The Drama Mama

love me some newborns!

2012-01-22T17:08:00.001-06:00

This past week I did a photo shoot with a precious new babe! She was born on 1-12-12!

And her BIG brother turned ONE on 1-11-12 (born 1-11-11)....the day before she was born!

We joked that they better start planning now if they want #3 on 1-13-13! ;)

Isn't she precious?!

five

2012-01-11T13:11:00.005-06:00

Yesterday it happened.

My last baby had a big milestone....

This little Angel turned a whole hand!!!

I don't know how it happened so quickly. One day she is eating her first bite of cake....

And the next minute, she's two and off exploring and learning everything she can possibly soak up. Ky happens to share a birthday with her Poppy!! She always liked trying on his boots!

Then I look up, and she is three! I start to see the beginning signs of her needing me less and less {insert big sigh here}.

Four arrives way too fast, and her needing me has almost completely slipped away. After all, she also has a brother and sister that would do anything for her!

Kylie has to be the funniest kid I have ever been around. I am always laughing hysterically when she is present!

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Now she's five and she owns her very own opinions, thoughts and ideas! And when those opinions, thoughts and ideas come to fruition, she is very serious about them. Maybe a little stubborn at times (not sure where she gets that one!).

Kylie requested a good 'ole pop tart for her birthday breakfast!

One thing this five year old can be very stubborn about is her outfits! Homegirl L♥VES skinny jeans and leggings!! I think I could have gotten her just this one pair of leggings and everything in her little world would have been perfect!!

Being the birthday girl is hard work (after school!)....

Daddy picked us up and we were off to dinner! I'm thinking deep down inside, despite all the bickering, my kids really do love each other! They both made Ky birthday cards.....all on their own!

Nobody gets away with some sort of celebration when it's your birthday (just keep that in mind if you ever wanna go to Texas Roadhouse for your b-day!)...

Eat fast before it disappears!!

We had dinner right next to the mall and Kylie wanted to take us somewhere afterwards!!

Follow ME!!

Come on, you gotta see this....

Almost there.....

This is going to be great!!!

Yes Ma'am!

Alright, let's do this!!!

Yup! You probably guessed it, there's a new five year old on the town with some pretty pierced ears!

Daddy cleaning them for the first time! She is still the toughest cookie I know. Since it was later in the evening, there was only one worker (so they couldn't have two people do it at the same time), but she still wanted to get it done. She barely flinched the first time and didn't move at all on the second ear!

So big. Sigh.

I'm SO. MAJORLY. IN. L♥VE. with this little firecracker!!!!!

Kylie talking to her birthday buddy & Gabby about her exciting news!!!

And then I went home and cried.

No, really. I cried.

I remember when Alexie was younger, Husband and I went back and forth for a while on when our little girl could get her ears pierced. We finally agreed that 5 years was the earliest. With Alexie, I thought her 5th birthday would never get here!! Alexie and I literally had a calendar and marked off the days. Well, as Kylie's 5th birthday was approaching, I was actually dreading the whole ear piercing thing. That would just confirm that I no longer had a baby. That would mean that all of my muncherheads were B.I.G.

I secretly hoped she would forget, but Alexie wasn't helping the situation by continuing to remind her....always looking out for her sister.

I even stooped to an all new low thinking that I could scare her out of it. Hey, I just wanted to make sure she knew it would hurt!!! :/ I know, it's terrible. I was reaching. Kylie was polite enough to hear me out, and then she went on to talk some more about getting those earrings.

So, today, I am reminded that I no longer have very small children underfoot. I don't think it helped that I went through the girls closets on Monday and cleared out THREE (lawn-sized) trash bags of all the 'little kid' toys.

It's official, my three babes are B.I.G.

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Kylie,

You are the sunshine that lights this family up! I'm pretty sure it's safe to say none of us remember what life was like before you joined our family! I just can't imagine it any other way. Thank you for always making me laugh and reminding me to not take life too seriously.......although, I'm still working on that one every day. Look at you, teaching me things!!

I hope you had a fabulous 5th birthday!!
I love you with everything I have, Zippy!

xoxoxoxo

ps - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POPPY! We missed seeing you on your actual birthday, but we hope it was a great one! Love you, too!

sweetest thing, EVER!!!

2012-01-06T16:12:00.005-06:00

OK, so there were several sweet things about yesterday! It was my birthday, and I was reminded just how loved I am....truly! I've mentioned before that Husband can be pretty creative/sneaking with gifts, etc. Well, he did it again! The kids came in our room yesterday morning with their homemade cards (MELT.MY.HEART.) and it took me a minute before I realized something was off. None of them had on their pajamas.......then I realized they all had on matching shirts. I look closer and I see that they all have on a shirt that says, "It's my mom's b-day".

Seriously?! I laughed harder than I have laughed in a VERY. LONG. TIME. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful thing ever! And the best part (!!!!!!), Kole is going through that I-am-way-too-cool-to-be-doing-this phase, and he did not argue or ask if he really had to wear it - made my day!!

So, the other sweet thing! I mentioned to a friend the day before my birthday that I was kind of in this funk. I explained to her that I was one of those crazy people that celebrates birthdays for an entire week, but I just wasn't even feeling it this year. And it had nothing to do with getting older or anything like that, I was just in a funk.

Well, she called to see if I wanted to have lunch on my birthday and I was so excited to meet her. As we were walking to our cars, she came around my side of the car with SEVEN gift bags!!!!!! Then she said, "If you're not going to celebrate your birthday all week, then I am". I have one gift to open every day this week. I got in the car and just cried. Not because of the gifts (obviously!), but because I have someone that is so thoughtful and cares so much!

Blessed to have such a great friend!!

Husband picked us up after work and we headed to Texas Roadhouse! Yes, there is one here in Iowa of all places....a little slice of Texas! I figured Husband would tell them that it was my birthday (just because that's how he rolls!), but never in a million years did I expect them to come over with the saddle - YES, THE SADDLE!!! - for me to sit on while they sang to me. Trust me, I tried for a good 90 seconds to get out of it, but that failed, as people really started looking then!!

This is my I-am-going-to-kill-you-later face (and I just noticed the guy in the background taking a BIG 'ole bite)!!!

And my is-this-song-really-still-going-on face!!

Although the saddle riding/birthday singing was pretty brutal, it was a sweet time with my family!!! And if that wasn't enough, when we pulled in front of the house, Husband surprised me AGAIN with an iPad2! I'm thinking he was tired of my Words with Friends game always popping up on his iPad2!! :) Regardless, it was very thoughtful and I wasn't expecting it AT. ALL.

It was indeed a great birthday! And now that we are home from Texas, I promise I will post about our Christmas soon!

I hope you ALL had a fabulous Christmas with your families!!!
xoxoxo

Merry Christmas....

2011-12-24T06:19:00.000-06:00

....from our family to yours!

8 year recap of YOU!

2011-12-22T17:12:00.001-06:00

It took about .00001 seconds to fall madly in love with you, Alexie!!

You were my thumb sucker from before you left my womb!

By the time you were 18 months old, you were already tagging along to cheerleading practice/games a few times a week (this was taken at one of our many outings)!!

We all knew you had a little sass in you, but I think this was the first time it was actually caught on camera (I simply asked you to smile.....and this was your response)!

I guess all of those cheerleading practices paid off.....you love to perform (3 yrs)!

Your very first haircut (3.5 yrs).

Pre-K (4 yrs)....

For your 5th birthday, you got to get your ears pierced!!!

Oh, there's that sass again (6 yrs)...

Riding in the limo on your 7th birthday to go ice skating with friends!

My big 2nd grader!!!!!!

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Today has been so fun! Alexie requested some white chocolate & peanut butter chip pancakes to start the morning off!

Seriously, she is just too stinking big....I can't handle it!

Sweet Kole wrote her a precious birthday note and Alexie was so appreciative!! She just kept telling him thank you over and over again!

Opening presents!! The picture one the left is her when she realized there were more surprises in her new coin purse (two pairs of earrings)!

Alexie had to have a picture with Daddy before he left for work!! AKA - the twins. Have you caught on that Alexie is her Daddy's clone?! Genetics (God) just amaze me. She looks so much like her Daddy, it's scary!

Check out their eyes....same shape, same color, same everything!

My new FAV picture!! Birthday kisses from Daddy....priceless.

Alexie, I hope you have had a fantastic birthday so far! I've loved watching your beautiful smile throughout the day. To say we are blessed to have you in our lives just seems like a huge understatement. I don't know what my world would look like without you in it. Your spirit and kind heart are contagious and you continue to touch people every day.

One more thing to store in the back of your mind for later. It may mean nothing now, but it will someday.

I love you to the moon and back, Alexie!
Happy Birthday, love!

December

2011-12-19T09:34:00.000-06:00

What a whirlwind of events we've had pop up in the last month! Things are starting to somewhat return to normal around here....and just in time for Christmas!! I cannot describe the feeling I have counting down the days until we are in Texas! T minus SEVEN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

This little sass*a*frass had her Christmas program last Thursday! She was so excited...it was sweet watching her be all giddy inside! Ugh, I could eat her up!

So, I just have to post this for all the grandparents....priceless!

As we were walking inside from Ky's program, I said, "Kylie! You did amazing up there....I can't wait to show you the video so you can hear how great it was!!"

She responded with, "Mom, I was there...I heard".

Um yea, I guess you were there.
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Oh, Santa came early, baby! I got a new camera!!

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Recognize these two peeps?

We hit up our local sushi place about once a week, and the kids always seem to have a good time! They had just ordered these heads and got them in when we were there last. There was a third one, but Ky wanted NOTHING to do with it!
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Well, that's all I have for right now....I think it may be time for some more shopping! I'm pretty sure I've gone a little overboard this year, but it sure has been fun! I hope you all have a fabulous week!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Guest post - meet Ali!

2011-12-15T06:14:00.003-06:00

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Ali, I am a stay at home mommy of two BEAUTIFUL little girls

Aaliyah, 6

and Alyxandria, 2

I am married to my best friend

I educated my oldest daughter from home, while chasing around my youngest! After that I clean and wash and cook, and after that...I design Floral accessories and I BLOG! :)

How did you get started as a blogger?

I had a few friends that blog and have etsy shops. I was more interested, to begin with, in having my own little etsy shop

but as I watched friends with their blogs and asked questions, I decided blogging looked like a great creative outlet! So I started my blog Ali Grace Fashions

Through some help with friends, and LOTS of google searches, I actually taught myself how to build my own website and get all my goodies looking professional!!!

Where do you find your inspirations?

My family is ALWAYS my inspiration! I look into the sincere blue eyes of my little girls, or my husbands kind face and I feel inspired all the time. I am also very inspired by fashion and nature, so I decided to combine the two when I started my Floral Accessory shop! LOVE! It just fit my personality perfectly!

What do you feel makes your blog unique?

I think when I first started blogging, it was hard to find or "make" myself unique. You don't know what you are doing and you just try to watch others and learn. After a month or so I started to realize, there is no right or wrong way to be. The only thing that would be wrong is to not be yourself! I think what makes my blog unique is that I just rely on my own inspirations and creativity to come up with my own ideas. I of course, am inspired by others and their imaginative and wonderful ideas! I just like to add my own twist to what I do! Throw in my own flavor. No one makes a good copy of someone else, but everyone that shows the original will shine! I feel like that is something I have learned to love. :) I also feel that my blog is unique, because I am sincere. I am not sure how to be any other way! I had wonderful parents growing up. They were always kind and very real, never phony! They taught me to be proud of what I believe in and also to believe in myself! I just love them for that and the great values they have instilled in me through our faith in Jesus Christ, to the morality and gentle spirits they always exhibited when I was a child.

What is one of your favorite pieces/projects?

Oh my!!! SO HARD! Well, I think one of my favorite PROJECTS are always my beauty blogs! Like my Victorian Braid tutorial.

And My favorite pieces! UGH! It would have to be a toss up between my new

rose rings

Antique rose necklaces

and my cutesie little tutu's!!!

I just LOVE to create beautiful thing! SO much fun to see your creations take shape and VERY rewarding when people fall in love with them!

What advise would you find to be most important to someone just starting out?
Honestly, the same advise as was given to me! I am in no wise anywhere close to an "expert" on this. But I do know that followers and sales have increased a lot for me since I have done these things.

BLOG: Have your blog made to look professional-I know it's hard to part with the cash, but a professional blog just adds SO much to your site, if you can't afford one, then just do what I did and bust your butt for a few months searching for how to do it yourself. Take a look around at other blogs and try to decide what you think they have that is good/necessary and make one in your own flavor for yourself!

SHOP:make a logo for your blog/shop that matches and ties things together! Your logo should remind people of what you sell so they remember you, is what I have read. That is why My logo has a flower in it!

And I sell Floral ACCESSORIES and I run a fashion blog. The two went together well and it worked out great! Also, you should try to label your product! I just bought some card stalk and a custom stamp and label my items myself!

I liked the stamp for me, because it gave it a vintage feel, since a lot of my items are a cross between modern and vintage. You can also PRINT your logo onto card stalk with your printer!

It adds such a nice touch and makes things look Oh, so much better!

I would love for your to come visit the Ali Grace Floral Accessory Shop! The holidays are coming so I would love to offer you all a 10% discount for coming to do some of your shopping with me! Just type in this code at checkout!
CODE: 4HOLIDAY

How can people find you? (links to site, fb etc.)
BLOG: http://www.ali-grace.com/
SHOP: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AliGraceFashions
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TheAliGracePage
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/tweetaligrace
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/AliGraceTV
Email: aligracefashions@cox.net
(and if you hit my blog I also can be followed through rss feed, bloglvin and pinterest!)

Lastly, I would LOVE to offer Your readers an item from my little shop! I am going to be giving away this ADORABLE ring

to one lucky winner!

TO ENTER:
MANDITORY: Requirements for entery is to follow the Ali Grace Blog HERE

For ADDITIONAL entries
2)Follow Drama Mama Blog HERE
3)Follow me on fb HERE
4)Follow me on twitter HERE
5) Favorite my shop HERE
for a total of 5 possible entries!

Thank you soooo much for allowing me to say hello to your readers Hollie! You are so gracious and sweet to have me! XOXO Don't forget to stop by my blog today guys! http://www.ali-grace.com/! I am doing a giveaway/feature for dear sweet Hollie over here! HUGS!

gorgeous flowers!!

2011-12-12T21:08:00.002-06:00

Are you just a little curious who the winner of this fab giveaway is?!?!! Me too!! I apologize again for the delay in getting it announced...and I can't wait to see what Nicole comes up with for you!

So, the winner of The Wooly Thistle flower arrangement is....

My Songbook!!

Congrats, girl! Email me and I will put you in contact with Nicole!!

MIA

2011-12-05T10:06:00.000-06:00

I've been a little tied up lately. And because people have been asking, I thought I would try to answer as many questions as I could, and keep family/friends in the loop (while try to shorten the story as much as possible).

The past couple of months have been really hard on me. There have been many times in the past few months, when I was for sure I was going to pass out....three times I actually did. And I have no energy - period. I ended up in the ER in the middle of October (female issues) and after trying 3 different medications (and 6 weeks later!) I was finally moving forward. Fast forward to Thanksgiving and still absolutely no energy.

Thanksgiving morning I woke up early to get our Thanksgiving lunch/dinner started. Husband and I wanted it to be perfect since this was the first Thanksgiving in another state. He was going to fry a turkey (that turned out fabulous) and I was in charge of everything else. After being up about an hour, I started feeling sick to my stomach and a little dizzy. I kept pushing through though because this Thanksgiving was going to be perfect!

About 30 minutes later, Husband came up from behind me and wrapped his arms around my waste and in .2 seconds I knew I was about to throw up. I ran to the kitchen sink because Kylie was in the closest bathroom. The next thing I remember is Husband trying to pick me up off the floor and I'm covered in vomit. He couldn't do much since he was on the other side of the room, but I was glad someone actually witnessed this happen to me....I was starting to feel a little crazy. Needless to say, I had a huge bump on my head and a massive headache. I ended up throwing up the rest of the day (passing out another time in the bathroom...I hit my face on the commode and head on the wall). I should've gone to the ER right then, but I couldn't even move.

Friday morning, I gave myself 3 hours to recover and if I wasn't doing better, I was going to the ER. Well, I wasn't better. The ER treated me for dehydration, vomiting and did a CT scan of my head just to make sure everything was OK there. A few hours later, they were sending me home. I questioned the nurse....something inside of me knew something was off and I didn't feel comfortable leaving. But I did.

The next few days, I was laid up on the couch trying to gain my strength back. Oh, and Thanksgiving ended up being a HUGE bust....I couldn't eat any of the yummy food - boo!

By Monday (a week ago today), I finally felt a little normal. Tuesday was a very busy day...I had a lot of errands to run. I left the house before 10 AM and didn't get home until after 4. By the time we got home from school, all of the going had caught up with me. But that didn't matter, we had to leave for gymnastics one hour later. Looking back, that day is kind of a blur. I just remember Husband asking me that night, 'why are you so tired'. Well, I had no answer.

Wednesday morning, I truly believed would be the last day of my life. I would try to pray for God to save me, but I was so out of it, I couldn't even concentrate. When I woke up, the light from my cell phone was blinding. I couldn't focus on anything after that for at least 20-30 minutes. I normally open all the blinds when I get up (but it hurt my eyes and head too much), and all I could do was walk down the stairs and lay on our rug.

My heart was beating out of my chest, I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, and my head was spinning so much, I couldn't focus on a thing. I had to call our friend Missy and ask if she would come pick up my kids and take them to school because I couldn't even stand up. I tried many times, and failed.

After I hung up with Missy, I knew it was time to call 911....no exaggeration, death was setting in. I explained to the kids that I can't drive and that's the only reason I was calling 911 and they were all so brave. They made their own breakfast, made snacks and did everything else to get ready for school.

The paramedics arrived and started working frantically on my limp body. I knew it was bad when they started passing notes, instead of talking out loud. My heart rate was over 130 (extremely high), my blood pressure was bottoming out and my blood sugar was 40 (80 is borderline normally low).

They worked for at least 30 minutes before they even tried to move me. They thought I was having a heart attack. Missy arrived while I was already in the ambulance and she took all three of my muncherheads (Thank you, Missy!!!! I owe you big time).

It was on the way to the hospital that it finally hit me, I may not make it. The kisses I got from my kids just minutes earlier (when I was so disoriented to even know what was going on) may of been the last.

We arrived at the hospital and they were pretty certain I was having a Pulmonary Embolism (a blood clot in the lungs). They did blood work, and sure enough, the numbers that detect a PE were triple what they should of been. But, the PE was ruled out after doing a CT scan of my lungs...so what was happening??

They started probing around and it wasn't until then that I noticed belly pain. Come to find out, all of my major organs in my abdomen (liver, gallbladder, pancreas) were very inflamed. They think that I was having pain in my chest because those organs were swollen and pushing on my lungs. Ah ha!....that makes sense!

After more blood work, they determined that my liver was in very bad shape. As in, again the numbers were triple of that of normal liver. The doctors immediately transfer me to the downtown hospital ICU. I was there another 24 hours and after talking with the doctor we think we know why my liver was having such a hard time. I was on two different medications after my back surgery that did severe damage. One of which, I learned that if you have one sip of alcohol while on this medication, it does extensive damage....I was on that medication for almost 3 years. I was immediately taken off that medication.

After treating me in the ICU for 24 hours, my doctor literally runs (no lie!) in with another doctor on his tail, washes his hands and tells me an ambulance is on it's way to pick me up and take me to a hospital in Nebraska that specializes in transplants - WHAT?!

Thirty minutes later, I was being loaded up in another ambulance (third ambulance ride in 48 hours) and carted 2 hours away to a different ICU. He told me I had a 30% chance of needing a transplant and I needed to be in Nebraska in case I got worse.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!...in 24 hours, my liver had improved by 200% from the IV meds they had been giving me. I was finally released to recover at home with oral meds. It's taken me a lot to get where I am this morning, but I am still not out of the woods. As of yesterday, I am starting to show signs of relapsing. If I don't get a call back from my doctor soon, I will be headed back downtown for more blood work and probably more treatment.

So, there you have it....that's where I've been! Oh, and I haven't forgotten about Nicole's sweet giveaway!! I will be announcing the winner very soon! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time!
xoxo

Someone you have to meet (and a giveaway)

2011-11-21T19:02:00.000-06:00

Today, my beautiful cousin, Nicole over at The Wooly Thistle is guest posting for me!! This girl is uber talented...like can do anything she puts her mind to, talented!!

So, read up and then stop by and say hello (be sure to follow her, too)!! Oh, there just may be a very cool giveaway below!!
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Who are you?!

I am a floral designer, a knitter, a crafter, a cook and a wine-o! I own my own floral design company servicing the Dallas, Texas area.

How did you get started as a blogger?

Initially I started blogging to promote my business, The Wooly Thistle. It’s such a great way to show what I do and it gives me a chance to express my personality through images and words.

Where does your inspiration come from?

All around me! I always have my eyes open for new looks, color combos, creative ideas. My inspiration isn’t limited to flowers either. I love observing every element of design; how a subject is photographed, how an outfit/look is pulled off, how a space is put together, how nature grows... oh, and Pinterest! I can spend all day on Pinterest!

What makes your blog unique and different?

Flowers are wonderful and beautiful. So many people are intimidated because there are so many different types. I want people to look at my arrangements and know what they are looking at. I try to be as descriptive as possible when displaying my work on my blog.

What is one of your favorite pieces?

On the blog one of my favorites is a bouquet I made using hand picked cotton and wheat. It really turned out lovely. I also really love the fall inspired arrangement featured on my blog. I took tiny little pumpkins, staked them and added them to some cool textures and colors. I was really happy with the results.

Along with floral design I am also an avid knitter! I have been challenging myself with some new techniques and looks so I have a couple of projects I’m pretty proud of. Eventually I'm hoping these will make an appearance on the blog, as well!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting a blog or business?

Patience! Get advise. Listen! Do some of your own research - look at blogs you like. Like, really look. Understand what you like and find a way to communicate that. I was totally overwhelmed by blogging at first but then I realized that all the answers are right in front of me. I just had to find them.

How can we find you?

facebook - HERE
blog - HERE
contact # - 469.767.9178
email - thewoolythistle@gmail.com
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Nicole is so cool, she is offering one of YOU one of her gorgeous arrangements for FREE (delivery included)!! Since she lives in the Dallas area, the winner will need to reside there OR if you know someone in the Dallas area that you would like to send an arrangement to, that would work great too!

Here's how you can enter!

You must follow The Drama Mama (1 entry)

Extra entries -

follow The Wooly Thistle BLOG (2 entries!!)
like The Wooly Thistle facebook page (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do!

Rage

2011-11-17T13:39:00.001-06:00

Ya know the ole saying, "Everything's Bigger in Texas!"...well, for the most part it's absolutely true! But, since arriving in Iowa, we have heard that nothing compares to Iowa deer....so Husband has had one mission since bow season started! Him and his brother-from-another-mother have been deer watching for a while now and a week or so ago, he finally got him a big one!

So, meet Rage! I have named all of Husband's deer in the past. His first buck was Mr. Belvedere, his first doe was Jane Doe, and his second buck was John Deere. But this time, him and Travis came up with the name. Evidently, this buck had some rage in him....so RAGE it was ~~(definitely not as creative as the others, if you ask me!!)~~.

Kylie was scared to death!!! Her little knees were up by my chin at first!

Way to go, honey!

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I'm back from Texas, and everything went perfect with my Mama's surgery.....thanks for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers! And Husband was a true champ with the kiddos (plus his full time job!)...I'm so very blessed!! Thanks again, Husband for all you did to make my trip home possible - I love you!

leaving on a jet plane

2011-11-14T13:06:00.001-06:00

Yup, today I am lifting up my precious family. Even though they throw snowballs at each other....

I pray that....

Everyone gets to school ~~on time~~ (I'll settle for just getting to school).
The house is still standing firm when I return.
I don't get a phone call of any major catastrophes.
That you help me let go of my control issues of always wanting to be the best mother while I am taking care of my precious Mama.
Husband doesn't have a heart attack (or take it personal with my gazillion lists that I have left him) while he manages his very full job and three kids.

That you bless our precious friends that are helping out and making this all possible.

I'm stepping on Texas soil, baby!! And although I'll be there to take care of my Mama who is having major surgery, I am beyond thrilled to be HOME. My Mama....she's one special lady!!

I love you Kole, Alexie & Kylie more than you know and will miss you beyond words!!!

And, thank you, Husband for holding down the fort!!! I love you all so much!!!!!

blogging Q&A answered!

2011-11-12T12:30:00.001-06:00

I asked you guys about any blogging questions you may want to learn about HERE! So, here you go!! And I added in a few for fun! Feel free to ask some more if you're interested about anything!

Q: I am pretty new to the blogging world, just started my blog on October 1st! What would you say is the one best piece of advice you wish someone would have told you when you first started?

A: Be real. I started blogging to document everything that my kids did, and for family to be able to keep in touch with us. But from the beginning, I have always been me. Do I put every single detail of our lives on our blog? NO! But for the most part, I have always blogged about the good AND THE BAD. I, personally, feel that you can connect to your readers more when you put yourself out there. Because of this, I have met some UNBELIEVABLE people!! Most of which I still have not met in person, but we have a connection that will last forever. To go further, in May of 2008, we went through a very difficult storm with our youngest daughter....I spent many nights in a hospital room with her, while Husband stayed behind with our other two, and some of the biggest support I got was from other bloggers!! Some were going through storms as well, and some were not.....but I knew they were there praying for us. Because I put it all out there, they in turn, commented on this blog continuously to encourage us and to pray. I will never forget that.

Q: Do you plan posts in advance - if so - how do you remember what you were going to say and how do you decided when to post it. I seem to always think of something I want to talk about- but when it comes down to finding time to sit in front of the computer I have already forgot what it was - LOL. Also, what do you use to edit your pictures with?

A: I learned really quick to make notes. I totally agree with you, I had this 'great' idea/thought and by the time I could sit down to type it all out...all of those thoughts were gone! So, I started making a blogging list. If I had a thought about a post, I would write it down right then! So, at least when I had time to type, I would see it right next to my computer. And there were many times I had a list of 10-12 blog posts I wanted to write about....they didn't always happen! But making notes helps a ton!

I use photoshop to edit all of my photos, but there are a lot of programs out there that will get the job done...you don't have to have photoshop!

Q: I recently realized that there are some laws/rules about giveaways that could get us in trouble (if we aren't careful). How do you prevent being unlawful when doing giveaways (using facebook, etc) and what have you learned about them that you would like to share with a newbie? (I'm actually a little nervous to do anymore)

A: This is all new to me. I have read about this more and more, but to be completely honest I had to do some research on this one. I found this post that seemed to break things down for us more clearly....but, I honestly need to do some more research!

Here are some other popular questions I have received in the past!

Q: How do you make the ♥ symbol?

A: All you do is type the '&' symbol, then type the word 'hearts', followed by a semicolon. The key is to type all of those things TOGETHER...no spaces. ♥ That simple!

Q: How do I strike through a word?

A: If you wanted to write something and then ~~mark through it~~, all you would do is this - in the example I just provided, I would type < del > in FRONT of the FIRST word I want marked through (WITHOUT the spaces), and then put < / del > AFTER the last word I want marked through (again, WITHOUT spaces). Make sense?

Q: Is there a website out there that has blogging tips?

A: Most everything I learned through trial and error and I'm pretty sure there is stuff I do that there is probably an easier way to do it...still learning everyday. But, I learned a lot of the more detailed stuff through this website. It has some basic tips, all the way up to more detailed things, like how to add a navigation bar to your blog! Very helpful!

I hope this helps some!!
xoxo

a different kind of biscuit

2011-11-08T14:23:00.000-06:00

OK, if you're like me, my kids get tired of the same 'ole stuff when it comes to meals. So, every once in a while I try different things. Some are hits......a lot are misses, but you never know until you try! But, here's an easy alternative to biscuits in the morning!!

And the great thing is, you can prepare this in the time it takes to preheat the oven!!

Step 1: Melt some butter in the microwave.

Step 2: Mix cinnamon/sugar in a separate bowl.

Step 3: Cut biscuits in half.

Step 4: Place cream cheese in the center of the biscuit (I got a little carried away with the cream cheese....use as much or as little as you would like!).

Step 5: Close biscuit around cream cheese and press side together all the way around.

Step 6: Dip in butter.

Step 7: Cover both sides of the biscuit with cinnamon/sugar mix.

Step 8: Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and ENJOY!!!!!!

pumpkin tutorial

2011-11-03T06:25:00.002-05:00

How cute is this little pumpkin?! Alexie brought this home from school and gave me a step-by-step tutorial on how to make it! We might have a little arts & crafter in the making!

Well, it's super easy to make if you want one!!! All you need, is a roll of toilet paper, some scrap orange fabric, green felt and black construction paper!

Just place the roll of toilet paper in the middle of your orange fabric and tuck each corner into the top of the toilet paper roll.

Place green felt strip across the top of the pumpkin and simple push down with finger.

Fold black construction paper strip in half and tuck in top of toilet paper hole.

And Voila!! Easiest little pumpkin ever!!!

Hawaii (day 5 & beyond)

2011-11-01T07:06:00.040-05:00

Better late than never! I finally made myself sit down and finish blogging about our anniversary trip! You can read part 1 here, and part 2 here!

I have mixed emotions about our kayak/hiking adventure....adventure being the key word. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun. And a lot of work. But also very educational....we learned a lot! We kayaked 5 miles total....

And hiked two miles total! But once we saw this, it was all worth it...

The water was absolutely freezing! Robbie ~~forced me~~ kindly asked me to at least get waste deep just to take a picture together - brutal (can you see the pain in my face?!).

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Our last full day in Hawaii was our actual anniversary, and a local snapped this picture of us....

We made reservations at the Beach House that we kept hearing had an unbelievable view....and that it did!

Right on the beach....

Our table was pretty much right on the beach, where you could get up, walk around and take pictures - SO FUN!

After we got back to the hotel, and were headed to our room, we saw that they had a guy singing some classic Hawaiian tunes in the lobby/bar area, so we decided to stop by. Pretty soon after, Husband disappears. I was really enjoying the music and not really paying attention to how long he was gone. The next thing I know, he walks up and all he says is 'follow me'. I immediately knew something was up (not sure what), but I could tell.....and then I realized that there is a guy standing back a little bit waiting for us. Husband leads me kind of fast out by the pool area and we stop right by the waterfall, all while this guy continues to follow pretty close.

I then realize that this guy works at the hotel, although he doesn't have on his work shirt. Husband grabs both of my hands and just stares at me. He begins to speak these words, and for the first time in a very long time, I am speechless. He begins to renew his vowels to me. He is speaking words that he said to me when we were married. Except this time, it is much deeper. I didn't think it could be deeper than September 1, 2001, but it's amazing what you can go through in ten years and three kids later.

I cried...the entire time. And afterwards, I had to apologize for not saying much....I was that speechless. But I think my emotions said it all.

Evidently when he disappeared, he was trying to find someone to renew our vowels or at least be a witness. He tracked down the manager and she agreed to allow a bellman to come out and be a witness, however he was not allowed to do this 'on the job' so he had to take his work shirt off in order to do it. My husband is pretty stinking romantic, but this tops anything he has ever done....hands down.

We got back to the lobby and he had also secretly talked to the guy singing, and had him sing and dedicate a song to me....yes, he was pretty darn busy in the few minutes he had disappeared!!

It was definitely a very full, fun packed 10 year anniversary celebration!

And there was nothing that could end our VACA better than coming down the escalator a seeing these precious babes holding a sign!!!

Oh my word, what a great way to end a fabulous trip!!

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And lastly, I have to share this! Husband told me about this song he has dedicated to me. Get this, the name of it is 'Crazy Girl'. I have to admit, never hearing the song, I was a little disturbed that he thinks of me every time he hears CRAZY GIRL! Don't get me wrong, I know I'm a little on the crazy side....but really? Then, last week, we were headed to Kole's football tournament and the song came on the radio. I was so pleasantly surprised. It has to be the sweetest dedication ever....and after listening to the words, I am honored to be Husband's crazy girl!

Below are the lyrics....

beggers

2011-10-30T23:48:00.000-05:00

Four months into our move, I continue to find more and more significant differences between Iowa and Texas!! I originally blogged about it here, but it's funny to get someone else's perspective too. While my parents were here, my dad kept finding differences between the two. To name a few, it's free here in Iowa to air up your tires....in Texas you have to pay for air. All of the stop signs, yield signs, etc. have a pole made out of wood...in Texas, those same signs have a metal pole. My dad pointed out that a TON of people here have flip phones (he is SO right!!!!)....you don't see many of those in Texas. It's just those little things you notice when you've lived in the same place your entire life!

Well, another more recent one that I still don't get is how they do trick or treating. First of all, Iowans don't trick or treat on October 31st. Well, a few do....it's done by counties. Depending on where you live determines when you go trick or treating (I only know of one county that goes on Oct. 31st). Secondly, it's not trick or treating....it's called 'beggers night' (since you beg for candy). And lastly, when you go beg for candy, you actually have to work for it! 75% of the people passing out candy will ask you to tell them a joke....and you don't get candy until someone in the group tells a joke! Did I mention I'm from Texas? All of this just seems so foreign to me. The best joke of the night came from Kylie (in my biased opinion), just for the simple fact that she actually told a joke at all!! She is so shy in front of strangers, so I was shocked!

Kylie: Why did the puppy dog cross the road? Because he forgot his cell phone.
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On Thursday, Kylie got to wear her Halloween costume to school and they had a little parade, so we stopped by Husband's work on the way to school to surprise him....

Sweet girl was so ready to play with her friends!

A few of her buds!

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So tonight, on 'beggers night' we met at a neighbors house and 7 kiddos and 3 adults went begging for candy.

Left to right (the boys): John, Kole (acting like he is going to eat John), Gage, Tyler and Reid.

And my sweet ladybugs!!!

This was one of the houses that we stopped by that was ALL kinds of decked out!

Oh, I forgot to mention that all the boys (AKA Husbands) stayed behind to pass out candy, so when we returned home, the kiddos played for a while and we visited.

I hope you guys have a great Halloween....whatever day it is that you celebrate! :) Just out of curiosity have any of you heard this? Does your town/neighborhood do this? I'd love to hear!!!
xoxoxo

blogging tips Q & A

2011-10-28T03:30:00.007-05:00

I just celebrated my 4 year blog*a*versary (AKA blogging anniversary)! It's so hard to believe that I have been blogging since before Kylie was ONE...craziness!

After all of these years, I think the most common questions/comments I get are about blogging. Everything I know is self taught, so I can promise you, there is probably an easier way to get it done.....but whatever I'm doing obviously works - WOO HOOOO!

So, I thought I would do a Q & A of any blogging tips you may want to know! If I don't know the answer, I will do some research to at least point us in the right direction!

So, go for it.....ask away!!!!!!!!!!!!

fun fall recipe

2011-10-27T23:31:00.016-05:00

It has been fall here for a while now! Some Iowans may argue that, but this Texas girl says 'it's cold!'

In honor of cooler weather, I thought I would share a recipe that only comes out in the cooler months in our family....and it's a yummy one - Sweet (sweet) Potatoes!

I, personally, save it for last and eat it as dessert!!! And can you say super easy?!

Mix these ingredients in big mixing bowl:

3 cups sweet potatoes, mashed (I use yams in the can (3 cans) and they are perfect!)
1 cup scant sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter
1/2 jar of marshmallow cream

Mix together and pour into 9x12 greased pan.

Topping - In small mixing bowl combine:

1 cup crushed pecans
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup Bisquick
1/3 cup softened butter

Mix topping ingredients together and pour/spread on top of sweet potato mix!

This is so sad, but when I made this, we were so excited to eat it (since it's been since last winter) that I forgot to get a picture of it out of the oven!! But I can assure you....it was fabulous!

Oh, and just in case you missed it, I did a guest post over at Casey's with my meatloaf recipe - you can CLICK HERE to get that one too!

Let me know if you try it...I'd love to know what you think!
xoxoxo

a little preview of last week

2011-10-26T19:03:00.000-05:00

We had a few visitors last week....

They might have been some of the prettiest people....

We played non-stop while they were here...and I already miss them terribly!

I love that things don't change much around here when we have family in town....we kinda just pick up where we left off! Alexie does this all the time when we are at home....

We still have to do homework...but Kole was pretty pumped that C-day was there to help him!!!

And Kylie had a constant play date when she wasn't in school!!!!

Chris & Annie got a little taste of what it's like to have a (little bit of an) older boy!!! And I was shocked at how well he stayed on Ky's scooter....he was a PRO!!!!

We brought a little bit of Texas with us....as in, we can totally pull up some folding chairs, (a little floor heater since it's already stinking cold here), crank up the music and spend hours in the garage visiting and playing games!

Kole and his buddy, Gage! They are such precious boys.....he is also in Kole's class this year!

Again, Alexie spends a lot of her time doing things like this. She positions herself against the wall to get set and then comes off of the wall and holds it....she can hold this position for a VERY long time...next time I will have to time it.

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I've gotten out of my photography groove since we've moved here (not by choice, it's been a time issue!) and I decided I was going to jump back in. This was my second family to shoot and it makes me gitty to be back behind the lens! This precious family is so stinking cute and I can't wait to show you more! It will have to wait since they are using these for her Christmas card, but I'll find some she isn't using.....so fun!

And I just may have taken some picture of a certain brother, sister-in-law and nephew...SO EXCITED! My parents are still here, but things have slowed down a little bit....after they leave I will get caught up on everything! I miss you, blog friends!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

It's been a while....

2011-10-18T21:42:00.001-05:00

....and I'm so sorry!

It's been non-stop...can't wait to share! At this very moment my twin brother and his precious wife and son are driving to visit us - no.words. can.explain.

I couldn't be happier....and I can't wait to update all that is going on..............so much going on! I promise I'll be back soon!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

me being me

2011-10-12T16:48:00.000-05:00

If you read this blog often you know I am that person.....'what you see is what you get'. Some may think this is a bad thing......I don't.

You will always know what I'm thinking. I'm raw.....maybe too raw.

I love deeply....to a fault that one may question that love.

As open as I am.....I can be guarded in certain situations. I've been known to put up a guard with husband. I'm learning. Moving here has taught me a lot.

Iowa is great. Our kids have not missed a beat. They've already made some very dear friends.....that's all any parent could ever ask for after moving hundreds of miles away from all they know.

My kids are doing great.

Selfishly, I miss home.

I miss the little moments.

We were having sushi the other night and Alexie said (out of nowhere), "I miss Ms. Stephanie so much". Then there is that reminder of all of our dear friends we left behind.

Ms. Stephanie also happens to be the mom of Kole's best and dearest friend, Kaiden in Texas. But Alexie & Ms. Stephanie have always had this special bond. Kole & Kaiden have had many sleepovers, but Ms. Stephanie always wanted to include Alexie (this was before we were preggo with Ky). She would promise Alexie a sleepover and they did all the girly things girls do at a sleepover. Alexie still talks about it to this day.

I miss home.

I read a comment left on this blog from another dear friend about pictures we would have normally taken about this time of year.......but not this year. I miss her family.

But, I truly couldn't ask for more.

I hate that I can't squeeze my parents neck any time I want. And those random nights that Husband had a dinner, so I would go to dinner with my parents just since he is gone.........I miss those moments.

We've met some of the most amazing people here. I never dreamed we would 'fit' right in............but we have.

And then I talk to my brother's & sister's (in-law)........and I mush. There are times that things have come up and I cry that I am not there to discuss it in person. I feel like I am not there for them.

I miss my family. I miss my family more than I could EVER describe. I hate that my nephews are growing up every day..........and I'm missing it all.

I hate that this was the first annual 4th of July party with all of my favorite peeps (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) that I have ever missed, and that this will be the first Thanksgiving that I will have EVER missed with our family.....EVER.

Today I picked up Alexie (she is my very sensitive one) and she was saying she 'wants to go back to Texas'. This happens with her.....and we work through it. She is happy here, but she does have her moments. I try to stay as strong as I can during those times. We make it through.

But most of all, I'm reminded why we are here. I may not know the full reason, but I am reminded by His plan. We are here for a reason, I am confident in that.

No doubt about it, we are here for a reason......and we are all learning.

Lord, open my heart, mind and soul to whatever you are trying to show me!

flashback with my phone

2011-10-11T13:47:00.000-05:00

After going through the gazillion pictures I have saved on my phone, I realized most of them have not been seen...I'm so bad about not uploading my phone pictures! Some of them make me sad...they were taken when we were still in Texas!

Right before we left, Chris, Annie & Will came to have some lunch with us (definitely one of the pix that makes me sad...look at precious Will!!!)

1. Kylie in her new (new at the time) skinny jeans 2. Ky eating a morning snack before anyone else was up 3. you have to be careful falling asleep around our crew!!

Kole & Kylie have this special bond....and they love to sleep together!

This one got me! I was taking their Christmas card pictures last year and Alexie had my phone and snapped this of Will and I didn't even know it!!!

Look at how big he is now!! Such a handsome boy!!!!!

Oh my gracious!!! Kole is going to KILL ME for sharing this one!!!! Robbie was giving him a haircut and had a little fun!

Oh, the sass!!!

In the Apple store for about 90 seconds and he already made a friend....

I made this onsie for one of Lindsey's good friends who recently became a mom!

Another picture right before we left Texas....we were at my parents house and I couldn't find Kylie! After a couple of minutes of searching all the rooms, I found her in the pack-n-play dead asleep!! She even put the pillow and blankets in there with her....sweet girl!

In Iowa looking for our house.............after having breakfast with my dork of a husband (whom I love dearly!!!).

Two of Kole's new buddies....they are such good kids!! I drove them this day and had to get one of all three of them before practice!!

Oh, LORD!! These two are like little boys in a candy store....seriously!! There were 13 of us eating dinner, but this is what the end of the table looked like!!! I'm pretty sure we could of all gotten up and left and they would've still been sitting there deep in conversation!!

Again, little kids....I just don't even ask!

Remember when Alexie had an allergic reaction to her flu shot (see crazy pic here), well look what happened last week! She needed one more dose of the chicken pox shot and her arm stayed swollen, red & HOT for FOUR days!!!

Can I go back now?

sew excited

2011-10-06T10:12:00.004-05:00

You will never believe what I actually completed!! I pinned a skirt on pinterest and ended up on this fab blog where she has so many sewing tutorials!! I saw this one and decided I had to try it!

I really wasn't expecting it to turn out...trust me! I figured I would for sure mess up the waistband...I have never sewn with elastic thread (or knits) and the very thought of it scares me to death!! But it was so stinking easy! If you have a sewing machine and love this, you have to try it!! And if you do, I wanna see pictures. Oh, and did I mention that it is the most comfy piece of clothing - EVER!

the abc's of me

2011-10-04T13:50:00.000-05:00

Age: 33

Bed size: king (despite husband’s HUGE attempt to get a queen so we could be close…if you know me, I need space...but I still love you, hun!)

Chore you hate: LaUnDrY - DESPISE IT. Not the actual cleaning of the laundry, but the putting away. I would hire someone just for that, if I could!

Dogs: since marriage, we've had a golden retriever and a weimaraner.

Essential start of your day: iced tea

Favorite color: turquoise

Gold or silver: silver…but I’m starting to wear gold a little more.

Height: 5' 6" (and a 1/2 now...I grew half of an inch after my back surgery!!!)

Instruments I play (or have played): does the recorder in elementary count?

Job title: I am CEO, CFO and COO of a small family organization, manager, supervisor, accountant, dietician/chef, taxi driver, monitor, guard, secretary, nurse, maid, teacher, referee, psychologist, judge and jury, janitor, professional grocery shopper, personal assistant, counselor, disciplinarian, friend, hairdresser and tangle remover and librarian to name a few. I’m on-call 24/7 and evidently salary.com thinks I should make $115, 432 a year for my duties…I think my job is priceless!

Kids: my 3 precious babes

Live: iowa (that's still weird to type!)

Mom's name: Debbe

Nickname: beets (dad), annabellita (mom), bug or lovebug (husband), hol or hols, the drama mama

Overnight hospital stays: seriously? too many to type...I was in the hospital a lot as a kid (asthma), of course when I had my three babies, I had mono a couple of years ago, back surgery...I know there is more!

Pet peeve: smacking

Quote from a movie: I can quote almost all of dirty dancing!

Right or left handed: right

Siblings: two bros (one older, one twin)

Time you wake up: 7:30 (the kids school doesn't start until 8:40!! We've never started school that late, but it's kinda nice!)

Underwear: um, yes please

Vegetables you dislike: peas

What makes you run late: kids

X-rays you've had done: again, seriously?! back, neck, lungs (asthma), fingers, wrist, heal (gymnastics), breast bone (cheerleading)...I know there is more.

Yummy food you make: yummy sweet potatoes and spicy corn casserole.

Zoo animal: zebras and giraffes

diy treat stands

2011-10-02T12:23:00.001-05:00

This would be a perfect example of the meaning behind Arts & CRAPS! I may have this great idea in my head, but that doesn't mean it will become pure greatness like I imagined!

Since I was introduced to my ~~worst enemy~~ new best friend, Pinterest, I have been wanting to make one of these! Aren't they so fun?! And so stinking easy to make!

Before I glued the bottom of the candlestick to the largest plate, I decided to fill the candlestick with colored beads to add another pop of color!!

Well, it's a start. After putting it together, I realized several things I would do differently. I need a smaller middle plate for one....and I still haven't found a third plate for the top. Goodwill hunting here I come!!!!

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Oh, and I put these two white frames together in about 10 minutes yesterday...they're kinda fun!

I have some other things in the works...more on that later!
xoxo

two thumbs

2011-09-30T16:05:00.001-05:00

Remember this post about Kole wanting to be in Character Council? Well, today I picked him up from school and he said....

"Who has two thumbs and one character council?!"

As he points both of his thumbs towards himself, he says....."THIS GUY!!!"

He is too stinking cute and I love seeing how excited he is about this!! He has already told me he can't miss any meetings!!

Love that boy!!

pinterst is the devil

2011-09-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

OK, I purposely haven't checked out this whole Pinterest thing for a reason...like I needed one more thing to take up my time!!

Well, my sister-in-law sent me a text last week asking if I have gotten into it and it was just enough to get me to try it!

~~Damn you~~ Oh, how I love thee, Pinterest!

If you haven't checked it out yet.......................DON'T! Unless, of course, you have just had enough and can't take it anymore like me. And if you are an arts & craps person, good luck getting away from your computer!!!!!!

Today I bought two glass candle stick holders at Goodwell for under $4 and I can't wait to find my perfect dishes for THIS!!! I have been looking for something to go on our kitchen island....I'm so excited!!!

wave bottle tutorial

2011-09-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

On Saturday we went to a dual birthday party to celebrate two sweet little babes!!

Several times I cut through the playroom to check on the kids and I noticed someone left their bottled drink right in the middle of the playroom!! I knew that wasn't going to end well, so after nobody came by to claim it after about the third time, I picked it up to take into the kitchen. It wasn't until then that I noticed that this was not a drink...it was a homemade toy for the little ones!! How could something so EASY be so fun for those little (and big!) ones?

So, just in case I'm not the last one on the planet that hasn't seen this or made it before, I thought Kylie and I would make and share this with you!!

Things you need:

Clean, empty water/soda bottle with cap
water
baby oil
glue gun
any object you may want to fill your bottle with (glitter, food coloring, beads)

1 Using clean water, fill a water/soda bottle about one-third full.

2 Add a few drops of food coloring, beads, glitter, sequins....whatever your little heart desires!!

3 Fill the rest of the bottle with baby oil (I didn't have any baby oil on hand, so I thought I'd try vegetable oil instead...it works, but definitely isn't as pretty! The clear baby oil makes the objects in the liquid stand out way more!!)

4 Put glue on the inside rim of the cap and screw in onto the bottle securely.

5 Wait until the glue dries before you turn it upside down. Gently shake the bottle back and forth to make wave action (Ky was very serious about the shaking process!).

And voila! An easy way to help stimulate development (or just entertain!) your babes!!

maybe a little biased...

2011-09-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

Kole came home last week and told me he needed to write an essay because he was interested in being in Character Council (it's like student council). I figured if he was really serious about this he wouldn't let it go...

HE WOULDN'T LET IT GO!!

So, I told him to go to town and write what was on his mind and I would proof read everything when he was done, and we would go from there. He worked for a solid hour without stopping and brought me this piece of paper with scratches and marks through it.

I read through it and was pretty blown away that he did that all on his own...I know, I'm biased! With a few spelling and punctuation edits, here is what he turned in! I didn't realize how bad he wanted to do this!!

________________________________________________________

Character Council

By: Kole Anderson

I am very interested in being a part of character council. I believe I would be great in this role because I have leadership skills that encourage people.

I take my responsibilities seriously and I pledge to recycle, keep the school clean, make sure kids are staying focused, and be the leader I promise to be.

When I was in the 3 grade I went to a committee: Help 4 the Poor and we gave out toys, clothes, and food to those in need. I would be interested in doing that again, or trying something new that would help people that are in need.

The behavior that is great and generously used should not be used every once in awhile, it should be used non-stop to friends, relatives, or teachers. It should always be at a high standard and happening 24-7. I would help not just my classmates, the school, but the people in my sight that are in need or helpless. I might also do it for fun.

I would also like to be in Character Council because it will be fun for everyone, not just us but the rest of the school. It will also give me a chance to express my feelings for helping the world to the school and everybody else.

All of these paragraphs lead to why I want to be in the Maple Grove Character Council. I would be joyful and treat others the way that I would want to be treated.

Lesson: The best things can make better things and cannot fail.
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OK, I have read and re-read his 'lesson', and maybe it's just me, but I have not stopped thinking that if I do my best, it can only get better...and I will not fail!

I'm so proud of you, Kole!!

4 year old's

2011-09-20T17:07:00.002-05:00

They have to be the ~~cutest~~ most honest people I know! They tell it like it is....no doubt about that! And you always know what they're thinking!

BUT, things have changed since we moved here....Kylie is a lot more shy! If she knows you, she is ALL about you....but if she isn't familiar with you (which is most people we run into), the fingers go in the mouth (it's her nervous trademark), and she doesn't say a word.

NOTHING. Not a word!

So, today the cable guy comes and she is passed out on the couch. He knocks, and just like that.....she is wide awake. The nervousness kicks in....she has no clue who this stranger is.

I talk to Mr. Cable Guy, making casual conversation, and smile my friendly smile. I visit with 'Shy Ky' (basically anything to keep her entertained!!). We go about our business, cable guy leaves, and next thing I know....it's time to go pick up the older two from school.

We arrive at the school and for some reason I look in the mirror - OH.MY.GRACIOUS. Are you kidding me?! I spent the entire afternoon looking like this...............TIMES FOUR!!!

My little four-year-old that usually points out all of my flaws....SO forgot to tell me that there was basil in my teeth from the chicken I ate for lunch. Seriously?!

And it really was that bad!

What do you think the cable guy was thinking?!?!

need help

2011-09-19T09:56:00.009-05:00

OK, I seriously need some help in the cleaning department...please tell me your secrets!!

I pick things up every single day - EVERY.DAY. But somehow I always catch myself looking around wondering how on earth things got so messy within 30 minutes!! We have more room here....but that just means more mess. The man cave seems to be the only room that stays clean because ~~no one is allowed to mess up the man cave~~ there is nothing going on down there but watching sports!! My craft room, on the other hand, probably gets the most use since the kids love writing on my chalkboard wall!

Oh, and we have wood floors on our main level (dark wood, which shows every mark left behind!) and every piece of dirt....that I sweep at least once a day and you would NEVER know it! Does anyone else have these problems?!

We make our kids clean up after themselves. We started this at a very young age (best decision EVER) and they don't know any different. They are responsible for keeping their rooms clean and any other chores we ask them to do...and there is still always more work!

I'd love to know your thoughts! Do you have any tips, secrets you use in your house? I'm sure others would love to hear too...please share!

Hawaii (day 3 & 4)

2011-09-18T15:26:00.008-05:00

This was the very first picture I took after arriving in Kauai!! We were so excited to be on another (more quiet) island....

We checked our bags and headed to the pool!!

I was craving sushi before we even left Iowa, so Husband was set on finding a sushi place............that's just how he rolls! But little did we know, we were in for an adventure! We sat down and started talking to the people next to us and ~~with my VERRRRYYYYYYY talkative~~ outgoing husband we became great friends!

We rented a jeep (best decision EVER!) and it was like we were in our own little paradise....

We took a catamaran in Kauai and went snorkeling........so FUN! (more pictures coming soon with our underwater camera!).

Seriously, there is nothing more beautiful!!!!

It rained several times a day...this was one caught on camera!

Gosh, I love that man!

More coming soon....

take 1

2011-09-12T18:52:00.001-05:00

Although, this girl's pretty stinking cute....

This is one of the very few pictures that turned out 'OK' from our photo shoot on Saturday.

Husband literally said, 'surely you can find ONE good one in there!'. Well, when I responded not so much (because his eyes are closed in all of them from squinting!!), he told me I can just pick one from last year...........................ummmmm, I'm pretty sure that's not happening!

But just in case we don't succeed at take #2 (because there will be a take #2, right Husband?) just expect to see a picture from 2010! ;)

10 years later

2011-09-09T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems as if all the talk kicked into high gear last night and today. And I'm sure you all remember that very moment just like it was yesterday.

It was a normal day for me. I woke up and before I got in the shower I turned sideways, like I did every other morning, to see my ever-growing belly. After all, I had just started showing, and it finally hit me - I'm pregnant!! I would just hold my small belly (small at the time!) and love the fact that I actually had something there to hold now.

I was going to be a mom!

There was one thing I wanted to be when I was little - a mom! There was one thing I wanted to play when I was little - house! All I wanted to do with the neighborhood kids was play house, and I might have been a little bossy, and ~~demanded~~ ask politely that I get to be the mom.

And when it was time to decide what we wanted to major in, the closest thing to 'MOM' was elementary school teacher. Don't get me wrong, I loved to teach!!! But the number one thing was becoming a mother.

September 11, 2001, I left my husband in bed as usual, as he worked in the evenings and slept later. I headed to work in the normal, but crazy D/FW traffic. I had just walked into the office as my mom called to tell me about an accident in New York...it was about 7:45 our time. As she told me something about a possible 'terrorist attack', I was thinking that was her just being worried like any other mom. I felt for all of the people involved in this accident, but it didn't hit me at the time that it was some sort of terrorist attack.

I don't recall how much time passed before she called me again....but it wasn't too long. And she informs me of another plane crash.......OK, now you have my attention!!

The entire day we stayed glued to the TV's.

I remember leaving my desk to go see an update and I wasn't worried at all about my work - nobody was.

The entire day we prayed. I remember going to the bathroom just to pray....at least I had a little privacy there. I had never watched anything like this unfold in front of me. It was devastating as they replayed the moments it happened over and over and over again.

If I remember correctly, our employer let us leave early that day.....I mean, no one was really 'all there' anyway! I drove home scared to death. And when I arrived, Husband was already gone for work.

We talked a gazillion times that day, but that didn't help when I walked into an empty apartment. We had just moved into our new place and we didn't even have cable or couches yet!!

I walked in and didn't even know what to do. The past few days that we had been there, I would normally turn on the radio and take a nap...that little peanut inside of me took everything out of me, so a nap was much needed after a long day at work!

But this day was different.

I remember laying on the carpet in the living room, holding my 4 month pregnant belly, sobbing that I wasn't ever going to met this little Angel that God had created inside of me. The only thoughts that went through my head were, 'I am finally pregnant....and I won't ever met this baby!' The fact that I had no television, furniture or company were ALL working against me.

I cried myself to sleep that night.

Little did I know, not only did these events change our nation, but they would directly affect my growing family. Shortly after, Husband (with my blessing) decided to join the Army. He felt that it was his duty to do whatever it took to contribute and do his part.

The next couple of years were insane! He joined at the end of February of 2003, and was gone the second week in April.

We celebrated his birthday right before he left...

What we didn't know, is when he left for basic training for about 5 months, he left me, a 13 month old....

...and a baby on the way - we were pregnant again! I found out about 10-14 days after he left!

My mother-in-law took this picture the day I found out!! I was feeling flu-ish so she watched Kole for me while I went to the doctor (he was busy cleaning...he LOVED to mop, sweep...anything that kept him busy!!).

I was shocked! We were trying, but I took THREE pregnancy tests before Husband left and they were all negative...I was just too early along. The worst part was not being able to tell him. I had this baby growing inside of me and he didn't even know! He was finally able to call home and I got to tell him about our blessing!!

We cried together....until he had to hang up so the next ~~person~~ soldier could use the phone.

In July we flew to South Carolina for his graduation....

He got home (in August) right before we found out what we were having (he missed all of the ~~fun~~ miserable early pregnancy stuff - thank you Mom & Dad for taking care of me and my at-the-time 13 month old!!!). And a few months later, this sweet Angel entered our lives!

September 11, 2001 changed all of us....I just never dreamed it would change our little family so directly.

Oahu (Hawaii day 1 & 2)

2011-09-07T23:23:00.002-05:00

I can't believe the time had come.....we left our sweet muncherheads and headed for a much needed vacation!

Husband and I arrived in Honolulu somewhere between 12 & 1 AM.....heck, after a full day of traveling I kind of lost track! But we were so exhausted we headed straight to bed...how old are we?!

And wouldn't you know....we woke up at 4 AM! Ugh, talk about jet lag...BUT our hotel had a 24 hour restaurant so we were good to go!

Husband had his fantasy football draft via skype so I just enjoyed my book....

The only plans we had for our full day in Honolulu was to see Pearl Harbor!

It's so crazy that you could still see oil....it made me sad seeing all that was lost.

If I had to list just one way you can always count on my Husband to lead by example, it is that he will always be a gentlemen. There are so many things I want my girls to learn from their daddy....but you better believe they will know how a man should treat them!!

They will know that above all, they are respected.

They will know that they are beautiful no matter what.

They will know that they are PERFECT the way they are!

I love that I see examples of this in my husband on a daily basis! While visiting Pearl Harbor, we were on our tour and the tour guide wanted to fix the flag (it had gotten tangled). What's crazy is that most people would not even notice this....but it showed how much pride she had in our flag! I stood in the background as I witnessed onlookers watch this lady struggle with the flag that stood above us. As soon as Husband saw this, he was over there in 2 seconds!!

No questions asked....he was there to help! Love that!

Husband bought me a lei since I hadn't stopped talking about them since we landed in Hawaii - sorry, I've never had a real lei before!

We are such dorks (and I love it!)...

More coming soon.....

recipe

2011-09-07T08:49:00.004-05:00

I'm guest posting one of our family's favorite recipes over here today!! Last night Kole told me I should enter my meatloaf into a contest.....well, if you know Kole (my pickiest eater of them ALL), you know that's saying a lot!! But I'm thinking you add sugar to anything and he'll eat it!

If you haven't seen Casey's sweet blog before, you have to check it out...she is precious! Such a sweet soul!

Hoping you all have a fabulous day!!

xoxo

Today was hard

2011-09-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

I know, it's sounds so silly...but it hit me. Just like that, she was gone.

I know, I know, it's only Pre-K, but my baby has been with me since the day she was born. And she is after all, the baby....our last one we will ever do this with. To make it even more out of the ordinary (but I'm SO glad it happened this way!!), Kole and Alexie were off school today. Not sure why, and I'm not sure how I would have been if I came home to this house all by myself. It made it nice that they got to return the favor and be there for her on her first day of school!!

We picked Husband up from work and went to eat first! I knew she was nervous....she asked me if I was staying the entire time. Another reason I know she was nervous, is that she puts her fingers (not her thumb) in her mouth. She did that the entire morning, and during lunch she wanted to sit in my lap or Husband's.

My two most favorite boys!!!

Anytime we are here, you have to stop by the lobsters!!!!

Ugh, she's getting so big (that backpack is almost bigger than her)!!

Oh my word, I love that sass............I know I will eat those words later!!!!!

Saying goodbye.........and trying to hold it all together!!

Bubby & Sis saying goodbye too.....this is the first time ever that Kylie has left them...usually they leave her (and they keep asking when we are leaving to pick her up. They really DO love each other)!

I felt good that we left her like this....

Husband always knows when I am down. I don't have to say a word and he sees that I am hurting. I told myself to stay strong (especially since Kole & Alexie were home)........but husband knew! We were home about 30 minutes and these arrived......

If you've been following for a while, then you know he is the-best-ever about sending flowers!! 95% of the time it is for no reason (the other 5% being a special occasion)....and he always switches it up - I LOVE THAT!!! Thank you, Cricket for making today a little easier!!!

the feather craze

2011-09-05T08:08:00.000-05:00

I think it's funny when I look back at all the 'trends' my kids have already experienced in their short little lives. Remember the silly bands?!?!

Well, now it's feathers! I have seen these in girl's hair (at first I just saw them in adults hair) and once our Iowa friends started talking about it, the girls became more and more interested! I ran it by Husband and we decided Alexie & Ky could get one feather. After VBS one day we headed over to get it done!

Alexie picked out a red feather and Kylie (with my nudging) decided on a yellow one...it blended in with the color of her hair more.

The sad part is, Alexie's fell out just a few days later :(

Alexie is so funny! She wanted to pose for the camera, but she ~~asked~~ told me to turn the flash off...it's so bright, it makes her close her eyes. Man, she knows how to work it!!

When we went school shopping, I discovered a little kiosk in the mall that does these feathers as well. I took in her red feather (that fell out) and they re-did it (and added a turquoise one too)....it fell out the very next day!! But Kylie's was still in! So, I went back and he fixed it...evidently her hair is so smooth, it was just sliding right out.

After he fixed it a third time (which will be the last time!!!!), so far so good!! The second time they fell out, we couldn't find the feathers...so the guy was nice enough to give us two for the price of one!

Alexie asked if I would curl her hair before school one day and she looked so stinking big!! It's like you blink and they are a year older!!

I'm sure it won't be too long before I'm blogging about the newest trend that hits!!

How many of you remember Units or Z Cavaricci?!?! I sure do...and I remember my mom racing to the mall before it closed (didn't we get pulled over? Or am I imaging that?!) because I had to have this pair of PEACH (of all colors!!!) Z Cavaricci's the very NEXT day!!! As a Mama now, to my three muncherheads, I can truly appreciate that!! Thanks, Mama (and Pops!!).

Hawaii 5-0

2011-09-03T13:35:00.005-05:00

Guess what we've been doing?! Husband and I said goodbye to these precious babes and left for beautiful Hawaii (terrible pic of me and Husband, but it was too cute of the kids not to post)!!!

We saw gorgeous rainbows multiple times a day! I took this picture on our boat cruise and it is not edited...gives you even a better idea how beautiful it is in person!

I did lots of reading!! I somehow forgot my nook (how does that happen?!) so I had to pick this book up at the airport (FAB*U*LOUS read, btw!!)...

We took more pictures of us in those 8 days than I think we have in our 10 years of marriage...

I was under the impression that you are greeted when you get off the plane with a fabulous lei from a beautiful Hawaiian girl wearing a coconut bra and swaying her hips side-to-side. Um, not so much...Husband informed me that was just back in the day (or unless you are really special, I guess). So, of course he didn't disappoint, he found the most beautiful one I've ever seen while at dinner the first full day in Oahu!

Again, more pictures than we've ever taken....

As we drove to our Kayak/hiking adventure, we passed this reminder (sign on top of building)....

We even met this super cute couple (on the kayaking adventure) in Kauai while they were on their honeymoon!!

On said kayaking adventure, while we were crossing a river (on foot), I might have stepped off too far and gone in the water up to my neck.

But one of the best parts was being greeted by these precious babes again when we got home!! We were so ready to see their sweet faces!!

After I'm done loving on these muncherheads, I'll post more about our trip...it was the coolest!!!!!

xoxoxoxo

projects (past, present & future)

2011-09-03T07:38:00.014-05:00

Have I mentioned that I CANNOT WAIT to get back to creating things?! Ugh, it's just been too busy to feel like I have time to 'play'!! But the projects are in the works! Before we moved I made these two shirts for a giveaway...

And here are a few before and afters (up until this point, anyway!!) This is of our living area when we moved in.

And a sneak peek of the after (still waiting on our new couch to be delivered...they informed us after we bought it that it was on back order...nice!).

A before shot into the kitchen...

Proof that I promise I have been working my tail off in this house...it's getting there!

This is probably this biggest transformation...the before of the girls room!

And the after!! I adore this room - LOVE it!! We had a white twin bed in here and were planning on adding a second, but then we decided it would be best to add some bunk beds...so worth the money!!! I am still not done decorating, but it's getting there!

Powder room on the main floor...

Hallway into the house...

Husband and I finally agreed on some bedroom furniture - YAY!! This is a picture of the furniture in the store. Ours is a king bed, but until I get that room complete, here is a sneak peek!

I can't wait until things are finally in order!!!!
XOXO

my love

2011-09-01T07:21:00.035-05:00

Husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage today (read how we met Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3)!! And what a ride it's been!

Looking back over the past 10 years, I can honestly say there have been many ups and downs. There is no doubt it was love at first sight...our relationship was kicked into high gear and there was no turning back. Five months later, we were married and it was the happiest day of my life.

What I wasn't prepared for was the hard work it takes to keep a marriage going. You add kids into the mix and it's a whole new ballgame! Having small children is SO hard. I went from my only love being my husband, to having small children very quickly. My focus changed...even when it shouldn't have. My priorities were those children, Husband came second.

I remember getting into arguments about the kids...he wanted to do it one way and I wanted to do it another. Ole motherhood kicked in and all I wanted to do was protect my babies. He was stern and I wanted to cut them some slack...I mean, they were so little!! I fought him on things (I fought hard! I'm pretty stubborn), which caused major friction between us, and I became resentful....all of which is not a good combo.

I would cry and get angry when he would discipline them. And worse, I would call him out in front of the kids...it was a brief moment that I could feel better inside - temporary satisfaction. It took me a couple of years before I learned that that was the worst thing I could be doing for our kids. How are they going to respect us as parents if we can't even agree on how to discipline?

I'm not going to lie, I wish I could say that I stopped 'calling him out' on my own because I knew it was wrong, but that is not the case. I will never forget Kole being about 3 (Alexie being 1) and we got compliments everywhere we went on how well behaved they were. And sadly, I'm thinking I didn't have much to do with that. They are well behaved, because their dad started disciplining them at an age where they understood it and he continued to stay on them AND love them at the same time.

Now, are children are not so small. They can do most everything on their own (with the exception of maybe Kylie needing help every once in a while) and 10 years into our marriage I am still learning how to put my Husband first.

Ten years later, I still have a lot to learn. But after this time together (and a huge move later) I am still in love with this man I call Husband. My vision has just been clouded a little by children, life, carpool, practices, friends and family to name a few.

Cricket, I love you more than you know...I truly don't tell you enough - I ♥ you! Thank you for being the leader that you are in our home...we appreciate you dearly! And thank you for being my partner on this crazy ride...looking forward to many more years!!!

differences between Texas & Iowa

2011-08-26T07:56:00.001-05:00

* I got reprimanded at the grocery store for telling this lady behind me in line 'yes ma'am'. What?! She told me it made her feel old. Well ~~old~~ lady, you just continue feeling old and I will continue to be polite and say yes ma'am and no ma'am!

* People in Texas really do say 'Bless your heart' a lot...or at least, I noticed that I do! I was sitting at the pharmacy the other day and I overheard a conversation taking place about this lady who just got back from TX. She was telling another lady that people in Texas think they can get away with saying anything IF they add 'bless your heart' at the end. Pretty funny!

* I never thought twice about having a Texan accent...until I moved to Iowa and people look at me with a very confused look as I speak.

* Evidently if you move from Texas to Iowa you need to take a Winter Safety Course - AKA items you need to purchase before winter arrives.

* I used to wear flip flops year round...I'm thinking that is about to end.

* We made it just in time for the Iowa State Fair, but nothing compares to the Texas State Fair and some amazing arts & craps shopping!!

* Driving down the highway in Texas, you see buildings. Driving down the highway in Iowa, you see corn fields....and more corn fields.

* Everything is bigger in Texas...unless you are referring to deer!! (this one is from Kole)

* There is nothing better than Iowa sweet corn!!

* Dallas drivers are crazy! Iowans are more laid back.

* Police officers in Iowa still give tickets to sweet Texan girls...even if the speed limit drops 10 mph within 10 seconds and you've only lived here a month :/

* No TV station compares to WFAA, oh how I miss thee....

* Our family is in Texas...we're in Iowa (this one is from Alexie)

* John Deere tractors really do drive down the road with the regular 'ole cars. And the geese make you wait for them to cross the road first!!

I'm thinking there needs to be a part 2 to this post...so many more to mention!

Surely it was a dream???

2011-08-23T15:00:00.006-05:00

Disclaimer: This post is long...with major picture overload (pulled from my (or Ann's) camera, YouTube or Internet). I am not discriminating against any one in this post, I am just including details to paint you a picture. There's your warning!

Saturday turned out to be the most odd day. Looking back, there are parts that I still can't believe happened...there is no way they could have really taken place! The only reason I know they actually did, is because I was not alone.

I had Husband drop me off at Missy's a little after 9AM! Before walking out the door, Missy remembered the tickets and I saw Gabby's warm-ups and remembered to grab those...we were set! We loaded up and headed to Ann's (Missy's sister-in-law) house since she was making the trip with us! After loading up and turning the car around, Ann realizes she doesn't have her tickets...at least we weren't far. Missy double checks for our tickets and we can't find them. Again, thank goodness we weren't far. We go back to Missy's, get the tickets and head out!

The whole ticket thing wasn't a set back at all, but looking back, it was just the starting point of chaos!

I have always heard that Indian weddings are a BIG to do! All the details involved, including the number of people invited. Well, we finally arrive at our hotel and there are hundreds of people in the parking lot being following around by video cameras as they chanted, drummed and clapped.

{not actual wedding}

It was so big, there were hotel guests standing around just watching. We wanted to see the bride and groom, but they were in the middle of all the people. We finally make it inside and there are more wedding peeps inside...it was crazy!

Again, nothing major, but something you don't see every day!

We change, make it to Gabby's hotel and then head to the Xcel Energy Center. OK, here is were things get a little more crazy. We knew they did not allow 'professional' cameras, but I really wasn't too worried since I had my camera with it original lens. We make our way to the ticket guy and he searches my purse and then tells me that my camera is not allowed.

Well, that just isn't going to work for me. Seriously, not gonna work.

But what I didn't mention, is that we had a TON of Gabby's family with us! One of which was her Grandpa. And what you don't know about Gabby's Grandpa is that you don't mess with him....or that's what I'm told, anyway. Gabby's mom told us many stories and let's just say...I'd probably be scared if he wasn't on 'my side'. So, Grandpa sees all the commotion of the head security guy telling me I have to either take my camera to the car or leave it with Guest Relations - yea right! Grandpa walks over to me, asks whats going on (even though he knows) and says 'give it to me!'

WHAT?!

Grandpa is telling me to hand it to him IN FRONT of head security guy. At this point, I seriously think I'm about to be arrested for making such a big deal. I'm not going to lie, I told the security guy I was NOT going to leave it at Guest Relations and I might have said I wasn't leaving it in my car either - I KNOW, I was so convicted later on for many reasons!!!!!

Panic.

PANIC.

And everything after that happened so fast. Head security guy turns around as others have been sent to him for having cameras as well and Grandpa takes my camera and is gone before I can even blink. And without even thinking I turned around to leave the building to go to my car. I mean, I needed to take my camera to my car...but, I didn't have my camera!! By the time everything hit me and I realized what all had happened I just stopped, turned around and got back in line to go back in. Oh, another thing...the shirts we were wearing to support Gabby were BRIGHT YELLOW/GREEN! It's not like I could have blended in, anyway!! I gave the person my ticket, got my purse searched again and was on my way.

OH.MY.GOODNESS.FLIPPIN.GRACIOUS. Did all of that really just happen?!

When I got back in, there were about 20 of Gabby's biggest supporters waiting on me to return. I met up with them and about peed on myself when I realized I was probably REALLY going to be arrested now!!!

We found our seats..........and they are right by another head security guy!! I am about to die! In the meantime, we told Ann to move up by us since nobody was sitting by us and she is such a rule follower that she was looking over her shoulder the entire time like she was going to be in trouble! I think Ann and I prayed for the first hour that we weren't thrown out!!

And I just know they are looking for me now. I sat there for about 30 minutes without using my camera in fear of being thrown out...but I just couldn't take it anymore!!! It was killing me to not be taking pictures! Once the meet started, I was a little less fearful for ~~my life~~ my cameras life but at this point, I'm either going to get pictures....or be waiting outside for everyone else until the meets over!

Our seats were right by the beam and behind the vault...Husband and Travis (who were at home with all the kids) were calling/texting saying they kept seeing us on TV! ;) I was looking at some of the videos online and found these...

This was the first event and I'm still not brave enough to have my camera out. I'm contemplating if my kids will come visit me in jail...

"Ann, just stay calm and try not to stick out any!!"

This was the third event...I'm feeling pretty confident now!!

Gabby did so GREAT!! These pictures aren't good (obviously!) but it's better than nothing!

After the meet, Marta Karolyi stopped by, held Gabby's precious little face and just talked so sweetly to her!

And guess what else?! Gabby made the National Team!!!

After the meet was over, and all the panic had disappeared, Ann snapped this picture of me and Grandpa!!

Gabby's family is so tight! If Gabby was around, there were at least two, if not ALL of her siblings surrounding her...it was precious!

Chow & Natalie (Gabby's mom) celebrating...I love Chow's grin!!

As soon as Gabby was out, she was surrounded by people! Someone gave her a phone to talk to her friend...

Always close by...

Ann, Missy, Me, Leah, Gabby & Olivia (Ann's daughter)...

After all the autographs/pictures, we headed back to the hotel so Gabby could change before we grabbed something to eat. As we entered the hotel, we all watched stunned as we couldn't believe what happened next.

We tried finding a bathroom while we waited for Gabby and we spotted a teenager obviously drunk. I'm not talking a little tipsy, I'm talking, I wondered if she needed to be in the hospital. A hotel manager was near by, telling us we needed to use the bathroom upstairs (she had thrown up in the other one)...the whole time I'm wondering where the heck this little girls parents are. We make our way up the escalator to an open ballroom (for lack of a better word) and it is filled with half naked teenagers - girls & boys. The girls basically have sports bras on (if that) and most of them might as well have been wearing underwear because their shorts were so stinking short.

We find the bathroom and it is PACKED with intoxicated teenagers (all of which were walking around with clear cups with a clear liquid in them). I couldn't take it anymore, I asked one of them 'what the heck' was going on?! And she explained it was the Sun Dance where a ton of schools come together for a dance. Well, they were dancing all right. And sadly, I'm pretty certain many of those teenagers woke up the next day with lots of regrets. Again, where are their parents? Surely none of them knew they would be there?! I specifically looked for a chaperone...not ONE adult anywhere to be found.

All of these gymnasts were in town with their families walking through the lobby of their hotel watching all of this take place. The hotel said they couldn't do anything since no alcohol was provided or 'found'. I actually snapped some pictures in pure disbelief to prove that this day was indeed SO insane, but after looking at them, I just can't put them on the Internet. I still sit here now blown away that we witnessed all of this take place. Shame on those parents.

We walked to the restaurant asking each other if we really saw all of that happen...sadly, we did. But, I know Gabby was ready to relax and be with her family!! We get to the restaurant and we are greeting by a guy that is so intoxicated he can barely walk - what on earth is happening?!?! Before Ann and I can even say much about him, we look to the left and see a grown woman do a front roll into the bathroom hallway - WHAT?! Seriously, it was the most ODD NIGHT, ever!!

I think everyone was able to relax a little bit once we sat down and I watched Gabby just love on her sweet family...they are precious (do you see John (her brother) in the below picture standing close by...he stayed right next to her the entire night)!

It wasn't long before we spotted many other gymnasts at the same restaurant (it must have been one of the only ones still open). Gabby saying hi to Alicia Sacramone (and look at John watching)...

Precious Gabby!! As crazy as this day was, it was filled with lots of smiles from this beautiful young lady!!

YOU ROCK GABBY!

what we wore (1st day of school edition)

2011-08-17T00:51:00.002-05:00

Today feels weird. It has been a very smooth morning (thank God!)...no complaints there. But too many things happened this morning that weren't 'normal' and it just makes me miss that normal a little bit. Husband and I always take the kids to school together on their first day - ALWAYS. Well, it wasn't until this morning that I realized Robbie wouldn't be going with us - weird. He wanted our traditional pictures taken even though he couldn't be there for the drop off, but usually it's of all FIVE of us. This year, there was no one to take our picture - weird.

The kids weren't phased too much...I'm sure since they got to see him this morning (usually he is gone way before anyone else is up).

What we wore for the first day of school - Kole {shirt & shorts - Dillard's, Brooks tennis shoes - Scheels} boys are SO easy!! Alexie {peace shirt & tank - Justice, shorts - Old Navy, shoes - Jessica Simpson} Kylie {shirt - Younkers, capris - Target (on clearance!)} Husband - I HAVE NO IDEA ;)

I think I'm going to have to frame some of these for his office - it needs some major help!

MY HANDSOME BOYS!

I know I say this every year (trust me, after four years of blogging, I've repeated this often!) but how is it possible that they are growing so stinking fast?! A 4th & 2nd grader, really?!

What I wore {tank - Walmart (so cheap, I love it!!), jeans - The Buckle, flip-flops - Target}

She may be the sweetest girl in the entire world!

Another weird - Kylie is starting Pre-K!!! She doesn't start until after Labor Day, so we have a couple of weeks together, but oh my gracious, how is she big enough for Pre-K?!

Alexie & Kole's class have a little sitting area...so cute! This was in Lex's classroom.

Oh, something new!! LOCKERS!! The kids have not stopped talking about this...they feel so big because they have a locker - hee heeeee!

And proof that they really do love each other!

SO, it's just me and Ky today. It feels strange being in this house without two others running around making noise...it's been that way since we moved here! Our bedroom furniture was delivered this morning, so I better make myself useful and work on getting those pictures hung now!

I hope you are all having a great week and great day if you (I mean your munchkins!) started school today!
xoxo

Life is rolling right along...

2011-08-11T01:26:00.004-05:00

Life in Iowa is FAB! I can honestly say that I never dreamed this transition would go so smoothly...and actually be FUN {gasp! did I just say that?}. I have some pretty amazing friends, the kids LOVE it here and have some pretty amazing friends as well! They start school in less than one week, which sends a ~~little~~ lot of panic through my body at this very moment!

* Kole just finished baseball and has already met with his football team that will start practicing very soon, and I finally got both girls signed up for gymnastics...life just keeps on a moving!

* My precious Mama was able to make another visit before the kiddos start school and I was SO PUMPED! As great as this transition has been, I miss my family dearly and it's great to see her sweet face!

* We went to the Iowa State Fair today, and if my girls piggies are any indication of how much fun we had, I'm thinking we had a pretty darn good time! We were so tired when we got home late tonight, but it was definitely bath/shower time before we got in bed!

* Husband and I finally got our final pieces of furniture ordered and I cannot wait to get them...that was the only thing keeping me from feeling completely settled. Once we get it all put together, I'll have to post some pix!

* When Missy & I drove to Chicago to watch Gabby (Part 1 & Part 2), the Husband's stayed home with 6 of the 7 kids. After hearing some stories (and the fact that my crew was over at their house at 7:30 that morning to start playing!!) we learned that they got a lot of hunting playing in! If only I had enough time to tell you just a handful of stories...those boys are CARAAAAZY!

* We got back from Chicago late Sunday night and the following morning, Kole (& Lex) came downstairs like this! L♥VE this stud!

* And I just had to include this picture because it's probably my FAV picture of Ky right now, even though she is sassier than ever!

* I'm having some major arts & craps withdrawals...serious guys! I've been so busy with house stuff, that I haven't been able to do any sewing/creating of any sort (other than my one little creation I did for my wall).

* I think this picture frame might be one of my next creations (couldn't remember if I ever posted this)! I made it for my mom and after I was finished I wanted to keep it for myself - ha! ;)

* Husband and I are celebrating a big anniversary on September 1st and we can't wait to get away!! He has been working his tail end off since we moved, so we are both looking forward to a little break since all of this craziness started!
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How can this summer already be over?! It is truly unbelievable that I will be driving my kiddos to school next week!

And guess what else?!? My baby Ky starts Pre-K!!!

Speechless.

I hope you are all enjoying your last days of summer!
xoxo

Chicago Part 2

2011-08-04T17:46:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness gracious...I am so behind on everything! I feel like I no longer have an excuses with my house being in the condition that it is. We have tried to get most of the house set up and organized so we could have a better idea of what we still need! Well, that great plan has just left me feeling way more UNorganized and my life a little more chaotic!!

This weekend is going to be filled with lots of furniture shopping, so I cannot wait to show you all of our new goodies!
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Well, as you know, we headed to Chi-town the weekend before last to watch Gabby - it was AMAZING (did I already mention that a few times?!). Well, she's a pretty amazing girl with some crazy-mad skills!! And just in case you missed it, I found her bar routine on you tube!!

This was my first trip to Chicago so we had to take advantage of the time we were there! We woke up Sunday morning, picked Gabby up from her hotel room, ate some breakfast and then headed to the Willis Tower. If you're anything like me, you're wondering what the heck the Willis Tower is?!?! I had no clue they renamed the Sears Tower!! :/ Regardless, we were all excited to get to the top of it!

Gabby was a little apprehensive at first...as Leah just checked it all out!!

It didn't take long for them to warm up!

Then I realized I needed to give it a try as well....

Missy, Gabby & Leah!

This girl had NO fear up there!

After our Willis Tower craziness, I had a blast snapping away at all of Chicago's greatness!

L♥VE these old sewing machines!

We found a place that did pedicures for the girls. They were so stinking cute enjoying their feet being rubbed!

Ha! I found this place and of course thought of Husband...right up his alley!

I mentioned that this was my first time in Chicago?! Well, that also means it was my first time on a Subway (and Gabby, too!). I'll go ahead and rank this up there with those crazy bus drivers in Mexico!!!! You better sit down quick, or you'll get left behind! YIKES!! ;)

I cannot put into words how amazing my trip to Chi-town was...everything I expected PLUS MORE!

August is a HUGE month - I. AM. SO. PUMPED.

My mom is coming back in town to play (YAYYYYYYYYYY!), I'm going to the Iowa State Fair (I've heard such fun things!!), I'm going to VISA Championships to watch Gabby (!!!!), my mother-in-law is coming in town and then Husband and I are leaving for HAWAII to celebrate our 10 year anniversary!

Seriously, so excited!

Chi-town part uno!

2011-07-26T00:07:00.000-05:00

Warning - picture overload!!

Yes, I was counting down the days until Cover Girl Classics and it was everything I expected, plus more! Missy & Leah picked me up Saturday morning and we were off to Chicago!!

Not in a plane, I just snapped that picture along the way - he hee!! The drive (although it was pouring down rain!!!) went pretty fast, and we managed to make it there without stopping. ;) We checked into our hotel, grabbed some lunch and then headed over to check on Gabby! She is just the cutest thing ever!

It's a darn shame she has so much body fat on that body of hers!! Ha!

Leah supporting her girl!!

We had to get lots of pictures in...

LOVE this one!

Shawn & Gabby before heading over to the pavilion....

Warm-ups

Gabby makes this routine look like a walk in the park...so effortless!

It's GO time!!!

You should have heard the crowd when she did this release...she FLIES!!!

She NAILED her routine!!!

{via}

Media time!!!

Gabby took the time to sign as many autographs as she could...so sweet!

Chow waiting on his girl to get done....

And she was the last athlete in the building signing autographs. This photographer told us that the local paper had already called him wanting pictures for the Sunday paper!

And after he sat back down, I looked at his computer and it was covered with pictures of Gabby!!

CONGRATULATIONS, GABBY!!!
You did A*MA*ZING on bars...everyone is so proud of you!!

CAN. NOT. WAIT. for Championships...four weeks, baby!!! Oh, did I forget to mention that I am super blessed to go to that meet too?! I never dreamed Iowa had so many awesome things in store for me (incredible friends being #1)!

Next up - Chi-town Part Two...our day out on the town!!

SO EXCITED...like a kid in a candy store excited!!!

2011-07-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

Name one thing that would just make me squeal like a little kid?!?!?!!!

THIS WOULD!!!!

And guess what?!

I will be there in person, baby!!! My sweet friend is picking me up tomorrow morning at 7 AM so we can leave for Chicago and watch these unbelievable gymnast (well, we are really going to watch one gymnast in particular...who absolutely ROCKS)!!

CAN. NOT. WAIT.

some things you may not know about my kids

2011-07-21T15:56:00.001-05:00

I continue to be amazed how different God made each of my children! They can all be SO much alike in SO many ways, yet such unique individuals!!!

Kole is 200% boy! Seriously! There is no middle ground for him. I asked him recently if he wanted to go on a date with me, but I was very careful NOT to use the word 'date'...that would mean he liked girls!! And his first response was to ask if a friend could come....I wasn't surprised at all. The girls would have JUMPED at the opportunity to go on a date with daddy, but Kole is different...and that is perfectly OK. It used to bother me, but I've learned over time that he is just a boy...and I have come to ♥ that about him! I do secretly pray that he will eventually come around...I would love to be more of an impact in his live, but for now...that is Daddy's job!

With all of that being said, it would be totally wrong for me to post pictures of him with make-up on when his sisters somehow convinced him to participate (there had to have been some major bribing going on!) - TOTALLY WRONG! What kind of mother would do that?! ~~I would never do that!!!~~

And the fact that he actually let me take his picture - CRAZY!

Since moving, I have come across things that just bring tears to my eyes!!! This would be one of them...PRECIOUS BOY!

Alexie is my mother hen! Always has been...before we were even preggo with Ky! But when Kylie arrived, she kicked it into over gear! Alexie and I have been on the same page since moving to Iowa...both of us having our moments of missing Texas. Unfortunately, we seem to really miss Texas at the same time. She will have a 'moment' and I am trying to be strong, while I am having a 'moment' at the same time!! But, we have managed to make it through...because God is so faithful and we are surrounded by some pretty amazing people!

This week, we shucked our very first batch of Iowa sweet corn!!

And who was right by my side? My Little Mama!!

We had so much fun doing this together!!

The corn wasn't that great...yea right!!!

Kylie. Ohhhhhh, Kylie! There are many descriptive words for this girl! Today she wore a shirt that read 'I'm not trying to be difficult, it just comes naturally'...yup, that says it all! But you can't help but love her! I've never blogged about this, but Kylie has a foot fetish. Feet comfort her. I KNOW...weird! I will never forget the first time I realized it...she walked into the bathroom while I was drying my hair and got on the floor so she could rub my feet! She was little. And I thought that was odd...but I just rolled with it! Anytime she is tired, she wants to rub a foot. She has one thumb in her mouth and the other hand is on a foot. Trust me...I've had to move in some uncomfortable positions so she could reach my foot! It sounds so weird, but we (as a family!!!) have grown to love it! It's funny to watch Kole or Alexie move their foot so Ky can reach it! Oh, the things you will do for family!

I snapped this picture of Kylie at my feet! If she is really tired and doesn't have the energy to rub a foot, she has to at least be touching it!!

Seriously, who is this girl?!? Here lately, I (or Kole, in this picture!) have taken a picture of her and she looks so big!!!

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One more random thing...I am SO excited about my arts & craps room! I showed you this picture...this is just along the top of one wall....

Well, I just painted the opposite wall (husband doesn't know this yet, HA!!!!) chalkboard black...we will be able to use chalk on this wall!!! I have so many ideas for this room and I can't wait to show you! But, until then, here is what I did today!

You're going to laugh at this, but since I started typing I have a 4-year-old asleep at my feet!!! Gotta go!! ;)

a preview

2011-07-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would keep it real (in true Anderson fashion!) and give a sneak peek into what is going on (bullet point style!)

* Kole is the coolest baseball player I know (OK, I'm biased...very biased!). But I love that his hat is this dirty - ALL. BOY. Yes, I did wash it...right before his game, so he would stay cool! And, oh yea, he is still sporting the TEXAS RANGERS hat!

* Do you remember this quilt (if you can call it that!) that I made for the girls room?

* Well, I've painted their room green (lime green!) to tie everything in! However, don't pay attention to the fact that I haven't 'cut' the room in yet...

{Since I took this picture, I had two precious friends come over to help me finish painting - thank you, girls!!}

* I love that I see this every time I walk in the door and/or come up OR down stairs!!! Such a great reminder!

* What is this, you might ask (Jessie, I just wish I was talented enough to have a quilting party!)??

Well, I took a whole bunch of leftover scrap fabric to make this creation in my arts & craps room...I can't wait to start creating in this room! Too many other things to get done first!

* I'm making some progress in this house...although Husband may disagree! ha! I took this picture of the living area right when we moved in...

And I can now say that this room is finally complete...but I'll post pictures of the rest later!

OK, I have SO much more to blog about!! The kids have VBS this week, so it's been a crazy week already! Oh, guess what else?!?! I shucked my first batch of Iowa sweet corn last night and it was so incredible! It was actually pretty fun too! Family, be prepared to get some sweet corn when we see each other next!!!

what we wore wednesday

2011-07-13T10:33:00.003-05:00

It's that time again, and I definitely need some accountability since moving...I spend most of my days dressed like this! My main goal on most days (notice I said 'most'!) is to shower!

{tank and black yoga pants (Target)...yes, rolled up for extra style!}

The girlies sporting some basics from Target...I love these little outfits! They can usually wear them a few times before they officially turn into play clothes!

Kole trying to be patient while he was HOT and ready to get home and change!

{polo shirt (The Children's Place), Levi jeans, and his favorite boots!}

{Blk top (Target), zebra cami (Charlotte Rouse), denim shorts (Forever 21)}

I can't believe I actually got more than one picture taken this week! Alexie snapped this yesterday and I am happy to say my goal was met! OK, so half of it was met...I showered and put on my staple clothing (tank top!) but the make-up just didn't make an appearance! At least I was clean!

the lake, baby!

2011-07-12T10:38:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, we literally rolled out of bed and took the kids to eat at The Machine Shed! Husband and I ate here when we came to find a house...it's so yummy! They were offering customers a free tractor ride, so we just had to do it!

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After we ran some errands, we headed over to Missy & Travis' for some fun at the lake! It was SO. MUCH. FUN. Where you enter the lake, there is sand and they also put in a sand volleyball court. It wasn't long until the boys (and some others) had us a ~~nice, friendly~~ fierce game of volleyball going! If only someone would have videoed that...now that would have been a good laugh! I won't mention that I was a little tight yesterday!

Missy & Alexie catching some rays!

I love these girls...and boy!

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Sunday after church we stopped so Husband could get his hair cut and I decided Ky needed a trim too...

Kole was cracking me up! He complained about his feet being hot while we were leaving church and while we were waiting on Robbie, I look over and see this!

I checked the mail when we got home and the kids were so excited to find a little surprise in there for them!

Fun nail polish!!! What girl doesn't l♥ve that?!

{Oh my goodness, for some reason they both look so big in this picture!!}

Kole was pumped to get this movie...we watched it that night!!

We had such a fun weekend!!

ps - I posted twice today (you're welcome, Mom! ha!)...so scroll down for another post!

What the plumber didn't know...

2011-07-12T10:09:00.001-05:00

* He didn't know he was going to hear a rock concert this morning!

* He also didn't know there was a ~~apple core~~ mysterious object in the plumbing that was causing a little problem. Thank goodness he worked his magic and it was an easy fix (that will be coming out of one of my offspring's allowance!!).

{They rocked it while the plumber was here, but I videoed this after he left...it's a little over a minute long, but you have to wait and listen to them at the end - you might need to turn it up so you can hear the end)}

Happy Birthday, America!

2011-07-05T22:42:00.000-05:00

OK, here is your warning!!

Now that I live hundreds of miles away from our families, I might blog about more random details and things just because I know the grandparents and rest of the family are interested in our day-to-day happenings. So, I'll try not to ramble too much, but I have to make them happy! ;)

We got out this weekend and bought the girls their very own scooter! Kole has had one for a while now, and they always want to ride his, so it was time to get them their own!!

Alexie and Ky with their new scooters and helmets! Alexie with her sassy self!!

Seriously, where does she get this stuff?! At first I didn't realize she was posing...

See, I told you....random details!
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Anybody want to guess what I'm doing with this??

One of these days I will get this place all put together and I can post some pictures!!
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Sunday afternoon a couple from Husband's work had people over to celebrate the 4th of July!!

The kids played, and played and played!! There were plenty of kids there to entertain them for quite a while!

And somehow my son is nowhere to be found when I start taking pictures...I think he hides!

Oh wait!! There he is in a blur!!

I have very fond memories as a young kid catching fireflies in Gran & Papa's front yard. And for some crazy reason we don't see fireflies in Texas anymore (or at least where we lived!), so you can imagine how excited I was when my kids starting yelling for me to come look when they spotting some crazy bug lighting up!!! It just melted my heart...every child has to catch fireflies!!!

Yes, I captured some in a container at first not realizing that they were EVERYWHERE.

Something so silly, just made my night!

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I had my first good cry since my mom left yesterday...I missed all you Houser's so much at our annual 4th of July event. I hope y'all had a great day! Miss and ♥ you all!

a perfect hello!

2011-07-05T15:46:00.004-05:00

I have to share how amazing our God is...truly amazing!

Many years ago when Kyle was playing ball for the Colorado Rockies, there was one summer in particular he met a young man (in Ashville, I believe) who would soon become a best friend. Kyle was at church and he saw a couple sitting close by, so he started talking with them. This couple, Travis & Missy, had recently moved there only days after getting married...Travis was in the Air Force. They literally got married on a Saturday and moved the following Thursday or Friday!

Ever since that day, they have stayed in touch and remained great friends! In more recent years, I would go over to Kyle and Lindsey's house and see Christmas cards of this beautiful family! I had never met them, but every year I would recognize their faces on a new Christmas card.

What I didn't know, is that Travis & Missy were originally from Iowa. And honestly, it didn't matter. When would we ever cross paths? In my mind, never.

When I found out we could possibly move to Iowa, Kyle called to tell me about his amazing friends that live there. I stored that information in the back of my mind just in case we ended up going. When we came to Iowa in April to find a house I tried calling Missy so we could possibly meet in person and every single time I tried her I got a busy signal - so weird!

Our trip went as fast as it came and I never got through to Missy's phone. The months before the move, I continued calling and continued to get a busy signal. It was so frustrating and I could never figure it out. Later on, Missy said that was just the devil trying to break us up because we were too powerful together...I like that! You will be happy to know, he failed...I had two numbers stored in my phone for Missy and one of them was the wrong area code!!! At lease I finally figured it out!

The day we moved (June 19th), I got a text message from Missy and they invited us to come over for dinner that Thursday night...and my mom was here, so she was going to get to meet them as well!!

We had so much fun! I am seriously in love with this precious family!

First of all, I wondered how it would go with Kole being the only boy. He is seriously surrounded by girls all the time so that was just in the back of my head. I was quite surprised how wrong I was! It took about 90 seconds for them to say hello, meet everyone and then disappear to the backyard where there was a trampoline waiting.

Travis & Robbie had no problem hitting it off as soon as he discovered that Travis is a handyman, himself! They had more in common than you can even imagine! And there was no problem with Missy and I coming up with things to talk about....seriously, there are no words. I never dreamed in a million years that we would go over to these strangers home and leave feeling like we have known each other for years!!

I was reminded on that drive home that God's fingerprints were all over this!

Travis is so much like my brother it is scary. He would say or do something and my mom, Robbie and I would all comment at the same time how much he was like Kyle! I didn't realize until later that it was very comforting to meet someone that was just like my brother. Before we left, Travis gave me a big hug and said he was going to be my brother while I was away from family...so sweet!

God is good.

Just a little background at how similar our families are....Their four girls are SO much like our muncherheads!! They are all the same age!! Their oldest is 9 (Kole is 9), they have twins that are about to turn 7 (Alexie is 7) and their youngest just turned 5 (Kylie is 4 1/2)...they are all between 2 & 6 months apart! One of the twins is named 'LEXI' (well, as you know we have a Lexie too). We have also learned that their Lexi and our Alexie are SO. MUCH. ALIKE. Oh, did I mention that our kids will go to the same school?

You will see this young lady in the near future! Her name is Gabby and she is precious!! She is living with Missy & Travis while she trains for the Olympics! I think this week the girls and I are going up to the gym to watch her practice...my very own piece of heaven!! I can't wait!

Of course we got a silly pic...I wouldn't let you down and not produce one of those!

It was finally hot enough to make it to the pool on Thursday (and Friday!). One of these days Kole is going to appreciate being surrounded by girls!

This was the best I could do once they got in the water!

And Braden (their cousin, who is also surrounded by girls {3 sisters}) came out to play too!! I think these two guys will stick together in all the girly madness!!

On a side note, I still can't get over how well Haley & Kole get along. I thought he would play the whole you're-a-girl-and-so-very-icky card, but these two have been stuck together since they met two weeks ago. It's hard to explain, but you would think they have known each other for a very long time. And I won't mention that she is gorgeous (!!!) and is totally on the approved list to marry...did I just say that?!

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Before we moved, Robbie and I decided we were going to visit a new church every Sunday to compare and decided what fits our family needs. After attending two different ones already, I have to keep reminding myself to have an open mind throughout this process as it would be hard not to compare to any church after you have attended the same one for 10+ years.

Our first Sunday here, we went to Travis & Missy's church and we really enjoyed it....and the kids L♥VED it! Well, Husband found another church to visit that was actually close by us...so off we went!

When we got there we noticed that everything was moving like a well oiled machine! The church wasn't that big, but they had several men in the parking lot pointing everybody in the right direction. Then I notice, Sheriff...after Sheriff...after Sheriff, followed by about 4 police officers. That caught my attention...as I said the church wasn't that big to begin with. Husband and I were thinking that maybe something had happened?? We weren't quite sure.

We got the kids dropped off, and headed into the worship center. It wasn't until then that we figured out why there were so many Sheriff's and police officers...

Michele Bachmann (presidential candidate) was there to speak!! It's sad to say, but Husband and I didn't know much about her and what she represents, but I was impressed with what she said.

We ran in to Michele's transportation while we were trying to leave!

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I hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July!!!

a note from Kole

2011-06-30T20:21:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to say that a little over a week ago I had moved here from Texas and I have been having a great time. I met a 9 year old too and his name is Tyler. Two nights ago I spent the night at his house and went and got ice cream. In the morning we ate breakfast, played X-box and then went on the slip and slide and later I went home.

Later at 3:00 he called me and asked if I could go on the slip and slide with him and John. I brought my water balloons that were shaped like grenades. We used those and sang and danced to grenade until 5:30. That was 2 and a half hours long that I played with Tyler and John. If you include the sleepover which was 14 hours and 5 minutes long that would make it 16 total hours and 35 minutes.

Today we went to the pool with our new friends the Parton's for 3 hours and then we went home because I had baseball practice. I had a wonderful time. Then we came home and ate dinner and then I started writing this note so that's been the past few days of my second week in Iowa and if you haven't noticed I have had the best move I have ever had in moving history. For the first time I have actually liked moving. I also miss Kaiden so much. See you later.

sad goodbyes, perfect hellos

2011-06-27T15:10:00.000-05:00

I've debated for several days now if I should even post this at all. Or post it little bit by little bit in sections or all together?? The days leading up to our departure were very emotional.

Huge understatement.

At one point, I told myself I couldn't cry anymore....well that was proved wrong very quickly.

Saying goodbye after this game was super hard. We have been with some of these players the entire time Kole has been involved in baseball (age 4).

Then came the Thursday before we left. There are no words. I promised myself I was going to be strong. But there are some things that you can't control no matter how hard you try.

Chris, Annie, Will, Alex & Charlie all met us out to eat. I've said it many times before on this blog, but unless you have experienced being a twin in some form...it's hard to believe.

Saying goodbye to Chris and his family was going to be hard...there was no question about that!

We had a great dinner and I managed to stay in one piece while we visited and ate! And then it was time to say goodbye. I L♥VE these girls!

And then it happened. The time that I had to detach myself from the only other 'half' I have known since I was in my mother's womb. I know, it sounds cheesy and so cliche...but it's true.

But we I made it through the night!
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On Saturday, Kole was picked by all the other coaches to play in the All-Star game...and they got to play on Graham Field (field of the PCA baseball team). This was also the last game him and Kaiden would play together (at least for a while, anyway).

Robbie had a verse engraved at the top...

'...But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother' Proverbs 18:24

Those rowdy Ranger fans!!

Kole got a base hit and then Kaiden came up to knock him in to take the lead...I love seeing those boys together! They have such a strong bond!!

After the game, Kole gave him his gift

Precious boys!

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Kyle, Lindz & Jackson came out to watch Kole play, so we went out to eat afterwards! Kylie thought it would be funny to give him a lemon!

Look at her....she's so proud!

Jackson was on a roll this day! I'm not sure I have laughed so hard...he kept 'talking' to me, and evidently he had something really important to say! I needed that good laugh!

After our early dinner, they all came back to my parents house to hang out while we finished packing and Lindz thought it was funny that I had zebra tape...I can be such a girl sometimes!!

They entertained me while I packed...

Jackson 'talking' to me some more (I just might have been bribing him at this point!).

You give me a kiss and I'll give you a bite of candy!

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The day we planned on leaving, I arranged for some family to drive all five of us and my mom (plus our luggage!!) to the airport. But earlier in the week Stephanie (Kaiden's mom) had mentioned that Kaiden really wanted to go to the airport when we left. She left it up to Robbie and I, but it didn't take much thinking about because Kaiden really wanted to be there...it was so sweet. So, sweet Jeremy & Steph were at our house before 6:30 in the morning so they could drive us and send us off. And they brought gifts (Kole's hat in the below picture) along with lots of other Texas stuff!! We love you guys!!

We love these peeps!!! And don't pay any attention to the crazy wind!

After we got in the airport this was the first picture I saw and it was exactly how I felt!!

The boys spending some time visiting before we went through security. Two very special boys!

They cried. And then we all lost it.

Jeremy had to step in and make a joke to get everyone laughing!

Ugh, saying goodbye to my dad...so hard!

The G family leaving...

Then my dad leaving. I know this picture is blurry (it's kind of hard to shoot a pic when you can't see through tears and your crying so hard), but he is too cute not to post!

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Although all of the goodbyes were so hard, we had the BEST, most perfect hellos waiting for us in Iowa! This post has taken forever to upload all the pictures, so I will post again about our first week in the next day or so.

God is so good.

we made it

2011-06-21T15:35:00.002-05:00

And I have quickly learned that I will be busy for quite some time...

My mom is here until Saturday so we've been doing some playing and working. I'm sure when she leaves I will dive further into this house to distract me from the miles that separate me from family. But I have to tell you, everyone is SO super nice here, and I am really looking forward to what lies ahead.

I can't wait to tell you how God has had his hand on this move from the beginning...it's almost too hard to believe, but that alone has given me a peace that I know we are where he wants us! I'll blog some more on Friday to give you the details!

ps - I have missed checking in on all of my peeps blogs! I pray you are all doing well! xoxo

right now I'm...

2011-06-16T14:37:00.004-05:00

Champions X 2

2011-06-13T23:57:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm guessing I don't have to mention these CHAMPIONS? WOO (freaking) HOO!!!!!!

But tonight was another game that would determine a new CHAMPION as well - THE RANGERS (9-10 year old division). I was too anxious to take any pictures during the game and I could shoot myself for not getting the most unbelievable snag and throw to first that Kole made to make the out just in time!!!

I did, however, get some cute pix after the game! Kole and his very best friend, Kaiden celebrating!

The teams praying after the game...

Being the Rangers, you better believe they worked the claw & antlers!!

The best dog pile EVER!!

Kole had to slide just one last time!!

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Moving really set in tonight (and forgive me if you are tired of hearing about it!!). But the only reason we are still here is so Kole could finish his baseball season out and saying good-bye to everyone tonight was very hard! And it was just a reminder that the days are winding down.

Kole also got asked to play in the All-Star game this Saturday, which is very cool for any 9 year old (the coaches got together and picked the players, so that's pretty exciting)!! Saturday will be a very fun day...which will then be followed by a very emotion day I'm sure, since we leave first thing Sunday morning. :(

Pray for us if you think about it....OK, pray for me! I'm really not worried about anybody else - HA! I am excited about getting up there to start getting my house in order...so fun!! So, if you don't hear from me for a little bit, you know why! I miss my blogging friends and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things! Love & hugs until then! xoxo

wowsers we have some winners!

2011-06-07T15:56:00.019-05:00

Oh-my-word I am so excited to announce these blessed winners of my recent giveaway! Again, I am so sorry it's taken longer to get it posted with all the chaos of moving. We are officially homeless (well, not really), but our vehicles and entire household belongings are on there way to good 'ole Iowa!!

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But moving on to the fun stuff - THE WINNERS!!!

The winner of this Scentsy full size warmer and scented bar is...

ROB & AMY!!
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The winner of one of Judy's fabulous necklaces is...

SHELLY!!
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The winner of a $15 credit towards anything in The Pleated Poppy's shop goes to...

TEAM DAVIS!!
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The winner of a photoshoot with Camily Teed Photography is...

BRANDY CRAWFORD!!
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The winner of one of Ashley's fab creations is...

THE COLEMAN FAMILY!!
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The winner of this fantastic necklace from Stella & Dot goes to...

LINDSAY & TOUG!!
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The winner of this spray tan (just in time for summer!) is...

MENDI!!
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The winner of a custom canvas designed by Carolina Sunshine Designs is...

KELLEY!!
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And lastly, don't forget that ALL OF YOU can go visit Brittany's shop and get 20% off your entire order by just entering lovely20 when you check out!!

If you are one of these blessed winners, email me at holliea {at} ymail {dot} com and I will get you hooked up with the person who will give you more details!

THANK YOU again, to all of the beautiful ladies who participated in this giveaway!!! Keep checking out their shops...they always have new fabulous stuff!!

I hope you are all having a great week so far!! xoxo

still here!

2011-06-06T12:50:00.003-05:00

Oh-my-good-Lord! What was I thinking when I said I would announce the winners on THE DAY they were coming to pack up the place?! I totally apologize for being so scatter-brained!

I'm working in it now, but Kole has a baseball game, so it may be this evening before I get it posted! Thanks for being patient during our craziest time EVER! Much love!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Memorial Day (and the best wiww I could do this week!)

2011-06-01T00:23:00.004-05:00

This past weekend was much needed with a ton of family and friend time! We spent most of Saturday with Husband's side of the family for our last get together...again, very bittersweet!

I love hanging out with them! As we sat around chatting for hours, we noticed that almost everyone had some sort of electronic device in their hands - crazy! The Norred boys sat in a row going to town, as Kylie played a game on my phone....and this was only one side of the room!

I can't believe it...Husband & I actually got a picture together!!

OK, I'm surprised Husband hasn't killed me yet! It seems that every time I go somewhere, I come home with something to take with us to Iowa. I knew I was already pushing my luck as I came home with items from Gran's house! And it seems that every time I leave my mom's, she has something else for me (which I gladly take!). So, when we went to the in-law's house, my mother-in-law had some goodies waiting for me to take home - I'M LOVING IT!! I'm trying not to bring anything else to load onto the moving truck, but how on earth could I resist an adjustable sewing form?!?

She was quickly given a name - Gertrude! And after having my mother-in-law (and the rest of the family) on my side, I think Husband took a liking to her!!

I actually got in a few pictures (me & Annette below!!), so I decided to participate in what I wore Wednesday (Dress: Charlotte Russe, bracelets: Stella & Dot, necklace: Judy Darrow Designs)!

Husband's grandmother collects tea pots and my mother-in-law mentioned dividing them up, and clever Coy decided that we needed the tea pot on the far right since we are moving to Iowa...hardy-har-har!

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On Sunday we spent the day with my family...and what do you know, my stinking camera decided to break again (after I somehow managed to rig it to work after breaking it here). I only got a couple of pictures. My mom snapped this one of us getting all the floaties ready for swimming (what I wore Wednesday - cover-up & sunglasses: Forever 21)!

It wouldn't be a normal family outing if I didn't get a picture like this one...

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I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend...we sure did! And a big thank you to all the men and women out there who serve our country...past, present and future!!

Oh, and don't forget to enter my HUGE GIVEAWAY! There are 9 different FAB*U*LOUS items up for grabs!! I will post a winner Thursday evening...so hurry up, GO PLAY!!

sad

2011-05-31T13:06:00.002-05:00

Now I know why I have put this off to the VERY. LAST. MINUTE.

emp·ty (adj \ˈem(p)-tē\) - a: lacking reality, substance, meaning, or value : hollow

That says it all. I'm praying for God to FILL the hollowness of my heart how he sees fit while we make this transition. I know there are big things waiting for us in Iowa...it may just be a little harder to see right now.

Everything seems different when there is nothing hanging on the walls anymore....

It's (BIG) giveaway time!!

2011-05-26T08:31:00.001-05:00

I have been waiting all week to post this fabulous giveaway!! You won't be disappointed...and there are 9 amazing items (and discounts) up for grabs!! See below how you can enter to win!!!

Cassidy is giving one of you a Scentsy Fizz full size warmer along with a Home Sweet Home Scentsy bar (a $35 value)!

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Judy Darrow Designs (who designed my favorite necklace!) is giving away a beautiful custom made necklace! Each charm is hand stamped one letter at a time, so there are no two necklaces alike...includes a 16" chain (a $64 value)!

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The Pleated Poppy is giving a $15 credit towards anything in her shop! And if you can't wait (because everything is just to die for!), you can visit her shop now and get a 10% discount just by entering 'DRAMA' as the discount code!!

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Camily is offering her time and talent to a very lucky winner with a mini photo session (a $125 value), which includes a 30 minute, on location session in the North Dallas area, and 7 edited images.

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Ashley is giving away one of these creative creations! She takes whatever you want written and writes it using a bible verse of your choice!!

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Lindsey with Stella & Dot is giving one of you this amazing necklace (a $148 value). And if you are in love and want one for yourself, right now they are on SALE for $50!!

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b.bronze mobile airbrush tanning is giving away one free airbrush tan (value $35).

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Carolina Sunshine Designs is giving away one of her custom made canvases (a $75 value).

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Love Stitched is offering ALL OF YOU a 20% discount off anything in her shop just by entering the code lovely20 when you check out!

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I'm so excited about all of these fabulous shops!! Here's what you need to do to enter....

The only requirement to win any of these items is that you follow this blog.

To get an extra entry, you can follow any of these fabulous ladies as well! To get even more entries, you can blog, tweet and/or facebook about this giveaway. You will get one extra entry for everything you do! PLEASE leave a separate comment for each thing you do!

1. Follow The Drama Mama (this blog)!
2. Follow The Pleated Poppy here!
3. Follow Camily Teed Photography on facebook!
4. Follow Ashley's blog!
5. Follow Lindsey's blog!
6. Follow Carly's blog!
7. Follow Alicia here!
8. Follow Brittany here!

OK, it's go time, kiddos! Have fun and have a fabulous weekend! I will post the winners next week!

xoxo

busy, busy, busy

2011-05-23T09:58:00.004-05:00

Slacker here! It has been so crazy around here. Husband has been traveling a lot which always turns my kids lives upside down. Seriously, why do they forget everything they know when good 'ole dad is away?!

On that same note, why does the brand-spankin-new Walmart open right when we are about to move?! And the beautiful summer weather start right when I'm moving to IOWA?! Or, I fall in love with the kids school (like, major love) and then we move?! I know it's just because I am recognizing all of the things I will miss! Because as hard as it is to admit, I know we will move and I will fall in love with things in Iowa...did I just say that? That's hard to imagine, but it will happen. We move in THREE weeks....how on earth did the time go by so fast?
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I am in the process of putting together a HUGE giveaway that will post later this week. You will have to check back! I have about 10 different A*MA*ZING shops that have come together to give away one of their cool items (and offer credits and discounts to their shops!)...you won't want to miss it! I would like to say I will post again before then, but these days...you never know!

I'm off to get rid of all the things we don't need to move with us for the third time (have you moved and just moved stuff with you because you just KNOW you will use it down the road? Well, I have things like that that I have moved since we bought our first house. I think it's time to let them go!). But thank God for Husband's wonderful company who is PACKING & MOVING everything we own (including our vehicles!!). But if you saw how much stuff I needed to get rid of before they come (in TWO weeks), you would know why I may be a little insane!
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I'll leave you with this! I got this in an email this morning and you will recognize many of the 'lessons', but I had to post.....a few of them opened my eyes on ways I can improve.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone elses, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
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I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!!

whew...still a lot going on

2011-05-17T00:23:00.001-05:00

The past 11 days have been the longest, craziest days I've had in a while. Poor Alexie has had a really tough time recovering from her surgery. She was supposed to go back to school yesterday, but she just wasn't ready. Yesterday was the first real meal (if you can even call it that!) she has had in 12 days.

I decided we'd give school a shot this morning and when we arrived all of her classmates were so excited to see her...which started the day off just right! She was all smiles when I left her. I took her some lunch (again, if you want to call it that...not sure how much weight she has lost)...but she made it through the day and walked through the door with that same big smile!!! It was truly a great day!
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I have some pretty amazing woman in my life!

Last night they took me to dinner and it was fabulous.....and much needed!!

My mama was there to play too, but she left before I whipped the camera out! Thanks for playing ladies....I so needed that!
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I thought I'd give you a few sneak peeks here and there of the new place (and later I can do some before and after pictures)! Here is the back wall of Husband's man cave....and ya know, the more I think about this, I'm thinking it's going to have to be OUR man/woman cave...it's pretty darn cool down there in that basement!

I still can't decide at this point, what my favorite part(s) are....but after seeing the honking back yard....that will have to fall somewhere near the top of that list!

Are we really moving in a matter of a few weeks? EEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!

morphine, please.

2011-05-12T11:39:00.000-05:00

Alexie has had a few rough nights....last night being the roughest of them all. She scared the snot out of me!! And just so you know that I'm not making this stuff up - husband was/is out of town!! I told you, it's like clock work....and Alexie and I were both missing him last night! Not to mention that I know it is killing him to be there knowing one of his babes is in the hospital here!

I basically stayed awake the entire night as Alexie would go from sitting-up-screaming to dead asleep in .4 seconds. She would be so calm and out of nowhere she would start screaming/yelling at me to help her. I offered her everything I knew possible and she wasn't interested in a thing I was offering. She seemed so delirious....but at the time I just thought she was half asleep.

At 6 AM this morning, same thing. But this time, I knew something wasn't right. I called the specialist's answering service and once I informed him of all the crazy things she was doing, he said, 'Go ahead and come up here and I will have a room waiting for her!'.

When we got here, her blood pressure was so high from the amount of pain she was in! And it seemed like eternity before they got that dang IV in!!! But once that morphine worked it's way down that tubing, my baby had her first peaceful rest!!

We are beyond blessed to have such an amazing doctor (who also happens to go to our church!!) that is here for us no matter the day or time.

He just stopped by our room to let us know that Alexie is for sure staying overnight. And I'm all about that...it has been so hard to watch her suffer and be in so much pain!!

Thank you guys (again) for your precious prayers for our sweet girl!

giveaways are awesome!

2011-05-11T12:01:00.000-05:00

You have to go check out my precious friend's blog...she is hosting a big giveaway today, and there might be something waiting over there for you from The Drama Mama and lots of others!! Be sure to check back here because I have a pretty big giveaway in the works coming soon!

And if you're here for the first time from Casey's blog, welcome!! I'm so glad you stopped by...leave me a comment so I can come visit your blog too!

HaPpY hUmP dAy!!!!!

Alexie update (& a winner!!)

2011-05-10T11:21:00.002-05:00

I apologize for not posting the winner of this pillow yesterday. When I posted this giveaway, I didn't know Alexie would be having surgery two days later!

I feel like the past 4 days have felt like 4 WEEKS. It's been a while since we have been house-bound and I forgot just how insane one could go by being stuck inside ALL. DAY. LONG.

Quick update on Lex...we got to the hospital at 7:45 on Friday morning. If any of your babes have had surgery, you know how much a task it is to keep them distracting since they can't eat or drink at all that morning. To make matters worse, her surgery was delayed 30 minutes. Then the nurse came out to inform us it would be another 45 minutes before they even took us back to a room. Alexie was miserable. So miserable in fact, she was hysterical. She was begging Husband and I for one piece of ice. Husband felt so bad he went and got her two pieces of ice (without asking the nurse!)...I had to put my foot down. I wasn't going to take any chances of them postponing the surgery more or delaying it all together for two pieces of ice. To show you how sweet Alexie is, she said, 'Mama, I don't want to eat it without asking the nurse'. So I did. And the answer was no. This made matters so much worse. At one point Alexie yelled, 'I. WANT. WATER.'....and it was all I could do to keep from crying (she is not the type to get so angry she would yell in public!).

Once she got the 'goofy juice', things calmed down a lot. She would be so funny and the next second pass out...craziest thing I have ever seen. We got video (couldn't resist)...once I get it off Husband's phone I may have to post it...hilarious!

The actual surgery took no time, but it seemed like forever before we could see her. She has had up and down days. Now I know why they say the recovery is 10-14 days. One minute she is OK and the next she is dying in pain. Overall, I think we have survived the worst of it...other than her sneezing about an hour ago which caused her to pass out (vasovagal thing) because it hurt her throat so bad...poor punkin! But, ~~we're~~ she's making it! Thank you all who prayed for her (and us!!)...we made it through another successful surgery - YAY!!
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Have I mention lately that we are moving soon?!

I'm still not used to the idea of our house have three floors (the whole basement thing is throwing me off). But this house has everything we wanted, including husband's man cave and a sewing/arts and craps area for me! I can't wait to get in there and go crazy-wild decorating!!

I guess it's a good thing that I've been distracting with everything....or else I might be going ~~really crazy~~ MORE INSANE than I already am!
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But I'm sure you guys are just interested in who won this pillow....

So, the winner is.... Andrea!! Email me your mailing address so I can get this in the mail for you!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far!!

prayer

2011-05-05T12:44:00.002-05:00

All three of my muncherheads have had a rough patch of some sort when they were really small. Kole was born and he screamed bloody murder for FIVE WEEKS straight. As a first time parent I wasn't sure if this was 'normal'...I was praying to God it wasn't! And it's a miracle that we had more kids after him!! At barely 5 weeks old, one night he screamed and screamed and screamed. I'm not sure if it was more than normal or maybe I had just reached my limit of hearing a screaming baby. It was so bad, we took shifts. Me, Robbie, my mother-in-law, my mom and anyone else who felt brave enough!

Well this night in particular was so bad that my mom drove out to Denton (where we lived at the time) after work, we loaded that screaming baby in her car and drove and drove and drove - NOTHING. NOTHING. He continued to scream for hours on end. Robbie worked in the evenings at the time and when he came home about 10:30, he saw me, heard Kole and said, 'Let's go! We're going to the hospital'.

I think the ER peeps took one look at him and knew something had to be wrong. It wasn't long after arriving that they diagnosed him with Pyloric Stenosis. By 7 AM the following morning, he was in surgery and by 1 o'clock he was eating...it was the craziest thing I had ever seen! But most importantly, he wasn't crying!! Knowing everything I know now, his ~~butt~~ rear end would have been in the ER way earlier than week 5...I learned to follow that mother's intuition!!

Well, little did I know, He was just getting me ready. Isn't it amazing to look back to a time where you wondered 'why is this happening?!?!' and later on you see how perfect His plan was?!

Skipping over to Kylie, well....we went through a very rough period with her...to put it mildly! You can start reading here, but HERE is where all of the craziness started....the hardest thing I have ever been through....period.

I thank God often that all three of my kids are overall healthy. I am reminded of this, especially how close it hit home with Kylie's diagnoses, that it could be so much worse.

But sweet Alexie has had the hardest time as far as how long she continues to battle one thing after another. You name it, she's had it or been tested for it! I've lost track of the 'minor' stuff and also the number of surgeries she has had.

When she was 10 months old, they diagnosed her with Common Variable Immunodeficiency, basically her body had NO immune system to fight off illness. She got sick every three weeks TO THE DAY! She was scheduled for surgery three days later to have a port inserted into her chest so she could undergo 8 hour infusions every three weeks. The part that hit me the hardest is when her specialist informed me that she would have to do this for the rest of her life. We had more people praying than I even know of and 7 months later she never had another infusion...and a little over a year later she had surgery to remove the port in her chest!!

One word - MIRACLE. We had doctor after doctor tell us this was a forever thing. I remember praying that these doctor's realized that this was no mystery...it was His work.

Fast forwarding, this past year Alexie has been back in the hospitals for tests and procedures and I'm not sure what's worse, handing over your newborn baby (when you know they won't remember any of this) or trying to explain to a 7-year-old what's gonna happen and they DO get it. Both are pretty bad.

I got a call from her specialist's office this morning to inform me that she is scheduled for surgery first thing tomorrow morning!! I think it just freaked me out because I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon, but he doesn't want to wait any longer. She is having her tonsils removed, her adenoids removed (which were already removed when she was 10 months old...did you know they could grow back? I just learned that!), and surgery on her right ear. Alexie has had two sets of ear tubes, but the tube in her right ear has not fallen out and is jammed in there somehow. He can see it, but can't get to it. He won't know how serious it is until he gets in there.

Driving home after the phone call, I had a peace knowing that God already knows the amount of days Alexie will be on this earth....and after all, she is in the best hands - HIS! But I am concerned about telling her. She obviously doesn't know yet, and she has been having bad anxiety over it wondering when it was going to happen. Please pray for God to remove her anxiety and take that worry away!

We have to be at the hospital at 8AM, so please pray for her if you think about it! I will try to keep you posted when I can! I can't thank you enough for joining us in prayer for our sweet girl! HUGS!

all over the place, wiww and a giveaway!

2011-05-03T17:35:00.029-05:00

I started writing this post yesterday and you will see below how my emotions these days are ALL over the place and change day-to-day since getting this news. I was going to delete this post and start fresh, but why not keep it real, ya know?!

I think it's funny that I could only think in 'bullet points' - HA!!

{from yesterday}

* I am having anxiety with everything going on.

* I am so happy.

* I am so sad.

* Alexie was scheduled for surgery after school ended and now we have to move it up because she cannot travel on an airplane for 14 days after surgery. Husband will be gone a lot with the transition and I will be here dealing with her recovery that will last about 10 days (and everything else). The doctor has warned me that this is not an easy surgery....anxiety.

* All of this is happening SO fast, but it also seems like eternity before we move...which means it is dragging out the goodbyes. I am not looking forward to the goodbyes!! I'm not sure how to do a goodbye this big {tears...}.

* It's funny how God works. HE is using this situation to draw me closer...I have to draw near to Him. I HAVE TO.

* Is it weird to say I am excited? And sad?

* Every time I am with my family....I want to cry.

* Every time I think about this new adventure I get excited.

* We found a house that is beautiful...and I can't wait to dive into that!

* But then I think about my MOM. My best friend. And I wonder how I am going to make it. I already have lots of ideas of keeping in touch with her, my dad and the rest of the family....but it doesn't make it easier.

* This is just a season of life. And I can't wait to see how much Husband & I grow as well as ALL five of us!!!

* My muncherheads are ECSTATIC about moving. That makes me smile.

* I love my Husband and I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!

* But I still have rough days.
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SO, that was yesterday and today is a new and improved day!

I really wanted to get better at this whole 'what i wore wednesday' thing...but I have come to terms with the fact that there is just too much going on....but I did get Kylie to take ONE picture this week!

top: Macy's, pants: Forever 21, nude heels (that Ky cut out - ha!): DSW, necklace made my Brittany at Love Stitched!

I was pretty impressed with the 4 year old's camera skills!

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Anyone up for a giveaway?! I went to the fabric store and picked out this very cool fabric to practice making a pillow.

I LOVE the fabric, but after I started thinking about it, I don't really have a place for it.

Well, the first thing that came to mind was that maybe ONE OF YOU would want it (here's the finished product)!!

All you have to do is be a follower of The Drama Mama and leave me a comment saying you are (and of course, if you are already a follower, just leave me a comment and let me know!).

I will pick a winner on Monday!! Have a happy Wednesday!

Easter recap

2011-04-30T23:19:00.003-05:00

Easter was filled with lots of hunting, playing, family....and candy.

Way too much candy.

Did I mention that I broke my camera?

Yup, I sure did.

But I somehow managed to rig it long enough to snap these pictures...

Chuck & Alex celebrating Earth Day!

Then it was time for Mr. Will's bath...and I had the perfect little helpers for this task!

Time for a bedtime story with Poppy.

And some cuddle time with Jax!

Lots of laughs...

and kisses....

....and a bad case of the silly-willies!

Chris modeling his 80's outfit he wore to a party the night before (nice shoes, dude!)...

Crazy peeps.

The whole gang!

I hope you all had a very happy Easter day!

ps - we found a house!! More details to come very soon!

Celebrating Roberto

2011-04-25T23:42:00.012-05:00

Last Friday night we got together to celebrate Husband's birthday! But it also happened to be the day after we got the news of his promotion...so we had to do some extra celebrating in there!!

His request for dinner - crawfish at Nate's! YUMMY!

I didn't take that many pictures, but I can assure you we had a blast! As usual, as we were leaving I realized how bad I was slacking in the photograph department so we had to snap a few outside while waiting for our vehicles.

What I wasn't expecting was Chris going a little crazy with the camera in his possession. Here we are trying to get ready to pose...you know us girls, we have to make sure everything is in place first. Little did we know, the snapping had already begun!

Really? Can you give us just one minute?

Awe, nevermind!!!

Finally, we're ready...YAY!! And look who just had to pop his head in at the last minute. Ha, I give up!

We did it!! One picture of the entire crew!!

Thank you sweet friends for celebrating with us...we had a blast as usual! Love you all!

Craziness, I say!

2011-04-25T14:19:00.002-05:00

Oh my word, I had no idea all of this would be happening so stinking fast....they don't play around! The moving company has already been by to see what all we have, dates have been nailed down for the BIG move and new information and dates come in hourly!

Husband and I are flying up to (Lord willing) find a house in one visit! It's possible, right? That's what I'll keep telling myself! Please pray we find the perfect place exactly where HE wants us to be!

Between finishing school, finishing Kole's baseball season, moving and tying up a ton of loose ends, my blogging may be all over the place. I want to blog about some other things...but that will have to wait. I'll be back when I have a break...I'm off to pack for Iowa! Gosh, that sounds so strange! Wish us luck! ;)

so. very. bittersweet.

2011-04-19T16:13:00.005-05:00

I've never experience anything in my life (ever. before.) that was so bittersweet.

We are moving.

Am I happy? Absolutely!!!

Am I sad? Absolutely!!

The bitter part - I have NEVER lived anywhere else...ever. Texas is my place. The Dallas area is my home, and has been as long as I can remember. My family is here. My dearest, dearest, best friends are here. My church home is here (where I met Husband, where I was baptized, where ALL three of our children were dedicated to the Lord, where I attend weekly bible study!!), Kole's best friend in the entire world is here, Alexie's BFF's are here, the kids sports teams are here, their school is here....did I mention that my family is here?

Me moving has never been in my plan (pre-marriage). But, this isn't my plan. It's His.

Now, for the sweet part - God has this plan for Husband & I. When we married almost TEN years ago, this was not in that plan. I can imagine God laughing because everything that has happened in those past ten years has brought us to a place I NEVER dreamed I would be. The timing......well, only He can put me in the exact place I need to be......at the exact time I need to be there.

We've known moving was a possibility with Husband's job for a couple of years now. But I don't think it really sunk in...I just always imagined it as a waaaaay-down-the-line-kind-of-thing! Well, it's here, friends. And it's very bittersweet.

I've mentioned before how I am surrounded by men that are the most hard working peeps I know. My dad - everything he does is 150% or it's not done right. Same for Husband's father and Husband himself. If you're gonna do something...it better be right! Husband has worked his tail off in his past position with his company for the short 5 years he has been there - he's done A*MA*ZING things. The time has come to take the next step. He has been asked to run two offices in Iowa.

I'm not gonna lie...when this first came up, I immediately started googling Iowa. I knew nothing about Iowa. Seriously...Iowa?

But, I am reminded that God is in control of this entire situation and He has known all along that I would be a resident of Iowa...now that's kind of cool to think about!

The kids are SUPER excited!! I have to admit, my three muncherheads adapt pretty well with new things and I can't wait to see where He takes ALL of us!

Husband, I am so proud of you!! I know He is going to do BIG things...and I'm excited to be next to you on this ride (just be nice to me if I have a freak-out-moment during any of this at the beginning - HA!)

Stay tuned...The Anderson's are moving!!

deep. roots.

2011-04-16T01:48:00.058-05:00

I have this major l♥ve affair with pictures.

New or old....

{source}

Black & white or color....

Posed or not posed....

Close up or far away....

People, places or things....

And moments that take your breathe away....

But there is something about the deep roots of a family picture.

It tells a story.

It has history (my great-grandparents).

It cannot be replaced....

Or forgotten (Papa - 1938)

Those deep roots make us who we are.

And also makes our children who they are.

And nothing will change that.

Psalm 128:6

Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

It's a new day

2011-04-14T23:16:00.004-05:00

YAY!!!!!

Today, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel...such a great feeling! The kids were very ready to head back to school this morning....

And Mama was very excited to drop them off...........did I say that?!

Oh, it was much needed. Kylie and I have had so much fun just catching up!! Someone got a new haircut....

But, after looking back...I'm thinking, not so smart. I took her to a new place and I didn't know all that was included. A haircut includes: a mini mani (paint nails & a ring included), wash hair, haircut, dry and style.......she totally got pampered!!

What am I teaching her?!?! Go ahead (!!) cut your hair and I will then take you to have some fun.........yeah, not really what I had in mind.

Needless to say, it is only hair.....and we did have some fun together!!

The lady did a great job!! She cut a good three inches off and ended up layering it around her face, and you can't even tell she got a hold of some scissors. It really could have been so much worse.

I am finally to the point where I can look at her 'mug shot' and laugh!

no title for today

2011-04-13T16:41:00.001-05:00

I'll just start off by saying that the 'Mom of the Year Award' will not be going to yours truly....when it rains it pours!

ALL THREE of my munchkins woke up sick early in the week. I can assure that if ALL THREE of my kids are sick, Husband will be out of town. That's not me being negative...it's just been a fact for a while now. ;) The great news, they all tested negative for strep!! But, then last night, they all slept with trash cans next to them - UGH! Today I decided to keep them home one more day. Poor Alexie is having bad allergies on top of everything...and Kole had a tummy ache.

The problem you ask? Well, when all three of those muncherheads are together (home from school), it's just trouble.

OK, if I'm being completely honest....I was that mom that would NEVER have one of their kids get a hold of scissors and cut their hair. Because I can assure you, I would NEVER leave scissors out for one of them to get to.

Um, I think we all know how this is gonna end. There are a lot of things I swore I would never do............now, it's just plain funny to think about!

What's not funny - Alexie bringing me this...

Since I would never be that mom, you could image my horror as I discovered more hair in the girls CLOSET! After we handled the situation, Kylie said, 'Momma, can I tell you one more thing? I'm sorry....and I just wanted new hair'.

I was speechless as I saw that half of the ponytail on top of her head was missing - WOW.

The white arrow in this picture shows you the length ALL of her hairs used to be. The black arrow now shows off her new hair-do (she looks like she posing for a mug shot!!)...

Yup, I know it's just hair! No biggie.....it's just been one of those weeks!

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On a very positive note, it's Husband's birthday today!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Love! We have missed you and can't wait to celebrate! I love you, babe and I can't thank you enough for loving (little 'ole) me so much! I can't wait to see where the Lord is taking us on this crazy adventure called LIFE! I love you, Cricket!!

I need help!

2011-04-12T14:24:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, my grandmother passed away last August. My aunt and mom have been working their tails off going through her house trying to empty it out to put on the market. It's really sad to think about her house being the last thing left behind and soon that will be gone too.

Husband drove me out there on Sunday...I wanted to see if there were any knick-knacks that I would want to remember gran and/or papa by! It's amazing how the smallest thing has some of the biggest memories in my head!

Here are some of my treasures. My mom said she never remembers a time that that 'key' was not around. It's old home was by the garage door and gran and papa hung all of their keys on it. And you should see how old that bible is...I can't wait to find a new home for it here! Oh, and papa used to hang ties in his closet on that green rack.

When we left Gran's on Sunday, my mom gave Alexie an old spiral that was still in the house...the girls LOVE writing in notebooks! Well, today ALL THREE of my muncherheads woke up sick, so we headed to the doctor - Alexie with her new notebook in hand! While we were driving Kole started reading verses from Proverbs from a piece of paper that I have never seen. I asked him where he got it and Alexie said, 'in my new notebook!'. Come to find out, Gran had journaled in this spiral for a solid 3-4 months!!!

Are you kidding me?! Are there more?!

There is absolutely nothing more special than reading her words on paper from TWO DECADES earlier (starting Oct. 1991- Jan. 1992)!! I sat there in that waiting room ready entry after entry. And time and time I read how she was praying for someone in her family.

It goes a little deeper than that. In November of 1991, there is no reason OTHER THAN GOD, that my life was spared. To say that I had terrible asthma as a child is a huge understatement. I spent quite a bit of time in the hospital back in the day. One night in particular my entire family witnessed me stop breathing completely as my mom was on her phone line calling 911 and my brother was on our phone line calling 911. I won't go into anymore detail about what happened other than when I finally did wake up I was 100% perfectly fine. The paramedics had no explanation as to how I was up and walking around and not wheezing one bit...I didn't even go to the hospital! I say all of this because, as I read through my grandmother's journal, she wrote an entire post of that night (I didn't know it, but my mom called her at 3 AM to tell her what happened). Gran prayed for me in that journal only like a grandmother can! To read her words just brought tears to my eyes.

SO, here is where I need your help!! I want to find a creative way to preserve these entries that were handwritten by my grandmother two decades ago. Does anyone have any ideas?!? I am open to ANYTHING...I'd love to hear your thoughts!! Leave me a comment or email me if you want - holliea {at} ymail {dot} com.

In the meantime, I'll be brainstorming too! Thanks for your help, friends!!

how we spend most weekends

2011-04-11T10:25:00.000-05:00

I L♥VE this time of year. I LOVE that the winter weather has gone far, far away, the sunshine is out in full force and I leave the ball park with sand in my teeth! There's nothing like it.

This past Saturday, a ton of Kole's family came out to support him and the rest of the team. I know he appreciated it so much...but I personally savoured every minute of it. It was fun to look around and see the faces of those he adores or hear someone yell for him (and he would know exactly who it was)! And to top it all off, they won...they are still undefeated!!!

I think these Houser boys have more baseball genes in their DNA than they know what to do with. I watched from afar as Jackson scoped everything out to see if anyone was watching him. Once he got the 'all clear' he went for it!! SO FUNNY!

The whole crew - both of my brother's and their families, my parents and Husband's parents - I {heart} family more than anything!

Afterwards we went for a little mexican food...that just topped off the great morning! We came across some old school pictures, so we had fun passing those around. I love how Will is participating!!

And we celebrated a certain Husband's birthday that is coming up...he was totally surprised!!

Kole & Alexie pretty much took care of the ice cream for him...

Sweet Will was SO tired...

But, he got a little more energy when it was time to get up. I can't wait to see these two together a few years down the road...so precious!

Thank you guys for spending the day with us...we love you ALL bunches!

what i wore wednesday

2011-04-06T15:01:00.010-05:00

This is my first time to play 'What I Wore Wednesday'! I've seen this several times on my friend's blog and thought it would be SO FUN to give it try! Ha, joke was on me (!!!)...because if I'm being completely honest the whole process was just a beating (probably quite humorous to watch, though)!

The idea - SO FUN.

The process - not-so-much.

What I learned about this - A) I have NOwhere in this place that makes taking these pictures easy....nowhere. B) The lighting - terrible. C) Taking a picture of myself - well, the picture just speaks for itself.

The great news is, I am somewhat presentable on most Wednesdays because that is the morning I have bible study (I can't promise a shower on any other day). Sooooo, here we go!

Top - Target; Necklace - I made.

Jeans - The Buckle; red thread on couch - free, compliments of a new sewing project!

Yup, it doesn't get better than jeans and bare feet! L♥VE! Well, I did it...I ~~successfully~~ documented one whole day! Maybe after a few times, I will get better at this! Until then, praying you're all having a fabulous Wednesday!!

there's no crying in baseball!

2011-04-05T01:36:00.004-05:00

The weekend before last, Kole had his first baseball tournament of the season! And guess who walked away with the Championship trophy? Oh yea, baby...that would be the RANGERS!

I decided I needed to whip out something really quick to support my boy!

{front of shirt}

{back of shirt}

This is Kole's first year to play kid pitch with the Rangers, so you can imagine all the nerves (on my end!) when they put him in to pitch the first game of the tourny!! I was SO stinking proud of him!! He struck out FOUR players!! Check him out!!!

Oh my gracious, it's so hard to believe this much growing has occurred in 5 very short years...seriously?!?!!

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Kole had Kaiden & Ryan spend the night Saturday night and Kylie wanted to be right in the middle of them. After telling her many times to leave them alone, we eventually found her parked outside Kole's room. Sitting. Observing. If she couldn't be in the same room as them, she was going to come pretty darn close! Precious girl!

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A certain someone lost another tooth that week! And if you remember correctly, I don't do teeth! Pulling teeth is like NAPKINS to me!! UGH, gross...but I pulled through and took one for the team! And don't be hating too much because you wish you could pull off this oh-so-glamorous look I've managed to maintain...I decided to get all made up just for you! HA! But, check out that girl...she was ready for the tooth fairy to bring her some $$!

_________________________________________________

Do you remember this giveaway? Well, I had to show you Casey's necklace because I'm pretty sure it's my new favorite!!

_________________________________________________

Alright friends, that's all I got for now...I hope you're all having a great week so far! HUGS!!

Who is The Drama Mama (Part Two)?

2011-03-31T10:48:00.002-05:00

After I wrote this post, I've been more aware of the many quirky, random facts about me!

I've realized that every single time I put pants on, I insert my left leg first - every time. Do any of you do this...the same leg, every time? You'll have to pay attention and see what you do. I also realized (only because I started running...not from the love {sarcasm} of wearing socks!!), that I put on one sock, followed by that shoe, then the other sock, followed by the other shoe. OK, maybe I am just weird for even noticing this kind of thing!

I slurp coffee - big faux pas, I know! I recently discovered this about me, and I only do it when I am drinking coffee by myself (which is most of the time), so I guess that's OK.

If I could visit any country, it would be Australia for two reasons; it's beautiful and I wouldn't freak out not being able to understand a whole new and different language (back to that whole change thing).

I hate the thought of running, but absolutely L♥VE the feeling afterwards.

I'm addicted to anything creative - AN*Y*THING.

I don't like breakfast. In fact, I rarely eat it. BUT, I love eating breakfast foods for dinner. And another weird fact, if we go out to eat for breakfast, I order off the lunch menu (usually chicken fried steak & eggs).

The toilet paper has to go OVER.

I ~~hate~~ despise laundry.

I love shimmery (but subtle) make-up. I always seem to gravitate towards it when I'm make-up shopping. Two examples, Bare Minerals All Over Face in True, and L'Oreal mascara with a subtle shimmery top coat...SO FUN!

What are some of your quirky things?! You know you have some...I'd love to hear!

__________________________________________________________

I have a fun surprise coming!! Want a sneak peak?

winner, winner, chicken dinner!!

2011-03-28T14:03:00.000-05:00

Did you think I forgot about you?! Of course, I didn't! I have been so excited about this giveaway that I just can't stand it! So, I won't make you wait any longer...

Congrats, girl!! I can't wait to hear what you will choose!! You can click here to read about all of your options again!! Email me and we'll talk!

melt my heart (fixed video links)

2011-03-27T08:37:00.000-05:00

Oh my word, I just logged into the website that I upload all of my videos to (which I haven't done in fo-eva!) and I discovered some lost footage that I had to re-post. Are you kidding me?! How on earth did my babies grow so stinking fast? It' is really a sad thing......to just blink and they are all big and independent and stuff...UGH!

If nothing else, I know the grandparents will appreciate these!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

OK, you have to know the background to this one! Alexie wanted to sing for me, but she did NOT want her brother in the same room! I asked Kole if he would go in the other room and 'talk to the baby' while Alexie sang for me - CLASSIC!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Um, no words on the next three.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Gosh, I still can't believe how fast you forget!