It's Picture Day!

So my daughter asked a random question the other day that spurred her daddy to act out on it. "Have you ever wondered what would happen if you froze a water balloon dad? Do you think it would freeze in the same shape? Would it break?" So Husband took out our collection of a thousand water balloons (we enjoy water fights here a little too much, lol) and he filled two and stuck them in the freezer. Last night we pulled them out and played with them for a bit. Ever stuck salt on an ice ball? It's interesting. The kidlets got a little mini lesson on water and ice and it was fun too. Afterwards we just tossed them around outside with our golf clubs and baseball bats and then they eventually disappeared.

 We did a craft back during Easter and I wanted to post it up but never really had the time. I do now so I thought I'd post it now. It turned out really cute and shockingly, I didn't get it off of pinterest, I got it from the nursing home where I work.

I spent an hour the night before shaving down crayons, and putting the shavings into the containers that would make it easy for the kidlets to use. I set up my ironing board and let them use it to put their papers on. And then it was grab a color of shavings and sprinkle them onto their paper.

There was no real rhyme or reason to how we sprinkled the colors, Bean just sort of pinched and dumped as you can see above, and Bug did hers as girly and dainty as she could. I ended up putting more onto hers because otherwise there would not have been enough color to iron. 

I used construction paper and cut out an Easter Egg shape and taped it to our wax papers. And then we hung them in the windows where the colors really came out. They were really pretty contrary to how they look above. I didn't think much about them until I put them in the windows. You can do any shape and color, we chose eggs because of Easter and all but I think we might do this for each holiday now. And try out different color schemes too. Red, white and blue for the Fourth of July coming up :)

I discovered last week that I regained back a lot of the weight that took me over a year to take off. In total I had lost sixty pounds. And I was incredibly proud of what I did. I still am in fact. But due to health issues of loss of control over my blood sugar and hypoglycemia, I quit taking care of my diet and let myself go again. And as of last week, I got to see my consequences. The weird thing is that I am still wearing my pants, they are a little tight but I haven't had to move up in size. But the scale shows the higher numbers so I gotta go with that. I'm disappointed but also okay with it to a certain extent. It happens. I'm not perfect and I never want to be. I'm also not a size one and I never want to be that either. I love my curves, my hips are my favorite part of my body, and I know my curves are what keeps my husband lusting after me ;) I'm not sick and I'm not un-healthy by being curvy. If I can't accept myself at my weakest though, then I definitely won't be able to accept myself when I'm at my strongest. But with that all said, I would really like to wear a swimsuit this summer and feel good in it. My issues with my weight haven't been just the weight itself, it's my self esteem and I feel like I am finally winning that battle :D So today I spent two hours at the gym and it felt great! I would have been longer, my goal was four hours but Husband got called in to work so I had to cut it early. Tomorrow I will double it and make it my four hours after church. I want to go in as much as I can on the weekends because I know my time is limited during the week. My goal is to drop at least forty-five pounds and hopefully, I can do it before my anniversary. I found a gorgeous dress and plan on wearing it on the night we go out to celebrate seven wonderful years. :D

My Bug lost another tooth yesterday. She came home from daycare and told me she had a loose tooth. I didn't think much of it because she has lost six teeth already so I figured we would have a break in between teeth falling out. So I dropped the kidlets off here at the house with Husband and I went off to the store and to run some various errands. I came back an hour later and discovered my Bug jumping around me right as I walked in the door, yelling about how she lost the tooth! She had been wiggling it and ended up popping it right out all on her own. So tooth number seven is gone and done with. And her sixth birthday is just a few months away too. I think when I was her age I had lost one tooth. I only hope Bean doesn't end up losing his as fast. His didn't come in as fast as Hannah's did so I figure he'll be slower in losing them. I hope. I hate teeth. I always have that nightmare where my teeth fall out of my mouth with no help from anything. It's awful.

Along with my working out this weekend, I am also cleaning out my messy office, rearranging and prepping it for my new desk. And I am also creating a cake-ful masterpiece. I decided to make a cake for Hannah's teachers and the other staff at Head Start. Thursday is Hannah's last day and we get an ice cream social, pictures from the year's activities and a time to say goodbye to the wonderful teachers she has been with for two years. I will be sad but not as bad because Ignacio begins his Head Start journey next fall. The sad part is thinking of my daughter who is going to be a kindergartner. It's shocking! And saddening. I bought the Dr. Suess book, Oh The Places You'll Go! and had her teachers sign it already. I found the idea on pinterest. Every year I will have her teachers sign the book on a different page and when she graduates high school, it will be part of her gift from us all. I will also be taking her picture on the first day every year and putting them into a special book along with a survey. The same one she'll take yearly. And that will also be a gift to her when she graduates. I have a few ideas that we are going to do. When she graduates, she'll have quite the fun basket of gifts from us. We'll do the same thing for Ignacio too of course. And I'm pulling out my wedding dress this year too and plan on her wearing it for me for a few pictures. And for her wedding day, we'll be comparing how she looks <3

So today is quite busy busy but it has been nice to blog for a little bit of it :) I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend as well :) For me I am off to make a few phone calls, catch up on some e-mails and then cooking and baking. Which would be made MUCH easier with my fantasy KitchenAid mixer ;) *HINTHINTHusbandHINTHINT*! LoL. I have been very subtle but rumor has it he's been looking ;) So, I'm off for now, tra-la-la-la-la! See you sooooon! *Beckie*

Two Years Later...

My family and I finally made it to church. Two years. I've been saved for about eight years now and I feel guilty and shameful for getting lost. Allowing myself to become weak in all aspects and allowing myself to sink back into old habits, old ways, and of course, mistakes that I had already made and assumed I'd stay away from. So we went to church today and it was not what I expected. I expected our church family to not talk to us, to look at us shamefully, to make it awkward all in all. And as I walked into the building guiltily, it was a complete shock from the moment we got in the doors. We were greeted with smiles, hugs and love. Not a single person criticized us for being gone for so long, no one spoke to us harshly, and no one even asked what happened. They welcomed us back with love, told us how they had been praying for us and were so happy to have us back, and how big the kidlets had gotten. It was wonderful. Our church has grown which was quite nice and a definite surprise. And the sermon was a total God thing. My cousin has been keeping an "eye" on me and sending links and prayers. I'd been lost between what I have known and what I am. And today's sermon answered every question that I have ever had. God had planned it perfectly I'd say. I'll post a link at the end of this, it leads to my church's website and our pastor's sermon should be up there either tonight or tomorrow. It was wonderful and I feel like I may be on the path of peace again :) It's hard to lead my life towards peace and not being able to actually control what is around it completely. It seems as if I am finally ready to be at peace and others have other ideas. Family drama is hanging around lately. And a huge test of myself hangs around as well. It usually is easy for me to forgive. Trust no, but forgive yes. Except when I have people who are extremely close to me hurt me. Or do things that just aren't right in anyway. Family to me means un-breakable. I have close friends who continually love me no matter what happens, no matter the distance, no matter what I say or tell them, and no matter how lost I become. I have had people in the past two years stick by me and show me love in every way. That is family to me. I have had my sister-in-law, love me like her blood and become one of my best friends. We have gotten into a fight or two and a few arguments and even some silent treatments but always to quickly forgive each other and get past it. That is family. But it's hard to have someone close to you, disown you over something silly. Especially only days after losing your father. People wonder why I am so closed off. Let me tell you how after being hurt by people closest to you, I just don't want to risk opening myself up to get hurt again. It's not that I can't, it's that I choose not to. And now, after two years, I have the opportunity to forgive someone, but again, I won't. And yet I walk with the guilt. It's difficult to do something that I know is right, that protects me and my family, and yet feel like the bad guy. It's something I get to work on. And pray on more. It has been an exciting week so far. Bug finished her last year of Cubbies in Awana. She is now officially a Spark in the fall. And she didn't just finish it out but she blew away the entire program. She completed both books, STILL has both books worth of verses memorized. She also did not miss a single Awana meeting in the two years. We had help from other Cubby classes, when we went to Montana, she was allowed to attend their meetings which was awesome. So I finished sewing the last of her patches on and now get to look for a shadow box to put it in. We have taught her that if she is going to do something, she has to do it to the full extent of her ability, to do her very best, and to always finish it no matter if she doesn't like it or not. I don't want her like me, starting things and never finishing them, lol. Now she has two weeks left of Head Start, a few weeks of summer school to prep her for kindergarten, and then in a few short months, I will have a big girl on my hands. I know that as time goes on, I will always miss my father, but it will ease up. But times like these, I haven't ever wished he was here as hard as I do now. I think he'd get a kick out of how my girl is turning out. We have a full year planned ahead, she gets to pick one sport to do, and she has chosen hockey, which will be interesting. Luckily she can skate okay lol. And she will be starting up Daisy's in Girl Scouts and I get to start a wonderful thing by being one of her leaders :) To say I am excited is a HUGE understatement.

Onto Bean. My boy. HA! Shooting, running, jumping, climbing everything, kind of boy. Keeping him inside or out of dirt is pretty much impossible. He likes to fish, hunt, dig up worms, run, climb, hike, splash in mud puddles and ride his bike. And he prefers a bow and arrow to anything else. He gets to start Early Head Start in the fall which means once a week for an hour, we will have a teacher visit us and work with him. We will have activities to do during the week just us and then every two weeks, on Fridays he will get to go to the center to have a playdate with the other kids in the program. I am pretty excited but ever so sad. It's really hard to watch him grow up since he is after all, my baby.

I am planning on finishing and working on a lot of crafts and I will be sharing them with you over time. Get some photos on this boring blog. I want to test myself out and see if I can actually be crafty. Thanks to pinterest, I doubt it will be too difficult LoL. Wait until you see the next cake I have planned. I don't take photos and share the of my cakes often but it's really neat to make my cakes. I don't like the taste of fondant but using it can be a blast! Although i found some artificial strawberry flavoring and I am going to attempt that with this cake, lol. You'll see....

So my blog prompts, which I have forgotten about, I found today as I was sorting through my e-mail messages. One of them stuck in my mind. Promises. That's all. Just promises. At first I was wondering ok what about them? But to me I think it just means to write what we think about them. Do we make the often? Do we break them often? What kind do we make? Husband and I both feel the same way about promises. If you can't trust our yes's to be yes and our no's to be no, then it doesn't matter what we do, promise, swear or whatever, it doesn't matter. So we demonstrate that people can trust our yes's and no's to be just that. I don't need to walk up and say 'I promise', I just say, yes I will do that, and then I do. I try hard to not lie and not to be known as a liar and I don't lie. There are no degrees of sins, a lie is just the same as murder so I try not to do either. Except for one time. My wedding day. I made a vow to my husband, to God and our family and friends. And that is one promise, one vow, I will never break <3

My anniversary is coming up in about a month and a half. It will be seven years of marriage. And I am excited to celebrate that day. Which will include dinner at our favorite restaurant which we only visit on our anniversary or when his parents come to town. We will more than likely visit the movies and of course buy each other goodies. SImple, fun and yet what I look forward to for months at a time. I always tell Husband, "God makes our life bumpy but when it comes to our marriage and our children, we are incredibly blessed, why do you think that is?" There is no other answer other than God. We can get lost along the way, we can turn our backs from Him, we can pretend not to know the truth, but in the end, we always come back because we know better. And the best part is? He will never leave us. He stands by and watches and waits. And still blesses our road. What a wonderful God we have.

With that I think I will end it here. I have a few minutes free to check pinterest, answer a few messages on facebook and then get to dinner. I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. I am actually looking forward to the oncoming week. I was dealing with the passing of a kidney stone but I think it's done now and thankfully it wasn't so bad. I have a pretty high pain tolerance thankfully so I hope either it was small or I just dealt well with it. Either way, it's done and I'm happy :)) So until next time! *Beckie*

I hope You Read This

 First and foremost, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend. We are celebrating Passover as well as Easter since we are a bi-religious family and it's just as crazy busy as it is fun.
 Part of our plan for the weekend started off with an Easter egg hunt this morning. As it is every year, the weather was windy and cold and not really answering our prayers of sunshine, warmth and zero winds. But since snow was predicted, it was better than the forecast at least :) It was nice to enjoy the hunt as a participant rather than the person who put it on as well. For the past two years I have been the one to put the city Easter egg hunt on. And every year it has been quite the stress and quite the anxiety for me. I couldn't do it another year it was just not something I was looking forward to. You see, Easter egg hunts from a parent's point of view isn't about how awesome it is for their kids to be able to participate in seeking out eggs with free candy in them, or being able to share the excitement with their kids as they run around giggling and seeking eggs with their friends and it is certainly not about thinking about the efforts of those who put it on. No, instead as I have learned over the past three years now, it is about standing around with other parents and complaining about any aspect possible from the weather which no one has any control over (and in my opinion is sort of fair game because I also hate coldness and wind), it's also about complaining about how many eggs are NOT there to hunt for even though they don't seem to get how the people putting on the egg hunt paid for the eggs themselves, and it isn't about thinking about what the people go through putting this one. So I'd like to enlighten people a little bit. I haven't spoken my opinion in three years. I have sat back quietly, taken the criticism from everyone and kept my mouth shut. I'm tired of doing that.
 So let's begin. The past two years I have spent more than $600 dollars of my own money on plastic eggs, candy to go inside of them, and the prizes to be given to the children who found special eggs. I had a friend at the time who helped me last year and put in quite a bit of money herself. She also spent a month writing letters and e-mails begging companies and people for donations. Last year's count of plastic eggs totaled 1200. And we had about 75 children show up for last year's hunt. I still received complaints about how there were not enough eggs. Really?!? We put quarters in some eggs. To a child, that is still quite a bit of money. I heard people gripe about how we should have put in more than just one quarter. Really!?!? I put in ads and flyers about the egg hunt starting at a certain time. I had people show up after that specified time and complain that their children didn't get to participate and how horrible of a person I was. If something starts at 10:00am, show up ten minutes early. Don't complain because you can't show up to en event on time. I am not holding 75+ children just because a few can't get their parents out the door faster. I enjoyed hearing feedback, it gave me ideas. The first egg hunt I put on, I had a few parents hold back until everyone left and gave me ideas and things to work with. That helped. What didn't help was parents telling me how dumb I was for doing something or hearing how useless I was because I didn't do the egg hunt the way they wanted it. If there is a FREE event put on in your city evaluate the fact that if you think you may have an idea or could help out in ANY way, why not speak up and volunteer to help out instead of sitting in your house and complaining about what could have been one way or done differently or how you could have done it better. When I started the egg hunt, I had ZERO help. ZERO. No one volunteered to help me until the day AFTER. The city wouldn't even help me. And the last time it had been done was about ten years previous I heard.
 This year was a different story. I took the hunt to my local chapter of the Eagle's Auxiliary and asked them to help me with it. I couldn't take the stress, the financial aspect was too much and in all honesty I was tired of people going behind my back and complaining about what I did or didn't do or how badly ran it was. So I humbled myself and took down my pride a notch and asked for help. And I got it. A friend of mine and her friend (who is now a new friend of mine :) ) took over this year. They got our local movie theater to donate a free movie for everyone, they got hot dogs, chips, cookies and punch and gave the kids a free lunch as well as got awesome raffle prizes and the obvious Easter egg hunt. The Easter bunny was also present and that was a pretty good hit to. But, instead of parents saying thank you or telling these ladies how awesome of a job they did, all I heard was complaints and it made me sick to my stomach. Parents were upset that there was no food for them. Umm hello!?!? Really1? THIS IS FOR THE CHILDREN!!!! You want free food, go to a homeless shelter or your own parents. THIS WAS FOR THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There weren't enough eggs. I can see that but how many eggs for a child is really "enough"? There was no way to predict the amount of children showing up. And in big cities children are only allowed to walk away with 6 or 7 eggs each. So when your child walks out shouting yay I have 15 eggs, you really need to hush. Every family puts on their own egg hunt on Easter anyways, it isn't like your child won't get anything at all so don't get greedy. Let's see, what was the other complaint I heard...Oh yeah, parents showed up after the specified time. I read awesome and I know I read that the egg hunt began at ten but to please show up earlier. That's pretty self explanatory. If something starts at ten, be there at nine forty-five or nine fifty. Don't show up at five minutes past ten and wonder why the egg hunt is done with. A mass of children will consume twelve hundred eggs in literally four and a half minutes. I timed it last year.
 It makes me upset that all I heard was negative comments about the egg hunt, once again. What is so hard about a smile and a thank you? I know my father raised me right, did everyone else's parents not care enough to teach the most simplest rules of respect and politeness? And yet these people are the same ones who will be sitting in a church tomorrow praising God for saving them and pretending to be awesome religious people. Just because you go to church does not make you a Christian. Your behavior outside of church is what people notice better than how you sit in a church.
 I thanked these ladies. My kids got free candy, I got a free three hours of entertainment for them as well as myself, my kids got a free lunch, they got to watch a free movie in the actual theatre, and my son even won a free kite. I don't see any negatives about this. We as a family spent three awesome hours together. How was that a bad thing?
 I'm just in a mood now because of that. I was so disgusted by grown adults that it actually baffles me. Every year I see grown ups who act more greedy, more selfish and just plain out more immature than the five and six years old who are actually in the hunt. Grow up "adults"!
 Ugh.
 There's the end of my rant. Hopefully people read it and got something out of it. Hopefully next year when I put on the next egg hunt, I am met with people who want to help and not bitch and whine. Hopefully I am met with more help than road blocks. Hopefully people are grateful and not ridiculous. Because honestly, people do these things for complete strangers. People are doing this for children who aren't theirs. People do this sort of thing to help the community, to teach children kindness and good deeds. I do this sort of thing to teach my children that if there is a change to be made in the world, to be the ones to do it instead of talking about doing it.
 So happy Easter to all of you out there. I honestly hope everyone has a wonderful time with their families and friends, and that even though it's not Thanksgiving, we all remember to be thankful. I hate that people only act right during times such as 9/11 or Christmas or Thanksgiving. People should act decent and good ALL year, EVERY year. Instead of trying so hard to be skinny, people need to try to be nice. TO EVERYONE.

Spring Has Sprung!

 I don't feel any different. We lost an hour last night? I love that technology changes my clocks for me. everywhere I look it is already changed. Apparently the hour I lost last night, won't be missed. I apologize lost hour. Miss you!

 This weekend has been so wonderful. I have the elated, joyful feeling that normally is caused by something specific but this time, I think it is mainly the sunshine and the sixty degree temperatures. And the lack of snow. Around this time we are normally buried by eight feet of snow and no end in sight. So when we galloped off (yes galloped) to the big city, a spontaneous buy was in mind. And it proved a very awesome and yet bittersweet one.  

 Bean got hit first bike yesterday. And it was kind of bittersweet. I dis-like anything that makes him older and helps him grow faster on me. It's a horrible thing my baby growing up. But he sure is turning into one fun boy. My sister-in-law bought him a nerf-like bow and arrow and the boy can already shoot well. Too well. My butt has a few bruises and Bug's poor head has fallen victim a few times as well. Needless to say he has a few targets outside and that's where the thing stays. But now he has his bike to occupy him. I had both the kids outside yesterday after we got back, riding their bikes and playing outside, which is an unnatural thing for this time of year but oh-so-very-wonderful. Bug is riding with only one training wheel and will hopefully have the other one off this summer. She does really well but has a thing for going faster than I like. If this is this bad with only bike riding, I can only imagine what driving my car will be like, ugggghhh....
 I'm starting a new journey in a few days. Not an actual leaving and going somewhere journey but a new journey of cleansing my body, me, annnnd of course the usual kick my butt into gear and lose the rest of my dirty weight. Now that my crazy life is settled into a routine, I am going to throw this new factor in it and see what happens. I'm taking my before pictures today and then in six weeks I will take some shots and see where I'm at. I'm giving myself six weeks and hoping to lose twenty-five pounds and at least ten inches total body loss. Which is realistic and yet a little bit of a push. I ordered a new DVD and it comes with some equipment and I bought a new smoothie machine yesterday and am getting all kinds of fruits and veggies today for it. A smoothie a day :)) So here's to my my new summer body, that will last the whole year, lol.
 One of my besties birthdays hit a few days ago and late as always, I picked up a few things yesterday for her. Which was a lot of fun. If Amtrak wasn't so ridiculous priced I was going to show up for a fast weekend trip to surprise her. But prices being so high, it wasn't a go. That and I am saving up for our summer trip this year. Wisconsin Dells :D Which I am ecstatic for. Now that Bug is going into kindergarten, we aren't going to be able to take off during the winter and do our family vacations anymore. But the Dells are awesome. If you haven't heard of them, google them. We went a few years back, the kids and I and a friend and her kids and it was a ton of fun! And not that expensive either. It's a summer town, with so much to do and yet so relaxing at the same time. A town full of waterparks, lol. I'm pumped! Husband wants to go to Montana but he'll have to take the kids and go on his own, I only get so much time off of work and I'd like to do something different this year. We haven't gone anywhere but Montana. And as much as I love and adore my family and friends over there, it gets hard when we are always going over there with no visit from anyone here. Which there's really no thrill when visiting North Dakota and I get that. Believe me I do. I live here lol. But it does see a little lonely when it's always one sided...Especially when silence is the most common ways of communication between trips.
 I have the biggest craving for malt 'o meal. The chocolate kind. Weird. I don't usually eat that stuff. Since I was pregnant with Bug actually. My kids eat it though. Pretty good stuff I hope because I'm going to make some for breakfast. That and some cookies. I'm working on my sugar cookie frosting perfection skills, lol. That and my decorating too. I love decorating sugar cookies and my kids enjoy taste testing. Now if my blatant hint of "You know this KitchenAid mixer would make an awesome Mother's Day or Anniversary gift for your wife, Husband...." would work, I might be able to work my cake skills next. I hate mixing fondant by hand, it makes me lazy to think of mixing the frosting too. That and it doesn't turn out as well when done by hand as by mixer. I want to practice for the kid's eventual birthdays. I have a goal of pulling off my own fondant cakes this year.
 My new smoothie just isn't cutting it taste wise. I may have messed this up, lol. So I think I'm going to cut this off and go make some malt 'o meal. Put in my Jillian and bust a sweat for twenty and then get to work on some laundry. Sounds grand to me. I'll end up finishing my book (The Hunger Games) outside while the kids play. It's supposed to be in the sixties again today. I will not sit inside during THAT! So I hope you have a fabulous day as well and enjoy some sunshine! Spring is here :))

*Beckie*

Ick politics and men with capes

 If you ask me, I won't tell you. Mostly because I don't care enough to know. To be honest, I don't even know what a republican or a democrat is. Or the differences between them are. Or whatever has to do with anything of either. I just don't care. You can call me ignorant. You can tell me how I'm letting my entire generation down. But let's be honest and serious here. My one pathetic vote, doesn't get the next person elected. It just doesn't. I haven't voted since the whole Al Gore escapade. (Anything was better than Bush :P ) Besides, anyone can stand up in front of America and make promises that they aren't going to keep (Hello, Obama!) I can tell you right now how I will be the next president and how I will end world hunger, begin world peace, and make sure everyone is rich and paying no taxes by the end of next year. And then I'd be president and saying screw you all, I'll do what I want :P
 So in real life excitement, I have Christmas gifts planned out and started on. I'm not releasing any details because I'm assuming the friends that they are destined for are reading this and I'm not giving anything away ;) I'm good at blurting out my secrets. I haven't been able to not give away Husband's birthday gift in life, ever. I just get so excited, I can't keep them a secret, lol. I can't wait and the suspense kills me. But this time, I will succeed :)
 We're getting ready to be hit with a huge blizzard tonight. Which sucks period because I don't like the snow. It's pretty and if you have a wood stove or a fire place, winter can be a wonderful season. Especially while living in places such as Montana. But otherwise, it's just yuck. The really not fun part about it is that when a snow day is called because people can't get to work, I can't ever complain about not getting to work because I live across the street from my place of work. If my car can't get out of the driveway which happens often, I have to walk. I'm still getting to work when others can't. Well, at least the paycheck doesn't suffer.
 When our basement flooded last month, I thought our water heater and our furnace were shot. Well, I was right about the furnace. Disgustingly right unfortunately. But today, Husband performed acts of amazingness and fixed the water heater for good. Before we had just enough water to shampoo, condition and soap the body and hop out before the chattering of the teeth began. Now, it's wonderfulness. I think the hot water lasts longer now then it did before. High five! The furnace doesn't phase me, we'll replace it in the fall. Until then we have electric heaters. They work pretty well. That and it has been a really mild winter. Thank you God. Three of the cities in the top ten coldest cities in the US (Second coldest, third coldest and fourth coldest) are in this state. It gets colder than Alaska here. Ugh...
 Well kiddies, it's time for Private Practice and then bed. I am all caught up on Grey's Anatomy and now have to wait for this season to finish and get on Netflix or come out on DVD so I can watch it. I can't find anyplace on the internet that will let me start with the first episode of the season and get caught up until the most recent one, so I now get to wait. So I am forcing myself to watch Private Practice. Not too bad but not as great as Grey's. I tried to get onto Lost and Heroes since Husband adores those shows but they are just too much for me. Lost blows my mind and I missed one stupid episode and got completely lost. And Heroes is just too super hero-ish for me. I never got int the whole Superman and Marvel Comic thing. I like football. And comedy. Not kryptonite or batcaves....
 So anyways, have a good slumber and hopefully unless a big ball of gas hits us, I may be back again!
Toodles!

Two Year Shoes

 I'm not very materialistic. Or maybe I am and I live in denial about it. Whatever. I work hard for my money and my bills get paid so when I can go out and spend a fe wbucks. I do. I actually get my happy spending moments when I buy for the kids or the husband. I very rarely buy things for myself. Except today. Husband has been nagging at me you see. I have a pair of Sketchers which I adore with all my heart. They are those Shape-Ups that two years ago, cost me a hundred dollars. And about a week's worth of nagging from Husband telling me how dumb to spend so much money on shoes. No way would they lost very long right? WRONG! Two year shoes folks. So today I got a different kind of nagging. I was forced, against my will, to buy shoes. Just because mine happened to be a tad bit dirty and the bottoms were starting to peel up. Whatever. So I bought shoes today. I have never owned Nikes and that's all I'll say about them. For the price I paid, these better be the new two year shoes. Or three for that matter. I'm very good to my shoes. And very cheap lol. But I like these shoes. And even better, I'm sticking it to the government. I saved my reciept. For you see, I bought these for work. So I'm using them as a deduction next year. Along with the four pairs of scrubs I bought today. I'm saving every receipt that I can and next year, I will be getting paid back. Booyah IRS! I told my accountant that a few days ago and he laughed at me. He says I take the IRS too personal. Uhhh...Yes, yes I do. I don't like giving away my money :( I'm cheap like that thankssomuch! But anyways, if you ever wonder about Sketchers Shape-Ups (No I'm not getting paid for saying any of this by the way!) They are incredible, durable, and perfection. Very worth every dime!
 I also bought a few books today. I love books. And I read far too much. Thanks to my Kindle, I can read anywhere. And I do! I like going down to the old morgue at work during lunch and reading or watching Grey's Anatomy on the Netflix app on my phone. I. Am a nerd if you didn't know. My favorite authors? Karen Kingsbury and Faye Kellerman (but only the Peter Decker series) I do have stand alone favorites of course and right now I am reading The Vow and it is so far really awesome. It's hard to put it down. And I am so glad the characters are so firmly tied to God. Husband and I have an incredible marriage, an incredible love story at that, but my biggest hope is that should a true crisis arise, we would both stand firm with each other. I say true because so far nothing in life has given us anything crisis mode, thank you Jesus! But one day something will come along. Until then, everything is just a practice trial, lol. I saw a post on pinterest and it had a photo of a sign that read "One day when my children ask me who my first love was, I want to point across the room and say your father" or something to that effect. Marriage is such a high belief of mine and I am so very anti divorce. Anything can be fixed. ANYTHING.
 My bulldog decided to kick into heat. She's staying inside to avoid certain events that would include babies due to our male pit bull. She's sleeping with my Milo dog (the tiny pup I just got) in his cage and it is super funny.

 That is our Angel (the bulldog) and my Milo. Sharing ever so nicely. Not quite fitting though lol. Milo comes out in just a little bit, she'll stay in. The whole bleeding thing is not my piece of bacon. But those are two out of three of our loves. Angel is actually my husband's. She was his birthday and anniversary gift from last year. She's such a doll. We also have our pit bull, Andre, who contrary to popular belief will not kill anyone nor bite them out of nowhere nor does he deserve to die just because he is a pit bull. I get kind of upset when people discriminate against my dog. Don't break into my house and don't hurt my children and my dog won't be vicious with anyone. He's a sweetie too. He has this annoying thing of climbing into bed with me or my son when my husband is gone. I have this annoying thing of letting him too....It's awful I know, I'm a bad doggy parent. LoL. And the treats I have hidden under my tupperwear drawer where Husband can't find them? I don't possibly give them to the dogs whenever he is gone just because of the cuteness....Never! LoL

 My cat however is a bit of a pain. I will be the crazy cat lady one day. i will have at least six cats running around. Cats are my cup of tea. They survive on their own, act prissy and are very good at cuddling. Especially under the covers, behind my knees on my electric blanket. Dirty heat thieves....

 I am afraid I have introduced my husband to the world of crafts. He picked up his second model last week, a ship this time I do believe. (He has a car already) and of course we stopped by today to get more paints and various supplies for him. Hobby Lobby is my new haven. I pick up all my cake and baking stuff there as well as tons of crafty stuff. I didn't want to stop there today but Husband insisted so I made him get me a new flower pop mold and another bag of lollipop sticks and baggies. I love cake pops! Super cute! And now I have been toying around with cake pops. I have a flower mold to play with now. I might post pictures sometime. I also picked up a picture. I can't draw or paint at all. But I'm going to try. It's a paint by number though, LOL! I supposedly can't mess it up. We shall see...

 Okay now that I realize I have written a book here, I am popping in a movie to watch with Husband and then finishing up some e-mails. I hope you all are enjoying the weekend so far! Toodles! 

*Beckie* 

It's Friday!

 I saw a sign this morning on Facebook. "I work hard so everyone on Welfare doesn't have to." Yup! I'm feeling ornery tonight, watch out! Well, actually it's pretty much since we filed our taxes. We gave a lot to taxes and I'm talking a lot as in could have bought a brand new car and then some, a lot. And didn't get much back at all. Made me bitter. Then I found out a friend of mine got back quite a bit and collects all kinds of "aid" and has no job. I don't get it. I was told that if I would always have to work hard all my life because nothing in life is free. I was lied to because apparently if I quit my job, I can stay home and get all kinds of money and freebies and not do anything for it. I can understand needing help from time to time, and that doesn't affect me at all, everyone needs help throghout time, God knows we hit rough patches every now and again, but needing help and being lazy? There's a BIG difference.....
 Off my venting box and onto better things....Today is afterall Friday! Fridays are a small holiday now that I have a nice job that allows me weekends off. LOVE IT! I am loving my new job by the way. It's been a month and I adore it already. I have yet to have a bad day or even a bad moment there in all honesty. I get paid to do what I do best, clean. I get to be OCD and people love me even more for it! Score! LoL. The kids are loving the new daycare too. Hannah doesn't get but an hour there which works fine but Ignacio absolutely loves it. He used to be that kid that hated being without me. He is doing so well there. I'm so happy :))
 I had such a good day today too. Besides it being Friday and all. My Bug who is only five years old for another six months, decided to learn how to tie her shoes. My husband only showed her a few times and she got the hang of it from there. I teared up. I won't lie or deny it. I'm not ashamed, lol. Maybe a little but this girl, she's my heart. She was the baby that wasn't supposed to be here. She was my first born. So of course I teared up. And was ever so proud that this step is over with. I dreaded the whole shoe tying teaching as much as the whole potty training thing.
 I had to call the elementary school yesterday, to give Bug's name to them. They are starting the head count for this fall's kindergarten class. Class of 2025 yikes! I don't look forward to September even though she is ecstatic. She's finally going to the big kid's school and going to be in kindergarten with all her friends and this is when mommy will start letting her sleepover at her friend's houses and on and on and on. I'm glad she's thrilled, mommy isn't so much :(
 I just bought The Vow on my kindle. I was told it is an amazing movie and the book is of course, even better, so I'm giving it a whirl. I'm waiting for Karen Kingsbury to release her next book which has me on pins and needles. It's the last book about her Baxter family who I've grown very attached to as far as fictional families come.
 Now onto what really made my day awesome today. I received a comment today from one of my favorite bloggers. This woman is full of pure sweetness, funny as all get up and just awesome beyond awesome. We have been following each other for just a short time but I love reading her blog posts, sometimes even twice or more (I know, stalker material right here, lol) So I get a comment telling me something about a nugget of versatility or something or other. So I click the link and go spy...I won a blog award!!! Supahmama awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award and I am incredibly proud to accept it :)

Now, along with it are of course rules, and a little task at hand. The rules first...

The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.

4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.



Now to be honest, I don't have fifteen friends to pass this along to. But I will pass it along for sure :) And I want to shout out a huge thank you to Supahmama! for thinking of me with this award. That was ever so sweet and wonderful and highly made my day. And to be honest? I absolutely loved your seven things about yourself. The nail thing? Exactly why I don't keep nails!! I hate dirt or any kind of black stuff under my nails. Gross times five! 


1. Husband has been "fixed" for almost three years now. I can't have anymore babies due to it'd more than likely kill me or I'd have yet another miscarriage. I'll be honest, I'm in the middle of negotiations with the boss man himself (Husband) to have one more go at it. I can't think of anyone who'd be a surrogate for us, and I miss being pregnant. I just wish I could choose the sex, boys really are easier than girls and one girl is enough for me :)) 


2. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I believe in being a mommy and a wife but also having a life outside of the house. I love my family but having a job makes me feel productive and an asset to my family, my community and to life in general. That and to be honest? I'm not cut out for the baking, homemade, homeschooling, cleaning, mommy who is always smiley and happy and go-go-go. It's just not me and I'm not ashamed. 


3. I love making cakes and cookies. I don't tell people about it because I'm very embarrassed. I don't know why either. Make one cake in your life and now I'm hooked...LoL. 

4. I am addicted to pinterest and the activities and recipes I find on there. I love it and if you should want to look me up, let me know :) 


5. I gained five pounds in a month. That' snot a lot but it's still a gain. And secretly? I don't mind. I can drop it if I want to but I was getting grossed out. I'm weirdly proportioned and when I have chubby thighs and a chubby butt yet can see and feel my ribcage, it's gross. So I kind of purposely gained. I don't see much a difference though.


6. I got a new puppy for my birthday. Husband surprised me with a baby Japanese Chin slash Maltese. Tiny puppy. Husband is very sweet <3


7. I picked out my haircut that I'm going to get in three more years. I made a promise to my husband before we got married that I would go ten years without cutting my hair. He allows me four inches every year and that's it. Which I'm fine with. Because I picked out my haircut. And I have never had my hair shorter than my ears. Husband despises short hair. Boy will he be shocked! LoL


So, the ladies I snagged up to accept this award are as follows:


1. Gucci Mama
2. Angie Girl (who doesn't get on often at all but still has a great blog!) 
3. The ladies at Bee In our Bonnet
4. In Whispers And Shouts
5. And because she's just as random as I am and a good friend, Panda

I know, I know, I have such a small amount of people nominated, but in truth, I love all my bloggy friends, followers and followees. Go to my profile page and check 'em all out!
 Now I'm off to watch Grey's Anatomy and go eat dinner with the family. Love to everyone!

*Beckie*