birthday.....checklist to self

OKay, for the birthday boy this weekend, I have

* Ordered cake....dinosaur theme please, he says so nicely way back in January.....I even got the cupcake cake and the dinosaurs roar!
2. Printed out chart for thank you notes....AND put them in my control journal!!!

5. Get helium tank for balloon to tie on favors....can say done...BUT only after cornering the Walmart employeeee...here is a hint....don't ask the household lady where the party supply stuff i s in a Super Walmart

11. Buy plastic ware and paper goods. ***though I still cannot find dinosaur napkins.....note to napkin printers....print dinosaur napkins and ship them to TX....some moms will buy them!

13. Buy cute dinosaur shirt for birthday boy.......as well as cute school shoes for Liv for the fall. Who can't buy 75% off Striderite shoes she can put on herself??? heck, if I lowered her clothes bar, she could do her morning routine herself!!

8. Buy sand for dinosaur dig activity.....did this, but the sand is wet, it totally will not sift....which is what we need to find the 'bones'...do you think it will dry out by Sat??

7. Track cookies ordered from foofoo cookie place to see if where they are.....these are delivered....and we even gave some to the neighbor kids moving....because we are on top on things like that....or I would like to think I am!!

8. Buy sand for dinosaur dig activity.....did this, but it is wet...can sand dry out in two day with 85% humidity???

I still need to do:.....

3. Let me back up, make hand print for thank you notes.,,call it OOyey gooyeey Friday, I will do this tomorrow afternoon, hopefully Livi will be napping.



4. Assemble thank you notes.....yeah still need to do this one!...so if you are holding your breath for a thank you note.....here is a hint....take a breath, we haven't even made them yet!

6. Assemble favors.


9. Drain water from the sand and water table.

10. Fill sand and water table with new sand and dinosaur bones.

12. Buy ice cream and pick up cake day of party.

Okay, substitute four year old boy in this pic.....I want him to have a great party!!

Just a few more things to do!

Thursday 13....number three

Thirteen things I need to do before Will's party on Saturday.......yep, this Saturday....like in two days. Hard to believe he will be four on Sunday.

This is the face I get when I ask him to say cheese for his dad.....lovely!

1. Order cake....dinosaur theme please, he says so nicely way back in January.

2. Print out chart for thank you notes.

3. Let me back up, make hand print for thank you notes.

4. Assemble thank you notes.

5. Get helium tank for balloon to tie on favors.

6. Assemble favors.

7. Track cookies ordered from foofoo cookie place to see if where they are.

8. Buy sand for dinosaur dig activity.

9. Drain water from the sand and water table.

10. Fill sand and water table with new sand and dinosaur bones.

11. Buy plastic ware and paper goods.

12. Buy ice cream and pick up cake day of party.

13. Buy cute dinosaur shirt for birthday boy.

I think I can get most of this done over the next two days. I can't believe my baby is going to be four!

If not, this will be me with my cute foofoo cookies from foofoo place online.

Wild card Wednesday...we have success!

From The Kept Woman who is in the same potty training boat I am.....

Yes, I took a picture of my little one using the toilet...but it really is funny. She has the peepee thing down pretty good. She is in underwear while we are at home, out and about running errands, she is back in diapers. Like the TKW said, the power of M&Ms is amazing. I bought a bunch of the Easter ones when they were clearanced out at the PX for like fifty cents a bag. One little "purpur" M&M is saving me $$$bucks on the diapers.

Back to the picture....See those maracas in her hand. While she is trying to do the other business, she suddenly asked for her maracas. I am clueless as to why she would want those ....then I remembered this little incident: Tuesday Update: Muffin Monday....Mexican Surprise where she had to make music for us with the measuring cups.

Okay, I roll with that. You need some music to make the poops come out. Maybe this is just a remedial form of a magazine for the two year old set. I find the maracas and she starts shaking...AND singing. I kid you not, she sings,"Shake shake shake the poopies out, shake shake shake the poopies out, Shake shake shake the poopies out...all day long". It was so funny! It took all the restraint I had not to go grab the video recorder. I did grab my camera though. Can you see that look on her face...the one that says, "Okay mom, you really are best friends with Crazy" put the camera down and wipe my booty. So it worked the one time, so now the maracas live in the little cubby on the step stool in front of the sink.

Since this was the first time she did poops in the potty, she asked for the little brown ice cream....she means the Nibs, those chocolate covered ice cream balls. So my dear friends, those are not the little turds she just sang out of her booty, but little ice cream balls. She was dang proud....and so am I!!

I guess I should start a savings account for her therapy now if she ever finds out I blogged about her maracas.

Did you play??

Memorial Day

While Memorial day normally marks the beginning of summer with celebrations and grilling out with friends and family, this weekend I am reminded of the many families that have lost hubands, fathers, sons, wives, mothers, and daughters. I want this weekend to be about showing respect for those fallen soldiers who have given up all of their tomorrows.

Carmella LaSpada is executive director of the White House Commission on Remembrance which was set up by Congress in 2000, and urges Americans to remember and honor the true spirit and purpose of Memorial Day:

"The national Moment of Remembrance is a time for Americans to contemplate those things that bind us together by remembering the legacy of those who died to better our country... We encourage all Americans, no matter where they are and what they are doing, at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to stop and give thanks [via a moment of silence, or something symbolic like ringing a bell]."

Stuff Portrait Friday - Pink and Little

kristine wants something “Pink and Little” in honor of her new grand baby.

I am pleased to announce I think Livi is pretty much potty trained. She prefers to wear pink princess underwear on her little booty. Dora underwear is also a favorite. She will say, " I promise not to peepee on Dora." Good thing!

She did have a minor accident today involving a swim diaper, (sorry friend J). She wanted to wear underwear out running errands this morning. We went to her story time at the library, Target, then home to drop stuff off before we had to pick Will up at 11:30.

Today was Will's last day. They had early out. We had a swim party this afternoon. During all of this, she only had the one accident. She will tell me pretty much for both...oh how do I say this lightly....duties.

So woohoo!! I think I might have bought my last box of diapers....well except for the ones she will wear at night. Will is only 16 months older than her. I was trying to remember when he started wearing underwear to bed instead of a pull up.

Gotta cut this short, it is storming like crazy here and I am on the laptop... I don't think the battery will last much longer.

Happy Friday y'all....

Did you play??

My second Thursday Thirteen...

Today I decided I needed a little help writing my thirteen things list so I went to Google and it kindly helped me out. I simply typed in “Tommie needs” and voila!

1. "Tommie Needs To Buy Katie Holmes Maternity Wear": UUhhmmm, only if I get invited to a baby shower.

2. I asked Tommie to post it for me, but I never saw it -- no doubt Tommie needs a vacation now and again too! I'll try to post it again as soon ...This is the truth, but I would rather go with Mike.

3. Of course, TOMMIE needs the right information to start with. No problem. Any suitably authorised person (e.g. a department head) can easily register.....Exactly, who can deal with stupid people??

4. Tommie needs to give Gina the finger… by shifting a hip toward her, licking her fingertip, touching it to her ass and saying “TSSSssssssss! ...Okay, this one totally cracked me up....I do have one of those lifelong friends I talk about named Gina. We have shared many a bottle of wine back in the day....Love you girl, and I would never give you the finger.

5. Tommie needs J.J. needs Poochie needs... Joey needs I need they need we all need to build our own $^&(*(*&^%&^% bridges. Peter Spiro, from "We All Need" .. I am not building any bridges, unless it is from some blocks of Wills.

6. it is still my belief that if the tommie and his (changed to her for my post) parents still want to go to slu, that a place will be held for him (her). but the tommie needs to really want to ...
No, I don't want to go to SLU, I am Sooner born and Sooner bred, when I die, I'll be Sooner dead. Go OU!

7. Tommie needs to do his (her) bio....Maybe I do, I never fill those things out.

8. Methinks Tommie needs a hobby.....EEks, I have one, scrapbooking...but it has been awhile. Maybe this is a sign, you know I am all about signs.

9. Tommie has been experiencing software glitches and has not received appropriate support from the provider. Janice told Bruce that Tommie needs a new chair .....I usually stand at the counter when I blog, maybe I should sit in a chair??

10. Whether it is running his record label or doing collaboration with a world famous artist, Tommie Sunshine needs no introduction to the Electronic Dance ...Is that a version of the Electric Slide?? If so, I am all over it.

11. Tommie needs to work ......I think staying home with two kids is plenty of work.

12. Tommie needs to have a couple of shots taken by a pro who knows how to pull out the best in a person's appearance.....You mean to tell me the ones Will takes aren't pro quality??

13. Tommie, I really love your voice and the way you take on such difficult songs like Whitney Houston, Dion but you really need to work on the look ....Hey hey hey, I am thinking I am all that when I leave the house.

Wild Card Wednesday.....preschool style

From The Kept Woman since eating paste brings back such fond memories....I give you preschool pictures ....if you look real close you might be able to see some glue.

On Monday I went to do a little shopping and lunch with my friend J.....she casually mentions she might pick up teacher gifts for the kids' teachers. Her little girl is in Will's class....she is the one who introduced them to Mr Snow. Anyhow, where was I??

Oh yeah....teacher gifts.... I was like..."Teacher gifts....dang! I forgot all about that. " Most of my 13 years of teaching was done in ghetto schools. There was no such thing as teacher's gifts. Okay, I take that back, there were a few. But most of it was apple crap. I do recall making myself a promise that when the time came I would have nothing to do with apple crap being given to my kid's teachers.

Nice friend J had mentioned that she thought some Godiva chocolate would be a great gift. I would have loved to receive any chocolate, much less Godiva. I got there a bit before she did and noticed the Godiva chocolates were marked down 50%. I scooped up two of the biggest boxes they had. When she got there and saw them she thought I had stolen her idea. Silly girl, I got your back, I was just saving you some $$. She ended up getting a box for the director as well. With the 50% off, she saved $44!!

So what can I do that would be equally as loved and appreciated as a box of heaven?? I happened to see these little key rings by Brighton. I could put some cheese ball note in there about the lessons he has learned here are the key to his future.........Okay, no I didn't put in any cheesy note...I did let him sign his name. I wrote a simple "thank you for all that you do" because there is no way I could handle that many 3-6 year olds!!

Will really does love his teachers. When I am doing something that isn't "right", he will let me know that Mrs. C does it "this way". Yeah, yeah, I am sure she does.

When he gave each of them their present, he said, "Happy Birthday!" Okay, maybe the concept of a thank you gift didn't quite get through to the "I am not three years old, I am almost four" year old.

Happy Wednesday, did you play??

Muffin Monday: Jean's Rich Blueberry Muffin

I don't know Jean----this is just the name of the recipe....but they are from children's author Jean Rogers.

We got this recipe out of this book: http://www.amazon.com/Baked-Alaska-Sweet-Comforts-Country/dp/088240492X

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 T. baking powder

1 t. salt

1/4 c. vegetable shortening

1/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

2/3 c milk

1 c. blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

Stir the flour with the baking powder and salt, and set aside. Cream the shortening with the sugar until light and fluffy, then add the eggs and beat lightly.

**Note to self: turn off the mixer when you do this or milk will splatter everywhere and you will be left guessing how much extra milk to add since so much is on the counter!!**

Stir in the dry ingredients, then add the blueberries, mixing only enough to distribute the blueberries. The batter will be quite stiff. **and since there was a wee bit of a loss of milk, it might be even stiffer**

Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full and bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with a smear of butter.

Makes 36 mini muffins.

Livi loved these....she has eaten at least three.

Will, no go...texture issues when he saw the blueberries.

I like a sweet muffin, and these are more bread like.

100 things about me for my 100th post

I didn't think I could come up with 100 things, so I decided to break it down into categories....hang on for the ride, I am sure this is going to be a long one.

10 things I do everyday:

1. I usually hit the snooze at least once.

2. I sleep with my cell phone under my pillow.

3. I set the alarm on my cell phone for 15 minutes after my alarm in case I turn it off instead of hit snooze.

4. I drink at least 1-2 cups of coffee with lots of creamer.

5. I lay out my clothes for the next day at night...down the earrings and undies.

6. I eat frosted mini wheats for breakfast more days that not.

7. I have to have a shiny sink before I go to bed.

8. I have a menu plan for each meal of the day.

9. I wear make up every day.

10. I get dressed but don't wear shoes in the house.

10 things "I have never":
11. I have never gotten a tattoo.

12. I never skipped school in high school.

13. I have never hitchhiked.

14. I have never gone skydiving.

15. I have never done illegal drugs.

16. I have never gone on a blind date.

17. I have never gone into labor on my own.

18. I have never given the kids ready made baby food.

19. I have never been to Germany.

20. I have never laid in a tanning bed.

10 things about my home:
21. I only have things in my home I absolutely love.

22. I will freecycle most anything I don't love.

23. My clothes are organized according to the color wheel.

24. I have lamps and artwork made by prisoners from the Federal prison in Leavenworth.
25. I have a big Texas star above my mantle.

26. I love my bathroom with the mongo tub.

27. I rarely have time to soak in it.

28. I don't soak in it because I am afraid I will fall asleep in there.

29. and drown because I fell asleep.

30. I want new bedroom furniture.

10 things about food:
31. I love sushi.

32. My husband cooks better than most restaurants we have gone to.

33. I do love a good wine.

34. I could eat cheese, crackers, and olives as a meal.

35. I love fish but like someone else to cook it.

36. I have mastered the grilling since Mike's been gone.

37. I can't wait for him to come home to take over the grilling.

38. I can't handle tequila.....see #55

39. I love Olive Garden's salad and bread sticks.

40. Ted's Esdondido (in OKC) is my favorite place to eat.....yummy quesadillas!!!

10 things I'm stressing over:
41. This deployment

42. How hot it is going to be this summer.

43. Finding a new lawn man...mine is moving.

44. Will's birthday party

45. Should I go back to work once the kids are in school.

46. Will I ever fit into my before baby clothes

47. trying not to cry in front of the kids when I read something sad in the paper

48. I just shouldn't read the paper.

49. this deployment...oh yeah, I already said that.

50. are my kids' car seats in correctly.

10 things about my childhood:

51. I have a large extended family....lots of cousins, aunts and uncles.

52. I went kindergarten through 12th grade in the same little podunk school.

52. My kindergarten teacher was my favorite teacher of all time.

53. I graduated with 52 in my graduating class.

54. Three of those 52 were my first cousins.

55. I am half Indian...or native American if you want to be PC.

56. I graduated from a Big 8 school, back when it was the Big 8.

57. I was born in the summer.

58. I have stitches on my ankle shaped like a Nike swoosh.

59. That is the only time I have had stitches.

60. I have two sisters and one brother.

10 freaky facts:

61.I am not creative, but I can recreate almost anything I see.

62. I love the color cranberry red.

63. I do scrapbooks.

64. I have a French bulldog.

65. I didn't have kids until I was in my thirties.

66. I met my husband at a New Year's party.

67. We were married that Thanksgiving.

68. I have lived in six states.

69. I have chilled wine in a snow bank on my porch.

70. I have used an outdoor potty at the North Pole. **Call me crazy, I just looked for the picture to post...it is not the North Pole, it is the Arctic Circle**

10 places I have worked.

71. the gym at the school I went to in high school.

72. a park in my home town

73. a wildlife refuge

74. in Italian restrauant by my old dorm

75. a place my uncle owned

76. a K-3 special ed teacher

77. a 3-6 special ed teacher

78. another teaching job

79. stay at home mom---because I work more now that I ever did before!

80...and because I need one more...I workOUT at Jazzercise

10 things I love:

81. my husband

82. Will

83. Livi

84. my family

85. my in laws

86. a good mani and pedi

87. my home

88. to do sudoku puzzles

89. my car

90. to cook

10 random things:

91. I am allergic to the sun.

92. I don't eat pork....food issues.

93. I am allergic to nuts except pecans

94. I say "pee-cans" not "puh-cons"

95. I was a special ed teacher before kids.

96. I have enjoyed blogging since I started a few months ago.

97. I started blogging so family could keep up with the kids.

98. I can pinch with my toes.

99. I am almost done.

100. I wonder how many of you really will read all of these!!

stuff portrait fridays....FRAMED

kristine wants something “FRAMED” Show your favorite frame, framed picture, a frame you have been coveting in a store or online, or get creative and show us your version of ‘framed’..

Way too tired to get crafty and creative, so I will show you a little peek into my favorite framed picture of me and hubby....this is the picture we had taken for our engagement announcements ten years ago this summer. We showed up at the little portrait place for just the generic in house snaps of a few photos. When he offered to go up the block to a park, we were quite shocked. We didn't pay for any extra on location shoot. We had fun sitting on some park benches, leaning on fences, and this one peeking between the trees. We had this matted at the reception of our wedding. People who were there signed it. In the past ten years so many of those people who signed it have passed in and out of our lives. Grandparents have passed away, friends have moved away, and so much has happened. We look so young....but, yes, it is one of my favorite framed pictures of us.

And just for the heck of it, this is another framed painting we have in the entry way. I try to follow a bit of feng shui ( I know, call me Best Friends with Crazy right now, but I need a little peace in my life!). Feng shui is a way of creating harmony between humans and our environment to enhance our well being. People are affected -either positively or negatively- by their surroundings. So if with a little placement of things here and there I can make my life a happier, healthy, and more peaceful...I say, "Pull up a seat, Crazy, let's talk"...

Oh yeah, where was I?? The painting....the entrance to your home should include a landscape.....kind of like a little entrance into a peaceful place. We try to collect local arts and prints from the many places we get to live. This one of course is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We got it because we loved living in the east bay. We had these beautiful rose bushes in our yard. This painting really combined the two memories into a living piece of art. See,don't you feel a bit peaceful all ready??

So did you play??

okay, I don't know where my comments thing went.....like everyone is dying to leave comments here....I'll see what I can do.

eta: okay, I just had to redo the entire post, just copying and pasting....Has this happened to any of you using Blogger??

My first Thursday 13

My first post for Thursday Thirteen....

Thirteen Opinions I hold ....meaning my opinion is usually the right one:

1. I hope Tessa gets proposed to on the Bachelor...Yes, I watch, or more accurately I DVR then watch when the kids are in bed.

2. I wish whatever needs to be accomplised in Iraq would happen so Mike can come home !!!

3. I buy my little girl the cutest bows even though I was NEVER a bowhead.

4. I love sushi from the commissary, so I drive over there at least three times a month.

5. I tried to give up caffeeine but got such bad headaches I couldn't.

6. I love any music from Sarah Mclachlan.

7. Not a big fast food person but I love Taco Bell's bean burritos with no sour cream and no onions.

8. I never ride with the sun roof open because I think it makes the color in my hair fade faster. But the kids like it open, so I do it anyway.

9. I have to have a cup of iced water by my bed every night..But after some wacky email about drinking bugs, I have to have a napkin on top....the napkin will keep them out of my water won't it???

10. I love "When Harry Met Sally" but I don't like Meg Ryan anymore.

11. I always wanted more than two kids, but this deployment has shown me I am a "two kid mom".

12. I can't wait for Grey's tonight!

13. I love that every one is Mc"something" on Greys.....maybe I should start calling Mike McStudly.

Lots of opinions....do you agree with any?? all?

Wild Card Wednesday...What did we do on Mother's day??

From The Kept Woman who is a tutu-making fool these days....

On Sunday after Livi's nap we loaded up and went to the park. We met my friend Jill there with her little girl. Mind you it was already 90 degrees ! But I will attempt to not gripe about the temperature. Mike sent me this picture he took last week....yes, that says 110 degrees. Now I grew up in Oklahoma and it does get that hot, but not in May!!!

So since after an hour or so everyone was super hot we headed over to Mr Snow. Who doesn't like a nice cold cherry icee on a Sunday afternoon. Livi loved hers of course. She had the red mustache to go along with it. Will has texture issues and wouldn't even try it. He ended up eating a scoop of Blue bell ice cream. Not as good as Braums, but heck we are in Texas now.

This reminded me of when I was growing up. Before frost free refrigerators, I would scrape the top layer of frost out of the freezer and pour red Koolaid on it! Who knew I could have been selling those babies for $1 a pop?

Afterwards we went home and straight into the bathtub. I knew there was no eating dinner. So after the baths we just had a picnic on the living room floor of cheese and crackers. We watched Backyardigans...the cartoon of the week it seems. Not a bad afternoon.....

Did you play?

By the way this is my 97th post....anyone have any good ideas to do for the 100th??

2s day....act like it really is Tuesday, I am tired and not sure I can post tomorrow

Two Names I Go by: tommie and mommy

Two Things I am Wearing Right Now: workout clothes and my new boy shorts undies

Two Things I Want (or have) in a Relationship: love and him to be HOME

Two of My Favorite Things to do: sleep and have a great lunch with friends

Two Things I Want Very Badly At The Moment: husband to be home and a nap

Two pets I have: Josie my French bulldog ...she won Elim-a-pet.... so there are no others

Two things I did last night: watched the Bachelor (love Tessa) and did Nameste Yoga

Two things I ate today: the new White Chocolate Raspberry creamer with my coffee (does that count as eating.??? it does with WW points!!!!) and a chicken pizza

Two people I just talked to last: traci from big ole' CJHS and nice neighbor J

Two Things I'm doing tomorrow: taking Will to preschool and going to Jazzercise

Two longest car ride: from OK to Alaska and back Alaska to Oklahoma

Two Favorite Holidays: my birthday and Christmas

Two favorite beverages: wine and a great latte

Muffin Monday....Mexican Surprise

This one is a neighborhood favorite. We usually do sweet muffins. Today we did one that we have done before. I don't usually repeat recipes. This one can be dinner for the kids though. It is a simple spicy cornbread with a tiny hot dog in the middle. It has a taco dip on the side.

Will still doesn't want me to take his picture. He is standing on his chair from the kid table, but he is scooched down so I couldn't take it.

Livi, on the other hand, is all cheese....Can you see the two measuring cups in her hand? She was banging them together. Instead of ripping them from her two little hands, I asked her to stop. She explained to me that she was "making music for us to enjoy while we were making muffins!!" Where does she get this stuff...she is only two! We listen to music during dinner, so I think this is where she got it, but I don't ever recall telling her it was for our enjoyment.

He looks like "well, if you are going to take the picture, I am NOT going to smile. Will was mixing up all the stuff as Livi measured it. She is getting pretty good at the measuring spoons. She can level the salt like a pro. She can scrape the baking soda on the edge so it is level. The entire time Will was mixing he kept telling her her, "You cannot eat it, it has raw eggs!" I told him that last week when we made chocolate chip cookies instead of muffins. They both wanted to eat the dough. I am paranoid of some unknown food poisoning if they ate raw eggs, so I wouldn't let them have any! Mean momma....but the last thing I need is to be hauling two toddlers down to the ER alone. Yeah right, not happening in my little world, so NO BATTER!

Mexican Surprise

3/4 c. yellow cornmeal

1 c. all purpose flour

1/3 c. sugar

1t. chili powder

1 t. cumin

1 t. garlic powder

1 c. milk

1 egg, beaten

2 T. canola oil

1/3 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 hot dogs,cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Dipping Sauce:

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1 1/2 T. taco seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

Stir together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and oil. Stir just until blended, then fold in the cheese.

Drop a spoonful of batter into the bottom of each muffin cup, Place a piece of hot dog on top. Fill cups with enough additional batter to cover the hot dog piece.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned and spring back when pressed. Cool slightly when removing from muffin pan.

Serve warm with Fiesta dipping sauce.

Here is Livi saying, "These are delicious!" While they were baking Will asked if he could take some to school for his lunch tomorrow. So I got a few out and packed them. Then he tasted one and declared he didn't like them. Oh well....here is your dinner Livi!

happy muffin Monday!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

Okay, I will forewarn you here....I am getting ready to get sappy.... I personally think Moms deserve more credit than one day a year. They should have at least a week, which is barely enough compensation for the 9 months we've spent carrying the said kids inside our bellies. Those 9 months are only the precursor for the next 18+ years of life lessons, nourishment, love, fixing dinners, cleaning scrapes, and so many hugs/kisses.

I love my Mom and my mother-in-law...........

- they both are the reason who I am ....and who Mike is today. Both I would consider one of my friends and confidants. Color me sappy, but Mothers rock hardcore. I realize not all feel the love for their Moms (or like them for that matter), but every Mom deserves a pat on the back today. I owe a ton to my Mom - so I'm cutting this post short to dedicate the day to her since she's dedicated years to me. Be sure to tell your Moms how much they rock because I'm going to call my mom in the AM.

First and foremost, I love being a mother to Will

and Olivia....

I am so thankful that each day I get to spend it with them....One time when I was moping around about this deployment, Mike asked me, "would you rather spend this year away from your kids rather than with them 24/7??" It really made me realize how lucky I am to get to be here with them.

So even when I am going crazy by 8AM, I love being a mom!!

Happy Mother's Day

What Color Are You?

I saw this and wanted to do it....I was kind of surprised it said this.....I don't often feel green.......

GREEN

You are a very calm and contemplative person. Others are drawn to your peaceful, nurturing nature.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Stuff Portrait Friday: a HANDFUL of something...

kristine wants something in your hand and take a picture of it. A handful of something.

So here is a handful of flowers that are blooming in the flower bed out front. Because of all the rain we have had, they look amazing. There is no rhyme or reason to that bed....the kids just pick out flowers they like the colors.

....most of them are purple or "purpur" as Livi says. I don't know how she came about to love this color so much. We don't watch Barney or anything. We have never seen Harold and the Purple crayon....whatever purple characters there are....oh well, it could be worse, she could like orange!

I had fun playing with my new camera. I really need to read the manual. I did find out there is a digital photography class at the little local college here. If I can swing it with childcare, I might take it this summer. If not, then when Mike gets back I will definitely do it!

Let kristine know if you played...

Happy Friday!

Wild Card Wednesday: M...Mother's Day

From The Kept Woman who is a tutu-making fool these days....Our assignment this week is to use the letter "M"...

as she says, "So…if you want the Completely Useless Bonus Points that Mean Nothing your picture should have something to do with the letter M."

Happy Mother's Day to me...yippeee

A few weeks ago Husband told me he ordered me something for Mother's Day. I tried checking the balance on our checking account to see if I could figure what it was...(I couldn't...Tiffany's doesn't charge your card until it ships!!)

He told me I could open it when it got here. I was kind of surprised the delivery person left it on my front porch! At first I didn't realize what it was because it was in a plain brown box with only a shipping address. I was wondering what Husband ordered from NJ. Then it was wrapped in white tissue. Finally under all that was the little blue box, more aqua than blue....a beautiful monogrammed bracelet.

So all the way from Baghdad, Husband managed to make me smile and cry all at the same time! Happy that he knew it was something I would love, sad that he couldn't be here to put it on me.

Thanks, husband, I love it! I wear it daily. I tried to take a pic of it on, but that just wasn't working for me. I don't know that I will let Will play with the new camera!! So this picture will have to do for now....just imagine it on my very tan wrist.

By the way, we are at the 7 month mark in this deployment. Because of the extension, we have eight more months to go. I was so mad when all the news of the extension was brought out.....we were at month six....almost half over....Now here we are a month later and it is not even the half way point!!! UGH....oh well, I knew he was a soldier when I married him.

My new camera is here!

I never knew how much I used my camera! It has been broken for 8 days. I can't tell you how many times I reached for it...grabbed it, then did the "duh"...it's not working.

Yesterday I got a call from UPS that said that a package was going to be delivered today from 8AM-7PM.....okay, I know I all I do is stay home with the kids...but MAN, I am not home all day. It is more like

*take Will to school

*go to Walmart to get what we need for that muffin Monday

*go to the library

*go back to get Will

I am not home all day. So today I made a point to stay at home. I even asked kind neighbor S if she would sign for my package if UPS came while I was out getting Will to and from school. That is really the only thing I HAD to leave the house for today. So Livi and I come home....do our house blessing.. <---Flylady thing in case you are wondering. I even did the Kitchen Mission since I was stuck at home. Let me tell you there is not a chair rail or baseboard that isn't spotless!

Anyhow.....when did the UPS guy come?? 6:45 PM while I was getting the kids ready for bed.

I was sure the battery would need to be charged...but surprisingly it was charged! Whew hoo....

NOTE to self: do NOT take pictures of the kids with a flash ten minutes before they are to be in bed. It only winds them up and makes for a cranky bedtime routine. Yes, it is bedtime around here. My kids are usually in bed asleep by 7:30-8:00 at the latest.

Here are the ones I snapped off pretty quickly:

After this one, I told Will to give Livi a hug...

I get both looking at the camera, but Will looks like the deer in the headlights....but you can really see how blue his eyes are.....so far I am loving my new camera!!

By now you can see the full blown "I'm wired and not going to calm down" look. He said he was still hugging her. Looks more like a choke hold to me.

I can't wait to play around with it a bit more. I need to get a bigger memory card. The one I have is ancient and filled up after less than 45 pictures.

happy Tuesday

Stuff Portrait Friday - Home

kristine wants something from our home...

This week has been nothing but rain.....so this is what is lined up in the front entry. Of course I washed my car last weekend. I don't think it has stopped raining since. My new camera wil lbe here before it stops!

How is that for short and sweet.

Did you play? Let kristine know.

Being camera-less, I had to resort to this for another TAG game..

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to blog about their seven things and post the rules as well. At the end of your post, choose 7 people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes...

Since I am camera-less, I thought I would dig through some old picture files of all the many places we have lived....

Oklahoma...Go Boomer Sooners
where the wind goes sweeping down the plains.

Fact 1: Our journey begins...these buffalo are at the Wildlife Refuge just north of where I grew up.

Fact2: I worked there in the Youth Conservation Corps when I was in high school.

Fact 3: Also where you can go to a rattlesnake festival in Apache. Yes, I ate it...it tastes like greasy chicken.

Alaska

This is in Seward, I think....

Fact 4: We LOVED Alaska....where else can you see outhouse races in the dead of winter when it is 40 degrees BELOW zero??

Fact 5: I went to a Becoming an Outdoor Woman there ....I only went because it was at Chena Hot Springs resort. But I had fun! We made some awesome friends...and would go back in a heartbeat!

California.....what can I say, it is a beautiful place

Fact 5: We were there only there a year....it didn't seem long enough to get to do all the things we wanted. Each month we would take a weekend and do a roadtrip. We lived in the east bay of San Francisco. Within an hour you could be in Big Sur, or the redwoods, Half Moon Bay, or downtown SF. Livi was born there as well.

Fact 6: We had two kids under 16 months of age, but we just packed them up and took them along!

Kansas...seasons
I think this is the first place that we lived that really had seasons. We had this huge tree in front of our yard. Seeing it go through its life cycle was amazing. The kids got to play in leaves, sled in snow, and just enjoy being outside without it being too cold, foggy, hot..etc!

Fact 7: It used to crack me up that I had to drive through corn fields to get into Kansas City to get my shopping fix.

BONUS FACT: When we found out we were moving to Texas and here is what Livi thought....

Texas....being Sooner born and Sooner bred, it was a hard move to make...but Uncle Sam said so..

In a short period of about three months, we bought a house, moved our household goods, painted a million rooms, unpacked a million boxes, built a mongo play structure, and Mike eventually deployed. Here is the First Cav's casing ceremony....the ceremony where they put the flag of the First Cav in a sleeve to take with them. This is the same ceremony where Livi and Mike's picture was in the Austin paper.

So, just a quick little trip through the last ten years. We have lived in some fun places, done some fun things, made some awesome friendships, had two amazing kids, and taken many pics.

Hopefully my camera will be here soon!!

Back to the tag....I have only been blogging for four short mouths. I have found my favorites, ones I read for laughs, for inspiration, and to just laugh. My seven victims...

1. carrieb

2. jessie

3. susan

4.headhen

5.h&b

6.sisterswithstyle

and anyone else who happens to read this.