fear.

I didn't sleep well last night.  I usually read the local news on my phone a couple times during the day and then again before I go to sleep at night.

There has been some freaking weirdo driving around during daylight in a white van in our local area reportedly attempting to pull girls into his van. 
One eleven year old girl ran away and another eighteen year old at a busstop said she froze but luckily another car came and the van driver drove off. 

Abductors are getting braver.

Since the day Kate was born I've always been afraid someone is going to take her. 
Then Drew was born and my fear doubled.

As a mother, IT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR!!!  No seriously...I've lost a TON of sleep over it.

I can deal with sickness and tantrums and anything else that comes my way with my kiddos, but the thought of some lunatic taking my kids away from me scares the living daylights out of me.
Call me crazy...call me helicopter mom, but I don't care. 

I am going to do whatever it takes to protect my kiddos.
I've had friends tell me they are scared of the same thing so I know I'm not alone. 

You just never know.  I hope they catch him.  But I know there are more out there.

Scary, scary stuff.







 

abc...easy as...

lids.

Have I mentioned I love lids.  No, not as in hat lids (HA!) but pretty much anything that has a lid I fall in love.  Quirky, yes. 

It all started with my collection of teapots when I was oh say...15!!!!  I fell in love with every teapot that came my way.

Then I was introduced to fiesta by one of my sisters (can't remember which one-Linda or Twila) and had to have A LOT of covered casseroles with lids.  I love every color of those things and spent a small FORTUNE on EBAY on a retired lilac one.  I could look at it all day.

All the way up there in all its glory!

Wait...let's get a closer look.

Ahhh...pure gorgeousness!!!

The past few years, I have been into transparent things with lids.  Just anything clear with lids.  I know...whacko!  Ha!  I saw on Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa clear canisters and I was in love.  Immediately had to google where I could buy them and Crate and Barrel had them.  Then of course I had to order some.  Love, Love, Love them!  I'm thinking of ordering more in the very near future!

Then there are my old standbys when I need a lid fix...my cake plates and vases! 

This is surprisingly empty today!!!!

I was in Big Lots earlier today and ran across Mason jars!  I'm pretty sure I'll be going back in a few days and stocking up on those!  Fun!!!

Yep, I'm a lid freak.  Don't judge me. Teehee...

spring

Today is National Down Syndrome Day and this blog post from a friend will make your heart sing with happiness.  Definitely alike more than different!! 
*********************************************************************************
The first day of SPRING was GREAT!!!!  Gorgeous 84 degree weather.  Kiddoss on bikes, scooters and skateboards. Little girls walking their dogs!  And yummy grilled food!  More great weather expected today!  Yippee!

monday.

Happy Monday!  I went for a walk this morning with Ginger!  Yay! 
I took along Pandora and what is it about M&M music that makes me want to RUN??  Fast!
It gets me going!  Steve will probably now go out and buy me every M&M CD there is!  LOL!
Just kidding.

I'm lifting my rain dance prayers because Drew is free to PLAY!
He went to T-ball practice Saturday and to a swimming party and did fine. 
And his grumpiness is subsiding.  Thank goodness! 
I thought I was going to go crazy last week.  Hard, hard week for me.  But I made it!

We have T-ball practice today and I'm really hoping the rain holds off.  
It so cute to see all those little kids getting excited and playing!  Fun times!

What are your Monday plans?

mad skills

In honor of March Madness, here are a couple of snip-its of Drew and his mad basketball skills! :-)

Have a great weekend and happy birthday to my only brother, Bobby! :-)

march madness

Have you picked your bracket yet?  You have until til noon today on ESPN.com to choose who you think will win the NCAA College Basketball tournament. 

The funny part is you don't even need to know a thing about basketball!  Ha!  It's all right there for you and if you finish in the top 1% you could win 10 grand!!!!  Hello!!!!! 

Go do your bracket peeps!  It's sooooo fun!

Mountaineers tip off at 7:20pm!  Let's Goooo Mountaineers!

wednesday random.

Wow!  What a beautiful Wednesday today!  I think we are jumping right into summer with no spring!  It's suppose to be a high of  74 degrees today!  Gorgeous March weather!

I've been starting my mornings out with this delicious red fruit!  Yummy!  One of our neighborhood  kiddos was selling them for their band and I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered some!  Fresh strawberries here in WV in March...yes please!

We went out for ice cream with a neighborhood friend yesterday.  Thanks Amy, Ashlynn, and Ayden!  Drew is loving all the ice cream attention!!!

I overheard a young lady at the grocery store commenting how delicious this was and had to try it.

So I fixed this for lunch today for Steve and I and it was SOOO good!

Penne Pasta, red bell pepper, toasted pine nuts with savory garlic! 



It was picture day AGAIN at Kate's school.  I must be getting really old because I only remember getting pictures taken at school once year... "Yeah, back when I was a kid we only got them there school pictures taken once I tell ya!"  LOL!  Oh well, we shall go with it! Ha!

Have a great Wednesday peeps!

new cookbook!!!

Today is the day!  Yippee!!!  The Pioneer Woman's new cookbook comes out today! 

She's been working on it for awhile and has given some hints and peeks but I cannot wait to get my hands on it! Ha!  I'm headed to town tomorrow so hopefully I'll have chance to stop and pick it up!

I LOVED LOVED LOVED her last cookbook and have been really inspired to cook dinner more.  You can find A LOT, if not all, of her recipes on her website! 

So tonight in honor of her new cookbook coming out today I will fix a Pioneer Woman recipe favorite at our house,  The Marlboro Man Sandwich.  Yummy!

spring forward.

We are not morning people. Ha!  Kate had the worst time waking up this morning.  She cried her little heart out.

We went upstairs to bed last night with five books hoping to get her to sleep earlier but it didn't happen.  I guess it'll take a few days to get into this earlier routine.

Steve went back to work today after a rare three days off to be with Drew.

I took Ginger for a walk this morning and got caught in rain!  I was thankful!  I'd been praying for rain (along with a few of my friends) so Drew wouldn't feel so bad for not being able to go outside.

We've been inside playing more board games, his train table, and baking brownies (so much for that 30 minute walk this morning!)

Seven more days to go!  I've got to get a video of Drew talking.  It sounds like he is talking with helium...so cute and sad at the same time.

I'm off to plan dinner...I think I'll break out my cookbooks!  So excited about a special cookbook tomorrow...stay tuned! :-)

day two of recovery.

Whoa!  This recovery thing is just horrible.  Drew is having a terrible time.  His throat is sore, he's grumpy, and he is SOOOO upset he can't go outside and play in this gorgeous 70 degree weather we are having. 

We've been playing board games, watching spongebob, first season of brady bunch, going through the basket of goodies Aunt Janet sent, and playing Wii.  But we are talking about a very active boy here.  I just want to put him on his bike and say ride baby ride. 

But I can't.  And he IS going to miss his second tball practice on Saturday and probably a swimming birthday party, too!  Boo...getting your tonsils removed is for the birds man! Ha! 

We will muddle through...and I'm still praying for rain!

And if you are new to the blog be sure to sign up for email updates or become a follower or leave a comment so I'll you were here!  I'd love to hear from you and where you are from even if you are local! :-)

surgery.

Drew had his surgery yesterday.  We started out the day around 4:45am!  He had to be at the hospital at 7:00am so we had to put Kate on the school bus at 6:30am TO school for the first time.  She was a little hesitant but she was a trooper and knew it was important for us to get Drew to the hospital on time.

Then, Steve, Drew, and I headed to St. Francis Hospital for his tonsilectomy and adenoidectomy.  His doctor, Dr. Goins, really helped us to prepare Drew mentally for his surgery so he knew most of what was going to happen. 

Heading into the hospital (sleepy)

Daddy talking about sports I'm sure! (hehe)

Starting to get a little nervous

I don't want to wear those hospital socks, Momma!

(and he didn't)

Can we just go home now?

Maybe the doctor couldn't make it! 

Let's go home!

Oh he made it!  Heading back to the OR!

It's over...Take me home, take me home!

It hurts!

He pointed to the next to last one! :-(

Taking a rest

Oh, I could kiss those eyelashes all day!

Is this a cast, momma?

I'm going to drink all this apple juice so I can go home!

And all this banana slush, too!

This stuff made me pee a lot!

I did everything they asked so can I go now?

Finally...going home to popsicles and ice cream!

and more sports talk!

Yum! Rainbow sherbert from neighbors Kim and Sophie!

and a Feel Better balloon!  Such sweet neighbors we have!

Aunt Janet and Steve came to visit and brought a basket full of goodies

to help with staying inside for ten days! 

Thanks Aunt Janet!!

Thanks guys!

A visit from granny!  She brought a Wii game! Yay!

He finally fell asleep about 10:30pm.  He woke up at 2:30am and

we gave him more pain medicine. 

He woke up this morning happy.  But saying his throat was still sore.  He was really upset

yesterday when he saw all the kids outside playing.  It's going to be a long ten days with

no outside activity allowed. 

I'm praying for rain!!!

basketball and birthday weekend

We had a pretty eventful and fun-filled weekend! Friday morning, Steve and I had to take Drew for his pre-operation testing for his toncilectomy.  He had to have some blood drawn and he didn't flinch.  Amazing boy!  We were all glad to get that over!  Then, Kate's best friend, Hannah, from preschool came over for a birthday playdate and movie night.  We went to see The Lorax and had a GREAT time!  We sure miss seeing sweet Hannah everyday.  So much fun we forgot to get a pic! :-(

Saturday, we went to Drew's last basketball game.  He improved so much from last year and made his highest score ever of 24 points!  Go Drew!  We are super proud of you!!!  Drew and Kate both start T-ball on Wednesday and even with Drew's surgery scheduled on Friday he shouldn't miss a practice or a game and he is so happy!  Have I mentioned lately how much I love those two kiddos!  I do!!!

Sunday, we woke up and got ready for Drew's basketball banquet.  He couldn't wait to get his second trophy.  He said, "Mom, I think I'm going to start collecting trophies!" HA!  Kids are so funny! 

Then we came home and scurried to get ready for Kate's SIXTH birthday party!  I can't believe that once 4lb 4oz baby is six years old!!!  Enjoy the pics that Steve so graciously took!!!!  And thanks to our families who came to celebrate.  We love you all so much! :-) 

The Drewster!!

My pantyhose are itching me! Waaaaahhh!

Daddy made me laugh!

Awwww!!!

Drew's buddy Blake...Blake hardly missed a shot!

Trophy time!

Sweet!

Kate opening her second present-a Victorious shirt! 

(The first present was Victorious panties-eek!)

Let's get this party started!

Victorious from Teen Nick

With pretty aunt Barbara and Drew!

Hi Margaret!

Uncle Bobby

Aunt Twila

Aunt Janet

With Mommy and Drew

Kate, Mommy, Daddy and Drew!

Jason and Brittney

Lena and Bella

Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike arriving

Cousin Karlee

Sweet cousin Cannon rockin out

The Miller clan

Daddy, Aunt Becky and Uncle John

Cousin Karlee, Brittney, and Jason

Having fun waiting on other guests to arrive!

With cousin Karlee and Drew

Counting the presents...

Uncle Mike

Uncle Mike and Aunt Linda

Hanging out waiting for guests

Yay!  Time for cake!

Six candles!!! Make a wish!

She told me later she wished for a skateboard! :-)

Granny

Aunt Twila helping with cake and ice cream

Sweet Sweet Cannon!!

LOVE this pic!!!

A beautiful sparkly heart necklace from granny!

PaPa filming the event!

Awww...so precious!!!

Love love love this pic!!!

Hugging her aunt Janet!  So sweet!

A very happy girl!!!!

Great pic!!!  Love!

and more presents...

Sharing some love...

and more presents!

giving out her thank you hugs!

one last present...in the SNOW!!!

I love it mommy!!!

One extremely happy family loved little girl!!

WE ALL LOVE YOU KATERBUG!!!