Happy Friday Quote...

"Never bend your head, hold it high,...look the world straight in the eye!"

XOXO

My Beautiful Daughter...

Spring Pictures came out. And with School pictures, you just never know what your gonna get. But I Prepped Emily on how to smile nice, make sure she looks ok, sit straight and then I sent her off to school.

And when I got the pictures back...I saw this:
And I was SO RELIEVED!


One of the best of school ones yet. (Don't look at her bangs that needed trimming)


But looking at it...made me see how grown up she is becoming. *sigh*


XOXO

Ho-Hum...it's Tuesday...

Soooo....in case any one was wondering it's Tuesday. A pretty non-descript day. Monday's everyone hates, Wednesday's are Hump days, Thursdays mean TOMORROW is Friday, and Friday's mean...Well, we all know what those mean.

But Tuesday's? What good is a Tuesday for? It's after Monday. So maybe people are happier on Tuesday's because Monday is over. It's also before Hump Day, which means the week is half over.

Tuesday's remind me of the Surrogate Baby custody battle back in the late 80's (or maybe early 90's). Does anyone remember this case? It made national headlines because it was before Surrogate mother's had rights and surrogacy was legal. There were no real contracts written because it was illegal in the majority of states.

I was in High School and I remember this case so well. Maybe because the baby's name was unusual. The Surrogate Mom named her Tuesday. She refused to give the baby up. The parents were from another state and filed for custody. The state the Surrogate lived in didn't recognize Surrogacy so the mother got to keep the baby. But the state the parents lived in did and they were granted custody. But the S.mom fled with the baby into hiding. It was dragged out in courts and for years and in headlines everyday because it was the first of it's kind. It went to Federal court.

I can't remember how it ended. I think the S.mom had to give her up to the parents. But got visitation rights. I tried googling it, but couldn't find anything on it. I wonder how they are all doing now????

Hmmm...So what do Tuesday's mean to you?

XOXO

Happy Monday Humor...

XOXO

Emily's Birthday Party...

*SOB*

My Baby girl turned 10 on Friday and we had her party Saturday at the house. The "norm" around here is to have your party at the newest, coolest place in town. Which I LOVE because I hate nothing more then hosting something like this at home. Lot's of kids ruining my carpet, prep work, stress, clean house, clean up after. UGH!

But Emily insisted this year on having it at home and her only requirement was there had to be a Jumphouse. So from there, I took the idea and ran with it. Came up with a Carnival/Circus theme, found some party supply places and planned the party. I didn't tell Emily anything until the week of her party. But it wasn't until she SAW it all, that she SQUEALED with delight and smiled and giggled all day.

The Jumphouse had to fit into the theme of the party. So I shopped around and found this incredible Carousel Jumphouse that was HUGE! I was so worried it wouldn't fit in the yard. We had to trim a few tree branches and tie the rest back. It was 20ft diameter and 17ft tall. And the coolest thing ever!Then we had Carnival Games with prizes.

We had Face Painting and Circus Tattoo's

We had a Pinata shaped as a Circus Top. It was filled with 5 lbs of candy and 3 lbs of toys. It was HEAVY.We had Circus food. Popcorn, Licorice, Nuts, & Jerky for the kids. Grown up food was Fruit Salad, Veggie tray and Chips/dips.

BUT the most impressive and biggest hit of the party was the SNOWCONE machine I rented. These kids went CRAZY! Not to mention several adults who also squealed at the sight of it and had several themselves.

Austin was in charge of the Snowcone machine. And needless to say, he didn't get much rest. The kids ate 3-4 snowcones. Austin had 7! Keep in mind that it was 85 degrees out too and everyone was HOT from the jumphouse. But it was a hit.

Parents picking up kids came in to check it out. All I heard was O.M.G. and WOW.

Emily had so much fun. She loved having all her friends around. She had 9 friends from school that came. Plus 6 cousins, Aunts/Uncles, Grandparents, neighbors and parents. It was a blast!

The kids went home loaded with prizes and candy, hyped up on Sugar and bliss. What more could you ask for?

Happy Birthday my darling daughter. You will forever be my Baby Girl! ♥

XOXO

Beeeepppp...

**I interrupt the following program for a very important message**

Cindy Lou Who has lost 5lbs. I repeat, Cindy Lou Who has lost 5lbs.

**You will be returned to your regularly scheduled program**

Spring has Sprung...

So my last post was about my garden, and so I decided since I was out there snapping shots, to go ahead and take some of my potted plants I just redid.

Cuz I'm a dork.

And I like plants.

And because it's my blog and I can. :o)

Ok - So following the garden theme, here is the last of the garden items:

Hubby wanted a Lime tree to go with the Corona's chillin in the fridge. So 1-1/2 years ago we planted this baby. And it went through it's Shock year pretty much losing all it's leaves and not growing at all. Then last spring, it started growing tiny limes out of the flowers that bloomed. And I got all excited. Told everyone that we had baby limes. Then we got Toby. Toby was a puppy. Toby was teething a lot. Toby ate and chewed anything he could get his paws on. Which apparently meant my baby limes growing. Ggrrr...See the long, yellow thing on top of the limes? That was the center of the flowers before they were pollinated and became limes! The petals fell off already.

The tree is in this huge pot. And he could jump up and rest his front paws on the rim of the planter and stretch his neck and reach the tree with his nose. He would knock off the limes and EAT them! Very Bad Doggy.

Here's a close up. When I got this close to the tree, man could i smell the citrus! Smelled so good!

But this year, Toby is not teething. And this year, the tree is not in shock anymore. This year, the tree grew 3x's it's size. And this year...there is over 50 limes growing!!!

I am really excited!

I also planted these.

There's 4 posts of these all over the Zen garden. I planted them all the same, but mixed up the colors.

And some of these.

XOXO

Who has a green thumb...

Ok - Last spring I promised that THIS spring I would post pics of my garden as it grows and document the life of the plants. But I've been busy...real busy! And I had the garden in the ground 3 weeks before I remembered to take pics. And well, the plants grew. They grew allot.

But I took some and will explain each as we go. The important step before you put any plants in the ground is a Very Good bagged Soil (not the cheap bags that have no nutrients in it and water flows too fast thru it) and a really good Compost. Now my garden soil has been established for several years now so each Spring I only have to add one bag of soil and one bag of compost and mix them together really well. If you are just beginning, you may need several bags of each to get the soil just right so the roots can relax, take hold and grow.

This cute little booger is why there is a green "fence" up around the garden as he likes to dig and bury ROCKS in the dirt!

The compost feeds the plants and fertilizes them, while the good soil retains the water so the roots can drink.

Now, where were we? Oh Yea, what did I plant?

First we have Zucchini and yellow Squash. I plant several of these each year because these are great to puree and freeze and use them all winter long hidden in foods that my kids have no idea they are eating it in! ;o) Oh yea, and see that little Light green thing growing off to the far left??? Yea, that's Lettuce from seeds I planted LAST WINTER that somehow finally took root and randomly grew where it wanted. All the others grew last spring and we ate and enjoyed 15 heads of lettuce. Next we have peppers. I have a Hot Habenero Pepper and a Sweet Banana Pepper. These are great to also slice up and freeze and pull them out all winter as I need to add to dishes. They are also great in Fresh Salsa. And rounding the corner we have Cabbage. Now let me explain. I have never grown cabbage before. And I would never grow cabbage normally. But Emily brought this home from school planted in a cup and barely clinging to life as a classroom science project. And I plopped it in my kitchen window and gave it my TLC and it came to life. In a BIG way. So it is now in the garden and taking off!

I also planted Lemon Cucumbers - but I don't think it's gonna make it.

Now I am trying this year White Sweet Onions. I have never grown these kind of Bulb onions before. And they come in a huge bunch of stems that look like Green Onions, so we planted them per directions and they freakin took off! So I have like 30 white onions that will be due to be picked all at the SAME TIME. Does anyone like Onions? Anyone? Is this thing on? Every year I plant a different type of tomato. Grape, Roma, Roman, Cherry. But this year I planted the Beefsteak Tomato. Last year I grabbed a tomato plant that the tag "said" Beefsteak and I got a Green Tomato. I was NOT happy. So this year I grabbed a tomato plant from the back of the pack where no one would have switched tags. HA!

I also have Green Onions that I planted last spring and they survived all winter and are really growing this year.

Now over in this planter I have Garlic Chives which I use in just about EVERYTHING.

Hubby wanted strawberries. I'm not a fan of growing them. I have before. They are WILD plants and you can't control them. They spread like crazy (can you see them trying to get out of the planter and take over my yard?) and slugs LOVE them. You hardly get to eat any because while your sleeping the slugs come and eat them all up before their are ripe enough for you to pick. And they leave slimy messes everywhere.

I better stop here or Blogger is going to ban me for using too many pictures or having a posts that reaches to the end of time. But come back soon and I will show you more!

XOXO

P.S. Today officially started my diet of Nutri System. The Snack bag of Pretzels was like eating cardboard...next time i'll try dipping them in a lil peanut butter.

I need your help...

Ok...I'm going to put myself out there. I never do this. I hate doing this. I loathe having to tell you. But I need your help...

The plain and simple truth is: I need to lose weight.

The doctor told me I have too. And I could get rid of several ailments if I do. Which means less medications I need to take. Which means Healthier for me. Which means good examples for my children.

But I'm the kinda person that needs to be held accountable when it's stuff for me. For example, once my sessions at the gym were over with the trainer, I stopped going. :o( But when I knew someone was waiting for me and I couldn't flake, I went. :o)

So I am on an energized mission. I am going to do it this time. Which is where I need your help. I need to be held accountable. Soooo...Will you stay on top of me? Bug me with what I have done? Did I workout? Did I eat right? Am I snacking? Bug me. Bug me allot. :o)

I put everyone else first in my life and myself last. And because of that I have let myself go. To the point it has affect my health. So now I have the motivation to put myself first and get healthy. I started my walking again each morning now that the rain has stopped. I walk 2 miles a day. And I have good plans to get up early and get to the gym, I just haven't actually made it yet. ;o)

I started NutriSystem too. My mom was on it last year, and lost 40lbs in 3 months. So i decided to try it. Please keep in mind that I am a vegetarian, and am really picky on what I eat. So the first two meals I tried were flops and went in the garbage. The third was good. I like the breakfast ones the best. They tastes the most "normal". I can't put my finger on it. But the food is made with something not normally in the stores. The lasagna I had the noodles were rubbery and the cheese didn't taste like cheese and the tomato sauce was really thick and left an after taste.

But I'm trying!

So...are you game?

XOXO

Oh to be carefree...

Normally, Emily HATES having wind on her face. We can't roll the windows down when she's in the car because it will blow on her. No matter what combination of windows we open and to what degree we roll them down, (believe me, we've tried them all) she will scream and holler until the windows are rolled back up.

I think it has to do with her Sensory Integration. But for whatever reason, you would think someone was getting murdered in our car if you roll the window down.

For the last few months now, she has randomly rolled down her own window while we have been out and about and just sits there staring out with a look of bliss. At first I was SHOCKED! But didn't want to let on I was and played it cool because I didn't want to scare her into NOT doing it again. I've noticed too, she only does it when it's only her and I in the car. The first time, I grabbed a picture of it on my cell phone. But this last time, I happen to have the camera in my purse. So while we were at a red light, I grabbed a few shots. Doesn't she look like she is so happy and enjoying the moment. It really is the little things in life. The fact that I had to document her being able to have a window down in the car tells you how we learn to enjoy the little things in life with her.

Makes me wish I was a kid again to be able to get that much enjoyment out of something so little.

XOXO

First Confirmation...

Austin made his First Confirmation on April 15 at Church with the Bishop and a church packed full of family and friends helping to celebrate. There were 92 teenagers getting confirmed. They said it was their largest group ever!

Confirmation is the last Sacrament you make to be fully and 100% accepted into the Catholic Church. And it's not taken lightly. You have to attend classes for a year, go on several retreats, fund raise for a Catholic Non-Profit Pregnant Women's Clinic, Volunteer hours and Homework. And when it's all completed, you go before the Bishop for a special one on one blessing and are announced into the church community. It was so exciting to see him accomplish this. It made me reflect back to when I did mine.

Austin and his Teacher before the Ceremony

The evening was made more special because not only did Austin get Confirmed, but my Nephew and Godson, Eric, did as well. So we got to support and share in it with all family.

Austin and his Sponor/Grandma/Godmom

Part of the ritual, is that you pick a sponsor who goes with you up to the Bishop. This Sponsor must be Catholic, can not be your parent, and will guide and support you throughout your faith. Austin picked his Grandma. Who just happens to also be his Godmother. So it was very special for her.

I don't know this kid, but wanted a picture of the Ritual so you could see what the Bishop does. The head Priest of our church is on the left, and the Bishops Deacon is on the right. The Bishop even came with a Security guard all dressed in a cape and a Trojan looking hat with a furry mohawk style running down it. I tried to get a picture, but man he was quick.

I was upset during the ceremony the way they lined everyone up for the Bishop blessing. I purposely sat on the opposite side of the church from where Austin sat so I could get a face on picture of the blessing, but little did I know they would have everyone line up at once and I couldn't see anything!! So I have no picture of him getting it. But I got one of my Nephew.

All 92 kids - Austin is on the right side halfway up.

So after the Ceremony, and the Bishop was walking out of the church, I grabbed Austin and Pushed him through the crowd and got a picture of just him and the Bishop! I was so excited. I turned around and my Nephew had followed us, so I pushed him up there after Austin and got his too. Once the crowd figured out what I was doing, everyone started doing that and the Bishop tried running for it. LOL

The white thing coming across the Bishops face is the microphone. Just didn't want you to think he had a booger smeared across. LOL

I am very proud of the boys for their hard work and commitment in sticking it out. They made great friends throughout it and gained acceptance into the Catholic Church.

Austin had ripped his Tie off as soon it was over, but he's wearing his cross and St. Christophers Medal under it. Austin and Eric with thier sponsors.

Way to Go Boys!!

XOXO

Monday Humor...

My doctor told me I need to do this more often...So this is very fitting...

Enjoy!

XOXO