Happy 9th Birthday to My Daughter Callie!

Callie, left, with her sister Eva, who is younger by almost 3 years

Happy 9th Birthday to my sweet girl, Callie!

We had Callie's name picked out back in 2000 when I was reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood in New England. Plus I've always loved California, so I tell her she is also named after that great state.

I woke up from a nap snuggled in between my two sons in bed on a Monday around 5 back in 2005. I went to the bathroom and found a baseball-sized blood clot, called an ambulance and my husband (his cell phone rang at our house, meaning he did not take it with him!), my husband's WORK, and my mom to come help with the kids while we were at the hospital. In the ambulance the stoopid chick with me kept talking about a C-section and I didn't bat an eye ... I had this calm feeling that everything was going to be okay.

A friend showed up at the hospital to be a doula for me and it was probably my easiest birth. She was born after 10 and my wonderful mom brought my sons to the hospital. We all slept at the hospital together, a new family of 5.

She made her own birthday banner for her party next weekend! She is very artistic.

Today we get to go ice skating, which is one of Callie's favorite things to do. I'm also surprising her by picking up her best friend for a sleepover. And her Daddy gets home for a little while from Colorado before he has to leave for a Scout weekend and he has a present he got for her in Colorado that she is going to love.

Yep, she got a library card recently. She is doing great with her Explode the Code and ABC Mouse but she is really best at math ... and fashion and organization. She is growing in to a sweet young lady!

She Wants to Marry Me!

Tonight my 6-year-old daughter Eva asks:

"When will you and Daddy's marriage be over? I wanna marry you."

Then she did this laugh that sounds like a dolphin.

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: Kansas City Marathon October 18, 2014 @KCMarathon

What: Kansas City Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Relay and Kids Event

When: Saturday, October 18, 2014

Where: 22nd and Grand across from Crown Center (where Mr. Kerrie and I did a half marathon back in 2000!)

Course Overview from the race site, details link and more can be found here!

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

When you're all done, you'll be hungry! Grab a copy of my Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook and whip up a batch of happiness for dinner!

Soon-to-be Discontinued Jamberry Nails Spring 2014

Here's the funny and offensive product review I did of Jamberry Nails recently. And now I have received word that some of the nails are going to be ... GASP! ... discontinued. Dun dun dun. (that's suspenseful music)

These nails are only available for about another month and then forget it, sister.

Good thing I just ordered Dizzy Pink from my own online party recently!

If you want to order any of the soon-to-be discontinued nails, come to my website. And you will not believe all the other options for nails. It's crazy! Something to match every outfit! I don't care much about fashion usually, but I am in love with these nails and even if I go out in sweatpants and a ponytail (wait, that's every day), I can add a little style on my nails.

Our First Science City #Kansas City Visit January 2014

As promised to my dad and stepmom, who gave our family the Science City membership for one full year (plus we can take extra people for no extra charge plus get 10% off at the gift shop and all over Union Station and more!), here are some photos of our trip last week. We are going again tomorrow so I had to get these up. The kids were begging to go again ASAP so we are heading there after we do Joel's Meals on Wheels route. Callie learned some sign language at American Heritage Girls last night so that hearing impaired lady in the building won't know what hit her!

They're just sittin' there watchin' the wheels go 'round and 'rooooooouuuuuuuund per John Lennon

This is so the grandparents can show how great homeschooling is and how smart the kids are.