December 31, 2007

* taking the time to figure out a budget
* our new fish tank set up
* making cookies with the girls

December 30, 2007

* Jean's shortbread recipe
* Bar Louie hamburgers
* chatting with Bridgette & Luke

December 29, 2007

* Nora's excitement over her birthday party
* our own room at Devono's
* Ryann getting to spend some alone time with daddy

December 28, 2007

* an early morning phone call from a friend that I haven't talked to in a looong time

* a helpful fish sales guy who actually has a clue about which he speaks

* Dave giving the girls a bath, putting them to bed and picking up the family room so I could make my calls

December 27, 2007

* time spent reading
* Dave being home so I could take Georgia to the doctor by herself
* Ryann's new coat

December 26, 2007

* a day of playing games and watching movies - and no other agenda or plans
* the fun the girls had playing with all of their new stuff
* ibuprofin that helped Georgia finally fall asleep for the night

December 25, 2007

* being able to go to Christmas Eve service
* spending time with the Fulmer's after church
* the anticipation of Santa

December 24, 2007

* going out for breakfast alone with Dave
* Nora running around the house saying "They should be here by now!"
* hanging out with my mom & dad and sister and brother in-law and nephews with nothing limiting our time

December 23, 2007

* spending some time working in the morning and having it be very productive (9 pu scheduled)
* a drive to Michigan that flew by before I knew it
* time to hang out with my cousins

December 22, 2007

* a short trip to the ER

* Nathan lending me his cell phone

* Planet Earth

December 21, 2007

* the gateway customer service girl that helped me
* an easy return
* the super cute shoes I found for Ryann

December 20, 2007

* time to sit and chat with Dave
* the girls finally going to bed
* Nora and Ryann having a chance to go play with Nate and Nolan

December 19, 2007

* dinner at Choo Choo Johnny's with Dave's family
* watching Papa dance with the girls
* Georgia having fun on the train

December 18, 2007

*getting all of Dave's truffles done
*getting the new computer up and back online
*find out the fun news from next door

December 17, 2007

* Dave getting to Best Buy just in time to get the last laptop for $399
* a fun day celebrating Christmas with the family
* everyone being okay with me staying home from looking at lights so I could clean up the house

December 16, 2007

* being able to make phone calls for 1 1/2 hours in the morning
* everyone being willing to have the girls stay at the party while Dave and I went to church
* being able to spend some time with the Dykstra family

December 15, 2007

* Dave's cousin being available to babysit on short notice
* dinner with Doug and the boys
* a helpful sales person

December 14, 2007

* Dave being willing to go out right away to buy a new computer
* bath night
* clean pajamas

December 13, 2007

* super Walmart
* crustless protein pumpkin pie
* Nora's help in picking up the family room

December 12, 2007

* low(ish) cholesterol (210)
* getting my christmas shopping finished
* sitting at starbucks and reading my book

December 11, 2007

* getting my cards ordered
* getting the truffles done and how they turned out
* Dave being patient while I put them together

December 10, 2007

* Brady
* a lady giving me a dollar at Learning Express so I could get my game for free
* playing Zingo with Nora and Ryann

December 8, 2007

* Me and Nora's first mom/daughter christmas shopping trip ending with lunch/cookies and talking
* my new pink fuzzy robe - free gift with purchase
* being able to go to Nathan's play

December 7, 2007

* Eloise movies
* movie and popcorn night with the girls
* Dave going out to get me a salad

December 7, 2007

* Georgia stomping her feet in her crib when she saw me in the morning
* Trader Joe's tomato soup
* Ryann combing my hair

December 6, 2007

* Dave coming home earlier than expected

* a safe drive home for him

* taking the girls to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast

December 5, 2007

* soft, fluffy, pretty snow
* reading time with the girls
* Dave learning what he needs during this trip

December 4, 2007

* a very, very pleasant day around here
* no one being upset that Dave is gone
* Dave calling back so Nora could talk to him

December 3, 2007

* a safe trip to St. Louis for Dave
* Dave picking up the family room before he left
* our small group

December 2, 2007

* pumpkin ice cream
* the girls helping me make snacks for small group
* having a new Baby Tad stored in the basement

December 1, 2007

* new christmas cds
* Nora's excitement over school stuff
* Ryann's shyness

November 30, 2007

* freshly bathed girls in snuggly pajamas
* Ryann being the kissing helper
* Nora's genuine sweetness

November 29, 2007

* being able to leave the house last night
* getting the rest of my Christmas shopping done
* Georgia's curiosity

November 28, 2007

* a friend willing to hear my ranting about the continuous destruction wrought by Georgia
* an hour out of the house when I needed it
* our new gym being assembled

November 27, 2007

* the girls going back to school
* getting the Christmas decorations up
* Dave going to the grocery store for me

November 26, 2007

* finally getting some stuff up on ebay
* seeing the ad for the amazing home gym that we ended up buying
* Dave putting up the tree and the lights

November 25, 2007

* a weekend so long I feel like it should have been over two days ago
* Gong Ho
* Cookie Monsters at Cheddar's

November 24, 2007

* short naps in the car
* seeing the tree downtown being lit
* coming home in time to get everyone to bed on time

November 23, 2007

* a safe drive to Michigan - even through slushy lake effect snow
* wrestling with my nephews
* hanging out with my family

November 22, 2007

* being able to see Ryann perform at her feast
* casual conversations with other parents who are as uncomfortable as I am
* Dave getting his appointments switched around

November 21, 2007

* home exercise equipment
* books
* clothes

November 20, 2007

* parent teacher conferences
* how much Nora enjoys school
* "she is such a delight - she really makes my day everyday"

November 19, 2007

* Dave running to Aldi for me
* how excited the girls are for our small group meetings
* Maria's apple cranberry pie

November 18, 2007

* no plans, no working, nothing to do all day on Saturday
* the smell of burning leaves
* finally feeling comfortable and welcome and not awkward at the EJ holiday party

November 17, 2007

* getting all christmas shopping for every kid in our lives done
* having it all wrapped by the store
* getting home in time to hang out with Dave

November 16, 2007

* Dave picking Ryann up from school
* Nora having fun jumping in the leaves at Nolan's house
* sleeping in

November 15, 2007

* free tickets to see Daughtry
* free babysitting
* the drive into the city taking only 1:45 and not 2 hours

November 14, 2007

* a mid-afternoon visit from Doug, Jenny & the Boys
* crustless pumpkin pie
* how well-behaved the girls were at the doctor's office

November 13, 2007

* being able to see Georgia's fascination with the cat at the groomer
* Georgia and Ryann playing so nicely together
* Nora saying that she liked having a day off of school so that she could hang out with her sisters

November 12, 2007

* Cornbread having a chance to ride a bike on the 355 extension
* our military
* Ryann's help at church

November 11, 2007

* getting my floors mopped
* a day at the craft fair with my mother-in-law
* the circus!!!!!

November 10, 2007

* Georgia throwing her head back and laughing every time we say, "Who's 2 today?"

* Georgia reigning supreme on the slide at the moon & stars - yelling at anyone who dares to come close to it

* Brady helping Georgia open her presents

November 9, 2007

* Georgia Nicole Dykstra
* pre-planning
* eggs

November 8, 2007

* Nora's excitement about calling her friend to say happy birthday
* a chat with a friend
* warm pajamas

November 7, 2007

* Nora taking a shower all by herself

* Ryann's new coat

* Georgia's energy (I swear I am - I am, really)

November 6, 2007

* how much fun Nora has at physical therapy
* Georgia's bedtime routine
* Ryann's chatter on the way home from school

November 5, 2007

* being able to remove the virus on our computer
* getting to know our small group
* Nora "getting it" when we had a talk with her

November 4, 2007

* a good dentist visit
* my new rug for the foyer
* getting the foyer, the foyer trim and the foyer ceiling painted and having a new room

November 3, 2007

* angled paint brushes
* Friday Night Lights
* our new fish

November 2, 2007

* the girls basically forgetting about their halloween candy
* bedtime routines
* Cornbread helping me out with Nora's physical therapy

November 1, 2007

* Little Red Riding Hood
* Raggedy Anne
* a Strawberry

October 31, 2007

* Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
* remembering to threaten my weights
* Nora having fun at physical therapy

October 30, 2007

* a nice evening with new friends
* cheap halloween treat bags
* Cornbread's help in putting the treat bags together

October 29, 2007

* our small group
* time to hang out with Nathan
* omelets

October 28, 2007

* my parents driving my sister and brother in law down for dinner
* Doug & Jenny babysitting
* how much fun we all have when we're together

October 27, 2007

* meeting Cornbread's client
* someone else wanting to live a simpler life
* coffee time with a friend

October 26, 2007

* MY WHOLE HOUSE IS CLEAN!! (yes, it is)
* flannel sheets
* thursday night tv

October 25, 2007

* not having to wait for all of the people in the waiting room to be called before we got called
* a box of tic tacs that kept Ryann and Georgia occupied for a while in the waiting room
* Dr. Moran

October 24, 2007

* The Message translation of the Bible
* getting a week off of my job
* bath time

October 23, 2007

* time to talk with a friend
* reaching goals
* healthy, strong legs that can run

October 22, 2007

* getting Cornbread's office painted
* getting home in time to watch a movie with Cornbread and the girls
* Sunday morning pancakes

October 21, 2007

* an amazing sermon at church

* honest conversations

* painting by myself for an afternoon

October 20, 2007

* my whole house being clean at once
* not having to go out for a beer at 10:00
* being able to play around with all three girls on the floor

October 19, 2007

* Cornbread moving up his appointment so he could be home for dinner

* Cornbread cancelling our dinner plans for tomorrow night so we can hang out together instead

* Georgia being back to her sweet self instead of the monster she has been for the previous 2+ days

October 18, 2007

* my wonderfully clean room
* books on cd
* nora's giggles

October 17, 2007

* Ryann taking a MUCH NEEDED 3 hour nap
* Nora losing her first tooth
* running a mile without stopping

October 16, 2007

* working out again
* the ipod
* a nice dinner with me and the girls

October 15, 2007

* getting my closet and Cornbread's closet purged
* taking the time to plan out my next challenge
* being able to renew my library book over the phone

October 14, 2007

* being able to go to church after being gone for a couple of weeks in a row
* super walmart and a 2 hour "research" visit
* grassano's pizza

October 13, 2007

* an evening with Georgia, at home, by myself
* Nora not having any pain
* getting my ironing done

October 12, 2007

* Doug and Jenny having Ryann and Georgia over night
* witnessing 15 minutes of seeing Nora giggling on Versed
* her super awesome recovery from surgery - we would have never known she had had surgery by 3pm that day

October 11, 2007

* dinner with just Nora and Cornbread
* memories of our wedding day
* time to hang out and chat with Doug

October 10, 2007

* Cornbread (happy anniversary)
* Cornbread taking over the bills
* Nora trying so hard to get a goal in her last soccer game and her coach doing everything possible to help her out

October 9, 2007

* a really fun trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo
* Georgia's screeches every time she saw a new animal
* how active the animals were even in the heat and humidity

October 8, 2007

* walking to breakfast

* a picnic at the park with my parents, my sister, my BIL, my nephews and my grandparents (and my girls)

* getting home early enough to chat with neighbors, get unpacked, get the girls to bed on time and relax some more

October 7, 2007

* a day of walking around and perusing the shops on Phoenix Street
* massages
* conversations with store owners

October 6, 2007

* my parents being willing to watch the girls for a whole weekend so we could stay at a friend's beach condo in South Haven alone
* a surprise gift of Dom Perignon in the fridge when we got there
* the luxurious towels and bedding at their place

October 5, 2007

* Nora's continued excitement about riding the bus
* Ryann having fun at the pumpkin farm
* thursday night tv

October 4, 2007

* Nora getting on the bus on time
* my clean(er) bedroom
* our treadmill

October 3, 2007

* a better day with Georgia
* time to workout in the afternoon
* Ryann telling us she had to go potty before we got onto the soccer field and not during the game like previous games

October 2, 2007

* getting my kitchen really clean
* Georgia's $3.99 pajamas
* bedtime prayers

October 1, 2007

* waking up without an alarm
* breakfast with the Fulmer's & Georgia
* doing nothing but watching tv all day

September 30, 2007

* no agenda
* no one waiting for me
* no one else to be responsible for

September 29, 2007

* nora feeling good enough to go to school
* ryann's excitement over getting her haircut
* running 2 miles

September 28, 2007

* Ryann playing more bouncy lotsa lotsa this week than ever before - even if she dribbled the ball toward the wrong goal (twice)
* getting my family room picked up and the toys sorted (finally)
* being able to sit down and watch tv at 8pm with no interruptions

September 27, 2007

* Nora not being scared at the doctor's office
* Ryann being fine with staying with the receptionist while I went in with Nora to get xrays
* Jenny playing with Georgia while we went to the doctor

September 26, 2007

* everyone being healthy again
* the mess in our house
* Ryann's sense of humor

September 25, 2007

* being able to do nothing but watch tv all day after being up all night changing Georgia's sheets (multiple times)
* Nora's fever going away in the evening
* Ryann not being sick

September 24, 2007

* My sister
* Dave having an opportunity to play soccer and we could watch him
* finally being able to sit after a really busy day

September 23, 2007

* Dave coming home and telling me to leave
* a day of painting
* a date with my husband

September 22, 2007

* a date with Georgia to Home Depot
* somehow remaining calm during all of the mishaps while I was trying to make my breakfast
* hanging out with Dave and Georgia in the afternoon

September 21, 2007

* a surprise baby (for a friend)
* Georgia's pigtails
* Ryann playing bouncy lotsa lotsa this week - she actually played for more than 30 seconds

September 20, 2007

* a night at home without anywhere to go
* Mr. Clean magic eraser
* washable crayons

September 19, 2007

* getting Ryann's and Georgia's clothes mostly switched out

* Georgia's "artistic" addition to our wall

* time to just sit down in the afternoon

September 18, 2007

* getting my house picked up
* getting some "extra" garbage to the curb
* having the energy to get some stuff done before I went to bed

September 17, 2007

* a quiet, relaxing morning
* Burlington Coat Factory
* our new small group

September 16, 2007

* being able to go to church on Saturday night again
* The Kerry Piper
* Grandma Fulmer

September 15, 2007

* cornbread taking me out on a date to the ballpark
* willpower
* a white sox winner

September 14, 2007

* Nora's excitement over her loose tooth
* Ryann's talking on the way home from school
* Georgia's goofiness

September 13, 2007

* Cornbread choosing to come home last night instead doing bingo
* a new red "communication" folder in Ryann's backpack
* having my ironing all caught up and staying caught up

September 12, 2007

* the fun Nora has playing soccer
* the fun we have watching Nora play soccer
* a snuggly buggly

September 11, 2007

* sitting down to watch a movie by myself in the afternoon
* giving myself a (crappy) pedicure
* no screaming when Ryann's toenail came off

September 10, 2007

* beautiful weather
* finally going to church after not being able to go for 2 or 3 weeks
* Jimmy Johns

September 9, 2007

* a trip to the grocery store with Ryann
* an evening with new friends
* having the windows open again

September 8, 2007

* another rainbow
* watching Ryann play soccer (for the couple of minutes that she would)
* Nora earning a green ticket and winning a prize

September 7, 2007

* finally talking with bfww
* the girls' imaginations
* rainbows

September 6, 2007

* getting a second workout in in the afternoon
* lots and lots (and lots) of fresh tomatos
* catching quiet moments of love between the girls

September 5, 2007

* the smile on Ryann's face as she went to her first day of school and the bigger one on her face when she came home
* how cute she looked with a backpack on her back that was bigger than she is
* the smile on Nora's face as she played soccer

September 4, 2007

* Georgia's pleasant demeanor even though she hardly napped for 3 days straight
* band aids in my purse
* annual weekends that create memories for the girls that will last a lifetime

September 3, 2007

* my children's father
* a day with no agenda, but to play with the girls, read a book and look at the water
* my parents coming out to spend some time with us

September 2, 2007

* not being in a rush to leave
* no traffic
* my gram and gramps

September 1, 2007

* getting most of my stuff done
* the anticipation of the weekend
* an hour at the library reading mindless magazines

August 31, 2007

* my mother in law
* beautiful weather
* Ryann playing bouncy lotsa lotsa, Cornbread coaching and Nora helping

August 30, 2007

* Nora missing her mom
* no storms
* fresh tomatos

August 29, 2007

* Nora's excitement about it being her first bus day
* Nolan waiting with me for her bus in the afternoon
* working out with Cornbread

August 28, 2007

* kindergarten orientation
* Nora's cute little haircut
* puzzles

August 27, 2007

* the summer birthday picnic
* getting Georgia to bed
* watching Cornbread play soccer

August 26, 2007

* finally getting out of Indiana
* the rain stopping
* the tons of fun the girls had at the fair

August 25, 2007

* the boys finally coming home after the girls stalked their house for hours
* quick grocery trips
* baths

August 24, 2007

* a dry basement
* a sturdy house
* no trees uprooted

August 23, 2007

* enough dry weather to hang out on the deck with Michelle for the entire afternoon
* chatting with Carissa for a while
* knowledge about eating healthy

August 22, 2007

* Nana taking Nora and Ryann shopping for a school outfit
* the smile on Ryann's face as she left with daddy to go to her White Sox game
* watching Nora play soccer (or bouncy lotsa lotsa)

August 21, 2007

* the girls playing so nicely together
* NOLAN AND NATE ARE HOME!
* a nice dinner with in-laws and aunt & uncle and grandma

August 20, 2007

* an awesome sermon
* getting soaked on the way to the car from church
* a tent in our family room

August 19, 2007

* a day without children so I could focus on cleaning the house
* a clean house
* s'mores and campfires

August 18, 2007

* High School Musical 2 movie night with the girls
* library books
* baths

August 17, 2007

* a free way to workout
* our new treadmill
* SYTYCD

August 16, 2007

*conversations with Nora about me breaking my glass when I had her

* conversations with Ryann about when the nurse put the noodle in her arm

* ryann swimming without being touched (for a few seconds, but it was progress)

August 15, 2007

* My BFWW (Happy Birthday!)
* news that Ryann can go to preschool 5 days/week for free next year and the following year
* finally getting the boxes downstairs

August 14, 2007

* one last week of summer camp for Nora
* band-aids
* our beach ball sprinkler

August 13, 2007

* getting all of my grocery shopping done
* emails from friends
* a day off from working out

August 12, 2007

* Nathan Fulmer(16)
* a chance to hang out with Mark and Heather
* time alone with Nora buying school supplies

August 11, 2007

* reading on my laptop outside
* watching animaniacs with the girls
* the fun we all had at the schaumburg flyers game

August 10, 2007

* more names / a kind of new route
* sitting down to watch a movie with the girls
* getting a couple of shirts ironed

August 9, 2007

* spending some alone time with Georgia
* my clean basement
* a free way to workout

August 8, 2007

* a no tv day and listening to the girls play together all day
* tomatos from my garden
* michelle being willing to take my bf%

August 7, 2007

* Mark Meskimen & Betsy Noort
* cornbread finally being back to himself and not having a fever
* mentioning to michelle that I was going to get new running shoes and her telling me about the deal at sports authority

August 6, 2007

* Joseph David Curry
* the girls playing together all day so I could read all day
* harrison's thai chicken wings

August 5, 2007

* sitting in the library and reading mindless magazines
* cornbread feeling well enough to go to church
* the look on Georgia's face as she walks up the stairs at church anticipating seeing David

August 4, 2007

* doug & jenny having the girls over night
* fast procedures
* being able to get my workout in before picking up the girls

August 3, 2007

* snuggling on the couch before breakfast
* flu medicine for Dave
* water balloons

August 2, 2007

* quiet time
* Nora getting her cast off!
* going to bed on time

August 1, 2007

* floaties and life jackets
* neighborhood friends - for us and the girls
* Parkview Christian Church

July 31, 2007

* getting my ironing done
* the fun Nora is having at VBS
* Ryann and Nate being one and the same

July 30, 2007

* cereal and milk
* Nora having such a great time at VBS and seeing it on her face when she got home
* Ryann

July 29, 2007

* a laid back morning
* Nora's excitement during VBS service
* fun dinner with Doug and Jenny

July 28, 2007

* the neti pot
* nyquil sinus
* the computer

July 27, 2007

* healthy children
* a wonderful marriage
* too many blessings to count

July 26, 2007

* Doug & the boys watching Ryann and Georgia so I could take Nora to the doctor alone
* good conversations that don't include arguing
* Jenny

July 25, 2007

* a really good turnout for a check-up and shots x3
* God providing the business cornbread needed to make his bonus
* my mom coming, playing with the girls while I picked up the house and then chatting with her after they went to bed

July 24, 2007

* getting some laundry folded
* the doctor's office lady not being rude
* a night out with cornbread, john and michelle

July 23, 2007

* Nora's excitement over receiving her tball trophy
* being able to watch Georgia eat cotton candy for the first time
* conversations with Ryann about when she became a big girl

July 22, 2007

* cornbread taking an unexpected day off
* an impromptu lunch and shopping expedition with Michelle
* cheap IKEA crap

July 21, 2007

* finally getting the side door painted
* a trip to the library with Ryann
* Soccer = "Bouncy Lotsa Lotsa" (Ryann)

July 20, 2007

* never having to deal with a flooded basement
* being able to help john and michelle with their flooded basement
* getting Ryann's closet finished

July 19, 2007

* one closet down, one to go (for now)
* talking to BFF on the phone
* watching Ryann and Georgia play with a puppy

July 18, 2007

* leftover paint
* pre-made chicken for dinner
* the vidalia onion chopper

July 17, 2007

* the boys next door being as obsessed with my girls as my girls are with them
* compost
* fiction books

July 16, 2007

* Sunday morning snuggle time in bed
* getting most of our food prepared for the week
* ice cream dates with Nora and Ryann

July 15, 2007

* a day with no agenda
* the girls finally being able to play with Nate and Nolan after church
* going to bed early even on a saturday night

July 14, 2007

* the most beautiful weather ever
* Cookie By Design cookies
* actually enjoying a Jack Black movie (School of Rock)

July 13, 2007

* a competent surgeon and a short surgery
* tylenol with codeine
* Nora wanting to play next door when she got home at 11:30

July 12, 2007

* the girls being really, really good when I took all three to the grocery store with me
* getting everything I needed to get done finished by 3 so I could sit outside with Michelle
* Georgia's reaction to the name Dave and the sight of Dave

July 11, 2007

* getting every single piece of laundry washed, dried, folded/hung up/ironed and put away!
* clean pillows
* seeing michelle and the boys after several days of not seeing them

July 10, 2007

* the cotton ball tower that Georgia built on Cornbread's face while he was sick and sleeping
* a morning bath for the girls
* going to sleep early

July 9, 2007

* pancakes with the boys
* my newly burned mixed cd's
* how well cornbread took care of me and the girls while i was sick with the flu

July 8, 2007

* bulgarian split squats
* cornbread accidently popping the hood of the car (when he went to close it he found $20 on the ground)
* sitting outside at ColdStone with Cornbread talking and laughing

* nora being brave at the doctor's office
* a new glow in the dark, hard cast
* orland park public library

July 6, 2007

* nora being able to go to a white sox game with her daddy and eating lots and lots of treats
* ryann understanding (later) that she'll get a turn
* cornbread

July 5, 2007

* a clean garage
* being able to sleep in
* an hour nap

July 4, 2007

* Aunt Jan taking care of Ryann and Georgia while I took Nora to the doctor for xrays
* Chicago fireworks
* finally getting to sleep for longer than 20 minutes (at 4:30am)

July 3, 2007

* the nicest weather anyone could ever ask for
* keeping up with my ironing
* the girls playing so well together

July 2, 2007

* nora being able to play with Nolan today, which lifted her spirits a lot
* having a picked up house by the end of the day
* finding Georgia soon after she took off all of her clothes and her diaper - soon enough that she hadn't made a complete mess of her crib

July 1, 2007

* getting my bedroom curtains ironed and put back on the wall
* being able to workout while cornbread put the girls to bed
* a mostly comfortable day for nora

June 30, 2007

* being fast-tracked into the er/xrays
* John and Michelle being willing to have Ryann and Georgia over night
* Nora being so brave

June 29, 2007

* nolan, david and nathan coming over for dinner
* georgia's long afternoon nap
* cornbread coming home just in time to pick up after dinner and do the dishes

June 28, 2007

* morning thunderstorms
* an opportunity to volunteer my time
* reading a book in less than 24 hours

June 27, 2007

* our new beach ball sprinkler and the water slide the kids made
* the girls having friends next door
* the OPPL

June 26, 2007

* a fun tball game
* getting back to mine and michelle's daily hang out in the sun routine
* swimming with the girls

June 25, 2007

* an amazing weekend
* Edward Jones
* positive, friendly, encouraging partners and spouses

June 24, 2007

* actually having fun at the awards dinner thanks to our tablemates
* an afternoon of reading in the hot tub
* a 2 hour nap at 10am

June 23, 2007

* reading a fiction book without interruption
* my new casual dressy skirt outfit with peekaboo high heels
* fast pitch softball batting cages

June 22, 2007

* getting out of the house on time
* having a two bedroom condo to ourselves for 3 nights
* meeting John S after hearing about him for 2 1/2 years

June 21, 2007

* nora's all day field trip to the "harbornation" (or the arboretum)
* ryann's field trip to Doug's
* pedicure's

June 20, 2007

* woof getting his haircut
* georgia's awesome giggles when she saw him for this first time after his hair was cut
* getting 5 loads of laundry washed, dried, folded and put away!

June 19, 2007

* nora's tball game being rained out
* the girls playing so well together all day
* woof not running anymore when he gets loose

June 18, 2007

* church and lunch with my parents
* things that have changed their lives and the way it has positively impacted ours
* beer and pizza with john and michelle on their back porch

June 17, 2007

* talking with cornbread over coffee in the morning
* georgia's chive, ash & water stew
* my mom and dad coming over for dinner

June 16, 2007

* movie night with the girls and cornbread
* water
* my tomato plants not dying this time

June 15, 2007

* cicadas in our back yard providing hours of fun for the kids
* a pansy dog who is scared to go outside because of the cicadas
* the girls picking up their toys

June 14, 2007

* nora and ryann going to doug and jenny's for the afternoon
* no one questioning me when ryann wore a big, huge, hot sweater to Aldi when it was 85 degrees outside
* cucumber and tomato salad

June 13, 2007

* a family walk after dinner
* reading outside
* cicadas in our backyard so the girls can experience them (and me too)

June 12, 2007

* getting the last closet doors painted
* getting my backyard wed
* my sister

June 11, 2007

* carissa calling us to let us know about matt's grandpa so we could go to the wake
* nora suggesting we just have ice cream at home instead of bringing screaming georgia into an ice cream parlor
* sunday mornings at home with our family

June 10, 2007

* cornbread bringing nora and ryann to the office for the whole morning and most of the afternoon
* the opportunity to sponsor two african children
* an amazing church

June 9, 2007

* My mom (Happy Birthday!)
* Nolan and Nate coming over to play inside our house
* movie night with the girls

June 8, 2007

* air conditioning
* wind
* sleeveless shirts

June 7, 2007

* nora coming home from nolan's without any complaints - things are working (for now)
* bling bling coming home
* weekly summer pool party

June 6, 2007

* my new rule which results in having a clean family room for the last two nights
* the bedrooms being picked up and vacuumed
* consequences that mean something

June 5, 2007

* the calm after the storm
* cornbread's evening getting cancelled so he could be home instead
* shopping by myself

June 4, 2007

* being able to sleep in one day every week
* an afternoon at cornbread's grandparent's
* free days

June 3, 2007

* Parkview Christian Church
* the crap that went on 1 1/2 years ago that ultimately led us to PCC
* a date with cornbread

June 2, 2007

* hanging out with Michelle all afternoon
* finding Georgia quickly after she had escaped the backyard
* cornbread cleaning the bathrooms every week

June 1, 2007

* a downpour in the afternoon
* getting the girls' laundry put away
* all three having fun together in the bathtub

May 31, 2007

* Nolan coming over for dinner
* getting 4 loads of laundry washed, dried, folded and mostly put away
* cornbread helping me with the laundry before bed

May 30, 2007

* a quick and easy doctor's appointment for georgia
* finally seeing cicadas!!!!
* dinner with two friends

May 29, 2007

* sleeping in - and the girls sleeping in, too!
* getting as far as I could on the trim
* hanging out with cornbread at the end of the day

May 28, 2007

* pancakes for breakfast
* the girls playing so well by themselves, together, or next door while cornbread and i worked in the house
* sitting around the fire with friends while the kids were in the tent next door

May 26, 2007

* sermons that are relevent to my life right now
* working on the trim in our bedroom with Cornbread
* watching a movie and cuddling with the girls

May 27, 2007

* a 4 day weekend
* friends that both girls can play with
* georgia taking such good naps

May 25, 2007

* getting the trim off of my bedroom windows and doors
* cornbread making dinner and cleaning up so i could get my work done
* nate being willing to play in our backyard yesterday

May 24, 2007

* an opportunity to volunteer at night once a month
* the LOST season finale
* the girls playing together really well without the tv being on

May 23, 2007

* mark and heather's new business being close enough that we can stop in and see them whenever we want
* cornbread bringing nora and ryann to the dmv with him last night - without me asking him to
* some time alone with georgia

May 22, 2007

* a new season of tball
* getting my garage kind of cleaned out
* the girls playing polly's together

May 21, 2007

* a free knife sharpener from kohl's
* a nice lunch for an uncle's birthday
* a nice afternoon/evening with my in-laws

May 20, 2007

* nora being so cute in her graduation
* the girls being so excited to see papa and nana
* having friends and family that love our children

May 19, 2007

* the girls actually listening when I told them to play outside for a couple of hours so I could get the house picked up
* getting the downstairs picked up
* finally getting my portraits!

May 18, 2007

* nestle tollhouse cookie store and what a treat it is for the girls to go there
* being able to wake georgia from her nap after she had fallen on her head pretty hard
* the fact that even though i don't connect with some friends as often as i'd like, we're still friends and it won't change

May 17, 2007

* Ryann Joy Dykstra
* getting the ambition to do something around my house
* LOST

May 16, 2007

* finally getting to my doctor's appointment (after trying for 1 1/2 years)
* rain so we didn't have to use our super expensive water to water the sod
* our patio

May 15, 2007

* pedicures
* a good work day
* hanging out with my neighbor in the afternoon

May 14, 2007

* church nursery
* my nephews
* our portable dvd player

May 13, 2007

* safe driving to Detroit
* a great dinner with our family
* hanging out with mike and cara and cornbread until 2:30 am (EST)

May 12, 2007

* getting out of the house on time with 3 small children (7:30am)
* doug graduating
* getting my grocery shopping done

May 11, 2007

* being able to go to nathan's play
* finally talking to bfww again:)
* the quality advice i get from her and the friendship we have

May 10, 2007

* the quinn's
* cornbread feeling my job is important enough to rearrange his schedule so I can get my work done
* my sister

May 9, 2007

* getting out to run errands last night
* freecycle.org and the big, huge bag of cute shoes i got for ryann and georgia - for free
* hearing a friend's voice

May 8, 2007

* finishing the strip along the back fence and seeding it
* the girls playing "georgia the cutie bug"
* relaying cute stories about all of them with cornbread

May 7, 2007

* chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast
* getting so much stuff done around the yard
* john helping cornbread after he got home

May 6, 2007

* being able to go to church at night when we thought we weren't
* stuffed pizza
* getting a start on the yardwork

May 5, 2007

* a fun day at a fantastic park with raegan, liv and hannah
* some extra time alone at the park with my girls
* landscaping bricks weren't as expensive as we thought they'd be

May 4, 2007

* getting the family room picked up
* finally being able to sit down at 9:35pm
* my boss being so confident in me

May 3, 2007

* very, very healthy eyes
* a fenced in backyard
* Dr. Berkshire

May 2, 2007

* bon jovi night on american idol
* talking to two friends who i haven't talked to in a while
* finding out that i don't have to have a garage sale this summer!

May 1, 2007

* the new church that our old church built
* a sympathetic heart
* my piano

April 30, 2007

* a morning of shopping and ice cream with nora
* our girls playing with the boys next door while we hang out with their parents - no fights, no arguments, no referreeing, no interruptions because they all get along so well
* all of my ebay stuff selling and being ready to ship (and making over $100 on it)

April 29, 2007

* finding out that we can probably fix our cabinets ourselves
* another dinner and a night out with Cornbread
* finding pants that actually fit

April 28, 2007

* going to see "annie" at the last minute
* free tickets to annie
* getting half of my grocery shopping done

April 27, 2007

* someone bidding on my dumb charlotte russe giftcard
* hearing the girls giggle while they're playing together
* leftovers

April 26, 2007

* pajama day
* getting finished with chicago heights route 2
* the boys fighting over who gets to babysit on the weekends

April 25, 2007

* getting all of my ebay listings done
* chatting with jeanene who I haven't talked to in a long time
* non stick pans

April 24, 2007

* more money on my gift card than I realized
* the girls wanting to play outside
* getting all of my stuff ready to list on ebay

April 23, 2007

* a morning out with just ryann, ending with ice cream and a fun 2 (almost 3) year old conversation
* my neighbor chainsawing a tree stump that i was trying to cut with a handsaw
* a whole (sunny) afternoon hanging out with cornbread and the next door neighbors - just chatting on the deck while all the kids played together and didn't bother us and we had no "pop up windows"

April 22, 2007

* that the zipper guy gave us our tickets back after I had to get out because of an inevitable panic attack
* that nathan asked if he could babysit
* portillo's hot dogs

April 21, 2007

* time outside chatting with my next door neighbor
* baseball season
* really nice weather

April 20, 2007

* nora playing at nolan's for the afternoon
* some major snuggletime with georgia before bed (like 45 minutes of quiet and not moving, but awake)
* ryann being so excited about seeing the play, annie, that she asks about it every 5 minutes - really, i'm thankful for that:)

April 19, 2007

* cornbread making dinner and cleaning everything up so i could finish my work
* mark buerle's no-no and how excited cornbread was
* laughing about hawk's reaction

April 18, 2007

* all three girls playing in the backyard without me for about 1/2 hour this afternoon
* cornbread taking a long look at his schedule and figuring out how to get our life back - and its working!
* nora's recent change in attitude

April 17, 2007

* nora already being packed to go to grandma's all by herself (May 17th:)
* having the boys over for dinner after not seeing them for a while
* bfww spending the afternoon here!

April 16, 2007

* our taxes being done a long time ago
* cooking with cornbread
* cornbread doing half of the grocery shopping for me

April 15, 2007

* hanging out with gram and gramps for an afternoon
* movie, dinner and ice cream with cornbread and an evening of free babysitting
* talking to my mom and dad until 2:30am

April 14, 2007

* the drive to michigan going by in a flash - we left and before I knew it we were there
* finding something okay to eat on the mcdonalds menu
* leaving the house clean for our return

April 13, 2007

* making pig cupcakes that actually look like the picture
* cornbread coming home and making the girls dinner so i didn't have to
* everything working out for our trip to michigan this weekend

April 12, 2007

* getting every one of cornbread's blasted dress shirts ironed - except the one he was wearing
* a quiet night by myself to iron and watch tv
* an unplanned day at home

April 11, 2007

* cornbread giving nora a shower while i made dinner
* getting packed by 9:15pm
* getting my grocery list done so i don't have to do it when i get home

April 10, 2007

* aldi
* a dramatic change in attitude from Nora
* nora wanting to share all of her easter candy with her friends and family

April 9, 2007

* easter brunch being only $10.95 per person - we were expecting $24.95
* free day
* free day being over

April 8, 2007

* JESUS has paid for my sins
* He rose from the dead
* I am saved

April 7, 2007

* a great issue of the Homer Horizon
* the eating for life cookbook
* cornbread doing nursery for me on friday night

April 6, 2007

* my father in law - happy birthday!
* cornbread reading to nora while I was finishing my phone calls - she was asking to read bible stories
* nora and georgia playing and giggling

April 5, 2007

* dinner with the boys after not seeing them for a while
* vaporizers
* thermometers

April 4, 2007

* kindergarten round up - the first step toward nora going to school
* an hour out with a friend
* so many nice comments on my blog for my birthday:)

April 3, 2007

* moving legs
* a free workout at swallow cliff
* a great friend for cornbread

April 2, 2007

* a free weekend before starting body for life
* breakfast with my parents and the girls and the big table in the back corner so we didn't bother anyone in the restaurant
* just hanging out with the family all day

April 1, 2007

* dinner with my mom and dad for my birthday
* great conversation
* an incredible church and church service

March 31, 2007

* grocery shopping by myself
* cornbread cleaning up the kitchen before i got home
* walmart

March 30, 2007

* being released from micromanagement
* the look on Georgia's face when she knows she's being naughty
* "do the shaking one!!"

March 29, 2007

* the canoe club
* restaurant.com certificates
* LOST

March 28, 2007

* a very clean and neat front closet
* screens for my front doors
* the garbage guys took the big tree branch that I "hid" in my garbage can

March 27, 2007

* my appetite is back
* i have energy again
* cartoons

March 26, 2007

* cornbread hanging with the girls all day so i could sort through clothes and switch out closets
* nolan and nate's babysitter being willing to have nora and ryann play over there, too
* dykstra family teamwork in picking up toys

March 25, 2007

* Greg Snyder (happy birthday!)
* the dentist telling me that i've been doing a GREAT job cleaning my teeth
* finally getting my baby clothes listed on ebay
* an afternoon nap

March 24, 2007

* georgia playing with candles at the Fulmer's
* nora reading with nathan
* ryann pouting in "her room"

March 23, 2007

* basically being able to lay down all day while I had a fever
* cornbread bringing me some nyquil to help me sleep at night
* cornbread making dinner when he got home

March 21, 2007

* my new boss assuming the best of me rather than the worst
* ryann giving us directions to palos country club
* nora finding liv and feeling instantly more comfortable

March 21, 2007

* friends who are willing to cancel their lives for the day to care for nora and georgia
* italian ice (has to be pink)
* being home:)

March 20, 2007

* for a pediatrician that we trust
* for the ER triage nurse bumping us up in line and getting ryann in to see a doc right away
* a bed opening up in peds

March 19, 2007

* a really great visit with cornbread's family
* ryann finally being fever free as of sunday evening
* homemade chicago style hotdogs

March 18, 2007

* going to church with cornbread - and no kids
* seeing my neice for the first time in a year
* a very, very clean house

March 17, 2007

* ryann being old enough to tell us she's sick (getting to the bathroom is another story:)
* wash machines
* not having to worry about having houseguests anymore

March 16, 2007

* my dad (happy birthday)
* really, really spring cleaning the girls' rooms
* taking david to jazz band and him being funny

March 15, 2007

* cornbread coming home earlier than expected
* ryann: "member when we didn't have tricity?"
* nora and dingo

March 14, 2007

* the electricity coming back on in time for most of american idol to record
* nora's ideas on how to fix the electricity
* the "new" camry starting up right away after the battery died on sunday

March 13, 2007

* totally casual dinner with new friends
* nora's new friend crying when she had to leave because he "loooooves her!"
* the girls coloring quietly together and enjoying being together (i think - this may be me projecting my wishes on the situation, but i will choose to believe this)

March 12, 2007

* watching a movie by myself in the morning
* being able to take a nap in the afternoon
* a day of family playing

March 11, 2007

* doug fulmer
* friends who have unexpectedly grown up
* memories of before they did

March 10, 2007

* a quiet day while i was sick
* going to bed early
* ginger ale

March 9, 2007

* cornbread coming home and making me toast
* falling asleep
* my fever breaking during the night

March 8, 2007

* the girls dancing
* georgia sticking her hands in the bedroom door trying desperately to get in
* decluttering our bathroom

March 7, 2007

* i think a dingo ate your baby
* homemade chicken and rice soup with lots and lots of chicken
* nathan and david

March 6, 2007

* nora and ryann playing "georgia the cutie bug" while georgia was obliviously playing with her own toys
* ryann asking jesus to be with her fingers during bedtime prayers (there's nothing wrong with her fingers, they just happened to be in front of her face)
* nora loving her woof

March 5, 2007

* honesty
* shopping by myself
* a really, really good night of sleep

March 4, 2007

* a wine tasting party with awesome food to go with each wine
* the hosts insisting that i not bring dessert because they remember having little kids (3 girls like us) and wanted to take care of me:)
* fixing the bathroom door so georgia cannot get to the toilet

March 3, 2007

* doug and nathan not watching the departed so that we could
* cornbread making me dinner after coming home from the grocery store
* chatting with my sister

March 2, 2007

* Wehemeier Portraits
* lunch with cornbread
* "excuse me, this is PRIvate" (ryann to doug and jenny)

March 1, 2007

* getting some ironing done
* ryann being a completely different child than the day before (back to her normal self)
* watching american idol with my girls

February 28, 2007

* a good day of door-knocking for cornbread
* ryann going to bed (not a moment too soon)
* ice cream

February 27, 2007

* nora's help with my work
* snuggling with georgia before bed
* three very well-behaved children at the doctor's office

February 26, 2007

* sleeping in on sunday mornings and everyone snuggling in bed before breakfast
* afternoon fun
* dinner with aunt jan, uncle bryce, grandma vanderwall & grandma mensink

February 25, 2007

* jenny and her humor
* afternoon coffee with cornbread
* baking

February 24, 2007

* cornbread having his best month ever last month
* we needed half of what we normally take out of the ira
* grace

February 23, 2007

* the issues that happened over a year ago that resulted in us going to Parkview
* communication
* my kids don't have lice

February 22, 2007

* nora and ryann dancing with the dragon tales "music video"
* cornbread wanting to listen to the theme songs of his favorite shows while watching on tivo
* lavender drier packets from trader joe's

February 21, 2007

* a very cheap resolution to the car situation
* hanging out with nathan and david, watching american idol
* tj's mango passion granola - yum:)

February 20, 2007

* nora helping me with my new job
* nathan being home so dave could leave the girls with him while he picked me up after my car died
* knowing that God will somehow take care of our car situation

February 19, 2007

* wehmeier photography
* a quiet afternoon
* praying over the girls while they're sleeping

February 18, 2007

* family pizza night after church
* the wille's
* a broom

February 17, 2007

* an opportunity to get out of the house by myself
* coffee with carissa
* saving $10 at the detroit science center

February 16, 2007

* brady getting stuck behind a snow drift and providing much laughter
* calls from cornbread for no reason - just to see how my day is going
* thursday night tv

February 15, 2007

* flowers
* making valentine's cards with the girls
* "Happy Church."

February 14, 2007

* listening to ryann and georgia play
* jenny bringing us milk in the snowstorm
* snuggling on the couch watching the food network - a little time with each girl

February 13, 2007

* dinner with the fulmer's so i could get out of the house
* marlene from palos hospital's business office (never thought I'd be thankful for anyone over there)
* snow to shovel

February 12, 2007

* coffee
* sundays
* the tribune

February 11, 2007

* a whole day to myself
* papa and nana wanting to see their girls, even if only for a very short time in the airport at baggage claim, eating mcdonalds that probably cost them $50
* the look on nora's face when she saw nana at the airport

February 10, 2007

* memories of the bag of jag
* adult conversation
* my sister

February 9, 2007

* walgreen's
* coats
* books

February 8, 2007

* the girls playing house - nora is the baby, ryann is the mom because nora likes babies and ryann likes moms
* LOST
* bingo being cancelled

February 7, 2007

* my neighbor shoveling my driveway before I got to it
* my other neighbor snowblowing the bottom after the plow came through
* cheesecake from PD

February 6, 2007

* Green Eggs & Ham
* nora & ryann playing house and not fighting at all yesterday
* cornbread being home for dinner unexpectedly

February 5, 2007

* the bears playing so horribly that it wasn't awful around here after they lost
* georgia reaching for her books when i put her to bed
* an excuse to pig out

February 4, 2007

* David Benjamin Dykstra (31 today)
* having a babysitter and being able to hang out at a bar to listen to a band (that sucked)
* grocery shopping with Nora

February 3, 2007

* Hope Melissa Carlson (3 already???)
* free babysitting
* chinese food

February 2, 2007

* The Office
* Grey's Anatomy
* dress up costumes

February 1, 2007

* an easy dinner that was really yummy
* ironing
* a quiet phone

January 31, 2007

* calendars
* light snow
* gloves

January 30, 2007

* the newspaper
* heat
* the library

January 29, 2007

* watching cornbread and the girls playing football before bed
* shaking the nuts out
* braids and the hair that naturally falls out

January 28, 2007

* after-church family pizza night
* the piano my in-laws gave us many years ago
* carpet for the basement

January 27, 2007

* the shavings off of the birthday cake
* meeting some of cornbread's clients
* cornbread's assistant, laura

January 26, 2007

* cornbread bathing all three beauties
* watching from behind as georgia played in the basement
* cold medicine

January 25, 2007

* bedtime
* my slipcover fitting a different couch and looking much better
* that I'm able to read

january 24, 2007

* bling bling returning home
* smoked turkey
* clean floors

January 23, 2007

* the girls' brother putting them to bed
* conversations in bed
* the morning news the morning after the bears advance to the superbowl

January 22, 2007

* a bears winner
* grassano's stuffed pizza... mmmmm!
* a new snow shovel that was world's better than the old one

January 21, 2007

* snuggling in bed with the whole family for a half an hour before getting up
* shopping with Georgia
* pizza at the Fulmer's after church

January 20, 2007

* our "new" humidifier
* cheaper auto insurance
* Las Vegas (the show)

January 19, 2007

* a wonderfully pleasant playdate at my house
* dave playing the chase claw with the girls before bed
* georgia running to me for a hug and a kiss

January 18, 2007

* a free 2 hour party at pump it up
* the phone
* microwaves

January 17, 2007

* energy
* a friend who feels she can call me when she's losing it
* American Idol

January 16, 2007

* honest friendships
* a playdate at a friend's house
* wrestling with georgia

January 15, 2007

* the bears winning and making the evening more enjoyable than had they lost
* trader joes bay blend coffee
* early bedtimes

January 14, 2007

* dinner with a friend - without children
* discussions with cornbread
* a new dining room chandelier light fixture originally $119, but we bought it for $36:) and it looks better than the old, broken one

January 13, 2007

* Grace4Today
* Chocolate tea
* naps

January 12, 2007

* thursday night television
* dr. kim
* warm, cozy pjs

January 11, 2007

* having the boys over for dinner
* learning history from doug
* american freedom

January 10, 2007

* legs that walk
* a mind that comprehends
* a heart that loves

January 9, 2007

* new fabric for my dining room chairs
* carribou
* polly pockets

January 8, 2007

* Parkview Church
* cornbread helping me with my chairs
* leftover pizza = easy meals for the girls

January 7, 2007

* my big 5 year old girl who is kind, sweet, gracious and fun
* our big, giant extended friend family
* parents who are willing to drive 3 hours for a birthday party

January 6, 2007

* a night out with cornbread
* free babysitters
* Chipotle

January 5, 2007

* Dancing to Love Shack with Nora
* The Office
* Clorox 2

January 4, 2007

* a new mug painted by the one and only artist in our family
* hysterical giggles from Nora every time she pours water on Georgia's head in the bathtub
* extreme water pressure in the laundry room sink

January 3, 2007

* a nap for a (almost) 5 year old
* being held while disolving in tears
* cheese

January 2, 2007

* finally seeing my family after several days apart
* a new frog for the fish tank
* sleeping in the same bed with cornbread

January 1, 2007

* Sudoku puzzles
* Joann Fabrics
* Target
* Health
* healthy children
* healthy husband
* happiness
* blessings beyond measure
* family
* friends
* friends who are family
* heat
* electricity
* food
* water
* shelter
* clothes
* employment
* transportation
* hugs
* kisses
* smiles
* new babies
* nieces and nephews
* grandparents
* parents
* sisters and brothers-in-law
* the Grace Girls
* Wednesday pool parties
* surprise birthday parties
* cheap nebulizer
* fenced in backyard
* piano
* slippers
* babysitters whom we love and who love our children
* monkey shirts
* halloween costumes
* dressup clothes
* school programs
* summer camp
* summer regional
* karner's
* priscilla
* retirement funds
* equity
* savings
* child-tax credit
* love
* unlimited long distance
* summer picnics
* strollers
* the zoo
* chinese food
* disney parade
* tinkerbell pajamas
* flannel sheets
* new flannel pajamas
* glow in the dark pajamas
* Turkey the Leopard
* Grassano's Pizza
* Blue Moon
* portable dvd player
* Beale Street
* applesauce souffle
* homemade truffles
* Bailey's Irish cream
* a good white sox team
* hair color
* Dr. Hottie & Dr. Kim
* books
* baby lotion