A Zoo, the Kids, the Hubby, and ME!

I AM IN NY!!!! Day One

2011-11-10T16:45:00.000-06:00

My most wonderful Charisse and her wife Jennifer gave me a wonderful birthday gift of flying me out to visit them in New York for 5 days! I arrived today and they have many wonderful things planned for my short trip that I am SO VERY excited about.
Today I left DFW at 5:50am Central time and arrived in Ithaca, NY a little after 11am Eastern time. They took me to a wonderful local shop for lunch, Ithaca Bakery. Around the town and to the grocery store Charisse is always telling me about. I found some tea my oldest has been wanting forever. We are now home about to eat dinner and head to bed early so we can get up super early to head out to NYC. Probably won't be back till super late so will give day two and three together.
Off to enjoy my vacation and my wonderful friends!

32 and Crafty again!

2011-10-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I turned 32 and I feel very spoiled! I had a relaxing no frills weekend but enjoyed it all the same. Got to go spend time with the hubby's family and had dinner last night with mine. Even had a nice waiter who asked to see my id when I ordered a strawberry margarita. I enjoyed an entire week of birthday treats though thanks to the few places I enjoy and have signed up with through the internet. Still have a couple more to redeem.
My big birthday gift is my best friend Charisse and her family are flying me out to New York to visit them for 4 days. I am soooooooooo excited!! My wonderful hubby and fabulous friends are all doing things to get me ready for the trip.
Other good news is I am finding time to get chores done, watch t.v, read and craft again!! I finally am getting hold of my time and using it wisely. Work is falling into a schedule which really helps. I just hope it stays this way. Right now I have a stack of baby gifts almost finished for a coworker who is due to have her first child, a boy, in December. I then am going to make a case for my netbook for the flight, I also have some legwarmer in work on my kniffty knitters. One of my birthday gifts from my parents was a neat little instruction kit to teach you how to knit with special made crochet hooks. I looking forward to trying that soon.
So far leading up to and no being 32 has been so much better than I could have imagined!

IT IS HOOOOOOT!!!!

2011-08-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

That is the word used so much around here lately. I can't get on Facebook without seeing a post of someone complaining and/or posting a pic from their phone or car temp gauge that shows what temp. But I think we all have the right to complain. We have had triple digits since JUNE! That is definitely not the norm and for the past couple weeks we are having highs of 11_!
We got a little break a couple weeks ago by going to the coast. And amazingly driving south turned out to be about 20 degrees cooler! Lots of humidity to still make it hot, but we were able to spend 4 1/2 days soaking up the sun. I got through one and 1/3 books which was just pure bliss and a lot of time in the water. Wore my swim suit the whole time so little laundry to do when we came home. Which was great because since then I have been working mostly 10 and 9 hour days with a rare day off. And on those days off I have had to care for the family and do chores. Rough working those long days but thankful to be in the a/c the whole time!
The kids get registered for school this next week so only 2 weeks and 3 days of summer vacation left. It has gone even faster this year!
We did get my laundry room painted. Little tip: DON'T purchase Behr premium plus paint with primer. It does not stick to the wall! Took an entire (and almost more if the hubby hadn't been so great) gallon of paint. I also got a lot cleaned out and donated to good will. I have also unearthed my sewing machine finally so with the kids return to school will also be the return of my sewing. I am behind on gifts for a couple babies that are already here, but thankfully the gifts I like to make are enjoyed at a few months old.
Ok time to rest and cool down. Another 10 hour work day tomorrow!

Slowly Ticking Off

2011-06-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

Slowly....I am getting some of my summer to do list actually checked off. Finally!

I have been cooking me and Larry some healthier meals.
I cleaned out my closet the clothes are all put away and the junk is out (It is all in Holly's bedroom waiting to be gone through but the first step is done)
I cleaned out the laundry room of all it's junk (it is now in the dinning room waiting to be gone through but again the first step is done) I just need Larry to move the desk out so I can then go get my paint and get started on that portion of the job.
I have finished 2 books already this summer and am almost finished with my 3. Finally making progress with my reading. Especially needed since I keep getting more books I want to read on my nook and at HPB.
Today was day one of my serious push to get daily work outs in. I have been trying this for a couple weeks, but I just feel much different about all of it this time. Maybe because I am trying to tighten up on our budget and this is a cheap bill we pay that gets me out of the house and doing something that doesn't cost me extra....well hopefully it will with the need for new clothes, but I can happily handle the thought of that expense.

I also am trying to workout and read more to help with a little depression I am battling lately. I have always been a person who likes to be with her friends. But with the rise of summer bills and such high priced gas along with not living close to most of my friends, it makes it difficult for most of them to be able to hang out. The hubby's friends don't have as many problems with this so I am feeling a little abandoned lately. Hubby is doing all he can to help with this, but a girl still needs those outside of family.
Ok, enough being down. Actually feeling pretty good. Going to go jump in the shower and get to work also got the girls back from their mom's for the week so a few activities with them and getting a plan on baby gifts for our cousins' coming little boy!

Too Fast

2011-05-22T12:19:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that Paco is doing well. His tail has healed over with no infection and is already beginning to regrow!
And after all that, I am crazy enough to add two more members to our zoo. Meet Delilah and Pebbles. D is at the top and P on the bottom. Here they are in their favorite spot. The drawer in the coffee table. They crawl in from underneath when the drawer is closed and hide out for naps. They are 2 of the 3 kittens that my mother-in-law's cat had. After a fabulous school year for Haylee we decided she could finally have her own pet. When we went to pick up her kitten, I fell for the other little girl and had to have my own.
The girls last day of school was suppose to be this last Friday. Unfortunately the state has not returned the scores for their state tests so unless the scores come in tonight and we get a phone call the entire school is participating in Flex days and going to school tomorrow morning...ugh! But no matter what day ends up being the last day of school, I will have a high schooler and junior high schooler this next year! AAAHHHHH! They grew waaaaay too fast!

Heart Broken

2011-04-28T09:06:00.001-05:00

I try not to put downer posts on here too often. I like to keep this my fun space. But I am so sad right now and just really need to share this.
Almost two years ago we got a pet iguana named Dizel. We worked hard to care for him and enjoyed him. Larry even built an awesome cage for him that I posted about here. Unfortunately he got sick the beginning of this year. We took him to the vet and found out despite all our good intentions we didn't know quite enough and he was smaller than he should be and hadn't gotten all the nutrients he needed. We set up a schedule to start on weekly shots. But just a couple days after that visit he passed away. We had started making the changes the vet told us to, but think they were wrong on some so we lost our buddy. You can figure that turned us off from the vet.
A month later we got a new iguana named Paco. We have done better with his cage and made changes that were better suited than the vets. We also did a much better job with his diet and he is growing like crazy.
We have had to up his feeding to twice a day. He will come to the window and stare at you to feed him and if you don't pay attention to that he will climb his long and jump down over and over till you get annoyed with the noise and feed him. He was doing this on Tuesday afternoon so I had fixed him some berries. He was running to greet me and get his treat so I decided to try and pick him up. Normally he will just run from me. This time he jumped over my hand causing him to jump out the cage. My cat hearing this ran over. So I was trying to get a hold of Paco and trying to yell at my cat to get back. I got a hold of him but he moved right when I went for his back and I got a hold of his tail. So he let it go. So now my fabulously growing iguana with the over foot long tail only has a 2 inch tail. Holly got home shortly after all this and was able to help me catch him. I had gotten all the other animals locked out of the house.
He is ok we just have to keep his cage clean and keep neosporin on him to keep him from getting an infection. Being so young he will be able to grow back his tail but it will take a year. And now his body will focus on growing that so he won't get real big.
I am so worried over him getting sick and feel horrible since I had just been admiring how big he was getting the day before. His tail gave him balance so he is having to learn to climb again.
Many say he is just a lizard, but he is a pet and I am attached to my pets. So please say a little prayer that his tail heals without getting an infection. And please pray for me to help me to forgive myself. I am really bad at beating myself up over things. I know this was just an accident and I was only trying to do what I thought I should, but I keep doing the "if I only had...."
On the good side he is telling me right now that he is hungry so I will go now and fix him a plate of greens and berries.

Tag Rag Returns!

2011-04-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

Here is my best friend Lori's son Lucas enjoying my tag rags I made him back in 2009.

And here is little brother Austin enjoying them in 2011.

Definitely one of my best enjoyed gifts. And one of the easiest. Guess I better get some more made for a few more babies that are on the way,

And the world keeps going!

2011-04-13T22:43:00.001-05:00

There just is never enough time. I am constantly trying to catch up here and there. I just can't seem to get back into a grove of things since my test. Of course right after the test was getting ready for Clint's wedding out in El Paso. It went wonderfully and we had so much fun spending a couple days vacationing too. I will get a good post with pictures soon. Right now I am trying to not over do it. I got real sick last Friday and just turned into a completely horrible and miserable person. I was so bad work even noticed and I usually hold in my grouchiness there. I woke up feeling so much better Tuesday that I wanted to tackle everything that needed to get done when I got off work. I am proud to say I listened to my body though and rested when I felt it telling me no you are not fully well yet. Poor Larry is now sick and is miserable.
So obviously I am behind on a lot right now. One thing I am catching up on though is finally getting up to date on my yearly brain exams. I am going in tomorrow for my MRI and then to see the doc next week to find out how all is continuing to heal. I am only a year and a half late with this. How about lets change it to being almost 4 months early for this year's exam. So I really should get my laundry out and myself in bed to get ready for 1 1/2 hour drive to the hospital and then an hour in the tube tomorrow. Just got inspired by my besty's blog to get in and get an update put in.
Oh almost forgot! I did finally get to spend time with my sewing machine again. Just made super simple new beds for the dogs, but boy did it feel good to get some creating done. So many babies on the way so I am looking forward to getting to work on baby gifts real soon. Especially since I get to finally work with some pink along with all my blue!

Big Day!

2011-03-12T11:00:00.000-06:00

So much to fill you in on such as passing my big test on the first try and kids getting older, but today is not the day to do it. IT IS MY BIG BROTHER'S WEDDING DAY! I will obviously have pictures coming soon. Have a wonderful day all!

A Wonderful Gift!

2011-02-09T16:31:00.001-06:00

Here we are having ANOTHER snow day in North Texas. The girls have now been out for 5 of the last 7 school days! This is a record! I have not seen this many snow days for North Texas kids since I started school! I think at the most we had 3 and I don't remember that many even.
I tried to go last night to get some items from the store...BIG MISTAKE! Worse than Christmas Eve! I left and decided that with the Jeep I could handle the roads in the morning and get what I needed then. The condition of the roads would decide how much I got. Well they weren't bad at all (for me anyway) so I went ahead and did major grocery shopping. They had pretty much everything I needed after restocking from last night, and I enjoyed almost no one there.
Got the girls and I lunch. Just simple stuff to fix. Holly ate what I had and Haylee made herself the pasta I picked up for her that she likes. They were both enjoying being lazy so I had lunch long before them and went on to do my chores. After I heard Haylee finish her cooking and eating I noticed the water running a lot in the kitchen.
When I went to put in another load of laundry I found this:

After finishing her lunch she put away her leftovers then hand washed and dried her dishes. She left them out so they could do a little more air drying before they get put away since I am a stickler for the dishes being dry before they are put away. What a wonderful treat!!!!! That warmed me right up! So proud of my maturing baby!
I also enjoy my shoe choices on these snowy days.

Stick with my house shoes in the house and my snow boots when heading outside. The boots came from Academy back when we were getting ready to go to Colorado for Christmas in 2008. They have been one of the best investments ever. And surprisingly fairly comfortable. And who doesn't love a day in their house shoes?

But you can't forget a little color and it doesn't hurt when they help with keeping you warm. Can't believe I didn't think to wear my knee high socks under my skinny jeans till almost the end of the snow days last week.
Hope everyone else is getting wonderful surprises and finding your own enjoyable way to stay warm!

Scott Farkus

2011-02-03T13:04:00.000-06:00

This is Rosco.

He has been on here before. Obviously he has grown. I zoomed in a lot so you can't see he is actually a smaller cat. Or maybe my other cat, Matty, is that huge, but no I really think he is just a smaller one. Flash was closer to Matty's size.
Anyway, my mom thinks we named him wrong. She says he should be named Scott Farkus due to his YELLOW EYES! Hehe! That thought came to mind on this 3rd icy day.

Ice Days

2011-02-02T19:56:00.000-06:00

So we are coming to the close of day two of no school due to the weather and already have word that there is no school tomorrow either.
I went into work as normal yesterday since I had a short day. Figured the girls could sleep the morning away and handle a little time alone even though they had a blow up fight the night before. And they did fabulously. But I was in no way leaving them for a 9 1/2 hour work day. So since Hubby had been forced to even spend the night at work for the past 2 nights (he is on call so he would have to go in if there were any major problems and it is just too dangerous to drive that far that much, and let's not count gas prices) I had to call in to work for today. Thankfully that is a rare occurrence for me and I was able to call and inform her at 6 the night before so the boss wasn't overly upset. We were also fairly dead yesterday and with the rolling blackouts today I doubt they had hardly any customers!
So with all this time off perfect time to study, right? Right. But that I have not done. Still time to do some tonight though and thankfully I am scheduled off tomorrow so I can get a bunch done then. I just have to really force myself. So lots of crafting right? Nope to that too. I know. I started clearing things out from the floor redo! Nope. I was lazy is what I was. I did get a little baking done and I did make me a pumpkin coffee again.
I also did do this:

Built my very first fire!! With help from my mom telling me what to use. I did it all! It may be pathetic being 31 years old and this being my first time, but I don't mind and am proud. I started it a little before 11am right as we had our second round of the rolling blackouts (and we got lucky and only had 2 in our house) and it is still going now at 8pm. I just took this picture actually.
Well hubby has finally come home so I am going to eat and study a little so I can snuggle with him since it is getting close to time to let the fire die out for the night.
Hope everyone else is staying warm and safe!

I wish....

2011-01-31T08:08:00.000-06:00

Yesterday the youngest rode with hubby to take his parents home, so after some Internet surfing and recovering from my poor choice of breakfast I got the older one up to head out. She had a gift card to spend from my brother and we both needed to pick up food for pets. I didn't realize till we got to the mall she also had the plans to do some dress shopping for her up coming Vday dance. I am not one who can normally handle a almost 4 hours at the mall, but I ended up enjoying it. Even though many of her friends were there too, she choose to stay with me and get my opinion on dresses. Which was quite nice. I think I made a bit of a good impact on that and teaching her dresses are not a skin tight thing and are more flattering when they fit nicely. She is a great height for her age and has a fabulous figure. I'm glad she appreciates it, but I just want her to find the proper balance.
Now for the I wish. As I was helping her find the dresses she liked, I found so many that I liked for me. Definitely a different taste from Haylee's so I knew not to get her to try them on. So I was wishing...I wish to be 17 again. To have the parties and dances that you need a fancy dress for. To have that body back with just a couple features from today. I want the slenderness I had that took no work. That allowed me to eat anything and everything (much like Haylee does now) But I would like to add to it what I have gained upstairs with age...hehe. Then it hit me to some extent I can have it. I just got to get back to my work out routine. I have done so much better with my eating excluding times here and there like this last weekend. And was doing good with working out, but with winter in that is my downfall. But with a big event I get to dress up for here in a little over a month, and the want of some of those pretty dresses and cute spring clothes that are starting to show up, I am going to make some of those wishes a reality. I won't get to eat whatever I want back, but I will get that then slender back with now's upstairs...hehe.
Of course right when I make the determination to get back on that full speed wagon is when the super cold weather is headed in....oh well I will figure out how to get around it. I want it that much this time. And when the will power starts to fade I only need to take my oldest to the mall to look at dresses again.

My FIL is Awesome!

2011-01-30T09:48:00.000-06:00

Almost 2 weeks ago the hubby's parents came into town. We have been planning to replace the carpet throughout the bed rooms and the hallway to them. My FIL and BIL both do floor work so FIL came in to lay the floor for us. The day after they arrived he began to work on the hallway. We had pulled up the carpet there a long time ago because I couldn't handle the smell anymore. The previous owners' dog had peed all on it and it was attracting my old dog to do the same. And no matter how much I scrubbed the smell was there. And each time it rained the smell was infuriating. The hubby pulled it out one day because it was making my mood so horrific...THANK YOU SWEETIE! Well I went to do grocery shopping to get out of his way. And upon my return about 2 hours later, the hall was almost complete! The girls bedrooms followed within the next couple days. On Sat him and hubby began our bedroom. We were just a little short of what we needed so only half of the bedroom got done till Tuesday since we had to wait till Monday so hubby could get the rest we needed.
It is complete now and looks fabulous. Hubby has a couple things to do to finish it completely such as put those little seam things in from where the wood meets the tile in the rest of the house and the carpet we left in the bedroom closets.
I am so very thrilled though. It looks awesome!! Before and after pictures coming soon. We are painting our bedroom soon so I will wait for that. I am also using this as inspiration to get rid of tons of stuff we don't need. We have way too much junk that just makes for more than needed work.
I also am thrilled with the cleaning of the new floors. I knew it would come in handy with pets, but no idea how soon. The night right after the floors were done my poor older dog got super sick. I woke up to her getting sick and once got the light on discover the poor thing (and sorry for this) had it coming out both ends. And at 4 in the morning when you are so very very tired after what was the beginning of a 2nd super duper rough week of work and worried about your poor old dog, scrubbing carpet is not what you want to do. I loved that is just took some paper towels a couple sprays of cleaner and a few wipes and it was clean! I am also happy to report she was doing well by the time I went in to work. Definitely dehydrated and drinking lots of water but gave me a few happy tail wags. I am also so thankful my MIL loves her and was there to keep an eye on her while I was at work...looks like it was a quick doggy stomach bug.
More from the past couple of weeks, but I will make that another day.

Where's your corner?

2011-01-19T11:44:00.000-06:00

Last night when cleaning out my room, I started with (and due to my laziness *sheepish grin* still need finish) my sewing area. I started rolling out my rolling drawers and bagging up my fabric. I moved them to the spot in front of the living room window. The hubby looked and thought that might actually be a nice spot for me to make my sewing spot.
With the way the living room is arranged it doesn't feel like it is in the middle of the living room area. I am back and forth with the idea. It would be nice not to be in the bedroom where it would disturb my husband when I have the itch to sew late. Not due to the noise, but the light. But in the living room I couldn't escape to be on my own working when the others are watching TV or when the kids have company over and are playing the Wii. I also couldn't just close a door on my mess when someone drops by.
I guess that basically talks me out of the location even if it had started to grow on me. My question is where do you have your corner set up if you don't have an extra room in the house to make your own? I know there are books and websites for making home offices in little spots, but are there any for sewing corners? Help please.

Making Changes

2011-01-18T19:57:00.001-06:00

I am in the middle of clearing out my bedroom so this weekend my hubby and FIL can put in new floors in the hallway and bedrooms. I am going to miss the cush of carpet on my oh so tired feet after work, but am looking forward to the look and easy clean up! No more scrubbing carpet to never have it truly cleaned.
With changes around the house and changes for me with work ( I am FINALLY scheduled to take my test next month) I had the itch to make some changes on here. We'll see if I stick with these changes or make more again soon.
For now back to my cranberry-grape juice and clearing out the room before I study.

Getting the internet back means...

2011-01-12T15:40:00.004-06:00

lots of unproductive time. We had a bundle package with our TV, phone, and Internet and the price was just creeping up to out of control. So we decided it was time to let it go and shop around. Well shopping took longer than we planned. For now the solution is digital cable so we could have wifi for all our various gadgets. We are going to for now hook up the digital antenna receiver and use netflix on our various game consoles for our TV watching. We may later find a cable company if we can find one with a price we like. And our cell phone plan changed some time ago leaving us with plenty of talk time so we have decided to do without a home phone. All of this is leaving a much needed decrease in our monthly bills. I do miss some of my shows, but not as much as I appreciate having that extra money. Especially with gas and grocery prices creeping up again.

But so the return of some TV and my computer use the night before my day off has left me only getting a little done here and there today. Oh well, like everyone says it will all be there tomorrow so have a little me time today.

So in November we went to my Aunt Minnie's in OK for Thanksgiving. We went with my parents and my brother's family. It was nice to have our first holiday with all of us and all our kids.

In December we celebrated the arrival of my friend Lori's second little boy. Thought he was going to come too early a few times but after a couple of scares he calmed down and waited a proper amount of time arriving 2 weeks before his due date (but her babies grow fast so she usually needs to deliver early.

We also celebrated the life of Lori's mom, Ann. After 9 years of battling breast cancer, her fight was finished on December 29. She was an amazing woman who did so much in her 69 years. I had been close to her for over 23 so it was a rough loss for me too. She a strong and loyal child of God and I know I will see her again in all her glory. Love you "Mom"!

That is a short summery of the past couple of months. Most of it was just spent staying busy with the usual stuff. No good projects done. Those will be starting soon though because I have lots to work on for Austin.

Time to get off here though. Got to get cleaning done and dinner made and I have finally scheduled my certification test for the end of February so I better get to studying too.

I....

2011-01-11T22:40:00.001-06:00

HAVE INTERNET AGAIN!!! SO EXCITED! I know there is no way to catch up on 2 months of blog reading, but hopefully I can get time tomorrow to get all of you (if there is any of you left) caught up on most of the last two months for me.
It's late but I had to post of my return! :D

TF #15

2010-11-23T14:31:00.002-06:00

15. I am thankful for the chance to again appreciate what I have cause I don't have it. We are temporarily without home phone, tv, and internet (which explains my lack of TF posts). It has been nice to get the family to do other things and to enjoy our large collection of movies again. But I do miss my internet! Hopefully will have all back up and going right after the holiday. For now I will post from the library when I have a chance to swing in.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of food, fun, time with those you love, and with lots of time to remember what you are truly thankful for!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

TK #13 &14!

2010-11-14T13:55:00.003-06:00

13. I am thankful for the ability to be ok with not reaching my goal of blogging every day on my thankful quest. Before work yesterday morning one of my closest friends called to tell me what all was going on in her life at the moment that had put her in the hospital. She needed company to help make it through the day and so her husband could get a little break to relax and not worry about is wife and her comfort. He needed some rest. So I was able to get off work about noon, come home to get my own sick husband comfortable, run a couple errands and head off to spend the rest of the day just getting some good visiting time in with a very special couple working hard to keep a very persistent baby in his little oven a little longer.
I stayed till 9pm and then made it home about 10 and just crashed. Hubby had to wake me to eat my dinner.
So I am going to get back on track with my thankful posting and be thankful for it! hehe.
14. I am thankful to be able to FINALLY enjoy the colors of fall. Yes, the trees have officially taken on a majority of fall coloring. I love driving now and just absorbing the beautiful colors all around me. I am even thankful to enjoy the colors of the Christmas lights that are already starting to show up at night around the neighborhoods!

TF #12

2010-11-12T23:21:00.001-06:00

12. I am thankful for poems that stop to make you think and appreciate:

Her hair was up in a pony tail, Her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, And she couldn't wait to go.. But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates Of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, She tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees A dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their seats One by one the teacher called A student from the class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, A man who wasn't there. 'Where's her daddy at?' She heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' Another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, She heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her, As she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, Slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, Came words incredibly unique. 'My Daddy couldn't be here, Because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, And how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories He taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, And taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, And ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. 'Cause my daddy's always with me, Even though we are apart I know because he told me, He'll forever be in my heart'
With that, her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, Beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, Who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love Of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, Doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, Staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, But its message clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, But heaven's just too far. You see he is an American soldier And died just this past year
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy And taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' And then she closed her eyes, And saw him there that day. And to her mothers amazement, She witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, Who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her side. 'I know you're with me Daddy,' To the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, Of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, For each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, Was a fragrant long-stemmed rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, By the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far.

TF #11

2010-11-11T21:50:00.004-06:00

11. I am thankful for our men and women who serve in our armed forces. I have many family members including my dad who have or do serve in our military. Thank you all for what you do and give to keep me and my family safe and free! And thank you so much to the families of those who serve. I am so thankful to each of you too!

TF #10

2010-11-10T22:21:00.002-06:00

10. I am thankful for slow cookers. It's so nice to do a little work in the morning, go run errands and/or go to work and then come home to a house that smells wonderful and has dinner ready and waiting for you without having to rely on someone else to remember to get it done. Tonight I tried a new pot roast recipe. Simple, few ingredients, and turned out great!

TF #9

2010-11-09T20:28:00.003-06:00

9. I am thankful for cold medicine. Both of the girls are sick today. One stayed home so I called in absent to work, and the other had to be picked up from school. Medicine has helped them sleep and feel better. I am looking forward to giving them more so Larry and I can sleep tonight since we were up all night last night with one child.

TF #8

2010-11-08T21:46:00.003-06:00

8. I am thankful for my cat Matty. He is the one animal in the house who actually prefers me. I will get into each of my others another day. Matty has been with us for 6 years now. He was abandoned at one of the properties Larry worked at and we lived at. Larry saw him and told me where he was. Larry said if I could catch him I could have him. I remember I was in the middle of making dinner, dropped what I was doing and caught me a young cat. I tried to get his sister too. She looked just like him but the tips of her fur were burnt orange (HOOK 'EM!). She was too skittish. She did come stay outside our door though and eat the food I left for her. But since that day, Matty has been my shadow. He wants affection so bad at times I have to hide my hands under me so he will lay down and quit pushing me. He is a girl's best friend and a real Mama's Boy!

TF #7

2010-11-07T20:20:00.003-06:00

7. I am thankful for memories. Good and bad. They go hand in hand. It will be 2 years tomorrow since I found out my friend Blake had passed away. I think of him often and hurt. But thankfully the hurt subsides and turns me to smiles as I think of all the many good times we had. I love you dearly, Blake, and miss you so very much. So much I still was meant to share with you. I know you are with me always though and for that I am TRULY THANKFUL.

TF #6

2010-11-06T20:07:00.003-05:00

6. I am thankful for Saturdays spent with family. Today I had only a half day of work. After I got off I went over to some of the family from Larry's side and enjoyed time hanging out with them at a family cookout. I love that I am so close with them that even though Larry and the girls are out of town I can go and visit and enjoy time with them. I don't feel the need to have Larry along to feel like I am welcome. I am thankful for that and for memories made with them each time.

TF #5

2010-11-05T22:17:00.004-05:00

5. I am thankful for books. You can learn from them, escape with them, find new friends with them, write your own thoughts and stories with them. And most importantly they help to carry who we are on long after we are gone by sharing our favorite books with our children who then share them with theirs and so on!

TF #4

2010-11-04T22:23:00.003-05:00

4. I am thankful for being crafty. I may not always have the time and definitely don't have the talent that so many out there have. But I do enjoy and love having a creative outlet. And I am so thankful to have a mom, dad, and husband who have always encouraged, supported, and bragged on it!

TF#3

2010-11-03T21:23:00.002-05:00

3. I am thankful for good chili on cool days. Today was day two of wet and cool weather. I was thankful to have a later day for going in to work so I got to get chores done and made dinner before I headed in. I was welcomed home after a short day at work to the smell still hanging in the air from cooking it that morning/afternoon. AHHHH!

TF #2

2010-11-02T19:52:00.002-05:00

2. My home. After being at work for almost 12 hours (hubby's truck is being repaired, and it definately wasn't motorcycle weather so I arrived 3 and half hours before scheduled to clock in) I was very happy to get home. Long day at work and icky weather make you very thankful for a warm, comfy home to return to. Even if it's not as clean as you may hope. :)

Thankful

2010-11-01T18:25:00.003-05:00

It is November already!!! And I have barely blogged this year. So here is something to get me going. Something that doesn't put a lot of pressure and hopefully I can keep up with.
30 days of being thankful.
1. For having an October birthday. I am thankful to be surrounded by Halloween for celebrating. I am thankful for the cooler temperatures we have (most years) around my birthday. I love that is at a time when families are spending time together.

HAPPY

2010-09-23T07:35:00.001-05:00

FIRST DAY OF FALL! My favorite season even if we don't get much of a true fall here in Texas. Someday I will have a long vacation where they do.

This Past Weekend

2010-09-07T20:09:00.003-05:00

was my wonderful husband's birthday. He turned 36 on Friday. We both had work and I had work on Saturday too, so we decided to plan our celebrating for Saturday night. We enjoyed a FABULOUS dinner at The Keg with a couple we are good friends with. We then went downtown and hung out at a couple bars. We just relaxed, enjoyed good company, and watched the crazy drunks hehe. We greatly enjoyed grown up time and conversations. Some reminiscing and some talk of future. The couple we went out with, Christie and Shayne, are getting married the end of October. So we enjoyed hearing and helping with planning. Looking forward to seeing them in October if not sooner.

At the end of last week, Larry decided he finally had a project he wanted to make with the Plexiglas he has had for quite some time now. He decided our iguana who has been housed in a 55 gallon tank needed a new home. He is no where near out growing the tank yet, but we are doing all we can to encourage him to grow. So Larry did most of the work Saturday, a little on Sunday and Monday coming up with this:

Just a couple more finishing touches and it will be complete. He has already been moved in and our cousin came today to pick up the fish tank for their bearded dragon. I am proud of us girls for moving such a large item and not breaking it! Larry also built the stand a few years ago when we first got the 55 gallon for our fish that we had then. I am more than impressed with his craftsman ship. Looks like we have a pet store display case in our home!

OMG!

2010-08-26T08:56:00.005-05:00

What happened to July and especially August?! I thought it hadn't been that long since I posted. But it's been almost a month!

We finally had the baby shower. I got so busy that I didn't get to make everything I wanted for little Alex, so more gifts to come for him. I did get some done. But in my rush to get everything done, I forgot to take pictures of my completed work. :( I made some more chew blankets and I got to try a new baby gift I found. I made this super cute diaper changing pad. Super easy and my new machine made sewing it a dream. On my old one something that thick would have gone no where. But I was able to fly through it.
I forgot to post about Holly's big birthday gift. Holly turned 11 July 19. And the week before she was visiting my brother-in-law's family for a week. While she was gone we did a massive redo of her room. We redecorated, reorganized, hauled out a TON of trash, and turned her room into a more mature, fun, and hopefully easier to keep clean room.

Before:After:The pink does not photograph well. It is bright lighter pink. With a bit of encouragement she has added more of her own touch with posters on the wall. Obviously in the before she never was into hanging posters. She bought them, but just never got around to putting them up. I think the room looks fabulous and fits her personality well. I give myself a big pat on the back. :)
And this Monday was the start of school. Holly is in 6th grade making this her last year in intermediate. And Haylee is in 8th making it her last year in Junior High. AAAAHH! Where did my little girls go?!Obviously this year Haylee decided posing for first day of school pictures was more fun! LOL!

And a Happy Birthday today to my brother-in-law! Love you so much Chris!!

Welcome Baby Alex!

2010-07-28T10:12:00.003-05:00

Well due to the early arrival of my friend's baby, it will be a while before I am able to show you the things I made. Little Alexander made a quick and early arrival into the world last night. Approx. 2 hours after mama's water broke he was here! Amazed at the speed for a first born. So obviously we will not be having a shower this weekend. But I think it is for an amazing reason!!!!

This picture was stolen from his Auntie. I am looking forward to meeting him soon.

What a Sewing Machine Can Really Do!

2010-07-26T10:08:00.007-05:00

Maybe I mentioned it before, and if I did sorry but I will again. Back in February my wonderful husband and kids got me a new sewing machine for Valentine's Day. I had shown him a new one I wanted a few weeks before. He remembered and went back to get it. I had shown him the mid range model, but he couldn't remember. So after a long talk with one of the sales ladies. He got me the top model of the one I showed him. I was ecstatic! I bragged at work about it, but only one person was mildly impressed. Everyone else said they would have thrown it back at their companion had they gotten one. Still I stayed super happy.

Sadly I have stayed so busy that it has not been touched till now. I have got to get baby shower gifts to make. I had been so good I had these gifts planned out months ago, but here I am with less than a week to go just starting the cutting of the fabric. So over the weekend I pulled out and watched the instructional DVD for the machine. Good thing, learned stuff I never would have guessed. And was blown away at all the things I will now be able to do/learn on this new machine!

This last Wednesday, my SIL called asking about my old machine. A couple months ago I had offered it to one of my nieces after seeing some decorating she had done in her room. She passed on the offer, but mentioned it to my SIL. She called to ask if it was still available to be borrowed. I told her no it was available to be had. So I happily ran out to the garage to get it out to send back with my BIL who was making a quick couple hour trip into town. I had stored it in the box my new machine came in. As I got inside I quickly learned the bottom of the box was not taped for support. The machine fell out landing on my foot that only had a flip flop on. Not a comfortable occurrence but I was upset to think I broke the machine before I could get it to my SIL. Thankfully the machine was ok. My foot was hurting badly though so my oldest helped to get an ice pack on it quickly. I figured this would work quickly to cure the problem Unfortunately my foot developed an egg on the top of it a couple hours later. So off to the ER with the Hubby and youngest daughter. I had already given permission for my oldest to have a friend spend the night, so we decided not to bore them at the hospital.

So at about 1am I was released with a new icepack, a prescription for pain meds, crutches, and a special shoe. Thankfully it was not broken, just badly bruised. I had to call into work for the next 3 days. I then have 3 days off and only work 3 days before 3 more off. Hopefully by the time Wed gets here I will be good enough to go back to work. Hate missing so much. But do to all the extra I do at work and it thankfully being the slow time of year, my boss is not upset. So fingers crossed for it to quickly heal by 2:30 pm Wednesday.

A few pictures of my machines work:

At the hospital couple hours after it happened

Three days after it happened

Today the swelling is mostly gone, and I can walk at a much more companion friendly pace.

After the baby shower this weekend I will post pictures of what the new machine can do. Now back to my cutting so I can get to using it!

Hard to go on

2010-06-09T09:05:00.003-05:00

I was brought a situation yesterday that just made me want to walk out and retire from everything.
I look forward to summer time each year. The thrill of planning projects and redoing the house. Some how I think each year this is the summer it will happen. I will only do what I want and be faced with nothing but good. But each year the same situation arises that halts it all in its tracks.
I know this is cryptic. I don't wish to put fully what is going on out for everyone to read. I don't know who all looks at this and don't want the wrong people to see something and twist my words. That is part of what is happening now. Words that aren't even mine are supposedly coming out of my mouth. I don't say much ever that could allow me to get into trouble. I like to keep things around me positive. But it seems no matter how hard I try, this is not what is happening. I had a very huge (for me) break down yesterday. Honestly I probably didn't have as huge as I thought, but the words coming out of my mouth, the feelings I was letting go that I didn't know I had were suddenly pouring out of me. It shocked me.
I am thankful a good friend dropped EVERYTHING as fast as she could and met up with me. Then sat with me for the next few hours helping me to relocate my drive and my hope and my confidence. She allowed me to say anything I wanted. She also brought up other subjects to get my mind on something else to brighten my spirits. I am still on rocky water, but feeling better. I stopped at Barnes and Noble and splurged $52 on only two books. I NEVER do this. I LOVE visiting Barnes and Noble, but usually reserve my book buying to some place with lower prices, sales, and coupons. But I think these books are much needed and are hard to find anywhere else.
With help from those I love pushing me forward and the constant strength my husband provides, I am still going to do what I plan. I just have to know it really isn't impossible to go on. May be hard, but not impossible!

Seriously, I will get back on here!

2010-05-12T14:54:00.003-05:00

Life seriously just takes over every year at this time. With school very quickly coming to an end (if all tests and reports come home good, it's over next Friday...AAHHH!!!!), we are bombarded with last minute projects, end of school activities (both of mine are past the classroom party stage unfortunately and are rewarded with trips to places such as Main Event and Six Flags instead. Couldn't we go back to just a cupcake party? Those are waay less than party tickets). We also have been bombarded with doctor visits lately. I FINALLY got in to the eye doc again and got brave and went for contacts. First time ever. Still working on quickly getting them put in. And I can feel my eyes trying to work harder than they need to at times since they think after 20 years, if there isn't something sitting on my face they need to be on overdrive. I am greatly enjoying the freedom I have with contacts. I don't have to switch glasses out coming in and out of stores. I also don't have something I am constantly pulling off to clean due to a smudge. The rest of the family has also been to many doctors a lot these past few weeks. Haylee had a very drastic and sudden eye change so we had to get her eye prescription updated. Then everyone of them has had some complication that has taken them all in to the doctor for various things a number of times lately. Nothing serious for anyone, but all stuff that couldn't be cured at home. I seriously think that if all of us had gone to the same doc each time one went in for something, that doc would have been able to purchase a new car just with the funding from our visits!
We also have been working hard to squeeze in a lot more family time lately. We all are in need of being more active, some more than others as mentioned at some of these doctor visits, so we have been getting out more and doing more activities that get us out and about. I am very excited about it. They are all places I have been wanting to go, but couldn't get everyone inspired enough to go with me. Turns out as I had figured, everyone has enjoyed our outings immensely! A few weeks ago we headed out to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. Larry and I went in the fall for my birthday, but I was really wanting to go in the spring to enjoy the Rose Gardens. I definitely got my wish! I will post pictures from it soon. We took almost 200 that day. And many were by Larry and the girls of the various plants. I am very proud of their artistic eye they are each developing.
I am off though. Got to get to the library, tons of laundry to do, and I need to get my sewing table cleaned up and finally sit down and get some working done on it. Baby showers are quickly coming up, and oh how I LOVE sewing baby things!

Where do you go?

2010-04-01T19:00:00.002-05:00

To find the drive to do what needs to be done? To not fall to that weak side over and over again?
I can't find the right answers to these questions.
I am unhappy. With myself, my weight, and so much more. I was a good size when I was in high school. I never worried about what I ate. I was active and just had naturally good health. Then when I was 22 I had a reaction to some medicines I was taking. I ended up not being able to tolerate the medicine. After only 3 doses I was then sick for 3 days straight. I lost almost 10 pounds in those three days and after since it took a while to get my stomach in order to eat. I stayed that small for just under two years. I look at pictures of that time and never want to look like that again. I was waaay too small.
But I look at pictures now and am unhappy again. I have put on a great deal of weight. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel I am horribly fat, but I know I am not a healthy "for me" size. And the places where I carry my weight the most are the places that show signs of major health problems to come. So for my own safety I want to change this. I also want to change it because I know I will have more energy and struggle less with the moodiness I seem to have gained along with the weight.
But I just can't get the inspiration. I was doing great last spring and dropped 10 lbs. I have kept those 10 off but have only dropped about 3 more in the last year. I thought going back to work would help the pounds just start falling off. But this is proving wrong and one more sign I just am not that young anymore. I need to quit treating myself like I am and face the facts that my diet needs to change as well as my activity levels. But the sweets and sodas just tempt me way too much. And the only time to really exercise is early in the morning. But my time with my husband is often late at night and then it is so hard to pull myself out from bed. I know that by making the changes I need to will mean a long and HAPPIER life.
Again, I know I am not huge, but I know my body is not happy with the way it is and how I have treated it. I know that once I get going on a healthier life I will get into it and want to keep going, but I just can't fight the desire for the junk when I come around it. I don't agree with pulling it all together cause I know that is just setting me up for doom. I know just little changes here and there will make a big difference, but it is hard. Work plays a big part in it. My schedule changes daily. I often don't get to take a lunch break at a time when I am hungry and not about to pass out from starvation. This makes me rush to the fast ready junk.
I would love to pack my lunch, but I am limited on time and storage space at work. And I get bored with the same thing.
I just reread what I wrote and noticed I have "I know" a lot in here. So I need to prove how "I know". I also want to be an example for my daughter. My youngest seems to have put on a lot of weight as I have. I am hoping as I loose she will naturally take after me and loose too.
Thoughts ideas on what will give me that drive to finally start the turn around? Again, I know what I need to do, just how do I get myself to make the jump and do it?

My Charisse

2010-03-22T20:31:00.007-05:00

My most awesome wonderful friend, Charisse, came to town this weekend. It has been almost a year since I have seen her. We have never gone this long without seeing each other. And normally our time is way longer, but she had to make a flying trip. And no matter the length of time with her I am thankful. We talk so often and she sends me photos so often I truly feel like we see each other way more often (did I use the word often enough?).
I have been friends with this lady since I was 12! I adore her! I never imagined I would have a friend like her. She is the friend you only read about in books. She tells it like it is. She tells me the truth and doesn't hold back. And it is always with love. My heart overflows for her.
She came for me and her other Texas friends and family to meet her true love, Jennifer. Jennifer turned Charisse's life upside down. Charisse never wanted to get married...until Jennifer. Charisse was done with having kids...until Jennifer.
I was very nervous to meet Jennifer. No one Charisse has dated has ever made her feel like Jennifer does. I have met almost all the people Charisse has had a true relationship with, and none had me worried like this. So much of how Charisse talks reminds me of how it was when I met my husband. Why was I so nervous? I don't know. But that went away about 2 seconds after they entered my house Saturday night. You can't help but adore her. And the happiness and love is obvious. I have never seen Charisse like this. No other guy or girl she has had feelings for has ever truly loved or cared for her the way Jennifer does. I am so very happy for her.

My Charisse and me

Charisse, Tina (My other wonderful best! I have never grown so close to someone as fast as I have her. She will have her own post of her fabulousness soon!), and Me

The new family: Jennifer, Charisse, and Charisse's daughter Lorelli (a little crabby to pose for so many pictures in one weekend. Oh how I love that little girl though)

Best Friends with the loves of their lives!

And a huge congratulations to the happy couple on their engagement!

Absolutely horrible lately!

2010-03-21T17:09:00.002-05:00

For blog land. I have had wonderful comments to my posts from weeks ago, and I am just now getting to reading them.
And most horrified at my tardiness. One blog that I try to visit most often cause it is so enjoyable, (I love her pictures, and creativeness) is A Friend to Knit With. She recently had a giveaway and I put my name in. I then proceeded to get way too busy covering for all the sick people at work that I completely forfeited my time in blog land. So that included checking back on the drawing.
I finally stopped in and to my amazement, I was the first name drawn! Woohoo!!! I have never won a blog giveaway.
I would completely understand if my tardiness forced her to pick someone else. But no matter what I'm thrilled it happened. And will use this to learn to make time for blog land. Not just to keep from missing out on fabulous opportunities, but to keep from missing out on my cyber friends and this time that really does a lot for me. I never realized how important reading about the goings-on in friends and cyber friends truly was to me. I love to read, and this reading is fulfilling and touching to my soul!
Love all you lovely ladies!

Family Routine

2010-02-25T18:57:00.002-06:00

I started thinking tonight about my family routine and the way we live. I see a ton of commercials lately on sitting down as a family at the dinner table. I grew up this way. My husband grew up this way. But when he became a single parent to two very young girls, his dinner routine changed. He began to allow them to all have dinner watching T.V. I can understand in some ways it's probably the only way he could get them to sit for a bit so he could get a moment to rest after a long day at work.
I have tried a few times to get us to have dinner as a family at the table. This has not worked due to 1) we are creatures of habit and it is hard to change 2) our dining room table just sucks and we really need to find a new one, but haven't gotten around to it.
We do sit at the table together when we have company over for dinner.
But with all this not "proper" family routine of pulling out our TV tables and eating in the living room watching T.V. I find comfort in it. We do often still talk during our dinner, and no one amazingly mindlessly eats. I am proud to say I feel comfortable with my family and know a good amount of what is going on in there lives. My girls are preteen and teen, so I would be crazy to think they told me EVERYTHING. But they are good kids. I see it in the daily choices they make. They can be aunory (I am sorry but I just can't think of anywhere near the right spelling of that word toinght), and I am still dealing with my youngest and her acting up every year at this time of year (will she EVER grow out of it?). And my oldest is more into her phone and music than her school work. But both are polite, don't fight with me, and share a great deal with me. They could both do better with their grades, but they are not bad and when pushed to work a little harder on a certain subject they do it.
In other words I am feeling warm and fuzzy about my family and the normalcy of our life even if it is not what is ideal for raising kids these days.

Peace

2010-02-04T17:22:00.003-06:00

Today I have felt a major peace about me. Life has been very stressful for a few months now. And I know there will be plenty more of those, but today I feel good!

I know a lot of it has to do with the finding of my aunt. We are not able to have complete closure until (and there is huge hope that is to be an until and not an if) the person who took her from us is caught. But with the finding of her and saying goodbye, we do have some relief.

I also am back to being happier at work. Since she was found and I had to go into sudden planning for taking off from work for the service, there has been a lot of stress. And more on top when the date for the service changed. This time of year is CRAZY in a pharmacy, so my boss was stressed. But now that it is over and I am back, I could feel her relaxation again. I am still majorly learning things, so I don't think I'm a super strong tech yet. But I guess I am stronger than I thought for her to be so stressed at my being gone.

I also am enjoying time more dearly with my family again. And I am trying to make time for things I want to do. Such as creative things again. I have yet to get into much except reading a little here and there, but still it's a step.

With all this I just feel happy and had to share.

And since it's been so long since I've posted a picture, here is one of my and Larry on the way home after my aunt's service. You can tell there was relief from it all.

Since

2010-02-03T09:09:00.002-06:00

The day after my last post my aunt was found. But it was only her shell. Her spirit is with our Lord. I have just returned from a 3 day (2 days of driving to and from) trip to Mississippi to celebrate her life. She was an absolutely wonderful woman and will GREATLY be missed. I am thankful we no longer have to sit in worry or wonder for where she is, but I do wish we still had time with her here on earth. She was taken from us too soon. We love you, Wenda. And we are so thankful that we were allowed to have you in our lives as our family!

For no good reason

2010-01-25T21:28:00.002-06:00

I have been UBBER crabby lately. And my poor sweet husband has been the one to receive the crummy end of it all. I have picked super ridiculous arguments just for the sack of hearing my own gripy voice. I tell ya, that man must really love me cause he can wake up the next morning rushing off to work but making sure to stop back in the bedroom to tell me goodbye and love you. He then thinks of me at work and brings home surprises he finds that he knows will get me all excited.
I know what has me crabby is still no routine worked out and feeling overwhelmed with house work, work, and studying. Still happy to be working, but just got to bare down and figure a few things out.
Also we have been having illnesses running through the house. I had a stomach bug last week, and Larry has a nasty cold (at least hope it's just a cold). And neither one of us is getting much sleep.
Also another thing going on that I really should have stopped in sooner to mention, is my dad's sister is missing. She has not been heard from or seen at all since the start of 2010. We honestly don't know what could have happened to her or why. She is 70 year old woman who has very little to her name. We have heard various stories as to where she might be, but they all turned out false. I really don't want to get deep into the minimal details the police are willing to give us. I just ask for your prayers for my family and my aunt, Wenda Holling from Kiln, Mississippi. It is a small world due to internet, so please feel free to run a search for her to find all articles and news reports on her and help spread the word. We still have hope we may find her.

Goodbyes are hard...

2010-01-03T20:36:00.002-06:00

even in blog land. One of my absolute favorite blogs to read Crazy Mom Quilts has decided it is time to say goodbye. I can completely understand and respect the choice, but I am sad to see her go. She does wonderful work and is so generous in sharing and even teaching her readers. I still have yet to make my first quilt that she has inspired me to do. I bought everything I need for it on my 29th birthday, but just haven't sat down and gotten to work. Maybe with this goodbye it will be the inspiration I need to make the time for it too.
AJ you will be missed, but I respect and admire your decision. Wishing you the best in all you do, and looking forward to visiting your flicker sight to see what you have been up to. Thank you for all you have taught all of your readers!

Determined in 2010

2009-12-31T22:46:00.002-06:00

Had to make sure and get at least one post for December.
I am determined to get a routine down in 2010 with working and getting back to all the things I want to do. That includes blogging again and reading blogs. That make take a while especially with a work schedule that constantly changes, but I know I can do it.
I have finally gotten rid of the Thanksgiving background. A good first step back!
Well I am going to keep this one short and spend the rest of the year with my family.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Seriously, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

2009-11-25T09:49:00.002-06:00

For those who are moms who work, how do you do all of it? Just over two weeks and I just can't get it all done! Like now I need to be cleaning and baking for everyone to come over tomorrow. Most days I come home exhausted! I can barely get a load of laundry in. Forget folding! The family has really stepped up to help me, but there is so much I need to do on my own. I just feel like I am not getting there. Chores need to be done, I really need to be studying to catch up with all the people who have been in the pharmacy for years and with those who have gone to school for it. So many, including my boss, think it's better to learn from working. But no one prepares you for how much there truly is to know. Not for a lack of trying. It's just once you've been there for a while it's all second nature.
And you can forget me time! I have a book over due I want to finish reading before I return it since there is a huge wait list for it. It would be forever before I got it again. It would be a fast read if I could just get the time with it. I also fear my newly learned knitting skills are running away due to no practice. And there is so much I want to sew.
I know it would all be easier if I had a steady routine worked out, but m y job is one that has a different schedule almost daily. And being part time and putting down you would work any time just to get the job makes it even more likely to have an unsteady schedule.
I just need to plan it all out as best as I can, but how do I do that?!
The other thing I hate is I don't feel as involved in my kids lives anymore. I still stay on top of grades and work to find out what they are doing in class, but it just doesn't feel the same. I will keep an eye on things. Maybe the more independence will be good for them, but they know if it makes it worse I will quit and there will be no happy campers here!
Ok, time to get to it and try to get all the cleaning done and hopefully some baking too. Hopefully I can schedule in blog reading/writing in too!

Adjusting

2009-11-11T11:26:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I had my first day of work. It is the first I've worked other than a little substituting in 7 years. That means I haven't worked a steady job since before I was wife and mom. I was only doing training, but it was still a long tiring day.
It is a bit overwhelming to adjust to working and still doing all I do around the house. The family did great yesterday and stepped up to give more help. I just hope they keep it up. And I know I have to really work on delegating work and not trying to do it all myself. Things will get done even if it's not MY way.
The nice thing about it all. I am too busy to watch much t.v., to waste my time, or to eat much. Yay! That means weight will fall off.
I do need to find a schedule that will leave me lest frantic and will allow me time to do the things I want like my knitting and sewing.
I also need to find a large collection of do ahead meals that the family will like and that will be easy for the girls to prepare when I need them too. Such as lots of crock pot meals and meals that can go from fridge/freezer to the oven. So lots of research for recipes we will all like that I can do ahead. Suggestions welcome. I got tonight's meal from A Year of Slow Cooking.
Ok, not much time left for me to get dinner in and ready to go...I will catch up on reading soon I hope!

This morning I was "That" Mom!

2009-11-05T08:12:00.002-06:00

I had one daughter about to walk out the door to catch the bus and the other one already gone. Hubby had just left. I was sitting on the couch still in my PJ's waiting for everyone to leave so I could go lay down for a bit since I haven't gotten much sleep the last couple nights. Hubby has been up a lot at night due to being sick and he is rather noisy when he is sleeping right now since he is so stuffed up (poor guy!). So with all that I'm not sleeping well either. But just minutes before the last to leave was to walk out the door, the phone rang. It was my other daughter upset telling me she forgot her belt and if she didn't get it before the 8 o'clock bell she would be in trouble.
The school district the girls attend has a uniform dress code. For the most part it's good, but at times like this it is ridiculous. Who cares if they have belt loops and aren't wearing a belt as long as her pants stay up.
So I told her meet me outside her door and I would get it too her. So I quickly threw something on and ran out the door to get it to her before all the traffic made me too late. I got there a little before 7:45. Plenty of time! And I waited. And waited. Finally I decided I better drop it off in her class room. Reluctantly I got out of the car. Why reluctantly? I had my hair still pulled up the way I sleep with it. I had my bright blue PJ shirt on with my favorite sweater jacket thrown on over it with only 2 of the 8 buttons done trying to hide that I had no bra on. I had found my brown wind pants that are too large on me now. My black slide on shoes that are covered in neon flowers (fun in the summer and comfy to wear around the house). My teeth weren't brushed and I had had a couple spots this morning of dry skin I had scratched at. Obviously stupid so I had bloody spots on my face.
I peeked to see if she was in the office in case they had made her wait there. Nope. So I went in the door to her class hallway, and proceeded down the walk of shame. Teachers being kind and saying good morning trying not to give me a funny look (they only half succeeded). I found her room and with all the kids was overwhelmed trying to find her. She was at her desk cheerfully calling out "Hi Mom". SHE loves it when I come to school. And since she doesn't have a great sense of fashion herself, she thinks nothing of the crazy lady at the door who is her mom.
I handed her her belt and hissed why weren't you outside? She made a good point: I had said "your door". I didn't make it clear the door outside that I drop her off at. But I did say OUTSIDE your door and she wasn't there either.
So I couldn't gripe at her too much but did hiss I looked like an idiot and didn't want to come inside. So no normal hug this time as when I have had to come to school for other reasons. I couldn't turn and get out of that room fast enough!
She won't be in trouble when she gets home, but we will have another explaining of when she can get away with not wearing a belt. And what the plan is if I ever have to bring her something at that time of day again. Anything to avoid being "that" mom again!

Can't think of a title, but it looks so much nicer with one

2009-11-04T09:35:00.005-06:00

I need to be cleaning my room and getting chores done before the hubby comes home. He is sick and went in for just a half day. But I have the itch to get a post done and with how bad I've been I better jump on it.

I still need to get to work on my sewing machine, one of the reasons I need to get my room straightened up. Good news though, I HAVE A JOB! I am just waiting for the drug test and background check to come in, but I am going to start part time for now at the Walmart pharmacy. It is not at the store I shop regularly which is perfect. It is only a 20 min drive due to all the stop lights (it's about 10 miles away). So it helps to keep work separate from life but won't guzzle my gas. I will be a Tech in Training while I work on my certification. I am very excited. I didn't want to mention it till I started, but I know I have the job just waiting on all the formal stuff.

Also I forgot to mention my fairly new hobby. I finally have learned how to knit. And I mean with needles and not my knifty knitters. Joann's offers various classes and I have been wanting to take the knitting one for a long time. I was told by the cashier at Michaels in September about a promotion Joann's was doing. From then until Christmas, yarn and needles were provided by the store. I decided it was the perfect time to go and I would make it a birthday treat. My friend Tina joined me at the class. I told her it would be a good thing for her to get a hobby she could do when she needed to relax. I am super glad she went because we ended up being the only two in the class. I will not post a picture of my knitting from the class. It is pitiful, but I will treasure it. :) It was a 2 1/2 hour class and apparently there is so much still to learn. We learned the basic techniques but have no clue how to really make anything or read patterns. Anyone who knows how to knit have a suggestion on how to learn all that on your own so I can spend my money on supplies instead? :D

I did finally get to practice for the first time on Sunday since the class back on 10/17.

It took hours just to get this much done (granted I had to take a lot of breaks so I wouldn't get frustrated). So my next questions for knitters. How long did it take to be able to really get some speed on your knitting? And what gets you there? Just lots of practice? Suggestions and advice greatly appreciated.
Ok, need to get to work. Will post about birthday and Halloween soon.

*I had to add this: I have been dealing with some rather frustrating things involving the kids and school lately. I like to keep things positive and let the kids keep their dignity, so I rarely mention it. I am rather frustrated. I am making progress with one with only an occasional set back. But as usual I stuggle with the other. Anyway....I just found this blog post and it was great! It made me laugh and hits so close to home. It helped me to feel better about myself and to relax and know if I keep working at it and praying I will get them there! They are great kids just hard headed.

I am...

2009-10-23T11:38:00.003-05:00

the BIG 3-0 today! Been one heck of a busy week! I am behind on my reading of every one's pages and writing on my own. I will be back soon with an update. I am off to run some errands to get everything needed for Haylee to play with the band at the high school football game tonight. Pictures soon hopefully. Holly had a choir performance last night, but I forgot my camera...grrr. Just shows you how crazy this week has been. I am off though. Laters!

Life takes over sometimes

2009-10-15T11:36:00.003-05:00

I mentioned before my birthday is coming up. Technically it is a week from tomorrow...AH! How fast this year has gone! It's a big birthday for me, my 30th. I had made some plans I was really looking forward to, but in the past couple weeks things have happened to cause these plans to not be able to go through. I had been battling canceling my plans for a week now. My fabulous parents stepped in to help make sure it all happened, but then more things happened and I decided I just didn't feel right to continue with my plans when so many other things needed caring for. I am disappointed but relieved at the same time. I know that if I continued with them I wouldn't have enjoyed myself as much as would have liked. I would have felt very guilty. It's not always fun, but it's life. Needs come before wants. I know this also is a good example for the girls. Everyone faces this problem, but now days many people don't make the right choice. I want the girls to learn to be some of the ones that do. Wow, I really am getting older. I am proud of myself and will fulfill these wishes when things are in a better order.
The main disappointment is it was motivation to get a lot of things done before my birthday. I hope I can stay motivated to still get them done.
On a different note. I have got to get to work! At a job and with my sewing machine. The dogs are in desperate need of new beds. And a dear friend is expecting her first baby Christmas day. A boy! Her shower is Halloween day (how fun is that?!). So I have got to get to work on baby gifts, my favorite!
So on that note, need to get off here and get to work.

Homecoming '09

2009-10-10T21:04:00.003-05:00

Here are pictures of the girls and their mums my mom made them before we headed to the game. And one of Holly with her spirit stick she caught. She spends almost all of every game we've gone to trying to catch something from one of the tosses, and last night was her lucky night. Our team won 65-0 keeping us 6 and 0, undefeated.

I get it from Mom

2009-10-07T09:41:00.003-05:00

My love for making pretty things. My mom is who has and still is teaching me to sew. She always gave us fun crafts and projects to do growing up. Thankfully Holly has gained this too. Haylee had when she was younger, but as she is turning into a teen her choices in activities are changing. I feel she will come back to wanting to do more crafty things when she gets older as long as I keep showing her my interest in them. I truly believe you lead and teach by example.

The other reason I believe she will come back to crafts and hand projects is because of her recent request. She asked me back at the beginning of school if when homecoming came we could make mums. She had done a simple one last year at her mom's and wanted to do it again. I am happy to do anything within reason that will get her into her new school's spirit.

But to do this task I called on my mom. She made one for me when I was around Haylee's age and I loved it! I have it some where but in all the packing of growing up I don't know where it is to have shown it to her. She came over Sunday night and made Haylee's and will come over tonight to make Holly's.

Here is her fabulous work and proof of why I like to make things.

(This was made completely from scratch. Nothing bought pre made.)

The forgotten purse

2009-10-06T11:05:00.003-05:00

I was just looking through the pictures on my camera that I need to load onto my flash drive and realized I forgot to post the pictures of the Artsy Clutch I made for my friend Tina a couple months ago.

I got the pattern from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing. I made one adjustment of making the purse a little wider and I used a hair elastic for the closer. Cheap way to have a bunch of different colors. I loved the fabric so much I bought more to use on another patter I want to try in her book. Maybe I'll soon get back to my sewing. Not only do I want to make that bag, I want to make my own artsy clutch, I have fabric waiting for two more bags like this one, and I owe my mom one from some fun pear fabric for her birthday back in July...bad me!

Blug

2009-10-05T12:45:00.003-05:00

That's today for me. I have things I NEED to be doing, things I need to do, and things I want to do.

I NEED to be cleaning the house to get ready for a family friend to be comfy staying with us.

I NEED to be cleaning my laundry/office to get ready to paint it.

I NEED to be doing my normal chores (laundry, mopping, vacuuming...).

I NEED to be working on job applications.

I need to be baking breakfast goodies to freeze and have on hand for mornings.

I need to be getting planning and pricing done for my birthday plans.

I need to be at Garden Ridge picking up some more of their cheap fleece blankets so I can make new beds for the dogs.

I want to be reading my library books and magazines.

I want to be vegging in front of the T.V.

I want to be working on my hat I started the end of last winter so I can wear soon since it seems like it might soon be staying cool.

But things haven't gone as planned today so I am doing none of it. I did get something planned and started for dinner, so yay for one thing!

I did work somewhat hard finally organizing the cabinet under my "junk" counter in the kitchen this weekend. I have a pile of items waiting to be box and donated.

I also have one child home. She woke up with a tummy ache and insisted she could not try to get ready for the day and see how it went. She is now awake feeling fine and bored as heck. She is stuck in bed with no T.V. as per normal stay home from school sick rules. I knew her tummy ache was due to my allowing them to have a fun weekend after a hard work week at school and not forcing them to go to bed at any set time. Also she ignored my warnings last night and ate a bit too much right before bed. Someday she will learn.

So since I am not doing my NEEDS I am not doing much of anything....ah well.

Here finally is a pictures of our newest family member, Rosco. I feel bad "replacing" Milee so soon, but she shows no signs of making it home and I was really starting to see the depression in Sassy and Matty.

Tightening that belt

2009-09-29T11:09:00.004-05:00

So I am taking a break from my workout to post. I'm mowing the yard and I consider that a major workout that some days gets divided over a couple days due to how huge our lot is. It feels really good today so hopefully I can get it all done. But I had to wait longer than normal for the morning dew to dry since it was a much cooler morning (nice change!). So it may be too hot soon to finish it all up.
That was a long tangent.
I have been doing pretty well with my workouts lately. Last week a lot happened keeping me from wanting to do a really heart pumping work out for a few days. I am proud to say though I still made sure and got out and had a leisurely walk so I could stay in the routine of moving some each morning.
I need to get back to really eating better. I'm doing good, but it's not good enough to loose weight. It's just enough to keep me from gaining again. That is still a good thing I'm proud of, but I do want to make that extra push. I have been watching a show recently called "Cook Yourself Thin". I really like their cooking style. They don't believe in denying you the things you like to eat, they just teach you better ways of fixing them to make them healthier. They show you how to make things still flavorful without all the fatty ingredients. They use a lot more spices and non-noticable substitutes. I have checked out the cookbook from the library many times, so I need to just buy it. But for now I can spend the money saved on ingredients for the recipes. I am going to try my first recipe from it tonight and hopefully it will go over well with the family. I have a back up for the kids if it just ends up all wrong.
Like I said earlier, I am holding my weight right now. But the good news is: I AM GETTING SMALLER! I am starting to tighten and tone. I stopped in JCPenny the other day with my mom to make a return and help her with some shopping. I noticed jeans were on sale, so I decided to go back the next day and look for some for me. I really didn't want to buy any till I had really lost a good amount of weight, but I was down to one decent pair and they are fading fast. Since the prices were so good, I decided to go ahead. I tried on a couple pairs I liked in the woman's section but they just weren't comfortable. So I went ahead and tried on some in the juniors section. They fit! I need to really find a good ab work out so they can look a little more flattering, but I couldn't believe I had gotten back into a pair of juniors jeans that made my butt look good! I also was down TWO sizes from the last pair of juniors jeans I had purchased last winter! I got those ones to go with some boots since that was the only section that had some that worked. But they weren't that flattering. I think they were actually a bit big, but the size just below that was definitely too small.
I am very excited to be getting the results I want! I also tried on the shirts I am working to get into for my birthday. I can get into them! I could also wear them if I really wanted, but I think a few more changes are needed for me to feel like I really look good in them.
Had to get this all down so I could have it where I can see that my hard work is getting results!

Be vewy, vewy qwiet! We're hunting canned pumpkin!

2009-09-26T13:51:00.007-05:00

For over a month now I have been struggling to find canned pumpkin. I am a freak for all things pumpkin. And with my dear friend Lori introducing me to the Spiced Pumpkin Latte from Starbucks a few years ago, the addiction is even more insane.
If you have been dropping in for a while, you may remember this post of finding my own recipe for one last March when I had a craving for the drink that is only made September through December.
Well the anticipation of its return had me a bit on the impatient side. So back in August I had the itch to make one. I've had the itch many times, but couldn't find the canned pumpkin. I figured it was just the wrong time of year for it even though I know I've seen it year round in the past. My thoughts were surely it would be on shelves in late August. Apparently I was wrong. No luck ANYWHERE! And I mean ANYWHERE! I went to MANY grocery stores looking. In addition to my coffee craving my husband was starting to crave pumpkin bread with all my talk about not finding canned pumpkin.
So Starbucks released its drink, and I began spending WAY too much money on pumpkin coffees. So I start mentioning my lack of finding on my Facebook page. I got many kind and attemptingly helpful comments. But I could tell that many thought I was just doing something wrong in not being able to find it.
Last weekend I went over to Lori's house with the girls to visit with her and Lucas while her hubby was having to work at the Cowboys game (he is an editor for the Dallas Morning News). We went to the grocery store to get stuff to cook for dinner. I thankfully thought to look for my precious canned pumpkin and FINALLY found some!
The next day I was happy with my find and about to start making various pumpkin goodies. But when doing some of my daily blog reading I found a title that stopped me. This post from 5dollardinners.com explained a lot.
So I quickly called Lori and informed her of my new found information and asked her to please pick me up some more cans. I also started getting my family to all hunt for me too. With knowing about this shortage I became even more desperate.
That evening Lori's husband came home bring treats from a business dinner. He was disappointed due to not finding a standard pumpkin treat he loves. Lori informed him of the new information I had given her. He decided that might be an interesting news tip to put out. So he passed it on to his higher ups who agreed. And low and behold we have an article that I am in!
I am tickled pink that my hunt for pumpkin is news worthy! And I'm not crazy after all! hehe

It's one of those days

2009-09-23T11:06:00.003-05:00

It's like I have severe PMS today but I am no where near time for that. It's so crappy that I had half a post written out, but hated it so much that I erased it.
My main thing is to thank Larry for his putting up with my crappy mood that seems to be being taken out on him for no reason. He is doing all he can to help me out even with needing to work.
And thank you to my good friend Tina for calling to talk/vent at the perfect time. How do friends know what you need without you saying it? Those are the angels in disguise!
I don't know what has me in this mood, whatever it is, I hope it leaves quick or whatever I need to fix it better come soon.
Ok time to go, cause this posting isn't working either to help me.

Thought I would so I will

2009-09-22T15:04:00.002-05:00

My Charisse said I may do this so I think I will. But first, go check out her new page! It's fabulous!!!! And I love the quote/description. It fits her perfectly!

Now her questionnaire

1. What is you favorite line from a movie?
"And we're getting maaaarried!" From Father of the Bride. I loove the way the little girl says it. Makes me smile each time.
2. What group did you belong to in high school?I was an honors brat, band nerd. Ditto
3. If you had $1,000 to spend on yourself, what would you spend it on? I would end up spending it on things for the house.
4. Favorite childhood cartoon? Tom and Jerry and still love it!
5. What kind of sleeper are you? curled up side sleeper
FIRST questions
1. Do you talk to your 1st love? Nope
2. First alcoholic drink? honestly don't remember. Jack and Coke I think
3. First job? Chick-fil-a
4. First car? '88 Ford Tempo
5. First person to text you this morning? Tina.
6. First person you thought of this morning? Kids and getting them up for school
7. First grade teacher? Mrs. Stigler
8. Where did you go for your first flight? Hawaii to visit a friend living there I was 20.
9. Who was your first best friend and do you still talk? Roseanne in 1st grade. And yes. Actually just went with her to a baseball game this last Saturday
10. Where was your first sleepover? First attempted one was with Roseanne, but got homesick. First successful one was with Nicole Taylor. My friend who died due to a car crash 12 years ago.
11. First person you talked to today?Larry, he was telling me what time it was since I over slept. I told him I know since he said it when I was getting up.
12. Whose wedding were you in first? Well I was dressed and waiting for my friend Jenny's to start right after graduation, but it didn't happen since the marriage license was no where to be found
13. First thing you did this morning? Go to the bathroom. Same as every morning.
14. First concert you went to?The Kissmas Concert. Concert given by local radio station every year with bunch of various artists. I was near the ticket spot when they announced one of the spots on the radio
15. First tattoo?Don't have one
16. First piercing?Ears, of course...ditto
17. First foreign country? Does Mexico count. Only one I've been to
18. First movie you remember seeing? I really don't know. A lot pop to mind and who knows which was first
19. State you lived in first? Texas-only
20. First roommate? Lori
21. First detention? never had one
22. One thing you would like to learn, given the chance? play the piano
23. Who will be the next person to post this? no one that I know of

LWT and LGT and...

2009-09-18T16:17:00.003-05:00

LBT and LBJ. Those are my goals. That is White T's, Grey T, Brown T, and Blue Jeans. I have some T-shirts I had bought recently and ones that had been bought for me. Not on purpose, but they were bought a bit on the small side. It is my goal to be able to wear them where they look nice on me by my birthday. I feel that is a reasonable goal. I don't need to drop too much weight to get into them. I also would like to buy a new pair of jeans. While taking the kids clothes shopping back before school, I saw a number of cute brands I would like to purchase.
I noticed a couple things last night and today that had me over joyed with my results so far. I have not lost weight yet since I really just got back into it this week. But last night I was doing some various activities that normally wear me out. And instead I still had energy when I was done. And I have noticed that I have been doing much better on food choices. I am finally finding things that fill me up with much less food! Woohoo! It's about time!
Just wanted to share my goals and results so far. I think this time they are ones I will be able to make long term.
And here are some pictures from my walk this morning which turned out a bit too long. I got a little too into exploring and went way farther than I should have. I wasn't prepared for that hefty of a workout today.
It's been raining for over a week and I was only able to do outdoor workouts two mornings this week. And this was what I saw all over during this morning's workout.

Mushrooms!

T is for Toby!

2009-09-16T08:55:00.003-05:00

Got both kids back to school today, and the hubby need to use my jeep, so I am most definitely stuck at home for the day. But that's ok. Need to get some disinfecting done around the house and hopefully working on a few projects (back to work on some).
So much to do today leaving little time to post.
But I had to share this blog post with you. It's not new, but I just read it in some of my catching up. Check out the adorable shirts her two oldest children have on for their first day of school. What a FABULOUS idea!!! Wish I had little ones again to do that with or had thought of it when mine were little. I could go on and on about how great it is, so check it out for yourself!
And have a great day!

Fairness in Drainage and Ginger

2009-09-14T10:45:00.003-05:00

First off, so loving the leading into Fall. As with every September, Crock pot cooking is becoming a big thing again. So I am enjoying the easy of finding new recipes. Now to just start putting them into use.

Saturday night Larry and I went out to dinner with my parents. We had a nice light meal at Souper Salad. Perfect for the rainy weekend. The best thing about eating there is dessert for me is Ginger bread. Love that stuff! But I haven't had any in such a long time. And that made me realize I need a good recipe to make it myself. Anyone know of a good one?

My oldest has developed allergies. I noticed a few weeks ago she was taking Tylenol often for headaches. I figured it may be sinus headaches, so I told her to start taking Zyrtec daily like her sister does. Tylenol or Advil daily is NOT GOOD! As figured, it takes a bit of time to get into your system. So she complained for a bit that it wasn't working. Over Labor Day weekend she forgot to take it and felt pretty bad Tuesday and had to miss school. She seemed to figure it must be working after that.

This last weekend she had to go without it again and started feeling pretty awful last night. She said that the medicine really must be working. She got up and got ready for school this morning, but was really dragging and ended up missing her bus. I think she was hoping I would just send her back to bed.

Few problems with that.

1- ATT guy was coming to replace the receiver in her room since apparently the one put in last week was no good. And I knew (which he did) that he would want to try a few things before he put the new one in.

2 - It's just not good to miss school!

3 - My other daughter suffers from SEVERE allergies. Hers usually start getting super bad late October/early November They last for a month or two then die down till Spring . She often has rough nights due to all the drainage, and coughing. But she knows she still has to go to school and pushes through. If we kept her home every time they were bad, she'd be home more than at school each year. I do keep her home when they are super severe.

I realize allergies are a new thing to Haylee, but it just doesn't seem fair to let her stay home when she feels cruddy when the rest of us push through. Especially when her sister pushes through with way worse.

I felt a bit mean talking to her about it, but told her she really has to work to figure out when it's just allergies she can push through since all the rest of us do and when she is truly sick and needs to stay home. I hate when my kids feel bad. I want to just baby them, but that's not how the world works. It doesn't stop each time we feel bad, and neither can we.

(Just a few pictures thrown in that I had taken over the past few days)

Losing more than just cats

2009-09-10T16:44:00.002-05:00

Still no sign of Milee. I decided to not put it off and told Holly of her disappearance. I told her how I have experienced this before and have had the cat return. So she is handling it well. On my way to run errands today I passed a black kitten in the road who had met an early demise. I was quite sad and thought about Milee. I fear this is ultimately what may have happened to her even though she has a fairly large fear of large moving objects. Larry believes that someone probably has lured her in and tried to make her their own. I am continuing to debate the idea of a companion for Matty. Normal rule of thumb is if I were to do this it would surely cause the return of Milee. Wonderful, but then will put me over the limit of household pets legally and sanely. For now I will just continue to wait.
Today I got super inspired. I am just over a month from my 30th b-day. I have big plans for it. But I made a new one today. I recently purchased some cute t-shirts that ended up being a little on the small side. This was not done on purpose, but I did hope after discovering it that it would lead to returning to my weight loss goals. I decided today though that I would really love to be wearing them when my birthday arrives. I have been able to do a work out two out of the three school mornings this week. The one I missed was Tuesday, the first day back, and it was due to circumstances I could not control. So the main thing I now need to focus on is sticking to working out each week day and back to eating better again. So I hauled off to pick up some healthy snacks. My goal for tomorrow is to plan out healthier lunches and breakfasts. If I stick with focusing on changing my meals that I majorly eat alone and stick to my normal dinners, I think the results will come quickly. My main problem with my snack shopping spree is storing them. I am trying to keep them handy but put away from the rest of the family so I will have what I want. But I needed a snack earlier and was not able to get to it without being noticed that I pulled something out of a secret place. I will have to find a new location. I hate being sneaky and keeping things from the kids and hubby, but with the non stop eating that goes on with two growing kids and one very hard working husband, you have to hide it.

Milee

2009-09-09T13:57:00.002-05:00

Last night was a bit of a rough night. I woke up in the middle of the night due to a dream. In the dream I was aggravated with the hubby and one of the kids. She had acted up and Larry ignored my handling of it and took her to the movies. Something totally crazy especially since the house we were living in was the one I grew up in and I was hiding in the garage across the street to cool off. I woke up in the middle of the attempted cool off and hung on to the upset mood all the way through morning. HORMONES!

Also our cat Milee is missing. We went camping over Labor Day weekend. Apparently while we were gone she disappeared. There wasn't enough food missing for two cats to have been eating all weekend. When we have been gone for a bit, she becomes very clingy. She doesn't normally want to be petted much but she is dying to be held when we return from a day or more away. This time she didn't show up for her normal shoulder riding and cheek scratching I give her.

Our cats are indoor/outdoor cats that come and go as they please. This is how it always was when I was growing up and had cats. So I am always prepared that something may happen. The last time we lost a cat though, Holly was only 4 and didn't really notice him missing. Milee would rather meow back and forth with you than sit in your lap, so no one is quite as attached to her as our other cat we currently have, but it's not going to be easy if she doesn't show back up soon and I have to break down and tell my youngest she's missing. My older one already knows. She has caught me outside calling for her and looking around.

Like I said, she isn't one to be a lap cat. She's very independent. But she is a super pretty one and was an anniversary gift from Larry for our 4th anniversary. I was in the wreck that lead to finding my tumor the day before our anniversary and couldn't do anything to celebrate, so Larry got me her. He knew I had always wanted a calico.

That is the other reason my night was so rough. Worry and every time something jumped into the bed I would wake up thinking it was her just to find out it was Matty our other cat.

Now for the super hard part. Continuing to wait without worrying too much since I have had cats disappear and then return, and to decide when will be the right time to inform Holly.

Then what to do? Does replacing her make it easier? Does Matty still need company? We had gotten our cat Flash (that we had to send to my Aunt's) as a companion for Matty. We still had Milee to keep him company when we had to let him go so I didn't replace him. Matty hasn't shown any signs of being lonely so far, but he does enjoy wrestling with the other cats we have had. He has never minded other animals so I don't worry about a territory thing as much as him getting lonely.

Ugh, this is why it is often easier NOT to have pets.

SEPTEMBER

2009-09-01T10:39:00.003-05:00

Is here!! Woohoo! And starting the end of last week, the temperatures have started cooling down. It has really been nice to be outside lately. Not quite nice enough for me to turn off the AC and open the house up, but I think that will be coming sooner than normal.
Sorry haven't gotten into the posting regularly again yet. The first week of school was a bit hectic. Haylee ended up deciding that the athletics department was a bit rougher than she cared for. Thankfully it was no problem getting her switched over to P.E. She is much happier. She has also proven me right and quickly made friends. She is already making plans for hanging out at a friends house after school soon to do homework and have fun. I'm very pleased. From different comments Haylee's made about the girl, she sounds like another one with a good head.
Holly is enjoying being in intermediate, but she enjoys anything new so it's no surprise. She's my easy to please child. Strong willed, but easy to please!
My other problem is my computer has a major virus detected so I can't use it now. So again on Larry's. I really need a new one anyway. So may finally seriously look into getting a new one (that one is 7 years old now), and redoing mine and making it into one for the girls to use without me worrying about what they do on mine so much.
Ok, off for today. Got to get some cleaning done and then errands run. Hope to finish up most of my major chores this week, then spending most of the days next week at my mom's while my dad is on vacation with my brother. We have some projects to work on. Then the next week get to work on organizing and painting my laundry/computer room. Hopefully I'll have time for sewing/knitting and reading somewhere in all of that.

Back to the Norm

2009-08-25T15:33:00.005-05:00

Holly 5th grader

Haylee 7th grader

First, sorry for the Fall background. I do realize we are still experiencing almost 100 degree weather, but I LOVE the colors in this one. I found it a month or two ago and had to make myself resist putting it on sooner. I decided when school started it would be ok. Fall is my favorite time, and I love almost anything to do with it, so sorry about the most likely frequent background changes.

Yesterday the girls started back to school. Seems both had reasonably smooth days. Holly is loving not being in elementary and seeing her old friends. Haylee is adjusting to being in Junior High and in a new school district. She came from middle school, so isn't having too hard of a time getting into the grove of class changing and such. She joined athletics and had to be at the school super early this morning for volleyball tryouts. I am anxiously waiting for her to get home and let me know how it all went. Only thing she really worries about is making friends. She is shy, but I know she will have them quick. She's like her daddy where people just want to talk to her even if they don't know her.

Yesterday I TRIED to spend the day enjoying my freedom again. I ran to Hobby Lobby to find some fabric to better match a project I am getting ready to work on. I then treated myself to lunch out. But it wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. I then got a few groceries. While in the store I had to run to the restroom to discover I had a UTI. Unfortunately Larry's work doesn't have insurance and with all the back to school needs, my bank account is VERY tight till pay day in a couple days. And no doctor's office will bill you so I had to go the ER to get checked out. Missed getting to take the girls for an after first day of school treat, spent 3 hours in ER, and will be getting a too large bill soon for them to tell me exactly what I knew. But got my meds and am starting to feel better.

Starting to get things cleaned up in and out of the house after a busy summer, but with this lovely infection it has me a bit on the run down side, so cleaning is slow.

Coming Soon

2009-08-23T07:52:00.002-05:00

Actual posts!!! School starts back TOMORROW leaving me with more time to do things and less having to entertain and run kids around. This summer did seem to go fast though. But even with no vacation trips this year it stayed busy.
I also hope to really kick up my studying for my certification to help hopefully get a job within the next month or so. This is the one time I'm looking forward to flu season since it puts a spike in jobs.
I also hope to be able to get more sewing done, work on my knifty knitter projects and finally learn to knit with knitting needles . And most importantly to get to organizing and painting done! With this organizing I am looking forward to getting rid of a lot of things!
Ok so that's a lot I hope to do, but with some changes that will be much easier to make with the kids gone, such as the T.V. off more, it should happen. I just will have to organize my blog reading since I spend too much time on that. But there are SO MANY interesting blogs to read!
Oh and I forgot to mention wanting to get the books read I didn't get to this summer.
That's a lot to do, better go and enjoy the last day of summer vaca so I am not wishing for it when working on all of that!

Have you ever...

2009-08-06T11:05:00.003-05:00

discovered you are suddenly obsessed with a color that you once thought was just horrible? I am experiencing that now with the color chartreuse. At least I guess that's what color it is. It started with me buying it in a tube top for me to mow in. They had so many cute colors that I bought 5 tops picking this one to mow in and not getting the pretty ones nasty. I knew the color looked horrible on me so no big deal that I cover it in sweat, dirt, and grass. Then the more I looked at it the more I liked it. And before I knew it I had this collection:

Tube top in the center, plaid shorts, plaid scarf, flip flops, nail polish, and fabric, thread, and buttons for making a little project. I don't wear the top in public cause no matter what I think of the color, it still looks awful on me.

So anyone else experienced this? If so what color?

Purse Postin'

2009-08-04T14:49:00.005-05:00

Back in March I mentioned a handbag I was working on that ended up having problems with. Then my mom came over a few days later. I had shown the mess to her and she showed me how to fix it without pulling the whole project apart. So now I was mere minutes away from being finished. But in between the time of the original problem and my mom fixing it, I had moved on to another project. So that one got put in my to be finished box and forgotten about. Well I pulled it back out and, like I figured, I finished it up super quick. I made one adjustment to the patter which was to add a little flannel to the handle to make it more sturdy. I am glad I did and love it!!!

The pattern is from this book. The handles work like a drawstring when you hold them and the weight of the items in the bag pull downward. I have yet to use it. I have been enjoying admiring it so far.

Holly has also been at work again on her own purse designing. My mom gave her a bunch of fabric and other sewing goodies for her birthday this year and she has been enjoying them. I was super impressed with the design she made with this one. It doesn't lay out well for photographing, but maybe you can get the idea. It is a little tote where the top is actually wider than the bottom like a cupcake paper cup. She added some strings to tie it close so your goodies don't fall out. This was a little gift for me that I treasure. She is doing it all by hand and so it's not really usable, but I am so VERY proud of her creativity!

Hey look at me!

2009-07-30T12:14:00.003-05:00

Finally posting! Lots I want to write about. I was smart this time and wrote it down. So much though and some of them need pictures I haven't taken yet so I will wait and put it in another post. Woohoo that means more coming SOON.
First this week we have Sassy's little brother Tiny visiting. He is here while my aunt recovers from knee surgery. The surgery was on Monday and went well, but we are keeping him here so he doesn't accidentally get under foot. He has come at a good time. Sassy is in the beginning stages of heat (we haven't been able to take her in to get her fixed). Due to her leakage she is blocked from all areas of the house except the living room, dinning room and kitchen since they are all tiled. She is also very limited on outside play time, obviously. So Tiny is helping to keep her company when the rest of us are in other areas of the house. She is not as depressed and lonely.
Here is a picture of them in one of their brief chill moments. Tiny on left Sassy on right.

Monday I had my yearly MRI. The drive was rough since I have to go about 50 miles to get to the imaging place. It was pouring rain most of the way and I was driving my mom's jeep instead of mine. Larry had to take ours to work so he didn't get soaked on his motorcycle. I have driven my mom's jeep many times, but it is still stressful when it's pouring, you don't know where the controls are since it's not the same model, and you are going a route that you normally don't. All went well except for putting my IV in for the dye. I don't have a problem with blood or anything like that, but apparently my body was over worked from the drive and I almost passed out with the insertion. I prefer them to put needles in my left arm since I rely so heavily on my right, I don't want to make it hard to use. But my veins weren't cooperating. He couldn't get it in my arm so went for my hand instead. He didn't like the way it looked once he got it in, so I told him it was ok to go ahead and do the right arm for it. But that hand one didn't go so well for my body either. I started to feel real light headed and broke out in an instant sweat. I felt embarrassed so I sat there giving myself a pep talk in my head instead of telling him what was happening (stupid, I know!). I guess I must have turned white cause he asked if I was ok. I confessed so he made me lay down and got me a DP. Thankfully he was the one to put my IV in last year and remembered I had no problem. So he explained what my body had done and why that had happened. Hope he's there next year too. I went to use the restroom right after so I wouldn't need to in the machine. I felt much better, but when I looked in the mirror I could see I was pretty pale. Let's hope for good weather next year. Now I am just waiting for Dr. Chang's office (my neurosurgeon) to get back with me to set my appointment for him to look at my films from the MRI. I have a spot the are monitoring. I am not sure if it is left over from the surgery that was more of a danger to remove than to leave, or if it is a new development discovered last year after my MRI. I never got to ask him about that, so that's top question this year. Fingers crossed it hasn't done anything in the past year.
So it has rained all week causing Larry to need the jeep and leaving us at home. We have been doing some remodeling and moving of furniture in my bathroom and bedroom so I used this time to get it a little more organized (well as much as can while in the middle of it all) so I could get some of my stuff out of the living room. I forgot to take pictures before we started, but not too much has been done so that's some of the pictures I will talk for my next post as the sort of before pictures. I also was able to get most of my sewing table set back up. So I hope to finish that today and get back to work. My projects are stacking up.
I will go now though. Mail was exciting today. I got a magazine, the latest Joann's flyer, and the 2010 IKEA catalog! I had just found my 2009 and was about to find ideas for furniture I want for all our remodeling. Guess someone was listening and decided it would be smarter for me to have the new one now. WOOHOO! Off for some day dreaming time.

Two Years Later

2009-07-25T13:59:00.002-05:00

A week after surgery The day the first set of stitches came out. (My neck didn't heal so he had to go in and close it up again about a week after this.)

One year after surgery.

Two years after surgery.

Today is a special day!

Also Happy 17th Birthday to my niece Kelli!

And remembering a special friend, Nicole Taylor, who passed 12 years ago today due to a tragic car wreck. Nicole, you are thought of fondly often, and I thank you for being with me during my surgery to see me through.

Honest Scrap blog/tag

2009-07-17T10:53:00.003-05:00

So Charisse tagged me for this some time ago. Let's see what I can come up with.

The Rules:
(1) Thank the person who nominated you for this award {that would be me}
(2) Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
(3) Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
(4) Name 10 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
(5) Nominate 10 Honest Scrap Bloggers.
(6) Post links to the 10 blogs you nominate.
(7) Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.**********************************************************************************

1. I love magazines. I have narrowed down my number of subscriptions to 3 but will often buy the ones at the store I stopped subscribing to if they have an interesting article. I stay so busy I can't get them read most of the time, but I will not just throw them out without reading them first. That would be wasting money and killing trees. So I have a monstrous stack waiting to be read.

2.Socks gross me out! I will not put on a pair of socks again even if I had put them on and for some reason had to take them immediately back off. And I HATE touching other people's socks.

3. I am obsessive with how the laundry gets done. I don't like anyone else doing it and will let it become massively piled up if I can't do it instead of letting someone else help me.

4. This is very revealing, but I'm proud of it. "I saved myself for marriage." I don't look down on or think any differently on anyone who hasn't chosen to do this also. Heck, most people would be embarrassed to say that in these times, but it was a choice I made. I am most proud of it mainly to show off my strong stubbornness and will power.

5. I have lived in Texas my whole life, so far. I have traveled to many other states, but only lived in the Lone Star State.

6. I have always been proud to look younger than my age. I know that one day I will really want it, so I have never allowed myself to dislike it. I do dislike people who treat you poorly because they think you are young.

7. I have a blast with my name. I enjoy shocking people on the phone when they ask for Toby and are stunned silent for a minute when they find out I am a girl.

8. I have always been a tomboy, but within the past couple of years have become more girly. Since marrying my husband I have started to have an obsession with handbags. I love clothes and shoes and accessories such as scarves. I have never felt the need to impress anyone with my looks, but am now into them more (of course this would come about after I no longer have my fabulous figure :P)

9. I love fall. I love marching band season (Football-I can take it or leave it). I love the comfortable weather and being able to wear what ever you want: jeans, shorts, t-shirts, or sweaters. Most of all I love the colors. The reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns. I get so anxious to decorate for fall I often do it while still in the 100 degree weather.

10.My family is very into pets. I've always liked them and asked for them growing up, but was told no most of the time. So I've had to learn to not ask with my husband because he likes them as much as I do. We have had many cats and dogs, chickens, ducks, hamsters, birds, fish, turtles, and our newest addition is an iguana. But for that we got rid of the fish. So our current brood is 3 dogs (one lives in East TX with my mother-in-law, though) 2 cats, and an iguana.

So there are 10 things. Don't know how interesting they are, but I did it.

I am tagging from my blog list:

http://whosies.blogspot.com/

http://thehurtadofamily.blogspot.com/

http://ryandustyhaskins.blogspot.com/

http://snapdragonchristy.blogspot.com/

http://saltandchocolate.blogspot.com/

http://janddreese.blogspot.com/

http://fourwisemonkeys.blogspot.com/

http://embrace31.blogspot.com/

http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/

http://sugarshop.typepad.com/sugar_shop/

It's a Special 2yr Anniversary for Me!

2009-07-05T10:50:00.001-05:00

Today is a very special day. Two years ago it was the first of a string of the scariest days of my life. But now I celebrate it for all that it means and for all the fabulous things that have happened since that day. So much has happened in two years that I still can't believe that's all it has been. And if it wasn't for this day two years ago it may not have all happened and all the wonderful things to come may not have happened either.So in honor of today here is my blog post talking about it from July 6, 2007

*I figure if I don't keep people updated on this, I may end up with my butt kicked.

If you read my last blog, some of this will be a little bit of a repeat, so I apologize.

As I mentioned before, in one of my physical therapy appointments, one of the therapists, saw the reaction of my eye, and suggested an inner ear problem. She sent me on to an ENT. I saw him for the first time 2 weeks ago. The reactions I had to the various tests he performed did not lead him to feeling it was an inner ear problem, but more likely neurological (brain) problem. So he ordered an MRI/MRA (the MRA is where they stop the MRI for a bit and give me a shot of dye. The dye shows them possible abnormalities (I think that's the word I'm looking for)). He also ordered a hearing test to just double check things.
I had the MRI done last week, and the ear test and got the MRI results yesterday. The hearing test is normal! So when I tell everyone to turn it down, or say what when I don't hear, I'm not having problems.
The results from the MRI were not quite as happy.
My eye problem is neurological. Wow even typing how to inform people of this is hard. How do I make it easy on you? Guess I take my doc's approach. Get it out. I have a benign tumor on the left of my Cerebellum. The key word there to be thankful for is benign-non cancerous!!! It also is thankfully a moderate size. Where it is located, it is putting pressure on an area that controls skills of my left side. This explains my problems with my left eye moving, and why I have become clumsy in the past few years, stumbling towards my left side, and so on. Some tests of my skills were quite comical. I can't describe them all, but there is no way I could pass a sobriety test hehe. It is not currently possible for me to walk heal to toe without stumbling or even falling.
Anyway, my ENT got me referred and into a neurosurgeon yesterday. Thankfully the ENT's assistant was right. He really is one of the best.
Ok, now a little bit of a description on the tumor: Best way to describe it is like my mom said, it's a "birth defect" that often doesn't show up till later in life. When my brain was developing as I was a fetus, some of the blood vessels got twisted. These vessels have now created a mass that is putting pressure on my brain.
This mass is going to have to be removed. They don't think much blood is flowing through it right now since I have no signs of past bleeding out. But if it is not removed it could do this and cause me more problems down the road.
The doctor thankfully doesn't want to put it off. Not due to any life threats, but so I don't sit worrying for a long time. For this I am thankful. I've never had surgery before. But heck why not take it like everything else and make my first time a big one.
So the surgery is going to be in about 2 weeks. I have to have some other tests done first. I will have anagiagram to make sure there isn't much blood currently flowing through the mass. And I will have another MRI done. The other one wasn't clear enough for him to use to make out his plan on performing the surgery.
The surgery is going to take approximately 6 hours. This is not due to how long it will take him to cut it out, but how long it will take to cut and to use all the various machines for them to see. One will help him with seeing exactly where he is going, better than just using a scope. And after they have removed it, they will place me in another MRI to make sure they get it all, so they don't have to perform another surgery down the road. The MRI will take a while because they will not close me up when they put me in, so they will have to cover the area and keep it all sterile.
How they will get to the mass: The location of it will have them going through my Cerebellum to get to it. They will be able to go through folds though causing very little damage to brain tissue.
Like all surgeries, there is some threat on your life, but it is a small threat even though they are operating on my brain. The worst possible results would be some damage that causes my current symptoms to be worse. The removal of the tumor out weighs the leaving of it greatly.
So what I need from my readers: Not a bunch of sympathy and pity. This is all still quite shocking to me. Yesterday was very emotional for me and my husband . (I went to the ENT on my own thinking results would be good. So my husband was quite upset to have not been with me. He did come home and was with me at the neurosurgeon). I want to try and continue things right now normally. Much to my husbands protests, I sent him on to work today. I actually wanted to be at the gym right now, but felt the need to get this all down. I will tell you, this news truly does change how you look at the world and life. This is why I want to proceed normally. This change on how I look at things is a bit disturbing. I didn't appreciate my life as much as I should, and I want to do that now. And I want to do that by doing my normal stuff. So please don't send comments. Especially ones that say: Oh my gosh Toby, I'm so sorry!
I would merely appreciate prayers and to know (without you having to say) that I can call on you if I need some help taking care of my family during and after the surgery. If all goes well I will only be in the hospital 4 to 5 days. Only is his word. For having never been in a hospital more than a few hours, 4 or 5 days is forever to me.
So that's it. Please don't pity or worry. I truly feel God will take care of me and do what He feels is best for me. If you have questions, feel free to ask. It may be one I don't know and need to ask myself.
Love and Blessings to you all!!

P.S. To those who talk to my brother: please don't bombard him about this either. I prefer him to be allowed to talk about it with who he chooses to. He has his own stuff going on, and I don't want him sitting thinking about all of this any more than he has to. Please, please, PLEASE respect this request!!! If you HAVE to choose only one to respect, make it this one!!*

Today 7/5/09: My advice to you. Be thankful for each day you have even the scary ones. That day really is the beginning of the rest of your life!This changed how I look at everything around me and I truly worry less and am more thankful for each day and all that is around me!God Bless you all as he has me!

Long and Short all at Once

2009-07-02T09:08:00.006-05:00

That's the way I feel about summer right now. With how extremely hot it is so early this year it feels long. With my kids here and at their mom's and figuring out where they will be when it feels long. With my husband working to find an honest job (I say honest 'cause he has almost and then has taken two different ones where they were doing wrong to their customers) it feels long. With me trying to get my foot in the door to a career I want it feels long.

But then there are the want to do's that make it seem so short. I want to work on sewing projects (haven't gotten farther than half cutting out that dress). I want to get out all the yarn I have bought (and with some super sales lately that pile has grown again) and finally learn to really knit and crochet. I want to spend time with friends. I have gotten to do some of that. I want to be able to just sit back and read all day. I am happy to say I am half way through my 3rd book this summer. I wish that number was larger, but I have picked some that are thicker than others and that just are a little slower read (no less interesting though). My brother's girlfriend is my inspiration. Last summer I believe the total was 25 books she read. At Father's day she was half a book up on me. I haven't gotten the recent tally but I'm sure she 's quite farther than me now.

What I've read this summer:

This one is a Christian novel and has two more in the series I am looking forward to starting shortly.

Make sure you have Kleenex handy for this one. You can pretty much figure out what the ending is, but it still gets you. Also the author mentions some major life events that happen to her that will get you too. I want to read Marley and Me also, but since I've seen the movie I think I will for-go reading the ending on that one.

And this one is making me want to learn knitting even more, but they do warn you of it. There is a follow up to this one and at least one more novel by this author that I hope to read.

Soon I will read the Twilight books. I have had the first one for a while now, but decided to hold off reading it till after the movie since often I don't like the movie if I've read the book first. I picked up the second one a couple nights ago so I could get it before the price went up on it as it gets closer to that movie coming out. Main thing I need to do is quit going to the library. I have so many books at home I want to read, but then I drop in there to let Holly check out or pick up pharmacy books or a book on CD and always have my attention caught by another bright cover and end up checking out a pile of books for myself. It's an addiction!

OK, off to read while I do chores at the same time.

A Getaway Right at Home

2009-06-29T08:20:00.002-05:00

Lately I have gone back to being lazy with eating healthy and pretty much nonexistent with my workouts. With it being summer I use the family as an excuse. I haven't pushed to get them eating a little better and I haven't been working to set an example. I just fall right into their junk eating or greasy eating out food. And with everyone home and nothing pressing for us to do we have fallen out of any kind of schedule. Every time I set my alarm for early to get up and get back into my routine it doesn't work. When that buzzing starts the hubby rolls over and decides to snuggle. And I'm sorry, but that's hard to resist! So back to sleep we go. Then it's super late when we get up and eat breakfast throwing all meals till late and that just keeps us going late into the night. Then with Holly home she is instant on enjoying summer and staying up late watching TV. Eventually I get tired of the arguments and pouting so I just give in and let her stay up. BAD MAMA!
But yesterday things happened that I have decided need to put a stop to all of it. First was me. I was extremely irritable all day and it is not even near that time of month. Then the other two started having stomach problems. I think a lot of it was probably something they ate at lunch. But Larry has IBS and I think Holly has it some too so I think the problems were magnified by not being on any kind of schedule.
So this morning I got up when the alarm went off (I did wake up 3 minutes before it should go off and decided that my original thought with an hour later was a better time for starting back into my routine. We'll save the extra early for after I've gotten back into it good). Got dressed and decided instead of getting on the exercise bike in my room I would go ahead and go for a walk since it wasn't too hot yet and Larry actually didn't stir when the alarm went off this time. Normally my working out has been during the school year. It's not hard to get going working out since I already have had to be up getting Holly ready for school. So I really haven't gotten out and walked on a Summer morning.
But I will more now!!! It's a complete tiny vacation!!! With everyone around it's hard to get away and with Holly and Larry having similar personalities I will admit some days they are a bit overwhelming at times. This morning I walked out the door leaving them behind. I did my stretches, put in my headphones and for the next 30 minutes the ONLY thing I thought about was looking for cars and saying good morning to another walker or someone working in their yard that I passed. I enjoyed MY music with no interruptions. Soooo fabulous. I want to work on my bike too, but at home everyone can interrupt. With my leaving no one does. Then I come home and am happy and refreshed for my family.
Yay for my new found daily vacation!!!
And coming soon my tag from Charisse.

A Weekend Recap Before it's Even Over

2009-06-20T22:15:00.003-05:00

So we are closing in on the end of Saturday and tomorrow is mostly planned out, so I thought I would go ahead and write about this weekend.

I will jump all the way back to Wednesday to better explain how things went for the weekend.

Larry dropped in to visit the girls while in Austin like I mentioned. While there, Holly decided she could no longer bare being away and came home with him. I love the fact she missed us and home so much she was willing to come home and be an only child again until her sister comes in a week or two (she stayed to spend all the time she could with her friends before her mom moves). But it does throw a kink in plans. I take advantage of the girls being gone and try to plan adult/friend time while they are gone. No sitter needed or no short trips/visits due to them being home alone. So I had planned for Friday to meet up with an old friend I found on Facebook whom I haven't seen in over 15 years! My parents had plans too so I could ask them to spend part of the day with her and there was no way I was cancelling our visit, so I planned out how to take her and be able to talk without worrying about what Holly would hear. Thankfully I thought of a cousin to call who was super gracious and took her for the afternoon/early evening. Heck, they turned it into a sleep over.

So all turned out great. Holly had fun with her young cousins and I had a wonderful time catching up with a good friend I had thought I had lost due to distance. Isn't the internet wonderful?!

I then had a fun loooooong phone chat with Lori. Her hubby was treated to a much deserved night out with friends (the fun start to his first Father's Day!), so she stayed home with baby and we had a fun evening on the phone after he went to bed. A good night of lots of talking with two fabulous people!

Today I braved the grocery store and FINALLY stocked back up on food. I normally do my shopping weekday mornings, but I had some needs and didn't feel like making a ton of trips to the store this week. This evening we had a great family dinner. And I am finishing baking cookies for my dad for Father's Day (I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this. If you do, Dad, you didn't read that part!)

We celebrated Father's Day for Larry on Thursday. We tied it in with his last day before returning to working at a job near home...YAY! So we took him to Old Navy to take advantage of their half off guy's clothes sale and to buy work shirts and some regular clothes for him. We then went to one of our favorite places, the Movie Tavern, for dinner with a movie. A super fun day for very little money!

So tomorrow I will obviously be dropping in on my dad and I think Larry is going to head out to East TX to visit his for a few and to pick up the last of his stuff that is still out there from working with his brother. I want to go with him, but I got a bit lazy today at times so most of the day tomorrow will be spent doing major cleaning and getting ready for Lucas to spend Monday with us! Love me some Lucas time!!!

That's it for the early recap hope it didn't ramble off and get too confusing. It is about bedtime I just realized.

I am a Girl Who

2009-06-17T11:29:00.003-05:00

obviously lives for the pressure.
I have the house to myself for a short time and here I sit. The girls are still at their mom's for part of summer and Larry left yesterday for Austin. He went to work on the AC in his brother's rental house they are about to sell. He is finished and is just enjoying a little time trying to find some old buddies he grew up with and making a stop in to visit with the girls. There mom lives just North of Austin...for about another week. Then they will be living about 40 miles from us. NO MORE DRIVES TO WACO WOOWOO!!! That just cut off 400 miles a month on my Jeep!
Anyway my point. I CAN'T MAKE MYSELF DO ANYTHING! Well I did unload and reload the few dishes I had for the dishwasher, clean out the fridge, straighten and cleanup all the kitchen counters except my connection counter (a.k.a. paper catcher and junk holder), dropped an important letter off at the post office (but didn't think to get a quick package ready to be mailed too), and picked up some study books that had come in I reserved at the library. That's a little bit of a list, but nothing that took long. I am waiting for the guy who is rebuilding our fallen mailbox to get here, but he is having truck trouble so who knows when he will arrive (I definitely could have done my workout this morning and gotten my shower in before he showed even though I slept 30 minutes passed what I planned).
So I should be doing things. I have a couple more chores to do, but they aren't pressing and will take no time. I have a book due at the library next week that there is a long reserve list for so there is no way I can renew my checkout. I have my simple summer dress that got put on hold I wanted to sew, Holly's summer bag that needs a strap repaired, some embroidery I would like to start since I haven't done any of that since I was a kid, some cross stitch I would like to work on, and new yarn I bought last week that I would love to use (got to really get to learning better how to knit), some studying to do, a little paper work to get done, and a number of things I need to take back to a few various stores. Oh and I need to touch up my paint on my toe nails. But only a little of that actually has a dead line, but it's not pressing that much till later in the day and most of the rest has none. So without pressure today, I just can't get myself to get up and get to anything. Once I get started on something it will all just start to flow and get going, but it's that getting started. I just have absolutely no motivation today....grr.
Enough griping about it, no one probably wants to even read it. I think I'll pretend Larry will be home soon and go get to work on some of it. Just wanted something else to do with drinking my Cherry DP from Sonic (oh yeah, stopped there to get that and an order of mozzarella sticks for my craving/early lunch. healthy?) other than that list.

You know you're getting old when...

2009-06-13T09:58:00.002-05:00

Going to a water park for the day does not fill you with pure excitement but also worry.
My nephew, Craig, has been visiting us since Tuesday. In honor of his first time to stay with us alone, Larry and I took him to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. When I was a kid preparing for it meant putting your swimsuit on. Now preparing takes much more!
First was finding towels for everyone and enough sunblock to last 3 people all day (I am proud to report that we were there for over 6 hours and no one has a sunburn!). Also making sure there is enough money to cover needing a drink or snack and locker rental, but not letting anyone know you brought very much so they don't go begging for the $13 souvenir cup or the $8 hot dog!
Then there are the worries for myself.
Where will I put the locker key to keep it safe? They thought of that for me. They have now switched to the coolest invention. They put on your wrist one of those plastic hospital type bracelets you have to cut off. It has a water proof chip, or whatever it should be called, to where you hold it up to a sensor that programs it to a specific locker that opens each time you put the bracelet up to it. Genius!
Next worry for me is being able to see. I wear glasses and have not gotten myself up to the idea of wearing contacts. (Due to past problems as a kid, the idea of putting something in my eye creeps me out.) Thankfully this last time at the eye doctor my prescriptions didn't change, so instead of paying for 3 lense changes for all the types of glasses I have to wear (it is not a fashion thing I have to wear different prescriptions for different things) I got to buy a new more fashionable pair of sunglasses. So I had an extra pair of prescription sunglasses that I can wear for these kinds of outings that I won't have a heart attack over if I loose. Just put a strap on and I'm good to go.
I also can no longer tolerate running barefooted over the hot rough sidewalks. So I don't care how silly I look in my non swimsuit matching crocs. My feet are still happy with me today.
There is also the thought of wearing a swimsuit that lets me get a little sun, but covers up enough of what I don't want showing anymore. And balancing not looking too old but not trying to look younger than I should either.
Sheesh a lot goes into it! Not to mention the making sure of not leaving the tickets you bought and printed over the computer at home.
I am happy to say it ended up a fun day! We went on the perfect day. It rained all day the day before so most people didn't come for fear of cold water. It was a bit colder than normal, but the sun was out and hot so it took no time to get use to and we were not loosing each other in the crowds or getting shoved around or ran over in the lazy river. We were able to really play and have fun. We hope to take the girls soon, so I guess I will look for going again the day after a big rainstorm (if we get that lucky again).

Starting back up slowly

2009-06-09T14:16:00.007-05:00

So I think I've caught up on reading all the blogs I follow and am ready to be steady at my reading and posting, and then life happens! I get busy and blogging just has to be put aside.

Many things have happened, some good, some bad, and some just plain crazy. I won't post on most of it though because it's all still happening. Just please lift us up in pray for guidance and SANITY!!

I keep meaning to post the pictures of Holly's purse, so here they are.

I personally am very impressed. She thought of the shape herself and cut it out all on her own. No pattern used. She then chose to hand sew it. So it won't hold up to much use, but she did load it with change one day and used it to do some shopping at the dollar store. It actually held up to that impressively well.

Ok, for now that will be all. I'll keep it short and work to at least post a something more often.

P.S. say a pray for us also because Larry and I both have job interviews tomorrow. Larry's had a bunch of them recently. Nothing has come out of them so far that will work for us, but tomorrow's sounds promising.

Mine is with a company I previously worked for. I'm not really wanting to get back into that field of work, but for now work is work. And I'm trying to find the benifits in it if I do go back. The drive is not great, 20 miles, but again you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. Ok, that's all I want to write on that for now.

pat,pat,pat Anyone out there?

2009-05-29T09:46:00.002-05:00

Sorry, but like I said this is a crazy month. Hopefully soon I can post some pictures. One is of a purse Holly made herself. I'm quite proud of her creativity. Then as soon as it's finished a dress I'm working on. My first piece of clothing to ever sew! And then as long as I remember to do it before she leaves for her mom's, the bag I made Holly for her summer fun kit.

Summer vacation officially started for us this week. And so far it's been great. First we enjoyed Memorial Weekend with my fabulous friend Charisse coming into town with her family for a few days. They are gone now leaving the house feeling very empty!

Then we spent a fun evening at my friend Tina's enjoying her apartment's pool (that is one of the few things I miss about living in apartments).

And then just various other activities.

Sorry this is short, but Larry is headed back into town and we are going to take Holly to see Up before she leaves with her stepdad to spend the first half of summer with her mom and that side of the family.

But here is a picture of her from last night at her now former school at Movies with Mom night in the gym.

Crazy Busy

2009-05-19T14:19:00.003-05:00

This week I am cramming a weeks worth of chores into two days. And I have had success! As we speak I am waiting to finish my last chore (well not including folding laundry, but I plan to do that while watching Wall-E tonight. that makes it less of a chore). Over half our house is tiled, so I am waiting for the first half to dry so I can move the furniture and mop the other half.
Why am I doing all of this so quickly. Main reason: Charisse is coming to town with her family!!!!! They arrive Thursday morning. I will spend the day with Lorelli so Charisse and Rob can get some sleep after driving all night.
So why do I have to have my chores finished by today? Well got an e-mail from Lori needing some help this week with Lucas. So tomorrow I am watching him for the day. YAY! Two days in a row with two of my favorite little ones!!
Hopefully tonight I will be able to finish or almost finish Holly's bag for her summer activity kit I am surprising her with. Then tomorrow during Lucas naps and tomorrow evening I can hopefully get a couple chew blankets made for Holly to give as an end of the year gift to her teacher. She is expecting this coming fall. This way it can be an original, useful, and cheap gift since I already have all the supplies. If not Ucreate had a link to a cute idea of a colored pencil bouquet. Something That won't cost me too much either.
OK, better go check my floor and finish it up before Holly gets here so don't have to worry about dirty feet and wet floors. Hopefully I will have some time soon to AGAIN get caught up on reading my long list of blogs I enjoy.

Check it out!

2009-05-13T18:33:00.001-05:00

Click on the banner to the right to find out details to try to win the quilt!! It's gorgous!

Where do you go?

2009-05-12T21:02:00.003-05:00

For crafty or other ideas for entertainment for your kids for the summer?

My mom turned me on the the magazine Family Fun a few years ago.

I am going to be pulling out my stack of issues within the next few days and going through them for ideas.

When we were kids, my mom gave my brother and I our summer entertainment kits each year on the first day of summer. What I can remember it containing was a skein of yarn for making our crochet ropes (basicly the same idea as the knifty knitter looms just on a MUCH smaller scale. I guess that's why I enjoy the k.k.'s so much), a new spiral note book for a summer journal, and film for our camera. There were more things, but I can't remember them. I am going to make my own version for Holly this year especially since there is a good chance she will spend the majority of her summer at her mom's since I will hopefully have a job. She normally spends only 4-6 weeks at her mom's. And there isn't a lot for her to do while she is there due to the heat and not having many toys there. So she ends up watching a lot of T.V. I'm hoping this might give her more things to do while she's there.

But I am looking for more ideas of things for her to do while she is here or there. We spend a majority of the summer at the library here, but that is not an easy option for her there. So please send ideas of activities for kids. Especially ones to keep them entertained on their own. (I don't know where her younger sisters will be during the summer. She is closest to the one just younger than her, but I think she may be with her dad or in daycare most of the summer. And her older sister and brother usually hang out together and exclude her when they are together :( ) Or let me know where you go to find ideas for your kids.

Thanks and good luck to all the moms about to be back on steady full time entertainment duty. Especially to those who have to deal with the heat like we do here in Texas.

How do you encourage and still get something you want?

2009-05-06T12:06:00.003-05:00

I pulled my youngest out of school for a couple days with all this Swine Flu junk. I'm not overly worried about it, but being without health insurance I have to take a few extra precautions. I can get insurance for her no problem, but Larry and I would be the ones with huge bills. Holly also hasn't had time alone with Larry in a while, so I decided it was a good reason to pack her up and send her for a long weekend with just him. I figure the stuff has been around, but if it was going to show up, it would during this time. I ended up being right. She had Monday scheduled off from school. We were getting her ready that night for field and track day the next day when I got the call the school would be closed for the rest of the week. Thankfully the Health Department has realized they have gone a bit overboard with things and she will be returning to school tomorrow instead of next week. No worries now of being in school for another week into summer.
Anyway, yesterday at lunch time she asked if she could fix my lunch. She wanted to make her specialty special. I was planning on just eating some leftover chili from the other night so it didn't get wasted, so I told her we would see about her making lunch tomorrow.
So a little while ago she asks if I am hungry for lunch yet.
Conversation:
Me - yeah
Holly - Do you want me to make you my Specialty Special?
M - Well that depends on what it is.
H - Well it has chips on it, and a pickle and turkey or ham. And do you like mayonnaise or mustard?
M- What do you mean it has chips and a pickle on it? Is it a sandwich with Turkey, chips and a pickle? And do we have all of these things?
Finally I get her to explain properly she is going to make me a sandwich however I like with what we have here and she planned to put a pickle and chips on the side.
So then she proceeds to make me one the way I request or so I thought. The sandwich ends up with the wrong stuff on it. She made fabulous effort and did it all neatly, but was so excited she miss heard most of what I wanted on it and then what to do with the mess ups so we didn't waste.
Encouraging and still getting something edible when you are really trying to eat better can be hard!
*Noticed last layout made it a bit hard to read the post, lets see how this one works for now.*

Ready for some Changes

2009-05-05T20:49:00.002-05:00

With Larry gone a great deal of the time I'm able to keep the house clean. Not a lot to cleaning up after 2 people. Especially when I can still make one clean up after herself with just a look, hehe.
But with all this cleanness, it's got me itching to make changes. We have paint here for the bedrooms, but I can't do that. I'm bad at painting and end up wasting a lot. Larry's an expert at it, so it will have to wait for him to come home. I would love to do some rearranging of furniture, but for some rooms I just can't figure out a better way to place stuff, or for others some of the furniture has been anchored to the wall. And then there is all the stuff that is way to heavy for me. So for now I will stick to changing up the pictures I have out and making a few decorative things. I also decided I would get my fix by changing up my blog. The background, layout, and title. I don't know if I like it all yet, so more changing may come.
There was some drama here this weekend. And some fun too, but it is late and I need to head off to get some rest. I will have to post about it another day. Hopefully though, I can get back to more regular posting soon though. It's that crazy time of year, the end of school quickly coming and tons of activities revolving around that, so don't be upset if it stays rare for a while.

"It's all coming back to me noooow...."

2009-04-23T19:31:00.001-05:00

to quote a famous song.
What is it that is coming back to me now, you ask? My old self! Growing up I was always the super happy person. Always smiling, no matter what. Don't get me wrong. I am still very happy. Just that super happy feeling has not been a constant in quite a while. We have dealt with a lot of ups and downs in our marriage and are currently in a down again. Not with each other, but with factors outside of what we can control. But even when those downs turn back into ups, I haven't been back to that constant super happy.
It has bothered me not being like that any more. Many thoughts have run through my head as to what contributes to it. One thing I know that I need to fix is finding a church home. I found one when we moved to Plano, but didn't go like I should and then we moved. I have recently started researching again, but not putting an effort into going and visiting like I should. Just a few here and there. I use everything with our busy life as an excuse for why I haven't done it. I need to make those things wait and start going.
I had figured out some time ago what really has effected my mood change, but due to pure laziness and desire I haven't faced it. The main thing is I am no longer a teenager! I can not eat like one! I also have to actually make an effort to be active and exercise! I have put on quite a bit of weight in the past few years. Part of it is just getting older and my body changing, another is married life, and the last is due to happenings post surgery. Before the surgery I had already put on more weight than I liked just due to growing up. I was just starting to workout and get control of things when BAM! tumor appears. Side effects after kept me inactive almost immobile for a few weeks. It also effected my taste. I suddenly had a constant sour taste in my mouth on the left side (just thinking about it makes it come back). So I ate often to try and cover it up. And then the things that did taste good were super bad for you. Fattening, fried, or sugary. So that set me up for a bad habit and a lot more pounds gained.
I had read that exercising put you in a better mood, and found this to somewhat be true back before the holidays when I was doing good at walking/exercising. I had fallen off that wagon though. I just wasn't getting enough results in the weight or happy departments to keep me going strong. 2 weeks ago yesterday I saw something on T.V. that changed things. I caught the end of a show that had two woman talking about their book. I can't remember the name, but it was a cookbook for better eating. They were also giving tips. One was for a quick tummy reducer. They said for 2 weeks cut out sugar. Obviously this is hard to do since almost everything has sugar. But just really watch how much is in things and cut out sugary snacks, deserts, drinks, and so forth. So I decided to try it. I carry a lot of my weight in my belly and am very conscious of it. The first few days I did it I felt really off. Like I might pass out any minute. Then we had Easter, which is when Larry's mom's family has their family reunion. And passing up on desert just wasn't happening. I took a large amount of desert, but only one. And really it wasn't huge. I noticed though I felt a lot better. So I changed my plan. I didn't cut sugar out completely, but really started paying attention to how much was in things and chose more things that had A LOT less sugar. I am also paying more attention to when I am hungry. Am I wanting food, or a drink, and what time is it? I also noticed that as I eat I become more hungry and when I finish my meal am instantly craving a desert. I have started eating smaller amounts of things at meals and force myself to wait a little bit after eating my main meal to see if I am truly wanting that something sweet. And if I do I make better choices.
This week I have also been a lot more active. I have done a ton of work outside around the house. And Holly and I are now walking most evenings. I took a rest today due to all the rough work the past days, but most week day mornings I do a work out or go walking.
My point to all this: Tonight I was at the computer just poking around until time to go on my walk with Holly when I noticed I was in the super happy mood and I couldn't figure out what had me in it. I had just had a super rough time making dinner. I have bills to deal with, and my hubby is not home and probably won't be for a number more days. So what has me so happy? Oh yeah, this is that feeling I had been hunting for. Constant Super Happy. Thinking about it I realized he had been trying to push his way in for the past few days. I could kind of feel it. WELCOME BACK OLD FRIEND! AND I HOPE YOU STAY AROUND FOR A WHILE! To help I am going to continue my work outs and especially my new eating habits that really aren't too different other than I am learning to take control of the sweet tooth. And I noticed sugar fills me up a lot faster now.
Bonus: I've lost 10 pounds in the last two weeks!!!

I promise I am alive!

2009-04-22T20:59:00.001-05:00

I've just been busy working on the outside of the house. And I just found out I will have the weekend to myself, so I will be trying to get all my inside chores done tomorrow. Hopefully I can get a post in some time too!

Suggestions Please

2009-04-16T08:22:00.002-05:00

Last night as I was headed for bed, I had a number of things to blog about. I thought I should write them down, but was too tired to get up and do it. So this morning it leaves me remembering only one...grr. If I remember the others I will post again.
I need some help. I am trying to start planning on buying a new sewing machine. The one I use now was purchased by my husband for a Christmas gift. It holds sentimental value, but that's about it. I am still a beginner sewer and haven't mastered all the functions of the one I have, but this machine is getting on my nerves. It is a VERY beginner machine and a bit on the cheap side. I am getting really tired of the various problems it gives me. Granted some are due to my own forgetfulness, but not all of them!
So does anyone know of a good quality beginner machine, or one that is a good experienced machine but beginner friendly too? Things are tight right now and my piggy savings is still for my trip to Georgia I will take at least by the Fall. But I would like to start figuring out what I want so I can plan and save for it to hopefully get it before Christmas (get some more gifts made this year at a faster pace).
That's all for now. I'll be back if I remember anything. Off to go return the markers I bought yesterday that were dried up :( and to replace the jar of pickles Larry and Holly requested that made it ONLY out of the jeep...oops!

Texting

2009-04-15T18:09:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the absence. I haven't had anything interesting to say and just have been taking some time off from the computer lately. I only pop in now and then and have been mostly using my phone. And since I'm not the most internet/phone savvy, it really limits what I do while I'm on it.
This last weekend we picked up my oldest to have Easter with the family. Larry's mom's side of the family usually has their family reunion on Easter. Games and lots of food and lots of fun. This year was no different except for some family coming that we hadn't seen in years (or that I had never seen).
What was interesting though is some stuff my daughter told me over the weekend. I picked her up Thursday evening in Waco, but we didn't go out to East TX till Friday evening. I had baking to do and packing. (Which reminds me. Christy, made your cookies again for Easter and everyone who tried them just kept coming and telling me how great they were! You received many compliments. I told them all the recipe came from a good friend. A few even asked me for it.)
On the way to East TX Haylee was texting one of her friends. Her excessive texting has gotten her into a little bit of trouble at her other house. She would be texting instead of getting homework or chores done.
I'm one who really doesn't care for kids having cell phones. Especially with all this going ons with teens "sexting" now. But it is handy in emergencies, for getting to talk to her while she's at her mom's, and with her getting older and spending more time out with her friends. What she told me though gave another plus to the idea of having phones.
I asked who she was talking to on the drive, and she said it was her friend who was just sitting around bored. Haylee said her buddy was excited about Saturday because she was going on a date with her boyfriend. WHAT? DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT? HOW ON EARTH IS ONE OF MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS GOING ON A DATE?! Surely this must be a friend from her neighborhood who is older or a girl she knows due to Haylee's older brother who is in high school. So I asked how old she was. Answer: 12!! NO WAY! Haylee then mentioned the girl's parents were going along...and they were seeing a movie. Ok. That's better. I did know of kids doing the same thing with their bf/gf when I was her age.
So Sunday I asked if she had heard how it went and what they ended up seeing. She said that her friend said it was good, and she wasn't sure what movie they saw. She said the girl said they didn't really watch it much because....and of course I know the reason. Or I thought I did....they talked until the movie started and then texted the whole time through it. WOW! You are probably like me and figured they kissed the whole time (thought they would be young for that, but what else would keep you from watching it?). I was VERY pleased to hear this. She's always been pretty good at picking her friends, but this confirmed she is still at it. Also this is great! One more reason to like cell phones for kids! Talk instead of trying to act older and make out! I didn't know 12 year olds could have that much to say to the opposite sex. Normally they are SUPER shy or acting too old! So they are learning to get to know each other emotionally not physically. WOOH WHOO!

Photo 4/4

2009-04-02T15:33:00.008-05:00

Well unfortunately my computer crashed completely recently. My brother was able to save all my pictures, but getting to folders and putting them on here is a bit difficult for me at the moment.
So instead here are a few photos from my camera I was planning to share:

I had been using my oldest daughter's room as a sewing room while she is living at her mom's. She is moving back this summer, so I had been planning on getting everything out. Since we had company last weekend, I decided to quickly move it all to my room. Obviously this left a disaster. So I spent the last couple days reorganizing my closet to move stuff in there for storing, and then reorganized my sewing corner. I am fairly pleased with it for now. Larry likes the idea of it being in there so I don't spend so much time locked in the sewing room alone. So he said he would build me some wall storage soon...yay!
Here is the before:

And here is the after:Much better!

And here is a picture of Haylee. Now that it is moved out of her room, she had the itch to do some sewing.

And here are the pillows she made:

Last night Holly and I tried making Christy's cookies again. And thanks to measuring out the dough more properly like she said, they came out great. Now if only I didn't walk past them so much doing my chores so I wouldn't keep grabbing them. Since they are little they are very tempting for grabbing just one!

P.S. Did you spot Matty (one of my cats) in the before picture?

A giveaway

2009-03-31T16:30:00.004-05:00

Hope on over to Twinkle's page for a chance at her giveaway of a fabulous diaper cake! I am not in need of one, so I am happy to share the chance with others! hehe

Tiny Task Tuesday

2009-03-31T07:29:00.002-05:00

Today for T.T.T. I would like to offer my daughter, Holly, as a fabulous example. She is ALWAYS coming to ask me how she can help me or Larry. Getting her to do her daily chores is a major fight, but she is so willing to come and help with anything else. She is always offering a friendly smile to ANYONE. And if you don't make her let go, she will stand forever holding the door for a stream of people coming in or out of a place. If you are sad and crying, she will be right with you making just as big of a puddle even when she has absolutely no clue why you are so upset.
This weekend my sister-in-law, nephew, nieces, and one of their friends came into town to look for a prom dress for my oldest niece. They had to go some where special for it and be there early Saturday morning. So they came and spent the night with us. Holly was more than willing to offer over her bed and sleep on the floor.
I am very proud of the generosity Holly gives each and every day! I often look to her as an example of what I can do to help or cheer up another person!

6 Years Ago Today

2009-03-30T07:03:00.001-05:00

I can make the easiest thing hard!

2009-03-25T15:58:00.005-05:00

So this afternoon I tried making Christy's super easy lemon cookies that she mentions here at the end of her post. Yeah, take one...not so good! I think I put down too big of spoonfuls this time. The cookies were mostly dough when I pulled them out of the oven. So to the store tomorrow for trial number two. At least I didn't frost them! No added waste! And I definately did enjoy sampling the dough as I mixed them. I agree. I will not be making these often either...to much potential for more weight gain. And that won't help since I'm trying for the other direction.

I did get my fluffy lime pie made the other day. Very yummy and super easy. I made it from a Bisquick recipe where it had me make the crust. But I almost think a graham crust would be better.

Beat 1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk with 1/2 cup lime or key lime juice in large bowl with electric mixer on medium until smooth and thickened. Fold in 1 container (8oz.) whipped topping and 1 TBSP grated lime peel. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until set. Garnish with lime slices if like.

Tiny Task Tuesday

2009-03-24T10:39:00.002-05:00

So today is starting (or should I say continuing) to be a rough one. Starting last night all three of us have upset stomachs. Nothing super bad, but definitely not fun! You would think then it would be due to dinner, but no. So what then?

Sorry I missed T.T.T. last week. Again I had some I have forgotten, guess I need to keep a notebook handy.

-My brother took HUGELY appreciated time out of his schedule to help with rescuing pictures off of my crashed computer before we cleared it out. THANK YOU CLINT!!!!!!
-My parents stopped by Sunday night and my mom figured out what I had missed on my sewing project to fix the problems. A couple snips and I'm back in business! She saved me from pulling the whole thing apart! Yay! So as soon as I have time I will finish it up and post picks. THANK YOU MOM!!!
-Yesterday Larry and I went to the library to find books and information for each of our tests we will be taking. I have never seen the line to reserve a computer that long! My turn came and when I went to get on mine, there was someone else trying to long onto it. When I politely told him that was reserved for me and explained what he needed to do, he got pretty nasty with me. I am proud to say I stayed calm and polite!

Ok, that's what I can remember. Back to resting...stomach is really yucky!

Treats and Seats

2009-03-19T21:51:00.005-05:00

Treats that were bought and seats that I sat in!
Tuesday my mom and I were going to treat ourselves to a movie. I hadn't seen Bedtime Stories yet, so we decided to go to the dollar theater (which is actually the dollar fifty or two dollar theater!) and watch. Well it's Spring Break and Tuesday is true dollar day. All this added up to a massive line at the theater and us deciding we would skip the movie. So instead we went to Joann's where I found tons of fabric and ribbon that I will have to go back and stock up on. Fabulous stuff for my chew and tag blankets. We found a fun book on Peeps that we HAD to have. So fun! We then went over to Ross to wonder around. We both got a few treats from there. My mom got some wall sconces she had been wanting and a really cool napkin holder. I got some super cute boxes for stashing some of my fabric scraps or whatever I decide. I also found a super cute egg timer for super cheap. I've seen them plenty of places, but this price was just too good to pass up.

Today the tire shop called me a few minutes before noon to tell me they had the part they needed and to see what time I wold like to come in. I said I would be there in 20. When I got there they had a bay open for me and pulled me right in. I stayed at the window to watch. I saw him pull out the plastic ring again and then was on the phone, uh-oh. He came in told me the plate they got was slightly off so he was sending another guy to another shop 10 miles away to get the right one. So I sat. Time passed and he came and got me. Some reason it still wasn't working so he was going to call the Jeep dealer to figure it out. Turns out there is one more part needed to do the balance...a $300 part. Yuck! Glad I don't pay for it though. The fabulous guy helping me didn't want me to wait ANOTHER day so he found out what it costs at the dealer to have it done and gave me the money to pay for it. He promised though that he would be ordering the part and they would have it all ready for me when I was due for my next rotation. So off I went to the dealer about an hour and a half after I arrived. I then sat in the dealer that was a ways away for another hour. So 3 hours after the call I was finally balanced! I definitely give huge compliments to the staff at the Discount Tires in Mansfield off of 287. They go above and beyond to make sure you are taken care of. We have been going to this store since we moved here and have been pleased. But this was really great customer service. I received an apology from every worker I came in contact with. And since this was their first time dealing with my kind of wheels, I really didn't feel they needed to apologize. They made sure I was taken care of even if that meant paying someone else to do the job. And if they hadn't needed another part I would have been out of there in 10 minutes. Also one last thing, not one of them treated me like a dumb girl who didn't know anything. They explained things clearly where I understood what I didn't know, but made me feel knowledgeable too. Especially good since I grew up learning about cars from my dad and continue to learn from him, my brother, my husband, my brother-in-law, and my father-in-law.
Treats and Seats!

Ugha!

2009-03-18T23:21:00.004-05:00

So I've been working really hard when I can on a cute little handbag I found in a book. Now I have been doing other activities and am a fairly slow sewer, so it's been a bit of a slow process. But I was so excited because I was sure today I would finish it. I was to leave sometime today to stay with Larry for a couple of days. So my chores I needed to get done made it look like I wouldn't finish. But one chore changed all my plans.
The Jeep is over due for having its tires rotated, so I HAD to do that before any more trips farther than 10 miles. I was super excited when they had me finished in about 30 minutes. But as I pick up speed on the highway back home, my truck starts going a bit crazy with vibrating and the steering wheel jerking. I go down this section of highway often, so I know this isn't due to a bumpy road. So I pull over check all the lugs, all tight, and then return to the tire shop. The wonderful guys put my truck right back up even though the store now had a few customers, and proceeded to work very hard for an hour to fix the problem. Turns out the wheels I have have to have a custom plate put on the machine when they balance them. The guy was super apologetic that they didn't have the part. He said he would get it here by tomorrow and contact me. And as soon as I get there my truck goes straight up no matter how busy. He apologized a number of times, but I felt it was unneeded since he said my truck was the first he had had with these new style wheels.
So anyway, back to my point. With this occurrence it is not possible to drive my truck anywhere but home from the tire shop and then back when they tell me the part is in. So it is keeping me from going to see Larry, boo, but it will allow me to finish my sewing, yay!
So as I am working on it the past couple of days, I've had to make a few adjustments to make it work right for me. I had a worry about the handle being too short, but that was the last thing to do and figured it would be an easy fix if I had to. So I sew all the layers of the bag together and turn it right side out before I close the turning hole and finish with the handle. Excitedly I get it all pushed out the right way to find that for some reason ,that I at the moment am not sure why, the bag is all bunched up at the turns and I can't get the fabric to line up properly at the turning hole. I'm almost positive I could fix it by just taking out a layer in the middle, but to do that I have to pull apart the WHOLE bag!!!
So obviously I'm frustrated. I was so excited to get some sewing done this week during my time alone and now I only have one messed up project to show for it...UGHA! I should have stuck with the bag I was originally going to work on. But this one is out of a library book, so I wanted to get it done first. Again, UGHA! Maybe the other one will be super easy and I can get it done all in one day before I leave tomorrow...YEAH, RIGHT! Especially since I wanted to work on the horrible weeds tomorrow morning that seem to be taking over my yard. Oh well...live and learn, right?
Thanks for letting me vent.