sleep escapes me

I am going to be a walking zombie today for that party we are going to. I went to sleep at about 1:00am last night, (reading a good book in bed will cramp your sleeping style!) and then woke up at about 4:30am and couldn't fall back to sleep! UGH! I hate it when that happens. It is only 11am right now, and I feel like I have been up all day. The party is at 3pm....let's hope I make it!

I also started my official "teacher application" this morning. Thankfully, you don't have to finish it in one sitting--it is long! Not to mention, I better go over everything I did complete a second time.....filling out important paperwork when you are sleepy is not the brightest idea!

summer activity

So my kids have a better social life than me! They are always doing something. Tonight, Jacob has his friend Eric over for a sleepover. Of course , this is after a full day of playing at his friend Jeff's house, two towns over. Ben spent the morning at Daniel's...went to the Mall for a movie and dinner with Daniel and Jon, and is now at Jon's house hanging out until they go over to Daniel's to spend the night. Nathan was my homebody today.....although, he plans on hanging out with Jacob and Eric, and Monday he had a sleepover at his friend Jason's. Yesterday, all of the boys were out late playing "night games" with half the neighborhood. Seriously, I think there were about 15 kids playing Hide n' Seek, and Kick the Can. This is just a snipet of the constant activity with the Sterling boys. I am thinking this "non-boring" summer is not a good way to make them miss school!

Tomorrow we head to the pool. Ben is already making miniature golf plans with a crowd for Friday. Saturday, FINALLY, Matt and I get to go to a party for adults! Our friend Clint is turning 40 and his wife is having a surprise party for him. Sunday, is church...and Matt has a softball game. Then starting on Monday--soccer starts up again with Team Camp every morning from 8-11. I would imagine we'll be hitting the pool on some of those days, too. Team camp is always so hot, and they work so hard.

Speaking of soccer--Ben played with the East High Freshmen summer league this summer. Sadly, after what we hoped would change his mind about playing in HS, he has decided to not tryout in the Fall. It is sad for me....he plays well, and was one of the stronger players on the team. (By the way, Ben is now about 5'4" and is weighing in at about 115/120--he is all muscle though....he has experienced many changes this year. My boy is definately not a boy anymore! He turns 15 in a month....unbelievable!) Anyway--we are encouraging him find another sport or activity once he gets to school. He has mentioned an interest in playing RUGBY of all things! My guy is not that big! I fear for his life with that sport! He is taking two art electives, and mentioned being interested in photography (maybe), and has his brand new bass guitar to play around on. Lessons will be soon to follow. He and his friends talk about starting a band....he is very into his music--most of the time he is walking around with his iPod connected to his ears. We'll have to see I guess.

I can't believe it!

Can you believe I actually LOVE my new haircut?? How often does that happen? Not often for me. I am stunned that as mixed up as I was....I actually communicated what I thought I wanted well enough for my stylist to get a feel for what I was going for. I also showed about 5 different pictures....so I am sure that helped too.
If I knew how to post a picture, I would. But, that is Matt's department, and he's away.
Basically, I kept the length, and got short layers from the crown down. I have sweeping bangs, too. It totally made my curls come alive again, still looks fairly long, and the shape is much more updated.
I suppose it is current enough--because teenager Ben gave his thumbs up review. He has actually told me 3-4 times that he really likes it!
What a great pick me up a good haircut can be! :0)

MORE on hair

Why isn't my dog bald by now?
Honestly, I have never seen so much shedding in my life! After talking to MANY other dog owners...it seems to be the same all around. Emmy is just losing hair like crazy. I can't keep up with it! I sweep/vacuum it all up....only to feel like I need to do it again 3 hours later. Last night I was pulling clumps of hair off of her. She had these little "fuzzy" spots on her hind quarters, and all I had to do was pinch a patch in my fingers, and all of it would come off in my hand! It is gross. She doesn't even seem to notice when I do that, so it must not hurt her. And, Even though it seems that I'd leave a bald spot behind....NOPE! It is crazy.

I wish she could just lose whatever she needs to lose all at once. Instead, everyday there is new fur clumps to pick up, and black dog hair dust bunnies collecting all throughout my home! UGH!!

Next time we get a dog....my thought is....definately a non shedding one.

hair dilemna/dilemma

So...this afternoon I get my haircut. And, as usual...this morning I am second guessing my haircut plan. I originally wanted to keep things simple. Since my hair is looooong overdue for a cut, (I've been growing it out this whole year, and ultimately had a goal to get it in a ponytail this summer...which I did...and no great excitement, let me tell you) my hair is currently shoulder length, almost one length, and I admit, ugly. The only good thing about my hair right now is, I have a lot of options for a cut.
Anyway, I thought I was going to go in there, and just get some layers put in, to reshape my hair (so it doesn't look so heavy) and add some side-swept bangs. I want bangs because I am sick of seeing my wrinkled forehead. My expressiveness over the years has added up to a very old looking upper face! :0) After thinking more about my whole hair dilemna, though, I wonder why I want to do that little to it. How boring! I don't like boring hair. I have always enjoyed hair with a little "edge". Since my hair is curly, I have less options, of course......but I would love to do something a little fun, and funky. I feel fun hair keeps you feeling young.....but you have to be able to carry it off. I can't go too crazy. If my hair could do it--I'd love an edgy cut like Victoria Beckham. Have you seen her cut? The longer front (on one side), short back? I won't do that, though. I need something fairly easy, too....when I get ready for school in the morning, I need something quick....so it needs to work with my curls. There is no way I can straighten my hair everyday! Not to mention, I feel like I totally dry it out and damage it when I do it repeatedly that way.
So...the dilemna**** is....what to do with my silly hair? Stay tuned....

*****This is a sidenote--My whole life I have spelled DILEMMA wrong. I swear I was taught how to spell it as "dilemna". While doing a spellcheck for something else, I discovered that the real spelling is with two m's. Honestly, that shocked me! I googled the word (I was obviously convinced the spellcheck might be wrong)...and there are whole discussions about this word!! Even another 38 year old was insisting he has been taught that the correct spelling was dilmemna with a/an (?) "n". How weird?? How do you spell it?? (google "spell dilemna" to read more if interested.)

personal dna

Thought this was cool. Again, following a link on a friend's blog, I took this personality test. I was somewhat surprised by the results, but not, at the same time. If you scroll over the colors in the block, you can see what traits are in my personality. (at aleast as far as the test results go....)



The personal DNA site also gives you a full page "results" page..... I agree with most statements....found some of it somewhat surprising. Such as, "You have clear notions of how things could be, and the confidence to try to make them that way." Not so sure I completely rely on myself to just forge ahead and try and do something without needing others encouragement! Anyway....I thought the whole thing was eye opening...and pretty right on.

Here is the link to read my full report:

My personalDNA Report

Take the test when you have time....it takes about a half hour, but the results are interesting to read.

good morning! :0)

So...I am having a fairly lazy morning. Just taking my time getting ready for the day. I have a pedicure appointment at 11:30. It feels odd saying that, because I never was one to make "pampering" appointments, other than the occasional overdue haircut appointment (doing that tomorrow!). But, after Kerry and I went to have that pedicure last month before they moved, and my nail poilsh stayed completey unchipped for this whole month.....I figured it was a good investment for the summer months, while my toes are exposed everyday.
Matt left for LA, California this morning for Networkers. He goes every year. It has been a while since he has gone away on business for a whole week.
Jacob played in a 3v3 tournament this weekend. His team ended up not doing too well. It was a shame, becuase they really are good players. Their first game they won, 7-1, (or something close to that)....but then they just went down hill from there. Oh well....it just wasn't their weekend, I guess. It was still fun, and it was an excuse to play soccer for Jacob. Which is always good, as far as he is concerned.
Well, I was just "checking in"....my guess is I will probally post more this week, as Matt will be gone, and I may find myself with more time to write. Who knows, we'll see.

here is another one...

here is another fun quiz to take....I'd like to see if your answers fit my thoughts about you....take it and post your results under comments! :0)

People Envy Your Compassion

You have a kind heart and an unusual empathy for all living creatures. You tend to absorb others' happiness and pain. People envy your compassion, and more importantly, the connections it helps you build. And compassionate as you are, you feel for them.

What Do People Envy About You?

trying this out

I got this "quiz" from a girlfriend's blogspot and wanted to see if I could paste my "answer" here....I don't necessarily take any real opinion of the result....I just did it for fun. :0)

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

I should be doing something....

What are the odds of all my kids not being home at the same time? Ben just walked out the door to go to his friend Aaron's house for a while. Jacob is at NIU soccer camp until Thursday, and I brought Nathan to his friend Matt's house about a half hour ago. I should be doing something I would normally have Ben babysitting for. But, I can't come up with something yet. Unfortunately, I am not sure how long I have to myself. Matt's mom said she'd call me when I should come pick up Nate--I most likely have a couple of hours, but I can't go too far, I guess. Maybe I should just stay home and clean.....that needs to be done, too.

Nate is having a blast, I am sure. Matt's Dad set up a huge slip and slide in their yard. He bought a REALLY LONG tarp, set it up so it runs down a large hill off their side yard, has sprinklers set up down the length of it--and every once in a while drops some bubbe bath soap down it to make it more slippery. The kids were going down on their bellies, on their bottoms, and they even went down on rafts! AND-they are getting clean at the same time!! BONUS! It looked like great fun--in fact, I wouldn't mind trying it out myself!! I won't, though. :0)

Jacob went to camp yesterday.....he was so excited--because he went last year for the first time and loved it. He gets to stay in a dorm at NIU, and he is rooming with a friend from his soccer team. They got put into teams last night, and he and his roommate, Tom, are with two other Campton players from a year younger "A" team. They play tournament games in the evenings, called World Cup games. Jake's camp team is Germany. Jake called last night and told us that they were going to re-do the teams, though, because Germany was wamping the other teams' butts badly already. I guess they figure the teams are too unfair the way they are. Go Campton! :0) Last year Jacob was the youngest player asked to play in their "All-Star Game" against the coaches--So, before he left for camp this year, I mentioned to him that he can't count on being picked again this year...and he said, "I know, I'll just work really hard again, and hope I get picked. It is just fun to be there." He loves soccer so much....it is great to see him enjoy something so passionately.

We did take pictures of our boys at the Chicago Fire game.....hoping to post those soon.

Chicago Fire Soccer Game

In about a half hour, we are off to the Chicago fire game. Campton United (the club the boys' play for) gets tickets for a certain section of the stands--so we can sit together. Chicago Fire is playing Toronto. Jacob is going to be a Ball Boy, which means he will be down by the field for the whole game retrieving the ball when is omes off the field near him. Nate gets to play in the Half-time scrimmage game. They are both pretty excited by the whole thing. We get to watch. :0)

We will try and take pictures. Hopefully, I can figure out how to post a couple. Got to go!