I generally do not like playing with play-dough because the colors get all mixed, but it made for a cool cow...
And this is Lilli's creation....it's Wilbur and his trough and a fence behind him. See it?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
When adults play with play-dough.....
This is what happens when adults play with play-dough while their children do...
Friday, February 24, 2012
It's how big?
So, it snowed yesterday...big deal, right? It's Chicago and it's February....but did you see the size of those flakes? Thanks to my hubby for taking some pics and video for me!
These things were the size of baseballs!
A cool video he took looking straight into the sky....
Monday, February 20, 2012
Arrr you ready to smile?
It is really hard to get 8 kids to smile at a camera all at once. I mean REALLY hard. It's even harder to get 8 kids dressed like pirates in a little studio room at JCP to all look at the camera, stay still, and smile. (My father loves pirates, so this was a picture for him for Christmas which really turned into being a picture for his birthday this past weekend) It wasn't until after the pictures were taken that my sisters Shane, Suzanne, and I were crowded around the computer looking at the results that we realized all the little things....Lauren crying, Luke looking lost, and Abigail with her claw hand on Austin's head. Oh well. We figure in 8 years they will look at the picture and laugh.
And...because I love to show pictures a year ago to see how much they have grown...here was our professional pictures with them last year....They have grown up just a little bit...except I am pretty sure Austin has the exact same look on his face in both pictures...
(Abigail, Ella holding Lauren, Lilli with Austin, Will, Patrick holding Luke)
So, we are already thinking of this years theme....8 monkeys jumping on a bed, Rudolf and the reindeer, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs....feel free to make suggestions...
Sunday, February 19, 2012
I'm Back!
Holy Cow! Has it really been since August that I have posted? My poor, neglected blog!
Well, it is about to be brought back into full usage as we are about to enter in Lent, which means no Facebook! I mean, how else am I expected to survive 40 days without letting the world know the intimate details of my life?
I don't have any remarkable stories to currently share; there is no illness currently running through our house and none of my kids did anything particularly funny today, but I am sure there will be stories and pictures to come!
Welcome back, dear readers! I have missed you!
Well, it is about to be brought back into full usage as we are about to enter in Lent, which means no Facebook! I mean, how else am I expected to survive 40 days without letting the world know the intimate details of my life?
I don't have any remarkable stories to currently share; there is no illness currently running through our house and none of my kids did anything particularly funny today, but I am sure there will be stories and pictures to come!
Welcome back, dear readers! I have missed you!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ruined my a commercial
This was going to be an AWESOME day! I woke up a little early, snuggled Austin a little before Jim and he headed off to daycare, checked my e-mail, watched a little NBC5 morning news. Being my late night at work, and not having to leave my house until 9:30AM, I elected not to shower before dropping the kids off at school, and instead giving us all about 10 extra wake-up minutes. The girls woke up at the same time, both smiley and excited. (perhaps this should have been my first clue that the morning was going to tank). They got dressed without argument, helped me vacuum the living room, they ate breakfast pleasantly, and we were out the door, with 5 minutes to spare (clue number 2).
After dropping them off, I came home, made my lunch, and flipped the TV back on in the bedroom as I picked out my outfit. Golden Girls was on, and who doesn't feel better about themselves after hearing Rose talk. So, I was doing that game where I was trying to figure out if I watched just one more segment of the show what I could do to get out the house faster (put contacts in at work, not blow dry my hair, etc.)
And then it happened. The commercial that (I have allowed to) ruin my day. Marie Callender's Microwave Lasagna. Three Meat and Four Cheese Lasagna, to be exact.
The commercial starts with some deep throaty male talking about good fresh ingredients that you want to serve to your family. Fresh noodles. Bubbling cheeses. Ripe tomatoes. Cut to a smiling mother setting a fork and knife on a cloth napkin. (Cloth? Really? I am all about saving the Earth, but get real). She sets the table with love, dons her oven mitts, and SURPRISE! This meal came from your microwave! She beckons her family who come in from gardening and something else. You, too, can now feed your family this wonderful meal! Look at how happy and peaceful they are sitting around the rustic wooden table with a crusty loaf of bread and having great conversation!
Irritated, I jump into the shower. And then I am lost in that mad daydream world where you think about how you want you life to be, and try and plan for how to get there. I want to be there. I want to be the mom who stays at home and sews her own cloth napkins, and then has time to dry and iron them. I want to be the mom who slips the lasagna noodles into a pot of boiling water and remembers in 11 minutes to come and pull them out gently. I want to then go to my fruitful garden and pick fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. I would then chop, peel, and dice until I had the perfect sauce. Right about this time I would start working on a crusty sour-dough loaf, letting to rise and pounding it down gently. The kids would come through the door happy, showing off wonderful works of art and math test with giant A+'s on them.
Then the water got cold and I was jerked back into reality. My reality ~ paper napkins, when I rememeber, otherwise your sleeve is fine. Mac and cheese is about as creative as we get with pasta, and the garden certainly has more weeds than tomatoes. And I should be ok with that....but today it irritates me.
The End
After dropping them off, I came home, made my lunch, and flipped the TV back on in the bedroom as I picked out my outfit. Golden Girls was on, and who doesn't feel better about themselves after hearing Rose talk. So, I was doing that game where I was trying to figure out if I watched just one more segment of the show what I could do to get out the house faster (put contacts in at work, not blow dry my hair, etc.)
And then it happened. The commercial that (I have allowed to) ruin my day. Marie Callender's Microwave Lasagna. Three Meat and Four Cheese Lasagna, to be exact.
The commercial starts with some deep throaty male talking about good fresh ingredients that you want to serve to your family. Fresh noodles. Bubbling cheeses. Ripe tomatoes. Cut to a smiling mother setting a fork and knife on a cloth napkin. (Cloth? Really? I am all about saving the Earth, but get real). She sets the table with love, dons her oven mitts, and SURPRISE! This meal came from your microwave! She beckons her family who come in from gardening and something else. You, too, can now feed your family this wonderful meal! Look at how happy and peaceful they are sitting around the rustic wooden table with a crusty loaf of bread and having great conversation!
Irritated, I jump into the shower. And then I am lost in that mad daydream world where you think about how you want you life to be, and try and plan for how to get there. I want to be there. I want to be the mom who stays at home and sews her own cloth napkins, and then has time to dry and iron them. I want to be the mom who slips the lasagna noodles into a pot of boiling water and remembers in 11 minutes to come and pull them out gently. I want to then go to my fruitful garden and pick fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. I would then chop, peel, and dice until I had the perfect sauce. Right about this time I would start working on a crusty sour-dough loaf, letting to rise and pounding it down gently. The kids would come through the door happy, showing off wonderful works of art and math test with giant A+'s on them.
Then the water got cold and I was jerked back into reality. My reality ~ paper napkins, when I rememeber, otherwise your sleeve is fine. Mac and cheese is about as creative as we get with pasta, and the garden certainly has more weeds than tomatoes. And I should be ok with that....but today it irritates me.
The End
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Dear Blog
Dear Blog,
Hello, old friend! How are you? I am doing fine. Busy, as always, but doing fine. I cannot believe that it has been so long since we last chatted, and I wanted to catch you up on the Mueller household!
Austin turned 2! Can you believe it! He is growing so fast, learning new words and phrases everyday, and I am most pleased that he still has his ginger hair! His present for his 2nd birthday ~ Tubes! Tubes in his ears, and (knock on wood) we have gone a month without an ear infection which hasn't happened since last November!
Abigail is now 4, and she is such a sweet, little thing. She has pulled herself away from Lilli's hip, and is learning how fun it is to play on her own. She takes trains, cars, and her little dolls and creates the most elaborate stories in her own little world. The other week, Jim and I were watching TV while Lilli and Austin napped, and Abbi brought out all sorts of cars and little dolls and made a whole story about car accidents and hospitals and doctors. (note to self to turn of Grey's when she is in the room).
Lilli. Oh, my Lilli. I love her to death. You know how when you are little and your mom says "I hope one day you have a daughter just like yourself?' Well, God heard my Mom. She is my mini me! Blog, you would find her so funny these days! She is very self-confident, so outgoing, and just so happy (almost) all the time. More times then not I find myself looking at her across the dinner table, so proud of the little lady she is becoming.
Both girls have been taking gymnastics this summer (www.aagymnastics.com) and love it! They will keep taking classes this fall, and we are adding ballet on Monday nights. Not sure I have the next Mary-Lou in the family, but it keeps them active and the smiles on their faces when they learn a new move is priceless!
Jim and I are well, working hard for the money as always! We sure could use some extra sleep, but that will come one day...
Well, Blog, I think that's about where we are at! I will try to not let another whole month go by without writing. I often create long letters in my head for you, especially in the shower or on the drive home, but I do not always have the time to sit down and write them out. We must do coffee soon...
Megan
Hello, old friend! How are you? I am doing fine. Busy, as always, but doing fine. I cannot believe that it has been so long since we last chatted, and I wanted to catch you up on the Mueller household!
Austin turned 2! Can you believe it! He is growing so fast, learning new words and phrases everyday, and I am most pleased that he still has his ginger hair! His present for his 2nd birthday ~ Tubes! Tubes in his ears, and (knock on wood) we have gone a month without an ear infection which hasn't happened since last November!
Abigail is now 4, and she is such a sweet, little thing. She has pulled herself away from Lilli's hip, and is learning how fun it is to play on her own. She takes trains, cars, and her little dolls and creates the most elaborate stories in her own little world. The other week, Jim and I were watching TV while Lilli and Austin napped, and Abbi brought out all sorts of cars and little dolls and made a whole story about car accidents and hospitals and doctors. (note to self to turn of Grey's when she is in the room).
Lilli. Oh, my Lilli. I love her to death. You know how when you are little and your mom says "I hope one day you have a daughter just like yourself?' Well, God heard my Mom. She is my mini me! Blog, you would find her so funny these days! She is very self-confident, so outgoing, and just so happy (almost) all the time. More times then not I find myself looking at her across the dinner table, so proud of the little lady she is becoming.
Both girls have been taking gymnastics this summer (www.aagymnastics.com) and love it! They will keep taking classes this fall, and we are adding ballet on Monday nights. Not sure I have the next Mary-Lou in the family, but it keeps them active and the smiles on their faces when they learn a new move is priceless!
Jim and I are well, working hard for the money as always! We sure could use some extra sleep, but that will come one day...
Well, Blog, I think that's about where we are at! I will try to not let another whole month go by without writing. I often create long letters in my head for you, especially in the shower or on the drive home, but I do not always have the time to sit down and write them out. We must do coffee soon...
Megan
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Story of Lilli and The Ears
Once upon a time, there was a princess named Lilli. Lilli was beautiful, smart, and had a wonderful little outgoing personality. She was practically perfect in every way.
Except for her ears.
Princess Lilli was having a hard time hearing. Herschool kingdom was holding its annual Hearing Test Fest, and Lilli was very excited to don her blue and red-headphones and raise each hand at the sound of the beep.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand.
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand...?....?....nothing.
The head of the Test Fest sent a note to Queen Megan and suggested that Princess Lilli have her ears checked again by the local royal doctor. Queen Megan promptly made an appointment, and the results were the same.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand.
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand...?....?....nothing.
Queen Megan frowned. The Kingdom's Doctor frowned. Princess Lilli frowned. The Doctor suggested giving Princess Lilli about 4 months to see if there was build-up of royal fluid in her ears that might drain on its own. Since Princess Lilli was due to turn 5 in June, the Doctor suggested she have her ears checked again then.
Princess Lilli continued to laugh and play, but King Jim and Queen Megan noticed that she could not hear the royal TV as well, and often asked for the music in the family carriage to be turned up a little more. King Jim frowned. Queen Megan frowned.
June came, and Princess Lilli went back to the Kingdom's Doctor for another ear check
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand ...?....
Left ear second...beep beep beep..?...?....?....
Uh-oh. This is not what the Doctor wanted. He frowned. He recommended that the King and Queen take Princess Lilli to see a specialist at Butheran Heneral (pause the story...most of you know my feeling about this if you have read posts in the past, but we LOVE Dr. Peters and follow his recommendations completely).
Queen Megan, Princess Lilli, and Princess Abigail all make haste to Butheran Heneral. The next Royal Doctor looks in Princess Lilli's ears for TWO FREAKING SECONDS and sends her off to have an Royal Hearing Test in a Royal Booth.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand ...?....
Left ear second...beep beep beep..?...?....?....
The Royal Doctor recommends that Princess Lilli have tubes placed in her ears, her tonsils removed, and her anodes removed. Queen Megan said, "You want to do what?" She was not happy. She asked for a second opinion.
Queen Megan and King Jim took Princess Lilli on a long journey (Lincoln Park) to see the Grand Doctor of Ears (at Children's Memorial). The Grand Doctor looked at Princess Lilli's ears for a long time. She took down a lot of information from the King and Queen. She even pulled out a great number of watermelons (earwax balls) from Princess Lilli's ears. And she ordered another test done in her own Royal Hearing Test Booth.
Queen Megan fretted. She frowned. She watched Lilli like a hawk to see what level the sound was on the TV, on the radio, on the MoBiGo.
The day came for Princess Lilli to have her second Royal Hearing Test. The maid-in-waiting Carrie came in. (PS. We heart Carrie in Audiology at Children's Memorial.) She took pictures of Princess Lilli's ears. She played games with Princess Lilli.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand hand hand
What? Princess Lilli passed. She passed with a perfect score. Queen Megan and King Jim are very happy that they took Princess Lilli to the Grand Doctor of Ears. Princess Lilli is very happy because maid-in-waiting Carrie gave her two stickers.
And they lived happily ever after.
The moral of the story....if we hadn't asked for a second opinion, Lilli would have already had a pretty major surgery that she really didn't need. And shout out to Kathy for sharing insight into Children's Memorial and visiting us while we were there!
The End.
Except for her ears.
Princess Lilli was having a hard time hearing. Her
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand.
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand...?....?....nothing.
The head of the Test Fest sent a note to Queen Megan and suggested that Princess Lilli have her ears checked again by the local royal doctor. Queen Megan promptly made an appointment, and the results were the same.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand.
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand...?....?....nothing.
Queen Megan frowned. The Kingdom's Doctor frowned. Princess Lilli frowned. The Doctor suggested giving Princess Lilli about 4 months to see if there was build-up of royal fluid in her ears that might drain on its own. Since Princess Lilli was due to turn 5 in June, the Doctor suggested she have her ears checked again then.
Princess Lilli continued to laugh and play, but King Jim and Queen Megan noticed that she could not hear the royal TV as well, and often asked for the music in the family carriage to be turned up a little more. King Jim frowned. Queen Megan frowned.
June came, and Princess Lilli went back to the Kingdom's Doctor for another ear check
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand ...?....
Left ear second...beep beep beep..?...?....?....
Uh-oh. This is not what the Doctor wanted. He frowned. He recommended that the King and Queen take Princess Lilli to see a specialist at Butheran Heneral (pause the story...most of you know my feeling about this if you have read posts in the past, but we LOVE Dr. Peters and follow his recommendations completely).
Queen Megan, Princess Lilli, and Princess Abigail all make haste to Butheran Heneral. The next Royal Doctor looks in Princess Lilli's ears for TWO FREAKING SECONDS and sends her off to have an Royal Hearing Test in a Royal Booth.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand ...?....
Left ear second...beep beep beep..?...?....?....
The Royal Doctor recommends that Princess Lilli have tubes placed in her ears, her tonsils removed, and her anodes removed. Queen Megan said, "You want to do what?" She was not happy. She asked for a second opinion.
Queen Megan and King Jim took Princess Lilli on a long journey (Lincoln Park) to see the Grand Doctor of Ears (at Children's Memorial). The Grand Doctor looked at Princess Lilli's ears for a long time. She took down a lot of information from the King and Queen. She even pulled out a great number of watermelons (earwax balls) from Princess Lilli's ears. And she ordered another test done in her own Royal Hearing Test Booth.
Queen Megan fretted. She frowned. She watched Lilli like a hawk to see what level the sound was on the TV, on the radio, on the MoBiGo.
The day came for Princess Lilli to have her second Royal Hearing Test. The maid-in-waiting Carrie came in. (PS. We heart Carrie in Audiology at Children's Memorial.) She took pictures of Princess Lilli's ears. She played games with Princess Lilli.
Right ear first...beep beep beep...hand hand hand
Left ear second...beep beep beep..hand hand hand
What? Princess Lilli passed. She passed with a perfect score. Queen Megan and King Jim are very happy that they took Princess Lilli to the Grand Doctor of Ears. Princess Lilli is very happy because maid-in-waiting Carrie gave her two stickers.
And they lived happily ever after.
The moral of the story....if we hadn't asked for a second opinion, Lilli would have already had a pretty major surgery that she really didn't need. And shout out to Kathy for sharing insight into Children's Memorial and visiting us while we were there!
The End.
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