Do you not know what causes that?

So much to say...

Life keeps happening and I keep think - I have to blog about that!  :-)

So today at lunch with Clara, I saw an ad for Strawberry Shortcake (a fav of mine), only it's Passover.  I ONLY SEE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DURING PASSOVER.

The water heater saga has hopefully ended.  After buying one and waiting a week for installation, the guy comes and says - won't work, no power vent.  So we ordered a 75 gallon water heater (Those 25 extra gallons are all MINE!) and waited.  Today, after it was installed, he said, some guy is going to come inspect it within three weeks. Oh great.

Just before Passover, I went on a huge hunt for Matza, never thinking it would be a problem. So, in the spirit of the Great Fruit Cake Search of Christmas 2006, it was the Great Matza Search of Pesach 2008. I went to five stores to find matza - none was to be found. I did manage to get a ton of Passover candies and stuff I never find, but not simple Matza.  Thankfully Andy saved us and offered us a couple of boxes.

Kevin, Hilary, Isaac and Lilah did the Tae Kwon Do tourney. Lilah got a participation medal in her age group. Isaac actually won 2nd place in sparring, which Hilary was really impressed with.  Hilary won 3rd place in forms. (It should be noted that she moved into the women's division this year because of her age, she missed 5 months of Tae Kwon Do and had only been back for 2 weeks when the tourney happened.) Last year she placed 4th, so this was better.  Kevin kicked butt, really.  He got 3rd place in forms, which Hilary said he really deserved at least 2nd.  But he got first place in sparring - don't mess with him!

Isaac finally got new glasses. Benjamin is really into his new garden and he's letting Lilah help. Owen and Clara have been passing fifth disease around. Ada is enjoying preparing her sun songs for the school music show.

Kevin and I started childbirth class last week. It was a lot of fun. Now if we would only practice more.  Baby is moving a lot more and has been hiccuping a lot. Sometimes the kids can even feel it!

Now, on to the new kitchen floor, roof and new dry wall!

Hava Nagila

 

My friend showed me this video of the traditional Hebrew Hava Nagila.  Then we started debating over the song.  We both snickered over the "it's like slut B@rbie does Hebrew" or "forget the Sweet Sixteen, it's my Bitchin' British Bat Mitzvah!" comments on the site.  Your thoughts?

Christmas Stocking

Don't snort when you read that!  I've actually been having fun stuffing some stockings today for some people here locally.  Though I realized how goofy I am when it comes to stockings in general. LOL  Who knew what to put in them - no I.  But I have had fun trying to figure ot out today.  Unfortunately I satrted by asking Marci, which is also quite hilarious if you know her and for the same reason that it's funny that I am blogging about Christmas stockings or otherwise...

Musings on Dried Pears

I'm happier than I was moments ago.  The big change you ask?  100 packets of dried pears just landed on my door step!  I fell in love with these dried pear snacks and so did everyone else in my city, for I no longer ever find them in the store, just the empty box.  So I went around the store and ordered my own!  Okay, so I had to buy a case of 100.  I'm happy and they last for awhile.  ;-)

It's dark outside...

I've got a case of the gripes today.  Benjamin is actually sitting here quietly with me.  Hilary is quietly ignoring me downstairs. Should be a peaceful day, but I think I miss the sun already and it's not even really cold yet.

What makes me smile?

Wow, WhyMommy gave me an award!  And to think I wasn't even paying attention.  :-)  So, here's my chance to pass it on...

So, here goes, 10 Bloggers that Make me smile...

Teri really keeps me hopping. I mean, you teach someone how to blog and look what happens... (Is that a chicken on her head?)

I really love following Ashley's life. I know it's mostly painful for her, but it really makes me laugh and smile most of the time.

The typical days of Jen are so well written and full of surprises, who could help but laugh?

If it's good old activism, try The Lactivist with her points and laughs.

Pushed Birth makes me smile to see that my work goes on and that I'm not alone or the only one who gets it.

Ali has such cool stuff!  I wanna be Ali when I grow up.  But now I have an original of her Life Art in my very own bedroom to make me smile all day.

The good gals over at Celebrity Baby Blog also give me my fix of celebrity babies so that I can keep teaching with them...

Andi, at Mama Knows Breast, always manages to make me smile with stories of Bear and Bortsky, and how she makes breastfeeding look so stylish!

Meagan has a large family, as do I, so I really related to her posts, because, while they look a lot like my life, they are much funnier when they happen to her. (Maybe she feels similarly about my blog.)

Marci will keep you in stitches, when you're smart enough to figure out her posts or when she's not making fun of you (read me). I really liked this one.

And here's my other blog if you're interested...

Where do I start?

Well, it's been a wild couple of weeks to say the least.  It started off at the Lamaze International Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.  The good news is that I figured out how to fly and NOT drool on myself for days afterwards - Xanax!  I actually worked on a plane.  It was great to not have panic attacks.  And lest you believe it to be a one time trick - it worked every time. I rode four, count them, four airplanes in two weeks!

In AZ I gave two presentations and lead two special groups. They were fun and exciting. I also enjoyed just relaxing with my good friend, Pat. I also picked up some goodies for friends who are CBEs. My room was way far away and it felt like a real hike, but it had a nice view of the mountains.

I came home for about 40 hours.  In which I went to HS open house, had a dinner date, shopped like a mad woman, fixed dinner for 15 guests for Rosh Hashana, did a radio interview, and went to services. I left services to go to the airport, and changed my clothes in the parking lot.

ICEA was fun, though I was wiped out. I had a good time with my room mate, Teri Shilling, even though I think I drove her a bit nuts.  She did get some good laughs in, mostly at my expsense. We had dinner with Penny Simkin, Kathy McGrath and Rachel Miller one night which was so fun to just sit and talk. We also spent a lot of time talking to Debby Amis and Jeanne Green while at ICEA, though they had led a training seminar at Lamaze, but they were busy then and unavailable for converstaion. I did two more presentations and helped Teri lug her two 74lb (EACH!) suitcases to her sessions.

I made it home in time to spend some girl time with Laurie and Paula.  We stayed out until 2 a.m.  Then back on the road with the kids for school, brunch, our first book club and stamping!

Some memorable highlights from the week:

• Ada insists on telling me how to drive. If I go the "wrong" way she tells me all about it.
• Hilary apologized for a flare up she had - which was very mature of her.
• Grandy (my mom) had a birthday and I took grandma to see her.
• Grandma informed Mom that she wouldn't live much longer. (Grandma didn't know why we were laughing so hard.)
• Clara and Owen are loving soccer and ballet.
• Lilah has fallen and scrapped up her knees again!  Poor baby. Though she is pleased with her new shoes.
• Isaac is not liking homework, but glad to be back in Tae Kwon Do and chess.
• Benjamin, after a lengthy conversation about the role of electricity in the body, including the ability to pass that electricity on, concluded: "So if it's a lightening storm outside, don't walk around holding hands..."
• The fish is alive, even after I cleaned the tank, but the boys declare that the tank still smells.
• Kevin is very, very, very glad I'm home.

Hunting and Gathering

Okay, as you probably know I'm pretty close to addicted to Diet Pepsi.  But I'm having trouble finding it lately.  They keep changing the wrappers on the bottles!  I feel like I live in a hunting and gathering society.  *beats chest* "Must find Diet Pepsi - where is it...?"

Cool Thing

Actually, 43 Things...

Focusing on the Positive

I had a wild weekend.  The highlights were Emily and Ashley's birthday party and Owen and Clara's Ballet Recital.  Other than that it was a pretty stressful weekend.

Today started on a bright note with tea with a friend and then off to my first cello lesson.  How cool is that???  I'm taking cello.  Let's just say it's going to be a slow road.  I get to work on my bow hold all week.  I wouldn't want to starve the bunnies afterall, now would I?

Edited to add Mission Monday:

Your Mission for the Monday is to list 5-10 things that you really like about yourself.  What have you to say?  Care to share your list with me?

Hmm, let me think... Five, really?

1. I'm a dedicated mom - not always perfect, but dedicated.
2. I'm a great friend.
3. I like to read - this was always important to my family and I love to do it, so it's a win-win.
4. I'm learning to take time for me and see that my needs matter sometimes too. (See above.)
5. I make a mean carrot cake.