambulance :) At the hospital they gave me some steroids and then I got to home. 

Unfortunately we don't know what triggers it. It's called exercise induced anaphylaxis and the most frequent form of exercise that causes it is running, but any exercise can. But it is usually triggered by something--a food or a drug that on it's own doesn't cause an allergic reaction but combined with exercise can. Because this attack was so much worse than any other attack I have ever had, I am going to only be able to exercise if I have an epi pen on me. So, yep, I am officially allergic to exercise...what's your excuse :) ?

Here's a link to an article, because people think I'm crazy when I say that I am allergic to exercise.