Happy Birthday Debra!!!!!

Hello, this is Greg, husband of the birthday girl taking over her blog. In an amazingly melodic voice, Happy Birthday to you . . . . Hey everyone it's Debra's Birthday!
Please wish her the best Birthday! She's really been through it lately and deserves a great year ahead. Post or give her a call if you like.
I love you Debra!
your hubby.

itty bitty ball . . .

I witnessed one of the most adorable sites yesterday and it came in the form of about 50 three and four year olds running laps in a big gymnasium, doing stretches, jumping jacks, and push ups. You see, they were getting ready to learn the basic fundamentals of T-ball. Next time it will be basketball, then football and so on. The best part? My Natty was one of these itty bitty athletes and she didn't even mind that I was one of the only moms running onto the gym floor to get a good picture of her sportiness.

Its probably needless to say, but Natalie had a ball. ;)

Patriotic duty . . .

On President's day, to my little girls' delight, we found a flag in our front yard. And whenever you see a flag in our yard and you are under 5 years old apparently you have two choices: To say our beloved country's Pledge of Allegiance or to belt out the Star Spangled Banner. The morning of Feb. 16th it was the Pledge, no matter that it was absolutely freezing outside and it was before most sane people were up when there wasn't work or school ('cept the ones that had to set up the flags).

I see a future President in our midst for sure.

Storytelling . . .

We love stories in the Debra Lea home. We love to read 'em and tell 'em and most of all we LOVE to listen to them. So when this years Storytelling Competition came up in the girls school of course I coaxed them into trying out. And guess what, they both did a fantastic job and they both made it to grade level.

Nicole did so great retelling the story "Up Up Down" by Robert Munsch and just between you and me, I think it pretty suspicious that the book she picked got to say that mom and dad are dirty rascals, hmmm.....

And Kaydee also did a fabulous job doing "Silly Sally" by Audrey Wood. I was especially proud with how well she did with all the 's' and 'sh' sounds. They're tough and she did them beautifully.

Um, Ouch . . .

More than five months of pain have finally brought me to a point in my life that I thought I'd never venture. I'm taking advice AND I'm allowing people to help me. -Sigh- What will ever become of me? So if you have a suggestion on how to get rid of these delightful migraines and more than enjoyable headaches, now's your chance to let it all out because yes, I'm that desperate. So far I've tried everything from high density vibrations, different medications, massage, hiding under a blanket etc, etc. .  

And now I'm onto physical therapy. 

Physical Therapy just might be the cure that I've been searching for. And just to make sure I'm doing things right, I'm seeing two different physical therapists because again, I'm that desperate...  I just don't think I was fully prepared for the joys that come along with the therapy.  Here are just a few of the examples:  

1. Even after telling the therapist that I really enjoy having my head attached to my neck he sometimes seems determined to not let that happen.  
2. Bursting out in full belly laughter because of the uncontrollable muscle spasms that occur when hooked up to the electrical stimulation machine.
3. When the P.T. says, "you'll feel a little pop" what he is really trying to say is "this is going to feel like I'm breaking 34 bones in your back, sorry" 
4. My nerves don't like being bothered with electrical shocks followed by iced spray. I bet yours wouldn't either. Trust me on this one. 

After seeing three different P.T.s,  all three of 'em agree on one thing though... I'm messed up-- in a major way.  Nice, just what any woman wants to hear. 

Now just a couple more months of this bliss and I just might feel better. 

lolli lollipop . . .

Sometimes one lollipop just won't do . . .

I heart hair . . . .

Let me tell you a sad story. You might want to get a kleenex handy.

I have three beautiful girls and I love them a whole bunch, probably more than I could ever explain. I was so excited to have three girls too because besides all of the dancing and twirling, the giggles (and lets be honest, the drama) that come with having girls, I had dreams of never leaving the house without my girls' hair perfectly smoothed and styled.  Then I woke up. 

Getting my girls' hair all dolled up in my house takes more coaxing, fighting, and bribing than eating vegetables at meal time. I'm lucky to get their hair done on Sundays let alone decent for the rest of the week. Sad, I know. Actually, I find it more than sad... sometimes its just enough to bring me to tears or to my grumpy mom mode  (neither one is fun for any of the family.) 

Now for the happy ending to my sad story...

Kaydee gave me a gift the week of Valentine's. She consented to let me do her hair extra fancy for her kindergarten Valentine's Party. Go ahead, just imagine my delight.  AND she was practically smiling the whole time I was styling it into a heart. It was a good day.

What, you think I came up with this most adorable hair-do on my own? Nope, I'm just not that creative, especially with the lack of practice that I get. ;)  I got the idea here, which actually was a link off of my friend's blog (thanks Melissa). Just givin' credit where credits due.