Hair

I have a wonderful husband. 

As some of you know I have really curly hair and it can be hard to find a hairdresser that will do a good job. The last time I needed my haircut Chris cut my hair. Now this might sound crazy because I did just say that I have curly hair, however I straighten my hair first and then all he has to do is cut a straight line. He was really nervous the first time but he did an AMAZING job. My hair looked and felt so much better. 

This evening Chris cut my hair for the second time and did another good job. 

I think I will have Chris cut my hair for the next little while, for one thing I like the job that he does, secondly I save at least 45 dollars every time he cuts it.

I love the feeling of a fresh haircut!!

Hair

iPad Giveaway!!

Where Does All My Money Go.com by Preet Banerjee is giving away an Apple iPad on Monday May 31.

Hurry up there is only a few days left to enter for your chance to win!! 

Good Luck!!

iPad Giveaway!!

over the last year

Since I see my children everyday I sometime forget how much they have grown over the last year. I know they have grown a lot but I see them as they are today and not as they once were. This morning I was going through some pictures of my kids from last year and was neat to see just how much they have changes. 

This last 12 months the kids have gone through some big growth stages. Jaclyn learned how to walk, run, talk, move from a crib to a bed and much more. David is now toilet trained, learning more about numbers, letters, reading concepts, to be more independent and that's just some of the changes.  

Jaclyn learning to walk May 2009

Jaclyn April 2010

David May 2009

David May 2010

I hope I always remember to look back and see how much my children have grown and learned!

over the last year

Picnic Fort

Because I am still sick and the kids are still feeling a little sick themselves we had a pajama day today and watched movies. This evening I wanted to do something fun for the kids since we have been sick all week. I made us a little fort in our dining room and we had a picnic.

Picnic Fort

still sick

I have been wanting to write on here for the last few days now but I have had a hard time focusing when I sit down at my computer. We have been sick around here for the last eight days and as we all thought we were getting better a couple of days ago, it seems that we had only one day of feeling healthy. The next day we were all sick again. I think David is over most of his cold now and Chris is also doing a lot better. Jaclyn is still sick but is starting to have more energy everyday which is good. I however am still sick, I have had a headache which is making it hard for me to concentrate for the last few days and I just feel gross. Last night I went to bed at 8pm and slept for about eleven hours. You would think that I would be doing a lot better since I was able to get more sleep but I am still tired. 

I just want to feel better and have my family healthy again. 

still sick

Sick

A cold has invaded our house! 

It started with the kids three days ago, then yesterday both Chris and I started to feel it coming on. Over the last night we both got a lot worse. 

All four of us are congested, achy, feverish, sore throat, tired and just plane feel gross. 

My daughter's poor nose is really red and she is having a hard time breathing at night from being congested.

So for the next few days we will be spending a lot of time in our pajamas and just chilling on the couches, trying to get healthy again.

I bought some Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath I am hoping that it helps my kids sleep and breath easier tonight. We could all use a good nights sleep tonight.

What do you do for your kids when they get a cold??

Sick

dress-up

Dress up is so much fun, when you have daddies clothes to wear!

dress-up

Sigh.........

Well my life this week has been interesting.

My wrist is doing so much better, thank you for all who have been praying for me. I am doing a lot better. 

I have now been trying to organize our house so that I can pack for our upcoming move. Both my kids are sick, and they both want me to hold them. I am trying to split my time between holding my kids, organizing my house, packing and laundry (always laundry). 

Sigh.........today I am wish there was two of me!

Sigh.........

My 80's child

My 80's child

Spring

Spring Sunny Days!!

This afternoon we went for a walk to the park, the kids loved playing outside in the sun.

David picked me these lovely flowers for me on the way home. 

He calls them "little beautiful yellow flowers"

Spring

What would you do?

I really like Tupperware, over the years (mostly before we had kids) I have purchased a lot. We use it all the time and now that the kids are getting older we are using some of it even more.

Last year before Christmas we were at a Baby/Child Fair here in town. I bought Jaclyn a child's play set with a juice jug, four cups and a snack container for her to play with in her little kitchen. I had one when I was a little girl and I have fond memories of playing with it and wanted to get her one also. 

When I brought it home I realized it was missing the lid for the container. I contacted the Tupperware lady I bought it from and she said she would send one of her consultants over with the lid and a catalog for me. 

That was 6 months ago. 

I have called her a several times now and I still haven't received my products. Mostly I have had to leave a message, but she doesn't call me back. 

I have had the container without its lid sitting on my counter for six months now and I would really like too use the product that I purchased.

I called her again this morning and I also left her an email message. Let's see if she contacts me.

What would you do in my situation?

What would you do?

Piggy Banks

This afternoon I found some rolls of pennies and opened them for the kids to add to their banks.

Piggy Banks

Honest Scrap Award

I got this Honest Scrap Award from a fellow blogger Shash. I have really enjoy reading her blog and I hope you check her blog out as well Sasher's Life. Thanks for the award!

What I have to do with this award is write 10 random honest things about me and then pass it on to 10 other bloggers. So here are my ten random things.

10 Honest things about me

1. I love cleaning, my house is not always how I would like it now that I have kids but I still enjoy cleaning.

2. I love to bake. I am really getting into making and decorating cakes.

3. Organizing is one of my favorite things to do. I try and organize our house a couple of times a year which includes throwing out or donating what we can't or don't use anymore. 

4. I have had more knee operations then most professional athletes (four in total to date)

5. I grew up in a bigger city but have always wanted to live in a smaller town outside of the city.

6. I learned to drive on a 15 passenger van. (I come from a large family)

7. I love a good cup of tea

8. Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks

9. I love cozy blankets, my husband tells me that we have enough but I always want more. 

10. I love working with people with special needs. I get energized helping them discover who they are and what they can do. (before we had kids I was a care worker)

I would like to pass this award on to:

1. Reflections of a Navy Wife  (she is a new blogger and is jumping in with both feet, go check her out)

2. Surviving Little People  (a mom who I met through a mom's blogging site, she is a busy mom of six)

3. Just Thoughts  (Amanda went to college with my husband and I have only met her though the blogging world, our kids are close in age and we have a lot in common)

4. Colin, Jinny and Liam's Life  (Jinny & her husband also went to school with my husband. Even though I have only met Jinny in person once I think that she is really fun and wish we lived closer so we could hang out)

5. The Bear Family  (my sister-in-law's blog. I love reading her blog and seeing pictures of my adorable nephews)

6. Let the Chaos begin..... (I went to high school with Jenn and we have re-connected through facebook/blogging)

7. Little Miss Sunshine  (again someone I have only met though the blogging world. My husband went to school with her and her husband)

8. Big Brown Blog  (Erin is a great blogger and I wanted to give her this award. She just had a baby girl last weekend so she may not be able to respond. Erin's son Cole is a couple of weeks younger then my daughter. It's nice having another mom blogger who is going through the same stages as I am) 

9. Inside BruCrew Life  (Jocelyn is a stay-at-home-mom and pastors wife. She has a fun blog that I enjoy reading it)

10. Tara's View of the World  (Tara is a wonderful blogger and always look forward to reading her blog. We have only met in person once, however we have talked on the phone and over the internet lots. One day we will be able to sit and have a cup of tea together)

I encourage you to go and check out these blogs. These moms are wonderful woman and dedicated moms who write about their lives as mothers. They have been an encouragement to me as a mother and I hope that you have a chance to read and be encouraged by them as well.

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Go here to enter, there are only 49 entries so your chances are good.

Honest Scrap Award

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day

This morning on our way to church my husband went to Starbucks to get me a Mother's Day cup of chai. I really enjoy a good cup of extra hot chai. In fact I start most morning off with a homemade cup of chai or tea of some sort. 

It's always nice when I can have one from Starbucks!

After church we came back home and after lunch my husband did some cleaning while I had a wonderful nap. I enjoy a good nap and always feel refreshed when I wake up.

Chris then made dinner (ribs, fries, salad and a chocolate dessert). 

My children have been telling me all day "I love you mom" and "pretty mommy" and my son has come too me at different points saying

"Happy Mother's Day Mom, your beautiful!"

They also gave me these beautiful cards they made.

Chris told me that both David & Jaclyn had specific ideas for the card they were making. 

I love my little family very much and I am a very happy mommy!!

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Mother's Day

Wrist update

This morning I went to my doctor to get the x-ray results on my wrist. I talked about my wrist/hand issues here.

It turns out that its not broken, which is a really good thing.  However, I did end up bruising my bone, muscles and tendons pretty bad. Apparently, what this means is that I have to keep it in a brace for the next 2 to 3 weeks. I will also have to ice it three times a day and keep it elevated as much as I can.  I was also reminded not to lift anything that's heavy so that I allow it to heal properly.  This should be interesting with two young children that don't always understand practical considerations like "I can't do that" or "mommy can't lift you right now".  It will also mean that I won't be doing that much cleaning for a while, but my husband is willing to do all he can, so it shouldn't get that bad.

Basically, I have to treat my wrist like it is broken, even though it isn't, so that it can heal.  At least I don't have to worry about a cast.  All this because I broke my wrist when I was 12 rollerskating. Good times!!
Thanks for the concern and prayers.

Wrist update

broken, doctors and cleaning

I am having a hard time this week. I haven't been able to get anything done that I was initially planning.

Last Thursday I was playing on the floor with my kids, we were playing one of those games where I am sitting on the floor while David and Jaclyn run at me to give me a big hug and kiss and I would return it by tickling them! At one point they decided to "attack" me together and I lost my balance with both kids on top of me. I put out my hand to make sure that we didn't all fall over, unfortunately that was also the end of our game. 

I had instant pain in my wrist and hand and have been having problems since. I have broken both my wrist in the past so I have a wrist brace that I put on that night and have been wearing since. Then on Monday I went to the doctor to have it checked and my doctor thinks that I broke the scaphoid bone in my wrist. Tomorrow I have a follow-up appointment to find out about my x-ray results.

I am really hoping to get some answers about what is wrong. Even if that means getting a cast put on or continue wearing my brace. I just want to know, because not knowing sucks! The pain has been increasing as well as spreading over the last few days. My fingers are going numb and I am now having pain all the way up to my elbow.

Meanwhile my house is in some serious need of attention. I have 3 baskets of clean clothes that need to be folded and put away, my floors need to be vacuumed and my kitchen needs to be cleaned. 

It's amazing to me how much cleaning builds up when you are unable to do clean anything. 

I have tried to do some one handed cleaning but unfortunately after only a few minutes my wrist/hand is throbbing and I am in a lot of pain. 

My wonderful husband has been trying to keep up with everything when he gets home but there is only so much he has been able to do. Tomorrow is his day off and he is planning on getting some of the cleaning done for me. I have an amazing husband!! 

I will update again tomorrow after I get home from my appointment.


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broken, doctors and cleaning

My Girl

The other day I was in the living room talking with David when I heard some noises coming from the kitchen. 

This is how I found my daughter

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My Girl

Potato Head Family

The way my children see our family, made with Potato Heads

Jaclyn, David, Mommy and Daddy.


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Potato Head Family

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be - Book Review

Book Description
God made only one version of you. He custom designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment.
You are heaven's Halley's comet; we have one chance to see you shine.
You offer a gift to the world that no one else brings. So find it and bring it!
And when you do, both you and God will smile.

My Review
I received a copy of You can be Everything God Wants You to Be by Max Lucado from Booksneeze.

The main message of the book, to look for the calling that God has equipped you to do, and not try to be something you are not made for, is a great and needed message. I loved many of the points made by Lucado throughout the book, and some phrases came out as real gems, capturing the point well. Like many others who have worked with youth, I have seen many people trying to be like someone else, and it doesn't work with their talents and gifts and I have seen the heartbreak as they see themselves not able to do what they want. The world's adage of "you can be anything you want to be" can really encourage people to pursue goals that don't fit them and often do not satisfy themselves even when they can get there. So for that reason, my overall feelings towards this book are positive.


My issues with the book come mostly out of the formatting. There are "chapters" breaks roughly every 3 pages, in each case Lucado switches gears somewhat to explore a new part of his point. Throughout my reading, I often felt that the last portion was not fully developed and even sometimes reread the previous pages to see if I had missed a portion to explain for the lack of development. It seems to me that this book may have been rushed to print before it was fully ready, a good rewrite to flesh out more of the points would have made this book better and more effective in engaging people's lives and making the book more applicable for more than a quick read by new graduates.

My only real issue over the content itself was concerning the lack of any allowance that God may develop new gifts, passions and talents; or change the ones he has already given, throughout someone's life. The lack of this allowance might straitjacket people into one specific role past the time when they might be most effective and fulfilled within it.

All that being said, this book was enjoyable and would be a great gift for a new graduate or college student. I would give it a 3 out of 5.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson Publishers Booksneeze program. Thomas Nelson provided me with a free copy if this book in exchange for my review of this book and I am not required to provide a favorable review.

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be - Book Review

Pretty Computer

My wonderful son decided that my computer needed to be pretty so he put some princess stickers on it.

This is what he told his dad: "Mommy's a girl and needs a pretty computer"

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win a $40.00 gift card for CSN Stores here

Pretty Computer