Weekend in bullets and a few links

Typical weekend of "stuff" here:

• Friday night was Celebrate Recovery. Brian wasn't here, but was in the air on his way home from a trip to the Washington, D.C., area (left Thursday morning, landed back in Sacramento at 11pm Friday). Because he is usually the in charge of running PowerPoint for the worship/lesson portion, he had to find a replacement. That was an easy task. But then I arrive to find out that this week's worship leader was sick and the other worship leader was taking over for him. Only problem was, he was the one who was going to run PowerPoint. So I wound up getting recruited to do that. Ordinarily, I would be singing with him, as I am on his worship team (a fairly new assignment I just accepted this week).
  
• The other glitch in Friday night occurred because this was the last Friday of the month, meaning we were having our monthly CR dinner beforehand (beginning at 5:30 instead of the usual 6:30). It's normally not a big deal, especially when there isn't a parental unit missing from the equation. But this week, Emily had rehearsal for Annie until 5pm. I had to pick her up, drop off my food at the church, take her back home, and then drive back to the church. I didn't make it there until 6. To say I was feeling a little stressed would be slightly understating things.
• Saturday was filled with our usual ball games. Thankfully , the boys' games overlapped so that we were only at the field for a little over 2 hours instead of the typical 4. I still managed to get too much sun on my face. One of these days I will remember the sunblock.
• In addition to the games, our neighborhood was also having a garage sale. There really was no way for us to get ready for it or really participate, but one of my neighbors did let me stick a few things I had in the garage over at her place. Someone bought the kennel that Rory was shipped to us in, and that was the extent of my luck. Halle sold one of her GameCube games and a doll stroller/playpen.
• Brian and I went shopping for things for the RV and house late yesterday evening. We bought some string lights for the back patio (need to go back and get one more set) and some indoor/outdoor carpet for it. Didn't have as much luck with the RV stuff. We may try to get to Camping World tomorrow if we have time. We're planning on doing another overnighter this weekend after Noah's ball game Saturday, so really do need to work on getting the motorhome more fully stocked.
  
• We went to Fenton's Creamery for lunch after church today. Mmmm, mmmm. Thankfully I remembered from our last trip how huge the ice cream portions are and ordered a "small" rather than a "regular" scoop of ice cream.
  
• After we got back, I made a trip to the commissary. While I was gone, Brian was washing his truck and using the power washer on the house and back patio. I pulled into the driveway to see Noah and his friend Beth giving Campbell a bath in the front yard. (Yes, it is warm enough to bathe the dogs outside... in the 80s.) I convinced Emily that Rory needed a bath as well. I will try to post some pictures of that tomorrow or one day this week.
• Laundry was the other main chore of the day. I have some needing to be switched around right now, in fact.

*************************************************

And now for the links:

1. I may be the last person in the blogosphere to mention this blog, but just in case you've somehow missed it... You *must* read the story of Angie and Todd Smith's baby, Audrey. (Todd is one of the guys from the group Selah.) Just go back to the first post in January and read all the way up to now. It's only 38 posts, but I guarantee you will not be the same person when you finish. The latest post from Friday has a beautiful slideshow set to a song that Angie and her husband wrote. I challenge anyone to watch it and listen and have a dry eye when she/he is done. Of course, if all their story does is just make us cry, then we've completely missed the point.
   
2. Anyone else love Pioneer Woman's recipes?? I must have a list a mile long of her recipes that I want to try. The latest is her risotto. I don't think I've ever had risotto before, but her recipe sounds just delicious. I also am dying to try Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich.
   

Fantastic Friday

(Post title in honor of today's release of Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer).

It's been a while since I've posted any Friday fun links; let me see what I have saved up:

• There's a trailer out for National Treasure 2. I hope this one is as good as the first. Looks like something fun to do during the Christmas break.
• Have fun playing around with all your friends' and family's names at Anagram Genius. For instance, my husband's name works out to "Narcotic Karen boy."
• Word game fun with Babble. As if I need something else to distract me right now.
• While I was at the orthodontist with Halle on Wednesday, I thumbed through a copy of a PC magazine and came across and article about the top freebies for your PC. Here are a few I thought looked interesting:

1. Meebo: Sign onto several instant messaging services in one place. Not an application, but a website.
2. BackPack: a way to keep your "to-dos, notes, ideas, and schedules online."
3. Pageflakes: customizable homepage... similar to ones you can make with Google and Netscape, but more control over layout.
4. Home-Dock Deluxe: Not for your PC, but for your TV/IPod. If you have a newer video IPod, this cool gadget will help you "Access and enjoy your entire iPod music and movie library right from your sofa". View your videos, listen to your music, and enjoy the album art all on your TV.
5. Jam Jacket: I actually saw this one when I went to look at the Home-Dock. Looks like something Emily could use; she has spent half the car ride to school just untangling her ear bud wires for her IPod. Fits 30GB IPod videos and the 2nd generation IPod Nanos.

That's about it for today. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Spring break has broken

Our spring break begins today. Emily is out of school until the 16th. Unfortunately, we won't be going anywhere. Brian just got back from a 3-day trip back to MO to visit his mom in her new nursing home (see story on that here and here). He got home after midnight last night and was up and off to work before 7 this morning (a bit later than usual, but he isn't in the O.R. today). He and Noah will be ferrying over to San Francisco to see the Giants take on the Dodgers this evening. Emily's school choir is singing for the Good Friday service at the church we've been attending tonight. Then tomorrow is a pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt there. The calendar for next week is blank, other than gymnastics on Monday and Brian's moonlighting in Sac on the weekend. I suppose I could be thankful for that.

I've been saving up links for today, so enjoy:

99 Balloons: Go watch this Igniter video about one family's experience with a special baby.

My pal Thumper is known for her unsent letters she posts at her place. Now she's created a place for the rest of us. I can't describe its meaning or purpose better than she can:

It's anger bubbling just under the surface. That guy who cut you off in the parking lot or the idiot who deliberately threw a fist full of french fries out his car window, laughing as they stuck to the face shield of your helmet as you wrestled to keep your motorcycle upright. The Woman in McDonald's screaming at her teary-eyed two year old. The talking head on TV seemingly in need of a proctologist to find his remaining gray matter.

It's grief puddling do deeply you're about to drown. The father you didn't get to say goodbye to. The grandparent whose love you miss in tanglible ways. The pet who was happy to see you, loved you unconditionally, no matter how bad your mood.

It's a missed friend. A lost love. A secret you need to share with someone, even anonymous strangers online.

It's the letters you've always wanted to write, but had no where to send them to. Dear So and So... unsent letters, finally sent.

Have you played Snipe yet? It's addictive.

Amy at Whole Hearted Life posted Five Things I Learned by Friday. What have your kids taught you?

Have you seen the Jesus action figure?? Watch Dixon Kenser's thoughts on it.

The Television City Chronicle is a must-read for anyone who watches TV. Perhaps these posts will help Heroes fans pass the time until April 23rd. There's a little something there for everyone.

Google's latest product: GMail Paper. Be sure to click the "Learn more" link. (Yes, this was Google's April Fool's joke this year. Classic.)

And now for the YouTube submissions of the week....

Emily led me to this one... Blood. It's not funny! (Oh, yes it is.)

How to Paint the Mona Lisa with Microsoft Paint. 'Nuff said.

He was injured... injured bad:

Enjoy your weekend!

Friday fun

Happy Friday to all and welcome to the weekend! It's opening day for the new Disney flick, Meet the Robinsons, and I imagine we will make time to take the kids at some point this weekend. Would love to see the Digital 3D version, but it appears the closest theater for that is about an hour away in Petaluma. We'll have to think on that one.... You know I'll post my review once we do see the film.

We have a fairly full day today, what with the usual school and chores around here. We're invited to a park day in the afternoon, so we will have to work diligently if we hope to go. Then once we get home from picking Emily up from school, Noah and Halle will have piano lessons, and I have an appointment to get the tubing replaced on my hearing aids.

Here are some links for your perusal this weekend:

They didn't study. I don't know if I would have had the guts to try this when I was in school, but it sure makes for some fun reading now.

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a free Dyson vacuum. Not just any Dyson, but a new lightweight version. Sounds like the perfect vac for folks in a 2-story house... something easy to carry upstairs.

This sounds like a great CD. I've already heard a couple of these songs on XM 32, I think. Either that or at the Worship Together website. (If you're a sheet music junkie, register at the WT site... they give free sheet music downloads each week!). Oh, and BooMama is giving away one of the CDs (but don't feel like you need to go give me any more competition for one).

Your daily dose of "Awwww..." You know research has shown that looking at cute is good for your health, so click!

Hi-tech help for lost children. What a very cool idea.

Stuff on my mind

So much going on here and so little time to write it... I've got 30 minutes before I have to take Emily to school and will try to get it done by then.

I'll let you head over to my hubby's place to hear his news. It is a mixed blessing, because it will mean more TDYs (that's trips out of town for you non-military folk), maybe 6 more a year. Just what I've always wanted; 6 more weeks out of the year as a single mom. Well, hopefully by the time this calendar year is over, we'll have the funds to maybe accompany him on one... the kids have always wanted to see San Antonio, and Washington, DC would make a great field trip as well.

Emily let a friend at school use her cell phone earlier this week (use as in take it and keep it for a period). When she got it back, it wasn't working. Turns out her friend got it wet. We don't know how and she isn't saying. She hasn't even apologized to her. Thankfully Brian thought to take out insurance on this phone, so a replacement is supposed to arrive today. Emily is splitting the $50 deductible with him. I don't think she'll be letting her phone out of her sight again.

I found a neat Countdown Clock you can add to your sidebar. Wish I had something to countdown to... Oh wait!! I kinda do... maybe I'll add one later.

Another widget for your blog: MeeVee. Share what you're watching. It's too big for my sidebar, or I'd put one on here.

Make a customized Starbucks graphic for your computer. What's your drink? Mine's a grande peppermint nonfat, no whipped cream hot chocolate.

Read in World magazine this week:

It's a good thing Rebecca Johnson wasn't wearing a skirt. The 24-year-old's baby came so quickly, she didn't even have time to make it into the hospital in Connellsville, Pa. Instead, she told a reporter for the Daily Courier, "I didn't know what happened until he was in my pant leg." Despite being born down his mom's pants, doctors said the 5-pound, 15-ounce baby was healthy.

Brian and I are headed to see Mark Schultz and Big Daddy Weave in concert tomorrow night. It's been a long time since we've been to a concert, so we're looking forward to it. We saw Big Daddy Weave back in Omaha about 3 years or so ago, but this will be our first Mark Schultz concert. Hey Jim... we'll be thinking about you!

That's all the news for now!