December 16, 2009, 10:20 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

i feel like my ambition outweighs my ability…..  it’s getting frustrating.  that’s all i have to say right now.



my feet are swollen.
December 15, 2009, 10:12 pm
Filed under: my day in a nutshell
  • something i accomplished today:  quite a bit, surprisingly.  harper was supposed to have school, but she had a fever this moring so i didn’t take her.  thought for sure my to-do list was shot, but i actually got alot done around the house…it’s been a tornado since we got home from camping on sunday.  harper and i also made a gingerbread house which was fun…maybe i shouldn’t say we “made” it…we put it together and decorated it.
  • something i screwed up today:  the roof of the gingerbread house totally caved in.  i broke off the triangular parts of the front and back and just slapped one of the roof panels on top.  it is a gingerbread adobe.
  • something fun i did with the kids:  the icing/sprinkles mess was about it today…  we went to a party tonight, but that was more fun for me. 
  • something funny or cute one of my kids did or said:  harper is getting better and better at memorizing songs and things.  i am so loving hearing her sing christmas carols (completely wrong most of the time).
  • something yummy i ate today:   food at the party tonight was amazing.  baked brie (tina, i love you for bringing that), several yummy dips, CFA chicken strips, chocolate-covered strawberries, garlic rolls, etc etc etc
  • something i read today:  i read several books to layne and “the Christmas story” book to harper.  nothing for myself yet…
  • a tv show or movie i watched today:   sex rehab.  i am fascinated by the people on that show.  it is some of the best tv i’ve seen in awhile.
  • something i did today that i hardly ever do:  stayed at home the entire day (until we left for the party).
  • something i did today that i do every day:  tell layne “no-no” about 3587 times.
  • something i am thankful for right now:  so so thankful for ryan’s job.  not only am i just plain glad that he is employed, but even moreso that he’s blessed to make enough money that i don’t have to work.  i’m so glad i can be home with my kids (even if i do have to remind myself of that every now and then)!


  • wow.
    December 8, 2009, 11:24 pm
    Filed under: harper, random, travel

    it’s worse than i thought.  i just read my last post and i can’t believe what a slacker i’ve been.  i guess it’s mostly a  lack of motivation (and energy) to keep up with this blog…i’ve posted a little on my other blog.

    anyway, since my last post quite a bit has happened.

    • i had a great time with my girlfriends and the etsy holiday homemade open house was great.  (i need a link to that, but i’m too lazy…if you’re interested, check out amy’s blog.)
    • my grandma died (mom’s mom…lived in atlanta…hadn’t seen her in 5 years, but she  meant alot to me).  she had a stroke or heart attack in her home and because she lived alone, her body was in the house for about 5 days before anyone found her.  wierd situation.
    • we had a great thanksgiving in orlando with ryan’s parents and my awesome sister-in-law.  it was even cool enough for a fire, which was a blessing.  (see photo at the bottom of this post)
    • i left on friday morning and drove (alone) to gainesville, ga to stay with my mom for two days and then attend her funeral.  it was a quick trip (headed home on sunday afternoon), but very well worth the effort.
    • it took me about 4 days to recover and get the house back together after i got home…i still feel very much in a whirlwind…things constantly swirling around in my head, but i started a few lists (camping stuff, christmas gifts, things to do, etc…) and i’m finally feeling a little more organized.
    • biggest news in our family right now: WE’RE HAVING A BOY!!  we found out last week and i am still seriously in shock.  i need to scan an ultrasound photo and post it…  so excited!!!
    • we’re going camping this weekend (thus the aforementioned “camping stuff” list).  i’m so excited!  hopefully i’ll have some cute pictures to post when we get back.

    for now, here are two pictures of harper from the past month that i just had to share.  she is getting more and more beautiful every day. 

    first, here she is on a ride at the Italian Festival that was held here in our neighborhood.  it was her first real carnival ride experience and she LOVED every second.

    next, here she is on thanksgiving night…lying in front of the fire snuggled in a blanket, listening intently as her aunt erin tells her a story…ariel, i think.



    looking forward…
    November 21, 2009, 10:05 pm
    Filed under: Uncategorized

    this next week should be fun.  ryan’s off work all week, there’s the whole thanksgiving thing, and i’m starting off tomorrow with an overnight trip to stay with a good friend in orlando.  she and some of my other friends who sell things on etsy have decided to join forces and sell things in “real life” for a few hours tomorrow.  i’m so excited.  what could be better than craftiness and time with girlfriends (away from my kids…thanks to my sweet husband)?!  i can’t wait.  hoping to have some fun pictures to post when i get back.  in the meantime, you can check out what’s new on my other blog.



    something better soon, i promise.
    November 20, 2009, 10:51 pm
    Filed under: my day in a nutshell
  • something i accomplished today:  EARLY this morning (around 12:30 a.m.) i finished a verse painting i did for my girlfriend’s daughter’s nursery.  i’ll post a picture of it on my other blog sometime soon.
  • something i screwed up today:  completely burnt a bagel in the toaster oven
  • something fun i did with the kids:  we went to michael’s today, which is fun for me.  you’ll have to ask the kids if it was fun for them.
  • something funny or cute one of my kids did or said:  today was “one of those days” with the kids.  i didn’t get alot of sleep last night, so i was grouchy all day, which didn’t help.  however, while we were at CFA for dinner tonight, they had a FREE bounce house in the parking lot.  harper was in heaven running around like crazy with a giant smile on her face and sweat on her brow.  it always makes me happy to see my kid happy.
  • something yummy i ate today:   chick-fil-a sandwich dipped in chick-fil-a sauce
  • something i read today:  just read some reviews on that movie “precious”…i am seriously slacking on my Bible study…i’m like 2 days behind.
  • a tv show or movie i watched today:   season finale of project runway on dvr.  i wanted carol hannah to win, but i did think that irina’s collection was the best “collection”.
  • something i did today that i hardly ever do:  went to panera for lunch.  annoying because the kids were with me, but that doesn’t change the taste of the soup.
  • something i did today that i do every day:  put lotion on
  • something i am thankful for right now:  honestly, i’m thankful that my sweet husband has been sleeping on a pad on the floor.  our bed is so small and since he’s moved to the floor we’ve both been sleeping SO much better.  hopefully a new king-size bed will accompany our new house (wherever and whenever that may be).  i actually look forward to going to bed now, which wasn’t always the case before.


  • i’m a blog-slacker lately.
    November 18, 2009, 9:48 pm
    Filed under: my day in a nutshell
    • something i accomplished today:  not to brag, but…i spent 2 hours deep cleaning my kitchen and also cleaned both bathrooms
    • something i screwed up today:  raised my voice at harper a few times
    • something fun i did with the kids:  made them chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast…a rare treat
    • something funny or cute one of my kids did or said:  layne is just the cutest thing lately trying to talk.  she obviously knows what alot of things are called, but when she says the words, they all sound the same (baby, bubbles, and boo-boo are all “buh-buh”)
    • something yummy i ate today:   double-stuf golden oreos dipped in milk
    • something i read today:  a few friends’ blog posts
    • a tv show or movie i watched today:   just watched some random morgan freeman movie called “the code”.  not memorable.
    • something i did today that i hardly ever do:  cleaned most of the day.
    • something i did today that i do every day:  kissed my husband the second he came in the door from work
    • something i am thankful for right now:  my new niece who was born tearly this morning, molly katharine buerke.  can’t wait to meet her in person at christmas!


    photo phun
    November 11, 2009, 10:21 pm
    Filed under: harper, layne

    my birthday cake (on sunday night)

    IMG_1436 BLOG

    spontaneously decided to go to the beach today during the time frame we’re usually at the gym.  layne’s had a fever and a runny nose so i didn’t feel right putting her in the kidzone.  it had just poured down rain so i knew all the playgrounds would be super wet.  decided that we should get to the beach before it gets too “cold” tomorrow.  we were only there for about a half hour, but it was alot of fun…really just us, the lifeguards, and like 20 long-boarders.

    IMG_1445 BLOG

    this girl LOVES her some beach…IMG_1452 BLOG

    IMG_1455 BLOG

    post-diaper, pre-shower…IMG_1456 BLOG



    publix birthday cake ice cream is THE STUFF.
    November 9, 2009, 10:08 pm
    Filed under: my day in a nutshell

    so i’ve been thinking.  i’m trying to figure out why i’ve enjoyed blogging in the past.  is it an outlet?  is it because i know other people read it (attention)?  is it because i like keeping a journal of my life/my kids’ growing up?  maybe all of the above.  even still, after my month of posting every single day on my other blog, i’m still a little burnt out.  i’ve decided to come up with a questionnaire that i can use anytime i feel that i’m lacking “good material” (which could potentially be alot).  here goes:

    • something i accomplished today:  washed, folded, and put away 75% of the dirty clothes in the house
    • something i screwed up today:  layne’s calcium intake (it’s so hard to get it in…she doesn’t drink milk)
    • something fun i did with the kids:  we went to the turtle hospital and then to the playground right outside
    • something funny or cute one of my kids did or said:  after i prayed with harper, she tacked on the end, “and thank You for this nice bed to sleep in.”
    • something yummy i ate today:  just had a bowl of birthday cake ice cream
    • something i read today:  nothing yet…hoping to do my Bible study before i go to sleep
    • a tv show or movie i watched today:  sex rehab with dr. drew…VERY interested show about sex addicts in treatment…really sad
    • something i did today that i hardly ever do:  painted my fingernails (they’re clear, but still!)
    • something i did today that i do every day:  have a terrible attitude about where i live (i am so sick of the elevator smelling like pee).
    • something i am thankful for right now:  amazingly great friends and family (yesterday was my birthday and i felt very loved)

    ps.  if you ever check this blog and there’s no post, it’s very likely that i spent time that day on my other blog.  so check both!  :)



    “sunny days, sweepin’ the clouds away…”
    November 5, 2009, 10:22 am
    Filed under: tv & movies

    sesame street turns 40 today.  i have said numerous times that i will be heartbroken when it goes off the air.  it is one of the very few tv shows/group of characters that several generations have strongly in common.  it is a big part of my preschool memories and it warms my heart to see it becoming the same for my daughters.  the writers/actors for this show somehow possess the rare ability to transcend time, musical styles, art, and culture, and they still are able to effectively TEACH simple reading, counting, and life concepts.  they still show old skits and shorts within new episodes and i love that…they show things that i remember seeing when i was 4 years old.  if i had to pick one show for my kids to watch every day, this would be it.  happy birthday, sesame street!

    who is your favorite sesame street character, and why?  mine is a tie between grover and cookie monster.  i love the way grover talks and that he loves to travel.  i love that cookie monster loves to eat (mostly cookies), but that he is also very sweet whenever there are kids around.



    November 5, 2009, 10:10 am
    Filed under: Uncategorized

    dear blog,

    did you miss me?  i hope that you didn’t feel neglected because i’ve been paying so much attention to your sister over there.  since you’re nice and rested, let’s jump right back in.

    love, katie