The Mantor Madhouse

Top Ten Madhoue Memories of 2010

2010-12-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve! Since I'm much better at reflecting than I am at keeping resolutions, I thought I would celebrate the upcoming turn of the year with a reflection on the amazing things of 2010. Of course, there are a lot more - God has been so good to us this year in so many areas! But these are some of my favorites...

Honorable Mention: Meeting Jessi
I couldn't resist! She suggested this as one of the Top Ten on Facebook; who am I to disagree?:)

10. December snowman We had early snow in Kentucky this year, so we took advantage of it by making a snowman in the front yard - complete with M&M smile & Iowa State scarf (Garrett was obviously at work)!!

9. The Madhouse Derby Party We decided to become official Kentuckians this year by throwing a Kentucky Derby Party. I'd never paid much attention to horse racing, so it took quite a bit of research. In the end, we decorated hats, played derby games, and sang 'My Old Kentucky Home."

8. Garrett's 30th Birthday Party (especially the cake) I threw Garrett a gaming party for his 30th! We had a lot of fun playing a variety of games. I have to say, though - I was especially proud of the Settlers of Catan themed cake I made for him!

7. Taking Tiffany to the Clayton County Fair In August, while Garrett and Hunter were in Washington, D.C. for Boy Scouts, I packed up the rest of the kids and took them and my friend, Tiffany, to Iowa. Tiffany, very much a city girl, had never been to Iowa. We went to the Lamont Day's parade, saw Big Bud (the world's largest tractor), and went to the Clayton County Fair. Never seeing cows up close, she wanted to know if she could "pet" one - I advised against it! ;)

At the parade

6. Completing my first 5K I decided this spring that I was going to run a 5K this year. I've never been a runner, but figured it wouldn't be so bad. After fighting through foot pain and my 30 years of laziness, I completed the RJ Corman 5K in October!! I came in 3rd in my age division!!!

5. Garrett's Graduation Garrett officially completed his Bachelor's degree last December, but in July he participated in his graduation ceremony in Louisville. We were super proud of him!!

4. Grandma Betty drinking moonshine at Thanksgiving I couldn't resist! This memory was too good not to make the Top Ten! At the Sheffert Christmas celebration we had a drink exchange. Garrett & I thought we'd be true Kentuckians and take moonshine (he works with some sketchy fellows - that's all I'll say about that). When my brother-in-law won the battle and ended up with it, he opened it up to investigate. My grandma took a spoonful and drank it!! Priceless!!!

3. The Madhouse takes over the Louisville Zoo For the past several years we have been celebrating Mantor Day in June. This year we took a family outing! Earlier this year, I had an argument with Andrea about if giraffe's had tails or not. I determined that my kids desperately needed a trip to the zoo!! We had an amazing time (despite Leigha's face in the picture below). There is a full album of pictures on my Facebook page!

2. Seeing Toy Story 3 in the theater TWICE (and getting the DVD) I know, it sounds like a dumb second place, but it's true. I LOVED Toy Story 3! I laughed, I cried, I watched it again and again. The most fun has been quoting lines from the movie with the kids. Leigha does an amazing Bonnie impersonation and Hunter is working on his Spanish Buzz. I decided I'm going to find Garrett's 'Spanish Mode!!'

1. Participating in 'Being Christmas' Far and away the best Madhouse memory for 2010 was participating in 'Being Christmas' at church. In early December, our church launched a series about not just talking about Christmas, but showing our neighbors what Christmas looked like! We collectively did that in 3 ways - donating toys to the Catholic Action Center's Toy Drive, Donating Food to the Salvation Army's Food Pantry, and a year end offering that would continue and expand our ministries at church. In the process, we as a church were learning what generosity looked like! Our family decided to dive in! We condensed our grocery budget every week and bought extra food. We saved every penny we could for toys (the kids even chose to put in some of their money). We partnered with our Life Groups and stretched every penny. Garrett was blessed with a lot of overtime in December, so we divided the extra between the three. In the end, what was most amazing for me was how generosity really was released in us! The kid's were less about themselves and always talking about what toys they would buy for other kids. Leigha (3 yrs old) even walked through Toys R Us putting her favorite toys in the cart - never once asking for one for herself!!! AMAZING!!!

The Toys & Food we bought

And finally, I do have to mention one more....
Too Amazing to Compete: Hunter giving his life to Christ It wasn't fair to compare this one to the others. For most of this year Hunter has been processing where he sat with Jesus. He's said a prayer several times in his life, but his life still wasn't marked with joy or peace or love. He realized that the other times he prayed it was because everyone else was doing it or out of anger. This fall he finally realized during a message at church that he had sin in his heart and that it was a problem. For the first time ever he chose to talk to someone about it instead of pretending it didn't exist! After a few more months of sorting it all out, on November 7 he gave his life to Christ on his own will!! Instantly we saw his heart soften - and it continues to as he learns what it means to walk with Jesus! On December 15th, he was baptized which included sharing his story. He had such clarity! The last several months have really unleashed Hunter's heart for great things!

If only 2011 is this amazing!!!

Happy New Year!!

FAIL!

2010-10-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

As 2010 quickly comes to an end, I recall my New Year's Resolution was to post more regularly. As you can tell, that lasted through May! Our life has not become dull, I promise! I have tons of great things to say (well, in my opinion)! It's just a fail!! :(

A Kentucky Wedding Invitation....

2010-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is a real, bonafide invitation we received. I have taken out names and dates to protect the guilty....

Hey Everyone-

Wanted to give you some updated information on the Cookout. You are welcome to come out at anytime on date...We will eat around 5:30 and get married around 6:30. Please bring a dish to share. We will have hamburgers and hotdogs, with the fixings ie..buns, lettuce, tomato, onions and condiments. We will have drinks unless you are wanting something special. It should be a great time, we are going to have cornhole, fishing, four wheeling and canoeing. Everyone is welcome to camp out with us that night as well. See you then!

Bride and Groom

Remembering Grandma McGinty

2010-03-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

Garrett's Grandma, Reta, has been sick for quite some time. After her 4th or 5th hospital stay this year, the doctor's determined there was nothing else they could do for her and sent her home on Tuesday with Hospice care. Garrett received a call this morning from his Grandpa letting us know she passed away early this morning.

Although, we knew it was coming, it's still hard to loose someone you love. Even though you know she saw Jesus face-to-face for the first time this morning, you still wish she was here.

Although she was Garrett's Grandma, I loved her like my own - she was just that kind of lady. So, in memory of her, her are a few of the things I loved about Grandma McGinty.

She was the perfect example of a servant - she never let us come over to her house without feeding us. Garrett's favorite meal was Crazy Roast! When we needed help moving or watching kids, she volunteered. She watched her neighbor boy after school right up until this year.
She was an excellent wife - Grandpa was know for crazy adventures (like buying an S-10 Extreme in his late 60s). Grandma always "rolled" with it. If it ever perturbed her, she didn't show it. In fact, she NEVER complained about Grandpa & was always the first to help him out. Even when her health was failing she planned a trip to visit us in Illinois so Grandpa could visit the Air Force Base he was stationed at. When he walked around for hours looking at planes and reminiscing, she patiently sat and waited for him.
When she prayed, Heaven answered - she was never one of those "I'll be praying for you" people that would get distracted and forget. She prayed and she prayed hard! Her prayers saw Garrett and Hunter through some really rough times. Her prayers softened the heart of Garrett's dad 5 years ago when he accepted Christ. I always knew Grandma was praying for me!
She taught me to be tough. When things were tough surrounding Hunter, Grandma was the first one I would run to. She never made me feel bad for being angry or irrational. She would just remind me to trust in the Lord and to keep my composure. "Never let them see you break," she'd say about my "enemies."

I really could go on and on. I'm sure I'll have more to write when we get back from her funeral in Iowa this weekend. I'd appreciate your prayers - especially for her family members who don't have the same relationship with Jesus that she did. We are planning to leave early tomorrow morning for the visitation this afternoon and coming home Sunday.

Snow, snow & more snow

2010-02-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

We thought when we left Ill., we'd leave behind snow, too. We were told that Ky. mostly gets ice. Well, we haven't seen any ice and we are working on our 3rd consecutive day of snow! I think the kids have missed 5 days of school this year (WAY more than they ever missed in Ill. and even a little high for a typical Ia. winter). Now, part of this is due to canceling school for snow crazy reasons, but still!

Last week the kids went out and build a snowman out of snow chunks the snowplow left behind. It was lots of fun watching them pick up giant chunks and carry them to Hunter, the designated stacker. They have all had lots of fun with the weather!

Garrett heard yesterday that every state except Hawaii has snow! What craziness - so much for an early spring! I am lucky to be used to snow. There are southerners here that are truly lost! On our babysitters road I watched a mini-van get pushed up the hill yesterday. They either had bald tires (thank you Garrett and George for my new tires) or they had no idea how to drive in slick conditions. Then today at the bottom of that same hill a car had slipped through the intersection and into someones yard (inches from the telephone pole). And, I have to add, it was a guy - not a girl! :)

Maybe next year we can experience the "average" Ky. winter (that would be highs in the 40s). Until then, we'll just pretend we're in Ia. again!

Dino Fun

2010-02-08T15:56:00.001-08:00

This weekend the Mom2Mom group I went to before going back to work went to the Dinosaur exhibit at the Community Arts Center in Danville. There were about 70 of us: moms, kids, and husbands. They had dinosaurs of all sizes to look at, crafts, and hands-on activities. Even Hunter had a great time! Here are some pics...

I don't know why we wait until the end for the standard "we were here pic." Someone is always in a rotten mood by then!

Hunter, Leigha, and Ryan are working on a craft

Andrea and her friend Rochelle work on tracing dinosaurs

Hunter digging for dinosaur bones!

Leigha by some of the smaller dinosaurs (they had a giant t-rex, but he wasn't in the mood for pictures - and I wasn't going to argue!)

Signs of Spring

2010-02-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

This has been a difficult year for me to judge the seasons. I was surprised at how late fall came to Kentucky, with leaves not really turning until November. So it's really no surprise that I'm having a difficult time judging Spring either.

Temps here have been in the 30s and 40s, which compared to Iowa is SCORCHING! We have 4 inches of snow last weekend, but it's almost gone. The kids and I made a snowman complete with carrot nose & a bandanna! I didn't get pics because of a dead camera battery. I couldn't get pics either because the darn thing had all but melted by the next afternoon!

So, is this normal for Kentucky? Will it get cold again? How long does this last? I dunno!

I do know that starting in about 3 weeks my poor daughter won't have to get on the bus in the dark. This morning (according to her), she stood by the curb, the bus stopped, didn't open the doors, and pulled away without her. She claimed it was because of her new haircut. Remarkably shorter? yes Indistinguishable? no My only guess is that the bus driver didn't see her in the dark! There is just barely daylight when she gets on at 7:20. Sad, really!

So, I'm hoping that the warmer temps and lengthening days will mean Spring in Kentucky - but who knows!! I'm all confused!

How difficult could license plates be?

2010-01-27T05:42:00.000-08:00

According to the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Licensing website, transferring your out of state plates should be this easy ...

If you own your car (not leased) and have liens on the vehicle you will need:

a letter from your new county clerk's office requesting the title from the previous state (if the lending institute held your title) OR the original out-of-state title with the lien listed on it
original registration receipt
original current proof of insurance (copy not allowed)
proof of sales/usage/use tax paid to the previous state
a certified inspection from the sheriff's office from the county of your new residence
picture ID
money to pay applicable fees and taxes

It looked pretty straight forward. This is the 4th state I've tried to get plates in - how difficult could it be?

Of course, they don't mention the 5 months and all the steps required to get there, which, for me, looked more like this...

Take brand new driver's license, proof of insurance, Ill. registration card, and proof of residency (just in case they are like Ill. and require that for EVERYTHING)
Have lady at Clerk of Court ask for my inspection paperwork & title
Look dumbfoundedly at lady
Lady hands me form to fax to Toyota to get my title sent to the county and another form for an inspection, which must be completed at a different building up the street
Go home to find fax number for Toyota
Treck across town to a fax machine, pay $3
Wait a month to make sure title got to Clerk of Court
Call Clerk of Court to verify title is actually there
Take inspection form (and 4 kids) to Sheriff's Office for inspection, pay $5
Drive down to the Clerk of Court to turn in all of my paperwork
Discover Clerk of Court does not accept Credit or Debit Cards
Drive to bank to withdraw $$
Drive back to Clerk of Court to pay
Put new plate in the front window until husband can put it on
Receive letter from Clerk of Court saying there was a problem with the paperwork, must get vehicle re-inspected
Go to Clerk of Court to ask, "What?"
Drive to Sheriff's Office for re-inspection because the mileage was written incorrectly on the first one - per lady's orders, they wrote the correct mileage on the letter
Return paperwork to Clerk of Court
Receive letter in the mail saying the mileage had to be written on an official form, so I needed to have the van re-inspected
Drive to Clerk of Court, get correct paperwork
Go to Sheriff's Office, where the lady there recognizes me (bad sign!), but instead of re-inspecting my van, asks me to go out & check the exact mileage and then go get my insurance card and then fills out the appropriate paperwork.
Go back to Clerk of Court to turn paperwork in
Hope and pray I don't get another letter!!

Seriously??

Saving $$ on Christmas Letters!

2010-01-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from the Mantor Madhouse!

We have finally recovered from a long Christmas break in Iowa and my Christmas decorations aren’t down yet, so I figured a Christmas/New Year’s letter was still appropriate!

Like most years past, 2009 was full of change for us. We have down-sized the Madhouse by two members - the cat ran away last spring and Sparkie found a new home when we discovered Ryan was allergic to her. As if that wasn’t enough change, in July we moved to Wilmore, Kentucky so I could pursue my master’s degree. Right away Garrett joined the carpenter’s union and went to work at the army depot building scaffold and concrete forms for an 8-year government project; a true blessing considering construction work in Illinois was non-existent!!

The hardest part of the move was finding a new church home - we hated “church shopping” and really wanted to settle in somewhere, but at the same time really wanted to find a community that would encourage our whole family to grow closer to Christ. We knew we had found that when we visited Quest Community Church - the people were real, honest, overflowing with love, and their lives were marked with true transformation.

Through hearing many of their stories and processing through our own stories, Garrett and I realized that our lives were not marked with transformation, instead we had each tried really hard to love Jesus and serve him, but always on our terms; on our strength. This fall, Garrett, Hunter & I stopped pretending that we were Christians and surrendered our lives to him and Andrea is at the beginning stages of processing what it means to follow Jesus. It’s hard to express in words the transformation we have experienced. We have been learning to forgive, to be authentic, to be less selfish & more loving. As a response to our new relationships with Jesus, Garrett and I were baptized in December. Garrett’s dad drove all the way from Iowa to be there for us!

We know that this is where God has called us to be and each of us are enjoying our new Kentucky home! Hunter, who is now 11 and in 6th grade, has friends right across the street & spends many hours with them. He joined the Cross Country team this fall and earned several medals. He is very busy with Boy Scouts. His goal is to become an Eagle Scout like his dad, so he is busy working on merit badges and attending campouts. This summer he will have the privilege of attending the 100th year jamboree in Washington, D.C. He continues to be an avid reader and does very well in school.

Andrea is 7 and in 1st grade. Last summer she announced that her name is no longer Andi, but Andrea. We try to accommodate her request, but frequently forget. Our neighborhood is FULL of girls her age, so our little social-butterfly spends many hours out and about. She also loves to read and has discovered chapter books like the Babysitter’s Club Little Sister series. She spends a lot of time coloring and writing, but also loves to watch TV. One of her friends has gotten her into Hannah Montana, so the Disney Channel is on most of the time!

Ryan will be 4 in May and continues to be...well...Ryan. He still has no fear and no limits, but has avoided the emergency room thus far. He did spend 4 days in the hospital early last year with Kawasaki Disease, a rare, but serious condition that can have very serious long-term effects. Luckily we caught it early and treatment was successful. We did discover he is allergic to dogs and dust mites. Since moving to Kentucky (and away from Sparkie) he has had very few flair-ups. He loves playing with his cars, trains, and his many stuffed animals!

Leigha turned 2 in October and contains enough attitude and drama for the whole family. She is such a sweet girl - and makes all of us laugh with her funny sayings and facial expressions. Her temper does easily surface and when it does - watch out! (No idea where that comes from) Whether you see her at home, church, or shopping, you will always see her carrying at least one baby - always wrapped in a blanket and usually with a bottle in her mouth! She is an excellent ‘mommy’ that feeds, rocks, sings to, and reads to her babies!

Garrett has become active in Scouts - going to most campouts and meetings. He’s also the Activities Chairman for the Troop. Much to his delight, Kentucky is filled with board gamers. He’s even found a group that meets weekly at a game store in Lexington. The highlight of Garrett’s year, though, was completing his Bachelors of Science Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix in December. We were all so proud of his hard work! With all his new-found free-time, Garrett has joined the sound team at church and occasionally helps with construction projects.

This fall I started my Master of Arts in Biblical Studies degree at Asbury Theological Seminary. My semester was filled with Greek flashcards and more Greek flashcards. I completed 9 credit hours and really enjoyed diving back into school. At the beginning of this year I was thrilled to be hired (almost) full-time by the seminary in their Advancement Department as the Major Events Assistant. In addition to helping the budget, I also get to take 12 credit hours each year for free. This coming semester I’ve decided not to take classes, but may start up again this summer or fall. I don’t get much down time, but when I do I usually spend it reading or watching CSI re-runs!

Over Christmas we packed up the herd and headed back to Iowa for a 10 days. We got to see lots of family and the kids got to experience some real snow! I was very happy to leave the cold behind when we came home. When we got back to Kentucky we experienced the first snowstorm suitable for closing schools here. In fact, they expected it to be so bad they cancelled schools before the snow began to fall! When it was all done, we had maybe 2 inches and temperatures in the high teens - I know, frigid! Some schools were canceled all week!

That’s just one example of how we’ve discovered that Kentucky is a world of it’s own. All the jokes you heard about Kentucky - they’re true! Garrett even overheard someone at work say last week, “He’s going back to Tennessee to get the title to his motorcycle so he can sell it and get his girlfriend out of jail!”

We try to post all of our “Only In Kentucky” experiences on Twitter and Facebook - if you ever need a good laugh! I’m also trying to get back into the blogging habit. There just never seems to be a dull moment around here! We really do love the chaos of it all.

The last line of Christmas/New Years letters are always awkward, so I’ll just say.....

Kentucky Snow

2010-01-07T14:31:00.001-08:00

It's already January, but Kentucky got it's first measurable snowfall today. Schools all over the state have been canceling everyday this week - for what became flurries and temps in the teens and twenties! (Lightweights) Jessamine County (the kid's schools) waited until today to cancel - but they even did that before the snow started to fall! One of my friends called it a "Snow Anticipation" Day!

The snow started falling around 7:30 or 8:00 this morning and just created a light dusting. It wasn't until mid-afternoon that there was enough to consider it "measurable." Even then, the grass was mostly covered and the roads were slushy (that may have been due to the fact that Wilmore's snowplow(s?) really were nowhere to be seen!).

After enjoying some homemade "snow cones," Andrea, Ryan, & Leigha went outside to enjoy the fresh snow. Leigha lasted a whopping 2 minutes because it was "too windy." Andrea and Ryan played around the yard for a bit longer, but ended up coming in to warm up. The wind has started to pick up and the temps are dropping (oh, joy!). There are rumors of school being closed tomorrow as well because of the temps dropping to (hold your breath) the SINGLE DIGITS!! (Lightweights!) There is also drifting snow in the forecast, which justifies no school a little bit more.

Here's a picture of the winter wonderland from our front porch!

Now, of course - this snowfall doesn't compare anything to the 28 inches that fell in Iowa last month. In fact, it snowed everyday we were there over Christmas. The kids had lots of time to build forts, go sledding and enjoy REAL winter weather. Here's a couple of pics from Grandma Betty's back yard...

Gingerbread Cornelia Marie

2009-12-07T06:02:00.000-08:00

Despite my better judgement, I agreed to making a gingerbread "house" for a church competition. I don't consider myself all that competitive, but I guess I am - because if I was going to make a gingerbread "house" I was going to win.

Here is our First Place Winner ... the Cornelia Marie from Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch.

I made each of the structural pieces out of homemade gingerbread (a first for me)! I made a mock up cardboard version and used the pieces to cut out my gingerbread dough.

The cabin is illuminated - I cut holes out of the gingerbread before cooking for the windows and doors. The handrailing is chocolate dipped pretzles! yummy!

That would a crab boat be without the crab? The sorting table on the deck is made with a Hersey's cookies and cream bar. The crabs are actually mini gummy bears - don't tell anyone! Ryan helped me put the orange spice drops on the side for the orange floater things I can't spell.

The crane is made with two Butterfingers with a kit kat on top. All of the masts are kept in place with the crispy Oreo cookies. Hunter and Andi made the ice chunks out of almond bark and placed them around the boat.

We already have plans for next year, but, like this project, they're a secret!! :)

Kid Pics

2009-09-15T17:56:00.001-07:00

This summer our very talented friend Chris Gibson offered to take pictures of the kids. These are our favorites.

A Running Mantor?

2009-09-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Hunter joined the cross country team last week and had his first race on Saturday. The team only practices 3 times a week, so with Labor Day last Monday he only had 2 days of practice with the team. He did go out and run around the neighborhood for 20 minutes on day as well. So when Saturday came around he didn't know what to expect.

He ran in the 5th/6th race (1.1 miles) up and down the Kentucky hills! He is on the red team - he's the 2nd red guy from the right. (next to the rather relaxed blue team)

Somewhere, he managed to get a "long distance running" gene - most likely not from the Sandhagens or McGintys! He smkoed everyone on his team (he hasn't been at practice enough to realize there is a team element to cross country) and managed to bring home the 6th place trophy!!! We are super proud of him!!

Naptime

2009-08-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

My First PhotoShop Creation

2009-08-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

From these originals:

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

What We're Good At

2009-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Part of Boy Scouts for Hunter is doing some merit badges that he normally wouldn't select - like basketry for example. At Scout Camp this summer this was one of the badges he was to complete. They gave him ample time, but he (like an 11 yr old boy) hung out with friends instead of attending the work sessions.

That meant he got to bring it home to complete. A month later he finally was convinced it needed to be done. Here is a picture of him working on his last basket.

We decided that arts still really weren't his thing. He's not all that artistic - especially with things that require precision. The basket isn't pretty - and I wouldn't suggest puting anything small in it. But it's done & he learned a lesson in procrastination as well as his giftedness (as in, NOT art).

I, on the otherhand had picked up a new skill. Check out what I made....

Yes, it looks like a stencil of the above picture, but in fact - it's an application in the computer program PhotoShop. And, like art for Hunter, it's kicking my butt! Hopefully during nap time I'll have a chance to play around and actually learn how to use it.

Toddlers!

2009-08-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Dr. James Dobbson is notes for saying, tounge-in-cheek, that pre-teens should be put in a barrel with a hole to feed & water them. Once they become teenagers - you should plug the hole!

Today - I'm ready to put my toddlers in a barrel!! I was not made for this stay-at-home mom junk. House wife - maybe, stay-at-home mom NO WAY!!!

First Day of School

2009-08-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was the first day of school for Hunter & Andi. This is our annual "Back to School" picture on our front steps. Yes, Leigha is thrilled with life! :)

Hunter started 6th grade, which meant switching classes for the first time. Going into a new school (without any of his new friends in his classes) hasn't seemed to be a problem for him. He really likes his classes and teachers - even art. I think his favorite part of his new school is getting to choose what you want for lunch!! :)

Andrea started 1st grade. She came home on Wednesday and said, "Mom, we had lunch at my school, which means you don't have to feed me until supper time!" Priceless! She has been excited to tell me all about Gym and Music and Recess. She is also thrilled that she gets a choice for lunch. Her big disappointment has been no homework. (Yes, my kid wants homework!)

Our Hillbilly Move

2009-07-08T17:32:00.001-07:00

We have finally made it to our Kentucky home & are starting to get settled. It still doesn't feel like home, but I'm sure with time it will. We packed all last week and picked up the U-Haul on Thursday. We had lots of great friends come over to help us load up (and the guys played one last game after everything was done). We jam-packed a 26-ft U-Haul, Garrett's car on the trailer, and the van.

The family room getting packed up.

The kids spent two nights "camping" after their beds were taken down & loaded.

The U-Haul parked behind our house - Ryan road up and down the alley to pass time (all the other toys were packed)

Loading the U-Haul

Practicing our "hillbilly" skills

Our neighbor bought us breakfast on Friday morning (thanks Cremer). Garrett and Andi headed out in the U-Haul around 8:00. I stayed behind with the little ones until 10:00 when a lady came to look at Sparkie. Since we are renting (and Ryan is allergic) we decided to find a new home for her. It came down to the wire, but Sparkie found a new home!!

It was a long drive with the little ones. About an hour out Garrett called and asked if I had turned the water on - because it wasn't! I thought I had told the city when we were coming, but wasn't sure. Once we got there (tired, hot, and cranky) we had to figure out what to do. Garrett tried to get someone to come out, but made no progress. Luckily our new neighbors fed us, gave us a swimming pool of water to flush the toilets with, a jug of drinking water, and let us bathe the kids in their house.

Saturday was the 4th - a big celebration in Wilmore. We went to the parade (and saw the Lawnmower Brigade). After the parade they have food & games in the park. We walked down for a while. On our way back, Garrett stopped and chatted with one of the police officers that was directing traffic - hoping to find someone to turn out water on.

He picked the right guy, because the officer introduced him to the city clerk. She said her computer had told her the water was on, but she would send someone over right away!! By late afternoon we had water again!! Ah, the sound of toilets filling never sounded so sweet!!

We purchased a new desk because we were afraid the other one wouldn't make the move in one piece. Garrett drew the short straw and hand to put it together.

My new kitchen filled with boxes. I have MORE space than my last kitchen (and a dishwasher and food disposal!!)

The length of our house - filled with boxes. The closest room is the family room, followed by the dining/computer room and then the kitchen. The three bedrooms and two bathrooms are off to the right.

Our family room with some pictures on the wall (and most of the boxes gone)

The length of our house, but with some decorations and less boxes

Andi standing out front of our new house. (notice the GIANT pile of boxes on the front steps)

We went to chapel today at the seminary. It was nice to see people again. I was beginning to feel like a hermit. Garrett has to travel back to Chicago tomorrow to pick Hunter up from scout camp. It will be nice to have him back home. There's some boys across the street that eagerly watched us pull in that will be pleasantly surprised to see a kid their age.

All in all, Kentucky is more AND less hillbilly than I expected. The grocery store was VERY hillbilly, but everything else has been great. The hills throw my sense of direction off (I've gotten use to flat & square). I've taken a liking to sweet tea & the laid back southern way of life!! This may be a hard place to leave (just like the last one was).

Mantor Bash

2009-06-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Mantor Bash was a huge success. We had such a great time hanging out with our friends from so many different areas of our life - all in one party. Here are some of the pictures. I've loaded more onto Picassa (& hopefully some onto Facebook as well)

The mamoth cake - done by Ultra Foods (in case you were craving more of that fluffy buttercream frosting)

The kids colored a banner that read, "Thank You for Being a Friend."

A few of the party guests

Family had special seating in the house :)

The food line in the garage.

Seating in the garage.

Yard games & grilling at Cremer's (our friendly neighbor that won "Neighbor of the Year.")

The bounce house was a HUGE hit with anyone under 40!!

A few of my bible study girls

Front: Amie & Laura

Back: Me & Lori

(Katie & Natalie had left already)

We have lived in Illinois for 5 years now & have befriended so many amazing people here. It will be difficult to move away, but we are so thankful for their friendship! You guys are amaze-a-zing!

New Slide Show

2009-06-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

I've spent all afternoon trying to make a slide show for Mantor Day. My limited software and patience has got me nowhere. So I loaded all the pics to Picasa and linked them at the right. Take a gander - enjoy the best of the Madhouse 2009!

Our Kentucky Home

2009-06-09T10:40:00.001-07:00

Garrett and Hunter traveled to Kentucky a week ago with two missions: 1.) Find a place to live and 2.) Find a job for Garrett. They were sucessfull on both fronts! Garrett transfered his Union Carpenter's card to the Lexington Local & should have work very shortly after us moving there. Who would have know that Kentucky is in less of a work pinch than Chicago?!?

Below are the pics of the house we are going to rent. These are a few years old. Garrett and Hunter couldn't get in to the house because the current renters were on vacation, but they snooped around & talked to the neighbors.

We are all getting very excited - enough so to set a move date - July 4th weekend. We are PRAYING to have the house sold by then.

The house is on the corner of a culdesac in a very nice neighborhood. I has three bedrooms, two baths, washer & dryer hook ups (so if you'd like to stimulate the economy by getting a new washer & dryer - let us know)

This is the living room, dining room & kitchen (way in the back)

Here's the kitchen. If you look very closely...in the lower left corner...you will see a DISHWASHER!! I am super excited!!

Andi the Graduate

2009-05-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

Today was Andi's last day of Kindergarten. The class invited in family to watch a short program of songs and poems they have learned throughout the year. I am so proud of Andi. In the last year she has learned how to read, count to 100, and has met a lot of really great friends!!

This is Andi's class singing one of their songs.

This was the audience participation song. Thanks Garrett for volunteering to take pictures so you didn't have to be in any of them! :)

Andi and her teacher, Mrs. Tripp

Andi with Grandpa & Grandma Mantor

Kentucky

2009-05-18T18:15:00.001-07:00

Wow! How long has it been since I posted? If my blog were a cat, it would have died by now!

Life has been busy - like always. But this time we decided to move to Kentucky - kinda redefines busy! I've never prepped a house for listing with three kids and a full time job - that has been interesting. We listed today - hope to have several showings this week yet. Of course, all that means is I have to keep the place clean :( Oh, dear Jesus, please sell our house quickly!

So why Kentucky (or as our friend - whose wife lived in Kentucky says, "Kent-ucky, emphasize the -ucky")??

I have decided to go back to school to earn my Masters in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary so I can one day teach at the college level. It's a great program and a great community. We are really excited - and scared and everything else all wrapped up into one. It's a huge leap for us, but we know God is faithful.

I am very excited to begin classes, but feel a little out of my league. There are so many other much more brilliant people on this earth - why did God call me? It must have been the new glasses - they make me LOOK scholarly! :)

The kids are excited to go - again, a little nervous. Like Hunter was surprised (and excited to know) that Kentucky also has Boy Scouts and band. That eased his mind quite a bit. Andi was worried we'd move before school was out and has said she'll miss her friends. But she has also talked non-stop about moving. Garrett will just be glad when the house sells and he finds a job there. :) I have such an amazing family. I couldn't ask for a more supportive, flexible, loving crew to be with. They are all so wonderful - the only reassurance I have.

This looks to be a 3-year stop starting sometime this summer, so who knows where we will end up after that. Hopefully somewhere that will pay me for my newfound knowledge. We'd appreciate your prayers right now - there are a lot of uncertainties and a lot of negative reactions (which is hard, but understandable). We are going to miss our friends like crazy (thank God for Facebook and email) and we will be farther from family. But we are looking forward to seeing God's amazing hand work in our lives!

Gaming Weekend

2009-04-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

This was Garrett's big "Gaming Weekend." A bunch of guys hung out at the church all last night and all today playing board games (like Settlers of Catan, Aquire, etc.). Us "Widows of Catan" made them breakfast this morning. We also went back to make lunch and supper.

It couldn't have been a worse weekend to go without a husband. Ryan and Leigha were at the doctor on Friday. Leigha came home with a double ear infection diagnosis and amoxicillan twice a day. Ryan came home with an ear infection diagnosis, antibiotic twice a day and nebulizer treatments every 4 hours around the clock. Yes, every 4-hours! It was a long night!

But, Garrett was very appreciative. I had volunteered to take them breakfast - it was my idea. Just a way to help out. He made sure to tell me how much it meant to him. I didn't bring up the fact that cooking there was easier than cooking here - fewer dishes & much less clean-up. :)

We sat down after we got home to watch last night's episode of Numb3rs. He was out before the first commercial break! :) I knew he would be!

Easter

2009-04-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

We headed to Iowa for Easter last weekend. It was good to see family. I took Friday off so we could get an early start. We got into CR a little after noon. We spent Friday night and Saturday with Garrett's family. We snuck away on Friday night for a "date night." We went to see Fast & Furious (is it #4?), hit Wal-Mart for Easter gifts, and then hung out a Perkins.

Saturday we visited Grandpa & Grandma McGinty and then headed over to Garrett's aunt & uncle's house for lunch. I didn't get to stay long. Andi fell out of their tree and sprained her ankle. I got to spend most of my Saturday afternoon in the Anamosa hospital. There were no broken bones and she is doing fine now, but we came home from the hospital in a splint and crutches.

Satrday night we went up to Grandma Betty's. We went to church with her on Sunday and came home to have the traditional Easter ham. The kids got to hunt Easter eggs (that they have been waiting for since Thanksgiving!!). After the hunt, Ryan loaded all the eggs into Grandma's mini-wagon and pulled them all over the house.

While at Gram's we found out that one of my bible study girls had passed away Easter morning. They discovered a blood clot in her lung, which had caused her to stop breathing. She was only 26 - it's been incredibly difficult. Her funeral is today and all of the bible study girls are getting together tonight.

So, that has meant a short work week for me - and a lot of chaos. I hope to have some pictures from Easter soon. Our home computer is too slow to load them without me beating it. :)

Home at Last

2009-03-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

We got to bring Ryan home today. After a less than sleep-filled night in the hospital with him, I was very excited to be out of there. I began to understand why Garrett was so worn down after staying 2 nights!

Ryan's fever didn't come back, but his personality did. He was bouncing all over the place yesterday afternoon and this morning. The doctor said he looked great. He's on a dose of asprin every day for 6 weeks and has to follow up with her on Monday and a cardiologist the next time he's in town (comes twice a month). He'll have to see the cardiologist once a year for 5 years, but they really don't expect there to be any long term side effects. PRAISE THE LORD!!

We want to make sure to say thank you to everyone who was praying for Ryan (and all of us). It has been a trying week - we are exhausted and ready for some sleep! We has so many friends stop by and visit us at the hospital, send gifts, provide meals, & watch the other kids. We feel so blessed! I wish I was polite enough to send out individual thank you cards (I'm going to try), but if I don't get one to you...well...we'll just say the dog ate it! :)

Hospital Day 2

2009-03-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

We started the day off very well with Ryan's temp staying at normal all night. But by mid-morning it was rapidly rising again. They had to de-frost another bag of the globulin (or whatever it's called). Rumor has it those things run $10,000 - $15,000 per bag. Thank God for Blue Cross & Blue Shield!!

From what we've heard, the up and down fever is par for the course. It's just a long recovery road, even after he leaves the hospital. We are still confident he was diagnosed early enough that there won't be any lasting concerns. Of course, time will tell for sure.

Ryan was up and down all day - perky and giggly one minute; lethargic and irritable the next. He watched a lot of TV (not his usual self) and took cat naps. When I stopped in before work, his face was cleared up and he was smiling. By the time I got there at 3:00, he was red-cheeked again.

I stayed with him all evening. Garrett brought Hunter and the girls up to visit for a few minutes. That cheered him up (them and the candy Garrett gave him). Liz Gibson and the Kuehls also stopped by bearing gifts and snacks.

His temp is floating around 100 again, which isn't too bad. He'll get another bag of the antibodies everyday until the fever is gone. He's also getting blood work everyday to monitor his progress. He's doing very well considering. The balloons, stuffed animals, and candy have helped tremendously. :)

Garrett is back at the hospital for another "sleep over." I came home to get a restless night's sleep without Garrett here. We also found out that our basketball hoop fell on the neighbor's car. Oh, joy! Another opportunity to trust in God to work it all out. Funny how that always happens. I'll be posting again tomorrow and Garrett and I are both updating our Twitter accounts and Facebook statuses.

We really do appreciate all of your prayers and support. I know many of you have gone through so much worse. We are in no position to complain, but have been given an opportunity to see how amazing God is!

Ryan

2009-03-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, it's a sick kid that makes updating my blog (and therefore my family and friends) a priority. Ryan came down with a fever and rash last Wednesday night. Garrett took him to the doctor on Thursday. He told us it was an upper-respiratory infection and we just had to wait it out. Of course, Ryan had clear nose, throat, & lungs - Garrett and I were skeptical.

We have been concerned about our pediatrician since our old one left several months ago. We aren't thrilled with the replacements, but it was just a hunch. We asked around and found a new pediatrician, but Ryan couldn't get in until this morning. So as the fever came and went all weekend we waited. Surely it would go away; it couldn't' be serious enough to go to the ER - the fever isn't over 102, he'll be fine.

Thankfully, God has good timing. The new pediatrician first thought the rash was strep-related, but when the initial strep test came back negative, she did some more looking. She wouldn't tell Garrett what it was, but said she needed some blood work & suggested just going to the hospital and having Ryan admitted.

After a chest x-ray, an ultrasound (we confirmed he's not pregnant), an echo-cardiogram, and blood work, the initial indication is Kawasaki Disease. It has nothing to do with motorcycles; rather the heart.

It can be caused by either a bacteria or virus & is rare & not highly contagious. If not treated w/in 10-days it can cause long-term heart & artery problems. Ryan is in his 6th day of the fever and rash (like I said, God has AMAZING timing). He is being treated with something that starts with a 'G.' He'll have more blood work tomorrow and will be in the hospital until his fever is gone. The nurse guessed around 3-4 days. It takes the body 6 weeks to fight it off fully & he'll have to follow up with a cardiologist.

Pretty scary stuff, but like I said, God is good & kept Ryan from something that could have been a lot worse. Garrett is spending the night with him, I'm going to stop in tomorrow morning on my way to work. I'll be working a partial day & then spending the afternoon and evening with Ryan. Garrett being off work helps ease the tension (again, God's amazing timing).

Our Sunday School class and friends are really stepping up to help out with the other kids, meals - everything. We are very thankful for all God is doing to see us through.

I will keep you posted as we discover more! Thanks for your prayers!

Article in the Indy Star

2009-02-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know I'm a newbie to this Marketing Coordinator role, so I still get excited over the little things - like having not only my press release in the Indy Star's online edition, but they even used my name in the byline! I'm super excited - and incredibly humbled!

Here's the link...
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090226/LOCAL010106/902260491/1274/LOCAL06

Here's the text...

February 26, 2009
Aspen Group Earns 2009 Best Christian Workplaces distinction
Provided by Abbie Mantor

The Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI) recently honored Aspen Group, the Midwest's premier ministry-enhancing church design/build company, with a certification as a Best Christian Workplace in America. Aspen Group is one of only 55 churches, Christian schools, and businesses to receive this honor and one of only six service companies to earn the distinction.

"No one can deny that Christian organizations are feeling the effects of the nation's worry over the economy," says Al Lopus, President and Cofounder of Best Christian Workplaces Institute. "Although we believe that Christian organizations should do all they can to pay competitively, our survey shows that there are other factors even more influential in making your employees feel blessed by their work, including work being a place of community."

Aspen Group is a leading design/build firm with over a decade of experience serving the church and para-church markets. Aspen Group partners with churches throughout the Midwest with offices in the Chicago and Indianapolis areas. Their staff includes architects, project managers, field superintendents and other design and construction professionals working together as a unified team.

They believe this collaborative approach, along with their dedication to understanding the alignment of ministry, culture, leadership, and facilities, is highly beneficial for churches.

In order to be certified, organizations must complete the Best Christian Workplaces Institute Employee Engagement survey and meet predetermined standards of excellence.

"The survey confirmed some things we knew - we have a great group of employees who are very dedicated to the mission and purpose of Aspen - while giving us some things to work on as well," says Brad Eisenmann, General Manager of Aspen Group. "While receiving the certification is certainly gratifying, we know we can't rest on our laurels. The survey provided great feedback to help Aspen in our ongoing desire to serve our clients well and provide a great environment for our people to grow and thrive."

The survey covers such issues as: job satisfaction, organizational commitment, Christian witness, supervisory effectiveness, work satisfaction, personal growth and development, management effectiveness, customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communications and pay and benefits.

The Best Christian Workplaces Institute has surveyed more than 80,000 employees across North America in the past eight years. BCWI is a research based organizational and human resources consulting firm based on Mercer Island, Washington. They are online at www.bcwinstitute.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grandma Marian

2009-02-02T18:17:00.001-08:00

Today we celebrated the life of my Great-Grandma Marian (pictured above with me and the girls - I had just had a baby, so no funny comments!). Grandma Marian passed away on Friday from pneumonia (among other things). She was 97 years old!

She lived in the neighboring town growing up. As her closest relatives (her kids all lived here in Chicagoland), we frequently took her out to eat, helped out around her house, and had her over for birthdays and such. I can't remember a time when Grandma wasn't OLD, but I also can't remember a time when she wasn't quick witted and enjoying life either.

Today at her service, family members shared memories about her and I enjoyed recalling a few things as well:

Her recipe for good health included a shot of Black Velvet every day. I discovered today that she liked buying her BV in Wisconsin so she didn't have to pay Iowa's sales tax!
Occasionally her and her friends went up to Marquette, Ia. to "make their donation to the county" (AKA gamble on the riverboat).
Up until the day she gave up her license, she was the only lady over 70 that drove that fast! In fact, I always bucked up in the back seat of her boat of a car (before that was law) because I was scared to death!
She made the world's best homemade applesauce!
Despite being legally blind she walked everywhere she went in her home town and even around the block alone when moving in with her daughter 3 yrs ago!
She had the first big screen TV I ever saw - so she could see her Cubbies!
She had an endless supply of DoubleMint gum (distributed in half pieces to us kids)
Her laugh was incredibly contagious - loud, boisterous, and genuine!
She knew all of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren by name - and didn't miss a birthday!
She was the benchmark for determining the age of things in our house. If something was older than Grandma Marian it was considered ancient!!

I appreciated seeing all of my extended family and reminiscing about Grandma. I was privileged to have known her and even more blessed that my children knew her! My prayer is I can be as fun-loving and generous as her when I am 97!

We'll miss you Grandma Marian!

Our PVC Anniversary

2009-01-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

Monday was our 7th Anniversary. Last summer we bought a card for Garrett's parents that listed the "Standard Schedule of Anniversary Gifts," but fun ones like caulk, spandex, soup, and Velcro. The 7th is scheduled for PVC! We were jazzed.

Garrett didn't have to work, so he decided to visit me at work. He had Josh bring in the arrangement above all wrapped up for the cold. He was shortly behind.

So, yes, it is arranged in PVC. Garrett crafted the vase all by himself! Spray painted and everything! Can you imagine the look on the florists face when Garrett asked her to arrange in PVC?? He told her I was a former florist..no pressure! :)

Garrett gets and "A" for Creativity and Good Taste. Hopefully, I get and "A" when my surprise occurs later in the month (any time between tonight and Jan 31st - but I'm not telling).

FDA

2009-01-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

I have never appreciate the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requiring all ingredients to be listed on food products more than when we discovered this week that Ryan may have several food allergies.

We scheduled his appointment in December after yet another round with runny nose, sinus issues, and a cough. The Allergist books 4-6 weeks out, so Tuesday was the earliest available.

Ryan was a trooper. They did the "scratch test" on his back for food allergies (because I thought they would be the easiest to solve once we knew what the allergies were). It wasn't painful for him. They just barely poke him with possible allergyns. And then you wait.

The results came back positive for corn, cow's milk, chocolate, and beef.

That's when the allergist said that there isn't always a direct connection between a food allergy and his symptoms and there are sometimes false positives. "Great!" I thought. But off we went with instructions to eliminate those items from his diet for a week to see if he gets any better.

Of course, he forgot to mention that corn is in EVERYTHING. And if corn isn't, milk is! Don't believe me? Go to your cupboard and find a mulit-ingredient item that doesn't have corn, corn syrup, cornmeal, gluclose, dextrose, or milk. I dare you! Let me know what you find!

A Week Without Kids

2009-01-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday night and it's hard to believe the week without kids is almost over. I've managed to work A LOT of hours this week (too many of them trying to fix IT issues), get Christmas decs down, clean not as much of the house as I would have hoped, and watched lots of episodes of Numbers.

It will be nice to have the little ones back around next week and to get into the routine again. But I have enjoyed the time with my husband - and with myself!

Jam Session

2008-12-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have enjoyed listening to Hunter practice his saxaphone. Yes, I did just say I enjoy it. Although it has only been a few months he has picked up on it very quickly. He already has more songs memorized than I did in 6 years of bells!

I was suprised tonight with a little impromtu jam session featuring none other than Hunter on the sax and little Ryan on the recorder! They did a fabulous job (except that Hunter kept laughing).

I suppose there will be many more ensambles in the Mantor Madhouse. We have enough for a quartet!

If You're Missing Baby Jesus

2008-12-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

The Christmas season can't begin until I have read If You're Missing Baby Jesus by Jean Gietzen. It's a short, true story about Jean's family Christmas in 1943, the year their family purchased a new nativity scene. To their surprise, the little box contained 2 baby Jesus figurines.

The adventure that ensues reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. Tonight Hunter, Andi, and I sat down to read the story (which I can't do with dry eyes).

Every year, I find a little bit of myself in her grumpy father and not enough of her optimistic, compassionate mother.

I highly recommend your family makes it a tradition to read it every year as well! Maybe this year Jesus needs you to take Him to a 205 Chestnut Street just across town to a family that is 'missing baby Jesus.'

Not that I'm looking but....

2008-12-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but contemplate on my way home from work - If I were to work for a different company, what ones would be my top picks? Ed, Brad - have no fear. I am not looking for another job - I love everything about Aspen. But just for the fun of it...here's my top 5.

Honorable Mention: New Life Church, Yorkville, Ill. I interviewed Pastor Rick for work. They are a growing church with a great passion and unimaginable potential!

# 5 - Willow Creek Community Church, Barrington, Ill. Even though they have received a lot of flack lately and Bill Hybels has been criticized heavily, I truly believe he has a heart for Christ and the lost. That's a vision I could get behind, and therefore effectively market.

#4 - Google, Mountain View, Calif. I use it all the time. I hear it's a creative environment; I could even wear jeans everyday! And who wouldn't love living in California? (until the big one hit)

#3 - Budweiser, St. Louis, Missouri. Even though they were just bought out, who wouldn't love sitting around coming up with commercials as fun an theirs? Topped off with free samples! Ya buddy!

#2 - Community 4:12, Naperville, Ill. This is a non-profit organization that connects the affluence of Naperville with the under-resourced community of East Aurora. I got the privileged of interviewing Kirsten, the director. Her passion is contagious. I would enjoy spreading the word about what they do.

# 1 - Fishhook, Indianapolis, Ind. This is a small church communications company that only hires rockstars! Evan would be an incredible boss and I already know most of my would-be co-workers. Oh, and bonus: working in your PJs from home!!!

Alright - now I've got dishes to do, so I can get to bed at a decent hour. Tomorrow's another day at the office - the one that has kept me around for the last 20 months! The one I love!

Green Shirt Day

2008-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would spend so much time with my co-workers that I would eventually start dressing like them! I think it may be time to polish my resume!

The Three Wise what??

2008-11-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

Garrett and I were married in January, so we had a December shower. Since we also had Hunter at the time, one of the ladies in Garrett's church thought it would be fun to give us a veggie tales nativity scene. In the last 7 years baby Jesus (the pea in the wagon) had put on enough miles to actually make a pilgramage to Bethlehem.

We put up our Christmas decorations yesterday and the kids were ectatic to see the manger scene. So, I didn't think much of it when I saw them all huddled around the plastic play set last night. After I had put the little ones in bed I started puting some finishing touches on the other Christmas decs. And that's when I noticed Larry (the king) and his trusty camel laying down beside an oddly FULLER manger scene.

I couldn't believe my eyes. My children had replaced Larry with three "Wise Men." And oh, what an ironic selection! I think Mary fainted when they showed up with their gifts of a nuclear rod, Santa's Little Helper, and Duff Beer!

Butt Cake no more!

2008-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

Finally - after years of shedding tears, throwing cakes, and humiliation - I have finally baked a successful layer cake. Every time before, no matter what technique I tried, my cakes would split down the middle - looking more like a fault line or a plumber's rear end than a beautiful birthday surprise.

Now, I have to be honest - several of those butt cakes were made for an ex-boyfriend of mine. And I honestly believe God was trying to tell me something with the outcome of those cakes. :)

I attribute my current success to several things:

Persistence - I have made dozens of butt cakes, but I didn't loose heart
Careful study - If there was ever a recipe in my Taste of Home or a segment on Martha Stewart about layer cakes, I payed careful attention (and got lots of good advice)
The right cake mix. My cousin (or 2nd cousin once removed by marriage, or something like that) makes cakes professionally. Rumor has it she dropped one of her cakes on the ground and it didn't even break - Betty Crocker brand. (She will remain nameless to protect her good reputation despite using box cake mixes and to prevent the person who ate that cake that had been on the ground from spewing chunks!)
Good frosting - I made it with Crisco and a little stiffer than usual - less sliding that way!
Lori's fancy cake holder thing. One of those wedding gifts that rarely, if ever, gets used.
Since I'm doing the 60/60 experiment I stay in constant conversation with God instead of the bursts of colorful conversations that happen during the typical layer cake episodes. :)

So, Happy Birthday Andi. I hope you enjoy your cake - because there will probably never be another one quite like it!!!

The Madhouse + 2

2008-11-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

We watches two of our friends' kids today. They recently added number 3, so we thought we'd give them a little break and take their 3 yr old and almost 2 yr old. When you are chasing around 4 what's 2 more, right?

Wrong! I can't imagine having 6 kids every day. We had lots of fun and I would absolutely help them out again, but every day? How do people manage 6 or 8 or even 10? That's crazy. I didn't get anything else done. Although, now that the extra 2 are gone my house does feel a lot less crazy.

Today confirms my motto: 4 and NO MORE!

Check out my WeeMee...

2008-11-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

60/60 Experiment

2008-11-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago Garrett and I started a new bible study together. We've tried lots of the couples devotionals and quite honestly, they are all cheesy. Anyone with half a Sunday School background can skim through them with little or no thought.

So when I found Soul Revolution by John Burke we thought we'd give it a try - mostly because it wasn't geared towards couples and it was a new idea.

The whole premise is to do a 60/60 experiment where you re-connect and converse with God every 60 minutes for 60 days. You set a timer to remind you that God is with you and listening. He wants to be in constant relationship with us.

Garrett has decided to do the experiment with a group of guys from church, too (which I think it pretty cool) although it means I'm on my own (so much for couples devotional).

So, I'll be writing some thoughts here...we'll see where it transpires.

Getting into the spirit...

2008-11-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

I rearranged a little of the house today, I was itching for a little change (and less clutter). We moved one of my cedar chests into Leigha's room and the other in the family room. It freed up quite a bit of space in the living room ... just enough for a Christmas tree maybe.

With the weather turning cooler and the days getting shorter I'm beginning to think holidays. I have an itch to bake and decorate the house, but that will have to wait for another day. Moving furniture and vacuuming was quite enough! :)

And not that it has anything to do with anything, but here are some funny pics from our recent "Chubby Bunny" Contest!!

Walk down memory lane

2008-11-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Garrett's grandparents came to town. His Grandma wanted to surprise her husband by visiting the air force museum in Rantoul (just south of us) where he did his basic training back in the 50s. We had a great time learning about the air force and the base. I think I enjoyed hearing from Garrett's grandma about how she met Grandpa and how they planned their wedding in one week!

Enjoy the pics...

Riding the Coat tails of a Blog Star

2008-10-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to write a post for Aspen's president's blog today. This may be my only chance at fame, so you may want to check it out before my moment of glory is gone forever! :)

http://EdBahler.com

Leigha's 1st Birthday Party

2008-10-12T20:13:00.001-07:00

We celebrated Leigha's first birthday on Saturday. Grandma Betty and Grandpa and Grandma Mantor and a couple friends showed up for lunch, cake & ice cream.

Leigha was amazing! She was awarded the "Best First Birthday Cake Performance by a Mantor Child." She dove right in! Enjoy the pics & video.

The last day...

2008-09-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

In about 14 hours I will no longer be able to say I am in my "mid-20s." Nope. I will officially be in my LATE 20s which is very close to 30. And I'm beginning to feel older too...

Ryan started PreSchool today!!
10 o'clock is considered late
I can't think of anything I want for MYSELF for my birthday
The clothes I wore in middle school are coming BACK into style (AHHH!)

I guess there are good things at every stage of my life. I'm not dreading the late 20s (it's nice to have a little more wisdom) - it just feels wierd. I'm beginning to realize I'm the responsible adult now (along with Garrett) and there are 4 kids depending on me. Kinda scary! (I know. You're thinking, "Fine time to think about that - you've been a parent for 7 years!")

I'm sure the next 27 years will be as fun filled, humbling, and inpiring as the last 27 were. Just think in 27 years all my kids will be out of high school, I will have been married to Garrett for longer than I wasn't married to him, and my clothes will probably be back in style AGAIN!! :)

What weekends were made for...

2008-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

My birthday is next week, so Garrett decided to surprise me with a night away. He orchestrated child care, reservations, everything. And then all week he would text me things like:

"I know something you don't know."

"Any guesses?"

I left work early because Josh (the guy I ride with) "had to be home early." I knew it was a ploy, but let it rest. We got back to town around 5:00. Hunter and Andi were gone to their friends' house and Ryan and Leigha were being picked up. I hurried up and packed the rest of my things and we took off.

I was a little surprised that we headed South on Rte 50 instead of North to the Interstate. I had assumed we were staying at a hotel up north. It seemed odd that Garrett would get a hotel in Champaign when he had just returned from there for work. I had even packed for hotel staying - shoes for the treadmill, swimming suit for the pool, and no hair dryer. "Oh, well" I thought. "Anywhere is good with me."

We were cruising through Kankakee, chatting - I wasn't really paying attention to where we were going, I figured we had over an hour in the car. We were enjoying the beautiful old houses when Garrett suddenly pulled over and parked in front of a beautiful victorian house.

Little did I know, the historic distric has several beautiful old bed and breakfasts. I was very surprised - talk about out of left field. I had NEVER imagined in a million years we would be staying at a bed and breakfast - let alone in Kankakee.

We checked in to The Burr Oak with the lady the runs the place - Kathy. She lives in the back of the house and the front has three bed rooms, 2.5 baths, a parlor and wrap around deck. We stayed in the master suite - the Kankakee room. It had all the amenaties of a hotel room (minus the hair dryer) including Q-Tips!!!

After fresheing up a little bit we headed out to eat. Garrett said he knew "just where we could go" so again I didn't pay much attention. We went to One Sixty Four North, which is a restaurant I had just noticed and wondered if it was any good. It is very classy - valet parking, live musician, excellent atmosphere and exceptional food!

Garrett tried to talk me into seeing Dark Night, but I wanted to go back and enjoy the beautiful night on the porch. We even had time to throw down The Bean Game in the parlor. Garrett was exhausted - in the middle of one of his turns (around 8:30) he dozed off to sleep - right there at the table while trying to lay down his cards!!

In the morning we had a continental breakfast - there was even a Happy Birthday balloon on the table! We sat in the parlor for an hour, just enjoying our food and each other's company. We decided to head to Bolingbrook to Bass Pro Shop and look at tents. We have wanted to get back into camping now that the kids are a little older, but we didn't have a big enough tent for all of us.

We ended up purchasing an 11-man tent and eating at the restaurant in the store. They had two large fish tanks - one fresh water - with a waterfall and one salt water aquarium with beautifully colored fish of all kinds.

We came back to town and arranged to go camping with our friends Chris and Liz (they had watched Ryan and Leigha while we were gone). We invited one of my co-workers and his wife (Mark & Kate) and their girls out for supper.

We enjoyed hobo suppers on the fire, a roomy tent, and an incredible beautiful night!

Everyone is tired this morning. Everyone has had a bath/shower and is dressed for church. We have a lot to do this afternoon, but naps are first on the agenda!!

What a great way to spend the last weekend of summer (as fall begins tomorrow). We will be camping again next week with scouts and the last time of the season on Oct 18th!

All the best ideas...

2008-09-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

...are stolen! Thanks Em for the great idea!

I've created a playlist and posted it on the bottom of my page. Now you (or I) can listen to some of my favorite songs anywhere you go (and have access to the internet).

Enjoy!

**I'd like to applogize to anyone that didn't read this before the music came up and got in trouble at work! :) **

Rain...Rain...

2008-09-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ike the whole midwest is flooding. Ikay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it seems like it. We've have more rain than I can fathom. It rained Friday, all day yesterday, and hasn't stopped yet today. Roads are closed in town, neighborhoods are under water (well, their basements). We even had about 2 inches of rain running through our garage.

Of course, after seeing the flooding in Cedar Rapids and the damage brought on by Ike - this is nothing.

Tomorrow the rain is predicted to stop - and sun the rest of the week. :)

Tomorrow Leigha will be 11 months - with only 15 days to go till my birthday. Where did the summer go?

Oh, and Hunter opted for band and swimming LESSONS (once a week). Good choice buddy.

Back to the Craziness

2008-09-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

With school back in session, things have been crazy.

Hunter has tried out swimming. He thought it would be a good way to learn how to swim, which he has to some extent. He is also taking up band - the alto sax. After a week of swimming and band sign ups tomorrow we decided it was too much for a 10-year-old to manage. So now he gets the tough decision - band or swimming??

Andi is loving school. We had a few hicups with the bus, but all is well now. She loves her teacher, her classmates, and just life in general right now. We changed out her bed for the bunk beds - so she is now the older sibling that gets the top bunk.

Ryan, the bottom bunker, is running, hitting, and climbing his way through life. No major injuries yet. I guess he was just made tougher than average! We have made lots of progress in the speech front. He now has 2 and 3 word phrases like "My do it" and "My close it." He recognizes all kinds of objects - busses, pizza, dogs, you name it!

Leigha will be 11 months this week. We've switched to regular milk, except at the sitters (because the state thinks they know my child better than me and call all the shots at licensed day care centers). She still isn't crawling on her knees, but gets around just the same. She is starting to say "mama" and "dada." She still has a smile that lights up a room!

Garrett is still driving to Champaign for work. It's been slow for him, he's averaging 3 days a week, but will pick up here shortly (just waiting on the concrete guys to pack up and go home.) He's still plugging away at school - he even found out that he gets to graduate next Aug instead of Sept! (Watch your mail for a party invite)

I am still plugging away at the Aspen Group. I am all but transitioned into the Marketing Department. It's a busy time of year for us - at the end of the month is our big conference - so there has been lots to do for that, people to interview, case studies to write...all that fun stuff.

We managed to head to Iowa for labor day - saw Grandma Betty and Garrett's extended family. We camped (well, stayed in the house and ate at the campfire) at Garrett's aunt and uncle's house. I think Hunter could camp all year! This weekend we went to Aroma Park for their celebration - a nice little small town parade and fair.

But now it's back to school and work tomorrow...I'll let you know if we go to band sign ups tomorrow night or not!

First Day of School

2008-08-20T06:15:00.001-07:00

Bedroom Move!

2008-08-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

So we made the leap and moved bedrooms. Ryan and Andi (no, not Sparkie, too) are sharing a room ...

(yes, they each have their own bed, but Ryan had dresser drawers on his bed the first night)

Leigha is now safe and sound in her own room with a lowered mattress

She's sleeping better not just at night, but at supper, too!

Prayer Walk to Change ... ME

2008-08-10T17:31:00.001-07:00

Our church had a prayer walk tonight to the park in our "neighborhood." This is several blocks around our church building we have claimed as our main outreach. I really like how our church leaders want to "serve" our neighbors, not "evangelize" them.

The prayer walk tonight showed me what a divide there is between our mostly-white congregation and our mostly-black neighborhood. I see the racial divide and it makes me sad. Until our two communities are integrated, both respecting and loving the other (and most of the change needs to come from us) we will never fully see God's vision for our community.

On a different note...Leigha learned a new trick tonight!

We'll be lowering her mattress tomorrow!!

WCA Leadership Summit

2008-08-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

The last two days I was at the Willow Creek Association's Leadership Summit. I was at one of the satellite locations - Community Christian Church in Naperville.

I heard Bill Hybels speak for the first time in my life and I just have to say - I have heard a lot of people - probably some of you reading my blog - say that the reason Willow Creek has seen that level of growth is because they water down the gospel. Well, let me say first hand - either Bill Hybels is a REALLY good actor, or he is the most Spirit-filled, Truth-speaking pastor I know.

I also heard from Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission. His organization rescues victims all over the world from oppression like slavery, child prostitution, and police brutality. He left his law career to fight for these victims and challenged us that we are God's plan for ending injustice, something God cares infinitely about!

Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, shared her story of seeing the injustice of the school system in America during college. Lower income schools had a higher drop out rate and fewer than 5% of students coming from those schools graduated college. She realized it wasn't for the reasons we assume (lack of parental involvement, environment), but that these students were not challenged and given the opportunity to excel. Her organization challenges recent college grads to teach in low income schools for two years, which not only improves these schools but encourages the teachers to fight for better schools the rest of their life.

John Burke, lead pastor a Gateway Church in Austin, TX, founded a church that loves people exactly where they are, but challenges them with the Truth of Christ. Get this - they don't believe it's their job to convert people or make them leave their sinful lives. That's God's job - they just love people (why doesn't every church look at it that way??)

The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN, lead by Efram Smith (one of the funniest guys I've heard speak and by far the coolest), is an inter-city church that strives to cross multi-cultural lines to heal our communities and look more like the body of Christ should. They use Hip Hop music and dance in their service, which I have to say would be a great change from an orchestra every now and then!!!

Chatherine Rohr, founder of Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Texas, left her corporate job, cashed out her 401k, and moved to Texas to teach inmates about creating business plans, finding resources, and giving back to the community they have been taking from for so long. Instead of the traditional 50+% of inmates that return to prison, less than 10% of her graduates return. Instead they start jobs and share their new faith in Christ with their community!

In the closing session, Billy Hybels recounted the life of Mother Theresa, who left her life of comfort to help the lowest caste group in Calcutta. She was faithful in small ways, so God used her in big ways. She wasn't looking for fame, she was committed to giving God her all and "denying him nothing."

The general theme through these speaker's lives was this: God has placed a unique passion on each of our lives - some for prisoners, our neighbors, inter-city schools. All of these passions are God's plan for healing this broken world, fighting injustice, spreading His love.

If my greatest passion is organizing my Pieces of Flair board on Facebook, I need to reevaluate my connectedness to Christ. I must surrender my all - life, family, Flair board, career and be willing to go where ever God leads me to whomever he sends me.

"God, bring it on!" must be my prayer and I must waste no time responding to his call. I haven't done this well in the past. I have failed due to fear, pride, and a multitude of other things. But I can't live my life for me anymore. I've tried - and it's boring.

This world has nothing for me! Following Jesus up the mountain, along the trail he has laid out for me is the only adventure worth pursuing! I can't wait to see what is over this first hill!

Missional Church

2008-07-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

For the last 6 months or so we have been hearing about and discussion "missional" church at work. This is the latest (and most exciting, in my opinion) movement in the Christian church. Instead of inventing lots of exciting programs and high-energy services to attract people to their service (and essentially entertain them), churches are taking back up the mission of "love your neighbor as yourself."

There are no hidden adgendas, no bible tracks in the back pocket - just genuine love for their neighbors.

You can imagine my excitement then when my own church, Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, caught the vision. For those same 6 months or so, God has been laying on our pastoral staffs' hearts to reach the immediate neighbors of our church. Not to "win them to Christ" or to make "fully devoted tithers" out of them - just to love them - make an impact on their lives.

Last week the teen group did a missions trip right there in our church's neighborhood. They cleaned up a park that the park district was too overworked to tend to. Last night we drove by after church - probably 50 or 60 kids and teens were enjoying the fruits of our youth group's labor! They also did some work and spent some time at the nursing home just across the street.

But now we, the congregation, must continue to build on the foundtion they have laid. Garrett and I have already began discussing what our family can do to help out, our sunday school class, men's ministries, Heart Moms.

We are completely jazzed! Hunter and Andi are as well. It's time to "get off our spiritual treadmill" as Pastor Cindi stated it and time to go somewhere and do something with our faith. We couldn't agree more!

First Class Kid

2008-07-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Monday was Hunter's 10th Birthday. For the past several weeks I have been telling him we were not going to celebrate his birthday. It was right after a quick trip to Michigan for my uncle's birthday, Garrett's parents were coming to town - in general life was crazy.

Although disappointed, Hunter never complained. He was happy with the few things we did like:

Sunday night I made him a cake during game night. He was in the living room playing a game. We all started singing and brought in the cake. He started singing along, then looked behind him and realized it was for him!
Grandpa and Grandma sent him on a scavenger hunt for his present, which, he said, "may have been the only present he got," so he was determined to enjoy it!

On Monday night Garrett took him to Wal-Mart before supper. He had picked steak for supper, so he expected to come home to a nice juicy steak with Henry Bain Sauce (his fav). Instead Dad took him to Monical's Pizza. He was ecstatic. He was even more surprised to see a table full of friends & family!

He told me later it was "the best birthday he ever had!"

What a great kid! Happy 10th Big H - I'm proud of you!

Double Latte Week

2008-07-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

You know it's been a rough week when Abbie heads to Starbucks for a Venti Vanilla Latte, non-fat, 1 shot. You know it has REALLY been a rough week when she goes twice.

I am currently sipping my 2nd for the week. The tipping point? AT&T.

For the record I HATE AT&T!! I know that was yelling, at least there were no %*&# explitives. That's why I have the latte...to help me relax.

I think it's #$%* working.

Update

2008-07-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I realized today that it had been a LONG time since I wrote anything on the blog. It has been a crazy summer already. Here are some pics to fill in the gaps...

On June 21st we celebrated our 1st annual Mantor Day. It's our family Christmas so that December 25th can be about giving gifts instead of just receiving them. The family gift was a Wii - this is Garrett and Hunter testing out their mad duck hunt skills. I posted a full set of pics on Picasa - linked to the left.

Garrett's company, Carter Construction had a safety picnic. No, there weren't any bounce house injuries at the saftey picnic! All the kids (escept Leigha) had a blast.

Clark discovered that he liked my old bean bag Grandma Betty brought for me. He also discovered that he likes cuddling with Andi's dolls.

Ryan and Leigha started sleeping together. Okay, I won't lie - Ryan discovered that Leigha makes a great pillow and has been crawling in to her crib at night - pillows, stuffed animals and all. It's a good thing she's my 4th - I would have flipped as a first time mom!

July 4th weekend was a relaxing break from our crazy life. The weather was great, we got lots done outside and enjoyed time with friends. Hunter and Andi enjoyed some time in the sprinkler.

This weekend we are off to Michigan for Uncle Lary's 50th Birthday. We're coming back on Sunday because Garrett's parents are heading over for a special 10th birthday of one of the Madhouse memebers.

Now that was painful

2008-06-24T18:56:00.001-07:00

Sometime between Friday night and Sunday we lost our internet connection.

After:

hours on the phone with AT&T
a service call
more hours on the phone with AT&T
a line test
a bad phone jack (that still miraculously works with a phone)
moving the computer
more hours on the phone with At&T
and a new modem password - it finally works again!

Ahh! I'm buying a typewriter!

A second (working) honeymoon

2008-06-05T04:12:00.001-07:00

Jody took this week off for vacation, so we sent the kids on vacation as well. Hunter is in IA at Great Grandpa and Great Grandma's house as well as some time at Garrett's parents'. The girls went to Grandma Betty's and Ry-Ry went to Great Cousin Sandra's.

It's like a second honeymoon. Except this time we aren't skiing and ice skating in the Poconos, we're going to work and remodeling our bedroom! Tuesday night we went to a bar that's just across the street for supper. We'd heard they had great food, just never ventured over. Last night we went to Ruby Tuesday's for supper as our date night. Of course we came home and mudded the bedroom. We finished off the evening w/ I am Legend - the movie with Will Smith. Ya, that movie was a waste of my time! It was good to spend time with Garrett though.

Every morning I've woke up at the same time, which has given me almost an hour of free time every day - now that's enjoying. A cup of coffee, a book ... I could get used to that!

I do miss the kids, though. It will be good to see them this weekend. Maybe Ryan will come home potty trained! :)

Andrea Mantor & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2008-05-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

Andi had one of those days that she wishes she could move to Australia (as the popular book notes).

She went to bed, not with gum in her hair, but to 80 degree weather. She woke up to 50 degree weather and a crushed heart that couldn't wear shorts. PBS changed their programming so she missed her favorite show. On the car ride home, just like Alexander, she didn't get the window seat - instead she got smooshed between two carseats. At the supper table (no, I didn't serve lima beans) she bit her fork too hard and hurt her teeth.

No shoe shopping, no dentist appointments and no muddy fist fights, but still pretty traumatic for a 5 year old. We read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day before bedtime. I think it cheered her up.

Until she moves to Australia that is.

Stuck in Indy w/ nothing to do

2008-05-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

The company I work for (Aspen Group) has two offices - one in Chicago and one in Indianapolis. The BD/PD Department (code word for sales department) from each office gets together 4 times a year. So, twice a year I get to pack up my bags and spend two days in Indy.

What that really means is that I frantically call around trying to find someone crazy enough to come over at 5:00 in the morning to get the kids ready when Garrett leaves for work (thank you Molly!). It also means I get some quiet time!

So tonight I'm going to catch up on my blogging, read a little bit, and pretend to prepare for my presentation tomorrow! If I get really board I might check out the treadmill - ah, maybe in the morning!

Oh, and while I'm at it - I have this friendly competition with a co-worker about referrals to my boss's blog. So if you could check out the following link for me - once or twice - that would be great! Thanks! http://www.aspengroupblog.com/

Kid pics

2008-05-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

Baby Leigha has learned to sit up!! YAY!! Next stop - college! :)

Dad, Ryan, & Leigha check Facebook. Leigha has an incredible Knighthood city going.

Mom & her creme filling (the middle part of my oreo cookie)

Andi, Ryan, & Brandon at the Sunday School Crockpot Pot Luck (Hunter was not in attendance)

Hunter & Lori - looking thrilled at life!

Clark Pics

2008-05-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

New family member

2008-05-05T18:14:00.001-07:00

Nope, not pregnant - just had to lay that one out there.

We decided Clark would be a great addition to our home. I picked him up Thursday night. He has spent the weekend getting to know the house, the kids, and avoiding Sparkie. He discovered that Sparkie cannot reach him on the countertop downstairs.

The kids are having a blast with Clark. He came with a lazer pointer (no not attached - a toy). The kids think it's a hoot to watch him chase it all over the family room. Well, I think it's a lot of fun as well.

I have a bunch of pictures, but the cord to connect the camera to the computer is at work - maybe tomorrow I'll finally get them up.

The last obstacle Clark has to overcome is Great-Grandma Betty - she's coming next week! She made it very clear that she "DOESN'T LIKE CATS!" She's only here for a few days, though.

My first paper

2008-04-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

So I finished my first paper for Garrett's BA in Management last night. :) Just kidding. I did help him edit his rough draft, though.

Together we could be dangerous - with his math and science abilities and my writing skills - we could conquer the world!! (I overheard him telling Hunter something about a cantilever on a boat or something. I sure hope Hunter understood because I was clueless "Cleaver? Is Hunter old enough to play with knives?").

Abbie's ganna do what?

2008-04-27T10:54:00.001-07:00

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - whatever I say I will NEVER do - I do! When someone is as opinionated as myself it's easy to find yourself eating your words. For example I said:

I would never live outside of the state of Iowa
I would never marry someone I didn't know my whole life
I would never sell my '67 Camero
I would never marry a guy that drove a Ford
I would never punish an animal with a bark collar
I would never again get a cat

Yesterday Andi, Leigha, and I went to a baby shower in Homewood. I sat next to a lady whose daughter has a cat to give away. In a moment of weakness I told her I would consider. I think I'm going to go visit the cat tomorrow after work. So who knows - tomorrow night there may be a new member of the Mantor Madhouse - and once again Abbie will eat her words!

Where did April go?

2008-04-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I need a straight answer from someone older and wiser than myself - do the years go by quicker as you get older?

I remember thinking a week took forever and here we are in April 2008! The weather is getting nice, but I really don't have time to enjoy it - sad really!

I have three kids with coughs right now and a dirty house. Can anyone sympathize? I've got a sink of diry dishes and a thousand thoughts floating around my mind waiting to be nurtured into really great things! And here I am blogging!

I guess you all are still important to me! (And yes, this would be a bad time to bring up the fact that I have ignored you for over a week!)

Unique Kids

2008-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Although nothing exceptionally exciting has happened in the last few days at the Mantor Madhouse - it's been a hoppin'! Lots of fun stories when you have 6 crazy people all living under the same roof.

Garrett - went back to work - at Wal-Mart. They are building a wall or something. It's only a week or so, but it's a job. Today he enjoyed "Free Sample Day" in the grocery department. I told him he should have baught a party pizza and asked the lady to cook it for him!

Hunter - called me yesterday and said he donated $5/month to the radio station's Spring Pledge Drive. He called himself, gave his own information, and donation. When did he grow up? I thought he was still the little 2-year-old that cried when I made him buckle his own seatbelt!!

Andi - got in trouble (ya, the girl I just wrote about never getting in trouble). She lied - the number one get-on-mom's-last-nerve act in the Mantor Madhouse. She got to brush her teeth with soap and sit on her bed.

Ryan - took all the chairs in the nursery last night and put them in a row. Then he tried to get kids to sit in the chairs like a bus!! He's ganna be a little leader.

Leigha - in her laid back nature sat in her car seat from 4:00 this afternoon until bedtime. Garrett figured she was happy, why mess with it? And she was - she just smiled and laughed and never complained. I love that little girl!!

Sparkie - hasn't done anything too bad. Let's just say she's not dead yet.

I got teased today for wearing a skirt to work. One guy said I actually looked like a girl! I told him I was wearing jeans and a hoody to work tomorrow!!

Crock Pot Potluck

2008-04-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Garrett and I have been in the Starting Points Sunday School class at church for four years now. It's a class for newly married and engaged couples. Although we really aren't newlyweds anymore, we have taken on the roll of "mentors," which translates don't want to move on.

Since we are all newlyweds, we discovered one Sunday that we all have crock pots that rarely get used. And the crock pot potluck was born. (Sorry Lori, I know you hate saying "pot" twice, but it's my blog!)

Every so often we all get together, bring a dish we made in the crock pot, and enjoy each other's company for a while. Today we descended upon the Guebert's house to enjoy food and the beautiful Spring Day. The pictures are on Picasa and have been linked on the left sidebar. Enjoy!!

Top Layer of Cream Filling

2008-04-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

When you have an infant, a rambunctious toddler, and a 4th Grader it's easy to forget about the quiet, well-behaved middle child - the top layer of cream in the Mantor Madhouse Double Stuffed Oreo. So today is all about her!

Andi is a fun-loving, sweet addition to our family. She is a great help whenever I need her and always has a hug for me!!

Here's some stats:

Full name: Andrea Loy Lynn Mantor
Namesakes: Grandma Kandy + Great-Grandma Reta = Andrea; Grandma Betty's middle name = Loy; Grandma Marilyn = Lynn

Birthday: November 25, 2002

Birthplace: Midland, MI

Favorites:

Color: Pink

Food: Grilled Cheese

Number: 10
Animal: elephant

Sibling: Leigha

Pastime: playing with Leigha

Place to go: McDonald's

Game: Zingo

TV Show: Word Girl

Two of a kind

2008-03-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Garrett has always said Ryan would be in the emergency room before he turned two - we almost experienced it this weekend!

We were getting ready to go to Garrett's Wood Badge Reunion Dinner (for Cub Scouts). I was going to pick up the sitter after I got done doing my hair.

Ryan loves standing on the lid of the toilet and causing general distruction in any way shape or form (actually, he just really likes to be helpful).

He's stood there a million times before, but for some reason he decided to reach out and grab my curling iron this time! Now, this is nothing new - he has reached for it before, but realized it was hot before actually touching it. Not so lucky this time! He grabbed it full on!

We wrapped him up, put some ice on his hand, drugged him with children's Tylenol and called the pediatritian.

Lucky for us we have a pediatrition that would call in a perscription before sending us to the emergency room. After about 1/2 hour of screaming he calmed down and our regular Ryan came back.

He's doing much better today - unrapping his hand - trying to pop his blisters - you know, normal stuff for him.

Garrett and I were talking about it - and reminicing about another 2 year old we once knew...who decided to touch the hot stove!

I guess you can tell they are brothers!!

Pictures:

1. Ryan - post Tylenol

2. Ryan - 1/2 hour later

3. Hunter - 2 yr old pic

4. Hunter - 2 year old pic zoomed in on right arm

Lipstick Personality Test

2008-03-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen the lipstick personality test? Ya know, the one that reveals your personality based on the shape of your lipstick?

Well, I think they missed one!

This shape says:

"You have a toddler that likes to dig through your purse and stick his finger in your lipstick."

My husband, the Rockstar

2008-03-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Today is a praiseworthy day in the Mantor Madhouse! God has finally opened the doors for Garrett to go back to school!

This time he will be taking online classes through the University of Phoenix. He earliest estimation for completion is July 2009! Whoopee!!

I am very proud of him! I know he'll do great - he's a Rockstar after all. I do ask you to pray with me that God will allow him to carry this task on to completion! And mark your calendars because when he completes his bachelors we're ganna have a big 'ole party!!

Back Home

2008-03-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend in Iowa we are home, unpacked, and generally happy. Ryan is just finishing up his bath, so he's screaming (we hate baths around here - that's my fault - oh well).

We spent Saturday supper at Garrett's uncle's house for Easter - featuring ham, potatoes, Snicker's Salad, and bread - all the things needed to make an Iowa Easter (except maybe corn or green bean casserole - which as my friend Yolanda calls it "White People Food.")

We got to see our new cousin (the son of Garrett's cousin whatever that technically is). His name is Sparrow Oliver and he's a cutie. Mom & Dad live in Minneapolis so we don't see them often. Garrett's cousin Shanna was also in from one of the Carolinas - there all the same to me.

On Sunday we went to Garrett's parents' church. It was fun to see some old friends. After services we went to Garrett's parents' house for another round of ham (I LOVE Easter).

Grandma Betty was staying at my aunt & uncle's house dog sitting all weekend so she joined us for the Saturday evening festivities. I also went to their house to work on some sewing projects. I sewed a rod holder thing in our basement curtains, shortened a skirt, made a pair of Andi's jeans into a skirt, took in two pairs of pants, and altered 2 shirts. I'm no Betsy Ross, but I did alright if I do say so myself!

The highlight of the weekend was sneaking away with my husband last night. We went to the cheap seats and saw the latest National Treasure movie. Now anyone who knows me well knows I HATE NICOLAS CAGE, but I actually think he is well cast in the National Treasure movies. It was great and I can't wait to find out what's on page 47!

We headed home this morning making a lunch stop at Happy Joe's in Davenport. We let the kids run off some steam at the play area. It made for a relaxing trip home. I had time to get groceries, fix supper, and chill for a while before bed. I love paid vacation days!!!

The one thing we forgot was the camera, so sorry - no pics!!

Off to IA

2008-03-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

After a busy week we are packing up and heading to Iowa for the weekend. I really need to get groceries, but I have hit a brick wall. That's the problem with a big meal - now I'm ready for bed!

We need to be out of the house by 7:00 tomorrow - we'll see!

Ugh

2008-03-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

I'm looking out my window to see snow! It is WAY too late in the year for that! I am dreaming of tulips and daffodils and watching Hunter mow the grass - there's no snow in my forecast!

STOP IT!!

The more the merrier

2008-03-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

I officially have 6 kids today. Friends of ours dropped off their two kids this morning. It works okay because they have a son Hunter's age and a daughter Andi's age. Of course this means I have screaming girls running around the house and boys who have locked themselves (or better yet - locked Ryan out) in Hunter's room.

We are heading to Perry Farm for the Easter Egg Hunt - pics later....

Palm Sunday

2008-03-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

With Palm Sunday just a few short days away I can't help but get excited about the festivities.

As a kid, my church made a BIG deal out of Palm Sunday. We had a traditional sanctuary with an accordian partitian opening up to the fellowship hall at the back. They closed the partitian and all us kids stood behind it, holding our palm branches. The gigantic pipe organ would start, the curtain would open, and we would parade in singing the most amazing song I've ever heard come out of a pipe organ (no joke).

Well, I found the sheet music! Joy! I may not be able to hear it on the pipe organ this year, but at least I can look at the cover of the sheet music. It doesn't take much to excite me!

What I really do at work...

2008-03-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, sometimes I miss working at the radio station. To make up for some of the heartache I got Adobe Soundbooth to edit podcasts for work. While editing a recent one from Evan McBroom of Fishhook I took the opportunity to have a little fun.

To give you a little background...Fishhook is a church communications consulting firm - or in layman's terms - Evan gets paid to be an expert communicator.

To listen to what that sounds like in real life click here to download it from his blog since he is a Blogging Rockstar and I don't know how to load audio files to my blog yet!

What goes around comes around...again...and again...

2008-03-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

If this winter was a last-man-standing cage match Andi would be the victor! We hve all been under the weather (like the rest of the Midwest). It has gone something like this:

1. Abbie comes home from Indy weekend with Garrett with the flu; misses 2 days of work.
2. Garrett gets it next; misses 2 days of work.
3. Hunter comes home from school early with a tummy ache and fever; quickly goes away when bound to bedroom.
4. Ryan gets sinus infection; misses 4 days of daycare.
5. Hunter gets fever at Chicago Rush Arena Football game that he earned through scool and road the bus with mom; dad has to come pick them up.
6. Leigha blows chunks at the sitter's; acid reflux? change in formula? Something worse?

Isn't it spring yet?

Did I really read that?

2008-03-06T20:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever read something in the bible, paused, re-read it and just shook your head?

Try this one...

"If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity." ~Deuteronomy 25:11-12~

Pause.........re-read............

..............................and just shake your head!

Who's in your inbox?

2008-02-27T06:03:00.001-08:00

In my inbox this morning was my Word of the Day. When I read it I could have sworn they delivered Ryan directly to me!

temerarious \tem-uh-RAIR-ee-uhs\, adjective

If you don't know what it means, head on over to Dictionary.com and look it up. And while you're there sign up for the Word of the Day - you never know who will show up in your inbox!

Scheduling a "Feast"

2008-02-26T10:08:00.001-08:00

Garrett and I decided to dedicate two nights a week for a large family meal and relationship building. That was the easy part - scheduling is the reason everyone doesn't do it!

We decided on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tonight Garrett has a church meeting. Friday I'm heading to Ladies Retreat. Next Tuesday I'm going to be coming back from a conference at work.

AHHH!!!

So, we decided this week on Thursday (I don't have bible study). Next week Friday is still open. On Thursday Garrett is making chops on the grill and for dessert is Strawberry Pie (at the request of the kids). Should be yummy and lots of fun...I'll let you know on Friday!

Deep thoughts from Ma Mantor

2008-02-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

Have you ever needed a mental vacation? That is what I find myself dreaming of these days. My brain is on information overload. And the irony is that I just wrote an article that says one of the trends in culture that churches need to understand is information overload. We need navigators to help us make sense of it all. What happens when you're one of those people that are trying to help others do just that?

I guess you walk around in a fog.

Just a few thoughts running around in Abbieland:

1.) Since the invention of the lightbulb, Americans have been stretching their days to a point that is unhealthy. What would happen if a few nights a week we turned off the TV, dimmed the lights, and just spent time as a family?

2.) All great stories have a protagonist, an antagonist, a deep moral struggle, and problems. Does my life contain those elements? What greater story in my life am I willing to struggle for? To die for?

3.) In a world that is so fragmented churches need to rethink how they do ministry. Instead of attracting people to a big event on Sunday and programs throughout the week, they need to equip their members to be relevant and effective in their community, in their neighborhood. What does that mean in my life?

Just some thoughts. Sorry it's deeper than normal - it's the overload!

Valentine's Day @ the Mantor Madhouse = TATTOOS!!

2008-02-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's a Madhouse

2008-02-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

First of all, a big CONGRATS to Hunter - the winner of the Pack 324 Pinewood Derby. He worked hard on his car this year and it finally paid off!

Our weekend in Indy was FABULOUS. We got lots of needed rest plus had time to visit the State Museum, Circle Center Mall, and other stuff. Our hotel had a restraunt on the top floor that had glass all the way around - great view of the city. Once we had sat down we realized it rotated.

We got back in time to take a nap and see the Giants beat the Patriats (go NFC EAST)!! I didn't watch though, I was sick.

The flu has been working it's way through the Mantor Madhouse. I missed two days of work last week and Garrett is home now. He woke up in the middle of the night with the chills (like I did last week). The whole bed would shake - like on Rozanne when her and Dan put the quarter in the hotel bed and it shook. I didn't laugh out loud - Garrett wouldn't have laughed, but it was amuzing!

He's working 7/12s at the LaSalle Nuke Plant. It's been hard having him gone (on all of us), but it's only for a few more weeks. Hunter and Andi enjoy staying up on Fri and Sat night extra late so they can spend some time with him. Ryan and Leigha are probably wondering where dad went!

Leigha is starting to pick things up and play with them, well mostly put them in her mouth! She's still smiling a lot, which makes getting up with her at 5:30 easier. You lean over her crib, she recognizes you and just smiles from ear to ear. It wakes you up better than a good cup of coffee!

Updates

2008-01-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

So, I figure it's time to write something again.

Leigha is walking. Okay, smiling. It only SEEMS like it's been that long since I posted!

It is true that she is smiling. She has one of those smiles that just melts your heart. She'll look at you, pause, and when she recognizes you - her whole face lights up.

Another exciting tidbit - Garrett and I are going on vacation!!! Woohoo!! Just the two of us. Okay, it's not Hawaii, Indy, but it's still a weekend away from the kids.

On the 1st my company is having an appreciation dinner in Indy. Part of the deal is us Frankfortites get to stay over night. Garrett and I are going to add on to that our free night stay at the Hyatt (that we won this summer). What it equates to is a weekend in Indy!

Yes, I'll miss the kids - after the first couple of days!

A few quick notes

2008-01-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Life has been busy in the Mantor Madhouse - I only have a few minutes, so I'll post a few things.

Hunter and Andi had a great time at Grandma Betty's house - they got back on Friday night. I think they were ready to be home. I could tell this by the fact that they were beginning to miss Sparkie. Not enough to play fetch with her, but still missing her just the same.

Garrett's dad brought them home and then stayed to watcheach of them tear up the soccer field on Saturday morning. Andi was not too sure about the organized sports thing and came off the field in tears. What I gathered in between tears was the was afraid of the other kids she didn't know. She says she'll try again next week!

Hunter did great as usual. I'm confident one day he will be a soccer coach. I'm also confident he will drive his wife crazy talking about sports - unless she's a fanatic like him!

Ryan is still his energetic self. He's a mommy's boy lately - but don't tell Garrett that. He's always the first one to come up and greet me when I get home from work - melts my heart. He's also the first to scream when I pu him down!

Leigha will be three months old next week. She is getting big - and close to rolling over. She still has a great temperment - mostly just sits and chills. She's starting to grasp things in her hands, but not intentionally yet.

Garrett goes back to work on the 23rd at the LaSalle Nuke plant. He is there for pre-outage and then the 25 day outage starting Feb 4. Once the plant goes down he will be working 7/12s (yes, that means 12 hour days, 7 days a week). He's not thrilled with that, but he is eager to get back to work.

I've been busy with work and everything else. My Thursday night bible study just started a new book Walking in Total God Confidence by Donna Partow. We are planning a PWA party for the end of the month. (PWA stands for Princess with an Attitude). It's going to be lots of fun - I can't give more details cause I know the girls read my blog!

So, that's the short update!

Christmas

2007-12-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Long gone are the days of Christmas Break and lots of presents from Santa. I read an email recently that laid out the 4 stages of life:

1.) You believe in Santa
2.) You don't believe in Santa
3.) You are Santa
4.) You look like Santa

I guess I'm on the downhill swing! :) I did enjoy "being Santa" though. The kids had a great Christmas. Hunter got an MP3 Player and claimed it was his "best Christmas ever."

We headed to Iowa on Friday in the fog. It brought back memories of our trip last March on the ice. We made it to Cedar Rapids just fine and crashed at the Mantor's house. On Saturday night we opened presents with Garrett's parents and his sister and brother-in-law.

It snowed all day - for a total of about 8 inches - what Christmas is supposed to look like. Garrett and I were in the mall when the rain turned to sleet and then snow. It made for a slippery trip to the van, but I've always enjoyed a good storm.

Sunday we had to plow out for church. All the intelligent people stayed home and avoided the mess.

We celebrated with Garrett's extended family on Sunday night. It was great to see his grandparents aunts and uncles.

We were supposed to go to Strawberry Point to stay with Grandma Betty that night, but Hwy 13 was closed due to drifting - only in the middle of nowhere does a state highway close due to drifting!!

We made it there on Christmas Eve and got to spend some time with her before heading to Lamont for the Sandhagen Christmas (and famous ornament exchange). Christmas day was spent at Grandma Betty's opening gifts, eating brunch and lupper, and then packing up and heading home.

The kids enjoyed some time in the snow - and they'll get lots more since they (Hunter & Andi) stayed at her house. They'll come home after the first of the year. As we walked out the door I heard Hunter say, "Now it's time to Paaar-teee!" Oh, boy! Gram will have her hands full! :)

Mr. Mom

2007-12-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

So Garrett is laid off - 'tis the season - and I'm crazy busy at work. As a matter of fact I'm writing this from Naperville - where I have been since yesterday morning on a work trip. Garrett calls it vacation! He said anytime you can excape from diapers, puke, and screaming - it's a vacation!

I left Mr. Mom yesterday with a sick kid (Andi was fine by 10 am after 2 outfits got puked on), rambunctious Ryan, and baby Leigha. Oh, and Hunter had a big project due today at school - which required Garrett to haul kids through Office Max.

I decided at about noon not to answer the phone - everytime he called it was more bad news! Issues with our electricity, car insurance - I thought it would never end!

Garrett kept calm, though - and had solved almost every issue by the time I talked to him last night. What a great guy. I can't give him enough credit for all he does. With the risk of exaggerating a little, I have to say Garrett is the best kept secret I have ever experienced. The longer I know him the more he surprises me - with his incredible abilities and giving personality.

Andi's party

2007-12-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Andi turned 5 (holy cow! already?) the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Her party was this Sunday, though - all of her friends were traveling for the holidays.

She had 3 friends come (two were sick) for cookie decorating, pedicures, cake, and ice cream. She had a great time - I think they all did. I needed Asprin by the time they left. I forgot how loud girls can squeel!

It didn't surprise me when Andi asked if she could keep her church dress on for the party - she was the birthday girl! What shocked me was that every one of the girls wore dresses too! I can't remember EVER asking to wear a dress to a party! They were way too constricting - how could you ever play hide-n-seek in a dress? I guess Andi just has a different group of friends than I did!

I made her a Dora the Explorer cake. It almost brought my demise. The project began on Friday night and almost ended in the trash on Saturday night. I pulled myself together - improvised on the decorating (I was out of those icing bag things) and finished at 1:00 on Sunday morning.

The infamous cake

The birthday girl soaks her feet

Opening presents

Connected Again

2007-11-20T08:46:00.001-08:00

I'm "borrowing" internet service from my neighbor today. This is my last week of maternity leave - where did time go?? I'm anxious to get back to work - a little concerned about how it will all work out. Maybe Leigha will miraculously start sleeping through the night this weekend!

I won't hold my breath!

She is doing well. She goes to the doctor tomorrow for her 1 month well baby. Ryan is going as well. I may have 2 shot victims on my hands! He is already 18 months. He's adjusting well to his new sister - a little to rough for her safety, but I think he really likes her - he's just not sure how to show it. That's easy to understand since his big brother says "I love you" by knocking him over!!

Andi will be 5 on Sunday! Wow! Where did that time go? I really need to head back to work. When I'm at home I feel old, but at work I'm the youngest one there!

I'll have some pics next week when I have regular email access. Until then - have a Happy Turkey Day (unless you are like us and having "Ham Day.") Either way - join me in cheering AGAINST the Cowboys!!

Baby Leigha is here

2007-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wow! I have been going through withdrawls. It felt so good to see the Google frontpage load today! We don't have internet at home, so I have to wait until I'm somewhere with wireless. So, thanks to the wonderful Moon Monkey Coffee Company for providing the wireless to post pictures today!!

Leigha was born on Monday October 15th. She weighed 8 pounds 8 1/2 ounces and was 21 inches long. She is a great baby - very seldom cries. We just have to figure out days and nights and sleep longer at night and things will be great!!

Enjoy the pics...

My new table

2007-10-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here it is ... the table Garrett made me for my birthday!

A few kid pics....

Hunter & Ryan reading

The "Slipper Kids"

Somebody's Birthday is Coming Up!

2007-10-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Garrett's birthday is on Saturday. He's much more of a birthday guy than you would think. To him, remembering his birthday show him you care. For me, it's just getting older! :)

He's been hinting around for a month that he wants a new strategy game for his big day. I've been blowing it off - giving him all kinds of excuses why I can't get him one. My favorite is that last week he came home and said, "you don't need to get me a birthday present, I got an orbital sander at Lowe."

Of course, in Garrett language, that meant - "I bought an orbital sander, but still expect something for my birthday. I'm just hoping by saying that, you won't be mad that I bought it!!"

He told Grandma Betty he wanted a push broom for the garage. When I said she might be getting him something else, he made me check - otherwise he was going to buy one himself!! (He used my new table as an excuse because it made the garage floor messy).

Last week he told me he was going to invite people over for a bags tournament on his birthday. Of course I almost shot him - I've had his party planned for over a week! And I got his strategy game in the mail this morning (at work of course).

And he thinks no one cares....

No baby, yet

2007-10-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I guess if I don't post regularly it is assumed that I had a baby. Unfortunately the reality is that I am swamped at work and rarely have time to post these days!

A few updates -

Ryan puked up his guts on Tuesday night. There is no greater joy in a mother's heart than to see her 17 month old sitting in bed with chunks of mac and cheese all around him! He's doing fine now, by the way.

Andi experienced her first shower. Unlike her older brother who screamed during his first shower - she loved it! Now she is officially a "big girl." Yesterday I painted her nails - she even got to get her "own" polish at Wal-Mart. Simple things delight a 4-year-old.

Hunter gets a week off from soccer. His tournament is on the 13th. If they win, he will play on the 15th - Baby Leigha and I will NOT be traveling from the hospital to see that one! But we wish him luck all the more!

Garrett has been busy working on my table. It should be done and in my kitchen before Grandma Betty comes in a week, which is good because I would have felt bad asking a 71 year old woman to eat her meals on the toilet!

What a rotton weekend

2007-09-24T17:07:00.001-07:00

Man am I glad this weekend is over - everything went wrong. Okay it wasn't that bad - I'm just editorializing for effect.

First, my record was ruined. We have been working on reading through the bible in 6 months. We started in July and I haven't missed a day - until Friday! It didn't even cross my mind - I was so tired after work and a long week that I crashed. Saturday morning I woke up and wondered how I would face my family. Not that they would be sad - Hunter's been waiting for me to miss a day since we started!

Then, my Redskins lost to the Giants on Sunday. They were up by 14 points and blew it! It's like cheering for the Cubs (oh, wait - they are finally doing good). As the game was wrapping up and it became apparent that we were going to lose, I laid my head on Ryan's shoulder and cried. He thought mom had lost her marbles!

On top of that, he grabbed my sapphire necklace - the one I wore at my wedding - and broke the chain! I tried really hard to remember that he's a baby and didn't mean to.

The weekend wasn't a complete wash - Hunter did win his soccer game and Garrett decided to make me a new kitchen table for my birthday. Of course every day is great, it's just that I only have 3 weeks to whine, then people won't feel sorry for me any more!! :)