Almost done, means slightly unfinished

So I haven't blogged in a while as we have been working like crazy to get our house somewhat finished before christmas. so for the past few weeks I have been very busy sanding drywall, painting, and making various trips into Bellingham to look at carpet tile and get numerous supplies. this is all on top of my normal housework, Christmas shopping, and running schedule. So right now the Living room and mudroom and bathroom are what we call functionally done. there are a few cosmetic details that need to be comleted, like touch up painting, trim work. Here are a few pictures of the finished product.

The New Living room Christmas Eve, about 10:30pm

The New Full Bathroom

The New Back Entrance

Our night in the ER

As some of you might know already, Joel and I got to spend a wonderful night in the ER with Phil, here are the details.

I had just finished giving Phillip his Bath and was letting him run around "all natural" while I talked on the Phone. I heard him getting into something so I checked on him to discover that her had found a bottle of iron pills and had dumped them all over. Phillip is very quick to put things in his mouth so I quickly checked and saw that his mouth was green (the pills are green). Knowing that Iron can be toxic I called for Joel and we tried to get him to throw them up, but he did not, we did not have any ipecac on hand and and neither did Melissa, we resorted to call Poison control. As we could not tell how many Phil had swallowed, and I did not know how many were in the jar to begin with, Poison control told us to go to the ER. Joel and I figure they will probably pump his stomach and let us go home.

We get to the ER a little after 8pm and are ushered right back to an Exam room, (thank the lord no waiting in an infected waiting room). We are quickly seen by a nurse and doctor, who quickly tell us that they need to monitor Phil's iron levels. This would include a blood draw now and another in 6 hours. If the initial blood draw came back high they would have to admit him. Getting a toddler to sit still at any given moment his hard enough, getting them to sit still while sticking them with a needle is almost impossible. It took me holding him on my lap, Joel holding his one arm and entertaining him, and another Nurse holding the arm being stuck, and a tech drawing the blood to do this. I don't know who had the hardest time with this Phil or me. They also took an X-ray of his tummy to see if they could see any pills. This was a much easier task than the blood draw. At about 10pm they came in and told us his Iron was high so they we going to admit him for observation. They just needed to wait to hear from him Primary care doctor to get the final order.

At the point where they tell us they are going to admit Phil it is about 2 hours past his bedtime and we can tell he is getting tired, so are anxious to get him upstairs and into a crib. Now when Joel and I initially walked into the exam room we had both decided in our heads that Phil was not going walk around, he could sit on the bed, or chair or be held in our arms. This decision didn't last long. As Phil being a) an active toddler b) not feeling sick c) very tired, therefore, doesn't have to listen to adults talk about germs and d) there are to many interesting things in the the ER that he can't not touch. So our tired selves caved in some respect, allowing him to walk around our exam area and up too the nurses station, sometimes while pushing a stool on casters. We used up 3 gloves making turkeys and exhausted the toys we brought and the stickers provided by the ER. Joel and I took turns pacing the exam area around the nurses station hoping that he would nod off. But every turn brought something Phil had not seen or heard and he would perk right up. All the while Phil would do the sign for "car" and wave bye-bye, He wanted to go home so badly and so did we. I am convinced that this task of getting him to sleep would have been easier if we had just brought quackers and his blankie. Joel didn't want to bring them and exposed them to germs, So we brought lesser favorite blanket and puppy, but these did not help him go to sleep.

Finally at 12:30 after many tears from Phil and a few from Mom, they took us up to Pediatric floor. I thought "OK he'll just lay down he is so tired". So wrong, they had to hook him up to a lot of monitors and wires (no IV though) and he just screamed. Phil finally fell asleep 1am. Unfortunately they had to come in and take another blood draw at 2am. We tried not to wake him up, but Phil woke up screaming, with three people holding him down and a nurse sticking him with a needle. Poor little Guy just wanted his Mama to hold him, but we knew with all the wire we couldn't take him out. Fortunately, he went back to sleep rather easily.

Now Joel and I could go back to sleep. The pediatric rooms are equipped with couch like benches that are long enough to stretch out on. So Joel and I were able to nod off a little bit. Phil woke up at 4 am and I was able to get him to go back to sleep, with help from some cartoons. I got a few a hours of sleep from 5am til 7:30. Phillip woke up at 7:30 and the Nurse came in and told us that Phil's second blood draw revealed that the iron count had gone down. This was a relief, all we had to do was wait for the Doctor to come in a release us. The Doctor came in shortly after and told us everything looked fine and we could go home. Soon after the nurse came in with some breakfast and our discharge orders and we were on our way home by 8am.

The rest of the day Phil caught up on some much needed sleep. As well as Mom and Dad. After a day of rest Phillip is back to his old self.

13.1

Okay so better late than never. here are some pics from my first Half marathon .

Before the race with Yarrow, and Hillary, Friends from Grade school I trained with.

I was very happy with my first Half Marathon, here is a Mile by Mile.



Mile 1-4 To start it was cold in the morning, so for the first four miles I was more concerned about my freezing hands than my legs. every time I saw someone with gloves I wanted to rip them off their hands.




Mile 5- family is a the side of the road cheering me on.


During the race at about mile five

Mile 6- there is family again.



Mile 7 - catch up with Hillary, a girl I went to grade school with and have run with in training.



Mile 9- Hillary not keeping up, pass her up as we go into Boulevard park.



Mile 11- Up Taylor dock. that incline has usually been a the beginning of training, not at the end. too Run up it was very grueling, but was able to do it.



Mile 12- see Grandma and Granpa in condo and start waving like a crazy lady. They see me and rush out on the deck and cheer me on.



Mile 12.5- Okay doing good, Josh Groban's "Don't Give Up" comes on I-pod. I am elated that all the hours I spent on this playlist have turned out well and this song comes on right toward the end.



Mile 13- Almost there start sprinting



Mile 13.1 - finished in 2hours 35 minutes. My ultimate goal was 2:30 so I was pretty happy with my results!!

After the race with my finisher Medal!!!!

running in review

So as the Day for the Bellingham Bay Half marathon looms,I am looking back at the past six months and reflect. I cannot believe I am going to participate in a Half Marathon let alone run it. Those who know me well know that I have never been athletic in any many. For those of you who don't know a marathon is 26.2 miles, making a half marathon 13.1. Over the past six months I have gotten up early on Saturday mornings to train for this event. Several times I was tempted to roll over in bed and not go in, and I am proud to say I only missed 3 runs. When we first started I couldn't even run a full lap around Lake Padden (2.6miles) without walking breaks. Now when people say they are going to do a 5k, I think "no problem, I do that on my own during the week pushing a baby in a stroller".
Our coach said at about halfway through training that going from 0-6 miles was harder than 6-13 miles. I would have to agree. It seemed that once we go to the 7 mile point I had no problem with the bigger runs.
the other day I was asked what I think about while running. well I have to say i have been blessed to be able to do the long runs with my future sister-in-law Kristi or with two girls I knew from grade school. So when you have a buddy you can chat with it makes the miles fly by. But during the week or the times that I haven't had a buddy, my mind wanders to very thing and anything. from what I will write about on our Christmas card to what I will do this weekend. I truly believe the I-pod is the running gizmo of the century. Having songs that lift you up not only in a mood but spiritually has been wonderful. I tried to figure out why I have kept up with this program. whether it is having had someone to be accountable to or just having a goal to work towards. In the beginning when running for 25 minutes was a challenge and I wanted to stop and walk for a bit. I would tell myself "if you don't push yourself now, how do expect to finish the race later?" Really this has been true the whole time and I have found it to be true in other aspects of my life.

So I hope to update after the big race and tell you all how it went.


Side note:
as I have been doing this Joel has been really supportive by taking Phillip on Saturday mornings. When I first talked with Joel about doing this he said "Yeah, what it's like for six weeks?", "no" I said "six months". Joel has taken on the whole responsibility of getting Phillip up and sometimes dressed and fed, while I am off running. The funny thing that I have noticed is the clothing combinations that Phillip is wearing. sometimes it might be the extremely dirty Carhartts he wore on Friday, others it is tan camo shorts with a turquoise shirt. As I was running the other day I thought, "oh no all of Phil's clothes are in laundry baskets(clean), Joel probably doesn't know that". Sure enough Phil is wearing a thermal shirt and Really short sweat pants, like 12month size. This last week I told Joel there is a pair of Overalls on drying rack he can wear, when I came and got Phillip he had on the overall, but the shirt Joel paired with it was on Backwards. so if nothing else this training has brought a smile to my face when I see what combination of clothes Joel has picked out for him.

Six years of wedded Bliss or Something Like it

Then

I can't believe Joel and I have been married for six years now. Sometimes it feels like it feels like it has been a few months and other times it feels like an eternity. I can hardly believe the journey we have been through. The highs and lows, the struggles and the triumphs. I know without a doubt we could not have done it without the help of The Lord. I do Love Joel with all my Heart and hope that we are Blessed beyond all we can ask or imagine, from our Heavenly father, in the years to come.

Now

Rockaby Baby

I once heard someone say, "you don't know the last time you will read 'Goodnight Moon' to your children, until it is already over." Lesson being, cherish moments with them, because you never know if they will be your last.
Yesterday Phillip woke up from his nap in a cuddly mood. Phillip is not one to be very cuddly, except after he has woken up, he will sometimes lay his head on your shoulder for a minute. So yesterday when he hung out on my lap I savored the moment. Pretty soon I saw his little eyes get heavy and soon he was off to sleep again. As I sat and rocked him, I wondered "will this be the last time I will rock my baby to sleep?". I had thought this the last time this happened a few months back, but today I was bless with this moment again. I contemplated going and putting him back in his crib and getting on with my house work, but I opted not too. Taking in the precious few minutes with my "not so little any more" boy in my arms, for this very well could be my last time to rock him to sleep. I was not about to stop this moment short.
Shortly after a radio commercial startled him and he woke up again. He soon hopped out of my lap and went on being his normal toddlers self. The few short minutes made me think about how much he has grown and how fast it has gone. Soon he will be driving and bringing home girlfriends, but today he was my baby, and always will be.

GO Belles

So we all went to go see the local Baseball team play last night. We had a great time cheering on the Belles. I can't tell you a whole lot about the game, because I was to busy watching Phillip. We think His first Ballgame was a success. Here are some highlights.

Watching the Game and Eating my Nachos.

Having a drink, if nothing else, Phil liked the Baseball game, because of all the food.

Bouncy House, the second Phil saw this he wanted to do it. Then when it came time for him to go in he was scared so the girl let Joel go in with him, then He didn't want to leave.

approx. 5 MPH

So I ran the Chuckanut Footrace on Saturday. This is a 7 miles running race from Marine park to Larrabee State Park. I finished without having to go in the ambulance!!! that was my number one goal!! My time was 1:19:54 about an 11:20 mile. although this is no that great, I feel I I did fairly well considering 7 miles is the most have ever run.

So here is a Mile by mile:
Sign in: 900 people at marine Park, Long lines for the Bathrooms, not standing in those, will regret that later. Don't have to stand in line long to get my Number and chip. Get all that fastened on. Find Friend, Hillary, I have been running with, good won't run alone. Then See Kristi, She is more goal oriented so she doesn't want to run with me this time. get in the line up, way in the back with all the other 11min milers.

9am gun starts. 9:01 I cross the start line. really slow going there are a lot of People here. first mile is really sunny and Hot. Finally we get on the trail, shade Finally!! Hillary are keeping in pace with each other.

Mile 2 are they measuring this right? feels we have been running forever. Man I should have stood in line for those bathrooms, not stopping now. California Hill really Big and long, I'll walk up it. Friends have told me this is a better Idea, you don't lose as much time, but save a ton of energy walking big hills.

2.5 miles Water Station Yes. kicked back some GU (an electrolyte Gel).

Mile 3- Hillary are keeping pace, but I can tell she is struggling to keep up

Mile 4- a little old lady pulls up next to me (she could seriously be about 70 years old). There is no way I am going to let her beat me. Speed up a little. Lose Hillary. put ipod in. Yes good songs come up.

Mile 5- feeling great Water Station Yeah. Small, but steep down hill loose gravel, walk down it as I hate down hill. then replace time powering up some small hills.

Mile 6- Blisters start forming, oww. funny pain in my shins start coming up. no big deal. almost there. See park and Traffic. Start Sprinting (I don't tend to do this in training, but in races it just comes natural to power on to the end). Cross the street. downhill, slowdown my running, as to not lose control and fall over the finish line.

Mile7 - Yeah!!!!! find food and Water and Friends and Joel(that is another Story).

4th of July Weekend

Joel and Phil at Birch Bay throwing rocks


Our weekend started on Thursday Night. Joel Came home and Took Phil and I out to dinner at CJ's Beach House in Birch Bay. we had a wonderful meal and then went over to the beach and watched the sunset. Phil enjoyed throwing just about everything smaller than him, back into the bay.



Friday we slept in!!!! even Phil as we kept him out late the night before he slept til 10am. After Breakfast Joel had to finish a few things at the Yard so he took Phil with him until Nap time. What a nice little Break. Friday Night we went to a BBQ at our friends the Struiksmas. we had fun just sitting around, eating, watching fireworks. Poor Phil did finally fall asleep, but woke up from all the noise and was very scared after that.




Phil with Grammy and His cousins Annie, Quin, and Madi watching fireworks


Saturday, I got up at 6am to go run an easy 4.5miles on the interurban trail!! back home by 9am after a quick stop at the store. Then after I got ready we went down to get Breakfast in Ferndale. Most of the rest of my fourth was spent running a few errands and cleaning out my car. in the evening we went to had a BBQ at my aunts with my cousins. It was so fun to Watch Phillip play with his cousins who are all older and girls. we came in and they were playing with the castle and princesses. they quickly changed gears to Farms and Noah's ark for Phil in Fear he would break the pink carriage. Later they lit of Sparklers and other small Kiddie fireworks, Phil wasn't scared this time. Afterwards we drove over to Grandma where we could all watch the city of Bellingham fireworks from their Deck. Playing with the cousins

Sunday we went to church. I had to sing and Joel had to drive the Church bus. Joel wasn't back at about the time we were starting and I couldn't find anyone to watch Phil so I just carried him up there. Phil took one look at my Mic and grabbed it and went aaahhh right in it before anyone started it was so cute. Then Someone from the back was motioning that she would take him so I started to put him down and he would not have it. For a few minutes the front of the Church was the Beth and Phil Show. Before we were through the first song Joel Showed up and rescued Phil (or was it me that was rescued?). We got home and and took the rest of the day easy. Our late night the last few days made us all pretty tired.

all in all a nice holiday weekend!!!

Lake Chelan Vacation

Phil on the Beach

So it has been almost a Week since we got back from Lake Chelan, and I am just Getting around to posting the experience. So I am Sorry. Well our week in Chelan was really great just a nice time with my Family, relaxing and playing around. We took over my Grandparents as they were the ones with the time-share and they really shouldn't be driving very far any more. So we all loaded into the Truck. We packed just about everything except the kitchen sink. Our Friends the Coty's lent their SeaDoo and Kayak so we were able to pull those with us as well. the trip over went Fairly well taking, Phil got fussy only at the very end of our trip right outside of Chelan.

First Time on a Teeter-totter

Our condos were right on the beach so we only had a short walk across the lawn and we were at the swimming area. We spent plenty of time playing with Phillip in the sand. Often going for walks up to the playground, or the indoor pool. one day Joel and Phil went for a Bike ride they had so much fun that all three of us went the next day. One morning we went for a paddle in the Kayak with Phil (who really needed a nap), well this is about the second time Joel and I have gotten in a Two person man powered boat and I think it will be the last. Joel makes it his priority to tell me how I can't steer. Joel and I Enjoyed going out on the SeaDoo when the weather cooperated.

Learning the art of blowing bubbles

My Mom, Grandma and I were able to go to Chelan one afternoon and Go shopping, while the boys went and scouted the territory and found a really nice view via "unmaintained roads".

Joel and Phil on a Bike Ride, aren't they cute?

We were also able to kick our feet up while Phillip slept and watch some TV (something we don't have at home). Joel and I were able to go out and drinks and Dessert one night alone while Granma and Granpa watched Sleeping Phil.

We found a really good breakfast place called Blueberry Hills, Joel and I would make the trek over there just for Breakfast if we could it was reeeally good.

Granma, Phil, Joel, Me and Granpa wearing our Hairnets at the Aplets & Cotlets Factory!!

On the way home we stopped at Cashmere Washington to tour the Aplets and Cotets factory. Very Interesting!! Then drove over to Leavenworth for Lunch. We made it home Safe and Sound.

Random stuff from Eugene

These are just some random pictures and sayings from our trip.
Okay so this would have been a good picture of the Mountain if I had Just gotten it in there, I think we went over a Bump at that moment.

I Made it My mission to try to get a Picture of Triple trailers, as Oregon is one of the few states that allows this. I could only take from this angle as Joel said it was bad etiquette to take a picture from them head on. Who Knew?

If I had been trying to take a picture of the 55mph sign this would have been great, but I was trying to take a picture of Mt. Hood. If you look on either side of the sign you can see the slopes of the Mountain.

"whatever Keeps You Occupied" Joel in reference to my picture taking.

Although Being Married to a Truck driver has it disadvantages it does a a few perks like, "I know every off ramp with trees" in reference to my needing a rest stop. and "The Off ramp By Richie Brothers Auction is doing construction, so there is a port-o-potty" I mean really I am thankful he has this knowledge.

To Eugene and Back

So this week Joel and I found ourselves going on a road trip to Eugene to Look at a saw for Perry Pallet. I went along to break up the monotony, have some quality time with Joel and take advantage of Oregon's No sales tax!!

Joel's Mom and Dad agreed to Watch Phil Tuesday night and all day Wednesday, so we ended up leaving Tuesday night. we drove to Lynnwood and decided to get dinner. I have been trying to get Joel to try a Restaurant called Claim Jumper, I knew exactly where it was. We some how got lost ( Joel said he was just scouting the territory) So I had to call my sister to help us out and we invited them to meet us for dinner, as they only live 5 min away. We enjoyed a nice meal with Maran and Nathan, but I unfortunately don't have a picture, cause Joel would not go out to the car to get the camera to chronicle our dinner for blogging purposes. Then we hit the road again. driving down to Chahalis, and stayed overnight in a Best Western. We stayed for just a few hours, long enough to get a shower, some rest, directions to the mall I wanted to go to the next day and two muffins from the continental breakfast counter. We back on the road at 6:30.

We hit a little traffic as we got to Vancouver and crossed the bridge into Portland and made it down to Eugene at about 9:30. Joel dropped me off at the mall, while he went to look at the saw.

Welcome to Oregon!!!

I immediately found the Ann Taylor Loft store!! I could have blown my whole budget right then and had nothing left to do for the next two hours, so I opted to put some items on hold while I perused the rest of the mall. I found Several other stores that I was able to make a few purchases for family at. the Made in Oregon store for a Postcard, The Duck Store (all U of O duck stuff) where I found some kid books for Phil, a kids clothing store and a home furnishings store that was going out of business, where I found some wall hanging. I still hadn't found any capris that compared with the ones that I saw a Ann Taylor, So when Joel called and Said that he was at the mall I asked him to come in and look at. I tried them on for him, and he approved. So with bags in tow at 12:30pm we were back on the road to Bellingham.

Mt. Hood as we crossed the Colombia

We enjoyed a Beautiful day on the Road, passing fields of Iris' in Bloom, much like our tulip fields. A beautiful field of Chives going to Seed (this might not sound pretty, but we passed the field trying to figure out what flower or berry this was that blanketed the ground in a pretty red and all we could think of was chive in bloom). Scotches Broom and Lupine and other wild flowers were in bloom along the highway adding glorious color to the ever present emerald green. The clouds that had been there in the morning had burned off so we were able to see four mountains in one day. Mt. Hood, Mt St. Helens, Mt Rainer and Mt. Baker. I made Tried Very hard to get pictures of Mt. Hood and St. Helens, but when you are trying to get home you can not stop or even drive in the right lane for picture purposes, so I often got some funny pictures of the Mountains (glad we are not buying film anymore). Unfortunately My camera battery started to die at about the time we crossed the Colombia, so I only pulled my camera out for really good opportunities after that.

Mt. St. Helens this was my best picture

Joel wanted to stop at Truck parts place somewhere in Washington on the way back and look at some parts, so we had about a 45 minute stop there. If we kept driving we would have hit Seattle at rush hour. so we decided to stop and have an early Dinner. Joel's Mom had recommended a place in Olympia over looking a park and waterfalls. I am so sad that this restaurant isn't in Bellingham, as the View was wonderful, the food and service were impeccable. But after a nice dinner we were back on the road, no time for a stroll in the park, hardly enough time for a picture (Battery was completely out of Juice after that).

Joel and I at the Falls Terrace Restaurant, you can see the falls behind us.

We were able to get back to Bellingham by 9:15 to Pick Phillip up. Ready to go home in his PJs happy to see Mama and especially Daddy.

Joel and I were so thankful that we had safety on this trip, only having a slight problem with a strap on a the truck part he bought. We had a wonderful time talking about things going on in our lives, bringing back memories of our dating days when I rode along in the truck with him.

We also just enjoyed each others company and having fun together.

Although this was a business trip and not a vacation we did have Fun.

Drowning in a sea of Samples or is colors?

Radient red, or Cut ruby?

Adrift or Dune drift?

Sensible hue or Pebble path?

Sueded Leather or Brown Suede?

Cafe ole' or Brown Tepee?

Sugar egg Pink or Scented Note paper? No pink what so ever as per Master of the House. Peach is ok, we are still wondering about rose.

Light rahja tile or Dark rahja Tile?

Oiled bronze or Rust?

Glass or Metal?

and the carpet/ flooring guy hasn't even come yet!!

What's a girl to do?

Knit, bake Cheesecakes, hide in her bedroom on the internet, call Mom?

All of the above !!!!!

Mother's Day

Thoughts from Mother's day.

Ralph Waldo Emerson " Men are a direct result of what their Mother's make them"

Joel and his mom this Mother's day




"A Mother should be more concerned about her children's Spiriutal growth, than about their clothes" Pastor Mordhorst





My Mom and I on Mother's day

If you think that looks bad, you should see the Sock!

So I know you are wondering what I am writing about with a title lick that. Well I never said this Blog was about anything deep or insightful, just what has been going on with my life.

Well this is what went on with my life on Monday. So I was making out my grocery list, getting ready to go out. Phillip was playing on the front porch, when all the sudden I heard a wham, and Scream. I knew right then that a fireplace screen that was being stored on the porch and Phillip had taking a liking as a musical instrument, had fallen. So I bolted over to the porch, to find Phillip pinned face down by the screen, just as I got there I ran into the open front door. So hard that when I looked down my sock was ripped open. So I swallowed my pain, fished Phillip out from underneath the Screen. Just as I was picking him up the screen fell back down and hit him right in the back of the head. Phillip who up til this point was I think only mildly uncomfortable, let out a scream. Up til that point I could handle the situation, but at that point I couldn't cope. I couldn't console myself or Phillip. So I tearfully called Joel asking him to come home. the only problem was Joel was on the Road in Burlington, and I couldn't calm down enough to tell him what was wrong, so this sent him into a Panic. So he dispatched his brother Marc to see what the problem was. A few minutes later he called me back to see what was wrong, only to find out that I had stubbed my toe. So Marc was recalled told that the house was not burning to the ground, and I was not being attacked, I had only stubbed my toe. Joel told me that I was not allowed to make calls like that for stubbing my toe or any non life-threatening emergency any more. I have successfully taken a few years off of Joel's life.

I don't think my toe is broken, just badly bruised though. We will see how running goes.

This is the actual sock, no it did not have any holes in it before the accident. I am glad I got a got a cute Pedi a couple of weeks ago. Although I did not go to the ER or even the doctors office, it is nice to know my toes looked cute. Kind of like the old saying, "put on clean underware, you never know when your going to be in an accident". You never know when a cute doctor might have to look at your foot, you don't want to have just plain toes.

Tiptoe through the tulips

So last Thursday did not start off in any way great. To say I got up on the wrong side of the bed would have been an understatement. I hadn't slept well that night and was going through a lot of things spiritually. We had been having an extreamly busy week, due to a upcoming family function. So when Thursday came around I just wrote off the Idea of going with our Book/playgroup to the tulip Feilds. I thought my friend Laura would get the message I had left her that we would probably not make it. So at about 9:45 I was still in my jammies and Laura and our other Friend, Sara, pulled into my driveway asking if I was going to make it. I replied "no I was Just to Busy and Tired". Then they asked if there was anything they could do to help. That is when I changed My mind and thought a trip to the tulips were just what I needed.

So while I did the amazing transformation, Laura Changed Phil, and put his carseat in her car. By 10:20 we were off and running.

The tulips were Gorgeous, Red, Yellow, White, Purple, pink, carpeted the Ground in a Sea of Color. I was able to appreciated the Beauty our Lord has created and has given to us a beautiful gift. We all had a nice time trying to remember the Tulips we liked and wanted to order for next year (thank you lord for digital cameras) as we took so many pics of our favorites. We had a fun time with the kids as we had a picnic lunch later a park. So a day that had a bad start to it turned out wonderful from a tiptoe through the tulips.

Then we came home and took a Long Nap.

Best Hubby

I know everyone says they are married to the most wonderful man. But I think I am the only one who can truly say this. Not only is he a great Husband, but he is a awesome Dad.

I'll tell you why, the other night Phil woke up for who knows why, and Joel got up several times with him. I hadn't even heard Phil wake up. Joel went in there and tried to comfort him and then he remembered that I told him Phil's beloved Quackers was in the washing machine. So Joel dug damp Quackers out of the wash and gave it Phil. He did all this cause he knew the last few nights I hadn't slept well. So as you can see I am the only one who can say I am married to the most wonderful man.

Easter and the Egg Hunt

Okay so my visions of Phillip's first Easter egg hunting were ones of him toddling around his grandparents lawn and finding brightly colored eggs among the spring flowers and in the sand box. With Phillip coming up to us to show off his wonderful find, before he puts it into his mouth to examine it.

Instead we awoke to a all day down pour, making any sort of out door play virtually impossible. So the egg hunt was indoors. Phillip was asleep on his nap for most of the hunt. When he did wake up and we came downstairs, they were in the middle of the Big kids hunt.

Let me explain, the Perry's do a Easter egg hunt with real eggs all the kids have decorated, I believe they used 12 dozen eggs this year. We usually have about 2-3 egg hidings. At least one for little kids with eggs hidden in pretty much plain sight and another for the older children with them hidden as hard as possible. This hunt is almost a contact sport. As adults sit back and give "subtle" clues like, "has any one looked over in the...." 6 or so children ages 6 to 13 rush over to that spot, in their Easter Day finery, trampling over anything and anyone who might be between them and the egg. There usually are tears, but it is not from being trampled, but because "so and so has 8 eggs and I only have 7." Now I did mention that these are real hard boiled eggs, not candy, chocolate or chinsy plastic toy.

So back to Phillip, as we walked down the stairs, I spotted a egg hidden behind the clock, so I stop to get Phillip to grab it. He did and held on, and was proud to show it off in his post nap bad attitude. Although he didn't bite into it. He did throw it several times as we tried to take his picture with his first Easter egg. luckily it didn't break.

Phil and his egg

Well I know that Easter is not about eggs hunts and bunnies, but it is about the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. coming Back to that thought made me think about what is really important on Easter, Jesus and spending time with Family. I also know that Phillip will have many more Easter egg hunts and one is bound to be on a Sunny Northwest Spring day.

Throwing around his Easter basket and grass

Have you Seen Me?

REWARD REWARD REWARD!!!!!

name: Quackers

Race: North American Lovable Ducky

Hair: Matted feathers

Color: Yellow

Distinctive markings: owners name and phone number on his backside

REWARD: one batch of home baked cookies for the person who returns Quackers to us.

Please call the number on his backside, or leave a comment on our blog if you know the where about of Quackers.

Note: Since Quackers has an Identical twin (thank you Sally for that advice) his owner is not at a complete loss, but we would like him back all the same.

Thank you

Baby Steps

It has happened after 14 months of lugging around this cute little redhead bundle of Joy, Phillip has taken his first steps. on March 25, 2009 while "helping" Grandpa in the kitchen, Phillip toddled three steps over to Grandpa. He would not repeat the act of Mama and Grammy.

Big Walking Boy

Phillip is now happily toddling here and there with many plops down on the ground. Crawling is still the preferred method of transportation, but is slowly losing favor to the much hipper two legged walking. He is having trouble getting up all by himself, but I know some adults who have a problem with this.

Phillip Checking out the Hardware Sales aisles with Daddy

Although I am happy and excited about this new phase in Phillips life I am a little sad, as his cute little crawl will soon be nothing more than a memory, and I no longer have a baby boy, but a little boy. A little boy who has seen that walking can aid him in his endeavors to explore the vast unknown of the world and the house, also in the aid to get Oreos off the counter.

I think Phillip will always be my baby boy. As I think every mother will say.

Me and My Baby

Baking Husband

Okay so the other night when I had the a for mentioned cold, Joel came into the house and announced that he need to get on with his baking. At this point my mom and I gave each other a look, "what is going on here".
Now I want to make one thing clear, it isn't that Joel is a bad baker, it's just that he does it infrequently. In fact that last time Joel did any baking was the night I went into labor with Phillip. So I think it is like a "Pavlov's dog" type of thing and it just brings up bad memories of great pain and annoyance.
So Joel takes all four of my cookie sheets, and take them outside. he then loads them up with sawdust. You see Joel had to go on some sales calls trying to sell this sawdust, and it was very wet, so he needed to dry it out. What better way to do that than in the oven.
Needless to say Joel's baking was inedible, although it was never meant to be eaten.

Arghh

Ok Today is the first argh post. So today after being sick for the past three days my sweet 14 month old son came down with the dreaded cabin fever (to clarify I was the one that was sick, not Phil). He would stand at the front door and wave "bye-bye". I couldn't resist his pleas, so we got ready to go out to the Library, as they had called me about some holds and overdue books. After our trip to the Ferndale Public Library, we swung through a coffee stand to get Raspberry-Peach smoothie. In the car I only took about one or two sips of my delicious treat, waiting to savor it at home while Phillip napped and I perused my new finds from the library.





We got home, I took Phil inside and then returned to get my books and smoothie. I set the smoothie on the car top, while I reached to get my Gatorade (drown a cold right) and books. Then it happened. My 98% full raspberry-peach smoothie slide off the wet car top and splattered all over the driveway and my shoes. It was not salvageable. I gathered my books and Gatorade and tearfully (I am not kidding I was in tears) made my way to the house to call Joel about my unfortunate dilemma. I personally think the Smoothie was jealous of the Gatorade (point to ponder do smoothies get Jealous? do they have feelings?)



This incident is on par with the time I got a hard ice cream milkshake and put it in the very inadequate cup holders and I proceeded to drive my standard transmission car on a hill. My rocky start made my milkshake fall all over my lap and car. Making me late, cause I had to shampoo my car out and change my outfit, for volunteer work.

Sickly

Okay I am really feeling like I did some heinous crime in a past life as this month has not been stellar for me physically. First I get tendinitis in my heel, then I throw my neck out. Last week we all had the stomach flu and this week I come down with the worst cold. This is a short post as I have to go download will kits off the the Internet (just kidding).

Runnin O' the Green

As some of you might know or have heard I have taken up running. Kristi, the Girlfriend of Joel's younger brother Josh, asked me to do it with her, so I am trying to do a half marathon in the Fall. So Saturday was my first race, the two mile Runnin O' the Green in Bellingham. Here is How it went.

Okay doing you first race is much like your first day of school. Your a little nervous and in secure, (will I know anyone, will I be able to finish the race, will I look like a complete idiot for not dressing in head to toe green like everyone else?) Well first insecurity had no ground, I found Kristi right after I checked in. My third insecurity was addressed right away, when she said " Oh that was me last year I had no green on what so ever." Plenty of other people were dressed in Just their normal running clothes.

Kristi and I Post Race (very Wet)

Because Kristi was doing the 5 mile and I was doing the 2 mile, she introduced me to a group who she thought I would be able to keep up with. This is a group of young "kids" (17-21). I was acquainted with a few of them and they immediately let me in part of their group. This group of is not concerned at all about times and running fast. In fact their main concern is more getting their picture in the Herald, in color, and winning the best dressed award. Yes this Group is a very colorful sort. They were awfully sweet though, they Jogged at a pace that I could keep up with. At the one point that I needed to walk, they all walked with me, even though I told them they could keep going.

So I was able to finish the race!!! in 23 minutes!! I jogged/ran (is there a difference) most of the two miles only stopping to walk once for less than .2 of a mile. So I was very proud of my first race. Glad that I did it and will do again. I am getting the point where I like running. My running shoes No longer look brand new, as Saturday's down pour of Rain put a few mud marks on them. So it is not obvoius to everyone that I am a new runner.

Another nice part about the race was I ran into my old neighborhood friend whom I have not seen in a year or two, and we were able to catch up.

What about my colorful friends you ask? did they get in the paper, in color? Well let me tell you in is very humbling to run with the most photographed group and only have your derriere show up in one picture. But Yes a few of them made it into the Bellingham Herald in Color.

I told you they were colorful!!!

One last thing Praise the Lord, My tendenitis has not showed up and I was not at all sore on Sunday!! (actually my shoulders were go figure).

Snow Confessions

Okay, as an adult you are supposed to hate the Snow. Snow keeps you indoors being unproductive, you can't drive, blah blah blah... but to be honest I love the snow. It goes back to being a kid, the house I grew up in was at the bottom of a deadend hill. just perfect for sledding. Snow days were wonderful days to spend with the neighborhood kids going up and down the hill.

So today is March 9 and I awoke to a winter wonderland!!! So instead of going for a run, I will forgo that (the running book I read says you should run no matter what weather is, but the book is the "Complete Idiots guide to running", well I am not a complete Idiot, and the author never talks about running with a baby in a stroller). So no running, I must admit am a bit bummed I haven't run in two weeks due to injury and I need to get ready for a two mile run/ walk on Saturday. I don't think I will go to the Grocery store either, as that is my Monday Chore. So I will make myself a cup of Cocoa, start the laundry and Enjoy the wonderful book I waited FOREVER to get from the Library. I will enjoy a blissfully pleasent day indoors. The way I see Snow is it is like the Lords command for us all to take a day out of our normal busy lives and just relax and have fun!! So I will enjoy my snow day and the Blissfullness the Lord has brought me.

What's in a Name?

You might ask why I chose to name my Blog Beth's rattle and prattle. Well I was trying to find a word that started with "B" that meant to talk or ponder, but I couldn't find one. I had come across the term rattle and prattle in a book, I believe the term means to chit chat or gossip. The Purpose of this Blog is not to gossip, but let you all know what is going on in my life. some regular features beyond what is happening in my life I hope to include.

Word to the Unwise - this is everyday advice that I have come across.

Points to ponder - Random thoughts I think you should know about (and they will be random)

Arrgh- Mishaps that have happened to me to let you all know that I am human.

Philism- Phillip is my one year old son and if he does or says something funny I would like you all to know.

I hope you all find great enjoyment out of my blog, I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Beth