Great Escape Meme

This is contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site! http://bit.ly/FWcud

Great Escape Meme
1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be?
Anywhere there are mountains and hiking!!
2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?
Right now anything Darius Rucker is singing.
3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do?
Probably not go anywhere. Stay at home and scrapbook my kids.
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Blog reading.
5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home?
Seattle
6. Last book that you couldn't put down?
The Shack
7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch?
Dances with Wolves
8. What is your favorite local escape?
The Slippery Elm Trail. I love walking and getting back to my center.
9. How do you escape on a budget?
Stay at home with friends.
10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation.
Anything Mickey Mouse is cooking. His chefs are the best.

Up and Running Again

You know I keep thinking I want to start writing on the ole blog again, but life gets in the way. But today with a few extra minutes, and a fresh outlook here we go. Thought I would make it a simple post. Got the idea from one of my favorite people Ali Edwards (famous scrapbooker). I read (stalk) her blog everyday wishing I could do the things she does. And today I thought why not? So here goes.

TODAY
June 23st, 2009

Outside my window... Sun is shining, weeds are growing, and pool is a cloudy shade of blue. Which is fine by me as last week it looked vaguely like a swamp.

I am thinking... about how I love my life right now. Just wish I could be home more to enjoy it. Also thinking I really need to get my walk in before it get too warm.

I am thankful for... children doing their chores without being asked. Noah must really want something.

From the kitchen... new Pampered Chef recipe. Healthy and yummy. Who could ask for anything more?

I am wearing... walking shoes and clothes. I will get outside soon I promise.

I am creating... my blog. And a very full life.

I am going... to walk, pull weeds, watch the kids swim, to Weight Watchers, then to Paige's game. Pizza after for both teams.

I am reading... The Life of Pi, with Nose Down Eyes Up next. Just finished the Twilight series.

I am hoping... that we can get through the summer without anything else breaking. Here is the list: Noah's finger, computer, dryer, microwave, TV, Blazer, and refrigerator.

I am hearing... Children yelling, Garrett sounding like a tractor and dogs barking.

Around the house... Tuesday is cleaning day. Started working on the piles that all over this house. Time to PARE DOWN!!!

One of my favorite things... Diet Coke

A few plans for the rest of the week... work, ball games, continue to work on room at a time on paring down. Need to start the next garage sale collection.

I hope this finds everyone well and happy. Let me know what is going on in your neck of the woods.

Catching up - Take 2

OK, so it has been so long since I have posted that I have almost totally forgotten how to do this, oh well, those of you that know me best, know that I will catch on eventually. What I really intended to chit chat about is how much fun I am having doing NOTHING so far this year, I mean nothing that I don't want to do. I have cleaned out almost every drawer, cupboard, and nook and cranny of this very large (but full) house to see what can be gotten rid of, and oh boy is there a lot. We are going to have one heck of a garage sale this Spring. My goal now is to not fill it back up, we'll see how that goes.

As you can see by the pictures in my last post, CJ went on a road trip to the BCS Bowl in New Orleans. In fact he also attended the GMAC bowl in Mobile. He had a pretty good time. It was tough to realize that he drove 2000 miles to see two of his favorite teams lose. But it was nice as he was in Mobile just after Katrina and was grateful to have some new memories. He also had a great time in New Orleans and loved Bourban Street. We are glad that he made it home safe.

OK, onto new year' s resolutions.....

1. We have already discussed the whole paring down idea, there is just too many people in the house to have this much stuff. Organizing what is left when I am done will be the next step.

2. Went back to Weight Watchers, dragging my family kicking and screaming with me. For everyone's sakes we really just need to do this. I am controlling what comes into the house from the grocery, I can only hope that everyone can control how much goes into their mouth at any given time. By the way, looking for some healthy chocolate recipes. E-mail me any suggestions.

3. Learning to be grateful. I have become pretty grumpy about many things recently and I am working on being grateful for all that I have been blessed with. Journaling everyday about this.

4. Taking time for myself. Oh boy is this the hard one. As a mother it is very easy to spend every waking moment on my family, forgetting who I am. Don't get me wrong, I love doing things for my family, I just need to do things for myself as well. Plan on spending more time with music, scrapbooking, reading, gardening, and anything else that comes to mind.

Need to mention that I am becoming addicted to blogs, not writing them obviously, but reading them. My new favorite is Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. Check out the links to the right and see how addicting this can be.

Must go, there are a few chores that I need to do before the kids get home. Maybe some new blogs to read.......

Catching Up

A Lull in the Action

Do you hear that? It's quiet at Cotterman Chaos. OK, so not really, but there is a lull in the action. Both football and volleyball finished up this weekend. The Midget football team finally won a game this year. I am so proud of CJ and all of his hard work.

Paige's volleyball team got beat in their first game during their league tournament, , but Paige really had a great game with 5 aces and 3 saves. Probably her best game this year. I am so proud of all her hard work. She is now debating about whether to play basketball or not. We really would like her to, but she is not so sure. She has a week to figure it out. Noah is planning on wrestling this year. We are trying to find a basketball program for him around here, but so far no luck. CJ's cousin Bryan is the coach for the wrestling club here, so we will probably give in.


Emma was thrilled to take a friend to dance last week. She took her new best friend Kiah. Kiah actually dances at another studio, so she really caught on fast and seemed to have a great time. The night was topped off by a trip to McDonald's. She is trying to decide what to be for Halloween. Everyday there is a different choice. We are really going to have to narrow it down soon, or we aren't going to be anything abut a fussy three year old. Noah is going to be a skeleton.





The "player to be named later", now formally known as M&M, is really getting the hang of life here at Cotterman Chaos. Freddy and Frieda have learned the hard way that he has really sharp claws and Smokey is learning to tolerate him. Poor thing barely gets his feet on the floor most days as both Emma and Garrett carry him everywhere. He loves to sleep with just about everyone, and has become our alarm clock because he thinks it is time to play every morning at 5:30!!



Trying to get the kitchen done before the weekend. Takes a lot of time in between coats of paint on the cupboard doors. But I love the outcome!!! It is really looking so much more me! I know that sounds so weird, but I spend so much time in the kitchen, that I want it to reflect me. Next project will be the scrapbook room/toy room. We are going to have to move Emma's toys back downstairs, as her room is so small that a twin size bed and toys can't all fit at the same time. This is where the whole organizing thing comes in. We really need to pare down to those things that we really need and love. This will be a work in progress as we all have collected so many things it is hard to decide what is most special to us. I'm hoping to get my friend Jim, the very talented woodworker that made my cubbies, to make me some shelves to match, which should help considerably. To start, this weekend we will be on the lookout for a new computer desk, as ours is broken beyond repair.

Check out my Slide Show!

Happy Fall 2007

Things are as busy as ever her at Cotterman Chaos. We had an eventful summer. Chasing diamonds (baseball, softball) and was capped off by a fantastic trip to New York City. I will post pics and info on that later. Everyone really enjoyed the pool this year, and we loved having friend over to BBQ.

Emma is having a great time in Preschool. Loves riding the bus and making a lot of new friends. Not so sure that the Preschool is ready for her, as she is used to being in charge, and is a bit of a diva. But I am sure they are up to the challenge. Emma has started dancing at Becky's. LOVES wearing her "dancing dresses". In fact it is hard to get her out of them. We cut about 5 inches from her hair before school started. It made her look so grown up. (Yes, I cried.)

Paige is adjusting well to life in Junior High. We allowed her to get a cell phone, and so far she has been really responsible with it. She has begun babysitting for a few of our friends. She is building quite the reputations as a fun, yet responsible babysitter. We are very proud of her. Maybe having all of these siblings wasn't so bad after all. She still struggles a bit in school, but seems to be keeping up well, and her grades continue to climb. She liked playing volleyball this year, but has said that she "kind of misses" Cross Country. She has just started her 10th year of dance at Becky's. She too cut quite a bit from her hair. Said she was ready for a change. What I don't like is that I can now see "eye to eye" with her. I swear I'm shrinking every year.






Noah has spent the football season as the "hydration specialist" for CJ's football team. He is so excited that he will be able to play next year. He spent this fall running Cross Country for the Powell Elementary team. Really liked the competition. Once again he is doing really well in school, and seems to like every subject. Hopefully this will continue. He is following his Falcons and Buckeyes and was able to go see the Falcons win a couple of weeks ago. This boy eats, sleeps, and breathes football. I think I'm going to be in trouble.

I'm as usual very busy at the Emergency Room. We are getting busier and busier every year. We are also short staffed so a lot of extra time has been placed. Recently I decided not to work so much overtime as I was losing time at home and with my husband. While the money was nice. It can't compare with being at home. I am spending the next year organizing our home so that not so much time is spent looking for things, and more time is spent together. CJ is helping my getting some of the most beautiful "cubbies" made for the back room. Just this first step in our reorganization process. We are also painting and updating our kitchen. Not a big project right now. Just biding our time until we can knock out some walls.

Our family has grown by leaps and bound in the last couple of days. The kids now have a hamster named Pooh. And we adopted another kitten, as yet unnamed. This brings the grand total to: 2 Bassett Hounds (Freddie and Frieda), 2 cats (Smokey and the player to be named later), 1 hamster, and two fish (we had five, but something or someone keeps killing them off, Smokey perhaps?)

Well, on to do more sanding in the kitchen. It is my plan to get the cupboards sanded today so that I can start painting them tonight. Pics to follow.

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays from Cotterman Chaos!!!

2006 has been a busy year once again. I know it sounds corny, but I really don't know where the time has gone. It seems like only yesterday that we were chasing baseballs and today we are baking Christmas cookies. The kids are finally healthy. Noah and Emma had a bout with pneumonia this past week, but all seems to be well now. Today is the kids' last day before break. They sure were fired up.

Paige has grown in to such a lovely young lady. She is flourishing in the sixth grade. Her grades are the best ever and she seems to really be enjoying herself. This first year with braces has really helped her self confidence. She even had a speaking part in the Christmas play at church, I couldn't believe it.

Noah is, well Noah. Loud, crazy, and just plain fun. First grade has been a breeze for him. I keep waiting for the time when it will be harder for him, but it hasn't happened yet.He is beside himself waithing for January 8th when his Buckeyes play for the National Title. He is bargaining with me to let him stay up late to watch the game.

Emma is a very busy two-year old. She wants to do everything herself. It can sometimes take forever for her to get dressed in the mornings, but I guess it is worth it. I just wish she would show this much initiative with potty training.

I hope that this finds you happy and healthy. I wish you the best for 2007. 

Cotterman Chaos - Fall 2006

Well, another busy fall has just seemed to fly by. Hard to believe that we are already 1/3 of the way through the school year. The kids are doing very well in school this year. Paige is a member of the Safety Patrol and is having a great time being the "senior" at the elementary school. She says it is really great being able to boss the younger kids around and get away with it. She is getting great grades this year. She is being tutored three days a week which I think has been a big help to her. She has always struggled with reading and comprehension and it just seems to be coming together for her this year. She has be come the social butterfly and is involved in a lot of things at school. Basketball season has begun, and we are into another year of dance. Hard to believe that she has been dancing for 9 years. Her goal is to dance for 10 years and then concentrate on sports. I think that is wonderful. Some exciting news from Becky's School of Dance. Paige's dance team has been selected to go to New York City in late June to take classes on Broadway!!! She will spend a day with the Rockettes as well. We are so excited. Mom and Dad are planning a rock, paper, scissors competetion to decide who gets to chaperone.

Meet our Aunt Gin. She turned 70 this past September. We celebrated by having a party for her at her church in Dunkirk. She has cerebral palsy yet lives alone. She does have a few good friends that help her out, but is pretty much independent. She is a great role model for our kids. She is alway laughing and enjoys a good joke. The kids just love her to death. We like to tease her about being a "Hardin County Hillbilly" and she just takes it in stride.
Emma is having a good time. She is becoming quite the diva. She loves sunglasses and anything girly. She calls sunglasses her "eyes" and wears them all of the time. She is learning to count and knows most of her colors. She has no interest in potty training at this time, much to my dismay. My goal was to have her trained before Xmas, but I'm not sure that is going to happen.
Paige had a great season in Cross Country. She bettered her own times in each race. We had to have a talk with her a the beginning of the season as she would wait for her friends to that they could finish together. We explained to her that cross country is not a team sport and that it was all about her. At her competition at Lake she helped a 5 year old that was crying through the whole race. We can't fault her for being kind. It is wonderful to watch, but we're not sure this kind of sport is for her.
Noah just loves football. We again got to go see the BGSU falcons play at home this year. He just eats it up. I think it is in his blood. He tells me he loves the smell of a football field. (Mom can't wait to smell those practice socks, NOT) He had great season as waterboy, but he gets upset that he can't play yet. He is doing very well in school. Brings home perfect papers in every subject all the time. He says he is bored. I am so grateful that is doesn't have to struggle that way Paige has. I do expect that it will get a little harder for him as the year progresses. He will start basketball soon. He has decided that he does not want to wrestle this year. He is also having a great time having his dad as his Cub Scout Leader. 

Summer 2006

Paige's softball team who finished 3rd in their division.

This summer past summer has had to be the busiest yet. Chasing diamonds, (baseball, softball) swimming, and work. It is enough to make a girl go gray. Oh, wait a minute, I AM gray. These are just a few pics from our busy summer. So much for trying to keep up once a week. I'm lucky to get to it once a month. Things aren't going to get much easier. Paige is running cross country. Noah and CJ are running around the football field and Emma is just running. CJ and I will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary tomorrow. How time flies when you are having fun. I really don't know what I would do without him. He keeps me sane. I forever am grateful to God for giving me this gift of a husband.

Frieda and Paige having a sleep over.

The kids are back in school. Noah seems to like first grade. Hates the new year review. Says it "Boring!" I'm sure it will get harder for him as the year goes on. Paige is strugling a bit with reading and writing. These are always her tough subjects. She is doing great in Math though. Wish I were better in Math. We are going to get a tutor to help with the language arts though. I think it will help her a great deal.

"CHEEEEEESE!!!"

Emma is handling the kid's being in school pretty well. I have become her #1 play toy though which causes me some trouble when it comes to cleaning etc. She wants me to be at her beck and call all day long.

How cute is this?!?

I will try to get some more pics from our summer posted soon, look for football pics as well. I hope everyone is healthy and happy. 

Welcome to the Cotterman Chaos Blog. I am hopeful that this will help our family and friends keep up with all that goes on here at 300 North Main Street. It is my hope to update this once weekly. Let me know what kind of information you want to see here and I will try to comply. I am pretty new to this so hopefully I will be able to get this thing up and running. I would like to post some pictures each week as well.

Just a quick update on everyone who is involved in Cotterman Chaos:

CJ: also known as the head honcho. Works like madman on everything without asking much in return, except maybe a Yankee win. Spends a lot of his time at Equity Group making hamburgers for McDonald's, keeping his wife in business. Recently named to the coaching staff of the North Baltimore Midget Football Team. Continues to run into burning buildings with the North Baltimore Fire Department, and drives the ambulance for the North Baltimore EMS, again keeping his wife in business.

Tracy: Chief cook and bottle washer. Runs around like a chicken with her head cut off most days trying to get everyone where they are supposed to be on time. Would love to spend her days out in the garden or scrapbooking some of the 4000+ photos she has taken with her digital camera. Spends most of her time at Wood County Hospital in the ER trying to save a few lives, whether they like it or not.

Lindsay: Working hard to get everything she wants out of life. Works full time at Wood County Hospital in the Registration Department, (giving her mother too much work.)and goes to school at Owens. Chases after Garrett frequently.

Paige: The resident snoop. Likes to spend her time checking up on all of the gossip from around town and the family. Will be starting 6th grade in the fall. Hardest job right now: keeping her braces clean. Finishing up softball season getting ready for volleyball season.

Noah: Easily the busiest kid I know. Is constantly into one thing or another. He is our resident shark expert and sports guru. Loves his Yankees and Penn State football. Spends most of his time playing one sport or another. Loves the Playstation and Star Wars. Is finishing up baseball season while playing on two tournament teams. Will begin work with the Midget football team as the water boy.

Emma: God's little gift. Spends most of her time trying to keep up with the "big kids". Loves to sing and dance. Thinking about potty training, but not quite ready. Will surely miss the kids when they go back to school in the fall. Favorite pastime today watching Blue's Clues and Sesame Street.

Garrett: Just doing all he can to not let Emma have all the fun. Doing a pretty good job of it too. We just need to get him to understand that only food goes in his mouth, and that Emma isn't really food.

Smokey: Our favorite feline. Spends most of his time in basement keeping away from...

Freida: Our newest member. Came to us by way of the Humane Society. Spends most of her days chewing things she shouldn't and chasing the cat.

This week we are trying to swim out from our flooded basement. Third time in three years. We didn't lose any important items this time. Just some laundry to do. We have learned our lesson and keep everything up, but the water still got into our furnace and water heater, baths at the neighbors you know. We received about 7.5" of rain in just a couple of days, so I guess it was to be expected. Smokey finally made it up from the basement, we were beginning to get a little concerned about him, but all is well. Planning on getting it dried out then building HIGH shelves to keep everything on. I guess it will always be a learning process. We are lucky though, some people in our area lost their houses because their basement walls caved in. Work has been very stressful this week. Lots of really sick people in Wood County this summer. Usually we get a bit of a break in the summer, but so far this year,we have been unable to get even lunches.

CJ was asked to help coach the midget football team. He has been wanting to do this for as long as I can remember. He is already coming up with drills and plays for the boys. Noah is going to help by being the team waterboy. Another busy sports season is just around the corner.

Paige had a stressful week. She was helping CJ clean the pool when she stepped into the skimmer and cut her foot pretty badly. A quick trip (after dodging funnel clouds) to the ER proved that she wasn't broken, but she did require some stitches. She talked the MD into "super-glueing" her lacerations so that she could play in her tournament this coming week. She had to sit out a couple of the last reqular season games, but should be ready for tournaments. Volleyball camp is this week. It's tough being the social butterfly.

Noah has been asked to play on two different tournament teams this July in baseball. We will be running between Maumee and Van Buren for most of the week after July 4th. He is spending a lot of his time in the pool. He didn't attend Safety Village this year as he felt he "knew it all", but instead helped his dad with the fire prevention program

Emma is just loving to be outside. It has become quite the chore to get her to take her nap in the afternoon. She has grown summer knees. You know, the ones without much skin from all the running she is doing.