****HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!**** 2005

We're having a nice, quiet night. The boys are in bed and we've got a stack of movies to go through, a bottle of champagne to toast at midnight and a warm, comfy bed. We were going to go downtown to First Night with a friend but it ended up being a wet and rainy night and it's already been a very wet week so it's pretty much miserable out there. I kind of wanted to stay in the first place I just needed that extra little push.

Hope you are having a wonderful night and wishing you the best of the best for the New Year!

****HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!**** 2005

We're having a nice, quiet night. The boys are in bed and we've got a stack of movies to go through, a bottle of champagne to toast at midnight and a warm, comfy bed. We were going to go downtown to First Night with a friend but it ended up being a wet and rainy night and it's already been a very wet week so it's pretty much miserable out there. I kind of wanted to stay in the first place I just needed that extra little push.

Hope you are having a wonderful night and wishing you the best of the best for the New Year!

Check It Out

It's my new sports bra! I've been wanting to wear something to bed, for a little, uh, you know support - something that you need after breastfeeding two kids. And hey I've heard sometimes you need it otherwise too :D . Okay anyway I loooove it it's sooo comfortable and it's PINK! I have to admit it really doesn't look that great on the model - maybe it's the black color, I dunno. Any way I looove mine. Oh. I already said that. Sorry. Any way it's Goddess Wear. Who knew I'd ever wear anything that said Goddess. Just so Santa Cruz. Any way it was recommended to me by a friend who thinks their stuff is just sooo comfortable and has all their corduroy pants in all different colors. So far I'd have to agree. Would be some great workout gear - and cute, too. Only I don't workout, except having two kids and all.

Oh, yeah, and one more thing. Don't google Goddess Wear - because it doesn't come up with their brand. Ick.

Check It Out

It's my new sports bra! I've been wanting to wear something to bed, for a little, uh, you know support - something that you need after breastfeeding two kids. And hey I've heard sometimes you need it otherwise too :D . Okay anyway I loooove it it's sooo comfortable and it's PINK! I have to admit it really doesn't look that great on the model - maybe it's the black color, I dunno. Any way I looove mine. Oh. I already said that. Sorry. Any way it's Goddess Wear. Who knew I'd ever wear anything that said Goddess. Just so Santa Cruz. Any way it was recommended to me by a friend who thinks their stuff is just sooo comfortable and has all their corduroy pants in all different colors. So far I'd have to agree. Would be some great workout gear - and cute, too. Only I don't workout, except having two kids and all.

Oh, yeah, and one more thing. Don't google Goddess Wear - because it doesn't come up with their brand. Ick.

3 is Such an Enjoyable Age!

I remember when Big Guy was this age and he loved to write. Still does. He wanted me to teach him how to write his alphabet letters. And he was persistent. He would bring me a pen and paper and say, "Mom will you write A?" I would write A, and he would copy it down next to mine. And then I would write B and he would copy that. And so on, sometimes all the way to Z. Almost every day for a good year he did that, until he could write each letter on his own, and well! I remember taking him on the plane right before he was to turn 4 and he was writing his letters. We were on one of those Southwest planes sitting in the seats that face each other and the woman across from us was commenting on how well formed his letters were. When I told her he was 3 she was blown away. Apparently she worked with 3 and and even some 4 year olds and hadn't seen anything like that.

Now that Little Guy is at that age I realize what a truly intriguing age it is. They want to learn everything so badly. He has been continuouly asking to help - help put the laundry away, help pick up toys, help set up things, help cook, help throw away the trash, help wipe down the shower window. The things he asks to do and can do amazes me. And if I take the time to teach him it's amazing how well he learns.

Little Guy is not into writing as Big Guy is, but he loves to work with his hands. He can pull stickers off a page like no other, and if you think about that being done with tiny little hands it's quite a feat. He has been doing that since he was 1 and a half or so and it's always amazed me. Now he's finding stickers for his sticker book. There will be a certain shape we're looking for, a certain kind of object or animal, and we will turn to the page of stickers and his little finger will be pointing to it before my eyes have found it. Since his birthday at the end of November we have filled up one sticker book and are working on the next. He loves it. That toy I mentioned earlier? He ROCKS at it. He's gone through cards 1-8 and takes his little tiles out of the tray and puts them back in it over and over.

Today he put away his own little tiny socks and underwear and pajamas. Then he helped me set up his race track Grandma gave him for Christmas, and we sat and played with it for about an hour. His ability and his willingness and his desire to learn has me completely fascinated.

I have decided that this is my favorite age. So far! Babies are adorable and irresistibly cute. They cuddle, drool, eat, poop, sleep, giggle and smile - and while that's all fun, it's amazing when they learn to become actual little people. Walking, talking, little people. It becomes apparent at 1 when they start to walk and say a few words, understand more and even do a few things. 2 is fun because they are just so adorable you want to squeeze them, they are this little tiny person that doesn't really know how to do much at all, but really wants to and tries so hard. There's no attitude, my Mom says it's the trainable two's and I've always stuck by that - just lots of action. Adorable, want to eat them action.

At 3 they turn into those little people you always were afraid to see because then you realize how fast they are actually growing up. But if you stop and realize that they are turning into the person that they will one day become you realize there is so much opportunity and enjoyment to be had. It's an amazing, fascinating, all consuming, wonderful age and I'm enjoying every second of it.

3 is Such an Enjoyable Age!

I remember when Big Guy was this age and he loved to write. Still does. He wanted me to teach him how to write his alphabet letters. And he was persistent. He would bring me a pen and paper and say, "Mom will you write A?" I would write A, and he would copy it down next to mine. And then I would write B and he would copy that. And so on, sometimes all the way to Z. Almost every day for a good year he did that, until he could write each letter on his own, and well! I remember taking him on the plane right before he was to turn 4 and he was writing his letters. We were on one of those Southwest planes sitting in the seats that face each other and the woman across from us was commenting on how well formed his letters were. When I told her he was 3 she was blown away. Apparently she worked with 3 and and even some 4 year olds and hadn't seen anything like that.

Now that Little Guy is at that age I realize what a truly intriguing age it is. They want to learn everything so badly. He has been continuouly asking to help - help put the laundry away, help pick up toys, help set up things, help cook, help throw away the trash, help wipe down the shower window. The things he asks to do and can do amazes me. And if I take the time to teach him it's amazing how well he learns.

Little Guy is not into writing as Big Guy is, but he loves to work with his hands. He can pull stickers off a page like no other, and if you think about that being done with tiny little hands it's quite a feat. He has been doing that since he was 1 and a half or so and it's always amazed me. Now he's finding stickers for his sticker book. There will be a certain shape we're looking for, a certain kind of object or animal, and we will turn to the page of stickers and his little finger will be pointing to it before my eyes have found it. Since his birthday at the end of November we have filled up one sticker book and are working on the next. He loves it. That toy I mentioned earlier? He ROCKS at it. He's gone through cards 1-8 and takes his little tiles out of the tray and puts them back in it over and over.

Today he put away his own little tiny socks and underwear and pajamas. Then he helped me set up his race track Grandma gave him for Christmas, and we sat and played with it for about an hour. His ability and his willingness and his desire to learn has me completely fascinated.

I have decided that this is my favorite age. So far! Babies are adorable and irresistibly cute. They cuddle, drool, eat, poop, sleep, giggle and smile - and while that's all fun, it's amazing when they learn to become actual little people. Walking, talking, little people. It becomes apparent at 1 when they start to walk and say a few words, understand more and even do a few things. 2 is fun because they are just so adorable you want to squeeze them, they are this little tiny person that doesn't really know how to do much at all, but really wants to and tries so hard. There's no attitude, my Mom says it's the trainable two's and I've always stuck by that - just lots of action. Adorable, want to eat them action.

At 3 they turn into those little people you always were afraid to see because then you realize how fast they are actually growing up. But if you stop and realize that they are turning into the person that they will one day become you realize there is so much opportunity and enjoyment to be had. It's an amazing, fascinating, all consuming, wonderful age and I'm enjoying every second of it.

Wow

Now that's what I needed to read right now - found after googling "don't even talk to me", yes this is what I do when I get angry and upset.

Surface

I look around me sometimes and wonder if we are all just living on the surface. We entertain ourselves with so much to see and do that we never have the time to get below the surface and we like it like that just fine. I feel like that is what I am doing here. Something happens that normally I don't like and normally I take it a lot more seriously and try to figure out why it's happening and what I can do to change it. Out here I feel like I just make a joke, smile, and move on. That's the end of it. But not really. It's still there. Under the surface. And someday when I have time I'll deal with it. Or someday it will make me deal with it.

My sister filed for divorce today while I watched her kids. And tonight she is going to counseling with her husband while I watch her kids. Makes me wonder if you have to go to counseling that you've been living on the surface way too long. If you need to go to counseling, you haven't sought it out in the first place which is the first thing you should do. Go to those whose marriages are like what you would like yours to be, go to those who are strong in character, know where you've been, but have walked the path that you want to walk, and ask them how they did it. Ask them again and again in every different way possible until you get it. Until it sticks in your head and you start to dig below the surface.

My sister is a notorious surface liver. Makes for a very fun lifestyle, if that's your version of fun, but for a poor deep meaning in your life. I hope one day she wakes up and realizes it's not about the surface, it's about what's underneath. Why don't I tell her this, you ask. I have, over and over, in so many different ways. For a regrettable pun, it never sinks below the surface. I hope one day it does. I love her to death and only hope the best in every aspect of her life. She has a very forceful personality and could use it for so much good. She definently has the power of influence, and influencing the right things she could change so many lives for the better, including, I believe herself and ergo those she so badly wants to change.

Wow

Now that's what I needed to read right now - found after googling "don't even talk to me", yes this is what I do when I get angry and upset.

Surface

I look around me sometimes and wonder if we are all just living on the surface. We entertain ourselves with so much to see and do that we never have the time to get below the surface and we like it like that just fine. I feel like that is what I am doing here. Something happens that normally I don't like and normally I take it a lot more seriously and try to figure out why it's happening and what I can do to change it. Out here I feel like I just make a joke, smile, and move on. That's the end of it. But not really. It's still there. Under the surface. And someday when I have time I'll deal with it. Or someday it will make me deal with it.

My sister filed for divorce today while I watched her kids. And tonight she is going to counseling with her husband while I watch her kids. Makes me wonder if you have to go to counseling that you've been living on the surface way too long. If you need to go to counseling, you haven't sought it out in the first place which is the first thing you should do. Go to those whose marriages are like what you would like yours to be, go to those who are strong in character, know where you've been, but have walked the path that you want to walk, and ask them how they did it. Ask them again and again in every different way possible until you get it. Until it sticks in your head and you start to dig below the surface.

My sister is a notorious surface liver. Makes for a very fun lifestyle, if that's your version of fun, but for a poor deep meaning in your life. I hope one day she wakes up and realizes it's not about the surface, it's about what's underneath. Why don't I tell her this, you ask. I have, over and over, in so many different ways. For a regrettable pun, it never sinks below the surface. I hope one day it does. I love her to death and only hope the best in every aspect of her life. She has a very forceful personality and could use it for so much good. She definently has the power of influence, and influencing the right things she could change so many lives for the better, including, I believe herself and ergo those she so badly wants to change.

Family Day

My Aunt & Uncle and their son came into town last night and today my sister and I took the kids and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium with them. It was busy! Everybody must have family visiting and it's something to do. Afterwards we went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. That place is fun - noisy and active, the kids blend right in! It almost felt like a repeat of Little Guy's birthday just recently. Although without the presents and birthday cake. It was a nice visit with the relatives. My little guys just love my Aunt. She ran a daycare for 5 years when her girls were little before going back to teaching and must have that special touch with kids. It was nice to have a third eye to watch out for the kids.

Family Day

My Aunt & Uncle and their son came into town last night and today my sister and I took the kids and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium with them. It was busy! Everybody must have family visiting and it's something to do. Afterwards we went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. That place is fun - noisy and active, the kids blend right in! It almost felt like a repeat of Little Guy's birthday just recently. Although without the presents and birthday cake. It was a nice visit with the relatives. My little guys just love my Aunt. She ran a daycare for 5 years when her girls were little before going back to teaching and must have that special touch with kids. It was nice to have a third eye to watch out for the kids.

Nine Layers

Before I could come up with 100 things I found this and posted it. Now, I've updated it just for you as of April 12, 2011.

LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Rose.
-- Birth date: Middle of summer
-- Birthplace: Hot as heck, California
-- Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
-- Current Location: Austin, Texas
-- Eye Color: Blue.
-- Hair Color: Brown.
-- Height: 5'2" almost 3"
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty.
-- Zodiac Sign: Cancer.

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: American Heinz 57 - though I have some English and German in there somewhere.
-- The shoes you wore today: Roxy silver flip flops.
-- Your weakness: A good adventure.
-- Your fears: People not knowing Jesus when they die.
-- Your perfect pizza: Loaded with every veggie imaginable except mushrooms.
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: A family strong in character, close, and loving God with all their hearts, including mine, that runs a family business.

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on IM: Who exactly uses IM anymore? Suppose this should change to texting, and even then I don't do much these days.
-- Your first waking thoughts: "I'm so grateful for my family, and hope I can pretend I'm a morning person to show them that."
-- Your best physical feature: I love my blue eyes.
-- Your most missed memory: The carefreeness of childhood and going on adventures I didn't have to think about paying for.

LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke, if I had to choose, but really neither. If I drank one soda it would be any of Boylan's natural sodas.
-- McDonald's or Burger King: Burger King, if I had to choose, but really neither. I'm much more of a fan of fast food that actually uses real food, like P. Terry's.
-- Single or group dates: Single, definitely single. I don't feel like it's quality time when it's a group date.
-- Adidas or Nike: Nike if I had to choose, but I prefer Asics.
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton, if we're talking about fresh brewed, otherwise ick, and even then I prefer a good organic caffeine-free tea such as Trader Joe's organic mint.
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Depends on what it's on or in, but more often than not it's chocolate.
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Cappucino, and more specifically a cafe au lait.

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: Are you trying to kill me?
-- Cuss: Try not to, but do when I'm really, really angry.
-- Sing: I've actually taken a voice lesson to try and learn how to stay on key. It worked for awhile, now I need to get back into practice.
-- Take a shower everyday: Oh, yes, sometimes twice - I love the shower and the shower loves me.
-- Do you think you've been in love: And always will be. In love isn't a state of mind it's a decision, some days you feel it, some days you don't.
-- Want to go to college: Did for several years with a 4.0 GPA. Lot of good that 4.0 does me now :) .
-- Liked high school: Home-schooled, sometimes wish I had gone, glad I didn't.
-- Want to get married: Am.
-- Believe in yourself: Yes! With God!
-- Get motion sickness: When I read in the car.
-- Think you're attractive: Yes, wish I was more sometimes especially when I wake up in the mornings, but my Hubby thinks I'm perfect so that's good enough for me.
-- Think you're a health freak: Just a little (read: that's sarcasm for quite a bit)
-- Get along with your parent(s): They're the best!
-- Like thunderstorms: Have come to for my kid's sake - we'll pull the mattress up to the window, turn the lights all off and watch the show.
-- Play an instrument: Played the piano a teeny bit.

LAYER SIX: In the past month...
-- Drank alcohol: Yup.
-- Smoked: No.
-- Done a drug: Nope.
-- Made Out: With my Hubbers.
-- Gone on a date: Yup.
-- Gone to the mall?: Nope.
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos? Nope.
-- Eaten sushi: Yup - Caterpillar roll with eel and a Yami Yami roll with salmon.
-- Been on stage: On a school stage and somewhere else though I can't remember where.
-- Been dumped: No.
-- Gone skating: Roller skates, roller blading, and ice skating. The latter is my favorite!
-- Made homemade cookies: Oh yes, chocolate chip, persimmon, oatmeal, peanut butter...
-- Dyed your hair: Blonde, whole and highlights. Right now I've dyed it so I can go back to natural - much cheaper.
-- Stolen Anything: No! I was 18 before I was told about the "five finger discount" - what is up with that?!

LAYER SEVEN: Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Only with my husband. We called it Strip Sorry.
-- If so, was it mixed company: No.
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Blacked out. Not.a.good.thing. 3 times and that was it for me.
-- Been caught "doing something": Nope.
-- Been called a tease: Just once or twice... c'mon.
-- Gotten beaten up: Nope.
-- Shoplifted: Nope.
-- Changed who you were to fit in: Nope, I usually just get quiet rather than try to fit in somewhere where I don't want to.

LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: Was. At 19.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: 2: Justinbustin and Shawners.
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: My vow renewal.
-- How do you want to die: With my eyes looking to heaven.
-- Where you want to go to college: Have been to the local community college, I'd love to go to college in my hometown if that was ever a realistic possibility.
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: Be a Mommy and wife and ME!
-- What country would you most like to visit: Italy, mostly. Any of those far romantic and dreamy places with beautiful scenery.

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: Tried one.
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: Hmm, all the ones I trust my heart with.
-- Number of CDs that I own: None, I guess this should be changed to number of songs on iPod.
-- Number of piercings: Two in each year.
-- Number of tattoos: None, but my hubby has three.
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: Maybe once... can't remember what for, but I did use to put valentine's in the newspaper for Justinbustin when he was little.
-- Number of scars on my body: I've been pregnant.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: None, I would not be where I am now if it wasn't for the past.

See the old version here.

Oooh

There's a few posters out there right now (I know I didn't cover the whole list so I apologize if I forgot you!), but some are still gone for the holidays. For all of you - hope you are having a great time and can't wait to have you back!

Nine Layers

I never could bring myself to come up with 100 things. So I found this over at Mindy's and made my own. Prepare to peel back the layers.

LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Guess.
-- Birth date: Middle of summer.
-- Birthplace: Hot as heck, California.
-- Current Location: Coast of California - not so hot.
-- Eye Color: Blue.
-- Hair Color: Brown.
-- Height: 5'2" almost 3"
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty.
-- Zodiac Sign: Cancer.

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: American Heinz 57 - got some English and German in there somwhere.
-- The shoes you wore today: My favorite Puma chocolate brown and pink tennies and later black ankle boots.
-- Your weakness: My hubby.
-- Your fears: Earthquakes. People not knowing Jesus when they die.
-- Your perfect pizza: Ham & pineapple.
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: A family strong in character, close, and loving God with all their hearts, including mine.

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on IM: "I was just going to say that..."
-- Your first waking thoughts: "Must make bed when I get out." that or, "That little face in my face is so cute."
-- Your best physical feature: I love my blue eyes.
-- Your most missed memory: Having no responsibilities or at least the feeling of having none, because I love my 2 little responsibilities and my 1 big one (oh and me!).

LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke.
-- McDonald's or Burger King: Burger King.
-- Single or group dates: Single.
-- Adidas or Nike: I'm not into sports so these are out, and when I walk I like a little more style.
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton, if we're talking about fresh brewed, otherwise ick.
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate.
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Cappucino.

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: Are you trying to kill me?
-- Cuss: Try not to.
-- Sing: For my hubby, kids, and the shower. Occasionally very goofy like for my sis.
-- Take a shower everyday: Oh, yes, sometimes twice - I love the shower and the shower loves me.
-- Do you think you've been in love: And always will be. In love isn't a state of mind it's a decision, some days you feel it, some days you don't.
-- Want to go to college: Someday.
-- Liked high school: Home-schooled, sometimes wish I had gone, glad I didn't.
-- Want to get married: Am.
-- Believe in yourself: Only with God!
-- Get motion sickness: When I read in the car.
-- Think you're attractive: Yes, wish I was more sometimes especially when I wake up in the mornings, but my Hubby thinks I'm perfect so that's good enough for me.
-- Think you're a health freak: Try to be.
-- Get along with your parent(s): They're the best!.
-- Like thunderstorms: Have come to for my kid's sake - we'll pull the mattress up to the window, turn the lights all off and watch the show. Now that I'm back in California I actually miss our Texas thunderstorms.
-- Play an instrument: Played the piano a teeny bit.

LAYER SIX: In the past month...
-- Drank alcohol: Yup.
-- Smoked: No.
-- Done a drug: Nope.
-- Made Out: With my Hubbers.
-- Gone on a date: Yup.
-- Gone to the mall?: Yes, unfortuently.
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos?:Does chocolate count? Oh no wait I still need to finish that off *back in a sec.
-- Eaten sushi: Yuck!
-- Been on stage: On a play stage and somewhere else though I can't remember where.
-- Been dumped: No.
-- Gone skating: Roller, and blading, back in the *day*.
-- Made homemade cookies: Oh yes, chocolate chip, persimmon, oatmeal, peanut butter, please share recipes of more that I must make.
-- Dyed your hair: Blonde, whole and highlights. Right now it's natural - much cheaper.
-- Stolen Anything: No! I was 18 before I was told about the "five finger discount" - what is up with that?!

LAYER SEVEN: Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Nope.
-- If so, was it mixed company: .
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Blacked out. Not.a.good.thing. 3 times a lady and that was it for me.
-- Been caught "doing something": Nope.
-- Been called a tease: Just once or twice... c'mon.
-- Gotten beaten up: Nope.
-- Shoplifted: Nope.
-- Changed who you were to fit in: Nope, I usually just get quiet rather than try to fit in somewhere where I don't want to.

LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: Was. At 19.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: 2: Big Guy and Little Guy.
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: Mine.
-- How do you want to die: With my eyes looking to heaven.
-- Where you want to go to college: Online would be nice.
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: Be a Mommy and wife and ME!
-- What country would you most like to visit: Australia, all of Europe, Ireland, Switzerland... the list goes on. Any of those far romantic and dreamy places with beautiful scenery.

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: 0.
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: Hmm, all the ones I trust my heart with.
-- Number of CDs that I own: Sadly? 1 that my hubby made for me.
-- Number of piercings: One in each year.
-- Number of tattoos: Does hubby's count?
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: Maybe once... can't remember what for.
-- Number of scars on my body: I've been pregnant. Don't go there.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: None, I would not be where I am now if it wasn't for the past.

Oooh

There's a few posters out there right now (I know I didn't cover the whole list so I apologize if I forgot you!), but some are still gone for the holidays. For all of you - hope you are having a great time and can't wait to have you back!

Cabin Fever

Okay I thought he was milking it but he has been in bed all.freakin.day.long. And I am bored stiff. I let the house go to trash so I guess I technically have something to do. Hum-de-dum but I don't really want to do it. I need a movie to fold laundry to do.

I did just play for 2 hours... oh my word TWO HOURS. Last time I looked at the clock it was 8:30pm! Well any way the kids and I played for those two hours with this very cool little gizmo I got for Christmas from MIL. She thought it would be nice since I'm homeschooling Big Guy. Boy was she right. He loves it, as does 3 year old Little Guy. It's something easy and entertaining for them to do, yet teaches them so many different concepts.

Cabin Fever

Okay I thought he was milking it but he has been in bed all.freakin.day.long. And I am bored stiff. I let the house go to trash so I guess I technically have something to do. Hum-de-dum but I don't really want to do it. I need a movie to fold laundry to do.

I did just play for 2 hours... oh my word TWO HOURS. Last time I looked at the clock it was 8:30pm! Well any way the kids and I played for those two hours with this very cool little gizmo I got for Christmas from MIL. She thought it would be nice since I'm homeschooling Big Guy. Boy was she right. He loves it, as does 3 year old Little Guy. It's something easy and entertaining for them to do, yet teaches them so many different concepts.

Back to Reality

Hubby is sick today... and milking it. He threw up at 5am and has been in bed since. He watched Collateral and I watched the beginning and end with him. Kind of reminded me of a Fugitive or Duel kind of movie.

Kids are playing with their Christmas toys - all of them. And being very sweet (for the most part) about them.

I would love to share pictures with you all. I think that I will do some research on a private way I can do that. So I at least know who's looking at them!

I'm off and on the computer, chatting with my Mommy. My Dad's sick too, and milking it as well, only he's watching the football game. A day of doing so much for the ladies does them in I guess : ) .

Hope you guys are having a wonderful relaxing day after the big day, and not having too much of a holiday letdown. It will go right back up any way! Always does.

Back to Reality

Hubby is sick today... and milking it. He threw up at 5am and has been in bed since. He watched Collateral and I watched the beginning and end with him. Kind of reminded me of a Fugitive or Duel kind of movie.

Kids are playing with their Christmas toys - all of them. And being very sweet (for the most part) about them.

I would love to share pictures with you all. I think that I will do some research on a private way I can do that. So I at least know who's looking at them!

I'm off and on the computer, chatting with my Mommy. My Dad's sick too, and milking it as well, only he's watching the football game. A day of doing so much for the ladies does them in I guess : ) .

Hope you guys are having a wonderful relaxing day after the big day, and not having too much of a holiday letdown. It will go right back up any way! Always does.

Wonder

What a wonderful day. 6 hours with the family - 3 out of 4 of the siblings, and not a scratch. Well, except for the last few minutes but we won't count those will we?

I made, well I say I, but really without all the effort and willing hands it wouldn't have happened, a wonderful delicious Christmas dinner. Honey ham, prime rib, sweet potato souffle, green beans with herb dressing, buttery rolls, a garden salad brought by my sister as well as a pumpkin whipped dessert, and wonderful apple pie brought by another sister, and my very own chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Mmmm. All on my Mom's brand new beautiful china.

After dinner the grandkids, nieces and nephews to me, tore into their presents - well, organized chaos, and made out with a stack of loot each. Us big kids waited til' they were done and sent them into the other room to play so we could open our toys. A few little ones wandered back in and *helped*. I got some wonderful pink pants from my sister, the comfy stretchy kind I've been wanting, and some glitter eyeliner from MAC.

But that wasn't the real present. Oh my word could I go on with the list from my hubby?! I guess I will. Let's see...

• In my stocking: 4 charms for my Italian charm bracelet: "Me & You", "#1 Mom", "Love Ya", "Hugs & Kisses". I had wanted some so bad and I'd never seen such cute ones. Also in my stocking: LOTS of underwear . Something I needed sooo bad but just never got around to getting myself. He took care of that and more, tons of different colors, designs, and some really just plain pretty ones. Made me feel like such a woman : ) . A Starbucks gift card with specifically Just for me! written on it by Hubby. And socks, another thing I've been needing but haven't ever taken the time to get myself. Have you seen those ones with the arch support? They really work.

• Why It Meant Something to Me: I never, read, never, get anything in my stocking. Unless I put it there myself, or my MIL puts it there, or I get film when my present is a camera like it was the first year we were married. Not only did he take the time and thought to put together a stocking for me, he did the best stocking ever. He didn't do it all at once either.! I caught him putting the first thing in there, though I didn't see what it was, and I thought okay that's it. But my stocking was packed this morning. And each thing was different and special in it's own way and he did that on purpose too.

• Under the Tree for Me: A wonderful very expensive, gorgeous, silky smooth quart pan and veggie steamer. I know how can metal be silky, but it is. Okay I know you're probably going what the hecks so great about that?! And even Hubby was worried it may be a little presumptious on his part. But I love to cook, and Hubby knows that, and I have never had anything so gorgeous in my kitchen in all my life, and he knows that too. It is absolutely wonderful. I have never wanted to handwash anything. I handwashed this. He also got me a gorgeous skillet to go along with it. Those two things are the things I use most, and often times every day, in my kitchen. He got them both a week or so ago, and I mentioned a couple days ago that I had to throw out the old skillets in the kitchen. I still had two nice ones to work with but two of the bigger ones were so bad they had to go and I wished I had another big one. Then yesterday I mentioned I really wished I had brought my veggie steamer from back home, there isn't one here, and I used it all the time. I used my new one today for the green beans!

• Why those meant something to me: I love to cook. I really, really do. I've said it before and I said it again. That he realizes and appreciates that, not just for his stomach or the boys, but for me means a whole whole lot. It may've been different if he had just gotten a run of the mill pan and skillet, but this was something special, something saying he thinks I deserve something really special for something I really love to do.

• Also Under The Tree for Me: A beautiful garden statue. I have been searching foreverfor a sweet little garden statue with a boy! There are so many with girls, but I wanted a boy, because, well, I have boys. The few boy ones I have seen that have been halfway decent have these ghastly empty eyes. We walked by a florist shop earlier this month and I saw this adorable little boy watering the flowers garden statue through the window. Just what Little Guy loves to do. I oohed and aaahed over it, though I couldn't go in because they were closed. I told Hubby if it doesn't have those horrible eyes I'm getting it. A few days went by and I went in there to look for a birthday cake ornament for Little Guy. I forgot to look for the statue, of course because it wasn't there. And when I called later they said it was gone. I told the lady on the phone when she said they may get another in that I was really really hoping my Hubby had bought it for me. He did. And I love it. And it's gorgeous. And it has beautiful eyes. And it's sitting on my deck right now.

• Why it meant something to me: I have been searching for a statue like that since my garden last year. It means a lot to me that when I saw the perfect one he didn't hesitate, he made sure it had beautiful eyes and wrapped it up.

It was also a great day for the boys, though. Imagine lots and lots of Lego's and put two very sweet boys, one a bit bigger than the other, in the middle of them, and you can imagine their Christmas.

Big Guy's big present was a guitar. He also got a Rudolph stuffed animal that sings Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer from Grandma and he tells me, I have a song. And he puts little Rudolph on the chair next to him and presses the button to make him sing, and pulls out his little guitar and strums along to the tune.

Little Guy had a small bag last night at Oma's house that he had some cars in that she gave him. He had a big bag, too, but he adopted the little bag for his cars and carried it around with him all night long. Tonight he adopted the big bag and dragged that around all night long.

Santa brought them a pirate ship boat for the bathtub that looks so fun Mommy wants to play with it. I can't wait to try it, ahem, I mean for them to try it.

My Mommy's present to me was something I knew I was getting, and a check, and a card that said "We love you and miss you!" Even though we're right here!! She said she was pretending we were gone, as a joke. She's funny like that. I guess since we really haven't been here 4 out of the last 5 Christmas's. It actually made me really sad amidst all the happiness, because more than likely we won't be here for it again next Christmas. And that makes me cry. I hope we do at least Thanksgiving together, I'm liking this too much to have it not be the norm. :( There are disadvantages to living far away from family despite it being possible for you to be who you need to be.

The gift list goes on and on, but I'll stop there. It was a wonderful day, with fun and family. Good food. Good wine. Good dessert. And lots and lots of love.

One more thing, one more last present, thank you Pink Poppy for the beautiful ornament on your Christmas tree. I couldn't imagine a more wonderful Christmas present from you.

And with that I hope that all of you had an equally wonderful Christmas filled with joy and lots of family and love.

Wonder

What a wonderful day. 6 hours with the family - 3 out of 4 of the siblings, and not a scratch. Well, except for the last few minutes but we won't count those will we?

I made, well I say I, but really without all the effort and willing hands it wouldn't have happened, a wonderful delicious Christmas dinner. Honey ham, prime rib, sweet potato souffle, green beans with herb dressing, buttery rolls, a garden salad brought by my sister as well as a pumpkin whipped dessert, and wonderful apple pie brought by another sister, and my very own chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Mmmm. All on my Mom's brand new beautiful china.

After dinner the grandkids, nieces and nephews to me, tore into their presents - well, organized chaos, and made out with a stack of loot each. Us big kids waited til' they were done and sent them into the other room to play so we could open our toys. A few little ones wandered back in and *helped*. I got some wonderful pink pants from my sister, the comfy stretchy kind I've been wanting, and some glitter eyeliner from MAC.

But that wasn't the real present. Oh my word could I go on with the list from my hubby?! I guess I will. Let's see...

• In my stocking: 4 charms for my Italian charm bracelet: "Me & You", "#1 Mom", "Love Ya", "Hugs & Kisses". I had wanted some so bad and I'd never seen such cute ones. Also in my stocking: LOTS of underwear . Something I needed sooo bad but just never got around to getting myself. He took care of that and more, tons of different colors, designs, and some really just plain pretty ones. Made me feel like such a woman : ) . A Starbucks gift card with specifically Just for me! written on it by Hubby. And socks, another thing I've been needing but haven't ever taken the time to get myself. Have you seen those ones with the arch support? They really work.

• Why It Meant Something to Me: I never, read, never, get anything in my stocking. Unless I put it there myself, or my MIL puts it there, or I get film when my present is a camera like it was the first year we were married. Not only did he take the time and thought to put together a stocking for me, he did the best stocking ever. He didn't do it all at once either.! I caught him putting the first thing in there, though I didn't see what it was, and I thought okay that's it. But my stocking was packed this morning. And each thing was different and special in it's own way and he did that on purpose too.

• Under the Tree for Me: A wonderful very expensive, gorgeous, silky smooth quart pan and veggie steamer. I know how can metal be silky, but it is. Okay I know you're probably going what the hecks so great about that?! And even Hubby was worried it may be a little presumptious on his part. But I love to cook, and Hubby knows that, and I have never had anything so gorgeous in my kitchen in all my life, and he knows that too. It is absolutely wonderful. I have never wanted to handwash anything. I handwashed this. He also got me a gorgeous skillet to go along with it. Those two things are the things I use most, and often times every day, in my kitchen. He got them both a week or so ago, and I mentioned a couple days ago that I had to throw out the old skillets in the kitchen. I still had two nice ones to work with but two of the bigger ones were so bad they had to go and I wished I had another big one. Then yesterday I mentioned I really wished I had brought my veggie steamer from back home, there isn't one here, and I used it all the time. I used my new one today for the green beans!

• Why those meant something to me: I love to cook. I really, really do. I've said it before and I said it again. That he realizes and appreciates that, not just for his stomach or the boys, but for me means a whole whole lot. It may've been different if he had just gotten a run of the mill pan and skillet, but this was something special, something saying he thinks I deserve something really special for something I really love to do.

• Also Under The Tree for Me: A beautiful garden statue. I have been searching foreverfor a sweet little garden statue with a boy! There are so many with girls, but I wanted a boy, because, well, I have boys. The few boy ones I have seen that have been halfway decent have these ghastly empty eyes. We walked by a florist shop earlier this month and I saw this adorable little boy watering the flowers garden statue through the window. Just what Little Guy loves to do. I oohed and aaahed over it, though I couldn't go in because they were closed. I told Hubby if it doesn't have those horrible eyes I'm getting it. A few days went by and I went in there to look for a birthday cake ornament for Little Guy. I forgot to look for the statue, of course because it wasn't there. And when I called later they said it was gone. I told the lady on the phone when she said they may get another in that I was really really hoping my Hubby had bought it for me. He did. And I love it. And it's gorgeous. And it has beautiful eyes. And it's sitting on my deck right now.

• Why it meant something to me: I have been searching for a statue like that since my garden last year. It means a lot to me that when I saw the perfect one he didn't hesitate, he made sure it had beautiful eyes and wrapped it up.

It was also a great day for the boys, though. Imagine lots and lots of Lego's and put two very sweet boys, one a bit bigger than the other, in the middle of them, and you can imagine their Christmas.

Big Guy's big present was a guitar. He also got a Rudolph stuffed animal that sings Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer from Grandma and he tells me, I have a song. And he puts little Rudolph on the chair next to him and presses the button to make him sing, and pulls out his little guitar and strums along to the tune.

Little Guy had a small bag last night at Oma's house that he had some cars in that she gave him. He had a big bag, too, but he adopted the little bag for his cars and carried it around with him all night long. Tonight he adopted the big bag and dragged that around all night long.

Santa brought them a pirate ship boat for the bathtub that looks so fun Mommy wants to play with it. I can't wait to try it, ahem, I mean for them to try it.

My Mommy's present to me was something I knew I was getting, and a check, and a card that said "We love you and miss you!" Even though we're right here!! She said she was pretending we were gone, as a joke. She's funny like that. I guess since we really haven't been here 4 out of the last 5 Christmas's. It actually made me really sad amidst all the happiness, because more than likely we won't be here for it again next Christmas. And that makes me cry. I hope we do at least Thanksgiving together, I'm liking this too much to have it not be the norm. :( There are disadvantages to living far away from family despite it being possible for you to be who you need to be.

The gift list goes on and on, but I'll stop there. It was a wonderful day, with fun and family. Good food. Good wine. Good dessert. And lots and lots of love.

One more thing, one more last present, thank you Pink Poppy for the beautiful ornament on your Christmas tree. I couldn't imagine a more wonderful Christmas present from you.

And with that I hope that all of you had an equally wonderful Christmas filled with joy and lots of family and love.

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve, or rather the first few minutes of Christmas, and I am printing out a picture to put in a frame before I go to bed. We had a wonderful evening at MIL's house. Got some really great presents, really personal. And Big Guy got his Nintendo that he begged for so sweetly (well not quite sweetly) JUST this afternoon - only it's a much more his size Nintendo, called a V Chip or something, I'll have to look up the exact thing later. Hubby got an IPod, and I got some HUGE gift certificates to several of my favorite stores, along with a beautiful sweater and super soft chenille like pink socks. I love them. Mostly it was a wonderful evening enjoying good food and good company and sweet thoughts all around. I hope tomorrow is more good company and sweet thoughts all around and I hope the same for you. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve, or rather the first few minutes of Christmas, and I am printing out a picture to put in a frame before I go to bed. We had a wonderful evening at MIL's house. Got some really great presents, really personal. And Big Guy got his Nintendo that he begged for so sweetly (well not quite sweetly) JUST this afternoon - only it's a much more his size Nintendo, called a V Chip or something, I'll have to look up the exact thing later. Hubby got an IPod, and I got some HUGE gift certificates to several of my favorite stores, along with a beautiful sweater and super soft chenille like pink socks. I love them. Mostly it was a wonderful evening enjoying good food and good company and sweet thoughts all around. I hope tomorrow is more good company and sweet thoughts all around and I hope the same for you. Merry Christmas!

Sun Drops on Roses

and whiskers on kittens,
Creme colored ponies,
and warm woolen mittens.

Brown paper packages all tied up in string,
these are a few of my favorite things!

For those of you that have emailed me - this is how I came up with my 'alias'. I know it's supposed to be rain and although I do enjoy the rain, I like the sun so much better.

Trying to think of my favorite things as the holidays creep up and there is so much to do. I can't wait to see the surprise and delight on the children's faces when they open their gifts.

Big Guy came up with a great idea of opening one gift a day. There are only two days left, but that will cut down on at least a little of the mayhem. Two of my siblings and their families will be coming over on Christmas day to exchange gifts and have dinner so the kids will have lots of excitement going that day.

Sun Drops on Roses

and whiskers on kittens,
Creme colored ponies,
and warm woolen mittens.

Brown paper packages all tied up in string,
these are a few of my favorite things!

For those of you that have emailed me - this is how I came up with my 'alias'. I know it's supposed to be rain and although I do enjoy the rain, I like the sun so much better.

Trying to think of my favorite things as the holidays creep up and there is so much to do. I can't wait to see the surprise and delight on the children's faces when they open their gifts.

Big Guy came up with a great idea of opening one gift a day. There are only two days left, but that will cut down on at least a little of the mayhem. Two of my siblings and their families will be coming over on Christmas day to exchange gifts and have dinner so the kids will have lots of excitement going that day.

Intraveneous Therapy

I have been without my computer all day. The fuse blew in our room last night and the internet stopped working. Hubby didn't have time to fix it before he left this morning, so I've been off and on trying to get it to work all day. Finally I called Hubby and had a very serious discussion about how it needs to get fixed right now. He tried to help, but couldn't. Somehow I figured it out after we got off the phone. He came home a few minutes later and I told him, "I got my computer going, the IV drip is running again. I'm fine."

Intraveneous Therapy

I have been without my computer all day. The fuse blew in our room last night and the internet stopped working. Hubby didn't have time to fix it before he left this morning, so I've been off and on trying to get it to work all day. Finally I called Hubby and had a very serious discussion about how it needs to get fixed right now. He tried to help, but couldn't. Somehow I figured it out after we got off the phone. He came home a few minutes later and I told him, "I got my computer going, the IV drip is running again. I'm fine."

All Around Kooky

I'm a Visionary Soul with the element of Earth.

If I was a crappy gift I would be socks, even though I have a very linquistic intelligence and I always have a super Brady Christmas.

I am Remarkable, Open-hearted, Saucy, Enlightened and extra nice, although if you have to know, my stripper name is Mystique.

And finally here is my very own Christmas card for you:

Get Your Own Christmas BlogCard Here!

Can you tell I have enough to do today already? It's that Pink Poppy I swear!

All Around Kooky

I'm a Visionary Soul with the element of Earth.

If I was a crappy gift I would be socks, even though I have a very linquistic intelligence and I always have a super Brady Christmas.

I am Remarkable, Open-hearted, Saucy, Enlightened and extra nice, although if you have to know, my stripper name is Mystique.

And finally here is my very own Christmas card for you:

Get Your Own Christmas BlogCard Here!

Can you tell I have enough to do today already? It's that Pink Poppy I swear!

Hazy Days

I was going to put Lazy Days, but I really don't like the word lazy. It was just peaceful, and relaxing that's all. I'm cheating tonight, I'm posting a comment I just posted at Girl's site. Hubby's being sooo sweet, waiting for me to get in bed before he goes to sleep by keeping himself awake playing on his Palm. Here it is:

My things I've done today...

1. Slept in.
2. Walked down to breakfast place on the water with Hubby and kids.
3. Ate breakfast.
4. Walked down to the beach to let kids play.
5. Went to the park and spread out blankets and watched Hubby and kids play soccer and football.
6. Came home.
7. Made and ate dinner.
9. Went to Mother-in-law's to watch Christmas movie.
10. Came home.
11. Kids fell asleep on the way home.
12. Put the kids to bed.
13. Going to bed...

Yeah, it was a good, lazy Sunday.

But I am adding something...

Mother-in-law asked when I was due tonight. What the heck?!? I said, what am I getting fat?! She said no, I'm the skinniest person she knows she could blow air my way and knock me over. Okay, fine. I finally figured out it could be because Hubby told her we had something to put in her stocking and I looked at him and told him he was good at ruining surprises - I already know what half my Christmas presents are. She must've been trying to put two and two together and thinking that was what we were putting in her stocking?!

Hazy Days

I was going to put Lazy Days, but I really don't like the word lazy. It was just peaceful, and relaxing that's all. I'm cheating tonight, I'm posting a comment I just posted at Girl's site. Hubby's being sooo sweet, waiting for me to get in bed before he goes to sleep by keeping himself awake playing on his Palm. Here it is:

My things I've done today...

1. Slept in.
2. Walked down to breakfast place on the water with Hubby and kids.
3. Ate breakfast.
4. Walked down to the beach to let kids play.
5. Went to the park and spread out blankets and watched Hubby and kids play soccer and football.
6. Came home.
7. Made and ate dinner.
9. Went to Mother-in-law's to watch Christmas movie.
10. Came home.
11. Kids fell asleep on the way home.
12. Put the kids to bed.
13. Going to bed...

Yeah, it was a good, lazy Sunday.

But I am adding something...

Mother-in-law asked when I was due tonight. What the heck?!? I said, what am I getting fat?! She said no, I'm the skinniest person she knows she could blow air my way and knock me over. Okay, fine. I finally figured out it could be because Hubby told her we had something to put in her stocking and I looked at him and told him he was good at ruining surprises - I already know what half my Christmas presents are. She must've been trying to put two and two together and thinking that was what we were putting in her stocking?!

Not Much

I reeeally don't have anything to offer right now. Just a bunch of mundane, whoopdedoo stuff. Did a little more Christmas shopping, spent a little time with the hubby, hung out with the kiddos.

Oh let's see, I guess I can muse on something. Friends... from before married life. Before kid life. Before family life. They just change... or is it that we all change?

We ran into a friend of Hubby's downtown, one of the best guys I've ever known. And he just seemed... strange. Different, somehow. Distant, a little? I miss him.

I miss the old "guys" that Hubby used to hang out with. I can't figure out who's changed more - him or them. And I wish we could just hang like we used to. Throwing another kid in the mix and then making the first one older, well it's just different. Got a whole passel of people to look after.

I'd accepted with my friends that they'd moved on, different paths in life, etc. etc. etc. There are a few friends I still keep in contact with, and one I am still really close with. Of course it helps she has a family of her own so she knows what page I'm on. But I hadn't quite realized it was happening with his friends. I guess being out in Texas we were out doing something "special" have our own house, blah, blah, blah - that is a technical term isn't it?

This guy we saw downtown tonight was the only one of his friends that had come to visit us out there - and not just once, twice, almost three times, if it wasn't for hitting that darn deer and throwing off the schedule. Actually he did bring another of Hubby's friends with him - a different one each time. But he's the one who did the work.

It would be nice if it was like it was then, when they would ooh and ahh over the baby and realize how very special it is to have a family. And not just be, oh yeah, you have this family now, that you have to think about.

Guess we can't hang like we used to. It's just - different. You know you got two little people running around. And that's okay. Now we just need to create a new breed of different. And make it special in it's very own way.

Not Much

I reeeally don't have anything to offer right now. Just a bunch of mundane, whoopdedoo stuff. Did a little more Christmas shopping, spent a little time with the hubby, hung out with the kiddos.

Oh let's see, I guess I can muse on something. Friends... from before married life. Before kid life. Before family life. They just change... or is it that we all change?

We ran into a friend of Hubby's downtown, one of the best guys I've ever known. And he just seemed... strange. Different, somehow. Distant, a little? I miss him.

I miss the old "guys" that Hubby used to hang out with. I can't figure out who's changed more - him or them. And I wish we could just hang like we used to. Throwing another kid in the mix and then making the first one older, well it's just different. Got a whole passel of people to look after.

I'd accepted with my friends that they'd moved on, different paths in life, etc. etc. etc. There are a few friends I still keep in contact with, and one I am still really close with. Of course it helps she has a family of her own so she knows what page I'm on. But I hadn't quite realized it was happening with his friends. I guess being out in Texas we were out doing something "special" have our own house, blah, blah, blah - that is a technical term isn't it?

This guy we saw downtown tonight was the only one of his friends that had come to visit us out there - and not just once, twice, almost three times, if it wasn't for hitting that darn deer and throwing off the schedule. Actually he did bring another of Hubby's friends with him - a different one each time. But he's the one who did the work.

It would be nice if it was like it was then, when they would ooh and ahh over the baby and realize how very special it is to have a family. And not just be, oh yeah, you have this family now, that you have to think about.

Guess we can't hang like we used to. It's just - different. You know you got two little people running around. And that's okay. Now we just need to create a new breed of different. And make it special in it's very own way.

Follow Up

I sent Hubby a not very nice text message after he left for work this morning. Everything's coming down on me so it's only right to take it out on him, right? I know, not. Any way it went something along the lines of "F* you. I h*te you. I h*te our life." The secret life of ME, ain't it lovely? After the innuendos he made about me yesterday you'd have thunk he deserved it too.

Any way that was that and I thought I was going to have a horrible long day being depressed and grumpy. In comes Girl from Florida and her sweet post about how she met her hubby, which reminded me of how I met mine and all the reasons I really do like him. Which of course put me in a good mood for easier loving of the Hubby once he put forth an effort.

No less than 20 minutes later he shows up at the house with a Starbucks cappucino, which he's never done. As if that wasn't enough to put me in a good mood, he also says: I heard you wanted to f* me? LOL okay there went the smile.

Oh my word coffee in the morning!! I always thought people were crazy for getting hooked on it, it's just not good for you, but now I understand why. I am so energized - and luvin' it. This could turn out to be not a good thing. No more coffee for me in the mornings.

Thank you Sam and Girl for the encouragement and support, I really needed it and it literally made my day! You're the best!

Blog Moments

I'm laying here on my bed catching up on blogs in the wee hours of the morning and Little Guy has his head laying on my left arm as I'm typing, with the rest of him all stretched out, fast asleep. My hand is numb, but it's so sweet I can't bear to move him.

Follow Up

I sent Hubby a not very nice text message after he left for work this morning. Everything's coming down on me so it's only right to take it out on him, right? I know, not. Any way it went something along the lines of "F* you. I h*te you. I h*te our life." The secret life of ME, ain't it lovely? After the innuendos he made about me yesterday you'd have thunk he deserved it too.

Any way that was that and I thought I was going to have a horrible long day being depressed and grumpy. In comes Girl from Florida and her sweet post about how she met her hubby, which reminded me of how I met mine and all the reasons I really do like him. Which of course put me in a good mood for easier loving of the Hubby once he put forth an effort.

No less than 20 minutes later he shows up at the house with a Starbucks cappucino, which he's never done. As if that wasn't enough to put me in a good mood, he also says: I heard you wanted to f* me? LOL okay there went the smile.

Oh my word coffee in the morning!! I always thought people were crazy for getting hooked on it, it's just not good for you, but now I understand why. I am so energized - and luvin' it. This could turn out to be not a good thing. No more coffee for me in the mornings.

Thank you Sam and Girl for the encouragement and support, I really needed it and it literally made my day! You're the best!

Blog Moments

I'm laying here on my bed catching up on blogs in the wee hours of the morning and Little Guy has his head laying on my left arm as I'm typing, with the rest of him all stretched out, fast asleep. My hand is numb, but it's so sweet I can't bear to move him.

Surreal Life

This afternoon I was driving down the freeway looking up at the gorgeous blue sky and the trees lining the road and listening to my favorite station thinking about our life here and how nobody has to worry about a big storm coming through or a freeze or hail or big bugs or dangerously hot weather, and it all just seems so surreal. People don't have these things to worry about so they fill their time with c*r*a*p. Stuff. Issues. Crisis. Drama. More stuff. Entertainment. Going out. Drinking. Everything but dealing with yourself. I'm not saying I don't think this stuff is elsewhere I know it is. I just think it's so much more prominent here. In this area where people have so much to be grateful and so little to worry about that they create worries for themselves.

I'm in tears tonight. I feel like I have no support around me. It takes too much effort to be different when everybody else just stays the same. When I was away from this place, these people, I could be different, I could be ME, because I surrounded myself with people who supported me, and who I supported. Even my husband is less supportive out here. Understandably he's training for a new job and consumed with that, but he never has been very supportive when we are out here, something about being around our family seems to bring out the worst in us.

Surreal Life

This afternoon I was driving down the freeway looking up at the gorgeous blue sky and the trees lining the road and listening to my favorite station thinking about our life here and how nobody has to worry about a big storm coming through or a freeze or hail or big bugs or dangerously hot weather, and it all just seems so surreal. People don't have these things to worry about so they fill their time with c*r*a*p. Stuff. Issues. Crisis. Drama. More stuff. Entertainment. Going out. Drinking. Everything but dealing with yourself. I'm not saying I don't think this stuff is elsewhere I know it is. I just think it's so much more prominent here. In this area where people have so much to be grateful and so little to worry about that they create worries for themselves.

I'm in tears tonight. I feel like I have no support around me. It takes too much effort to be different when everybody else just stays the same. When I was away from this place, these people, I could be different, I could be ME, because I surrounded myself with people who supported me, and who I supported. Even my husband is less supportive out here. Understandably he's training for a new job and consumed with that, but he never has been very supportive when we are out here, something about being around our family seems to bring out the worst in us.

It's Been A Strange Weekend

I've been a little PMSey but more in a strange, depressed sort of way, so I've been trying to mostly concentrate on the good things.

This evening was a wonderful way to end the weekend, though. We went over to Oma's house and saw all her Christmas decorations and watched Hubby's favorite TV Show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, then drove through the neighborhood to see all the beautiful Christmas lights. I laughed out loud as Hubby would see more lights and stop and turn around, and back up, and do all sorts of manuevers to make sure the boys got to see every light out there at the best angle possible. I told him he is such a good daddy, it was just so sweet. And I can just imagine the memories he just made for our boys.

Here is a picture of Surfin' Santa. This house was CRAZY lit up, the most lit up I have ever seen a house. And very tactfully done, it could've easily been super cheesy but it was actually really classy and very fun to see.

It's Been A Strange Weekend

I've been a little PMSey but more in a strange, depressed sort of way, so I've been trying to mostly concentrate on the good things.

This evening was a wonderful way to end the weekend, though. We went over to Oma's house and saw all her Christmas decorations and watched Hubby's favorite TV Show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, then drove through the neighborhood to see all the beautiful Christmas lights. I laughed out loud as Hubby would see more lights and stop and turn around, and back up, and do all sorts of manuevers to make sure the boys got to see every light out there at the best angle possible. I told him he is such a good daddy, it was just so sweet. And I can just imagine the memories he just made for our boys.

Here is a picture of Surfin' Santa. This house was CRAZY lit up, the most lit up I have ever seen a house. And very tactfully done, it could've easily been super cheesy but it was actually really classy and very fun to see.

My Best of Blog Nominations

Here are my nominations for the BOB awards:

Best Over-All Blog - Pink Poppy

Best New Blog - Girl From Florida

Most Humorous Blog - Milestones

Best Mommy Blog - Mixed Messages

Best Cooking/Recipes Blog - Simply Recipes

You can read what I think of these lovely ladies here . Please go second them or don't forget to nominate your favorite!

Thank you Girl From Florida for the Best Mommy Blog nomination, that was so sweet of you!

My Best of Blog Nominations

Here are my nominations for the BOB awards:

Best Over-All Blog - Pink Poppy

Best New Blog - Girl From Florida

Most Humorous Blog - Milestones

Best Mommy Blog - Mixed Messages

Best Cooking/Recipes Blog - Simply Recipes

You can read what I think of these lovely ladies here . Please go second them or don't forget to nominate your favorite!

Thank you Girl From Florida for the Best Mommy Blog nomination, that was so sweet of you!

My Saturday

Little Guy read me a book this morning while I was lying in bed. It's called What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? There's this part about an armored animal that turns into an armor plated ball when something wants to eat it. So he is on the page where it turns into a ball and says "Look! It's a beach ball.", then he turns to the page before and says, "Not a beach ball.", then turns the page forward, "Beach ball." When he got to the part about the snake that's more like a lizard whose tail breaks off when an enemy tries to catch it he says, "It's tail broke off." Puts his hand behind him where a tail would be and moves it like a tail falling off and says, "Tail broke off." then he proceeds to demonstrate on his foot by pulling his sock halfway off his foot, "Tail broke off."

My Dad told Big Guy last night that they'd he would get to spend the day with him today. So Big Guy woke up this morning and immediately got dressed with his backpack and his hat on backwards and went upstairs to find Grandpa. Grandma was in the office, so he asks for Grandpa, who's still sleeping, but seeing him all dressed and ready to go she says, "I'll go wake him up."

Hubby and I are taking dancing lessons. Today was our second lesson. We're taking ballroom dancing. I've always wanted to take dance lessons but could never get Hubby to do it. After we saw Shall We Dance? the first thing he said was Okay we're taking dancing lessons. He actually set up the classes for our anniversary. I haven't wanted to mention anything about them because it always seems like when I mention something it doesn't happen. We're learning the steps, a few turns, the timing, and working together. It's fun. We may or may not get really good, but it's fun just to be able to do something completely together. I just hope we get good enough so that he and I can really have fun with it and not just sit and shuffle our feet when we want to dance together.

We went to Marini's afterwards and got the kids their yearly Christmas ornaments - this year it was jet ski Santa for Big Guy as it was the first time he rode a jet ski and all by himself, too! And for Little Guy, a gingerbread house, because he loves them - I want to find him a birthday cake because he was so into his birthday this year but the gingerbread house will work if I can't come up with one. I also got an adorable pink bootie 1st year Christmas ornament for a friend's little girl back in Texas, and a present for my sister, she loves those angels.

Big Guy has a fever. Must be too much excitement - I hope, any way. He has a little cough, too. Hopefully it'll break tonight and he'll be all better tomorrow.

Yes I'm up at 1am, and I'm finally headed off to bed where I should've been hours ago...

My Saturday

Little Guy read me a book this morning while I was lying in bed. It's called What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? There's this part about an armored animal that turns into an armor plated ball when something wants to eat it. So he is on the page where it turns into a ball and says "Look! It's a beach ball.", then he turns to the page before and says, "Not a beach ball.", then turns the page forward, "Beach ball." When he got to the part about the snake that's more like a lizard whose tail breaks off when an enemy tries to catch it he says, "It's tail broke off." Puts his hand behind him where a tail would be and moves it like a tail falling off and says, "Tail broke off." then he proceeds to demonstrate on his foot by pulling his sock halfway off his foot, "Tail broke off."

My Dad told Big Guy last night that they'd he would get to spend the day with him today. So Big Guy woke up this morning and immediately got dressed with his backpack and his hat on backwards and went upstairs to find Grandpa. Grandma was in the office, so he asks for Grandpa, who's still sleeping, but seeing him all dressed and ready to go she says, "I'll go wake him up."

Hubby and I are taking dancing lessons. Today was our second lesson. We're taking ballroom dancing. I've always wanted to take dance lessons but could never get Hubby to do it. After we saw Shall We Dance? the first thing he said was Okay we're taking dancing lessons. He actually set up the classes for our anniversary. I haven't wanted to mention anything about them because it always seems like when I mention something it doesn't happen. We're learning the steps, a few turns, the timing, and working together. It's fun. We may or may not get really good, but it's fun just to be able to do something completely together. I just hope we get good enough so that he and I can really have fun with it and not just sit and shuffle our feet when we want to dance together.

We went to Marini's afterwards and got the kids their yearly Christmas ornaments - this year it was jet ski Santa for Big Guy as it was the first time he rode a jet ski and all by himself, too! And for Little Guy, a gingerbread house, because he loves them - I want to find him a birthday cake because he was so into his birthday this year but the gingerbread house will work if I can't come up with one. I also got an adorable pink bootie 1st year Christmas ornament for a friend's little girl back in Texas, and a present for my sister, she loves those angels.

Big Guy has a fever. Must be too much excitement - I hope, any way. He has a little cough, too. Hopefully it'll break tonight and he'll be all better tomorrow.

Yes I'm up at 1am, and I'm finally headed off to bed where I should've been hours ago...

Cute Stuff

Big Guy comes to me today holding his pants out and with a concerned look on his face, "Why do I have to put these on backwards? Because, see, they have the tag in the front." I explained that sometimes they put the tags in the front, but that doesn't mean you have to put them on backwards.

He just came up to me a second ago, right after my Mom was commenting on how beautiful our home is, and said "This is a cool house, there's a house upstairs, and a house downstairs." Meaning my parents upstairs and us downstairs.

Favorite Reads

I've been so entertained reading other people's blogs the last few days that I've neglected my own. I've discovered a few new sites I really enjoy, both with really long posts but intriguing ones, that I get so caught up in reading by the time I'm done any sense of my free time is over!! MixedMessages is just that - a collection of excerpts from the home and personal wonderings. I like her writing style. Several times she has mentioned she is a certified introvert, which I've often wondered if I qualify for. Milestones has a hilarious blog. Sometimes deep probably more than she realizes, but always on a humorous level. My favorite is her letter to coffee, as she puts it - yes, she wrote a letter to coffee. Those are my newest reads.

My favorite and daily reads, are Pink Poppy and Girl From Florida. I'm not sure how I ran across Girl, I think she commented on my site, I visited hers, she came back... isn't that how it usually works? Turns out she's a 23 yr old married girl, like myself, and we have a lot in common. It's fun to find someone on your level but still in a whole different world. It helps that her blog is fun and light to read, even the hard subjects. She's a scientist and has all the smarts, but you'd never guess the scientist part from her quirky, fun, stylish self.

Cute Stuff

Big Guy comes to me today holding his pants out and with a concerned look on his face, "Why do I have to put these on backwards? Because, see, they have the tag in the front." I explained that sometimes they put the tags in the front, but that doesn't mean you have to put them on backwards.

He just came up to me a second ago, right after my Mom was commenting on how beautiful our home is, and said "This is a cool house, there's a house upstairs, and a house downstairs." Meaning my parents upstairs and us downstairs.

Favorite Reads

I've been so entertained reading other people's blogs the last few days that I've neglected my own. I've discovered a few new sites I really enjoy, both with really long posts but intriguing ones, that I get so caught up in reading by the time I'm done any sense of my free time is over!! MixedMessages is just that - a collection of excerpts from the home and personal wonderings. I like her writing style. Several times she has mentioned she is a certified introvert, which I've often wondered if I qualify for. Milestones has a hilarious blog. Sometimes deep probably more than she realizes, but always on a humorous level. My favorite is her letter to coffee, as she puts it - yes, she wrote a letter to coffee. Those are my newest reads.

My favorite and daily reads, are Pink Poppy and Girl From Florida. I'm not sure how I ran across Girl, I think she commented on my site, I visited hers, she came back... isn't that how it usually works? Turns out she's a 23 yr old married girl, like myself, and we have a lot in common. It's fun to find someone on your level but still in a whole different world. It helps that her blog is fun and light to read, even the hard subjects. She's a scientist and has all the smarts, but you'd never guess the scientist part from her quirky, fun, stylish self.

Blog Awards for the LIttle Guys

I found this via Busy Mom . Check out the BOB awards. I got to start thinking about my nominations.

Blog Awards for the LIttle Guys

I found this via Busy Mom . Check out the BOB awards. I got to start thinking about my nominations.

Mind Wondering

I miss my home. Okay, this is home, but I miss my house. With the looong sidewalk in front that my kids would ride their skateboards up and down, with the bedroom of mine that was within eye view of the kitchen (so I could lay in bed while they ate their cereal), with the kitchen that was mine that had the things I needed, ingredients and cookware, with the shower that was mine that didn't mildew (although I think we got the lid on this one), with the big computer desk that held more and kept it out of sight too, with the house that was ours, not always expecting somebody to be there when we got back. Just us. In our sweet little peaceful home. I miss it.

And I know our neighbor of 4 years who is such a good guy is living there with his son, and that is a small comfort. We have had him over for Thanksgiving the past 2 or 3 years and this year we weren't with him, but he was in our house. Honestly it is a comfort, knowing that it's being cared and loved for.

We probably won't ever end up living in that house again, but still, it's the place where my babies grew up. Namely my first one, because the Little Guy is still doing lots of his growing, but he did come into who he is at that place. I have so many wonderful memories there, and I hope my boys do, too.

It's hard because I know Little Guy will never remember it. He may remember the big ouchie he got when he had to have stitches right before we left, but I don't think he will remember anything else, he's only just turned 3. And Big Guy is only 5 and a half. He may have a few memories but not many.

And there were so many good memories, so many happy times there. Picnics on the front lawn with peanut butter and jelly, and $1 for the ice cream truck as it drove by. Tweety Bird and Superman and Ice Cream Rockets. Lazy days in the heat of the summer sitting by the pool while the kids splashed for hours or ran through the sprinkler over and over. Spring days of gardening and Little Guy, once I showed him how, filling up his little watering can in the pool and watering every single plant in the grarden, while Big Guy collected the little tiny worms as they showed up.

We will make new memories here. We already are. We just opened up the 8th day of our chocolate advent calendar. But there's something to be said for the old memories, about reminiscing, there always is. They are comforting. I know them. I know that I was able to handle the changes they offered. The pressure, the hard days, the good days, the sweetness , even the loneliness, that they offered. And I came out on top, I did good with those days.. These ones I don't doubt I'll do the same, but I don't know yet, and it's comforting to know.

Mind Wondering

I miss my home. Okay, this is home, but I miss my house. With the looong sidewalk in front that my kids would ride their skateboards up and down, with the bedroom of mine that was within eye view of the kitchen (so I could lay in bed while they ate their cereal), with the kitchen that was mine that had the things I needed, ingredients and cookware, with the shower that was mine that didn't mildew (although I think we got the lid on this one), with the big computer desk that held more and kept it out of sight too, with the house that was ours, not always expecting somebody to be there when we got back. Just us. In our sweet little peaceful home. I miss it.

And I know our neighbor of 4 years who is such a good guy is living there with his son, and that is a small comfort. We have had him over for Thanksgiving the past 2 or 3 years and this year we weren't with him, but he was in our house. Honestly it is a comfort, knowing that it's being cared and loved for.

We probably won't ever end up living in that house again, but still, it's the place where my babies grew up. Namely my first one, because the Little Guy is still doing lots of his growing, but he did come into who he is at that place. I have so many wonderful memories there, and I hope my boys do, too.

It's hard because I know Little Guy will never remember it. He may remember the big ouchie he got when he had to have stitches right before we left, but I don't think he will remember anything else, he's only just turned 3. And Big Guy is only 5 and a half. He may have a few memories but not many.

And there were so many good memories, so many happy times there. Picnics on the front lawn with peanut butter and jelly, and $1 for the ice cream truck as it drove by. Tweety Bird and Superman and Ice Cream Rockets. Lazy days in the heat of the summer sitting by the pool while the kids splashed for hours or ran through the sprinkler over and over. Spring days of gardening and Little Guy, once I showed him how, filling up his little watering can in the pool and watering every single plant in the grarden, while Big Guy collected the little tiny worms as they showed up.

We will make new memories here. We already are. We just opened up the 8th day of our chocolate advent calendar. But there's something to be said for the old memories, about reminiscing, there always is. They are comforting. I know them. I know that I was able to handle the changes they offered. The pressure, the hard days, the good days, the sweetness , even the loneliness, that they offered. And I came out on top, I did good with those days.. These ones I don't doubt I'll do the same, but I don't know yet, and it's comforting to know.