first cheetos

drooooooool

You have to be really tired to sleep with your face pressed into the bunk bed side brace far enough that your drool rolls down the edge.

sicky

Well, we're off to the doctor today.  Poor little guy has had a cold for way too long.  Seems like he just got over one cold, and two days later he got this one.  Now this one has been hanging on with a yucky cough and runny nose for 12 days.  It seemed to be getting better, but a fever spiked two days ago and his eyes got a little goopy, and he has just had enough.  And so has mama, so in we go.  Oh, our little MD above (Medical 'D') concurs that he is miserable, and she has done all she can do, so we'd better get a second opinion.

 Look at those poor 'sickie' eyes :(  Poor little guy.

some of my favorite people

Andy continued the tradition this morning of taking the kids out for breakfast around their birthdays.  We are a little early for Cassidy's actual birthday, but this weekend worked out best for her to indulge in a delicious pancake, bacon, sausage, and hot cocoa breakfast at Friendship House- the place of her choice.  Andy said he was amazed at how much she ate- and that she was insistent that he ate all his food too, so they didn't waste any.  I just love how cute they are in their aviator glasses together :)

one more year

Today I added one more year to the tally.  That brings me to twenty-fifteen. Yes...  35.  But when you say twenty- fifteen, it sounds so much younger since twenty is in the word. I just think that 35 seems so old when you say it. 'I am 35 years old'.  Dang.  But I don't think of myself as that old, and I guess you are only as old as you feel.  (and that tends to depend upon how hard of a workout zumba was for the day... some days I feel 90.)  And speaking of zumba check this out:

This is me after one hour of supersonic inferno zumba (hence the red face and nice hair)... ready to eat back all of the calories that I just burned.  My sweet friend and zumba instructor Jennie surprised me with this yummy cake today :)

So thirty five.  I have been thinking about this milestone for quite sometime and for some reason, I feel it is just that ... a milestone.  I guess it is for more than the reason that the number I am turning is 35.  I am at the point in my life where things are changing.  Up until this year, my life was totally focused on wanting to have babies, and having babies; about nursing newborns and raising tiny little kids; about little dresses and patent leather shoes and first steps and then about doing it all over again..  Every time someone would mention they were pregnant to me or I would see a newborn, I would have a pang and pause... wishing it was me who was speaking those words.  When I miscarried before we conceived Isaac, I was feeling like my family was not complete... and I felt those urges so strong.  Since he joined our family a slow change has been happening.  That void that was so obviously there in my heart has been filled.  He made our family complete.  I feel very content with the full, happy life we have as Lindner, party of six.  And I now feel very ready to move on to the next season of life.   I feel excited to see my kids grow up a bit; to move on to basketball camps, swim lessons, family vacations and to 'big kids' who can be more independent and do more with Andy and me.

As I reassess my life, I'd have to say I haven't felt more content.  My life with Andy is great. As we stare down 13 years of marriage this coming June, I thank my lucky stars that he somehow decided that I was 'the' one for him.  And that I felt the same.  He is my best friend and I am so happy that he is the one I will get to spend eternity with.

This summer, as I was contemplating turning another year older, I decided I wanted some photos to depict how life was at this very moment in time, including some of the things I love the very most, like nursing.  This past August I asked my friend and Andy's cousin Sarah, a budding photographer, to take some pictures of me and the kids. {I asked Andy to participate but he declined at this time... but I didn't stop at that.. I got a promise that once Isaac was a little older and able to follow directions (say next summer) we would get some family portraits done. yessssss.)} I have been saving these pictures to post on this very occasion- to remember 'the way things were' when I felt as I do this very day.

LIFE.IS.GOOD

And just a little about me in general... because it's my birthday.
Favorite junk food: licorice and grape soda
Favorite Friday night: A movie with my man
Favorite past times: crafting, sewing, photography (duh), going on picnics, zumba at the Y
Favorite fashion accessory: boots and jeans
Something I am really looking forward to: Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 with the ladies! Swoon city here we come!

And here come the 'glamour shots' as Andy calls them...

civic duty

I have never been into politics.  I hate to admit that I usually voted and trusted that we'd make do with whatever the outcome would be.  That all changed with this Presidential election.  

It is no secret that our Nation is struggling.  Unemployment rates are soaring.  Our National Debt is out of control.  Our great nation is struggling. I have researched and studied, watched the debates, and said many heartfelt prayers.  I feel have done all I can so I can do my civic duty- vote for the best candidate for President of the Untied States.

I have laid in bed many nights, contemplating the horrible state of our great nation, and experience a nauseous feeling every time I think of another four years under the current administration.  It just makes me feel so unsettled.  I have educated myself - in the ways listed above- and done so whole-hearted.  I know without a doubt that Mitt Romney is who I will vote for... that he is the right man to lead the United States back to being the great nation I know it can be.  A nation with a lower debt; a much lower jobless rate; with better international relations and a positive outlook for the future.

With that being said, I am not trying to push my decision on anyone.  One of the things I hate most about elections is the negative press... the things that are said to try to sway voters a certain way; things that are twisted and sometimes downright nasty.  I am not going to do that about the opponent-- we can do without that.  What I am encouraging you to do is to make an EDUCATED decision from legit sources and VOTE.  You owe it to yourself and to your country.

crazy hair day

Today was crazy hair day at school.  Lucy was too cool and wanted nothing to do with the ideas I gave her. She is six and already playing that 'I can't believe you would even suggest that' card.  Jack really wasn't interested and quite honestly was a crabby little kid this morning so I didn't push the issue.  Then I got a call about a half hour into school, the caller ID said the school district.    On the other end of the phone was Robin, the school secretary that I know pretty well.  She told me she had my son in the office.  My stomach dropped.  Gritting my teeth, I braced to hear if he was sick... or.... What the heck did he do?  Is he in trouble?  Have a headache? Throw up? Knock out a tooth? It is actually amazing all the scenarios that one mind can go through in a split second.  She told me that today was crazy hair day.  I knew that.  Then she told me Jack had a huge gob of sticky tack in his hair... as in the blue stuff that you can hang posters up with... and that in order to get it out it needed to be cut, but she didn't want to do it without my permission because of the 'hole' it would leave.  'Chop away,' was my response.  Oh and I asked her to relay to him that he would be getting that haircut we had discussed that he was so very against, very soon.  Chuckling, we both hung up.  I laughed to myself a few times during the day and then when he got off the bus I saw the quarter sized hole on his forehead... the hair beneath was less than 1/4" long.  I asked him once he had a chance to compose himself because he was so embarrassed, why he put sticky tack in his hair.  His reply: 'It was crazy hair day. I wanted crazy hair when I got to school.  My friend gave me some sticky tack to put in my hair.  I stuck it there and stuck a crayon on the top of my head like a horn, only it wouldn't stay.  And then the sticky tack wouldn't come out.'  He was cringing with embarrassment and would not look at me while he was talking.

I had to be incredibly sneaky and wait until he was really asleep before even attempting this picture.  Poor guy had to wait for a haircut til tomorrow because our night was so jam-packed.  And you know what?  I would bet he totally forgets about it til I mention a hair cut tomorrow anyway.

giblets

Cassidy has been taking swimming lessons at the Y this fall, and she really loves being in the water.  She is making some good progress and is moving from being a little frightened to gaining some independence and confidence.  We have a routine where I drop her off at AA (adventure alley... not alcoholics anonymous) go to zumba for 30 minutes, grab her for her lesson, then go back to finish off zumba, and then shower before we pick up Isaac for the rest of the day.  Today she rushed into the shower and had the curtain pulled and wanted water right away.  I turned the shower on, then proceeded to get our clothing in order.  As I am doing so, from inside the curtain I hear a sigh of relief and then "Well that sure cools my giblets."

I just LOVE the huge personality inside this little girl.

as of late

We've been getting our share of rain.  And colder days.  The kind of days that make me want to tackle my craft room.  My 'could possibly pass for a hoarder's craft room' craft room.  But that is another post for another day.  We have been spending too much time wiping noses, coughing, watching tv and briskly walking from car to Walmart  Walmart to car for the essentials.  On the other hand, there have been some nice PMO's. (PMO= Parent's morning out= cheap babysitting for a few hours at the Y)  There was some crafting and boutique shopping; an awesome 'birthday coffee/hot cocoa' get together for me and one of my friends (um I just might be turning middle aged in a week or so...) and some antique shopping.  Those mornings are just life savers.

After the leaves fell off the trees, and the grayness started to set in, it seemed like I would just walk around the house looking for 'good light' and the perfect opportunity to snap a few pics.  But the kids catch on all too fast... so I usually end up with a few blurred hands up in my face or something.  We had a little bit of near-warmness the other day so I scooped up the little and headed out to the pine plantation.  I am liking that place more and more for photo ops.  Since he is too little to out-run me, he just complained a little (mostly about the chin strap on his hat) but then got distracted by the trees.

driving his 'car'- he started making little engine noises that you can see on his lips 

my favorite- kneeling

He's not feeling the greatest, and not in one of his smiley moods, but I just love how those blue eyes pierce.

Happy Anniversary

It was one year ago on October 4th that I got one of my favorite birthday/Christmas presents ever. It was a little early- because I begged to get to learn to use it for a while before our little boy would be born.  I scoured the Internet for tutorials and inspiration on how to use this beauty and also for posing ideas and 'how to's'.  I had admired 'the next level' of photography for a long time, and had a bunch of experience with my point and shoot, but this was the first time ever I had used my Canon Rebel T3i dSLR.

I had just put Jack and Lucy on the bus for school, and right there next to where we stood was this field of grass. Inspiration struck. I talked Cassidy into getting into this dress (one of my favorites) and she knew just what to do.

I am pretty sure these shots were taken in auto mode- but I think these will always be some of my favorites.

shot 005

shot 008

shot 006

  I absolutely love my new hobby.  

You never know what you'll find

Andy has a few game cameras out to get an idea of what he has coming into his stands.  The kids are always excited to see what will be on the pictures- you never know what you'll find: Foxes, birds, raccoons, deer and then one day as the were intently watching the slideshow, they were really surprised to see this:

I was out taking some pictures and just wanted Andy to know that I was watching him- as much as he was watching me.

one month older

Isaac is one month older today and if I am adding correctly that means he is only one month away from being ONE YEAR OLD.  Where did the time go?!?  At eleven months, he is into everything.  Lying flat on the floor reaching under the closed doors and refrigerator trying to reach whatever it is he sees. Opening and closing, opening and closing, the cabinet doors then emptying out the contents all over the floor.   Throwing all the folded laundry out of the basket and onto the floor into a heap.  Yelling 'oh-ohhhhh' as he casually tosses his food onto the floor (or rockets whatever he does not want onto the ground).  Turning the computer off... mid blog post, switching tv channels much to his siblings chagrin.  Crawling as fast as he can to the gate and then babbling to get my attention... since he knows he can't go there, as soon as I arrive he is in insta-grin mode, shaking his head no and growling at me.

 PEEK!

He is really into music and has started dancing by bopping up and down (while repeatedly listening to his 'funky town' truck).  Just today he started clicking his tongue at me.  His new favorite game is peek a boo and he happens to think he is the funniest thing around.  He gives lovely mushy kisses and is mimicking sounds, words and different motions he sees his siblings doing.  He started really playing with his trucks and trains and drives them all around the ground.  He loves wrestling with daddy and is ticklish as can be.  He loves shoes (proudly, he inherited that from me:) ) and has a super special connection with his blankee.  When he goes down for a nap he coos and loves on it for a few minutes before he doses off. If he sees it in his crib when playing on the floor he pulls it out through the slats and gleefully sings to it while doing so.   His 5th tooth finally made its way through and I am going to blame his poor sleep habits on that even though I know it is because his mama has a hard time letting her last baby cry (just check the bags under her eyes if you don't believe me).  Oh and those first two teeth on the bottom? Somehow each has a chip in it :/.  He cruises the furniture well and pushes his walking toy around by himself.  He gets so excited when his daddy gets home from work, and it makes me heart melt as I watch them together.  At night thought, it is mama or no one it seems.  Makes it a little difficult to go out on a date, but mama needs to feel needed like that.   As I have said from day one, Isaac fits perfectly in this family.  We all adore him so much... and  my heart swells with pride and love for him.

s noooooooo! w

Yesterday morning we woke up to a thin blanket of this.

And I was this close to hopping on a plane to see my friend Mandie.

the great pumpkin

Indian summer

Over the past 2 weeks or so we did our best to soak up the rays and enjoy some time outside, knowing our time was limited.  We spent plenty of time outside, and one day we had a yummy picnic.  Mind you we wore long sleeves, but it was still gorgeous enough to sit outside under a beautiful bright yellow tree with a smooth breeze blowing on your face... and bees buzzing around that cause you to have to run away from your food, but whatever... there was no snow so we'll take it!

 At one point in the not too far distance we heard a rather loud bird noise.  It actually startled both Cass and Isaac so much they jumped.  I spoke up that it was actually a bird.  Relieved, Cass replied, 'Yeah it's just a birdpecker' in her cute little D accent. There are lots of 'birdpeckers' around the northwoods.

 Cassie and I dined on Subway while Isaac decided he needed more fiber in his diet.

We visited the railroad tracks because they were close and I am always looking for my next photo.  Cass obliged. Isaac snoozed.

Because why not make this face when mom says 'You don't have to smile.  Just look natural.'?

Ain't she sweet.

After I shot these pictures last week, I started a frenzy of picture taking.  The color in the northwoods has just been breathtaking but it only lasts until the first windstorm!  I had a few family picture shoots with some really great families and now have over 1000 pictures to sort through, determine the keepers and edit.  (And that's a good thing:) )

Well it seems that our Indian Summer is about officially over.  The winds picked up and the leaves all blew down today and now there is a high of 41 tomorrow and possibility of snow.  Blah.  At least I have a ton to keep me busy:)