Father's Day Weekend

Did you all have a fun Father's Day weekend?

Did all you fathers out there enjoy your day?

We had a cookout with the whole damn family...and it was really fun and relaxing. We ate lots of good food, made homemade strawberry ice cream with the last of our homegrown strawberries (YUM!), and sat out by the pond fishing, talking, and taking the kids for canoe rides. It really was quite a nice day! And the weather certainly cooperated with us...hot, but not too hot..and just enough breeze to keep it relaxing.

Kendall and her cousin Kayla fished and fished until they had had their pictures taken with just about every fish in the pond. Kendall is proud of every single fish she catches, even if it is only as big as her finger! Kayla reeled in a 10 inch bluegill this year, and boy were we impressed! She caught a pretty good sized bass too. Noah wanted to touch the fish, so we let him...and then he was pretty much over it. He was too busy playing in his Cozy Coupe to care too much about the fishing.

I must admit that I am really happy that I have the in-laws that I do. I feel very blessed to be welcomed into such a nice family, and to feel that I can be myself around them. I know that Barry feels the same way about my family too. And just as importantly, maybe even more so...the fact that they all get along with each other so well. It has never been a problem or been uncomfortable to have them all at our house at the same time...they talk and joke, and are generally comfortable around each other. And so this is what I realized this weekend...

This is what a FAMILY is. And it is a GOOD FAMILY. This is what I want for my kids. Lots of loving family and friends around, good role models, diverse interests and personalities, very little drama or emotional turmoil....THAT is what has become very important to me as I have become older and (somewhat) wiser.

SO... Happy Father's Day (a day late) to all you Dads out there....the world would be a sad, sad place without you!

Hangin' At The Playground...

On Monday, Kendall had a class at the zoo all morning, so Noah and I walked around the zoo for an hour or so and then headed over to the playground before it got too busy with the bigger kids. Now, Noah and I don't really get too much time for just the two of us, so I decided to take advantange. We packed some yummy snacks and my camera...and he had ALL of my attention.

The kid was having a blast. For about half an hour, we were the only people on the playground, and let me tell you, he thought he was the cat's pajamas! I didn't get too many good pictures, though...since he was too busy doing "his thing" to look at me. But here are a few that I did get, so I hope you enjoy them!

KISSALICIOUS!

Seriously...do you see why I HAD to take this picture? As if baby feet aren't cute enough, then they have to go and make shoes like these. It CRACKS ME UP!

Noah's pudgy little feet are irresistable to me. I am always rubbing them, kissing them, giving them zerberts...they are too darn cute! They are right up there with his little ears, pinchable little bum, and big round cheeks....

Heck, every part of Noah is just KISSALICIOUS!

I am addicted to my little boy...and he feels the same about me. Everyone in the room ceases to exist the minute I walk in. Some days it's a total boost...and just what I need. And some days I can't even get two steps in the door without him hanging on my legs so I can't move. But no matter what, I cannot resist. The boy is one fantastic cuddlin' machine. He can give a bear hug like nobody's business...and on evenings like tonight (when I get home after he is already in bed), that is what I miss...and can't wait for...

My first hug of the morning.

Struggling

I feel the need to post tonight, yet I am struggling with finding something to say! We had a nice weekend...we were invited to our neighbors' house for a cookout on Friday night, and then on Saturday, I had to take Kendall to get her hair cut and we ran about 35 errands (ok, I may be exaggerating just a bit there...but it WAS a lot!), and then we went out to lunch at First Watch. It was a nice day out for just us girls. Of course once we got home, there was much to be done! Barry is trying to get our chicken coop finished so we can move our chicks in! They have already hatched and are currently living at the neighbors' house, but Kendall is dying for them to live in our coop!

THEN...I was giving Noah a bath on Saturday night and I kept hearing this beeping noise. Barry and I at first thought it was coming from the movie that Kendall was watching...but alas, NO.

IT WAS OUR WATER PUMP! SHIT! WE HAD NO WATER!

So, being a Saturday night, nothing was open, and being that the next day was Sunday, that was even worse! Thank God my uncle Rick was home. So Barry had to jump in the car and drive 1.5 hrs to go get parts and a crash course on how to rewire and replace the blasted thing. Then 1.5 hrs home...he got home at 11:30 pm, and I was already in bed. So much for Saturday evening!

That fiasco spilled into Sunday, of course, since Barry had to get moving first thing in the morning and get it fixed...since we all thought it might be nice to have our morning trips to the bathroom actually end with toilets that were able to be flushed! Also, because we were taking the kids to get their pictures taken at 2:00, and believe me, they needed bathed! As it was, he finished up right before my panic started to set in. We all got showers and headed to Tuttle Crossing to do the photo shoot...

Noah did NOT feel like cooperating. There was no sitting. There was no smiling. There was not even any looking at the lady who was taking the pictures. Somehow she managed to get a few shots, but they are not so hot. Kendall did fine...she loves having her picture taken. Of course, that ends up being a 3 hour ordeal by the time you take the pictures, wait for them to be downloaded, and pick them all out....UGH. We were hungry! SO.....

Off to Whole Foods! Ah, my temple! I can spend hours AND a fortune in there. Kendall loves to go just so she can partake of the many samples...and don't get me wrong, the rest of us did too! YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY! We decided to eat there for dinner, and it was delectable! Kendall had some stone-fired pizza, and Barry and I split a meal of salmon, marinated green beans and homestyle mashed potatoes...mmmmmm. If you haven't been to Whole Foods yet, I highly recommend it! WITHOUT A DOUBT!

The rest of the evening was just spent finishing up a few things. I picked up the house and cleaned up the kitchen...and Barry did some mowing down the lane and (finally...yippee!) put the rest of the crown moulding up around the top of the last two cabinets and put on the last set of handles. And that, folks, is what made my weekend complete! Sad, but true. I've been wanting that to be finished for quite a while, and NOW IT IS. HURRAY!

Well, if you've made it this far, I commend you.

I can admit that this is probably my least interesting post ever...but I felt like I had to say SOMETHING! Can't have you wondering what the heck happened to me now, can I?

A Big Ol' Bowl of Berries

It's my favorite time of year! Strawberry time! This is the first year that our strawberry plants have beared fuit. And boy, are they bearing fruit! Kendall and I have been having fun picking about every other day, and this is the big bowl of heaven that we picked yesterday. Somehow we managed to get out there between all of the rainshowers...and we couldn't believe how many we found! We LOVE these juicy red berries...and ours are so much sweeter than those at the grocery. Better for you too....no pesticides, of course!

In celebration of our strawberry plants, I'm sharing a yummy recipe today. Hope you all find some sweet, juicy strawberries of your own...or stop on over and we'll share some of ours!

STRAWBERRY CREAM PUFFS

1 c water
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. flour
4 eggs

(Filling)
2 pts. fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 c. sugar, divided
2 c. whipping cream
confectioners sugar
Additional sliced strawberries
Fresh mint (opt)

In a large saucepan, bring water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat: let stand for 5 mins. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Drop by 12 rounded teaspoonfuls 3 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400* for 30-35 mins., or until golden brown.

Transfer to a wire rack. Immediately cut a slit in each puff to allow steam to escape; cool. Split puffs and set tops aside; remove soft dough from inside with fork. cool puffs.

For filling, combine berries and 1/4 c sugar; chill for 30 mins. Beat cream and remaining sugar until stiff. Fold in berries. Fill cream puffs and replace tops. Dust with confectioners sugar; garnish with addtional strawberry slices and mint. Serve immediately.

YUM, YUM, YUM! Enjoy!

Adrenal Fatigue....UGH!

So how many of you have heard of adrenal fatigue? It's basically when your body has to run on adrenaline because you are so overtaxed. After a while, you develop a negative feedback loop that causes your body to continue draining your adrenals in a constant cycle. This causes insomnia, restlessness, feeling exhausted even after rest, etc. Eastern Medicine calls it Yin Deficiency....and this is what I am suffering from. That would explain the extreme tiredness, the achy legs and low back, the headaches, loss of appetite. Who knew it was all related to the same thing?

Now I do. And I am on the road to recovery.

I am taking a chinese herb complex called Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, and according to the accupuncturist, this will help me to start feeling better. To strengthen my kidneys and restore balance to my yin/yang! I can't wait to feel THAT happen! If you are interested in learning more about accupuncture, visit Brian's site at www.seikiclinic.com . It is all very interesting!

It all sounds good to me....especially the prospect of not having to say "I'M TIRED" anymore!

Nothin' cuter....

There's nothing cuter than a baby's little butt!

Especially when that baby is Noah!

I have to let Noah run around naked for a few minutes after every bath just so I can smile at his! So the other night, I snapped a picture to share...


Don't you just want to grab him and tickle him?? He has an obsession with the bathtub in our bathroom. He loves to turn on the water. Sometimes he just stands there and turns the water on and off, and other times he turns it on and then goes to play with something else...but don't think that means you can turn the water off! Oh no...he wants to HEAR it. If you turn it off, he stops whatever it is he's doing and comes back over to the tub to turn it back on. He definitely keeps us busy, that's for sure! Quite the stinker...but such a cutie!

On the Kendall front...

Kendall has become a dancing queen. She dances around the house all day long. If there is music to be heard, she is dancing. If she is singing a song, she is dancing. If there's a tv show where people are dancing, she's dancing. I believe this started with that show "So You Think You Can Dance?"...and grew from there. She loves "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance?". She has decide she needs to become a STAR. Judging from her moves, I think she may need a "little" work....

You decide for yourself...

Is anybody out there?

After a brief hiatus, I am back. It's been a couple of days since my last post...I don't know if it was because I didn't have time, or I didn't really have anything to say! Hmmmm...that's a change!

I still don't have anything really exciting to report. But I HAVE been wondering....

Is anybody out there?

I'm just wondering who is reading the Kuck Family Report. I know you are out there, reading, maybe laughing a little at some of the stories...but the only one who ever comments is AMY WOOD. (Just another reason I love her, by the way!) So, if you are reading this, please leave me a comment....just to humor me, if you will. I'm not asking for a comment every day, or even every week....I just want to know you are there, my faithful readers! And of course, I hope you are enjoying my (sometimes) daily tidbits.

Looking forward to hearing from you.....

Busy, busy, busy!

WOW! I LOVE 3-day weekends! We decided on Friday night to lay out our plan to tackle everything we wanted to get done this weekend. And believe me, it was A LOT. We knew that Sunday was pretty much a wash, since we were going to a cookout for the majority of the day, but other than that, we had a plan! Let me just tell you what all we got done...

Mulching, mulching, and more mulching.

All of the trees have been watered.

The garden is pretty much finished. We finally got the giant pumpkins, the little tiny pumpkins, the cucumbers, and the beans in. FINALLY!

All the laundry...and Kendall was thrilled to help me hang it out on my newly installed clothesline. She helped take it down too! Too bad she's not too great at folding!

Flowerbeds are complete. Nice black mulch, colorful annuals, no weeds....ahhhhhhh...

Bird feeders hung and filled.

Citronella burners set up... shoo, you annoying mosquitos!

Strawberry patch is weeded...and the strawberries are getting ripe! YUM!

The yard is mowed, and the weed whacking is done...what a job!

The bathrooms are clean....YIPPEE!

Well, Kendall's room WAS clean....yesterday....

I weeded out all of Noah's clothes that no longer fit and packed them away....and replaced them with all of the new clothes he got for his birthday. I also did the same for Kendall, except we don't have the new clothes just yet!

We even made time to cook out with Sheri on Saturday evening, and Aunt Jessie tonight (she was missing the kiddos...).

And, most unbelievable of all...we actually sat down and watched a movie last night. Walk the Line... GOOD movie. Gotta love Reese...but Joaquin Phoenix just creeps me out, no matter who he plays...

Other than that, we did the cookout on Sunday, and so here are a few pictures. We had a really good time, and the kids totally crashed out on the way home. They had run hard, and boy, was it hot! It was great to see all of Barry's old co-workers and their families. Did I mention it was HOT?

Shit. I just remembered I wanted to clean the fan blades. UGH. Well, I guess the weekend isn't over just yet....is it?

Graduation Day

Well, graduation day has come and gone, and I made it through without any tears.

Kendall was very excited to get all dressed up for her ceremony, and even more tickled that Daddy brought her a pink rose. The kids showed us their stuff right from the beginning, saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing God Bless America...complete with hand motions. (No, I don't have any pictures of that, since I was running the camcorder, and Barry was busy wrangling Noah.) They sang a couple of other songs and recited a Bible verse before the diplomas were handed out. They even wore graduation caps, as you can see in the pictures.

How cute....that is all I can say.

How stinkin' cute.

They were all so excited and proud of themselves. Afterward, they had cookies and punch, but we tried to reign ourselves in, as Kendall had requested a trip to get ice cream when we were done. Noah was all about the ice cream, let me tell you. We jetted over to Handel's (not my favorite, but it would do) and made little piggies of ourselves.

I can't believe she's done with preschool.

I can't believe she's starting kindergarten in the fall.

My goodness...she is growing up way too fast, and I'm starting to feel a bit sad. I'm trying to think of all the fun and important things we've been able to do, and not dwell on the things we haven't. All in all, I think we've done pretty well. She is an exraordinary little girl, and I couldn't be more proud of her.

Life goes way too fast, so I guess I'd just better sit back and enjoy all the "little" moments like these. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times....

THEY'RE ONLY LITTLE ONCE!

Awesome Amy

Hey everybody....guess what?

Another important birthday has rolled around!

Today I need to give a shout out to my California-based, brown-eyed, wine-lovin' girl, Amy Wood!

Amy is awesome, pure and simple. She is chic and classy, yet a total goofball at the same time. She can hang with anybody. I've never seen her with the biker crowd, but it wouldn't suprise me to see her on the back of a Harley! You'll see her with your A-listers...all the cool, girlie, fashionable gals, and then you'll see her with me...her "feng-shui, tree-huggin', granola crunchin'" friend. (That is a direct quote by the way...one she left on my answering machine after I bought a flock of chicks for a little African village in her kids' names for Christmas...)

Doesn't matter.

Amy is one of a kind.

She always says it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission...and she's right!

She acknowledges that she can't sing...yet will belt out "Brown-Eyed Girl" or anything by Shania Twain at the top of her lungs...anyplace, anytime. In fact, I seem to recall a story about she and Jim going to Karaoke at Champps. If I remember correctly, she either got booed from the stage, or Jim pulled her off...I'm not sure, but I DO know this...she doesn't care. She'd do it again in a heartbeat. And that is what I LOVE about Amy. No inhibitions. With a shrug of her shoulders and big smile, her motto is..."Who cares?"

She always thinks she is making an ass of herself, but she doesn't realize that everyone just thinks she's funny and they love being around her. I say you can't be making that big of an ass out of yourself if they keep inviting you! You must be doing something right!

She is fun, hip, relaxed, generous, honest, smokin' hot (can a girl say that about another girl?)...and VERY cool. No one better to go shopping with, either.

She's a real go-getter. Want something done and done fast? Give it to Amy. Give her a carte blanche budget and let her run wild. It will get done and you won't be disappointed! Full throttle all the way!

She's a great mom and a true friend. I can't speak on Jim's behalf , but I'm pretty sure she gets all A's in the wife department too!

I miss her terribly. I wish she still lived in Ohio. The only good thing about her being in San Diego is the fact that it's a really fun place to visit...and the fact that she's happy there! We won't get there this year, but I'm planning on it next year for sure!

I love ya, Amy! Who else would watch "Supersize Me" with me just for fun....and then make our kids watch it the next day, asking afterwards, "Who wants to go to McDonalds?"

HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY...(again!) Tee hee!

A Bicycle Built for Two

Check it out!

This weekend we got Kendall this handy-dandy Co-Pilot bike trailer. And for Father's Day, we got Barry a new bike. Yes, I know that it isn't Father's Day yet, but we've been wanting to get out and ride, so we gave it to him early. Don't these two look snappy on their new bikes? Kendall is really into riding this thing! Thank goodness we got Noah a bike seat for his birthday...now we can get out there go. Our town has a rails-to-trails bike path that goes all the way to Xenia, and we have been looking forward to taking advantage of it! Hopefully this weekend we'll get our chance!

It's going to be a nice weekend...Anybody up for a long bike ride?

These Two...

These two make everything ok, no matter how bad my day has been.

These two can make me laugh hysterically AND want to scream within the same 10 seconds.

These two are my favorite kids in the whole wide world.

These two are so alike, yet so different.

These two will melt your heart, make you giggle, and roll your eyes.

These two are the reasons Barry and I work so hard.

These two have opened our hearts and minds more than we thought possible.

These two help us to enjoy life more, and to realize that it's ok to be a kid once in a while.
(even if you're a grown-up!).

These two make me want to be a better person...a better mom, a better partner, a better friend, a better massage therapist.

These two love each other so much.

These two will be best friends OR each other's worst nightmare at one time or another.

These two will always have each other to lean on.

These two are our pride and joy.

These two have forever changed our lives...and we couldn't be happier.

EYEBALLS!

Are you all aware that Kendall loves eyeballs? She loves the word EYEBALL. She uses it whenever she can. I believe it started 3 years ago at Christmas when she and one of her cousins were eating popsicles and playing the "My popsicle tastes like..." game.

My popsicle tastes like....dirt!

My popsicle tastes like...smelly feet!

My popsicle tastes like...rotten eggs!

And so on, and so on. Every response is followed by insane giggling and laughter. It really was funny, but they were out of control! Kendall's favorite response is "My popsicle tastes like...EYEBALLS!" I don't know what eyeballs taste like exactly, but it sounds GROSS!

So anyway, the fascination with eyeballs grew. When we found out I was pregnant with Noah, we asked Kendall what we should name the baby. Yep, you guessed it....EYEBALL! After much convincing that Eyeball was not a very nice name for a baby, we settled on Noah.

When she is fishing, every time she catches a fish, she insists on touching it's eyeballs. I know, I know, it's a little weird, but hey...at least she's interested. She has a million questions about eyeballs and how they work. I'm not sure where this fascination started, but here is yet another eyeball story...

At night, when it was my turn to read Kendall's nighttime story and get her sent off safely to dreamland. We were going about our usual routine, which includes brushing teeth, going potty, and picking out a book. After we read the book, we have to talk about what we are going to dream about, and then she has to pick out a "buddy" to cuddle with. After that has been taken care of, she cons me into singing her special lullaby, because lately, (she claims) she cannot fall asleep without it.

Then comes the best part. I say...

"Kendall, you are my MOST favorite little girl in the whole wide world. I love you SO much! I love you more than ALL the stars in the sky."

"WOW Mama, that's alot!"

"Yes, it is! I love you more than all the sand on the beach too!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Without a doubt!"

"Mama?"

"Yes, Kendall Bug?"

" Well, I love YOU more than all the eyeballs on all the people!"

And what can you really say to that? I do believe she trumped me. That's a heck of a lot of eyeballs! I couldn't think of a good response, and she was pretty pleased with being able to work the eyeballs in there, so I let it go...and sent her off to dreamland happy as a clam.

I am overwhelmed sometimes by how much I love these kids....and how simply they love me back...

A Big Weekend!

Wow! What a weekend we had! As you all know by now, Noah turned 1 on Saturday. I still can't believe it, but alas it IS true! The party was a huge success, and I even got a couple of hours rain-free! The kids got to go outside for a little while, and every kid caught a fish. Then, the lightning started and it was all over for the fun outside. No matter, though, as they had just as much fun tearing through the house playing.

Noah was in his glory, and personally walked up to greet each of his guests...it was so cute. He couldn't have been more pleased that all of those people were here to see him! He was just a happy little guy, and the life of the party, let me tell ya! He wasn't much into the cake though! The icing yes, but the cake...definitely no. He just kept scooping icing into his mouth, and everytime he'd get some cake he'd make a yucky face. It was so funny!

I am giving myself a little pat on the back...for this was the first party ever that I did not grossly overcook for. Everything except the cake was completely gone at the end of the party. I am so proud of myself! (It's the little things that make me happy!) Of course, now we will have to work on eating the rest of the cake...but that shouldn't be a problem!

Then of course, on to Mother's Day...what a wonderful day. I slept in until 9:30 or so, and it felt so INDULGENT. Ahhh..... Then I got up and had a little something to eat before we got ready to go. We had a late lunch at First Watch (my FAVORITE) and then went to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the Blooms and Butterflies exhibit. The kids love the butterflies. Heck, I love the butterflies! Noah's big fun was splashing in a fountain they had. He would have done it all day if we had let him! Then we stopped at Sheri's house and ordered a pizza, and by the time we were on our way home, Noah was ready for bed and fell asleep in the car. So of course, we put him to bed, changed into our old clothes, and Barry, Kendall and I headed outside to get some work done. We got the flower beds weeded and edged...and Kendall "saved" all the earthworms from CERTAIN death, or at least, that's how she saw it. By the time we got inside and got her bathed and ready for bed, it was almost 10. UGH! I was ready for bed by then too! But alas, it was Grey's Anatomy night, so we had to get through that first...and then off to bed with me.

So all in all, it was a fun, successful, and productive weekend. What more can you ask for, except maybe a little more sunshine???

Today

Today is going to be a hectic day. Kendall has her kindergarten screening and registration at 10:30. I know, I know...I can't believe it either. And she is soooo excited. She has been practicing everything she can think of that she "might need to know"...including our address, which she was really having a hard time with. So, what did we do? We made up a song - and the only lyrics are our address. It's pretty catchy, if I do say so myself!

After that I need to stop and get ice cream for the party. Noah is turning ONE tomorrow! I know, I know....I can hardly believe that EITHER! Anyway, the party is tomorrow, and this crappy weather is pissing me off. I had this nice little plan for a picnic style lunch....fishing out at the pond, canoe rides for the kids, all that stuff. Now, with all of this rain, we can't even get outside to mow! UGH! I'll get over it by tonight, and just resign myself to being happy that everyone will be here celebrating Noah's birthday. It will still be fun, and the food will still be good!

Then we need to pick up our gifts for all the mothers and grandmothers....and once we get home, I will start my prep work in the kitchen!

And maybe, just MAYBE....the weather will clear up for a couple of hours on Saturday and the kids can still fish...

Hmmmmmmm.....in my perfect little world....

Welcome back to the Real World...

We're back from South Padre Island...and you may be wondering, " What on earth is the significance of this picture?" Well, folks, that picture is the ONLY picture we took on vacation. It is of the sign in the airport parking lot so I wouldn't forget where we parked. (Yes, I KNOW that is a great idea...thanks to Sheri's brother Craig) Although I am usually the resident shutterbug, this time I felt no need for pictures. Who wants to see a bunch of pictures of me and Barry laying around in our swimsuits? BORING. So this was the extent of it!

We had a really good time, but of course, there is no place like home. We rested and then rested some more, since there is really little else to do on the island. I just about finished a book, and Barry actually took some time to read! (For those of you who don't know, it isn't that Barry doesn't LIKE to read...it's just that he has more important things to do! ;-)) I actually had a couple of drinks, but it was so hot and humid that beer didn't sound good at all! We ended up leaving some at the hotel...can you believe that?

We were really starting to get homesick. South Padre is very kid friendly, so we were surrounded by cute kids of all ages...hence the homesickness. Couldn't wait to get home to the little buggers. And did they miss us? Go ahead, ask again....did they miss US???

NO. NOT AT ALL.

In fact, I think Kendall was disappointed that we were home. She just had too much fun with her grandparents. I know we should be happy that she goes anywhere and is happy to do it...but geez! Could we get a little love over here, or what? And Noah just acted like it was another day in Noah-land...

"No big deal, Mama. Happy to see you, as long as you have some food for me. How about a banana? Maybe some of those strawberry flavored stars? And by the way, I'm pretty sure I need changed again. P-U! I stink! I know you already changed me 3 times in the last hour, but hey, when you've got to go...you've GOT TO GO!"

Needless to say, they had a great time here being spoiled rotten, I'm sure. I guess we should be grateful they don't have separation anxiety....it just would've been nice to hear "Mama, I missed you SO MUCH!", instead of "Mama, I miss Grandma Cindy's house. When do I get to go back again?"

New Nightie and My Guys

Kendall has grown so much that not even her pajamas fit anymore, so we had to go shopping for new. I was shocked a bit when she decided she HAD to have 2 princess nighties. To date, Kendall has admittedly not been much of a "girlie girl", but lately she has been more interested in all things pink and "princessey". She was so pleased with her new nightgown that she was in her pajamas by 6:00. I don't know what to think about the princess phase, but if she is ready for bed without a fight, I'm all for it!

This other picture is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. My two favorite guys. Aren't they handsome? This was taken at Kendall's Big Girl Party. Barry and Noah were playing a basketball game, and I stopped them to get this picture. It isn't very often that I can get either one of them to stop moving long enough to get one! Noah is getting so big and is really starting to show his personality. Every day with him leaves me shaking my head about something. He is your typical rough-and-tumble, into-everything little boy. I love it.

Well, folks that's it until I get back. Have a great weekend!

Just one more day at work....

Yes! Just one more day of clients before we are sunning our buns on the beaches of South Padre Island. WHOO HOO! I cannot wait! I plan to do nothing but rest, eat, read, rest, and rest some more. I'm pretty sure that Barry is planning the same thing! But of course, before any trip there is much work to be done. I have been planning and cleaning, doing laundry and packing, scheduling and rescheduling. We have managed to get the grass mowed and the garden pretty much planted. The kids are so excited to have the whole weekend with their grandparents...who, by the way, I am eternally grateful to for helping us out in the childcare department.

So, I have a full day today...until 9 pm. Then I must come home and get my things together for the trip. Tomorrow Kendall has swim lessons, and we need to do some last minute grocery shopping. I have to make sure the munchkins have plenty of food! Then Dad & Taffy will be here to get a crash course on life at our house. Then off to bed and up early to leave at the crack of dawn on Thursday....ahhhhhh. I should be on the beach by 2:30-3:00...

Vacation, sweet VACATION!!!!

The Weekend Rundown

This was a busy weekend! Busy and fun at the same time... and if your weekend has to be busy, it might as well be fun too! Barry's birthday was Saturday. I had to work in the morning, and Barry and Kendall had appointments to get their hair cut right downstairs from my office, so we all decided to get up and go together. I only had two appointments, so that worked out just fine. We ran a couple of errands afterward, and then came home to get some work done!

Kendall and I made Barry's birthday cake while he finished planting the garden. What a birthday cake! Sheri found the recipe and passed it along, especially for Barry's birthday. You see, Barry LOVES Oreos. And this cake is full of them. It was soooo good. Too good. That's why we cut it right in half and took some to the neighbors. Anyway, check out the picture....doesn't it look yummy? (And yes, I realize that Barry's cake has the "33" candles on it. But I didn't have a 4 to make "34", so we just added one single candle to make "34"!)

Then on Sunday, we had Kendall's "Big Girl Party" at Chuck E Cheese's. This party was in honor of the fact that she quit sucking her thumb in January and quit wearing pull-ups at night in March. She is now officially a BIG GIRL. She only wanted to invite her cousins, so it was a small party...and that was perfect. They all had a wild time, and then both of my kids crashed out in the car on the way home. Perfect! Check out the pictures...

All in all, it was a very productive weekend. We just have a few things left to accomplish before our trip (more on that tomorrow!)...the kids and I will be very busy today! CIAO!

Happy Birthday, Barry!

Here he is...the most important man in my life. And he is turning 34 today!

Happy Birthday Barry! I don't know what we would do without you!

So You Want To Meet Sarah and Torben, eh?

Here they are...our Canadian friends, Sarah and Torben (pronounced Taubin, for those of you who don't know!).

These are the two that we miss A LOT since they left the States 2 or so years ago.

These are the two that we just had to go visit to see just what was so great about Canada. (And let me say for the record that Canada is really nice, but the only thing they have that we really can't do without is these two friendly Canadian chiropractors pictured right here. )

Did we have a lot of fun? YES, without a doubt!

Did we get a lot of R&R? NO, absolutely not!

But that is totally cool. We talked so much that I was still hoarse until Wednesday. We shopped. We hiked. We ate. We drank. We "kind of" watched hockey. We made fun of each other. And probably most importantly....we LAUGHED, GIGGLED, and were generally just silly. Silly like I haven't been in such a long time.... And by the way, what's with the "Canadian" Geese? I didn't see even one in Canada, but I see flocks of them around here!! They never leave!

And so, Sarah and Torben...although we can see why you left us (dramatic sigh here) , we now see why you love it in Canmore. You have a truly beautiful place to call home, a promising practice, and a relationship most people will never experience.

What more can you ask for, EH?

Canada, Here We Come!

So, tomorrow is the big day! Sheri and I are off to visit our friend Sarah in Calgary. We have been planning this trip for quite a while now, and tomorrow is the day! I am putting the kids to bed tonight and then heading in to Sheri's to spend the night. That will save me lots of time in the morning! Then off to the airport and a day of traveling...

Sarah is VERY excited that we are coming. She has had our itinerary planned for at least 2 months...to the very last detail! Yes, you could say that she's a planner... or maybe just a little anal? No, no, no...Sarah is very much together, there is just a lot she wants us to see and do in that country up north. My only stipulation has been that no one is to wake me in the morning until my body decides it wants to wake up. That being said, I may still be the first one up every morning! I'm not used to sleeping that late :-)

Barry and the kids will have lots of fun, even without me. His Dad and Luanne are coming Thursday night and staying over to watch the kids on Friday while Barry is at work, and Kendall is counting the minutes until they get here. Gary & Luanne, you'd better rest up! I think she has lots of plans for you! I don't know what Barry has planned for the weekend, but I know it will be fun, and if they can, they'll be outside as much as possible.

Well, folks, this will be my last post until I return, so stay tuned for the big lowdown after I get back. Hopefully I'll have some good pictures and stories to share.... CIAO!

Check Out Those Chompers!

Would you look at that?

THAT, folks, is what can happen in just one short weekend around here.

Noah's top two teeth just popped through and dropped down right before our very eyes. I can't believe how much older it makes him look! He took every opportunity this weekend to show everyone his new chompers, even taking the chance to bite on a few fingers. Fortunately for all of us, these new teeth didn't seem to cause him any problem. Other than the continuous drool, we didn't even have a clue that they were popping through!

That aside, isn't he just the happiest, cutest little guy? Don't ya just want to grab him and give him a big smooch?

Thank You Easter Bunny!

Well, yet another candy-filled holiday has passed! This Easter was fun, but hectic as all get-out! Aunt Jessie called Friday night and said she thought she might go ahead and take off, and asked if we would like her to take the kids with us. WHAT??!!?? WOULD WE??? SURE! Of course, that meant running around like a madwoman trying to get the kids packed up and in to Jessie's before they fell asleep. But we managed, and off they went. This would be Noah's first overnight away from us...and guess what? He did fine...didn't even miss us. NOT A BIT. I'm sure the spoiling was going in full swing at grandma's house!

I had forgotten that I had to work on Saturday, so that pushed us back to leaving at 3:30 on Saturday. That being said, we didn't make it around to as many people as we would have liked, so if we didn't get to your house, you now know why! In fact, between us getting home later than planned and Noah's nap schedule, we only made it two places! At least both families had egg hunts for the kids. Noah thoroughly enjoyed his first foray into that green stuff known as grass. He loved it! He couldn't stop picking at all of the little blades...and we were thankful that he didn't try to eat it - he eats everything else!

Kendall had a ball with her cousins! She never wants to leave, and it gets harder every year to tell her we have to leave one house to go to another. This year she told me it wasn't fair, and that she NEVER gets to play with her cousins, so we should let her stay as long as she wants. I agree to some extent, it just isn't that simple sometimes.

So let me end this post with saying that the candy content is OUT OF CONTROL in this house. Kendall is asking for candy constantly, as we are trying to wean her down from the weekend. She'll be lucky if half of it doesn't get thrown away....or eaten by Daddy!

OK, OK, I might have a piece or two...

What We're Seeing A Lot More Of...

Yes, that's right. We are seeing more sleeping in the Kuck household. I have been keeping my mouth shut about it (ok, not TOTALLY shut - I'm excited!), because I didn't want to jinx it, but Noah has been sleeping through the night for almost 2 weeks now. We've only had one night that was less than 10 hours, and most nights it's more like 12 hours! We're thrilled! In fact, "thrilled" doesn't even cover it. "Relieved" is probably a little more accurate. I'm not even sure there is a word that can totally encompass the things Barry and I are feeling right now. All I know is this... I may be back on the road to mental clarity! Sleep is my new BEST FRIEND!

THE WEEKEND
We had a productive weekend! Hope you all did as well! The weather was great, and we spent as much time as possible outside. We were able to get our flower beds cleaned up, some things transplanted, and I managed to get the house cleaned as well! I was feeling GREAT by the end of the weekend. Mom and Joe and my Grandma & Grandpa Kogge stopped by on Saturday to "drop off my birthday card", which is code for "come and see the kids". Kendall was wired for sound, let me tell ya! Anyone that comes to our house better be ready to play! We ordered chicken from Der Dutchman for dinner....YUM YUM! I had to stop myself at 2 pieces, and it was hard!

MORE BITHDAY STUFF
For Barry's and my birthdays, our friends Chad and Beth sent us a box of totally AWESOME brownies from a company called Fairytale Brownies....I highly suggest you try them or send them to someone you love....they are DE-LISH! I am saving the chocolate peanut butter one for the perfect moment....YUMMMMMMM! Thanks, Beth and Chad, for opening my eyes to yet another food that I don't need to be addicted to!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Can you believe it? It's already my birthday... AGAIN! WHOOO HOOOOO! It doesn't seem possible that I can really be 35 years old. I can remember when my parents were 35, and that really seemed old then. Doesn't seem so old now, though!

In all honesty, though, birthdays don't really bother me. Not even 30 did! Celebrating yet another birthday just means I get to celebrate another year of opportunities, another year of vacations, another year of seeing the kids change, another year of laughing with Barry, and another year to spend with my family and friends. Who in their right mind would ever lament their birthday? Another birthday means a whole list of reasons why you are still here!

Sheri and I firmly believe that your birthday should be celebrated for an entire month, heck...even the entire year! Our birthdays are something we look forward to every single year....it's another occasion to get together for dinner with friends...and a reason to do anything we want through the month of April. In fact, we often plan our next birthday before we are even finished celebrating! This year, we are going to Calgary to visit our ultra-cool friends Sarah and Torben. Of course, we justified this trip with..."Obviously, we should go in April, it's our birthday!" And so, we are going! I can't wait...even more celebrating!

So, my dear friends and family...I'll leave you with this: No more boo-hooing about getting old! Get out there and celebrate! There's still so much to do...and a birthday is the perfect means to justify it!

It's all clear to me now...

So you ever have one of those crystal-clear moments when you realize EXACTLY why you are friends with someone? Not just because you like them, of course you LIKE them, they're your friends! But you see very clearly WHY you like them???

Today I had one of those moments. My friend Heather is a neat freak. No, really...her favorite thing to do is clean. Yes, I said CLEAN! She is never more happy than when she is talking about cleaning products, and she is the only friend I know that actually gets excited if her husband buys her a new sweeper. So today, the kids and I went to Heather's house for a visit with her and her kids. Now, Heather and her husband just built a new house, and they've been in it all of one month. Not that I was suprised, mind you, but when I walked in, it was like they've lived there for years. Everything was in its place. She already had new furniture. All the pictures were hung perfectly. Not a box anywhere. Not a thing unfinished...no tools sitting out. It was BEAUTIFUL!

And I must admit, I was jealous.

Jealous with a capital "J".

Because I've been in my house for coming up on 2 years, and I still have boxes in the basement that need unpacked, pictures that need hung, tools that need put away, and just general clutter everywhere. Does it drive me crazy? Of course....I'm not a slob. I just can't ever seem to get enough time to get to it! So, what I want to know is, where does she find the time???? Are there ever going to be enough hours in the day? I'm starting to think the answer is a resounding NO. Not unless I want to make some drastic changes. Changes like:

*Not sleeping until the kids wake me up in the morning.

*Putting the kids in front of the TV all day on my days off so I can clean, clean, clean!

*Really making Barry mad by moving all his piles of papers... and truly disrupting his system of "organization".

*No more scrapbooking, cross-stitching, gardening, etc.

*Totally giving up on this blog thing....there would definitely be no time for that!

*No more trips to visit family on the weekends...holidays included!

* Oh yeah, and I'd probably have to give up my practice!

Now don't get me wrong! I'm not making fun of Heather, and of course, I'm being sarcastic. BUT, I am being totally honest when I say I don't know how she manages to get it all done and still be one of the best moms that I know. She is involved with everything her kids do, she has a great relationship with her husband, a clean and organized home, and still manages to come and see us in London every other month. She has a style all her own, and I'm proud to call her my friend. I guess maybe it's true when they say that we pick friends that have qualitites we wish we ourselves had! I'd love to have a little Heather in me! And just the same, I know she'd like to have a little Jen in her. She actually had a brilliant idea today...maybe we could work out a little co-op. She would come here once a month to clean my house, and I would go there once a month and fill her freezer with meals. Done Deal, I say! Especially if she cleans up the kitchen when I'm done!

Deal ...or No Deal?

Ok, so we're hooked on that new game show DEAL OR NO DEAL here in the Kuck house. Have you seen it? It reels you in and you are hooked! And Howie Mandel is a genius at drawing every decision out until the last possible second. (Although I can see that this particular trait will inevitably get on my nerves at some point in time....) Anyway, we've been watching it when we can catch it. Kendall is really hooked as well. I didn't actually think she would be into it, or even really understand it, BUT SHE DOES. Of particular fun to her is yelling, "NO DEAL!" and "Don't do it!" It's pretty funny!

So the other night we were watching DEAL OR NO DEAL. After it was over, Barry took Kendall up to bed to read her the nighttime story and do her whole routine. He comes downstairs 15 minutes later shaking his head and laughing....and I know that a good Kendall story is about to ensue. Here is what happened:

After the brushing of the teeth and emptying of the bladder, Barry read her a book. If you know Kendall well, you know that she is ALWAYS hungry. She needs a snack every 45 minutes, or she just may fall over and die from starvation. Oh, yeah. It's THAT serious. So anyway, he gives her a kiss and tells her goodnight, etc. and as he turns to walk out the door she says:

"Hey Dad... how about if I lay here and try to sleep and you come back in 10 minutes to check on me. If I'm still awake, you can bring me a little snack. If I'm asleep, you don't have to. DEAL... OR NO DEAL?????"

Barry, always on top of things, quickly responds..." NO DEAL!" and walks out of the room laughing.

AHHHH, the fun NEVER ends!

Happy Birthday Sheri!

Today is a VERY important day.

It is Sheri's birthday.

Ok, it is after midnight, so actually, her birthday was yesterday, but let's just skip the technicality and work with me here, OK???

For those of you who do not know Sheri, she is my partner in crime...my best friend... and the only person besides Barry who truly understands me! In fact, sometimes I think she understands me a tiny bit better, simply because we are GIRLS, after all...and because maybe even more importantly, we are both Aries! We are like peas and carrots, as Forrest Gump would say!

Every year we celebrate our birthdays together since they are only 5 days apart. And every year, that involves some kind of dinner, since we LOVE food. This year we made it to RJ Snappers in the Short North. A small group, but it was still fun. My first glass of wine since I weaned the baby...YUM! Then we moved on to Cup O'Joe for some coffee and conversation...and some interesting entertainment from the belly dancers on the sidewalk. I'm still not sure if that really happened, or if I had too much wine....

Ah, I digress. This post is about Sheri, and the fact that there is no one else I would rather celebrate my birthday with every year. She is kind, generous, gregarious, energetic, beautiful, creative, fun, childlike, conscientious, and down to earth. It is a mystery to everyone who meets her why she is still single and why we haven't "set her up" with anyone. Well, world, the reason is this:

We haven't met anyone good enough for her. 'Nuff said.

Anyway, this is my happy birthday post to Sheri...everyone should have a friend like her. But find your own, because I'm NOT sharing!

Love Ya, Sheri! Happy Birthday!

Little Mr. Fix-It

Just like his Daddy, Noah seems to have an affinity for tools and anything mechanical. Isn't this picture precious? It's Barry's favorite, and I can see why. Noah got this little tool bench for Christmas, and he loves it. I just happened to have my trusty camera ready when he was hammering away... and Voila! A great picture was taken! Never mind the fact that he wasn't wearing any clothes - we are in that stage where he won't hold still to get dressed or undressed...and I was feeling pretty fortunate to just get him diapered him that day!

Noah's other love is anything with WHEELS. Kendall's baby stroller, any of his cars or trucks, Kendall's ER crash cart...he immediately goes for the wheels. Index finger pointed, he starts touching them, then trying to spin them. If they won't spin, he flips the item over and starts spinning them. He will do this for half an hour....NO LIE. Who knew that wheels were so much fun? In this house, we are WELL aware that tools are fun (and necessary...right, Barry?), but I missed the boat on the wheels!

Our Little Princess

Here she is... our little princess! I took this picture a few weeks ago while Kendall was playing dress-up and when I saw it, could not believe how grown up and beautiful my baby girl has turned out to be! It's just one of those things...she's with me every single day, but I don't notice the changes in her until I see her in a picture. She is my joy, my frustration, my comedienne, my little helper, a real source of unconditional love....She is everything I have ever done right in my life, and I couldn't be more proud of her.

Some things you might not know about Miss Kendall:

1.) She still sleeps 12 hours a night....and sometimes a 2 hour nap during the day!

2.) She is closely connected with God. She is willing to let you know what God would say about anything you are doing, at any time.

3.) She can read...really well!

4.) She never makes fun of anyone.

5.) She's NOT a girly-girl (yeah, grandma!), although she likes bugs and lip gloss just the same!

6.) She cannot WAIT to start Kindergarten!

7.) She can count to well over 100.

8.) Her favorite words (that always elicit a giggle), are butt, toilet, toot, underpants, poop, and tushy. These words are used at any opportunity. They are followed by repeating the word over and over again while laughing and rolling around on the floor. Any mother's proudest moment....

Well, that's it on Miss Kendall, although that doesn't even scratch the surface. Look for more on Kendall and her adventures in the future!

Bye now!

I had to giggle

So last Saturday on my way to work, I heard this joke on the radio. Now, I am not usually into jokes all that much, and I can rarely even think of one to tell, but this one tickled my funny bone! Here it is....they call it The Punchline You Can See Coming A Mile Away!

So 3 men and their significant others are on a cruise ship. One couple is gay, the others are straight. The ship goes down and all passengers perish. As the 3 couples are standing in front of the pearly gates, the first heterosexual man walks up to St. Peter and says, "Well, what about it St. Peter? Do I get in?"

And St. Peter says, "Seriously?! You are filled with greed! You love money so much that you married a woman named Penny! I don't think so!" The man shrugs his shoulders and walks away. The next heterosexual man walks up and says, "Well, what about me?"

And St. Peter says, " Yeah, right. Have you ever heard the word gluttony? You love food so much that you married a woman named Candy! Take a walk!" The poor fool lowers his head and walks away.

After witnessing all that had occurred, the one gay man looks at his partner and says, "Well, it doesn't look good, Dick...."

TEEHEEE! TEEHEEHEEHEE! I LOVE IT!

Tired of being tired...

I am tired. Tired of being tired. My darling son, who is now 9 months old, has yet to sleep through a single night. And SO....I AM TIRED.
My brain is fuzzy about 3 days a week, I am crazy hyper 2 days a week and just feel crabby the other 2 days. But more than anything, I am tired of saying, "It's ok, I'm just tired". Although it is a valid excuse, I am tired of it...and I'll bet I'm not the only one! So thank you to Barry and the kids, my family and friends, my clients, and everyone else who patiently puts up with me and my tired self....you are all saints in my book!

It's Been A While....

So, it's been a while since I've been on to post. I don't know why, I just couldn't find the time! And of course, the pictures from Kendall's birthday are burning a hole in my pocket, so I need to get on it! My life has been crazy busy, and it seems I never have a free moment for myself. And to add to it, the dial-up at home is DRIVING ME RIGHT OVER THE EDGE! It makes me never want to be on the computer anymore. But alas, it is the only option right now, so on to bigger and better things!

Kendall's birthday party was a success! The party for the kids was at Galaxy Games and Golf...and did they have a great time! The jungle gym was the highlight of the party, althought I must say that my cupcakes got rave reviews from the kids....Kendall's friend Sophie ate 3! I guess I haven't lost my touch! Then, after the party, Kendall's cousins came to our house for a sleepover...BIG FUN! The high-pitched screaming was constant until 8:00 when I had to put a stop to it since Noah had to go to bed. The next day was busy from the start. All of the grandparents and Aunts & Uncles came for cake and ice cream. Kendall made out like a bandit...I swear, it seems like the presents are constant from Christmas through January. Her favorite birthday gift was her Doctors set from Grandma Luanne and Grandpa Gary. It is actually an emergency room crash cart, complete with shock paddles and x-rays. Let's just say we've all been doctored lately, and she definitely has a "passion for medicine"....however scary it may be!

By Sunday night, I was dead on my feet and anxious to sit and listen to the silence. I think Barry and I were in bed by 9:00. When did we become so OLD and TIRED???

Well, I must sign off...I need to start my taxes...UGH. I'll post some pictures from the big weekend for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy...