After ten years in corporate America, it is only natural for this Mom of four to think in business terms. It is often necessary to table individual goals for the greater good. Spreadsheets are used for grocery lists, nap schedules, recipes, and of course to track all finances. All details aside, it is important to see the big picture and think outside the box in order to get results and improve over Last Year. But never forget that at the end of the day it is the bottom line that ultimately counts. This blog will hopefully give you the net-net of what is going on in our little venture.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Overtime

So when Ben works long hours (like this week) and I am doing dinners, baths, and bedtime, etc alone. I think my overtime pay should kick in. Luckily, I decided I am not salaried so I should get an incentive for my extra hard work :) So after 3 years of never truly scheduling a date night, I found a babysitter and have her all lined up so Ben and I can go see Twilight tomorrow night. It's not that we have never been out since the Twins came, it's just been more last minute. My Mom will be in town and suggest that we go catch a movie, we may be visiting in MI and my Dad will tell us to run to the Mall without the kids, or my dear friend Katie will push us to go out to dinner as she takes our kids off our hands for the night. So I bought my tickets, am meeting friends at the theatre, and most likely will end up dateless. Even though my darling hubby agreed to the time and actually picked which date, his schedule seems to be out of his control and he now will be in meetings right up until the start of the movie. So my date will meet me there, race in at the last second while I try to hold his seat from an angry teenage girl, or he will just not make it at all. I think I am going to go anyways, the tickets have already been paid for and the sitter is already coming. Good thing I will have Edward and Bella to focus on...

Friday, October 31, 2008

TY Halloween vs. LY Halloween

So I am competitive with myself and have this terrible need to outdo last years Halloween. I start racking my brain trying to think of the best theme for the family about a week or two after Halloween. It really starts eating at me around August until I finally come up with something concrete. Now the important thing to note here is I have ZERO sewing skills and am not terribly creative so I have to rely on what is available for purchase to pull together my theme. So if I have a good idea but no one makes the costumes I am out of luck. That actually turned out to be a good thing since the boys really wanted to be "The Little Einsteins" this year and the selection was extremely limited. (That theme was never going to be approved anyways) I figure I have very few years to dress them the way I want so I have to maximize this little window of opportunity. Anyways here is TY final product and the years past.

FINDING NEMO (2008)

(Aubrey's Bedroom theme is Underwater Sea Adventure and she loves Turtles)


POLAR BABIES (2007)

(Twins have and Artic theme room)


PIRATES LIFE FOR ME (2006)

(Twins 1st Birthday was Pirates theme)


Once Upon A Time (2005)

(Twins were 12 Days old here and had not reached their actual due date yet)





Saturday, September 27, 2008

Happy Retirement!

On Sept 26, 2008 my Dad retired from Chrysler after 24 years of service! He started out in a manufacturing apprenticeship at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, MI. Upon his graduation from the University of Michigan he took a position in Ford Purchasing. He and my Mother later moved to WI (where I was born) and worked in Procurement for Schlitz Brewing Company Container Division. We shortly returned to MI and to Ford for some years and then later spent the majority of his years as a Buyer and Purchasing Manager for Chrysler.

We were visiting in MI that week and were really excited when he came home early that Friday. To celebrate the occasion we packed up the car and he drove us back home to Kentucky! Now that he has the time we expect him to come much more often to Louisville to see his Grandkids.

Here are some cute pictures of my Dad arriving home on his last day of work, I am so glad I was there to capture the monumental moment. Doesn't he look to young to retire!!!!????

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Team Effort

Owen (far L) & Evan (far R)

Evan and Owen had their first soccer game this morning and ended up having a blast. As expected they started off pretty timid. The game began with the opposing orange team racing untouched down the field and scoring the first goal of the game. The twins, overwhelmed by all of the action and racous croud, raced off the field to Mommy and Daddy with their friend Zach in tow. They sat out and watched for five to ten minutes and then decided they were ready. It was a group decision. Owen was the test dummy and was sent in first. After he got some cheers and was able to kick the ball a few times, Evan went racing in to join him. At the half, all of the other kids ran to their respective sideline to take a break, but not Evan and Owen. They were having way too much fun and waited at midfield for the game to restart. Early in the second half, Owen saw the ball loose in front of the opponent's net and pounced on the opportunity to score his first goal. Evan, encouraged by Owen's success, decided it was his turn. He took the ball from midfield and cut between numerous defenders before powerfully launching the ball into the net. He then ran to the sidelines and exclaimed, "GOAL!" We didn't have the heart to tell him that he had scored for the wrong team. Even with Evan's goal, the Orange team didn't stand a chance as the Purple Knights dominated 8-4.

Team Effort Photos

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Dream Job

Mrs. Missi McDreamy---------------

So when my parents offered to watch the kids Mother's day weekend so we could go to a movie, I needed to see McDreamy's new movie. It was almost Mother's Day after all, so who cares if Ben was the only guy in the theatre. They had this great photo opportunity in the hallway that Ben seemed pretty embarrassed that I stuck my head into but he still took the shot on his phone. We had a nice weekend with Reeni and my parents and we cooked up a storm. All of our favorite foods and desserts too. Reeni and I got manis and pedis and went out to an awesome dinner at Uptown Cafe. I got a card from each child. The twins card said "Mommy", Aubrey's said "Mamamama", and Ky's said "Woo-Woo" on the front. I was spoiled all weekend and for the second time in my life I have my dream job!