Wordless Wednesday - spider monkey

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Wordless Wednesday - My hard working 8 year old

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My latest obsession - Kings of Leon

If you could look through my CD collection, I could literally tell you the story of my life. Sounds silly, but I have this little obsession with music. I have to have it on while I am doing anything. I tend to hear a song or an artist and that is all I want to hear until I wear it out or drive everyone around me crazy from hearing the same songs over and over. So I can hear a song and tell you what was going on in my life and what year it took place. I am affected very emotionally by music If you would of been around me last month, I was still obsessing over the Twilight soundtrack, this week it is Kings of Leon. I love Caleb Followill on lead vocals, I think his voice is haunting, in a good way. Now I listen to a little bit of everything, well I take that back, I really don't listen to rap anymore as I don't really think the content is appropriate or necessary. Plus I do have 3 kidlets with me the majority of the time. But my play list consists of anything from the above to Third Day, Brandon Heath, to of course Depeche Mode and The Cure.

But in the last few months I have taken on a new habit, I have started running! So of course I need tunes to keep me motivated on my run. (I have never been a runner and I now am up to 3 miles!!!)
So I am just sharing this little bit. I love their CD Only by the night. It is really good and if you happen to be around me anytime soon, it's what I will have on my MP3 player, in the kitchen, in the car...
If you click on the video above it will show Use Somebody that they performed at the MTV movie awards. and below is the new video for Notion.
Notion

An unwanted garden visitor

We had just planted our garden and hadn't put up the fence yet, I notice this little rabbit in the neighbors yard eyeballing our treats that he thinks are for him. My kids thought this was hilarious! For more wordless Wednesdays click here!

Wordless Wednesday - Rainbow on a sunny day

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Wordless Wednesday - Visit with the Easter Bunny

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Wordless Wednesday - Crazy snowy spring morning

Natalie couldn't wait to go out and play in the snow yesterday morning, I am sooo done with winter!!! For more picture posts, click here

Wordless Wednesday My Forced Flower Bulbs

COME ON SPRING!!!!!For more Wordless posts, go to Five Minutes for MOM!

Fun with M & M's

As I logged on here this morning, I realized I went the whole month of February without a single blog post! It just wasn't a post worthy month I guess. We were sick for most of it. I have tried to post a few on my family blog, but if I have a few minutes I tend to jump on Facebook. So with being home with a sick Elena for a few days, my house is scrubbed from top to bottom and I have some catch up time. Last weekend I was playing around with the M&M avatars and the kids got in on the fun too. We did this awhile back but the site wouldn't let us save our creations.

I just think its interesting how you view yourself and how other people can view you as something completely different. I have had a few instances lately where I select something(shirt, purse, song) and someone tells me "oh that is not you at all" Which I respond with REALLY? So is it that I am so far gone from who I really am that I no longer know myself? Or is it others think they know me, but really don't pay that much attention?

I thought it was funny that when I selected an M & M avatar, one of my kids responded with who is that suppose to be? So I thought it would be funny to have them decide who I would be if I were an M & M. here are the results:

The first one is the one I created for myself.Then Ethan made one, this is his version of mom, like the blue lunch lady visor?Miss Elena is so cute, I kept reminding her that she was supposed to make one that looks like mommy, not her and she said I know, this is you. OKAYThen miss Natalie's version of mom

So there you have it. See what I mean? None of them are even similar. Well except the blue shoes, which I don't even own a pair of. Interesting......

If you want to have fun with M&M's just check out their website

Wordless Wednesday - something to brighten my day:)

It's been so dreary, these definetely brighten things up! My hubby is so sweet:)

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Wordless Wednesday - Our Wedding Anniversary

A year into dating (12 yrs ago!)

Engaged (10 yrs ago)

Wedding shower (9 yrs ago)

Our Wedding day December 31, 1999

Our family growing

And us now. After 13 years together and being married for 9:)

Tackle it Tuesday -Painting Project

I have overcome a fear.. The fear of painting. I have always let my husband do these sorts of projects unsure of my capabilities. This fall I couldn't wait for him we had a deadline with new carpet coming and so I painted the whole downstairs! Now it isn't perfect by any means and there still are a few spots that need touch ups or spots I missed. But I no longer am afraid and am moving on to other projects. Our cousin gave us her old dresser for our youngest. So this weekend I took advantage of the nice weather we had and painted this. I put the handles on and put it up today.

Before: It was quite sunny on our back porch, kind of hard to see.

Here is the after: She already put her things on it

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Wordless Wednesday - Merry Christmas

Aunt Judy sent the kids these hats from the place she works, so I thought it would be cute to snap a pic to send to her. So this is as close to a Christmas shot as we'll get this year:)

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No School, No School La-La-La-La-La-LA!

Not exactly how I wanted to wake up this morning, Our school system has just started an automatic call system that will call you when there is a delay or cancellation so you no longer need to get up and listen to the radio or watch TV to find out if there is a change in school, my phone is next to our bed so when they call, I don't even need to wake up- which is nice-They just started this last week and already have had to use it twice. A delay on Wednesday and today school was cancelled. So we now are officially on Christmas Vacation! Two weeks off! The kids had fun things planned at school today. Elena is really upset, she was so looking forward to her Christmas party at school. She doesn't want break, she loves school.

So with the roads full of ice, I am bummed because it puts a slight damper on my plans, I was planning on grocery shopping this morning, picking up Jason this afternoon and Christmas shopping with Bill this evening. I still have most of it to do!!

This is the first year in some time that I have more than a gift or two to purchase yet and it is consuming me. I will not do this again if I can help it!

I will try to shift my attitude around and try to enjoy this extra day of being stuck inside and do something fun with the kids, the shopping will have to wait until tomarrow....UGH

Weekend Recap

Well I thought since I am sitting here half awake, I would try to wake up my rusty brain and post a recap. I did have an almost KC like weekend. Hee, hee. Usually my weekends involve one major event over the course of it, but this weekend was busy and FUN! Friday I took the day off work so that I could get things done before my cookie exchange that I host. I have to plan things like this from time to time, because it actually motivates me to get things done. I need that deadline.

So I stayed up late Thursday night baking cookies so I wouldn't have that mess Friday. Friday was all about getting the house ready. And also having a day off from work without having to run around was soo nice!! I am counting down the days until Christmas Break! Whoo-hoo! The joys of working in a school:)

Friday night I had some friends over here to exchange Christmas cookies and we had quite the wintery weather. It snowed all day and there was quite a bit on the ground and on the roads. One girl couldn't make it because of the weather. (Crazy as it is all melted already and in the 50's right now) of course KC the blogger girl already had pics up. Here are a few I took. I should of just made her my party photographer :p

Saturday we woke up and the whole family just lounged around ate Christmas cookies for breakfast and watched The Santa Claus. Such a great way to wake up!

My MIL wanted the girls to come over for a tea party lunch, so I took them over there, stopped and picked up a few things at the grocery and came home to a quiet house. AWESOME!!! Bill took Ethan sledding so I had some time. I cleaned out one of my cupboards and then made some cookie dough for Sunday.

When Ethan came home we started putting together Christmas gifts we are making for family and teachers. Can't show you because I don't know who will see. Don't want to spoil the surprise!

Saturday night we went to this neat cabin for a surprise 60th birthday party for my Aunt, my mom's oldest sister. It was the first time in a long time I have seen all 4 of my mom's siblings together. They took some pics by the Christmas tree and I got a bit sad. It has been 25 years since my mom has passed....

It was nice to see cousins and family I haven't seen in awhile.

Sunday got up and went to church, the kids did the bell choir thing for the congregation, I love when they get to do this, they are soo cute.

Came home had lunch and went to Aunt Sandy's social hall at her church and spent the afternoon baking cookies with the girls. It was fun and a great way to get a bunch done!

We went back to her house and ordered pizza and just hung out. Was a great weekend. Of course throughout most of it I forgot my camera, but that is just how it goes. Maybe Santa will bring me a camera phone?

Christmas Cards

No pictures today, just a musing about Christmas cards. Don't you love how someone can be placed on your heart and then you hear from them? I have a friend who I was closer to anyone in the world and with kids and business we drifted over the past few years, I miss her terribly, and she has been on my mind daily. She has been dealt a lot and she shuts down instead of reaching out for a friend for comfort. I haven't spoken to her in a year and a half and I woke up yesterday morning thinking I should send her a Christmas card, it was heavy on my heart and when I opened my mailbox yesterday there is a card from her! It literally brought me to tears.

Only at Christmas:)

Wordless Wednesday - Silent Night

I looove this picture! They fell asleep watching The Polar Express and the Josh Grobin Believe song I have playing on my blog was playing when I walked into the room. Such a perfect little moment to store to memory:)

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Wordless Wednesday - What I woke up to yesterday!

I couldn't believe it being so early, but we are loving it. It looks so pretty I hope it sticks around a bit.

Sick, Sick, Sick

The flu bug is going around and unfortunately decided to come to our house so last night I was up all night with miss Natalie. Ick. I can handle any kind of chest cold, respiratory infection, but I don't do well with the pukes!

So I am spending my day today disinfecting and cleaning -when I am not snuggling with my little girl- We didn't get much sleep last night, so I am hoping she will sleep more today. We have a busy weekend ahead so I am hoping the Lysol does the trick.

Miss Elena is having two birthday parties. One tomorrow with her friends and one Sunday with family. So I have the house to get ready, which isn't much but we had new carpet put in last week and I still need to move some furniture around. But later I need to make cupcakes and when Bill gets home I need to shop for all the yummy food and decorations. Her theme is Littlest Pet Shop.

Today is one of those crazy little gifts, that you asked for but just not exactly. I was just complaining to my dh about how I have all these projects upstairs that are started but not finished and I can never keep the kids in one spot so I can finish them. Last night while miss Natalie drifted off to sleep after getting sick, I sat in her room and finally got all their summer things out of the closet and dressers and put away, sorted play clothes and school clothes, tossed some things and got the girls room cleaned. Today I have moved her into my room so she can watch cartoons and hopefully I can sort through these piles of papers around my desk and start on the boys summer things. If she was well, it would still be sitting here. Crazy.
Now I just pray I don't get sick!!

Wordless Wednesday - She loves her big brother :)

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