Home Sweet Home

The plus to living in MI: No more flying home for Christmas! No loading up the suitcases, praying they were under 50 lbs (mine usually came in at 49.5 lbs), no more shuffling back and forth between parents, friends, trying to fit everyone in. It is wonderful!

The downside: next month, we will have snow. Back in CA, the orange groves would just about be blooming, the sun will be shining, and the grass will be green.

Just an onservation: Some people here in MI still celebrate Christmas long into February. You've got reindeer, snowmen, blow up machines, Santa, candy canes, wreaths, soldiers, lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

As long as I am up here...

Lately I have been high on my soapbox here at the MiniMeMom Blog, so why stop now?

Josh and I needed to supply a loaf of bread for a dinner party. "I will quick pop in to Meijers", I thought. I rushed to get my bread and which was the shortest line? The Self Checkout, of course! So, in line I went with three people ahead of me. Three things really bother me when I am short on time:

• Check Writers- all of you who are still writing checks for groceries- do us ALL a favor and get a debit card. If you HAVE to write a check, at least have it filled out before hand. Bless her heart, the woman two in front of me wanted to write a check. By the time she found her ID, wrote out the check, signed her name, and had the attendant verify all the information, I could have whipped up a fresh loaf at home. This could quite possibly be my biggest pet peeve.
• Knowledge of the machine- I am all for a learning curve here. But if you haven't the foggiest idea how to use the self check kiosk, please go to the express lane. When there are ten people behind you is not the time to decide to figure out what a UPC code is.
• Broken machines and Line Cutters- Of course the minute it is finally my turn, I have cash in hand and I am ready to whip my UPC code over the scanner, insert my cash, and dart to my car. Oh no, the entire system goes down as I scan it. I fully realize this is God's way of trying to teach me patience. The attendant then opens one checkout lane for the five rows of self checkouters (okay, I know it is not a word). Everyone rushes over the the new line. Where am I? About fifteen back of course. So, I did something I have never done before. I went up to a boy working at Meijers, handed him $2 and ripped the UPC code off. I asked him if he would ring it up later and keep the change. He agreed, and I was out of there 30 minutes after I went in.

So, how about you fellow bloggers- PLEASE tell me you are not check writers!!! Does Meijers test your patience?

Go Left

Did Derek Zoolander come up with the road mapping for Michigan? Is that why Michiganders do not know how to turn left?

For my Californians, a Michigan U-Turn involves a no left turn at almost every major intersection. You must drive through the light in the left hand lane, turn around at another stop light aout 100 feet down the road, and double back just to take a right. Sound confusing?

I detest Michigan U-Turns. Every time I turn around, where I used to be able to turn left has become a U-Turn. I secretly think OPEC is behind it. Add up all those extra miles over the years. After all, if it was such a great idea, wouldn't all these larger cities adopt it?

Old News

Michigan Newscasters











CA Newscaster Jillian Barbarie

Notice a difference?

For five minutes, I listened as Suzanne Geha reported that not all mail was being delivered in certain parts of Grand Rapids. I guess post office workers were pulling a Newman and not delivering junk mail. Seriously the top story? No car chases, bank robberies, or murders?

I miss the nightly news from CA.

Don't Sweat the small stuff

Caledonia CRC is the second church I have really called "my church". We were wanderers in CA, never really settled into a church family. Jamestown Baptist is the church I was baptized in, married in, and still so many people there I still care about.

About two weeks ago this past Sunday, my brother Nathan called on his way home from my house. He said that the road to his duplex was blocked off by police and he could not get down his street because there had been a horrible accident. The next day we found out that it was a family (my brothers age) from Jamestown Baptist. They were at a baby dedication, had gone out to lunch as a family, and on their way home a woman lost control of her vehicle and crashed into them head on. The parents actually came upon the crash and stayed with them as they were cut out of the car. Two children were in the car- Dalton, their three year old and a 10 month old.

The ten month old escaped with minor injuries and has already been released. The three year old has not had the same luck. Broken back, lacerated intestines, high fevers, they originally thought he was going to have a similar injury to Christopher Reeves. He is currently fighting just for survival. The mom and dad have also suffered life threatening injuries and have yet to find out the condition of their son. (carepage HeathBudrew)

I guess this month has made me really reflective. And incredibly thankful. I too often get bogged down in the daily things Kayden does that bug me- terrorizing the dogs, dumping boxes of cereal out, breaking dishes, never wanting to get in his carseat just to name a few. Then I look at this precious life and I can't help but kiss Kayden five hundred times a day, watch him sleep, kiss his belly, tickle his perfectly smooth armpits, sit him down to read a book and thank God I am not experiencing this.

I give up!!

For the last eight years, I have prided myself on getting my Christmas cards out early. They have gone out December 1st, and not a minute later. We are getting to the middle of December, and I have yet to even think about Christmas cards. As a matter of fact, the thank you cards for my birthday gifts are sitting on my desk waiting for stamps. So, I came to the conclusion today that I am not doing Christmas cards this year. Sorry, folks. May this serve as your card. Merry Christmas, from the Birds

As a side note, does it seem like this year is busier? Do any of you fill your plate with so much that it is not even enjoyable? Why do we do that?

Big Daddy

This conversation happened while I was on the phone with a customer a few days ago. Our dog Carmelo was getting his belly rubbed next to me on the ottoman.

Kayden: I love Carmelo
Me: smile and nod, trying to shoo him away from the phone
Kayden looking very suspiciously at Carmello, then surprised: Melo has pee pee!
Me: SHHHH, more shooing
Kayden: Daddy has big Pee Pee!

Josh loved that one:-)

We are working with the potty chair, but I think he is just more interested in running around naked. Have a great weekend!

Back to Normal

I think today is the first day that I can say we are back to normal around here. Kayden is back to tearing things apart, and that is a relief! He discovered how to open the fridge door yesterday, leading me to discover a few broken eggs, some spilled grape syrup, and a shaken two liter of soda.

Yesterday he was still a little crabby, but no "burps" as Fig would say. Thanks to everyone who prayed for him, I was getting worried.

He also has wanted to watch the video of himself over and over. He laughs every time. Did your kids love watching videos of themself?

30 sec video-Kayden loves Finding Nemo

This is taken a couple of days ago (okay six to be exact) before all the sickness began. And yes, he is still throwing up. Will it ever end?

He laughs like this every time. Sorry about the video quality, it is taken from a camera instead of my video camera. I love it:-)