Ready for a Routine

I have been out of school for nearly a month.  I am going stir crazy.  I really like having a routine in my life.  Brian starts school and his new job on Monday, and the girls go back to school that day too.  I can totally say I am ready.  I am working on posting pics on here.  I promise.

To top it all off!

If anyone knows me well, they know I have serious issues with cracks in couches.  Dont ask why, it's a long story.  Anyhoo, I pushed "publish post" to my previous post and the worst thing ever happened!!! I am potty training my 2 year old Garrett and he says "momma, potty on a toilet", I jump up, get all excited and start to rush him into the bathroom.  We didnt make it far, I realize the whole left side of his jammies are soaked.  He shot straight outside of the pull up, the thing wasnt even wet!  That's not the worst part, he soaked the back of the couch and all the way to the back of the couch THROUGH the cracks.  A big ol puddle of wet stuff under the back cushion.  I just about had a heart attack reaching to clean it up.  I am SO thankful I have leather couches, fabric ones would have been to much for me to handle.  I need a soak in a hot bath.

Oh, and this post is for Barb, my MIL.  I can just hear her laughing at me through the computer.  Love ya.

In a whirlwind of emotion

I cannot stand conflict.  I hate every minute of it.  Whether I am right, and I know it......or I am wrong.  I hate the knots I get in my stomach and I start going over each and every detail of what went wrong.  I dont like hurting people or seeing them hurt.  Maybe it was the way I grew up, in constant tension, never knowing what arguement would rear it's ugly head.  I guess I am a people pleaser at heart, which could be a good or bad thing.  I do not want another bout with bleeding ulcers and migraines.  I am so thankful I dont have to do anything on my own..........God will help me and my family every step of the way.

A shout out to Aunt Marcheeta!

We received an amazing package today that my babies were so excited about!  Thank you for all the very cool toys AND the child sized snuggie's.  Now if I can just find one for Brian and I, we all could match.  Although, I will probably have to force Brian to wear his LOL.....

A Holiday Re-Cap

We had a great Christmas this year.  As I posted earlier, we went down to my parents house and stayed the night.  Luckily we were able to drive ourselves down, the weather warmed up a bit.  We made a big dinner on Christmas eve and did a small gift exchange.  It's a rare thing when all of us kids and families can be together in one house, so it was nice just to hang out with them.  We came back home late on Christmas Eve.  We didnt get around to making the cake, but we did read the Christmas story from the bible and talk about the true meaning of Christmas.  My kids must have been worn out because they slept in on Christmas morning til 9:30!!! Ok, that was probably their Christmas gift to us LOL.  We had some friends over for an early dinner of beef stew and homemade bread.  I was just so tired of turkey and ham.  We capped the night off with board games and snacks. 

We have always had to be frugal, it's been our decision for me to stay home with the kids. I just cant see sending my babies off to someone else, while in the end I am bringing home 2 dollars an hour after childcare costs.  I am thankful for this, and I know my kids will be too.......even if it's later in life.  I said to say this: my God cares about the small things too.  My girls had a list of stuff they wanted, but we couldnt get them everything.  (and to be honest, I dont think it's a great idea to get a kid everything they want...but that's another post)  BUT between ninny and papa(Brian's mom and dad) and gramma and papa(my parents) and aunt Gloria.....my kids were blessed beyond measure.  A sincere Thank You to you guys.  It truly blesses a momma's heart when her kids are happy. 

I just have to share a funny moment:  My dad got Garrett a caterpillar tractor that has all these functions on it.  To be honest, he should have just gotten it for Brian.  Brent(my brother) and Brian played with them more than the lil guys. It was so funny.  Ok.....maybe you just had to be there.  LOL

To Grandmother's house we go...

Tomorrow we will be whisked away to a winter wonderland.  Ok, that's a little over the top LOL.  We have been planning to drive to my parents house for Christmas eve.  Turns out there is snow and freezing rain in the Gorge, which is a pass through to my hometown if your not from around here.  My dad has to drive down and pick my whole family up, escort us down to The Dalles and back home the next day.  Brian is praying that we dont get stuck there.  That would not be good.  Not that it would be the end of the world or anything but we just want to be home for Christmas day.  I love Christmas.  And even if we had nothing to give or receive, I am blessed beyond measure.  My savior, Jesus Christ, was born!  What a great time to celebrate.  This year we are having a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas eve.  The kids(and maybe Brian) will make a cake and decorate it, sing and read the Christmas story from the bible before bed.  In the years past, we did this on Christmas morning, but the kids are so excited to open presents, I am not sure they even hear the words.  I want it to mean more, so we are starting a new tradition.  Merry Christmas!

A less than perfect party

I am perfectionist at heart.  You'd never know it by stopping by my house un-announced in the middle of the week.  It's a little "cluttery" around here, but I am working on that. 

I planned a Christmas party for my girls and all their little friends.  It was to consist of making gingerbread houses, a gift exchange, making Christmas ornaments to take home and of course food!  I had never made a free-standing gingerbread house out of graham crackers, but the instructions on the web made it look simple as pie!  Needless to say, it wasnt simple as pie.  More like the leaning tower of Pisa!  There were 9 kids total around my small kitchen table, and the oak colored top was covered in white royal icing.  I mean covered.  I felt like this was an epic failure.  Thank God for my friend Alice, who does this sort of thing every year with her own kids and jumped in, to save the day! We even had a little candy left over!

Next was the gift exchange, it was fine.  No worries there.  We started to make Christmas ornaments with popsicle sticks and glitter.  I am STILL vacuuming glitter out of my living room carpet.  In the rush of stepping over sprawled out children all over the floor, I forgot to hot glue the strings to hang the ornaments.  Oh well.

We had snacky foods, mini corndogs(not healthy what-so-ever, I know) a veggie tray, chips and drinks. 

After 2 1/2 hours of screaming littles, the party was over.  I sat that night and thought about everything that went wrong.  The gingerbread houses, the ornaments,  blah, blah,blah.  I have thought so many times over the years whether it was a party I was throwing, a song I was singing for a special occasion......I pick out everything that wrong with it.  Everything I did wrong.  I do not know why I do this.  I am my own worst critic.  I stopped myself in that very thought about how this Christmas party would be remembered as a failure............my kids dont think that.  They had an absolute blast.  They were hanging out with friends, making memories, eating way to much candy and just enjoying the moment.  Maybe Mama dosent have all the wisdom.  Maybe I should look at things the way my kids do.  Life would be so much more enjoyable if I did. 

Lazy Days

I have been feeling so lazy the past couple of days.  Brian has been on a cooking spree, and I am NOT complaining what-so-ever!  That dude can cook......when he wants to, of course.  His entree's have consisted of a "new" version of meatloaf, german bean soup, creamed brussel sprouts(I have never had brussel sprouts in my life! I am just getting used to green veggies, just ask my family LOL) Anyhoo, the brussel sprouts were a-maz-ing!!  Holy cow.  I was definately impressed.  He says he has more "plans" LOL.  That's fine with me, I love the break from the kitchen. 

Well, I wont be taking a break in the kitchen for long because I agreed to make 20 lbs of fudge and 4 batches of toffee for a dear friend of mine.  She's going to hand them out for Christmas gifts.  Jan is 72 years old and still cleans houses full time, as her business.  She reminds me of my mother-in-law and her shopping adventures.  Barb can shop the tar outta anyone, let me tell  you!  Wow, I get sidetracked at times.........back to Jan, she runs circles around me! She goes a million miles an hour, and here I am 33 and tired by 9pm.  I so wish I could get her energy in a liquid form.  I love that woman, so instead of her do the candy making herself, I offered to do it for her.  Here's to a messy kitchen! 

A blessing

My son Garrett is such a blessing to me.  He is so very different from his sister's.  He is a low-key, very content little guy.  Gets into everything!  All the time!  But what kid doesn't?  He's trying to speak in sentences and jumbles his words all together.  It's so cute.  I wish I could have another one just like him.  Well kinda, by that I mean another boy.  Although that's not a given.  He's still giving me kisses anytime I want them.  I just love that little guy.

I promise when I get a good working digital camera, pictures will follow.  Hopefully sooner than later.

The term is over......finally!

Wow, do I feel completely exhausted! 4 finals, 1 research paper and 2 writing assignments in 4 days can cloud a girl's mind. I am so happy to be taking the winter term off. I so need the break. I need to re-focus on what's important in my life. Most important. My relationship with God, my husband and my kids. All of these have been neglected, I sadly admit. I am not proud of that fact, but it is true. I have been so focused on "getting my degree".

Brian starts his new job on Jan. 3 and his schooling starts the same day. He'll be working 4, 10 hour days and then drive straight to school for night classes. I wont see him much, but I think his sacrifice(and mine) will be worth it in the end. He only has a handful of classes left before he graduates. I am so proud of him. I just love the way his eyes light up when he's talking about making some part on a machine. He's talking, and I am nodding my head, "oh yeah, babe.....uh, that's so cool". He just talks away, telling me how to program this or that. Can you tell I have learned alot from his rants? Ummmmm, no!

The girls had a Christmas concert for their school. Why am I SO sentimental? I mean, who in the world gets tears in their eyes over some little kids singing Jingle Bells, off-key and to the top of their lungs? Yep, I do. I have always been like that. Brian just looks at me and cracks a smile. He's used to it.......I guess. LOL. I have enough emotion for both of us.

Tomorrow, I am making peanut brittle for the first time ever! I love to bake, but I am not sure about this candy making business, I hope it turns out good.

Sweet Olga

I know this may not see many eyes, as I have just started my blog. I am going to post it anyway, because what if it were just $5 dollars that led this precious little girl to a new life? I am just asking you to check out this blog: http://babynumber10.blogspot.com/ read all the posts about Olga. Give if you can. It can change her life.

Oh, my kids!

They never seem to have a dull moment! I was sitting here checking my email, when Madi is crying to the top to her lungs. I thought, "what this time?" and I hear......"Give me that paper......wahhhhh.......doesn't the bible say listen to your elders!!!" waahhhhh some more. Apparently the big issue was the fact that Alyssa had a store flyer with tons of toys listed that she wanted for Christmas. Madi wanted it too. Thus the crying spell. My girls are so funny at times. I tried so hard not to laugh because Madi was so serious, but I just politely asked them to go out of my room, like a good mommy and I lost it. I needed that laugh!

One other thing that cracked me up today, my son was given a giant sized marshmallow by a dear friend of ours, he calls her "cookie", which she of course adores! Anywho, back to the story.....he dissected that thing like there was no tomorrow! Sticky goo all over his little chubby hands, so what is a lil boy to do but get into the cotton ball jar in the bathroom. Yep, balls of cotton stuck all over! Of course Brian had the camera and I couldnt get a pic.....bummer. It was so cute.

It's the little things in life, really, that make it all worth it. For every irritation there is a handful of blessings. I am trying to keep that in the for-front of my mind as I pick off all the cotton ball matter between my sons fingers. Until next time.......

The first post!

Welcome to my blog. I am new to this, so please forgive the "bareness" of my page. I promise it will get better with time. I am currently in finals this week, as is my hubby Brian. Things get crazy around here during finals. I am so thankful that our prayers as a family and church, were answered when Brian got hired on at a stable company! He will be doing the work that is in his new career field, along with welding.


I am so excited to see all God is going to do in this next year. I am believing Him for good things!