Question Of The Week

When I was younger, I swore I'd never go to the movies alone. How pathetic! Now, I go once a week and prefer it this way.

When I was younger, I swore I'd never text. Pick up the phone and talk! Now, I text everyday.

When I was younger, I swore I'd never feed my kids pop tarts. I can't stand them. This much sugar in the morning seemed ridiculous to me. All sugary breakfast foods did.....doughnuts, honey buns, etc. Still do. Yet, I have bought a box here and there lately out of desperation for a quick meal.

Before I got married, I swore I'd never nag. And, although I insist that if he'd just DO WHAT I ASK WHEN I ASK IT, there wouldn't be a need. Yet, here we are making this list and I ask Blake the question......and he suggests I put nagging on my list. Isn't there something he should be doing right now?


So, my question to you......What do you do today, as an adult, that you swore you never would?

Scoop

Shannon reminded me that I need to choose a best "You Tell Me" caption, in the spirit of DListed and all things fabulous. So, I will today and each time I post a picture.

Drumroll, please.....

Sassafrass Jane:

"Casey began to take advantage of her son's love for trains. Today's train connection? A dog crate that looks 'just like a train car'. It even has a latched door!"

Good stuff, Sass. Lots of funny ones. Come back next week to play again.

Moving on with the Scoop...

We survived the week with sick kiddos. Lainey ended up legitimately sick after faking it for a few days. And, I'm here to tell you that fake-sick-Lainey is much more pleasant than real-sick-Lainey.

Every time she coughed, "I want Do-wah. I nee mehhhcin."

With tears.

And, drama.

We missed our new Bible Study class on Tuesday and Building Better Moms on Wednesday. Got out to take Carter to Religious Education one afternoon and took a quick trip to Costco. My kids despise Costco. I have no idea why. Jack immediately protests as soon as it's in sight. Weird.


In other news, one of my favorite authors died. JD Salinger. "The Catcher in the Rye" is one of my most treasured reads. I loved the main character so much that we considered naming Jack, "Holden" after Holden Caulfield. Also enjoyed "Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters". I liked his style of writing. Loved his characters. He was a weird guy who avoided fame. Liked that about him, too.


I got an offer at work to add some more hours. I know. Didn't realize I had a job, did you? I haven't said much about it because I've only been working 2 days a month. Adding a few more to that and I'll close the shop one night a week. I'm really enjoying it. Being around grown-ups is fun.....I love the job......and it coincides beautifully with my days at home with the children. Couldn't have worked out better!


We finally cut the mop. And, I mean, cut it. The hairdresser and most of the girls there begged us not to, but we did!

Before (the longest it's ever been):


After:


I prefer it long and suggested just a trim, but he wanted it short. We usually only cut the boys' hair twice a year......once, to get rid of the length (usually around Easter) and then another to clean it up (as needed for a big event). Otherwise, I like it to grow and think they look cute with it shaggy. Blake wants to try Jack's super short and possibly even spike the top.....but I'm afraid he'll look like a total blockhead. Carter did at his age with that haircut. We've been down that road before. And, it looked like this:


It's not pretty, people. But, I would like to see that little punk's face more. You know, when he's screaming, "Weave me AWONE!!!!!", I'll get the full effect.

Something to think about for sure.

You Tell Me

I'm borrowing this from the beloved DListed, my favorite gossip site on the web. Not for the easily offended reader.

Or, the offended reader.

He's raunchy and inappropriate and brilliantly funny.

So, like Michael K, I will ask you to caption a photo here and there.

This week is:



Give it a try!

My Darling Clementine

Who is this Caroline I speak of?

My sister.

My best friend.

My daughter's namesake.

My children's Godmother.

My absolute inspiration in life.

A few pictures of her with the punks:







I adored Caroline as a child and love her even more today, now that we're old ladies at 30 (her) and 35 (me).

About 9 years ago, Caroline started on a journey fighting a rare autoimmune disease called Scleroderma. Click here for an overview. In simple terms, "sclero" means hard and "derma" means skin. It toughens the skin, and can also lead to damages to internal organs. It's a vicious disease that Caroline handles with enormous strength and grace.

From Scleroderma, she derived a secondary disease called Pulmonary Hypertension, which affects her lungs and heart. It's a tough battle as well.

Both of these diseases have contributed to the need for more daily meds than you or I could fathom taking, a 24 hour medicine called Flolan administered directly to her heart via a catheter through her chest, and now kidney dialysis for 10 hours each night while she sleeps.

And, after she wakes, she proceeds with her normal life as a high school English teacher and peer leadership program coordinator. She works with students before and after school, attends high school games and inspires kids in a way I could only dream of. Caroline is the epitome of strength and courage and the will to live.

Allen High School, where she teaches, chose Caroline as their recipient of "Love Week". Each year, the school focuses on a person or group, sells t-shirts and the proceeds go directly to the recipient to use as they wish. In this case, Caroline will use the money for medical bills and other disease-related expenses.
The shirt design is precious.......Oh My Darling Clementine........which I absolutely love.



If you'd like a shirt, click on this link. They're selling sizes Youth Small to Adult 3XLarge. And, if you buy one or more....for you or your children....please, please, please leave a comment or send me an email and let me know. I have a little favor to ask of you.

starnesco@yahoo.com

For more pictures of Caroline, click here for her 30th birthday recap or on the label at the end of the post.

Here's to my darling clementine!!!!

Finding Strength

Seems like everyone, in some way or another, is struggling right now. Maybe it's the weather, the after-Christmas blah, the economy, the need for change.....

Whenever I seek inspiration, I think back to this video and have pulled it up more than once to remind myself of how lucky we are to have each other. Blogland is a weird place.....but from it, I've found a network of friends that I treasure. Add that to my family and real-life friends and I consider myself blessed.

I've posted it a couple times before and will continue to do so.....love this by Kelly Corrigan.....the book mentioned at the end if fabulous, too.

Our Newest Membership

Union Station's Science City, the Kansas City Rail Experience and the Planetarium. A Christmas gift from Pa and Mae Mae.......money well spent!

Love the building inside and out......you can see a small part of downtown peaking out from behind.



I took the kids into 2 of the 3 venues our membership provides.....first up, the Rail Experience.....a tribute to the American Railroad system.....way back when it began to unite our nation. Kansas City has a rich history here because of its location. Smack dab in the middle of the U.S.

Love this black and white mural......to think of the history of these buildings......so fascinating to me.

The caboose.

Train tunnel......spooky!

Jack was in heaven.



Love this sweet smile. He's so happy.

Both kids had to wear Jack's hat in order to be the conductor.....according to Jack, of course.





Into Science City next. So much to see and do.

They could have played here all day.....I had to pull them away from the wall.

Public Works......an interesting approach to teaching kids about the inner workings of a city.



Into the Body Tours and Half Pint Science.

Isn't this cool? Going through one of the body's veins.

A broader view of the multi-level museum. It's as pretty as it is fun.

We ventured from one part to another via this bridge. Lainey is always cautious......often won't get into an elevator because she's scared she'll fall into the 1 inch crack.

So, punkin Jack took her hand. Sweetness.



Here is the Sky Bike you saw Carter on in a previous post. Looks scary to me! The picture you saw was taken by Blake on a separate Mom-free visit......so I'll have to video the next time he does it to get the full effect.

The Astronaut Training Center.

Lainey's favorite.......the water table. She could have stayed here forever!

Super cool tree house.

Another favorite......the helicopter.



Digging for fossils.

Awesome, Jack. Can you hear him say, "Cheese"?



The Dino Lab.

Time to go. More pouting.

We'll be back, baby Laine.


We barely scraped the surface......can't wait to return and do more. It's a fabulous venue for kids of all ages. Love, love, love it!!!!!!