friday fill in

Friday Fill-Ins #61

1. I'm looking forward to getting a mani/pedi next week.

2. I don't handle stress very well.

3. Frosted mini wheat with a banana sliced in it is something I could eat every day.

4. Warmth and sunlight were here this afternoon.

5. A glass of wine here I come!

6. I am intrigued by tattoo(s) but way too chicken to get one.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the neighbors, tomorrow my plans include find something for the kids and I to stay busy and Sunday, I want to get the ironing done!

That's all folks!

Conversations with Livi

Tonight, like every night....we have the same routine: bath, story, bedtime. Lately Livi has been "reading" to me. Her favorite book this week is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See".

She used to say the Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, peek on the next page to see what the next animal is, and go from there. Well, after the thousandth time reading it, she has it memorized.

But tonight was different. It went a little like this:

Livi: Black sheep, black sheep, what do you see? I see a yellow fish, no wait....an orange fish, looking at me.

Me: Livi, it says "goldfish".

Livi: (looking at me like I am three degrees of crazy)....it DOES not, it is not a snack....it IS a yellow fish!

As long as we pass on the love of reading, I guess that is all that matters!

A little tag catch up:

Marie tagged me. This should be fun!

1) You must post the rules on your post before you answer the questions.
2) You need to list one fact about yourself using each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name use your maiden name instead.
3) When you are finished with your answers, you tag one person for each letter of your name.

L: Love: I love to sleep in, though it rarely happens!

E: encyclopedia: I used to read these for fun as a child!

E: enrolled: I was enrolled K-12 in the same school. Twenty four of the 56 kids I graduated with started kindergarten together! Can you say podunk Oklahoma?

Now I'm supposed to high-five three people, since that's how many letters are in my middle name. Alrighty...consider yourself tagged if you need some blog fodder.

Happy Thursday, y'all!

Thursday 13.....#30....the letter J

In keeping with my ABC theme, I am on letter J this week.

1. Jaundice: Will had jaundice as a newborn. We had to sit in the sunshine of our bay window with him daily for a week or so.


2. Jaw: I have three titanium screws in each side of my jaw from TMJ surgery.


3. Jinx: Not wanting to jinx anything, but one kid is sleeping in her bed all night for the past two nights. Whew hoo!


4. July: my birthday is in July....it's a big one this year!


5. job: I left the paying job I had before kids almost five years ago.


6. Jury: I have never been on jury duty!


7. Joke: heard in our house today: Knock knock, Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you going to let me out on the other side.


8. Josie: Our French bulldog's name is Josie


9. Journal: I have never been a journal keeper, but I love to blog.


10. Jewelry: I wear the same jewelry every day.....wedding ring, princess cut earrings, watch, and Mother's Day bracelet.


11. Junky: can't handle a junky bathroom counter. I wipe it down every morning.


12. Jacket: After 80 degree temps earlier this week, we are back to wearing jackets!


13. Just: Just 17 more days until Husband is back from this TDY.

Playing around with the camera

I have just recently started reading Corey's blog: Living and Loving Every Minute of It. She has a series of Corey's Photography Tutorials. Rather than like the normal person to start with the first one, I dove right in with the last one. She showed some adorable shots of her daughter jumping in some water puddles.

Since my favorite kids were at preschool, I played with the water faucet. I turned the faucet on and just took a whole bunch. Then I thought, oh how fun it would be to take some of the sprayer?

Did you know you can't take a picture, hold down the force flash, and squeeze the water spray nozzle at the same time? So what's a mom on a mission to do? I figured out that I could wrap the nozzle with a rubber band to get it to always stay on.....Just call me a genius! Okay, that one was pretty cool.....but I really wanted the water droplets.

Aaawwww, more like it. Don't you know I had a shiny sink to boot!

BTW, I had fun with this little experiment. I looked at the clock and realized it was time to go get the kids. I totally forgot to take the little rubber band off. Later that afternoon I turned the water on, only to get a full on shower from the banded nozzle! Yep, you are in the presence of a genius! Take note....remove the band.

No lion, it was a Manic Monday

Brought to us by the lovely Lisa , Manic Monday:

How did you celebrate your last birthday? It is actually one of my favorite posts. Husband was gone, so it was month nine of a the fifteen months! Go read it if you have a chance: birthday 2007

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun? that cute Cole Haan bag....since it was 87 degrees today does that mean it is close enough to spring to finally get to carry it?

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become? Proud, but tell me to relax and enjoy the little things.

Husband left Sunday for three weeks. You would think I have the hang of this....but today was truly manic. By 6ish, I was at my wit's end. I hollered at the kids....I think everyone was just worn out and tired. But still, good thing tomorrow is a new day.....we can start all over. Sometimes you just have to smile, even if you feel like a lion is on your back!

Happy Monday, y'all! Yeah, spell check is working, see the day is getting better already!

Weekly winners, Feb 17-23

I hadn't really taken many pictures this week. So this afternoon when it was in the mid 70's, I knew we had to go outside and get some sunshine. Husband left early this morning. It helps to keep the kids busy the first few days of a TDY.

Livi drew this earlier in the week during her quiet time. They are doing a unit on dinosaurs at their preschool. She said it is a T-Rex.....although it looks more like a stegosaurus to me! Not too bad for a three year old.

This shot was taken right after he asked me, "Is God invisible?" Such the thinker.....

"Are you done yet? Can you take those while you push me? I really want to just swing!"

Will and his shadow

just me....

NO MORE PICTURES......so that's all folks....happy week!

go see Lotus at sarcastic mom if you want to play.

PhotoHunt: wooden

PhotoHunt: wooden, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

My first attempt at posting a PhotoHunt. This is Muir woods redwood forest north of San Francisco.

When we lived in the east Bay, we would take a little day trip every month. This forest had a little hiking trail through it. We plopped Will in the Kelty backpack carrier. Livi was only two months old or so, so I had her in a baby Bjorn. Once you were under that canapy of the trees, it was so chilly and quiet!

If you’d like to play, click here

friday fill in

the Friday fill in courtesy of the wonderful Janet

1. Seeing a new and exciting place through a camera lens is the best thing about traveling.

2. I love a good warm blanket when I'm cold.

3. I often use coffee as a pick-me-up.

4. I'm needing to read right now the stack of magazines on my desk; I miss the time I used to have to read (them) it.

5. Politics is something I dislike talking about.

6. When I visited the salon today, I most looked forward to seeing my color/stylist. ***see those white shiny things sticking up!! They are no more as of this afternoon!***

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to vegging with the family, tomorrow my plans include haircuts for the kids and Husband and Sunday, I want to try to be positive! Husband is going on another TDY (Temporary Duty at Fort Drum, NY) for 20 days! Twenty days doesn't seem like anything after living thru a 15 month deployment....but still. I don't think it ever gets easier.

Happy weekend, y'all!

Feeling kind of tired ....

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

This is how I am feeling today. Last night was a rough one with one kid or the other getting up from bed. I finally get back to my nice warm bed ( I have one of those electric mattress pads). Normally Husband's Ipod is hooked up to the Bose sounddock.....(but even last night he still had it in his ACU's <---army speak for his Army Combat Uniform). I wouldn't be in bed an hour when a kid comes in.....I walk them back, sing the 'go to sleep song', come back to bed.....ALL NIGHT LONG.

When do they sleep thru the night?

Thursday 13.....#29....the letter I

In keeping with the ABC theme, I am on letter I:

1. Inches: I am 63" tall.
2. Ice: I love Sonic ice. When we lived in KS, you could buy it by the bag!
3. Ideal: My ideal place to live is someplace with seasons.
4. Igloo: I have been in an ice Igloo in Fairbanks, Alaska during Ice Alaska, the world ice art championship.
5. Ignorance: Ignorance is bliss or you just don't know you are stupid!
6. Imaginary: I had an imaginary friend as a child....I called her Teacher.
7. immaculate: My house was immaculate for about 8 hours on Tuesday!
8. IMHO: I ALWAYS read this as "I'm a HO"....and I laugh every time.
9. Imply/infer: it drives me crazy when people don't use these words right!
10. Indulge: I love to indulge in a plate of cheese and bread.
11. Imbibe: I am imbibing in a little glass of wine....another indulgence.
12. Ikea: An Ikea opened near here. I have yet to go.

1. Iron: This iron piece (totally knocked off from Pottery Barn) was made by Federal prisoners in Kansas ! (<---my local art from KS if you read my yesterday's post!)

painting entry

I saw this at Janet of Fond of Snape's this last weekend.

Click here to create your own painting.

Everywhere we have lived, we have tried to collect local art. We have gotten some pretty neat pieces from doing this. A print above the love seat reminds us of waiting on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks for the Yukon Quest to start. Most sled dogs are a some type of Husky mix. We saw this team take off with an all blond female in the second slot. Shortly after that race, we were at an artfair in some random building in town. We saw a colored pencil sketch of that exact dog. The artist was there at the show. He offered to do a pencil sketch in the lower corner of that dog.

Another thing I learned in Alaska about art is if you find something you love. Do what you can to get something. Even a signed poster if that is all you can afford at the time. Both Husband and I love Fred Machetanz's work. When we first got there, a print was around $300. We hadn't even been married a year at this time, so $300 to a young newly married couple was out of our budget. Just as we were leaving Alaska, Fred Machetanz died. His $300 prints were now about $1000. Live and learn, skimp and save...

While I like my original artwork I created....if fact I would buy this despite how modern it looks. I would put it in a girly dressing room with a foofoo chandelier.

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Weekend Update and a little manic Monday

Husband had a long weekend. He had just gotten home from a TDY (Army speak for Temporary Duty) to Fort Lewis, WA for the last week. He has a long weekend......so we kicked back, made some beer-butt chicken, and planted some flowers.

If you have never made one of these, you are missing out on a little bit of heaven. It is super simple and oh so delicious. It is actually a Cooking Light recipe.

For as much as I will complain about the heat in the summer, I am ever so thankful that we are able to plant flowers in February!

Brought to us by the lovely Lisa , Manic Monday:

1. What do you order when you eat Chinese food? I like spicy chicken with vegetables, but only if it is not battered. Though I do love me some PF Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps. Note to self: don't ever get them before boarding a plane. Other passengers won't be delighted!

2. How much have you controlled the course your life has taken? I think each person is responsible for their own actions. So I pretty much have controlled every aspect. As an example: I made the decision early on to go to the University of Oklahoma, knowing full well my mom couldn't pay for it. I did what was necessary to earn a scholarship to pay my way. Even as a teenager, I had enough wits to know what needed to be done.

3. Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote? Whoever makes the most sense!

happy Monday, y'all

Weekly winners

Hosted by Lotus, my favorites from this week:

Despite some scary stormy weather this weekend, we got out.

husband showed the kids the kite flyin' skills.

You go boy, keep it up!

fly that kite, fly!

Overheard in the life of Livi today

watching the acorns float away, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Livi went to run some errands with me today. We had to go to two places. First, stop at Target. Those super cute beach towels they had last summer are 75% off. Note to kids with teachers: I am going to wrap a bottle of sunscreen with a magazine in it for an end of the year teacher gift. I know, I know, it is way too early to be thinking end of the year gifts, but at 75% off, I can stick it in the linen closet for a few months.

Next, we had to run by the grocery store. Since I was close to the super Walmart in the town right next to the post, I went there. DUDE, I did NOT look at my calendar. It was payday weekend. What could have been a 15 minute ....run in, run out, took almost an hour.

Livi talked the ENTIRE time.....jabber jabber jabber......yada yada yada......yack yack yack. We finally got both errands accomplished. I even remembered to bring my own bags. On the way home, I remembered there was a woman stocking the bagged cabbage, so I had said to myself, (in between Livi's yacking), "I will come back and grab a bag when she is done. I need some fruit, so I'll swing back by before I go checkout."

Well, you guessed it. I forgot to get the bagged cabbage. (We made this awesome spicy coleslaw tonight). So , we had to stop at the freaking Wa1mart where we live. DUDE, not only one Wa1mart, but two on payday weekend. By now my ears are numb from her jibber jabber. I decide to offer her a stick of chewing gum.

Me: Livi, would you like a piece of gum?

Livi: Oh yeah, I would love pizza gum. I love pizza gum. (She has NEVER had gum, let alone "pizza" gum. Oh this pizza gum is good.
Mommy, the rain is in my face, it is getting on my pizza gum. Can you carry me so my pizza gum doesn't get wet? I can't chew wet pizza gum. I need you to cover my face. Oh yeah, thanks mom, now my pizza gum won't get wet.

yada, yada yada.....ever had pizza gum?

friday fill in

the Friday fill in courtesy of the wonderful Janet

1. Snowdrops are non-existant in Texas.

2. I'm going to need to make a cut/color appointment and soon!

3. Stand by Rascal Flatts is a song whose lyrics have meaning to me.

4. Just one sip and I am starting to relax already.

5. With family is where I'm happiest.

6. I believe that plucking those excess eyebrow hairs is a necessary part of life.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Papa Murphy's pizza with the whole fam damily, tomorrow my plans include lots of laundry and Sunday, I want to sleep in! (The new Starbucks opened, so maybe a mocha choco loca latte as well!)

Just because this shot makes me laugh! happy Friday

The Romantics - Talking In Your Sleep

song for following meme

A little T for Tommie

1. What is your name? tommie

2. 4 letter word: toes

3. Vehicle: Tommy Kaira ZZ

4. City: Temple (TX)

5. Boy Name: Tommy (note the Y.....girls are IE or YE)

6. Girl Name: Tammy

7. Occupation: Teacher

8. Something you wear: Tshirt

9. Celebrity: how sad Tom Cruise is the first one to come to my mind (he is crazy as a loon!)

10. Food: Thai tea

11. Something found in a bathroom: two types of brushes (round and flat)

12. Reason for Being Late: tire was flat

13. Cartoon Character: Tigger

14. Something you shout: stop THAT right now!

15. Animal: Tiger

16. Body Part: toes

17. Word to describe you: Terrific

18. Beverage: The glass of wine by my side (does that count?)

19. Song Title: Talkin' in your sleep - the Romantics (thanks Cheeky )

Thursday 13.....#28....the letter H

In keeping with the ABC theme.......Just a few random thoughts about the letter H

1. Happy : We made these treats for the kids' Happy Valentines Day party at school. Layer a pretzel, top with a Rolo, heat until squishy, push a pecan on it. Easiest dessert ever!
2. Heart: The tag is made from hearts to form a flower.
3. Husband: is still gone TDY....$ucks that the first holiday after coming off a deployment and he is gone!
4. Home is where Uncle Sam sends us. We were given these places: Fort Knox, KY, Fort Lewis, WA and Hawaii. Guess which one I want?
5. Have: I have one brother and two sisters.
6. Haan: I love my new Cole Haan bag. Is it spring yet?
7. Handy: I became pretty handy Tuesday Update: Thursday 13....number eleven.....things I have done to the house since husband delployed while Husband was gone.
8. Hung: I hung one of those garage rack systems with two kids helping.
9. Heart: I like to say, "I pink puffy heart you!'
10. History: I have a history of diabetes in my family.
11. Hand: I just wrote a post about hand me downs....the underwear is already in the trash!
12. High: I graduated from high school in 1986. I will save you the math, I am 39.
13. Hurry: Hurry home Husband, we miss you!

if you need to catch up:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Hand me downs

This afternoon while putting away laundry, I was pulling out the clothes that are too small for Livi. It seems like she just had a growth spurt. While Husband was gone, she went from wearing 18-24 month clothes to a 3T. She totally skipped 2T clothes. Now it seems like those 3T clothes are too small as well.

The other day it was over 80 degrees. She had to try on three or four shirts before she found one that covered her little belly. Far be she be a hoochie momma in preschool.

We pass down all her clothes to her little cousin E. I just keep a Rubbermaid tub in the closet. ****A little organization from tommie tip: as the kids are undressing for their baths, if the clothes are too small, I pin a safety pin to the label. So a week later or so after it has been washed, I know NOT to put it back in their closet. I just put it straight into the tub. ***

Where was I? Oh yeah, hand me downs. Just recently Livi moved to 4T underwear. I had all these 2T/3T underwear. It made me think. Does anyone really want used underwear? I don't think I would let the kids wear used underwear. So does anyone else want used underwear? I doubt it!! Underwear is not that expensive. Well, the Princess ones are more than just good ol' Hanes, but still, $5 for three pair is not expensive.

So Aunt M....do I toss the underwear?

Going green, bloggy love, and a meme

Lotus of Sarcastic Mom challenged any and everyone to participate in Project Support Beauty in Nature!



My little attempt at making the world greener......a couple of weeks ago I picked up some of the reusable green bags at the commissary for a mere $0.70 a piece. I bought ten thinking it would be enough. (A little commissary FYI: the baggers work for tips. I usually tip based on how many bags I have.) Even though these bags are about the size of a brown paper bag, I still ended up with about ten plastic bags.

So this weekend when I went grocery shopping, I ended up with only TWO plastic bags! We usually have no less than twenty bags. Since I go shopping every other week, this is a huge dent in how many bags are coming into our home! They did wrap the meat in plastic before they put them in the bags. I am thankful for that though.

I need to look into some reusable fruit and veggies bags now.

Alright, anyone who bothers to visit my little blog....feel free to grab this bloggy love I received from Jen. Spread some love, y'all!

I am also doing a meme catch up....

Tagged by Heather at Chasing Butterflies




1) pick up the nearest book ( one of at least 123 pages)

2)Open the page to 123

3) Find the 5th sentence

4)Post the next three sentences

5) Tag 5 people!

"Still, there was no one. So when my friend Ian called and said that he wanted to fix me up with Evan, I was more than keyed up to go. Evan was an investment banker. "

This is a great easy read if you are into fluff. I laughed so much while reading this. While reading this book, I could easily imagine myself going through the same stages of life. The author must be close to my age (late 30's....at least for a few more months!) I will definitely pick up her next book!

***Just a little PS....spell check still isn't working, so I can't be held responsible for any spelling errors!***