MERRY TAGMAS!

Welcome to the Holiday edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love watching the kids rip into wrapping paper, but cheap paper...no sense in spending a bunch of money on stuff that ends up the trash in two minutes.

2. Real tree or artificial? We have a fake tree that I bought at Garden Ridge for a pittance three years ago and it looks fabulous now that we finally have a Christmas Tree Window!!

3. When do you put up the tree? As early as possible!!!!

4. When do you take the tree down? The latest it's ever been up was...............March I think :)

5. Do you like eggnog? never had it

6. What about Fruitcake? I actually LOVE fruitcake!

7. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved ALL the presents I received as a child....the year I got my pink and purple bike was cool

8. Do you have a nativity scene? I have two, actually

9. Hardest person to buy for? Michael

10. Easiest person to buy for? my kids

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I've received some weird gifts during White Elephant gift exchanges before....but usually people who actually buy me gifts for me do a pretty bang up job

12. Mail or email Christmas cards? Wow, you're supposed to send those out?! ;) Christmas picture cards with family pic on it

13. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love those Rankin/Bass Christmas specials! And Frosty, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the REAL one not that stupid Jim Carrey live action one)

14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December 22?

15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so....

16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chicken Costumes, Pecan Divinity, Ham, Mole' Salad

17. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, it opens up your options more

18. Favorite Christmas song? "Baby It's Cold OUtside" is a great one, but the funny thing is I LOVE Christmas songs.....

19. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? I haven't travelled at Christmas since I was a kid

20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? who can't?!

21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve AND Christmas Morning!

23. What is the one present you want most this year? Peace, and inner harmony, and a sense of security for my family

24. Most annoying thing about this time of year? right now the most annoying thing is the dadgum WEATHER!!!!!!!!! Gee whiz can I have a day consistently under 60 degrees??

25. What I love most about Christmas? How everyone treats everyone else, and teaching the kids about the true meaning of Christmas....and I mean even beyond the story of Jesus' birth and delving into the meaning of giving

Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Well y'all, we've moved. We moved into a brand new house, and it has 2 stories!! The kids are infatuated with "House 2," which is what we called it when we were looking at houses....There was "House 1" and "House 2." So, voila....we moved into "House 2," and here we are! I've pretty much got it decorated and I feel really good about it!! I think it's a cute house and I'm excited about living here.

Pics to follow!

Small Hiatus

We will be taking a short hiatus from Internet...should be back on next week! Hope you all have an amazing week and weekend and I'll update when I can!

Peace, Love, and Cheese :)

Wow, So Busy Today

I hope you all have a wonderful week! We will be fairly busy during the days here and then Saturday is the big party :)

I hate getting older, but it's inevitable...so on the 4th I'll officially turn 28 and I'm OK with that. Really. I am. I mean, it's not like I'm turning THIRTY right?!?!?!?! ;)

I'll blog more later, maybe even today!! I'm going to stay in touch and I'm going to stay accountable.

Gym....every day this week. NO MATTER WHAT.....YOU GUYS HELP KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE!

Grainy, I Know, But You Get The Jist

Someone decided to grab my digital camera and run the battery completely down (DANIEL!!) so it's charging right now....and of course the kids are being absolutely adorable.....so I grabbed my camera phone!! Not the best quality, but you get the idea!

And yes, we got them...we got the beautiful red couches I've been wanting for so long!! It's nice to see them here in this house....more to come on all that later. This week will be very busy, and hopefully I'll be able to blog as we go but we'll see.

Some Things To Read

When I was a kid, my favorite color was PURPLE. Now that I'm an adult, I have TWO : PURPLE and PINK.

When I was a kid I wanted to be two things when I grew up : Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon and Marine Biologist. Now that I'm and adult I'm a NURSE, and still pondering my "when I grow up" will it be Med School??? Or CRNA School???? We'll see!!

When I was a kid my favorite cereal was Lucky Charms cereal. Now that I'm an adult, my favorite cereal is STILL Lucky Charms!

When I was a kid I loved to write stories. Now that I'm an adult my stories rattle around in my head and I rarely get to write them down before I forget them!

When I was a kid I couldn't wait to "grow up." Now that I'm there...I want to be a kid again!

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Some Little Known Facts About Yours Truly :

I'm about to be 28 friggin years old
I'm organized by nature....even though you can't tell by my house....
My house drives me crazy
Lack of organization makes me want to scream
I'm addicted to Reality TV
I love the new show "Moonlight" even though it's cheesy
When I was a kid I used to dream of being a vampire
I used to pretend I was a mermaid when I was younger every time I took a bath!
I take a bubble bath every night
I've always wanted to be in a band
I have always been told I have "great birthing hips" and yet I gave birth twice by C-Section
Both C-Sections were emergency
I want another baby
I actually really miss my babies being babies
I cry a LOT, but not as much as I used to
I have deep dark secrets that I'm not ok with but I'm getting there
I hate two people....despite the fact I know this to be wrong in all forms, I do.
I struggle with that hate, and I've asked God for His forgiveness but I cannot stop hating them
I've never seen my father that I can remember
I've always wanted to play the guitar
I used to want bigger boobs....until I got them....now I want my little ones back!!
I need/want a tummy tuck....having large babies is not a kind thing to your body
I used to pretend I was from Great Britain with English dialect when I was younger
I met a group of Ausie Basketball players at Disneyland with my cousins one summer, they called me on the dialect :)
I miss my Cali family
I talk to other drivers...actually, I usually yell at them
I talk to the TV, like they could hear me
I love scary movies
I hate movies that are just over-the-top violent....SUBSTANCE PLEASE
I ruined my hair when I highlighted it the last time. Now it feels fried
I've been growing my hair out for over two years now, with occasional trims
I finally feel that my hair is growing
I would like more friends
I have felt called to adopt a baby from a foreign country
I admire people who can give of themselves selflessly without thoughts to themselves
I love my family

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Favorites :

Number - 7
Adult Beverage - Italian Margarita
Clothing Company - Sinful
Vacation Spot - COLD, SNOWY, YUM :)
Season - Winter!!
Author - Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Nora Roberts
Car - BMW...any of them :)
Color - Purple and Pink :)
Little Kid Show - Care Bears
Toy As A Kid - My Little Pony, Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake
Kid Show On Now - Yo Gabba Gabba
Kid Show When I Was A Kid - Pinwheel
Band - Aerosmith

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Have a great day y'all

I Ran Across This Blog....And I Felt A Kindred Spirit

I was blog-surfing, as I am wont to do at times....and I ran across this one. I have never met this mother, but I felt her feelings deeply...Amen, Mommy Sister. Amen.

Thanks Kristen!!

Well, I made "Pilgrim Pies" today! I went so far as to make them in pie plates and top them with "topping!" Bunch of thumbs WAAAAY Up!! (I did make some in the cookie sandwich tradition, but got tired of plopping dough out and just decided to go this direction....ok, ok, call me lazy but it satisfied a craving for pumpkin pie!!)

Thanks to Kristen for her awesome recipe! YUM-O!

Sometimes You Eat The Bear....

I love cliches. Seriously. I do. I like to use them, I like to to make up my own, and I just like them!

I'm a sucker for romance. The ooey-gooey, sickly sweet, over-the-top, roses and chocoloate and champagne romance. The fireplace with fire, candles, soft music, fluffy rug and pillows kind of romance. The everyone-gets-their-happy-ending romance.

I'm addicted to Reality Television. Yes, I capitalized it, sort of like the American Revolution, the Resistance...etc. Because to me, Reality Television is taking over. I like to watch shows where people put themselves out there on the line, where cliches are the norm, where people vie for the attention of each other. I loved "Rock of Love," and I watch every incarnation of "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette" or any type of these shows.

This leads me to my reasons for posting ABC's Reality Dating "Game:" "The Bachelor" -- I've watched this last season of "The Bachelor," where they constantly hyped "the sexiest bachelor in Bachelor history," and "watch Brad break so-and-so's heart," and "the most shocking/emotional/romantic moment/rose ceremony in Bachelor history." Yes, I did. I stuck it out. Why? Because I genuinely liked this season's bachelor, Brad, AND I liked the final 4 girls! I couldn't find major faults with either of the final two girls. Sure, DeAnna had her moments of "B*tch*ness" and she had her fair share of run-ins with other girls...and Jenni did seem less-than-genuine at times....but from where I sat, it looked like they both had true and genuine connections with Brad. I watched him string them along, I watched him tell them how much he was feeling for them. I watched him tell the camera how conflicted he was, how much he was feeling for BOTH girls. I watched him meet their families, I watched them meet his family. I watched him trade places with his twin brother (who is married, by the way) in an attempt to find out which girls were "really there for him." And then I watched "the most shocking ending in Bachelor history." I watched him reject not only Jenni, but DeAnna too. I watched in open-mouthed horror as he dropped the bomb on DeAnna..."I just said good bye to Jenni..." and then he freaked out, walked in circles with hands on top of his head, and then he came back to DeAnna..."I want so much to look you in your eyes and tell you I love you...but I can't...I have to say good bye." WHAT?!?!?!?! You are seriously kidding me, right? I was shocked. And, despite myself, I cried. Yep, I'll admit it...I cried. I cried for the two women who were so obviously heart broken. I cried at the genuine emotions I was seeing on the screen. I cried for the simple fact that they both laid their hearts on the line and told this man how they were feeling. And it backfired...on them both. It made me feel so horrible, I could see myself in that position and I felt their pain. I can understand if he choked, or if he "just wasn't feeling those things" for either girl....but if that were truly the case, why'd he allow ABC to buy the ring? Why'd they fly DeAnna's father out? Why didn't he stop the thing earlier in the season? Surely he had to know before that final ceremony? I just can't believe it.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you. And, sometimes you're lucky enough to have a national TV company hand pick 25 women for you -- which you then get to narrow down to 12, 8, 6, 4, 2, and finally one -- the girl of your dreams, and then sometimes you fly in the face of those conventions and you don't pick either of those final 2. And you never actually have to answer for your actions, because really --- isn't falling in love supposed to be sacred?? Isn't it supposed to be private, until you want it to be public? Maybe this pointed out everything that is wrong with that show...with the fact that it takes online dating to an ultimate new extreme. Or perhaps he really didn't find what he wanted, what he was looking for....and maybe he found everything he should've been looking for...but we all know that we don't always do what we're "supposed" to do. I hope they give those two girls a chance at finding their Prince Charming...maybe a "Double Bachelorette" show? Where they both get to date guys, they get to share a mansion and dish about the guys. What a cool idea!

If anyone out there knows either of those girls, tell them I'm sorry for what happened to them. Tell them a silly girl in Texas cried for them. Tell them that I didn't just see nameless faces on a "silly reality game show," but I saw REAL people with REAL emotions. And I hurt for them, just as I hurt for them watching the "After The Final Rose" special last night. Wow. I wish I could've seen Mama Womack's reaction to that final episode......

Raindrops On Roses....

Some of my current favorite things/obsessions right now :

KVIL, because from several days ago through Christmas Day they play NON STOP CHRISTMAS CAROLS!!!! And you'd think I'd be sick of them by then, wouldn't you??? NOPE....guess again ;)

Dilute this stuff in water (10:1) and voila, you have instant sanitizer/disinfectant!! I bought inexpensive spray bottles at Dollar Tree (where everything's a DOLLAR) and made my own surface sanitizer....one can never be too careful with cold/flu season upon us!!

"Ratatouille".....once you get past the "eww" factor and realize that, hey, despite our rodent-laden past, maybe a rat CAN be cute...this movie wins you over, and you start to realize maybe I want a tiny rat chef to cook my meals for me...as long as he continues to wash his hands!!!BAN Sweet Surrender, my deodorant and it's got an amazing scent!! Totally check it out!!
Barack Obama, Senator from Illinois and Democratic Presidential Candidate.

And, because "Barack Obama" makes me think of "Baraka" from the video game "Mortal Kombat..." How cool would it be if the next President looked like this guy?!?!?! ODD....

My current reading material....great book, great advice! The author is Karol Ladd.

I like this sentiment....it does beg the question, right? And I find myself constantly wondering WHY the Partisan Politics?? I HATE the Partisan System...I HATE being "labelled" and I REALLY despise that you're "either/or" in this world....and people laugh when you say, "No really, I AM an Independent! I REALLY do vote for the best person for the job! I REALLY do my research on the issues! And my beliefs are grounded in REALITY!" Well, they are. And I do.
Thanksgiving....it's my second-favorite Holiday!! Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, punkin pies!! YUMMY!!

As if not obvious from my first, CHRISTMAS is my favorite Holiday......I LOVE the way it makes me feel, and since having children it's even more magical! And SNOW....will get get any this year? I HOPE SO!

FUN WITH WHIPPED CREAM!!

The kids made "whipped cream sculptures" the other day...they had fun!! It basically works along the same lines as playing with shaving cream, but this white foamy cream is edible!! Even better! The kids got a kick out of squirting it directly into their open mouths!!

Random Junk

Stole this, loved it, filled it out :)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? today...lots in my mind and on my plate
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yeah, for the most part unless I'm in a hurry then it sucks...I write better with a sharpie than I do with a pen!
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? smoked turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? the two greatest children in the world, yeah!!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd probably be my best friend...if I could ever get me to shut up ;)
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT ? nooooo
8. IS JESUS YOUR SAVIOUR AND DO YOU BELIEVE GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD? I most definitely do
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? no thank you...jump out of an airplane>>>sure...
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Lucky Charms and Cap'n Crunch
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I rarely wear shoes with ties because I do not untie the ties and I ruin my shoes....
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? physically? sure....emotionally? I'm realizing there are certain situations that I'm stronger than I think and some where I'm weaker
13. What is your favorite ice cream? well that's like asking me my favorite book...it's hard to have a favorite when you love them ALL.....but if you twisted my arm and demanded that I tell you I would say cookies and cream
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? eyes
15. RED OR PINK? pink is my second fav color, but I've got a red fixation right now.....
16. WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? how I love people.....unconditionally.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I miss my California family, and I miss my kids' auntie taylor.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I'd love to, but I doubt anyone will.....maybe I should do some tagging????
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? pink lounge-around-the-house pants and no shoes
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? french silk pie....and I feel guilty for eating it :(
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The Boss screaming about being born in the USA....on VH1
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHATCOLOR WOULD YOU BE? one with a really cool name like "macaroni and cheese" or "baby salmon" or "mint julep"
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? my children when they are fresh out of the bath, their sunscreen ON them, Polo Double Black, Dolce & Gabbana pour homme, my Gwen Stefani perfume
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? staffing person from Community Hospice.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? technically nobody sent it to me, I stole it, but the person I stole it from I've actually never met but from what I can glean I'd really like her :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? baseball
27. HAIR COLOR? Dark Brown.
28. EYE COLOR? Dark Brown.
29. DO YOU Wear CONTACTS? no, but I am supposed to wear glasses at all times
30. FAVORITE FOOD? mexican, italian
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? there is a time AND a place for both of them, and they have their merits
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? 1408, which is a strange little film
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? white HOPE shirt
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? ooh WINTER PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? again they both have their merits :)
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? well I'm not a real dessert eater but I like french silk pie :) and cheesecake and my favorite cakes are my Memaw's Red Velvet and Italian Cream cakes
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? eh....
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? everyone
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? I'm about to start "The Power of A Positive Mom"
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mouse pad, it's a laptop
41. DID YOU WATCH T.V. LAST NIGHT? yep.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? my children laughing
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? neverland
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can use my feet like hands, my toes are quite dexterous and this has come in handy with children, trust me....your hands are full and a beloved toy is on the floor - you're carrying the baby, so you use your toes to grab the toy and hand it to the baby....problem solved!
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? hillcrest memorial hospital, Waco TX
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? anyone and everyone....bring it on!




TAG!!!! YOU'RE IT......IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE 30 PEOPLE WHO VISITED YESTERDAY, OR ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE VISITED TODAY YOU'RE IT.....YOUR TURN :)

Jinx

If I say much, I'll jinx myself. It's not that I don't think God wants me to be happy, it's just that I think He's been very busy teaching me these last few months...and one of the things He wants me to learn is : to be more cynical. Here is something about me you may (or may not, depending on how well you know me) be surprised to learn : I am an "all or nothing" type of person, this means -- quite simply -- when something even remotely looks positive, or if I decide to do something, I am "whole hog" about it...every ounce of every iota of being jumps into it -- whatever it is -- and I never look back. But lately it seems like sometimes when I jump all into it, things backfire -- especially if I talk too much about it. So here goes : I'm not talking about anything until it is a solid, set-in-stone FACT....until it has HAPPENED. I am not setting myself up for more than just personal disappointment. Suffice it to say that, for now, I am "cautiously happy." More could come, sooner rather than later, but I am not going to jinx myself.

Stay Tuned, though....eventually I hope to reveal all....

Cautiously Happy....

Things are taking a turn, and I am cautiously happy...more to come later, but for now suffice it to say that I am praying things will continue to go upward and onward!

:)

I WANT MY HOUSE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

I officially HATE garage sales. Yes, I actually got rid of stuff today, yes people paid me for the priviledge of taking home my crap :) BUUUTTT.....I HATE WHAT IT'S DONE TO MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want my house back.

So tomorrow is the official liquidation day of the garage sale (though I did give one lady quite a deal : 2 strollers - one of them a double stroller, mind you, for $20!! Did I mention that the double stroller had a MOUSE HOLE in it?@!?!?! EWWWW!!!!!).....it's kill or be killed 'round these here parts tomorrow, y'all.

Big props to Memaw, who racked up the largest total sale today at 3 mounted sets of antlers! Way to Go MEMAW!! And big kudos to Memaw for being the "helping hand" and "jane of all trades" today....kid wrangler, sale maker, etc! Couldn't have done it without her!!

PS -- how's this for cute??? Now I can no longer say it's never been used ;) And no, she's NOT for sale!!! (Do you see Zoe in this picture???? LOOK CLOSELY!!)

Yep, there she is!! SO CUTE!!!! :) She said "Zoe go bed!"