Give Me Five Monday

Today's Theme:

Give Me Five future events you are currently looking forward to and/or planning or attending.

Hmmmmm.....

1. My father-in-law is getting married June 7. They have been together for about 7 years now. His wife, hubby's mom, passed away 12 years ago. It is a big step for my Father-in-law to make, but I have never seen him happier!


2. My daughter's recital is the same day in June! Yikes! The wedding is at 10am and her recital is at 7pm, so we should be good. But what a big day for her, and us.

3. My brother-in-law is getting married in August in VEGAS BABY!! Seeing as how my hubby is bestman, my daughter is the flower girl and my son is the ring bearer, we have to go! I cannot wait! I have never been there.


4. Lana and Rachel, my childhood friends, are expecting their babies anytime now! I want to make a trip back home when they do. crossing my fingers that I can!

5. Hubby received his associates degree in accounting and I am planning a small, informal dinner with relatives. Should be fun!


For more Give Me Five Monday memes...go HERE

Earth Hour = Lots of Laughter

Last night we participated in the Earth Hour event by shutting off all electricity driven appliances. I was a little nervous about the kids (Normally they are in bed by 8pm) Last night we watched the Bee movie and that put us behind schedule for baths and bedtime. The kids had a blast! We lit candles and had flashlights.
I am not sure what Jaxson thought was happening, but apparently it was a great game!
We played shadow puppets, which Isabella is really good at. Then came bath time. Candlelight baths are no longer for relaxing moms! Nope, the kids were ecstatic! We may have to repeat this just because of all the fun that was had.

Thanks to Debby at Bee in Italy for making me aware of this event. We really enjoyed ourselves. Debby had a party with friends and a dinner by candlelight. Check out her blog for the lovely pictures and story!

What a great day!

We have been to the bakery, to the pet store and to dinner. Oh my! I wish I had taken my camera.(What was I thinking??) Jaxson and Isabella were thrilled to pick out cookies at the bakery. Standing in line they deliberated over their choice. Finally they chose iced cookies, with even more icing piped on top. Isabella's had a flower and Jaxson's a spider. It was pretty cute to watch Jaxson "talk" to his spider. He would laugh and poke his finger at it. When the icing came off onto his finger he looked at us and said, "Oh no!" We tried to explain that he could eat it. He ate all around the spider, the only part of the insect he ate were the eyes....what does that signify? hmmmm......
The in-laws were in town for a bit. I was going to make dinner but it did not pan out. hehe... Anyhoo, hubby surprised me by taking us out to Napoli's, a wonderful family owned Italian restaurant. I was able to eat their Tortellini Alla Panna. It was heaven! After the week of pain and only eating soup, this was indeed a treat!
The kids were so good too. Isabella ordered for herself, spaghetti with butter and cheese, no sauce. Jaxson ate their homemade Italian rolls and kept his normal yell to a low hum. Hubby devoured the spinach ravioli. Sigh....fun!
A few doors down there is a pet store, which the kids love. WE spent half an hour looking at the rabbits, chinchillas, cats, dogs, birds and fish. Gotta love the fish. Jaxson was enamored with a Moroccan Uromastyx. The little guy (the animal) would back up and look at us. He could see his reflection in the side glass and would scratch at it wildly. Jaxson found this to be great entertainment!

We are now going to watch the Bee Movie. My daughter has been after us to rent it ever since it came out.

Hope you all had a great weekend as well!

Earth Hour - Join the movement!

March 29,2008 8pm-9pm
www.earthhour.org

Friday Fill In

Here are my Friday Fill Ins! Hope you have a great day!

1. Some relationships are meant to last a lifetime.
2. STOMP was the last concert I saw; it was very good.
3. Spring should be here already!
4. Oh no! I forgot to do laundry! The piles are attacking me!
5. I've recently started making plans to return to school.
6. The kids never fail to make me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include cooking for the in-laws and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

For more Friday Fill Ins, go HERE!

A Haiku Biography

If you haven't read todays post from the Reluctant Housewife, go here. She is always posting something fun. I look forward to seeing what she has up her sleeve everyday! Today she has challenged anyone and everyone to write a Haiku biography.
I had never heard of thie type of poetry before. I looked around the web and found information here on the background and how to write one.

Here is mine. Please, no laughing! It's a first try ;)

Chocoholic by
Choice. Loves intensely. Shy by
nature. Peacemaker

Let me know if you try this, I would love to check it out!

Blogging Personality

This was fun quiz and I was pleased with the result. I have to disagree, however, that I have the best looking blog. There are some pretty amazing blogs out there!
;) Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Your Blogging Type is Kind and Harmonious

You're an approachable blogger who tends to have many online friends. People new to your blogging circle know they can count on you for support. You tend to mediate fighting and drama. You set a cooperative tone. You have a great eye for design - and your blog tends to be the best looking on the block!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Heads or Tails

Today it's Heads, The theme is Surprise
My surprise from this weekend: Discovering my son has conquered his fear of heights. He used to be too afraid to climb the steps on the playset without myself or hubby helping. This weekend he climbed the steps (with just one pause) and slid down by himself!! He was thrilled! I am glad he has accomplished this but..sniff...they grow so fast.



Go here for more Heads or Tails

Give Me FIve!

Give Me Five favorite memories from your Easter day 2008.

1. Making the kids' Easter baskets.

2. Coloring Eggs with the kids. I love their exclamations when the eggs come out bright and colorful!


3. Hiding the eggs and watching the kids hunt for them.


4. Good food. I really enjoy making special dinners for my family.

5. My new nephew! He was born on Friday and I was able to see him again yesterday. He is too precious. Hopefully he and mom will go home today!


Want to join 'Give Me Five On Mondays'? Go here!

Happy Easter

This song is special and is something I keep close to my heart. If you have a chance to listen, I hope it blesses you as it has me.



** 'When God Ran' by Phillips, Craig & Dean ** I do not own the song or video**

Rise and Shine!!

I am a morning person, but I do tend to worry about things!
How about you? Are you a morning or night person?

You Are a Morning Person

You're optimistic, alert, and full of energy to start the day. While you would love to party all night, you rather be up at the crack of dawn. You don't procrastinate or spend time worry about what to do next. You take life by the reigns, and you like to have an early start.

Are You a Morning Person or Night Person?

Friday Fill-ins

I came across this fun meme. (They seem to be overtaking me just lately!)

1. Blogging is so exciting!
2. Strawberry fields remind me of my grandmother.
3. A Krispy Kreme donut sounds like it would taste delicious!(but I do not like them)
4. Why does chocolate make me feel so good?!
5. The Eiffel Tower is something I've always wanted to see.
6. It's sad when flowers start to wilt.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing my new nephew, tomorrow my plans include coloring Easter eggs and Sunday, I want to enjoy my family and make them a wonderful meal!

Go HERE to for Friday Fill-ins.

Thankful Thursday

Today I will refrain from complaining! I want to give Thanks instead.
I am thankful for the following things in my life:
1. My children have a father, who not only loves them, but is involved with their life. He takes an active role in guiding them into the people they will be one day.
2. My home is not the fanciest, but it is a cozy, safe place.
3. The health of my family. We get sick once in a while, but man oh man, we are so lucky.
4. Coffee....yeah it is that important.
5. Last I want to list my blogging companions! You make my world a little brighter with your comments, insights and lovely posts.

Frustration continues...dun dun da.....

Apparently this blog is becoming my 'family happenings' blog. I am trying to save Happy Baker
for happy things...hehehehe. If you are wondering what posessed me to have 3 blogs, all I can say is: I am a scatterbrain. It shows even in my blogging.

So, following my previous post, I am still a bit frustrated today. Kristen came over last night. She is so cute! They grow so fast. She is a small little thing too. Jaxson wears the same shoe size and I am pretty sure he out weighs her. She is 4 and he is 2. She has always been little. Isabella is 7 and towers over her.

Hubby has always been good with kids and the kids seem to flock to him. Kristen remembers him from the past summers. He reads to the kids every night. This past summer Kristen found this to be an awesome event and every night requested he read Green Eggs and Ham. When she has been with us for several days she calls him "daddy" or "Bella's Daddy". We have tried to insert the Aunt and Uncle titles but with Kristen it is useless. What can I say?

Here is a picture of the girls and hubby. Kristen has put her pajamas on his head and declared him the PJ KING....what does that mean? But it is cute...


After baths, stories, prayers and MANY drinks of water, Kristen finally fell asleep.
This morning I woke to her tiny face. I could tell she was struggling not to cry. "Can I call my mommy?" Of course, I got up and let her call.

Is is just me? Am I neurotic? But when my children are with someone else, even grandparents, for more than 2-3 hours, I call and check on them. Her mom hasn't talked to her since she left Texas on Friday. And my brother...well. He works from
3pm to 11pm. That is the "reason" she can't stay with him. Apparently Kristen would be too much for the new wife to handle at night. (And after seeing how she is with Kristen, I am not sure I want Kristen there when Jack isn't anyway.) But he could pick her up in the mornings and spend time with her. He didn't see her yesterday, because she did not want to go over there. Apparently it is too much of a trouble for him to come to her now. And today he didn't even call. Kristen never talks about him. It makes me incredibly sad. And mad.

My mom is taking her home Friday morning after they see the new baby at the hospital.
I am wondering if he will see her before that. Probably not. I am so conflicted!
There is a good chance he could get his visitation rights cut back because he doesn;t make the effort to get her once a month for a weekend like he is supposed to. Now when she goes home Kristen is going to tell her mom all about spending time with Nana and Aunt Sara. I wonder if she will be upset that Kristen didn't see Jack.
And at what point do we, my mother and I, have to step back and let go. He, in theory, could lose all visitation with her. And that would mean we wouldn't be able to see her either unless her mother let us.

I guess July will tell the tale. He is supposed to have her the entire month. Last year, Bob and I had her most of the time. Jack had her for 4 days. sigh.....is this post as "rambling" sounding as I think it is?

Fun on Wednesday

I saw this meme over at Amy's Blah, Blah, Blogging and thought it sounded fun! Hope you enjoy

What I was doing 10 years ago: I was 19 and knew EVERYTHING. I was taking a couple of college courses and meeting new people. Hanging out and having fun!

5 Things on my To Do List today:
Clean the bathroom-yuck!
Laundry-of course!
balance the check book
arts and crafts with the kids...because, of course, it is STILL raining
Make chocolate chip cookies...with the help of 3 kids

Snacks I Enjoy:
Club Puffed multi-grain crackers
Pringles
cheese-cheddar, gouda, any really...except bleu cheese
Granola bars
strawberries

Things I would do if I were a Billionaire:
1. Pay off the credit cards
2. Buy a home
3. Start funds for my children's college education
4. Invest it, hubby would handle this part
5. Travel everywhere!


3 of my Bad Habits:
1. chew my fingernails...only when I am VERY nervous. it isn't a daily thing
2. Actually answering the question,"What do you think?", honestly. I have found most people just really want you to listen.
3. i drink waaaayyyy too much coffee every day

5 places I have lived:
1. Amarillo, Tx
2. Oklahoma
I haven't lived in 5 separate cities, but i have lived in different houses in these cities

5 Jobs I have had:
1. Secretary for dating service...hehehehe
2. customer service for cellular service
3. assistant supervisor at Barnes and Noble
4. Auditor for a casino, part-time
5. data entry for healthcare facility

If you play along too let me know and I'll stop by for a visit!

Frustration....

that is what I am feeling right this moment. It is early morning so there is a chance for this to go away by the end of the day, right?

**Apologies to my few regular readers and to any new readers who have come across this. This is not my usual type of post**

Kristen is here for Spring Break. She lives 6 hours away. She is 4, will be 5 in June. My brother,Jack, has not seen his daughter since AUGUST. Where is Kristen? At this moment she is with my mom and my daughter, they had a girls' night last night. Which is fine and I am glad they had a chance to do it. But where will Kristen be from 3pm today until Friday morning? With me and my family. Let me pause to say, I do not mind having her. Every summer we have her at least a week, if not 2 weeks of the month that is Jack's. She is lucky to get a few days with Jack out of that month.
I am not upset that she will be here, I am upset at the total lack of responsibility on my brother's part. Yes, he has a new wife that is expecting a baby on Friday and yes they have twins that are barely a year old, however, he also has Kristen.
It is a hard situation and I agree that it isn't ideal. But the new wife, pregnant or not, doesn't really want Kristen around. She even convinced my brother to move here. They used to live in Texas. The new wife doesn't like the old one, so they moved. Where does that leave Kristen?
I want to shake my brother. There will come a day, and it isn't too far away, that Kristen will decide she doesn't want to come. Jack lives in the moment. He cannot see past the end of his nose. He has never planned for the future. My heart hurts. Her first night here, remember he hasn't seen her since AUGUST, and she stayed with my mom. The reason? They had to get ready for the twin's party. What kind of crap is that? You can't bake some cupcakes with a 4 year old around? Why not let her help?
And if your new wife isn't ok with your daughter, then you chose poorly my dear brother.

Ok, I think I have it out of my system. **Again apologies, this is not my usual type of post content. I needed to vent....seeth actually...**

Material Girl Monday

Here are this week's favorites. I made the first one, Isabella made the second. She is really getting good at it!





Have fun at polyvore.com

PARTY!

My twin neices, Hannah and Heather, turn 1 on March 28th. We celebrated early because their new brother will arrive on the 21st. There was laughter, cupcakes, presents, tears, yelling, cooing....everything you expect from a 1 year old's party.

Heather

Hannah and Isabella

Kristen

Jaxson...I think he likes the cupcakes!

Introducing...(drum roll).....HUBBY

After weeks of listening to me talk about all the fun stuff in the blogging world, Hubby thought he might like to contribute too. I have invited him to be an author on this blog. I cannot say, nor am I responsible for, what he will post about.

With further ado I give you....Bob (not his real name) and he wants me to point out that if you put the letters backwards it is still Bob.

**P.S. He has seen my blog, listen to me talk about a few, but it wasn't until he saw this post at Reluctant Housewife's blog, that he decided to jump in with both feet(or foot since I am unsure how often he will post). RW-I am a bit jealous of you, seeing as how he thought your post was hilarious and spent longer on your blog than mine ;) j/k**

My Inner Child - Quiz results

I came across something fun at blogthings.com
There are several little tests, they range from what is your theme song to what type of blogger are you. Check it out!

Your Inner Child Is Surprised

You see many things through the eyes of a child. Meaning, you're rarely cynical or jaded. You cherish all of the details in life. Easily fascinated, you enjoy experiencing new things.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Hot!!

There are too many irons in the fire today!
PTA stuff, dance class, dinner out, and a parent-teacher conference. Oh and there was an eery banging in my closet, apparently the laundry is calling me too...
Whew.....can I get more coffee please?

Spring Break is Next Week!!!!!!

I can't believe Spring Break is next week! This year has flown by. My neice, Kristen, is coming to visit! She is 4, going to be 5 in June.(My brother lives here in Oklahoma, Kristen is in Texas with her mom.) My brother and his second wife are expecting their third child on the 21st of March. They have twin girls that are going to be a year old on the 28th of March. (Wowza!) Anyway, with all the commotion there, we will surely have Kristen with us for a few of the days. The girls love to play together. We do not get to see her often enough!! (Another story for a another day)

Kristen

Family

It is always shocking to me to see how everyone has changed in between my visits. Probably not as shocked as they are when they see my children and how much they have grown. Does that happen to anyone else? Certain people are just supposed to be the same all the time. They shouldn't get older, shouldn't get ailments. They should remain that image you have had since you were a kid. This is my Aunt and Uncle. They are getting older and it just kills me to realize that. They seemed to really enjoy seeing us and playing with the kids.

Childhood Friends

What I miss most about "home" are my friends. Rachel and I have been friends for 21 years, Lana and I for 15. They are the sisters i never had. I honestly cannot believe I manage day to day without seeing them. It has been hard. But I wouldn't have met hubby if I had not moved, so.....

Lana is expecting her first baby! I have been so excited! She and Cameron are very anxious for the arrival of their son! She had her baby shower this weekend. I was thrilled I could go! Really, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. So, despite ills and spills we made it to Texas!



Rachel has 2 daughters, the oldest 8 and the youngest 6. She and her husband really wanted to try again for a boy and in 2006 they were expecting twin boys. Tragically she lost them halfway through the pregnancy. It was devastating. She called me almost daily. I had been through the same ordeal with my son, Spencer, in 2004. She knew I understood and I knew there were no words. Sometimes we would sit on the phone and not say anything, just listen to each other cry. Now she is expecting a son,due any day now. My heart is full....

Monday Material Girl

It's Monday! Time for our favorite sets that we have made at polyvore.com Isabella and I have really enjoyed creating these sets. She is getting really good at it! Her favorite is the Dance set, of course.

COLD!!!!!!

This is what we woke up to this morning. Snow! Where is Spring??? Hubby cleaned off the car and took Bella to school. I am going to wait patiently for naptime, have a cup of coffee and read a book!

Happy Hats!

It is too fun to play and dream with this site, polyvore.com. Isabella and I had a fantastic time yesterday. While Jaxson took a nap, we made fabulous creations!

I have gotten very carrried away with this, which surprises me! It is too fun!
To keep it in check, I will post every monday the "sets" Isabella and I favor the most!

Here are a couple more for today!

Pretty in Pink

too fun! At Polyvore.com you can creat outfits and accesorize them. Thanks to C is for Couture
for letting me in on this!

In this crazy world.....

I never thought I would find "The One". When I was young, my female family members would say, "You'll just know." I couldn't imagine meeting someone and "just knowing". I went through a restless stage and gave up on the idea of finding true love. Then I met him. He is strong in areas that I am weak. I am bold in areas he is shy. I am nervous and he is the only person who can calm me without saying a word.
He is everything I dreamed about as a girl. Everything I had convinced myself I didn't deserve. Although not perfect, because no one is, but he is perfect for me and our family.

This is to my hubby.