A Family from Fishers

20 Questions, Marriage Style

2011-02-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

A sweet friend of a friend posted this to her blog and I thought it was fun.

1. How long have you been married?

11 years on April 15th of this year

2. How long have you been together?

18 years June 24th of this year

3. Where did you go on your first date?

First date alone was Peking Inn for Chinese and then the movie So I Dated and Axe Murderer (still one of our top 10 faves)

4. Where did you go on your latest date?

We had lunch together at MCL two weeks ago. We're KER-RAZYYYYYY!

5. What's you anniversary date?

April 15th, 2000

6. Where where you married?

St Luke's United Methodist in Carmel, IN by my brother in law, Todd

and renewed our vows this past April 4th at East 91st St Christian Church (again by Todd)

7. What was your favorite wedding gift and from whom?

Two things : One was my canister set for my dishes from my friend Natalie that I nannied for. They were really expensive and I did NOT expect to get them. The other was a hair cutting kit from our crazy friend Vojin. We registered for it partly as a joke and he got it for us!

8. Where did you honeymoon?

Disney World

9. What food do you now like because of your spouse?

Sushi

10. What type of music do you like because of your spouse?

Pet Shop Boys, Moody Blues and Depeche Mode. And also Reggae

11. What TV program do you like now because of your spouse?

History channel documentaries

12. What is your favorite PG rated activity to do together?

Date nights at home where he cooks dinner and we watch a movie

13. Last gift you bought your spouse?

A Griswold family Christmas t shirt and a RAM brewhouse t shirt

14. Last gift they bought you?

GLEE cd!!

15. Favorite thing about your spouse?

I know lots of people say this about their own spouse, but he really his the kindest man I've EVER met. He is VERY good at loving me and our children.

16. Something you disagree about

He never remembers to put the seat back after he drives my car. But of course, he's usually charged my cell and filled my gas tank, so it doesn't matter.

17. Book that you both like?

I know it's cheesy, but the Bible. Other than that, not a single one.

18. Favorite shared experience.

Births of all our kids and our first Indy 500 win

19. One thing you want to do together in the future?

Retire early and travel the world

20. What makes a marriage last?

I would have to think that is different for every couple. For us, it's a foundation on Christ, a steadfast friendship, intimacy, trust, and humor.

Check out my friend Michelle's blog. She will inspire you in so many ways!

http://http//imperfectlywonderfulworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/20-questions-marriage.html

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...six weeks later!

2011-02-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I've never said I'm good at the blogging thing. I am terribly impatient and struggle to sit in front of the computer very long. Couple that with not liking to write, and I'm NOT cut out for the blogging world. But, with that said, I have several friends and family that don't live close by that have said that this is a good way for them to stay abreast of our family's happenings. So even though I haven't done this since last fall, I will again attempt to post some fun times and get everyone caught up.

*Meg turned NINE. Yeah, unbelievable I know since I'm still in my mid 20's.

*The girls are halfway done with 2nd and 3rd grade. I volunteer at their school a lot and am getting to know all the staff including the lunch ladies.

*Christmas was amazing and filled with blessings and precious memories.

*Chip Ganassi laid off my incredibly hard working and devoted husband after eight 1/2 years of loyal service to him without any warning and three days before Christmas. I hope Mr. Ganassi doesn't die miserable and alone, with nothing but his money.

*We rang in the New Year with dear friends and Claire and Ian made it to midnight for the first time ever. Megan, the saint, put herself to bed at 10.

*We got a guinea pig and Eric doesn't know if it was a birthday gift for Megan or if I was fulfilling my own childhood dream.

*I decided to update my blog on a random Wednesday evening when everyone was in bed and I couldn't sleep.

So, now we're caught up! Here's a few pictures to go along with all that valuable info:

I love you, a bushel and a peck!

2010-10-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

No one loves this time of year more than my oldest boy, Eric. He starts getting excited for fall about mid to late July when the humidity is so high that walking out your front door at 8 in the morning merits a shower. So, he packed us all up and took us to Tuttle Farms. This is the apple farm we've gone to as a family since Meg was ten months old. Unfortunately, this was probably our last year there. As they have grown, so have their prices. They now charge $3 a child just to play on their playground. So, we've spent $12 before we've even picked an apple! Since we were already there, we ponied up the dough and let our annual traditions proceed. They enjoyed all the usual stuff : the hay bale maze, the swings, the pedal tractors, sandbox, and the llama. Megan has had a special connection to this less than charming creature since she was a toddler. You would have to be there to believe it, but I swear that animal remembers her each year. It is truly amazing the connection she has with animals.

After the extortion, I mean playground time, we headed to the orchard. Another tradition we observe is the fight over who will pull the wagon. Megan has conceded this battle to her brother and sister and left our more bullheaded children to duke it out. Inevitably, Ian wins when Claire realizes that the ground is not perfectly smooth and pulling the wagon may strain her delicate nature in some way. Ian is happy to comply and takes on the burden of the Radio Flyer. Ten minutes later when they've all eaten their weight in apples and lost interest, we head to the gift shop for a treat and Daddy's apples. Yes, that's right folks, Eric doesn't buy the orchard apples. He opts for the Honeycrisp...the Holy Grail of apples. So, with our bellies full of apples, apple cider, cider slushies, and a few candy corn mixed in there somewhere, we head home to two week's worth of apple recipes. Happy Fall!

Ian goes back to school

2010-10-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm out of kids...two days a week, anyhow. Ian is back in preschool at East 91st Street God's Kids' preschool. It's at our church and this is our 8th year there. Both girls started there as 1 1/2 year olds and graduated from Kindergarten also. And now Ian is following in their prestigious footsteps. Last year was a little rocky as his teacher changed frequently throughout the year. I was nervous about this year being the same and having to hear Ian whine all the way to school about not wanting to go and listening to him cry as I left him each week. Fortunately, he has two teachers that my girls had and they aren't going anywhere! He is in LOVE with school this year. It's so fun to take him when he can't wait to get there and is so happy he doesn't even turn to say goodbye. As painful as that should be, I find so much comfort in knowing he's learning in an environment where he is covered in prayer, loved, and taught about God's love for him. It helps that there's 6 boys in his class too, as opposed to last year only having one other boy. Ian is a man's man and likes to hang with the guys. And by hang I mean play trucks and beat the tar out of each other.

Open up and say AHHHHHH!!!

2010-08-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Ian has had another milestone and passed with flying colors. He has had his first trip to the dentist. Now, many of you parents out there know that this could go one of two ways. Some children come in, see the big chair, hear all the sounds, and once someone is coming at their mouth with a silver hook and saying open wide, the screaming like they're being stabbed ensues. Then there are the other children that thrive on the mere fact that regardless of what's being done to them, they're getting attention. This was my son. Oh, how the ladies in the office fussed over him! And while they were probably putting on a show to make him feel comfortable, it WORKED. That boy was like the only man on an all female college campus. You would have thought they had never seen a three year old boy the way they were talking to him. He is, after all, a man in the making, and would have let them stick knives in his mouth if they had asked. He sat and did everything they told him without a moment's hesitation. They even did his x-rays which apparently they usually leave for the second appointment so as not to overwhelm the little ones. He loved his new toothbrush and prize bag which wrapped up his perfect first trip to the dentist. The girls were there too and they mentioned discussing orthodontics for Megan next time we're in. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit from typing that.

School...BLECH!!!

2010-08-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so remember that Sunday night feeling? You know, that feeling of bummerness that comes over you around 4 in the afternoon on a Sunday when you realize your weekend is almost over? You have school the next morning which means five days of getting up early, working hard, and maybe even some drama with classmates. Yeah, well, that never went away for me. I still get the bummers on Sunday nights. If I had my way, my family would live in a bubble and we would never have to be apart. Sounds sensible and healthy, eh? Well, yeah, I know it's not so I send my kids to school like the law tells me I have to. I even go all out...new shoes, outfit, feigned enthusiasm. Fortunately, my neighbors rally and we all have breakfast together at the bus stop that morning which adds some genuine excitement to the morning. I did OK this year. I kept it together until I could hear the bus enter the neighborhood. I had on my biggest sunglasses to try and hide my misty eyes, but Meg is too in tune with me emotionally. She looked over at me with tears in her eyes at that same moment. I told her I was so happy for her to be a third grader (that's right, folks, THIRD GRADE! Didn't she just roll over for the first time last week?) and couldn't wait to hear her stories when she got home. Claire, of course, could barely contain her excitement to show off her new earrings, gab with friends, and have the same teacher that Megan had loved the year before. So, with knots in my stomach and a lump the size of Idaho in my throat, I put my two lovely, sweet, growing up too fast girls on the bus and sent them off so other lucky people can spend all day with them. Did I mention I really like being their mom?

I still have my buddy Ian. He fills my days with laughter, anger, energy, and frustration all wrapped up in one. I am so thankful for this one on one time with my little man. I hope I can make the most of it until he climbs on that bus just before I'm dragged into the ambulance that will take me to Shady Acres as their newest out patient. You know, the crazy mom who can't stand to be away from her children so she volunteers to spend hour after hour in front of the school copier? Yeah, that's me.

Giveaway from Lisa Leonard!

2010-08-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lisa Leonard is having a giveaway in honor of her birthday! Since I love her jewelry designs but I love free stuff more, I thought I'd pass this along!
http://http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2010/08/19/birthday-giveaway/comment-page-30/#comment-86531

Seven years of Claire Strauss

2010-08-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe it's because it's the first number to have two syllables, but seven just seems older. I can handle all the birthdays between 2 and 6, but seven is tough for me. She's all thinned out, no more baby fat. She falls a lot less (not our most graceful child, but fortunately she has the high pain tolerance to go with it). She even has teaching moments with her little brother. She's still struggling with a temper, but has come a LONG way with that, especially in the last year. She's always ready for a hug...or having her back scratched. I call her my massage junkie. She's been like this her whole life. As a baby, even in the midst of a fit, she would stop dead in her tracks if you just started rubbing her ears. Note to future husband: That will be your power over her. Most of all, she's just a bubbly, happy girl that's funny and a joy to be around. Thanks, God. We're enjoying our loaner!

Menu Swap Week two

2010-08-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I forgot last week, but I'm back on board with Menu planning! I'm telling you, when I don't plan my menu for the week, my anxiety goes up about 30%. Our budget goes up about that much too! I am MUCh more inclined to just tell Eric to meet me and the kids out on his way home from work if I don't have meals planned for the week. This only takes me minutes, and it saves me stress and money. Given that this Wednesday is Black Wednesday at our house, A.K.A. first day of school, I need all the help I can get. So this week will be quick, easy meals that make it so I can focus on getting acclimated to our school year schedule. Anyone else wondering where summer went? *sigh*

Monday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup...Ice Cream social at school

Tuesday: Grilled Chicken breasts, steamed broccoli, and rice

Wednesday: Dinner at Mimi's while Daddy and Mommy work

Thursday: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Friday: McDonald's happy Meals to celebrate 1st week of school

Judgement time

2010-07-28T06:17:00.001-07:00

Why do we judge ourselves so harshly? I, for one, am so guilty of this. Being a girl that struggles with filtering what I say, I am CONSTANTLY replaying in my mind everything I say in any given situation over and over wondering if it was OK and hoping every one's OK with it. I am what you call a "yes" person. I like making people happy. I like cooking for people, helping with their homes, entertaining them, all of it. My very favorite thing is making people laugh. Who doesn't love to laugh? But in order to do that, you have to be willing to say what people are thinking, but may not be willing to say out loud. When someone actually does say those things, there's usually laughter, right? But then there's the times when it's just to much and that's what I'm left with. The self doubt, paranoia, and second guessing that comes with putting it all out there. The thing that bothers me the most is how much of what I say probably isn't pleasing to God. He's the ultimate judge and I want to be Christlike while still entertaining my friends and family. What a fine line to walk! So, as we all do, I struggle each day with my sinful self and try to be me while striving to be like Him. Will I ever not fall asleep at night playing back the soundtrack from my day in my mind? Who knows. All I know is this is how I've always been. What you see is what you get with me and it's hard to turn that off...even when I sometimes know I should.

Menu Planning and sharing

2010-07-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

So my friend Angela from her blog www.unexpectedelegance.com, has decided to do a menu swap. This is a fantastic idea for someone like me who loves to plan and plans our meals for the week in advance. And as much as I love being this organized, I get into ruts...especially when dinner is involved. I have three kids and a husband who all like routine and it's easy to slip into a pattern. By menu sharing with people form all over, we can really mix things up and discover new recipes and meal ideas that can really surprise (and maybe even impress) my family! So, here's my menu for this week. Prepare to be amazed...he he he.

Monday: Chicken Crescent rolls--Mix one can chicken breast meat with two 8 oz boxes of reduced fat cream cheese (softened slightly for mixing) a bag of frozen peas and carrots, 2 T softened butter, 1 T parsley, 1 tsp onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Combine ingredients and spoon onto reduced fat crescent triangles that have been rolled thin. Fold over and crimp to seal. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Mmmmmmmmm. I serve sliced apples with this meal

Tuesday: Grilled tuna steaks brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper, steamed broccoli and rice, all topped with sesame seeds.

Wednesday: My husband and I work and my son will eat with my inlaws. The girls are out of town this week!

Thursday: Crock pot pork chops-can of golden mushroom soup, packet of onion soup mix, fresh cracked pepper. Mashed potatoes and peas.

Friday: Daddy cooks!

So, what do you think? Does my cooking scream Hoosier or what? Enjoy!

My boys have a birthday

2010-06-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

So, when I went in for what turned out to be my last checkup when pregnant with Ian, the doctor said I was measuring overdue for twins in my 35th week of pregnancy. She suggested I get induced that next week. She casually threw out "How about next Tuesday?" I thought for a second and did the math in my head. "Isn't that the 22nd?", I replied. "Yes". "Hold on, I need to make a phone call" said the extremely uncomfortable pregnant woman desperate to get this person out of her body but not wanting to forever take away her husband's birthday. So, I called Eric, asked him if it was ok if our son was born on his birthday, and after a little mulling over he decided that might be kind of neat. So, three years later, it is kind of neat. Really neat, in fact. I LOVE that the two main men in my life started their lives on the same day. They will forever be able to celebrate together. We have enjoyed putting them in matching shirts, taking their picture together, and our newest tradition...Benihana. That has become a family favorite for the boys' birthday. We did it for the second time this year and I think it's tradition that's gonna stick.

Indy Car...the next generation

2010-02-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

Well, ok, so probably not. But it sure is fun to visit Daddy at work! I'm thinkin' these moments will be remembered for sure!

That's Mighty Neighborly of you!

2010-02-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest blessings God has given me this past year is a new found closeness with my neighbors. We've lived in our neighborhood for almost ten years and have always loved it. We are surrounded on all sides by good, generous people. But this last summer, more than others past, we've all gotten very close. I suppose it started with convenience. Hanging out with neighbors means no sitters, inexpensive cocktails, and lack of necessity to plan ahead. From the convenience came a camaraderie that I have come to cherish. We laugh a lot, gripe about our woes, and love on each other's kids. I know that Eric and I will one day look back on this season of our lives in this neighborhood, with these people, as some of the best of our lives.

Here are some pics from Christmas and birthday parties, just to give a taste of how much fun we have!

Snow what? We like it cold!

2010-01-31T21:13:00.000-08:00

The Strauss's love snow. We will never complain about too much, or the mess, or the shoveling, or any of that. We love the look, the sounds the fun of snow. Couple that with a new SLR camera I'm currently obsessed with, and it's a pretty fun day.

Merry Christmas 2009!

2010-01-31T20:51:00.000-08:00

Whew! What a busy month! We started off the month with a visit to Eric's family in Tennessee. We are blessed that MANY of his family members are able to gather at our cousins Gwen and Robert's house to celebrate Christmas. The most precious part of that, is the time that four generations of Strauss men get to spend together when we're there.
After that, there's a slurry of parties at friends' homes, church, school, work, and more! Mix in Meg's birthday somewhere in the middle and December is over in a flash. We are blessed with family, friends, good health, and faith. Thank you, God, for all your goodness in our lives!

Our Advent Calendar

2010-01-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

OK, so now that the kids are older, Christmas is a whole new event. When you're single or even married but have no children, it's still about yourself and you lose the reverence for how holy an event this holiday celebrates. But when you can teach your children to be excited that Jesus is not only real, but we can celebrate his birthday, well that's just too much fun! Our favorite Christmas tradition is our advent calendar. Eric and I happened across it one Fall when just the two of us were vacationing in Gatlinburg. I think Eric found it first and excitedly called me over to it. It has a little numbered door for each day of advent, and behind it is a magnet that is part of the nativity. When each door is opened, a little recording plays and tells of the significance of that particular object. Even sometimes overlooked items like the sheep and a dove are carefully described as to the important role their presence played in that sacred night. Each evening, the kids eagerly gather around our big yellow chair while Eric gets the calendar down from its perch (placed carefully out of reach of over eager little hands). They all take turns on their rotating nights and open the door to reveal the item. As the month progresses, the iconic image of our Savior's birth develops more and more until on Christmas Eve, when baby Jesus in his manger steals the show. Sure, we all wear matching red pjs, put out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. We threaten that Santa won't come until they're asleep and then hurry downstairs to carefully sneak all the bounty under our tree. But now that they're older...they're starting to get it. Maybe there weren't sheep, or a dove, or many of the items on our beloved advent calendar, but the event was real. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was sent to Earth as a baby. He lived as a man, ate food, had splinters, stubbed his toes, and countless other daily occurrences that we all experience. And then, when his Heavenly Father commanded it, He gave his life for each and everyone of us. If that silly magnetic board that we love so much helps them understand that, then it was money well spent, don't you think?

Meg turns 8

2010-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

My first baby. You know, no one can prepare you for motherhood. No amount of advice, stories, warnings, or the like can prepare anyone for what being a mother is like. No one could have prepared me for the sleeplessness. No one could have coached me through not crying during her first shots. There was not a single person that could have warned me of how my heart would break the day we were told she was autistic. And most of all, no one on this earth could have prepared me for how my heart would swell with indescribable love at the mere sight of this girl God entrusted to Eric and me. Megan. Sweet, kind, genuine, innocent Megan Olivia Strauss. God has had a special plan for her even from the time he put her name on our hearts. It means Pearl, which is so fitting for her. A perfect, pure beauty slowly and carefully crafted from a rough grain of sand. To know her is to fall completely in love with her love of life and everyone around her. I have never in my life met anyone as kind as this child. She can't stop herself from complimenting strangers as she walks by them on the street. She cried at the first wedding she went to when she was seven because she thought the bride must have been so happy. She is already a teacher to her siblings, a caretaker of her friends, and a daily reminder of God's constant presence in our lives. I am thankful every day that God gave us the opportunity to learn from her and love her and call ourselves her parents. As much as I ache for the days of Johnson and Johnson baby hair smell and her tiny lips rooting on my cheeks when I'd hold her up to my face, I eagerly await seeing her grow and conquer every day of her life. I am Megan's mommy. Lucky me.

Another year, another pumpkin patch!

2009-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Although this is by far our favorite time of year, it's bittersweet to think it's here already! When I downloaded this year's photos, I got caught up in looking at previous years' trips to the pumpkin patch. Where did my babies go? Now I have a young lady, a little girl, and a tiny man who likes to say "but, Mooooom!" over and over. I am so thankful to God for all these years of blessings and family memories that I will cherish forever. This year was no exception. We visited Russell Farms this year. While a little pricey, you get what you pay for. There are so many things to do there we couldn't even do it all. The putt putt course will have to wait till next year!

As a fun comparison, I posted some pics from pumpkin patches past. Feast your eyes on my rapidly growing children.

Apple Pickin' is the best!

2009-10-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

This was one of the best times we've ever had apple picking. Eric decided the night before that the time to strike was NOW before our favorite place, Tuttles, got too picked over. So we set off with our little pickers in tow and had the perfect morning. It was crisp but not cold and beautifully sunny. The trees had a BUMPER crop this year too! Ian's favorite part again this year was being on wagon duty. No one else was allowed to TOUCH the wagon because he had it under control. Megan, as always, enjoyed the animals most. They always seem to be drawn to her. It's truly amazing to witness. Claire was really into the corn maze (or maize, he he). She kept saying "One more time! I can do it faster!". Daddy has a new love affair with honeycrisp apples and I got my apple butter, so the whole family was happy! Oh how I LOVE fall!

Back to School 2009

2009-08-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

That was, for real, the FASTEST summer ever! I mean, looking back, we did a LOT. Florida, Zoo, museum, splash parks, playdates, the list goes on and on. But come on...August 12th?!! I firmly believe that no school should start before the state fair! It's just too darn early. It's so unfair that someone else gets to spend all day with my girls now. That should be me! But, they love it and are learning so much already, so I need to get over myself. At least I still have have my little buddy Ian! He's so fun and this is a blessed opportunity to get to have all this one on one with him. He misses his sisters during the day, but he's asking for them a little less each day.

Their first day of school was fun, starting with breakfast with our neighbors. We set up out in our neighbor's driveway and all the parents brought some yummies to share. The kids loved sitting together and talking about what they were excited for that day. One neighbor even brought Starbucks for all the parents (God Bless you, Lori!). As luck would have it, we even had butterflies that we had been watching since caterpillars and we released them that morning. Too cool.

Of course, the big excitement of the day is the bus. Ahhh, the glorious bus and all it's orangish-yellow splendor. I'm happy to report we have a MUCH nicer driver this year, which makes me feel so much better. I was seriously struggling with the idea of putting not one, but TWO of my babies on a bus for a stranger to drive off with. Eric, my sainted husband, chose to work from home that day so he could help my crying, overly emotional self home from the bus stop. Having my neighbor friends there helped too. When I was crying the hardest right after they drove off, my empathetic neighbor, Shaun, took a picture. While I'll have to delete it and he deserves a beating at some point, it did make me laugh. So, I need to focus on the fact that they are healthy, happy, smart girls that love going to school. Thank you , God, for COUNTLESS blessings, including my children that love to learn and spend their day away from Mommy.

Claire Victoria Strauss-Age 6

2009-08-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Wow. Six years. I mean, really? She's my BABY girl. I've always thought of Megan as a big girl, but not Claire. Megan was always a little more grown up than her age, so seeing her grow up has been easier for me. But Claire will always be the chubby cheeked, wide eyed, drooling baby in my mind. From the time of her painless, effortless delivery, she was a perfect baby. Slept and ate well, rarely cried, easy to smile. Everyone always got a smile out of her and that always made me so proud. I know how good it makes me feel to get a smile out of a baby and I always loved that she did that for so many people. While she has grown far less agreeable and we joke that her looks are what keeps her living, I can't help but cry as I type out how much I adore this child that God has gifted to Eric and me. I can't fathom why I get to be her mother. As testy as she can be, that's how sweet and loving she is. Sometimes she truly can't stop herself from hugging and kissing you. She actually panics if she leaves someone she loves and thinks she might have forgotten to hug, kiss, and tell them she loves them. Thank you, God, for trusting me to be her mother. I hope I'm doing your will for her everyday.

Happy Birthday, America!

2009-07-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well, for the first time in three years, Eric was engineering a race on the fourth. This used to be a regular occurrence, but he's been home for the last three years' 4ths. So, while sad and missing Daddy, we made the most of a rainy holiday. First, we spent the day at the Children's Museum with our friends Kristin and Molly. This was so fun. The girls, as well as Ian actually, love being with Molly. Mommy loves being with Kristin, so everyone wins with this combo! After the museum (and some gift shop memorabilia) we headed to our house. The eight dollar combo pack of fireworks were just right for four kids seven and under. The girls loved the sparklers and Ian favored the "snakes" that grow. He was calling them snake poop and then laughing hysterically at himself. I was pretty entertained by it too, honestly! The evening wrapped up with a movie and popcorn in Tiff and Eric's room. The girls did great sleeping all together in the girls' bedroom floor. All in all, great and exhausting holiday!

On a side note, Mommy was THRILLED that it was picture with Star Wars characters day!!! I dragged the kids from guy to guy. Whoo-hoo!!

Taking my zoo to the animals

2009-07-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know everyone HATES cool weather in summer, but I LOVE it! Last week in Indiana, it was unseasonably cold...high 60's, low 70's. It was heaven. We spent a ton of time outside. One of the best days was at the zoo. Summer at the zoo isn't always pleasant. There's only a couple places to cool off and heated animal poo isn't my favorite air freshener. This day, however, was perfect. They weren't even burnt out and begging to go as usual when it was time to go. Another treat was that Daddy was able to join us before he left for a race, which is always nice. We saw it all and slept well that afternoon!

Ian's future in landscaping

2009-07-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

This boy loves to mow. More than that, he loves to do what Daddy does. So, as one can imagine, the fact that this task combines both elements makes it his favorite thing currently. Eric has even gotten to where he looks forward to mowing because Ian's interest is so darn cute. First, Eric mows a random curvy path in the yard that Ian uses. I think it really makes him feel like HE'S cutting the grass. Then , he follows Eric up and down the rows he mows. He is diligent and rarely, is ever, looses interest until the entire yard is done. The new element he has added is trimming. Eric doesn't let Ian in the yard while he's doing this, but he watches from the window. He then goes outside with his bubble blower that looks like a leaf blower, and does the "timmin'". Put that altogether with Ian in plaid bermudas, black vans, and a big belly, and you've got yourself a bloggable memory.

Fishers Freedom Fest

2009-07-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Ahh, festivals. This is where Eric and I could NOT be more different. I live for Saturdays with booths full of crap I don't need, mullets, and funnel cakes. Eric, on the other hand, dislikes festivals so much that his personality changes while we're at them. He becomes surly, irritable, and edgy. Seeing as we can't miss out, for the kids' sake of course, I tolerate this behavior so we can participate in the small town wonder that is...A FESTIVAL!

This particular day was very busy. Megan had a birthday party to attend and Ian had a date with his beloved nite-nite, so Claire and I ventured off on the tandem bike alone. We had a wonderful time bike riding to "downtown" Fishers where we played at the playground, had ice cream, and watched the parade. Luckily, Eric with Ian and Megan in tow (quite literally...bike trailer) were able to join us shortly after the parade began. The kids and I thought it was great, and Eric lived.

The Strauss's take Treaure Island

2009-07-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

VACATION!! We didn't think we'd get one this year, but thanks to my Mom and Dad, we had a beautiful one. My dad found an AMAZING penthouse condo and charged Eric and I a Strauss budget friendly portion. We got to spend a week away from reality and by the beach. It was Ian's first time to the ocean, and he was very impressed. The harder the waves hit him , the harder he laughed. The girls have always been ocean lovers and this trip was no exception. My parents also brought along my nephew Josh, which was awesome because he provided another playmate and comic relief. Plus, Ian loves having more guys around to balance things out.

Claire the graduate

2009-07-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

My Clairesey is now a graduate, Kindergarten that is. We have been so blessed to have been able to send all our kids to our church's school, "God's Kids". The Kindergarten teacher there is AMAZING. I hope that Ian gets to be in her class too!

Claire did great during the ceremony. She sang all the songs and did all the moves, which is a big deal for her and her stubborn ways. The most touching part of the ceremony though was when they were marching in to Pomp and Circumstance, she saw my dad sitting on the aisle seat, stopped the entire processional, and said "hi, poppa!" followed by a big hug and kiss. I had done a good job of holding it together until that point. I couldn't help but think about how we started attending that church when I was pregnant with her, and now she can read, write, and is going to get on a bus this Fall. I can barely stand it.

I once again did the cake for the reception, which excites the kids when they see their name on the cake. I love that I can provide something that gives all the kids so much joy. Cake...so simple, so awesome.

I give up

2009-07-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my goal was to backtrack on blogs to try and make up for the time I have missed. This has caused me to dread and put off doing so. So, I'm giving up on that plan and have devised a new one. I'm starting from just last week and will try and post at least once a week. Commitment, baby. That's the name of the game!

Ian's new ride

2009-03-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

A generous co-worker of Eric's gave us a four wheeler for Ian to use. Not ones to turn down free cool stuff, we gladly accepted. He LOVES it! Steering is a problem, but making it go is not. The only thing that he doesn't like is that after an hour or so, the battery needs to be recharged. Other than that, behold Ian's new favorite passtime.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-03-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so of course this was back in November, but I got behind, so I'm catching you up! Unfortunately, I don't know how to change the date that the post has marked. So anyway, the kids really play a role in helping decorate for the holidays now. The girls pretty much put all the ornaments on the tree (minus the ones I won't let them touch!). We went truly cheesy this year and put up our first, and only I'd say, inflatable. Eric bought it last year on clearance, so it was a fun surprise when we opened our storage totes! It was a big hit and well worth the neighborly humiliation.

Fire is mesmerizing

2009-02-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

Of all the thousands of dollars worth of toys and entertainment we have collected over the years for our children, the simplest things are still the most successful in keeping their attention. Take for example, the fireplace. The mystique of the glowing warmth and crackling comfort never fades. We have to constantly remind them to stay back, in fact, as they can't seem to get a good enough look at it each time.

Claire can sleep anywhere...and has!

2009-02-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

My girls both develop a problem with sleepwalking when they're five. Megan did it, and now like clockwork, so has Claire. As a result, we find them sleeping in the strangest places. When Eric and I came up to bed tonight, there was Claire, soundly asleep with all her accoutrement that she requires at bedtime. We have no idea what time she moved there, but there she was none the less. Kids...they keep us guessing, don't they?

Feeble attempts at a Christmas card picture

2009-02-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

In an act to save money this year, I tried to get a good picture of the kids myself that could go on our Christmas card. Does anyone reading this have ANY idea how hard it is to get three kids six and under to simultaneously look at the camera and smile. It would have been worth the photographer fees. I ended up using a picture I took over the summer that was unplanned and unposed. Says a lot about life, doesn't? Stop trying so hard and the good stuff will just happen when it's good and ready.

Start 'em early

2009-02-19T20:24:00.000-08:00

Eric thought it would be funny to let Ian pretend to drive. Unfortunately, this led to some toddler entitlement issues. I'm sure you can all imagine how much fun it was to try and get him in his own seat for about a week, but that's what Dads do. They plant seeds of fun ideas and the Moms rip the seedlings from the ground. We're symbiotic that way.

Trick Or Treating with Grandma Great

2009-02-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

The kids thought Grandma Great would like to see them in their costumes. They were right! She was so happy to see them, as were the others that live in her nursing home. Grandma Great was having a great day and was able to truly enjoy our visit. The kids not only look forward to seeing her, but also to seeing the huge fish tank in the dining room. Grandma finally gave up trying to compete for their attention and just decided to hang out at the fish tank with them. I guess 88 years of wisdom helps you pick your battles wisely! It was a special visit.

Trick Or Treat

2009-02-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2008. This year we couldn't have had better weather. It was a mild evening with very little breeze. Each year the girls go a little further around the neighborhood. Megan and I stayed out another thirty minutes after Eric and Claire cried uncle. Ian was done too (done yelling at me to open another piece!). Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mark, their boys, and all the Zimmermans joined us too! This was the first time that all the cousins got to trick-or-treat together, which was fantastic. It was a great holiday!

Zoo BOO!

2009-02-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

Each year, we really look forward to Halloween at the Zoo. They keep it open a little later, decorate everything, and even hand out candy. The kids really love another opportunity to wear their costumes too. Claire was quite a hit as Wall-E. She got tons of comments and lots of kids were pointing her out to their parents. Good job, Eric, for making such a cool costume. Megan went pretty much unrecognized as Ming-Ming from Wonder Pets, but she's a trail-blazer. Next year everyone will be a Wonder Pet. Ian wore our beloved Elmo costume that all our kids wear for their 2nd Halloween. Mommy was Minnie Mouse, and Daddy was super creative and went as a Mechanical Engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing. When Claire asked what he was, he said he was the coolest Dad. Oh, ok.

Papa's Birthday

2009-02-05T14:08:00.001-08:00

For Papa's Birthday this year, he wanted to go to Metamora. It's a small town in southern Indiana that is all shops. Most of the people live in their stores. It's very quaint and very charming. His sister, Ginger, has a store there called Ginni V's. The Witcher-Brashers, Mom and Dad, and the Strauss's were all available that day. We walked the town, had the most bland bean soup in history for lunch, and tailgated with birthday cake! It's just the way Dad like to spend his birthdays...or any day for that matter.

Sweet Briar Kids, Unite!

2009-02-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

I was in my house and the kids were all outside. I noticed I hadn't heard them for a few minutes (never a good sign) so I went out to check on them. What I found was adorable. Completely without being asked, my three along with the three boys next door were raking leaves. They actually did a pretty nice job too!

Pumpkin Patch, the sweaty version

2009-02-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

Who knew we'd be sweaty, miserable beasts at the pumpkin patch in late October? But that's precisely what we were. Despite the heat, we did it all...animals, rides, games, and pumpkins. It's even more fun this year now that Ian is no longer stroller bound and can join in the fun with his sisters.

Halloween at Dance Class

2008-11-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

We truly got our money's worth (or time's worth since they were homemade this year) out of their costumes. Their first opportunity to wear them was to dance class. All the dancers come to class dressed up the week of Halloween. Even their teacher, Miss Sue wears her giant pumpkin costume. They were a bit cumbersome and Megan's even suffered some popped stiches, but they were determined to wear them! Megan was Ming-Ming the superhero duck from Wonderpets and Claire was Wall-E (yes, we're still in the midst of that obsession).

Would you like to have a roll in ze hay?

2008-10-08T16:31:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, our church had a hayride/weenie roast at Stoneycreek Farms. That is right up our alley. We love Fall and all activities that it includes. We got to play games, roast hot dogs and smores, play with friends from church, and take a pleasantly long hayride. The highlite for the girls were their glow in the dark bracelets (that and all you can eat individual bags of chips). Ian stayed with Mimi so we could stay out extra late!

I don't remember liking the bus this much

2008-10-08T15:57:00.001-07:00

Movies, toys, bikes, trips, museums, zoos...the list of things we buy for and do with our children could go on for days. Who knew all we had to do was put her on public transit? She is absolutely giddy to run to the bus stop every morning. She's ready to go about twenty minutes before she needs to leave and she struggles to wait in the house. What's the appeal? I wish I got as excited for anything as she does to ride the bus each day. Kudos, Megan. Embrace the simple things, I guess.

Megan's second first day of first grade (say that ten times fast!)

2008-10-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, Megan started at Cumberland Road Elementary. She was so excited to get to ride the bus! I, of course, felt a little ill as they pulled away. She did great! We are happy to announce she has adapted well. She is blessed with a wonderful teacher that we believe truly cares about Megan thriving at school. She has made friends, learned their routines quickly, and looks forward to going every day. What a trooper she's been. That is one amazing kid. Thanks, God.

Chief Mechanic, front left tire

2008-10-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

This apple didn't fall far from the tree. Ian likes to be out in the garage when Eric's working on his car. Last week, Eric was taking his tires off and apparantly Ian was paying attention. Yesterday, he went out the garage and picked up the correct tool (I do not know what it's called) and went to the car to try and loosen the bolts himself. Eric was beaming with pride. I smell a go-cart purchase coming soon.

Starting to get it

2008-09-30T19:05:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I know I could never come close to understanding Christ's love for us, but I'm starting to get it. An hour ago, I was so frustrated with Claire, I had to walk away from her for fear of handling the situation with her very badly. Now, as I look at pictures I took yesterday, I am smiling thinking about her. That has to be something like what God feels for us, I would imagine. We break his heart everyday with sin and our stupid choices. But at the end of the day, he's still smiling down on us with more love than I can fathom. Pretty darn cool. Lord, please grant me the patience to deal with my blessings.

Down and Dirty

2008-09-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Prrof positive that he's all boy...he LOVES dirt. If I can't find him for more than a couple minutes when we're outside, I know he's up to his elbows in it. This morning when I dropped him off at school, I looked down and his right hand was mysteriously covered in dirt. I thin kit's coming out of his pores now. Oh well, the girls like to be clean. Two out of three ain't bad!

Give those noses a break...let's pick apples!

2008-09-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, picking apples in 80 degree burning sunshine was not ideal, but the cider slushies that followed were. They were enjoying themselves for about an hour, then we hit a wall. Ian especially enjoyed pulling the wagon himself. If fact, he wouldn't let anyone else even try! So, we took our 15 pounds of apples and headed home. The baking has been fierce and steady.

What a handy little man!

2008-09-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Ian loves jobs around the house. His favorite is sweeping and/or vacuuming. Hand him a broom and he's happy for hours. He also likes to water my plants. Unfortunately, we had about a week recently when the pots on the front porch were empty. That did not stop him from getting his work done.

Ian's First FIRST day of school

2008-09-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that right. 19 month old Ian James has followed in his sisters' proud tradition and is attending God's Kids pre-school. He goes Tuesdays from 9-2, which is just enough time for Mommy to remember how fun he is to be around. He loved his first day. His teacher said he even made a friend, Brendan. His favorite part of the day, however, was the fire drill. Apparantly he thought the alarms and organized chaos were quite hilarious. I'm so in for it.

Dancing Queens

2008-09-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

We have entered year two of dance class. They have moved up from "Creative Movement" to "Pre-Ballet". I think Claire could have used another year of Creative Movement, but they both are very happy to get suited up and go every Tuesday.

Trip to Great Grandpa Strauss's

2008-09-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

A favorite tradition we look forward to each year is all the Strauss's heading south to Fairfield Glade, TN, to spend Labor day weekend with Great Grandpa Strauss. He's 81 this year and still golfs almost every day of the week. He always has new jokes for us (though not always for the younger Strauss's) and we all love seeing him each year. Alonf with that, we get to see lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Our kids travel pretty easily (thank you, God, for in car DVD) so it's a fun trip for all. The girls really got the hang of putt-putt this year and got some holes in one!

Claire's "1st day"

2008-09-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Claire had two days at Heritage before the "change", so I thought I'd go ahead and show how cute and happy she was that day!

Blogger of the Year

2008-09-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, I forgot I set this up. We've had a crazy last month and this fell low in the totem pole. For those of you who don't know, Heritage did not work out for us. I'm sure they're doing lots of good things there, but we did not experience that. Megan, as many of you know, needs a little extra help communicating and staying focused, and that was not something they were willing to help her with. Let me make clear that we are not Heritage haters. They just weren't right for our family's needs. God has protected sweet little Megan's heart and mind and she has moved on easily and willingly. I have been homeschooling her while Eric and I have been carefully praying and discovering what are her best options. We are happy to say that she will be starting 1st grade at our local public school on Wednesday next week where they have already welcomed her with open arms. We appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from all of you while we've been going through this tough time. I will have new first day of school pics for her next week! Claire, is Claire, so we don't worry about her. She's going to Kindergarten at E91 (where they've gone since they were babies) and is infinitely happy there. Thanks, God for making the best of a yucky situation! Life trial #8768, check!

Butterflies

2008-08-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

One really important thing for Megan was to see the butterflies at the White River Gardens. it certainly was something to see. There are so many, they are literally flying into you as you walk through. It was Megan's idea of Heaven.

The big day

2008-08-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's official. Megan is a first grader. She, of course, was willing and eager. Mommy actually held it together pretty well until the parking lot where I cried on Daddy's shoulder (his eyes were wet too). She did great her first morning, but got a little overwhelmed that afternoon. But by the second day, she was getting the hang of it and was still happy when I picked her up! I'm sure I'll blink twice and this year will be a faint memory. Unreal, isn't it?

Then, the museum again

2008-08-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

This was a must. And this time was even better, because Jenni and Jonah Hufford joined us! He is hilarious and the Strauss kids love having him around. Mommy enjoys Jenni's company as well as Jonah, so we all win.

Trip to the zoo

2008-08-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

For the last few days before school, we tried to squeeze in all our favorite things. First, we went to the zoo, and Daddy got to go with us! This was Ian's first time as a toddler, so he was really experiencing it for the first time. The weather was ideal and we all had a great time.

Megan melts my heart

2008-08-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, before I went ot bed, I went in to tuck in the girls. Megan was in the bathroom, so I helped her back to bed in her sleepy stupor. Once she laid down, I kissed her and told her how special she is. Then, half awake and with eyes closed, she said "God made me special". You are too right, amazing girl.

Surreal but true

2008-08-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight I took my girls to the Welcome Dinner at their school. I was doing so well until I saw Megan's class list posted, and the tears came. It was real. First grade is here. I'm so jealous of her teacher. She gets to spend all day with her now and I don't. Six and a half years were not enough. Claire, on the other hand, gets out at 10:30, so I will now know to cherish this year with her. Ian is still around too...tiny buddy.

They are in no way hesitant and extremely excited. We are blessed with an amazing school (Heritage Christian) and know without a doubt when they're not with us, this is the best place they can be.

Children's Museum

2008-08-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Last week amidst the perfect weather lay one rainy day. We snapped up the chance to go to the Children's Museum. For those of you who haven't been, it is WELL worth the trip. We have had a membership for four years, and we still haven't seen everything. The girls were very into the dinosaurs this time (it's something different each time). Ian, on the other hand, thought the Curious George exhibit was right up his alley. He loved every puppet he saw and showed them just how much with lots of "muh-wah!' kisses.

2008-08-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, I give

2008-08-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Alright. I've had enough people ask me to do this, so I'm in. Knowing how much I enjoy looking at all of my friends' blogs, I figure I could return the voyueristic favor. I don't know how long I'll update, or if I even know how, but I'll try!