Surprise......!

J's parents stopped in Chi-Town on a layover

We didn't tell the kids. Instead, we went to the big McDonald's downtown. Grandma and Grandpa walked in. Motor Mouth turned and saw them!!

It was great.

The joy in Motor Mouth's eyes made this such fun!!

It was a short, 24 hr layover. But it was so worth it.

The kids really needed to see their grandparents.

Knowing Me, Knowing You - Feb '09

The Fairy Blogmother announced a new feature on her little corner of the web: Knowing Me, Knowing You. She posts the questions around the first of the month, and we are welcome to answer them on our own blogs. You might remember The Fairy Blogmother as the Home of What's Cooking Wednesdays which took off like wildfire.

#1 What crafts/hobbies are you into?

Currently, I am into crochet. I really want to get into quilting. I've wanted to get into quilting for many years. Life keeps getting in the way though.

#2 What is your laundry status?

A week ago, there was a thin path to my bed. Now, it's all wood, baby!! All the clothes, sheets, and towels are where they belong. WhooooHoooo! Happy, happy dance!!

#3 You walk into a bank and there are people waiting ahead of you for an open teller. You step into place behind the last person waiting...here's the question...are you waiting in line or are you waiting on line?

I don't understand the question. Not sure about what 'on line' means. Personally, if I can't do it on the computer, I do drive up tellers, not in the lobby.

#4 Do you facebook?

I love facebook. I'm trying to pull back though. Not check it as many times each day.

#5 Where would you like to have a shopping spree and what would you buy?

The Container Store. I would get everything there.

I can't even say Macy's in Chicago because to say it may cause me to covet they neighborhood department store goods - Shoes, purses, watches, jewelry, clothes, perfume. Kids clothes. Clothes for J. Oh my. Oh my. Oh. don't get me started.

Head over to The Fairy Blogmother to play along.

Finished for Friday - Brother-in-Law Hat

My sister-in-law, FaithChick, sent an 'easy' crochet pattern and asked me to make a hat for her husband. Well, I tried. And failed.

I tried again. And again. Finally, I had to get MAM to help me. Turns out, I have been crocheting all wrong!! The amigurumi technique may have messed me up, or in my amateurness, I just missed a few things. At any rate, MAM set me straight. 

Marine Man in his new hat!

I didn't do the original pattern, instead opting for a modified pattern all my own. Crochet is absolutely beautiful when done properly...

And now my husband wants one...

Please head on over to Lit and Laundry, 

home of Finished for Friday. 

It's pretty amazing what she accomplishs in 1 week!

WIDNEY CROCHET HAT PATTERN

Pattern Rows 1-10 adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Easy Stripes 

Hat #70731AD, minus color mixing.

Gauge: 12 sc = 4 in.

HAT
With A, ch 4, join with sl st in beg ch to form a ring.
R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch.
R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch – 12 sc.
R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 18 sc.
R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 24 sc.
R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 30 sc.
R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 36 sc.
R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 42 sc.
R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 48 sc.
R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 54 sc.
R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 60 sc. 

(Note: If your gauge lines up, stay at 60 sc to R14. Otherwise, increase to fit adult head as needed.)
R11: Ch 1, *sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 66 sc. 

R12: Ch 1, *sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 72 sc.

R13: Ch 1, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 78 sc. 

R14: Ch 1, *sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R15-19: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.
R20-21: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R22-27: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R28-29: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R30-31: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.

BORDER
With B, ch 1, sl st in each sc around, sl st in beg ch.
Additional Row: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Mini Me = Hellion

Mini Me has been a hellion recently.

First, there was the haircutting incident.

Mini Me cut 2 chunks out of her hair!!

This would be why Motor Mouth was 

developmentally delayed in scissor cutting.

Motor Mouth LOVES pigeons. 

Mini Me has started 'shooting' pigeons.

Just to piss him off.

I think her Grandma had something to do with it!!

And then Mini Me ate a cookie out of the trash.

It was moist from sitting UNDER

Motor Mouth's WET pull-ups for 2 days!

Ahhh...the contortionist incident at Starbucks

Iron Princess should be her new nickname

I would offer her free to a good home.

But they would only return her...!!

And what would I have to blog about?

We'll keep her. 

After all, we just couldn't survive without our precious, baby girl!! Ooops! Not allowed to call her a 'baby'. Our precious 'big' girl, then.

WidneyWoman Moving Soon...

I know it is hard to believe. But we may be moving sooner than planned. I was all settled here and didn't think I'd move for another forever lifetime. But, sadly, it appears 

WidneyWoman may have to move ah-gain!

You would think I'd be accustomed to moving. Between the ages of 18 and 27, I moved 20+ times. I know!! But you know how it is when you are young and in school. You move from one place during one semester to another. Then, when you are moving up the corporate ladder, you move from one place to bigger and better. Then you get a job transfer to a whole new city or even country!

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you know I may be moving again. Moving with kids is a whole new ball game. Last year, I moved from Multiply.com to Blogger.com. And I loved it. I still love it. Only I noticed I am getting full on the photo side of things and if I keep going at the rate I'm going, I may max out of my storage soon and have to move to Typepad or someplace like that. 

Will you follow me if I move or will I lose you? 

Please comment and let me know.

For all of you followers that don't comment...

This is your chance to have a voice.

Tackle It Tuesday - Bedroom Laundry

I do love our loft ceilings.

Our bedroom suddenly became the laundry catch-all. It was a bit of a catch-all. Period. I honestly would forget to clean our bedroom. I walk out, go hang with the kids in the kitchen or living room, and poof! Forgotten. Until I am stumbling in the dark, trying not to break my neck on laundry that should have been folded or hung a long time ago!

and AFTER...

We could just close our bedroom door when people came. Lock it when a sitter came. Only, last Friday, Motor Mouth broke into our bedroom to get his toothpaste for the new sitter. Everywhere else was clean. It was just our bedroom. 

Arrrgh!!! It was our first time meeting her. Ever.

and AFTER...

Clutter, even in one room, can have a devastating effect on the mind. I felt like I was a horrible mother and a terrible housewife because I could not get a handle on the laundry. I just didn't know where to start. My self-esteem dipped way low.

I felt like a fraud. Here I was with immaculately organized cabinets and drawers, a bookcase that is an organizational haven, and my laundry was overpowering me. My small business is helping others manage their lives but I couldn't even tackle my laundry. For my mental well being, I had to win this battle. 

And I did. 

For this week at any rate...

Please head on over to the home of

Tackle It Tuesday

Anti-Super Bowl Party

Instead of watching the Super Bowl and eating chili or pizza, we had an Anti-Super Bowl Party. 

J made potato soup and 4 different quiche. 

Served with artisan bread and salad. 

No beer. We did have raspberry iced tea... 

Oh, and no Super Bowl. We showed the half-time show. 

And Mamma Mia! It was all J's idea.

Blast From the Past

These are the ladies I hung out with 18 years ago.

I can't believe it's been that long. 

Or how young I looked!

We all worked in the computer department at Sears Canada.

Back Row (L-R): Me, JJ 

Front Row (L-R): DD, GG

Here we are at a Mercedes bar/club for DD's surprise birthday party.  I'm thinking she had not yet arrived, considering she's not in the photo...

Thanks to the magic of Facebook, I'm back in touch with DD. One of my first, most vivid memories of DD was when she came into my office to inform me she was pregnant. She was going around letting the whole team know so we wouldn't think she was just getting fat. How can you not immediately love someone for that kind of honesty and humor!

Papa Martian

Papa Martian came to town!!!!

Motor Mouth and Mini Me's godfather flew in to Chicago on business. We met him for dinner. The kids LOVE their Papa Martian.  Motor Mouth was all excited when he heard Papa Martian was coming and started naming off all the things he wanted to tell him. Mini Me ran around yelling, "Pawp Maben! Pawp Maben! Pawp Maben!"

Mini Me smothered her godfather most of the evening. It was really cute. I tried to get pictures of it, but it was too dark for my camera to capture. Papa Martian sent these to me bright and early this morning!

Who IS Papa Martian?

I first met Papa Martian when I was interviewing for a job. I got the job and then found out he attended our church. J and I became friends with him and his lovely wife. When Motor Mouth was born, we asked them to be his godparents. Same with Mini Me. We wanted people of character and integrity to raise our children in the event of our untimely death.

We all had a really great time and can hardly wait until Papa Martian comes back with his family, very soon!!!

Wordless Wednesday - THIS Rounded the Corner

25 Random Things About Me

I was tagged for this in Facebook. I was only going to do it here, but then I got tagged 2 more times in less than 24hrs!! This is different from the Facebook list.

Here goes....... 

1. I don't remember the first time I met my father-in-law.

2. J and I joked we would name our kid 'Sidney Widney' before we knew my father-in-law had made the same joke years before.

3. I collect tea pots. 

4. When I show people pictures of my father-in-law, they say he is very handsome.

5. My father-in-law taught me how to operate a bull dozer.

6. I seriously think I'm peri-menopausal.

7. My father-in-law has shown me all over Disney World and taken us to Cape Canaveral so I could go to NASA.

8. My father-in-law introduced me to eating alligator, crawfish, and gumbo.

9. My father-in-law loves my son and I love that they have a special bond because I had a special bond with my grandfather.

10. My father-in-law is one of my biggest heroes 'cause people said he couldn't do it but he did - more than once. 

11. My father-in-law showed me all around Colorado when Motor Mouth was 6 months old.

12. My father-in-law took me with him on 2 cross-country helicopter rides once with the tour guide with the mostess and once with J and SarahBeara.

13. My father-in-law is the reason I have been all over Texas and a bunch of other states.

14. I'm fat.

15. My father-in-law is one of the most generous, kind-hearted men I know.

16. My mother-in-law has been one of my best friends for 12 years.

17. I like riding on my father-in-law's Harley with him because people think he's my sugar daddy!

18. My father-in-law let's me drive his Hummer and he sits in the passenger seat.

19. My father-in-law taught me how to fly small airplanes.

20. My father-in-law taught me how to shoot a gun.

21. My father-in-law taught me how to fly a helicopter.

22. My father-in-law was once my boss.

 
23. My father-in-law dragged us around Vegas on one of the best tours ever.

24. My father-in-law treats his kids' spouses like they are his kids.

25. My father-in-law prefers me not to talk about him on my blog.

Why Twitter?

First, let me tell you what Twitter is.

Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time. It is a social networking tool that enables you to provide up-to-the-second status on what you are doing. 

I love Twitter. I have my Twitter linked to

 automatically update my blog page and my Facebook Status. One-stop shopping, if you will. 

Twitter is great because you can get messages out to a vast number of people with one tool. For example, @ParkChurch posted a preview of this week's sermon open video ONLY to those people following on Twitter. Want special info? Join us on Twitter. Is it clickish? No. Not at our church where the majority are 20-35 and use Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking tools in their daily lives. It keeps our church hip and relevant and with its ear to the ground.

A few weeks ago, I joined in on a Twitter Wine Night. It was so much fun!!! Women from all over the country, popping open a bottle of wine and chatting about everything and nothing and wine. I made some great connections. There were other women who are small business owners like me, homeschooling moms like me, and others living in Illinois like me.

Why do I Twitter? Well, Ragamuffin Soul got me into it with his twittering all the time!! I thought he was texting it in each time, but it's through an iPhone app. Free!! Once I figured that out, I started Twittering frequently. It's fun and builds a sense of community. I like people. I like to know what they are doing. And you know, it gives me something to do while I'm in line, or in the bathroom. And it is fun to have people comment back.

I think Twittering and Facebook Status updates make you use your creative juices. I like to give people something funny, peculiar, odd, or off the beaten path. Keep it light and fun is what I like to do. 

What are you doing?

Check out my post:  Why Facebook?

Why Facebook?

I LOVE Facebook. 

Some don't. Some don't get it. 

Some get it too much and it ruins their lives. 

Like the other day, my mom calls me to tell me to be careful on Facebook. Why? I asked her. On Dr. Phil, she starts off. Oh dear lord, I think. This is going to be jacked up. Apparently, some woman was being taken for a ride into thinking someone on Facebook was a big time movie star when really it was was some teenager - or something like that is how the story went. I love my Mom. I even gave her a nickname: Mutti - German for Mom/Mommy. But she need not watch Jerry Springer - I mean Dr. Phil.

I started off Facebook as an alternative to Classmates.com to get back in touch with old friends from Canada. More specifically, my high school friends, my siblings, and my nieces and nephews.

I only wanted it for my Canadians. Some of my Americans asked me to be friends and I was kinda not wanting to be Facebook friends with them. This was special to me. My Canadians.

Facebook was great! I could keep up on everyone's lives, their new pictures, what they were up to. I got to develop relationships with people I wasn't that close to in school, but are great people. For years, I preached that teenagers should not count on these people being in their lives long term. All those high school friends are back in my life!!

And yes, I Facebooked my ex's. One time, I was playing around, throwing in names, and bam! there he was, looking like he did over 15 years ago when we were together. Of course, this almost 50 year old man was using a picture from college...But that is another blog for another day... Okay. Okay. I lied. He is not almost 50. He turned 44 today. But he hasn't posted any current pics so he must look 50, right?

Finally, I started letting the Americans in. They are a pushy bunch, you know. And it grew and grew and grew and grew. Now, I have about 335 friends. 325 are people who are real friends that I have met in person or communicate with frequently.  If I can't tell you about a person's life, I don't accept the friend request. And yes, I do know when someone drops me as a friend - I go and check to see who is missing in the ranks... Why would you drop me? I'm so cute.

Having over 300 friends is not as personal and I don't get to keep as close tabs on everyone as I used to, but I still love it. I feel a real sense of community. I enjoy being happy when others are happy and being sad for them when they are sad. I like knowing Jr's son is doing great in football. Or that Michelle's boys are winning hockey tournaments every weekend. I care. I really do care.

And that, is why I love Facebook. Because I care about these people and want to know what is going on in their lives...All day. Everyday.

Coming tomorrow...Why Twitter?

Kids Kraft Day - Jan 2009

The kids were Krafting again.

I laid it all out nice on the table

Then called them in for their 

surprise paint night!!

They were so very happy!!

Yes, our tree is still up...

Looks like a pretty halter top, eh?

Notice how clean the bowls are...

Hmmm....Did you HAVE to mix EVERY color?

Oh, but it was worth it!

Mini Me's Masterpiece

Motor Mouth wrote 'Chinese Letters'

Really? Don't tell Chinese people that, ok?

(Don't hurt yourself - It's the white markings)

The kiddos did about 10 masterpieces each. I was running out of drying space!! Daddy thought it was a great idea until he had to wipe down the table and floor. Hmmm...next time, I think Mommy needs that big kraft paper you find at teacher supply stores...