Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy

Allergies

2010-03-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you, I have not been able to do much of anything this week, because I have been hit hard with what I am guessing is a vicious allergy attack to all this pollen floating around. While the prospect of spring coming excites me immensely, my nose and throat are not so happy with all the junk floating around. Trying to combat it with Zyrtec, but have had horrible sinus headaches most of the week.

Sinus headaches and treadmills don't go well together! Believe me I tried made it for about five minutes and then had to lay down. I so want to be over this, so I get back on the treadmill. It will be like starting Couch to 5K all over. Not a happy camper this week at all.

Hoping for a better week next week!

Oh my it has been awhile!

2010-02-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

I am so behind on everything! LOL I am behind on my Bible reading! Shame on my for not prioritizing better. I have no excuse, just haven't been making reading the priority it should be. Still plugging along, but playing catch up!

My weight loss is going well! I have lost, are you ready?!?!? 15 pounds since I started in January!! YAY ME! I have been sticking with my exercising, and watching what I eat. I just hope that number continues to go down!

Let's see, oh my wonderfully smart and talented husband will have a new job next year! He will be taking over as superintendent for a K-8 school! I am so proud of him! We are excited for this change, and can't wait to see what it brings.

The kids are doing well, my girls, have make it a semester both getting straight A's! So very proud of them. The boy has a love/hate relationship with school. Hoping he gets over that before next year.

I am debating on what to do next year when he is in school full time, so any prayers you could spare for God's guidance in this matter would be much appreciated. Also, please pray that I can continue my exercise routine, and continue my healthy diet. I want to be successful this time!

Will try to blog about my bible reading soon!

Bible in 90 Days

2010-01-25T08:52:00.001-08:00

I am still doing the Bible in 90 days, pretty sure I got a bit behind this week, but I am still moving through, I am up to Judges! WOOT! The thing I want to talk about today goes back to Deuteronomy, I want to talk about Moses.

Oh Moses, he lead those whiny, ungrateful Israelites for 40 years in a desert, and he still did not get to enter the promised land. This is a story that I am so familiar with and still when I was reading this time I found myself hoping the Lord would change His mind and let Moses enter, but that doesn't happen. God tells Moses, you will not enter because you broke your faith with me in the presence of the Israelites, and did not uphold my holiness. This is what I love about God here though, He told Moses that he would not get to enter, and He told him why, and then He took Moses to the top of Mount Nebo, and He allowed him to see the land the Israelites would inherit. What a precious gift for Moses, the thing that he had worked so hard to provide his people,and the Lord who had forbade him to enter it still let him see its beauty. I can just picture them there together with the Lord pointing out each portion of land and who it will belong to. Then telling Moses this is what I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my promise fulfilled! Then Moses died there in Moab, just as the Lord told him he would and then do you what our loving God did, he buried him, buried him! What a fitting tribute to Moses to buried by the Lord!

I am just amazed all the time by theLord and what He reveals to me during my readings. That this Lord of Moses is still the Lord of today. This Lord that took compassion on a man that let him down, and still let his eyes see what his feet had longed to stand on, the Lord that fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This Lord still fulfills promises today. I think about myself and my prayers to the Lord, the things I ask for, and then I have to wait, and my goodness if God takes more than a day or two to answer me, well, it is kinda like my excecise I am ready to throw in the towel. I have a hard time waiting for 40 minutes Moses waited for 40 years! I serve a God who answer prayers and fulfills promises, maybe not always the way I wish, but always in a way that is the best! I serve a God who shouts answers like thunder and a G0d who sometimes speaks in whisper. I pray that I slow down long enough to listen, to hear the thunder and especially the whispers. I pray that I can really learn to leave everything in His hands, I know His plans are best, and I pray I learn to be unselfish and let go of my own plans. If I could do these things, take my problems and requests to God first and not after I have tried on my own and totally messed things up. If I could do this I would have a lot fewer messes, and so many more blessings! Praise God, though that He will clean up messes too, especially a big old mess like me!

Okay...

2010-01-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

I have two posts today, aren't the four of you that read my blog so lucky! First I want to update on the weight loss working out etc... I got so frustrated last week, I wanted to make that scale move so badly and it would not budge! I felt like just giving up throwing in the towel and going back to eating whatever the heck I wanted because what difference did it make! Can I just say how glad I am to have reconnected with so many old friends on facebook, because when I vented my frustrations so many of you rallied to cheer me on. I cannot thank you enough! I have no idea what I have done for God to bless me so much with such encouragement but thank goodness He did! I had set a small goal for myself last week, I wanted to get under a mark I had not been under in awhile, and I only had to lose 1lb to do it, I think that is where some of frustration came from! But as of yesterday morning I hit that goal and then some, Thank you Lord! So, for those of you that posted encouragement and told me to keep going, I cannot thank you enough!

Okay, Couch to 5K workout, started Week 2 yesterday, oh my, it was hard, I had to slow it down before the full 90 seconds a couple of times. Hoping it gets easier as the week goes on, but if I am still having trouble on day 3 I will be staying on week 2 for another week. Still walking on the treadmill on off days, but just walking no running. I am also doing the Biggest Loser Boot Camp workout on those days. As of right now I am not taking any days off, hoping I can change that as I progress, but right now I need the exercise. OH, and I also found a way to satisfy my chocolate craving with cookies! Gonna share the recipe here because it was really good, and my kids ate the fire out the cookies so it is not just my opinion! Thanks again for all the encouragement!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 box yellow cake mix
1 15 oz can of pumkin
1 cup chocolate chip

Mix all ingrediants together and drop by the tablespoon, on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray, bake at 375 degrees for 18 mins or until golden brown!

I was really afraid you were going to really taste pumpkin in these but I honestly couldn't tell at all, I am taking them to church pot luck Wednesday so we will see, how that goes over, LOL!

Next post coming soon!

Can You Praise God on the Treadmill?!?

2010-01-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

This was something I was pondering today as I was slaving away on my treadmill. I hit a mark today where it just wasn't fun for me any more, like it ever was?!?! LOL I knew I had to get on there I knew I needed to do it, but man oh man I was NOT happy about it. I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak. Our church bought new hymnals and I had been trying to learn some of the new songs by listening to the tracks on the website. So, I plopped my lap top on top of the treadmill and was listening to music. Can I just say it made such a difference for me today. By the time I got to Agnus Dei ( the songs are in alphabetial order) I was literally crying out to God for a miracle. I know I have a lot of work to do, to get to where I want to be physically. It has taken years to put on this weight, and I know I cannont lose it all overnight, although I would take that miracle Lord if you are willing to give it! I also know that I cannot do it by myself, so I prayed for help, and do you know I walked an extra 30 minutes today, and my body before I prayed hurt it was rebelling against the activity I was putting it through. I didn't think I was going to be able to go 5 minutes much less 60! Thank you God for walking with me every step of the way today, and I pray you will meet me on that threadmill everyday! So, yes, you can praise God on the treadmill, and today that is exactly what I did!

Update on New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Okay here is a little update.

90 days to read the bible is going well. I am finished with Leviticus, and am set to start Numbers tonight.

Diet is going okay not losing as quickly as I would like, but hey I am losing so that is good. I have lost as of right now right around the 5lb mark. Hoping it starts coming off quicker but heck if I can lose 5lbs every two weeks that is 10lbs a month, and my first goal is 20lbs, so just 15 more to go! Not really following any plan just eating like I did when I was doing Weight Watchers, just not figuring points and such. Also watching portion sizes and planning meals. Planning is really important for me because if I don't have the stuff here and planned out I am tempted to get fast food and let's face it there is no good for you fast food!

Exercise, we got the treadmill from my mom's house on Saturday, and I have managed to get on it everyday since then. Most days I have done right at 2 miles. One day I did 60 minutes 30 in the morning and 30 that night, I was bored! LOL Hoping I can stay motivated and hoping it makes a difference on the scale soon!

Lastly patience with the kids, well, I am not going to go into this because let's face it we can't have it all!

Bible in 90 Days- Day 8

2010-01-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

I have persevered through my reading, and I have made it to the book of Leviticus. Okay can I just say right now, not my favorite of the books of the bible, and I am so very thankful that we are living under a new covenant with God rather than the old covenant! I just don't know how they could keep all the rules and regulations straight, and goodness the usual punishment for not following them was death! Man, I should finish up Leviticus here in a day or two, and move on to Numbers. I wish I had more to offer, but not finding much writing material, hopefully meatier lengthier blogs soon!

Bible in 90 Days

2010-01-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

Still plugging along, just have blogger's block. Still learning new things everyday! Will try to write something this week sometime.

Bible in 90 Days

2010-01-06T13:14:00.001-08:00

I am still on track, praise the Lord! I just haven't been posting. It is just such a wealth of information I am having trouble narrowing down. Plus Genesis goes into lineage a lot, which I love learning about but man on man does it make a girl's head swim trying to keep it all straight. So I am just going to hit a few points from the last few days readings.

Again, I am going to focus on a character for just a moment rather than a specific verse. Can I just say I loved reading about Joseph! This man faced so much adversity and the way he relied upon the Lord, it is just awe inspiring. Of course we know his brothers out of jealousy sold him into slavery to the Egyptians. While a slave, Potiphar's wife took quite the shine to him(and not in a good way, in a I am going to try and seduce you way) and when he did not take a shine to her, she told awful lies about him that caused him to be thrown in jail. Eventually, he becomes a dream interpreter for the Pharaoh, and I love what he tells him when he is asked to interpret Pharaoh's dream for him...

" I cannot do it, Joseph replied to Pharaoh, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Genesis 41:16.

Oh my, I love this and it still true today, there is very little that I can do but God can do so much, through me if I will only allow it. May I strive toward Joseph's example. All these adversities and I never once heard him complain or become bitter about his circumstances, and he gave all the glory to the one who truly deserves it, God! I could go on about Joseph, but I wanted to touch on a few other things.

I have moved into Exodus in my readings. We start to learn about Moses here. Oh , Moses, sometimes I would just like to give him a big shake, and then I think how alike he and I can be at times! I kinda feel like he always had a little bit of doubt about the calling God had given him, and while he trusted in God he always let that seed of I am not good enough creep into his thoughts and poor guy after all the wandering in the wilderness I think it was this doubt along for some other things that caused him to be forbidden to see the promised land. I think how often I rebel against God's calling thinking there is someone better for the job, but the fact is if it is a job God has called you to do, you are the someone better!

I am excited that I have made it through Genesis and am enjoying my trek through Exodus, looking forward to continuing the journey and learning what God has for me to learn!

Bible in 90- Day Two

2010-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, with today's scriptures, I thought instead of looking at verses I would take a look at one of the characters.

Here's day two's scriptures- Genesis 17:1- Genesis 28:22

Now if you are familiar with these passages you may think that I would be looking at the character of Noah, Abraham, or even Lot, but the one I am going to focus on is actually pretty minor. I mean she didn't even get a name. She is just referred to Lot's wife, but I learned a lot from Lot's wife.

Let me set the scene for you a little bit. Abraham and Lot have parted ways and Lot was living near the city of Sodom. God had spoken to Abraham and told him of his intentions to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now Abraham knew his nephew Lot was living near Sodom, so he pleads with God if they can find just 10 people in the city who were not wicked would he spare the city. God agrees to this but we all know that there were not even 10 righteous people to found in the city. So, his angels were sent to destroy the city.

Now this is where Lot's wife comes in, Lot and his family are allowed to flee the city, they must leave quickly. Now, I am no biblical scholar, so this is just my opinion, but I figure there was no time to pack. Just this city is about to go down and you all better high tail it out of here or you are going to go down with it. The only instructions they were given is where to go Zoar and go there quickly, and do not look back! They had just almost reached the city of Zoar and poor Lot's wife just couldn't keep herself from turning around and looking back. Why did she do it, was she curious, she just had to see what was happening to the city. Maybe. I think though that for her she looked back on all the things she left behind. How often do I do that, look at things left behind, whether it be sin, people, things, the past. I take my eyes off the here and now, and look back at the past and everything left behind. This cost Lot's wife her life and could very well, cost me mine, not in a physical sense but in a spiritual one. At the very least this tendancy to dwell in the past can hinder my relationship with Jesus here in the future. They were just things Lot's wife left behind, I am sure it was things that took them years to aquire, but things none the less. How often do I let things get in the way for me? Whether it is trying to acquire them, wishing I had them, or getting them and being unsatisfied by them. She took her eyes off the one thing that could save her and it cost her life, Lord please help me not to make that same mistake! Let me keep my eyes on things of purpose, and not look back and wish for things of the past. I don't want to be a pillar of salt!

Bible in 90 Days- Day One

2010-01-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am just gonna touch on a few things that I read that stood out for me personally. If you would like to take this journey with me, you can find out all about it here!

Today's Readings Genesis 1:1-16:16

One of the verses that I came across that spoke to me was Genesis 1:31 God has just finished creating everything including man, if you notice after each creation God steps back and looks at his handiwork and declares it good, but when he creates man he steps back and looks at this creation and deems it "very good"

"God saw all that he had made and it was very good..."

Out of all the beautifully amazing things that God created on this earth the only thing he quantified was man! How awesome is that, that he looked at man as his most prized creation. The one He was most proud of, the only one he deemed very good! How treasured that makes me feel, how awesome to know that I am his prized creation! WOW!

The 2nd verse is a partial verse in Genesis 3:9, Adam and Eve have just eaten from the tree of knowledge, and they have hidden themselves and God calls out to Adam Where are you? That is what I want to ask myself Robyn, where are you? Where are you in life? Where are you in your walk with me? Where are you as mother, wife, daughter...Where are you? I know where I want to be, but am I there. Not hardly. Can I get their on my own, IMPOSSIBLE! Do I have someone to help, absolutely! Do I have someone to rely on, you betcha. All I have to do is seek Him out, and that is what I plan to do.

The last verse I wanted to touch on was in Genesis 15:1 God is speaking to Abram

"Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Oh my, do not be afraid, I am your shield, your very great reward! Gosh is that not just awesome, doesn't that sum up life pretty much. Don't fear this world or the things of it, I am here I am your protector, but not only your protector, but if you walk with me I will be your very great reward! Nothing in this life will compare to the reward I can receive in heaven, why spend time looking for validation here, it is fleeting. I cannot have, buy, receive etc... enough things to make me happy or feel fulfilled here on earth, but I can make deposits into a bank that repay me for all eternity, in ways that I can't even imagine!

Lord, help me draw nearer to you, this year, help me to stay grounded in your word and your work. Help look for things that have value in eternity and not value here on earth! Let me lay up treasures in heaven not here on earth, and help me to seek a more intimate relationship with you! Be my shield and protector, help me not to fear, and help me realize that YOU are my very great reward!!

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

UGH, I hate these, nothing like looking back at the end of next year and seeing all the things I failed at doing, but alas once again I am making a few resolutions. I am optimistic this year though I really think these are some things that I can do! So here it goes.

1. First and foremost I am doing The Bible in 90 days. Which is a lofty goal for me considering I was going to go through the bible in a year last year and made it to about March. Which consequently is about 90 days, so I should be good right? I hoping this spurs me on to stay on top of having my quiet time with God. It is something I really need to be better about doing. I am going to try and post some of my observations, each day on here, but we all know how good I am about keeping my blog updated, but I am gonna give it try.

2. Get healthier this year. I hate having to put this goal down every year, the fact is about 2 years ago I lost about 40lbs, which was a drop in the bucket of what I needed to lose, but was a huge accomplishment. I have now gained back a little over 20lbs of what I lost. So, here is to 2010 being the last year I have to put this resolution down.

3. Get my house in order and keep it that way, I am going to do some major purging of junk! Get rid of stuff I am tired of redo a few rooms. I need some projects! Get it clean and keep it that way. I have such a bad habit of when things get out of control I become so overwhelmed I don't know where to start, so I don't! Bad idea! So no more of that this year.

4. Exercise more, not sure what this is going to entail, but for right now just moving my behind more!

5. Have more patience with my kiddos! I love them but man oh man can they push my buttons at times! It won't hurt me to have more patience in general. So, here's to a kinder, gentler Robyn in 2010.

I know there are more things, I hope to accomplish this year, the least of which is figuring out what I want to be when I grow up and going back to school, but just the things that I have written down have got me a bit overwhelmed so I am going to stop there for now! Here's to realizing all my goals in 2010! What's on your list?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

Let us not forget in the hustle and bustle of the season, the true meaning of Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Thank you Lord for the amazing gift of your Son!

Weekend In Review...

2009-12-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a little weekend in review or week in review, since I am going to start about Wednesday. Get comfortable this could get lengthy!

Wednesday night was our last Wednesday night of play practice before dress rehearsal on Saturday and the big performance on Sunday. First of all kids the last few days before Christmas break, pretty much uncontrollable, just so you know. I get them settled and we get through one song out of like 8, and Cooper's teacher brings him to me and tells me he puked. Of all things motherhood entails puke is my least, least favorite! ICK! So, I have to stop practice and take home a puking kid. Who proceeded to puke all the way home! I get him home cleaned off and in bed. He puked several more times! At my house my husband usually deals with the puke, one of the many reasons I love him, but alas he was working a stinking ball game. So, I solider through until he gets home. Then he is on puke detail. The saddest part of all of this is he was too sick to go to school and had to miss his first school play and party! :( The first thing he said to me after he puked was "Mama now I don't get to be the donkey!" Broke my heart!
Seemed to be a short lived bug, he was better by Thursday afternoon.

Friday, my loving husband was going to take me on a date, but guess what he has, the stomach bug! BOO! My mom goes shopping with me Bruce's parents keep the kids. Bruce makes it through the bug without puking one time! I hate him, you will see why in the next paragraph!

Saturday morning we have basketball, Meg is too cute, doesn't have a clue but has a great time playing! I start feeling a bit icky, figure it is from not eating breakfast. I have to take a gift to send to a party via the grandparents, meet them at Wal-Mart to do the hand off. Then go and get Subway for the family. Go home and have lunch. Make cookies for dress rehearsal, feeling a bit more icky. Take some nausea meds and feel a bit better. Head to play practice early to set up mics. Kids arrive we start practice, not feeling so hot, we get to the end of it, I send them to fellowship hall for dinner, and then proceed to head to the parking lot where I puke my guts out for about five minutes! I head home to change with the intention of going back but there was no way! Spent some time getting to know the toilet, thus the reason I am not so fond of my husband. I am usually not a puker, I can usually talke myself out of it, but oh my there was not stopping this! It was horrid but short lived! Thank God! My mom kept the kids at her house, where Meg got sick in the middle of the night, but this kid is resilent, because by the next morning she is fine. Her mother on the other hand looks like death warmed over! We took Sunday morning off from church, praying that Alex does not get sick, because she has one of the main parts in the play. Everyone stays well, we head to church. I am still not 100% but am at least functioning.

Sunday night the kid's give the best performance of the play ever! It was so awesome they did such a wonderful job! I was so proud!

Things learned 1. I hate dealing with puke mine or others! 2. My husband in this reguard is tougher than me (I birthed a 10lbs 1 oz baby with nothing more than a shot of nubain and some phengren, but this stomach bug kicked my butt!)3. Bad dress rehearsal= awesome performance so don't sweat it. 4. I have had my fill of stomach bugs for the year, thank you, oh and since this year is almost done, I have had my fill for next year too!

My Super Sunday Song

2009-12-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

It was my turn for special music at church today. I hate to do repeat songs, it is a sickness with me I can't help it. But I made an exception for this one it is one of my very favorite Christmas songs. Randy Travis recorded this song and it is also on the The Nativity Story soundtrack. It is called Labor of Love and I totally did not do it justice.

My Super Sunday Song

2009-12-06T19:01:00.001-08:00

Whew am I exhausted! We had a great time, it was a COLD time but a great time none the less. Alex and I are off to Little Rock tomorrow, she is singing at the Capitol with the U of A Fort Smith Academy of the Arts choir, should be a blast! Anyway here is my song of the week!!! It is Open Hands by Matt Papa, and not only is it my song it is my prayer this week as well! Enjoy!!

It the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2009-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

and our family will be celebrating it this weekend in Branson at Silver Dollar City! I am so excited! Christmas is my favorite time of year to visit Branson, they have so many gorgeous displays, and it just helps get me in a Christmassy mood! We are going with some friends and we rented a condo (Yay for extra space!) We are going to cook some meals there to save some moohla!The only thing I am slightly paniky about is the fact that it is going to be COLD! So, as of noon tomorrow we will be on our way! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

My Super Sunday Song, On Monday!

2009-11-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

A bit late with this one! I promise a better blog post soon, but enjoy one of my favorite Christmas songs today! His Favorite Christmas Story- Capitol Lights

My Super Sunday Song

2009-11-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

New Switchfoot! I <3 Switchfoot. The song is called Always! My most favorite lyric is "Every breath is a second chance." Can I get an AMEN?!?!

My Super Sunday Song

2009-11-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, since I am lacking in inspiration, aka, my kids have done nothing cute and or exciting for me to blog about, I decided to do this My Super Song Sunday! Sounds fun, huh?!? Really what it amounts to is me picking a song that I really like this week, and post a video and force you to listen to it and love it as well okay at least listen to it! So, my first Super Sunday Song is Among the Thirsty- I'd Need a Savior. My friend Randa sang this for special music at church today and to say it was chill inducing was an under statement! It is really a beautiful song, and I could give you a millioon reason why I love ti so much, but for space and time constraints, I will just say it is just reminds me how loved I am!

Whew!

2009-11-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

As, I was going in to pick Cooper up from school today, I found I was holding my breath. Literally not breathing and also putting myself into a full blown panic attack, because I was so worried they were going to tell me he misbehaved again today. I paused outside the door, I sent up a little prayer to a gracious and merciful God to please take pity on me! His teacher met me at the door, UGH oh, no, not again, my fragile heart can't take it God! She says"Just wanted to let you know Cooper had a really good day today!" Praise God!! I snatched him out of there as quickly as I could to ensure we still had a good day! WHEW!

It is so funny when I think about it, a little sad really, how much I base my worth on my children. I wonder if it would be the same if I had a job outside of the home? But, since my job right now is raising my children, I feel like I have failed at my job when they misbehave or don't do well at things. I really need to get over that, they are human just like I am and just like I do they make mistakes. Thank goodness I am not getting graded.

We have been doing this study at church called the Parent Adventure. It has been a really good study, I have learned a lot from it. I picked out the study because it was my turn to teach and while it was not exactly what I was looking for in a parenting based study, I have really enjoyed it. One of the first things it teaches you is your kids, they aren't your own, from the very beginning they are God's and it is my job as a parent to help them learn to live a life with Him. While I may have all these goals and plans for them, they don't really matter because in His infinite wisdom God has a plan for them all His own, and it is my job to help them figure out that plan, whatever it may be. I have also learned that my life is blessed by God, and not just during the good times, even when I have a biting 4 year old, or two sisters who can't seem to get along, in the midst of homework, housecleaning, gymnastics, choir, and basketball, right in the middle of all these good and bad my life is so blessed and it is blessed so much more than I deserve!

Just When I Think...

2009-11-04T09:18:00.001-08:00

he has the school thing all figured out, BAM he socks me in the gut! When I picked up Cooper yesterday he was sitting in time out. I was then informed by the teacher that he had bit another kid. Bit him! I can count on one hand the times he has bitten one of his sisters, so this is not like something he does frequently. I was floored! I just have a feeling this is what it is going to be like all the time with him, always something!! UGH! We talked about how you aren't supposed to bite people and he did get a spanking. He promised he would never do it again. He better not that is all I have to say

Waiting for Divine Inspiration...

2009-10-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

or heck at this point any inspiration. I had an old friend from school (HI Amy!) who writes her own fabulous blog Confessions of an Heiress find my blog. I was shamefully embarrassed that it has been August since I have updated or written here. OOOPS! We have had a lot of stuff go on birthdays, concerts, school, etc... just life in general, and I have been lacking the inspiration to write.

Thus, this written post on lacking the inspiration to post. Anyway, I will try to do better, I hate to just write about all the mundane details of life which I am so bogged down in right now. So here's hoping that knowing at least 4 people may be reading this will spur me on.

For now I am going to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite songs right now by Sanctus Real

"When I don't measure up to much in this life Oh, I 'm a treasure in the arms of Christ." Every time I hear this part in the song it makes me smile, and it is so true. No matter what I am a treasure to Him!

Just because I love it so much here's the video too.

A New School Year

2009-08-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, I can't believe that I sent my girls to school last Thursday! Futhermore, I can't believe I sent them to 1st and 4th grades. Where has the time gone? New school years always make me a tad bit nostalgic. My girls are growing up so fast it is crazy! Not only are my girls growing up but so it my boy! He will go to his first day of school on Tuesday! He is just going Tuesday and Thursdays from 8:30-11:30, but still it is my baby!! I have to leave him there. I worry about so many things most of all whether or not he will behave himself! Plus when we went to orientation, he seemed like on of the oldest ones there. I mean some of those kids looked like babies!! I just want him to be good! He can be such a pill when he wants to.

As for me I don't know what I am going to do with my free time on Tuesdays and Thursdays! I have never had all the kids in school when I didn't have a little one! When Alex went to preschool, we would run her to school, run home, feed Meg breakfast, put her down for a nap, do chores while Meg napped, wake Meg up just in time to go pick up Alex from school. Pretty much the same schedule for when Meg was in preschool. I won't have a baby to take home and nap this year. Geesh, I won't know what to do!!

Anyway this kids have great teachers this year and I am looking forward to really great year, and I am praying it doesn't go by as fast as the summer!!

Harry Potter....

2009-07-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

Bruce and I went last Saturday night to watch the new Harry Potter movie. I was super excited to see it. We even went to the 10 o'clock movie and that is late for us old folks. Anyway I will try to voice my opinions without giving too much of the movie away, but if you haven't seen it yet and you want to you might want to skip this post. All 3 of you that read my blog that is.

Alright, I love Harry Potter some of my most favorite books ever! JK is a much better author than the Twilight lady and I can say that because I have read both series in their entirety. So, when the movies come out I can't wait and for the most part the movies have been just like I pictured things when I was reading the book or in some instances better than I pictured.

With that being said, it wasn't that this movie was not good, but it was, what is the word I am looking for here, somewhat lackluster. It was just kind a big blah! I mean I know this movie is just like the book set up for the next, but there is still a plot and a story to be told. Anyway we all know that Dumbledore dies, so please tell why the screenwriter thought it was not pertinent to have the funeral scene it the movie. It was said that he though after the glow wand thing that they did that the funeral scence would be redundent. Where was the big white tomb, where was the big wizard send off. UGH how can you leave that part out?!?!? Plus, they make Snape look too much like the good guy in this one. I don't know I can't exactly put my finger on what about this movie I just didn't' love, but there was definitely something that I just didn't love.

I am still looking forward to the next and maybe it will put this one mroe into perspective, but so far Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince not my favorite!!!!

Blog Slacker

2009-07-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the reasons why:

Three kids home on summer break.

Unexpected trip to church camp. ( We didn't realize Alex was old enough to go but she was so she went and so did I.)

Anniversary trip for Bruce and I , totally was not long enough.

Finished up t-ball.

Had end of year t-ball party.

Took a short family vacation to Hot Springs, again totally was not long enough.

Disappointed husband because he did not get the new job he interviewed for.

Pissed off wife because the guy they hired is like 90, who wants a 90 year old elementary principal, plus we are still waiting on a call from the superintendent telling Bruce he did not get the job, still waiting, still waiting, still waiting....

Week of Vacation Bible School at church, in which I was co-director and it was really several weeks of planning.

Also music director that required dancing and weeks of learning the moves and the songs, because I am not a dancer.

Week before VBS fell and sprained my ankle, see last two posts! Not a good time for that to happen.

Bruce has also been out of town VBS week, not helpful!

Oh, and the last thing, we got a new puppy, his name is Dexter, very cute, but also lots of work.

Will try to resume regular blogging soon!!

Slow Down Summer!

2009-06-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it is just me or what but this summer break seems to be flying by! I hope it slows down some! T-ball season is winding down. We have had a great year and it has really been a lot of fun! Bruce has yet to take a day off this summer yet and I am kinda getting ticked! We are still awaiting word on whether he got the other job that he applied for. I am hoping he did, but the longer he gets away from the interview, the less likely it seems that he got the position. Kids are doing great. There is usually at least one knock down drag out a day. Usually between Alex and Meg. We have a few upcoming events. Alex and I are going to church camp next week. Then Bruce and I will celebrate our anniversary with a quick over night trip. Then we have our last t-ball game and the next day we head out on vacation. A quick trip to Hot Springs, (the kids choice not mine, LOL). Then we have Vacation Bible School in July. WHEW! Also in July my baby brother turns 30! By that time it will be pretty close to time to go back to school! Gosh! Anyway hope everyone else is having a great summer!

I Think I Have Pink Eye!

2009-05-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

EEEKK after a half a year of working with kids, I got pink eye the week that I wasn't even there! UGH! I woke up this morning with both my eyes matted shut! Then my left eye just kept getting redder by the minute. I didn't want to go to the dr, so I called up my eye dr, Dr. Dena! She called me in some drops that she had prescribed me before when I had another eye infection of some sort! The only bad thing is the drops she called in were $70 a bottle! $70 bucks for 5 ML! Oh my word! Anyway let's hope they work, cause my eyes look really yucky and they don't feel too good either!

Can you say RANDOM!

2009-05-21T05:43:00.001-07:00

Cause that is what this post is. A post of complete and utter randomness! First off it is almost the last day of school. That always makes me kind of sad! I always take a picture of the kids on the first day and then the last day of school and I am always amazed by how much they have changed and grown over the year. Meg will complete Kindergarten and begin 1st grade next year. 1st grade seems so grown up and I am just not quite ready for that yet! She has done well this year and is for the most part such a sweetheart! I just can't believe my baby girl is finishing kindergarten.

Alex will finish up 3rd grade, 3rd grade people! Which means she will begin 4th grade next year and the even scarier part of this is the fact that she only has 2 years left at the elementary school! I am so not ready for that! I am pretty sure she is fixing to go through some major changes, you women know what I mean and I am so not ready and ill equipped for that! Oh my! the wonder that is raising a girl! She has done well this year, had a little bit of issue of her and another girl trying to reenact their own version of Mean Girls on the playground, but other than that she has done well both socially and academically.

The hardest thing for me is that baby boy, well he will go to Preschool next year. It is only 2 days a week, but to think that my little boy, who it seems just got here is already ready for school, well that is just unreal to me. He is so excited! Just hope he is a good boy!

Let's see what else can I ramble about. Oh, there may be some big changes for me. I am thinking about going back to school. I was never going to be a permanent stay at home mommy, and with Cooper going to school next year and then in school full time the next it is time for me to get ready to enter the work force. I have also decided to depart from my original major which was Secondary English Education and I am going to get my degree in Elementary Education. All the substituting I have done this year has just made me realize that that is where I am meant to be. I know why I struggled all those years I was going to school, it was just not what I was meant to do. I think I would been an okay English teacher but I think I can be a really good elementary teacher. I am excited and nervous about the prospect, but I know it is time. I have also decided that when I finally finish my degree I will immediately will begin my Master's in Administration, yep I think I want to be a Principal down the line. So, there are my life aspirations! It seems really daunting all typed out, LOL!

Let's see Bruce is in the process of trying to find a job in administration. So keep him in your thoughts, he has had a really bad year. He has learned that it is really hard to go home again. (He is teaching in the school district he graduated from.) So, even though he is sad about having to leave, he knows it is time to move on. I just pray that he can find something!

Also we got some sad news about my grandmother. She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Not sure how I feel about this yet, I still try not to think about it too much. Sadly over the years I have grown apart from her because of some things, I still love her dearly there are just some hard feelings over some things. I am trying really hard to get over that because I don't want that to get in the way of what time we have left with her in good health. But man it is hard! Health wise she is in excellent shape, her short term memory is just gone. They were over for mother's day and she opened gifts and as soon as she finished opening she had forgotten who got her what. I guess up until then I had pretended there wasn't much wrong, you can't ignore those facts though.

Let's see what else. We are trying to finalize vacation plans for this year. We aren't going far, because the Dallas trip made us realize our kids right now are not the best travelers! So we will be going somewhere fairly close. If you have any suggestions shoot them to me.

Bruce and I will also celebrate our 11th anniversary this summer. Geesh that seems like a long time and when you factor in the fact that we dated for 4 years before we got married that equals 15 years! Gosh! In just 5 years I will have lived with Bruce the same amount of time that I lived at home with my parents. CRAZY!

Last but certainly not least, how do you like the new blog?!? My friend Tina at My Own Party of 5, has totally revamped my blog for me! I love it, she did such a great job! She has her own design blog under construction as well. I can't tell you how many times this girl has helped me out, she totally takes over most of the administrative and design side of the parenting website that I co-own Laundry Can Wait. She is just an extremely talented lady as well as a really good friend. Whom I have never even met in person, and that just goes to show you can find good people and friends over the world wide web! Thank you so much Tina, you really are awesome!

Okay if you made it through all that you are a saint! I will try to keep my blogs down to 3 paragraphs from now on, or maybe I should just update more often!

First T-Ball Game

2009-05-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

Oh my I can not tell you how deep my love for t-ball is! Bruce and I coached our first team last year and we were hooked. We were a first year team so we got several who had never played before. Our first game we played a professional t-ball team. T-ball is supposed to 5 and 6 year olds but I wanted some birth certificates on the boys on that team last year. Anyway we ended up having a fun season, and we had a great group of kids. Now, this year, 2nd year team we got to get our kids from last year as well as a few new ones. Our team starting out this year is better, we have several boys with some athletic ability and just an all around better team. Our first game was last night after 2 weeks of rain outs. OH my guys they did so good. Granted they would have been lots better if they haven't not practiced for 2 weeks. They hit the ball well, we got several outs Meg got 2 of them and it was so much fun. OH and my husband, is just great with those kids, he is patient and kind and it makes me love him all the more! When we left he looks over me with a big grin and he says "Now that was fun!" and it was, it was a lot of fun! I can't wait for Friday night!

I think I am going to go blonde

2009-05-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

or at least blonder! I usually use a darker color on my hair in the winter, and it is really dark right now. My natural color is (I would guess, I haven't been my natural color since 8th grade) a light to medium brown. I am going today to have it foiled with some lighter bits for summer. Plus I am getting it cut, but I don't know how yet, nothing like waiting until the last minute. Most likely I will tell her to just trim it. I am also having my eyebrows waxed. My pain tolerance has lowered as I have gotten older, the last time she did it I got a little woozy! LOL That is saying something coming from the woman who birthed a 10lb 1 oz baby with no epidural! (Still a little pissed at my doctor about that one!) Anyway I am excited for my new summer color!

Don't forget to weigh in on the my great blog debate!

Choice Number Three

2009-05-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the next choice in the great blog layout debate. Tell me what you think!

Choice Number Two!

2009-05-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is the 2nd choice in my revamp my blog contest! What do you think of this one?!?

A Recipe a Week

2009-05-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

Okay I am back on track with my recipe a week! I will do 2 this week. Chicken Tortellini Soup and Ice Box Pie.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

4 cups water

4 cups cooked chicken or 4 10 oz canned chicken (I do this cause it saves tons of time, plus my chicken cooking pot is my soup pot so it makes for a lot of in between cleaning)

2 (10 1/2 oz) cans cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 clove minced garlic

3/4 teaspoon basil

3/4 teaspoon oregano

1 (16 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetable broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

1 (8 oz) package dry cheese tortellini (this is with the regular pasta not in the fridge section

optional topping of parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes

In large saucepot combine water, chicken broth, chicken, cream of chicken soup, onion, garlic, basil and oregano.

Cover and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low; add vegetables and tortellini.

Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Garnish with cheese and diced tomatoes.

This makes a HUGE pot!! We can eat on it forever! I make it a lot for church pot luck because it makes so much!

Ice Box Pie

1 box chocolate instant pudding

1 tub cool whip

1 ready made graham cracker crust

package chopped pecans

Make pudding according to instruction on box. Pour into crust. Cover and let sit for a bit. Top with cool whip and pecans. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

OH and an extra since fruit is so yummy right now!

Best Fruit Dip EVER

1 jar marshmallow creme

1 block cream cheese

Blend together and serve with any type of fresh fruit!

Choice Number Uno!

2009-05-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have been messing around with my blog layout. I have wanted something different for awhile, but wasn't sure what. Being that I can't create anything on my own it meant I had to borrow a layout from somewhere else. Enter the website Cutest Blog on the Block, and they do have some cute stuff!! I have found several backgrounds there that I really like. Here in lies the problem, I can't pick! So you have to help me out. I will post a new one each day and you can give your feedback on it, what you like what you don't like, Robyn were you smoking crack when you picked that out?!?! This my friends is your first choice, so what do you think?!?! OH and be forewarned I have blog ADD, so I can't stay with any one thing for too terribly long, but I would love to have a few that I really love that I can recycle through every now and again. So let me know what you think! Thanks!

I Was Ready to Be Tested for Swine Flu...

2009-05-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

or for the poor pork producers the H1N1 virus! We have all traded around a stomach bug this week, well and part of last week. Bruce had to pick up Meg early last Wednesday from school as she was puking. She seemed pretty fine when she got home and for the rest of the day but then that night she puked all in my bed! I <3 it when they do that, nothing like having to wash sheets at 3 in the morning. Then I was pretty certain that everyone else was going to be okay and she was just puking because she was a bit phelmy, and she is a gagger. Then Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church I wasn't feeling too great. I couldn't miss though my mom and I were singing the special music it that morning. So I went and I didn't feel good at all through Sunday school. Then by the time church was over I felt pretty awful. I ended up on the couch at mom and dad's and didn't eat lunch. Slept on and off all day Sunday. Fast forward to about 11 o'clock Sunday and Cooper pukes all over the carpet in the living room! YUCK! Bruce cleaned that up, I <3 Bruce! I still didn't feel good Monday and neither did Cooper we spent the day on the couch, him on one end and me on the other. I still wasn't feeling the greatest Tuesday, still was icky on Wednesday, but we all went to church. Fast forward to early morning Thursday, Alex comes and tells me she just threw up in the bathroom. Whew I thought at least she made it the bathroom. I put her in bed with Bruce, and I went and slept on the couch. When I got up Thursday morning I got the most unpleasant surprise. Alex had mad it to the bathroom but totally missed and puked all over the toilet and bathroom floor! What is worse than cleaning up puke at 3 in the morning? Cleaning up puke that has sat there since 3 in the morning! BLEH! I gagged a few times and that was the closest I came to throwing up during this whole ordeal! Bruce wasn't feeling too hot last night but he went to work today. I hope we are all over this thing! My stomach is still not up to par, but I feel better. Alex really didn't want to go today but I made her, cause I am mean like that. I am all filled up on my cleaning puke quota for the year though, so I would appreciate it if from now on this little gems would just pass my family on by, thank you very much!

Pay It Forward!

2009-04-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

My friend Tina over at My Own Party of Five , got this idea from Robyn (GREAT name BTW! Even spelled right!) at An Alaskan Family to Pay it Forward in the blog world! What does this consist of you might ask, well it is just a simple deed or act of kindness done without expecting anything in return, simply passing it on in hopes of that person passing it on as well. So, what I will be doing is for the first 3 people that post a comment on this post, I will send you a little somethin' somethin' from me to you! Simply for reading my blog and letting me know you care! The only thing you have to do is do the same thing on your blog! Pay it forward people, who couldn't use a little pick me up right now considering all the we have going on! The treat you send doesn't have to be expensive or even cost anything, you can make something, send a recipe, write a note, whatever floats your boat! Let's spread a little love around the blog world! And now you all most join me in a rousing rendition of I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing! (I promise your gift will not be a cd of me singing this song although I did toy with the idea!)

I Am So EXCITED!

2009-04-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

Why you ask?!? Because I just ordered my WICKED tickets!! Now I just have to wait until August to watch! I have wanted to see this musical FOREVER! I read the book a long time ago and have wanted to see it ever since! And living where I do you don't get many opportunities to see Broadway musicals, but their is a touring production coming to Tulsa and I got tickets! WOO HOO! I can't wait!!

Book Review- The 5th Horseman

2009-04-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

I finished this James Patterson book a week or so ago. I really love his books! His writing style is great for me because he writes short chapters, and I have this thing where I can't stop reading a book in the middle of a chapter. I have to finish the chapter before I can quit. I know I have issues! Anyway this book did not disappoint, it was full of twists and turns and really bad guys and bad ass women! Fun read! I am a hard core Women's Murder Club fan, and it makes me wish I would have watched the tv show!

A Recipe A Week

2009-03-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Dessert First This Week

My first one is for a Dream Pineapple Upside Down cake, this cake was the moistest cake I have ever eaten so yummy, especially if you love pineapple, or even if you don't cause Bruce hates them and he just picked them off and ate the cake. Here's what you need.

3 cans (8oz each) pineapple slices

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine melted

6 maraschino cherries, halved

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 envelope Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix

4 eggs

1 cup cold water

Preheat oven to 350* F. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 TBSP of the juice; set aside. Mix brown sugar and butter in 13x9 inch baking pan. Arrange pineapple slices in pan, cutting slices if necessary to evenly fit onto bottom of pan. Place cherry half, cut side up, in center of each slice. Sprinkle with the reserved pineapple juice and pecans.

Beat dry cake mix, dry whipped topping mix, eggs, and water in large bowl with mixer on low speed 2 mins. Beat on medium speed for 4 mins. Carefully spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. Let stand 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Let stand 1 minute; remove pan. Serve warm or cooled.

Creamy Chicken and Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups multi-grain rotini pasta, uncooked

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut into florets

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup fat free chicken broth

2 oz cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375*. Cook pasta in large sauce pan as directed adding broccoli for last 3 mins. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook 3 mins or until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Stir in broth, simmer for 3 mins or until chicken is done. Add cream cheese, cook on low heat until melted. Stir in a half cup of mozzerella.

Drain pasta and broccoli and mix with chicken mixture. Spoon into an 8 inch square baking dish, and cover.

Bake 15 mins or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses, bake uncovered until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 mins and serve.

I am so TIRED!

2009-03-24T19:01:00.001-07:00

I am so exhausted! I have subbed the last two days, and they wanted me to sub tomorrow and were pissed when I said no. I don't have a job for a reason people this was only supposed to be a part time deal! Not an EVERY FREAKING day thing! Anyway, if they are rude to me again about it, I am going to the principal and asking her to remove my name, and tell her why!

We are getting ready for our big Day out with Thomas weekend! We are leaving Friday around noon. As a surprise for the girls, I made reservations for the three of us to go to the American Girl Bistro Friday night. I think I am even more excited than they are, LOL! Bummer of the weekend though it supposed to cool! I am praying the weather changes between now and then! One can hope, LOL!

I have to get my house in order before we go. I hate coming home to a dirty house! I have my work cut out for me though, cause my house is a wreck! I may do a daily list on things to get done, but when I do those I always feel like a failure if I don't get it done, nothing like failure glaring at you from a computer screen!

Here's hoping to a productive couple of days, and a nice weather weekend!

A Recipe a Week

2009-03-23T17:37:00.001-07:00

Okay these are two that I made tonight. Both were very yummy.

Cheese Olive Loaf

1 loaf french bread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbs of mayo

1/2 cup pimento stuffed sliced green olives

Don't let the mayo scare you off you can't even taste it.

Mix cheese, mayo, and olives together. Spread onto the french bread. Wrap the bread in foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup Zesty Italian dressin

1 lb lean ground beef

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 Tbsp cream cheese

12 oz spaghetti, uncooked

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook onions and dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium high, add meat and cook stirring frequently until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese.

While sauce is simmering cook pasta as directed on package.

Pour sauce on spaghetti and top with parmesan.

Last one a quick and simple dessert.

Chocolate Plunge

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 package 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream until mixture comes to a boil. Add chocolate stir until melted.

I serve with strawberries, marshmallows, pound cake, graham crackers, or other things that are chocolate dippable! My kids LOVE this!

Spring Break

2009-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

Spring Break is almost over and we haven't done squat. I always have these grand plans and we end up hanging at the house and not doing anything. I did go shopping with my friend Kyla one day but other than that we have just hung out here at the house. I wanted to take the kids to do something outside since the weather has been so nice, but of course it started raining today and is supposed to continue. BLAH! The kids are going tonight to spend the night at Bruce's parents. I think we will go out to dinner and hope for nice weather tomorrow so we can actually go and do something. I knew this break would be low key since we are going next weekend to Day Out With Thomas in Dallas, but still I would like to do something before they have to go back to school!

I Read Another Book

2009-03-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am on a reading roll! LOL I read James Patterson's 4th of July this week. It was good had a really surprise ending, that I didn't see coming and I am hard to fool. I really like James Patterson, I don't know why I waited so long to read him! A little graphic and gory at times, but what murder mysteries aren't?

2009-03-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

I needed a good recipe for church pot luck a few weeks ago, and I got this one off the Food Network site, and they were yummy!

Blondies

1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

about 1 1/2 cups butterscotch, semisweet chocolate, peanut butter or white chocolate chips. (I used white chocolate)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish.

Put sugar in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet or in the microwave in a glass measuring cup. Stir the butter in the sugar until smooth, cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Beat the egg and vanilla into the sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture a bit at a time until a smooth thick batter forms.(It is really thick!) Fold in chips, as desired.

Spoon the batter into the prepared dish and spread to evenly fill dish. Bake until the blondies are light brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Invert onto a rack and cool completely. Cut into squared and serve.

Okay this one is for when I have absolutely no time and need a super fast dinner, it is not all that healthy but my kids love them and I try not to do it too often.

Dressed up Taquitos

1 box chicken taquitos

1 can red enchilada sauce

Mexican blend cheese

1 can sliced black olives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put taquitos into baking dish and heat in oven for 8 minutes. Remove pour on enchilada sauce, cover with cheese, and then top with black olives. Heat for an additional 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. I serve them with sour cream and we usually have chips and dip with it as well.

Shopaholic and Baby- Book Review

2009-03-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Whenever I read a book that takes me a really long time I like to follow it with one I know I can read quickly! Enter Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella. This book is part of the Shopaholic series and also the series the recent movie is based off of. I always enjoy these books because they are so funny! This was vintage Becky Brandon nee' Bloomwood. Funny, clever, and even a bit touching believe it or not! I really it enjoyed it, it was a quick read, it is not Pultizer Prize winning stuff but it was entertaining which is just what I needed.

Book Review~ A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

2009-03-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this book, don't know why it took so long. Either I have been busier than normal or this was just one of those books that took longer to finish. This was the first book I have read by John Irving although he has written several. This book is the book the movie Simon Birch was based on, I loved the movie BTW, but if you like your book and movie to follow closely then you will be disappointed with this one. It really is almost like two different stories with the exact same characters.

Now on to my review, while I was reading this book I wasn't liking it not sure if was writing style or what. Mr. Irving is BIG on description which for the most part I don't disagree with, but this at times was a little too much for my taste. That being said after finishing the book, I loved it, even all the description because in the end you get the reason it all had to be in there. Irving is a gifted storyteller with excellent characters. He is funny and witty to point I laughed out loud in several instances, but he is touching and intelligent in all the right places. This book touches on faith, predestination, childhood, lasting and touching friendships, what makes a real family, and every thing in between. I am so glad I stuck it out, it ended up being a joy!

That Shaved about 10 Years Off My Life!

2009-03-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

I was subbing today in first grade and the kids were out for afternoon recess and I was sitting in the room minding my own business, trying to read my A Prayer for Owen Meany book ( only been on this one for about a month, it is time to be finished!). When all of the sudden there was this loud pop, it seriously sounded like a gun shot. I had just gotten on to a couple of the boys and instantly thought OMG they are shooting at me, LOL! Turns out that one of the kids (not any from my class) threw a rock at the room I was in and shattered the window! It is a huge window and it didn't bust the glass out so it is just sitting there making this cracking noise like it is going to fall out at any minute! EEEEK! I so cannot have this particular group of kids in there with that window like that. There are some groups that could be in there all day and leave it alone but this group would be all over it! So we had to have class in the media center the rest of the afternoon. That was my excitement for the day and it scared the crap out of me and quite possibly took 10 years off my life, I am thinking of suing for mental anguish. I am pretty sure I may have a case!

What I Should be Doing Instead of Blogging!

2009-03-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

1. Tackling the insane amount of laundry I have right now! Last week was a busy week and I am WAY, WAY, WAY behind!

2. Doing the dishes, BLAH, YUCK, and BLAH!

3. Feeding my son lunch! He had a late breakfast and I am just not ready to move from chair yet!

4. Finally finishing a book A Prayer for Owen Meany so I can move on to something else. I have been on this book for about a month now, and I am ready to move on, but not before I finish it. In my defense it is a really long book, but still!

5. Cleaning my house that because of my busy week last week is a total DISASTER this week!

6. Figuring out tomorrow's Team Kid's lesson for church!

7. Taking a nap, oh wait I did that this morning while the boy slept in!

I also could have been substituting today, but alas I did not pick up my phone, it was a long week last week, and I already have one day this week, and well I just didn't want to go today! Ideally I need to pick up one more day, but I may not! Who knows!

Cooper Just Might FREAK!

2009-03-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

I told him if he would learn to potty like a big boy that I would buy him tickets for Day out with Thomas, he is Thomas obsessed right now. He loved the idea he just didn't want to learn to use the potty. He is one stubborn boy, but I am proud to say he has one stubborn mommy as well, and he is completely potty trained! He wears a pull up at night, just in case, and he still doesn't like to poop and will hold it, until he has to go, see how stubborn he is?!?

So, the other night I ordered his tickets. He freaks when we just visit the site so I can't imagine how it is going to be when he actually gets to go and see Thomas!! We are going March 28th and we are having to drive to Grapevine to see it, but it will be so worth it! I am so excited for him, I am about to freak, LOL!

2009-03-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of chinese food, just not a huge fan of having to pay for it, this recipe is a great at home version, that is almost as good as the real thing!

Beef Noodle Bowl

1/2 pound linguine, uncooked
3 cups broccoli florets
3 carrots peeled, sliced ( I usually just use a bag of frozen baby carrots)
2 tsp oil
1 lb beef sirloin steak cut into strips
1/4 cup Kraft Toasted Asian Sesame Seed Dressing
1 TBSP Teriyaki Sause

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding veggies for the last 2 mins of cooking.
While pasta is cooking heat oil in nonstick skillet. Add meat, cook until browned on all sides stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing and teriyaki sauce, cook 2 mins, or until sauce is thickened, sitrring occasionally.

Drain pasta, and toss with meat mixture to coat.

Optional- Sprinkle with peanuts before serving. ( I never do this, but if you want a little crunch, it might be good)

A Note to Jason Mesnick

2009-03-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

Jason,

For future reference your name and integrity should never be used in the same sentence, you sold your integrity for 15 minutes of fame. If you think you can even be remotely proud of your actions, you are delusional. I think the only reason you changed your mind is the fact that you came on a show to find a wife completely unprepared to make that commitment. The real reason you dumped Melissa is she was ready to become a wife and mother and you were not and neither is Molly. Crisis averted Mr. Mesnick, and what did it cost you?!? Just your integrity!

A Jilted Viewer

AKA One Mad Momma

I Do NOT <3 Jason Mesnick

2009-03-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Are you kidding me?!? I have not been this mad since that jerk from Deanna's season didn't pick anyone, and quite frankly I think I may be madder now than I was then. I can not believe the outcome of this season! I think he is a jerk, how could he do that to Melissa on television? I think that is why I am so ticked! I mean could you not have called her on the phone, went to see her, anything. I mean I am sure that they had talked about things, but to wait until you are there face to face taping, please! JERK! Oh and BS that he and Molly had not talked since the taping, BS! Although she did do a pretty convincing job of being surprised. I wish she would have told him to take a hike, instead of falling all over his ignorant self. GEESH! I think she should have told him to go seek out Deanna, cause those two are cut from the same cloth!

Never Again Will We Hear "The Rest of the Story"

2009-03-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Paul Harvey over the weekend. I was always so excited when I would be in the car or near a radio when his segment came on. I loved to hear his distinctive voice, his pauses and inflections, and the way he told a story just can not be matched. I would wait anxiously as he would end the segment and reveal whomever or whatever he had been talking about and then that distinctive and now you know the rest of the story. I will miss that.

I was watching the evening news tonight, they did a short segment on Paul, I was unaware that his wife was his business manager, they had a cute quote from him in which he said I never intended on ever being on television but when your wife is your business partner you just do what you are told. Her name was Angel, and she sadly passed away a year ago. As they said on the news Paul Harvey will be missed but he is with the angels now and one Angel in particular. Godspeed Paul Harvey!

A Recipe a Week

2009-03-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Shasta at Crackers and Chaos came up with this idea to post a recipe a week and I think it is a fantastic idea, so I am participating as well. If you want to participate head on over to her blog and sign her Mr. Linky and join in the fun! My first recipe will be the fated Weeknight Cheese Quiche I blogged about earlier in the week! It turned out FANTASTIC BTW!

Weeknight Cheese Quiche

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup chopped onion (I did this in my food processor so it would be really fine, as onions aren't my fave)

1 Pkg 10oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/3 cup Miracle Whip

1/3 cup milk

4 eggs

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 frozen 9 inch pie crust

1/4 cup bacon bits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and onions and cook 5 mins or until tender. Stir in spinach and mix well.

Mix dressing, milk, eggs, until well blended. Add spinach mixture and cheese.

Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with bacon bits. Bake 50 mins until set and golden.

I served this with a nice green salad and hot rolls. I topped the quiche with a bit of sour cream as well. YUM!

This recipe is courtesy of www.kraftfoods.com

I am not going to say this too loud but...

2009-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

Cooper pooped on the potty tonight and he has not had a accident in several days. I think we may be rounding the bend on the potty training thing, which is good because it was about to send me round the bend and not in a good way but in a send Robyn to a padded cell kinda way! So here's hoping we have it down!

Other fun things this weekend. Bruce's mother kept all three kids last night and we had a date night, nothing fancy just dinner at Chilli's because everything else was too dang crowded. We wanted Olive Garden, and figured since it was pouring rain, that it wouldn't be too crowded. When we got there at like 15 til 6 btw, people were standing outside in the rain waiting. I love me some Olive Garden but not enough to stand in the rain for who knows how long to get it. After dinner we headed to Hastings to peruse the cheap books, I got 2 new books for $3.99 and Bruce got a book. We then headed to Marable Slab, and had some wonderful ice cream. Then it was a trip to Old Navy, which sucks anymore! Then Books A Million also was equally sucky. Finally, a trip to Target and we headed home, where we picked up the boy, and the girl's spent the night with the grandparents.

Plus to top it off Cooper slept in this morning, SWEET! All in all so far a pretty sucessful weekend! My laundry is caught up but my house is wreck, we all know you can't have it all!

Last One for the Night

2009-02-27T21:55:00.000-08:00

The scene from Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams is exiting after being fired and the boys stand on their desks and say O Captain My Captain! Gets me everytime! One of my all time favorite movie moments!! Bring on the waterworks! What are some of your favorite movie moments?

Friday Night Lights

2009-02-27T21:37:00.001-08:00

Where I went to high school football was pretty much king, that being said I have somewhat of an affinity for football related movies and shows. Facing the Giants, Friday Night Lights, Varsity Blues, Remember the Titans, you get the picture. That being said I love the T.V show Friday Night Lights, that comes on NBC Friday nights at 8:00. It is just such a good show, and I just know they will cancel it because they weren't going to bring it back this year but they worked out a deal with Direct TV and they did. I will be so bummed if it gets canceled though, it reminds me of everything I loved about high school. Plus there are some pretty cute actors that play in it as well. So, if you need a show to watch on Friday nights check it out, if you are a football fan or even if you are not, I think you will enjoy it!

This is Why I Don't Cook

2009-02-26T16:04:00.001-08:00

I really don't mind cooking in fact I even go through phases where I love to cook. Right now I am in a cooking phase. So, for tonight's dinner I am making Weeknight Cheese Quiche from the recipes at Kraftfoods.com ( I triple love this site, makes finding things to cook so easy and they are written for a novice like myself and still taste yummy! I received no compensation for this advertisement BTW). So I pull up the recipe on my computer, I get everything done and I get to the part where you pour the mixture into the pie crust, so I start reading and it says prepared pie crust which up to that point I just thought meant already made, which it was, but then I started to wonder if by prepared it meant already baked! UGH, see why I don't cook, I am sure if any of you reading this are any kind of chef at all you are sitting there going DUH, she so should have know that, but I don't. So I sit here waiting for it to cook, terrified that I have ruined dinner due to my inaccurate interpretation of the recipe. This is why I don't cook!

I am Tenatively Celebrating

2009-02-25T14:27:00.000-08:00

The fact that Cooper may just have this whole potty training thing down. At least the pee part! I am beyond thrilled! No more diapers for me EVAH!

We did have an unfortunate accident in my floor but we won't speak of it as it still makes me throw up a bit in my mouth! ICK!

The Boy

2009-02-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

My sweet, beautiful baby boy may be the most stubborn male on the planet, well next to his dad. We have been potty training and he is doing really well staying dry, the problem is he HOLDS it. He won't pee and he won't poop. The poop thing is really bothering me, I know he has to go. At first I was like well, eventually he will go he can't hold it forever. I think though possibly he could and would hold it forever! It is a battle of wills and right now and he just may be winning! UGH! I so do not <3 potty training at all!

The Bachelor- Again

2009-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

I just read an online spoiler about this season of the Bachelor and I can tell you right now if it happens the way this guy says it is going to, excuse my French but I am going to be PISSED! I mean ticked to the point that I honestly will not ever watch the show again, and yes I know I said that after that dirtbag made me watch the whole dang season and then gets to the end and picks NO ONE, I mean in his defense one of his choices was Deanna but still he could have picked the other girl and then dumped her like everyone else does!

If it goes down like I have read it does, and if the accusations are true, it is really beyond cruel, and that Jason would agree to it makes me sick! I mean it is really bad, I don't want to go into detail cause I know there are people who do not like to know something before it happens, and I am really hoping this is not true, because it is bad people, really, really bad! UGH! Anyway I guess we will all see on Monday night.

The Bachelor

2009-02-17T18:48:00.001-08:00

Okay can I just say right now that if I was not married I would have been the stalker chick on this season of the Bachelor because I <3 Jason! That being said I pretty pleased with the final two, although I would have loved to have seen the other Mommy in there, even though even I could tell there was no chemistry there. What is up with all the drama though, bringing Deanna, I do not <3 Deanna, back, right before the big proposal? Then Chris all talking about how they are trying to protect all the parties involved? I don't get it, but I am going to keep watching because I am obsessed! I am saying right now though, if he dumps either of those girls to go back to that heartbreaker Deanna I am going to boycott the show forever! Chick got her chance now go away!!!!

T is for Trespass

2009-02-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

I read this awhile back and didn't get a review up, mainly because I didn't have much to say. It is vintage Sue Grafton, and it wasn't that it wasn't a good book, it was honestly one of her better ones. At this point though I am kinda like been there done that! Anyway if you love Sue Grafton, which I do, this one will not disappoint.

Awesome Song from ER last Night

2009-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

Check it out on you tube South Side of Heaven, by Ryan Bingham! I am on the stupid Apple computer and couldn't copy and paste! Stupid Apple!

Life and Times of Substitute Teacher

2009-02-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

As, I have told you all before I started substituting this year to earn some extra money and some days it just isn't worth the $50 bucks! I was in Kindergarten last week which I love they are so sweet and cuddly and lovable at the age. I have decided if I ever go back to school I will get my Early Childhood degree. Anyway, so they are all about centers in school now especially at that age. So after the reading lesson, I got the centers set up and they so good about going to their little tables and working on their stuff, it is really too cute. Anyway on this particular day the teacher had left a stamping center for them, stamps with words that they were to trace, complete with RED stamp pads (keep these in mind they will come into play later). So we are all going about our business, I am working at one table with a group the rest of them are doing their respective centers. We get to the end and I walk over to the stamping center to begin putting it away, and lo and behold one of the girls was using the red stamp pad on her hair. She is running it up and down and I ask what do you think you are doing to which she replied highlighting my hair! UGH! So I get onto to her put the center away and move them to the rug for a quick story before they go to lunch. As I am reading I begin to start looking all around the room and there were several others who had used the red stamp pad on their hair as well, one little girl with a blonde pony tail that was now completely red, as well as most of her white shirt and even a boy who had done the top of his head! OH people I was mortified! Who would've thought?

Fast forward to this week, I am in the same class, we are making a Mr. & Mrs. Valentine craft and what does one girl do, she cuts her hair! Now mind you this girl has had headful and I mean headful of blonde curly hair, and most likely her parents would not even miss the piece she cut off, but still she got in big trouble from me on that one.

I had one little girl try to choke another, I had a little boy that would not sit still or shut up no matter how many times I asked! It rained all day so we couldn't send them outside and they were going stir crazy and so was I!

At the end of the day though, when they gave me hugs as they rushed out the door, I decided it wouldn't be a horrible way to spend my career life! That is if my husband ever finishes his stupid doctorate so I can go back to school!!

Work on your Delivery, Dude!

2009-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, last night they had this big drawing at Bruce's school. You pay $20 for a ticket and you can go and eat a meal, and then you are entered into this drawing where you can win all kinds of different things like gift certificates, guns(only in Oklahoma can you enter a contest and walk out the door with a firearm), just misc stuff that they get donated but the grand prize is this Bad Boy Buggy thing, (think John Deere Gator). Bruce was in Tulsa yesterday taking his principal's test, so he didn't get home until late, so we couldn't go.

Well, about 8:30 I hear his phone ringing, and he goes to get it but misses the call. It was from one of the coaches at the school who was running the contest, so Bruce checks his messages, and I was like put it on speaker phone, I bet since we weren't there we won the dang thing (we sat thru the whole thing last year and won NOTHING!). So on the messages, we hear the coach go Uh Mr. Gillham I don't know if anyone has contacted you yet about the drawing tonight but you were the winner, at this point we start yelling, WE WON, WE WON, and the kids are all looking at us like we are nuts asking what we have won and then we hear gift certificate, and I tell Bruce maybe we better listen again. Well, we won alright a $20 gift certificate to Warehouse Willie's (local resturaunt, where we might can both eat a burger for $20) and a one night stay at Long Lake Resort. Now Long Lake Resort sounds like this really exotic locale right, nope it is a small lake about 15 mins from our house! So, my advice to coach work on your delivery dude, we weren't THE winner we were A winner! At least we won something and our $40 wasn't wasted like last year, but I sure wanted that buggy!

What should I read next?!?

2009-01-28T14:33:00.001-08:00

Throw me some good suggestions on some must reads!

Ice Storm+ 1 Husband + 3 Kids=

2009-01-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

One Crazy mother!!! My kids are so tired of being inside they are bored and it is not even snow so I can't send them out to play. Thank God the electricity has not gone off, or I really would have been over the edge. As much as I have loved having my kids safe at home, I am so hoping it thaws out enough for them to go back to school tomorrow!

Book Review-Dewey-The Small Town Library Cat that Touched the World

2009-01-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

I so was not going to read this book. I got it in a box of a bunch of other books that I won on a drawing from goodreads.com. So I have had this book forever and it just sat there staring at me from the nightstand, literally staring cause there is a cute picture of Dewey the Cat on the front. We have been iced in for the last few days which makes for lots of reading time for me. I was also out of points on my Book Mooch account and I noticed that this book was on several wishlists, so I knew I could get a quick point out of it. I picked it up yesterday and let me tell you (this coming from a non aninimal person) was such a well-written, heart warming, touching, and endearing read. I so enjoyed it tears (yes there were tears) and all start to finish.

The book is about a cat named Dewey that was abandoned in the drop box of the library in the small town of Spencer, Iowa. The cat was rescued by the head libririan there and adopted not just by the library but by the whole town. While this book was about Dewey it was about so much more, he was the common thread woven throughout the story,but it was also about small town life and family and the bonds we all make not just with the people in our life but with the animals as well. The book will make you laugh, reminicse, and most likely cry but so worth the read.It was adorable.

I finished the last Twilight book...

2009-01-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

and I came to a conclusion. I really, really did not enjoy Stephanie Meyer's writing style. I mean the woman could take something that could be said in one page and turn into 10! My disdain for her writing style however, did not lessen my enjoyment of her characters. I became emotionally invested in the characters and that is what kept me plugging through all the books. I wanted to know what happened. I wanted to know how everything ended up. She didn't quite tie up all the loose ends for me, but did a good enough job that I was not too disappointed. Don't know if I will rush out a read anymore of the stuff she has written. We will see after I have had a break for awhile.

Had a Girl's Night Out

2009-01-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

We had a blast too! We went to watch the movie Bride Wars, it was a very cute girlie movie.Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson were HILARIOUS! Plus it had one of my fav boy actors from One Tree Hill, Bryan Greenburg, he was on like a couple of seasons and then left, so it was nice to see him in Bride Wars. We did the movie thing and then had a nice long dinner at TGI Fridays. Plus my friend Amy bought everyone dinner, such a sweetie. We are determined to make it a monthly thing this year, we don't get together enough and it was nice to giggle and have girly conversations!

2nd Chance- James Patterson

2009-01-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

I am really digging Patterson right now. His books are entertaining and a quick read. Albeit he can be a bit on the gory side from time to time. I like his characters. I like that they are women and bad asses. He keeps you guessing on the plot end of things and several times when I thought I had it all figured out he changed it. I will be picking up the 3rd one as soon as I have some Book Mooch points! If you like a good murder mystery, I would definitely check him out.

I am sorry I waited so long to read him, because of my silly bias against men writers. That right I am a novel sexist. I like my novels to be written by the female persuasion. My guess is though that Patterson's wife has some input in his women characters, I am just sayin'.

EEEK as Promised!

2009-01-06T18:35:00.000-08:00

Just so you know if you tell anyone this I will hunt you down like the dog that you are! ( Bearing in mind that I putting it here on the world wide web for every Tom, Dick, and Harry on God's green earth to read!)

My Wii Fit scale says that I way a whopping 193 lbs, UGH! REALLY?!?! That is pretty accurate within a few pounds either way as my mom's scale. I had a really lovely digital scale that my darling son dismantled! (But I am loving on Cooper right now because he peed, yes peed in the potty tonight! WOOT!)

Okay on we go!

Tomorrow is church night and that kills me! The ladies at church can cook. My plan is to not eat there and eat when I get home unless I can find something not too terribly bad for me there. I have drank 2 bottles of water today, and considering I usually drink none that is a lot. I plan on having one more before bed.

I am going back on the wagon!

2009-01-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

And outing myself about it in the hopes it will keep me accountable. I did Weight Watchers last year and lost about 20lbs and I had lost about 20 lbs before I started. Life got busy, WW got expensive and I got hungry! Anyway I have gained back 10lbs of what I had lost. So I am going back on WW. I am not going to do the meetings this time, YET. I am trying it on my own for a bit to see how I fair. I got the WII Fit for Christmas so hopefully that will help. I am also going to move my mom's treadmill down to my house, which hopefully means I will use it more. She is currently using it for a clothes rack, so I don't think she will mind. I am going to start journaling what I am eating everyday and also drinking LOTS more water. I found that drinking water really did help last time. Anyway wish me luck. What I didn't want to do this year is look back at where I was headed and think gosh if I had only stuck with it think what I would weigh now but yet here I am once again. I have this lovely dish crocking in my new Crock Pot which we will eat with some roasted veggies and a nice salad. Sounds YUM! So, if you read this keep me accountable, leave me messages ask me how I am doing, encouragement would be nice too! I am going to get on the scale tonight and I will *gasp* post my weight here. (Oh gosh I a can't believe I am going to do that!)

Confession!

2009-01-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Okay I am outing myself! I have a small obsession with Bath and Body Works Wallflowers! But alas I am a tightwad or let's say thrifty that sounds better, and I won't pay the $12 they are normally, but if you are familiar with BBW you know they have a clearance sale twice a year once after Christmas and once in the summer. During said clearance sale they have their Wallflowers on sale for $5 a box, yes $5 dollars a box. So twice a year I stock up and by stock up I mean, I may never need to buy Wallflowers again. While I was there yesterday, some lady saw me piling them into my bag and she was asking me which ones smelled good, I was like I haven't a clue I just buy them compulsively and hope they don't smell like crap! I think she thought I was a freak, but nothing make me happier than to open my Wall Flower cabinet, yes I have a cabinet for them, and see that it is all full! YAY!

My Son

2008-12-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

Is quite frankly going to kill me! We are STILL trying to potty train, and he is really not making any progress. It is not because he doesn't get it because he does, if he smart enough to put a pull up over his underwear and then pee in them he is smart enough to go in the dang toilet! I just don't know what to do with him and it is time to potty train. He is over three! This is one of my least favorite aspects of parenting, but I don't remember the girls being this difficult. I mean you ask him if he wants to use the potty and he screams! Anyone wanna take a 3 year old for awhile potty train him and then send him back? Cause I got nothin' right now!

Book Review- 1st To Die- James Patterson

2008-12-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

I had an online friend who had been trying to get me to read Patterson for forever and I just wouldn't do it. I have a thing about male authors, call me sexist, I don't know. Anyway so I mooched this one from Book Mooch, it is the first in the Women's Murder Club series, and I loved it. It is just the kind of mystery thiller I like. It was a tad predictable, but it had really interesting and enjoyable characters. It did have a sort of bummer of an ending, but I could get past that. I have already mooched the 2nd book in the series and should get it soon. If you are a Mary Higgins Clark or Sue Grafton fan, I think you would really like James Patterson.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T20:35:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas All! I hope your Christmas was blessed! We had a wonderful Christmas. I am always sad when Christmas ends. All the work to prepare for and it is over in a flash! Plus it is just one more reminder that my kids are getting older. I wonder how many more years I will have frantic searches for the perfect toy or how many more years I can get away with buying clothes from the Children's Place or Penney's? Hopefully for awhile longer anyway.

Merry Christmas!

My New Favorite Thing!

2008-12-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many of you are award of this site, especially those book worms among you. It is called Book Mooch, and how it works is you list books you want to give away and you get points to request books that you want. You get so many points for listing books, 1 point for each book you give away, and points for providing feedback. You pay the cost to ship the book to the person requesting, which sending it media mail costs abut $2.23. It is a great way to get books for cheap especially ones you don't want to keep! So check it out!

www.bookmooch.com

Book Review- Midwives

2008-12-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

I just finished this book by Chris Bohjalian, I wanted to read it since I saw the movie on Lifetime. This book was a really good read, a great courtroom thriller with a significant family dynamic as well. It had believable characters that you really pull for. The book centers around a midwife who endures a horrific home birth, the book is about the repercussions of the decesions she makes during that delivery and how those decesions affect not only her but her whole family. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and plan to check out some of the other books he has written.

Part Time Job? Yeah, not so much!

2008-12-04T17:02:00.001-08:00

As of tomorrow I will have worked everyday but Wednesday this week, and while the money is going to be nice (nice because I haven't seen the bulk of it yet and won't until after the 15th) this has turned out to be more of a time commitment than I wanted it to be. I don't mind doing it but my house is a wreck and I have laundry up to my eye balls and I hate having to do it on the weekend when the kids and Bruce are home! Plus I don't have the guts to tell them NO! I am afraid if I start saying no that they won't call me at all anymore! UGH! Plus I am missing my Cooperman! OH well, they can only make me do 75 days total the whole year, so at the rate I am going I should breeze through those pretty quick!

I Saw Twilight!

2008-12-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

We went out with some friends last Friday night and saw the Twilight movie. We started the evening with a meal in down town Fort Smith at Rolondo's, which was so yummy and different. It was Latin American food and it was so good. Anyway about the movie. My friend and I loved it the guys not so much! There were a few scenes and characters that weren't exactly like I pictured them. Ones that stand out are the Eric character, and the scene where Edward shows Bella what he looks like in the sun. There were a few more but I can't remember them specifically. I can't wait for them to make more of the movies! I really enjoyed my night out.

Book Review- Multiple Blessings

2008-12-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

I begged Bruce for this book the other day at Sam's because I really like the show John and Kate Plus Eight. I don't miss an episode and it is something my kids and I can watch together, because they really like it as well. So, I got the book and I read it and it was a quick read and you know I like a quick read. It is not the book wasn't it good, it gave a lot of background about their family, but really no more than you get from watching the show. It was not really well written and I found it to be both disjointed and rambling in places. It was a fun a read but not really something I think I would recommend unless you are just a die hard fan of the show.

The Things You Will Do For Your Children

2008-11-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

One of those things consisted of me hauling my butt out of bed at 4:15 A.M (yes that is am people) on the Friday after Thanksgiving (yes, I said the Friday after Thanksgiving) and heading to the death trap that is know as Wal-Mart! Yes, I did this to purchase a Thomas the Train Roundhouse, which is the only thing the boy has asked for this year for Christmas!

I worked retail for years, so I usually avoid the day after Thanksgiving sales like the plaque! I just find people to generally be a pain in the rear on that day. Yesterday was no different! I couldn't even push my cart through the aisle! It was nuts! Anyway I love my boy, I have the said Thomas set and it only cost me my pride and $15. It will be a Merry Christmas!

I am Blessed!

2008-11-26T21:48:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to be thankful so in that light these are the things that I am thankful for this year. I am thankful for my 3 children and all the chaos they bring to me each day. There are some days where they literally have me to the point of pulling my hair out, but my life would be so incomplete without each of them in it. Alex in all her studiousness and seriousness. I am in awe of her tenacity everyday. She works so hard to accomplish the goals she sets forth for herself and tries so hard each day to make us proud of her, which we are EXTREMELY. Alex will go places on shear will alone, she is not afraid to work hard for her accomplishments, and I can see her accomplishing so many things. She is my learning curve and teaching me something new each day, my first baby girl, one of my greatest gifts.

My Meg the life of the party the encourager, but also a terribly hard worker. She has fun with anything she does, and never fails to bring a smile to my face at least once if not several times a day. She is well liked, she is funny, and she can light up a room in an instant. She is fearless nothing phases her. Meg will be one to ride the roller coasters with her eyes wide open and her arms raised high. When I went to her Halloween party the other day the aide for the building stopped me, she said we just love your daughter she keeps us going over here. Meg has figured out her purpose early in life, she just spreads joy where ever she goes. I can't wait to see where that takes her.

Cooper, oh my Cooper, my biggest surprise who has quiet frankly stolen my heart. There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank my heavenly father for bringing this little boy into my life, for my life would not be nearly as full without him in it. He is curious, he is loving, he is smart and in a way where I don't think he will ever have to work at things like Alex does it will just come easily to him. He warms my heart daily, he is compassionate and loving. He would be just perfect if he would use the toilet!

My other blessing is Bruce. He is the best husband and I hope he doesn't read this, I don't want all the good things I am saying about him to go to his head! LOL We have know each other since I was a junior in high school, we grew up together. We learned how to be couple. He is such a good provider for our family and he is truly my best friend. I am immensely proud of him and all he has accomplished. He is my soul mate and I am so glad that God had our paths cross those many years ago.

I am extremely thankful for my parents and all that they do to help my family. I couldn't ask for better parents. They have been there for us in so many ways over the years whether it be financial or emotional support. I am truly blessed to have them as parents.

I am thankful for my extended family and all each of them brings to my life.

I am thankful for friends new and old and all that they bring to my life and my family's life. I have been truly blessed in my life to have some really good friends and I am so thankful for that.

I am thankful for those blessings that are no longer with me namely my Poppa and Granny. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about them and miss them terribly. I was so fortunate to get to live so close to them and fortunate that they played a huge role in my upbringing. I am thankful that as I got older that they were still there for me always encouraging and supporting me and the decisions I made. Those of you fortunate enough to still have grandparents living make sure you don't take them for granted. I am not sure I ever really fully conveyed how much they meant to me and how much I relied on the simple fact that they were always there until one day they weren't. OH how there are days that I wish I could have one more conversation with each of them, if only to tell them how much I loved and appreciated them.

I am thankful to live in American and for all the liberites and freedoms that affords me even typing this completely rambling litany of thoughts. I realize how truly blessed I am, and I am so thankful for all of my blessings even those that I didn't think to mention.

Happy Thanksgiving All, I hope you take time today to count your blessings as well!

Kindergarten Kicked My Butt Today!

2008-11-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

And I only did half a day! I am so exhausted and I am headed back tomorrow to do music. I love subbing for the music teacher she always leaves a video! NICE! LOL I have to do high school in the afternoon and I am a bit apprehensive about that so wish me luck!

Other things going on this week are my mom's birthday tomorrow, Alex's birthday Wednesday, I am having a spa party Friday night, and I am so excited that we have all next week off! Bruce has to work Monday but other than that we will be free to do as we please. He and I are owed a date night so I am hopefully going to get dinner and a movie.

Oh and it is 10:30 and I am typing this from bed, I never go to bed before midnight, and I just about ready to hit the hay. I told you kindergarten kicked my butt!

Book Review- Tha Last Lecture

2008-11-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

Okay first a warning about this book it is a 5 hankie book, unless you are completely cold hearted and devoid of emotion this book will make you cry. It will also make you reflect, appreciate what you have, take a long look at your life, and laugh out LOUD over and over again.

This book was written by Randy Pausch who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Melon University. They had a lecture series at the university that they called the Last Lecture, which professors were asked what knowledge they would impart to their students if they were giving their LAST lecture. The thing is for Randy Pausch it would be his last lecture as he had recently found out the he had terminal pancreatic cancer. I was so moved by this book. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more. The man was a born story teller and you see that in the book. I was moved by his courage, his love for his wife and three small children, plus he was pretty smart guy. I loved reading about all of the childhood dreams he was able to accomplish and even the ones that didn't quite turn out the way he expected.

In one part of the book he wrote about the scene from the Natural, where the ball player battered and wounded steps up to plate and knocks one out of the park. I couldn't help but find a striking similarity between him and Pausch, there he stood a defeated man, he knew what his destination was and that it was quickly approaching, and yet he faced it head on with dignity, heart, selflessness, and most importantly humor. Quite frankly Mr. Pausch you hit one out of the park!

Even if you don't read the book you can watch the lecture www.thelastlecture.com

Book Review-Eclipse

2008-11-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

This is the 3rd book in the Twilight series and it was so much better than the last one. I love the whole love triangle going on and find myself wondering who Bella is going to pick. This and the first one are still in a toss up for my fave. It was just suspenseful enough not to be too overwhelming. I should be starting Breaking Dawn soon. I am taking a small break from Twilight to read some other things I had piling up.

I have been a Blog slacker!

2008-11-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

I have a good excuse though! I have been BUSY! As most of you know or don't know since I became pregnant with my oldest I have been a stay at home wife and then mom. That was 10 years ago! I had a brief stint as a teacher's aid for an alternative education program, but other than that I have stayed home. That being said with Christmas approaching like most of the US we found ourselves in need of some extra cash, so I have been working. I am substituting at the girls school whenever and wherever they will have me. So far I have done 2nd grade twice 1st grade once (this one was ROUGH!) and Kindergarten (triple loved this!!) Anyway so that is how I have been spending my days and then when I get home or days that I don't have to go in I am frantically trying to stay on top of my house, which let's face it with 3 kids is pretty much a losing battle.

I will update when I can. Oh and thank you Tasha for the blog award, and as soon as I figure out how to put the pretty picture of it up on my computer I will get it put up. I hate being semi computer illiterate. When it comes to computer knowledge I know just enough to be dangerous. Also forthcoming is another book review. I am on a reading roll!!

Anyway I hope you all are doing well, and I will try not to be such a slacker while I am figuring out how to get into a routine!

Don't Forget to Vote Today!

2008-11-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to go out and cast your vote today. Bruce and I will got together as soon as he gets home today. I am always a little disheartened voting as democrat in a republican state, but still feel that I should make my voice heard and hope to make it as tight a race as possible!

Book Review- Grace

2008-11-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite authors is Richard Paul Evans, he usually puts out a book every year at Christmas time. This year's book is called Grace. It is a 5 hankie book! It is about a young girl who is a runaway and the relationship she develops with the young boy who agrees to hide her. I really enjoyed this one, but like I said keep the Kleenex handy, it is a tear jerker! It was also a very quick read, I started it this morning and finished it a bit ago.

Book Review- New Moon

2008-11-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

Finally finished the 2nd book in the Twilight series New Moon. This one took me forever to finish. It was not nearly as good as the first one, but hang on through the beginning because it does get better at the end. FINALLY! LOL I am trying to get all of them finished before the movie release. Bruce is listening to them on his IPOD, so he said he would take me to the movie as he felt it would be a mutally agreeable choice. We have this ongoing battle of movie choices. LOL I have the third book Eclipse, that I will be starting soon. I hope it doesn't start as slow as this last one did, if it does I don't know if I can hang in there!

Sunday School Discussion

2008-10-26T20:32:00.001-07:00

UGH! I hate politics. I rarely talk politics, and I hate when other people do. The topic of discussion today in our Sunday School class turned to the upcoming election. It is hard being a liberal Christian in a room full of conservative ones. I am sick of politicians using people's faith to win their vote. I am sick of being told what I want to hear only to see no action to back it up. Most of the people I go to church will vote on the abortion issue alone if they are pro-choice then forget it. Here's my issue with that, if I really thought that John McCain would go in there guns blazing and take on the abortion issue I might just vote for him. The thing is he is not going to do that nor is any elected official ever going to do that! I don't even know if that is the right thing to do. I mean to me it is a moral issue. For me abortion would never, ever be a choice no matter what the circumstances, but just because that is my belief does that mean I have to force that belief on everyone else. So in that way Obama's beliefs align with mine. He has said publicly that while he does not personally believe in abortion he does not believe it is his right to force that belief on everyone else. Just like you can't say the only religious affiliation you can have is Baptist.

Oh and then they want to look at John McCain as a pillar of morality?!? The man that cheated on his wife and then left her for the new wife? Or the man that has been married to the same woman for 19 years?

Anyway I guess you can figure out who I will be voting for?!? Although I hope no one in my Sunday School class reads this they may kick me out! I am just so tired of feeling like I am not a good Christian because I won't vote the Republican ticket, but when the Republicans quit letting rich, pampered, out of touch with middle class society (of which I am a member), white men on ticket then we will talk. When they quit telling me one thing and doing another then we can talk. When they quit making the rich richer and the poor poorer then we will talk. When they find someone who knows exactly what kind of car they drive and how many houses they own then we can talk. When they put someone on their ticket that might actually stand for something other than looking out for their own best interest, then we can talk. Until then, I will be voting democrat, not that it will matter in my state, but whatever, I am over it just completely over it!!

Guess what I got at doctor's office yesterday?

2008-10-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

A lovely stomach bug! UGH! I am having the worst luck right now! I woke up early this morning hitting the bathroom. Now there is something you need to know about me, I don't throw up, I will literally make myself miserable to keep from throwing up. So, I hate stomach bugs!! Anyway I have been successful in my attempt not to throw up, but what doesn't come out one end, well you get the picture!

This is the kicker though, today is Meg's birthday, and they had the day off from school and we had all these grand plans about what we were going to do. Bake and decorate a cake, and just have a fun day. So we had all these plans and I couldn't manage to stay ot of the bathroom or get out of the bed! I am feeling a bit better tonight, but my stomach is still a bit unpredictable! I feel like I have ruined Meg's birthday, plus Alex was supposed to have a friend over as well. So they were both none too happy with me!

Anyway, I will have to vent about my doctor's appointment another day! Let's just say I had a 3 hour wait to have my staples removed. Not a happy camper!!

Icing on the Cake!

2008-10-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

You know what goes well with just having gall bladder surgery?!? CRAMPS! UGH! One of these years I am going to get better at planning things! Anyway I am doing much better. I get the staples out on Thursday, can't wait for that! Meg's birthday is Friday, I can't believe my baby girl is going to be six!! This is followed by Cooper's birthday next Monday. My baby will be 3! Every other time I have had a 3 year old I have either been pregnant or had a newborn! That won't be happening this time!

SORE!

2008-10-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

Oh man I feel like I have done 1000 sit-ups with out the benefit of a tight tummy! Plus my throat is horribly sore, I am assuming from the tube that was shoved down my throat. Anyone have any ideas on how to help that? Anyway other than that I am doing well, moving around albeit a bit slow. I am fixing to go take a nice warm shower finally! YEAH! Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers.

Surgery In the Morning

2008-10-14T06:30:00.001-07:00

I have to be there to check in at 8:30. No telling when I will get to come home, but hopefully it won't take all day long, but I am not naive to the way hospitals work. Anyway prayers would be much appreciated!

My House Is Clean!

2008-10-11T17:50:00.001-07:00

We finished everything up today, even the girl's room, and my mom came and shampooed my carpets. I didn't tackle Bruce's office. I am hoping he does it next week sometime. But I am okay with it being a mess. I can have my surgery in peace now! LOL

Book Review-Twilight

2008-10-10T13:12:00.001-07:00

Yea, so I caved to public opinion and finally read this. I am so glad I did because it was really good. I enjoyed it much more than what I thought I would. I really liked the characters, it had a good plot, and I love that there are sequels! I am already reading the 2nd one. It is geared to young adults and is very much written that way, but still very enjoyable. Plus there is a movie coming out in November,and I am one of those that has to read the book before I see that movie, so I am way ahead of the game on this one. Also the main character Edward is being played by the hottie who was Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter movies, extra points there! Anyway just sharing, it was a fun read not life changing or anything, but a good waste of time!