this one is dedicated to the ones I love......

I have just always wanted to say that. But really, this post is.

My day of events lately doesn't seem like I have time to catch up with ANYONE! I will admit that I am absolutely horrible at returning phonecalls, texting promptly, or even just giving a quick call to someone to say hi. Life will slow down soon. I can feel it. Between sickness, crazy schedules and work. I am just happy to have a breather at about 9pm to pretty much collapse. haha.

But the important thing, is that all is pretty well in the Holee land. Jake and I went to Hermann to celebrate our wedding anniversary with two other couples. And it was fabulous. We needed some time for ourselves. Why is it though, that any time I am away from my kids I miss them stupidly. Well, it's cuz I love the heck out of them, of course. It is actually good for them and Jake and I. Everyone needs some lovey time with the hubby!

So, besides a schedule of Wake up, get ready, get kids ready, make two drop offs, go to work, work all day. Ok, somedays I do go to the gym on lunch, it seems most days, i just work and eat my lunch at my desk, get off work, make two pick ups. Head home. Nights are hectic always. The goal from moment we get home to when the kids go to bed is to eat, play, and get ready for the next day. Throw in some laundrey, dishes and cleaning in there, and well, that sums the night up.

Ben he actually just turned 3.5. I have actually been saying he has been 3.5 for several months now.

Jonna, same case. She just turned 1.5. and I have been saying 1.5 since last November.

Slow it down Mama, no way I am going to age my kids, they grow up fast enough as it is.

The kids are fireballs. Ben remembers everything, especially when Mom gets in a slight car wreck with a ticket. He told me the entire story on the way home yesterday, and reminded me that I was crying when I got the ticket. Then proceeded to ask if he could call the policeman to take my ticket away. When I told him, that was thoughtful, but it was really okay. He says, Mom, I promise I won't say a bad word to him, I will only say good words. I could only smile. This kid is gonna always look out for his Mama to say the least!

Jonna, if her actions as a 1 year old is a premonition to the teenage years, we are in quite a bit of trouble. She is a people pleaser, but when it comes to listening to Mom and Dad, she is very stubborn, and the looks that little girl gives...you either want to laugh or get mad with her. But truly, how can we get angry with her when she is so stinkin cute. Like I said, we are in trouble. She knows very well at this young age, already what time out and spankins are. She learns that when she yells at Ben it makes him angry, so she will keep yelling until she gets in trouble. nothing is going to slow this girl down.

Ben is getting taller, leaner, long legs, and boy! is he muscular. I think he will get some of Dad's height, but he starting to have more of my brothers' build. He is in 4t pants, and 5t shirts. 39lbs and I think 40 inches. Back to riding his bike, popping wheelies, and skidding out on any nice day we have.

Jonna she is also thinning out, and getting longer legs. We can about put all of her hair in pony, but lots of little bangs are growing in. Her hair is still blonde with a strawberry brown tint. She is 24lbs, wearing 24 months for the most part. She can wear some 18 months, but most 18 months pants are highwaters. hmmmmm. I am not sure if I have ever had that problem. It will be interesting to see if she is taller than her Mama. She says, Mom, Dad, Get, Dog, Ben, Alllllliii(for Alison), Tanks, Pease, and NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! hahaha. She also likes to sit on the potty any time someone else has to go potty. She grunts, but well nothing comes out. It's funny because she is quite proud of how well she does sitting there.

I am getting over a 3 and 1.2 week sinus infection I have been fighting. Ben and Jonna are both on second rounds of antibiotics, but I think we are on the up and up. Jake has been going to Medic school for a month, now and loves it. He will even start clinicals in a couple months.

And great news, is we have some Grandparents moving to Ashland. Gma Deena, Papa Doug, Great Gpa Don, Great Gma and Gpa Chandler too. It is going to be so wonderful to see the kids get to know the Holee side of family better.

Happy Days!

Few Bleeps on what I Like!

Yellow Roses and a Valentines day card from the kids. (Thanks Jake)

Watching my husband be all excited and act like a child when he gets a new technological device(nook).

Watching Ben be the "man of the house" when Jake is away. He is such a grown up.

Doctors that will write a 10 day refill on an antibiotic for sick Jonna...."just in case".

Doctors that will treat your child ASAP for a sick visit.

Good Health Insurance and Cafeteria Plans.

Really nice Dentist who put crowns on your teeth and hopefully keep them from hurting in the future.

Doctors that will call in a script for "pink eye" because Mom knows it is pink eye!

Tax refunds.

Hermann B&B- headed there this weekend for Chocolate Wine Trail to celebrate our 6 yr anniversary.

When Jonna grunts as she helps Jake and I do laundrey. It's a tedious job.

Watching my kids dance to "Lover Lover" by Jarrod Niemann, and "Felt good on my lips" by Tim McGraw.

When Ben walks into the kitchen while I am cleaning to hug me and say, "Mom, I really like you a lot."

Workouts at lunch at the Y. Amazing what one hour does for me. Now if I could just quit having to run errands on three out of five days of the week during my lunch.

New babies.

Friends that will do anything for you, especially when they know you are sick! Thanks Brandy!

And last but not least! I love that my husband got a promotion on the Fire Department!! Go JAKE!!!!

My Quarterly Marriage Post

So, My plan today was the report of my quarterly Marriage post.

I figure this morning was a prime example of Marriage being teamwork. That and I am going to complain a little bit about this spankin 2010-2011 winter.

We all know last week we got 18 inches of snow. This blizzard resulted in many offices and roads closing. My office closed for two days, and we werent really mandated to come in on the third day but Jake and I carpooled and we both made it in. Both kids had sinus infections last week, and Jake was called to stay in at the fire department for some extra long hours. I ended up getting sick and well, lets just say being holed up at home without Jake and sickness alas is really no picnic. Snow shoveling is not what I really want to take up as a hobby. And some mornings to get to work with just me and the kids is like pulling my teeth and my kids teeth. lol. Lets just say it is one week of marriage that really isn't romantic, and can actually be quite testing for patience meter. I know I am not a pleasant being when sick and when there isn't a whole lot of help at home. Jake has to be away, I know that. In times like this, I get pretty testy in the moments Jake and I do share, and we all know that resolves absolutley nothing. But I wanted to point out the moments that apply to teamwork in marriage. Jake picked up Theraflu and some heavy duty cough drops when he got off work on Sunday morning. And laid a package out for my use first thing when I saw him. Thank you. Then after Church that morning, he dropped me off at the Ymca to sweat out some of my toxins from my cold. He took the kids for just one hour so I could enjoy a moment for myself. Now, that just does wonders for the soul sometime. So we are doing good. Both of us are finally feeling a little better (he was sick too), beside the bitter cold, but we are allright.

We manage through and that is where we find each other in todays news. So, roads are clear mostly from the blizzard except for a lot of one lane roadways and 3 to 5 foot high snowpiles that can sometimes block your vision.....which leads to this morning.

I know I shouldn't make excuses. But Dang it, if I could clearly see, I wouldn't have turned left at the moment I did to have a car plow into me. This Mama didn't see anything coming until the hit! UGH! Ben was in the car. We had just dropped Jonna off at the sitter. It wasn't a hard hit. But enough to crack my front bumper and put a good swipe on the driver back side of his car. Police called, Mama gets a ticket. I call Jake in tears, and can't get a hold of him right away. He had just gotten off work that morning, and was a the Y working out. He got my message and came to my everloving frenzied rescue. I was so upset, about the sweet "failure to yeild" ticket, the damage, the fact that Ben was in the car. I am tired and worn. Wiping away tears while Ben repeats to me how sad he is that I am getting in trouble from the police. Oh my dear Benjamin. Then he proceeds to aske if Daddy can drive him to school. LOL! I don't blame yous son!

So, Jake gets there and sits with me in the van, reassuring me everything is fine. For some reason this morning, tears flowed like a river. I feel extrememly horrible. Things like this that happen, I feel like I have let down my family and it is just a horrible feeling. Yes, I know accidents happen, but man it sure doesn't make me feel better. The truth is thank goodness everyone is okay. And thanks to Jake for telling me OVER and OVER that everything is okay. Trying to make me feel as least guilty as possible. It was the snow piles fault not mine! He does this cuz I know he loves me and he is just glad we are okay. He is my shoulder to cry on and take care of us when we are in trouble.

Marriage, ups, downs, smiles, tears, sickness and in health, car wrecks, and blizzards. We go through things like this together. Testing us but definately makes us grow at the same time.

And as Eleanor Roosevelt says, "People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built."