*Ahem* It hasn't really been since October, has it?!?!

Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

I LOVE this time of year. It's my favorite time of year... This is probably more fun than Christmas Day, because there's so much more done through the weeks leading up to Christmas Day!! :)

I can't make this a really informative post, because I already hear Eli up from his nap, and that means Abbey & Katie will be soon to follow, but I just wanted to say a quick "Hello" & "No, I haven't forgotten about blogging, or my new in-the-works blog." LOL We've got a new computer, and as soon as that's up & running, I'm sure you won't be able to get rid of me!! LOL :) Part of the blogging/facebooking problem for me has been a SSSLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW computer. I don't usually have time to wait on stuff to load...

OK, better go...

Love you all, and thinking of you!! :)

Pennsylvania in the Fall

We are visiting Steve's family this weekend, and WOW, I wish I could stay & watch the trees change into their full glory...it's already promising to be a beautiful fall up here. I LOVE AUTUMN!! :) And, this cooler weather is awesome, too :)

We're missing the Apple Butter Festival, though. That's mine & Steve's Autumn tradition. It's a VERY small festival, so you get the festival feel without the masses of people (like @ the Potato, Sauerkraut, and Strawberry Festivals!! LOL)

I've had plenty of time to do more lesson plans today :) Grandparents & Aunts are awesome :) Nice chunks of uninterrupted time during the day when I'm still awake & not ready to just flop into bed exhausted!! HA!! :) It's been really nice.

Tonight we get to have dinner with Aunt Marge & Uncle John. Steve & his Dad went to the shooting range (boys & their testosterone...whatever). Tomorrow we'll see the Barlett side of the family :) Probably in intervals :).

Monday we'll head home, and spend a few days learning up a storm!! Then, Friday I'm off to a Women's Retreat in Hillsboro, OH hosted by Mamie Johnson Ministries :)... Then, HOPEFULLY, things will kinda quiet down some...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love this time of year, though. There's so much to contemplate about God in the natural changing landscapes He's provided for us to watch with wonder... He is really Good, you know :)

OK, better go. I think there's a line forming for the computer, and even as much lesson planning as I've gotten done, I still need to iron a few more things out.

SO, Happy Autumn & I'll see you next time...Hopefully with pictures!! :)

I've Added Another Blog to the Mommy Princess Series!

HAHAHA...Seriously, I have. It's called "The Scrappy Mommy Princess" and it will be linked to my facebook & etsy accounts. I want to start selling home-made/pre-made kits on etsy.com to help supplement our income, and connected to that, I want to have a blog with updates, and my scrapbooking philosophies for all to see & read & contemplate.

It's not all about the paper...it's ALL about the Love...that's the heart of my scrapbooking philosophy. As much fun as all the embelishments, patterned paper, different types of books & albums, and crazy awesome layouts, there's really only one reason we scrappers scrapbook...it's the love, man...

And, no, I haven't necessarily turned into a hippy!! LOL :)

Homeschooling's still going well. This week I haven't felt the greatest (gotta love TOM), so we've had a pretty lax schedule, but other than that, it's been going really well. We keep pluggin' along. I have to remember, too, it's not all about the clock. "Classroom" school, kids aren't sitting & studying & doing worksheets for a whole 7 hours...there are lots of transitions, and transitions may (or may not, I guess) take more time because of class volume...ANYWAY, just because we don't get everything done in my pre-ordained (HA!) schedule, doesn't mean we're not getting anything done!! :)

I'm singing (along with Jeff, our Worship Minister) @ Emmaus Women's Walk tomorrow. A new song called "Beautiful" by Kari Jobe...GORGEOUS!! I LOVE IT...Anyways, Jodi & Missy will know what I mean when I say "dying communion." That's when I'm singing...Here's the Youtube version...



That's what I'm leaving you with today...I can't top that!! :)

Love you all!! :)

Tomorrow is Jodi's Birthday!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Cousin!! :)

WOW, there's so much to share, I don't know where to start!!

I'm sick...that's not so much fun, and my left ear is clogged up & I can't hear things well, and my head is pounding...LOVELY!! LOL

I'm very excited about the upcoming Girl's Cruise (probably in May!!), and am starting to iron out the financial side of things...SO EXCITED!! :) The thought of that cruise will be so nice & encouraging throughout this winter, I'm sure!! :)

Homeschooling is going well :) Abbey's so smart & is just like a sponge. It's been such a blessing to watch her "get" things as we go. Still not using any particular curriculum, but we're doing well without it so far...Next year, though, probably won't be so easy without a curric, and I'd still like to get something for this year, too, as a guide/resource with planning lessons.

We have become regulars at the library, and more than just for Leapfrogs (the reading/craft program for 4&5s)!! :) We've been going for this & that... I'm so glad she loves books, and I love them, too.

Next month I hope to get together with the homeschool group that meets @ the library every month.

Lots going on, and so much more to tell, but that's all I have time for right now. I miss blogging on a regular basis... Facebook is fun, but there's something about having more characters that appeals to this chatter-box!! LOL :)

Love you all :)

I've Officially Won the Award for "Worst Haircut EVER" in the category, "Just Before Vacation"

That's what my facebook status was this past Tuesday night. Now, I have NOT had a haircut this bad EVER. I've said before that you can't really get it too short in the back for me, which is mostly true, but if the crown is too short, watch out!!

Not only was this haircut too short (mainly on one side of my head), it was awful all over. One side could've been "grin & bare it" too short, but the other side was "GET A HAT" too short. Not only was it too short, but some areas of my hair hadn't even been touched!! WEIRD!! Who does that? Who in their right mind would actually let someone walk out of their salon looking like that?!?!

Tammy from Great Clips, that's who.

So, I cried when I got home Tues. night. Then, after I showered & attempted to fix that mess, I cried even harder. Abbey came into the bathroom a couple times to check on me...I think she was scared to death, poor thing. And, Katie was here, too, and she steered clear of me.

So, I don't normally do this, but I was so frustrated, I called them back. I started crying while I was talking to the lady, and I know she felt bad because she said, "Oh, honey, come on in & we'll see what we can do to fix it." She made sure she told me when to come in before Tammy came in. Thank heavens!! But maybe she should've been there, to face the mess she'd made.

I really need a regular hair person. I miss having my own "hair lady/guy." The regularly scheduled apts. The ability to close my eyes & trust them to do whatever they want to my hair, without fear. Ahhhhh... Those were the days...

I have always had the attitude, "If I don't like it, don't worry. It'll grow back." But this was just too much, even for me!!

So, we're leaving for Myrtle Beach on Saturday, and I will be buying a sun hat as soon as we arrive!! :)

In The Good Ol' Summertime

Hello, fellow bloggers...although, my ring of bloggers have been pretty quiet lately... I think people are REALLY addicted to Facebook. And, that's cool... But I still enjoy blogging...

Check out my "Diet" blog, cause I posted a new one about that part of my journey :) I'm OK.

We're pretty busy around here!! I can't believe I did it, but I signed Abbey up for Fairborn Girl's Softball (the season only lasted a month & 1/2!!), and I cried at her dance recital, AND rehearsal... And, now we're gearing up for the beach in August!! :) WOO HOO!! :) I haven't been to the beach since 1999!! Can you believe it?!?! Haha, so I guess I'm gonna party like it was 1999!! Yep, still dorky!! LOL But, seriously, SO EXCITED!! And, so is Abbey!! She's so sure she's gonna "surf" and I will be surprised if she gets in the ocean beyond her knees!! LOL :) She is so my daughter!! :)

Eli's doing great!! He turned one, and still isn't walking by himself, yet, but that doesn't stop him from getting into trouble!! He's into EVERYTHING... But he's a sweetheart!!

Steve's doing well. He started a new job on base back at the end of April, and is loving it!! It's in a new building, with a lot of new, different people, and he's really enjoying himself there. He will probably get a pay raise in the fall sometime...just in time for Christmas!! :) WOOHOO!! :)

So, here's some more exciting news!! I, who have never won anything except when EVERYONE gets a prize (you, know, work parties & that sort of thing), won $1,000 in gift cars to Meijer!! That was pretty awesome!! We've been doing the majority of our shopping there (DUH!!), and it's just been a blessing...

OK, I'd better get moving...I'd like to head to Hobby Lobby after Steve's done mowing the lawn... I'm making "Christmas in July" party invites!! :) It's only a few weeks away!! :)

Love you all, and see most of you on Facebook!! :)

Averaging a blog a month!!

There is SO much to blog about...I really need to just start sharing tidbits at a time... But that would mean I would have to HAVE time to do that... *sigh*

Someday!! :)

I can't tell you how refreshed I've felt since WOF!! I REALLY needed that (& to go with my girls instead of "church people" if you know what I mean)...it just filled up my cup!! :)

Obviously, Steven Curtis Chapman was excellent!! And, I might've bawled like a baby while he sang...He started out singing, "Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name..." For those of you who don't know or are just passing through this blog (maybe for the first time), SCC & his family lost their 5-year-old daughter in a freak accident in their driveway, and to be able to sing those words 10mos. after the accident, it was just powerful, and I admit, pretty humbling. God is God no matter what we are going through, and I've been a bit of a whiner in my relationship with God.

Friday was spent with Sandi Patty, and MAN, that girl can sing!! :) I always seem to underestimate her talent, probably because I associate her with "old people music" when that's not the case, really... Awesome testimony & just a powerful voice!! :)

The speakers were great, the company greater, and the music...INCREDIBLE... Because Saturday was Mandisa!! She just blows me away, and I have to say, she is even better live than on her CD's (and she's pretty awesome on her CD's!! :))

GREAT time, and I was just filled... There's just so much to share!! :)

Alright, my time is up, apparently... Eli's up & hollering "Mama!! Mamama!!"

Hate to be so abrupt!! :) Love you all!! :)

Library Ramblings...

So, I know it's been awhile, but I'm gonna pick up like I never stopped blogging for a month or more :) LOL

I've been listening to Mandisa!! Girl!! I LOVE her!! :) I love her music, I love her testimony, and I love what GOD is saying to my heart through her...

I was asked to "teach" our Devo group at church this week (13+ youth kids), and I am wondering if the Lord isn't leading me to share with them "True Beauty" & how we are not to be defined by anything other than Christ...Or maybe that's just the message He's been speaking to MY heart, especially the last few days...

Steve surprised me with Mandisa's new Freedom CD (it came in a box from Christianbook.com, and, yes, was addressed to him, but I *thought* I knew what was in there!! :)), then, yesterday, after a very tough day (Eli's teething...apparently he's getting a mouthful all at once!! UGH!!), he brought home her 1st CD that we didn't have, and I escaped to the shower with the CD player & CRANKED IT UP & cried & praised in the shower...I was a happier Mommy after I stepped out of the bathroom :)...

Anyways, there are other ways He's been speaking to me about "True Beauty" lately, too... Too many to count, though!! :)

On the homeschooling front, I have been devouring any kind of books that have the word "Homeshcool" in the title!! LOL I have a few homeschooling friends who are quick to tell me, "Seriously, it's not that big a deal!!" But, it's kinda like when you're pregnant for the first time, and you check out every pregnancy book that has ever been published, and maybe a few that haven't, and are just obsessed about being the "best" pregnant woman in the history of pregnant women...Until about the 2nd month, when the only thing that sounds appetizing is Taco Bell!! LOL

But, I am a perfectionist, and the perfectionist in me wants to know everything... And the "take it easy" side of me is saying, "Sesame Street is very educational...I wonder if that counts as Kindergarten?!?" LOL See? I'd LOVE to be somewhere in between...

All right, that's it for me, kids...I'm at the library today, and I can't share photos or anything, and it's almost time for Abbey to get out of storytime...

LOVE YOU ALL!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE LYNNE BIG GIRL!! :) I can't believe you're getting so big!! :)

Katie's birthday isn't actually until Monday, but I thought I'd go ahead & share that today while I had a minute!

3 years ago, I had a 2 year old!! Can you believe it? Abbey was a little princess & had everyone's undivided attention...then came Katie!! :)

3 years later, and they're bestest of friends...The older they get, the smaller their age-gap closes....It's so fun to see the 2 of them playing & making each other giggle....

Okay, better go...Just had to share that!! :)

Love you all!! :)

I'm Either Called or Insane...

That is a joke, of course!! :) LOL I feel confident (at this moment in time) about the decisions I've made for our future...Starting this fall...

First of all, I have decided to homeschool Abbey. I think in my heart I knew all along I would do it. I think that I wasn't totally honest with myself because of fear...lots of fear. I have a friend, though, who told me that I would not be a failure if it didn't work out, and that I won't scar her for life!! LOL So, we're "officially" taking the plunge.

That is a huge undertaking, especially since we want to do it mostly for free...that means lots of research & study time for Mommy, as well as Abbey...and it will only become more so the older she gets...

ANYWAYS...

Second is this...I plan on heading up our Awana program for the next school year. I have a bigger vision than just the Awana program itself. I would LOVE to expand into Family Ministry. Maybe this all sounds wierd to you all who are in a church that has these things in place, but I go to a church that does not. SO, here goes!! LOL

We had a huge problem with Awana in the past at our church. Poor leadership, and that leadership tended to focus on the incentives (the kids earn Awana Bucks and that equals prizes), and I guess they became so outlandishly ginormous, and the kids needed so many Awana bucks to buy these prizes, that turned into crazy memorization time, with little emphasis on LEARNING the verse, not just memorizing them. There are more issues, but they largely point back to leadership...The leader wanted to have a "bells & whistles" start, instead of starting small & growing from there.

Well, this cheapskate is all for Oriental Trading-type prizes, with maybe a few "big ticket" items being a lunch box or something like that...Maybe an Awana T-shirt, stuff like that that's not way over the top...

I will have a busy summer...

PRAYERS ARE NEEDED!! Not just for me, although, I will need plenty of them!! I would like to start recruiting teachers this summer (like July & August) so that we can start training & stuff in August. I'd also like to get the congregation to praying & understanding that it's not going to be as dramatic as it was...Learning scriptures are the key principle here, and that should stay the main principle (remind me of that when I'm worrying over which pencils to choose for the Awana store!! LOL).

The second phase to the vision (I sound like a villain giving away his "evil" plot!! LOL), is to get parents involved. A LOOOONG time ago I found these "family day" activities on children'sministry.com & filed them away for future reference...And have recently been thinking that now is the time...to get started...

So, quarterly, we're going to have a Family Day at church, with there being a main focus for parents to be encouraged & equipped to be examples & influence their children by their lives with Christ. That sounds all deep & heavy, but I can assure you that these principles are laced with LOTS of fun!! :) First would be a day about prayer!! There would be a workshop for parents, a seperate workshop for the kiddos, and then they would have free rein to explore different developmental stages & ideas of incorporating prayer into their familial lives (ie. what to pray about, from toddlers praying for their families while holding & looking at pictures of them, to a station set up with a TV newsreel loop & newspapers to open up dialoge with their teen children on praying for current events.) Families would have time to explore these different centers & then there would be lunch (of course, we're Baptists!! LOL) .

Again, PRAYERS, please? These are some big ideas, and I obviously won't be able to do everything by myself, so it will take a team of volunteers (can I just hope for positive-attituded ones?LOL) to carry everything through.

OK, love you all, and if you made it this far without skimming, thank you!! LOL :) I appreciate you wading through my craziness!! I needed to blog about it...

Trying Not to Eat Everything in the House...

I just had a bad week...

We've been fighting THE COLD here...and I don't mean the weather...

Poor Eli & Abbey just got over stuff, and last week, about the middle (I've forgotten the days of the week, and am moving into where all the days kinda mush together...) Eli started coughing in the middle of the night...that barking/croup-like cough that scares me to death! Then, this weekend, Abbey started it.

The good news is that I think Eli's starting to get better, so that means Abbey will start getting better soon (although, she's older, and it doesn't seem to be hitting her as hard).

Between sleepless nights (I've been exhausted, just not able to sleep! ARGH!!), coughing/whining/grumpy babies, I about lost my mind last week...

Then I got a breather...the weekend...

Abbey stayed with Mammy & Papa (she was feeling OK), and Eli slept much better this past weekend (especially since Steve was here most of the weekend to help).

So there it is...I'm just hangin' in there, trying not to eat every scrap of food we have in the house out of stress & raging emotions...

Love you all!! :)

Make a Smilebox postcard

Party Day...

Today is Abbey's Birthday party!! :) I am trying to stay sane because this throwing a huge party thing is NOT easy on a Mommy, especially with Steve working every night...

But then I feel stupid because I think about what my friend is going through right now, and I know that I have nothing to complain about, and realize just how precious life is.

Tragedy has a way of clearing our focus, our perspective.

Love you, Sara!!

A 5 Year Old...

I cannot believe that my baby girl is FIVE already!! This was a very emotional birthday for me this time.

We had stayed out pretty late Sunday night because of the Superbowl (we went to Chelle's), so the kiddos didn't get to bed until really late...

And, then, we got a 3a.m. wake-up call from Abbey... And, it was the "ear infection" cry...

It actually turned out to be a very sweet moment for me (and for her, too, I think, especially after the Motrin kicked in! LOL). I was sitting with her in the living room rocking her & cuddling a little bit & happened to look at the clock. Exactly 5 years ago at that time I was tossing & turning all night because I was so excited & nervous all at the same time! I told her that, and she said, "For real?" LOL I told her I was so excited to finally see her face!

So, needless to say, I was a mess all day Monday!! LOL Well, it wasn't that bad, but I did choke back some tears a time or a hundred...

My Dad called Monday to wish her a happy birthday, but she wasn't here (she had a trip to the dr. with Daddy). So, we got to talking & he says, "Yep, 5 years ago today all of our lives were changed forever." ::SOB::

We met Mom & Dad & Chelle & Katie at Chuck E. Cheese's and had so much fun! We went to the one in Springfield, and no matter how much they change the look of that one, I will always have fond memories of MY birthdays that were spent there!! :) (read: the gorilla man is still there playin' his keyboard, only now he's purple with neon green hair & is called "Munch." I will always miss Billy Bob, though.)

So, aside from an ear infection, she had a great birthday!! :) LOL And, so did I!! :)

Love you all!! :)

Girlfriends...

I have been having one big pity party for myself this week...I even blogged about it last time!! LOL But, even when we whine, God is so good to us!!

Last night before bed, my devo (from "Joy Breaks: 90 Devotions to Celebrate, Simplify, and Add Laughter to Your Life") was entitled "Help...Now!" by Patsy Clairmont (one of my favorites!!). Anyways, her reference was Psalm 70:1 "O Lord, Come quickly to help me." That was the root of the cry from my heart this week. And, boy did He ever!! :) He's helped me all through this week; from snow days to girlfriends!!

Monday my friend Amy & my sister Chelle & I decided to go out on Friday. I had a sneaking suspicion that Steve had to work, but thought I'd ask my Mom to watch the kiddos for a while.

Well, she couldn't, so earlier in the week I told the girls I couldn't go (::insert Debbie Downer "Wah-wah" here::). So, last night rolled around, and Chelle & Amy went out...Then called me on their way to eat...

Amy: Hey! Whatchya doin?
Me: Oh, just sittin here with the kids...
Amy: (she laughs) Well, duh! Chelle & I are on our way to eat, then we're picking up Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes, and then we'll be over!
Me: (looking at my unbelievably messy house & who-knows-when-the-last-time-I-mopped kitchen floor) Ummm, ahh, OK.

Let me tell you, what a blessing!! It took them a little while, plenty of time for me to get the house 'BFF' ready (you know, not perfect, but acceptable), and I got the kids down right as they walked in.

I can NOT tell you how blessed I felt after they left. It's amazing what a good piece of cheesecake & giggling with your girlfriends will do for your perspective!! :)

But mostly, it's awesome the ways God comes to our rescue...

Lots of Snow...

Okay, I'm done with winter...

Only, I guess it's not done with me!! LOL

Steve has had the last couple of days off (during the day...he still had to go into HRB...) because of the snow, and that has been SO nice!! :) I have needed the help!! I about had a mental breakdown over the weekend, and Monday...

I was just overwhelmed, the babies wouldn't stop crying & whining, and I was just at my whit's end. He came home Monday night (after the storm had subsided) & said, "You're not going to like this, but I think I'm going in tomorrow night." I just started crying. My intent, honestly, was not to guilt him into staying home, Because "He'll be home tomorrow night, and I'll be able to get a couple of things done." had been my mantra all day (because I knew that he was working every other night but Tuesday). He did say that he could stay home, but I said, "No, go in, it's OK."

Then Tuesday came, and he went to work (reg. work, not HRB) & came home because the weather was getting so bad.

So, I'm sorry it's been inconvenient for all of you, and I know it has been, but it has been a breather for me. Winter is always harder because we're cooped up inside so much more. And, with the 2 of them, it's harder for me to even THINK about leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.

Maybe that makes me look like a wimp, but I don't care. I'm just feeling overwhelmed, so that makes a wimp out of me! LOL

On a happier note, Monday is Abbey's 5th Birthday!! Can you believe it?!?! It's amazing to me that we're already to this point. It feels like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

Okay, I'd better go...the natives might be getting restless again...

Love you all!! :)

Not much going on here...

We're just waiting on the warmer weather...I only left the house a few times this week...Am feeling a little (read: LOT) cabin fever...

Eli has an ear infection & never cried like Abbey did when she had one. I only had a hunch because he wasn't exactly acting like himself, and was being a little cranky pants :). But, he wasn't constantly screaming his head off like Abbey did!! :)

That same day I took him to the dr. (Wednesday) we went to Meijer...I went alone with the kids & my Pointsfinder, and wanted to sell my kids when I was done!! LOL Abbey was a major PILL & wasn't listening or staying with me for anything. Needless to say, she went to bed extra early that night!

She's been pretty good since then, though, and is trying to earn a sleepover at Mammy's. Every day she has the chance to earn a letter to spell "Mammy" & when she does, she gets a sleepover (when Mammy's schedule allows it, of course).

I'd better get to bed. I'm helping Mr. Ed in his Sunday School class tomorrow...the kids are going to alter composition notebooks as their Purpose Driven Life journals, and I said I'd help with that :). It should be a lot of fun, because these kids are a lot of fun!! :)

Love you all, and am praying!! :)

Heaven...

I'm so excited!! Today I'm going to my favorite scrapbook store & am going to create as much as I can in 10 hours!! :) I also plan on re-organizing some things...I read a great article in my favorite scrapbooking magazine (Simple Scrapbooks) that got down to how you work is how you should organize...So, I feel like I have a better understanding of what will work for me...The hard part will be not spending so much on new containers!! LOL

I'm a visual person. I don't usually start my project with the photo (I know, sounds weird). Of course, technically, it starts with a photo! But, when I sit down to create, I don't reach for photos first, I reach for paper, colors, etc... So, seeing my colors, sorting my things by color instead of theme will work for me, I think. And, if not, I can always change it later.

So, I'm in heaven...I have a project halfway done, and I'd like to start a similar one to get finished by Abbey's Birthday (an "all about me" book like I made for Gracie).

That will be a timely gift this year.

I stuck to my guns yesterday, and we did not watch ANY TV until she was done in her room. I had decided to leave her alone in her room because I had been in there for about half an hour & she just wasn't cooperating, and I was beginning to just do it...and getting mad. So, after the last time of me directing her in what to do next, and she twirling around like she was alone, I said, "OK, Abbey, I've got to leave & you can do this yourself."

So, I left.

It worked! Well, sort of. I got cooled down, she still didn't get to watch TV, then I finally she asked me to come see her room...Nothing was really different, but I was, so I stayed & watched her clean up.

I hate to yell. So, I've decided not to do that. Dr. Lehman says to "1. Say it once. 2. Turn your back. 3. Walk away." The idea is to get your child thinking on their own, problem solving on their own. And as the parent, waiting for the teachable moment. As he says, they're not exactly teachable during a tantrum.

Months after reading his book (Have a New Kid By Friday), we still waffle back & forth between doing that & back to our old habits. Simple strategy, difficult to execute.

Anyways, after all the drama (and I guess that just comes with her being a girl :)), she came up to me later (while Eli was napping) and says, "Mommy, sometimes when I'm cleaning in my room & you're out here [living room] with Eli, I think you love him more than me."

Talk about melting my heart. I just about sobbed!! I have a lot in common with Abbey May. We are both 1st borns, so I understand that feeling. And, I've worked hard, or so I thought, at trying to balance all that comes with a new sibling.

So, as you can see, an "All About Me" book for her birthday is very appropriate this year, even more than it would have been last year.

Off to Scrappy Land!! :)

Hmmm, I don't know why you had that problem with the other blog, Missy...

Ok, so today was a pretty good day!! :) I feel like all I've done are dishes, but other than that...

We're having issues with Abbey right now. But, I'm trying to not yell & let her learn through consequences...NOT EASY!!

She wanted to watch "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" that she & Steve borrowed from the library the other night, but I told her that she needed to pick up her toys in her room before she watched ANY tv tonight, and definately before she watched a movie.

SO, no popcorn, no movie, and she's still not cleaning her room. She doesn't know it, yet, but she doesn't get to watch TV tomorrow until her toys are picked up.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me...I'm not expecting perfection from my almost-5-year-old, but a big helping of effort would be wonderful.

She did pick up some, but not all...::sigh::

Eli's sleep-deprived. He's so exhausted during the day, no wonder why he sleeps all night...Not that I'm complaining. It's just frustrating when he's grumpy because he's not letting himself nap.

He's a sweet boy, though :), no matter how grumpy!! :)

I'd better go. I want to hear President Bush's last address to the nation.

Love you all!! :)

Happy Wednesday!! :)

Well, I've started a 2nd blog...NOT a "new" blog, but one to co-exist with this one. It's called "The Mommy Princess on a Diet." I'll be blogging all about my weight loss journey with Weight Watchers, sharing recipes as I come across them, and just being a little more focused on one topic over there. There's a link for it in my sidebar if you'd like a gander. No big deal, just something for me to ramble & share on over there.

Not much more going on with us, because of the sNoW!! :) Yes, the 'white death' is here. How can something so beautiful & fluffy looking cause so much havoc?!?! LOL It really was beautiful to watch coming down today...and it never really stopped all day. They were big fluffy flakes, it looked like a movie set had done it!!

Oh, I started the new blog because I started back to WW's last night. Missy, you would remember the leader at my meeting as the first leader we had in Fairborn with the southern accent who had to leave because she was overloaded. Well, she's still a leader!! :) And she's in Huber!! :) So, not only is she the closest to me, I know her & really like her!! :)

Anyways, it was a good day, I was trying to "get rid" of 5pts. tonight & that has never happened to me before, first day or not!! LOL :) So, I'm taking that as a good sign!! :) Next week's booklet is about exercise, I think, so I'm going to only have the goal of sticking to my points this week & next week will start incorporating the exercise.

Aren't you glad I got another blog for that stuff? LOL Wouldn't you hate to hear all about that when you could care less? LOL

Love you all...Have a great snowed-in weekend!! :)

A Pictoral Post...

Here's a little look into our Christmas & New Year's...and maybe a few of Isaac's "bathtizing" today :) (that's what Abbey called it)...

And, Missy, I will email you more...Unfortunately, all the ones I took of them in the baptistry were blurry for some reason...

Okay...Love you all!! Good night!! :)

How do you keep a 4 year old from dragging your 7.5 mo old all over the living room, repeatedly, after being told not to touch him?

Abbey May was definitely a Diva today, and proud of it.

Everything I said today was met with a "No. I don't want to." She quickly changed her attitude when she got the Mommy Glare, but still...

Awesome.

So, my lesson for the day is that maybe I went a little too soft over Christmas holidays...

In other news, we watched Kung Fu Panda last night (and again today). VERY CUTE MOVIE :) I wasn't disappointed!! :) I wouldn't mind having that one.

Now, because I feel "The Crud" coming on, I'm gonna watch my babies fall asleep, then drink up some NyQuil & head into a restful sleep. I knew I should've still been taking my EmergenC...That stuff's pretty awesome, too!! :)

I can't believe it...they're all 3 asleep! I'm watching Katie today for Chelle & my 2 are asleep (Eli was a hard one today), and both girls are asleep in the living room on the couches...So here I am, in my bedroom, with QVC on & blogging on the brain...

I was actually folding laundry in the living room when both girls went out. I was standing there thinking about how much laundry I do, and it seems as if I'm never caught up...

I realize I've lamented quite a few times about laundry, and it is true that it's a constant chore that never gets checked off as "done."

But as I was standing there folding towels, watching the girls drift off into Sleepy Town, it hit me what a blessing the laundry is. It is a visible sign of life. The life we lead. All those tiny socks, sleepers, princess nightgowns, matching Children's Place sweaters, bed sheets, and, yes, even the dreaded towels, are all evidence of where my life is right now, and how blessed I am.

Those aren't just articles of clothing. They're bedtimes and bathtimes, playtimes full of giggles & smiles, tickles & piggies. OK, and sometimes an, "I thought I told you to put that in your hamper!!"

So, I will try to keep thinking about that when I walk into Eli's room & try not to heave a big sigh at the sight of his overflowing laundry hamper.

I am, beyond a doubt, absolutely blessed.

Wow, I didn't really mean for that last post to be my last until Christmas & New Year's!! What a busy season!! Our computer's S L O W, too, so it's easy to resist the temptation to blog...

Hmmm, what to talk about? There is too much to catch up on, really, so I'll give you the highlights!! LOL :)

Christmas was GREAT!! :) We had such a fun season this year!! Abbey sang her first solo at our Christmas program at church & did such a great job!! I was so proud of her & my whole family cried while she sang!! Super sweet!!

Eli had a wonderful first Christmas. I'll tell you what, that boy is the best baby I've ever known. He doesn't make much of a fuss unless he's hungry or beyond needing a diaper change, ya know? And, he's always got a smile for you. I love that baby boy!! :)

Christmas Eve was fun, as usual!! :) We got together with the Powell side of the family & this year, we went caroling to some of Mom & Dad's neighbor's houses, and that was a lot of fun!! It got some of the kids' wiggles out, too, so they were ready to sit & sing some more, but of course, we opened presents right after we sang Silent Night!! :) I love the chaos that is Christmas Eve. It's a good chaos...

Christmas Day was easy-going :) We had our little family Christmas (Abbey asked for a "microphone on a stand" from Santa, and Eli got a busy ball popper), and we got ready to go to Mom & Dad's a little earlier this year because we knew we weren't going to stay as late as we have in the past because Dad had surgery the Friday after Christmas Day (on his shoulder...more on that later). We had a great time, and played a game of Scrabble, which I lost miserably. The kids were great all day & Katie LOVED the Princess dress-up dress I got her... She had to immediately put it on & wore it about all day :). When she put it on, her whole countenance changed. That girl, she IS a "Pin-pess."

So, Dad's surgery. I don't know if I shared with all of you or not, but on Thanksgiving Dad tore his shoulder up pretty badly. He had a torn rotator cuff & other torn muscles, come to find out, all from a fall he took in the garage on Thanksgiving day while playing with Abbey & Katie. So, he hasn't had as much fun the last month 1/2 or so as you might think, and I know that kills him. Christmas is his favorite!

Drugged up on percoset & motrin, and he's STILL in pain...I think it's gradually getting better, though...

New Year's we spent at Scott & Missy's!! :) Thank you, Cousin, for having us all over again!! :) We had lots of fun, the kids all got along well (for the most part) & we played a few games that I'd never played, but were a lot of fun!! I hadn't really been sleeping well the few nights prior to that, because Eli was waking up with a cough, so I didn't make it as late as I might've otherwise, but it was good to see & play games & just spend time with family again. Everyone's lives are so busy & full it's hard to make time like that all the time, so it was great getting together with everyone again.

So, now it's 2009, I've got a new background on my blog, and the Christmas tree is starting to make me feel claustrophobic in my living room. That's coming down this week sometime. Also, the trees at church are coming down before next Sunday, too :). I'm still listening to my Christmas music, though! That's always the hardest part of the holidays for me, to start integrating "rest-of-the-year" music after Christmas. I LOVE Christmas music, and literally listen to it all year round.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Everyone!! :) Love you, and I'm praying blessings to fill your 2009!! :)