scraps of me...

Mery Christmas

I just had a few minutes and I've been wanting to document some tidbits of this holiday season...

• The kids recently informed me that they know that there is no Santa...that Daddy and I fill their stockings. Last year I knew that Austin was on the verge, but I was really hoping for another year or so with the girls. Although, I do have to admit that it has made things a little simpler this year. Troy and I don't have to "talk in code" as much as we have needed to in the past. They also informed me that the Tooth Fairy isn't real either. Seriously? When did they grow up?
• Tomorrow, we're heading for Indiana. The kids are excited...mostly about the snow that has recently been dumped there. Me? I'm excited to spend Christmas with Troy's family for the first time in ten years. I'm not quite so excited about the weather. Today, I'm discovering that it's a lot harder to pack for a winter vacation vs a summer one. The clothes take up more space...plus the coats and gloves and hats and scarves and presents and boots...oh wait, I forgot. We still need to buy boots.
• And speaking of presents...online shopping is so awesome! I love Amazon and free super saver shipping. Most of the gifts, we've had mailed directly to Troy's parents' house. And his Mom has wrapped most of them for us already.
• I'm missing our usual Christmas decorations. It wasn't logical to dig everything out of the attic and set it all up, considering we won't be here to enjoy it...but I still miss having the tree and other decorations scattered around the house this time of year.
• I'm also giong to miss the Christmas services at LifeChurch.tv this year, so I've taken every opportunity possible to blast is throughout the house (or the car) in the past month.

•  And one last thing...I was a total slacker this year and bailed on sending out Christmas cards or a letter. So consider this your "Merry Christmas" wish! I pray that everyone enjoys time with their family and friends and I'll "see" ya'll next year! :)

happy day...

• a sweet new baby joined my brood today. She's six weeks old and cute as a button.
• drizzling, cold, comfy-cozy kind of day. My favorite.
• celebrating Meghan's half-birthday.
• tried a new frosting recipe. It was declared the best ever by the rest of the family.
• read a fun Thanksgiving book with the kids.
• bathroom plumbing completed. My husband is truly amazing!
• free printables discovered online.
• watching Ramona and Beezus under a quilt with snuggly kids.

Yes, it's been a happy day indeed. :)

 

Project 365

Sunday, July 4th: We enjoyed a relaxing morning hanging out around the house with Grandpa and Grandma Freas. We grilled out for lunch...all the typical 4th of July yummies, then went to church. After dark, we set off some fireworks in the backyard, while I prayed that we wouldn't get "busted" doing it. lol. It was great to spend the holiday with Troy's family.

Monday, July 5th: Today, the kids wanted to go to the Oklahoma Science Museum with Grandpa and Grandma. We hadn't been there since Meghan was 2 or 3 years old. They've changed a lot of things since then. Everyone loved riding the segways and Kaitlin especially enjoyed Gadget Treehouse and slide. We also went to a science show all about explosions which was great fun!

Tuesday, July 6th: Seems like we always go bowling with Grandpa and Grandma when they visit. Kaitlin was so proud of herself for not having to use the ramp anymore to roll her ball. However, the girls still did, what Troy's Mom called, "Bumper Bowling" on our lane. It saved us from a lot of gutter balls! Afterwards, we went to Peach Wave...it was a first for Mom and Tom. yum!

Wednesday, July 7th: This morning, we all got up bright and early to say good-bye to Grandpa and Grandma. They had a long 12 hour drive ahead of them. Our visits always seem to go so quickly! The kids are already excited about visiting them for Christmas this year.

Thursday, July 8th: We recently started a ticket reward system. The kids get tickets each day for computer and tv time. However, if they choose not to use the tickets, they can save up and earn big rewards...like ice cream dates, motorcycle rides, and no school passes. It's amazing how much more creative they've been in the way they spend their time during the day when their lessons are finished. Meghan got out the Cootie game today and made these cute little bugs.

Friday, July 9th: Austin borrowed the game of LIFE from Madison last night. It been many many years since I'd played it...and I'd forgotten how involved it is...almost worse than Monolopoly. We had a lot of teachable moments during the game though...about college, careers, families, investments, taxes, home buying, etc. It was a lot of fun!

Saturday, July 10th: Troy amazes me with his ability to fix things and save us so much money! Today, he bought a new stereo for his car (his only had a cassette player). Not only did he install it, but he also figured out how to hook up an ipod to it as well. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to listen to an ipod in the van as well.

   

Project 365

Sunday, June 27th: I call this my sunshine box. I recently bought it at Walmart. Not only is it a bright happy yellow color...but it holds everything I need to get my day started in a great way: my Bible, journal, and devotional book.

Monday, June 28th: Today, during Andy's shoulder surgery, the girls came to play. They all got creative and make him a few 'Get Well' cards and signs.

Tuesday, June 29th: Some days, I wonder "Why daycare?". But there's many days that I love my job and the special little people that I have the honor of playing with and loving on all day. Today was one of the good days! These two sweet girls make me smile so much!

Wednesday, June 30th: There have been so many yummy fruits and vegetables to choose from at the store lately. And, some of my neighbors and daycare parents have been bringing us veggies fresh from their gardens. There's no excuse not to eat healthy now.

 

Thursday, July 1st: Each of the kids have had a can of silly string for a week or so now. They chose it form the "Family Store". Today, we let them have their fun and spray one another to their heart's content. I think it really is 'silly' string...it sure did have them giggling!

Friday, July 2nd: Tonight, I surprised Troy with a date to go see the movie, "Grown up's". (Which was really funny!) The kids enjoyed some time with Mrs. Blair. The girls got their fingernails painted red, white, and blue for the 4th. Austin declined. :)

Saturday, July 3rd: This year, we skipped the 4th of July parade because of the rainy weather. Instead, we stayed home and anxiously awaited Grandpa and Grandma's arrival from Indiana! We're so excited to spend the next four days with them!

  
 

Project 365

Sunday, June 20th: Today, we let Troy make all the choices about what we did. We started with homemade waffles for breakfast. The kids gave him their cards and paintings, as well as a mini photo book I made for him. But the highlight of the day was going to see Toy Story 3 in 3-D. What a great movie...although, I still think the first one will always be our favorite. Troy didn't want to go out to eat, so we came home to have rueben sandwiches and homemade peanut butter cup ice cream for dessert. Happy Father's Day to the greatest Daddy (and husband) ever!

Monday, June 21st: Austin chose this glider from the "Family Store" last night as a reward for good behavior and helpfulness this past week. He had it soaring all over the back yard this afternoon.

Tuesday, June 22nd: Tonight, the Pinkston's invited the life group over for another pool party. Troy had to work, but the kids and I had a lot of fun! Meghan was so brave and was jumping in from high up on the wall at the side of the pool. She's quite the little fish.

Wednesday, June 23rd: Meghan was so excited that Laina-bear came two days this week. We've been missing her a lot this summer, but were excited to find out that she'll be back, full-time, at the end of July.

Thursday, June 24th: Austin had a rough day today. He had to spend the afternoon in his room, but resorted to sending me messages via his remote controlled jeep. He wanted to know where the Ten Commandments were in the Bible. He later copied them and hung them on his bedroom wall above his bed.

Friday, June 25th: Ewww...dirty, icky worm. I've never liked worms. Not even back when I was a "country girl" growing up. They just make me feel all squeamish inside. Unfortunately, my kids don't share that feeling. *shudders*

Saturday, June 26th: Last night, we went to help some sweet friends pack and load up their moving van. Not wanting to take this along, Teri gave "The Cozy Cone Motel" to the kids. They've played with it all morning...allowing Troy and I to sleep in a bit. Some of the "'Mater" quotes they were coming up with made me laugh!

  

Project 365

Sunday, June 13th: Troy and I spent most of the morning outside "working the land". Most of our yard was dug up yesterday, leaving us a very uneven and clumpy yard. We raked. We hauled dirt. We raked some more. And before coming inside, Troy gave Austin a spin through the dirt. ick.

Monday, June 14th: While I was making dinner, Kaitlin was making me a special treat. Blue peas and Mexican meatballs. Don't they look yummy?

Tuesday, June 15th: I had a really busy day today, so I recruited Meghan to help me check lessons. She graded both Austin and Kaitlin's math work. She loved being the "teacher".

Wednesday, June 16th: Our sweet friends, the Pinkston's, invited our entire life group over for a pool party at their new home. Eighteen kids and fourteen adults. It was a wild, crazy, wonderfully fun time!

Thursday, June 17th: Meghan had a horrible case of the sillies today. Jokingly, I asked, "Do I need to tape your mouth shut?" Guess what? She did it on her own. lol. She's such a goofy girl! I don't know what was funnier...the silliness or hearing her try to talk with the tape on.

Friday, June 18th: Tonight, the kids had a sleepover at friend's house. Troy and I had a date. While I was getting ready, Troy caught up on his youversion.com Bible reading. We hopped on the motorcycle, ate some bbq, and went on a long ride. It was a great night!

Saturday, June 19th: Tonight, we had some family fun at J.R. and Jennifer's house to celebrate Father's Day. We kicked out shoes off at the door. We talked. We munched. The kids went on a scavenger hunt at Walmart for dessert. We played some wild and crazy games. We laughed. a lot. Mostly because we the adults made complete fools of themselves playing Guesstures. I'll spare everyone the embarrassment by not posting pictures.

 

Good Enough...

I have so much I want to blog about...mostly as a result of the "Girl's Day" Erin and I had last Saturday. I feel such a jumble of thoughts and ideas floating around in my head...but I'll try to sort it out so it'll make sense.

I think the Proverbs 31 devotional I received in my inbox today has helped the sorting process. It helped me simplify things. To see things in a new light.

The devotional was all about fighting the instinct to give up right before crossing the finish line. Completing what you start. Not settling for "good enough". Not living with mediocrity.

Like putting the laundry away instead of just piling it on your dresser.
Like loading the dishwasher as your day goes on instead of waiting until the sink is overflowing.

I quickly realized that I've been saying "That's good enough." for far too long. No wonder I feel like I get nothing accomplished. No wonder I feel like my "work" is never done. No wonder I feel like a failure too often.

For me, personally...it means...

finishing this weight loss journey I've been on for the past few years.

working on my "Projects to Conquer" list that's grown way too long.

finishing our school year strong and not getting lazy with our lessons.

staying focused and not allowing the computer, tv, or phone calls to distract me from what I should be doing.

making the time to have an intimate relationship with Christ in every area of my life instead of just in the "important" or "big" areas.

choosing to keep my priorities in their proper places.

changing my good intentions (which I have a lot of) into action.

This summer is going to fly by. I want to make everyday count. I want to play and have fun. I want to make memories. I want to push myself past mediocrity. I want more.

I'm still not sure exactly what my plan is to accomplish all of this...but I'm willing to try. Starting today. Doing something.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me,
if only I may FINISH the race
and COMPLETE the task the Lord Jesus has given me..."
Acts 20:24 (NIV)

Project 365

Sunday, May 16th: Meghan has been wanting a pet of her own since Austin got Max, the hamster, for his birthday. So Grandpa and Grandma Freas sent her a PetSmart gift card for her birthday. She picked out this pretty betta fish and named him Razzleberry because he's redish-blueish-purpleish like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Cute, huh?

Monday, May 17th: For Mother's Day, Troy and the kids got me a foot massager thingie (I'm not sure what it's actually called). It feels so good after a long day of running around the house taking care of daycare kids, doing school, and all the housework, cooking, laundry, etc. It's a great way to relax. Tonight, I let all the kids try it out for the first time. They loved the bubbler too.

Tuesday, May 18th: Kaitlin has quite a thing for "stuffed-up" animals. Her newest one that's "on loan" (probably permanently) from Nana and PaPa's is this sweet white kitty. Her name is "Snowflake".

 

Wednesday, May 19th: Tonight, we had some pretty ugly storms heading towards Guthrie. We packed up and headed over to Dad's since he has a basement. The kids were pretty nervous about it all, especially since Dad and Troy were outside watching the swirling-rotating clouds overhead. It quickly passed with just a lot of wind and rain, thankfully.

Thursday, May 20th: We've taken a break from girl scouts recently, but we'll be starting back up on June 1st since both troops will now be meeting on the same night. The girls had a bridging cermony this evening...Meghan is now a Junior and Kaitlin is so excited to be a Brownie! And I was excited to finally get all of Meghan's try-it patches onto her sash an hour before the ceremony.

Friday, May 21st: Our bookclub has recently been off our usual schedule, and with Teri, one of our sweet friends, moving to California soon, we simply had to do something a little special. So we met at Ted's and enjoyed some margaritas and delicious Mexican food...and well as lots of fellowship and laughs! We're going to miss her like crazy! I just love these gals!

Saturday, May 22nd: With Austin completing 4th grade, he gets to move from ToonTown at Life Church up to the next class called The Loop starting next weekend. It's for 5th and 6th graders. In ToonTown, the kids earn points for attendence, saying their memory verse, bringing a friend, etc. He's been saving for a long time...and tonight...on his last night...He had enough points to bring home a fancy new bike!! We so proud of him and he loved zooming around the parking lot afterwards!

   
 
  

Project 365

Sunday, May 9th: I had the best Mother's Day yet...even though I did miss my Mom like crazy. I got up and headed to the gym for a workout. We had a quick lunch before we headed to the city to run a few errands and afterwards, we went to Peach Wave for some delicious frozen yogurt for the first time! I had white chocolate yogurt with granola, mixed berries, white chocolate chips, and one brownie chunk. It was so fabulous! We came home, relaxed, and Troy made dinner for all of us.

Monday, May 10th: Tonight, we had a family meeting. We refreshed everyone on the family rules. We discussed consequences (losing a marble...or more) for bad choices. We discussed rewards (special priveleges, allowance, etc.) for good choices. Last week did not go well. I'm hoping this week is much better.

Tuesday, May 11th: Austin got the neatest book at the libary on Sunday called Amazing Rubber Band Cars. He's been working on building one of his own and finsihed it today. I'm so proud of him for figuring it out on his own with just a little help from Troy and I.

Wednesday, May 12th: It has been a week full of science fun around here. Austin's growing salt crystals and learning about the different layers in the earth's crust. Meghan's bird watching and creating a bird booklet. Kaitlin's growing wildflowers. The kitchen has become quite a little laboratory.

Thursday, May 13th: Nana bought this OU football helmet at a garage sale for Austin and he's been wearing it around the house ever since...especially while playing his football game on the Wii. This is his attempt to look tough and mean, like a linebacker.

Friday, May 14th: Tonight, Troy and I went to Eischen's in Okarche with our life group. It was the first time for us. Troy loved their fried chicken that they're incredibly famous for. Me? Well...it was good. I just don't get as excited about fried chicken and okra and most Okie's do. I guess I'm still a northern girl deep down. Afterwards, all twelve of us went bowling and had so much fun! We love spending time with these wild and crazy friends!

Saturday, May 15th: Happy 9th Birthday to our sweet Monkey Doodle! It's so hard to believe that Meghan's nine and growing up to be the most wonderful young lady ever. I'm so proud to be her Mom! She had a great time at her party, with a lot of friends and family. She was giggling while we were singing Happy Birthday to her, so she covered her mouth so she wouldn't blow out the candles before it was time. :)

  

Project 365

Monday, April 12th: Kaitlin was having a hard time focusing today on her lessons, so we changed it up a bit and she headed out to the fort to do her math. I'm not sure it helped much, since there was a bluejay that was looking for worms, but she did eventually get it finished and came back inside with a renewed energy.

Tuesday, April 13th: I always get so excited each spring to see these gorgeous irises blooming in the front of the house.

 

Wednesday, April 14th: The weather has been so nice lately and the daycare kids have enjoyed playing outside in the morning. Bouncy balls, sidewalk chalk, walks in the stroller, and lots of giggles and smiles!

Thursday, April 15th: I started a huge project today...organizing and filing photos from the past year. I also had some older photos from my childhood that I needed to find a home for. This will take me at least a few days to complete...but I know I'll feel so much better when it's done.

Friday, April 16th: Today, Troy hung up a shelf above Austin's bed to hold all of his lego creations. They were taking over every surface in his bedroom, and even overflowing into the rest of the house. I'm so glad he has a place to proudly display them now.  

Saturday, April 17th: I finally remembered to pick up some fresh new watercolor paints for the kids. They were so excited that these sets had 24 colors instead of only 8 or 10, like usual. I'm excited to see the beautiful paintings they'll be hanging in the hallway once they open these up and get started with them!

Sunday, April 18th: Last night, Meghan and Kaitlin went to a lock-in with all the local girl scouts. They learned how to be a detective, including fingerprinting and solving their own mystery. They both had so much fun, but came home absolutely exhausted! They both took over a 2 hour nap today!

  

Sugar Fast

For a few weeks...or maybe even for a month...before the kids went to Branson, I noticed a bad habit forming in our family.

The habit was named SUGAR!

"Mommy, Can we have a piece of candy after lunch?"
(this was asked at 9 am)

"Can I have a popsicle for snack?"

"Can we have some gum after dinner?"

"How about ice cream? Can we have some for our bedtime snack?"

"Can we? Can We? CAN WE???"

It was getting out of control.

And Troy, who typically does the grocery shopping, was coming home with more and more treats, especially in the form of oreos. Cakesters. Double-stuffed. And I'm sure that the fudge dipped ones were going to be next.

And remember, this was right before Easter. So I can't mention our treats without mentioning jelly beans and reese's eggs as well.

Who do you think was eating all of this junk though? me. If it's here, why not nibble on it? Even if it does ruin every drop of exercise I did manage to squeeze into my day.

So...
I declared a Sugar Fast for our family. I kindly waited until after the holiday and after the kids' vacation.

Yesterday, it began.

Now, I'm not being super-strict about it...yes, they can have a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar on their toast. I'm not reading every label on every box or can. But the treats are no-more.

Surprisingly, the kids seem to be doing okay with it.

I found myself in the kitchen pantry and fridge a few times yesterday...just browsing...not even really hungry...just from the HABIT. I either walked out with a piece of fruit or empty-handed. Either way, it's a good thing.

Troy...well...I didn't really get to see him much yesterday. He worked last night as well...but he did make a comment on facebook. Something along the lines of "ME WANT COOKIE!!"

hee hee.

We'll see how the rest of the week goes, but as for me...I'm actually enjoying the lack of sugary treats...and constant "Can we's?" from the kids.

Project 365

Monday, April 5th: Meghan and I got crafty last week before they left for Branson and made some fun spring-time decorations for the dining room. April showers bring....

Tuesday, April 6th: Troy installed our new mailbox tonight. Our old one was rusty and got water in it each time it rained. The new one is so shiny. Now I just need to plant some flowers around it to really make it pretty.

Wednesday, April 7th: All week, my daycare parents have commented on how quiet the house is with Austin, Meghan, and Kaitlin gone. I'm not sure they understand that I still have six kids here everyday. lol.

Thursday, April 8th: Tonight, I was brave. Despite all my worries and concerns, I got on the back of Troy's motorcycle (for only the second time ever) and we rode all the way out to Erin and Andy's house...even going 75 mph on the highway. And...I actually enjoyed it.

Friday, April 9th: My to-do list for the week was quite intensive. And I'm happy to type that I got so many of my big projects that I wanted to conquer crossed off of my list! Yay for productivity! And tonight, the kids will be home! I can't wait to hear about their fun week with Grandpa and Grandma.

Saturday, April 10th: Kaitlin came left for Branson with a wiggly tooth. She came home with it missing and another wiggly one. I'm guessing this one will be popping out in the next few days as well.

Sunday, April 11th: The girls have been playing "house" outside all day today. They've pushed Molly all over in her stroller as they take turns being the Mommy. They're such great friends!

 
 

05.26.2009

We're home from our little mini-vacation...

had a fabulous time with Troy's family...

and now I'm busy doing laundy...

keeping up with the kid's end-of-the-year school stuff...

straightening the house...

and doing life in general.

I'll be back tomorrow with some photos from the trip. :)

05.19.2009

A few weeks ago, Troy and I watched Jim Carrey's movie "Yes Man".

It was good. romantic. funny. But most of all...thought provoking.

**If you haven't seen it yet - you might want to stop reading this post now. I'll probably spoil it for you.**

Jim Carrey plays a man named Carl, who is negative and critical in every aspect of his life...romantic relationships, friendships, career, etc. He says 'No!'. He makes excuses.

One day, he bumps into an old friend who hands him a brochure to a conference that would change his life. It's a self-help program centering on the simple word, "YES!".

Carl attends, still feeling quite skeptical. The leading guru singles him out and the crowd chants "NO MAN!NO MAN!NO MAN!" every time Carl answers with negativity. But eventually, Carl says 'YES!' to saying "Yes." to new situations and opportunities in his life and the crowd went wild.

Carl soon discovers the magical power of 'yes'. However, he misunderstands the essence of the program by saying 'yes' to everybody and everything and every circumstance. And all too soon, things begin to backfire and his life begins to unravel.

In the end, he finds the balance of truly living while still maintaining some limits and showing discernment in what he says 'yes' to.

After it was over, I had an epiphany.

I'm a "NO MOM!"

I say 'no' to just about everything regarding the kids. And if I don't flat-out say 'no' - then it's a 'we'll see.' or a 'maybe later.'

I suck the fun out of each and every day...and it's purely for selfish reasons.

"Mom, Can we play outside?"
"No, I don't feel like doing baths again."
"Mom, Can I paint?"
"No, I don't want a big mess."
"Mom, Can ________ stay the night tonight?"
"No, I'm too tired to have any extra kids."
"Mom, Can we go to the park?"
"No, I have too much to do in the house today."
"Mom, Can I help you cook dinner?"
"No, I'm in a hurry and just need to get this done."

NO MOM. NO MOM. NO MOM. NO MOM. NO MOM.

I can hear the crowd chanting.

But did you notice what all my 'reasons' center around...or maybe I should say who? Me!

I can be so selfish with my time...with myself. It's sad.

But on the flip-side...I don't want to make the same mistakes Carl did by saying 'yes' to everything. I still need to be the mom. I still need to set limits, teach them right from wrong, and share my past mistakes and consequences with them.

I think it's all about dealing with my own selfish and negative tendancies. I think it's all about finding the balance between being a 'No Mom' and a 'Yes Mom'.

I contantly ask myself, "Will it matter in 10 years?"

Will it matter that I had to take the time to give them an extra bath or that they played outside in the fresh air, discovering nature?
Will it matter that there's a spot of paint on the floor that I can't get clean or that there's hand-painted masterpieces hanging on the wall?
Will it matter that I had a few extra kids stay the night or that I encouraged my children's friendships?
Will it matter if the laundry is caught up and the house is cleaned or that we went to the park to swing and play together?
Will it matter that dinner was 10 minutes late or that the kids learned how to prepare one of our favorite recipes?

I'm trying. I'm slowing down. I'm thinking twice before I answer. I'm saying 'Yes' more than I ever have before. It's good.

03.18.2009

I guess without realizing it, I've taken a 'spring' break from my blog(s). It's just tough to find the time to sit and type with a housefull of kiddos. That...and I've just had a busy week...

• getting Meghan ready for camp.
• getting Troy ready for his trip to Texas
• getting layouts ready for my scrapbook retreat
• getting the yard ready for a new fence
• and getting our closets ready for summer

Well, I haven't actually tackled that last one quite yet...but hope to this weekend. Most of the others are still a work in progress as well.

So I'll be back in full force...maybe this weekend...maybe on Monday. I'll just have to wait and see how much I get done between now and then around the house.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their spring break and all the great weather we've been having here in Oklahoma! :)

02.20.2009

Wow. What a week it's been. cr-a-zeee!

I'm a homebody...a hermit, if you want to call it that.

This week, I've been on the go so much more than I like to be. It's left me feeling a bit behind and frazzled.

I'm so thankful there's not much on the calendar for next week. :)

Anyway...here's some random bits from our week...

• Austin made a bird feed from an apple, peanut butter, a dowel rod, and bird seed, at cub scouts on Monday. He's been disappointed all week because it didn't look like there had been any nibbles off of it. He'll be happy to know that I saw no less than 10 birds out in our tree this morning fighting over it.
• Our home is now free of girl scout cookies. yay. The temptation is gone and I'm happy to report that in the past month, I've eaten only 1 box of samoas. :) Some may think that's 1 too many for somebody with at lest 70 pounds to lose...but they tasted so good.
• Kaitlin and I both had eye doctor appointments. She does not need glasses and my prescription hasn't changed. yay. I picked out some frames to get a pair of sunglasses instead. They surprisingly have a little 'bling' on them. super cute.
• Austin and Meghan went to school today with their reading glasses for the first time. They look so different...so much older...maybe even 'smarter'...with them on. :)
• I've been making a bunch of cards this week...at least 20 (half of them are for you, Becky.) I still have some more to make...but I think I'm going to spend today planning layouts instead.
• I was reading a blog this morning...of course, I don't remember which one...but she was talking about to-do lists...and ya'll know how much I love my to-do lists. ;) Anyway...she said that she organizes her's by the following categories: Now, Soon, and Eventually. I thought that was so cool. There are things I put on my list that I sometimes forget don't have to be done NOW, yet I wrongfully give these things a high priority, sometimes even above my family. I think maybe writing them down in a different way will help me keep my priorities in check and realize that I can't do it all, everyday. It'll still be there tomorrow, next week, etc. Let things go.
• I had a check-up this week as well...with a new doctor. loved her. The appointment went good and all is fine. But I did realize one thing...I no longer dread stepping onto the scale at a doctor's office. It doesn't stress me out. I don't get a knot in my stomache. I don't have to listen to them tell me I'm overweight (duh, as if I didn't already know). Yes, I'm still overweight...but when they see how far I've come already, they congatulate me instead. It's a great feeling.
• And last, but certainly not least, today is Austin's 9th Birthday!! He was so excited and slap-happy, yesterday, and even more so today. I haven't taken the obligatory birthday photo yet...but I will after school. He's having about 5 of his good friends over tonight, for pizza, a cookie-cake, football, and video games. I'm hoping to escape with Kaitlin and Meghan to Erin's house for awhile, but I doubt Troy will let me. hee hee. Austin keeps reminding me that he'll be driving in ONLY 7 years. YIKES! I suddenly feel so old. :)

Anyway...it's high time I get off this computer and get busy. Hope ya'll have a great Friday!

what a day...

So I'm thinking maybe I should've been a little more specific in my last 'Twitter' after the phone calls and email I received. :)

I enjoy Twitter...it's fun to post about the little tid-bits in my day. Sometimes I wonder why anyone else would care...and sometimes I wonder if it's just a waste of my time...but it's still fun.

It is difficult, however, to sometines describe what's going on in less than 140 characters....as was the case yesterday afternoon.

So let me break it down for ya (sounds like a rap song, huh?) :D

Here was my post...

Latest: what a day...broken fridge, kid to the ER, barely a trickle of water, and a grass fire. Looking forward to relaxing at life group tonight! about 15 hours ago what a day...broken fridge, kid to the ER, barely a trickle of water, and a grass fire. Looking forward to relaxing at life group tonight! about 15 hours ago from web

#1: Broken Fridge -- the extra fridge we keep in the garage is broken. Troy's tried all week to figure out why the fridge is cold and the freezer part isn't. He's quite handy like that. But the fridge just wouldn't cooperate this time. Thankfully, at Epworth, they had another extra one (that used to be in a resident's apartment). So Troy drove to the city, picked up my brother's truck, picked up the new fridge, and was heading home when he got a phone call regarding...

#2: Kid to the ER -- Austin, being the little boy simply brimming over with common sense (please note the sarcasm here) thought it'd be a great idea to take the bunkbed ladder off the bed and lean it against his bedroom wall. Then proceed to climb to the third rung (there's only four anyway) and have sit on it. seriously. Well, the ladder decided to slide down the wall, (gouging the wall in the process),crash to the floor, with my son landing on top of it...on his tailbone. ouch. I've never heard one of my children scream the way he was. I don't think I've ever ran so fast either. So after whimpering on the couch for 30 minutes, Troy took him to the ER for x-rays. Everything is fine, just really bruised and sore. After they got home, Troy headed back to the city to return J.R.'s truck to him. On the way home...he saw...

#3: A Grass Fire -- Out off of Portland and Hwy 33, There was a grass fire growing bigger by the minute. The fire department hadn't arrived yet, but there were a few men out there trying to put out some hot spots and keep it from spreading too much. Troy, the good samaritan, stopped and offered to help. Once the fire department got there, Troy headed home, smelling heavily of smoke, only to discover...

#4: A Trickle of Water -- coming out of our faucets. Apparently, a water main broke about 9 blocks away from our home. Troy (obviously) needed a shower, as did the girls and I. I'm thankful we had 'some' water...but it did take forever to wash and rinse my hair, even with its now much-shorter look.

But at least we were clean and smelling better when we went to life group. :)

So yeah, that was our day in 140 characters. Some day.

Resolutions...Goals

...whatever you want to call them.

This year, I'm calling them 'to-do's'. Maybe that's because to-do's are a part of my day-to-day life. Every Sunday I sit down and make out my lists for the week in my to-do notebook. Every night I re-evaluate the next day and add/subtract as needed depending on what's going on and what's changed or come up unexpectantly.

To-do lists work for me.

So here it is...

 

(in order of importance)

God:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

• continue my daily quiet time (Bible, devotional, journaling)
• read the Bible in one year
• talk to God throughout the day, before I get totally stressed and to my breaking point

Troy:
A worthy wife is a crown for her husband. Proverbs 12:4

• plan more date-nights, either at home or out on the town
• build him up, encourage more, nag less
• write in our notebook more

Kids:
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Psalms 127:3

• read the Bible or find a fun family devotional to do with them
• talk more with them instead of at them
• cut back on tv and video games, spend more time doing stuff with them

Myself:
Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19

• exercise 5-6 times a week
• eat well--more natural, simple, more fruits and veggies
• budget in more time for hobbies

Home:
She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Proverbs 31:27

• keep up with my weekly zones (organizing and deep cleaning)
• start updating the house with paint and stuff, focusing more on decorating
• simply move more...sit less

Daycare:
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:27

• play outside more
• get a year's worth of crafts and activities planned
• read more to them

Others/Activities:
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.  1 Peter 4:9

• crop once a month with Erin and/or Jennifer
• start a monthly bookclub meeting
• invite friends and family to share a meal or some fun in our home frequently

Re-reading all of that...it seems like to much. Yet really, it's just about making simple choices each and every day. It's not really something I can cross off my to-do list...just something to work towards. For me, it's all about finding the balance, day-to-day, in my life. Somedays, I won't exercise. Some weeks, the house won't get cleaned. Some months, I may not be able to scrapbook. I need to learn to say 'That's okay.' and continue striving for balance.

So that's it, my 2009 to-do list.

**Did anyone else make any 'resolutions' this year?**

Last week...

in photos.

Monday, Dec 8th: Shelby, our lab, somehow got loose. The doggy police showed up with her locked down in the back of their truck like some kind of criminal. Her offense? "Running at Large." Made me laugh. Sad thing is, I didn't even realize she was loose...it happened while I was picking up the pre-k little ones. We're just glad she's back home safe and sound.

 

Tuesday, Dec 9th: It was snowing/sleeting and oh so cold. I had to get out and go vote on a school issue. I didn't want to...just because I'm a wimp about cold icky weather. I don't have any Indiana Hoosier blood left in me. lol.

 

Wednesday, Dec 10th: Every morning on the way to school we drive by this...this...I'm not sure what it is. The kids call it a robot. So I finally remembered to grab the camera to take a picture of it.

  

Thursday, Dec 11th: Today, I made Meghan's nightgown for the Victorian Walk downtown Guthrie. I was scared that I wouldn't remember how to sew, but it was surprising how much I did remember. It was therapuetic in a way...I could hear my Mom reminding me how to do gathers and such...and telling me to be sure to clip the threads because Grandma never did and it drove Mom nuts. It was just neat to do something for my daughter that Mom always did for us growing up. I just might have to start sewing more. :) And I have to thank Troy for thinking to grab the camera and take some pictures of me doing it.

  

Friday, Dec 12th: I took off 1/2 the day, picked up the kids early, and headed down to the city for Troy's Christmas Party. The kids had a great time...face painting, animal balloons, Christmas stories, cookies, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Kaitlin sat on Santa's lap for the FIRST TIME EVER, willingly, that is! We were so proud of her!!

   

Saturday, Dec 13th: Troy and I went to our Life Group Christmas Party and had so much fun as usual! I took some pictures of actual people...but didn't want to embarrass anyone (*cough* Becky *cough*). :D Thanks to Mike and Amy for hosting us.
Here's the pile of dirty Santa gifts. We came home with 2 OKC Thunder tickets and an itunes gift card!

 

Sunday, Dec 14th: A lazy day at home, as usual. We're all pretty excited that it was Troy's last Sunday to work until after the first of the year. Kaitlin and Austin both weren't feeling great, so we weren't able to go to church/Konnect...but we decorated our very first Gingerbread house instead. So fun, and definitely a new Christmas tradition. :)

 

**Have you started any new traditions this holiday season?** 

12.07.2008

Here's our past week in photos...

Monday, 12.01: It's been really cold. Bitterly cold and windy. Shelby has quite enjoyed coming inside to warm up a bit in the afternoons while the daycare kiddos are napping. Kaitlin enjoys having Shelby around too.

 

Tuesday, 12.02: I spent the day sewing patches onto Austin's cubscout shirt. So not fun...but at least it's done now...or at least until he earns some more.

 

Wednesday, 12.03: Troy and I had our big date. Cameras were forbidden though...I was totally bummed! Here's the only photo I could take...our tickets. The show was amazing! Funny and jaw-dropping.Click here if you're interested in reading more about it. I'm not sure I would've spent $75+ on each ticket...but I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go. I love how lucky Troy gets winning stuff from radio stations. :)

 

Thursday, 12.04: It's that time of year...for clementines!! So sweet and yummy! I can't stop eating them.

 

Friday, 12.05: This is what the playroom floor looks like when Carly and Cooper (2 of my daycare kids) decide to dump the box of 200+ hotwheels. Good thing they're great picker-uper's.

 

Saturday, 12.06: What a day. The girls and I ran some errands around town (library, post office, thrift store (to drop off some too-big clothes of mine), toy store (for a Christmas gift), local bakery (for a few sugar cookies), and walmart) while the boys stayed home and hooked up the new tv and put together our tv stand and bookshelves.

Then it was off to church. Pastor Craig started a new series called 'Prayer'. Wow. Go here to listen. I was scribbling notes every which way on my bulletin. And of course, Trent and Marcy rocked the Edmond Campus with amazing Christmas music. I can't wait for the trashcan drums though...maybe next week. It's so cool!

After church tonight, we went to the Boys Ranch Town drive-through Christmas Pageant. The kids really enjoyed it even though we couldn't get the narration on the radio to come in clearly without static. It may have been even better though because it gave us a chance to talk about Jesus and His life. I didn't get any good pictures...but here's one anyway.

 

Sunday, 12.07: The kids and I had a great time in the kitchen cooking up some colorful popcorn for Meghan to take to school for snack tomorrow. It was surprisingly quite yummy...although probably not very healthy. lol. I forgot to take pictures while we did it for a Tasty Tuesday post. bummer.

 

Tonight, Troy and are planning to finish up our Christmas shopping while the kids are at Konnect at church. As much as I miss meeting with our life group during December...it's nice to have that time to spend with Troy on a 'mini-date' as well.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and I'll be back tomorrow with my daybook post. :)

12.03.2008

Today is going to be a 'Random Wednesday' kind of post...a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

So where to start...

• I'm making slow, but steady process on my long to-do list. I've crossed off one item each day so far. Austin's cub scout patches are sewn on (slightly crooked, but done), I made all the cards for December birthdays and anniversaries, and I've got the meal and grocery list done.
• Speaking of meal/grocery list...I've also made myself a little 'menu', planning out my meals and snacks..taking out the guess work of 'What should I eat?' which tends to lead me down a road filled with salty and sweet treats. This past week I haven't done so great...with exercise or eating right...and my weigh-in this morning reflected that. Up 1.5 pounds. But today is a new day. I'm going to sweat my butt off. I'm going to stick to my plan. I'm going to get back on track.

Tonight Troy and I have a date. Which means eating out. Scary territory. But I'm going to get online, check the menus and nutrition info, and choose a restuarant and what I'm going to eat. I'm not even going to open the menu when we get there lest I be tempted to order some fajitas or something equally bad for me.

Troy and I have been quite creative in our discipline lately which I'm actually kind of proud of. Is that wrong? The fact that the punishment fits the crime and makes the kids miserable kind of makes me smile? For instance, just this morning, Meghan brought me her reading log, where she has to write down the title of the books she reads and I have to sign it. After she reads so many, she gets a certificate at school. Now normally, Meghan's my book worm. I rarely doubt her. But this morning, it just wasn't adding up. She had put 5 books on her log. One of them was brand new (just got the Scholastic order yesterday) and kind of long. It's about Jesus' life. So I decided to ask her a few questions...
"So what was the book about?"
"His life."
"What about His life?"
"His birth."
"Is that it?"
"Oh, and He prayed and worshipped God."
"Anything else?"
"He helped his mommy and daddy too."
(at this point, I'm getting really suspicious)
"Really? How did He help them?"
"Um...uh...Did they do laundry back then?"
Can we say BUSTED!!
Anyway...her punishment...read the book, outloud, this afternoon...and it will not be added to her reading log. And in the future, she'll be answering questions on EVERY book she reads until she regains my trust in her. *sigh* Being a parent is hard sometimes.

My sweet sweet husband came home yesterday with Prince Caspian!! I never got to go to the theater to see it and have been waiting ever so patiently for it to come out on dvd. I love the books. LOVED the first movie and can't wait to watch it this weekend!!

Um... I just realized I never saved and posted this...4 hours later. I guess I didn't have anything else to blab about. :)

Hoping everyone is staying warm (it's a blustery day here in Oklahoma). Have a great Wednesday!

Our week...

in photos.

Monday, Nov. 24th: My new oven was installed...and I couldn't resist mixing up a batch of cookies. It was so nice to have the extra room inside the oven to put my baking stone in without burning my hands.

 

Tuesday, Nov. 25th: A few of my daycare families have been cleaning out their toys in preparation for Christmas and bringing me the extras. The sit-n-spin is a big hit...so much so that the girls couldn't wait to take turns and decided to do it together. lol.

 

Wednesday, Nov. 26th: The Thanksgiving cooking and baking has started. Here's the pumpkin pies in the oven. (are you tired of oven pictures yet?)

 

Thursday, Nov. 27th: Here's the table, before the plates were filled with all the yumminess and the chairs were filled with loved ones. Check out Erin's cute place-cards. :)

 

Friday, Nov. 28th: Erin and Andy went shopping while I watched the three girls (as well as my three and three daycare kids). As 'payment' for my services, Erin picked me up this CUTE pair of lounge pants at Target. The polkadots just make me smile. Erin has a pair just like them that I've been envious of for some time now, so I was thrilled to get a pair of my own.
Until I tried them on. :(
I got them on...but they're really snug. Not busting the seams...but not comfortable either.
But I'm not returning them. They will fit. Someday. And if not this winter...then by next winter, they'll be nice and big and super comfy cozy. Call it motivation. :)

 

Saturday, Nov. 29th: We decorated the house (of which I took no pictures) then packed up the kids and did a bit of Christmas shopping...for family, friends....and Troy. He's waited a long time for a big flat-panel tv. It was a great deal and I couldn't tell him no. Now we're waiting for the new tv stand to come that I picked out at Target before we can get this up and running. He's so excited (and I have to admit...I am a too!)

   

Sunday, Nov. 30th: My favorite spot where I spend some quiet time each morning...reading my Bible, a devotional book, and writing in my journal. It's so much nicer with the soft glow of the Christmas tree in the background.

 

And that's our week in pictures. :)

11.26.2008

 

I'm cooking and cleaning and baking and organizing and enjoying (almost) every minute of it. So looking forward to having family here tomorrow.

I pray that each and every one of you has a blessed Thanksgiving day!

I'll be back Friday. :)

11.24.2008

A week in review...

Monday: Kaitlin's been cracking me up lately with all her 'dressing up' and such. Do you think she could get another necklace around her neck?

 

Tuesday: While cleaning the house, I kept finding these little hearts...on the hallway floor, on the computer desk, on my dresser...I'm not sure if they're the work on Meghan or Kaitlin...but it sure did make my day.

 

Wednesday: I went over to Dad's to 'borrow' Mom's cookbooks...in the hopes of finding her recipe for Thanksgiving dressing/stuffing. No luck, I'm just going to have to try to remember and recreate it. But it was good to browse these and to see so many of her hand-written recipes.

 

Thursday: Kaitlin and I went to the dentist. No cavities! yay! And for a treat...a trip nextdoor to Eileen's for cookies. yum!

 

Friday: A long story short...our oven is old. 24 years old. So old, that when something on it breaks, and our home warrantly company discovers that you can't buy parts to fix it anymore, you get a brand new oven! It was delivered today, will be installed Tuesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. YAY!

 

Saturday: I went to get my haircut...and highlighted! So exciting! I so love it! Ali is amazing.

 

Sunday: A typical Sunday home with the kiddos. Austin had to 'disguise' this turkey as part of his homework this weekend. This turkey was a little nervous about the possibility of being eaten on Thanksgiving and needed Austin's help. So Austin came up with the idea to paint it camoflauged (sp?). I just love how cool it looks! So proud of his great idea and all the time he took to do it.

  

Troy came home from work this afternoon, not feeling well and has been in the bathroom or in bed most of the night. ick. We were totally bummed about missing life group tonight. I'm praying the rest of us stay healthy, especially for this busy, family-fun filled week.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend! :)

Photo-a-Day

Monday, Nov. 10th: The kids were out of school, so I had a house-full...but it was (surprisingly) a really great day. They played so well together and did lots of art and creating.

 

Tuesday, Nov. 11th: My sweet neighbor, Donna, brought me some brown eggs from her chickens. They tend to roam into our yard most days...I love watching them peck around for bugs and such. Fresh brown eggs are simply the best!

 

Wednesday, Nov. 12th: I spent most of naptime playing Candyland with Kaitlin. I usually exercise. or scrapbook. or get caught up on stuff around the house. or hang out waste time on the computer. It was nice. I so enjoyed our special time today.

 

Thursday, Nov. 13th: Meghan was 'striking a pose' and being silly tonight. She just cracks me up sometimes! She's so animated around the house...but refuses to 'be in the limelight' in public. She reminds me of me so much!

 

Friday, Nov. 14th: Kaitlin insisted I take a picture of her with her apple this afternoon. I guess it's a good thing I did...it was the only picture I took today. lol.

 

Saturday, Nov. 15th: Shelby got a bath. Shelby got to come inside. For the first time. She loved hanging out in the living room with all of us. She did not like the camera in her face though. :)

 

Sunday, Nov. 16th: I got a new game for the Wii. Kim mentioned it awhile back...either on her blog or at Just for Keeps...I'm not sure which. It's so fun! You're a chef and run your own restaurant. As you earn 'stars' (by impressing the food critic, having chef special's, etc.), you can buy new restaurants. Right now I'm running 'The Gravy Chug'. Great name, huh? lol.

11.11.2008

After having a relapse of the sickies (thanks for all the 'get better soon' wishes from everyone)...I never got around to posting all the photos from last week...

So here we go...just a few days late...

Monday (nov. 3): Kaitlin was all into dress-up today. She dug out the LIttle Mermaid dress that Meghan got long ago on her 5th birthday. I'm now wondering why I didn't dig this out for Halloween. She looked so cute!

 

Tuesday (nov 4): I went to vote...at the really old, now retired high school. The lighting was so bad, I could barely read my ballot...but I simply had to sneak a picture in anyway. :D

 

Wednesday (nov 5): Meghan and I went to the library Tuesday night (after voting, before girl scouts) and they were giving away some stickers for a new-ish show on pbs kids called Martha Speaks. Kaitlin walked around all day sticking them on herself as well as me. I think I might have even had one on my shirt when I picked her up from school. lol.

 

Thursday (nov 6): I took control of the candy. I tossed the stuff that was hard as a rock and probably leftover from last year. I tossed the stuff that nobody likes. I tossed the stuff that I don't think the kids should have. There wasn't much left. That's a good thing for me...trying to get skinny and all. :D

 

Friday (nov 7): Curled up on the couch with my sweetie. Cross-stitching. Couch Potatoes. Comfy. Cozy. In my funny socks.

 

Saturday (nov 8): Crazy day. Boy Scout community project. Cousin bowling birthday party. Shopping for a new oven. Me feeling cruddy and running a 102.8 temp. Sad to miss the pumpkin patch with our life group. And all I had to show for it all? A picture of all the papers we gathered while oven shopping. pathetic. (I am excited about getting a new oven though!)

 

Sunday (nov 9): A day at home, to take some antibiotics and finally start feeling a bit better. The kids were so awesome, so helpful, and so creative in how they spent their time today. Meghan got really artsy. It's all about the horses lately. I love it. Brings back memories of my 'Razz-ma-tazz', 'Misty', 'Charlie', and 'Bud'...the four ponies/horses I had from the time I was 10 yrs old until I turned 18 and we moved to Oklahoma. That's a whole 'nother post though.

   

And that's it. I hope get some 'Tasty Tuesday' photos edited and posted later today/tonight. Although, there's a pretty good chance it could end up a day late too. ;)

Sending ya'll some smiles for a great week! :D

11.02.2008

I thought maybe on Sundays, I'd start posting the 'Photo-of-the-Day' from the previous week...just as a little recap. :) Of course, don't be surprised if I'm not consistent with it. lol.

Monday, 10-27: Austin is really enjoying cubscouts...I just wish he would've started 2 years ago when I tried to get him to. Right now, there isn't a 'den' for his age group, so he's actually with boys a year or two younger than him. Troy's hoping to get him 'caught up' quickly so we can get him to the level he should be at...I think he should be a'Wolf' instead of a 'Tiger'.

 

Tuesday, 10-28: Mmmm, my favorite lunch of the week. An 'everything' bagel with cucumbers, red onion, colby-jack cheese, a slice of roast beef, and some lettuce. So good!

 

Wednesday, 10-29: It amazes me how quickly the leaves suddenly change. Just last week, this tree was completely green, and now they're simply golden, especially with the sun shining through them! Fall is definitely here.

 

Thursday, 10-30: I wasn't feeling so great. Went to the doctor, had a strep test, it was negative. My throat was red and I was running a temp, so he gave me antibiotic anyway. The culture test results should be back Monday. I'm feeling back to my normal self finally today (Sunday).

  

Friday, 10-31: Trick or Treating. Kind of a waste of time. The girl's had fun but wanted to go home after only 45 minutes. *shrugs* I won't complain about having a little less candy floating around the house. lol. Austin didn't get to go trick or treating...it's kind of a long story, but basically...he was very disrespectful to me all week. Troy gave him a 'homework asssignment'. He was supposed to write down 10 things he loved about his mommy. He didn't get it done before his deadline and the consequence (which he knew about ahead of time) was to lose trick or treating. So his pirate costume went back to Walmart and he just had to tag-a-long in his regulare clothes turning down any candy offered to him. We're such mean parents, huh? :D
Anyway...here's our Pink Pirate and Fair Maiden. :)

  

Saturday, 11-01: You've already seen this picture...right down below this post. My Dad and Vicki's Wedding, so I won't post it again here.

Sunday, 11-02: A great day at home to catch-up on stuff and get ready for the coming week. The kid's have been playing 'pirate', 'vetrinarian', and of course, 'wedding'. They're imaginations just crack me up sometimes! Here's a pretty picture Kaitlin colored for her new Nana. She says she's done with it...looks kinda white to me, but I guess it's all about the bride and flowers. :D

 

That's it. A week in our life. We're off to life group in a bit toting a HUGE pot of creamy chicken noodle soup...even though it's not really 'soup weather' today. Seems strange to eat soup while wear capris and flip-flops. lol. Oh well.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! :D

11.01.2008

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. I am feeling better...still a bit tired, with a few sniffles and a bit of a cough....but doing okay.

Today was a big day for our family. Dad and Vicki were married.

It was beautiful. Special. A happy time. A blending of two families.

I think my favorite part of the day was hearing Austin, Meghan, and Kaitlin call Vicki what her grandkids have always called her, "Nana", instead of "Miss Vicki". Kaitlin actually called her "My Nana." So sweet!

Of course there were tears...but they were happy tears! Tears knowing that we've been through a storm, but God has brought us out on the other side. I loved seeing Dad smile and filled with a true happiness!

Here's my favorite photo of the day (from the few that I took). I can't wait to see the ones April captured!

10.26.2008

Let's see...a quick little random update for a busy weekend...

Kaitlin's bedtime has improved remarkably. The chart is doing it's job...

An open bag of these cookies is NOT a good thing...(more coming about that in a few days)

 

Pumpkin Carving Parties are so much fun! Lots of pizza...lots of yummy sweet treats...lots of kids running around...lots of moms and dads carving pumpkins...lots of cool pumpkins lit up...

 

 

Ali is so talented and did a great job making our family handsome/beautiful! I LOVE my new haircut...of course, I haven't had to style it myself yet though. lol.

 

New jeans...3 sizes smaller...I no longer feel feel like I'm wearing clown pants. :)

Firepoof. The Movie. Go see it, seriously!

That's all for now. :) Praying everyone is having a fabulous weekend!

10.22.2008

Meghan had Brownie's last night. Her leader, Ginger, is so great and had 12 girls painting pumpkins. Meghan named hers 'Mommy' and decked her out with pink dangly earrings and everything! :D

 

This morning, I couldn't resist taking this picture. When I got home from taking the kids to school, I decided to tackle the mess on the art desk. Here's what I found...a T-Rex looking like he's ready to attack a few innocent little ladybugs. lol.

 

It just cracked me up!

I'll be back later, I hope, with a post about my Wednesday weigh-in and what plan to do about it. yikes!