What I love about the Wales boys

1.  the respect and love for their family

2.  their wicked fun

3.  their military careers

4.  how they speak of their mother/her influence on the men they've become

5.  they seem to be true to themselves

be warned...

my blogging over the next year is going to mainly consist of the college visits, application process, letters of recommendation, her last first day of school, her first day of her last swim season, her last meet...getting the picture yet?

We started "the process" last week with spring break...venturing east and of course, starting with Notre Dame...no need to elaborate - she loves it/always has/was born to the fight song/knew the words when she was 1 1/2...blah blah blah.  Then we looked at American in DC...met with the swim coach.  After good family time in DC with the Greens, we headed south to visit William and Mary and UVA.

William and Mary....L O V E L Y.  S A F E.  B E A U T I F U L.  H I S T O R I C.  What was not to like about Wm & Mary??  N O T H I N G...except maybe the price!  Small campus.  Emma and I immediately noticed that girls "dressed up"...lots of skirts, sun dresses, etc.  She said she could see herself there.

Onto UVA...B E A U T I F U L.  H I S T O R I C.  T R A D I T I O N S.  We had a great tour, Corey (a boy from EHS that is now a sophomore at UVA) took us all over and answered all of her questions.  Similar to Madison in some ways, but better in many ways...once again, girls "dressed up," people were very friendly and polite.  It had a very exciting feel to it.  Awesome pool.  Secret societies.  Emma said she could see herself there too.  I could too.

When asked if she got in to all three (ND, UVA & Wm&Mary), which would she pick...ND of course. 

The hard part will be getting in...as long as she has a competitive GPA and ACT, she'll be applying, but when there are 12,000 with the same GPA/ACT, etc, for 1,500 spots, it's a crap shoot.

She is also talking about wanting to swim in college.  THAT is a whole other process...getting her eligibility number, filling out online forms so coaches can contact her this summer, etc...

Hopefully she'll have many choices...her top academic schools that she most likely won't be able to swim for and other good schools that she could swim for....it's going to be an interesting year!!!  I just can't believe we're here.  To top it all off, we met with an Army Capt at Wm & Mary in Military Sciences (for Peter) and EMMA walked out of the meeting saying SHE is very interested in ROTC!  No words for that...

I agree, being a Mom is the best.  I don't wish her away for a second, but I do wish her every option she can imagine!  Heidi

17 10

My children's birthdays are fast approaching- Evan 17 and as Lily says "double digits" (10). 10 years ago that little bean was born, I can't believe it has been 10 years. I must admit it hasn't been the easiest 10 years of my life, but most days very rewarding. And Evan, is a man.....hard to believe.

Do you ever look at couples who don't have kids, and never will....and say why- why not kids? There are definite negatives that single people would say and I would agree with. Such as your house never stays clean. For the next 15 years you will have to make lunch not just for you but also for someone else...EVERYDAY!  You never again will think of poop in the same way, or barf for that matter.....the list could go on for awhile....

But I could never imagine my life without kids. They add 1000 more smiles on your face then you ever would have had. They make you feel proud and almost giddy on so many occassions. Life would not be the same....

So in a couple weeks I look back on my kids, and their birthdays and think of all of the great times....and look forward to many more birthdays and more great times. I feel so blessed to have them in my life. I feel blessed to be a Mom.

love K:)

view from the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy

I go to the website to escape...someday I need to actually go, but I virtually escaped today.

Heidi

thank you thank you thank you...

...dear Sissy.  love me

anytime, anyday.....:)K

5 things you may not know about Heidi

1. She has never colored her hair


2. She loves traditions


3. She can decorate better than Martha


4. In High School she had very large cha cha's


5. She has always been a great sister !

5 things most people now don't know about Krista...

1.  She is truly an artist at heart...loves to paint and loves DIY projects.

2.  She loved heavy metal in high school.

3.  I called her Chuckie as a nickname to get her goat.

4.  Her patience is pretty endless.

5.  She was a skinny beanpole cheerleader in high school!

Nice Pooch

George....he is such a good pooch...that's what Lily always says. She loves that guy! I love the picture of him...it's so him.  Don't worry he will be around for a long time. Why would he want to go anywhere, he has a great life!

40 moment

All woman who are 40 or older can appreciate this story....

I ran into my neighbor just getting home from a trip to Target. She was so bummed out. She forgot to lock her car when going into Target. She stopped at the doors and thought, I should go back to the car and lock it because my coat is in the front seat, and I don't want anyone to steal it. But, she didn't. She thought, no forget it and went on in to shop.

She got out to her car and her coat was gone, along with the coat, her badge for work was in the pocket. She thought, great, now I have to pay for a new badge and my coat got stolen. We talked outside for 1/2 hour or so, then we both went home.

When I got home the phone rang. My neighbor. She walked into her house and told her husband the story. As she was telling the story, she glanced over to the table. There sat her badge and her coat..............
love, K:)

G E O R G E - love of our life!

Took George to the vet today to check out a few lumps...all benign!  He has lost 11 lbs since last May...before his acl surgery!  He's doing great...might have a slight shoulder sprain but nothing serious. The 3-4/day walks seem to be working...on him and me...

George is the best thing we've ever done for our family.  He is the love of our life...sweetest dog.  A gentleman of a dog as well...puts up with Charlie the Cat's antics...biting his tail...sleeping on George's bed, sitting in front of George's food bowl...the list goes on and on.  Like all dogs, he is a creature of habit...up at 5 a.m...breakfast, walk, back to sleep, eat again, long walk, sleep again, out again, eat again, excited when kids and Chris get home, chew bone, another walk and bedtime! 

I love everything about this creature and I can't imagine life without him.  He's 9 so we're hoping for another good 5 years for this sweet dog.  Heidi
 
 

ACT, college visits, prom, finals...strap on the seatbelt!

Not only does the campaign put me into full blown crazybusy mode, we're entering a very crazybusy time for Miss Emma.

ACT on Saturday, leave next Friday for college visits out east, prom at the end of the month, followed by the last few weeks of school and finals...all very important for a 16 year old Junior.

This is the 2nd time she'll take the ACT...did well the first time, but has a score in mind that she wants to get...will most likely take it again in June.  She's been tutored a bit and she doesn't mind taking these types of tests.

We need to map our trip for spring break, but I do know it includes Notre Dame and various schools in Virginia and maybe NY...she is certain she is an ND girl, but you never know...we want her to see a wide variety.  I think it's going to be a great trip!

PROM...lots of prom drama...who is going with who....dress....group to go with...where to eat...it goes on and on.  She is going with a swimmer boy from Monona Grove who is also a Junior.  Erik.  Seems like a very nice boy...swimmer, smart, polite and very sweet.  She is very excited.

However, the week after prom, AP finals begin...oh lord.  And she swims every day throughout this all!!!

Smash all of this together with my nowverybusy schedule and Peter's baseball schedule...I have no words. 
Just going to keep smiling through it all!

Heidi

loving the new design Sissy!

Now, we just need some pics on the top...of us!

The sun is shining today...heading out my walk with George shortly...usually means a cell phone chat with you too!!!

Signed on with a campaign yesterday (a short, but very historic recall election here in the battlefield called Wisconsin).  It's amazing how I literally feel a switch snapping when I do this...already didn't sleep well last night and feel a sense of urgency and stress today.  Will be done by the beginning of July...at the latest so short and hopefully sweet.

Peter Pie had his first h.s. baseball game last night...made a key play but didn't do well at bat...it was hailing (I kid you not!) when he got up to bat...I could see him shaking from the cold.  Insane weather.

Feel like I need to breath...

LOVE my orange themed b-day gift from you...rain boots, cocktail napkins, an adorable cuff bracelet and cute cupcake papers....love it all!!!  Heidi

Sunday Family Dinner Night

Well, about a month ago I started a new tradition. Sunday Family Dinner Night. Every week we take turns picking the recipe or dinner item I will make and serve. We seem to all be eating at different times usually, so I thought this would bring us together for a nice meal, a nice table and some family laughs. I am going to start posting my weekly recipe. Enjoy!

April 3rd- serving with mashed potatos

Chicken Piccata

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time:15 min

Cook Time:25 min

Serves:4 servings

  

Ingredients

• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.


This was really good! Everyone loved it! I used a real lemon and lemon juice. I did sprinkle with parsley, since Evan is afraid of anything green.
K;)

Great Product!

I know I have already told you about this product, but I had to post it!


Plasti- Dip-


Nate dipped the handles of old silverware in yellow- it changed the whole look of it- cute for everyday or new picnic-ware!  I also saw online that plasti dip can be used for ends of rope, hooks, bottoms of boots to rubberize, handles of anything like scissors. Love this product, can't wait to use it. Home Depot carries it! It comes in lots of colors, and a kit to customize a color!
K:)



                                    

no is the new yes

No is really hard to say sometimes, I agree. Somtimes there is no way around it. Sometimes we have to do it, to be involved in our kids lives, for money, or to improve ourself. I know I used to say yes, a whole lot more than I do now. I think because I thought I had to. Now, if it feels right to me, I say yes.


I think it is also in how you say it. No can be hurtful, and may be taken the wrong way. So, you need to be careful and always spin it in a positive way!
K:)

Doctors and Appointments

One of the things I dread is going to appointments, in general. Not a fan of doctors, dentists or even hair appointments. I know that may seem odd, but it is true. I almost feel anxious and sick to my stomach. Once I am there I am ok, but the day before and the day of I almost cancel.


Tomorrow I have my general check up with my regular doctor, followed by my annual with my other doctor. I planned it that way. One day instead of two. Less worrying, less stress. Since it has been over a year since I have had an annual, there will be plenty of tests. I know it's something we have to do, maybe thats why I don't like it.
wish me luck K:)

                                

SISTERS

Oh no you didn't.....lol


I am here- and will promise to be a better blogger!

I hope your birthday was joyous, fun, wonderful and fabulous like you!! You bring so much joy into so many lives. You are such a great mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend to many! I am wishing you many more years of fun and laughter, and I hope to be there with you to enjoy it!

love, K :)
                                

Sister Dish

Think I'm gonna have to re-name the blog...;)! 

45 years old yesterday.  Not a big deal.  As Grandma Bea always said, "I'll take every year that God gives me."  Good attitude.

Not in a blogging mood...nothing to talk about this a.m...H

Two feet of snow expected today...

woke C, E and P up with that this a.m....all groaned and got up to look out the window.

APRIL FOOLS!!  Heidi