Wednesday, April 2, 2008
update on GiGi
Yesterday GiGi was able to be transfered from Methodist Hospital to the ortheopedic rehabilitation center at Lutheran Hospital. YIPPEE!!! I have not been able to visit her yet, but my Dad said that she likes her room, and is just happy to be there.
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods is so named because, "... it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods."~ surveyor, 1859.
Isabella & her Daddy
sweet sisters~ who LOVED 'rock climbing'!
"Rock Climbing Prohibited" sign
And, in my opinion, the nearly 500 acres encompasses all that is beautiful about Colorado. More than 100 years ago it was privately owned by Charles Perkins for his summer home retreat. In 1909, after his death, his family donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs with the instruction that the area should always remain free to the public, and with structures built only for the necessary maintenance of the land. It is simply a beautiful place to 'get back to nature'. 
Lisi, Amy, Isabella & Mark
Lisi, Amy, Isabella & Mark
Isabella & her Daddy
sweet sisters~ who LOVED 'rock climbing'!
"Rock Climbing Prohibited" signOur Visit to Focus on the Family
Mark and I have been to Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs a few times by ourselves for conferences, etc, and have always enjoyed just 'being' there. It is an amazing campus! They even have their own post office and zip code because of all of the mailing that they do!!! But this was the first time we have been there with kids, and it was just so much more special.
We decided to get ready for our visit there by listening to Adventures in Odyssey, which is kids radio theater produced by Focus on the Family.
MUCH to our surprise, and delight!, Isabella and Lisi both chose to listen to Odyssey rather than watch movies on the drive out!
Mark and I enjoyed the broadcasts, too, and it was so much more of a family experience. If you have not heard of Odyssey, I highly recommend it. Focus says "ages 8 and up", but Isabella was totally engaged, and Lisi liked it, too.
family photo in front of "Whit's End Soda Shoppe" from Adventures in Odyssey
Lisi in Narnia
Isabella at KYDS 'radio station' getting ready to make our own episode of Adventures in Odyssey....so much fun!!!
Mark, Iz, Lisi and the characters from Adventures in Odyssey
Isabella
We decided to get ready for our visit there by listening to Adventures in Odyssey, which is kids radio theater produced by Focus on the Family.
MUCH to our surprise, and delight!, Isabella and Lisi both chose to listen to Odyssey rather than watch movies on the drive out!
Mark and I enjoyed the broadcasts, too, and it was so much more of a family experience. If you have not heard of Odyssey, I highly recommend it. Focus says "ages 8 and up", but Isabella was totally engaged, and Lisi liked it, too.
family photo in front of "Whit's End Soda Shoppe" from Adventures in Odyssey
Lisi in Narnia
Isabella at KYDS 'radio station' getting ready to make our own episode of Adventures in Odyssey....so much fun!!!
Mark, Iz, Lisi and the characters from Adventures in Odyssey
IsabellaTuesday, April 1, 2008
Angel Fire
My favorite restaurant right now is Our Place Cafe in Angel Fire.
When I first walked in last fall, I knew I had found my place. It is totally eclectic. None of the tables match, and none of the chairs match each other, or the table where they are placed. Each wall is painted a different color, and none of the art work seems to go together.
Yet, somehow, it all works really well together.
And then there is the breakfast buffet. YUMMY!!!
Belgian waffles, fried potatoes, crispy bacon and fruit salad.
When Mark and I took the girls there for our ski trip, as we were walking in, I told Isabella she could pick any table for us to sit. And there was a 5 seat hi-top with a life-size stuffed dog bellied up to the table.
3 guesses as to where the Main family sat that morning:)
The Easter Bunny knew to visit us at our house in Angel Fire!
When I first walked in last fall, I knew I had found my place. It is totally eclectic. None of the tables match, and none of the chairs match each other, or the table where they are placed. Each wall is painted a different color, and none of the art work seems to go together.
Yet, somehow, it all works really well together.
And then there is the breakfast buffet. YUMMY!!!
Belgian waffles, fried potatoes, crispy bacon and fruit salad.
When Mark and I took the girls there for our ski trip, as we were walking in, I told Isabella she could pick any table for us to sit. And there was a 5 seat hi-top with a life-size stuffed dog bellied up to the table.
3 guesses as to where the Main family sat that morning:)
The Easter Bunny knew to visit us at our house in Angel Fire!adventures in new mexico
Angel Fire in on the loop known as the Enchanted Circle.
It encompases Angel Fire, Taos, Red River and Eagle's Nest in New Mexico.
When Mark and I first visited last September, we really were amazed at how the terrain and the foliage changed with every turn around the mountains.
It is GORGEOUS!!!
Taos definitely has an eclectic, artistic feel to it, and it was fun to walk around and tour the downtown area, as well as the Taos Pueblo. Taos ski resort is about 20 minutes from the town, so it is not really a skiing destination.
Red River is a little mountain town, with a ski lift that begins, well, right in town!
Eagle's Nest itself does not seem to have much to offer, but there is a lake just outside of town.
Angel Fire has the potential to be a really great resort town, but for now, is just a sleepy little town with great skiing.
The Little Red School House in Red River, est. 1915.
Dragon
This picture is for Angela.
This Enchanted Circle area is a hot spot for Texans who want to experience the snow of the 'north'.
It encompases Angel Fire, Taos, Red River and Eagle's Nest in New Mexico.
When Mark and I first visited last September, we really were amazed at how the terrain and the foliage changed with every turn around the mountains.
It is GORGEOUS!!!
Taos definitely has an eclectic, artistic feel to it, and it was fun to walk around and tour the downtown area, as well as the Taos Pueblo. Taos ski resort is about 20 minutes from the town, so it is not really a skiing destination.
Red River is a little mountain town, with a ski lift that begins, well, right in town!
Eagle's Nest itself does not seem to have much to offer, but there is a lake just outside of town.
Angel Fire has the potential to be a really great resort town, but for now, is just a sleepy little town with great skiing.
And inbetween Eagle's Nest and Red River, we found a dragon. If you know our family, you know that we have dragons that live near our house each summer, and in the winter, they leave the farm land of Iowa to find the tall grass of Colorado. Last summer the dragons returned to Iowa with an 'elk'. Love that! Boy were we surprised to see a more colorful version of the dragons in New Mexico!
Downtown Red River and the ski lift this past Fall.
Downtown Red River and the ski lift this past Fall.
The Little Red School House in Red River, est. 1915.
Dragon 
This picture is for Angela. This Enchanted Circle area is a hot spot for Texans who want to experience the snow of the 'north'.
my first attempt at video posting
This is about 30 seconds of Isabella & Lisi going up the 'magic carpet' and skiing back down the little hill at Angel Fire ski school.
Enjoy!
and the post you have all been waiting for...
SKIING!!!
Short version of our 2 ski experience as a family...WONDERFUL!!!
Isabella and Lisi spent 2 days in 'ski school' in the "Little Chiles" program.
End of Day 1 they were going up the 'magic carpet' and skiing back down the hill.
End of Day 2 they were on a chair lift and skiing down with everyone else!! AMAZING!!!
Lisi Lu Lu showing the rest of the class how fun is done!
Lisi and Isabella skiing down after going up the 'magic carpet'.
Lisi, Mark and Isabella after the end of Day 2
Mark taking Lisi along the ski road home.
Short version of our 2 ski experience as a family...WONDERFUL!!!
Isabella and Lisi spent 2 days in 'ski school' in the "Little Chiles" program.
End of Day 1 they were going up the 'magic carpet' and skiing back down the hill.
End of Day 2 they were on a chair lift and skiing down with everyone else!! AMAZING!!!
Lisi Lu Lu showing the rest of the class how fun is done!
Lisi and Isabella skiing down after going up the 'magic carpet'.
Lisi, Mark and Isabella after the end of Day 2
Mark taking Lisi along the ski road home.GiGi
This is one of my favorite pictures of my Grandma Mary. Since becoming a Great-Grandma, she is known in our family as GiGi. She is so much fun, and loves her family so much. She still has lunch with some of the Moms from her Moms group from when my Dad was a kid (and he will be 60 this month!)Last week she fell and broke her hip, and it is just such a bummer. I mean, really, it is just a bummer.
She had taken their dog, Mickie, for a walk, and was taking the last set up to their front door, when she lost balance, fell, and broke her hip. She had surgery to repair the fracture, and will soon be transfered to a rehabilitation facility for another couple of weeks.
I wish I could find a way to put a light-hearted spin on this. The good news is that she IS OK!
I just love her and my Grandpa so much. Thank you to those of you who have prayed for her and asked how she is doing. The encouragement is wonderful!!!
And I will try to be more faithful in my blogging to keep you up to date.
that's my Lu-Lu Girl!
Yesterday I got a new catalog in the mail. It is Serena & Lily, and it is filled with exquisite baby and kid bedding. The lay-out of the catalog is just different and intriguing. Each bedding set is named after a person, and some of them have a 'description' of who the name represents.
This is what it says about Lulu:
"Lulu sets the trends. She's permanently a few months ahead of the next big thing in fashion, music, and other cool stuff. Lulu's special brand of leadership is subtle...and very real."
~serenaandlily.com
That's my Lisi Lu-Lu Girl!
This is what it says about Lulu:
"Lulu sets the trends. She's permanently a few months ahead of the next big thing in fashion, music, and other cool stuff. Lulu's special brand of leadership is subtle...and very real."
~serenaandlily.com
That's my Lisi Lu-Lu Girl!
this one's for Alex
This post is for my brother Alex, and for all of you who know him...
"ALEX epitomizes cool. When everyone else took violin, Alex picked up the guitar. The guys idolize him because he can talk to girls. The girls love him because...well, he can talk to girls."
~serenaandlily.com
"ALEX epitomizes cool. When everyone else took violin, Alex picked up the guitar. The guys idolize him because he can talk to girls. The girls love him because...well, he can talk to girls."
~serenaandlily.com
Lisi is ready to SWIM!!!
Lisi's quick surgery to have her tubes removed from her ears was, in fact, quick, and a total success. Despite my pleas to have each doctor in the office take a side and remove the tubes in-office with one, well, two, quick tugs, the surgical route proved to be a good idea. The left tube came out without incident or concern, but the right tube looked like the hole might not heal well once the tube had been removed. They had been there for 2 years! So, in the words of the doctor, he "took a little pinch of fat from behind her ear" and plugged the hole. By the time she and Isabella go to Disney with Grammy and Papa later this month, she should be totally good to go!
We had told her why she was having her tubes taken out (when I would wash her hair and get even the smallest amount of water in her ear, she would shriek in pain, and that has not been the case for the previous 2 years with the tubes, so something had changed), so she was truly high-fiving friends and family who asked about her having the procedure. And she LOVES Dr Brown. I mean, she has told me several times, "I love Dr Brown", so going to see him again was A-OK by her. But what I had not shared with her was the part about her having to leave Mark and I. Honestly, I was hoping they would give her a little dose of anesthesia gas while we were still holding her in the pre-op room. No such luck. Just the look on her face when a wonderful nurse came by and swept her out of my arms...with Dora jammies on and Little George and blanka in hand...that was hard. But we were chatting with Dr Brown about the successful surgery within 10 minutes, and home within 2 hours of arriving there.
The nurse prepared us that she might be woozy, tired and not hungry today. Within 15 minutes of being home she was asking by BBQ chips and dip, and will not stop running thru the house. I just wish she would at least walk! That is our Lisi-girl!!!
Thank you for all of the prayers and well-wishes. All is well at the Main household!
We had told her why she was having her tubes taken out (when I would wash her hair and get even the smallest amount of water in her ear, she would shriek in pain, and that has not been the case for the previous 2 years with the tubes, so something had changed), so she was truly high-fiving friends and family who asked about her having the procedure. And she LOVES Dr Brown. I mean, she has told me several times, "I love Dr Brown", so going to see him again was A-OK by her. But what I had not shared with her was the part about her having to leave Mark and I. Honestly, I was hoping they would give her a little dose of anesthesia gas while we were still holding her in the pre-op room. No such luck. Just the look on her face when a wonderful nurse came by and swept her out of my arms...with Dora jammies on and Little George and blanka in hand...that was hard. But we were chatting with Dr Brown about the successful surgery within 10 minutes, and home within 2 hours of arriving there.
The nurse prepared us that she might be woozy, tired and not hungry today. Within 15 minutes of being home she was asking by BBQ chips and dip, and will not stop running thru the house. I just wish she would at least walk! That is our Lisi-girl!!!
Thank you for all of the prayers and well-wishes. All is well at the Main household!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Better Living Thru Chemistry
Many of you know that while my family has had pink eye, high fevers, sinus trouble and chronic coughing, I have had this dull sore throat. I went to my primary care doctor, oh, probably 2 months ago, and was diagnosed with being healthy. I then went to the walk in clinic where I was diagnosed with NOT having strep throat. Then 2 weeks ago I again called my primary care doctor (who, I really should note, is not the primary care doctor I have been raving about for years. She retired this past year, and I am missing her like crazy.)
Basically, I begged for an anti-biotic. Reluctantly, the nurse prescribed something, and told me "to have a nice vacation". I could tell she was most dis-pleased with me, but I was just not feeling 100%.
So 5 days later, out of anti-biotics, and on vacation, I was feeling better, but only a bit.
This morning I went to an ENT specialist. I felt really silly going there for what I knew was only a sinus infection, but, hey, I am a desperate woman at this point!
Viola!
Diagnosis: sinus infection.
Cause: I live in the same house as 2 young children.
Treatment: high dose anti-biotics (that could have been avoided with earlier treatment)
Long-term prognosis: short of getting selling the children, this could happen again
I know our health care system is messed-up, but, really, did it take this much effort to get the snot to stop draining down the back of my throat???
And on that lovely visual, I will just say, there is better living thru chemistry:)
Basically, I begged for an anti-biotic. Reluctantly, the nurse prescribed something, and told me "to have a nice vacation". I could tell she was most dis-pleased with me, but I was just not feeling 100%.
So 5 days later, out of anti-biotics, and on vacation, I was feeling better, but only a bit.
This morning I went to an ENT specialist. I felt really silly going there for what I knew was only a sinus infection, but, hey, I am a desperate woman at this point!
Viola!
Diagnosis: sinus infection.
Cause: I live in the same house as 2 young children.
Treatment: high dose anti-biotics (that could have been avoided with earlier treatment)
Long-term prognosis: short of getting selling the children, this could happen again
I know our health care system is messed-up, but, really, did it take this much effort to get the snot to stop draining down the back of my throat???
And on that lovely visual, I will just say, there is better living thru chemistry:)
Why I CELEBRATE Easter
I have SO much to post/ blog about from our AMAZING vacation this past week, but I want to take a moment to acknowledge Easter.
We were traveling home yesterday, which was Easter Sunday.
Saturday we (and by "we", I mean Mark) drove from Angel Fire, NM to North Plat, NE. And that was more than enough driving for one day:) So Easter morning we woke up in a hotel in NE, drove thru Starbucks, and headed out again. We thought about finding a church to pop into along the way home, but Easter Sunday at any given church tends to be nuts, and we knew where our hearts were yesterday.
Our hearts were with Jesus, and ALL that He did, sacrificed and fulfilled for each and every one of us who make the free-will choice to believe in Him, and accept His gift of grace, to live for eternity with Him in Heaven.
I am just so humbled when I realize that I have the privilege of laying down all of my cares, concerns, worries, fears, successes, achievements, delights and praises at the foot of the Cross.
And I mean at the foot of the Cross.
Not looking at a cross on a hill and imagining placing all of those things there. I mean, getting up to the foot of the Cross, where Christ's redemptive blood will drip down on to me.
From a human perspective, it is not always pretty. But from an eternal perspective, it is glorious and beautiful. I am so humbled that Jesus loves me exactly as I am, for exactly who I am. He created me!
He knows the good, the bad, and, well, the ugly. And yet, He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, right now, this very moment, pleading on my behalf. THAT is amazing love.
Our family missed church yesterday, but I want to share with you the video that was shown in service.
click here
May God's peace and grace be with you always, through the redemptive blood of Christ.
Amen.
We were traveling home yesterday, which was Easter Sunday.
Saturday we (and by "we", I mean Mark) drove from Angel Fire, NM to North Plat, NE. And that was more than enough driving for one day:) So Easter morning we woke up in a hotel in NE, drove thru Starbucks, and headed out again. We thought about finding a church to pop into along the way home, but Easter Sunday at any given church tends to be nuts, and we knew where our hearts were yesterday.
Our hearts were with Jesus, and ALL that He did, sacrificed and fulfilled for each and every one of us who make the free-will choice to believe in Him, and accept His gift of grace, to live for eternity with Him in Heaven.
I am just so humbled when I realize that I have the privilege of laying down all of my cares, concerns, worries, fears, successes, achievements, delights and praises at the foot of the Cross.
And I mean at the foot of the Cross.
Not looking at a cross on a hill and imagining placing all of those things there. I mean, getting up to the foot of the Cross, where Christ's redemptive blood will drip down on to me.
From a human perspective, it is not always pretty. But from an eternal perspective, it is glorious and beautiful. I am so humbled that Jesus loves me exactly as I am, for exactly who I am. He created me!
He knows the good, the bad, and, well, the ugly. And yet, He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, right now, this very moment, pleading on my behalf. THAT is amazing love.
Our family missed church yesterday, but I want to share with you the video that was shown in service.
click here
May God's peace and grace be with you always, through the redemptive blood of Christ.
Amen.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
and I am still blogging
...and then I got a voice mail from Favorite Cousin Heather asking if when I say "I'm Done", did I mean "I'm done cooking, or am I done blogging...or both".
Ha, Ha!!
Very Funny.
Yes, I am still blogging...just trying to find the time...
Be sure to check back next week for tales of our family road trip to Colorado and New Mexico!!!
Ha, Ha!!
Very Funny.
Yes, I am still blogging...just trying to find the time...
Be sure to check back next week for tales of our family road trip to Colorado and New Mexico!!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
We Are Alive
Jenn sent me an e-mail the other day just checking in on us Main's to make sure we were OK.
She said she had not seen, nor heard, from us since my last post, and was afraid that none of us had eaten since I officially quit cooking. She wanted to know if we were OK, needed her to bring food to us, or if we had already died of starvation.
Even thinking about her note brings a little smile to my face:)
Anyway, just thought I would confirm, that we are all alive, Mark is feeding us well, and last night we did something we RARELY do in our family...we went out for pizza and ice cream!
She said she had not seen, nor heard, from us since my last post, and was afraid that none of us had eaten since I officially quit cooking. She wanted to know if we were OK, needed her to bring food to us, or if we had already died of starvation.
Even thinking about her note brings a little smile to my face:)
Anyway, just thought I would confirm, that we are all alive, Mark is feeding us well, and last night we did something we RARELY do in our family...we went out for pizza and ice cream!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I'm Done
If you know me, you have surely heard me say, "if Mark did not cook, we would not eat".
And although I laugh at that phrase, I truly wish it were not true.
I would LIKE to cook for my family.
I would LIKE for my family to eat what I cook for them.
And I would LIKE for mealtime to be a pleasant time around the table.
Ya, not so much.
So tonight I baked some chicken in the oven (thanks to Angela reminding for how long & at what temperature), and I also baked up some home=made sweet potato fries, and corn to round it all out.
Mark made his own sauce to cover the taste of what I had marinated. After I took the chicken out of the oven, he pronounced it was not quite done, and cooked it some more. And then he broiled his fries differently than I had done for us. Isabella told me the corn was cold.
And when we left the table, Isabella & Lisi had drank their milk...and that was about it.
So, I am done.
Mark has told me on NUMEROUS occasions that he enjoys cooking, and that I do not need to worry about it. But I have felt bad about that. I am home, and I should have a meal ready for my family. But, as of tonight, I am done.
And that is my Tuesday rant and confession.
And although I laugh at that phrase, I truly wish it were not true.
I would LIKE to cook for my family.
I would LIKE for my family to eat what I cook for them.
And I would LIKE for mealtime to be a pleasant time around the table.
Ya, not so much.
So tonight I baked some chicken in the oven (thanks to Angela reminding for how long & at what temperature), and I also baked up some home=made sweet potato fries, and corn to round it all out.
Mark made his own sauce to cover the taste of what I had marinated. After I took the chicken out of the oven, he pronounced it was not quite done, and cooked it some more. And then he broiled his fries differently than I had done for us. Isabella told me the corn was cold.
And when we left the table, Isabella & Lisi had drank their milk...and that was about it.
So, I am done.
Mark has told me on NUMEROUS occasions that he enjoys cooking, and that I do not need to worry about it. But I have felt bad about that. I am home, and I should have a meal ready for my family. But, as of tonight, I am done.
And that is my Tuesday rant and confession.
Monday, March 3, 2008
WhoDaThunk????
....that yesterday it could be 63 degrees in Waukee, and this morning we woke to 2" of SNOW!!!!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Baby Grayson & Main Girls
This weekend we went to a baby shower for our newest cousin, Grayson. Isabella & Lisi were SO excited to be invited~ it never occurred to me that this would be such a big deal to them:) But I think they were both delighted to be 'officially' recognized as 'big girls'. So Grayson is ADORABLE, but, somehow, I managed to only get pictures of the Main Girls.
better than going to L.A....
...is going to see Wicked with (favorite cousin) Heather while in L.A.
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!
I have wanted to see this play since I first heard of it a few years ago, and have been watching for it to come to the Civic Center~ I mean, we did get The Lion King...Wicked could happen!
But if it will not come to me, then I will go to it...
...on a Wednesday night in April, to be exact!
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