Teenage Angst

Aidan and I went to McDonalds today for lunch. He's totally obsessed with their "fishburgers" (filet-o-fish) and they advertise the heck out of them during lent season. So, I rewarded him for his great behavior this morning while I was super busy trying to get things done.
School must have been out for one of the districts because the place was FULL of kids from Aidan's age to high school. While we were eating I noticed these 3 teenage girls talking SERIOUSLY around a small table - and I mean SERIOUSLY. I watched them (to keep my vision averted from my 5 year old horking down seafood between a bun slathered in tartar sauce - blech!!) The girls were obviously dealing with something MAJOR! and I was hit with memories of MY high school years and all of the "drama" that seemed to be happening everyday. Isn't it amazing the difference in what's important - what hurts - what the BIG DEAL is when you're 16-17 as opposed to 29 and 50? I imagined that they must have been dealing with some boy or some gossip or some parents - yuck - and I thought "Man, it must be nice to have THOSE issues!" But, when you really think about it, it's just as hurtful, just as important, and just as big of a deal at that time. The only thing that changes is the scenery! So, we finished our "meal" and left and I said a small prayer for those girls that whatever they're dealing with (I hope it's just their parents, just a boy, or just some gossip) they'll get over it quickly, because once they ARE the parents, married to the boy, and STILL dealing with gossip (all the while trying to pay bills and keep a house clean)? Oh, man, it doesn't get much better! :)
Please keep Darby in your prayers right now. We have an appointment at Children's Mercy Hospital in KC on March 10th to check her out. In the middle of all of this we're trying to decide if our neurologist here in Topeka is really a good fit for her and for us or if we should look into the neurology team over at Children's Mercy. Right now, she's great and active and mostly happy (except for when Aidan's in her room). And, we can't ask for much more than that!!

Can You Believe It?

Finally, a post! We've been very busy, very sick, and very not at home. Scott's schedule continues to be hectic. We are trying to get through it. While others are dreading April 15th, I am so looking forward to it!

Aidan and I ended up getting the flu last week. We spent a lot of time laying in bed and watching Spongebob. But, we're better now!

Emma got a haircut a couple of weeks ago! You can tell by this picture how much she enjoyed it!! I just trimmed her bangs so she doesn't look like a ragamuffin anymore.

Much happier afterwards! :)

I love this picture of the three of them! They enjoy spending time together so much!

I'm off to enjoy the end-of-January/spring day! Aidan and I have been trying to run as many errands as possible today to avoid doing them once the arctic blast comes back in tomorrow. Can you believe it's at least 65 degrees today? I have the windows open! Yeah!

I Know.......

I've been promising pictures. But, the truth is, I haven't taken any. I'll make a mental note to take some this week. Last week only lasted 2 days (it felt like) and I don't even know where my camera is at this point. And, so, you'll have to learn patience! :)
We are in the planning process for our trip to Dallas over spring break in March to go stay with Aunt Nikki and visit the newly built American Girl Doll store. I've almost had to stop talking about it in front of one particular seven year old, because she's one of those kids that cannot stand waiting for something exciting that she knows about. So, I'm on covert operation to plan the dates and specifics. This is the excitement in my life.
Darby started at the Topeka Civic Theatre Academy last Thursday. She didn't really like soccer so much and so we made her finish the season last fall with the promise that she could choose something different for the spring. Aidan loves soccer, so, we'll still get to be involved - but, he informed us last night that he wants to try out for football too. (Which upon visioning makes me chuckle.) I'm not sure where he got the idea from, but he's determined, now.
So, Darby looked around at some different activities and decided she would like to try the Academy. She LOVED it! It's a 7-week program where they develop the acting, singing, etc. skills and at the end they put on a tiny little performance. But, it's my understanding that she can audition for something after she's completed the class. She finished the 1st class and went straight over to the audition boards and decided she wants to audition for Robin Hood this summer. Since it's over the summer and not during school I'm considering letting her. It's a very big schedule (Wed.-Sun. performances) and so, we're putting A LOT of thought into it. She has, however, only completed 1 class - so we'll see how the remainder goes.
I entered the year that I turn 30 by ordering new glasses last week. I've needed them for a really long time and kept avoiding the issue. During all this time my eyes got a lot worse and so I finally broke down and made the appointment with the eye doctor. The kids are so excited. I am not.

What Have We Been Up To?

So, we're officially addicted to a movie. It happens in our household.....a lot. But, usually it's 2 little people's addiction. This time, I have to admit that I'm guilty of fanning the fire. The kids have been asking us to rent this movie for a month now and I vetoed it because I, for some reason, thought it was completely inappropriate for children. But, under the influence of pain meds (legally - remember the foot surgery?) I relented and at least read the back of the movie. I guess I wasn't as informed as I thought I was, it's only rated PG. So, Scott and I decided there would be no harm in letting the kiddos watch this movie. Little did we know we'd start an obsession!! So, you're probably asking "What is this amazing movie????"

Yep, Hairspray. I've always been a big fan of musicals. My most favorite birthday present was a couple of years ago when Scott got me tickets to see Wicked while we were in Chicago. I was awed and amazed the entire time. So, Scott, your children and I are now requesting tickets to go see Hairspray. Maybe you can schedule some training in New York? :) Are they still on Broadway? Does anyone know?

Darby loves Hairspray for a whole other reason - see below.......

If you don't know who that is.....it's the one and only Zac Efron. Do crushes really start around 7 years old? At least she has good taste! :)

We are doing really well. Getting ready to go back to school tomorrow. Darby insists she doesn't want to go back. But, I know she'll be glad to be back once she gets there. She's my schedule following kiddo and really does much better when she's on a strict one. She's adjusting really well to the medication. It's showing a few side effects that we're not crazy about, but we'll give it until her March appointment.

Aidan has been back to preschool and so he's not too far out of routine. I got on the USD 501 website to look at the academic calendar so I can get our home calendar squared away and I saw that in April they are having Kindergarten Round-up. I kind of overlooked it and then my heart skipped a beat as I realized that he'll be going to that. My baby is going to kindergarten. It will be a sad, sad day at my house. And, a joyous one as we quit writing that monthly daycare/preschool check!! Wahoo!

Scott started the ominous "busy season" with a bang. So far his schedule has been manageable, but I know in time it will overrun our lives. We'll travel that road when we get there.

My foot is healing slowly but surely. I'm so glad the initial surgery is over with. However, I'm not one for exhibiting much patience, so I'm really, really, really working on that trait.

I'll post some pictures soon!!

Goodbye 2007

Can you believe it's the last day of this year? My, has it flown by! We've had a lot of changes in our house this year and it's amazing to think about how at the time they seemed so huge. But, now, they are just things of the past.
Christmas came and went with the grand flourish that it is. The kids had a great time (of course.) Lots of traveling over the river and through the snow. It's been awhile since we've actually had white on the ground during Christmas. And I appreciated it for those couple of days. But, now I wish it would just melt away.
Miss Darby acquired a new American Girl doll. (Big surprise, I'm sure.) The way American Girl works is to infiltrate your entire existence. Their catalog comes 4 times a month, I swear. And, they were on Oprah about a month ago. So, that's all we've heard about. It doesn't help that they have a million dolls to choose from and so the list for a need for each one never ends. Julie - the 1970's-era girl came to live with us. She's actually my favorite one - which made it easy for Santa to ponder the idea about bringing her home. The next one on the list is Mia - the girl for 2008. Darby has it all planned out. She's going to save, save, save every penny she gets so that when we go to the new store in Dallas in March she can get her. I have a feeling I'll have to save, save, save as well for this trip. I doubt that when she walks into that store she'll only be able to walk out with a doll. We'll see.
Aidan crossed the bridge into a video system playing kind of kid. Which I swore would never happen, I have to tell you. But, he enjoys it and we actually limit his time playing and most of the time he plays with at least one of us. I just don't want him glued to a control with his face never to leave the screen again.
Thursday I called the new podiatrist to see if there was anything he could do until my surgery in January for my foot. It had gotten to the point where no shoe and/or being shoeless had become quite uncomfortable. They called me back Thursday afternoon and said that they could actually reschedule the surgery for Friday morning. After a quick assessment of our schedule and recruiting grandmas to watch the kiddos....we plowed through the newly fallen 4 inches of snow bright and early Friday morning and got it done and over with. If you ever have laser surgery while awake, I suggest you wear nose plugs. I won't go into details. Just trust me on this one. I have no heel left. I guess that's the point, to just wipe it all clean and get rid of the virus, but it's still disgusting to look at. So, I don't. I'm just glad to have it done and start the healing process. He said that it takes the normal skin cycle process (28 days) to heal enough to walk on, so 25 more to go! Pray that it goes quickly. I don't do well being incapacitated and watching my house move along without me. There are dishes to be done and laundry to be washed. Darby has been a HUGE help. Of course, I'm going to have to retrain her after this period of helplessness that when I call her name it WON'T mean that I need something. It's like an automatic response now, I get the semi-willing face. It's kind of cute actually. She reminds me a lot of me. :)
I hope everyone has had a great 2007 and looks forward to an even better 2008!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

So, this is the scene earlier this afternoon! It snowed, and snowed, and snowed some more! We were getting ready to head to Kansas City (we hadn't checked the weather, obviously.) Once we DID finally check the weather we cancelled our plans and holed up inside.

We baked Jesus' birthday cake. A tradition we've had since Darby decided a couple of years ago that it was a good excuse to have a party and, of course, cake!

And, homemade marshmallow fudge. I AM a chocolate addict (Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem?)

And, homemade Snickerdoodle cookies. Hey, I was on a ROLL! I'm all baked up for a good 4 months, now.

The dishes have to get done somehow!

But, we had to prove our manhood afterwards! (I can't believe how much he looks like Tim in this picture!)

Sugar fix! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Camdyn's here to spend the night. Her mom and dad braved the snow to go to the Cirque Dreams show. We're having lots of fun. She's such a good girl.

8 inches of snow! This is at about 7:00. And, Scott had already shoveled once.

What a good day to stay inside and bake and have a birthday party!

Okay, so.......

I know I declared a vow of silence, but I had to report that Scott passed his second section of the exam (the Audit section - go figure, it's what he does every day!) We are very proud of him and his diligence in getting these things passed! 2 down, 2 to go!! Wahoo! :)