Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Random Things

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
My Mom sent me this e-mail, I thought it might be fun to blog about…
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
-Bill Gates
-Steven Spielberg
-Donald Trump
-William Kellogg
-Oprah Winfrey

2. Name five Heisman trophy winners.
-OJ Simpson
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3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
-Erica Harold ( I only know this because she is from illinois)
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-
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4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
-William Faulkner (Pulitzer)
-Theodore Rosevelt (Nobel)
-Nelson Mandela (Nobel)
-Jimmy Carter (Nobel)

5. Name  six Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. (This will be easy…)
-Kathy Bates (Misery)
-Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of The Lambs)
-Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump)
-Kevin Spacey (American Beauty)
-Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line)
-Sally Field

6. Name 5 World Series winners within the last decade. (Another easy one)
-Red Sox
-White Sox
-Yankees
-Marlins
-Braves
These should be even easier!

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
-Mrs. LaGreid – 1st Grade – She taught me that some teachers are mean, heartless Bitches who should have a different job. However, I worked harder to prove to her that I wasn’t as stupid as she was always saying I was.

-Sra. Perez – 9th and 10th Grade Spanish – She was the most wonderful teacher I ever had. She was very kind and sympathetic when my Grandmother passed away, and allowed me to do extra credit, and help in her classroom when I was having difficulties.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
-Anne. She was there for me during Chris’s long deployment. She was a great friend!
-Sigurborg. She was, and has been there for me since I was PG with Charlie. She’s always encouraging, and I can always count on her to set me straight.
-Kristin. High School, Nuff’ Said?

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
-My Grandma
-My Mom
-My babysitter (6 weeks-9yrs)
-My Aunt Gloria
-My good friend, Patrice

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!
-Chris
-Charlie
-Ruthie
-Lily
-My grandma, God how I miss her!

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. ( I could go on forever here)
-Chris
-Charlie
-Ruthie
-Lily
-My Mom
-Debbie (Chris’s Mom)


Doh-Wa, Er, Dora Live

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Ruthie and I enjoyed a Dora Live production a couple weekends ago. Here are some photos, I have none of the performance as it was prohibited, and I wasn’t doing anything to ruin my little girl’s day!

The stage before the show (we were in the orchestra pit)

The stage before the show (we were in the orchestra pit)

In Front of the Chicago Theatre (It was Cold and Windy-Of Course!)

In Front of the Chicago Theatre (It was Cold and Windy-Of Course!)

Ruthie and her "Estrella" (Star)

Ruthie and her "Estrella" (Star)

Singing into her light up thing

Singing into her light up thing

The show is beginning Yeah!

The show is beginning Yeah!

We had a lot of fun! It was a total blast, even if it wasn’t quite Broadway quality. It was great. We both enjoyed it. Also, for the record, she has on Dora Earrings, 2 Dora shirts (The one she wore there + the one I bought, shoes, and undies over her pull up, and she wasn’t the most Dora’d kid there!

Hugs,

Sabrina

Reba Mc Entire & The ACM’s

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Is it possible that this woman hasn’t aged a single day since 1991? I think that she looks more fabulous every time I see her! Either she’s got one heck of a lucky gene pool, or a really good plastic surgeon (maybe both!?). She looks great! At 54 she’s thin, toned, and absolutely fabulous. She hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, and I watched some of it tonight. It was amazing! Watching, and listening to Reba, I flashed back to 1991 several times. I could see myself in my nightgown dancing around the hotel in Paris, TN while visiting my Great Grandpa (and his unbelievable ranch) in the summer. I could see myself dancing around my house in my mom’s nightgown, and a fancy hat that she had singing that song. For me, that will always be Reba’s greatest hit.

You can see it on U Tube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K6Y-YGZUec

This year I don’t have just 1 favorite song. I feel that this was an especially good year for country music. The artists have concentrated more on writing their own songs, or songs that they feel a great emotional attachment to, which always increases the power of the performance. I have 4 favorite songs this year, and I will list them in the order which I perfer them.

Song #1

Carrie Underwood Just a Dream:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8khHqMntkbQ

Why do I like this song? I cry every time I hear it.  It’s so dark, and sad, but being the wife of a veteran it hits home. I could have easily lost my husband, and all of our precious plans for the future. Nothing in this world is for certain, and for a military wife, it’s even more uncertain. I have friends who have lost their brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, and wives. The military family is huge, sympathetic, loving, and forever. I will always feel a part of their community, and I will always mourn our country’s losses. They are not numbers, they are people. Each of these brave men and women had lives, families, and plans. I thank God every single day that I never saw those uniformed officers on my step, and I never received that news. God Bless our Military and Veterans, God Bless Them All.

Song #2

Trace Adkins You’re Gonna Miss This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A

This is another song that makes me cry. I can’t help it. I remember feeling this way, when I was a pre-teen/teen; don’t we all?  I remember not wanting to wait until I turned 18 to get married. Chris and I got married 6 months after I turned 18, and of course, we had an apartment and we were talking about when we were going to start our family. I don’t wish I had those days back, but they were certainly good times (even when we were fighting, good times). Of course, now I identify the most with the Momma and the kids screaming and crying while there is a repairman in the house. Before I know it, they’ll be grown and gone on me. – I think that part makes me cry the most. Knowing that every day, my kids are a little more grown. A good song, and a lot of feeling behind the performance.

Song #3

Brad Paisley Waitin’ On A Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKgnkIN8C8

I absolutely adore this song. The video is hilarious, and is exactly what Chris would be like if I ever took him to the mall. Andy Griffith in the video tops it off for me. He’s an icon, and I really give Brad paisley a lot of credit for choosing him for the old man in the video! Very nice touch! I love this song, it’s sweet, it’s touching, and it’s true. Chris always complains that I make us late for everything (or just about everything) and yes, sometimes, I do it just because I can. This is another song that really touches me, I hope that Chris and I have many, many more years together – and someday, I know that which ever of us goes first will not mind waiting on the other side. Honey, take your time, I won’t mind……

Song #4

John Rich Shutting Detroit Down

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8rstl_john-rich-shutting-detroit-down_news

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoIXxFSq7og

This video is amazing. The song is so true, it’s just very sad. I love that in his interview on the set he’s wearing a hat for a US Navy ship, the USS Bataan, LHD 5 that not only has a home port of Norfolk, VA (Where we were stationed) but is a similar ship in size, purpose, and shape to Chris’s. I have a great respect for a person who tells it like it is, and isn’t afraid of what someone will think of them. Good for you John! The auto industry is going under – fast, and who’s fault is it mostly? The people who are still getting paid! If only they had researched alternate fuel 10 years ago, increased fuel economy 5 years ago, they wouldn’t be in the shape they are in now, but hey, what do they care about the little people? What do the CEO’s care about the little guys sweating to death in the factories, losing their houses to foreclosure, and not being able to feed and clothe their children? They don’t care, and therein lies the problem with this country.  It matters to all of us “Little Guys” it matters to us “On Main Street”. We need innovation, we need to make money from these new innovations, and we need to stop printing more money.

I have several friends this year that have lost, or are currently at risk of losing their jobs. These people range from new college grads to people with 20+ years service in a company that they’ve given a lot to be loyal to. It makes me ill to think about what may happen to my friends, they stand to lose everything. This is the real world. Our country is sinking from Greed, and printing more money isn’t going to fix the solution. In my city where I’m so proud to be from, a whole lot of people have lost their homes. We have also lost the name on our most recognizable building to a UK company. I’m still in shock that the rites to “The Sears Tower” have been sold to a FOREIGN company. It doesn’t bother me that they are renting it, working in it, making money, but to change the name is too far. It’s going too far, and if they really had love for Chicago and the people here, they would leave the name alone. Nobody here appreciated them changing the name of our tallest building. Again, I’m just one of “The Little Guys” and nobody cares much what I think , but I think it’s wrong. It’s just another thing dragging us (this Country) down, MORE GREED. The only thing that is going to help us is coming up with new ideas. Lifting ridiculous patent laws so that some of these things can actually be manufactured, get a person that knows what it is to live on a shoestring budget to manage our finances, end this war, and let’s all get this country moving again!

Sabrina


What Kind of Parent Are You?

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Everyone always says they want to be a better parent than they had. I don’t think I’ve met a person yet that hasn’t told me they hope to not make one mistake or another their parents made while raising them. I think about this sometimes, but a blog post by one of my bloggie buddies today really struck home. Michele was posting about how her nephew was offered marijuana on the bus. He is 12 years old, and came home and told his mother about it (Michele’s sister).

Anyway, it got me thinking. Chris and I had completely different upbringings. My parents divorced when I was 2, so I got to see them both as pretty well who they were (or who they were pretending to be in some cases) instead of a solid united front for, or against me.

If this same scenario had played out for me (Which it didn’t) I would never, ever have told my Mom. Never. I’m certain I would have just ignored it. Also, I could not have told my father. Not because I don’t think he would have been understanding, but I think he would have told my Mom, and told her to deal with it. The above punishment would then have been applied twice for not telling her myself.

There are some things that I just was not open ever talking to my parents about. When I was about 9, I started having nightmares about dying. There was a girl in my school that had cancer, and we were slowly watching her die over months, and then years. It was sad, and scary, and I had nightmare after nightmare. I made the mistake of telling my mom a few times. I was then told “If you don’t stop this, we’re going to take you to a psychiatrist”. I’m not sure she ever told my Father, and as I assumed this was a bad thing, I never mentioned it again. The nightmares continued for years. I didn’t have any interest in being the “Crazy girl” at school who had to miss the last however long of her classes because she had to go to the “Head doctor” – school is tough enough, thank you.

Anyway, my plan is to be as open as I can with my children. I never drank, smoked, nor did drugs. I did other things, I made mistakes, and I “borrowed” my Mom’s car from the train station while she was at work more than once. I plan, someday in outsmarting my kids, and when I catch them in said deception, I plan to sit and talk with them about why they were going to do what I already knew they were going to do. Sometimes they will listen, most of the time they will just think I am insane. I aspire to be the Mom that her kids can trust with anything. Chris also made mistakes, different than I, but he still made them. Certainly not drugs, so at least we can stand united with that, but we will be honest with our kids.

Here’s hoping this plan works as well as I hope it will!

So, what kind of parent are you, and what kind of parent do you hope to be?

Sabrina

Has This Ever Happened to You?

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

You have a couple of kids. Things are going really great, and you and your partner/spouse/mate decide that adding to your family would be an excellent idea! You decide to go for it, and have #3, because, after all, you saved every stitch of clothing #1 and #2 wore (You’re covered, right?). Everything goes really well, and you are really excited for the arrival of #3. You prepare for the big arrival by taking out all of #2’s clothes (Because #2 and #3 will be the same gender) and prepare the room. You are overflowing with excitement as you bring home your precious bundle! Everything is in it’s perfect place, and baby girl (Lily) fits right into #2’s (Ruthie) clothes. It’s wonderful…for the first couple of months. Then, you decide that there is a difference. Aside from their very deceiving almost parallell looks, baby girl (Lily) seems to be a larger (Read GARGANTUAN) little one. She seems to be tearing through #2’s (Ruthie) wardrobe at an alarming rate (Feel my panic).

Now, let’s imagine that you had a special day. It’s your 9th wedding anniversary, and your husband has to work. You send #1(Charlie) and #3(Lily) off to their grandparents house so you can get some clothes re-arranging in Andre The Giant’s (I mean er, Lily’s) room. Now, imagine that you had a nice shopping trip for household necessities (Read-Food and Toilet Paper) with #2 (Ruthie) and returned home to a starving, tired husband. The three of you have a wonderful dinner out, and when you return home you spend no less than 4 (read- 7 1/2) hours taking out old clothes, sorting them, and getting out new clothes and putting them in their place. You feel all happy, and accomplished, and then it happens…….you realize everything is all wrong! All of the “next size clothes” (12Mo) are the wrong season! #2 (Ruthie) my sweet, sweet, little petite Princess was in 6-9 months until she was no less than 15 months old. That’s great for her, but Monster baby (I mean Lily) is already in 6-9 mo and moving out of it, and she’s only 8 months old. There is no way she will be in 6-9 months through the summer. I have not one single stitch of 12 mo clothing of the summer pursuasion. Not one! No sundresses, no shorts, Nothing. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Lily (I mean #3) will need a whole new wardrobe. This has been my fear since she came home from the hospital in 0-3 mo instead of Preemie like her sister. I’m freaking out. I’m panicing. I’m realizing that while they all might look relatively similar, they are all 3 very, very different. -Sigh-

I guess I will be spending April Fool’s day at the used kids clothing store stocking up on summer necessities for Lily!

Hugs,

Sabrina

Happy Anniversary!

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

I’m ok, it’s 6 minutes till midnight, so I’m still on “the day of” whew…that was really close…

Happy Anniversary to us! I cannot believe it has been 10 years since I met Chris! It seems like yesterday sometimes, and yet at other times, it seems a million years ago. As we celebrate this day, I am always reminded of the day we met, and then the day, exactly one year later that we said our vows. I meant what I said, and I love Chris more today than I ever could have imagined on that hot, hot March day! 3 kids, a crazy cat, and 2 houses later, here we are…and looking forward to at least the next 10 years! Happy 9th Anniversary Christopher! :o )

Love,

Me

Friends Don’t Let Friends…

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Poop when they’re tired. Exhausted may be the word I’m looking for…

Yep, he fell asleep ON the toilet!

Yep, he fell asleep ON the toilet!

He's really asleep - Totally not faking. I poked him with a stick...

He's really asleep - Totally not faking. I poked him with a stick...

I still can't believe it...

I still can't believe it...

Friends may not let friends do it, but parents will let you, and then take photos! I sent him up to go, and after about 30 minutes wondered why I hadn’t heard him screaming for me to wipe his heiney…I soon found out…LOL! Poor tired little guy! I guess that parents day was too much for him after all…hahaha More wonderful memories :o )

“That Little Girl Looks Just Like You!”

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

I heard this today from a complete stranger. I took Ruthie out to a special lunch at Baker’s Square (Because today is FREE SLICE day!) and as we were leaving this complete stranger said this to me. I don’t hear this a lot, mostly because when Chris is with us, there is no mistaking his features in the kids…however, it was nice to hear it. I thought I’d post a little comparison for you all, since most of you know that Ruthie has some of Chris’s more dominant features…

Sabrina - Age 3

Sabrina - Age 3

Ruthie

Ruthie

I guess of the 3, she looks the most like me. They all have some of my features, and Ruthie has a lot of my personality. She’s outgoing, fearless, compassionate, and loyal. take away Chris’s nose, and the darkness of her hair, and yeah, I suppose she does look a lot like me.

Hugs,

Sabrina

A Short Trip To Indianapolis, IN

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Chris had some work to do in Indianapolis, and Art (His Dad), I, and the kids decided to tag along. While chris worked, we went to the zoo (Thursday), and then to the Children’s museum (Friday). We met up with a friend of Art’s, Joe that moved down there, and we all had a great time! Ruthie has adopted Joe to be her 4th Grandpa! Here are some pics! I am choosing a few because to post them all would overwhelm you!

Indianapolis Zoo

There were a lot of animals out and about. We had a wonderful time walking around and seeing them all!

We saw a Polar bear first

Then a Sea Lion

Sea Lion (Lions)

Then a Bengal Tigerand a Bengal Tiger (Tigers)

and Bears...

and Bears...(Oh My!)

Charlie Pet a SHARK!

Charlie Pet a SHARK!

We rode a carousel...

We rode a carousel...

img_0862

and saw hissing cockroaches!

and saw hissing cockroaches!

A nice Giraffe family! (Ruthie's favorite!)

A nice Giraffe family! (Ruthie's favorite!)

A Rhino!

A Rhino!

Zebra!

A Zebra!

Kangaroo Family

Kangaroo Family

We saw the dolphin show!

We saw the dolphin show!

Grandpa had us sit in the "Splash Zone"...we had NO IDEA what we were in for!

Grandpa had us sit in the "Splash Zone"...we had NO IDEA what we were in for!

Ruthie got head-to-toe DRENCHED!

Ruthie got head-to-toe DRENCHED!

We were sitting on the highest row in the “Splash Zone”. The only other zoo I’ve been to is Brookfield, and you never get really wet there – ever! We had no idea what it was going to be like. The show was great, and near the end the dolphins drenched us. I had the diaper bag closed – with the camera inside (Luckily!). Charlie and Lily were on my left side, both of them were 100% dry! My right side, diaper bag, and Ruthie got DRENCHED! Soaked doesn’t even begin to cut it! Ruthie started crying, and I stood up and I threw my coat over her to protect her from getting wet again. There were no more big splashes. Poor Ruthie. After the show, Grandpa and Joe came down from the higher seats they were on (Out of the Splash Zone) and Grandpa wrapped Ruthie up in his coat (Pictured). I emptied out my diaper bag’s front pockets and drained the water. Luckily the zipper kept the water out and off my camera in the main pouch. It was a mess. Fun, but would have been more fun if it’d been in the 70’s or 80’s, not 50’s. This photo was taken in the underwater area under the dolphin pools. They swim overhead, and it’s really neat!

I also got a photo of one of the rarest mammals around…

The Grumpugus Peschkeus

The Grumpagus Peschkeous

This little fella wanted to go to the park, and told me I was “Ruining his life at the zoo” because I wouldn’t let him go. We ended up going just before the Dolphin show.

Indianapolis Children’s Museum

The kids learned so much! There were dinosaurs, dress up areas, Lego land, trains, water works, fairytale land, play area, and so many more things! They learned about sharing, cooperation, and even things like racism, segregation, and intolerance. We all learned a lot. I even learned a lot. I learned about a boy named Ryan White.

In his exhibit were all his toys, bed, everything that was in his room. Also scrapbooks his Mother made and letters from nurses. It was heartbreaking. I’m not sure that I could ever remove everything from my deceased child’s room, let alone donate it to the museum. Until I saw the exhibit, I never even knew this boy existed. I’m so sorry for his Mother’s loss. He was a hemophiliac who developed HIV and AIDS from tainted blood transfusions.

Charlie in fairytale land treehouse

Charlie in fairytale land treehouse

Charlie and Ruthie-locks having tea with bears

Charlie and Ruthie-locks having tea with bears

Carousel Ride

Carousel Ride

Kaleidoscope Room

Kaleidoscope Room

Baby Area

Baby Area

Railroad Ruthie and Lily

Railroad Ruthie and Lily

They went back and forth for about 20 minutes

They went back and forth for about 20 minutes

Land of...WAIT a minute, this is Indiana! Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln, Love Illinois :o)

Land of...WAIT a minute, this is Indiana! Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln, Love Illinois :o )

3 Happy Couch Potatoes!

3 Happy Couch Potatoes!

Move over Danica......

Move over Danica......

He's changing his name to Carlo Andretti ;o)

He's changing his name to Carlo Andretti ;o)

Ups, Us Mail, or Fed Ex?

Ups, Us Mail, or Fed Ex?

Silver Surfer

Silver Surfer

Batmobile

Batmobile

Spidey

Spidey

Reading comic books. Making Daddy proud!

Reading comic books. Making Daddy proud!

Batman and Supergirl. The city is safe!

Batman and Supergirl. The city is safe!

Lego Knight

Lego Knight

Ruthie the Builder "Yes She can!"

Ruthie the Builder "Yes She can!"

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs

I'm so glad they are extinct!

I'm so glad they are extinct!

Look at those teeth!

Look at those teeth!

Ruthis was the only one who touched the Dino-bone

Ruthis was the only one who touched the Dino-bone

Rawr means "I Love You" in Dinosaur.

Rawr means "I Love You" in Dinosaur.

Little guy...still could have killed me, I'm sure

Little guy...still could have killed me, I'm sure

That's one big tooth!

That's one big tooth!

I hope you enjoyed our photos of our visit to Indianapolis as much as we enjoyed your visit!


Hugs, Sabrina


When Irish Eyes Are Smiling…

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Happy belated St Patty’s Day! We had great time out in the back yard enjoying the weather (After school, of course)!

Cheezzzzzz doesn't work with Ruthie anymore.

We ALL wore green!

Smile!

Smile!

They both swing on the big swings now! Ruthie says "HIGHER!"

They both swing on the big swings now! Ruthie says "HIGHER!"

World Cup, Here He Comes!

World Cup, Here He Comes!

She said she was a Pirate and said "ARRRRRGH"!

She said she was a Pirate and said "ARRRRRGH"!

Lily has crazy hair. Does that mean she is a genius?

Lily has crazy hair. Does that mean she is a genius?

Grass is Green!

Grass is Green!

Daddy turned into a monster and scared them!

Daddy turned into a monster...

He caught Charlie first...

He caught Charlie first...

Then Ruthie...

Then Ruthie...

Even Lily couldn't avoid Monster-Daddy!

Even Lily couldn't avoid Monster-Daddy!

Then things calmed down...

Then things calmed down...

Daddy Got Love...

Daddy Got Love...

Lily Ate Grass...It was a great day!

Lily Ate Grass...It was a great day!

Chicago Southside Irish Forever!

Chicago Southside Irish Forever!

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Hope your day was as fun as ours!

Hugs, Sabrina