whatever

snow storm

on friday we were in a snow storm...

today annie wore flip flops to preschool because it was warm enough.

changes very quickly.

friday morning i went to the grocery store, the video store (7 videos to be snow bound)

the post office and walmart...i was preparing for the worst.

i did not want to leave again.

i was ready for a blizzard (and hoping for one)...even though it IS spring.

we got snow but no blizzard.

the kids' soccer games, dance classes and ball tournaments were cancelled.

our weekend went from packed with activities to calm and cozy.

it was one of those very pretty, big big flakes, blowing and snowing for hours kind of day on saturday.

then craig took them all sledding and i got some real piece and quiet.

these pics are from saturday evening while dinner was cooking inside.

no longer cold or blowing.

they worked almost an hour on this "snow fort".

that's big vision.

it never got taller than 18 inches but they didn't seem to notice.

it was one of the most relaxing weekends we have had in a long time.

i like that we were all here together with no plans and no need to go anywhere.

basketball...videos...sewing...sledding...cuddling...that's it.

now...lets get back to spring.

mama's got a brand new bag...

i couldn't help myself...the title was too fitting.

so CHECK IT OUT!

elisa of ElisaLou designs hooked me up with the prettiest purse!

i get compliments everywhere i go.

yesterday someone said "i was coveting your bag when i saw you walk by...i had to see it."

while in the stall in the bathroom someone saw it on the chair and said "whose cute bag?!"

and at a party it was not near me and someone said "look at that bag...i love it!"

i have given out many of her business cards.

i absolutely love this bag elisa.

look at those polka dots!  

her bags are handmade and so well done.

i love the long strap...the coordinating lining....the pockets inside.

what a nice burst of spring it's bringing (trying to...snow boots go away) to the entryway.

the birdie hooks are happily holding it for me.  

here are some of my favorites from her website....

but the BEST part is....you pick your fabrics!

first you pick the shape and size...

then you pick from her MANY choices of fabric.

you get to be a designer.

and then she makes it for you!  just for you...a one of a kind...YOUR purse.

you will love it.

and she has a great blog too...beautiful big pictures that make you happy.

now get over there and find the purse of your dreams.  

thanks again elisa.  

good times.

we had such a good time with the hill's.

i am so glad they made the 12 hour drive to visit us.

"what is there to do in kansas?" you may wonder.

take a look at all we did in five days.

*gave waffle lots of treats

*jumped on the trampoline

*threw the football over the house

*drank lots of coffee

*driving range within the first two hours

*watched NCAA basketball

*played the Wii (they brought their Wii from chicago)

*went on a date...with steak AND a movie

*played Whoonu..abby won

*walked to a german buffet

*played pool

*played foozball

*looked at photo albums of the good ol' days

*went antique/thrift shopping 

*played memory, pretty pretty pincess, chutes & ladders, guess who and zingo

*did lots of dishes (dave)

*golfed in the wind

*drove in a very severe rain storm with hail at 12:30 AM

*passed a storm chaser truck in the middle of a storm

*got drubers donuts hot after midnight

*played littlest pet shops

*shot baskets

*went to sonic and saw the waiter on roller skates

*ate classic duerksen meals (stuffed shells, chicken enchiladas, apple pancake, cream puff)

*went for ice cream

*played Sequence two different nights (and the girls WON again)

*had a fashion show

*stayed up really late every night

*watched the office, 30 rock and casino royale

see....just some of the amazingly awesome things you could do in kansas.

i got a little collage crazy over at picnik....

 

picnik is addictive!

jenny and dave you are deeply missed.

you can never be replaced.

you can make us laugh like no one else.

you get our humor and we get yours.

you complete us.

:)

greetings from the craft room...

moving right along.

watching shows on the dvr to keep me company.

i have watched 2 weeks of desperate housewives...

one brothers & sisters with 3 more to go...

two grey's anatomys...

one ER...

it's been fabulous.

and i have one of my weaknesses right next to me.

robin's eggs minis.

i just love these yummy little guys.

it's okay.....because they only make them at easter...that's my rationale.

(if that's not true don't tell me because i don't want to know. 

i like thinking they only sell them in march.)

back to work.

chicago bff's

they have been here since saturday...

with their two kids.

we had a great time just hanging out.

they left this morning....even though i tried to convince them to just move in with us.

i miss them already.

now that they are gone i guess i have some work to do.

i shipped a bunch of t-shirts on monday. 

i will ship a bunch more things tomorrow.

thanks again for your patience with the etsy shop.

i will be hunkered down in the craft room till all the orders are finished.

i will only come out for coffee.

and laundry.

the non-skiers.

well i had big plans for the time i had while the five were skiing.

i was going to go here.

tara whitney even gave me the address.

the family was skiing....annie was in her car seat...star mill was typed into the GPS.

i buckled my seat belt and then said to annie 

"you know....i should call and make sure they are open on mondays."

i called 

and the answering machine message said 

"happy holidays!  we are open through dec 27 and will not reopen until march 21."

noooooooooooo! i shouted out in the car.

it was march 16.

now what?

how about a dinosaur museum?

annie was much more excited about this than the antique store.

we wandered the museum...taking as long as she wanted.

she wouldn't touch this sand digging exhibit.

that was frustrating.

but we did see the entire place and got a dinosaur drink when we were done.

on our way to the car i spied a store i wanted to see.

we opened the door and i was so happy.

it was my kind of store.

umm....yes.  i will have that please.

all of that.

that blue cabinet!  that polka dot blanket!  that turquoise angel!

love.

annie found these babies shoes and shouted "MOM!  they match!"

mine cost fives times LESS that those.

(yay for wal-mart!)

i was in chandelier heaven.

we settled on that pink star...it's covered with glitter (right side of photo).

i really wanted to crawl into these beds for a cuddly nap.

i can promise that it would be good for sleeping....all 15 pillows.

"mama...i want this for my birthday"

all of it.  

she's just like me.  

snow bunnies

craig took the four oldest kids and allie skiing for two days at brighton in utah.

they all had lessons the first day...a refresher for the boys.

first time for girls.

they LOVED the skiing.

i think they love the freedom of the mountain on their own.

just guessing.

i wish i could have watched them more but annie was not interested AT ALL in the snowy mountain.

she and i had other plans to keep us busy.

museums...shopping....bookstores...

warm places.

but i am so happy that they all love to ski.

maybe SOMEDAY....i will try skiing again.

but i doubt it.

utah trip (part one)

**craig wants me to clarify that we lost an hour on the way home so it was only 18 hours in the car.... not 19 like i had stated.   he likes to "make good time".  ***

we left town on friday one hour later than scheduled....no surprise there.                                             we dropped off waffle with friends.

he got to be outside the whole time with a new doggie friend.

(he has been moping around ever since we brought him back)

then we hit the road.

we got in to colorado before dark so the kids got that view...one minute there are no mountians...

then suddenly...THERE THEY ARE!

i remember my first time seeing that...so awesome.

we checked into a hotel in fort collins, colorado.  

and went straight to the pool.

we had two rooms...everyone went to bed at the same time.

then craig and and i watched a recorded 30 rock on a dvd player sharing headphones in the dark.

i saw lauren was reading by the light of her camera.

in the moring, we ate our free breakfast....spilling only one hot chocolate 

and dropping one glass syrup bottle.

not bad for our family.

then we were off towards utah. 

 

this picture cracked me up...taken by someone in the back seat...

me using the internet on craig's phone.  

i looked back at one point & told craig "everyone is using a personal electronic device of some kind."

kind of funny between the dvd players, video games and iPods how they can all be entertained.

not necessarily okay....but also much appreciated for such a long drive.

and another photo from the back seat...

 

i love dramamine.

it's my new favorite travel friend.

they were all out for a long time...it was awesome!!

we arrived at our friends' UTAH home early afternoon.

so good to see them!

so nice of them to let us all crash with them...seven is not a small number.

their oldest son josh took us to the skatepark near by so we could see his skills.

not too shabby....

as a mother i was nervous and i kept flinching.

josh was fun to watch 

but can you imagine that view at the park?  it was everywhere....mountains!!

pretty cute right?

josh is the nicest guy..my kids just adore him.

our friends we stayed with, rod and lynette, were our youth pastors when craig & i were in high school.

(long long ago..)

they had to put up with so much from us as kids...and now they had to put up with OUR kids.  

they moved to utah a few years ago to be part of a church plant called Daybreak.

we got to go to it!

that was awesome...we saw their ministry up close...met their friends...we loved it.

rod and allie, their 14 year old daughter play guitar on the worship team.

then you walk out of church and there are those mountains again!

i couldn't get used to it.

we all ate lunch with other friends jason and nicole and their kids after church.

10 children and we actually got to talk...we went to playplace.   

what a smart choice...i wouldn't have thought of that.

i noticed that one child is missing here...a twin.

he must have scooted right out of the shot.

they played on this curb for a long time.

so funny what they choose to entertain themselves.

it was fun to check in with jason and see how utah is for them.

they moved to utah from oklahoma.

and i finally met nicole!  i've heard about her for years.  she's a blog reader.  ;)

i got annie down for a nap and immediately the big girls left for....

it was all i had hoped for...i miss that place.

i found goodies. (not the stuff on the car...that's an ikea display)

lauren found goodies.

we saw this license plate right after....very appropriate.

we met up with everyone else for dinner.

pizza.

such good pizza!

then over to boondocks where josh works.

it's got an arcade, lazer tag, go-karts and bumper boats.

so basically....heaven for my kids.

 

everyone rode go-karts but annie.

oh yes...that means me.

i got to ride.

we said "we're just going for a sunday drive"

and after four laps we asked to quit.  

we were the only two out on the track.

we pulled over and i shouted "we're bored!"  

the guys were disappointed in us.

the thrill is just not there for me...no desire to beat my friend in a go-kart race...crazy, i know.

we got back and put everyone to bed.

they had a big day of skiing to rest up for.

i sat on the floor in lynette's living room pinning flowers on shirts for etsy.

we all watched a movie...talked and laughed...just like old times.

don't you love the real friendships...that never change...over years and miles?

i do.

ok...that's it for this post.

you are awesome if you made it this far. 

it's like getting trapped watching someone slides...sorry.

but just think of the mountains when i bore you.

we made it.

only a short 19 hour trip back to kansas yesterday.

with 5 kids in the car.

it was actually fine...not as bad as it seems like it would be.

there wasn't any singing campfire songs but many movies were watched, video games & music played.

utah was beautiful.

we got to look at this everywhere we went the entire time.

now it's back to reality.

i have to pick up the dog...get some groceries...start on the laundry...clean out the car....

quickly before i go....

i am working on etsy orders while we are gone.

i don't want you to think i am blowing you off.

but i did tell you it would take awhile so THANK YOU for your patience 

and willingness to help the build the Cora Playground.

GO TO THE CONCERT tonight if you are local.

don't forget.

take your kids in their jammies...buy them lots of hot cocoa.

and drink big big coffees.

invite your friends and neighbors...it's okay if you don't know the Macs personally.

this is bigger than that.

you will know someone there....

take some pictures too.

it's open to everyone and it will be fun.

it's small town good clean FUN.

i wish i could come just to see YOU.

GO GO GO.

buy one extra coffee and drink it for me please...

(and think of us just pulling into our hotel room all stir crazy and wacko from 9 hours in the car.)

AND...my husband got internet on his blackberry for me for the week.

so i get to be in blog land.

ahhhhhhhh.......huge sigh of relief.

i was starting to feel a little shaky about the whole trip without my internets and the google.  

(only half kidding)

i am out the door to walmart before we leave in an hour.

i am buying nacho libre.  :)

stayed tuned for vacation eye candy.

maybe we'll even see the world's largest ball of twine.

i PROMISE to take a picture if we do.

now go check out this post.

it's beautiful....and not just cause i'm in it.

it's beautiful because she said so well exactly how i feel about blogging.

thanks laura.

later gators.