U2

Here are some random

pictures from the U2 concert that I have FINALLY had a chance to post. The concert was excellent and seeing it from the floor was a great experience. Isaac has been to many concerts, but I'm hoping he will remember this one forever. I know I will!

Summer pics

Vote for Grandma Dot!!!

This is a letter that my mom's cousin, Diana, wrote because she is a genius!!! If I was a better writer I would sound like this too!!! Please vote for my Grandma Dot! She deserves to be a winner :)

Hey Friends and Family!

Please go to http://www.girlsofwrigley.com/register and vote for my crazy aunt. Most of the girls there are all young cub fans, but who should really win except a crusty, die-hard, fan who still whoops and hollers with the best of them at 84 years old. While she can’t get to the games like she used to, every year she makes it to at least one game, even if it means hobbling in a bad ankle. She never misses a game on TV unless it’s not on MLB or regular TV and then she’s just beside herself wanting to know the score.

During baseball season or pre-season and most of the time in between, you can’t have a conversation with her that doesn’t revolve around the Cubs. Whether it’s the trading of DeRosa, the antics of Zambrano or her weakness in their pitching staff, she’s up on everything and always has been. She personifies what I’m sure some of these younger “girls of Wrigley” MIGHT become, the fan that’s been going to Cubs games for 76 years! The fan that is certainly ready to criticize, and may often feel like giving up, but who in the end loves the Cubbies passionately no matter what.

Please, vote for her at http://www.girlsofwrigley.com/register. She is “cubbielove” - the cute, old broad with the Cub’s tattoo on her cheek! I don’t begrudge the young women for the fact that they are true fans, but let’s honor the generation that’s been truly standing by the Cubbies for a long time. The one’s that showed me and those younger girls how to be the Cubs fans that they are.

You can vote 10 votes a day! You need to register or click the Facebook link (if you have facebook).

Thanks!

Diana

Winds of Change

While the hubby and children are still dreaming of sugar plums I shall quickly blog just in case that one person who reads it is getting tired typing in the supersoares url only to find the same copied Momicillin blog day after day.... SOOoooooo Take it away Johnny!!!

1.) Yet another childcare relationship has ended (or so I hope) due to incompetent parents. This makes the score 3 failures to 2 successful childcare situations. Hmmmm..... All I can say is thank God for Michelle and Mateo... 2 delightful children with wonderful parents.

2.) Mike is home for the summer. We both wanted him to find a summer job but he couldn't. I think he will try harder to find one next summer.

3.) Isaac used his "high honor roll" money to purchase an electric guitar. I was quiet about this and held my "he better not wake the sleeping toddlers or I smash that guitar into an oblivion" attitude to myself. Instead I told him that he better be playing for a band that is in the top 40 by the time he is 25.

4.) Alexander is almost out of Pull-Ups completely... HALLELUJAH!!! Here is the lesson that I learned from my highly introspective friend (Molly :) The more you give up the sooner they take another step in the right direction. Kind of a redemptive lesson, don't you think? The more you give it to God, the more likely he is to move in one direction or another. That Molly, so spiritually in tune!

5.) Abbie Cadabby is quiet around others and the life of the party when I am making dinner. She has started to act shy even around the best of friends. Was she switched at birth? Her very keen dancing ability tells me not. As for the dinner thing... she INSISTS on being on my hip while I make dinner. We bought her a kitchen hoping that she would pretend to make her own dinner so I could cook in peace but once again our 19 month old one ups us by bringing me about 30 cups of invisible coffee just to get under my feet while cooking dinner. Personally I think we just need to eat out more.. That would solve this conundrum.

6.) As for me.... I still have the desire to instruct Jazzercise. I look good and feel great. When I am jazzercising I am envisioning the things that I will say and do while teaching a class and I get excited... Maybe in my next life. I have a newsletter deadline that is a month away so my fingers will be working overtime for the next 30 days.

That is all I have to offer, but I hope that you and yours are doing well and God's peace is ruling your heart.

Say it Sista!

The Following is from Momicillin.com and I could never write this well but I think it is definitely worthy of sharing:

An Open Letter to Our Bath Toys
My worthy adversaries,
It is with a heavy heart that I surrender to you. Ours has been a war hard-fought, but I am weary. Your campaign for freedom against the confines of your containers has been admirable, and I realize that my efforts to constantly corral and clean you are in vain.
I realize that I am, in part, to blame. To expect that you would stay organized, satisfied to sit unused 23 hours a day, was—to say the least— unrealistic. But one needs some sense of order, and for far too long I have lived under the delusion that I can keep you in line. That dream is shattered and I stand before you a broken woman.
I have to admit that one of the harshest blows was when you turned my own children against me. You were able to cunningly convince them to spread you out not only in the tub, where you were sure to trip us every chance you had, but throughout the entire house. That strategy allowed you to engage allies and increase your ranks; the day I found my whisk and strainer in the tub I knew we were outnumbered.
The crowning moment, however, when I knew all was lost, was the moment I realized you were evolving—no longer content to be mere plastic and mesh. The bleach-resistant slime that now coats your bodies seems to have become a permanent part of you biological make-up. I cannot challenge the very forces of nature that seem to be aiding your cause.
Perhaps we shall meet again someday on the battlefield. Until then, I salute you.
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30 Days to Live

Our church is doing a series titled "30 Days to Live" as a way to encourage us to live our days as though they are our last because there is no promise of tomorrow. As I listened to Roger last Sunday, I thought a lot about the people in my life that I have had to let go of and felt satisfied that I had the chance to discuss faith and my love for them before they passed away. I also thought about people that I would like to send a card or make a phone call to just to let them know that I love them and ask them about their faith. I thought of my grandma and how I love that I have a relationship with her where I call her (sort of) regularly and we chat about church, the kids and her Norwegian group. I thought about my Uncle Jerry who I have been meaning to get a card to as his physical health seemed to fluctuate in recent months. I also thought about my desires in life how I would feel about them if I was only given 30 days to live.

This morning as Kyle preached about seeking the eternal, I was inwardly focused on a desire of mine and was in the process of allowing God to take the desire away if it is not part His eternal plan for me. I remained inwardly focused on the way home because I was irritated with Mike about some events that happened as we were trying to get ready for church. The voice mail message from my father broke my selfish focus in a flash. I could tell by the tone of his voice that something was wrong and I had a pretty good idea of what.

I returned his phone call and he explained that my Uncle Jerry died this morning. My first reaction was "it's too soon." I hadn't gotten that card out to him yet. My second reaction was "I'm so sorry," for his wife's pain, my father's pain, and my family's pain. Finally, "what can I do?" But all I can think of through out today is what I wish I had already done. I wish I had written that card months ago. A simple card to let him know that I am thinking of him, praying for him and love him. I understand that my grief is fresh and this is what people do, however I'm so conflicted. Was God nudging me last Sunday? Has God been nudging me for a long time and I have been putting him off? Below is what I would have written in a card to my Uncle if he were still here and given the promise of tomorrow:

Dear Uncle Jerry,

I just wanted to take today to thank you for all the ways you have blessed me. I remember one time when I was little I made you a special Christmas present that said "World's Funniest Uncle." I want you to know that you are so much more. You are someone who I am thrilled my children have gotten to know as a optimistic and generous. You took your second chance at life to encourage others who have shared your pain and comforted loved ones of those who lost the same battle you have fought. I admire your strength, values, and genuine character. I also admire the way your poured your talent of teaching into young lives at the community college.
My all time favorite memory of you was a Christmas Day from years ago. As we were taking up a collection to give to charity, you spoke with passion about your struggle with PPH and the Doctor that was making strides in medicine to help save lives. I clearly remember your words, "there are two things that give life; God and man." I would argue that God is the giver and sustainer of life (through using people) and I voted with you on that offering because I believed that your passion was genuine and so was the doctor who helped you through all your struggles with PPH. Today I want you to know that God is the Giver of Life and through Jesus you can gain life eternal. I pray that where you seek God you will find Him. I know He loves you so much and is using you whether you know it or not as he was using you on that Christmas Day. Please know that our children have been richly blessed through knowing you and I pray for peace in your heart.
Love, Carrie

I truly regret choosing to do anything else than write this card. If there is someone you know that would be blessed by a few words from you, please take the time to do it now. There is no guarantee of tomorrow.

The Big Night-play by play

So early last week Mike says, "Hey, let's get a sitter and go out on Saturday night."

I say, "Sounds like a plan, what do you want to do?"

He says, "I'll take care of it."

I say, "you're not going to tell me anything?" He says, "no.

Well, Saturday night rolls around and I am having an impossible time finding a sitter. I was also exhausted from staying up really late the night before and working really early that morning. I suggested rescheduling our date for another time but he seems disappointed by that so I make a few more phone calls and scored an awesome sitter. I begin to ask Mike lots of questions about our night because I want to be dressed appropriately in case he is taking me someplace really nice. He says we are going to eat at the mall. Mike HATES the mall so now I am totally stumped. All he will tell me about our date is that he saw something in the paper that looked interesting, he researched it and it turns out that it could be very cool or a total flop. My curiosity was KILLING me. After a nice combination dinner of Panda Express and Great Steak and Potato, he leads me to the picture taking booth to have our picture taken. I must say I haven't done that since high school and those booths have shrunk since then.

We hop back in the car and head toward Ewing Manor which gets me really excited because I love going there for Illinois Shakespeare Festival but have yet to go inside the actual building. You can imagine my total surprise as he turns into the Unitarian Universalist Church. The WHAT? This is creepy I tell him. He agrees and reminds me that it could be a total flop or it could be really cool. As we enter the building it looks (and smells) like any other old church. We made our way to a very uncomfortable pew and I begin to study the stained glass windows to determine whether or not I could fit through them if we are presented with the creepy Kool-Aid. Satisfied with my escape plan, I begin to relax.

We were there to see Jim Scott (who?), a guitarist who has shared the stage with the bassist who plays for Peter Gabriel. For those of you who don't know, Mike is the biggest (and possibly only) Peter Gabriel fan that survived the '80's. Well, I can always appreciate good music, but this date gets crazier. Curious about the Unitarian Universalist (UUA) church I start thumbing through the Hymn book. If you ever have the privilege of looking through the UUA hymnal, you will see "hits" entitled "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child," "The Pen is Greater," "Joyful is the Dark," and the ever popular hit "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," among more traditional hymns like "Amazing Grace," and "O come Emmanuel."

Well I must say that while Mr. Scott's guitar playing was delightful, his songs were sort of "out there." With an emphasis on preserving our environment and protecting the Earth, he wrote his first song with pauses for us all to take a deep breath together. I glanced at Mike. He winked at me. Mr. Scott's second song included sign language about the circle of friends. The funniest part about the song was that EVERYONE was totally into it. I saw adults ages 21 to 81 circling their hands above their heads proudly. I actually tried to take a picture of it on Mike's cell phone but it didn't turn out. As Mr. Scott began a 10 minute introduction to his next song, Mike says, "wait 30 seconds and meet me outside." I smile at the people behind me and make my way outside but Mike is nowhere to be seen. Then I heard the screeching of the tires and see Mike waving frantically at me through the sun roof. Then he starts waving his hands around his head like everyone did for "Circle of Friends" and as I hop into the car I can't remember a time when I laughed that hard. We headed to Entourage to detox (or tox depending on how you look at it) and were home by 8:30. It was a great night.

If you want to see what I mean, you can check out Jim Scott's website at your own risk!

jimscottmusic.com

I need to update my blog, my blog, I need to update my blog right now!

• Sheer boredom has lead to getting REALLY creative for the kids.... 70 degree weather please come soon

• Ebony and Ivory playing harmonies together forever...

• Alexander, "Oh mommy, I wike Chawie Bwown"
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• Late breaking news...
• Another job opportunity has presented itself and it is a total risk... something that I love to do but I'm not sure if I can handle it so it deserves more prayer.
• Another newsletter deadline has come and gone... Another newsletter (almost) completed. I should receive final edits today and release final copy today. I would post a link but the online version is password protected.
• In Christina's words, "my mojo is off" because of Spring Break so I am looking forward to a visit with my inlaws at the end of the week.
• While we are visiting Grammy and Grandpa we hope to take the train downtown with the kids for the day. Without nap times this could be a total disaster. I pray NOT!
• Yesterday Alexander told me that I am "rediculus" really? Crazy for sure but rediculous It's only the beginning dear son.
• Potty training for both babies starts after Spring Break. Let the games begin...
  

Alexander: "I wike Chaulie Bwown mommy!"

In my daughter's eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLS0Y40WwlA

A long time ago, my mom recorded herself singing this song on a cassette for me. I took it for granted until I had a daughter of my own. Abbie is sick today and while I don't feel like I can do enough for her I would just like to celebrate that God gave her to me to rescue me in so many different ways.

Lazy or Burned out?

It has been so long since I blogged and I can't decide if it is because I am lazy or burned out. Burned out on what? Well, I have had some AMAZING creative impulses lately. I only put one into action, but the rest were really good ideas, I just don't have the energy to make them happen. Lately I feel like even the simplest tasks require as much energy as climbing Mount Everest. The following are on my list of things that I should have done a long time ago:

• Send my grandmother a birthday card and gift
• Sign my husband's birthday card and Valentine's day card
• Send my friend, Ann's, birthday card
• Send a sympathy card to my step uncle
• Print family pictures and send them to my BFF
• Clean out the refrigerator

Please pray that God will light a fire under me to complete these tasks... Hmmm maybe you already did because now that I have written this blog, I suddenly feel like getting to work! Hey, THANKS :)

Pictures Say 1000 words

I'm sorry this post is sort of lame, my pizazz tank is empty with no plans for a refill. I signed Alexander up for Preschool today and pray that my attempts to prepare him for that will benefit his future preschool teacher. Abbie's been crabby and now that she has had an antibiotic, hopefully she is on the mend or has a full set of teeth by next week. Isaac continues to bounce back and forth between the limits of a child and the independence of an adult. Mike is sick and going to the doctor tomorrow. I love him like no other and pray this will relieve some of his anxiety.

Possible Captions...

"What do you mean I'm sick?"

"Abbie Soares: Saving monsters one scream at a time"

"all I ever needed in life I learned from Monster's Inc"

"Who let the snot out? Who who who, who who?"

"I better practice my Trident smile for my future in modeling. CHEESE!"

I don't mean to brag, but Isaac ROCKED THE HOUSE at his band concert. I guess $6,000 on a bedroom in the basement was worth it.

Is this how Tommy Lee started out?

If we zipped up this tent and left them for 15 minutes, who do you think would last the longest? I think Abbie.

Leaps and Bounds

That's me trying to imitate Jane's blogger identity picture with her baby girl. It's not a very good imitation at all.



I haven't written in over a week because there isn't anything exciting happening in the Soares house. The kids are VERY tired of being cooped up in the house. Their new past time is climbing. As a result, they are in to EVERYTHING. It seems that everything that belong to me is much more exciting than their toys. Here's the damage over the last week:

If you can guess which child committed which crime and comment about it I will send you a prize!

• Lots of tissues strewn about the house
• 4 spilled glasses by one child
• 2 more spilled glasses by another child
• 1 salt covered table
• 4 pepper covered cars
• 1 carpet stained by nail polish
• 2 hands covered in nail polish
• 1 nose painted with nail polish
• 1 wall colored on by a Sharpie

Isaac, on the other hand totally surprised me by creating a Power Point presentation for extra credit in his class. I didn't even know he could do Power Point. It was really cool too! He had animation and everything. What a good kid. Now if he could only learn where to put his shoes when he is done wearing them...

Thank you

Praise God that he was merciful to me on Friday! To make a long story short, I took the whole clan of children (except for my sick Abbie-she stayed home with Daddy) to Make a Mess and they had a BLAST. Actually, I did to because my friend came to keep me company while her son played with Alexander. We were actually able to have girl talk-uninterrupted while keeping an eye on all the kids. The kids then wore themselves out and were too tired even to argue with each other or me the rest of the day. A true miracle.

Another miracle began the following afternoon after I had ran here, there and everywhere before our night away for our anniversary. Mike helped me get laundry done and get the house picked up so that I could give the kids their baths before running my mother through the gambit with unnecessary instructions. Finally we were on our way. Inside, I felt pretty rotten. I hadn't had a spare moment to myself, hadn't looked in the mirror and barely had enough time to change my clothes before heading out to an upscale restaurant. At the last minute I said to Mike, "let's just leave now and I can get ready at the Hotel and then we can go out to eat." That is what turned our night around. I was able to get ready in twenty minutes at the hotel BY MYSELF (it would have taken 40 if I were at home). Mike made sure that I knew he thought I was beautiful and I didn't need to do anything special for him, still I thought it would be respectful to show up at the restaurant with hair that looked a little better than last night's pony tail. Once I was ready, our dinner was quiet, romantic, and fabulous. As we were eating, we praised God by talking about all of the wonderful moments we've had together. We both declared that while we were in love with the person we saw in each other 5 years ago, we recognize that that perception is skewed by our own subjectivity. What we have now is better and we can only thank God for our vulnerability and perseverence over the last 5 years. I am truly a blessed woman for I have been given a gift from God and while he drives me CRAZY most days, God has given me His representative to care for and love me. For that I say THANK YOU to all of you who have been a part of our lives and prayed for our family.

Sick little baby girl

... And all she wanted was her big brother. So cute. Abbie has never been sick before, but she showed her vulnerability last night. Her temperature escalated to 103 and after (finally) keeping the tylenol in her system, she was splashing in the tub and jumping on the couch. Who knows what today holds for us? Today is our 5 year anniversary. The kids have been off of school for 3 days for bad weather and I am a wreck. Mostly because the parents of the kids I watch weren't threatened in the least by Abbie's illness. They knew their kids had already been exposed and since Mike is home, I couldn't really claim that I am incapable of caring for their children, but they ignored the risk. Please forgive my cynicism. I am running on low sleep and these three days are EXACTLY why I got out of full time day care. My prayers (and yours) were answered yesterday when I explained to my day care parents that I needed the afternoon off to go work at the Office so please pray for MERCY for me today. At this point I don't want to go away with my husband tomorrow night, I don't feel like looking pretty or eating at a nice restaurant or skiing with my oldest on Monday. Please pray for God's best regarding those decisions. Thank you! Carrie

Wierd little girl..

2009 or bust!

January always makes me nervous for the coming year. Ask my family, I have been on an emotional roller coaster ever since New Year's Day. Here's the run down:

• Alexander's birthday came and went. I'm glad he is only three b/c it was a pretty lame celebration. I promise to try harder next year.
• New Job opportunity!!! Might mean less blogging. Did I hear a sigh of relief from the audience? Shame on you!
• Started Jazzercizing, it's really fun! I do my best to keep if fun and funny b/c if I didn't, I would give up.
• Mike and I will be married 5 years on the 16th! I am amazed and hope to celebrate it without thinking/worrying about the kids, chores, and up coming job opportunity.
• Church is AWESOME! we are doing this series called "Advice for Barack." It rocks! Check out last weeks sermon at www.heartcc.org I love how the theme is about servant leadership.
• I'm very nervous about the new job opportunity. At first I was thrilled, then I began to think about what needs to happed between now and January 31st and it is scary.
• I am also nervous about taxes. In general it goes pretty smoothly once Mike and I organize our jurisdictions but now I have childcare to factor in. It's not so organized.
• Terrible Threes are a roller coaster in themselves
• Hell hath no fury like "Abbie" scorned

I guess that is everything. Playgroups start next week and the kids and I are very happy about that. We missed all our friends there!