Had to post this picture from last night... Blade just "chilling" in jer's office chair, it was tilted back on our bed... so I guess you could say he made his own recliner :) It was TOO cute!!!!!!!

Children's imaginations run wild... don't they???

Today, well I slept in this morning since Jer is now home... I just dont sleep well when he is gone... so that was nice to get caught up:) Today I helped my dear friend, Billy out... he got a new van :) Its what you do for good friends, right? It was not quite the adventure we had the last time getting his vehicle everything it needed so it was "corrected for DOT" standards... no running out of gas, no snow storm... just rain and well... I put a few miles on his new van. Blade went with us, he was so excited to ride in Billy's truck to get his new van... he was a trooper! He loved riding in the van as well, he kept saying "Billy's blue van". He is a cutie!!!!
Yes so I can say another day I should of been more productive but I wasn't... I was doing a good deed, since I know Billy has helped me so much in the past and and he is going to be helping us A LOT with our house, since he is our "personal electrician" :)

weekend... not much planned yet... Jer is helping plan a stag for a good friend tomorrow night, Mitchel is going to stay with a friend, and Issac, Blade and I ... not sure what we will do tomorrow night... movie maybe??

So until I blog again... do a good deed... be true to the friends who are true to you :)

(picture of Billy at his Bday party...)

Wednesday... feeling rather lazy today:( Today Blade went to daycare, I did a few things around here... but do you ever have a day when you just feel BLAH... well it thats what my morning felt like... I got my haircut today, tanned... and then off to Dubuque to meet up with Abby (a very good dear friend of mine) for lunch, we had PANERA:) it was great just seeing her... feels like forever since I saw her... but she told me the most AMAZING news!!!! Yes I will leave you all hang out to dry for awhile... HA HA. Abby is the kind of friend... you can talk to her about anything without any kind of judgement, I love that about her!!!
Abby, I posted this picture for you,(if you are reading my blog today) thought you may enjoy a "innocent face" and a child who is full of life but yet one who still listens:) anyhow... girlie... I need to see you more, I miss our "chats".
After meeting up with Abby I did some errands at Target and had some returns to do, came home ran up to house to see what was shaking in the wind there... Dustin working hard to make our home a home... I just can NOT wait until its done, so I have a little sense of "peace within", ya know? I know... good things come to those who wait, right? So I will keep waiting cuz I know its going to be AMAZING when its all said and done:) Be sure... we will have a BIG party when that day comes!!!
Jer returns home tonight :) It will be nice to have him home!!!!
Until I blog again... take time to listen to music you enjoy :)

Monday... usually my mondays suck... but today was a pretty good day! Got lots of cleaning done, laundry almost caught up, and got a walk and swim in today, so over all good day. So is this a sign... for a good week? Sure hope so!!! Jer is out in Denver until Wednesday, boys enjoyed the rain today... well I should say Mitchel enjoyed the rain... played outside and was drenched when he came in... so I was not TOO happy about that! Blade was a little upset that he couldn't ride his bike today:( so thought I would post the cute picture from yesterday with him riding his bike to cheer him up:) Tonight I cooked a meal for the boys which is unusal but yes I did... NO MORE EATING OUT!!! dont get your hopes up... it was just buttered noodles.
Tonight was 24 and Prision Break... two of my favorite shows... a TOTAL TWIST on both shows... but intense. Tonight Issac and Blade watched "CHICKEN LITTLE", they were giggling, it was VERY cute!!! Issac said it was cute and Blade said I liked Chicken Little:)
Then... to top the night off... Billy was going into Dubuque to get a few things for the house... so he brings me supper home from PANERA!!!! It was the top notch of the day!! It was great!!!! Whats better than PANERA???
Until tomorrow, hope this rain doesn't last long:) I just want it to be SPRING!!!!

What a beautiful day it was today... loved it! Starting to feel like Spring... but not getting my hopes up to much yet... Jer and I spent the day with the kids in Dubuque before he took off for Denver, we took a nice walk by the river, got some lunch, hung out at the park and just relaxed all day, it was nice... its been forever it seems like that we did something together as a family. Blade got to ride his bike on our walk, he was so HAPPY, it was cute!! Funny because he kept saying he wanted to "go to Dubuque" and we were there... but he just couldn't understand since we were by the "train tracks and the river", it was funny but cute:)
Here is a cute picture we took of the boys today!

Short blog today... goal for the week... stay focused on my weight loss!!!

Today... Friday... beginning of a weekend that will be here and gone before I know it... today was a good day:) Spent most of the day with my dear friend, Diane shopping ... helping her pick out clothes and a dress for her neice's upcoming wedding.
A day full of fun... since I love to shop and see all the NEW items but I just often wonder why people wear the things they wear... some of the clothes on hangers are just meant for hanger :) but so often when you look for clothes you either have to be "trendy" or "granny" ya know?? There is just no in between it seems like. So anyhow Diane found many cute things today! I didn't find much nor was I really looking, I really just want to drop the 15lbs I need to drop... and just can't seem to get motivated enough :( its frustrating!!!
I just enjoy spending time with Diane, she is a true friend, count my blessings I have her in my life!!!

Thought for thoughts today ... what do you do when you hear rumors about good friends of yours going thru some tough times and you keep hearing things about them... but never been told by them directly? do you continue to believe what is heard or do you approach it with them? I dont like confrontation... never have... I dont like to "pry" into people's lives but I do want all my friends to know that I care and I am here for them. Another pondering thought for my day... tonight Jer and I ran into some of my relatives at Houlighan, we chatted with them before we got seated for our dinner... and the next thing I know... 3 of my cousins are outside with police officers.... so much of me wanted to get up and go see if things were ok but I choose not to "pry" again... then as we were leaving my one cousin and her dad were outside yet with the officer and at that time I was thinking... "what should I do"... what would my dad do? But I walked away and then now I sit here and feel guilty about it. Was that the right thing to do? After supper we met up with one of Jer's cousins and her boyfriend... I always enjoy seeing them and it was just so nice to sit in a quiet place and just BS, I enjoyed it.
Tonight we got home, Blade was a cutie... "MOMMY MOMMY KISS HUG" those moments are just so cherished because they grow SO FAST... and you forget sometimes that moments still exist.
Busy day tomorrow... hope to get somethings done up at the house, I have cleaning to get done, we have a pool party to attend later in the day tomorrow, and hopefully Jer and I will go out somewhere in the evening for awhile since he is leaving on Sunday for Denver.
No current updates on the house today... 2nd order of windows should be in next week, and our "main door"... so that is exciting!!!
Until next time... I ponder on the thoughts of tomorrow

What a day... started out taking Blade to "school" got a walk in, did somethings here at home, went to the shop and did a few things there and treadmilled for 45mins, then before i knew it school was out... Issac went motorbiking with uncle Kevin this afternoon, just loved it! Need to get him out biking more often. This afternoon I got the laundry.. the never ending job caught up and almost done... but its never done, right?
Tonight started out at P/T conferences... how interesting they were... here we find out our Mitchel is not doing as well as he COULD be... so that was a little frustrating because we know academically he can do the work, He is so much like Jer... has all the capabilities... just needs to apply himself more but doesn't seem to care :( it worries us!!! For little Issac... well he is doing well over all but math is still struggling for him and behavior issues such as sitting still and paying attention is a problem yet... but he's Issac... just busy minded... We did see their IBST scores and they both did well, so that was enlighting to see before we came home... cuz I was just STEAMING mad... I guess not mad, just disappointed, I know my boys can do the school work, its just getting them to do it!!! We came home and told the boys that they would be loosing their PSP's for awhile and other privelages until we know that the school work is getting done and getting done to their abilities and bring AR books home regularly. We got the boys setttled in and got them supper and then we met Billy at the house to go over electrical decision since we needed to go get supplies so Billy could get started soon. What a trip... went to Lowes... Jer and Billy debation... on price, items, blah blah... then we headed to Menards to check out what they had... same drill again... and I am starving!!!!!!!!!!!!! but patiently waiting, so I got bored... of those two bickering like women... and went to check things out on my own for awhile. Finally we left... went to eat at Taco Bell... thank goodness cuz I was STARVING by this point... but I should of been good and I wasn't.
Weekend is here already... WOW... before I know it Cancun will be here...
Well, stay warm ... started snowing tonight... ICK :(

Hello~
Its been since Monday since I last wrote... sorry for slacking for those avid readers :) Well the weather has been warming up here, YEAH!!! On the Tuesday... Jer flew back home, Blade stayed home with me... we met Sophie and Diane for lunch, after lunch we got a walk in but it was a little chilli :( but it didn't bother Blade... he wanted to keep going. After his nap, we went for another short walk and when I put him in the stroller he always says something about the "house"... so he said "lets go find my house" it was CUTE!!
We got back and it was earlly enough out so I thought I would get his bike out that he got for Christmas from his Godparents,
WOW... he was on the GO... nothing was slowing him down, reminded me so much of Issac, the child has no fear. We found out the new coach for ISU... and Mitchel said... he thought that Billy would be happy to hear the news. Watched another night of AMERICAN IDOL... one of Issac's favorite shows, the bald guy... he is cute and damn he can sing!!! Still haven't decided who is going to make it all the way... guess I'll have to keep watching the show.
Now on for today... It was Blade's day to go to daycare, so I met up with the kids at the Library, and walked Blade down in the stroller, he loves to go for walks!!! So we get to the Library, he got all upset because "Carol" wasn't there... it was sweet but at the same time I feel really bad... I was telling him all morning that he was going to see Carol and Sophie and he was excited... I felt like I lied to the kid, anyhow Carol's aide (sweet lady and she means well but still like stuck in the old days)... no offense to anyone who is reading this... but Blade did get upset when she took his blanket away since its a security thing for him and he was unsure of who he was staying with, but then he realized that Lisa (the daycare director) was staying and she would be there, he kept crying but I knew if I stayed any longer it was going to only get worse for him, so I left in a "meltdown"... why is the hardest job... being a parent?? I love my kids and just want them to be happy, ya know? I walked back home did a few things and headed out for the pool... WOW talk about a lot of kids... I get to the pool and the whole... Anamosa school is there I swear, so I only swam like for a whole 20 mins, and headed back home. Not sure if Melly was there or not... I was in and out. So I will get some swim time in tomorrow before the kids get out early from school.
Tonight, I went up to the house to do some work since I had help from Billy to clean things up, which it was DRIVING ME NUTS having all that shit just sitting everywhere, now it looks like a totally different place.... what has been done lately??
Well the entry wall (old house front) was tore off today so now that is a open space, the built in cupboard space is built,
the wall between the dining room and new addition is tore all the way back, it looks different... so open now, I am just loving it!!! So tomorrow when our contractor (Dustin) comes in where he normally does... will be SHOCKED!!! he'll think he is in the wrong place since it is all picked up finally!!!! I should of did it sooner but... weather was crappy and life gets busy...
So tonight was a new episode of Lost... do any of you watch that show??? Well we didn't and then Jer bought the "1st Season" of it so now I am hooked... its better watching it without commercials :) It was a nice night just staying home and relaxing as a family. Tomorrow we have our Parent/Teacher conferences, hope its all good for the most part, We have Molly lined up to babysit Saturday evening, since Jer flies out to CO on Sunday. Boys sure do like having her come and she is just like a part of our family :) Until I blog again... enjoy Spring!!

Weekend... wow... well it started off as Mitchel's 12th birthday on Friday... It was a good day for him, he had a friend come stay over night, and got the PSP he was asking for... yes we caved in and bought another one... On Saturday Jeremie took the boys swimming at Camp Courageous, I stayed behind and did some picking up and cleaning... then my dear friends Diane and Carol were out walking and wanted to take a peek at the house so I attempted to give them a tour... WHAT A MUDSLIDE we had... getting to the basement since the side was boarded up...it was some good laughs:) Its a story to remember for when the house is done. I and Blade took Jer to the airport for his 1pm flight to Chicago then he was off to California, he will be gone until Tuesday am. It will be nice to have him home again, poor little Blade is confused where his dad goes sometimes... he kept saying he was going to Denver or he would say "no he's in Dubuque", its cute. I came back home and took Mitchel, his friend Danny and Issac to meet Billy for frisbee golf since this is what Mitchel wanted to do for his birthday, they had a good time! Blade and I went and did the errands of returns I had piling up, what a job to get done... Off back home we were, had to run Danny home and then get ready to go out with the girls... Diane and Carol. I was pushing for time... Molly was coming to stay with the boys at 730ish, they were happy of course that she was coming :)
Anyhow on the evenings event... I said from the beginning "I was not staying out all night" ... well I ended up staying out all night... YIKES it was 2AM and Carol and I were at the bar yet... We started at Fillmore meeting up with Carol since she was bartending, we had supper and a few drinks- then we were off to the "Bent Rim", they were having music with wearing "country attire". WOW we get to the Bent Rim, and Carol and I were hitting the drinks pretty hard... Diane drinking her straight up water, being a good girl, SMART GIRL!!! Susie (my cousin inlaw) was bartending, lets just say we were the entertainment for them for evening. Carol bought a round of shots for us 3 girls... and down it went... its BEEN A LONG TIME since I had a shot... then another round was bought... and a few drinks in... we laughed and BS'd, just having a good time. Then all of the sudden the wind blows Billy in... and Carol says "hey, aren't u the cable guy"... I was busting a gut!!!! and gosh we just had so much fun just laughing, and OH the hats... well thats a story for another time... as well as the straddling over the men's john... EWH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well after Diane left... we were out dancing, Carol was 2 stepping it with the fine old ladies on the floor...what a RIOT=) The music was a little twangy but there was a few good ones... anyhow the little old ladies became our friends... so much that they told Carol when the next 'gig' for the band was... quite funny!!!! So ok its like 1ish and we were sitting at the bar and Carol kept saying "lets have another" and I am ready to about die at this point... SO lots of H2O for LIS!!!!!!! so time goes by a little and Carol is buying a round of shots... Thank God Billy was there when she did that I slide it to him... NO way in hell was I doing another!!! So in the meantime we have little Bus vistiors... Carol is thrilled =) ... was spitting contest it became... oh we were SO BAD!!!! Its now like 2am time for the bar to close and for us to call it a night, I had not had a drink in over an hour and a 1/2, and Carol was ok too, but we did get a ride home so we got home safely~ Thanks for the ride home Schlemme's! Overall the night was GREAT, I had a wonderul time!!!!!!! Carol you out did me by quite a few!!! If I only had my camera (my real camera) I would of posted the picture of us girls in the hats... you guys lucked out, so well here I found a picture of me... yeh go ahead laugh... its pretty bad!! We will have to do it again sometime soon but not for awhile!!!!! We have to walk alot to get rid of the LBS we gained, Oh hey... Carol did you walk at 11am??? did you get my note... HA HA

Sunday came... I was actually ok, I packed Mitchel up and took him to Sundown for closing day, and Issac went to the farm to ride his 80 but turns out he didn't get to ride it much so he was disappointed. Blade and I just hung out at home until it was time to go pick up Mitchel. New Grey's Anatomy on tonite:) I love that show!!!

Until I blog again... Carol I hope you are rested... =)

Another beautiful day!!! I can't wait for Spring!!!! but sounds like the snow is coming again :(
Hello All~ As you can see I posted a picture of Blade... well he was full of energy tonight!!! Just wish I had some of it... but no complaints here today I got a lot accomplished, got some closets cleaned out today and did some "filing" that needed to be done, and talked to my dear friend Diane on the phone for awhile again today... I believe its two days in a row :) Hopefully we will catch up for lunch soon.
I have a few cute Blade stories to share...when I picked up Blade at the daycare today, put him in the car and asked him how his day was he said "it was so fun" and then tonight I asked all the boys ideas on supper, so Blade starts running around the apartment yelling PIZZA, PIZZA, and then he stops and comes to me and says "mommy kiss and pizza" it was SO cute!!! He is sure growing up on me!!!
Interesting neighbors we have here... yikes the music is going to drive me NUTS!!!, its like 10:30pm and their music is still BLARING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so annoying!!!!! I can't wait until the house is DONE!!!!
House Update: Our inside contractor started this week, starting to tear out walls and put new things up, so that is exciting:) The rest of our windows and our patio door and our front door should arrive by the end of the month. Possible bricking will start in April... time will tell that. Hopefully we will have the electrical hooked back up by the end of the week.
Jer posted some new pictures of the house project recently, if you would like to see what has been done this winter.

Winter House Pics

What else is new? Well we have a birthday in our house this weekend, Mitchel will be 12... not much planned yet. No big plans for the weekend, Jer flies out to California on Saturday, he will be gone for a few days.

Until I blog again... hopefully the snow will stay away:) but the boys in this house including Jer wouldn't want me to say that... since they would like to get to Sundown before it closes, but either way Mitchel and Issac will hit the slopes on closing day which is Sunday.

Weekend... it was beautiful weather for the most part. Our weekend started out with Issac having a friend stay for the night, then on Friday we took him home and spent the day with my sister inlaw and her brother... we went to see a movie, "The Shaggy Dog" it was cute. The boys liked it. Blade wasn't into the movie as much so he was a little stinker but overall he was pretty good. Later in the evening Issac went to stay the night at a friend's house, and I got a sitter to stay with Blade. Jer and his brothers were going to play poker at a friends house so my sister inlaw and I went shopping. Its been a long time since we did that together, I truly enjoyed it. Saturday, I went shopping in the morning with a good friend and her daughter and her little friends, it was so much FUN shopping for girls :) since you know I never get to do that unless its a gift for my nieces or my Soph Bug. Jer hit the hills at Sundown for a bit since the weather was so nice out, Issac and Blade went to the farm for a few hours, Issac got to ride his 80, he was SO happy!!! He rides much better this year, its what he likes to do best. Blade was happy when mom and dad came to pick him up, but he got pissed when his Uncle Kevin drove away on his bike... he was fine after grandma gave him a "icie". Saturday evening Jer and I spent the night together, the boys (Issac and Blade) were home with Molly. Jer and I did a little shopping, curtains were on sale at JC Pennys so I looked and found some for our new addition :) so excited... I know ... room isn't even done yet...but a sale is a sale :)
We had supper at Olive Garden and went to see a movie, we saw "16 Blocks" it was ok, Jer liked it :) We were going to go meet up with Kevin and Lisa after movie but we were both tired so decided to call it a night and came home. Its age creeping up on us ... Sunday came way too fast, we met a possible "renter" for the store in the am, this was little hard to choke since I am having a hard time letting go ... but I know if this possibility comes through it will be a great thing for Cascade :), then we spent the day with Issac and Blade, we went to Dbq. since Jer wanted to get some work done at McQuiels, so I took the boys to lunch and bummed around. Mitchel came home tonight after being gone all weekend~ happy to have him home, that is a long time!!! he's been gone since Wednesday evening tractor pulling with grandpa. We celebrated Mitchel's birthday with my family Sunday evening since my sister was back for the weekend, hard to believe Mitchel will be 12... where does time go???
Until I blog again... enjoy the weather :)

Hello Friends~
Just got back from a nice walk, did lots of thinking. I didn't sleep well last night do to the little boy... Blade who has to snuggle in with his mommy, but shouldn't complain either soon those days will be gone and I will want them back... its just he is a true bed hog and its impossible to sleep well sometimes.
This weekend, no school Friday for the kids, Mitchel is gone with his grandpa to a big tractor pull event, Issac is having a friend come stay over night tonight, and for Blade, well he just wants to go swimming, its cute when he says it, and he wants to play with Issac.
Today on my walk, I walked by the house... boy I can't wait until the house is done :) I have so many ideas just stirring in my head... its going to be amazing!!!, then I walked over to school to see Lori~ it was nice seeing her, she just always seems to say the right things at the right time... so that was comforting. So I continue on my walk thru downtown Cascade, walk by the store front... happy thoughts kept saying to myself and thought I would be ok to go in and talk to Mary... but just couldn't get the courage to do it... cop out I know... I am so excited to see my life moving forward but there is just something that holds me back... and why? Keep moving forward, I can do this.
On to other things...Jer and I recently got done watching the whole 1st season of LOST, incredible show!!!!! Encourage some of you to watch it, we have it if you are interested. Why is it laundry is just a never ending job... jeesh!!!! I best get back to doing that, it doesn't do itself :)
Here is a picture of little Blade... being sweet and innocent =)
Until next time ~ Love, Hope, and Peace with you all ~

This is a shot of house showing all new addtions made. Its not a great picture but it gives you an idea...

Well, here I sit ready to start blogging... never thought I would start doing this... but so many people have inspired me to do so. So I will just start off with whats been happening in my life in the last few weeks. I am sending this link to most of my friends and family, so many of you may know by now, The Green Cupboard is coming to an end for me for now, its a dream that is going to go on "hold" for awhile... maybe some of you are confused and ask WHY??? Well its many reasons but to sum it up, Jeremie recently took on a new job that will require lots of traveling, our boys are still young, and our house project that turned into a BIG project and with all of this going on Jer and I both felt that it was only right to close the store, just too many new irons in the fire, and feels like somedays I'm treading water and I'm ready to drown. Its been a painful decision and is still very bittersweet to me, but all in all I know its for the best. I'm not saying I won't ever do this kind of thing again because I hope to, its just wrong timing right now. So as I am gradually telling people, you would think its getting easier... well its NOT, over the weekend I worked at the shop cleaning things up, I had great help... Billy!!! and my sister, Madonna came to help in the afternoon for awhile, it was very tough... I did the windows for one last time, started putting things together so we can open up to the public as a "close out" sale for a few weeks, I am working on a mailing for my mailing list- I owe it to them to let them and the community know what is going on. ( the closeout has no date yet... ) just very difficult to even think about. It's been a great last two years working and fulfilling a dream of mine, never imagined it would end so quickly but sometimes life has its way of working things out... so for now I will say good bye to the store and hold all the memories and good times deep in my heart.
Now on to a much happier note... our house is finally coming together, its VERY exciting for us!!! In the last few weeks the addition (our family room), the foyer, and the widows peek were added to the house, as well as new windows were installed, the skylights were put in last week... and this week when I went for my walk the new staircase is done now too... its a great feeling!!!!! So much to be done yet but we are ALOT further now then we were. Many people have been asking if we are moving... YES we are moving... to 605 Garfield St. SW, Cascade IA... NOT to Denver like rumors have it =) I will try to post a picture of the house on my next blog... (i would need to figure how to do that first)
Onto the boys in my life... well Mitchel will be 12!!!! next week YIKES!!!! teenage years are creeping up on me... He had a band solo earlier this week, he looked so grown up. He did a great job =) He is our sports addict as well =) Issac, he just turned 10 in February... he is so full of life and loves to be on the go if he is not busy playing his PSP, he loves to teach his little brother the "tricks of Issac's world"... For little Blade... who is now 3... so I guess I better stop calling him my little Blade, huh?? well he is so active, he has so much MILLER in him, between his brother Issac and his Godfather Kevin... he is just FULL of life like those two =) He just likes to be busy but there is a sweet side to him as well that everyone just loves. Blade has been "potty training" for the last 2-3 weeks, its going pretty well, he is into the 'big boy pants' so he will go potty on his own now but won't do the #2 yet... but that will take time, all in all its been going well.
For Mr. Jer well his world consist of contant "coding", conference calls, and travel- its the "MILLER" in him as well to be on the go =) If I could only "code"... what would that be like?? hrm... I wish I could help him with his many many task but I would have lots of learning to do first, so I will just be the "good wife" and take care of the homefront and the boys, and whatever else comes our way.
Now more of me... well goal is to loose 25-30 lbs. I want to be under the weight I was before I was pregnant with Blade.
It will require good eating habits for me as well as exercising... which the eating out numbers the exercising because I love to exercise, whether it be walking, treadmilling, or swimming, and weights. Its just I have been eating soo........... bad lately... when we go out to eat its chicken strips and fries 90% of the time, so guess what NO MORE CHICKEN STRIPS for LIS =) for those of you who eat out with me, yeh your probably shocked to hear that and laughing... but its long time for me to start eating healthy again!!!
So until I blog again, hope this finds everyone well, its time for Blade and I to get a walk in =) He loves to be outside, hope it warms up soon so he can ride his bike he got for Christmas, he hasn't forgotten that at all ...