Are You Blog-stalking Me????

Who in the world is reading this blog??

I added the counter at the bottom and can't believe my eyes. Almost 700 hits?

Anyway, I was just wondering if there are any blog-stalkers out there.

Definition of a blog-stalker - you don't know me, you just read my blog while you are procrastinating and should be doing something productive

Don't be shy . . . I do it. A lot of my friends do it too. It is ok. Don't feel ashamed.

Soooo......please, please......if you are reading this, leave me a comment and tell me about yourself. Hey, I might want to check out your blog too.

I also added a little side note of my favorite people to blogstalk. Warning - It can be a very addicting activity.

First Trip to the Dentist

Did you know I'm terrified of the dentist?? I'm not really sure why either. I've only had one cavity, and that was just this year. (I was so afraid of the filling, John had to leave work and come with me.)

I didn't want my own fear of the dentist to rub off on Megan. Guess what . . . she's not a big fan either. ha, ha

I took her to the "pediatric dentist" which seemed to help. They had all her favorites . . . Elmo, stickers, and balloons.

The dentist counted her teeth . . . 16. That means we are due for 4 molars. Can't wait for that! Should be loads of fun.

No cavities! Hooray, especially since I'm pretty sure the sedating gas isn't available for the mommies and I'm certain I would need it.

Coldwater Lake

This is the lakehouse where my friends and I go scrapbooking in the winter. It is on a little island called Iyopawa on Coldwater Lake, Michigan. It makes an even better summer get-a-way!

Andrea, Kasey, and I packed up the kids for a lake adventure.

Megan playing in the sand on the little beach in front of the lakehouse.

Megan, Cooper (Cuckoo), and Anna all started splashing and laughing at the same time. Kodak moment!


We took a walk around the island almost every night. Megan and Anna

would hold hands. How adorable!

Megan's very first boat ride. I was a nervous wreck but she really enjoyed it.

Cooper fell in love with Megan and wouldn't stop kissing her. She now has the cold that he had at the lake. I told her, "See, that's what you get for kissing boys."

Megan fell asleep in the chair on the deck, and she didn't even partake in the afternoon cocktail hour with the mommies!

At the sandbar.

The three kiddos eating breakfast in the morning. They all kept complaining that one was closer than another so we had to push all their chairs together until they were touching.

Megan, thrilled with the seaweed she found at the sandbar.

So cute!

On the way home from the lake, Cooper was a little tired (understatement of the century) in the car. He was crying and whining for a LONG TIME and Megan finally took her pacifier out of her mouth and handed it to him. ha!

City Councilwoman by night, stay-at-home momma by day

Your eyes are not deceiving you . . . that is the former "stay-at-home momma" taking her oath of office for City Council.

That's where I'll sit to make my decisions regarding the future of our city.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Another year older! I really enjoyed celebrating the 5th anniversary of my 29th birthday. This year was extra special because it was the first year Megan could sing "Happy Birthday" to me.

On my actual birthday, John brought home my favorite dessert in the whole wide world . . . a princess cupcake from the Pink Moon Cupcake Bakery. John actually had to make two trips to the Pink Moon - the first time he put the cupcakes in his car and went back to work. When he came out at the end of the day, they had melted everywhere. What a great guy . . . he went back to get more. He told me this story just as I finished my cupcake. Desperate for another one, I asked, "What did you do with the melted cupcakes? Is it possible they are still edible?" Pink Moon cupcakes are that good!

The Sunday after my birthday, my mom had a little celebration at her house for my brother and I. (Ever since we have been little, we've shared our birthday parties since his birthday falls on July 17 and mine on the 10th. He hates sharing his party with me . . . check out the look on his face.) Just kidding - he smiled for the next picture that was taken, I just didn't like how I looked in it. Sorry Spike!

We swam in my parents' pool and had a great time. Megan can swim by herself this year, with the help of floaties on her arms. She zips around the pool like a little fish.

I was so excited to get a sewing machine from my parents for my birthday! The other day my mom laughed at me when she saw, "Learn to sew" on my list of things to do. I just didn't want to forget! I guess that is a funny thing to put on a to-do list, as if I could cross that off just like I cross off "buy stamps." ha, ha

I try to keep the date of my actual birthday a little low key because my beloved Papa died on my birthday. It is tough to mention my birthday without remembering what a huge part of it he used to be. When I was little, I had huge birthday parties with all the neighborhood kids in my backyard. Since it was so close to the 4th of July, my Papa would put on a huge fireworks show in the backyard. (He smuggled the "good" fireworks in just for me from Canada. shhhh) He always made me feel so special and loved. The night before he died, I knew he was suffering and whispered in his ear that he could go. I told him how much he meant to me and how much I respected the kind of man he was. I told him my fiance John reminded me a lot of him. I told him we would all be ok and he could go if he needed to. To this day, I am so glad I had the chance to tell him those things. John and I also tracked down his priest for Last Rites and I know that meant a lot to him. If he had known it was my birthday, he would not have died that day . . . I just know it. That was my Papa. I miss him so much!

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July! It is my favorite holiday (even if a lot of people think that is strange.) There is just something about it . . . the patriotism, the warmth of summer, the cookouts, sparklers, fireworks, and best of all . . . potato salad. What is not to like about this holiday??? Seriously though, watching the fireworks gives me goosebumps every year. If someone plays, "I'm Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood I become a full blown sap, complete with goosebumps AND a few tears. I love America!

This year, we celebrated by having my family over. It was surprisingly cool but we enjoyed ourselves anyway.

Megan holding a sparkler. Don't worry, John was hovering just out of sight . . . ready to pounce if Megan looked like she was going to touch it.

My nephew Colin, enjoying his sparkler.

My sister Katie and her husband Justin.

My dad playing with the kids. How cute!

I make this appetizer every year. I love the Fourth of July!!!!

The crew, walking to the fireworks. (I dragged everyone to the very front so we would have a good spot. Notice the happy faces.) Megan tried to open up her chair right there on the sidewalk.

Here we are in the perfect "firework viewing" location. This was Megan's first year to see them and I wanted a great seat.

John and I, enjoying the moment.

John and Megan, looking up at the fireworks. Megan was a little afraid but hasn't stopped talking about them since. She keeps saying, "Fireworks! Wow! Loud!"

What a Spitfire!

Yes, we're still battling at bedtime. Sweet Megan Kate is quite a spitfire, that is for sure. I just wanted to share this little story with you.

First, let me introduce you to "Binkydog." He was given to Megan when she was born by our neighbor Dena. He is Megan's most trusted friend. She goes to sleep every night with this dog and her "binky" - our word for pacifier. Megan has been calling him "Binkydog" since she first started speaking. I can't stress to you enough how much Megan LOVES Binkydog. She sleeps with a whole zoo of creatures, but Binkydog is her favorite! Keep that in mind . . .

So, we're still having trouble with Megan not staying in her big girl bed. The other night I went in there and said, "Megan, if you don't stay in your bed I'm going to take one of your animals away." She didn't stay in her bed and lost Minnie Mouse. I told her if she got up again, I was taking Binkydog. Guess what . . . yep, she stayed in her bed the rest of the night. I felt VICTORIOUS! Yes! I outsmarted a two year old. Hooray for me. Who needs Super Nanny anyway!

The next day, I used the same scare tactic when I tried to put Megan down for a nap. Get out of bed . . . lose an animal. As I was walking away from her room, I heard her door slam behind me. I turned around to see Binkydog laying on the floor in the hallway. I stormed back down the hallway and opened her door. She was quietly sitting on her floor reading a book. I guess she figured . . . "I'll show you. If Binkydog is the price of getting up then HERE, take him. I'll just read instead."

What a little firecracker! I have absolutely no idea where she gets that from. (ha, ha)

You know, I've faced a lot of different situations in my life. I taught violent offenders (in jail) my first year teaching. As a cop, I was shot at THREE times. I could write a horror novel with all the gruesome things I've seen. I have tons of experience dealing with all sorts of colorful people. Why is it that this little two year old is throwing me for a loop? I mean, I have a considerable weight advantage. I'd like to think I'm smarter. Surely if I can win a foot chase with a six foot tall man, wrestle him to the ground, handcuff him and take him to jail, I can get a thirty-two pound 2 year old to stay in bed. Yeah, maybe not.