Pictures!

Where has all the blogging gone....

Ok, ok I'm back! After a couple of "what the heck is wrong with you" emails, I decided that the blogging needed to continue. As an update let's see what's been going on around the Larson household:

House: Since March we have been headstrong into making our house a home.... nothing has chnaged. We recently added a backsplash to our kitchen which Mike did on his own and I do have to say it looks great. We also painted the dining/living room this great color I found called "rust". It's kind of a fall color but I think it looks fabulous. We also finally purchased a water softener... sooooo needed. So what's next? ahh yes the man cave. We are plainning to begin construction our basement which I have begun referring to it as the man cave. Why? Mainly because of such elements as a pool table, dart obard, bar, projection TV and comfy seating. So what do I get? peace and quiet upstairs so I can watch "the Real Housewives of Atlanta"

Family: So my family's bodies are falling apart. My brother recently had knee surgery and just had to go back under the knife because of an infection. Marge well she's just old but she has a cornea transplant in her left eye. I keep asking her if they screwed up and gave her a hazel eye instead of her brown one. You never know-- it could happen. Both are recovering, but let's hope that's the last of the surgeries for a while.

The boys: Mike has been working a bunch but has also had enough time off to do house projects. Let's just hope he takes some of that time off and goes x-mas shopping for me in the next couple of months. Momma needs some bling. Matthew is a true 2 1/2 year old--- abosultely figuring out the world and is turning more into his Mom each day. Seriously what kid would freak out because his hands are dirty.... ummm mine? Then there is Nathan. If he doesn't make it in the NFL, then the world will be missing a great player. He is a brute at the ripe age of 15 months. He tackles EVERTHING! He has recently moved up into the toddler room at daycare and has his eye on this little chica named Jade. I thinks it's her curly hair that makes him melt.

Me: Not much to report over here. I'm learning to fill my days that have been voided because of the lack of Law School with the kids, Mike, sleep, Facebook ( can we say obsesssion?), organizing, cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating, work, watching TV oh and reading. And you were worried I'd be bored... Am I ready for more school?-- heck no! Another kid? Not for at least a year. Another career? Hah. I'm happy to be normal and not have to have my world scheduled down the the minute.

Final thoughts: The one thing that my mind has been reeling from lately is the economy. Maybe because I know too much and how each fluctuation in the market, each company that lays off workers, each financial institution that screams for help affects me and those around me. Do I know how to fix it? I do have some ideas. Am I worried? Knowing what I know, seeing what I'm seeing-- yes. Does it stop me from investing? No--- that is not the answer. Sometimes knowledge is power but in this case I sometimes wish I was little more naive to the business world. My advice-- spend wisely.

A woman after my own heart

I love women who are the epitome of multitaskers . I was deeply enthralled last night by Sarah Palin's story through her VP acceptance speech. Not just because I share some of those conservative views but because I share much of her life. I had to laugh thinking about how she went to work 4 weeks after having her last baby... hmmm I was back at school within 1 week and back at work within 8 weeks-- I love her. Although I too am not completely sold that she can do the job-- I'm pretty sure she would give it one heck of a try--- let's see a man try to live her life!

Brothers

When I first found out I was pregnant with Nathan, I kind of panicked seeing as how Matthew was only 7 months old at the time. Now I'm starting the see the fruits of my labor in terms of dealing with 2 babies so close together in age. The boys are starting to play together and whatever Matthew does is the coolest thing to Nathan. I predict they will fight like brothers do but be best friends in the end... what do you think?

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Well my baby turned 1 on July 18th. In true fashion, we surrounded him with family as he got to experience his first taste of "Happy Birthday dear Nathan". I don't think he really understood what was going on-- other than he got to eat cake. Since Matthew had a football theme for his b-day, Nathan-- my boy of summer and the one born the week of the All Star Game-- had a baseball themed party. I think secretly our theme was a ploy to get him thinking about the concept of playing for the Cubs one day. Yes I said the Cubs-- my Grandmother who was a die hard Cubs fan would come back from the grave if one of her great grandchildren played for them some day. Oh and the weekly viewings of Cubs games at Grandma Kupiecki's house doesn't hurt the cause either. It may happen some day you never know. For now he is still my baby-- who has grown up way too fast in front of my eyes.

My brain hurts

Ok yeah it's me.... I'm still here in body but my brain is gone. Today I took the first half of the bar exam... yeah I know--- why the heck are you blogging? Well, if I don't know it now I won't know it is my philosophy so we went out for a family dinner, went to go look at plants for our ever growing landscape plans and I have decided to spend my night relaxing and preparing myself for another torturous day. Here has been my life this last week--- kids to daycare-- me to the library for 7-8hours--- pick up the kids, go home have dinner, put the kids to bed, get Mike off to work, study for 2-3 more hours. Seriously-- no life! It was so nice today to get 1 day of the exam out of the way. I felt pretty confident with what I accomplished today but still--- it's not exactly my idea of a fun time. I just can't wait to have a glass of wine, relax on my deck and read a magazine--- that is all I want right now..... 24 more hours.... until no more studying EVER!!!

Speaking of landscaping here are some pics of where we are so far ( and a couple of the boys on a hot day)-- check it out!

35 years

On Friday we will be attending the 35th anniversary of Mike's parents 4th of July neighborhood block party. Interestingly enough, I have been to 13 of these events and low and behold there are certain traditions that have held true. Marilyn makes her rice hotdish, Harriet makes her potato salad ( that I crave all year), we have a horseshoe tournament ( that in the last 5 years I have made every excuse in the book not to participate because I am THAT bad), we eat 2 meals and most of all we visit. When I say visit.... there are between 30 and 50 people each year to hear all about who's doing what, where, with whom, and why. It's amazing when they bring out pictures how the people have changed but their idea of a celebration has stayed the same. When we first told Mike's parents that we were expecting Matthew-- one the things we wrote in the book we gave them was "I can't wait to play in the 4th of July tournaments"... I think we may have to wait another year and after 35 years I have a feeling, there will absolutely be a next year.