The twins have been busy!

Lots going on in our home and family! One of the very coolest things is the project the twins are working on.

They will be presenting at the Climate Change Student Summit at UNL this weekend! So cool! And there will be students from Lincoln and Omaha- and students from Chicago, Alaska and Virginia via satelite! SO SO COOL!

The whole summit is too have students (grades 7-10) get together, discuss and brainstorm strategies for preserving the planet and its resources. Global warming is affecting every part of the world...and getting students together from all parts of the US will be interesting. As global warming progresses- Alaska is beginning to flood. The harsh northern winters are getting pushed farther south due to the jet stream moving. So the winters that were typical the last 50 years in ND and SD are going to be what we'll be getting. Which helps explain why Arizona and Texas have been getting snow and freezing temps!

BACK TO THE TWINS...the twins will be presenting on water conservation. Many think oil is the most valuable resource...but its not! Water is! And its in VERY limited supply. So the girls will be talking about why we should use tap water vs bottled water.

• Making the plastic bottles AND recycling them causes massive amounts of pollution which contributes to global warming.
• Bottled water takes water from its natural sources (say Michigan) and then transports and distributes it all over the US and the world. That water can not recycle itself back to its origin. And did you know that most of Nestle's bottled water (and its subsidiaries) get its water from Lake Superior and Lake Michigan! Those lakes are shrinking and fast!
• If you like distilled or purified water...get an RO system or purifier that attaches directly to your tap.

Here's a photo of the girls conducting a blind taste test (tap water, Aquafina, Figi and store brand distilled) at their school last week.

Tap water received 64% of the votes making it the winner!

We are so proud of the girls! This isn't a school project or a class requirement...just something they are interested in and feel strongly about! Last year they convinced the school to stop using Nestle water products...this year they are hoping to approach the school board to make it district wide.

The girls have passionate ideals...but to see them actually vocalize them- publicly...is amazing! Love you twinnies!

a failing effort

I'm not quite sure how this week just flew passed me so quickly! It seemed like everyday there was stuff going on.

I was hoping to get back into blogging regularly again. Obviously, I failed this week! :(

I don't want this to turn into a pregnancy blog- because I'm really just trying to focus on my health and family right now. Hoping this will help the ump-teen weeks I have left whoosh right by. Plus- I hate complainers! Women who are pregnant just need to suck up the suckiness of morning sickness, nausea, back pain, headaches, swelling feet and ultimately - transforming into a whale. It sucks...but SO worth it!

Friends were getting pregnant on a seemingly constant rotation and some would 'complain' - I just wanted to say "I would give anything to be puking my granola cereal into the kitchen sink and have an expanding belly with a growing miracle inside- SO STOP COMPLAINING!"

And even after today (a horrendously bad day- sorry to the lady on 48th street in the tan van that had to watch me throw up out my car window during carpool this morning!) I'm still so so thankful for this chance!

So on the list for next week:

A post about Vegas (a few more pix and a story or two)

A funny little story about taking pucca and the neighbor boy out to dinner.

A way past due Vday post for my family

and how we're planning for Pucca's baptism! (can you believe she's almost 8!?)

Oh and I want to post about the twins- they are presenting a video/slide show presentation at two different LPS functions for their Water Conservation quest! Pretty cool!

Have a great weekend!

Run run run

I have been on the run since we returned home from our little holiday away from this bitter freezing ice land we call home. Hosted a baby shower for a friend, entertained children and tried to keep my sanity during a few snow days, helped during a few shifts at the book fair at Pucca's school, planning Valentine parties for the entire second grade (on a $60 budget), trying to get caught up on laundry (seems to be a losing battle), hosted a 'Hooters' party and had a great time, had some friends over for the Big Game, parent teacher conferences...this list could really just keep going and going.



And just off the top of my head for this upcoming week...HOA meeting, Valentine Parties, KSC end of the year party, 'little friends' over a few days, PTA meeting, service call on the frig and LOTS OF LOVELY SUNSHINE! YAY!

I want you to know I'm not complaining - because most of these things are things I enjoy doing and helping with. Its just when they all come in the same week...that it just kills me.

My big plans for the weekend: sleeping in and finishing up projects! So forgive me if I seclude myself in the house and don't answer my phone! (I get easily distracted these days!) :)

See you Monday with some funny stories about the girls.

blessings

In 2008, John and I went on a cruise to Alaska to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We did plenty of shopping on the trip...touristy-gotcha type shops, local markets and art studios. We were walking around Ketchikan, taking a little adventure through the residential streets when we came across this little out of the way artist studio. There were gorgeous art pieces of all kinds- paintings, wood work, jewelry, cut stones and rocks, drawings etc. One artist specialized in leather work.

I was drawn to this little pair of moccasins sitting on the shelf. How adorable! So tiny and perfect. John and I were still trying for a little one at that point so I bought them...in hopes of the best and that someday soon our little one could wear them.

Then came the miscarriages. Completely devastating.

After the miscarriage last summer, I decided I was perfectly happy with my family of five. And despite always feeling like someone was missing from our family- we were done trying. I couldn't go through another heartbreak and either could John.

About two weeks before Christmas, I wasn't feeling well and thought I might be really sick. I called my doctor and she said to come in and she'd run some labs, but first she wanted me to take a home pregnancy test. On the way to the store, I had to stop, pull over and throw up. I never throw up...unless I'm pregnant. I started hoping...

The test was positive. I called John. "Oh. Honey I'm so sorry!" were his first words. I think we women forget how hard miscarriages are on the husbands. They've lost something too and yet there they are supporting us, focusing on us and carrying the load.

Slowly the holidays passed and the weeks began to pass. Lots of labs and ultrasounds. At my last appt the dr gave me the official go ahead to be excited and hopeful! "This ones a keeper!" were her words.

So now, after nearly 3 years- we will finally be able to use these adorable little moccasins. Our little one is expected in August!