1 Year Ago

One year ago today, my Grandpa passed away. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember making the tough phone call to my siblings. I remember how quickly he passed. I remember standing around his bed saying goodbye. I remember leaning on each other for comfort. I remember the wonderful hospice staff. I remember the many kind people who came for us and for Grandma.

Grandpa, we love you and miss you. You are not forgotten - your memory lives on.

Tonight the boys and I will spend time with Grandma - we can't wait! She is an amazing and strong lady.

Ugh.

I'm working my way out from under piles of clothing. I'm trying to switch out the winter clothes in favor of summer clothes - crazy when the weather has been so chilly today. :) I also had baskets of clothing waiting to be folded and put away. While I sort, I'm also making a pile to donate. We have way too many clothes for 4 people and I'm certain I am not being brutal enough. I still have a hard time getting rid of the boys' clothes for two reasons - first, I don't know what God has in store for us but mostly I'm too emotionally tied to them. :) I don't anticipate two the same age again so I really have twice as many as any one child could wear. Oh well, I'm working on it. Back to the piles...

Sleep Advice Needed

Well, until now, my kids have been pretty good 11-12 hour sleepers. I've read about and talked to various friends who have struggled with child sleep issues and while I felt bad, I couldn't relate - I now fully empathize. It's not so much that I mind the early rising (although I think everyone knows I am NOT a morning person), it's really that they are not getting enough sleep. As we speak, they are both having a morning nap - we haven't done this in over a year! They are just exhausted.

Here's the problem - I've tried putting them to bed earlier but they stay awake until 8:30 or 9; I've tried putting them to bed a little later but they still get up early. Last night they went to bed after 9 (late for them) and they were up at 6:40 a.m. What's a mom to do? I'm thinking maybe black-out curtains or shades. We are also thinking of regularly separating them at bed time. We have one in particular that used to be a champion sleeper who is now getting out of bed whenever he wants (yes, we have disciplined) and waking up his brother. Another thing I'm considering is teaching them to tell time :) - in other words, put a digital clock with the minutes covered and teach them at what number they may come out of their room. I think they are a little young for this but then they sometimes surprise me...

So I'm calling for all advice from you, my wise friends. Tired, cranky kids is just not an option. :)

News

Now, that my sister has posted it on her blog...I can let the cat out of the bag. :) Her boyfriend, Jeremy, popped the question and she said yes! I'm super excited for them! No date yet, but I think by the end of the year. Hooray! In case your keeping count, this will be wedding #2 for our family this year! Here is a picture of the happy couple:

MPM: 4/28-5/3

April and May just feel extra busy. It seems our weeks are fuller than usual and our schedule more hectic. It's a little overwhelming and it's making meal time a huge challenge. So, I'm going to go ahead and menu plan but it is certainly not set in stone and I'm afraid it is rather boring. :)

MONDAY: Leftovers from Sunday's Birthday Celebration (Andrew working late)
TUESDAY: Grilled Hot Dogs (the "healthier" kind - no msg, no nitrates etc.), Oven Fries, Applesauce (Andrew working late)
WEDNESDAY: Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, Fried Eggs, Yogurt (Andrew likely working late)
THURSDAY: Wycliffe Dinner
FRIDAY: Pizza, Fruit, Veggies
SATURDAY: An afternoon wedding and probably a snacky supper at home afterwards.
SUNDAY: Pasta w/homemade cream sauce - fresh herbs, asiago cheese, pepper, Salad, Fruit

Thanks to orgjunkie for hosting. If you would like any more information on menu planning, recipes, etc., please feel free to ask. You can also check out my recipe blog. Have a wonderful week!

The Winners

Well, another bloggy giveaway has come to an end. With 331 entries (I was hoping for 333 :)), the chance of winning was about 1 in 110. Surprisingly, the random number generator gave me 3 numbers that were all above 200 - sorry to those of you who entered early. :) I wish I could send you all a prize... Anyway, here are the winners - if for any reason any of them do not contact me within 3 days, I will draw another number(s) or send a prize to my friend Paula who has offered to fill any vacant spots in the past. :)

Cdziuba
Joy
Lyn21

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your prizes! Stay tuned, maybe I will have another giveaway this summer - we'll see. :)

New Bikes

Calvin helping Daddy put his brand-new bike together! He picked the blue one and Patrick has the red one. They LOVE them - the pedals are still tough for them but it will come, I'm sure. Both bikes have bells which are a big hit. :) We have yet to get pictures of them riding but we will.

Birthday Day Pictures

The Birthday Boy!

His Brother!

Teeth, Teeth

I have spent today immersed in the dental field. It's the annual IDA (Indiana Dental Association) conference. I spent 6 hours in continuing education classes, enjoyed lunch in between the classes with my husband, and went to the exhibit hall to see what's new in the field, talk to various reps, and to pick up some free samples. It was a long day but I really do enjoy my profession - though I don't spend much time in it anymore. And I enjoy the dental professional world where everyone understands the same lingo - although I find it amusing that we sit in classes for hours talking about teeth.

Anyway, if you have any questions about periodontal disease, feel free to ask. :) It's all very fresh in my mind! And if you smoke, please, please stop. It's not only bad for your health but it's also horrible for your teeth and gums - not that this is new news. :)

Tomorrow will be another 3 hours of continuing education (this time hands-on versus lecture) and then a staff appreciation lunch. I'm exhausted but I know it will be good. I feel that it is so important for me to keep up with the profession to give my patients the best care possible. I'm truly thankful that God called me in to dentistry!