It's great to see a change

This has been a week of change for our family. Last thursday Steve my husband told me that he felt very strongly about having our family  have quiet time with God. Our plan with family bible study once a week has not worked out. Just seems like there is always something going on. So his plan was that everyone in the house get up at 6:45 am and have 30 min to pray and read your bible. We don't all have to be in the same room, but he wants us to give God our first part of the day. I was very skeptical, for I did not see my kids waking up so early. For the most part it has been very nice. Steve gets them up and they do there own thing. I think it is important because it gives them a foundation for when they get older and hopefully do it on there own. I have noticed not so much drama in the mornings with getting everyone ready for school. We wake up mon-friday 6:45 am. Saturday we did about 8:30. Sunday we are not doing one.

  It is a true blessing to see everyone in the word.

The mystery of the missing tassel

The Mystery of the missing Tassel

It happened last night, remnants of gold thread on the floor in the bathroom. I remember seeing it there the night before, trying to figure out what it was. Randi my daughter says to me, " Mom what is on the floor in the bathroom? Someone cut the tassel from the shower curtain."

"What? Who would cut the tassel?"

Sure enough I see one tassel had been sliced off.

I remember the night before scissors being on the counter in the bathroom.

I ask, " Randi did you do it?

"NO Randi replied"

"Ty did you do it?"

"NO" Ty Replied with a smile on his face.

" Ty come on did you do it?"

"NO, I didn't do it"

I know Dominique did not do it. Who would do that and why?

20 min later, no one confesses.

" Ty you know if you did do it and your not telling me the truth, you will get in more trouble for lying!"

Ty replies, " I didn't do it! MAYBE IT WAS DADDY."

I tried not to laugh. "Why would daddy do that Ty"

"I don't know, call him." said Ty with a straight face.

Me picking up the phone, I can't believe I am actually going to ask him.

phone conversation with STEVE: " Did you cut the tassel off the shower curtain"

"Why would I cut the tassel?" said Steve

*****

Me: " Ok Ty daddy did not do it either"

Ty - "mom I did not do it"

Steve and I have our suspicions on who it is, but I will let the Lord work on that person, and hopefully we will get some answers.

********************************

After much detective work, we still do not know WHO cut the tassel

Stay tuned later if the case of the mystery tassel cutter is revealed

Bring on the rain

images by google

It is pretty gloomy outside, wet, and gray. Despite all that, the rain does bring me joy at times.

I love the smell of the air after a nice rain

I love when it rains really really hard and the kids laugh and play in it

I love how it cleans my car for me (hee hee)

Most of all

I love the memory it gives me from when I was a small child.

The little 6 year old who would put on her coat, grab her most favorite umbrella in the whole world.
A hello kitty umbrella.
Not only was it cool that it had hello kitty on it, it was made of a clear plastic with 4 hello kitty decals on it. I could watch the rain fall down on top of me. I would stand there forever just watching the rain. It was one of my favorite memories as a kid. I can almost smell the plastic of the umbrella.

The yummy things I miss

It happened when I was watching the biggest loser last weeks. A sharp pain in my stomach, painful enough to want to go to the hospital. Needless to say I did not get to see the weigh in, DARN.
Turns out I have an ulcer, and that I have had acid reflux on top of that. I am mad at myself for not realizing that I have had the symptoms for like a YEAR! But I hate the doctors so I thought it would eventually go away.
Anyway I am on a strict diet for the next 6 weeks! I cannot eat anything greasy(no hamburgers etc), no butter, no milk. No decaf coffee? apparently it has a lot of acid in it.No orange juice, caffeine, you get the jist of it.



I really really miss this

I miss my coffee with my favorite creamer. The mornings are just not the same. So my diet has been pretty blah! I guess the good news is I have lost like 3 pounds in 1 week.

I have been craving a hamburger like crazy!!
When I am feeling better we are all going to Red Robin for a burger and some greasy fries!!

If you haven't seen this you should!

Steve and I watched this today. It was so interesting about intelligent design and darwin theory. I recommend having your teenagers watch it too.

This is what its about:


Though Ben Stein is perhaps most famous for his sleep-inducing drone in FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF or for his eponymous game show, he is also a highly regarded New York Times columnist and was a speechwriter for both Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford during their presidencies. For EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED, he needs all his powers of persuasion as he calls attention to the plight of exiled scientists and professors. In this documentary, Stein travels the world and speaks to men and women who have lost their jobs and their standings in the scientific world because of their association with intelligent design. EXPELLED uses the Berlin Wall as a metaphor and asserts that these people have been unjustly ousted, merely for speaking their minds. It carefully explains the differences between creationism and intelligent design and demonstrates that the latter is a belief held by people of all deity-based faiths, not just Christianity. It also devotes time to the connections between Darwinism and Hitler's regime. The film's climax features Stein going head-to-head with Richard Dawkins, a renowned atheist and author of the bestseller THE GOD DELUSION. Obviously, neither man budges in his firmly held beliefs, but it's fascinating to watch a debate between two undeniably intelligent men, regardless of whose side you're on. EXPELLED doesn't spend most of its time debating intelligent design and evolution. Instead it focuses largely on how the debate itself and its proponents have been ignored or pushed out of classrooms and academia

Happy Anniversary

We are celebrating our 11 year anniversary. Wow time flies.

Thanks for a great 11 years Steve.

 

I AM TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!!!!!

I am sitting at my island, which is in front of the kitchen. Sipping a nice hot cup of tea. When out of the corner of my eye I see a butt and a tail squeezing into the crack by the dishwashser. I SCREAMED!!!! I made Dominique come upstairs ( like she can protect me) But it feels nice to have someone else share in your terror.

I got back on my computer, reading your blogs and it came out again, again I SCREAMED!!! I must of scared the tar out of it because it bolted behind the refirgerator.
We have been here 2 years and I have never seen a mouse. I am not usually this much of a wus but I really don't like hairy little creatures running free in my house.

This is what I think of when I see one mouse

Why couldn't it look more like this.......

The beast is gone

This is the computer monitor we have been using for like the last two years. I honestly think it was one of the first monitors ever made (LOL) We had another monitor, not a flat screen, but a regular monitor and one day while I was on the computer it made a weird noise and smoke came out of it. We were not in a position to buy a new monitor so we ended up with this BEAST. I could barely pick it up without pulling a muscle in my back.

Thanks to a friend we now have this

Thanks so much to Thomas and his dad!

What I bought on my shopping spree today

I bought this purse at Kohls today. I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket.
It is a Simply Vera , Vera Wang purse. Black oversized purse with a soft fabric shoulder strap. Sorry my camera is not taking very good pictures lately it looks a big grainy.
The story of the purse was that I saw it and of course it did not have a tag on it. I asked customer service they kind of made up a price, there were others there for 119.00 -149.00. So they came back and told me 109.00 and it was 40 % off. It wasn't cheap but I liked it. What do you think...?

I want you to vote and let me know if you like it or don't like it.

The voting poll is above this post on my blog so you can be anonymous.

NEEDED!! Plastic grocery sacks for New Beginnings

I was wondering if anyone had plastic grocery sacks they could donate to New Beginnings. They are running low. Steve would much appreciate it.
You could give them to us at church or take them to the store.

Thanks

Funny video- kid after the dentist

How to use your curling iron - video

I found this video on how to curl your hair. I found it very helpful, I always did it the way they say NOT to.

Here is the link 

http://www.fncimag.com/imag/Beauty?auto-play=true&video-maven-id=7612747

Dominique my daughter tried this method and here are the results.

 

One more important note. For people with hard to curl hair like mine, use the smaller barreled curling iron.

The large one shown like in the video does nothing to my hair. Dominique used a med sized barrel in her hair today.  I also remember in the video she says not to brush your hair, this adds volume

 

Does anyone have any other good tips?

The squeaky wheel

We recently took our car into the shop to get the brakes done and to find out what the squeaky noise was in the wheel. We have gotten the brakes done and still the squeaking is there. We asked him to look at it again, still a month later the squeak is there, loud enough to irritate me to no end.
As I sat drinking my coffee I thought about the squeaky wheel and how it applies to my life.
The squeaky wheels in my life would be

1. My prayer life, my wheel is squeaky because I am not in prayer enough, or not at all
2. My self discipline- trying to loose weight, being organized, etc
3. Me being a friend - reaching out to others, getting out of my comfort zone
4. Spending quality time with the kids
5. Being more productive

Looks like I will need a lot of grease....

To insult or not to insult?

A couple of days ago I decided to take my dog to the groomers. Little did I know it would change my whole day for the worse.
I had gone to this particular groomers only once, I thought she was a little on the rough side with my dog, but in the end Daizy (the shih tzu) seemed to be ok with her. I decided to give her another try.
This time I walk in the door talk to the lady for about 2 minutes and she insulted me twice with smart alic remarks. At first I thought she was joking, but from the look on her face I could tell she was dead serious. I thought inside my head, ok did I do or say something to this lady to offend her? or was it just my imagination that she was being so rude? We walked out the door, me not feeling so good about leaving my dog there. I told the girls, who were with me, that she was rude. Dominique said, " I don't think she meant it that way." So I brushed it off as maybe me being overly sensative.
3 hours later I go and pick up Daizy with the girls. She asked me a question about my dog, I answered, she rolled her eyes at me. Again the insult followed. I was seriously PEEVED! I wanted to yell at her and say why would you treat you customers like that. What is sad is she is the owner! I felt like telling the world what a bad experience I had and don't ever go there. I spent the next day thinking of things I wish I would of said.
Two days later I still think about it but I am determined not to let this lady get to me. I remember the bible verse "Love your enemies" Is that not just the hardest thing on the planet to do. God said to love your enemies as you love yourself. It brings tears to my eyes for I see it is not fair when you do nothing wrong and someone can just think its ok to treat people like that. I have decided instead of wishing her the worst, that I will pray for her everyday for the next 90 days and let God take care of it. I hate having that angry feeling inside, it is not productive and it gets you nowhere.

Do you have a similar story? what did you do?

What's been going on...

 

Randi dressed our dog Daizy in her costume from last year....

It has been a long time since my last post. I decided to change my blog in hopes it would help me blog more.
This september has begun with new schooling for Dominique. We are trying homeschooling, she is taking online classes at k12 and others at Three rivers homelink. This is very new to me and I admit I am feeling overwhelmed. I am just trying to take it one day at a time, knowing it will get easier I just need to be patient.

I am currently working on getting the basement cleaned out and give and throw stuff away that I don't need anymore. Also with that dealing with a leak from the sprinklers thankfully there is no carpet where it is leaking.

I am already thinking about Christmas ( I like to shop early)

This last month Steve and I got sucked in the series LOST. We watched 4 seasons over the summer. Sad I know. The 5th season does not come out until December...please do not tell me what happens...LOL

Steve is planning another trip to Guatamala I believe in January.

Steve and I made the jump from 2nd grade sunday school teachers to the Young Adult class. Please pray for us in our new class.

Well enough about me. Is anyone doing something new this year?

What a great flick, you gotta see this one

Saturday evening we headed to our new favorite place...Mr. RED BOX. I was checking out the movies and turned around and there was like 6 people in line waiting for me. Now feeling pressured to find a movie fast I ran across the title "Faith like Potatoes" I thought what an odd title. I quickly read the description and decided to get it. Not sure if I was really going to like it.
It turned out to be a really good Christian movie. I believe its from the producers of the movie Fireproof. Great flick, you should check it out.

Fun in the sun

This weekend was all about being outside. We got our pool up a bit early, it ended up being a great idea because it got so hot. We also had a little bbq and hung out outside.
Randi invited a friend over..isn't she a cutie!!
I am looking forward to school being out and hopefully doing a family trip this summer. We want to do a cabin again. Now we just need to figure out where to go.
Have a great week!

Walking away the pounds

I have started walking again. I have to say it has not been easy. Taking a few months off has taken its toll. Jill and I started out a couple of week ago only doing about 2 days a week only about 1.5 miles. This week we are walking every day about 2.5 miles. My legs are sore my body is not use to walking up so early!
My goal is to lose 20 pounds by the end of summer.




So that mean less of this.....


and this................................

Don't those look sooooo good!!!!!

Less eating out
More water
Throw in some ab workouts
jump rope

Lets start there and see how this month goes. Wish me luck.

DEAL ALERT !!

DEAL ALERT DEAL ALERT DEAL ALERT DEAL ALERT DEAL ALERT


Just to let anyone know out there, if you live in tri cities, AEROPOSTALE in the mall has on clearance a rack of jeans mostly size 0 or 00 for like $7-$9 dollars!! The rack is 70 % off regular price.

I am playing along.....

8 things I am looking forward to:

Seeing my husband
Getting a tan!
Going on a Vacation
My sister visiting from California
Losing 20 pounds by the end of summer!
Refinishing my dinning room table (Jill no laughing)
finding a new house to work on
possible working on a garden


8 things I did yesterday:
Took kids to school
checked out a thrift store
went grocery shopping
worked with Jamie
picked up kids and stopped by Jill's house, not home though (bummer)
Cleaned, did laundry, made dinner
took Ty to baseball practice
played on the computer
thought about all the stuff I have to do tomorrow....grrrr
watched the biggest loser

8 things I wish I could do: In no particular order....

swim (yes i am totally serious)
run fast
sing really good
ride a horse
travel more
have more patience
do a marathon
speak Spanish


8 shows I watch:

The biggest loser
survivor
the amazing race
masterpiece theatre (my favorite)
24
prison break
antiques road show
Quantum Leap & family ties on the computer

I decided to add...

8 things I wish for.....

I had smaller feet
I had straight teeth
I had the ability to read my dogs mind (LOL)
I had the gift of organization
I had no allergies or asthma
I could have a maid
I could sew, looks so fun
I was not so shy
I could find deoderant that didn't leave white under your arms!
I could write a book

wow this list could go on and on.....

You gotta check this story out!

I heard this on the radio and thought how crazy..
here is the link

HAPPY EASTER

I am so looking forward to this Sunday with the family before a very busy next week. I wish you all a great Easter and a great time with family and friends.
Jill and I have started walking again, I think we have walked 8 miles so far the last two weeks.
I am mad at myself for I have gained 5 of the pounds I lost since November. I started a new ticker above and my goal is to lose 20 pounds, which makes me close to my weight about 10 years ago before Steve and I got married. I would be happy with losing 10 but I will strive for 20. My main goal is not get obsessed with the whole weight thing, I don't want it to consume my life, but I do want to change my eating habits and I know it won't happen over night but that is my goal. Wish me luck!!

It's amazing what you find on the bottom of your shoe....

My kids took the dog for a walk yesterday morning, when they got home they kicked there shoes and flip flops off. A little bit later my daughter came to me and said, "mom look at this "
She showed me the bottom of her sisters flip flop and something a little bit smaller than a dime was on the bottom of her flip flop. I looked closer and started to laugh.
She said" its a turkey!!! "

Memories Lost forever...

My pain today is over this little simple device above called the thumb drive. Our computer was old so it could not hold all the photos I had so I decided to put them on this thumb drive. I have had the device for about 6 months. It contained ALL the photos of the kids from when they were little. Videos etc. A lot of the pictures I had not sent to get them copied so that I could put them in photo albums. So now the thumbdrive has malfunctioned and I cannot get ANY data off of it. I was a crying mess today over this mishap. All those pictures and videos that I can never replace because I never backed them up onto a cd or anything.
So my reason for this post is NOT to get you to feel sorry for me, but to anyone who has precious photos etc on these or on your computer is BACK THEM UP ONTO SOMETHING so you will never lose them like I did.
I know it is not the end of the world, but for a mother those things are precious to me....

10 things I love.....

top 10 on my list of things that I love

1. I love to hear people laugh, it puts a smile in my heart

2. I love to get mail, not email but a letter in my hand...is that cheesy??

3. I love to watch my kids sing when they don't know I am watching

4. I secretly love the show the "Price is right" I love to see people win. I watched it since I was like 5 years old. I miss Bob though...

5. I love going to the library book store and seeing what treasure I can find

6. I love watching my dog run like a bullet in the back yard. It looks so fun

7. I love waking up on my own time, not the alarm clock

8. I love spending time with my family, (minus the kids fighting LOL)

9. I love watching a lighting storm, even though it scares me a bit.

10. I love to be a goof with my husband, we are both dorks and we love it....


Tell me one thing about yourself that you love.....

A Game I was assigned the letter "T"

If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on...

I was assigned the letter "T" by Jamie here goes...

Turquoise - is one of my favorite colors

Thunder Storms - followed by a nice heavy rain, I love the smell of rain

Turtles - I have a few little turtle trinkets..they are so cute

Tv - I have to watch my antiques roadshow!

Travel - I don't get to travel as much as I would like

Teen - I love my teen (Dominiuqe)

Thankful - For my friends and family

Taranchula - just kidding yuck. I think i would pass out if I ever saw one in person

Toothbrush - Need I say more

The TITANIC - great movie

How much info do you give?

Many of you have facebook, or myspace etc. It has been on my heart about how safe are these websites. How much information are you really putting out there about yourself, your kids, where you work etc. What gets put out on the internet stays out there.
I recently checked my daughters facebook. It had her first, last name, what school she went to. I even saw the church bus with the name of the church right on it. Is that really safe? So someone can just look and instantly have all that info on her. I think she thinks I am being silly but I had her take off all her info that I thought could be easy for a prediator to find her. Now I know your thinking, prediator! That only happens in the movies. But noooo we know of someone who was stalked from myspace. My mom had a stalker, when I was in 2nd grade. There are bad guys out there and the internet is there domain. It is too easy for them to get to our kids so I will do all I can to constantly check her facebook and other stuff to make sure she isn't putting to much out there. I think that even goes for adults too. I try not to put out to much info over the net.
What do you think?
What things do you do?

The Challanges of budgeting

One of my goals for this year is to stick to a budget and use coupons to help save money.
We pull all the cash out for everyday items and stick them in envelopes.
The categoires we have are:

• food
• misc
• allowances (for the kids and yes for Steve and I )
• perscriptions
• entertainment
• clothes/shoes
• haircuts
• dates
• eat out allowance
• birthday fund
• emergency

I used this last month in December and it was hard. It seemed 3/4 into the month we were out of money in the food envelope and I was borrowing from the other envelopes.
I think it takes some getting use to but you see what your money is being spent on. For instance I realized we were eating out way to much. You know a little here and there and it adds up.
I am really trying to stay focused this month on my spending, how exciting would it be to actually have money left over in the envelopes!
I went grocery shopping a couple of days ago and used some coupons I cut out. I saved 7.50 just in coupons, and I tried to buy everything on sale. I was use to going to the store about everyother day. My goal is to just go once a week. Maybe that will help me not to impulse buy.
I have to say I did feel like somewhat of a goober carrying around my coupons, but you would be surprised how many other people I saw with coupons in their hands. So who cares, I saved money.
I really encourage any of you to try the envelopes, and if you currently do, do you have any helpful hints or things you do to save money at the store?

what are we doing answer

Yes we are cleaning her ears. Randi gets alot of ear wax especially when she is sick, she was upset because she couldnt hear. I can't remember the name of the candle but we got it at the health food store. I had never done one before this day and I was concerned that the hot wax would land on her face. But come to find out what really happens
You light the candle and smoke comes out the other end. You put it in the ear, this takes about 5 minutes. There are no drippings the flame is just for the smoke. The smoke sucks the ear wax out like a vacuum, don't ask me how but it does. So you finish about 1 1/2 inch before it done. I opened the candle just to make sure it worked. It was amazing what it takes out. I won't go into detail but I would recommend doing this at least once a year.

Can you guess what this is?

Can you guess what we are doing???? Have you done this before??