Poor Emmy...

Emily woke up Friday morning for school with a 101 degree fever and said her head hurt. She then ran for my bathroom and was sick. So she stayed home with mommy and laid in bed watching movies. I haven't been able to get food or drink down her, and her fever spiked a little. Hopefully this ends soon...she looks so sad and pitiful, I just wanna cuddle her all day...XOXO

Happy Friday Quote

"I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life."

Amen!
XOXO

You gotta watch this movie...

Ok - On our Rainy Sunday afternoon, DH had gotten a family movie for all of us to watch together. And was it a good one! It is called "The Ultimate gift" and you have got to watch it!
It has that adorable girl, Abigail Breslin in it. It is a movie that teaches life lessons and really makes you think about your own life. They even have a website you can order your own "Ultimate Gift Box" from and do it with your family once a month on "family night". I can't talk enough about the movie, but if I start to tell you about it, it will give it all away. So just take my word for it and go rent it. Basically it is about a man who in order to get his inheritance, must take a series of "tests" and report after each one what he learned from them in order to get to the "Ultimate Gift" at the end. Both DH and I had tears in our eyes at the end. Now just to enforce how good it is...if you know my DH...you know he is a cheap skate...so when he told me that movie was good enough he wants to buy it...I knew it had to be good! LOL
Check it out, there's a trailer you can watch: www.theultimategift.com
XOXO

Emily is Star Student!

Emily was chosen as the Star Student for this week. She had to bring in 10 pictures of herself doing things she loves and her family, and the teacher arranges them for a presentation in class. She talks about each one so all her classmates get to know her and her hobbies. She was so excited to take them to school. She has been anxiously waiting for her turn to come. :o) Each student gets chosen to be it for one week. Her teacher goes through the class lists until everyone has had a chance. Unfortunately for Em, we are at the end of the alphabet, so she had to wait this long from the beginning of school to be chosen. Sorry sweetie...
XOXO

Best Mommy Award

Thanks Lisa ~

My first award! Let's see...Reason's I love being a mom...

*Unconditional Love

*Joy

*Pride

Just to name a few!

Here are the rules:

1. Show the award logo in your post.

2. Pick a picture you have with your kiddo(s).

3. Post should include your best experience as a Mom.

4. Nominate other blogger mom's out there that you consider the best mom, like yourself.

So I hereby Nominate Kaci and Leah because they are awesome mommies who are all about their kiddies!

XOXO

Monday Humor...

Need I say More...

XOXO

It's raining, It's pouring...

The old man is snoring...

I know you'r singing the rest of it now...LOL

We got hit with a big wind storm last night and today came the rain...We're all cooped up and staying dry. Hope your Sunday is going better then mine...
XOXO

If I had my Child to raise over again...

If I had my Child to raise over again,
I'd finger-paint more
And point my finger less.
I'd take my eyes off my watch,
And watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious,
And seriously play.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd be firm less often, and affirm much more.
If I had my Child to raise over again,
I'd teach less about the Love of Power,
And more about the Power of Love.
Diane Loomans

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote

"happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you will learn at once how big & precious it really is"

XOXO

It just amazes me...

If you ever grew up with siblings, you know that the early years are a Love/Hate relationship. One minute your the best of friends, and the next your screaming bloody murder and someone is in tears. I think it is exagerated more when it is a brother and sister, versus two sisters or two brothers. It's much harder I think for a brother and sister to relate and find common ground. One plays with dolls and dress-up, and the other is a preteen listening to music and playing video games.

But every now and then, a rare and precious moment will emerge at the oddest times and places, and I have to pinch myself and wonder if I am seeing correctly. Then I smile and tell myself that I must be doing something right in raising them if these moments exists.

I actually caught one of those moments on film. And I think it rates pretty high on my lists of favorite photos. Last year, sitting at Austin's soccer trophy party, in a room full of people, the moment happened. Austin's coaches were giving speeches and calling the players up one at a time to present them with their trophy, so we had a while to wait for our turn. My being the team manager, I was at the front of the room handing out the trophies and taking photos.

And this is what I saw:

And then this:

And I melted...

XOXO

How time flies...

Let me introduce you to one of my many adorable Nephews. This is Justin, not only my nephew, but my Godson too:

This was taken the day he was born to my sister and her DH. I just love it when there's a new baby born into the family. I take them, smother them in my kisses, hold them tight so they know my smell, and promise them everything in the world! :o)

Justin is now 4, and last week he got a pretty nasty cold, ear infection, and bronchitis. My sister called me (at the crack of dawn!) and informs me my "godson" wants to spend the day with me! "uh-huh" i say. "Really" she says...then without skipping a beat informs me he can not go to daycare sick, and she can't miss work...and would I "pretty please" watch him for the day! Oh please sis...you dont have to pull the heart strings, i'll take him anyday! So he came to hang with me and was excellent considering he was sick.

It's hard to believe he's going to start Kindergarten this next fall. He's the last of the babies that will be born into the family for both sides. Makes me want another one, really bad! Uh honey...can we talk??? LOL! That'll never happen...but there are days I would love too. I just want to bottle up that baby scent, and keep those little fingers and toes forever. *sigh*

XOXO

Lazy weekend...

Ever have one of those weekends where you just can't seem to get motivated? That was me and DH this weekend. Other then baseball, we watched movies and napped all weekend. Yes ~ it was nice. I'm not complaining. But I really should have cleaned, done more laundry then the two loads i did, caught up on my blog posts, something more then I really did. Now in our defense, we have had ALOT going on in our lives the last few months. And it really is taking a mental and emotional toll on us. I think I just finally hit my exhaustion point and my body said enough. It started with waking up Friday morning around 3am with a pounding migraine that lasted the whole day and night. I called in sick from work friday and took some serious medication all day and tried sleeping it off. Thankfully, I woke Saturday morning and it was gone.

So hopefully all your weekend plans were much more exciting then mine!

On the other hand, I saw more movies this weekend then I care to say! ;o)
My recommendation for a family friendly (probably older kids so they get the message and story line) movie is called "The City of Ember". Austin had a GC to a rental place and picked this out himself, and it was so good we watched it twice!

An adult comedy to watch that had some good parts that made me chuckle was "Swing vote". We also watched about 16 other movies...just kidding...and did i mention because Monday was a holiday, the DH and kids were home with me all day...so we had an extra day of movie watching then normal...and it stormed and rained all weekend, so we were trapped indoors! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
XOXO

Monday Humor...

I have decided that Mondays are bad enough to wake-up too, that we need a little Monday Humor to help get us through. So here starts the first series:

XOXO

Baseball has officially started...

Austin has his first practice Saturday with his new team and coaches. Everyone seems nice enough and Austin even knew a few kids on the team from school and past years playing. Plus the assistant coach was one of Austin's past coaches. He has been asked to attend a special "pitchers only" practice on Wednesday for only a select few. I am so excited the season has officially started! I just love Baseball season!

XOXO

Happy, Happy Day...

"Happy Valentine's Day!!!"

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote

"You never stand so tall as when you kneel to help a child."

One of my favorites...
XOXO

He's a Navy boy now...

I am so excited...Nick sent home his Official Navy portrait in his uniform!!! I fully expected him to look so grown up and mature when I finally got to see them. First, because we haven't seen him in so long, and second because of the military shaping and refining him into a "man" and not a "boy" any longer. But I have to say, I almost cried when I saw them. He looks so much more like a baby to me then ever before. He looks so young, insecure, nervous. That look of "I don't know what the world has in store for me" and "Can I come home, Mommy?" LOLAll this does is make me miss him all the more. Good thing is now he can recieve packages!!! So I'm off tomorrow to bake some goodies and grab a few things to send him. I remember when my dad was in Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm, Tabasco sauce (for the bland food) and Homemade goodies were very high on the list! We use to send my dad a package of 5-6 bottles of Tabasco, and all the guys in his troop would pay dearly for a bottle from him. So he became the popular one. And my mom and I would always bake goodies and ship them once a month to him. He use to tell us how the squad would gather round the box when he got one, because they always knew it was something good!

Don't worry Nick, I got you covered!

XOXO

Out of the mouths of babes...

I love it when kids come up with the darndest things to say. They pick up the lingo, and with their little kid voices, and the moments when they choose to use it, cracks me up!

Emily has been saying for a few months now, "That's a good idea". I have no idea where she got it. I nor my husband ever recall saying it. But she will come up to me and say, "Mom, I should get ice cream after my homework is done, that's a good idea!" or "I think I should get to sleep in brothers room because that's a good idea!" It is hilarious that everything that benefits HER is a "good idea"!

Her other comment lately has been "Don't even think about it!" She will be talking to her brother and say "You can't have my toy, don't even think about it!" or if Dad is teasing her "DAD (in her shrilly, high pitched voice), Don't even think about it!"

I use to love it when Austin was about 2-1/2 or 3 years old. He couldn't say the word "Pepsi". So he would walk around and ask for a drink of "Sepi". It was so cute in that little toddler voice we had to get him on video tape saying it so we wouldn't forget how it sounded.

Oh these good times will surely end when they hit teenage hood and instead of cute little sayings coming out of their mouths...it will be back talking and telling me their going out on dates!!! Ack!

XOXO

Austin's Baseball pics

We start Baseball season next week, and it got me thinking of all the years we have been playing. Austin started playing baseball when he was 5 years old. Little T-ball, with little kids, in little cleats, and little gloves. It was so cute! Now that little boy is 12 years old and about to enter the Majors division for the first time and we have learned there are many coaches scouting for him right now. It is so exciting to see the pride in him when he does well, but especially when he hears about all these different coaches trying to trade players to get him and come stake out his games to watch him play. He is one in a very rare field of players that are lefties. He bats right handed and pitches left. And throws strikes every time.

This is from this past year, look at how high that leg comes up, the power in that throw!

I ran across this picture the other day and remembered why I loved it. This is from 2 years ago when he played for the Braves. Every year the league hires an Action Photographer that captures the players in action during games, and then sells the pictures to the parents of their kids, and the league gets a profit percentage. Kind of like a fundraiser. Normally I take enough of my own pics, that I don't bother buying them. The prices are usually ok, but to pay $10 shipping for a few prints isn't worth it. But this one year, this one photographer caught the one pic that was worth it! Check out this player:

Tell me he shouldn't be on an advertisement for Nike or some sports on some billboard??? The look of concentration was amazing to capture. And since I had to get that one, I bought a few others to make myself feel like paying the shipping was worth it. LOL I love how the photographer captured this off center and twisted yet focused on his concentration!

I can't wait for the new season to start and find out which coach won the fight and got Austin!

XOXO

We're so proud of you Dad...

I can't even begin to express how proud I am of my dad. I think every little girl believes her daddy is her true hero. But mine really is. I grew up in a military family. My dad had been in the Navy since he was 18 yrs old and has served several years in the Vietnam War, served in the Philipines and spent 1-1/2 years in Desert Storm in Saudia Arabia. He continued to be in the reserves until his 25 years were in and retired a few years ago. He had worked his way up the chain during his time in, and when he retired, he had quite a troop of men under him.

Last year I learned that our city was establishing a monument in honor of all the men and woman that had served our country, and you could buy a brick and have it engraved with whatever you wanted in memory of that person. So for his birthday, DH and I bought a brick and had it set in the monument in honor of my dad. So now every generation can go and see with pride what my dad gave for us. For his birthday, I wrote a long letter from the heart explaining what he meant to us and what we had done in honor of his brithday. He was so touched he teared up. When the brick was finally laid, DH and I took my parents to the park where it was and showed him what we had made. I can't explain in words what was on my fathers face when he looked at his brick and all the others lined up next to his. There are no words. For what he missed in our childhoods growing up because he was gone, or the struggle he knew my mom went through while he was gone, or for what he saw and went through while he was serving. For the friends he lost in the wars, for the friendships he gained for life in fellow soldiers.

Dad...I would never trade what you have done or the person you are for any other father. You are the best I could ever ask for, and I love you!

XOXO

Happy Friday Quote!

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

Happy, Happy Friday!
XOXO

Gawd I feel old...

DH and I officially became "Great" Uncle and Aunt this weekend! Sooo not fair! I'm too young for that title. :o(

Tera and DH on Christmas day, '08 when she was 8 months preggers!

DH's niece had her baby on Sunday, a bouncing Baby Boy! His name is Aiden Alan (I hope I spelled it right). She lives 1-1/2 hours from us, so I'm not sure when we will get to see her or the baby, but we talked to her last night for a few minutes.

This is Tera when she was 4 and in a pageant.

Tera was just 5 years old when DH and I met. She was so cute. And he was the doting Uncle. Always having her for the weekend, taking her places and seeing how good he was with kids made me fall for him all the more.

Tera, Nick and Me on my wedding day

Tera was our flower girl in our wedding when she was 8. My nephew, Nick, was the ring boy at 4 yrs old. Man these kids grow up so fast.

Congrats Tera!

XOXO

Emily's Award...

Last week we recieved a phone call from Emily's teacher telling us that Emily would be recieving an award during the school assembly on Friday, and invited us to attend. DH and I both went and took a few pics. Her school does the "Character Counts" awards, and each month it changes to a different character trait. So this month was the "Fairness" award, and she won! Her teacher gave a really nice speech about Emily always sharing and has a smile on her face. Emily was so suprised and walked up there to get her award and shake hands with the principal. She had no idea about the award or that we would be there.

Her principal is on the left and her teacher is on the right.

She was so excited, as soon as she got home that night, she had daddy hang it on the wall with all the other awards her and brother have brought home.

Emily and her teacher wit hother students that won (that is a coyote statue in front as they are the coyotes)

Way to go Emily, we're very proud of you!

XOXO

The ABC's of Positive Thinking

"To Achieve your Dreams, remember your ABC's"

Avoid negative souces, people, places, things & habits.
Believe in yourself.
Consider things from every angle.
Don't give up, and don't give in.
Enjoy life today: yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.
Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.
Give more than you planned to give.
Hang on to your dreams.
Ignore those who try to discourage you.
Just do it!
Keep on trying. No matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.
Love yourself first and most.
Make it happen.
Never lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal.
Open your eyes, and see things as they really are.
Practice makes perfect.
Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.
Stop procrastinating.
Take control of your own destiny.
Understand yourself in order to better understand others.
Visualize it.
Want it more than anything.
Xcellerate your efforts.
You are unique.
Zero in on your target, and go for it.

By Wanda Carter (whoever she is, LOL)

Have a good day...XOXO

I hate having to be the mean mommy...

Progress reports came home this week from school, and it was not a good one! Which means I now have to be the "Mean Mommy" and ground him. I have to take away all his precious Video Games, TV privileges, No Sleepovers! Dad gets to stand there and say, "do what your mother says" while I am the one home with them and have to hear how MEAN I am for not caring about him! :o)

My son has NO IDEA how good of a life he has. I am sure the kids that run in gangs wish they had a mom that cared this much. Or the kids that had no mom. The kids who live in dumpsters on a cold, rainy night wish they had his life. The kids with no food to eat for days wish they lived in his shoes and ate his food.

Someone once sent me this poem...and I think it says it all:

Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough . . . to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash; and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friend's just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.
While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16. Because of our mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced.
None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever been arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!


I grew up with one of those Really Mean Mom's, and I am so proud to be a MEAN MOM myself!!!
XOXO

Super Bowl!

Hubby and I have always been on opposite teams. When we met, I was a 49er fan (I know, I know) but i grew up going to see the 49er's during their summer training camps at our local college. My parents would drive us up there, and we would sit and watch them and then they would always come over and sign autographs and talk to whoever would show up in the 110 degree weather and sit through a practice.

Well...DH has always been a Raiders fan since he was a kid. Back when they were good, then bad, then good again and now bad again. So he says that counts for something that he has never left them and remains a loyal fan.

So every football season, we really do not share the same points of view. Several years ago, he took me to my first Raider game. First, there was no way he was going to let me go wearing a 49er shirt. He said something like he would get killed trying to save me before we even got out of the parking lot. Boys are so funny. But I appeased him and wore one of his Raider shirts so I would "blend" in so we could just have a good time.

OMG - I have never been more scared in my life! I really have to give it to the Raiders fan's. They are definately very passionate and the only ones i know that dress like it's halloween. I was scared to make eye contact. I was scared to go to the bathroom. LOL

We had really awesome seats that someone had given my DH, we were on the 50 yard line like 20 rows up. So we had a great view of everything, and as DH points out, the cheerleaders are so much prettier in person. ha ha ha...NOT!

So although neither of our teams has made it to a superbowl in a very long time, we still love to watch the big game and cheer the underdog on!

Have fun watching and I hope the team you want wins!
XOXO