"red"ecorating

Well, I guess that red is my new favorite color, or at least accent color, in my house. I love it with green, with brown, and with yellow, white, __________. You name it, I love red with it. Not really orange, but sometimes. You know what I mean. Anyway, this is the new look of my kitchen. It was a very yellow yellow, which made me smile, but it was time for a change. I found the cherry curtains, and decided I love the retro-50's look. I really need a ruffly apron, just for in the kitchen. I also love green, and decided to put red cherries with a soft green. The result- a happy, calming, but fun kitchen. The counter tops are black, so the green helps to soften the color a bit. I love it, but cannot get a picture that shows you the full effect. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. It's something, right Melissa?;)
And this is a continuation of my new found love of red as an accent. Not an entire room- what is it, an OR? An accent- say it with me. So my living room was brown, and not a pretty chocolate brown, but tan. The vanilla of browns. The floor, the walls, the furniture. ALL OF IT! The only color was the prints you see above. Love my Kim Parker prints, but you could barely see them on the tan wall. So I matched found a color to compliment the red in the prints, and we painted only the wall that they are on. I LOVE IT!!!!! It makes me smile all day, I just love the color, and the way it warmed the room up. Did I mention how great it makes my prints look? They POP! Now I just need some window treatments, to bring the other window into the color love. I have color love. The love of color.

Yay red, as an accent, of course. Anyone have any idea what to paint with the other half of the gallon?

Meet Jack

This is Jack- just Jack. I thought I would introduce him. He is our new, three-year-old goldendoodle, and we love him! He is technically Ben's dog, but we share. Chores, mostly.
Jack is 75 pounds of dog, but thinks he is about 25 pounds. Dog on your lap, anyone? The kids love him, we love him, and Daisy, the little dog, is mixed. They love to play all day long, and then pass out at night. However, he listens, so he has more freedom. He sits, and stays. Most of the time!

Well, that is Jack. Our new moose, uh, dog. He is much furrier (is that a word? If not, I think it should be) than a moose. But not much smaller!

Doctor, Doctor

Yes, it has been awhile since my last post. I am sure that you have missed me! And I am sure after you read this post, you will understand where I have been. And this is just a taste of what we have been up to!

2 weeks ago today, Ben had some tests done at the hospital in Duluth. Everything is fine, but the testing was certainly an experience! He had an EEG, which went quite well. And then he had an MRI with sedation. Which means that they drugged my little boy until he was unconscious, so that they could take pictures of his brain. You would think it would be easy to sedate a 39 pound kid, but not if that child is Ben. Every time they would say "when he is asleep" Ben would say " I am not going to sleep- I don't really like to sleep". And he meant it. It took them 3 doses to get him to sleep, because as soon as he would start to drift off (pass out) another machine would make this super loud beeping and Ben would wake up and say (slurringly) "what's that?" and they would drug him again.
After waking him up 3 hours later, Ben could not sit up, stand up, or move without falling over. He threw up three times, before we had to give him a med to counteract the nausea and vomiting from the sedative. Good times, I tell ya! He literally could not stand up or walk all night, and the second med made him high as a kite! Higher than a kite, probably. It was a sight to see- he was actually very funny! So he is fine, and life went on.

Yesterday, we had plans for a fun day with the kids- we were going to the Minnesota Discovery Center (fka Ironworld), to Lowe's for red paint for the living room wall, and then to Pizza Ranch for a fun dinner. However, while at Ironworld (much easier to type), we got a phone call that Josh's uncle was in the hospital, and about to undergo a major surgery. So we hunted down my parents, switched cars (and kids) with them- thank you mom and dad- and headed down to Duluth. We spent the evening in the waiting room with many family members, and were able to find out that he is doing well, and we hope that he will continue to heal.

Today, we were going to bbq in the backyard, and just enjoy some much-needed beautiful weather. At about 4:30, I hear Ben yelling for me, and then see Josh laying in the yard, holding his head. He had fallen while jumping off of one 4-wheeler in the garage, and hit his head on the other 4-wheeler. Blood EVERYWHERE!!!! Gushing from his head (TMI?). Why was Josh on the wheeler? He was getting a volleyball from the rafters. Why use a ladder when you can fall off of a 4-wheeler??? Needless to say, we spent the evening in urgent care getting staples in Josh's head. 4 to be exact, with no numbing meds. Just the staples, and a nice tetanus shot to top it off! Don't worry- he is doing fine, we just have to watch him for altered consciousness- you know, odd behavior. How do I discern that from regular (still odd) behavior? You know, like standing on a 4-wheeler? And then jumping off and cutting your head open?

So we have been busy, and I have had enough doctors and hospitals for a while, thank you!

She Did It!!!!!

"Who did it?" "What did they do?" "How did they accomplish something so miraculous?" All of these are questions that I expect to be going through your head at this time. Would you like me to answer those unending questions? Or keep you waiting- thinking that maybe now will be the time, or maybe now. Hmm, when will I tell you? This is kind of fun.

OK. Now is the time.

Emma walked. Took her first sweet baby steps today. It is a most miraculous accomplishment indeed. Is there anything sweeter than those first, lurching steps?

Now I have just one more question for you- Who did she walk to? Her devoted mommy, who spends a rather large portion of her day saying "walk, Emma, walk! You can do it! Go Emma!"? Nope, not me. Her daddy, who works with her often, in the hopes of seeing that first step? Nope! One of her beloved siblings? Not them, either.

Papa Jim. Yup, her grandpa. The guy who was here for about 2 minutes. She got up from her nap, saw Papa Jim, and ran to him. They may only have been 2 steps, but they were running. Fast. And he did not even bring her a doughnut. Whatever.

I will post pics when Emma decides to try again. She is clearly taking the evening off. She did do her dad the honor of walking to him, before her early retirement.

So there you have it, answers to your most pressing questions. "Who did it?" EMMA!!!! "What did she do?" She walked! "How did they accomplish something so miraculous?" Perseverance and hard work. Oh, and she tried hard, too.

YAY EMMA!!!!

Oh, dear

What is wrong with poor little Emma? She looks so sad!!!!!

I don't think she bit her tongue, as her 2 teeth are strategically placed to not do such a thing.

Is she cold? Hungry? Distressed about the economy? Concerned that the swine flu will keep her locked inside for most of her toddlerhood?

Nope- we told her that her ice cream was all gone.

Easter

I know that I am a bit late with my Easter post, but better late than never, right? So here is the best picture of all three kids that we could get- this is seriously getting much more difficult!
I just had to post the above picture- a moment of snuggly solace on a busy Easter day. Ben and Grace truly have a special relationship!

So we must talk about the bunny, and all of the delicious surprises he carried in his basket this year. Ben and Grace, along with yummy jelly beans, M&M's, Peeps, and chocolate bunnies, got fun scooters to race around the town! They were a hit, even if the children were unsure what, exactly they were. Ben walked down the stairs, saw his scooter and yelled "a unicycle!...or whatever that is." Yeah- we are a loooong way from the bunny bringing a unicycle, but whatever works!
Emma got a book and Goldfish- no candy for her!

We had a great Easter, spending time with friends a family. We got to see Grandma Pam and Papa Randy, Grandma Kathy and Papa Jim. And the most exciting- Uncle Nate and Aunt Alli. My children absolutely love them- although Nate may have fallen a spot or two on Grace's list of faves after he-gasp!- kicked the ball two times! Yes, you read that right! Who does that? She is still mad about the double kick! So please do not bring it up, the next time you see her. Even if it is six months. I doubt she will have recovered by then. It was traumatic!

Garden Party

Saturday was Emma's birthday party, and we did a sort of garden theme. You know, the cake had flowers, and it was 40 degrees outside. That sort of garden. I made the cake, and was excited to use some marshmallow fondant for the accent flowers. It was fun to work with, and someday I will make a cake covered in it.

Emma had a great time at her party- she was a sweet little hostess. She loved being the center of attention- I thought that one year olds were supposed to cry and scream at their party. She only cried when she was hungry.
She did not attempt to blow out the candles- thank heavens she has a brother and sister to help her out! She tried to grab the candle, so we have no candle pics.
I made a smaller cake just for Emma, and we plopped it down in front of her, and let her go! She barely made a mess, and spent more time playing than eating! Works for me!

Emma had a great party, with new fun gifts and lots of fun memories. For us, at least!
Happy Birthday Emma!

On a side note, Emma also had her one year checkup this week, and I though I could share her stats with you! She is a little girl- only 28 inches, in the 18th percentile, and 19 lbs, 11 ounces- 28th percentile. She is petite, just a bit round. She is perfectly healthy, and doing great!