Feelin' like Martha... again!

So here was the dilemma. We have 2 wonderful westward facing windows in our formal dining room that allow in the wonderful breezes (especially on day's like today, sunny, 75F, no humidity- did I mention its august?!). But my dilemma has always been, how do I keep the very light-weight (and totally for fashion, not function) panel curtains from blowing all over my dining room and people, if you're trying to actually use the room.

My brainstorm (aka: Martha Moment!) today: Napkin rings!! They are the perfect tie-backs for my curtains. They are heavy enough to keep the curtains from blowing and yet light enough they don't just fall off! Who knew!!

Slowly, but surely

Life is returning to normal around here. And thank goodness.... I'm not sure how much more of the random side-dishes of life I could take. K seems to be over UTI numero dos, this time a little quicker than numero uno. Of course, its still a constant battle to drink enough fluid, take her medicines, get rid of the fluid she drank, etc. But, I'll take it. I'll take same old rountine any day of the week over a very sick child who isn't herself.

I know, I know, I know...

Blogs are meant to be UPDATED! So like my Mama Friend, I will be trying harder to keep my blog up to date.

Life has been CRAZY! With a Capital everything. There have been so many happenings, positive and negative, it would take me hours (and giving up my mornign shower!) to give you all the details but since my last blog, here's what we've been up to:

1. March for Babies - a huge success in Clark County! Thanks for all your great support (PS- if you meant to donate and forgot, its still not to late!)
2. Mothers Day - which was a wonderful day with my husband and daughter
3.Trip to WI to visit with Cousin Avery and Auntie Kya who was home from Seattle for her college graduation (WAY TO GO KYA!)
4. From LaCrosse WI to Minneapolis for a day visit with the McGregor Clan (Happy belated Birthday, Uncle Michael) and to see good friends!
5. From Minneapolis to Annandale MN to see the Princess Pigtails and her Mama. We had 2 great days filled with 2 1/2 year old fun and then...
6. A trip to the Buffalo Urgent Care for Kelsey - her first UTI.
7. A trip back to Kohler to get Kesley well - it worked (for a while)
8. While in Kohler, Mom has unexpected surgery (turned out to be okay and she's doing well!)
9. Trip back to Springfield (with Scott!) and HOME, aka: my own bed and house!
10. We enjoy a quiet week at home, get the sailboat out with sails up, enjoy some great weather, some great stormy weather and then...
11. BAHM! Kelsey has a UTI, again. Forunately, we're home this time. Now we begin the process of getting her well again and then traveling to Dayton Children's for some tests.

Its been a crazy couple of weeks, folks. So I hope you can understand my lack of blogging (not tomention my husband doesn't think I NEED a laptop! - any help on that is appreciated!)

A Martha Moment...

I occasionally have what I call a Martha Moment... one of those moments when you actually do something household or crafty, right. Just like Martha would do.

Yesterday, I put in a load of laundry, random light colored things. My good khaki pants, a few light colored shirts, some pj's, etc. I emptied the pockets, added the Cheer, Downy, hit "Warm/Cold" and GO! You can imagine how surprised I was when I opened up the washer and every item had red spots on it. Now, there was nothing red in the load, and it was only little 1/2 inch spots, usually 1-2 per item... on every single thing. I quickly thought "don't dry these - it will set the stain (what ever this is!) and got out the shout gel, and went to work. I dotted and rubbed each little red dot on every item, but it all back in the washer, did the soap, downy, water, ON thing again and said a little prayer. After all those are my favorite khaki pants!

And 30 mins later when the washer was done - VIOLA! NO RED SPOTS! I know it wasn't rocket science... but I was so glad to have saved a load of laundry (and my favorite pants!) I declared this an official Martha Moment!

Come out, come out wherever you are!

I am referring to SPRING!!! After 5 glorious days of sunshine, 60's and 70's, yard work, trips to the park... spring is hiding. And I want it to come back!!!! Now, I must say, we could have had the days, upon days, upon days of rain that my parents were having or we could have had snow like our Minnesota friends were having. But I am tried of clouds and drizzle. I WANT SUN!!!!!

So, if you know where its hiding, please send it this way. I will be forever grateful.

I must apologize...

...friends and blog readers.  It has been way too long since my last post.

I had fully intended on blogging while on vacation in Flordia... but my dear MIL's laptop died 3 days in to the trip and we were without technology for the remainder.  It was weird... no email to check, no digital photos to edit, no blogs to read or write, no facebook! What's a girl to do, you ask!  

Our answer:  play in the sun, the surf, and the pool!  We did tons of it and K enjoyed every minute (as did Grandma L and Mommy!)  Here are a few pictures of our fabulous annual adventure:

And we returned, lucky for us, to spring in Ohio.  It is 65, sunny, and we are enjoying being outside at home once again.

Happy Spring!!!!

March for Babies...

For those of you who don't know, our family has gotten very involved in our local March of Dimes chapter here in the Miami Valley. Last year we participated in WalkAmerica as a family team raising $$ and I helped the committee with recruiting other family teams.

This year we're taking on a little more! I am actually chairing our local Clark County March for Babies (formerly WalkAmerica) and am SO EXCITED!!! This year has been fanastic as March of Dimes has been re-branding itself and the event. I love getting to know other families who have been touched by the wonderful work that the March of Dimes does... all to give every baby a healthy start. Afterall... that's what the March of Dimes is really all about.

So please... if you have been impacted by the work of the March of Dimes (and if you got a polio vaccine, a PKU screening at birth, are taking your folic acid for future healthy babies - then you have!) please consider donating to our family team, Kelsey Belle's Bunch or become your own family team and participate in March for Babies in your own local area.

With your help... we can give all babies a healthy start.