Gifts!

I got a new book. It's a hallmark book called, "It's a mom thing." It's hilarious. It's just a small book of funny quotes bout moms. There are 46 quotes. I am thinking of doing a quote of the day (not EVERY day, of course. But, here's the quote for today...

Children are a gift. A gift where you're like, "Wow, who knew a gift could make you so tired and lumpy?"

Isn't that the truth? I never was so tired before I had three children. Of course, who can remember that far back?? Just when I was getting out of the, "Woe is me, I am so tired all the time" phase, I torture myself and have another kid (6 1/2 years later). Now I have a (almost) 12 year old, a 5 year old and a 3 year old. The two small ones wake up at 6:30 every morning no matter what, so my maternal clock wakes me at that time every day as well. On vacation, away from the kids even. No wonder I am always so flippin' tired. But, in all complete honesty, they are absolutely worth every missed wink! Because what happens if I sleep later? I could miss something important!!

On another note, my birthday was good. I have some amazing people in my life that are very thoughtful. My friend Jeannene, who obviously knows me well, bought me a Starbucks gift card (as did my friend, Doug and my Father in Law and his wife), which brings my total card balance to $60.00. You'll never believe that since the 18th, I have spent 22.00 of that! Youch! Guess I AM a tired mom, huh??
My friend, Lisa, who also OBVIOUSLY knows me, made me a cake. Oh, sweet you say?? Not just any cake, but a Kitty Litter cake. You must look at her blog (for September 13th...scroll down a bit)! The reason I say she obviously knows me is because she knows that I love a good laugh and she knows that (for the most part) I despise cats (even though I found out that her fave animal is a kitty!). So, she really did make me the perfect cake! Hilarious!!

OH, and my MOPS table leader, who I am just getting to know, bought me a Willow Tree figurine. It's the 'friendship' figurine.
As soon as I opened it, I was ecstatic. She had no idea, but I collect these figurines and her act of generosity absolutely made my day!! Thanks Angela, you Rock!

Basically, I am blessed with wonderful friends and family. I thank God for them each and every day!!

OH and thank you to all my fellow bloggers who wished me a Happy Birthday! It really means a lot!!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Me, when I was ONE, 31 Years ago.

I was going to attach a pic of me right now, but believe me, You DO Not want to see me at 6 am.

Yes, I am 32 years old today. Not quite mid-thirties, but I ma feeling kinda old. I plucked out about 5 gray hairs yesterday. All wirey and tough.
My kids promised to be extra nice to me today. I am sure they will have forgotten their promise by about noon, when they start ripping each others hair out.
So, what am I going to do for my birthday? Help in Nolan's Kindergarten class this morning, then I think I will go to the gym, finish up the laundry, then tonight I have school. Only, it's not so fun having a birthday at school. It's not as though I am five and I get to bring cupcakes to share with the class. No, I am 32. Nobody gives a hoot when you are 32. Well, that's OK, because I am determined to have a good day. How can I not when I woke up to the most beautiful little girl saying, "I love my birthday mommy. She's the bestest mommy EBER!" Then she kissed me all over my face, like a doggy, nut without the slobber.

Here is a picture of that beautiful girl holding her "baby" (her cousin Cole).

How could I not have an amazing day when I think of all that I have been blessed with? I have an amazing husband (who got me the cool bracelet watch from Costco that I wanted) and three gorgeous, intelligent children! Life is good, even if I am 32!!

First Day of School

My first Day of school in 15 years is tonight! I am taking Child Development (The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence) classes to be a preschool teacher. I figure as long as my children keep growing, they won't be little forever. This way, I will always have kids in preschool! Wish me luck!! This is one of the reasons I don't blog too much.

Mini Vacation

So, here I am in Carson City, Nevada. It is a mini vacation, because my husband and I are childless. We get to do whatever we want; we are free! So, why did I get up at 6:15 am?? Oh, yeah, because my maternal clock goes off at that time every single day no matter if I have my children or not (apparently!) Frustrating!

Anyway, we are here visiting a friend with cancer. So, not exactly a "FUN" vacation, but it's ok. He looks great and he's been in a fairly good mood, so that's good. We went to a casino last night, and I found out I am not very good at gambling. I lost my $20 right away, then I went to help my husband. I was doing SO good helping (I am a BIG helper!) that I decided to get $20 more. So, by the end of the night we had lost $60, so we left. It was fun enough, but I don't see how people gamble often. It's just not my thing. Of course, if I would have WON $500 bucks or something, I am certain it would be MY thing. I guess it's a God thing that I suck at it.

How cute is it that my dear, sweet husband is lying next to me in the hotel bed snoring?? Let me tell you, ADORABLE. Guess his maternal clock broke.

Tag, You're It!!

Because we are talking, "All About Me" today, take a look at this video. Hilarious!!

I guess I have been TAGGED, thanks to my very good friend, Jeannene, whom I love dearly (despite the music on her blog, LOL.)

SO, it looks like what I have to do is describe MYSELF using the first letters of my middle name. Should be fairly easy, since EVERYONE knows how easy it is to talk about themselves and lift THEMSELVES up! So, to be honest, I cheated. I used this site to help me. So, here goes!


J- Joyful.I like to think of myself as an all around joyful person. I try to show that with my children, and with the Lord.


E- Encouraging. Yes, Jeannene. I stole this from you. I think I am an encourager. It seems people call me a lot for advice. If I am not an encourager, stop calling. You are giving me a big head. :-)


A- Accepting. I love people and accept people. I don't make quick judgments. However, if I don't like you AFTER I get to know you, well, sorry.


N- Nonstop. My life is Go, Go, Go. Which is why I am on here at 6:30 am. I doubt I will be able to find time to get on here any other time today. I chose 'nonstop' also, because I needed something a little more creative than NICE. Though, I do try to be 'nice' as well.


I would go on and "TAG" three more people, but I don't get enough comments, so I am going to have to wait to tag people until I get comments. So if you see this, and wouldn't ind me tagging you, SEND me a comment and I will get on that!

Pet Peeves

I have QUITE a few of them, pet peeves, that is.

My mom used to have a mug that read: If a woman's place is in the home, why am I always in the car?? I remember rolling my eyes at her, thinking, "Whatever!" Now that I have three kids of my own and am a self proclaimed, "Stay At HOME mom," I wanna know the answer too. Why AM I always in the freakin' car?? I am never ever even home.

Next pet peeve. SELF FLUSHING TOILETS! I hate these things. I don't know who made these, but I do believe they should be shot. So, I sit down. I urinate. Dare I wipe? Well, of course I do; I am a female. It's not as though I can SHAKE it out. So I move, ever so slightly forward, and WHOOOOOSHHHH! Before I can even wipe, it flushes. So, now I am very irritated because we all know that toilets are nasty unsanitary things. So, who knows whose fecal matter just jumped up and splashed all over my, well...you get the drift. Ticks me off to say the least.

I will only do three so you don't all think I am a crazed lunatic. And I apologize in advance for this one, as many people do this. I cannot STAND music on webpages, blogs, etc. My husband gets up very early and I often cannot sleep as early as he does. So, I sit in bed with the laptop. I usually mute the volume first, but I don't always remember. So, at midnight I sit to browse the web, and here comes Shakira (or whomever) blaring through the speakers. I scramble through the page to find the music player and the pause button. I hope I am not the only one who can't stand this. I don't mind people having music, but just set it so that I have the option of listening to it if I so choose.

A definite "Must Have" for busy mommies!!

This is called the 'busybodybook'. I have a friend who introduced it to me, and I have been searching for it online. The thing is...I'M CHEAP, so I didn't want to spend the 16.95 plus 4.95 shipping. I was waiting for my MOPS group to do a busybodybook fundraiser, but when I got home today, my mom called me and told me she bought it for me. She got it from ecampus.
I think she said the list price was $11.90, but with her checkout coupon (for $5.00 off) HIGH5, it was only something like $10.83. Awesome! I cannot wait to get it. With three kids, two dogs and a husband, plus my Uppercase Living Business, I will get a lot of use out of it.

This is from the busybodybook website:

BusyBodyBook's Weekly GRID format is the easy and efficient solution to every Mom's scheduling chaos! Each family member, with their own personal column, can plan and track their activities while they organize and coordinate with one another "side by side".

And the best part (for me anyway) is it starts August '07 and goes through September '08! For busy moms Back To School. LOVE IT!! (Thanks for the correction, Joan!)

If you think this is something you can use, get on it! By the way, you don't have to get the Polka Dots, but I love it!!

Baptism

My son is getting baptized at 2:00 today. He is 11, almost 12. I told him that when he decided to follow Christ on his own, voluntarily, that he could be baptized. He saw a brochure at church for the baptism and said he was ready to do it. I talked to him a little about it to be sure he understood. Then I told him that if he was ready, then he needed to take the initiative to call the appropriate people and get it all set up. He called and set it all up, then he talked to the Children's Ministry director, all on his own. So, today is his baptism. Today is the day that my son is a new person; a person living for Christ. I am so proud of my boy!

Dr Phil Test

I took a Dr. Phil test online yesterday. It was very interesting. I got a 42 on it, and I think the results are pretty accurate. Is it for you??


1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning ( )
b) during the afternoon and early evening ( )
c) late at night ( )
==============================================

2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps( )
b) fairly fast, with little steps( )
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face( )
d) less fast, head down very slowly( )
==============================================

3. When talking to people you...
a) stand with your arms folded( )
b) have your hands clasped( )
c) have one or both your hands on your hips( )
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking( )
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair( )
==============================================

4. When relaxing, you sit with...
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side( )
b) your legs crossed ()
c) your legs stretched out or straight( )
d) one leg curled under you( )
==============================================

5. When something really amuses you, you react with....
a) big appreciated laugh ( )
b) a laugh, but not a loud one ( )
c) a quiet chuckle ( )
d) a sheepish smile ( )
==============================================

6 When you go to a party or social gathering you...
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you ( )
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know ( )
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed ( )
==============================================

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're
interrupted do you......
a) welcome the break ( )
b) feel extremely irritated ( )
c) vary between these two extremes ( )
==============================================

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?...
a) Red or orange ( )
b) black ( )
c) yellow or light blue ( )
d) green ( )
e) dark blue or purple ( )
f) white ( )
g) brown or gray ( )
==============================================

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep are you...
a) stretched out on your back ( )
b) stretched out face down on your stomach ( )
c) on your side, slightly curled ( )
d) with your head on one arm ( )
e) with your head under the covers ( )
==============================================

10. You often dream that you are........
a) falling ( )
b) fighting or struggling ( )
c) searching for something or somebody ( )
d) flying or floating ( )
e) you usually have dreamless sleep ( )
f) your dreams are always pleasant ( )
==============================================

SCORING POINTS:

1. (a) 2 points. (b) 4 points (c) 6 points
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1
Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS : Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely nt. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile,
rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up ! and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful and practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always want someone else to make the decisions &who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Awesome God!

On the way home from our church's Youth Fundraiser tonight, the kids were in the back seat singing. I look back and my daughter, who is 3, looks out the window ans up at the sky and says, "God, You are an awesome God!" Enough to make mama's heart melt, and God's too, I am sure!! Hope everyone had a great day! God IS awesome!!