Make A Wish Update

Make a Wish called us this last week & they have set up a date and time to come out and meet Amie & help determine what her wish will be.

This is very confusing - because we want to make sure that this wish is what Amie would want - but how do we figure it out??!!

So - we went straight to the source!! You will laugh when you hear what she said to me:

Me: "Amie - is there anything you want?"

Amie: "No"

Me: "Would you like to go on vacation somewhere?"

Amie: "No - my go movie my Ky"

Me: "We can go to a movie with Kylee again. But is there somewhere you might want to go?"

Amie: "No - my go movie my Ky"

So.....this is not going to be easy!!

BRRRRR It's cold!!

I am soooo ready for spring!

Things to Ponder....

The last two weeks - I have spent a TON of time on the road! Three times to Peoria last week & two times to Bloomington this week. The trips to Bloomington started at 6:00 AM, so I got to see the sun rise.

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So, there I am alone with my thoughts & of course soft rock playing (from the 80's, 90's & today ;)

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I'm a sucker for a gorgeous sunset - especially in a warm setting!! So, I wasn't expected such a gorgeous sunrise the other morning.

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With the roads being a bit slick & it being around 7 degrees & windy - I actually missed the shot that caught my attention - half way between Peoria and Bloomington is a beautiful area with hills, trees & curves. It is a breath of fresh air -- amongst the flat lands elsewhere in our area!

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So, there I was, driving along - singing to the radio I'm sure & basically just passing time. As I came around a curve - there was the most gorgeous sunrise I think I've ever seen. There was a bit of a haze in the air with the sub freezing temperatures & wind. The trees on each side of the road were covered in the white freeze.

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It gave me pause, in the middle of my dread of being on the road so much & all the things that I know are going undone at home and work.

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It did give me a chance to think of how small our day to day issues are in the grand scheme of things & to appreciate the little things for their glory and splendor.

Amie Coffee!

For as long as I can remember - Amie has liked to imitate me with my coffee cup & spoon.

On a cold snowy day -- we made some hot cocoa. Amie called it her Coffee!! I'm not sure what she thought of it......

But she keeps asking for it!!

Disney on Ice - Trauma, Drama & Excitement!

Thursday night the four girls went on an adventure! We purchased tickets for Disney on Ice!! Little did we know the adventure would start way before the show!!

But - let's talk about the show first!!

I knew that Kylee would enjoy the show - she's the right age to know these characters & was excited about going. What I wasn't sure about was whether Amie would understand, enjoy or even stay attentive to the show. Well I shouldn't have worried at all!!!

As you can see -- it's all business!! She had a great time!! When she saw Mickey Mouse -- she yelled "A Mickey"!!

Here's Aunt Janet & Kylee all smiles!!

The first performance was of the cars - they were really cute and entertaining! Funniest thing for me was that Amie thought that "Mator" was "Daddy truck" Every time he went by - that is what she would yell & point at him!

And can you see what awesome seats we had!!! We were third row up & right next to a mini stage where different characters would come onto & semi-interact with the audience!!

My absolute favorite character was Pumbaa. He was a skater that had to skate bent over, holding onto front sticks for the front legs - he was so funny in his mannerisms!!

The girls loved the show -- the Mommies loved the show!! If it weren't for the crowds & the drama-trauma before the show -- I would say it's a DEFINITE repeat!!

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So - let's back track - shall we??

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First - this was the first time I've used my new Garmin - well I guess I had used it the other day - but the first time to use it when I didn't know where I was going. So - we had Garmin giving us directions. About the time we got to the Quad Cities - we were trying to figure out where to eat. We chose the Village Inn. It said it was .9 miles. We selected it & it changed to 8.some miles - ok no problem, we just kept on the road it had us on. Then it had us get off of an exit & I'm looking at the map & it has us getting back on the ramp (basically doing a "U" on the overpass) - so we are heading back in the direction we came from. It took us back to the exit that it had us get off on to begin with. So - not traumatic by any means - but frustrating. We wound up finding a Fazoli's - which was good because we were running out of time (and I LOVE Fazoli's!!)

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So - dinner complete - back to Garmin's directions!! We head down the roads that it directs on & we get to about 4 or so blocks from the iWireless Center & we come to a dead stop - cars absolutely EVERYWHERE! So - we just creep along. We finally get to an intersection (now mind you - we had been consistently creeping & about 2 cars made it through the intersection on each light). So- we are second in line at the light when it turned red. It turns green - so the car ahead of us crosses - we cross & so does every car behind us -- except that we didn't make it through the intersection & neither did the cars behind us.

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So here's the picture. The car ahead of us has it's tail in the intersection - we are directly in the middle of the intersection & so is the car behind us. And you guessed it - we are now at a dead stop!! We are not moving an inch!! So - two or three red lights come and go & everyone is still sitting like adults. Because there is nothing any of us can do!!

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About the 4th red light - the car that was being blocked by us pulls up to about a half a car length from our passenger side & began waving his arms -- as if I was purposefully keeping him from crossing!! I waved my arms back & gestured that I can't go anywhere. Of course Janet wasn't happy that it was her side of the car that would be hit if he became volitile!!!!

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About another light change & this guy now gets out of his car & comes over to the car screaming and knocking that we needed to move!! I of course being the shy person that I am yelled - "I can't". To which he decided that he had all the answers -- he basically wanted me to inch forward and back & angle until I could pull out of the lane enough to let him pass. We tried to ignore him for a while.

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Well that didn't last for long - because now the guy behind him got out of his vehicle & he was an even bigger guy & the two of them are yelling at us! Now we're all getting scared at what is going to happen next.

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Oh I forgot to mention that when we first got to the creeping traffic, the cops had just arrived at the iWireless to direct traffic. But for whatever reason, when we made it to the intersection (which was about two blocks from our destination & where the police were at) - they stopped allowing our road to progress!!!

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Now with two irrate angry men at our car screaming at us - the girls get scared! Kylee starts crying and Amie just kept saying "A Ky".

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So I called 911!! The lady said something about, there's police just two blocks from you directing traffic. I told her that we knew that - but they were not letting us move, which is why these men were angry & that they needed to get the police to move the traffic or we were going to be hurt!!

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While I was on the phone, traffic began to inch forward (not move - but inch) -- so we crowded as close as we could to the cars ahead (I think people saw what was going on) & eventually we had moved far enough (and the guy behind us didn't move) - that these two idiots barely cleared the back of our car and screamed out of there!!

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Oh & I forgot to tell -- another idiot came the wrong direction down the one way towards us - trying to cut in line!! Seriously!! People are idiots!

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We get up to the traffic cops & iWireless workers & they wer not very helpful either. We kept trying to get their attention for where to park. Finally some jerk says - you can't park here it's for pre-paid. At which time, Janet yells - we're trying to tell you we are pre-paid. By now, we've gone beyond the entrance & they have to stop traffic again - so that they can allow us to go into the out exit!!

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We made it to the show - we were a few minutes late - but were able to enjoy the show!!

Shower Saga!

I'm not sure what to call this post - so for now I'm settling on "Shower Saga". I'm not exactly sure how Daddy may have created this issue....but it's all his!!!

Amie got a doll house for Christmas & in it is a shower. She has decided that a lot of her "junk" toys (like McDonald's penguin, or other little trinket toys) should take a shower in that shower. This penguin thing she has even has a little blanket thing it sits in. She puts the shower in the blanket thing & then the penguin in the blanket thing -- under the shower. You kind of get the picture.

Well some time these last couple of weeks, Daddy asked her if she'd like to take a shower instead of a bath. Now - she argues that she wants a shower at night. Tonight it was quite comical!!

She began saying, "Shower please." I said, should we get a bath. She said, "No. Daddy do. Shower please."

Never one to pass up the chance to allow her some time with Daddy (cough, cough -- Daddy's been home with her all week!!) I said, "Go talk to Daddy then."

So she began her insistence that "Daddy Do Shower".

At about the same time that he was giving in to her, I headed upstairs.

Amie came unglued!!! She yelled, "No Daddy do. Amie Shower." I was at the top of the stairs looking down at a face similar to the ones below as she continued on her rant.

"Daddy Do. Amie Shower. Mommy down."

There I was at the top of the stairs looking down at a very serious young lady that was getting madder by the second standing next to her Daddy (who by the way was laughing)!

She was down right mad at me! Being a bit naughty I said, "Why can't Mommy give Amie shower?" She came up the stairs (still mad) & said, "No Mommy down. Daddy do. Amie Shower." And she took my hand and started pulling me down the stairs!

I think Daddy has started something that he may regret! As for me -- I guess it's free respite!!! ;)

Since there was no chance to get a camera during our little drama - I thought I'd load a couple of prior photos where she was having a bit of a fit!!

Mommie, Play Amie!

Ok - I admit it - Bath time for me is like respite!! I get Amie cleaned, play a few minutes & then I go off to get jammies & clothes for the next day - maybe catch a few minutes of news - or just chill!! But lately -- Missy has learned my ways & as soon as I leave the room, I hear "Mommie, play Amie" I tell her I'll be in - in a minute. She plays for a few minutes & then asks for me to play some more.

Well - I found some bathtub crayons the other day - so I gave her a purple one tonight to keep her entertained a few minutes longer.......

I heard the request & also that devilish laugh. When I came into the bathroom -- she kept "hiding" from me.....guess what I finally saw??!!

How artistic!! It actually was quite amusing! She was so happy with herself!! The pictures don't do it justice -- she even had purple hair!!