I never post on my blog

My posts? There aren't any
Cause I'm a big ninny
I've nothing about which to blog.
No chobies, or flames
no teeth, hikes or games
cause I'm just an old lazy hog.

This one goes out to my Mother-in-Law

It's a new title, Ruth, do you like it? :) Someone, perhaps not my MIL, but someone, has been bugging me to post again.

I have really nothing to say, except my favorite, most specialist necklace broke. Rats. It was my mom's engagement ring on a chain, and the chain just broke in half. Luckily, I found the diamond so it was not lost! (What is it with me and breaking important jewelry? My own wedding ring broke last year too. I should not be trusted with valuable assets). The only downside is really, until I get a new chain, my neck is feeling vulnerable, a bit naked. I have worn that necklace everyday since my wedding day, and I feel like a piece of me is missing.

Also, it's snowing. And I love it.

Horses Horses Horses

(Is that was Meg Ryan is singing in 'Sleepless in Seattle?)

Today was a amazingly fun day. The girls I teach have horses, and today James, Clara and I were able to take a visit to their house to go see them. Now, I don't know who had more fun, James or me. But can I just say that it was so so much fun!? James was a super brave boy and rode their horse Topper three times. And the biggest smiles we got out of him was when he was going the fastest! They even let me ride a horse, but it probably wasn't a pretty sight seeing me haul myself on the horse, fumble around as I rode, then slip off the horse once I was done. As an added bonus, it was a super beautiful day here in Michigan. Can I get an amen? So here are some super cute pictures of my kiddos with horses.

James and Mariah

James, Mariah and Makayla

Clara sat on a horse too!

Going fast! Such joy!

My little cowboy

He's got some big boots to fill.



So thanks to Michelle (who also took the amazing pictures), Makayla, and Mariah. We had a great time! And we'll see ya for school on Monday!

The gospel according to Ms. Frizzle

Lately James has gotten into watching the Magic School Bus. Remember that anyone? From 5th grade, learning about friction or the body? Anyways, James just recently watched one where the Magic School Bus (let's say MSB for short) gets really small and goes inside the human body to look at the heart, lungs, blood vessels, etc. Okay, so have that in your mind as I tell you the rest of the story.

We were talking about God and Jesus this morning at breakfast. Some of our conversation was going like this:

J: Is God the biggest of them all?

Me: Yes.

J: Can he come inside? (Like, Is he too big to come inside?)

Me: Probably.

J: Can Jesus?

Me: Yes.

J: What is Jesus' favorite food? It's...it's...Eggs! And cheerios!


So that's where some of the conversation went a little more serious. He asked, "When can I see Jesus in heaven?" After debating a bit, I just went for it. I said something like we accept Jesus into our hearts and when we die, we go to heaven. Then we'll be with Jesus. His next question of course wasn't about dying but, "Where is our heart?" So I told him inside our bodies. He looked at where I was pointing, (and I had a "9" on my shirt) and he said "By the nine?" I said no, it's inside our bodies. And then I said it. "Just like how the MSB went inside Ms. Frizzle's body, that's where our heart is, inside. He then looked at me, and I was expecting something big and profound relating to the spiritual discussion we had just been having and he said with big eyes, " And the MSB spins reallly really fast and gets really small!" That was it. I lost all Jesus talk from there on....

Is it bad that I related accepting Jesus into our hearts to the MSB? I hope not. Who knows, he probably thinks that Ms. Frizzle and Jesus are riding around in a tiny school bus right now, probably in his lungs. Oh well.

Wednesday Wigglers and the Clara monster

James and I (and Clara too) go to Wigglers every week at our local library, Richland Community Library. It's a storytime for 3 and under, which is pretty awesome. The librarian, "Mrs. Jay" (Mrs. Jaisak), is full of life and energy and reads books, plays the ukelele, does some non-Christian flannel board work, and passes out stickers. There are lots of singing, dancing, jumping like frogs and pretending to be a kangaroo. It really is one my favorite things to do with my kiddos and I look forward to it every week. We're going on our second year of attending and even go when I have the girls for school. They, however, just go out and look for books to check out. It's their "library time" and works out perfectly.

Not only is it good for James to get out his wiggles and get movin', but I have met some really good moms there too. They have become really good friends. It's nice having people you know who are going through the same thing and can talk candidly about the mechanics of potty training or helping your kids to share.

So if you are in the Richland area between 10 and 11 on Wednesdays, stop by the library! We'll be there, and I promise it's a good time!

In other news, Clara can really truly crawl! She's on the move! And not only that, but she can pull herself up on things too! It's a bit of a shock to James, who for the past 7 months was used to playing with his toys and trains in peace. Not any longer, my friend. She now crawls up to and pull herself onto our fire place hearth where we keep Thomas and his friends and proceeds to happily destroy the track, trains, and anything else in her path. James lovingly refers to her as the "Clara monster" when she does this. (Maybe I suggested that nick name....I don't know.....) Anyways, he is in for a big surprise now that Clara can decide where she is going and what toys she wants to play with. Before, James would talk for Clara and the conversation would go like this,

James: "May I play with that (insert train, toy, etc...) please Clara?"
Clara: "Sure big brother. Here you go!"

In James mind, Clara was always willing to share and give up whatever she was playing with. I am guessing she is not going to be as easy going from now on....

Things I am liking lately...

1. Stuff Christians Like.

Have you heard of this guy before? I don't know much, but I know he writes this blog and every now and then I would check it out. My MIL however had his book, which I believe just came out this last year. It's hilarious. If you haven't heard or read any of it, you should either go check out the blog now or go to Amazon and order the book. It will be worth your read!



2. Baking Cookies.

Seriously. I make at least two batches a week. What is up with that? The even sadder thing is, at my house, we go through at least two batches a week. Don't put a scale next to me, I don't wanna now. And I even took a little break from running since the marathon, so I don't have that in my favor. But, if you are in the mood for a sweet treat, you can stop on by. I currently have a good batch of double chocolate chip sitting in the cookie jar. Help yourself.

3. My son and daughter.

The little guy just ran in here, sans clothes, "I'm a naked bottom!" and ran away. Yep, stripped of all his jammies he is running around letting it all hang out. My little girl however is still sleeping, which I love. And she has started crawling, which she has been working at for the past month, so I am super proud of her!

4. The Crow's Nest

Dave and I went out on a date last Saturday and we try to go to new places or restaurants each time we get out, because let's be honest, it doesn't happen that much. This time we ended up at the Crow's Nest, a little restaurant on the second floor of a building in Kalamazoo. It seemed to be a hip little place with a current artist's artwork on the wall and hip hop/rap music playing in the background with a current menu to go with it including organic food and a complete vegetarian section. And they had good food, I got pita and in-house hummus dip while Dave got some onion rings. The other cool thing is it is on the second floor, and the first floor is a coffee shop, The Fourth Coast Coffee Shop, which is open 24 hours. Therefore, you can order any coffee drink and they bring it to you from downstairs. I like it. Dave got a cappuccino con leche. Very delicious! If you live in Kalamazoo, I
recommend it. It's on Westnedge, and resonably priced. Go check it out! The Crow's Nest



5. Garage Sales.

Namely mine, which I am having this Saturday! So Come! And this cool website, where you can look for garage sales in your area or advertise your own: Gsalr.com

6. The weather

It is seeming very fall like lately here in Michigan. I am lovin' this 60 degree weather today. Amen. And I know that they say the weather always changes in Michigan and tomorrow it will probably be 95 degrees with 95% humidity, but I am enjoying it now. And the long sleeves. And sweatshirts. And chili. And Gull Meadow Farm Iced Pumpkin Donuts. And long jeans. Yes sir I do!

What do you like lately?

My mind's blank.

I am having this urge to write a little post, but unfortunately, my mind's blank. I can't think of any thing good or coherent to write about. So I figure I'd just start writing. Something is bound to come out of my babbling, right?

Oh. Well, Thanks to my awesome SIL Corie, I am now the somewhat permanent-until-she-wants-it-back owner of a treadmill. That, my friends, is something I have been wanting for a long time. With Dave mostly gone from 7 to about 630-ish each day (and this past week it's been until 10), finding a time to run has proved a bit difficult. My options are to a. run severely early in the morning which I really don't need to explain why I don't wanna do it or b. run when he gets home, after dinner, after bath and after bedtime which puts us at about 9 pm. Neither option seems good to me. Now however, I can run at nap! Since both kids take a nap at 2, this works out perfectly. So thank you to Corie, I am eternally grateful.

Following the next rabbit trail...Dave is in full swing football mode. "Football Season" really is a joke of a term, it fools you into thinking that it only takes time away during the actual season, August-November. Not so, my friends, not so. Coming from this football coaches wife herself, I'd say it starts way back in June and goes until December. I think even in springtime they have optional weight lifting too. So though we've been in football mode for a long time here at the Hocker house, things have actually really begun to pick up. The first game was last week. Dave is the JV head coach, but he also has to go to the Varsity games too. So that's two very late nights a week for him (and me). It takes a lot out of him, but is one of his biggest passions in life, so it is awesome to see him come alive every week when they turn on the lights. I am so very proud of him. That being said, it's very busy for us, and our lives sorta revolve around football. So keep us in your prayers, that we keep in all in balance.

Clara's on to solid foods and lately has been favoring vegetables. She'll tolerate applesauce and bananas, but give the girl carrots, sweet potatoes or broccoli and she'll chow down. I don't get it. It's fun to move into this stage of babyhood. She's also doing everything but crawling, and is really so close to putting it all together. She'll get on all fours, go to sitting, lunge forwards, pick up her hands, you name it. But crawling is still something to be mastered. And she still has no teeth. My sweet gummy little girl.

James continues to amaze me, make me laugh, and be my little buddy. I don't mean to sound lame or anything, but I do really like hanging out with him. Lately, he's just been a pretty captivating boy. His imagination is really coming alive right now and it is funny/amusing/interesting/weird to see where it will take him. I have been having lots of those sighing momma moments where your just look back in awe at these little people who have now taken over your lives. It's sometimes just downright amazing. It's also weird for me to think that just 2 1/2 years ago I didn't know him, and now I can't imagine my life without him.

I went to California too. Which was good. Good to see family, friends, and eat In-n-Out. My brother turned 30, graduated Law School, and took the Bar. I am oh so proud of him. He's such a grownup now. It was so good to see my other SIL, Karly. I am really starting to appreciate what a awesome woman and wife she is and really enjoy and cherish the few times I get to see her. It's times like this that I wished I lived closer to those people, but I wish they didn't live in California, because I don't want to live there. Does that make sense? Anyways, I saw my good close friends from college, Traci and Melissa. Those are special too. They are the type of girls who I can go out to dinner with and have some serious talk, but later go out for frozen yogurt and take silly goofy pictures like we were back in college. They really are one in a million. I miss you girls!

(Do you notice the guy totally photo bombing our picture in the background? Nice.)
I also saw Ashley, a good friend from college who despite moving 2,000 miles away from her, has kept in good contact with me. And that's always really important to me, so I really appreciate our time over coffee to catch up. There were a lotta other stuff I dealt with family-wise, but let's just say that's personal. :)

Whew. Well, I guess my mind really wasn't blank, was it?

Somerset Stampede

I did it! I ran (without crawling) the Somerset Stampede half marathon. It ended up being quite the good race. It was on an awesome course that was half paved, half dirt and ended on horse trails. (Well, that part wasn't fun. The horse trail was very sandy, and having run 12 miles, it's hard finishing that last mile in sand). It was perfect weather, and I would dare say almost cold when I started. I ended up running it in 2 hours and 11 minutes, which I think is okay. I finished third in my age category, but don't get too excited, there were a total of four women in it. I also had the best spectators too- Dave was such a good husband and I got to see him and the kids at about 5 different spots along the run. He 'raced' around the course in the Jeep to different mile points to offer me encouragement and the occasional bite of PowerBar. He's a good one. James helped me finish the race which made it all worthwhile! I am however just looking forward to running just to run, not running in preparation for a race.

Also, my kiddos were great for the entire day, walking up early and all. Thanks kids!


Getting on the road at 5 am


Arriving at the race, 6:30 am!


At the starting line...


Getting ready to go!


Mile 6 perhaps?


All done!



Here's the video of the finish. What a good racer my little buddy is!

Now I am just left with sore knees and bloody blisters on my toes. Nice, right?

Just keep runnin'

Tomorrow is my half marathon, eek!

I'm pretty excited. My one goal: finish. Even if I am crawling on the ground, I'll finish this sucker! I'll let ya'll know how it goes...for now, I have to go to bed. I have to wake up insanely early. That is the worst part of this whole ordeal- I don't mind the running 13 miles part, I hate the waking up at 4:45 part. Maybe 5. We'll see!

Packing up Again.

This Hocker Family has been very busy this summer.

So far,

-Dave's gone on a four day golfing trip somewhere up north. I never really grasped onto the detail where it actually was.

-We went out to Estes Park, CO for two weeks. It was such a beautiful place and such a wonderful vacation. I want to go back. Nay, I want to live there. Someone find my hubby a job there!

-And today we leave for the UP (Upper Peninsula for all my non-Michigander readers) for Dave's trail marathon. The marathon is actually on a island called Grand Island and he actually just runs around the island. Yep, get up and run around an island, that's what he's gonna do. Anyways, we are going through Mackinaw on our way...bring on the fudge! I've never been, so I am super excited.

And then in the later portion of this month I am going out to California for my brother's 30th (eek! old man!) birthday and to celebrate his hopefully passing the bar. I say hopefully because this week he is taking said test, and I don't know if he's past it yet. As I recall, it's a four day test. Gross. They make you work for it if you want to be a lawyer, I guess. But I know he'll pass. At least for my sister in law's sake I hope he does! She's been quite the little trooper and law school widow these past three years and I am sure probably glad they are at the end of the road. (The first day of the bar test was even on her birthday! ) Shout out to Karly!

So that's been our summer. For the few weeks that we've been home we've done a lot of grillin', going to the library, swimmin', and if I am honest, staying in side. It's been so frickin' hot!

Also, I am highly obsessed watching the Scrubs. How did I not watch this show earlier? Too bad Dave won't watch it with me. That means I have to sneak it in at nap times or when he's at football. But I love me some JD!

"They grow up so fast..."

It's true. I find myself saying that old adage quite frequently lately, especially in respects to my daughter, who is now four month old. Seriously, where did time go? Really? Really. She's four months old. Really. She can roll over. Really?!?! It's like I have a little Seth and Amy sitting on my shoulders saying "Really?!?!" every time I think of how old she is. I just can't believe that time has gone by that fast. Here we are in June. Really?!?

All "really's" aside, I did have her four month checkup today which went pretty well. She didn't like to lay on the crunchy white paper that they make you sit on when you are at the doctor's office, and I don't blame her. She's doing perfectly well and the doctor seemed pretty impressed that she can roll over both ways (that's my girl!). I thought up to this point she was pretty tiny, but it turns out she's just average. At three months she weighed 13.5 pounds. Today we got so more specific measurements:

Height: 24 3/4 in (67% percentile)
Weight: 14 lbs 10 oz. (71% percentile)
Head Circumference: 42 8/10 cm (90% percentile)

Apparently, Dave and I make big headed babies. That just means they are gonna be smart, right? Right?!?!

And for comparisons sake, James at this time weighed 16.7 lbs and was 25.5 inches long. So he's got his sister beat in both categories. But I want my boys to be bigger, so it works out. (Sidenote: his head was also measuring in the 98% percentile, so he had quite the noggin).

So she's doing great! And I couldn't have asked for a better baby girl. I love her so!

Sometimes you just need a change in A-tom-tunes.

Lately, when I ask James to do something, move, pick up toys, or anything such thing that he probably doesn't really want to do, I say, "James, you need to change your attitude or else you'll have to go into time out."

This morning, he was on the couch watching Sesame Street while I was making breakfast. Once I brought it out to him (okay, we eat breakfast watching TV, don't judge) I told him to come to his high chair and sit down. He kept on slinking and sulking all the way to the chair. So I said my little line, and as he turns around to sit down, he smiles and says,

"I turn in my a-tom-tune!"

He's so stinkin' funny sometimes. Right now he's yelling to me informing me that Clara cannot watch Sesame Street.

Cross your fingers...

Today, I just stuck James in underwear....and he was dry all day! Even when he was outside playing, in the bath, and playing inside with a friend of his, he came and told me that he had to go potty! Woot woot! He was even dry when he woke up from his two hour nap! I'm pretty stoked. We've been at it for a couple of days now, doing it the nake bottom way. But today I figured I might as well put on the underwear....and cross your fingers for tomorrow!

I'm so proud of my lil' buddy.

I'm done!

Yesterday was my last day of school! I'm out for summer! Weee!

To celebrate, I think I ate my weight in the giant sized cookie the girls gave me. I will have to for sure run today, right? Right.

So now, we just have summer to play and sleep in and do whatever we want.

Bring it on!

I'll have a bowl of Mini Mini Wheats and Carrots, please.

Me, listing off the fruit that James can have for breakfast: Do you want bananas or blueberries?

James: or...strawberries....or....oranges....or...bananas...or blueberries...or CARROTS!

(later, talking about cereal. He's eating Honey Nut Cheerios)

James: I want Raisin Bran!

Me: We are all out of Raisin Bran.

James: I want Frosted Mini Wheats!

Me: We are all out of that too.

James: I want Mini Mini Wheats!

Me: We don't have that at all.

James: We go get some at Meijers. That sounds like great idea!


Now, I understand that these are not too laugh out loud funny, but it was just really dear to talk with him this morning and see how his mind works. Sometimes these kids really do say the funniest things.

They are just the best.

Oh, having children

Dave and I found this online, and thought it was pretty funny. So much so, I had to share with you!

FOLLOW THESE 14 SIMPLE TESTS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO HAVE
CHILDREN

Test 1
Women to prepare for maternity, put on a dressing gown and
stick a beanbag down the front. Leave it there for 9 months.
After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.

Men to prepare for paternity, go to a local chemist, tip
the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the
pharmacist to help himself. Then go to the supermarket.
Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head
office. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the
last time.

Test 2
Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about
their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly
low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their
children to run wild. Suggest ways in which they might
improve their child's sleeping habits,toilet training, table
manners and overall behavior. Enjoy it. It will be the last
time in your life that you will ha ve all the answers.

Test 3
To discover how the nights will feel
1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a
wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned
to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.

2. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and
go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12pm and walk the bag around the living room
until 1am.

4.Set the alarm for 3am.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a
cup of tea.

6.Go to bed at 2.45am.

7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.

9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.

10. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years.

LOOK CHEERFUL.

Test 4
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems

1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no
arms hang o ut.

3. Time allowed for this 5 minutes.

Test 5
Forget the BMW and buy a practical 5 door wagon. And don't
think that you can leave it out on the driveway spotless and
shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove
compartment.

2. Leave it there.

3. Get a coin. Insert it into the cd player.

4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back
seat.

5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Test 6
Get ready to go out

1. Wait

2. Go out the front door

3. Come back in again

4. Go out

5. Come back in again

6. Go out again

7. Walk down the front path

8. Walk back up it

9. Walk down it again

10. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.

11. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions
about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead
insect al ong the way.

12. Retrace your steps

13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until
the neighbours come out and stare at you.

14. Give up and go back into the house.

15. You are now just about ready to try taking a small child
for a walk.

Test 7
Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.

Test 8
Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing
you can find, to a pre-school child. A full-grown goat is
excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take
more than one goat. Buy your weeks groceries without letting
the goat(s) out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat
eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do
not even contemplate having children.

Test 9
1. Hollow out a melon

2. Make a small hole in the side

3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to
side

4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon
them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an
aeroplane.

5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.

6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it
falls on the floor.

7. You are now ready to feed a 12-month old child.

Test 10
Learn the names of every character from the Wiggles, Thomas
the Tank Engine and Disney. Watch nothing else on television
for at least 5 years.

Test 11
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the
curtains

2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all
summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower beds and then rub them
on clean walls.

4. Cover the stains with crayon.

5. How does that look?

Test 12
Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly.
Important no more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy
- occasional cresce ndo to the level of a supersonic jet if
required.Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4
years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Test 13
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else
continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while
playing the Mummy tape listed above.

You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while
there's a child in the room.

Test 14
Put on your finest work attire. Pick a day on which you have
an important meeting. Now
1. Take a cup of cream and add 1 cup of lemon juice

2. Stir

3. Dump half of it on your shirt

4. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture

5. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel

6. Do not change, you have no time.

7. Go directly to work
You are now ready to have children

This time next week

I'll be getting ready for my last day of school! Woot! I am so excited to be done for the year, I can not wait. Though, I'll put the disclaimer here, I do love those girls, and have loved teaching them all there is to learn in the fifth grade, like every teacher feels when the weather gets around 70, I am soooo ready for summer. And for school to be over! So only one more week! Eeee!

And, I would normally also say here that I can't wait to sleep in, but that wouldn't happen anyway. Lately, James has been getting up at 7 or 730 rather than his normal 8 or 830. What the dill? To add to that, two nights ago he woke up three times during the night and woke up for the day at 640. That, my friends, is not okay. I don't think he's done that since he was nine months old? All I am saying is his sleeping habits better shape up.

Or else.

(Again to reiterate, only four more days of school! Holla!)

I bet my Friday night was cooler that yours...

...because I just spent the last 45 minutes deep cleaning James' car seat. Ye-ah Baby! Ok, so if you don't know by now, I am a somewhat anal perfectionist when it comes to cleaning. Apparently, that includes cleaning my sons car seat. If you can just imagine what can happen to a car seat that gets used by a two year old for a year, and all the snacks, drinks, drive-thru meals and the like get eaten in that seat, things get messy. And it's all those snacks that get caught in the teeny tiny crevices and molt or multiply or something over the course of a year that gets super gross. So, in super cool Cerissa fashion (and since James car seat is currently out of the car because I had to take it from the Jeep and put it into his Mimi's car so he could go with her to Dave's track meet today) I got my Clorox Everywhere spray (that stuff is great, if you haven't tried it, Do), about one hundred Q-tips, paper towels and a steak knife and got busy cleaning out the miniscule cracks of the car seat in the middle of my kitchen floor. It was not pretty. I think that old raisins mixed with goldfish and what could possibly be ranch dressing (which I never give him "dips" in the car seat, so that whitish liquid-y stuff that was in one crack sorta scares me...its a mystery as to what it really is...blech...) equals a pretty messy job. But I did it, and once his little cushion-y things are outta the dryer, it will be like brand new. I might even have to enlist a "no snacks in the car seat policy." We'll see how long that lasts.

Aren't you glad you asked what I did on a Friday night. Geez, I am so hip and cool. Somebody stop me.

(I also watched some Scrubs, so I am not totally lame, right. Right??)

"Now on DVD..."

Don't expect any flow or connection to the thoughts I am about to share.

James just said, as he was eating his bananas at lunch." Look mama, a flat tire (pointing to a toddler induced squished banana on his plate)!" Then, picking up a banana that had not been squished, "It's fixed!" I am guessing he was assuming that this "banana wheel" was not flat. Also, eating Italian Wedding soup (you know the soup whose noodles are little balls??) said, "Momma, I like this popcorns!" Apparently, the look popcorn-ish to him. He is currently half closing his eyes and saying, "Let's pray. Deeeear Jesus. Thank you for this food, and Thank you for Jesus. Aaaaaa-men." What a kid.

I had a dream last night that I was washing dishes. Isn't that an awful dream? I mean, I do it all day- clean, wipe, put away, etc...Why on God's green earth would I want to dream clean as well? I do like cleaning, I know I know. But even this girl would like a break from her house wife, house cleaning duties once in a while. And not only was I just doing regular dishes, I was specifically cleaning a crock pot filled with crusty spaghetti noodles. Again, what the heck!!! It was like some one had apparently made spaghetti in the crock pit and left it on high all night. No fair, dreams. No fair. I expect to be pampered tonight! A pedicure would be nice...

It's raining today. And for some reason whenever it's raining, I have to eat apples and peanut butter. Does that happen to anyone else?

If you are wondering why this post is entitled, "Now on DVD..." I will share with you now. At Mother's Day lunch this past Sunday, we were all sitting around the table at Mimi and Pop's house gobblig down some delicious steak and shrimp shis ka bobs (is that even close to the right spelling??) when James says, "Bob the builder: On site edition...Now on DVD!" We all broke out laughing! What the heck! You know your kid has watched the same Thomas the train movie when he started quoting the pre-movie previews. That just isn't right. But pretty funny.

I'd also like to make a shout out to Clara Dell who is three months old today. We love ya girl!

this early bird is not catching any worms

Oh. I feel like my head weighs ten pounds and is currently clouded with feathers. That makes sense, right? James woke up a bit early this morning and I was in such a deep, hard sleep that it took a couple of the shouting, "Momma, I'm up!!"'s to actually get my butt outta bed. And now that we are up (at 7:45 no less) I still can seem to function. My head is all fuzzy and my body is apparently filled with lead. Of course, being in this state, the most natural thing for me to do next is blog about it, right? I knew you'd agree. I might just come back later to read this post and think that I am crazy, because I don't think I am making any sense on here.

I'd better get coffee. And cereal.

Peace out.

Holy cow it's May.

And that means a lot of things....

-Three more weeks of school! Though I love my sweet girls that I teach, I cannot wait for summer. And sleeping in. And not getting out of my pajamas until noon.

-Clara is just about three months old. Again I say, holy cow! Where did time go? She is just about the sweetest girl I have ever seen. Her little personality is starting to bloom, and it just seems to be covered in smiles and giggles. She's starting to get into more of a routine, which is nice. Her awake and nap periods are pretty consistent now, and once I put her down around 830 for bed, she normally is out for a good 6-8 hours after that. (Now, if only I went to bed at 830 too...) She is just a little gem. My little sugar plum.

- It's almost summer! There are a lot of things planned for this summer for the Hocker family, but a lot are hinging on where Dave will be working next year. They talked to him, and unless some other restructuring happens, he doesn't have a job at Gull Lake next year. But we aren't worried, trusting that God knows what is in store for our family of four (nice rhyme, I know). I'll probably be going to California for a time with Clara (Ho-Ray!), we might take a family trip to Colorado, we are for sure taking a family trip up to the UP in August, and Dave has a golfing trip in June with some buddies. Then of course there are the small little fun things we'll do around here. I just can't wait.

- It's almost our four year anniversary. I don't know why, but for some reason I am really excited for this anniversary. Maybe because we have two kids or maybe because it actually seems like a while to be married and out of that 'newlywed' stage, I just feel it is a good sense of accomplishment. And not only that, but I feel like our marriage is thriving and so good and am lucky to be his wife every day. It's a good life.

I think that's about all May brings. Today, it is bring lots of showers - definitely lovin' the thunderstorms!

Here are some recent photos for ya'll...

James reading Thomas, to himself, wearing a Thomas hat.

Coloring with chalk

James doing the hurdles. We've been going to ALOT of track meets this spring!

Sweet girl!

Helping dad out.

Easter 2010


Easter girl

My Walking Buddy

So lately James and I have been having daily walks because its been so beautiful and sunny out and completely warm. Its been so nice it would almost be wrong not to get out. Anyways, we have this little route that we always go on, and there are things that we are accustomed to seeing now, out on the road. Of course we point the normal, cars, trees, birds we hear chirping...but there are some unique things that come up on our radar. Like, half way along our trip there has been a woodpecker. Now, we have only heard him twice. Thus, on every other walk we go on and don't hear him, we have to have an in depth conversation as to way. "Is he napping?" "He must have moved to another tree." "Is he waking up?" and back and forth and back and forth until we move on to another subject. It's pretty cute. Then we always walk around the parking lot of the Catholic church by our house. There is a statue of Mary out front of the church, and every time he excitedly points out "Mary!" and once we pass it "Mary Go?" He really likes Mary. Then, we always make a stop and sometimes walk on the lake. It's been frozen for a while, but with the warmer temps I tell James that I don't think we can walk on it anymore because the ice is melting. He looks at me with earnestness and says "Uh huh, can walk." He really doesn't believe me sometimes.

Also, I tell him every time, "James, I like walking with you. We are good walking buddies." Then, with all seriousness that only a two year old can have, "No Momma, me not walk. Me ridding..." He got me. How true that is.

So it's been nice because I am getting exercise, but more importantly, it is precious time that just he and I can share. I also hope that it helps he know that he is completely special and loved even if there is a new little one in the house.

Speaking of....

Sweet Sassy Molassey I'm Tired

There are things roaming around in my head to talk about, but I am to tired to do so now. Maybe if I write them down here, I'll expand more on them later. And they are all completely random and vary greatly on the scale of silly to serious.

- Grandma's funeral...it was very sweet and dear for a very sweet and dear lady.
- The car ride to Indiana for her funeral...two kids, 10 hours in the car all in one day. Surprisingly easy.
- Admitting to myself that I like to watch some Disney channel shows.
- How much of Sam's trifle I can consume in one sitting
- Going back to work tomorrow
- My slimy and organized house (Anyone want to trade work at all? I hate cleaning bathrooms, and Lord knows mine needs it).
- Why the medals for the Olympics were bumpy. It really bugged me.
- Why my daughter won't sleep well for naps (I'm blaming Corie right now...)
- The return of my sweet boy.

That's about all I can get out right now. Mostly, I want to go snuggle with my husband. So I will. Goodnight.

Those Olympians better watch out...

...because I just got out my bright blue running tights. That's right, I have once again entered the world of exercise and fitness. It's been a good six month break, but it felt so good to get out there today. Since it is two weeks since Clara's birth, my midwife said I could start walking. Thank you sweet Jesus! I've felt so locked up in here. Anyway, so today Dave was home and I was able to "step" out for a while. Seeing that it is like, 8 degrees, I had to get prepared. Shorts and a t shirt just wouldn't do it in these conditions. I whipped out my running tights from high school and put them on. Seeing as they are skin tight and bright royal blue, I did feel like an Olympic speed skater at the starting line, though a lot less in shape and a loss less good looking in it, I'm sure. And don't worry, I didn't just wear the tights out as I fear that sight alone would have set people off the road. I put on sweats and bundled up, ready to face the elements.

Let me tell you, it was absolutely amazing to get back outside. It was lightly snowing and the ground was slushy. This slushy part is especially important to note because every time that a car came by, well, I got wet. I went about a mile and a half and I don't believe I've felt that good in a long time. So I am hoping for many more times like this to come.

Okay, well both kids are up from their naps now, so I can't go into all the extensive details that I felt about being outside and walking today. Just know it was beautiful and good for my soul. Amen!

Wishing for spring...

I think more snow just keeps on falling and falling. Why? March is about here, and I am ready for the snow to be gone. Just last week I heard two birds chirping and had one fly in my house. (The fly, sad to say, has since died. It was really to premature for him to come out and think warm thoughts....) Dave reminds me every year, that once it starts getting a little warm or shows tiny bits of spring to not get excited, for this is Michigan. It can snow in April. And every year I tell him, yes I know, I have sorta gotten used to that fact out here, but I can help but be hopeful each spring season. I mean, the forecast for this week was in the high 30's to next week in the low 40's. I guess I am just a wishful girl longing for capris again.

In other news, James was super naughty at the library yesterday. I can't remember a time when he was this disobedient. Long story short, he kept running away from me when we were in the "Wiggler Room" (Where there is story/singing time that we go to each Wednesday which normally is a total blast, for him and me). He would jet out the door and run into the other parts of the library, and many times I had the frantic "I don't know where my child is" feeling. Also, it was my first outing with the two kids by myself, so I had to chase him down, all the while leaving Clara alone in the room with the other parents and wigglers, something I didn't like to do. Anyways, before going down a big venting trail, I was so sad, upset and just ugh! at him that I almost wanted to cry. I know the little guy has a lot happening in his heart right now, and I am trying to be sensitive and gracious to him. But sometimes I am just like, "Seriously?!?!" So to sum up, I had a naughty boy at the library and I wanted to cry. The end.

To make things better though, I had my book club meeting last night, which is always fun to go to. It was even more fun this time because I got to show off my sweet little girl. Now, to tackle two books for the next meeting, I'd better get started!

Let's hope for a good day today!

A Hocker Update

Things are going quite swimmingly at the Hocker household. It has almost been two weeks since we have brought Clara home and I have to be honest, I don't have much to complain about. She is a sweet little girl, who unlike her big brother when he was little, has grown quite accustomed to taking naps and doing them not in the constant hold of another human being. I remember when James was born (and for SIX months after that...), if you wanted him to nap, you might as well get comfy on the couch because you would have to hold him for the entire time. It was ri-diculous. Clara however will be set down for hours on end, which leaves me feeling like I only have one child still and not too. But as my sister in law pointed out, this might not last. For now though, I am enjoying it. She sleeps great in the night and has been a perfect nurser. She has gotten the little cough that both Dave and James have (but I don't! Ha!) and it sounds really awful on her, like she's been a chain smoker for years. It's sad to see her cough, but hopefully with all this sleeping she's doing, it will go away soon.

James, has been sick. And has a new sister. And is two. Suffice to say, he's been a little disobedient lately and taking more patience on my part to handle. Like, if I say no five times, I really mean no! I'm not kidding! He thinks I am, unfortunately. And, for being a predominantly not whiny boy, I am finding some whininess creep in. Like whining about having to eat dinner, or take a bath, or get in the car....etc. So I am being challenged as a parent with how to deal with it, and haven't really come to a conclusion yet. (Does anyone really, though?) Other than that, he is really a sweet boy. And loves his sister dearly. And I love him dearly, it's just a phase, I know.

Dave and I are doing well too, I think. I know that the hospital or any doctor or Child Protective Services would be in utter disbelief if they knew this, but Clara sleeps in bed with us, so we actually get a lot of sleep. I honestly don't know how I would survive if she didn't! She just nurses when she needs to, and I can mostly just sleep through all such events. It's a pretty sweet deal and I know some people might think me a irresponsible mom, but it works for us. We did it with James, and I think he turned out all right.

This is my last week off work before going back next week, so I am going to try and treasure every moment. But I have high hopes and (I think) a good attitude going back to work. Wish me luck!

More updates to come soon, as I want to try to post more often and hopefully more regularly. Cross your fingers!

She's Here!

Clara Dell Hocker
February 11, 2010
8 lbs. 14 oz.

one more month and the lame hippo.

And I'll finally get to meet my little girl! I am pretty excited. More exciting is I think I am about ready for her. I just need to wash her clothes and crib sheets and buy some more baby things (another car seat base and other boring things like that) and we'll be golden. I am ready to be done being pregnant, so it is good that it is only a month left!)

Also this past weekend has been adventurous, and not the weekend I was planning at all. Since Dave was going to be down in Kentucky doing manly things with his friend Nick, it was just going to be me and James which I was so excited for. I had some errands to run, wanted to do some things on the baby room, and wanted to do fun things with James like go out to lunch, take him to the Air Zoo, maybe stop by the train station, etc. However, enter Friday and everything changed. I slipped on ice and in trying to catch myself and not hurt my baby, I hurt myself. Pretty badly. I always considered myself to have a high pain tolerance (I survived a natural childbirth, to say the least..) and this hurt pretty bad. I pulled a muscle in my inner thigh (alright, alright, the groin, but I think that's an awful word and sounds like an injury that only boys should get) and was in a lot of pain. I couldn't walk unless I was leaning against something and even so, I would moan or cry with each step. It was bad, no position was comfortable! Luckily, I got myself some good medicine and after a weekend of icing and heating and resting and doing none of the things that I had originally planned, I am starting to feel better. I still walk with a limp and the only thing I can think of is that I look like a lame hippo. Literally lame with my limp and hippo because well, I'm hugely pregnant. So that all to say, I asked for your prayers for continued healing and that this doesn't affect any upcoming childbirthing that might be in my future.

James has been great though. He knows all his ABC's, numbers, and characters in Thomas the train. He talks alot and has gotten to be very polite. (When I bring him his tray of food for lunch he says, " Tank too Momma." Translation: Thank you Mama). He really says thank you all the time, at the appropriate times too. On the flip side, his other favorite thing to says is "Oh Trap." Translation: Oh Crap! when something bad happens. I don't know where he picked it up, but it is sorta cute and hard not to laugh when he says it. But I try to ignore it and hope that it just fades with time. He's super excited about his baby sister, knows that her name is Clara, and declares that she'll play trains with him when she's out of Momma's tummy. He also recently transitioned to his big boy bed which has gone perfectly well. I really thought it would be harder, but luckily there have been no wake ups at 3 am to him playing with his toys. If he does wake up, we just walk him back to bed and that's it. Thank you Lord!

So things are looking up in the Hocker household. I just really can't wait for my hubby to get home. not just because he has been doing bath time duty lately so I don't have to bend over, but because I miss him. Two year old hugs are good for the soul, but nothing beats a hug from my man. Amen.

(Also, James is going to be two in about three weeks! Gah!)