Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

We are traveling this week....so blogging will be sparse, but then again I'm not usually real consistent, however I did want to check in this morning while I'm waiting for That Kid to take a shower and say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We will be crazy busy, driving all over the place, but we're already having fun....stopped at dh's step-mom's yesterday and took her to lunch and had a great visit, then drove another couple of hours to dh's mom's house. We are on our way back to her house to celebrate Christmas with her tonight with dh's sister and family, and father-in-law's son and his family! The house will be full of loud children and teenagers and even louder adults.....but we'll have a ton of fun!!

Tomorrow we'll drive to Kansas to be with my family. This will be even more loud and more obnoxious, but just as much fun!

Hope ya'll have a great Christmas....and don't forget the Reason for the Season is Jesus!

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Best Day Ever~~!!!

That's what That Other Kid told me numerous times today. Today was his 5th birthday.....omg I cannot believe he is 5 years old! I remember vividly the hours before he was born, the day we brought him home from the hospital, and the Christmas that we celebrated just days after he was born!

But...today was the best day EVER!!

He woke up bright and early and came in to my room....at 7:25 a.m. and declared to me that "today is my birthday! Tell me happy birthday!!" So I did...and then I told him it was too early to get up so get in bed with me and daddy. He proceeded to talk, wiggle, and squirm till 8 a.m. when I told him to get up...so we don't wake daddy. I went to the couch and curled up with my blanket and pillow and snuggled with him till about 8:30 when he decided he had waited long enough to open presents! He went in and woke daddy and That Kid so he could open his presents. Daddy said he needed to take a shower and dress then he could open presents. After waiting FOREVER (actually about 30 minutes) he got to start opening presents! He had guessed 3 of the 5 presents, but still professed that the gifts were AWESOME!!

Then we went to Chuck-E-Cheese with his bff and That Kid, bff's brother and his girlfriend. They had a TON O'FUN and came out with more junk than they both knew what to do with!

After Chuck-E-Cheese we went home for a little while, then went to dinner at his favorite restuarant, Red Robin. We had to drive through a ton of traffic and he fell asleep in his car seat! He hasn't done that forever!! Then he woke up and was grumpy!!! After he had time to wake up more and eat some dinner, he was his normal happy self! We rushed out of Red Robin, and went to his HOCKEY GAME!! The last of this session...he walked in and proceeded to tell every boy and parent in the locker room that he is NOW 5 years old!! How proud he was!! They played their game and WON.... 7 - 1!! Then we went upstairs and had a little party. We handed out goody bags with cookies, brownies, a pencil and a ball! Everyone sang "happy birthday" to him and he was surprisingly shy...

After goodies some of the boys were playing tag and he got pushed down and bruised his elbow and got a rug burn....so now he doesn't like one of the little boys! Of course, just a few minutes before he was one of his best friends! He is ok, but apparently a bruised elbow nearly ruined the BESTEST DAY EVER!!

He was soooooooo tired I managed to get him to sleep only about 30 minutes later than his normal time, and we didn't even get home till 8:30 p.m.

Now I'm sitting here thinking how my baby is growing up....and thinking that his birth day was one of my 2 bestest days ever!


Chuck E Cheese ... and present from best friend!


His new Star Wars Light Saber...one of the presents he guessed!


Blowing out Number 5 candle after hockey game!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

College Campus' Are Not for Old Mommies

Yesterday I took That Kid up to the community college that he is doing dual credits at so he could get all signed up for classes that start in January. It "HAD" to happen yesterday, even though classes don't start till January 20 and I had tons of other things going on....including a college tour at a private university that he is interested in. He didn't want classes to fill up and he wanted to get it done so he wouldn't have to think about it till the middle of January when he would need to go buy books. I can understand and totally relate....but it made for a hectic day for me.

Things were progressing smoothly, till I was leaving the campus to go home and deal with That Other Kid, before going to the University tour. I had put my phone on silent when we went into the admissions office at the community college so if I got a call from home it wouldn't disrupt the administration. I'm all about courtesy, ya know??!! While walking out to the car I'm turning the volume back up on my phone and I trip in a hole in the yard....and HEAR MY ANKLE POP!!! Yes, I did!! It hurt soooo bad, I just wanted to lay down and cry right there in the yard of the school. I managed not to cry and walk down 2 flights of stairs, and on out to the parking lot. I stood and talked to That Kid's girlfriend and her mom, then went home. My ankle is STILL KILLING ME, but I have stuff to do...ya know??!!

I take That Other Kid to babysitter/friends house, go get That Kid at community college and drive to university! Where I see massive buildings....with LOTS OF STAIRS to climb. He LOVES this campus and the university....and was very excited when we left. While driving back to pick up That Other Kid, I realize my ankle is so sore I CANNOT put ANY WEIGHT on it~~and I'm hurting soooo bad I just wanna cry! By the time I actually get back home about 3:45 my ankle is swollen up and cannot be touched! I decide to ice it, and elevate it which is what I should have done at 10:30 ...but ya know, got stuff to do!! By 4:10 dh is telling me we need to go to the urgent care facility. I do their web check-in and they call me to come right in. By the time we arrive a little before 5 my ankle is about a 9 on the 1 to 10 scale. I just know it is broken, which would really ruin my plans for the next couple of weeks, ya know?!

After waiting for about 30 minutes they decide they need to x-ray my ankle, after waiting another 30 minutes the doctor comes in and says that my ankle IS NOT BROKEN....just 2nd degree sprain! Which means my ankle hurts like heck, but I won't be needing a cast and I will be good as new within 2 weeks. He said to follow the RICE plan -- REST, ICE, COMPRESS, and ELEVATE. So...my plans have been altered but I am getting lots of rest and the pain is already starting to go down...at least while I'm sitting here!

Hope you get some rest this Christmas season...but I pray you don't hurt yourself to get it!! It ain't worth it, no 'mam, it ain't!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Laughing is Good Medicine

My friend me this and I just sat on my couch and laughed so hard I needed to go to the bathroom, if ya know what I mean!!

If you need a good laugh today, cuz the kids are drivin' you over to the "dark side" take a couple of minutes and watch this!! You won't be sorry.....

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Some Perspective on Needs/Wants




I saw this video today while I was at the All Access site. It is a site put together for women by the people of Lifeway Ministries. If you have never been over there you just have to make it a part of your daily reads. It helps to give me a little more perspective sometimes and it is always fun!

Anywhoooo, this video really spoke to me and helped me remember that we don't "NEED" nearly what we think we do....and there are people out there that really do "NEED" some things, like clean water, food, a warm clothes and shelter!

This just made me appreciate the things in my life a whole lot more....maybe it will affect you the same way.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Family

Happy Birthday to my "little" brother! Of course, he is now OVER 40, and has a wife and 3 kids, a wonderful job....but he is still my little brother. As a kid he was annoying, as a teenager he was a nerd, as a young adult he was a MARINE (best decision he ever made, btw). After leaving the military he became a husband, a father, a college student, now with a MASTERS DEGREE...can ya believe it??? I'm sooooo proud!! But hey, I was supposed to be the one with a college degree....what happened here??

Now he is working at the job he has wanted for years only 2 miles from his home in a small town in Kansas, raising a family and doing what he wants....what a man he has become!! I'm oh sooo proud....
Happy Birthday, little brother!!!

Christmas Meme



Jolynne from Musings of a Housewife posted this great meme about Christmas. It sounded fun and I haven't done a meme in forever!! So here goes:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper unless I'm in a hurry!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real unless I'm just beyond rushed!! I LOVE the smell of a real tree!

3. When do you put up the tree? The first weekend of December!

4. When do you take the tree down? Right after the first of January, usually the first weekend.

5. Do you like eggnog? YUCK!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The Christmas I was 11 my mom bought me a gift certificate to get my ears pierced!! I was sooo happy!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents and dh's mom and step-dad! They have everything they need! and never tell me what they want!

8. Easiest person to buy for? That Other Kid....he's going on 5 and wants EVERYTHING!!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, dh is an architect and is very picky about decorations and I've never found one he likes so we don't have one. I keep looking and hoping, though!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? USPS when I get them done in time!! I bought them right before Thanksgiving and haven't started on them yet....what is my problem???

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't really think of anything just awful...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's A Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I got started this year BEFORE Thanksgiving....can ya believe it??? Normally it's the second or third week in December!!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, unless you count the White Elephant gift exchange we did at dh's Christmas party a few years ago!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mother-in-Law's Pumpkin Pie and my grandma's banana bread!

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, what is a tree without lights??? I like white ones that blink!

17. Favorite Christmas song? That too hard to narrow down to 1, how about 3 favorites??? Silent Night, Away in a Manger and Mary, Did You Know?

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel!! It isn't Christmas if we aren't with other family members and they all live everywhere but here!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixon! Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen! But do you recall… the most famous reindeer of aaaaaaaaaall… Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer! I copied from Jolynne, sorry!! I'm not sure I could do or not....

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star....we had an angel for a while but it kept falling over so we got a star instead!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One per person on Christmas Eve, the rest Christmas morning!!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Christmas decorations put out too early. And all the bickering about whether you can say Merry Christmas or not!!??? Come on it's Christmas!! The time of Christ's birth...it's not a holiday it's a HOLY DAY!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love my Victorian Ornaments...but they don't really go with the "family" traditional ornaments, so we usually alternate throughout the years. We have lots of variety....Seseme Street, hockey guys, and your traditional glass balls!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Getting the family together!! Of course that may be a given!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I've told my dh that I want a Wii Fit Complete set...I have to lose this weight and anything that will help, I want it!!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Some Stuff in My Life....

I've been pretty vague on this here blog o'mine for the past few weeks. Things have been a little stressful in our family and I have just been a little too out of sorts to really talk about it, but then this afternoon as I'm sitting here wasting a lovely fall/winter afternoon doing nothing in particular I decided it's time to spill it... Soooo if you don't want to know what's been REALLY happening in my life, just move on. This may take a while, too so feel free to come back when you have more time or just skip it. Few people will really care...and that's ok. This blog is really so I can have a place to rant, ramble, and document stuff.

So....moving on.


The Friday before Thanksgiving I took our 11 1/2 year old Sheltie to the vet. He had all of a sudden decided that That Other Kid's room was the ideal place to pee. Even though he went outside constantly and hasn't done such a thing since he was about 6 months old. At first we didn't think much about it...just deviant behavior from our old-out-of-sorts dog. But, after cleaning up pee in That Other Kid's bedroom for about 3 weeks, I decided he needed to go see the vet....maybe he had something wrong with him that needed to be taken care of.

Boy....was I sadly shocked! The vet couldn't find anything initially wrong with him, but decided to run some blood work on him. His liver counts were out of this world....turns out he was a VERY SICK PUPPY. She gave me some anti-biotics and told me to give them to him and she would call me Monday with the final results from those blood tests. I took him home with me and fed him his lunch, putting the pill in the food. Now keep in mind that this is a dog who BEGS to be fed, every chance he gets. He didn't touch the food and wanted to be outside ALL.THE.TIME! i let him stay outside, giving him water. That night he came in and STILL HE DID NOT EAT!! ALL WEEKEND LONG!! NO FOOD!!! I called the vet Monday, told her he didn't eat, refused meds, etc. She said bring him back the blood work is not good. I bring him back to the vet...and LONG STORY SHORT....Tuesday morning we took him to the vet to be put to sleep. It was a VERY SAD Thanksgiving for our family...

Now that we've had a couple of weeks to adapt the house seems lonely with only our snobby cat. Both boys want a new puppy, but I know I will be the one to potty-train, walk, feed, etc. this new puppy so I said not till spring! I can't deal with all that and cold weather, too...

Moving on...I haven't been feeling all that great, which is hindering my exercise routine, that I had gotten into. I went to the doctor last weekend, because I'm having problems hearing and my ears hurt ALOT!! Not to mention, scratchy throat and sinus headaches. She basically said I have a cold; rest, drink plenty of fluids, and call back if I don't get better....then she charged me $142 because it was the weekend, and they couldn't verify my health insurance benefits. Never mind that they have all my info on file....UGHH...All this while I am trying to lose weight, just doesn't fly well with me. I have to exercise, eat right and feel good....in order to make it happen. This week on Wednesday I have an appointment to see the ENT, maybe he can make me right again.

On the bright side....I have been sleeping BEAUTIFULLY with my CPAP sleep mask! I put it on right before I go to sleep, and I sleep all night long unless someone wakes me!! No getting up to go to the bathroom, no listening to dh snore....just peaceful, deep sleep!! Ah...Now I just need to go to bed earlier...oh well, one step at a time!

Ok...well this is long enough and probably bored everybody to death, but I feel better and it is finally documented....

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Little Disappointed


Well today is the first day to check in for the little WeightLoss thang I'm doing with a bunch of other lovely ladies and men. And I'm sad to say I haven't lost weight in 6 lousy weeks!!! Although on the bright side of this I haven't gained any either...whatever. I can't lose weight if the numbers on the scales never go down.

On the bright side, I went to the gym today with my friend and did 20 minutes on the Stairmaster, which I absolutely HATE!! But I heart her so I did it with her so we don't end up working out together but alone, ya know?? And I watched my food intake VERY closely. I am just under 1800 calories for the day, which is what the doctor has told me to do. So hopefully, next week's weigh in will be better....

How did you do????

Monday, December 1, 2008

No Pain, No Gain

Well good news, bad news! I haven't gained any weight in the past 6 weeks, but I also haven't lost any either....that of course is the BAD NEWS. How am I gonna be in my skinny jeans by Christmas if i haven't lost weight in 6 whole weeks???!! What is my problem??? I'll tell you what my problem is.....I can't stay away from COKES and I'm eating more than the 1800 calories that my doctor told me to eat. Well today I'm going to make an effort at doing better. So far, I'm not doing too great though. I've already had a coke from Sonic and a large order of Popcorn Chicken. Did you know there is VERY LITTLE Chicken in the popcorn chicken??? Who'd a guess, huh???
I started my morning off right with a whole wheat english muffin, with peanut butter, yogurt and some juice. I've figured it at about 500 calories. Lunch was my Sonic splurge...I've yet to look those calories up...but need to before I start on dinner. Which is what I should be doing right now....thinking about cooking a wholesome, healthy dinner. Instead, I'm sitting here on my computer wasting time!! I'm wanting to go to the gym tonight, too. We'll see if I make it...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans



Join us in our weight loss journey. It'll be great to have less fat around our middle for the holidays dontcha think??? You can see what's going on over here.

So far I'm not doing so good so this has gotta help me.....

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Gettin' Ready For Thanksgiving

My friend sent me this hilarious look at Thanksgiving Preparation. I wanted to share it with you. Are you "On-Track" or "Off-Track"??


(1) ON TRACK SCHEDULE

6:00 a.m. Exercise, shower, fix hair and put on make-up.

7:30 a.m. Say prayers, read inspirational material.

8:00 a.m. Make bed, dress, eat cereal, nonfat milk, toast and
fruit, take a walk, and check appearance of the front door.

9:00 a.m. Stuff turkey with stuffing prepared yesterday, have
children set holiday table. (Silver was polished yesterday.) Boil potatoes(they were peeled yesterday and have been soaking in cold water overnight). Make pies (pumpkin filling, apple filling and dough were made yesterday and refrigerated) .

10:00 a.m. Listen to holiday music; check table, centerpiece and
candles. Bake pies. Whip potatoes and set aside to be micro-waved just before serving.

11:00 a.m. Put turkey in the oven.

Noon: Prepare a light meal, soup and salad for family.

1:00 p.m. Call relative long distance, make sure bathroom has toilet
paper, guest towels and soap, (of course it is swished and swiped daily).

2:00 p.m. Make last minute items, such as gravy, heat rolls and
mashed potatoes, put out butter, Jello salads and other refrigerated foods you prepared yesterday and the day before.

3:00 p.m. Doorbell rings. Greet guests, sit down to dinner. Take
small portions and allow 45 minutes to eat. Stop eating before you are stuffed.

4:00 p.m. Have everyone help clear the table and clean up the
kitchen. Sip a low calorie drink or water if you are inclined to snack on leftovers.

5:00 p.m. Take a nice long walk! with family and guests. Build a
snowman or take a ride in the country.

7:00 p.m. Come home and play cards or a board game or watch, It's A
Wonderful Life.

10:00 p.m. Go to bed. Sleep like a baby.

2:00 a.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

6:00 a.m. Wake up refreshed. Weigh yourself. Have a wonderful life!
********************************************

(2) SIDETRACKED SCHEDULE

6:00 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. Leave bed unmade, start meal preparations in pajamas,
discover turkey is not totally thawed, skip breakfast.

10:00 a.m. Polish silver, snack on chips, olives, nuts and dip while
blow-drying the turkey. Put it in the oven with a Cornish Game Hen in the hole because you didn't make a stuffing.

11:00 a.m. Find family room in a mess, start stashing, find tweezers,
start watching, It's A Wonderful Life on television, pluck a few hairs on your knee caps.

Noon Eat more chips and dip, have a beer. Wake up kids, throw
a fit over their messy rooms.

1:00 p.m. Discover you don't have cranberry sauce, throw long coat
on over pajamas (roll legs up so they don't show) head to Minute Mart.

2:00 p.m. Call husband to come and get you because you ran out of
gas. Eat some of the snacks you bought, while you wait. Race home, take a birdbath, throw some clothes on, yell at the kids for not cleaning their rooms. Close the door to yours.

3:00 p.m. Doorbell rings. Greet guests, have husband entertain while
you set the table.

4:00 p.m. Eat like a pig. Have seconds and thirds, pile on butter,
salt heavily, drink several glasses of wine, don't save room for desert but then have it anyway. Tell everyone you'll do the dishes later, drag yourself to the living room and crash on the couch.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

10:00 p.m. Head for the Alka Seltzer, hit the bed and toss and turn.

2:00 a.m. Sneak into the kitchen and fix a turkey sandwich, wash it
down with milk straight out to the carton, polish of the last piece
of pecan pie you bought at Minute Mart.

9:00 a.m. Wake up with a splitting headache, weigh yourself and sulk
all day.


I'm a whole lot closer to "Off Track" than I am "On Track", but I do seem to get better every year....so maybe one day, I'll actually get "On Track"!! Hope your preparations go according to your schedule.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Moms Need More Time!

I just read a great blog entry from Dawn that we all need to read. Go check it our here.

I couldn't agree more....and believe me I need to do better with my time, as is evidenced by the fact that my 2 hours of free time is almost over and I haven't done anything but goof off on the computer! UGH....and I had such high hopes for tonight!

Conversations of A Almost 5 Year Old

I started sending That Other Kid to an AWANAS class at the church that That Kid goes to on Wednesday nights. It has been nice for me...I get a couple of hours where I can do what I want. Usually that means watching goofy tv shows, playing around on the computer, and vegging! What a great 2 hours!!!

This has really been the first "church" experience That Other Kid has had. We haven't really found the church that fits our schedule, and our "style", although we are getting closer to finding "the right one". It has been good for him and it gives the 2 boys an opportunity to spend some time together-- one on one, driving to and from church. We have always been vocal about our belief in God and how good HE is to us, etc. so God/Jesus is not new to him.

Tonight while they were on the way to church That Kid sent me a text message (I'm hoping he sent it while at a traffic light or in the line to get their dinner at Chick-fil-a!) that said,

"That Other Kid said he wished he was god, so he wouldn't have to sleep or eat food!!"

I just started laughing....oh the inconveniences of life!!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Spreading Our Love To the Troops

Big Mama wrote about a great way to support our troops and their families today. I plan to get my Christmas card out this next week. I don't want to miss this opportunity to support our troops and the families that are out there protecting my family!

Please join me.....

Thursday, November 13, 2008

God Lives Under The Bed

I received this email the other day and just looked over it until tonight when I sat down and really read it. I'm been doing a lot of reflecting on my life the past few weeks and this really made me think a little harder. I think it will affect you the same way.


GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and- cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is powerful.

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY

Monday, November 10, 2008

I'm In A Giving Mood

The 50,000 Pairs in 50 Days Challenge

I found out about this great opportunity to help some of the neediest people in the world today from this blog. It's one of the easiest things you can do to help the poorest people, and it's not expensive so even if you are having financial problems you can still help. $5!! that's all it takes to donate 2 pair of shoes to these people! I can't even buy socks for $5 and here they are buying 2 pair of shoes. How great is that???

Sunday, November 9, 2008

College Preview Success

Well That Kid came home yesterday, yeah!! and he was sooooo excited about Abilene Christian College. He LOVED this school. EVERY. SINGLE.THING!! except the cost of it, which is not really his responsibility in my view. Of course, DH feels that $30,000 per year is A LOT OF MONEY!! He went to visit Hardin-Simmons University also and was not all that impressed with it. BUT HE LOVED ACU!!!!

It is a small-medium sized, Christian school with a ton of history and a very good reputation. My only concern with him going to this school is that there is NO ice hockey there. I don't want him to lose the ground he has made in the ice hockey officiating program here in the metroplex. He wants to persue officiating as a career, so I think it would be wise to remain where he can continue reffing while going to college.

Well no decisions need to be made right now, anyway so I guess we will just continue as we are and see where God leads him!

So....my question to you, my readers.....do you have $120,000 just sitting around that you cound send us so we can send our son to a great school??? I'm open to donations!!!

God's Will is what I'm lookin' for. How 'bout you??

Thursday, November 6, 2008

College Preview Weekend

This upcoming weekend That Kid is going off to visit 2 different colleges, Abilene Christian College and Hardin-Simmons University. Due to circumstances beyond my control (That Other Kid, definitely not under control) I'm not able to attend with him like I had planned. He is going with his girlfriend, her sister, and MOST importantly their mom. lol!! I'm sure he will come home full of plenty of information about both colleges. They are both private Christian colleges that I would be thrilled with if he decided to attend. My in-laws live just 20 minutes away from both of these colleges, so he would have grandma and grandpa close by to get a little extra lovin', not to mention they are both small private Christian schools, which I think is important, especially in today's world.

However, realistically I don't really see him attending either school. First off, as an athlete and "typical jock" getting top scores academically has not been a priority for him, so his grades probably aren't considered "in the top 10 percent". Secondly, and probably even more important is that there is NO ICE HOCKEY there, so he would not be able to continue progressing in the field that he wants to persue -- Ice Hockey Official. If he attends college locally, meaning the DFW area, he can continue persuing this career path as well as attend college.

He has talked about attending both UNT and UTA, which from our current location in the metroplex, would take him about 30 - 45minutes to get to college, if he chooses to continue living at home.

Personally, I'm having a hard time accepting that he is 18 years old and is a little more than 6 months away from being ready to attend college full time. It would definitely help this "momma heart" if he attended college locally and continued living at home....However, friends of mine have reminded me that eventually he will leave home to live somewhere else and I do have a little guy who will continue living at home for many years to come....I am definitely grateful for my number 2 blessing, but that doesn't make me want my number 1 blessing to leave any sooner!!

Boy, did I need to read Barb's words this morning.You can read them over at Shannon's. They certainly blessed me, and I figure they will bless many more mommas today, too. Thanks Barb, for those timely words!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Little Bummed

This morning I woke up a bit out of sorts. Ya see, my guy didn't win last night and as That Other Kid said, "The Blues won, we should have played better!" Everything is a competition to him and your team should ALWAYS WIN!! But as the day wore on I realized something that I already knew in my heart....it just had to get through to my head.

God is still in control!!!

Over the next 4 years I believe we need to PRAY like nobody's business for this country and for our new President. Please join me as I pray daily for our country and our new president. I think we are gonna need it!
I finally found a weight loss ticker that I could post on my site. I've been looking for this for a while and I'm pleased that I finally found it. I posted it right up front on top so I could see my progress everytime I get on my blog site. I'm hoping it will become a constant motivation to see it myself and maybe be a motivation to someone else, too.

I haven't done very good the past 6 weeks, but I'm ready to get back on the band wagon and get this weight off. I am tired of being sooooo overweight and not looking good in ANYTHING I wear. I'm hoping that the weight lose ticker will be a motivator.

Today That Other Kid told a little boy he wanted to show him what his daddy looks like, cuz he doesn't have any hair! He's bald! and then he started laughing hysterically! I don't want him to say the say thing about me -- only that I am soo fat!!! I definitely don't want to be the object of a 4 year old's humor!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

ELECTION DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!!

**** Edited to add....That Kid went to the polls and voted!! I'm so pleased that he took advantage of his constitutional right!



Today is the day that most of the country has been waiting for for at least the past 6 months! Today is the day that WE, as a citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, get to VOTE for the next president. Not only do we get to be a part of history but we get to have a voice in this election process.

This is an especially exciting election in our household....That Kid turned 18 this summer so this year he "GETS" to vote. He's not really excited about voting for this year's presidential candidates, I believe his exact words were "who cares?" However, dh and I talked to him last night and convinced him that this is one of his constitutional rights and a sign of being an "adult".... Being an adult is not just having the privilege of coming and going as you please it also means you take responsibility for your actions, and it also allows you to make certain decisions for yourself. But it also allows you to VOTE for our next president!! What a privilege we have in this country!! I just sent him a text telling him where to go to vote! He already knows who we suggested he vote for....but IT IS HIS RIGHT to vote for who he chooses...I just hope he goes and VOTES!!! DH and I voted last week during early voting....It took me about 30 minutes and dh about 45 minutes...and I know lines are going to be long....but isn't it wonderful that we have such freedom in this country that we "GET TO VOTE"??

And don't forget.....we also have the right to PRAY for the election!! I suggest we do that, too. It may be the most important part of the whole process today.

Thank you God for the privilege of voting in this country. I pray that the people of this country step up to the plate and vote for the next president of the United States. I also pray that you guide the hands of those voters to vote for the man who will lead this country for the next 4 years.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hey

Just wanted to check in and say hi...Hope ya'll are having a good week. Just another crazy week in our house. Nothing especially interesting just normal stuff that my life is made of.

A couple of items of interest...I'm sleeping GOOD for the first time in who knows how long and I have energy I never dreamed of. I'm not tired 24/7 and it feels GREAT!! I'm beginning to accomplish some things around here and I'm able to run errands, exercise and be a normal mom.

Monday morning I got up and went to the gym with my friend and walked 2.25 miles!!! That's the most I've gone since I started exercising again the first of September and I probably could have gone more but since I had not exercised all week I decided that I didn't want to overdo it.

After exercising I went home and got the family organized then went to see Fireproof with my friend. If you haven't seen it yet, HURRY to your nearest theater and see it! It is worth the money to see it in the theater. My friend and I both enjoyed it and were convicted to make changes in how we treat our spouses. Later that evening I went to Lifeway and bought the book Love Dare, which is the premise behind the movie. I'm planning to start putting it into practice November 1 and I'm going to sit back and watch the changes that I know God will make happen!

Tuesday I took That Other Kid to karate class and there was a new little boy who joined class. It was nice to see the Little Dragons welcome a new participant in the class. It's also nice to see someone else join the class, since for the past few weeks there have only been 2 boys in the class. There are 2 more kids that have been coming, but they were absent for a few weeks and they are back now, too. Now we have 5 in class! It's good to have that competition and see how these 4, 5, and 6 year olds naturally compete with each other and work together all at the same time!

Today I helped a dear friend pack a few boxes for their upcoming move. They are moving on Saturday and it was bitter-sweet. I don't want to see this wonderful friend move, but her husband has been living and working in the Houston area now for 6 months so they need to get moved so they can be a family again.....but it was hard to see all their things being packed away. I'm truly going to miss them and I know that That Kid will miss their oldest son, as he was the first friend he made that lived in the area once we moved here nearly 5 years ago. They are planning to get together sometime between now and Saturday....I hope it happens! Diane, you will be missed!!!!! I will be praying for you! I love you!

Tomorrow I am planning to go VOTE since Texas has early voting available!! I don't want to take a chance that I might be busy next Tuesday and forget. This election is too important to skip it!Please make plans to Vote!! Remember every Vote counts!!

Well I guess that covers my week...I gotta go to bed...AND SLEEP, YEAH!!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Crazy Busy

That's the best way to describe the last week of my life. So much has happened I didn't even have time to document it! I'll try to give a brief rundown now and then maybe next week it will slow down a little and I can detail it a little...but right now there are no guarantees!

Last Saturday was That Other Kid's last hockey 101 class, which is the last skate class before he could start "actually play"hockey. He passed his class and we signed him up for MINI-MITES, which had already started. They let him join in with a pro-rated price and practice was the next day. Practice is Friday night and Sunday afternoon! So once again I am at the rink 2 times a week! I feel like I'm home again!! I was really missing spending my weekends at the rink....no more!

Progressing through my week....Monday I worked out with my friend and then ran errands. Tuesday was Karate.

Wednesday more errands and I got my CPAP mask so I ACTUALLY am able to SLEEP!! It's really a great feeling to SLEEP....my only problem with it is that I'm so used to NOT sleeping that I'm having trouble getting to bed early enough to actually get enough sleep. DH has been staying up LATE, too so it has been difficult to sleep while he is still working knowing that he is going to be coming to bed soon and waking me up to talk to me and help him go to sleep. I have to work at going to bed earlier. Of course, I have to get off the computer and try to go to bed before midnight!!! But, I AM SLEEPING and I'm beginning to feel rested...after I wake up in the morning.

Thursday a friend of mine needed a ride to the doctor and it happened to be a couple of miles from the ZOO so I took That Other Kid to the zoo! It was a BEAUTIFUL fall day. Temperatures were ideal and we had a great time! When we were done we picked my friend up and went home to veg!

Friday we went to run some errands and then we went to the park in our neighborhood with some homeschool friends. Once again a great fall day!! I went home real fast and got his bike and he got to ride his bike and play frisbee, and football till he was exhausted!
Unfortunately, he had hockey practice that night so he was TIRED and kept falling down during practice. Oh well...I'll remember not to exhaust him on Fridays!

Saturday....didn't do anything!! It was kindof refreshing!!

Today, That Kid worked all day....I think he worked 6 games today and 6 games yesterday. Busy, busy, busy!!! That Other Kid went to hockey practice and then we came home and went to 2 fall festivals! The first one was a flop...it was just down the street at the school and it was a real bummer. The second one was WONDERFUL and it was at a church not too far away! There were bounce houses, candy galore, and games for little kids, not to mention food! and it was ALL FREE!!! I was very pleased!

We came home and he took a bath and went to bed with no argument! I need to do laundry....fold, and hang, but instead I sit here vegging on the computer!! Oh well, now I'm gonna go to bed and SLEEP! YEAH....maybe I'll get close to 8 hours tonight!!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tiny Talk Tuesday



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting! If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor! Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.


Today was just another day in our house....lots of errands, Karate practice, and a couple of hours of play for That Other Kid and a little veg time for mom at the gym. I just didn't have it in me to exercise, so I didn't! I sat in the locker room and read a great book by Karen Kingsbury. I'll tell you more about that another day. For tonight I want to tell you about the thoughts and conversations going on today with me and That Other Kid. They were quiet interesting...

That Other Kid -- "I got lots magicnations!" (imagination)
That Kid replied -- "No, I got lots magicnations!"
That Other Kid -- "Mommy, who gots more magicnations???"
Me -- I couldn't reply! Why??, cuz I was laughing too much!!

That Other Kid while riding around today told me, "I wanna be a daddy when I grow up, so I can live with you forever and sleep with you forever, like daddy does!"
I had to tell him he would make a great daddy when he grows up, but he would want to live with his wife and kids, not mommy and daddy.
He didn't really like that idea too much....I'll have to remind him of this conversation in about 15 years!

And our last conversation of the day that brought laughter to my spirit....(while he was in the bathroom)
That Kid "Close the door when you use the bathroom!"
That Other Kid, "I can't close the door, I already got my first poop and I can't get off the toilet and get poop everywhere!"

Well that was our day! How was yours???

Friday, October 17, 2008

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month...I'm sure most people in this country know that by now, but my question is what are you doing to help with awareness? Do you ever talk to people about the ways you can avoid Breast Cancer? Do you ever do self-exams? What about the dreaded "mammogram"? It just takes a few minutes of our time....and they BOTH SAVE LIVES!!!

For the past couple of years I have been a supporter of the "Click to Give" Program through the American Breast Cancer Society. It's easy! They send me an email every morning and I click the link and I help women get mammograms who can't afford them. It takes me about 2 minutes every morning. Would you be willing to join in with me and many other women who "click every day"? Here is their link...

you can sign up for reminder emails so you don't forget to click!
Please help someone get a mammogram, who knows it could save their life!! Maybe even your own...just something to think about on this lovely Friday afternoon.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

In The Trenches....

Not literally, but that's the way I feel.

I've been sick this week with the cold/flu that dh so graciously gave me. As I said before, thanks for sharing, dh!

The first 2 weeks of October I ran errands and went to the doctor, or various activites every day, that kept me from exercising, except for 1 day out of 14. Last Monday afternoon I pinched a nerve in my back and that got me so out of whack that there were several days of the week I couldn't even move off the couch or bed without pain and I mean major pain. That got me down in the dumps....depressed.

In September I was really getting into exercise. Actually enjoying it....I know enjoy exercise scary, right?

This week I was planning to hit the gym running so to speak. I was going to meet my friend there and do her entire workout....which is tough, compared to mine! Then I woke up miserable. Achey, tired, stuffed nose....you get the idea!

I'm starting to feel pretty good...I would say I'm back to about 80%
of normal, so the plan is to start working out again next week. I'm looking forward to it and I know THAT OTHER KID is looking forward to it. He is sooooo bored at home. He has no one to play with, and all the kids in the neighborhood are older and in "real" school so there is no one to be wild with. He LOVES going to the gym. He gets to RUN, play games, play sports galore, and be with "friends"....kids he may or may not get to see on a regular basis, but he knows no stranger and everyone is a friend so it doesn't matter, EVERYONE is his friend!

So....this is my excuse for being in the trenches of life. I want to pull out of it! I want to get back to my new NORMAL, working out in the morning, coming home to a HEALTHY lunch, and taking care of chores, errands, and working with That Other Kid on his pre-school books. I also want to be available to help That Kid with his classes, should he actually need it.

I want to be healthy enough to be a benefit, not a hindrance to my kids and not feel that I am living in the trenches of life. I'm sure you understand what I am talking about if you are a mom, right??

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Not Worth Much


My blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?



Apparently my worthless blather is really not worth much in the "blogging business world". Not that I care all that much but I thought my thoughts would be worth a little more than that. Not to mention MY PRICELESS CHILDREN's antics....now they alone are worth more than that, don'tcha think??

I found this over at one of my favorite reads A Chelsea Morning. If you've never stopped by you should....I guarantee you'll go back time and time again.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Tiny Talk Tuesday



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting! If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor! Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.

When you have 2 children in the same house who are 13 1/2 years apart the little one sometimes feels left out of "grown-up" activities. This has been the case lately in our house....

That Other Kid has decided he doesn't want to be the "second child", he wants to be the "first child", so he has "demoted" That Kid. He now calls himself the first child, so deemed as "That Kid" and our 18 year old is now supposed to be "That Other Kid"....it is rarely amusing that he doesn't want to be the "other" kid...don'tcha think??

That Other Kid has gone through a major growth spurt the past couple of months and everytime we went somewhere in the carseat he would complain that it was too tight. So since he has met the 2 major criteria for no longer being in a "car seat with harness belt" I removed the harness belts and he is in the car seat/booster seat using just the "grown-up seat belt"! He told me today that he is a "grown-up" when he is in the car now since he has a "grown-up seat belt"!

Well not quiet, little man but the day is coming sooner than I will be ready....that's for sure!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Thank You, DH

Ya know, in marriage you share all kinds of things. The ups and downs of life. You also get to share colds and flus!! Oh, thanks so much.....I now have a cold/flu bug and all I've done today is sit on the couch and blow my nose and surf the internet. What a miserable way to spend a holiday!

On a happier note...I did my sleep study with the CPAP mask and SLEPT ... in REM sleep for a good part of 6 hours Saturday night, Sunday morning. I will now wait for the doctor to order MY OWN MASK, so I can sleep at home in my own bed. Wow!! I can hardly wait for this mask to arrive. I will be able to really sleep, then I will start feeling well enough to exercise and take better care of myself. I'm sooooo excited. And my tech for the night was a Christian and super friendly!! It turned out to be a great night!

Greatest Video Ever!!

Someone on my homeschool list sent this video out this morning. I immediately clicked on it and FELL IN LOVE with it....It is definitely worth the few minutes it took to watch. Make sure you have the sound up....God is GOOD!!



Saturday, October 11, 2008

A Night Away From Home

Tonight I will go for my 2nd sleep study and I'll be tested with a CPAP mask. This mask is supposed to ensure that I breathe and sleep at the same time:) which is a good thing! I'm excited that I will be able to finally sleep and really rest with this mask, but I have some concerns for being gone tonight.

This weekend is a holiday weekend, so that means that there are TONS of hockey games to officiate. That Kid is working tonight and won't be home till about 9:45 and that's if the games are on time and he comes straight home.

That Other Kid doesn't do well if mommy isn't here! He needs his mommy to spend time putting him to bed, reading a story, getting medicine and all the other "mommy comforts". So...I'm going to attempt to put him to bed BEFORE I leave at 8 p.m. His normal bedtime is 9 p.m., so I'm hoping he'll be able to go to sleep an hour early and STAY asleep till morning!

I'm sure I'll sleep GREAT....that is if I can NOT worry about everybody at home!! Prayers will be greatly appreciated!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Pumpkin Patch

I told you yesterday that I am getting into Fall this year. Today was a prime example of that! We went to a Pumpkin Patch that is near our house. We have lived in this house nearly 5 years and I have always wanted to go. The owners of the pumpkin patch are Christians and support a local charity with all their proceeds. Something always keeps us from going....but not this year. My friend and her mom, who is in town on vacation, and I went with our little guys and we all had fun. They had a hayride, pumpkins for sale, bounce houses, a hay maze and a little bit of everything. It was a nice way to spend a fall morning...then we went to MickeyD's for lunch! What a great way to round off the day.

Once again I remembered the camera! I'm on a roll now!! Let's see if I can keep it up....I'm not counting on it, but hey I can dream, right??


I'm so tuff!!


Look at that beautiful clear blue sky!! It's why I LOVE Texas!!


Gosh, the sun is bright!!!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

New Background

I'm not one to really get excited about the changing of seasons usually, but this year seems to be different. Fall is starting to show its colors...slowly! We are able to be outside to enjoy the weather a little more often...and I'm enjoying that! We are in are in North Texas and it's still warm enough in the afternoons to use the air conditioner. By about 7 p.m. we can turn it off, and leave it off till about noon the next day.

I'm looking forward to the cooler weather and the upcoming holidays!
In light of this I decided I wanted something different....

When I saw the new template over at Sarah's I thought it would be fun to try a new blog template for fall. I went through them all and found I like this one.

Hope you like it too!!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Time to Boast

That Kid has been playing ice hockey now for about 10 years. About 4 years ago he decided he probably wasn't going anywhere with playing hockey so he thought he would try officiating. He started out in the program the fall that he was 14 (4 years ago). He went through a hockey season being "trained". During this training session he officiated with high level officials who had been working all levels of hockey. Once he was finished working this training season, he was free to work as many games as he wanted as long as they were youth leagues, with players younger than he was. Over the past 3 years he has worked hard to improve himself and become a better referee. This weekend his hard work paid off.

He was asked to attend a program, along with 2 other young men, where he met NHL Officials. Not only did they meet them, but they got to have a Q & A with these men. How do they advance? What programs should they seek out to advance?? etc., It was definitely a chance of a lifetime!

He not only got to have this Q & A, but he went out on the ICE with them, during the warm-up between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. He talked with the goalie for the Edmonton Oilers and skated with the NHL Officials. After skating the warm-up, they did the National Anthem with the 2 teams and the Officials. After this they left the ice, watched the game, then went down to the locker room with the officials and questioned them about the calls for the game.

What a wonderful opportunity!! And of course, I documented it!!






Entering the ice with NHL Officials



Talking with the Goalie from the Edmonton Oilers.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Healthy Dose of Reality

This afternoon That Kid got a healthy dose of reality...He has been on our cell phone plan now for about 4 years. He pays us about $30 a month for the privilege of having this cell phone, which covers the Text Message Plan, that he uses almost exclusively. He doesn't like that I monitor his phone use, block some people from being able to communicate with him on this phone, and block the phone from ANY use during the hours he is in his college classes and his math class.

He complains about the fact that he is "an adult" so he should be able to talk to whoever, whenever he wants. My argument is that these are "high school classes" and he needs to be more responsible with his phone usage. This includes NOT TEXTING while he DRIVES....which is why he wrecked our truck, and cost himself $500 to pay the insurance deductible. Basically I am trying to get him to ACT like the adult he claims HE IS!! He may be an adult by age, but he is still acting like a "child", therefore I treat him like a child!

Anywho....he decided he has had enough of all my "butting into his bizness" in regards to his cell phone. He went down to the local Cingular Phone store and tried to get his own cell phone account with a new phone. He came out of there realizing that he doesn't have it so bad. They were going to charge him nearly $1000 to open his own account! Not to mention the cheapest plan he could get with UNLIMITED TEXTING would cost him $60 plus taxes per month! The reason for this outrageous expense? He has NO CREDIT! He is 18, living at home, with a job that he is paid as a sub-contractor! The car he drives, is paid for by us and is from his grandfather!

I realize I should have felt sorry for him, but in reality I was pleased that he wasn't able to open his own account. Not because I don't want him to have his own account, but because it is foolish to spend that kind of money every month, unnecessarily. If he were living on his own, earning a consistent income, and not going to school full time, that would be different. But his reason for getting his own account is so I can't monitor it...well there you go-- a little dose of reality! If someone else foots the bill, someone else gets the privileges and the power!!

I am glad I wasn't the "BAD GUY" this time!! Sometimes reality sucks and sometimes reality is GOOD...this time it was GOOD!!!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A Doctor's Report

I went to the Endocronologist this morning....and got some info that will help me feel better so that I can be a better mom, wife, and member of society.

First of all ... I lost 7 pounds since September 4th and he was very pleased about that. I am happy, but it's only about half my goal so I want to do better. That means hitting the gym more, and the fruits and veggies more. The couch, less!!

Secondly, I have a VERY BAD case of sleep apnea. It's so bad that I wake myself an average of 58 times an HOUR!!!! That means I'm getting VERY little REM sleep every night. I have to go back to the sleep study place and get a CPAP mask, which I will do a week from Friday night. Once I have this mask I will actually get a FULL night of sleep! I can hardly wait!! What will I feel like, after getting a REAL night of sleep??? A new woman, no doubt!

The doctor also informed me that I am VERY deficient in Vitamin D, which is also contributing to my tiredness. He gave me a prescription for a MEGA Vitamin D tablet and told me to "go outside"!! So we will be spending lots of time outside this fall, which will make That Other Kid so happy!!

My glucose levels were "a little high", but he told me as long as I continue eating better and exercising and losing weight those will come into line.

I go back in December and he will run another set of blood tests, to make sure things are going good and to see if I am feeling better after the sleep apnea is being treated.

I can't wait!! and hopefully by then I will weigh a lot less!! My goal for October is to work out 4 or 5 days a week and eat 30 grams of fiber per day, with lots of fruits and veggies, and very little JUNK!! If I accomplish theses goals then I should be able to lose between 10 and 15 pounds. 15 pounds is what I really want to lose per month, but I've been told that is kind of a lofty goal! We'll see....

So, my health is slowly improving....and I have some answers!! Yeah!!

How are you feeling?? Please tell me!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Tiny Talk -- Karate Version



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting! If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor! Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.



That Other Kid had his first belt test for Karate Friday night. He had sooooo much to say after and during his test. He was sooo proud of himself for managing to get past this first milestone. I'm pretty proud of him myself! Here are a couple of the videos that I took...




Monday, September 29, 2008

My Karate Kid



Before Yellow Belt Test



After Yellow Belt Test







He's sooooo proud!!! and now he can't wait to get his Orange Belt!

This was Friday night. Everyone he sees or talks to is shown his Yellow Belt....even people who could care less! or know absolutely NOTHING about Karate! He can not wait for his first class as a Yellow Belt tomorrow afternoon...Tomorrow morning will probably be very LONG!!! Probably a good time to go to the gym and work out and let him play in the child center and drive them all crazy talking about his "Yellow Belt"! I'm all about sharing the love!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sometimes I Just Wanna Give Up...

Ya know the kind of day I'm talking about, don'tcha? The days where you think, maybe I should have stayed in bed. There's nothing really "wrong" but yet there are sooo many things that are wrong. That's the kind of day I'm having. I can't really describe it. It just is one of those kinds of days.

It's a lazy Sunday....I cleaned the hall bathroom. It's only needed it for 3 or 4 weeks. I still have the master bathroom to clean. I probably won't get it done. I don't think I have it in me.

I fixed burgers on the grill for dinner. That Other Kid is eating a bag of Ruffles, instead of eating the burger he "promised" he would eat. That Kid is working all day...been gone since before I got up at 8 a.m. and still not home at 6:30. When he comes home at 9:30 or 10 p.m. tonight he'll be tired and hungry.

That Kid informed me last night that he needs new ice skates. That's another $400+ that we need to come up with! He needs them so he can earn money....of which he owes us a bunch of! What's a girl to do???? AGH!! yeah, like that's gonna help!

I know alot of others have it A LOT worse. The economy stinks, the gas prices stink, kids are over in Iraq or Iran fighting for our freedom to moan and groan. Wall Street is a mess. The Government and President Bush are trying to keep this country from going down the tubes.... etc., etc., etc., but tonight I feel like groaning and whining a little and since this is my blog I have that right!

Ok, so enough moaning and groaning from me....Thanks for listening!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tiny Talk Tuesday



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting!

If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor!

Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.

This week I took That Other Kid to Walmart with me and I bought him a "prize" for behaving while we were there...I'm easy to bribe! But I was only willing to spend about $20 so he was limited to what he could choose. Some of the items he wanted were pricey...like $35+. I told him these "big toys" had to wait for his birthday or Christmas.

Then he asked, "how many sleeps till my birthday and I'm a big boy like my friend?" I told him about "90 more sleeps"...."Oh that's too long to wait to be 5 years old."

Oh it does sound like a lot, but I know it will be here before we know it! My baby will be a big boy sooner than I will want it to happen...

Tonight I went to a college fair with That Kid, so daddy and That Other Kid got to spend the evening together. When I walked in a full 30 minutes past his normal bedtime, he ran to me and told me he "missed me so much". Daddy had just finished reading his story, so all I had to do was brush teeth and do "pats", which is the way I help him go to sleep. It felt good to get out for a few hours, but it was nice to be "missed"!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

No Wonder I Have No Traffic on My Blog

I apparently never write here anymore....I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted something. I guess that just goes to show you how boring, mundane and not exciting my life has been this past week.

I've been going to the gym as often as I can. I went 3 times last week, and I'm going to try for 4 or maybe even 5 this week. I have been doing pretty well with watching my food intake and it has paid off, with 2 more pounds missing from this "obese" body of mine. That is what the doctor calls it, and I have to say I agree. Anyone who needs to lose 75 pounds just to get within the top of her weight range is definitely "obese".

I did a sleep study Friday night to try to determine why I am always tired....no matter how much sleep I get. They hooked me up to 22 wires and watched me sleep. How boring for this poor lady! I felt sorry for her, just sitting there all night long watching these 2 tv monitors waiting for me to do something exciting! I am looking forward to the results of the test, which I will get on October 1! The sleep study was nice in that I got to sleep in bed all by myself with no interuptions except for when I had to go the bathroom. Of course, they wanted me to go to sleep at like 10 p.m. and wake up at 5 a.m. which was a big drag....not exactly my normal hours, but oh well!

I walked on the treadmill and the elipitical machine at the gym and went 1.66 miles today. That is, so far, the most I have done since I started exercising again. But I need to bump it up....my soon to be 71 year old dad, who just underwent colon cancer surgery in July, he started back to walking a couple of weeks ago and he walked 2 miles Sunday.....so what is my problem??? Don't answer that! I already know....I'm FAT!!! He's not!!! So maybe by the end of the week I'll be able to do 2 miles....I also need to add some weights to my routine, but I just haven't done it yet. This is a process and I'm still working out the kinks!

Ok...so I'm rambled enough for now and I need to go to bed, so I'll try to write more often this week so maybe somebody will come read about what's going on in my little world. Hope you have a good week!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Random Stuff

First bit of randomness...I rented a Wii video game for That Other Kid yesterday and I've barely heard him whine, complain or ask for anything other than to read the captions on the game since then. He has played it for about 6 hours so far....3 hours last night and about 3 hours today, so far. He still has about an hour left of play time in today, so I suppose we will be up to a total of 7 hours in the 2 days....He is never this focused on anything, so I'm thrilled that something has caught his interest. It's definately a keeper....Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. If you have a young Star Wars fan, I highly recommend it. I think I remember hearing about this game from BooMama so since Star Wars is a big thing in our house right now I thought it would be worth renting the game, and Let me tell you IT IS WONDERFUL! It has thoroughly kept him entertained this weekend, what with all the rain and wind from hurricane Ike yesterday...and the lazy momma today (even though the weather is ideal to be out and about) I'm gonna have to shell out $50 for this game, ohyesIam! Anything that keeps him entertained for more than 30 minutes is a definate winner in our house!!

Next piece of random info....That Kid had to ref 2 hockey games this afternoon and since I am having a bit of hockey withdrawal I decided to tag along, watch some hockey and watch him ref, which I haven't done in a while. The first game was pretty interesting. It was 15 and 16 year olds and these guys spent more time in the penalty box than on the ice. (If you are not familiar with hockey, the penalty box is where the refs send you for being a "bad boy")!
At one point during the game there were 3 or 4 guys in the penalty box on each side... so there were more guys in the box than on the bench waiting for their turn to play! It was definately different to watch not really rooting for either side, even though I knew who I wanted to win;) There were some younger players from one of the organzations that were screaming and being obnoxious and I just wanted to slap these boys around....They were really being pests, but it was fun to listen to them when That Kid called a penalty on one of the players. If it was someone from their side it was the worst call ever, if it was someone from the other side it was the best call ever made. It was all very humorous from where I sat, being an "unbiased" spectator.

On to the last bit of randomness for tonight...DH and That Kid like to watch the Simpsons cartoon on tv. Whether you like the show or not, or have ever watched it I'm sure everyone knows who Bart is. Anywho, dh is always referring to various quotes that he says and he gets stuck on them and repeats them over and over again. He is stuck on one right now and has gotten That Other Kid to say it....although I don't like to admit it, it does seem to fit him in this stage of his childhood. "I didn't do it! You didn't see me! You can't prove anything!"

I think I'll go with this quote myself....I think we all need to be a sarcastic sometimes, don't you???

Thursday, September 11, 2008

New Update on Dad

I talked to my dad tonight and he is doing good. He went to the oncologist that has been treating him for the cancer, and he has to undergo another round of Chemo. This round starts this coming Tuesday and will last a total of 8 weeks. He will go in on Tuesday, get the treatment and come home with the chemo bag. He will wear it till Thursday then go in and get it removed. The following week he will have a break, then he will repeat the process 3 more times. After this round of chemo he will have another surgery and hopefully, he will be done. I guess we will know more in a couple of months. This takes us into the first part of November, so I'm hoping that he will be done with this before the Thanksgiving/Christmas season.

He is in good spirits even though we thought he was already done with it all. He started walking again, and today he walked a mile at the gym, so I need to start increasing my time so I can say I walked more than my dad, who will be 71 years young in just a couple of weeks!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Let's Continue to Pray

Back in May we all found it hard to believe the Stephen Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter was killed in a tragic accident. I can't even imagine the pain that family has had to endure over the past few months. I don't usually keep up with the morning news shows, but someone on my email loops told me that he was going to be on the CBS Early Show. Of course, I didn't turn the tv on this morning to watch it, but it was online so I thought you might want to watch it, too. It's almost 10 minutes long so make sure you have a few minutes to watch it.





Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Tiny Talk Tuesday



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting!

If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor!

Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.

This week we have been talking a lot about the "bigness" of God! Of course, to a 4 year old it's a little difficult to explain the omnipresence of God.

That Other Kid said, "Mommy how big is God?"

Me, "God is bigger than anything!"

That Other Kid, "Bigger than daddy."

Me, "Yes, God is bigger than daddy."

That Other Kid, "Wow, that's really big, huh?"

Me, "Yes."

A few minutes later we were getting in the car to go to karate class which he absolutely LOVES, and he asked me if God would be mad at us if he didn't wear the "seat belts" in his car seat. I told him that "God would not be mad, but he would be VERY disappointed in mommy for not keeping you safe." He seemed satisfied in that response and let me buckle him properly.

I tell you this child is keeping me on my toes....even at 4. What's he gonna be like as a teenager????

Friday, September 5, 2008

Good News/Bad News

Ok, don't you hate it when someone starts a conversation saying that they have good news and bad news, which do you want first???

Well, of course, you want to hear the good news first...this buffers any blows that the bad news could cause. So without further ado, here is my GOOD NEWS!!!

I have worked out at the gym 5 days this week as well as watching very carefully what I have been eating and drinking. I only had one 32 ounce coke this week, which is probably a true testament to my will power this week. All that hard work and dedication has paid off --- I LOST 4 pounds and 4 ounces since Monday morning!!! thankyouverymuch!!!

Ok, now on to the bad news....That Kid had a wreck in our truck this afternoon. HE WAS NOT HURT and the car that he hit took off as fast as he could possibly go....so we are guessing he had no insurance, so it falls back to our insurance. So that's 2 wrecks and 4 speeding tickets he's had in the 2 years of driving....What do you think that's gonna do to our insurance premiums?????? So I got to deal with the insurance company, car rental place, tow trucks, etc. this afternoon. Sounds fun, NOT!! Monday I will have to contact the repair shop to get the truck fixed. We aren't really in a big hurry to get the truck fixed though, cuz the car rental place goofed up and gave us a Nissan Xterra to drive while we are getting our car fixed....and I guarantee you this truck is MUCH nicer and newer than ours!

Well hope you guys all have a good weekend...I plan to do some driving around this weekend in the Xterra!!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Politics....

usually scare me! I'm such a chicken. I don't like to think about them and I definitely don't like to get involved in the politicians. I just like to follow my party to the polls and trust God to make sure the guys I vote for do what they say they are going to do. I usually don't even watch the Big News...just the local stuff to keep up with the weather and make sure my neighborhood is not going down the tubes, ya know what I mean, I'm sure.

I have sooooo much on my plate that I don't have time to track what so and so is doing or saying or not saying or not doing. I almost always start paying attention when it is near election time and this year is no different. Or wait it is different! We have a historical election in front of us. History in the making, yessir or 'mam in this case!.

I just finished watching the Republican Convention where Sarah Palin spoke. In case you have been in a bubble the past week, she's the vice-presidential candidate for John McCain. I have been hearing alot about her this week and EVERYTHING I have heard I absolutely LOVE! She is TOUGH, but she is LOVING, she is a Christian and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. She is eloquent and beautiful. AND she's a MOM!! Gotta love her!! I picture her sitting down after the kids are in bed, watching tv with her loving husband with her laptop and writing out her thoughts, just like so many other moms. Maybe she doesn't use a blog to do it with, or maybe she does, I haven't really checked it out,....but I think we all know if she can give birth to 5 children, live in ALASKA, and stand up to the liberal media with grace she can be Vice-President!!!!

And on a personal note, as a hockey mom I love her quote for the day, "The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is LIPSTICK!!!" Ya gotta love audacity like that, now dontcha?

Ok....on to other news that isn't really newsworthy to the media!
My dad is recovering nicely from his colon cancer surgery that was just 5 weeks ago and the doctor has given him permission to start walking again, so I need to get a move on it if I plan to better him!

I started working out again at the gym and I set some pretty high goals for myself. I want to lose 60 pounds by Christmas, that 15 pounds a month... I'm working out gradually, starting with just 1 mile a day on the treadmill or eliptical machine. So far, so good. Except I have been experiencing calf cramps every day. I talked to a trainer today and he said it is probably from my seditary lifestyle and it's forcing my muscles to wake up and work. They are protesting!!! Well let me tell you they can just go ahead and protest....I'm not quitting!!! I have to get this weight off! I have children to care for...and a whole life ahead of me to live!!!

I also went to an endocronologist today and he is running a TON of tests to help get my metabolism in line. This should help tremendously as should the diet plan he gave me. He also suggested I start on Weight Watchers so I have to research that some to find out what I need to do to get started. With all this help and the exercise that I started on this week I WILL LOSE WEIGHT!!!

One more thing before I go off to bed.....I told That Other Kid that we were going to be going to the gym almost everyday so I could exercise and he could play with his friends there. He wanted to know why I wanted to exercise so I told him I wanted to get "skinny". He didn't understand what that was so then I told him I wanted to get "littler". He said he liked me "BIG" and that if I got littler then he would be bigger than me and then I couldn't carry him or play with him...he was talking about hieght...I was talking about thinness!!! This really cracked me up...for some reason. So today we went to the gym and he asked me if I was littler yet!! Not yet, but SOON, SOON!!!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Wow, Time Passes Fast

It seems like it was just a day or two since I posted but no, it's been almost a whole week...Sorry! I guess I have been busier than I thought. I do have some great video to show you of That Other Kid's first hockey class. He was soooo cute and I was so proud of him. He worked so hard. The class is 45 minutes long and he had to skate from one end of the rink to the other numerous times. He was pretty tired by the time it was all over. He was the youngest, smallest one out there but he didn't let that stop him. At one point the kids were skating backwards and one of his classmates from the previous session fell down and he said, "hey dude are you ok?" He was loud enough to be heard all over the rink. It cracked me up! So compassionate! Here are a few pictures from this weekend. Enjoy!!


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tiny Talk Tuesday



Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting!

If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor!

Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.

I haven't participated in this in a while, not that I haven't had plenty to say (or rather That Other Kid), but I have been busy and forgotten about it till Wendesdays or just decided not to do it.

Anywhooooo, today was our first day of SCHOOL. That Kid went off to Dual Credit College classes for his senior year and That Other Kid and I started working on some Pre-K/Kindergarten stuff. We went to Chick-fil-a for lunch and we got a great "toy" in his lunch. It was a bunch of cards with pictures/words and you were to choose some cards and create a story using the pictures. I thought it would be a great exercise in using his creativity. At first he didn't want to, but I kept encouraging him to give it a try. These are 2 of his stories:


1)The bear walk-ed to the car so he could drive to school and he made a call on his cell phone to his teacher, but the radio was too loud so he couldn’t talk to the teacher. So he just went all the way home and called out “I’m home!”.

2)One day the bear driv-ed all the way to the airport so he could ride a airplane but he couldn’t ride the airplane cuz they landed on the mountain and it burned his eyes and he couldn’t see.

Monday, August 25, 2008

My First Post School Poem

I always hated writing poetry while in school so I never did it unless I absolutely had to but today I thought I would try my hand at it again....Shannon from Rocks In My Dryer is holding a Haiku contest and I entered this little poem in it. Hope you are adapting to school days better than me!


That Kid startin' school
That Other Kid startin' too
Both sides of school scene!

Dual Credit College
and Pre-K for my babies,
time sure flies for me!

That Kid almost done
That Other Kid just startin'
Oh where does time go??

Sunday, August 24, 2008

School is Starting

For the kids around here school starts tomorrow morning bright and early 8 a.m. or there abouts. For our family the start of the new school year has never been a dramatic thing. As a homeschooling family we usually do school year round, with a lighter load in the summer months. This year is different!!!

This is That Kid's SENIOR year and as a senior he has earned the right (in our system of rules) to attend Dual Credit College Classes at the local community college. Homeschoolers, like other high school students 16 and older, with the approval of the student's teachers and administrator (ME, in both cases!!!), are allowed to take up to 2 college classes per semester and earn high school credits as well as college credits as long as they pass the entrance exam or do well with their SAT's and maintain a "C" average throughout the courses. Well the first criteria have been met -- he is now 18, passed the entrance exam and has signed up for his 2 classes for the semester. He is taking classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so he will start Tuesday morning! He is excited to finally go to a "real school" and I am excited that I have MUCH less responsibility for his school work! He will be taking a math class on Monday mornings -- outsourced also! but he will be doing 3 classes here at home. He will be a BUSY BEE, but I believe it will be a good year. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS will be the key to success for him this year!!

So, you ask with all this "spare time" on your hands what will you do with yourself???...OH, that has been taken care of...you see That Other Kid WANTS to do school too, so we will be doing a relaxed PRE-K/Kindergarten with him. We will do most of the school work while big brother is gone, so we will not be a distraction to him when he is here, and we will try to find things to do, places to go while he is here so he can give his full attention to his studies...not that I am a fool and believe he will actually use this time, but at least his brother won't be an excuse!!

Anyhooo, hope your school year starts with BIG SUCCESS, whether you are just starting your school adventure or are finishing up!! Or maybe you are doing both, like me!!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Disappointed 4 year old

Today we got up and did our normal morning routine, then excitedly drove the 15 miles to the ice rink where That Other Kid was supposed to start his HOCKEY CLASS ...we got COMPLETELY dressed in gear...from HELMET TO SKATES, taking some 20 minutes. We walked up to the skate counter to get his name tag for class and lo and behold, class doesn't start till NEXT week. I read the date wrong on the brochure and the lady who actually did the paper work told me the wrong date. He was soooooo bummed. He was allowed to go out on the ice if he wanted, but he couldn't take his BRAND NEW stick so what's the fun in that????, so a friend of ours from a previous hockey season of That Kid's played hockey in the rink area with him...They were not on ice but he had fun anyway. Our friend really saved the day!!!

Sooooo, I guess next week we will do it all over again and hopefully, there will not be any glitches. I don't think I could handle that!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Proud Hockey Mom

I believe I've mentioned a few times that I am a proud momma of 2 hockey playing boys. One big, rough and tumble hard core player and one just starting out...still taking skating lessons. Well this weekend That Other Kid starts taking the beginning HOCKEY Class - it's called Hockey 101 and he is to show up in FULL GEAR! Well let me tell you I had FUN buying hockey gear for my little 4 year old. Keep in mind - he is a whole 40 1/2 inches tall! So you can imagine the difficulties in finding hockey gear in his size! Well we managed it....although the jersey is BIG (as in HUGE) and the hockey socks that cover the shin guards are HUGE also....but we can adapt! He looks sooooo cute I just couldn't resist a handful of pictures....and you can be sure there will be A LOT MORE this weekend!