Bunch of Sickies

Mimi's glasses are so fun, right? Thanks for taking us out to lunch yesterday!

My little widdy is sick. Not only does she have her burned, blistered hand to deal with (and I have the momma guilt to deal with), but now she has wheezy breathing, a fever, chest congestion, and a cough that sounds like a dog's bark. No fun. She woke up super early at 6:15 this morning and just couldn't go back to sleep. So I brought her into bed with me, and the poor little girl's breathing is so awful. The worst part is, is that she needs to cough. But have you ever tried to tell a 13 month-old to cough? It really doesn't work.

Pathetic looking, no?

So to break it down, this past week has included two sick kids (yet not at the same time), one burned hand, lots of TV watching,  and  two bad bump on the head inducing  falls for my eldest. Surprisingly, we are all in good spirits! I just have to get enough motivation to clean my house, because Dave's BFF is coming into town today and staying for the next couple of days...

But, it is spring break now! Let's hope we all get better soon to enjoy some good family time.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Do you ever have one of those days where things start off really good but then somehow turn out not how you wanted at all?

One where you get back from your walk with your kids and you rush to get everyone fed and ready to go to your husband's Staff v. Student basketball game at his school which he's been planning for months and as you are trying to ready yourself and actually look presentable for going out amongst people and you are curling your hair and you set your curling iron down on the toliet, your 13 month-old manages to climb on the toliet (which, when could she do that??) and grab the still hot curling iron and let out shrieks of pain so you try to rush around giving her Tylenol and a teething toy to hold hoping that will keep the pain and blisters at bay and you somehow make it out the door and to the game with your two year old and burned 13 month- old in tow and keep her happy at the game for the first 30 minutes but then since the teeting toy has all but melted she starts to cry again, and I mean cry, so you take her to the corner and try to bounce her and sooth her, but let's face it, she's a year old and her hand is covered with burned blisters so you don't blame her, and that lovely mother-induced guilt is starting to set in, but you really want to stay and support your husband and the game is fun to watch but you soon realize that it just isn't going to happen, so you leave with your bawling girl and your sad boy because he wanted to watch dada and get a treat at the snack shop but isn't now since we are leaving early, so you try to make it up to him on the way home and get a shake at McD's but hindsight is always better than foresight since your daughter was screaming the whole time in the back seat, so you rush home and after your daughter is feeling better you get her in bed and then try to put your son in bed, somehow as you are brushing his teeth he manages to fall off the counter, hitting his head on the edge of the counter and landing haphazardly in the trash can, and immediately has bruising and a bump on the side of his head, so you get another teething toy and tell him to put it on his head once he's in bed. And once all the kids are in bed, which under your watch have suffered severe maladies, you watch some Office with your husband and happily snack on some Chex-Mix and think "You really cannot have too much Chex Mix," but later than night when you are up at 4 am writing a blog about your day since you can't sleep due to your Chew-Mix induced naesea, you realize you can.

Ever have one of those days?

But then I realize that it's not too bad since my SIL had to take her baby to the hospital yesterday (which Faith is okay- she has a cold they just wanted to make sure that she wasn't wheezing) so things could've been a lot worse. I am glad you are okay, Faith!

I am really proud of my hubby though. He put in a lot of work planning this event as the Student Council coordinator and managed to get a slew of students and staff to play each other in front of a sizeable crowd. The staff won by one point, and from the one quarter that I did watch, it looked like a fun time! I am proud of you, honey!




P.S. I still have lots of guilt about Clara. How awful of a momma am I?

#130

I've done one hundred and thirty posts. I can decide if that sounds like a lot of blog postings in three years or not. To celebrate such a commerative event, here's a video of my kids.

That's all, folks!

My Little Leprechauns

Aren't they sweet?

For some reason, I've caught some Irish fever. I normally don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day that much, but this year, it's different. Possibly because I have two kids now? I don't know. I made shamrock cookies with green frosting , have some green jello chilling in the refrigerator, and have corned beef and cabbage simmering in a pot on my stove. Let's hope I am lucky and dinner actually turns out good and eatable. (Last night's dinner I was very unlucky. I actually threw it out it tasted that bad. Too much garlic is a bad thing.)

Also, it's a super amazing day today. I thought that yesterday was good, but boy was I wrong. Today is even better! The high today is 69 degrees! What?!?! It's so crazy beautiful outside, at break time and after school today we just had to play. Thank goodness spring is here!

My little spring girl. She was pretty uneasy at first walking on all that grass!

M & M playing ball!



Clara loved the slide, and had a lot of good help going down!



I've never known a pair of lovelier twelve-year-old girls



I told everyone to jump at the count of three. On "Three!" the girls both jumped, and James laid down. Nice.



Everyone on the trampoline! Clara too!

James watering the plants. Those sprouts need all the help they can get!



 Hope you all are having a lovely spring day too!

What we are into lately

Each of my family members have been into various means of occupation lately. Now that spring has sprung (although we are four days away from officially saying that), each of us is finding something to do to pass the time. In no particular order, here's what you can find a certain Hocker doing at any given time:

Dave: Well, I should ask what he is not doing. He has the usual things, like school, Master's class, track practice (which started this past Monday!) and the like. One thing that may be interesting to note is that he has been "twittering." Is that the right verb of "twitter"? As he is now enrolled in the Educational Technology program, his one class 'forced' him to open certian accounts on the interenet that are now being used in the classroom. He had to get a blog, a meedo (what's that?) and... a twitter account. They didn't force him to get  a Facebook account, but it was recommended. Apparently all these things are being used in the classroom now days? I think that's crazy. So he had to get the twitter account for class, but if you ask me, I think it has turned into much more than just an 'assignment.' :)

Clara: She loves looking at cars out our window. Her "brrrrm brrrm" noise is spot on and used quite often. Anytime she is near a window, she points to it and says "brrrm brrrrm," knowing that cars will be out there. Normally, this is okay because she is pointing at the window in our living room which has a great view of the street and the cars that drive by, but sometimes this cute, little point is a out of place. Like when we are in the bathroom and she points at the window high up on the wall and says 'brrrm brrrm.' This window just faces some grass. It's pretty cute.

James: He loves drawing. We got him this sweet art easel for Christmas. One side is a chalkboard, the other is a white board. It's down in the basement so he draws on it all the time while I teach. He, of course, loves to draw trains, and over the past couple of weeks has gotten quite accomplished in his train drawings. He's also been drawing bees, houses, trees, and even writing his name. He's my little Picaso.

Here's Toby the train. There's the number 7, the bell, whistle, and smokestack. Even the square face.



Here's what the real Toby looks like, for those of you (gasp!) who don't know Toby.

Pretty good, right? I'm proud of the little bugger.

Cerissa: I've really been into walking. Since the weather has gotten nice out, I just feel this constant urge to be outside. I'll admit that even when it wasn't even good warm weather, I was taking the kids on walks. They were bundled up, to be sure. Just the feeling of fresh air, the breeze, hearing all the fun sounds that nature brings; there is just nothing better! Today I think is absolutely perfect. The sky is blue, the birds are singing, and there is a slight breeze. It was a perfect day for a walk. I think I might have even stepped into a Disney movie because some squirrels brought me a drink when I was thirsty.

What are you into lately?

Pork and Fortune Cookies

I have been doing good with my resolution to do a new recipe a week, except for that one week I missed. Corie said that I am reprived from that one week, so I am not currently harboring any guilt or losing any sleep. Last week, I did the "Protein-Packed Grilled Cheese" which was amazing. Yum. This week I did "Orange-Glazed Pork," which turned out pretty good. If you want the recipe for the grilled cheese, let me know. Tonight, I am only going to share the pork recipe.

Orange-Glazed Pork
Glaze:
3 tablespoons orange marmalade
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons apple cider or white vinegar
2 cloves garlic, chopped (or garlic powder, if you are lazy like me)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoonred pepper flakes

2 lbs. pork tenderloin (I used three small pieces for my family)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup water

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. In a medium sauce pan, whisk all the ingredients for the glaze until smooth. Warm the glaze over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Cook 10 to 15 minutes more, until the liquid is reduced by one quarter and the glaze thickens.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle the pork loin with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large overproof skillet over high heat. Carefully add the pork and cook 10 minutes, turning once until both sides are brown.
3. Off the heat, add the glaze. Turn the pork once to coat in the glaze. Slide the skillet into the oven and bake until the glaze starts to brown around the inner edges of the skillet, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the skillet, add the water, and continue to bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until the pork is cooked through and the water has evaporated. Remove the pork to a cutting board and smooth the glaze until smooth. Slice the pork and serve with the glaze.

Though this recipe looks like it might take alot of work, it's super easy and you don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen. A lot of the time the pork is cooking in the oven, which is great. Also, the only ingredient that I actually needed to buy at the store was the orange marmalade. I love recipes that call for things I already have in my house! I just served it with stir fry veggies and brown rice. I ended up stirring some marmalade into the rice and it turned out pretty good.

I ended up getting some fortune cookies to go with this meal for dessert. I have to idea why Aldi did have fortune cookies, but they did. It was a fun treat to have them, but an even better treat to play the "in bed" game with them. Have you ever done that? When you get a fortune cookie and you're reading your fortune, add the words "in bed" to the end. They are so much better that way. Here are some of mine and Dave's favorites. (Make sure you add "in bed")

- "An unexpected visitor will bring you good blessings...."
- "Opportunity awaits you next Monday..."
- "Someone is speaking well of you.."
- "Be prepared to modify your plans..."
- "Don't underestimate yourself. Your social skills are needed by others at this time..."

Always makes for some good laughs.

Happy cooking!

The Jesus Juke. | Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

I should ask my husband, football knower extrodinaire, what a juke is. Is it when the guy with the football is coming towards you, fakes you out, then goes the other way? Anyways, I was perusing "Stuff Christians Like" whilst the children were sleeping, and came across this little ditty, #898 "The Jesus Juke." I really don't "LOL" that much when online, but this article did it for me. (On a sidenote, I hate using computer acronyms while typing on the computer. Like LOL, or LMAO, or any of those dumb ones. I just don't, BTW.)

The Jesus Juke. Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

So read it, and tell me if this has ever happened to you! It has to me, at it does make for an awkward moment in the conversation.

What do those moors represent?

Let's talk about Wuthering Heights.

Now I can't quote Friends like any of my sisters-in-laws can, but isn't Rachel quoted saying, "How the moors represent the wildness of Heathcliff's emotions?" I  myself don't know what the moors represent, but let's agree with Rachel (or Phoebe, because I believe Rachel stole her idea) and say that is what the moors do represent.

As for the rest of the book, what is the deal with Wuthering Heights? It just seems to be this famous, beloved book that everyone raves over. Doesn't Sandra Bullock say in "The Proposal" that she rereads it every winter? Granted, I realize that I have only given fictional examples of people who like the book, but doesn't that somehow represent the general populous as well? I at least know Karly and Corie love it, and I respect their opinion in books. Well, except for this one.

I literally had to force myself to read this book. Reading a chapter was hard, and sometimes, I had no idea what Healthcliff or Catherine were saying or thinking. Besides the overall difficult mechanics of the books, I just didn't get engrossed into the story. I never believed that Heathcliff and Catherine had this unrequited love story. They just seemed to like to get into trouble together, that's all. And Catherine chose to marry for money and a good man, which is what I assume most girls did back then. They never seemed to have this special connection that was lost once she married Edgar. I never felt once that Heathcliff and Catherine belonged together and only were apart because of some bad decisions. I just didn't.

The only storyline that I like in the whole book is when Catherine (Catherine and Edgar's daughter) develops a relationship with Hindley Earnshaw, who she eventually marries. They are the only two characters that I ever connected with (well, I did like Nelly Dean), hoped goodness would happen to them, and really felt they had a chemistry. I was even sad that we didnt' get to see the wedding as it is only mentioned that they will marry on the first of year. And this whole plot development happens at the end of the book. I see no redeeming qualities to this book until the end. Bleh. That's alot of not fun story to read through to get to only a couple of pages that I do like.

Here's some questions I have of the novel, in no particular order. How does Heathcliff die in the end? Lovesick? Hunger? Delirium? How does Heathcliff's Catherine first get sick in the middle of the book? Like when she has that huge fit after Heathcliff comes over to her and Edgar's home? Why did Heathcliff want to marry Isabella Linton? Just to get back at Catherine? Why doesn't Catherine like Edgar? He seemed like a good guy, and eventually a good dad. Above all else, what is the draw?

I'd like some insight people. Any of you more intellectual types who understand literature far better than I, please help me out. Or maybe this is a book that you either love or hate. I don't know.

Let me know what you think!

Highs and Lows

Did you ever play that game growing up? Or at camp? "Everyone share the highs and lows of their day today...?" Well, here are some things that have been on my mind lately or going on in my life. I'll rank them as either high or low.

Highs
- Going on a run this morning before everyone was awake.
- Listening to the Imagination Movers on Pandora during lunchtime
- Getting a new computer
- Seeing lots of good friends and their kiddos yesterday
- Finally getting some things done on my to-do list.
- Having warmer weather and therefore enjoying lots of walks with my kiddos, though they still have to be bundled up quite a bit.
- Watching "The Social Network" again this weekend. Boy, I sure do love that movie.
- James loves going to swim lessons. This week will be our second week. Dave took him last week to his first one, and he came home bouncing off the walls with excitement!


Lows
(Okay, they are not really that low)
- Going on a run this morning. I am really outta shape. But it's week one of my training, so that's expected, right?
- Reading "The Last of the Mohicans." It is so difficult to read! Seriously, did people in the 1800s really talk like this?
- I missed one week of doing my 'one recipe a week' resolution. Hopefully, you don't feel like I failed. It was just a weird week, I didn't have kids, so we went out to eat alot. But really, I have no excuse. One week I made two new recipes, does that count?
- Um, rats. I can't think of much else. Well, much else that I'd wanna put on here for everyone to know, right? Life's been pretty good lately. Thanks Jesus!

*Also, I finally put some things up on my "About Me"  and "Bucket List" pages. You should check them out. If you want to. Or don't, I don't care. But maybe you probably should. Just do it.

We're going to the races!

I have decided to run two races this year. And yes, believe or not, I am totally excited!

First, I have decided to run a marathon. Last year, as my faithful readers know, I did a half-marathon. After completing the race, I decided that I really didn't want to run any further than 13.1 miles. The more I thought about it, however, I changed my mind. (Crazy, right?) Since running a marathon is on my bucket list, and I am 26 this year (get the correlation?), and I am not planning on being pregnant anytime soon, this seemed like the best time to do it, if I was going to do it at all. The trouble is, I can't decide which one to run. The first, is the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon (which of course, is in Grand Rapids), and the second is the Ringside Fitness Marquette Marathon (which is all the way up in the U.P.) So help me out people, which race should I pick? Here's how I see it:

Grand Rapids: The race is close to home, and wouldn't really require much driving to get there or any hotel or lodging, since I could drive there the morning of the race. And since it is close, people, if they wanted to, could come cheer me on. It is on a paved course, and looks not too difficult. However, it is in a city with no pretty views.

Marquette: The race is on a lakeside town on Lake Superior, and some of the course runs along the lake! I don't think you could ask for a better course setting. Dave is probably going to run this one, so it would be fun to run with him. It is however, super far away. And if I do decide to do this one, questions of logding, babysitters, etc. come it to play. But it could also be seen as a fun vacation?

What do you think? I do need help!

The second race that I am doing I am perhaps the most excited about. Along with four (possibly five) other family members, we are running the Dances with Dirt 100k run in Hell, Michigan!

It's roughly 62 miles, so split up between the five of us, we each run a 5-6 mile leg twice. (I think, I am awful at math). And yes, it is in Hell. Michigan. Who really names their city that? It was quite the process getting signed up for this race, as one has to jump through a lot of hoops just to get registered. I don't quite get it, but you can ask my uncle, who did the Ultra here last year. (He's a stud). This big relay will include my husband, cousin-in-law, uncle-in-law, mom-in-law, and perhaps one other. At this race, all the teams come up with a 'team name,' and ours is "Go Dog Go."

So that's the racing news. Let me know your votes for which race!