My wedding day- 10 on Tuesday Edition

I married the mister ten years, 6 months and 18 days ago. I was a young 22 yr old at the time, just months out of college. I was the 1st of my crowd to get married and did not feel sure of myself and my decision making capabilities. As a result my wedding was very pretty and also very typical. There really wasn't anything that stood out.

I told a friend that once and it surprised her. Apparently I am not one to march to anyone else's drummer these days. In 1999 that wasn't quite the case.

I went to the wedding of a friend of mine's daughter on Saturday. This weekend I will go to another wedding of a friend's daughter. If I were to plan my wedding again I wouldn't change the biggest detail, I'd still marry the same mister.....but I would do a few things differently....

*I'd wear funky shoes
*I'd have a dj or cover band
*I'd take more fun portraits
*I'd get napkins with our monogram on them
*I'd have stayed at my reception longer
*I would have had a fuller veil.........though this turned out ok when it got pinned on upside down. My mom totally saved the day.
*I would have gone to the bathroom earlier in the day
*I would have had a house party
*I would have had cookies at the reception
*I would have changed before leaving the reception

Overall, none of these details alter the meaning of that day. It is when I vowed before the Lord, my family and friends to love my husband from that day forward. For better for worse. Til death do us part.

And I wouldn't change that for anything in the world.

Happy Tuesday~

Ten Things I Say Repeatedly

1. Rock the house, don't rock the house baby.
      I have no idea where this term came from
2. Kiss me again.
      3 second kisses don't count around here.
3. I said NO.
     I hate saying this as much as I do.
4. Did you shut the front door?
    After two incidents of coming home to the door wide open, this has become a common refrain.
5. We are on the same team.
      To my children when they are purposely tormenting each other.
6. Hey baby.
     To everyone in my family
7. Are you serious?
8. Fabulous
9. Ridiculous
    #7 and #8 and #9 are current words of the moment, these change depending on who I spend a great deal of time with.
10. I love you.
     I say this freely to many people and mean it each time I say it. I have a few friends that savor these words, giving them out only at the most important moments. Do you think it can come to mean less if one says it too frequently?

Happy Tuesday~

Ten on Tuesday

My most favoritest {sorryjustin,jaci,angela,and alltherest} cousin is coming to visit in 2.5 weeks!!!! Here are 10 reasons I love her so-

1. She wrote me letters while we were growing up. I rarely, if ever, wrote back. But still, she wrote.

2. She loves Twizzlers as much as I do.
3. She is totally following her dream in Hollywood - man, that takes courage!
4. We have a shared history and can relate to things like only family can.
5. We can talk on the phone and laugh like only dear friends can.
6. She loves my husband and children and takes every opportunity to make us all feel special.

7. She calls to make certain I am in the loop when it comes to grandparents and health concerns.
8. She inspires me to be a better writer.
9. Our relationship is a priority of hers and makes certain to visit, no matter what!

10. She deeply loves her family. Even when its hard or uncomfortable. And I am blessed to be part of that family.

I love you, Snap!

10 reasons I started running and keep running

1. I thought people running on the sidewalk while I drove by were awesome

2. I kept seeing a license plate around town that said {GO RUN}

3. I needed to lose weight

4. Once I completed three miles I felt such a sense of accomplishment

5. I was able to talk with friends and not feel guilty about 'girl time'

6. I started losing that weight

7. The day I ran n.i.n.e. miles continues to be one of the most incredible of my life

8. I started a training plan and needed to stick to something

9. It became a stress outlet, when my other options had become unhealthy

10. I want to be strong and healthy for myself and my family

Why do you do what you do?

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

10 things I love about my kiddos right now:

-#1 loves to make her bed and straighten her room.
-#3 sings 'Shake your booty' when I change her diaper
-#2 shimmies up any and every pole we pass
-#2 has my rhyming ability
-#1 is reading way above level, she finishes books in mere hours
-#3 has curly curly ringlets that turn into a 'fro when I brush them
-#2 still sucks his thumb and wants his silky at bed time....I know, I know.....
-#1 wants her hair to look like mine
-#3 says 'goggie' instead of doggie
-#2 sleeps in
-#1 prefers PBS shows to slightly older fare
-#3 gives TIGHT hugs around my neck

Ok, so I couldn't leave it at just 10......though I can't always be fair, I can list equal numbers for each of my beautiful babes!

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

10 Things I learned while at Schlitterbahn

*Tattoos are in. Multiple tattoos.
*Many folks are NOT self conscious when it comes to their swim suit choice
*I felt over dressed when wearing a towel wrapped around my waist and a t-shirt
*They close the kiddie pool down for an hour when they discover human waste
*The hot tub is too hot.
*Nontraditional piercings are also very in vogue
*Reapplied sunscreen actually works
*String cheese and chex mix does wonders for cranky children
*Two days is plenty for the under 10 set.
*Preferential treatment rocks. Thanks Greg!

Happy Tuesday~

Top 10 Reasons I blog

1. To keep record of daily happenings at the Brickhaus

2. An online journal of sorts, with free therapy in the version of comments

3. As a storytelling practice

4. To keep up with far away family

5. I love to read other people's news and assume they want to read mine ;)

6. Everybody else is doing it, it must be fun!

7. It isn't hard and lots of my life is

8. Because Sarah did first

9. It is addicting

10. I enjoy it

I had a mini conversation with a friend over the last few days about why we blog. As I just read over my entries from when #3 was born I was filled with the same emotions of those days. It was neat to be able to see what I was thinking during the middle of the night when I was trying to nurse. It made me smile to see the comments others made for my big kids on their birthdays.

Someday I hope to print these out and save them. Or maybe put them on a disc?

Why do you blog?
And what do you do with it?

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

O is 5 months old today! I cannot believe that 5 months and 2 hours ago this sweet thing came into my arms. What a joy!

Ten things I love about #3:

1. She sleeps through the night.

2. Her smile is so giant I want to jump in her mouth!

3. She recognizes the little ditty I sing her daily.

4. She lights up when #1 and #2 give her attention.

5. She has a pleasant temperament.

6. She transitioned easy as pie to the big girl crib.

7. When she is super fussy she calms down outside.

8. I just love her full name.

9. She giggles so sweetly.

10. Can I say the sleep part again???

We knew mid way through the pregnancy that #3 would also be #last of our babies. I am trying to savor each moment and it is different this time. I know more of what is coming . With #1 and #2 so close behind I wasn't aware of the stages to come. Now I do and I am looking forward to her little personality. Though I hope we have room in this house for it!

She is such an easy baby. Sometimes we forget we have 3 kiddos. Not that we forget her, but she is a good sleeper and not much of a crier........and for that I am thankful!


~Happy Tuesday

10 on Tuesday

Michigan Style

Ten Things I am enjoying in Michigan this week.....

10. Staying with my aunt and uncle....so hospitable!

9. My children sleeping in til after 8, oh my!

8. Taking in a Lansing Lugnuts game last night, they won!

7. Taking a FIVE generation picture with my children, my father, my grandfather and great-grandmother!

6. Checking out the cemetary where my uncle is buried and #2's namesake!

5. Driving by the house I came home to when I was born!

4. Rain WITHOUT humidity!

3. Playing in basements!

2. Looking thru old pictures with my grandmother!

1. Visitng with my extended family!

We are having a wonderful trip. The children are behaving, the weather is cooperating and everyone is in good health and spirits. We have spent a lot of time in my grandparents' basement which #2 thinks is an attic! The baseball game was fun last night and then we did a nighttime tour of Michigan State University........Mr. Brick is looking forward to a trip to Ann Arbor today to see the Big House!

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

Ten restaurants I like to eat at.......

1.Texas Roadhouse
2. Cafe Eccel
3.The Blue Baker
4. Caffee Capri
5. Chik-fil-A
6.McAllisters
7.Macaroni Grill
8.Chef Cao's
9. Doc Green's
10. Ninfa's

Where do you like to eat?

10 Last Things

Here are 10 things I hope to accomplish before Baby #3 arrives next Wednesday:

1. Make up a batch of breakfast tacos

2. Mop the floors

3. Fold all the clean laundry

4. Shave my legs

5. Set up a spot for baby clothes to reside, at least temporarily

6. Read more of Shepherding a Child's Heart

7. Go on a special date with Mr. Brick, #1 and #2, each individually

8. Make up some thank you notes with my new cricut!

9. Write and send thank you notes for gifts already received

10. Sleep through the night~


If you have any ideas on how #7 and #10 might get accomplished, they would be appreciated!

Happy Tuesday~

10 things I love about Mr. Brick

1. He puts the clean sheets on the beds.

2. He happily bathes our babes.

3. He makes the best coffee ever!

4. He gives great foot massages.

5. He comes home for lunch.

6. He got me hooked on LOST.

7. He lets me sleep in on the weekends.

8. Church is important to him.

9. We can laugh together.

10. He puts away the bad guys.

Just over 13 years ago Mr. Brick and I went on our first date. A very good friend of mine warned me the next day that I was 'going to marry that boy'. I am not sure how she knew, but 6 years later we did indeed get married. Now it has been 7 years of marriage, 2.9 children, 3 cities, 5 living spaces, 9 vehicles, 1 trip to Hawaii, 6 jobs, 2 churches and we are still going strong!!

Why do you love who you love?

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

10 things I am because Christ said so:

*a child of God- born of God (John 1:12-13)

*free from condemnation(Romans 8:1)

*a saint (Romans 8:27)

*a new creature(2 Corinthians 5:17)

*alive and forgiven of all my transgressions (Colossians 2:13)

*adopted as God's child(Ephesians 2:19)

*God's workmanship created for good works( Ephesians 2:10)

*holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22)

*a possessor of the mind of Christ( (1 Corinthians 2:16)

* given eternal life today (Revelation 1:5)


Some days I don't feel like many of those things. My Bible study this week focused on my identity in Christ versus my identity in the world. I often allow my surroundings to dictate how I feel about myself and that is just plain wrong. When I accepted Christ as my Saviour I took on a new identity. I am His and because He loves me I am also all of the things above and more!

Another quote from my Bible study has really got me thinking.....

Because I know I'm loved and accepted by God, I can love and accept you.
We will treat people the same way we think God treats us. If you think that
God is always disappointed with you and upset with you, that probably will
be the way you treat other people. ...The way we think we're being treated
by God is the way we will treat other people.

How are you treating others?

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

Ten things you need when traveling by car with 2 small children:

1.Snacks

2.DVD collection

3.2 of every toy

4.Snacks

5.Extra clothes

6.Wet wipes

7.Snacks

8.Kid music on the ipod

9.Water bottles

10.Snacks!

We are heading out this morning to visit some family and are getting more prepared at this traveling game. It is about time since #1 is almost 4! The van has certainly made this easier and we are planning on having an uneventful trip.

Happy Tuesday~

10 on Tuesday

10 things my new minivan has-

1. Only 21,000 miles!

2. Wireless headphones, meaning my kids can watch Cars for the 100th time and I can listen to Anne Murray, ha! Of course, only on road trips, NOT around town!

3. Crack-less windshield

4. Automatic sliding doors.

5. Space for friends to ride with us.

6. 11+ drink holders........who drinks this much?

7. Shiny tires -at the moment

8. A tape player, groovy man~

9. Rear control A/C

10. Few, very few scratches!


With some of our IRS refund we purchased a 2004 Honda Odyssey. Gotta say, it is my dream car. Now back when I was 21 with no real picture of how my grown up life was going to turn out a Mercedes coupe was my dream car. But honestly, as the momma I am of today this Honda van is just what I have wanted. I am so thankful the deal could be worked out and that we now have space for #3 plus friends to ride with us.......want to come over for a play date?

10 on Tuesday

I am thankful for:

1. This sunny day

2. Anne Murray songs

3. Girl scout cookies

4. People who give unselfishly

5. CBC

6. My tax refund

7. Buy one, get one free coupons

8. Target

9. Mom's Meals

10. Spring brithdays

10 on Tuesday

Ten things I love (in no particular order):

1. Brand new jars of peanut butter

2. Monday's crossword puzzle

3. The smell of clean laundry

4. Fatfree hazlenut coffee creamer

5. Snuggling

6. HOT showers

7. Cropping pictures to scrapbook

8. Children giggling, even guiltily

9. Making lists

10. Getting the mail