The "remember your pressure points, Captain" Edition

Yesterday morning I got a call from my sister-in-law. She is 33 weeks pregnant. She took a bad fall on Monday night and is in the hospital. Contracting.

Zoe and I went up last night for a visit. I needed to see she was okay, even though she was assuring me she was. Zoe needed to entertain her.

She is such a trooper. In the midst of pain, she still looked absolutely beautiful and sweet. I saw some of those contractions on the monitor and while I never experienced them myself, they looked long and painful. Which is why I felt the need to tell her she was contracting! Apparently when I watch them on the monitor, I have to inform her of what's going on. Like she wouldn't be the first to know!

She's still up there, listening to Micah and feeling those contractions. I may be an aunt again soon! Zoe may have a new member of the family to teach the ropes.

Good luck Bev. We're here for you every step of the way. Love you!

The Fanatic Edition

Last night was Monday. In our house, for the month of July, that means hockey night. I'm sure anyone can tell we're going to hockey by our attire. Either that or they think we have some blood circulation issue that requires us to wear jeans and sweatshirts in 90 degree heat.

Upon our arrival we saw T-Dog first. Although it was hard to tell it was him. He has no hair. None. His head is absolutely bald. Zoe thought it was the coolest thing to touch. She rubbed it for luck.

T-Dog, though, doesn't need luck. He's made of pure skill. Although that didn't stop Zoe from banging on the glass and yelling at him.

I have no idea where she gets it.

To make that easier, the rink installed a make-shift platform for her to sit on and yell. She loved it when T-Dog was in the net.

After T-Dog was done, he spent a little time with Zoe. Chasing her around. T-Dog got her laughing so hard she got the hiccups. Not to mention wearing her out! I've never been more excited to see a young person with so much energy before. I think I will have to buy him his first car or something for all his energy and help with Zoe.

If not a first car, perhaps some bubblegum.

While T-Dog was making his aunt a very happy woman, MJ was dominating the ice. Since he plays on a rep team, we don't have the opportunity to see him play much. Partly because traveling to Canada with a toddler doesn't seem fun and I've been lax on getting a passport.

He scored two goals last night. I'd like to think it's one for his favorite aunt and one for his littlest cousin.

It's such a blessing to be able to have Zoe grow up with her cousins. Anytime we mention that we're going to see them, everyone within a 50 block radius knows it. That girl has a set of pipes on her.

What better place to express her love, adoration and vocal abilities than the hockey rink.

Thanks MJ and T-Dog for a great night. I remember watching you learn to skate and then playing in scrimmages with you when I could still let you win. You are both growing into such wonderful boys and I'm so blessed to be a part of your life.

See you next Monday...on the ice. I'll bring the cheerleader with me too!

The whom shall I fear Edition

This weekend was terribly exhausting and emotional. Which is why I've been MIA.

Saturday was the funeral for Rose. I had been asked to read something she wrote to her grandchildren. It was an incredible honor to be asked. While I knew it would be hard, I had no idea how difficult it would be to stand up and read her words. She was a woman who loved her family and it showed.

After hearing her words, it made spending time with my family a little different. I wanted to take them in and let them know how much I cherished them.

What better way to show love than to take them to the pool for some swimming. We loaded up all three girls, lathered them with sunscreen and let them play. My sister and brother-in-law came too with their three boys. It was a blast. The kids went down the slide, dove off the diving board and lounged in the sun.

In addition to the swimming fun, N and I also got to spend some time with D & E talking. I have an ixthus tattooed on my heel. An ixthus is a Jesus fish. D & E asked me what it meant and I got a rare opportunity to really tell them about Jesus and what it means to accept Him into your heart.

Last night as N was tucking them into bed, they prayed. This is the first time they've embraced that.

God is working small miracles. I hope, when He calls me home, all three of my girls can say they'll see me again.

Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid.

Our Pink Ladies.

Our beach baby getting ready for some swimming.

All the gang (sans a tired toddler).

The Thankful Edition

I know it's Friday and I should be doing a Five Fave Friday post, however, I'm not feeling very top 5 today. Which, if you know me, is shocking.

Instead I feel it necessary to tell you all about a man in my life. My Dad.

I was born to a single mother. For the first years of my life, my grandfather played that critical role of male role model. However, another man entered my life when I was 7 and I had no idea then the impact he would have on me.

He started out as my pastor and my friend Ben's dad. He was the person who talked at the pulpit and greeted me, by name, in the foyer every Sunday.

When I was 10, he was the man who sat down with me and my mom to talk about the significance of baptism. A few weeks later he was the one who stood next to me in that water, prayed with me and promised he wouldn't let me drown.

That same year he was the man who comforted me and encouraged me when I lost my grandpa.

At 16 he sat with me and explained church membership. How important it is to be a member in a fellowship of believers.

He congratulated me for each of my graduations. I'm sure he was also praying for me during those transitions in life.

In my 20's he asked if he could take on the role of honorary dad to me. I jumped at the opportunity to have a dad. I realize this was just a formal technicality. He had been playing that role for a majority of my life.

He counseled N and I before we got married. He even performed part of the ceremony. He talked about the importance God placed on marriage and His role in our life together.

He prayed for me when I gave birth to a 2lb, 10 oz baby girl and almost lost my life. He sent encouragement cards and reminded me he was praying for us.

When we moved back to our hometown, he counseled N and I when our marriage was nearing an end. He prayed for us and rejoiced with us when our marriage become the strongest it's ever been.

While he may no longer be my pastor, he will always be my dad. Thank you for being such a part of my life. For your encouragement, your example, your participation in my life, your prayers and for teaching me the game of golf!

I am forever blessed by you. I can't wait for lunch again. The day always seems a little more joyous when I've been able to spend a moment with you.



I love you Dad B!

The you ain't watching my baby Edition

I rarely watch television. I don't have a DVR, so any shows that I want to watch I either have to 1) stay up late to catch it, 2) wait for reruns and hope I have more energy or 3) wait for the season's DVD to come out.

Granted most of the shows I really enjoy are on Bravo, so catching reruns aren't hard. However, shows like The Office and So You Think You Can Dance just have to wait.

Last night I made an exception to my rule. Actually I got sucked in. I saw a preview for the Baby Borrowers. My mom was interested in it and a couple weeks ago my friend Steph commented on it. I lost some sleep to catch this show.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain. The Baby Borrowers is a reality show on NBC. Five teenage couples (I use the term couples loosely as they're still teenagers) are put up in a house to play house. Most of these "couples" want to have kids and think it'll be easy. Five real families donate their children to this experiment. For 3 days and 2 nights the teenagers care for the children. They experience what it's really like to have kids.

The parents of the kids watch on monitors to see what's going on with their children. Each house has a secret nanny for when someone needs to step in.

After the 3 days and 2 nights, the actual parents come to give a review to each of the couples.

Last week they got babies. You want to see a meltdown on national television, get some arrogant teenager, make them lose precious sleep from a crying baby and then make them go to work. I thought two of the girls were going to actually need some therapy in the form of a good slap to the face. They got nasty. Welcome to the world of babies! It's like totally not like about you anymore, you know?

What surprised me is that the teenage boys really stepped up to the plate and took care of the babies. I was impressed with them.

That's where I stopped liking the show.

This week the teenage "couples" got toddlers. Most of the toddlers were around age 2. We've got meltdowns, potty training, etc. Some of the "couples" got twins or siblings. It was like a double whammy. It was like Press Your Luck. No whammies, no whammies, no whammies. Then the little cartoon whammy comes on stage they lose all their money. In this case they lost sanity. This phase almost broke every "couple."

What shocked me was how horrible some of the girls treated these children. One girl, Morgan, should attend some classes on acceptible handling of another human. Also, perhaps a class how to change a diaper. This girl is unreal. I know she makes for good television drama, but I was mad. She dragged a kid across the floor by his hand. Then at the parent's review, the parents congratulated them. Their son wasn't taken care of, it makes you wonder what kind of parents they are.

The whole thing actually ticked me off. Here's my reasons:

1) These teenagers range in age from 18-20 and they're shacking up. I'm sorry, but if my 18 year old daughter had been dating her boyfriend from, you know, like 8th grade, I still wouldn't be okay with them living together at 18.

2) The language these kids use around the children is unacceptable. You don't drop the f-bomb around a small child because you're ticked off they didn't make it to the potty. That's never okay in my book.

3) What kind of parents drop off their 2 year old child, who doesn't understand what's going on? After seeing some of these kids and how they treated the kids, I would've walked across that cul-de-sac and taken my child back. Yet most of these parents laughed.

4) It's not real. There is a reason the love you have for your child is the way it is. It's undescribable. If you didn't have this love for your child, you would act like those arrogant teenagers.

While I think it's a great learning experience for the teenagers, it just seems to go against most of my values. While there were times when the potty training accidents happened that I laughed at the teenagers responses, I'm totally disappointed in this show.

Maybe they need to do this more as a follow-up to Engaged & Underage on MTV. Now you're 19 and married, are you really ready for a family. Rather than picking some snotty college freshman who think kids are like totally easy and like I can still like, you know, like go get my nails filled and like grab some like Starbucks on the way to like lunch with like my friends.

All I can say is I'm glad next Wednesday is the 16th and Project Runway starts again. That's some good TV.

The save it for the ice Edition

My family is somewhat unAmerican. Don't get me wrong, we love the US of A. There is no other country we would want to live in.

However, I think part of our DNA is Canadian. I can't confirm this through any genetics. If you look at our sports, we are Canadians. Specifically hockey fans. Where else can you play that great sport except in the Great White North.

Or Alaska. Maybe we're not totally unAmerican. There was that great Russell Crowe movie Mystery, Alaska so maybe we're just lost inhabitants of Mystery.

You get us in an arena with some hockey players and we don't hold back. I've lost my voice more than once injecting my opinions.

The ice skates I own are hockey skates. Figure skates are for sissies.

Don't even start talking trash during the Stanely Cup or about our Redwings.

My nephews have the fever. They've been skating almost as long as they've been walking. One of the songs that used to put them to sleep was "Oh, Canada". It worked every time.

Yes I know their national anthem. Yes I'm proud.

Why all this talk about hockey during the summer? The ice doesn't melt my friends. Hockey in the summer is the best entertainment and break from the heat.

This week we had the honor of cheering on my nephew Tyler. Although he prefers to be called T-Dog on the ice. It's WAY more intimidating that his birth name.

Every Monday night T-Dog and my oldest nephew MJ (that's his ice name) play a couple scrimmages. MJ's in Canada at a hockey camp, so it was just T-Dog this week.

T-Dog had invited Zoe to the game. Since she can't drive, I got to go too.

I tell you, this kid is good. He's controlled, fearless and pure energy. It's been awhile since I've seen him play, but I was totally blown away by his talent. I'm not even being a little biased.

He also has a very loud cheerleader. Zoe was completely enthralled with T-Dog. She would yell and she would point her finger when giving strict instructions.

When T-Dog came off the ice, she couldn't get to him fast enough. I think she loves her cousin.

And some hockey.

I couldn't be prouder of either one.

The "it's better than McJob" Edition

Every year the people that write the dictionary (I'm sure it's some fancy word like "author" or "wordsmith") come up with new words that have to be added. They also list out what year the word was originally used.

Those dictionary authors or wordsmiths are way behind!

Within the last few years words like McJob have been added. Which I'm sure had Merriam and Webster rolling in their graves. Not to mention those Dawson Creek kids rolling their eyes.

Who uses the word McJob enough that it needs to be added to the dictionary?

Perhaps I'm old and am still using the term minimum wage instead. Like, that was so yesterday!

You can view the whole list here, but I'm going to share with you my favorites. Quite frankly, I'm a little shocked some of these have never been in the dictionary before. All those Scrabble players have been missing out.

Air quotes - (1989): gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands, used to call attention to a spoken word or expression.

I think they must've needed to "add" this after the Friends episode when Joey kept using them "wrong". Like for "thank you" and "I'm sorry." This has only been around since 1989, so I'm sure when they did it on "Friends" not a single person got it. Thank goodness for the laugh track!

Racino - (1995): racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers.

I had no idea these places even existed. Perhaps they're located in some state far away like Nevada or Louisiana! They should also include a map and some coupons for the buffet.

Texas Hold 'em - (1995): Poker in which each player is dealt two cards face down and all players share five cards dealt face-up.

When did they start putting in game titles to the dictionary? I looked up Candyland, Trouble and Hungry Hungry Hippo, but didn't have any luck. How will I ever know how to play those games!

Mental health day - (1971): day that an employee takes off from work to relieve stress or renew vitality.

If it's in Webster's, we will definitely need to start getting some of these days in addition to sick time and vacation.

My personal favorite:

Mondegreen - (1954): word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung. From the mishearing in a Scottish ballad of "laid him on the green" as "Lady Mondegreen."

I had no idea that my inability to decipher song lyrics had a name! I'm a mondegreen. Actually I could be Lady Mondegreen! You have no idea how many songs in the 80's and 90's that I had no clue what was being said.

Corey Hart's Sunglasses at Night doesn't really make any sense to me. For the longest time I would just sing "I wear my sunglasses at night so I can so I can sssssssseeeeeeeeeeee."

I always thought the Go-Go's My Lips Are Sealed was Honest Lucille.

Paula Abdul's Straight Up created many heated discussions with friends if she was saying "or am I a page in your history...look, I don't mean to make demands" or "am I a page in your history book, I don't mean to make demands." I eventually was proved right thanks to the internet.

Snow's Informer is completely lost on me. I swear he says something about a boom-boom, but that's about all I can decipher.

Forget anything by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

My aunt used to think that Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel was Johnny H-A-L. She'd sing it loud and proud. I come by this talent legitimately.

I'm so glad there is a name for all of us singing the wrong lyrics all this time.

At least now I have an excuse for not learning the lyrics. Sorry, I'm just a mondegreen!