Sweet goodness

for the last three years, the girls in my family get together every december and make homemade candy. i think the initial idea was to give it as gifts but my family ends up eating all that we make, so it's merry christmas to us! i'm looking forward to spending time with my girls and holding babies! oh...i can't wait. Baby Braxton and Mia will both be there. I may spend more time with the babies than in the kitchen. I'll nominate myself as official baby holder for the day. as if i didn't already have baby fever, this will kick it into high gear.

since we are all moved back into our house, unpacked and pretty much settled in, we pulled the tree out of the attic & set it up. i usually decorate any space in my house with christmas decor but this year, with the move and all, i wasn't exactly in the mood for unpacking and repacking MORe boxes, so we just put out the tree and decorated it. the kids seem okay with that. maybe they never noticed the snowmen and reindeer and mr & mrs clause's.

a very dear friend of mine lost her mother unexpectedly last week. my heart is so heavy for her right now. i cannot imagine that loss. i have no words that will comfort her. i just pray for peace for cara and her family.

way too long

I know it's been forever since I posted - actually, only a few months, but I've been engulfed in my life, not so much typing about it, so sue me. Truth be known, I think this is closer to "dear diary" so no one may even notice my three month hiatus. What's been going on? Well, my recap: My house flooded, my sis in love had her darling son three months too early (he's perfect, but it was scary), my ex- continued harrassing me, i lost my best friend (not by death), my sis abruptly quit her job and moved to colorado, my youngest son turned SEVEN (he's not a baby anymore), the ex- quit paying child support, we moved into a rent house and this weekend, we move back home! Did I mention that next week is Thanksgiving? Where has this year gone? A

Missing my tres amigos

Chopped my hair off and guess what? I love it. It's not boring and drab and crappy, it's super cute and despite the fact that I have to actually take the time every morning to FIX it, it's great, besides, I wanted to "fix it", I just didn't know how. Go me! I love changes like this sometimes.

So the boys have been with their dad since Friday. It's Wednesday! The weekend, fine - i'm okay with that. Monday, mmm, okay if they want to stay. Tuesday, yeaaaaaa.....momma needs her babies. It's the longest they've been away from me in quite some time. Don't get me wrong, it was quiet and I didn't have to cook or clean up (much), and I could come home and flop on the couch and not look out the window or door every 10 minutes to check on anyone, yea - that part was nice, but i feel so lost. Seriously, I don't know what to do with myself. I can't wait to see them when I get home tonight. The hen is ready to get her baby chicks under her wing!

Speaking of my boys, I'm taking them school clothes shopping this weekend. Ought to be interesting! D is all about name brand everything and while I've been looking for coupons online, no such luck for these stores. M wants a lot of the same things his older brother likes, but D can wear and XS in mens, M...not so much. R just wants his own "cool" clothes. We're hitting up the mall, a place I rarely visit although I'm pretty pumped about the mall pizza.

It's all about the hair

Yes, I know this. Hair makes you. Such a great way to express yourself, right? Well, sure - if you have long, shiny, flowing locks. I don't fit into this category. I was afraid to cut mine becuase I wasn't sure of my "wedding hair" (which I just pinned up) and I'm so bored with it now, it's ridiculous. I want new hair! I have a cut scheduled for Saturday....what to do?

Where did time go?

I can't believe its been so long since my post. The pre-wedding jitters, anxious, not sleeping, nervous days and nights are over. On Saturday, July 17th at 7:00 pm I married my love muffin. The ceremony was perfect (although a little long), the decor was perfect (really, it was), the weather was cooperative. I would not have changed a thing! We had an intimate reception and I was able to speak to (almost) everyone that attended. I wanted to bottle the evening and open it later to remind me how amazing the night was. Perfect! Absolutely perfect!

We spent the night at a hotel and then came home to (finally) relax. In one day, I couldn't let go of all of the stress from the previous two weeks but I sure tried. We cooked out on the grill and watched tv. ahhhhhhhh

Back to reality. back to work. I don't mind though, I really do love the people I work with. most of them, anyway. Feels strange NOT to have a "project" on my back burner. No more Ave Maria. The preparation is over. Now my focus will be 100% on collecting child support. Yes, it is a full time job. Ridiculous, our government. So I've sought out an attorney, we've met and are "building" our case. Fun times! (not) You gotta do what you gotta do and when it comes to my boys....I'd stop the world for them.

We've planned a weekend with some friends floating the Comal River. Yes, I'm probably too old for that, but I'll try my luck.

31 days

I can't believe how time is flying. Seems like I just posted 50'something days! Den and I had our first counseling session last night with our pastor (anna) that is performing the ceremony. I was emotional. I'd had a really rough day, between work issues (payroll conversion), comments (again) about my wedding dress, scheduling/planning, money issues, I was ready to break; so when Dennis started talking about our meeting and how he felt...yea, I lost it. We talk about these things, but it's different to hear him tell someone else about me. He told her I was a "blessing". I am super excited about beginning our lives together as a married couple. I didn't think it would change much since we live together, but anna made us think about some things that made me realize that everyday things may not change, but our commitment and that new start will bring us even closer.

I can't even explain how exhausted I am! I don't know if there are words for it. I am ready for the baseball season to end. Monday: work, home, leave work early, two baseball games at 6 (we have to split our time at each game so someone doesn't get their feelings hurt), game at 8 - over at 9:45, drive home, oh...dinner then bed. I don't stop "go'ing" I will welcome our beach vacation and not being on a schedule!

38 days until the wedding

Crazy goings on in my life. We had a great weekend. Ashley's wedding was Saturday afternoon. It was very pretty. It's amazing how fast it's over after the months of planning. I'm sure it's somewhat of a relief though - done, check it off the list! We had previously invited friends over for Sunday which ended up conflicting with a going away party for my niece, but we decided to fore go the party and enjoy some of the weekend at home. Good food, good friends. Came to work Monday to a power outage - no computer, no phones. it was frustrating to just sit, so I stuffed my wedding invitations and cut out photos of the boys that I've been carrying around for 2 months. left work and headed to a ballgame, 2 actually. When we got home, we realized there was a plumbing issue. Love Muffin can fix it - it happens frequently. Only problem, my dad borrowed his auger so he needed to pick it up. I told him to take care of the house issues and I'd go to the games. Lovey called me during the game to tell me he got home and there was no electricity. WHAT? We get home after a long, tiring day to no electricity and I was not a happy camper - actually, nobody was. About 11 we decided it was time to go to the hotel. What a day!

School's out, for ..... summer!

You wouldn't know the boys were excited about this last day...I had to PRY them out of bed this morning. I think R got up the 5th time I asked. We're planning some fun things for the summer, six flags, drive in movies, beach vacation, wedding, lake weekends. I'm stoked!

RELAX

I'm so excited that we have no baseball, no tear jerking graduations, no school functions, no fast food, no bright orange nacho cheese, nada tonight! Love Muffin is cooking chicken on the grill and I'm making fresh corn on the cob. Yum. How I miss "normal" food. We've basically been living at the ballpark lately, but that's what you do when you have 3 boys!

Children=happiness, love, caring, laughs, tears, learning, craziness, messy house, a brain that doesn't ever turn off and a heart walking outside of my body - I wouldn't change a thing for those boys of mine!

Fabulous Friday

Woo hoo - I did it again, remembered my password. Go me!




Yesterday was interesting. While I was working in Dallas with no rain and bright blue skies, a tornado was tearing through Midlothian and Waxahachie. The schools were on lockdown until the watch/warning passed. My nephew was driving & took this photo. It's both cool and scary at the same time. Luckily no one was hurt, but I answered 20 questions last night about tornadoes and was I 100% sure there would not be one after we went to bed.

We really didn't have plans for Saturday so it wasn't a big deal with J asked if the kids could spend Friday night & be with him for a birthday party for their cousin on Saturday. We do have company tickets to the Ranger game on Sunday. I'm super excited about seeing Josh & Ian. Huge crushes!

I was planning to take a little trip with my future MIL to see some wedding decorations tomorrow morning, we though 10 or 11 at the latest but she told me today it would be closer to 12 or 1. That kinda doesn't work. I was going to start marking some stuff off my wedding to do list and run errands since the boys wouldn't be with me. I was thinking we would be done before noon so I could do my thing. We'll see how the morning progresses and how far I progress out of bed!

Speaking of...I have been so tired lately. Last Friday night I was supposed to go to a GNO party at a friend's house but came home and crashed, like I laid on the couch watching tv at 6:15 and woke up at 8:15 to move into my bed. I feel like such a slacker, but I really can't help it.

My neice is getting married the first weekend in June. I hope to get some ideas for my big day :-) She got her dress yesterday and its being altered now. Talk about last minute plans. We're having a bachelorette day next Saturday. food, shopping, pedicures -- what more could a girl want? It will be fun!



If the rain from yesterday dried enough, we're playing ball tonight; otherwise, I'm probably lounging on the couch.

Oh -- big news! Almost forgot. Since I'm 57 days away from the big day and I've done absolutely nothing to prepare my flabby body to be 100% focus if just for a few moments, I'm busting out the cookbooks. Oh yes my friend, I will be "eating clean". I've done it before....for a week...dont' judge. I have ZERO willpower. It's fruits, veggies, lean meat, whole-grain carbs only, no candy, no Dr. Pepper, no sweet tea. :-( okay, this isn't looking so fun. Eat to live, don't live to eat! Right?

Amazing

Amazing that I was able to log in/ For whatever reason, I NEVER can remember my blogger passcode and have to reset it about 3 times a month.

Things are pretty normal in our household. Baseball games, rained out baseball games, time at dad's, attitude problems, wedding planning, wedding stand still, family problems, remodeling the bathroom, low water pressure, sick kid...green snot. Oh, the life I live with four boys. Never a dull moment and I assure you that quote is SO true! They went skinny dipping Monday. 5 boys in the pool, skinny dipping. Love muffin thought it was odd, but they were laughing and giggling as they splashed into the pool showing the "hump back whale".

Finally Friday

Good day, grumpy mood. Last night/this morning were pretty emotional for me -- as far as my kids go. A mother is instinctively the protector and when I feel like i have no control or the issue is out of my hands, I get a little freaked out...okay, a LOT freaked out.

I'm wearing a maxi dress today that I bought a few weeks ago. I put it on this mornign with some wedges and hated it -- I think it's meant for flats, which puts me back on wedding shoes...I want flat wedding sandals. There - done - decided! Now I still have to find them.

I ordered some books on amazon last week and they started rolling in on Wednesday, so I began reading a book called "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Joy and Grief". My SIL lost little Logan over a year ago so the story is somewhat close to my heart. One of my favorite bloggers commented on it and gave it kudos. I read the first chapter online and was hooked. It's not only about losing a child, but also about faith and how God heals. I'm a few chapters in but it's not a long book and I plan to finish it up this weekend.

Busy weekend ahead. Our flooring will be installed today so we'll start putting the house back together and maybe rearranging, but definitely, reorganizing. I want to register at Target this weekend for our wedding, look for clothes for the groom & his buds, see a movie "The Back Up Plan", crawfish boil on Saturday night and maybe, just maybe get a little rest *sigh*.

Shoe Obsessed Bride

I'm getting back to blogging!

I've got a wedding coming up and so much going on with planning and all. What's my biggest issue, you ask? SHOES! I'm completely torn! On one hand I want something super trendy cool...like me (ha), on the other, I need something practical and heel-less aka wedges and most wedges are cork-styled which look a little too casual for a bride.

I found some hand painted works of art which I nixed because, well... I think they may be too "over the top". What do you think? For whatever reason I am completely obsessed with peacock colors, don't hate - I just like green/blue and the feather looks very majestic. I've even considered a feather for my first tattoo (don't tell my mom).








THEN....I decided I could create the masterpiece myself since I can't find exactly what I want. I found this DIY version from wedding bee



So for now...I'm moving on to another wedding related project: hair accessories, music, candy bar, groom attire, etc.

oodles of stuff

oh holy hell---it's been so long since i've blogged, it took an act of congress and my first born to get back in here. so much going on, i don't even know where to begin. i'll start with today's happenings, here goes my rambling.

So I tried being a landlord which didn't exactly work out, my renter moved out without notice and without rent, so I immediately put my house on the market. 2 1/2 weeks later, we had a buyer. The offer was less than desirable, but you gotta do what you gotta do. For me, it was more of an emotional attachment that I needed to cut the ties on. That has been hard for a lot of people to understand, most people see the $$, and don't' get me wrong, I saw that too, but the bottom line was about me moving on. Jimmy is closing today, I'll close tomorrow. We've gotten (sometimes) where we CAN be around one another without fighting, but it is sometimes difficult. Initially, we were scheduling our closings separately because he was being an ass, but today we can actually get along, regardless.....we close this week. Money will be wired next week! Chapter closed, onto writing the next one.

Baseball is just around the corner and I cannot tell you how excited I am. It's so chaotic and I sometimes can't keep my head on straight, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE baseball season...and I hope my boys do too! Who can resist fluorescent lukewarm cheese on stale chips? not me!

Chips.....yummmmm, that brings me to the next topic. Diet and exercise come hand in hand, right? A few weeks ago I took a kickboxing class. Loved it [Get Fit (moving to the old Tammy's Dance Studio by Quizno's in March)]. Then I took ZUMBA. REALLY loved it. So my goal was 3 classes per week. I aimed high considering the classes start at 6 PM in hatchie and I commute from dallas...basically, I have to leave work about 15-20 minutes early to have time to come home, change and get there. Difficult, yes - impossible, no. I did good for 3 weeks straight, then I got sick, the snow came in, rylan had a stomach bug, i got sick (again, or STILL), so I missed two weeks. I was out sick yesterday with bronchitis but I was feeling better when I went to pick up kids from school so I decided to go to ZUMBA and try to sweat out the toxins. I did feel better, went home and steam cleaned the carpets, cleaned the kitchen, it must have worked. Feeling much better today.

My honey bunches comes home today. He's been traveling a lot lately, but that's what he does.

Boys

I think the entire male species is off kilter. Actually, I'm pretty such this is true. Boys cannot seem to remember one idea from point A to point B without distraction. Ugh! It is so frustrating!

I don't know how to impress upon my children how important education is. I never struggled during school (expect that damn algebra class in high school) so I just went along with the flow. D, struggles every day. I email and have conferences with his teachers and they all say the same thing - he is a joy to have in their class. Okay, great -- joy, how the hell can I convince him to pay attention, focus and if you don't understand, seek help. He's very social, talking, asking is not the problem, I don't know what is....but right now I feel like I have my hands tied and I don't like the way it feels.

and 2009 comes to an end

what an interesting year. Most everyone can say that the year brought ups and downs, good times and bad, but why bring the bad into 2010? It is a new start. Get rid of the baggage and move forward.

I've learned a lot this year about those who have in any way influenced my life; but as I've said before, you cannot change anyone. Each person is responsible for their own actions. The only thing you can change is YOUr reaction.

Goals for the year:

• Simplify
• Encourage
• Be a good friend
• Accept compromise
• Get married (had to sneak it in)
• Be a good mom
• Get healthy
• Try not to be judgmental
  
• and with the help of my love muffin, be the best that I can be!

That sounds like a commercial of some sort. Wonder if I"ll get paid?

Farewell 2009!