Building headaches!

Well, I have blogged before that my husband and I are undertaking the monumental task of trying to build a house.

Many would not attempt such nonsense, most people we talked to advised against it!

Headache after headache--we were warned. But we persisted.

Well, this week we received a huge dose of reality. Our dreams and our budget are not aligning, in fact, they are so far out of alignment we may need to start over!

Yes, I have a headache! Talk about feeling unbalanced. I revisited the website of Balance Your 7, and when our home bids came back this week, felt out of synch with just about all of them!

Time for a reality check, and then some! At this point we are taking baby steps forward, reaching out to those who have successfully navigated this road before us. I've received a ton of support from friends who tell me not to fret, someday we will have a beautiful home to show for all of our work. I sure hope they are right.

As for now, it's time to rethink all of our priorities, and it's a good time for my husband and I to really discuss what's most important for us and our kids. We are trying to live in the now but also plan for the future as well, something much easier said than done. I feel we are working with a group of remarkably professional people who will help us navigate this crazy path we are on!

I will say that one fun surprise in this process is discovering all of the exceptionally talented people that live and work within the Coulee Region. We have found dedicated professionals from every stage in the process. For now, all hope isn't lost. It's just going to take us a bit longer to see the final results.

Bedtime Book Bash is a smash!

We all know the saying "it takes a village."

Well I think this is especially important in today's world.

At my kid's elementary school this week they had a Bedtime Book Bash. This is an annual event where local community "celebrities" come in a read a book to the children.

We rotated between three rooms for fifteen minutes each. We listened to a book being read by the fire chief, and got some great fire safety information on top of it! We listened about princes and princesses from a grocery store executive in another. Our final stop was in a room with a volunteer dog and his person. The person did the reading, but all of the attention was on Odin, the yellow lab. We learned about adoption from the Humane Society and the pooch got a lot of extra loving!

All of this was done with the kids wearing their pajamas and being in a safe and comfortable environment.

The members of the community volunteered to come in and do this, I think the volunteer list included more than fifteen people. It was fun to watch the kid's expressions as they listened to the book or got to ask a question. We ended the Book Bash with a snack in the cafeteria with all of their friends. My 5-year-old thought it was especially exciting to drive home in the dark, with her pjs on. When she whispered "That was super fun!" I wished I could have recorded it to show the volunteers what a great thing they had just done.

It does take a village, but sometimes it doesn't take much to make a big impact! My gratitude goes out to all of those who helped make this a special night.

How do you approach the idea of getting older?

Do you embrace it with open arms or do you run away in fear and denial?

Birthdays, as we age, are definitely different from those of our youth. When we were younger we shouted from the rooftops and wanted everyone to know when the big day was and just how old you were going to be.

At what age did that change?

I tell everyone that I'm 29, again. I'm not ashamed of my age, I think a lot of how old we are is a state of mind. We've all seen some young-at-heart grandma's and others who are old before their time.

I recently celebrated my 29th birthday, or so I said. My big day happened to fall on a Monday. I did manage to have a babysitter for a few hours so I carved out a little "me" time. I treated myself to an hour at the gym followed by a massage! Then I took the kids and we picked up my birthday cake.

We went out for Chinese (my choice). Dinner was followed up with cheesecake at home, where my kids presented me with their homemade cards and a sweet coupon book, redeemable for hugs, playdates and kisses! Overall, my Monday birthday was great! I embraced the year that passed and am already looking forward to the year ahead. Sometimes turning 29 a few times has it's advantages!

You can go home again...

We recently went back and visited the town in eastern Wisconsin where we lived for the first five years of our marriage. We had our first two kids there and forged lifelong friendships with people who knew us BK, (before kids)!

It had been two years since our last visit, which is far too long in my book. We stayed with our friends who have four kids of their own, bringing the household total for the weekend to eleven people, seven of whom were under the age of thirteen.

Our kids meshed perfectly and played nonstop the entire weekend. We were fortunate enough to gather ten friends for an adults-only dinner out and met up with several more couples after dinner. Needless to say, this was such a priceless visit.

Our kids saw the house where we lived and the people who loved them from day one. It made my friendship jar overflow.

I loved seeing my husband joke with his buddies and my kids rekindle friendships that they didn't even know existed. There is a saying that you can't ever go home again. But I am proof that that simply isn't true. We are just lucky enough to say that we have two places that feel like home, one of which is where we live and the other where we are welcomed with open arms anytime we want! If you ever find yourself in need of a pick-me-up, might I suggest contacting an old friend or visiting people who know and love you best. It's a great way to feel loved.

Thanksgiving.

An often overlooked holiday, but happens to be one of my favorites!

Sure, it lacks the excitement of Christmas or the drama of Halloween, but that's precisely why I like it! It's a time to get together with family or close friends and just celebrate with a great meal.

We always have the traditional turkey with all it's fixings. After a slice of my grandma's homemade pumpkin pie and a glass or two of wine, conversation and relaxation is enjoyed at it's utmost. Sure, there is always the logistics and clean up to plan for, but the pleasure is in the togetherness.

I'm excited to journey back to my parent's house this year where my grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins will all be together. This will be the first year that my husband will try deer hunting with my father! Who knows, maybe this will be part of our new tradition! My mother will be fixing the main courses, and she has put me in charge of bringing dinner rolls and a green salad. I think in the grand scheme of Thanksgiving preparation I'm getting off as lightly as possible. I guess that means I'll be on dish duty!

However you plan on celebrating the holiday this year, I hope it's one of your best ever. I know when I look around at my little family, I have everything in the world to be thankful for.

Feeling like Sisyphus?

Ever feel like your day or your life sometimes goes a bit like this?

It's an example of Sisyphus who was punished by the gods to forever roll a rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down and start over.

It has come to mean "unrelenting" and accomplishing nothing.

Midweek, after a weekend trip with the family, I took a look around my house and could totally relate to Mr. Sisyphus. When I left our home, it wasn't pristine, but was in satisfactory condition, presentable. I returned and within a few hours it looked as though a bomb had gone off. Piles of laundry were to be found in various stages, cleaned but needing folding, folded but needing to be put away, and dirty.

Not to mention the suitcases that needed unpacking. I also realized that all of my Halloween decorations needed to be put away and stored for next year. I know that as soon as the house is cleaned, laundry folded and put away, decorations shelved, it will start all over again!

Soon I'll dig out the Christmas goodies, attempt to complete laundry and spruce up the house. Although I know these things are a fact of life, unlike Sisyphus mine will lessen once my last child leaves the house. I only have a mere fifteen years left of rolling the 'ol boulder up the hill.

The Myth of Sisyphus...

Taxidermy.

Maybe you don't or haven't ever thought much about the subject.

I grew up in a house where my father hunted for deer, ducks and other birds. He is also an average fisherman, so it wasn't unusual for a prize mount to suddenly appear on our wall. Luckily it was usually reserved for space in the basement where it didn't have to confront you daily.

Well this subject came up this week in our house. My husband has taken up the sport of pheasant hunting and recently shot a very large male bird. It traveled with him and his friend, back from South Dakota, frozen in a cooler to be hung in our basement and safely delivered to a local taxidermist.

He was very excited to report that the bird will make an excellent mount perched upon a fallen log. I have to admit that I had a difficult time sharing his enthusiasm for this soon-to-be-new piece of "art."

But, he says, he can look at it and picture walking in the field with his friends and the excitement he got when he knew he had hit his target. I guess I can see that, but what I don't want to see is this stuffed bird sitting in my living room.

Lucky for me, he has agreed that it will claim a prize spot in his office. I guess that is a compromise that I can easily live with. If I were a hunter I might be better able to share in his joy over having such a possession.

As for me? I'd rather have a chosen spot for a new pair of boots I found "hunting" on a great sale rack! I guess to each their own. When the bird returns in all of it's glory, I will post pictures for all to admire!

Comfort Food

Food can be the ultimate in comfort.

A warm bowl of soup, a slice of grandma's famous pie at Thanksgiving, pancakes like only your dad knows how to make.

A friend of mine recently had jaw surgery. She can eat only liquids for the next six weeks. Talk about the need for some comfort! So I decided to whip up two of my very favorite fall soups. Being the good friend that I am, I even made extra for us! The first is a very simple carrot ginger soup. It's the perfect balance of sweet with just a hint of spice. The color is beautiful with finishes of orange swirls.

The second, and a family favorite, is our curry butternut squash soup. This involves a few more steps to complete but the results are well worth every spoonful. The curry is just the perfect spice to compliment the hearty squash flavor. More or less can be added to your liking. According to my poor girlfriend, it was awesome! And I think for a few spoonfuls she was able to find some comfort in a bowlful of soup.


Recipes

Flu season has arrived!

Well the season of cold and flu has officially descended and decided to make a stop in our house.

We have had a terrific year of almost perfect health, so you knew it had to end!

Our youngest came down with a cold over the weekend and as the week progressed it turned into a dry, barking cough. One trip to the pediatrician confirmed she had croup. Add to that a low-grade fever and one round of vomiting at 1 a.m., and you can imagine how the poor kid feels.

With a sick child at home every schedule is turned upside down and things get set aside until all is well. One of the main reasons is I have zero energy to tackle much more! After fighting round one of the cold and flu season, it drives home the point to make sure to get your flu shots. Two of our five family members have had theirs, but we need to wait until we are all healthy to get the mist, our preferred method of delivery.

Gundersen Lutheran makes it easy to get vaccinated. There are flu clinics everywhere, and it's a fast and painless way to try to avoid a week like I've had! Take it from this exhausted mom, run, don't walk to go get yours!



http://www.gundluth.org/flu

The ottoman saga...

I'd like you meet the culprit.

Don't be fooled by it's sleek, beautiful appearance. It sits looking very innocent, but don't be hoodwinked! Inside it's filled with darkness (and probably some foam cushioning).

You see, it started out as a great idea for a ten-year anniversary gift for my husband. It was selected with a great deal of care, and shipped to a friend's house so it and the ottoman, could be assembled in secret. It was then brought to our house on our big day, much to my husbands's delight!

Then, we noticed a flaw in the leather of the ottoman. After several calls to the company, in New York, a Fed Ex truck was dispatched to pick up the package. What the company couldn't seem to figure out was how to pick up the ottoman at MY house and not my girlfriends. Three attempts by Fed Ex later, and a personal escort up to our house by my girlfriend, the ottoman was returned.

The replacement ottoman arrived, at my girlfriend's home! After the box was opened we discovered they had shipped the wrong color. Several phone calls later, the ottoman was sent back again. Our third, and we hoped final, ottoman arrived, this time at the correct address. I made my husband open it, I was afraid to look! All looked fine, at first, but the finish around the edging was not done! Major flaw! Talk about feeling frustration and rage! The company received several less than kind emails and phone calls, and they decided to issue me a $100 credit for my troubles, and a replacement ottoman. The only problem? They didn't have any of the correct color in stock, would I like a replacement chair instead? Seriously? Six weeks, three ottomans and still the gift is not complete! Insert several curse words here…..

We have decided to keep what we have until the end of November when the new, and hopefully correct, ottoman, arrives. In the meantime do not be fooled. It looks nice but it's got a dark side.

I should have bought him a watch.

Sisterhood!

Relationships come in all shapes and sizes.

Some are good and some leave a lot of room for improvement.

I am the older, dare I say wiser and better looking, elder to my younger sister. Growing up we fought as all siblings do, and manage to do occasionally even now. My husband is amazed that we can fight over the telephone, as she lives several states away. We talk almost daily, she is the only one who shared in our upbringing and is therefore the sole person who can commiserate about all the things families commiserate about!

I miss her like crazy and wished we could live closer, especially for the sake of my kids. But for the few times a year we do manage to get together, my children act like it was just yesterday that they saw her. Although my sister and her husband do not have children of their own, and just the sight of a poopy diaper makes her gag violently, she is the perfect aunt! I mean it isn't everyday your kids get a surprise box of Halloween goodies and within is a box of gummy boogers! Give me a poopy diaper anyway over that!

So relationships do come in every shape and form. As far as mine and my sister's goes, ours is as good as it gets, and that's just fine by me! This dose of sisterhood helps keep my world in balance.