Here is my mother's day photo for this year. I am sicker than sick and I guess I don't really care what I look like. Or else that's just age. Must just be because I am sick. Because I guess I wouldn't be embarassed if I didn't care. I have a horrible sinus infection and it feels like someone hit me in the face really hard. My teeth really, really hurt. Very annoying pain if you have never had a sinus infection. Anyways, I finally crawled out of bed this morning. I actually didn't crawl, I kinda got dragged out my madison and steve, which was good because I'd probley still be laying there since I have been since friday night. I never got up yesterday except one time to go out in the living room.

Other than that, this has been a nice mother's day. This morning we went fishing...

We each caught some little fish. It was fun. Then we went to the big park and played. Well, I sat and steve played with madison. Then we went home and steve right now is cooking us steaks and later on we'll go to dairy queen. They also bought me the new neil diamond CD for my present. So over all it's been really nice.
Speaking of mommy's, mine has pneumonia in both of her lungs. She still doesn't feel well and will go back to the doc's on Tuesday. Scary. Hopefully she'll get better between now and then.
Have a good mother's day to all the mommy's out there! And if you aren't a mommy, I also hope you have a good day today too. I know how hard it was for me wanting to be a mommy and wasn't and then mother's day came and it was kinda sad. So if you aren't a mommy, hope you have a great day!

Hey Mom...I finally found the letters that you gave to Madison for her bday! I don't know how I couldn't see them in her armoire but there they were, as clear as day! Anyways...tonight we played around with them...
We spelled all of our names. Steve wanted to throw in the word "baby" to put in the picture and I thought that was mean cuz it wouldn't be funny...everyone would think we were preggers. AND WE'RE NOT! He apparently thought it would be funny. Thank God I am here to straighten him out.
I LOVE these next 2 photos of Madison! These are the money shot photos that I was looking for earlier! The top one doesn't even look like her body is connected to her head. I am laughing so hard right now. But it doesn't, does it? She has such a large head and such a small body.
Could you get any sweeter than this? I LOVE it when she plays along with the camera. If she did this all the time, I'd be in heaven. You know there will be more of these photos popping up in my layouts that I do. They are so cute!
Oh, here is my solution to her bangs.......just shove em' up there in a ponytail. Looks cute on her. I like her hair off of her face.
Anyone getting sick of this dress yet? Probley the best 20 bucks I have ever spent! It's starting to get really raggedy though. I hate to see the meltdown that occurs when the dress has to be tossed.........anyone want to watch her that weekend? It'll be worse than getting her off the bottle or getting rid of her pacifier.
I TRIED to mow the lawn tonight. Pretty dang hard to do while you are wearing "the boot". I usually love doing it so Steve told me to try. I could only get done with 1/2 of it before my leg starting hurting bad. We have both agreed that I have done pretty good without bitchin' about my leg. Pat myself on the back for that:) I just wish I could go workout. I really want to go walking. That I really miss and it's only been a week.
Today down at the park I flew the kite that was at the scene of the incident. I got it really high up in the air. It was pretty cool. Don't ask me why but I am obsessed with getting a kite super high up and keep it there. In my mind, it's windy-er up there and I think once it's up, it will stay up. I have yet to prove my therory. Not that it's a therory. Come on people, we are talking about MY mind! You never know what I am going to think up. Anyways...that's how I tore my calf muscle...trying to prove a therory that only exists in my mind. No wonder I am on meds:)

Here's Madison with the little bubble blower machine that I bought at target! It makes a ton of bubbles. I have to do something with these bangs again....jeepers.

Here we are this morning at the park. It was sooo nice out and I decided to try and clean abit before we went to the park and then when we got there the storm blew in. Bummer. Last time I try to clean! ha! I'll tell that one to Steve. I was able to get her bangs back in a binder so that's good!

We have fun at Jim and Alexis's. Pretty much relaxing for us which is kinda hard for us to do. We both didn't know what to do without Madison for 2 days. We can handle one day without her but 2 is kinda pushing it unless we are actually going somewhere or doing something. Sitting a relaxing just ain't our thang. Don't get me wrong...it was fun down on the farm at Jim & Alexis's...we had a good time. Just wierd without this little thing constantly talking to us or walking into us or having a fit and crying!

NO more crutches...they gave me "the boot". Lovely, huh? It'll take 6 weeks to heal. That's just great! Mid june I'll be able to be done with the boot.

OMG I can't stand her bangs any longer. Can you? Am I going to make it growing them out? I don't know guys.....this may not happen.
I'm looking a bit busty in here. Some people wish this...I don't.

Isn't this kinda cool? The two of us have the same smile...I still see more of Steve in her than me. Well, everyone is sleeping but me. I thought I'd come here and see the 155 pictures I took of Madison outside in her little princess dress. I only got a couple of good shots out of all those photos. I am sure most would think they all pretty much turned out good but I am looking for the money shot. And I didn't really get one out of all those photos! Bummer. Such of a life in the day of a model. Or photographer. Gotta go to bed now. Nighty night.

Yep..here I am on crutches. What did I do you ask? I got a kite injury. We were down at the park last night flying a kite and I turned around to run with the kite and I pulled a calf muscle. The doctor thinks that I tore the actual calf muscle fibers. How gross is that? I heard and felt a "pop". How gross. Anyways, it's literally a pain in the ass with first, trying to walk and now second, trying to use crutches and 3rd, trying to "take it easy"...yea right, when have I ever taken it easy? It's VERY hard to sit still. Poor me. It took me 38 years to get my first pair of crutches. Madison was funny last night because she was imitating me walk. Anyways, I am sure these crutches aren't the most body flattering thing in the world....of course I am worrying about that! Oh, which brings me to the point that do you people realize that I can't work out at all? This is horrible, just completely horrible. Once again, not that you can even tell that I work out, but OhMyGod....now I can't work out. This is not how I envisioned summer would start. I don't know how long this is going to last. God, I have a feeling it's going to take a long time to heal. Maybe if I walk around with the crutches alot it will burn calories or at least keep (first it has to get) my arms fit. Oh, then today I found out my gym is closing down. This is my cute little gym right by my house. Oh, what a horrible day for news. This means my tanning bed is going away. I can't possibly drive far just to go tanning. Yes, people...this is the stuff I worry about. I will TRY to look at all this positive. But it's sooo hard. Poor me. I am having a pity party for myself. I just hope it doesn't take too long to heal. sigh.
This weekend we are going down to Jim and Alexis's house. Grandma Gracie is going to watch Madison. It should be fun. It's too hard to bring Madison down to their house.......or to anyone's house. She just gets into everything and is so loud! Anyways, it'll be nice to get away for a day/night or so. Talk to you all later!

These are for the lady I do layouts for...kinda cool...sorta looks like ads.

Oh my God, how cute can one kid get? hee hee. I just wanna give her huggies!
Okay...I guess these are cute enough to make up for Inked Edges to sell. Here are mine that I just created....I guess to everyone these just look like layouts. They are actually premade layoutouts and you just put the photos in place. Anyways...I think mine are alot cuter.

Oh..look at my sculpted arms....sigh. You'd never know that I now go to the gym 5-6 days out of the week. I got to quit looking at these photos. sigh....

Check out our video down below of Maddie and I on the little ride at the Mall of America. We went there today because of the &*%$# snow! It was fun. Maddie rode on a few rides and got her ice cream cone. We just ran some errands and stuff and now are back at home. I am kinda tired and could acutally nap but it's 6:30 and I'd probley end up sleeping most of the night if I did. Madison is taking a nap and has been sleeping for about 2 hrs now.

This sure is one long blog that I am posting today (read the first part of the blog down below this entry!). We are trying to get Madison to go to bed and she doesn't want to go. She's drawing a monster for Auntie Lynnie on the office floor right now.

Here is a photo of Madison with the pretty, fuzzy bag that Linda brought for Madison! Notice the dress she had on. This was from Christmas this year but she wears it as one of her princess dresses! And she has on her high heels that Nana bought for her for her birthday this year. She loves those shoes! Aren't her bangs obnoxious? She rarely lets me put barretts in her hair. I figure when she gets sick of not being able to see she'll keep the barretts in.

Here is our new license plate for our car. Do you ever do word association to memorize your license plate? Of course I always do! For this car, it's: SCARY GIRL YELLING 65 twice(2)! Get it? I remember license plate back from cars of mom and dad's! Remember our station wagon? Not the green one, but the white with wood paneling? That license plate started with the letter of CTE. I didn't memorize the numbers at that point in my life. I've matured now and realized that sometimes you need to know the numbers too for certain reasons! My old Z71 truck that I use to have had the license plate of KEP901. I guess that's all the ones I can remember at the moment....SO word assocation doesn't ALWAYS work! Does anyone else do any of this stuff, or is it just me? hee hee.

Look at Steve's plants. They have grown sooo much. He must talk to them alot! I think these are his tomatoe plants. He thinks he did this too early because they are going to freeze outside if he transplants them. Don't worry folks...I'll keep you updated. Like, I am sure that ANYONE really cares about this.

Ok...now on to bigger and better things (I am laughing my butt off right now)...I went shopping yesterday and got myself some tops. Here they all are. Notice that they are all basically the same but just different colors/patterns. But then again, when in the summertime have you ever seen me not in a sleeveless top? It's all I wear. They seem kinda dressy, as if I had a job or something important to do or to go to. That's okay because the alternative is me dressing in my sweat outfits, which I am sure EVERYONE will agree with me, is time to quit wearing them. It's time. That's all I can say. If I put on one more sweat outfit I am going to die.

I guess I could wear this one out to a night club or something. hahahahaha.
No, this is not a dress...kinda looks like one in the photo. I really like this one but it might be a little too young for me. I am kinda that in between age where nothing is age appropriate. Steve likes it. But I didn't try it on for him, so I am not sure what he really thinks of it. To tell you the truth, you are suppose to wear leggings under this one, which is TOTALLY not age appropriate at all. I don't even know if Steve is really telling the truth or not because he says EVERYTHING looks fine. He's too smart of a guy to actually tell me something doesn't look good or I look fat in something. I wish he'd tell me the truth but he thinks I'd freak out on him. Of course I would:) I'll have to try it on for Kim. She'll tell me the truth. It was funny because Steve said last night, "I heard you and Kim were trying on your new swimsuit (oh, trust me people....nothing to get excited over) but you never showed me". Duh! We girls are certainly funny. I am sure everyone is just thrilled looking at my new clothes. You know what is funny? You know how girls supposibly love shoes? I don't. I hate trying them on. I hate wearing a new pair. And more than anything I hate spending one cent on them. I always feel so tom-boyish when it comes to shoes because as a girl we are suppose to love them. I can't STAND spending any money on shoes. I'll pay $ for a shirt, no problem....I'm okay but not thrilled to spend $ on jeans/pants/shorts but I'll do it. But shoes....Just Can't Do It. However today I went to Target and bought 2 pairs. I don't know if I even call one of the pair as ACTUAL shoes. More like flip-flops. I'll take some photos of those too. Who'd of ever thought you'd get to experience ALL my shopping with me?

The top shoes are a pewter color. Aren't they cute? I like them. for someone who doesn't like shoes, I like these alot. The bottom shoes are just comfy cheap flip-flops. I have them on right now. Oh...look how both pairs match my new shirts. I didn't think the pewter ones would really match but I was wrong. There is grey in the 2 bottom shirts! Wow...that's awesome! They match really good. Hey...I did good:) I rock at shopping! Guess I'll have to go more! haha!

Madison had gymnastics today. Today they worked on round-offs (no, she can't really do them yet) and back summersaults (she can do these with help but doesn't really care to do them with my help...but will with the teacher's help). Then we went to McDonalds with a playland. We met Auntie Lynnie and Loggie there for lunch. After that we went to Plato's Closet. That is one of those used clothes stores but they are all name brands. I got myself a pair of AmberCrombie & Fitch (I could care less of the brands as you can tell by my spelling of the name brand) jean shorts. I'll spare you the details and photos of the jean shorts. It was fun. I'll have to go back there by myself one day without the little munchkin with me. She was running all over the store. There was another little boy there and she was kinda playing/running around with him. But then the boy got into trouble from his mom for running. I may of gotten "shot" a look by her for letting Madison run. Whoops...my bad. I guess I need to pay better attention when we are places and Madison is being loud or running around. I think I just zone her out or something. Maybe I just don't react like the other mothers do. This has happened many other times before...in some stores, in the doctor's office, etc. I wonder why I don't react much to that. Maybe I just don't think it's a big deal if they aren't screaming or getting in the way of others and they can just kinda run around and act like the 3 year olds that they are. Perhaps my tolerance is more than other mothers in certain things. I don't know. Maybe I am wrong in all the case senerios. Guess I am not really sure. Anyways, it's happened enough times where another mother has yelled at her kid and then I kinda snap to it and realize I have been letting Madison do whatever and I haven't yelled at her yet. It's just happened enough times where I have realized that I don't react really. Okey Dokey....THERE are my parenting skills out in the open! I won't even tell you about me not bringing any diapers when I go places! Which brings me to my child NOT being potty trained yet. At what time do you start worrying about that? She still isn't potty trained and now lately doesn't even want to try. Even suckers aren't working as the incentive. We are going to have to take some extreme measures here soon.

Well, I have rambled on pretty long here.........I need to go help Madison out with her play dough. She's watching Musical High School 2 AND playing play dough! Guess I don't have to clean since that is all I have been doing the last few days. Steve told me yesterday I was SUPERWIFE. I said, "I know"...I blogged about myself today! Too bad that cleaning streak doesn't last! Wonder what got into me? It must be the RockStar energy drinks that I have gotten into a habit of drinking. I have gotten Steve hooked on them too. They totally give you energy. Just like drinking a pot of coffee! Imagine how hyped up I get after drinking my morning coffee AND having my energy drink!

Oh....the tv show on last night wasn't "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", it was "Deal or No Deal". Just a little fyi for you folks.
I went to the casino today and won 50 buckaroonies. Then I want shopping back at the scene of THE (yesterday's) incident (Kohls). Bought a couple of shirts. That was fun!
Last night I was being the best little wifey ever and totally cleaned the kitchen, did laundry, cleaned the bedroom, etc. Now I am going to finish the laundry and finish cleaning and make my big ole' man of a husband happier than ever that his little lady is domesticated. Good thing he doesn't want me barefoot and pregant!

So, today was totally beautiful out...beautiful sun, beautiful breeze....and 2 beautiful large, huge bloody knees FROM FALLING OFF THE CURB AT KOHLS! Unbelievable. This was done in front of about 5 cars and people walking into Kohls. Actually what happened was Madison was crying her head off and I was holding and consoling my child and I must of judged wrong where I was walking and be both fell off the curb onto the street. Of course I was falling I held onto her so she wouldn't get hurt and went full force down on my knees. They are a bloody mess and hurt pretty bad. How embarssing. I acutally wasn't that embarssed because I was hurting too bad.
Oh, did anyone watch "who wants to be a millionaire?" A lady's daughter who works at the DNR was on it tonight. And the lady who works at the DNR was in the family/friends support part. It was so cool to see someone that we both knew. I wonder how you get on that show? Maybe I'll search the internet and apply. I am sure I'd have the 1.00 in my case.

We went to Logan's first baseball game of the season tonight. Oh, it was so nice out! It was really fun and we'll be going to more of them this year. Here is a picture of Todd (proof that he's out of the hospital). He got a little excited a few times and Lynnie told him to settle down. We don't want anything more happening to him.

We played outside all day today. Madison REFUSED to come in all day! That was fine with me. It was so beautiful out! We went on a 5 mile walk today. My calves are going to be super sore tomorrow.

Look at this cute picture of my little rug rat in her princess dress which is so torn and tattered! This was after the baseball game tonight. She goes from rug rat tomboy to rug rat princess! hee hee, my little cutie.

Make sure to check out the little video of Madison playing softball! Holy cow, can she ever hit the ball. She really has an awesome little swing on her. She had fun with her cousins over the weekend. Here is a layout of kayla and haley.

Hey, I guess Todd is coming home from the hospital tomorrow....blood clots and all! So not sure of what they plan to do with the blood clots still. But I suppose they wouldn't let him come home if it wasn't safe. Logan made the A team for baseball for high school and has a game tomorrow night. We are going to try to make it if it isn't raining. I guess Todd is going to go too. He is supposibly really bored, as anyone would be if they were cooped up in a hospital room for so many days. Glad to hear that he is coming home.

Do you know if you go to Moorehead University's web page at http://www.mnstate.edu/home/ in the header there are 2 photos of Tyler for the school. I just went there to look for his play info over the weekend and by golly, there he was! (Mom...the header is the rotating pictures of the college students.) I don't think Ty called his Dad to let him know how the play went. I am sure it went just as fine as always. We didn't really know that his play was even going on so we couldn't of made it without someone watching Madison. Hopefully we'll catch his next play. Anyways, I couldn't find any info on his play so I can't blog about it!

gotta get to bed. btw, I am on some new medication that is helping fall asleep at night and it's working really good. Usually within 1/2 hour of taking it I feel tired. No more of me staying up all night anymore! That sucks.

No news on Todd today. I just tried to call Lynnie and she's not answering her cell phone so that must mean that she is sitting in the room with him. They said they medicine is working on the blood clot that in on his heart valve, so that's good. Wonder how long it will take. Still unclear what's going on with the blood clot on his brain.
This morning after breakfast, me and steve and madison and kayla and haley went to the park. The BIG chutes and ladder park is still closed so we went to a nearby one instead. It was fun. Nice to be outside. It was suppose to be sunny and 70 out today but it is NOT. I just got done raking some of the front yard. Eeks...steve is home from menards so I gotta get off the computer! BYE

Hey, remember there is another book where some of my layouts is being published in? God, that was so long ago...but they have a "preview" on their website and one of my layouts is on that preview....you can go to: http://www.layoutblueprints.com/LB2Preview.pdf
It's on page 6 on the bottom. That was so long ago that I am embarssed by how my layouts looked. I would never of picked those! Guess it was what they were looking for because they picked about 7 or so if I remember right. Anyways, they say that shipping will start in May so I should hopefully have my free book(s) shipped out to me by then. Like I said, I am embarssed by them because I think my layouts look so much better now than at that time....oh well. Another 15 mintues of fame for me I guess! I should take it as it happens, right?

Yes, we are growing out her bangs...I don't know if it'll last though...I am having a hard time with them in her eyes.

Here is a photo of us tonight...
and Madison the other day pushing the stroller. She pushed it all the way up the street!
And here she is at the park. Thank GOD it is getting warmer out and we can go to the park again! Whew!

Here's a little video clip from Madison at her gymnastics class on Friday. I finally got the video to work. Sometimes I can't get it posted on the blog right. Every once in awhile I gotta wing it and pretend I know what I am doing. Usually works out. Right now Kayla and Haley are over. They are doing a sleep over. We just got done making a fort in her room. I use to LOVE making forts. It was always so much fun.

Here's a update email from Lynnie...
We received good news yesterday from the cardiologist. After another TE Echo, the clot on his heart valve seems to be diminishing in size! This is good news. His INR (this has something to do with how thin his blood is) is at 1.75, but it needs to get over 3.0 to go home. Dr. Ip said it will be a boring weekend for him. We will take it! His double vision still bothers him, but the patch seems to help. He is in good spirits and gets tired easily, especially after that procedure and when they do vision things with him. It is a crazy weekend now with Logan under the weather. He has had some stomach flu type symptoms mainly from 10 pm to 3 am. Just when you think you can get a little sleep...... He's resting quietly with gatorade, tv, and a piece of toast at the moment. I'll let you all know any more news as soon as the action at the hospital picks up on Monday. They say not much happens on the weekends.Again, pass this on to all who want updates.Thanks for all you prayers!

Update on Todd:
Not sure if I mentioned earlier that they found another blood clot on his heart....but they want to do surgery but they are in a delima because his body will retain water which is determental to his brain. So far for stroke issues, he is acutally looking pretty good so far. He does still have double vision and his right side is a little weaker. They said he will remain in the hosptial for quite awhile. That's all we know right now. Mom and I will go up to the hospital tonight after steve gets home because I'd hate to see the damage little missy m' could get into with all those hospital tubes and stuff! hee hee. Guess it's not really funny. I guess we'll take Todd's lead...if he can find humor in all of this then I guess we can too. I guess when the doctors put a patch on his eye to try to correct the double vision he wanted to know if he looked like Johnny Depp (Priates of the Carribean).

Sorry that I haven't posted for a few days....my brother-in-law Todd has had a stroke. He is in the hospital and they tried to get the bloodclot out of his brain but they weren't successful in getting the whole thing out. Not really sure what they do now. There is a 6 hour time frame they have to try to work on the brain before they have to be done with what ever they are doing. He has been told just how lucky he is to be alive. They are going to take the tube out tonight and see if he is able to swallow. Inspite of it all, he is able to move arms and legs and still has a sense of humor. To be honest, they aren't sure of the extent of the stroke yet. Not really sure of anymore details. We were at the hosptial all day yesterday. He is still in the ICU and will remain there until tomorrow. I'll keep you updated as I find out what's happening. He's only 49.
UPDATE: They went to check Todd's heart because he does have an irregular heart beat and did have open heart surgery when he was 42/43 and they just found another blood clot sitting on the valve. They are going to try to dissolve it chemically. That's all I know.
Please say a prayer for him.

Just some layouts I did for the girl I ct for. I LOVE her stuff. My designing is so different than hers and I'd love to design like she does....but then I'd be copying her. Some things I can find somewhat similar and that's too close for me. But I am totally inspired by her!

Did not do too much today. Just ran around and did some errands. Oh..bought madsion some pull ups to GET HER GOING ON THE POTTY TRAINING! That is as exciting as it gets around here these days. We watched the finale of "rock of love 2". I love Brett Michaels. Notice the last name?

Check out our daughter dancing....it's a little dark but you should be able to see it! She's quite the dancer with quite the dramatic moves. A little too dramatic if you ask me....

Here's a picture of Steve's little indoor garden that he has planted. Hopefully these will grow and then if it EVER gets warm enough we can transplant them outdoors. Some of these are seeds that he took from last year's plants, so who knows what will happen.

We had a fun day today. We went to a huge indoor park in Edina. It was sooo huge. Steve had to be the one to go in the chutes and ladders part with Madison because I am too colostrophobic to go in there. It really bums me out that I can't enjoy that part with her and that one of my "issues" interfers with her childhood fun. I really hate that. I might try to take her there myself during the week when there aren't sooo many other kids there. It was nuts how many people were in this place. I don't know if I'll be able to do it or not. I'll have to decide later on if I am going to attempt it. I would HATE for us to go there and then I can't handle it because Madison isn't going to understand.

We just watched a movie called "a death at a funeral". Pretty funny movie. It's worth renting if you are looking for a dvd to get.

After our date Steve and I went on 2 rides at Camp Snoopy. You guys...it was so fricken funny...the two of us on the biggest roller coasters there. We were laughing so hard! On the first one it was really funny because I was laughing and my gum fell out of my mouth. And you know how they take pictures of you on there? WELL, now they take DVDs of you on there which is twice as funny. Of course the part that is on there is my gum flying out of my mouth.

You've got to see the movie 21. So good. I loved it. Go see it if you haven't. God, I want to go to Las Vegas. I really, really want to go to Vegas. Maybe I'll try to talk Steve into it. Now that it's getting warm *ha ha* outside I am not sure where I'd want to go on a vacation. hmmmm. Maybe we wait abit longer. I want to go on 2 vacations. One now and one later. After paying for those rides last night, which costed us 20 bucks for the both of us, the cost of the movie...and popcorn and pop, AND the babysitter...maybe we can't afford to go anywhere...
Anyways, our date night was fun. Even Steve said it was.

I'm so damn tired from cleaning everything else all day that I don't have TIME to get to my desk area.....