Double Blessings- Bloggy Award

So I have been busy the last couple of days in preparation for the new school year.  I am so excited to have 2 in school now, the third starts next year hopefully.  She is a September baby so we have to wait and see.

I am so blessed this week!  First I got a great blog award from Jen @

 

I love her button!!!! Drum Roll Please....

For this award, I must list 5 interesting things about myself.

1. My favorite food is chicken gizzards and hearts (hey, don"t hate...appreciate, lol)
2. I sing in the church choir
3. I love to go camping
4. I love purses (see below)
5. I prefer dark chocolate over reg chocolate

  I must nominate 5 bloggers for this Lovely Blog Award.  Well, I don't really have 5 to choose from this time around.  I am just getting into the swing of things but I think I will save this aware for later and pick 5 then.

Now onto my second blessing.... As I posted above, I love purses but I also love thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, antique malls, etc.  Put the two together and you get a match made in heaven!!!!

We took a day trip to a "famous" northeast Ohio thrift store.  It is like huge!  On a side note, my hubby went for the first time and after an, ahem, couple of hrs, he looked at me and said, "Mercy... please have mercy on me, You win,"  LOLOLOL!!!! Love it.

So as we were getting ready to check out, I went to the show case in the front where they put the "good stuff".  And what to do my wondering do I see but a pretty black bag looking at me.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a Coach purse but I figured it was a knock off.  so I asked to see it, as I was admiring aka studying it, I realized I think it might be real!!!!  I figured what the hey, so I bought it and took it home.  I decided to get it authenticated and guess what?!?!?!  It is a real honest to goodness Coach purse that retails for $218.  How do you like that and the best part is, it only cost me $12, yep 12 bucks!!!!! Talk about through the moon.  The even better part is that it was a purse that I had my eye on at the outlets out here!!!

So, like I said, I received a double blessing this weekend!!!

Wow, I didn't know my break was gonna be so long...

I come back to blogger and everything changes!!!!  Now I have to relearn how to use it.  So how are you all doing?  For me, I am too blessed to be stressed, at least that is what I tell myself.

I updated on my roller coaster ride of weight loss, its one I just can't seem to get off of.  I am still working but now I do 40 hrs in 4 days, like having fridays off even though I just spend them at home with the kiddos.  My second is going to be in kindergarten now.  My oldest kiddo is in first grade (we kept her behind a year).   And I am so excited to only have one in preschool, my bill is going down dramatically!!!!  Hubby is good.  He is happy with less financial stress ( we refinanced).  We went from a 30 year morgage to a 15... big shout out to my bestie for leading us in that direction!!!  Loving to have the house paid off my the time our oldest graduates from high school!

Church is wonderful.  I started back in the choir now that the kiddos are older.  It is such a blessing to me and I am gaining new relationships in the church body.  I also have my bible study group which is just awesome.  We are studying the book Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.  It is an eye opener for me.  Needless by sharing my opinions are some controversial issues have alienated me and have caused threats my way but I refused to stand back and say nothing of my beliefs.  The Holy Spirit showed me that "silence is admission".  And I could not accept that in my heart.

I am still scrapbooking but have toned it down a lot in both time and money.  I will still be making stuff but instead of having 2 blogs, I'm just gonna post everything here.  I came to the realization that it was becoming a big idol in my life and things needed to change.  I do love throwing parties though and have started doing that for friends and family.  I do everything for free, a lot of people tell me that I should start a business but I just don't know where to even start.  I just think I want to do it for free and bless others right now.

Here is a couple pics of the family now...

Taking a break

I need to take a computer break, its getting a little overwhelming right now and the summer hasn't even started.  To date, I have lost 105lbs so hopefully when I get back to blogging, I'll have met my goal!!!!

Most recent pic

Here is my most recent picture.  This was taken last night at our church's Valentine couples dinner.  Isn't hubby cute, lol?!?!  I was having a good hair night too.  Just got it cut and it is so easy to style now.

The almost new me, lol 

Sad to see the Holidays end but happy to be back

Well, I'm back from my holiday break. It was a lot of fun and such a busy, busy time. So I just want to wish you all a "belated".....

 AND

AND

A BIG..... I'M BAAAAACK!!!! Looking forward to posting new pictures, catching up with blogland friends, participating in some memes, maybe have a couple guest blogger (email me if interested) and starting Sunday Praise and Worship again.

I also want to give a big shout out to Jen @ Thoughts of a Working Mom, not only is she a great blogger( love her spammer posts, she should write a book) she is also my beastie, and Mama Bear @ Bears at Home.  Your comments edify and comfort me.  Thank You from the bottom of my heart!!!!!

The new look

What do you think of my new blog look? I spent all morning on it. I choose this look because it is fitting for me and my life. The cleaning supplies represent my home, the book represents my faith, the food represents me getting healthier (the blonde hair cutie is me at goal weight)and the laptop represents me working outside of the home (I work on a laptop at every pt visit). So that's my life in a nutshell :)

Bad Bad Blogger

Hi Blogland!  I took off the summer months and had a great time with my family.  They are my joy! The weather has been so nice over all.  Work is just as stressful, but I love it.  I  am blessed to have a great job.  Church is awesome along with the Journey Group (bible study) we belong to.  What else??? Oh, I officially gain back all of the 70 lbs that I lost last year.  I have some plans in the works in regarding to my weight but I'll post about that later.

Here are a couple pics from my son's birthday and Vacation at the beach...

He's three now!

The Family

(my three with Papap)

Things I've learned from my kids

(PIOG)
 I thought this was cute. Mine are in red :)


1. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes. 

2. A 3-year-old is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant. 

3. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, to spread paint on all four walls of a large room.

5. When using the ceiling fan as a baseball bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way. 

6. The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late. 

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year-old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year-old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire even on an overcast day.

10. Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a six-year-old. "pennies do too"

11. "Play-Doh" and "microwave" should never be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever. 

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.   Vacuum cleaners too!

15. VCRs do not eject PB&J sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do. 

16. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise in a moving car.

18. You probably do not want to know what that odor is. 
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens. 

20. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

21. Cats spit up twice their body weight when dizzy. 
22. when you mix cherry, black cherry, grape, & lemonade kool-aid packet powder on the table with your hands they turn midnight red and doesn't come off.... But the little hands are sweet after the sugar is added to the table.

23. frogs in pockets do NOT survive the spin cycle.

24. 4yr olds really can climb just as high as older siblings .... only they hit every branch on the way down and believe it or not - they do BOUNCE when they hit bottom! (only to get up MAD and try it all over again!!!)
 In my case it's a 2 yr old daredevil

25. Peas Can Really Fly Across A Room --- When Shot Out Of The Nose

26. pudding is not shaving cream

27. one roll of duct tape will hold a 3 year old onto a wall & entertain a him and old brother for hours

28. tar does not come out of hair

29. mayo and peanut butter does get gum out of hair (but not out of nose..)

30. That A Penny Can Fit Nicely Into My Dvr Memory Card Slot But Dont Come Out To Easy.....

31. That a 2 yr olds head makes a much bigger hole in the wall when he thinks he's a super hero then you would think!!!! 

32. That you can drink a juice box through your nose!

33. crayons do not need to be washed and it is a bad idea to put them in the laundry because they will ruin ALL the clothes in that batch

34. that a whole brand new tube of toothpaste makes great finger paint all over the bathroom and your 3yr old...and is a sticky mess to clean up

35. DON'T LEAVE THE PEANUTBUTTER
JAR OPEN ON THE COUNTER..... WHY? BECAUSE PEANUTBUTTER DOES NOT MAKE A VERY GOOD SHAMPOO!


I've learned a lot from my kiddos, ages 4, 2 and 1!  Let me know if you post this, I would love to know what your kiddos taught you even if they're in their 30's :)

Moments of pure dispair

Did you ever have a moment where you just wanted to die?!?! You say, "Lord, just take me now!!!" I had one of those moments this afternoon. I put the kiddos to down for a nap and when Chris came home, I went to check on them. Our 4 yr old was gone!

At first, I was calm figuring she was in the bathroom. Nope... not there. Our room...no. Sam's room...again, no. So now we are yelling for her...5 min later the house is torn apart, every closet empty, table turned over...nothing. She was no where to be found.

Now, the other two are up and crying, Chris is screaming, I'm reaching for the phone to call 911, praying frantically.

Finally, music to my ears! Chris yells, "I FOUND HER!!!" I about fainted. I flew up the stairs to our room and grabbed her up. He found her in the back corner under our bed and curled up in a ball, sound asleep.

I have never been so hysterical in my life! All I could think about was those precious babies where someone comes into the home and takes them while they're sleeping. I swear I aged 20 years in 15 mins.

When all is calm, my wonderful hubby looks over to me and says laughingly (him, not me), " and this was on your watch." Now comes the moments where I want to kill HIM, lol!

News that I rather have NOT have gotten

Hubby took our youngest to the doctor today for her checkup. She's fifteen months now.

Em is growing perfectly in height, weight, head. Everything seem normal to Chris until the doctor kept listening to her chest. The doctor detected a heart murmur. He told Chris that he wanted a pediatric cardiologist to check her out.

When Chris told me, I kinda flipped. Why? Because working in the medical field, there are questions I would have asked and all Chris could tell me was "I don't know, he didn't say." Talk about peeved. I was upset at Chris, upset at the doctor, upset at work. This is the time I wish I didn't have to work. I should have been there! All the nurse would tell me when I called was, "we're referring her to Dr so and so".

So that's been my great day. Please keep her in you prayers!

Digging my way out...slowly...

First off... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I pray that 2010 brings many blessings to everyone of you and your families. May God hold you close, keeping your families safe, healthy and joyful!

This is the year I was secretly dreading. My oldest will be starting kindergarten. I can't believe these last five years have just flown by. Oh well, before you know it, I'll be planning her graduation party, lol!

Back to digging myself out... I now have organized chaos here. Toys, clothes and all the other present are put away. Christmas trees and decorations are still out, but we are having guests tomorrow for a mini post-Christmas party. MY goal will be to de-Christmasfy the house this upcoming week. But around here, my well laid plans tend to go awry. I will promise you that it will be done before next Christmas, lol!

I WANT MY HOUSE BACK!!!

I don't know about you but this year, I'm looking around this house and am screaming inside!!!! The family had a wonderful Christmas this year. I had the stomach flu :(

Good news, I lost 7 pounds. Bad news, Christmas is over and this house is a wreck.

Chris did so good. He made Christmas dinner (turkey and ham), played the perfect host and made sure the kids are fed, bathed and happy. I don't know what I would do without him.

I was begging him to kill me Friday night as I was hugging the porcelain bowl. I even tried to tempt him but informing him, my life insure policy would pay off the house, bills and help get the kiddos through college...He wasn't biting. Two days later, I'm kinda happy with his choice.

Tomorrow, I hope I will be very happy, lol.

Now the kiddos are taking naps, he is at work and I'm finally getting out of my fog. I'm looking around this house and wishing I was Samantha from Bewitched or Mary Poppins. I wish I could just wiggle my nose or snap my fingers and everything would just go back into place. But alas I can't. If you don't hear from me by the new year, send out the search party. I'm somewhere in this mess!!!

HOPE YOU HAD A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!!

Deck the Halls

Here are pictures of our trees this year. The first picture is of the living room tree. This is my "flower arrangement" as the family fondly calls it. I also put out my Santa collection every year and here are a couple of them on the mantle.

The second picture is our family room tree. This tree has colored lights and all of our "memory" ornaments. This tree the whole family puts up while watching Christmas movie and eating cookies.



For more pretty trees, check out Creating Christmas Blog Fest.

Black Friday Success!

I cheated a little, maw-ha-ha!!!

My phone rang 1:30 am, it's was my brother and he was at Walmart with a couple of friends. They decided to stay up, and our 24 hr store was letting people fill their buggies with all the good deals and wait to check out at 5 am. I gave him my whole list over the phone, and he was my personal shopper! I got everything without standing in the cold or long lines!!!

Chris was going to go to Target at 3am but since my brother called, he figured he would just get up and go. He got there at 2:45am and the line was already 50 people deep. His co-workers were all laughing at him as they came in (of course, he was standing by the employee door). He had his "trail"all mapped out! He was happy too because everyone he was standing around was able to get what they wanted. He was telling them where everything was located in the store.

Chris and I did great! He went to Target at 2am. He was able to get one of the 26, 32 inch TVs along with my new camera and a dirt devil. We lucked out, because, with his discount, the tv was $220, camera $78, dirt devil was free!!!! ...Almost forgot, he got a Zuze Zue pet (sp?) Impulse buy, but it is so cute now he has to get two more before Christmas!

I headed to Michael's and bought the Sizzix embossing machine, scrapbook storage, embossing folders and ribbons. With my coupons, it was like buying the machine and getting everything else including tax for free!!!

Later, My brother and I went to Walmart together, and I was able to get jammies and track suits for $3!!!

Overall, a very successful shopping day and we were UNDER budget!!!! Looking forward to next year!

Am I brave...

... or foolish???? After 7 years of successfully avoiding anything to do with Black Friday, I'm heading out to join the mad rush of shoppers this year.

Hubby is going out at 3am to get a TV at Target, 23 inch for $246! Can't beat that!!! While he's at it, I added the Dirt Devil Stick vac for $9 and Nikon Coolpix S203 for $88. When he gets home, it's my turn. I'm gonna hit WalMart, Toys R Us, JCPenny's and Michael's. I have my list and would love to get everything on it but if I don't, oh well. I am going with (aka forcing to go with me) my brother to WalMart, so I'm kinda leaning towards, foolishly smart, lol.

Are you heading out Friday? What's on your list?

BLACK FRIDAY 2009

I'm gonna miss this!

The kiddos saying the darnest things!

Jess asked me if I wanted to hear the song she wrote. She then started sing the "ABC song", and started beating on a bucket like a bongo (my hippy child?) She said she was getting ready for a concert tonight that starts in 3 mins, lol!

You'd never know she had the swine flu!

Thanksgiving Planner give-a-way!!!

Awesome give-a-way Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Christian HomeKeeper Network is giving away an Awesome Thanksgiving Planner!!!!

It does end tonight at midnight though so hurry up and head over there and leave a comment for a chance to win. I looked at mine and it is AWESOME!!!!!!

Thanks Sylvia and girls for all your hard work!

Halloween blessings!

Whether it be at home kickin' back with the family, at a party, walking the neighbor at church, I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.

We had a nice one this year. Because Jess is getting over the flu, we decided not to go out and walk the neighborhood. We didn't want to take her to the church either, esp. around other little ones. I know we are being overly cautious but I would hope/think other parents who have the same consideration.

Instead, we went to a Trunk or Treat up the street at a local church. There was only a dozen cars and it was outside. Then we visit some relatives and headed home. Halloween is our pizza and caramel apple night!!! Daddy stayed on the porch and pass out the candy while the kiddos watched from the window. Family came over and we had a little party. It was a fun night. Looking forward to next year.

Bye Bye H1N1!!!

See ya swine flu!

Our Jessica is all healthy now and fighting... oh I mean PLAYING with her baby brother and sister, lol!!! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Swine flu has hit us

We just got back from the doctors and found out Jessica has the swine flu plus a severe double ear infection. She has the medication to treat both. Also the dr prescribed meds to Sam and Emily because they have been exposed.

I need to call the dr for Chris and I to see if we need medication too. Please keep her in your prayers. She is just miserable :pitiful: Along with the other kiddos too. They have no symptoms and we're praying it stays that way.

Thank you and big hugs