Owen's Birthday Continued

Here's Jack trying to take down Owen at the end of the party...Owen outweighs him by probably 15 or 20 pounds....

I thought I'd try the "no layout" for the pictures...that's why they are all scattered about.

As you can tell, I am finally getting around to posting Owen's Birthday Party pictures. We had everyone meet us out at Mahoney State Park at the Activity Center. It was loud-the kids had a great time.

The four cousins....Jack, Owen, Hannah, and Maggie.

Owen not too happy that his cousin Hannah (whom he wishes to marry-picked out a Dora card for him. He had forgotten that he had picked out a Spiderman card and Transformer toy for her birthday just two months prior; probably not her first choice, either...she took it with a little more grace, though, than Owen.

This is inside the activity center. Good place to get lost in!

Happy Birthday, Owen!

Today is Owen's 4th Birthday! We celebrated a little bit this evening...he and Maggie picked out big birthday cookies from Hyvee...please note they did not eat their entire cookie; and YES we did a doubly good job brushing their teeth this evening!

It's so much fun to see them making a big mess...and enjoying it SO MUCH. Owen didn't make as big a mess as Mags did-but he was trying not to, since he's a real big boy, now!

He's looking forward to celebrating this weekend...he has invited the whole town of Springfield and surrounding areas to his party...I'm sure we'll be wild and crazy bunch out at Mahoney...more pictures to come later this weekend.

Summer???

We have LOTS of tomatos and squash-PLEASE- come get some!

I love Zinnias! My favorites are the pink ones.

I really have no idea where the summer went. I have started back to work this week-ugh-setting the alarm stinks. But you know, the cutest little alarm clock still comes in to snuggle with me every morning at 6...I often think to myself why bother setting the alarm when my little dumpling will wake me up....you never know-one of these days she might sleep past 6 AM!

We (meaning Dave) are FINALLY getting started on the basement bathroom project. It sounded simple at first-the plumbing for a bathroom is already there; just put in a toilet, sink and shower. Ha ha. The bathroom leaks. We discovered that last December when we hid Christmas presents down there! First, we (meaning DAve) had figure out where the leak was coming from. Long story short, he had to fix the big crack in the steps-then he painted the steps so they'd be nice. But he accidently got some creme paint on the black railing he just installed. So then he had to fix that. Now I guess we wait and see if it stays dry before I pick out paint colors.

Dave took down the ceiling to take a look at the front steps from below.

There's the leak. I spotted it pretty quick. :)

Maggie and Owen being cute.

We discovered that Maggie and Owen like to paint. One of these days I'm going to get a small 8 1/2 x 11 canvas for them and let them paint away on it and then frame them. I think they've got potential...

Must have been a hot day when I took this pic.

More Denver pics...I think this is before the Rockies game.

Some friends from good old Hastings College met up with me while I was in Denver. Emilie is on my left and DJ is on my right. I got to meet his lovely bride-to-be, Yvette.

Just me-taking a self-picture. Thought it was a nice picture.

Here's to another school year! :)

Shari's Workation, Day One

Monday-sorry no pictures, I took some today, but forgot the cord to upload the pics to the computer.

How does one start a “workation?” (Shari’s idea of vacation-going to a conference for work) Better get yourself a pedicure! So far starters this morning, I headed over to Regal Nails for a pedi…I watched part of the Michael Jackson televised memorial while getting me toes all dolled up. Had a lot of good memories come floating back…my mom had a 47 record of the Jackson Five-my first introduction to Michael Jackson was of playing him on our little beat up record player – not sure how old I was when I was looking through the old blue box of 47s, but shortly thereafter he broke off and went solo…other fond memories were of watching him on MTV at my Grandma’s in Aurora. (We didn’t have cable out on the farm). I remember my eyeballs literally popping out of my head watching him dance his way through Wanna Get Something Started, and Beat It, etc. And then me and my friends trying to horribly imitate the moves at our slumber parties. (Still haven’t met anyone who could replicate the Moonwalk). I regretfully missed his brother Jermaine singing one of my favorite songs (who knew it was also Michaels?), "Smile." Another one of my favorites was, and still is, "I'll Be There."

Next, off to the airport. I actually watched the signs this time and made it without having to turn around. (Usually I have someone in the car with me that I’m delivering or returning and we’re yapping away; or it’s just too darn early or late and I miss something cuz I don’t see well in the dark).

So, a little background info…I haven’t flown in about 5 years….The last time I flew you had to hand your info to a real person and they gave you all your “stuff.” NOW there’s a computer touch screen that you have to deal with. So, I do the best I can, ask a few questions along the way. One of them being, does this touch screen really speed things up? (especially since I’m the ONLY person standing at the SouthWest ticket counter). I think I have everything and head on my merry way.

I’m early-I stop in to have a cup of coffee…a nice lady my mom’s age sits next to me and starts chatting, so naturally I chat back. Turns out, Marcia (also my mom’s name) taught music at King Science when she first taught for OPS, back then it was just an elementary school, though. (King Science was my first OPS school). So we have a lot to talk about...

Then I head to security. Did I mention I don’t get out of state very often? I hand them whatever the lady at the ticket counter gave me…they laughed. Where’s your boarding pass? It should have printed out at the computer. Hmmm no one said anything about that…I’m just laughing at myself at this point. Thinking, I really need to get out more often. Turns out, the boarding pass (which I didn’t know I was supposed to pick up) had been picked up by someone and turned in, but the ticket people had just thrown it away…it had been awhile and they didn’t think I was coming back. (Duh, I was talking to a nice lady and enjoying a cup of coffee!) So they printed me another. Got through security....even with one of the security dudes noticing my big envelope carrying all my important info with big, red, bold words printed on it, "DO NOT LOSE." Yeah, he thought it was funny to remind me not to lose it. Thanks...can you help me pick up my license and boarding pass that I just dropped, Mr. Security Guy?

Then I met friend number two. I think I have a “talk to me” sign on my forehead. Very nice 40 ish gentleman from Chicago…6 kids, we exchanged life stories while we waited to board the same plane. Found a seat and got geared up for takeoff. I’ve always wanted to yell out, “Weeeeee,” while taking off. But I didn’t. It was hard to resist. Then one of the stewards asked if once in the air I’d trade seats with a gentleman up a ways so he could sit with his wife. Being a married woman, knowing how nice it is to fly with your hubby, and since I was flying solo, I said sure, no problem. So my reward for being nice was a few complimentary drinks. “Weee!” About halfway through the flight a fellow across the aisle started chatting it up – we’re a very friendly center section of the plane…we’re all getting to know one another. Turns out HE was the one who picked up my boarding pass and returned it. Even he agreed that I needed to get out more often!

So we made it to the hotel…a little later than I anticipated, so I am not going to the Rocky Mountains; that really is a true day trip, anyhow. So I walked around downtown Denver, just taking in some shops and people watching. And, obviously catching up my blog.
Right now I’m sitting on 17th street enjoying a nightcap before I head back to the hotel and iron my clothes for tomorrow. I found free internet just down the street from the Marriot, where internet access is $12.95 a day. Rip off.

Feel free to send me a ticket to anywhere in the future...would hate to let my traveling expertise be forgotten.....

Happy Saturday

Who knew that Superman needed to practice casting his fishing pole...

Maggie is talking to the goose down there...she talked to him or her for about a good 10 minutes. She even sang Jesus Loves Me, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and the ABC song to him (or her).

Maggie just being cute!

Owen and Maggie checking out the green algae in the water, the bugs, and whatever else that was crawling around down there...

I took the above photos yesterday....I am not a "stay at home" kinda gal - so I was really glad to convince Owen that we should get out of town for a few hours (I couldn't even convince him to go to Hyvee for chocolate milk and freezee pops the other day. He seems to be really enjoying staying at home with me now that school is out.)...so we went down to a state park and practiced casting his fishing pole.

Maggie enjoying the sprinkler park (I think sometime last week). I sat in front of this sprinkler...the cool mist was awesome!

Our "Ode to Michael Jackson." Kids are boppin around to "Beat It." Getting the "Thriller" tape when it came out in '82/'83 was the highlight of my 3rd grade school year!

Happy Father's Day!

Our friends, Mike and Emily and adorable Quinton came over last weekend to visit...awesome grilling weather, sunny, not too hot...the brats and burgers were pretty near perfect.

Maggie and Quinton, I think he'll be 1 in September.

Despite not napping, Owen pulled off his Superman abilities...jumping and leaping...he could have used his Superman cape a few days ago....(he jumped off our neighbor's waterslide...about 5 1/2 feet tall, landed on his bum; chipping his top & bottom teeth and gashing up the gum behind his bottom teeth...there was lots of blood. Of course I was the only adult around, me and my queasy tummy got him all fixed up, though. I was glad when Dave got home to take over consoling Owen, he (Owen) was really worried about his teeth)

Hmmm....can you guess why the Superman video is Owen's favorite? (Owen would be Superman every day if I washed his outfit that often somehow it only gets washed once week). I thought it was fitting to post a Superman video on Father's Day, since I know so many Super Men!

Happy Father's Day: Dave, Dad, Dan, Jeff, Toby, and all my friends!

Yikes!! May 31st! Really??

Flowers from my yard....tons of daisies this year....the chives are also doing well...they were also really yummy in some potato salad I made this last weekend.

Owen and Maggie really wanted to nap together last weekend...they are trying to fake us out...What do you think? I think they're a little too smiley and cute to be sleeping...

Owen has the opportunity at his preschool to take dance and tumbling lessons. They had a little "thing" a few weeks ago. (I wouldn't really call it a recital...it was more of a "thing.") It actually was really cute. I was a little worried at first that we wasted the extra bucks for him to participate because the first 5 minutes he just stood there with the group with the deer in the headlights look. Apparantly he hadn't napped and then got a little stage fright. He eventually figured out where he was what he was supposed to be doing....he got around to "shakin his booty," as he refers to dancing.

Here's a little snippet of one of the songs. I think he's supposed to be flapping his arms like a bird. But then move on to something else. His arms have got to be getting tired with all that flapping!

Here's Owen and our neighbor girl doing a somersault together.

That's pretty much our month of May. School got out down here on May 21st...I know a lot of area schools are still going strong. I've always been a firm believer in start the school year break, have a few short breaks, and end the year as early as possible.

Looking forward to a long, leisurly summer with the kids. (I especially like nap time!)

I'll have more pics from the garden next post. I've got tomatoes up, squash going, lots of radishes and potatoes and other stuff...

Happy Mother's Day

Well, Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who read this blog. After having Maggie meltdown for about an hour this afternoon (no nap) I decided that yesterday was my Mother's Day. The sun was warm, I got a lot of seeds put in the ground, and the whole family went to a state park to the south of us for some hiking and fresh air.

Yesterday (Sat) was such a great day...took the kids and a picnic basket full of food down to "Owen Landing." Owen brought his fishing pole and practiced his casting skills....he's getting pretty good. Won't be long before he really bugs us to take him fishing for "real."

Owen patiently waiting for a bite.

Owen and Maggie being silly on a Saturday afternoon after their nap.

This is what they do when they're bored. (Or raining, as the case was last week).

Music Composing Software Question...

So I e-mailed a bunch of musically inclined friends recently...asking if they could recommend a music writing software program-which I could install on my Mac laptop and then plug into an older style Clavinova up at the church. Is there a program out there that I can just plug everything together, then play the song on the Clav, have it record into the computer software and then be able to go back in and type in the lyrics? (So I can do something with this song I've been gifted with....see earlier post) I got a response, but not what I had hoped.

So I pose the above question out to bloggerland...

PS, I would like the software to be dirt cheap; or better yet-free.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone may have.

Time Consuming Application....

I have been working in my spare time on my application to UNK for admission to a graduate program in Education....(I'm hoping to begin working on my Master's in Education - in the area of Reading Specialist).

Two words to describe it - painfully tedious.
May I also add Not Fun...

You see, I have to put together a portfolio. I am not a portfolio type of a person...
In the end, it will be worthwhile....I keep telling myself "I Will Survive"...

Whattda weekend!

Here's Maggie....boy did she have fun playing in the dirt with me! We discovered so many things under all the leaves in our flower beds. If you zoom in on the picture, you can tell how much dirt she got in her hair! She really didn't mind the dirt - she especially liked all the crawly things, not sure how many times I heard her say, "What dat, Mommy?" Every time we cleared away the leaves, we discovered a new plant that was coming back to join us - it was almost like unwrapping Christmas presents to discover what all was underneath the winter blanket of leaves and brush. Here's some pictures of some of the plants we found:

We of course had to dye Easter eggs this weekend. We found so many new forms of life this weekend that it was quite befitting that it was also Easter weekend.

My favorite egg is the blue one.

Enjoy your Easter weekend. Enjoy new life as it comes to you in whatever form God gifts it to you -birds singing, tulips popping up, a new song in your heart, spring scents in the air...

Opening Day Win for the Cubbies!

Woo-Hoo!!

The Big Z got his first Opening Day "W!"

Your Hands

Your hands, reaching for mine.
Your arms, circle me with holy love.
Your eyes, smiling for me.

I want to breathe the air you breathe,
all consuming, love for me.

Your nail scarred hands, show the world Your love.
Arms stretched to the east and west,
proclaiming love for all.

piano interlude

Your hands, bleeding for me.
Your life, given for mine.
Your crown falls for me.

For me.

(copyright Shari Hudson, 2009)

I'M SO EXCITED!

Can you tell? I'm excited! I wrote an entire song this evening! I've started a few songs before that come into my head, but have never finished them. This time was different; I got the beginning, middle, and end...all in one shot!

It's called "Your Hands."

I was walking over to the church this evening, planning just to go over the music for tomorrow. I was thinking about my Grandma Hadenfeldt, and Easter, and everything going on in my little world, and words just came into my head. So I wrote them down, picked out a key (easy D, in case you were wondering), and started playing...it just all kind of flowed together.

I don't know why I was thinking about my grandma. Sometimes I have dreams that I'm looking in her cabinets for something. What it is I'm looking for, I never find out. (She had great cupboards full of yummy stuff.) The image of me and my mom being with her when she breathed her last breaths came to me and I started think of the words: "Your hands, reaching for mine. Your arms circle round me...Your eyes smile for me..." and it that's where it started.

I left the song in my music bag, and I forgot it at the church. I'll post the rest of it tomorrow.
I hope I can sleep!

Spring Training Almost Over

Just in case you were wondering....15 days til the Cubs first Official Game of the 2009 Season.

The Mom Song

I found this to be really funny! (And kind of true!) Hopefully you'll laugh, also!
Thanks, Dawn for sending it my way! :)

Old Habits Die Hard

It's officially my Spring Break, so I have a little extra time to complete some "blogging." Here's a picture of me and Maggie-playing "tea party."

Owen is practicing his "standing on his head skills." (He's getting a little bit of help from me in the top picture, but not the one directly above.)

Maggie really enjoys playing dressup. Here's our little princess all gussied up. She even wanted me to comb her hair (normally she hates that because she's got baby fine hair and it tangles easily).

With it being our Spring Break I plan to do lots of sleeping. I've already taken several naps and today the kids and I slept in until 7! I love to sleep.

Editor's note...this blog entry originally started March 5....it's now March 16...

Habits...

Every morning I take one or both of the kids to daycare and/or preschool. Each time I go to start our Escape, my left foot goes down and my right hand moves over to move the gear shifter into reverse. Except there's nothing under my left foot anymore. The gear shifter goes straight back, not back and to the right.

It's been 3 full months and a couple of days that I haven't been driving the Ford Focus daily. (It had a manual transmission). I've been driving a stick shift forever. With the exception of one car - most of the cars I've driven high school through now have been stick shifts. So it's no wonder that my foot still hunts for a clutch, my right hand wants to throw the shifter back, and my ears want to hear the small rev of an engine...it's like there's a manual transmission ghost in my feet and hands.

It is hard to break habits. However, sometimes your life has a change-like getting a different car, and that changes allows for your brain to change the "daily route" it takes.

I've always believed that change is good, especially if it's for the betterment of one's self, or family. I'd like to take some time to tell you about another habit I have. Praying.

The first topic in a Lenton sermon series that our pastor talked about was prayer. I immediatley was reminded about the "Examen" reflective prayer (from the Exercises of St. Ignatius). I think I originally learned about these back in my college days...(I went to a Presbyterian college, where you had to take a few religion classes. Not a bad thing, of course..probably would have been wiser to pay more attention back then, then trying to recall information now from memory.) Anyways, I again read about the reflective prayer in a publication of "Alive Now." I thought to myself, "Aha! I have been doing something GOOD that I learned way back when..." I would say about a year and a half ago I started to take time time to reflect on the previous 24 hours. Then give thanks and praise to God for the times and places I've been aware of His presence. Then, ask for forgiveness for the times I have "missed the mark." Finally, I think ahead to the next 24 hours of my life and ask for guidance in the experiences to come. It's a simple exercise. It really sets my head for what I need to accomplish. I can't go to sleep without doing that simple exercise, though. I've gotten into the habit of doing that exercise every evening.

The manual transmission ghost may die away eventually; but not my Examen reflection.