A New Year!!

Here we are....2011.

I've gotten harrassment encouragement from others to keep this blog going.  They said they actually enjoy it!  Truth be told, I do too!!  I've missed it!!  And since life is back to some semblance of normalcy....did I just say that?.....I have made a commitment to keep it going.  That is one of my 2011 resolutions. 

I've got some goals for this year. It's actually going to be a VERY busy year.  I'm still in school for my ARNP degree and this is the heavy year.  Not a long program and this year is the majority of the work.  Whew....anyone out there have a firm grasp on Pathophysiology and care to tutor me??  :)

I've renewed those typical goals of eating better, exercising more and budgeting better.  The budget one is an absolute necessity.  I've decreased my hours at work because of the heavy class load I'm taking and first year at a new airline is never very good.  So we'll be hitting the Dave Ramsey program pretty hard again and focusing on our dollars.  Have you tried Dave Ramsey yet?  Great advice!

As for the healthier lifestyle, I'm checking in with Sparkpeople EVERY DAY!  I LOVE Sparkpeople!  Keeps me accountable, great reports, easy to use and let's you make some very real changes in your health.  Every time I've focused on this and checked in, I lose weight.  Easy as that.  Seriously.  I track my food and exercise, gain my points and read about other's success.  It truly is one of the best sites for making healthier lifestyle decisions.  Check it out!

In the meantime, here are a few pics of what is going on in our world right now.....



Big Boy has been very under the weather. Huge fever, sore throat, sniffles, achy. He has war wounds to prove it....

Those darn fever blisters hurt!  Poor kiddo!


We've added a new addition to the family......Meet Drake. We lost our oldest Boxer, Max, last November. Drake joined us a couple of weeks before Christmas. He's adorable....and sweet.....and is measuring up to be a GREAT pup!!

 

Super Hubs has a new job. He started at JetBlue Airlines in December. Loves it! I'm really happy for him and we've prayed, a LOT, that this is the direction God has for us.

Most importantly, we will spend a great deal of time thanking God for His wonderful blessings on our home and family.  We have SO much to be grateful for! 


How about you?  What are your 2011 Resolutions?  What do you want to improve on this year? 

We're BACK!

Hi y'all!!

We're BACK!

Well, we really never went anywhere....except work, school, work, school, work.

It's SO overrated ya know?!

Remember the story about how I thought I would try a new role out at the hospital?  I did.  Didn't like it.  No-not really. 

So back to life as I once knew it.  Back to working shifts at the hospital.  And back to parenting more full-time instead of hardly part-time.  Back to laundry (Oh.My.Gosh!  Did I really say that?!).

We spent a lot of time with God and prayer, trying to figure out what the next season of our life is.  I'm not completely sure.  But it does not involve working 50 hours a week, while the hubby still travels.  And the boys are young.  That isn't quite what works for us.  (Is that great little bloggy theme around?!)

I'm really looking forward to having some time to take care of my family and to go to school myself.  I'm pursuing a Masters in Nursing to gain my Advanced RN Practitioner degree.  The plan is that will afford me some great flexibility from now until....oh, until the boys are gone from home and married?  That should work.  I hope!

Until then....here is how we spent yesterday, getting back into the swing of of spending time together.....

That's Noah.....as Jesus on the Cross....at the beach....

Have a great day!  See you around, very soon!!

Anyone else?

I'm wondering if anyone else gets

SO. DARN. EXCITED.

for this:

photo courtesy of http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside

only to be

SO. DARN. FRUSTRATED!

when it ends because we know very little after than we did before we watched it?

Yeah....me too.

But I can't wait to be frustrated!!

WOO HOO!!

New Year--it is still January, right?

 It is still January so technically, ahem!  I can still say
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


I've thought many, MANY days about catching up on the blog but then doubt would interfere and I'd ask myself, "What do I really have to say right now?"


I am at a crossroads of sorts.  Not quite sure what to blog about.  My life has changed.  My focus is much different than it was six months ago.


Or is it?


I went back to recap on some of my blog entries from the past year.  They reflect a woman who was driven in many ways.  Driven to create the best home for her family.  Driven to feed her family well, AND frugally.  Driven to be a better wife, a better Mom, a much better follower of Christ.


Those things have not changed. 

My daily routine has changed.  But those goals are still there.  Still REALLY there!  With some new challenges mixed in.  As you all know, I work Monday through Friday again.  A new career focus.  New challenges professionally.

But the depth of who I am remains the same.  I struggle to make sure our marriage is growing.  I want to show my husband that he is the head of our family.  I want to get better at giving him the reins in which to lead our family and lead our marriage.  That means that I continue to learn to let go.  Let go of my selfish will.  Let go of my stubborn emotions.  Let go of my need to control!  Go out of my way to encourage him, to support him, to listen to him and to show him how much he means to me. 

I continue to work at this Mama-gig.  There are still numerous lessons to teach our sons.  Many kisses to send their way.  Hugs too.   I still want SH and I to lead their education and growth.  It helps that we absolutely love the Christian preschool that they are attending.  Every day they come home reciting a new Bible verse, talking about how they learned about Christ that day and singing songs over and over and OVER again!!  We are very comfortable that we made the right choice of schools for them to attend.  And they love it so that helps us to feel so very comfortable with the decision.   We are learning more and more every day about their personalities and how that is growing in to the young men they are.  They are set in many ways.  Big Boy continues to be emotional, very sensitive and very thoughtful.  You cannot get a single thing past that boy.  We must carefully choose our words and actions, every day.  Because he picks up on them every. single. time.  Little Guy continues to be the free spirit.  He is goofy and enjoys to be the life of the house!  We must be careful not to assume that means he is silly and reckless because he is not.  He simply does not take any part of life too seriously.  That will help our Type A driven home, A LOT! 

There are goals that I have for 2010.  Every year I try to identify things that I want to accomplish, both for myself and for our family.  This year is no different.  So in no sense of order at all:

1)  Strengthen our family bond with Christ.  SH and I have talked about this and have made some concrete measures to include God in our daily lives.  We pray every day on the way to school with the boys.  We pray at meals.  We pray at other times too.  We talk about our behaviors and how they either please God or displease Him.  We don't attend church as often as we feel like we should.  Let's face it, church is a habit.  And one I feel like we need to strengthen in our entire family.  We are somewhat torn as to what church to attend so that is a journey we must attend to.  We talk about God daily and His sacrifices for us.  We don't talk about our sacrifices for Him nearly as much.  Room for growth in this area, definitely.

2)  Remove ourselves from $50,000 of debt, which will include remaining credit card debt, home equity, student loan and mortgage.  We won't be debt free but we can be closer to the prize!  Definitely something we can do if we really focus.  REALLY focus!

3)  Take charge of my health.  Let's face it.  I'm almost 42 years old.  42 folks.  That is, ahhhhhhh, close to middle age?!  No matter how young I feel.  No matter how late I started with the whole parenting gig (so I feel like I'm 30 with preschoolers, when in reality I'm almost 42 with preschoolers!).  The body is just not gonna hold up like it did 12 years ago.  Time to really start looking at ensuring those healthcare dollars are well spent on prevention!

4)  And as always, there is a smattering of decorating projects, garden plans, weekend trips to plan.  Little things to make family memories.  Those change every other week so I'll keep those on the back burner.

5)  Keep up with the blog.  Even the mundane, inconsequential things.  Because someone may find them mildly entertaining.  And I love going back to read where life has taken us in the past year. 

HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE!

A little research is needed...

Oh my bloggy friends....

I NEED you!

I need help with my new work routine.  My new life routine.  My new life.

ACK!

So we've been at this for about 3 weeks now.  Boys are doing really well in school.  Of course, Big Boy is the overchiever that he is.  Straight Gold Stars.  Nothing else is acceptable.  In fact, yesterday he had continuous meltdowns because he wasn't allowed to be the leader.  You know.  Because he is...The Leader.  (his words...not mine!).  So it is even more apparent that our little A-type personality continues to develop.  Our parenting challenge continues to be teaching him to let go and just be.  It is a challenge.  He doesn't let go easily.

Little Man on the other hand....umm....not so much into pleasing others, let's just say.  Not straight Gold Stars.  I'm not saying that's bad....just waaayyy different than Big Boy.  He doesn't mind doing things his own way and certainly, if that doesn't fit what the teacher wants that day, well then.....so be it!  So we're trying to figure out how to keep him motivated in a much different way. 

No matter, they are both doing great in such very different ways.  I really thought it would be this way.

Me on the other hand?  Not as great!  I caught a lousy cold this week and have been ExHauSTeD!  It's been awful.  The new job is great though.  Huge.  Enormous.  A LOT different than life one month ago!  But a good different. 

I sat down at the computer this morning though to catch up and do a little research.  My bloggy friends, y'all ROCK when it comes to organizing and getting the proverbial shiiiitte together!  And I need your advisement!!  So I'm searching for ways to organize this house and home for two full-time working parents.  What works.  How to get ourselves prepped for the week, and how to keep it going all week long.  Five days is a millenia sometimes, ya know?! 

I'm starting with meal plans.  Gotta get that going.  Otherwise, KFC stock will increase dramatically, thank you.  And how to get these clothing issues sorted through.  Boys have uniforms.  I have a uniform.  Super Hubs has a uniform.  So how do we have 7 loads of laundry to do?  UGH!!

Any ideas my friends?  Can you help me out??

Please forgive me....

For being absent. I'm actually not. Absent that is.

Just BUSY! Like, barely any time to sit down, busy.

Working n' taking kids to swim lessons, playdates with long-lost friends, more swim lessons, applying to grad school---AGAIN(!!), swimming for fun and practice, laundry....ugh! Life has taken over again!


I'll beg forgiveness and leave you with this---I've got some great trashy treasure. Believe it or not, in the busy-ness of life, I did get to some great little yard sales and found some wonderful trashy treasures.


One of the best items I scored? This!

The boys love the Veggie Tales movies! And this one has been a hit---for $2!!! I love that it reinforces wonderful values and they love and get, all the great humor in it as well.

Now, lest you think that all I do is reinforce video teaching, I'll back off the videos for a bit. I've got MUCH more wonderful things to be showing soon.

Wonderful little trashy, treasure-y things. WOOT! Check back in a couple of days!

Dear boys...

Yes, I do realize that you are almost 4 & 5 years old. You remind me, ummm, about 17,324 times a day. And I do realize that makes you NOT a baby. You ARE big boys...really. But to me, you will always be my babies. Because as you so astutely reminded me just the other day, Big Boy, I'm too old to have babies. Thanks. Appreciate that. So, that makes you my babies. Forever. And as such, I'm allowed to kiss and hug you 17, 325 times a day. One more than each reminder. That's my job. I'm your Mama. You know, the one who is too old to have more babies to kiss and hug. Sucks to be you, eh?

Bravery

Why is it that when we are young, we are brave beyond imagination? We take risks with no forethought. We just do it.....



And later, we succumb to the fear of the unknown. We think....and think....and think. We wonder if we should? And why should we?

Just for today, do not question. Do not wonder. Yes. Say Yes. You. Can.

Everyone is always surprised...

that I grew up a farm kid. And that surprised ME?! It seems glaringly obvious to me. After all, if you were in my brain, you would see this....




Oh how I YEARN to go home soon! Take me home, country roads....

And since this is definitely one of the FINER THINGS in my life, I thought I'd hook y'all up towards Amy's blog to what others are up to for their Finer Things Friday party. Enjoy!

Words worth saying

Yes Goodnight
No Sorry HA!
Stop
Go LoveU Cuddle

ARGH! Maybe?

NOW!

Stinky Help Pray Thanks

Precious God



Clandestine

It's been raining a LOT lately....

Sometimes, you don't need water.....you just need a little imagination!

CANNONBALLLLLLLLL!

He has a future....

Evidently, our youngest has EXTREMELY high pain tolerance.

Look what I found when he whimpered the other day that his pinky finger hurt:


Thing is folks....the injury is several days old and I have no idea when he did it! No blood, no major fit, no major tears. Just this, a couple of days later. OUCH! And little studmuffin managed to finally get it all the way torn off last night without so much as a drop of blood or a tear shed again. Me on the other hand....I'm crying for him! I keep asking "Are you SURE it doesn't hurt?". He just keeps telling me "It no hurt Mama. See?" as he touches it again.

I guess if he's ever captured and they even consider torture...he can just laugh and say "yeah, what EVER!".

Randomness....

I love how the leaves fall in my yard and decorate the season of Spring in Florida. I'm not so sure the neighbors love it.

I want to learn how to make artisan bread. Really, really good bread. And slather on some good Irish butter. Oh. my.

I guess I know a little about a lot of stuff. At least that is what people tell me. Sometimes I think that I just don't concentrate well in one area. I don't bother with details.

I used to question myself every day whether I should be doing something else. Today, I've found my "something else" and it is completely fulfilling and really where God intended me to be. It's called being Mama.

My mind is a constant source of thinking and planning. I don't think it is as creative in the arts and crafty sense, but in the 'I can do this with that' sense. Just today instead of buying Febreze, I made my own and I like it so much better than the chemical-ly stuff.

I wish my house looked like this. Is that possible with two little boys who dismantle the sofa every evening?

There are many things I feel very confident in. There are a few things I feel completely inept in. I suppose that's a pretty good balance.

I am trying to be more girly. I've never been very girly. Comes from growing up on a farm with boys. Not a whole lotta support for girly stuff. Thank you God for giving us boys.

I get a bit obsessed with things. And that is the very character trait that my husband has that drives me crazy. Hmmmm....wonder if that bothers him?

I'm really a farm kid trapped in a adult city girl's body. Not many people know that. And oddly, they are always surprised.

I always wanted to write. I just never thought it was good enough. I'm still not sure I would ever write something somebody found interesting enough to actually read. But I've gotten almost 1000 hits on this blog since April, when I started the counter. So maybe?

We've thought often and seriously about moving to another country. Take advantage of a job opportunity for SH. I really think it would be an amazing journey and would love to try it. SH still isn't sure. I really feel as though God intends for us to live as a family in a way that is different than what we are doing now. So I pray about it.

I'm a Christian but not necessarily loyal to one denomination. In fact, I've attended and belonged to several churches in my lifetime. Some people consider that an inability to commit. I simply think that they are very similar and that it's not about the politics, it's about my God. The only church that never made sense to me was a Unitarian. Lovely place to visit. Lovely people. Strange not to talk about Jesus during church. So I left.

I love bluegrass music. Don't laugh. It's really good. Especially anything tied to Alison Krauss.

I guess I could do one of those "100 things about me" posts.....

Sorry I've been gone...

We've had a bout with the flu the past few days....no, not that flu, but run-of-the-mill, fever and vomiting kind. The boys go from feeling fine, to throwing up to feeling fine again in a matter of hours. So we're still cleaning up from that. I will do my best to rejoin my lovely bloggy family in the next couple of days. In the meantime, please pray for SH & I that we don't get the bug.....no one to clean up after us if we get it! See you soon!!

Not that I've never been tempted...

But it is something I would never, ever, NEVER admit to Oprah!

"I looked in the back, and the kids were sleeping, which was literally a miracle from God, but the problem was I had to pee," she says. "So I'm thinking, 'If I stop at a rest area, they're totally going to wake up, and I do not want them to wake up.' So I reach into the diaper bag, I pulled out a diaper and I peed into it." (Quoted from a new mom to Oprah.)

Easter via a 4 year old...

When we go to church and the kids come to the service with us (instead of Sunday School), we always let them put the tithe in the plate. We call it "Jesus money". So, this morning, while in church, both boys got their "Jesus Money" to put into the plate when it was passed. Here is how that went down....

"Here, honey, put the money into the plate when it comes. This is our Jesus money for this week"...Mama says.

Big Boy replies...."OK. Jesus is dead, right?"

"Well yes, He died but today he is Risen and goes to heaven", I reply.

Big Boy...."Yeah, Jesus is dead and then the Easter Bunny saved him".


There you have it....



And here are some pics of the gifts that the Easter Bunny left for the boys...baseball equipment and skates! Lots of fun for all!



That last pic is Big Boy feeding the birds...or squirrels, whichever comes first. Protective equipment is optional...

Hope you all have a Blessed Easter day!

Hope you aren't completely lost....

I'm taking another stab at keeping up with this blog thing....for friends, for family, for bored anonymous blog readers who have nothing else to do but read nonsense..... That would be this blog...a LOT of nonsense! No, really, I'm so very sorry for leaving for...jeez, like 6 months! I had no idea it had been that long, truly. I thought 4, maybe 5. But 6??!!! I'm suprised those at Blogger didn't just drop me off the face of the web!

So I'll take another stab at blogging because once I went back and read what I wrote, I really liked it. So I'll have at least one reader, I guess. Unless I make my SH read it...then we will be 2!!

Let me contemplate on a witty and interesting topic for tomorrow....hmmmm....homemade laundry soap? teaching preschoolers at home? making soup? What will it be???