The Funny Paper

Today was super cool because I took my coupons out of the Sunday paper and Reagan spied the funnies. I gave each kid a section of it and they laid on the floor and read them. I had flashbacks to when my sister and I used to do the same thing. What was even more entertaining was the fact that they thought because they looked like cartoons that they would be funny to them. I also remember as a child waiting to read them and then not finding them funny at all. Today I tried it again as I saw some of the same comics I used to read as a kid. Much to my surprise they are VERY funny now. I get it. Adult humor. The best one reminded me of my husband and his sister as they had a comic about two kids sitting in the back seat arguing about how they "weren't touching each other." Ron used to hold his finger a millimeter away from Michelle and say, "I'm not touching you." He still does that from time to time to me and I make sure he pays for aggravating Michelle all those years!! LOL

Most Polite

Ron and I dropped Ryan off at school the other day and his teacher called us to the side. As we stood there and waited to talk to her I ran through the possibilities of things she could want to talk about. None of them were particularly good and I was inventing ways of answering her. Much to my surprise the teacher said, "Ryan is the most polite child I have EVER encountered!" She mentioned how children is age tend to bump into a person and just keep walking, but Ryan always says, "excuse me" and "Sorry Miss Lyn." So we were instructed to keep doing whatever it is that we are doing because it's working and he is a joy to have in class. Ron and I just looked at each other and said, "thank you, we will." We were overwhelmed by such a nice compliment that really falls to Ryan for remembering his manners. Then we laughed in car assuming that today would probably Ryan's rudest day ever. That was not in fact the case and so we give Ryan a hand for being super polite!

I was trying to figure out what makes him/them so polite and the only thing I can think of is that we are polite to him. I do think some it has to do with personality, but we do make sure he uses his manners. I imagine this is surely a case of what you put in you get out. Needless to say we are super proud of Ryan!!

So Much for Everyday!!

Ugh. I cannot believe that in less than a month I have not kept this resolution!! I guess I just don't have quite that much material yet. Over the last few days I have learned another not so great thing about myself. I am super competitive, but only with Ron it seems. Here is some background. We got a Wii for Christmas. Ron and I play tennis almost every day. He beats me almost every time and somewhere around game three there is mild cursing and the need to take a deep cleansing and calming breath while I repeat..."this is only a game." We play together against the computer and I am just fine. When Ron becomes my opponent I play as if millions are on the line and I might lose a sponsor if I don't win. I have decided that this very game is perfect grounds for me to learn patience and grace when I don't get my way. It's also an excellent time for me to control my ever challenging tongue and learn new words instead of those stinky bad ones. I am getting better albeit very slowly. Turns out that if I talk myself into a calm place I don't get to the cursing, yelling part. Who knows maybe this stupid game will help me achieve the calm filled with grace person I have always wanted to be. It certainly doesn't hurt to follow the tennis matches with baseball in which I slaughter Ron's team every time. Ah yes...that is wonderful. Good thing Ron loves me and doesn't take it personal win I cheer and dance when I win a match!!!

Dishes

I hated doing dishes as a kid and I hate doing them now. If fact I have a sink full now and I have finally learned that waking up to them ruins the start of my day. So nothing interesting tonight just the knowledge that some things you don't grow out of once you reach adulthood. For me it's a messy bedroom and loathing the chore of dishes. Thank goodness the girls are old enough to start taking over some of the dish doing. As for my bedroom it's a battle but an important one so I am trying to keep it nice. I think once it gets it's make over it will be even easier to keep clean. Off to do the dishes...oh how I hate doing the dishes...

My Dad

Today's blog is because I miss my Dad. I love the way he interacts with my children. I appreciate how generous he is with time and sometimes money too!! I love when he lets me see his soft side and makes me laugh when he acts all tough. I love that even though his body sometimes screams sixty something, his heart is my age. I love that even though life has been hard and unfair, he still loves Jesus as though it has been perfect. I love that thinking about him makes me smile. I love that God has given me the best Dad a kid could get. I love that because of my dad me and my family love and serve God and therefore have the best life ever. So Dad...thanks. Thanks for everything. The good times, the not so good times, the mistakes and the successes. It's because of you that I am who I am. I am blessed and grateful that you are mine. I love you...

Am I Worth It?

I have a dilemma. This summer is the Close To My Heart convention and I really want to go. I will get to see Nona whom I haven't seen in a couple of years, spend time with Tiphanie and attend classes and have a great weekend. So what's the dilemma? It's expensive. I know I can save the money but once I do it's this big chunk of change and there are so many things to "need" instead of want. I was surprised that the real issue is do I think I am worth the money it will take to go? Much like my dear husband my paychecks get eaten up by bills and needs for everyone but me. So all this pocket money I was supposed to have has not quite materialized like I had hoped. It has been awesome as Christmas, birthday's and a bunch of other things have been paid for with my little pay check. God has been good and it has stretched far. So if I have done all this for nearly a year for everyone else, why do I feel guilty spending it on myself?? Maybe it's time I blaze new trails for Mom's like me that feel like everyone else in the family is worth great things but us. In my head it really doesn't come out as such a pity party and that's not what I am trying to convey but it is there in the back of my head. Otherwise there is zero reason for me not to be excited about going. No reason I should second guess it because it will be paid for in cash. The other cool thing is I, unlike others can drive to it. So here is what I am going to do. I am going to keep this New Year's Resolution and I am going to go. I am going to take time for myself in one giant chunk and do something that is just for me and all about what I want to do. It may be selfish it may not but I will be sure to let you know how it all works out!! Secondly I will purpose in my head that I will not allow myself to feel anything but excited. As each dollar is saved I will choose to be proud of myself and excited that I have this opportunity. Plus it will give me good practice saving because Ron is turning 40 in 2011 and as we all know it will be here before we know it! I am NEVER going to be able to quit my job...lol

Then and Now

I have stuff to say but no time to say it so enjoy these then and now pictures. The years are 2007/2010.


Ryan

Too Much Garlic?

So I had a lean cuisine for dinner. I was in a hurry so I heated it up and ate it kind of fast. Initially it had like zero flavor until it was gone. I literally gagged myself with the garlic flavor in my mouth. I had to go to a meeting shortly there after so now I am trying not to speak to anyone. Good thing I had a roll of certs so I ate so many of those I am working on a stomach ache. Won't be having that particular meal any more. So you might have eaten too much garlic if your own mouth makes you ill!!!

Happy January 2!!

Because our New Year's Eve/New Year's Day was super lame the girls planned a party for January 2. I had to work 2AM on New Years Day and Ron Closed New Year's Eve so it didn't leave much time for much fun. I told the girls if they would like to celebrate then perhaps they could plan the party. They poured over recipes, selected them, made a grocery list and provided us with invitations. On Saturday morning Ron took Reagan to the grocery store and purchased her items. They spent the day cooking and cleaning up their messes and we had the BEST dinner ever.




Our first course was a white cheese pizza dip. This was so good it was insane. We dipped bread and broccoli. Yum!! Reagan got her first try at putting things in and out of the oven. It made me nervous but since she was following instructions I figured she needed to learn sometime. She did great!

The next course was this amazing Chicken roll. It was Asian inspired and consisted of chicken, carrots, broccoli and celery sauteed in Asian hot chili sauce and oyster sauce. Then it was scooped into crescent rolls and baked. Super yummy and I will be making this again!

They followed it up with a banana split like ice cream sundae. Oh and I forgot to mention that there was a banana smoothie in there some place but no one really liked it. All in all super fun. Once they got it cleaned up they had a movie picked out and we watched it as a family. It was neat watching both girls learn new skills in the kitchen. It was also encouraging to see them gain confidence as they read and followed directions as each dish turned out to perfection. We will be doing this again soon. I hear rumor of a Valentine's Day party!!

Things in the Night

So a snowman nearly took my life today. This one to be exact:

Reagan built him yesterday. However I woke up last night and didn't know where I was, thought I missed worked and after laughing at me Ron sent me back to bed. When it was finally time to get up for work I grabbed my shower, got ready and came downstairs to let the dog out. I happened to glance out the back window and saw the white figure staring at me. Thus the near life taking. This comes off me hearing someone that is not visible saying, "Mommy" super soft and it's never my children. Well that only happened twice but if you put it all together...scary stuff. After realizing it was the snowman I laughed at myself and called the dog back in the house. Should have been paying attention to what he did out there because I thought he was finished. Imagine my surprise when I went to get the oatmeal out and my sock was warm and wet. Should have just gone back to bed then. Here is a picture of the sculptress and her creation:

Happy New Year

You can't think "New Year" without thinking "resolutions." The definition of "resolution" should be: Ideas I will find silly and impossible in less than a month, or perhaps a week.
However every year I find myself "goal setting." This year is no different. Some things on my list are universal wishes like 1. lose weight 2. Get organized but this year I have added a few that I hope to keep:

3. Read every book of my Bible by the end of the year
4. Blog something everyday even if it's only a picture
5. Go back through my photography class binder and really learn the information
6. Try something new at least once a month
7. Take time to do the things I enjoy
8. Really live and be present in each moment

I will need to write these down and put them some place where I can see them so I can update you as often as needed. Clearly number 4 will be obvious. I also wanted to say that if you like what you read please leave a comment. I apparently need the validation that you all are actually reading this and it's more than therapy for me. A comment is like getting an unexpected letter in the mailbox. I should add that to the list. Yes #9 send random cards and letters for no apparent reason!!

We have been so busy lately replacing items in our life, adding items to our life and really just trying to survive on 3 hours of sleep. I have a new appreciation for Ron and those who work retail in general. If you can work retail and still be in the Christmas mood you must be a saint. By the third week of Christmas my internal advent calendar was counting down until this madness was over!! I do hope that next year I get the opportunity to savor the season and each wonderful thing about it. Our family will have one less person working retail I am sure. Hopefully it's me because we will be in big trouble if it's not!!

In case you are wondering items we've replaced:1. The Van...the transmission blew and frankly it wasn't worth the money to fix it so I got a new car. Being crazy as I am I cried my eyes out cleaning it out and watching it get towed down the street. Then I took a drive in my new Toyota Camry SE. I began to appreciate the little things like a horn that could actually let someone know that I was present and not to T-bone my car, or the fact that when it's bitter cold I don't have to wait for the car to decide if it wanted to unlock or not. The mere fact that it has a moon roof is enough for me to feel like I have reclaimed a bit of the youth I lost driving the Teal Mini-van all of these years. Ah yes, tears were shed, but I got over it. All I have to do now is recognize the darn thing so I don't have to keep unlocking the doors and looking for the lights to flash!

Items we've added:
1. A Dog. I know. However, we gave the kids a crazy list of requirements for a dog to darken our door step and they researched for over a year until they found it. A dog that does not shed, is hypoallergenic, needs little to no exercise, can handle enormous amounts of affection, is small and does not smell. We also said no pooping but you have to give a little sometimes. I have to say that although I don't LOVE the dog yet I am in deep like. He's very cool, quiet and all in all a good dog. I was out voted in the name arena and his name starts with "R" ugh. Rusty to be exact.

Items we've replaced:
2. The cord to the vacuum, a pair of sneakers, a toy truck, several pencils, crayons and markers and roll after roll of paper towel. See "Items we've added #1.


Items we've added:
2. A Wii. So fun. Ron is quite the rock star. Rebecca is our professional tennis player with a serve you cannot return. Just like real life Reagan can out bowl any one and as for me I can knock you out in boxing in about a minute. Don't pretend that is a surprise. I have pent up issues. Ron has less bruises. LOL kidding. sort of.

Lastly because of resolution #5...I had to scroll up too. I have some pictures to share with you. The girls were outside playing so Ryan was my model. Rusty made the cut too. Happy New Year everyone. I would love to hear some of your goals!