sick

sicker than a dog actually

I ran a fever of 104 and a little over at times all week

I mean I took tylenol, but when I didn’t, bam! it went right back up

it was terrible and scary

I finally went to immediate care on Thursday, the doc pretty much said “I have no idea what is wrong with you, but it’s not good,  looks viral, so here’s a script for a z-pack.”  _thats me paraphrasing btw

thank goodness for the antibiotics

Saturday was my first full day fever free and today I continue to recuperate

mom and dad were in town for a wedding and dad is staying for a few more days to help out on the home front while I regain my strength and health

yeah, he’s pretty great

Although I have to give Phillip props, he stayed home with me from Wednesday on (after he realized I wasn’t faking it) and he took good care of everyone

Basically this post is to tell you I am on the mend and will be slowly getting back to blogging.   I have no pictures as taking snap shots was furthest from my mind and no funny antidotes, besides how Phillip tried to make me believe the beautiful floral arrangement that came was from him (it was from my parents).    Although, if you ask me about The Office, Modern Family, Glee, The Daily Show, and….gulp….. The Bachelor, I am quite up to date.

I honestly thought I was dreaming when I happened upon these at Target today

I was looking for a cute cheap watch for teaching

I hate checking my phone for the time, it looks tacky

and what should my eyes behold??????

Rubbery watch snap bracelets!!!!!!!!

someone please pinch me

I wish they had it in rainbow colors, but close enough

Here she sits, quiet unassuming

then, shazam!

She’s a watch bracelet!

Snap and I took some pictures together

sorry for the extremely close moley arm close up

A perfect watch for a kids theatre class

Thanks again Target

6-8 inches

beautiful

Callum loves his Little People “Noah’s Ark” he got for Christmas

although I sure hope Noah was a better driver than Callum, I hear him say “crash” a lot while he is playing with it

Last night Callum ran into the kitchen, grabbed my hand, and in a very concerned voice kept saying “uh oh moo moo!”

he lead me to the living room where he showed me this

RIP moo moo

Michael skyped us some more of the photos he took over the holidays, pretty funny stuff

nurf girl (slightly disturbing)

Beautiful Baby Grant

cousin Finley

getting my hair did

I found this one of all the Squibb cousin’s off spring, pretty crazy

and one last cute one of Caleb and Callum

I got myself Hazel the Taylor Swift (Speak Now) cd for Christmas and totally love it.  I was never really a fan but I thought Hazel would like it.  I am so impressed that she writes all her own songs and music.  Really digging it.

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Today I begin teaching 3 classes at The Beverly Arts Center, Chicago.  All three theatre classes all three with young kids.  Yikes!  But, I am super excited, way more than I thought I would be.  I haven’t really missed the stage, truth be told.  After beginning, what has now become a loooooooong hiadus to be home with the youngins.  Granted, that was why we came to Chicago, but things change and so do people.  I am really looking forward to this new teaching chapter where my theatre and familial worlds collide.

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Phillip gave Callum his second haircut last night.  He did reasonably well.  Callum just looks so old and sooooo much like Phillip. What’s with that?  I carry them for 10 months, nurse and care for them and they can’t even manage the tiniest resemblance to their mother???

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Hazel loves lip gloss and chap stick and all things lip-stick related.  Is it wrong that she has pink glossy pink lips in preschool?  I mean, I love lip gloss, isn’t it only natural that she would too?

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I nearly severed off the tip of my finger at work last night.  That got me thinking of how totally grossed out I would be if the person handing me my food/ drink had 15 bandaids on their finger.  I felt kinda bad…..well, at least it was well covered.

Dora bandaid

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This week began Callum’s second consecutive week of waking up at 5:30 am.  I have no idea why.  WE are ALL exhausted.  Any advice?  I remember the days when 7am seemed early…That would be Heaven now a days.

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It has been a beautiful week, but, I am a winter lover.  I mean, why live in a northerly climate if not for snow????? 50 degrees on January 11th, crazy!  (Hazel insisted on a skirt and adamantly denied ever being cold)

Some pics from our nature walk today

Callum thinks his scooter is a segway. He didn’t understand why it wouldn’t move

They thought this was hilarious

LOVE

they make everyone happy

“shmoovie” was one of Callum’s first words

our family smoothie recipe:

frozen strawberries and blueberries

orange juice

vanilla yogurt

half an avacado

1 banana

blend!

Thats it! Happiness in a cup!

snaggle toothed smoothie face

almost all of the cousins were in town

lots of kid/adult playtime

We had the annual “Rob Your Neighbor” gift exchange, always a fun time

even if I did get my gift robbed

We also took a Squibb family photo

celebrating Squibb Tank’s 5oth year!

Caleb and Callum had a lot of cousin play time

4 wheelers from Uncle Brad

We FINALLY got to meet and snuggle our new nephew, Grant

the kids came over to play with the nativity

kisses for baby Jesus

Papa and the boys all had matching bibs

Callum was pretty excited about it…

on to happier things

like playdough

tandem 4-wheeler riding

cousin hugs

and stair sliding

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful, close and BIG extended family

Thanks Squibb family for a great time full of family fun!

Dad and I came up with an original design and found a great use for some of his scrap ply wood he had been holding onto out in the garage.

We worked like little elves

(mom took pictures)

and the end product, I think, came out great.

We made two play kitchens for two very special kids

My cousin’s daughter Addi

and our nephew (Phillip’s brother’s son) Caleb

Here are the two in the beginning of the process, starting to take shape

We gave Addi hers first since we were in Port Byron for Christmas

Addi’s

the top

Caleb’s

play kitchens aren’t just for girls

anyone who thinks that is lame

we opted for open shelving versus a cute curtain, more manly

added some storage bins

I think he liked it

although, he is so polite, if he didn’t he would never let on

(Callum helping Caleb break in his new kitchen)

Hope you enjoyed the end results!  If you are interested in any specifics let me know and I will post a tutorial, right now I just wanted to get the pics up!

family shot

and yes, Phillip has on a white turtle neck and red dickie, his ode to Uncle Eddie

our family of 4

FDR reflecting by the window (he was just keeping the chair warm before grandma and grandpa arrived)

Callum’s favorite gift: squishy blocks from Rachel

he even took two to nap with

Mom must have been REALLY good this year!

The Davis clan, and grandma and grandpa came over on Christmas day.

Callum, Addi and Lauren

love this pic

our gift for Addi!

the big reveal

dad and my play kitchen #1

(more on this later)

Grandma and Grandpa dig in to their gifts

Callum helps….

Mom and the kiddos

Doe and Uncle Kent, chillin’

The Wilcox and Davis family (well a small portion of them)

The Ulrey/Squibb/Wilcox Family (Hazel was napping)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful and safe Christmas season!

In lots of good ways

I am not complaining

I love visitors, house guests, and celebrations of all kinds

over the past week we have entertained friends and family galore

we have celebrated birthdays (Hazel’s about ten times now), had a dance recital, a few pre-Christmas celebrations and said “so long” to our dear friends who are moving.

So much to say, so little time to type

Onto the pictures!

a couple random ones first

The kids enjoying Hazel’s birthday gift from Mooma and Boopa

can you spot them?

Finally discovered the perfect smoothie cup for Callum

he can’t take the straw out, OR get the lid off!

Thank goodness for employee shopping days at SBUX!

Hazel’s winter dance concert:  ”Mixed Nuts”

her foursome danced to ”Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney”

cute stuff

tiny dancer

MeMa, Papa and Great Grandma Niermann came up for the recital

then it was on to Hazel’s gymnastics birthday party, what fun!!!

circle time

Callum and Kobe stretching

obstacle course

Hazel, Daisy and Haley

pencil jump on the runway trampoline

Foam pit!

I think he thought he was diving in to save his sister

Guess who made it to the birthday?

Uncle Doe Doe (and Rachel)!

Super awesome, fabulous, beautiful birthday cake from MeMa and Papa

what a lucky girl

Next up:  Crazy Christmas House

This house is literally 4 blocks away from us

they do this every year and finally I have a camera able to capture its magnificence!

I absolutely love it

Phillip thinks it is grotesque (but secretly loves it)

I give you, the craziest Christmas house I have ever seen in person

your welcome.

a close up

cause you have to get out of the car and see this

the man who does it is an electrician/carpenter and made many of the lawn ornaments himself

cause who doesn’t need a santa train in their front yard?

trying to sneak a peak at Santa

last but not least

saying good bye to our dear friends Chris and Jess

they are moving to Atlanta

we will miss them dearly

we crashed Jess’s work Christmas party with the just so we could have another evening with them before they left

I am not kidding.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

I hope this year brings you renewed faith and energy.  May you experience lavish blessings.  Peace and joy to you and yours!

where do the years go?

already she has so many definitive characteristics

she is artistic, musical, dramatic, strong, stubborn, beautiful, kind (most of the time), loving, patient, smart, left handed (when she writes and colors), independent, silly and the list could go on and on

she has changed and challenged me in so many wonderful ways

Happy Birthday HP!