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.

Snap, crackle, pop!!!

And I don't mean the cereal... that was the sound of my light fixture over the breakfast table this morning. It was also followed by a fireworks display (albeit, very small!). Now for those of you who know I my unrational fear of fire... this is not the way to start my morning. Especially when K is standing there calmly saying "Don't do it again, Mommy!"

Thank goodness my dad was able to put it all in prespective... try all new light bulbs, and when that doesn't work, replace the fixture!

Now I just have to turn off every single light in the house whenever I leave the room... and I might be make it. Darn, those irrational fears!!!

The Budding Artist Gallery

I'm starting to run out of storage space for all of K's fabulous art. So, we've decided to preserve it by taking digital photos... that way we can save them forever and share them with all of you.

We hope you enjoy the introductory pieces of the Budding Artist's Gallery!

Finger painting #1 - Feb 22 , 2008

Finger painting #2 - Feb 22 , 2008

Ladybug Attack....

Although it is not even really close to spring (2 2-hour late starts and 2 snow days this week!), we have had an influx of ladybugs at our house... courtesy of K. She has discovered she can draw them and now that is all she draws. Ladybugs, ladybugs, ladybugs. Here is her 1st one (its the only one I saved!)
I was quite proud of our little artist... she really did the whole thing herself... I only prompted here to put on some legs... which she then added about 12!!! Too cute.

I must say, if my house is going to be taken over by ladybugs, I will take these paper ones over the real ones any day of the week!