You spin me round- like a record baby- round…round…round…

You spin me round- like a record baby- round…round…round…

So, long story short, I found out this weekend what vertigo is and I am here to tell you that it is NOT fun! Especially for someone who gets motion sickness anyway, and hates spinning on any sort of ride. My world started “spinning” Saturday night and it wouldn’t stop so I was hurling, much to Tyler’s delight (dripping with sarcasm here), by Sunday morning. Bob took me to the dr and apparently some inner ear fluid buildup is responsible for the theme park rides only occurring in my head. I’m on some meds for the dizziness and praying hard for it to clear in the next few days.

(Picture Alayna drew of me yesterday.  I “feel better” on the top picture and was “sick on the couch” in my snuggie on the bottom one.  So sad!)

More sickies

So, Tyler missed 2 more days of school due to the flu and now Kayla has that nasty head cold. Man! This winter has really bitten us in the butt!

Her dream house

Kayla had to design and label her dream house for French. It’s nice to know she dreams big. She has a bowling alley, movie theater, arcade, atrium, etc. Her friend, Merritt, came over for several hours on Saturday to help her with the project.

Metro

Marisa was in the Metro Honors Orchestra this weekend. It was a beautiful concert and I loved the Tchaikovsky piece they did. I didn’t take pictures but Bob taped it if anyone would like to see it.

She has been also trying to get up the nerve to ask a guy to the WPA dance which is at the end of February. I’ll let you know if she actually does it.

(Alayna imitating Wipeout)

(The picture Alayna drew of me and Bob)

Ok, so that’s a pathetic summation for the week. Maybe next week’s will be better when I actually feel better?

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired…and Cold!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired…and Cold!

Ok, so long story, I’m having some massive meds issues, so I took a sick day on Monday and Tuesday. Issues still aren’t worked out, but its coming along… slowly.

On Monday, since it was Staff Development Day, the Alands came over to play so Tyler could practice babysitting. He was quite the entertainment machine. They built a fort, went “fishing” for shoes of the bunk bed, and played Wizard 101.

The girls had a slumber party and pulled all-nighter. You can only imagine how “pleasant” everyone was the next day. They seem to think because they are teens that they don’t require sleep.

This week, in the middle of a snowstorm and making dinner, we had a blackout. Thank goodness this time we were prepared. We knew where the flashlights and candles were. We figured this was as good a time as any to try out the propane stove that we have had for 10 years in case of emergencies. It worked like a charm. We made canned chicken tortilla soup and canned chili. It made for a fun and interesting dinner. Power came on an hour later.

(Sorry- the flash was on- it really was almost pitch black in there)

Then, Marisa got sick with that hideous head cold (and probably due to her lack of sleep and hectic schedule). So, SHE missed 2 days of school. I guess its that time of year right?

Tyler and Bob were supposed to go to the Winter campout on Friday. However, the temps were brutal. When the girls left for seminary, the actual temp was -17. Bob and Tyler were packed and ready to go but since Tyler was still coughing and sick from last week, and Bob was still coughing from when he was sick, they opted out. I don’t blame them. I was freezing inside our house. I wonder if the guys who were brave enough to go actually survived?

Kayla finally got a new bowling ball! Her coach got her a cool new ball that has really small finger holes and it really helped in her meet on Friday. Her friend Merritt came over to spend the night after the meet. They played “Just Dance” most of the evening. That game is such a huge hit!

Friday night, at 1 AM, Alayna work me up saying she was sick and had a temp of 103! We were up most of the night and she was on the couch super sick all day yesterday. We couldn’t get her temp to go down. (This new living room set up is ideal for sick people) She and I had a really bad night last night so I begged Bob to take her into the dr instead of go to church. Sure enough, she has strep! So, we now have her on antibiotics and hopefully she will be feeling better soon! Tyler felt sorry for her so he made her some hot chocolate (her favorite). When she went to drink it, the lid fell off and it burnt her leg! So, we had to put aloe on it and wrap it. Bob spent the next hour with the carpet cleaner trying to get the chocolate out of the carpet to no avail. Now there is a huge pink stain…odd.

(Pics after Tylenol and antibiotics)

So, Alayna and I are staying home tomorrow. Here’s to a better week…

Calling all Dukes and Duchesses- I hurl my catapult in your general direction

Calling all Dukes and Duchesses- I hurl my catapult in your general direction.

Tyler was brave and auditioned for a part in the 7^th grade Middle Ages festival. He came home with good news and bad news. Good News: He got the part of the Duke! (Only 6 parts were available). Bad News: The girl he really likes got the part of the Queen and his friend got the King. Tyler was not amused. I went to peek in on it yesterday several times and he was sitting at the head table with a golden crown, a purple tunic, and a green velvet cape! And guess who he got to sit by and who talked to him the whole time? He was beaming.

He was in a parody play and had special lines as the Duke. His catapult didn’t win, but I can testify that it works. He chose to demonstrate it to Alayna when we got home, and his deadly aim hit me smack in the head. He said it was an eraser, but I guarantee it was a ball of metal with spikes that almost ripped my head open. He almost died that day…

I will get pics of the festival at some point. As usual, when I went to take pics the batteries were dead (shocker!) I really need a better camera. However, a sweet mom took pics for me and I’’ post them as soon as they get here.

NEISTA

Marisa was accepted into the NEISTA honors orchestra this month. It was in Dubque, so she was there all day for rehearsals. Bob and I went up a little early to have a dinner date, go to the concert, and then take Marisa out afterwards for ice cream. She did a great job and Bob posted one of her pieces on the blog.

I can be domestic?

Maybe I really am going through a midlife crisis? Today, much to the shock of my family, I decided to make homemade wheat bread from scratch (which I have never attempted in my life), homemade apple crisp (made from apples from our trees this summer) and crockpot chicken enchiladas (from scratch, except I didn’t kill the chicken). My kids are very confused!

Lifelong healthy living

We have continued our goals for healthy life long living (except today cause it’s a weekend). But we discovered this super yummy blackberry shake. My kids LOVE it instead of a dessert. I also make a pretty cool blueberry banana one (recipe thanks to Grace). This week we will try another one. Alayna has become the expert jello maker and loves to add grapes to the mix. Our very favorite new show is Biggest Loser. This is the 2^nd season we have watched it and we find it very inspiring.

Other stuff that you may or may not find interesting:

▪Tyler missed 2 days of school due to a severe head cold. I wonder how many sick days for him that makes so far this year? We call him Tyler “the-germ-spreader” Hart.

▪Alayna thinks she has turned into SpongeBob. She could be right.

I came in the kitchen and found the kids doing some very weird turning dance they made up. My kids are weird.

▪ “Winter Wipeout” totally rocks. I wish I had that course in my backyard for a daily workout. Maybe I will add that show to my bucket list? The other show I like is “Off the Map”- those of you who know me know I REALLY want to serve a humanitarian mission and this is totally up my alley.

▪Bob, Ty and I finally got to see “The A-Team” movie. I remember watching the series when I would do homework in high school. I love having 2 boys that love action flicks as much as I do!

▪Our blog book for 2010 is almost done. Our 2010 slideshow is also done and posted on the blog.

▪Kayla had her 1^st pep band experience this week and another bowling meet. She has been very busy.

▪Marisa had her 1^st formal party for Hyvee last night. After a few panicked hours of not finding anything to wear, we had success. She said it was tons of fun. Kayla went with her friends to go see “Tron” and said it was great.

Unasked for reading reviews (cause that’s what I do)

As most of you know, (or maybe you don’t), I’ve become a reading machine! Here are a few books I recommend just in case. I have included the actual written descriptions because my descriptions lack luster.

*These 1^st 2 are different perspectives of the same event. They come together in the 3^rd book called This World we Live In. Here is a book trailer

Book Trailer

Life as we Knew it

“Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.”

The dead and the gone

“After a meteor hits the moon and sets off a series of horrific climate changes, seventeen-year-old Alex Morales must take care of his sisters alone in the chaos of New York City. “

I am Number 4

*This is one I am VERY excited about! Its also being made into a movie. Bob got me the book and its on the way. I hope its as good as I am hoping. Here is the movie trailer….

I am Number 4

Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2010: John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy? I Am Number Four is a breathless page-turner of a sci-fi novel that will have readers rooting for the teen alien who must unleash his fire power to save himself, his human friends, and the planet. This is the first of a slated multi-book series that, judging by this first book, will help reinvigorate a traditional YA genre that's grown a bit light on strong character development. So, gear-up sci-fi fans, the battle for Earth is on and there's a new kid in town! --Lauren Nemroff

NEISTA Concert

Linn Mar Orchestra Jazz Concert

2010 Year In Pictures

http://www.photodex.com/share/rbhart/a92d9mg4

Living in the Land of Snirt, Quelf in the Land of the Farm, and waiting for The Event

Living in the Land of Snirt

Ok, so when the beautiful fluffy snow starts to melt, it turns into what we call “Snirt”, a mixture of snow and dirt. Its not pretty. Your shoes, car, and pants get all muddy. But you know what? I’m just so thrilled it wasn’t ice, a blizzard, or temps that make the inside of my nose freeze that I happily splashed in the muddy puddles and got my jeans all wet. Those of you who know me and my aversion to dirt should be super impressed!  These pics are from before it melted.

(Raspberry Bushes)

The Vacation that is Speedily Passing By

We decided to live this vacation to the fullest because we needed this vacation so bad! So, we did a plethora of fun family activities and we are so not ready to go back to school.

Bowling

I surprisingly got my highest score I think I have ever gotten. I wish you could have seen Tyler bowl! He ran bumbling down the lane, looking like he would accompany the ball down every time, threw the ball, and miraculously knocked down pins. It’s a sight to see.

(Kayla)

(Marisa)

(Tyler)

(Alayna)

Just Dance

I will reiterate that this game totally rocks. We have been playing as a family. Alayna totally rocks the Bollywood, Tyler has moves we didn’t know existed, Marisa rocks the Russian dance, Kayla is great at R&B, I amazingly still have some hip hop moves, and Bob says he has “white boy syndrome”. Anyone wanna come play?

The Event

We saved up all the episodes of “The Event” to watch together over break. We LOVE it. Its like a cross between Lost and 24. Has anyone else seen it? Very intriguing and makes the treadmill more entertaining. We still don’t know what the “Event” is yet, but we are sure sticking around to find out.

Candlelight dinner

We wanted to make our evenings special so we added some bubbly and candlelight.

Quelf in the Land of the Farm

We have a new favorite family game. It is called “Quelf”. It is the most random entertaining game. One card said that every time someone landed on a red space, everyone had to yell out “Quelf in the Land of the Farm” and whoever came in last had to go back 2 spaces. Now the kids have decided to use that phrase every time I mess up a word. So, um, they say it a lot.

(Kayla had to make a homemade snorkel and Alayna had to dance)

(Tyler had to be a weeping willow while humming a sad song)

(Tyler was stuck like this for several rounds)

(Marisa had to wrap herself like a present while holding something in her left hand.  See the bow?)

Sick

It wouldn’t be a vacation without someone getting sick. Bob was the winner with a cold which turned into a sweet sinus infection.

Spending time with friends

The kids spent time at friend’s houses, had friends over, and had slumber parties. One day Merritt came over to spend the night and they made oreo balls, babysat, played Just Dance, and had a great time. The next night, Marisa and Kayla spent the night at her house.

(Worshipping the oreos?)

Date Day

Bob and I had a fun (but long) date day. We had to switch Kayla’s cell phone, went out to lunch, ran several errands including getting some fun stuff at Menards and Kohls, went to Cold Stone for ice cream, and then ran more errands.

The new set up

Bob got the new TV up and we rearranged the living room for maximum usage and then stood back and ooed and awwed. It is super cool! It rotates from the kitchen all the way into the living room. Last night, for New Years, we all snuggled up and watched “Inception” on it. Very cool and intriguing movie.

Puzzle

Marisa and I finally finished our puzzle. It took us 8 hours of Karate Kid. It looks pretty cool.

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

We are happy to see 2010 leave and welcome 2011 with open arms. We have some exciting plans, hopes, and dreams, and hope to report on the success of it all at the end of this year.