It's the last day of the year, and you know what that means.... It's the last day to make donations that you can deduct from your 2008 taxes!! I know that none of you want to think about taxes on a day when you are most likely preparing to PAR-TAY all night long, but this will only take you a few minutes.
Here is a short list on my personal recommendations of places to donate your money:
American Cancer Society (via Relay for Life) - help fight the big "C".
All Children's Hospital and/or Children's Miracle Network - help God's precious children in need of medical care.
USO - please support our men and women in uniform who are away from their loved ones.
Now, I know you may think that you can't spare a dime in this economy, but even the smallest donation makes a difference. And if you were the one who needed help from one of these wonderful organizations, wouldn't you want people to donate?
I hope you all have a wonderful end of the year and a bright new year in the morning!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Resolution Rewind
At the beginning of the year, I, like many others, made a list of New Year's Resolutions. Twenty of them, in fact. My hope was that I could accomplish five to ten of them.
Let's see how I did. The ones in bold, I completed. The ones in italics, I attempted.
2008 New Year's Resolutions:
1. Get more organized. It's nearly impossible to get and stay organized when every single person in your house seems to be working against you.
2. Clean out closets. I totally did this. Not that you can tell now.
3. Get rid of unneeded stuff. I've been purging and purging like you wouldn't believe, but there is still just so much stuff that needs to go.
4. Win BAMs Blog contest. I did this one, too. Actually, it got down to two of us, and after a few months of waiting to see who would forget to blog, we decided to just call it a draw and split the winnings. Of course, no one ever paid up, so we haven't been able to split anything yet. (For what it's worth, I still haven't missed a day.)
5. Lose weight. Aim for 135. I tried. And I was doing pretty well for a couple of weeks, but then my new meds caught up to me and totally killed my metabolism.
6. Break Katie’s pacifier habit. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the second attempt was surprisingly easy.
7. Drink more water. I'm still working on this one. Coke just tastes so darn good.
8. Try to clean more. I do clean more, actually. Just not a whole lot more. Especially since I get no recognition for what I do.
9. Don’t do crack. This one is always a piece of cake!
10. Remember to take iron pills more often. I tried, but at some point, they disappeared on me.
11. Organize recipes and get rid of bulky cookbooks. I did start this, but I'm still working on it. I need more help from Phil with this one.
12. Cook dinner more often. I was cooking dinner more often until Phil started working normal business hours and getting home in time to cook dinner for the family.
13. Get a family portrait taken. Sadly, though it has been talked about many, many times, there has been no progress made on this front. It's pretty much impossible to schedule an appointment when I never have a clue when my step-son is going to be around. His mother is VERY uncooperative and contantly changing our plans.
14. Take charge of recycling. Set up a recycling center. I started this; Phil destroyed it.
15. Organize refrigerator magnets. Just like the closets, I did this but you'd never guess it now.
16. Make “To Do” lists and try to stick to them. I did this for a while, but it didn't work out very well.
17. Stop buying stuff we don’t need just because it is “cute” or “neat.” This was surprisingly not that difficult.
18. Have children pick oranges and give them away to the needy. I tried this, but those darn kids and husband of mine don't like to share.
19. Get trees trimmed. I did quite a bit of this myself, but there is still a lot of work to do.
20. Take time for myself. Get out of the house by myself at least once a week. I wasn't doing very well with this one until I joined Mary Kay. Now, I get to leave my house all by myself at least once a week to attend a meeting. That counts, right? I do enjoy my meetings.
I think I did pretty well. I completed seven out of twenty, and attempted all but one of the rest. Plus, I did a lot of things that I am very proud of that weren't even on the list.
Let's see how I did. The ones in bold, I completed. The ones in italics, I attempted.
2008 New Year's Resolutions:
1. Get more organized. It's nearly impossible to get and stay organized when every single person in your house seems to be working against you.
2. Clean out closets. I totally did this. Not that you can tell now.
3. Get rid of unneeded stuff. I've been purging and purging like you wouldn't believe, but there is still just so much stuff that needs to go.
4. Win BAMs Blog contest. I did this one, too. Actually, it got down to two of us, and after a few months of waiting to see who would forget to blog, we decided to just call it a draw and split the winnings. Of course, no one ever paid up, so we haven't been able to split anything yet. (For what it's worth, I still haven't missed a day.)
5. Lose weight. Aim for 135. I tried. And I was doing pretty well for a couple of weeks, but then my new meds caught up to me and totally killed my metabolism.
6. Break Katie’s pacifier habit. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the second attempt was surprisingly easy.
7. Drink more water. I'm still working on this one. Coke just tastes so darn good.
8. Try to clean more. I do clean more, actually. Just not a whole lot more. Especially since I get no recognition for what I do.
9. Don’t do crack. This one is always a piece of cake!
10. Remember to take iron pills more often. I tried, but at some point, they disappeared on me.
11. Organize recipes and get rid of bulky cookbooks. I did start this, but I'm still working on it. I need more help from Phil with this one.
12. Cook dinner more often. I was cooking dinner more often until Phil started working normal business hours and getting home in time to cook dinner for the family.
13. Get a family portrait taken. Sadly, though it has been talked about many, many times, there has been no progress made on this front. It's pretty much impossible to schedule an appointment when I never have a clue when my step-son is going to be around. His mother is VERY uncooperative and contantly changing our plans.
14. Take charge of recycling. Set up a recycling center. I started this; Phil destroyed it.
15. Organize refrigerator magnets. Just like the closets, I did this but you'd never guess it now.
16. Make “To Do” lists and try to stick to them. I did this for a while, but it didn't work out very well.
17. Stop buying stuff we don’t need just because it is “cute” or “neat.” This was surprisingly not that difficult.
18. Have children pick oranges and give them away to the needy. I tried this, but those darn kids and husband of mine don't like to share.
19. Get trees trimmed. I did quite a bit of this myself, but there is still a lot of work to do.
20. Take time for myself. Get out of the house by myself at least once a week. I wasn't doing very well with this one until I joined Mary Kay. Now, I get to leave my house all by myself at least once a week to attend a meeting. That counts, right? I do enjoy my meetings.
I think I did pretty well. I completed seven out of twenty, and attempted all but one of the rest. Plus, I did a lot of things that I am very proud of that weren't even on the list.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Already?
The end of the year is almost here, and I can hardly believe it. It seems like it wasn't that long ago that I was making my 2008 resolutions. Then again, I can barely remember what they were, so it has to have been a while.
I'm really looking forward to the new year and all that it has in store for me and my family. There are definitely some changes to come for my family, and I am hoping that I will have a successful year business wise, too.
The past few days I've been preparing for the new year. Someone told me tonight that however you spend New Year's Day is how you'll spend the rest of the year. So, I need to have my house cleaned and organized by then (as much as is possible) so that it will stay that way in the new year. Hopefully, Phil will help me with this task.
By the way, if this post seems a bit "off," just blame it on my withdrawal suffering brain.
I'm really looking forward to the new year and all that it has in store for me and my family. There are definitely some changes to come for my family, and I am hoping that I will have a successful year business wise, too.
The past few days I've been preparing for the new year. Someone told me tonight that however you spend New Year's Day is how you'll spend the rest of the year. So, I need to have my house cleaned and organized by then (as much as is possible) so that it will stay that way in the new year. Hopefully, Phil will help me with this task.
By the way, if this post seems a bit "off," just blame it on my withdrawal suffering brain.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Withdrawal
For a number of reasons, I have decided to go off of one of my medications. Not only am I uncertain as to whether or not I needed to be on the medication in the first place, but it has also caused me to gain weight - a LOT of weight. There are also other reasons that I need to stop this medication.
The problem with quitting this medication is that the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I get a headache, numb, tingling fingers, and nausea just from going more than one day without it. I told my doctor about this, and he suggested that I just take one capsule every other day for about a week before completely stopping.
Currently, I'm on day three of this new plan. I hadn't taken my meds yet when I saw my doctor on Friday, so I went ahead and skipped that day. I took another one yesterday, and nothing today. I didn't really have any symptoms on Friday, but today I am feeling them. It's not as bad as it would be if I hadn't taken anything yesterday, but it's still noticeable.
So, now I'm wondering, if I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms either way, should I keep going this route, with mild symptoms stretched out for a couple of weeks? Or should I just quit "cold turkey" and let the withdrawal symptoms hit me hard and fast?
The problem with quitting this medication is that the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I get a headache, numb, tingling fingers, and nausea just from going more than one day without it. I told my doctor about this, and he suggested that I just take one capsule every other day for about a week before completely stopping.
Currently, I'm on day three of this new plan. I hadn't taken my meds yet when I saw my doctor on Friday, so I went ahead and skipped that day. I took another one yesterday, and nothing today. I didn't really have any symptoms on Friday, but today I am feeling them. It's not as bad as it would be if I hadn't taken anything yesterday, but it's still noticeable.
So, now I'm wondering, if I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms either way, should I keep going this route, with mild symptoms stretched out for a couple of weeks? Or should I just quit "cold turkey" and let the withdrawal symptoms hit me hard and fast?
Saturday, December 27, 2008
More Christmas
Our Christmas celebrating continued yesterday when we drove across the bay to visit with Phil's bio-dad. They usually don't do a very good job of picking gifts for our children, and then there was last year.
This year was much better though. They gave each of the older children $40 cash so they can spend it however they like, and they gave Katie an awesome little pink percussion set. The percussion set consisted of a drum with drumsticks, a tambourine, a set of maracas, and a harmonica. Katie was thrilled.
Today, we drove up to my mother and step-dad's house near Ocala. We didn't exchange any gifts there because we did that before Christmas so the girls could open them up on Christmas morning. We did, however, leave all three of the girls there.
With no girls in the house, I'm hoping to get a lot of cleaning and organizing done in the next couple of days. I need to conquer Katie's room, which shouldn't be too difficult, though it is impossible when she's around.
I'm also going to try to do something with Emily's room. That child is a total pack-rat. It's impossible to find anything in her room. I doubt she'll even miss anything that I get rid of since she can't find anything she's looking for anyway.
This year was much better though. They gave each of the older children $40 cash so they can spend it however they like, and they gave Katie an awesome little pink percussion set. The percussion set consisted of a drum with drumsticks, a tambourine, a set of maracas, and a harmonica. Katie was thrilled.
Today, we drove up to my mother and step-dad's house near Ocala. We didn't exchange any gifts there because we did that before Christmas so the girls could open them up on Christmas morning. We did, however, leave all three of the girls there.
With no girls in the house, I'm hoping to get a lot of cleaning and organizing done in the next couple of days. I need to conquer Katie's room, which shouldn't be too difficult, though it is impossible when she's around.
I'm also going to try to do something with Emily's room. That child is a total pack-rat. It's impossible to find anything in her room. I doubt she'll even miss anything that I get rid of since she can't find anything she's looking for anyway.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas Rewind
My family had a rather nice Christmas. Much better than what I thought we'd have, too. My girls got lots of stuff that they just adore. Here are a few photos of the chaos that was Christmas morning.
Boy, was my living room trashed! Luckily, the girls helped me to get it all cleaned up pretty quickly.
Later in the day, we went to my cousin's house for our big Christmas get-together with my Dad's side of the family. The girls picked up a few more gifts there. I brought my camera with me, but I was too tired to remember to take anymore pictures while we were there.
On the way home, we drove through a neighborhood in town that is well known for their Christmas lights displays. Katie quite enjoyed that.
And, while Phil and I didn't exchange any gifts, we did give each other a little something special. (No, I don't mean that! Get your mind out of the gutter!)
All in all, it was a pleasant Christmas in my household. I hope you all had a very nice Christmas, too.
Boy, was my living room trashed! Luckily, the girls helped me to get it all cleaned up pretty quickly.
Later in the day, we went to my cousin's house for our big Christmas get-together with my Dad's side of the family. The girls picked up a few more gifts there. I brought my camera with me, but I was too tired to remember to take anymore pictures while we were there.
On the way home, we drove through a neighborhood in town that is well known for their Christmas lights displays. Katie quite enjoyed that.
And, while Phil and I didn't exchange any gifts, we did give each other a little something special. (No, I don't mean that! Get your mind out of the gutter!)
All in all, it was a pleasant Christmas in my household. I hope you all had a very nice Christmas, too.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve
Well, I came into a smidge of money, so I decided to go shopping for a couple of Christmas gifts for my girls today. To tell you the truth, I was a bit scared of what I might encounter when I headed out to the mall today. Amazingly, the mall was not at all crowded!
First, we found a great parking space right where we wanted to park. Then, the stores we went into were practically empty, and there was no line to wait for check-out. And, I only had to wait behind one person when we went to Chick-fil-A in the food court.
The funny thing about it was that even though the mall wasn't crowded, and there were plenty of parking spaces available in the lot, the traffic going in and out of the mall was still bad. Go figure!
So, here I am at nearly 11:00 at night, still wrapping Christmas presents. Ugh! If I wasn't such an OCD perfectionist, I could get Phil to help with the wrapping, or spend less time wrapping each gift myself. Either way, I'd save time. I'd go absolutely bat-shit crazy, but I'd save time!
Merry Christmas to you all!
First, we found a great parking space right where we wanted to park. Then, the stores we went into were practically empty, and there was no line to wait for check-out. And, I only had to wait behind one person when we went to Chick-fil-A in the food court.
The funny thing about it was that even though the mall wasn't crowded, and there were plenty of parking spaces available in the lot, the traffic going in and out of the mall was still bad. Go figure!
So, here I am at nearly 11:00 at night, still wrapping Christmas presents. Ugh! If I wasn't such an OCD perfectionist, I could get Phil to help with the wrapping, or spend less time wrapping each gift myself. Either way, I'd save time. I'd go absolutely bat-shit crazy, but I'd save time!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Declutterring
Why is it that any flat surface in my house seems to become a catch-all as soon as I turn my back? I know it wasn't all that long ago that I cleaned off my desk and organized everything on it, but it has recently become a total disaster area. I barely had room left on my desk for my mouse.
My dining table was the same way. I know it wasn't that long ago (okay, maybe since before Thanksgiving) that we ate there as a family, yet it was piled high with all sorts of stuff.
So, I spent the first half of the day cleaning off my desk, and the second half of the day cleaning off my dining table. Now, I have the room I need on my table to wrap the few Christmas gifts I need to wrap, and the room I need on my desk to conduct my daily business.
I'll just have to knock on wood that they stay this clean for at least a few weeks, if not longer. Luckily, since they are currently clean, I've got plenty of wood to knock on!
My dining table was the same way. I know it wasn't that long ago (okay, maybe since before Thanksgiving) that we ate there as a family, yet it was piled high with all sorts of stuff.
So, I spent the first half of the day cleaning off my desk, and the second half of the day cleaning off my dining table. Now, I have the room I need on my table to wrap the few Christmas gifts I need to wrap, and the room I need on my desk to conduct my daily business.
I'll just have to knock on wood that they stay this clean for at least a few weeks, if not longer. Luckily, since they are currently clean, I've got plenty of wood to knock on!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Naughty or Nice
I've been really busy today, and I really need to get to bed soon, so I'm just going to leave you with this cute little video.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Visit with Santa (Times Two!)
This morning, my church had a little Christmas party for the children in the CCD classes. Toward the end of the party, the children were treated with a visit from Santa Claus. One of the elders of our church dresses up as Santa for the children every year. Since he knows most of the children, he calls them by name, which is really impressive to the innocent child.
Katie is still in her being shy around Santa phase. She was totally in awe of him, but timid about getting too close. She did eventually sit on his lap, but was very quiet about telling him what she wanted for Christmas.
After we left church, Phil had the great idea to go visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the mall. I thought it was a bad idea because of it still being the weekend, but since Phil had agreed to be the one to stand in line while the rest of us went to get lunch, I agreed to do it.
Even though there was a very long line when we got there, it moved amazingly fast, and the girls and I just barely made it back to the line in time to see Santa. Once again, Katie was being a little shy, and was much more comfortable sitting on Mrs. Claus's lap. When Santa asked Katie what she wanted for Christmas, she replied, "Presents!"
Compare that to last year. Boy, has she grown!
Katie is still in her being shy around Santa phase. She was totally in awe of him, but timid about getting too close. She did eventually sit on his lap, but was very quiet about telling him what she wanted for Christmas.
After we left church, Phil had the great idea to go visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the mall. I thought it was a bad idea because of it still being the weekend, but since Phil had agreed to be the one to stand in line while the rest of us went to get lunch, I agreed to do it.
Even though there was a very long line when we got there, it moved amazingly fast, and the girls and I just barely made it back to the line in time to see Santa. Once again, Katie was being a little shy, and was much more comfortable sitting on Mrs. Claus's lap. When Santa asked Katie what she wanted for Christmas, she replied, "Presents!"
Compare that to last year. Boy, has she grown!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Overwhelmed Underacheiver
I had so many plans for today. Maybe that was the problem. So much to do, with so little time, I couldn't figure out what to do first. Plus, I was really feeling rather "blah" today. So, I got absolutely nothing done this morning.
I had hoped to accomplish something this afternoon. Then Katie refused to take her nap. So, we fought about it for more than an hour before I finally gave in and laid down with her, in my bed, where I fell asleep, for a couple of hours.
Now the sun is down, and it's dinner time, and I'm still in my pajamas. Oh, well. There's always tomorrow. "After all, tomorrow is another day."
I had hoped to accomplish something this afternoon. Then Katie refused to take her nap. So, we fought about it for more than an hour before I finally gave in and laid down with her, in my bed, where I fell asleep, for a couple of hours.
Now the sun is down, and it's dinner time, and I'm still in my pajamas. Oh, well. There's always tomorrow. "After all, tomorrow is another day."
Friday, December 19, 2008
It's Her
Sadly, the remains found last week near the home of Caylee Anthony's grandparents were identified today as hers. This poor little girl had her young life taken from her most likely by her own mother.
My children have made me quite angry on many occasions, but I have never, ever wanted to hurt, much less kill, them. I just can't imagine what could drive a mother to do something so heinous to her own precious little girl.
Casey, I hope you get the death penalty and rot in Hell for what you've done!
My children have made me quite angry on many occasions, but I have never, ever wanted to hurt, much less kill, them. I just can't imagine what could drive a mother to do something so heinous to her own precious little girl.
Casey, I hope you get the death penalty and rot in Hell for what you've done!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Good Day
I had a good day today. Absolutely nothing went wrong, Katie was as sweet as can be, and I ended up making some money. I certainly didn't plan to have a day like this when I woke up this morning, it just sort of happened.
When I got out of bed this morning, I decided to go ahead and wash my face before leaving my bedroom. When I started cleaning my face, I decided that while I was at it, I'd go ahead and do a little microdermabrasion, too. Then I figured that I should do a little Satin Lips treatment while I was applying my eye cream, day solution, and moisturizer.
I was going to stop there, since I had no plans to go out, but then I decided to take Katie to McDonald's for breakfast, so I went ahead and put on my makeup. I also decided to pack up some of my Mary Kay gift sets, just in case I happened to meet someone who was interested in making a purchase.
After breakfast, I took Katie to get her hair cut. I decided to stop growing out the portion of her bangs that we'd been letting grow and just have them all blended back together. I'm not entirely happy with the way her hair turned out, but it still looks pretty good.
Since I had been promising Katie a trip to Target's Dollar Spot for being a big girl and sleeping in her own bed, our next stop was at our local Super Target. I found a bunch of cute stuff for all three girls' stockings in the Dollar Spot, so that worked out great. I also found some cute little silver baskets for a dollar that I can use for making gift sets for my Mary Kay business.
I also found a cute little Christmas costume for Maggie while we were in Super Target. Isn't she cute?!
After we left Super Target, Katie and I met Phil for lunch at Chick-fil-A. It was nice being bale to sit down for lunch together and chat about our days. And, of course, Katie got to love on her Daddy at bit, too.
From Chick-fil-A, Katie and I headed over to Costco to get some more Pull-Ups for her. (I'm hoping that once spring rolls around Katie will be ready to start potty training.) I also picked up a couple of Christmas gifts for Phil and my mother and step-father while we were at Costco. I forgot to get Katie any more Dinosaur Nuggets or apple juice, so I'll have to go back to Costco tomorrow or Saturday.
While we were waiting in the checkout line at Costco, I got a phone call from a lady that works with my father. She wanted to order some Mary Kay products from me and asked me to call her back when I got home. Unfortunately, I didn't have what she wanted in stock, so I'll have to order it for her.
Also, upon checking my email at home, I found yet another order from a friend of mine. I do have all of her order in stock, so I'll be able to give it to her when she comes over this Sunday afternoon.
Then this evening, I had to take Emily to her Girl Scouts meeting. I decided once again to pack up my Mary Kay gift sets and take them with me. The recreation center where Emily's GS meetings are held is a pretty busy place, so I thought there might be a chance of making a sale there.
Amazingly, I was right. I sold three gift sets tonight. Yay, me! Granted, I sold them to people who work at the recreation center who already know and love me, but I still sold them. Now I just need to learn how to talk to strangers as easily as I do to people I know.
When I got out of bed this morning, I decided to go ahead and wash my face before leaving my bedroom. When I started cleaning my face, I decided that while I was at it, I'd go ahead and do a little microdermabrasion, too. Then I figured that I should do a little Satin Lips treatment while I was applying my eye cream, day solution, and moisturizer.
I was going to stop there, since I had no plans to go out, but then I decided to take Katie to McDonald's for breakfast, so I went ahead and put on my makeup. I also decided to pack up some of my Mary Kay gift sets, just in case I happened to meet someone who was interested in making a purchase.
After breakfast, I took Katie to get her hair cut. I decided to stop growing out the portion of her bangs that we'd been letting grow and just have them all blended back together. I'm not entirely happy with the way her hair turned out, but it still looks pretty good.
Since I had been promising Katie a trip to Target's Dollar Spot for being a big girl and sleeping in her own bed, our next stop was at our local Super Target. I found a bunch of cute stuff for all three girls' stockings in the Dollar Spot, so that worked out great. I also found some cute little silver baskets for a dollar that I can use for making gift sets for my Mary Kay business.
I also found a cute little Christmas costume for Maggie while we were in Super Target. Isn't she cute?!
After we left Super Target, Katie and I met Phil for lunch at Chick-fil-A. It was nice being bale to sit down for lunch together and chat about our days. And, of course, Katie got to love on her Daddy at bit, too.
From Chick-fil-A, Katie and I headed over to Costco to get some more Pull-Ups for her. (I'm hoping that once spring rolls around Katie will be ready to start potty training.) I also picked up a couple of Christmas gifts for Phil and my mother and step-father while we were at Costco. I forgot to get Katie any more Dinosaur Nuggets or apple juice, so I'll have to go back to Costco tomorrow or Saturday.
While we were waiting in the checkout line at Costco, I got a phone call from a lady that works with my father. She wanted to order some Mary Kay products from me and asked me to call her back when I got home. Unfortunately, I didn't have what she wanted in stock, so I'll have to order it for her.
Also, upon checking my email at home, I found yet another order from a friend of mine. I do have all of her order in stock, so I'll be able to give it to her when she comes over this Sunday afternoon.
Then this evening, I had to take Emily to her Girl Scouts meeting. I decided once again to pack up my Mary Kay gift sets and take them with me. The recreation center where Emily's GS meetings are held is a pretty busy place, so I thought there might be a chance of making a sale there.
Amazingly, I was right. I sold three gift sets tonight. Yay, me! Granted, I sold them to people who work at the recreation center who already know and love me, but I still sold them. Now I just need to learn how to talk to strangers as easily as I do to people I know.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Big Girl
Phil and I have been struggling with a little issue for a while. The issue was that Katie was sleeping in our bed with us every night. She absolutely refused to sleep in her own bed.
Occasionally, Phil would get Katie to fall asleep in our bed and then move her into her own bed once she was asleep. However, this never lasted all night. At some point, Katie would always get out of her bed and come get in bed with us.
Obviously, the blame for this problem of ours was totally on us. Even though there were many nights that we were very uncomfortable due to little feet, knees or elbows poking into our backs, sides, and even faces, we really didn't mind sharing our bed with Katie very much. She is such a sweet and loving child that we just loved curling up with her.
Of course, we realized that we really did need to get her out of our bed at some point. She's only getting bigger every day, and we definitely didn't want to share our bed with her forever. We tried to make her sleep in her own bed a few weeks ago, but that attempt failed miserably because Phil couldn't stand to hear Katie crying.
However, we decided to try again yesterday. We told Katie all day long that she was going to be sleeping in her own bed that night, just to get her used to the idea. She was not very happy about the idea; in fact, she told us flat out that she was NOT going to be sleeping in her bed.
But we knew we had to stick to the plan. If we let her have her way, she would only be more convinced that she was the one in charge around here, which is NOT what we want. So, when the time came, we put her down in her own bed.
That's when it started. The screaming and crying and getting out of bed went on for at least an hour. Eventually, she must have realized that we were serious about making her sleep in her own bed, because she promised me she would stay in bed and go to sleep. Then she rolled over and closed her eyes.
She did end up crying one more time after I got into bed, and Phil had to go calm her down. Then around 3:30 this morning, she got up and came into our room, but when Phil took her back to her bed, she went right back to sleep and stayed there for the rest of the night.
This morning, Phil and I made such a big deal about what a big girl Katie was to sleep in her own bed last night. We want her to be proud of herself so she wants to sleep there every night. When she asked for a piece of chocolate this morning, I made sure to tell her that I was giving her the chocolate because she had been a big girl and slept in her own bed last night.
When I told Katie that she was going to be taking her nap in her own bed today, she was a bit resistant to the idea. She told me that she didn't want to take a nap. So, I told her she could stay up a little later, but that when the time came, she would be napping in her own bed.
When I laid her down in her bed for her nap, she told me that she wanted me to lay down with her. I told her that I couldn't fit in her little bed (it's a toddler bed) with her, and she just said okay, then rolled over and went to sleep.
And that's where she is right now. Napping like a big girl in her own bed. I'm so proud of her and so happy for Phil and me.
Occasionally, Phil would get Katie to fall asleep in our bed and then move her into her own bed once she was asleep. However, this never lasted all night. At some point, Katie would always get out of her bed and come get in bed with us.
Obviously, the blame for this problem of ours was totally on us. Even though there were many nights that we were very uncomfortable due to little feet, knees or elbows poking into our backs, sides, and even faces, we really didn't mind sharing our bed with Katie very much. She is such a sweet and loving child that we just loved curling up with her.
Of course, we realized that we really did need to get her out of our bed at some point. She's only getting bigger every day, and we definitely didn't want to share our bed with her forever. We tried to make her sleep in her own bed a few weeks ago, but that attempt failed miserably because Phil couldn't stand to hear Katie crying.
However, we decided to try again yesterday. We told Katie all day long that she was going to be sleeping in her own bed that night, just to get her used to the idea. She was not very happy about the idea; in fact, she told us flat out that she was NOT going to be sleeping in her bed.
But we knew we had to stick to the plan. If we let her have her way, she would only be more convinced that she was the one in charge around here, which is NOT what we want. So, when the time came, we put her down in her own bed.
That's when it started. The screaming and crying and getting out of bed went on for at least an hour. Eventually, she must have realized that we were serious about making her sleep in her own bed, because she promised me she would stay in bed and go to sleep. Then she rolled over and closed her eyes.
She did end up crying one more time after I got into bed, and Phil had to go calm her down. Then around 3:30 this morning, she got up and came into our room, but when Phil took her back to her bed, she went right back to sleep and stayed there for the rest of the night.
This morning, Phil and I made such a big deal about what a big girl Katie was to sleep in her own bed last night. We want her to be proud of herself so she wants to sleep there every night. When she asked for a piece of chocolate this morning, I made sure to tell her that I was giving her the chocolate because she had been a big girl and slept in her own bed last night.
When I told Katie that she was going to be taking her nap in her own bed today, she was a bit resistant to the idea. She told me that she didn't want to take a nap. So, I told her she could stay up a little later, but that when the time came, she would be napping in her own bed.
When I laid her down in her bed for her nap, she told me that she wanted me to lay down with her. I told her that I couldn't fit in her little bed (it's a toddler bed) with her, and she just said okay, then rolled over and went to sleep.
And that's where she is right now. Napping like a big girl in her own bed. I'm so proud of her and so happy for Phil and me.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Footprints
Sunday afternoon, Phil and I left the girls at home so we could go to Home Depot to buy some fence supplies so we can finally put up a fence on the side of our house that isn't fenced in. This is what we found when we came home.
Katie's toes and fingers are still red in spots.
So is my kitchen floor.
Katie's toes and fingers are still red in spots.
So is my kitchen floor.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Photo Meme
My friend, Heather, tagged me with this little photo meme. Here are the rules: Post the fourth photo in the fourth file in your Pictures file, and tell the story of it.
This photo is from my "07-2006" photo file, and was taken at Sarah's 11th birthday party. In the photo, she's posing with the fifty dollar bill that my mother gave her for her birthday.
BTW, this photo was taken shortly before Sarah started wearing contact lenses.
This photo is from my "07-2006" photo file, and was taken at Sarah's 11th birthday party. In the photo, she's posing with the fifty dollar bill that my mother gave her for her birthday.
BTW, this photo was taken shortly before Sarah started wearing contact lenses.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Not Good
My computer is having "issues." Somehow, some sort of virus has invaded my desk top computer, and I can't use it right now. I'm currently using Phil's lap top, but it's a pain in the butt because I don't have any of my favorites on it.
Hopefully, Phil will be able to get this virus off of my computer tonight, because I don't know what I'll do with no internet tomorrow while he's at work.
Hopefully, Phil will be able to get this virus off of my computer tonight, because I don't know what I'll do with no internet tomorrow while he's at work.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
All Done
I've been baking for the past few days. Those cookies took WAY longer to make than I had hoped. But I got all eight dozen of them finished, packaged, and ready to go in time for the big cookie exchange party at my friend Andrea's house tonight.
The party was a lot of fun. Andrea had this fun little food trivia game that we all played. And while I'm most definitely not a "foodie," I did get a few questions correct and I did have fun playing.
Of course, the best part of all was that we got to not only eat cookies at the party, but I came home with a dozen of each lady's cookies along with the recipes. With four kids in this house, though, the cookies will probably not last very long!
The party was a lot of fun. Andrea had this fun little food trivia game that we all played. And while I'm most definitely not a "foodie," I did get a few questions correct and I did have fun playing.
Of course, the best part of all was that we got to not only eat cookies at the party, but I came home with a dozen of each lady's cookies along with the recipes. With four kids in this house, though, the cookies will probably not last very long!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Reasons I Wish I Didn't Take So Many Meds
1. My meds cost a LOT of money, even with insurance.
2. My meds are making me gain weight. I REALLY don't like gaining weight.
3. I probably wouldn't have to call Poison Control quite so often if I didn't have so much medicine in my house.
Yeah. I had to call Poison Control AGAIN today. Katie got a hold of my Effexor XR that I was about to take when I stepped into the kitchen to get my drink. Thankfully, she didn't have any adverse effects from the little bit of the drug she may have ingested. At least we didn't have to go to the ER this time.
I swear this kid is going to be the death of me.
2. My meds are making me gain weight. I REALLY don't like gaining weight.
3. I probably wouldn't have to call Poison Control quite so often if I didn't have so much medicine in my house.
Yeah. I had to call Poison Control AGAIN today. Katie got a hold of my Effexor XR that I was about to take when I stepped into the kitchen to get my drink. Thankfully, she didn't have any adverse effects from the little bit of the drug she may have ingested. At least we didn't have to go to the ER this time.
I swear this kid is going to be the death of me.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Is It Her?
Phil just called me to let me know about this. The skeletal remains of a small child were found this morning near the neighborhood of Caylee and Casey Anthony. Whether or not it is the body of little Caylee Anthony has not yet been determined. Casey is going on trial soon for Caylee's murder.
On one hand, I hope that it's not Caylee, because I wouldn't ever wish for someone to be dead. But on the other hand, I hope that it is Caylee, because it would make the murder case against Casey so much stronger. The crazy bitch might even finally confess to Caylee's murder once they have absolute proof that she really is dead.
I hope they figure out if it's Caylee's body soon. And I hope her murderer gets the death penalty.
On one hand, I hope that it's not Caylee, because I wouldn't ever wish for someone to be dead. But on the other hand, I hope that it is Caylee, because it would make the murder case against Casey so much stronger. The crazy bitch might even finally confess to Caylee's murder once they have absolute proof that she really is dead.
I hope they figure out if it's Caylee's body soon. And I hope her murderer gets the death penalty.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Christmas is Not About Presents
I know that most of my bloggy friends know that Christmas is NOT about presents. Christmas is about celebrating the miracle of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We give gifts on Christmas to symbolize the gifts that were brought to the Christ child, and we give gifts to show our friends and family that we love them.
This year, due to my deadbeat ex, we are struggling financially. We cannot afford to buy any gifts this year. At first, I was upset about this fact, especially since Katie is so excited about Christmas this year.
But in the past few weeks, I have started to think of this hardship as a huge blessing. Without presents, we have been able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. There is also no stress about what to buy for whom or keeping within our budget. I've actually been stress-free this Christmas season, and I love it.
Of course, I found out this morning that my brother is mad at me because I'm not buying presents for his children. You see, I sent an email out to the people whose children I usually buy gifts for to let them know about my situation. I wanted them to know ahead of time that I could not get presents for their children this year. Even though I know that Christmas is about giving, not receiving, I didn't want other people who may not be as into this concept to get mad at me for letting them buy gifts for my children when I couldn't do the same for theirs. I wanted them to be aware of the situation and let them make their own decision about whether or not to give to my girls.
Apparently, my brother has a problem with this. I have no idea why, either. Is he really mad that I can't afford to buy gifts for his children? If that's the case, why can't he simply take the money he was going to spend on my FOUR children, and buy more gifts for his TWO children?
What would you do in this situation? If you had a close relative come to you and say, "I'm really sorry, but I can't afford to buy any Christmas presents this year, and that includes your children," what would you do or say? Would you get mad at them? Or would you have another reaction?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tagged
I've been tagged by Joanne from Right on Q for this fun little meme.
The rules are simple.
1. Show the icon on your blog.
2. Tag seven people to partake in the fun times.
3. List 10 random things about yourself.
So, here we go:
1. I watch too much TV.
2. I have really long toes.
3. I wish I had a bigger kitchen so I could bake more often.
4. I always get told that I look younger than I am, but I feel so old.
5. I love office supplies.
6. I think my cat loves me more than my children do.
7. I love teaching CCD more than I ever thought I would.
8. I'm shy, but once I get to know you, I don't hold back.
9. I love to dress my girls up like they're my own personal dolls.
10. My favorite color is pink, and it's not because of Mary Kay.
Now it's your turn. Since I don't feel like choosing seven people to pass this along to, I'm tagging the first seven people who comment on this post.
Cold House
I live in a cold house. My house in made of concrete blocks and is surrounded by trees, so it takes a very long time for it to warm up inside. While this is a great thing during the summer months, it drives me crazy during the winter months, which we haven't even technically gotten to yet.
While I was inside freezing my butt off today, it was a wonderful warmish day outside. When I took Katie and Maggie (the dog) outside for a walk a little while ago, it was 79 degrees outside. Do you want to know how warm it had gotten inside my house by that point? Only 74! And the only reason it was even that warm inside was because I had the heat set on my thermostat to not let it drop below that point.
I need a laptop computer so that I can go sit outside in the sun on warm days and still keep up with my online buddies.
While I was inside freezing my butt off today, it was a wonderful warmish day outside. When I took Katie and Maggie (the dog) outside for a walk a little while ago, it was 79 degrees outside. Do you want to know how warm it had gotten inside my house by that point? Only 74! And the only reason it was even that warm inside was because I had the heat set on my thermostat to not let it drop below that point.
I need a laptop computer so that I can go sit outside in the sun on warm days and still keep up with my online buddies.
Monday, December 8, 2008
What?
So, I'm trying to catch up on some blogs that I read since I have a little down time right now. Every time I read something that makes me laugh, Katie says, "What? What mommy?" She wants to know what's so funny, but how do you explain these things to a two year old? Seriously, I don't like having to explain this stuff to Phil, much less a toddler.
Candy Cane Cookies
Tracy P. over at The Journey is hosting a Cookie Exchange on her blog today. And since I've been busy baking (mostly preparing to bake) my favorite Christmas cookies lately, I decided to join her party.
If you read my post from yesterday, you already know a little bit about what is involved in my recipe. I don't know exactly where my recipe originates from, all I know is that I used to make these cookies with my grandmother when I was a little girl, and I always had fun doing so.
Here are the ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red food coloring
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup finely crushed peppermint candies
Here's what you do with your ingredients:
1. Cream shortening and margarine until fluffy.
2. Add powdered sugar, egg, almond extract, vanilla extract, flour, and salt, and mix well.
3. Divide dough in half.
4. Add food coloring to one half and mix well.
After you've prepared your dough, it is best to chill it for a while in the fridge before continuing with the recipe. This is a great time to prepare your crushed peppermint if you need to.
5. On floured surface, roll a teaspoon of each dough into 4 1/2 in long ropes.
6. Twist ropes together and curve one end down (into cane shape).
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Mix sugar and crushed peppermint candies.
9. While cookies are warm, coat with candy/sugar mixture.
Please excuse the photo. It was the only one I had on my computer of the cookies. The cookies in the photo were made by Sarah and Emily when they were 9 and 7, and were made much larger than they were supposed to be.
I hope you enjoy my cookies. I think they are yummy and I hope you do, too.
If you read my post from yesterday, you already know a little bit about what is involved in my recipe. I don't know exactly where my recipe originates from, all I know is that I used to make these cookies with my grandmother when I was a little girl, and I always had fun doing so.
Here are the ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red food coloring
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup finely crushed peppermint candies
Here's what you do with your ingredients:
1. Cream shortening and margarine until fluffy.
2. Add powdered sugar, egg, almond extract, vanilla extract, flour, and salt, and mix well.
3. Divide dough in half.
4. Add food coloring to one half and mix well.
After you've prepared your dough, it is best to chill it for a while in the fridge before continuing with the recipe. This is a great time to prepare your crushed peppermint if you need to.
5. On floured surface, roll a teaspoon of each dough into 4 1/2 in long ropes.
6. Twist ropes together and curve one end down (into cane shape).
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Mix sugar and crushed peppermint candies.
9. While cookies are warm, coat with candy/sugar mixture.
Please excuse the photo. It was the only one I had on my computer of the cookies. The cookies in the photo were made by Sarah and Emily when they were 9 and 7, and were made much larger than they were supposed to be.
I hope you enjoy my cookies. I think they are yummy and I hope you do, too.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Yesterday
Some of you may be wondering just why I was so tired yesterday. Did I not get enough sleep? No, I actually got about 9-10 hours of sleep. Was I doing hard physical labor all day (like shopping)? No, not that either. What I did yesterday was bake. Well, not so much baking as preparing to bake and cleaning up the mess.
I went to my friend Michelle's parents' house yesterday with the intention of baking the eight dozen cookies I need for my play group's annual cookie exchange next Saturday. Michelle's parents have a HUGE kitchen with tons of counter space, which is why I wanted to bake over there. Unfortunately, it took me so long to get the dough ready to make the cookies, that I only ended up baking one dozen, which I ended up leaving there to thank Michelle's parents for letting me use their kitchen.
I think the thing that took up most of my time was crushing up the peppermint candies into a fine powder. I usually use a food processor to grind up the mints, but I couldn't find all of the pieces to mine, and I didn't think to ask if Michelle's mom had one to use. So, I ended up double bagging the candies and pounding the crap out of them with a meat tenderizer. And, boy, are my arms sore today!
After baking my one dozen cookies (and a batch of ready-to-bake sugar cookies), I realized that it was getting pretty late, so I decided to close up shop and start cleaning the kitchen. I had made a HUGE mess, and it took me some time to get it all back to perfect.
So, to sum it all up, I worked in the kitchen, on my feet, ALL DAY LONG, and really didn't have much to show for it. Unless you count my sore feet, my out-of-whack back, and my whiny toddler (because she missed her nap). Okay, so I DO have my cookie dough, which is currently chillin' in my freezer, and I DO have my peppermint and sugar mixture ready to go.
All I have to do now is roll out my dough and form my cookies, bake them, top them, and package them for the party. I figure that if I bake one or two dozen cookies per day, I should be able to get them all ready to go by next Saturday night. Wish me luck!
P.S.
Tracy P. is hosting a Cookie Exchange on her blog tomorrow, so I will be posting my recipe on my blog tomorrow for that. Just in case you were wondering what all of the crushed peppermint was for.
I went to my friend Michelle's parents' house yesterday with the intention of baking the eight dozen cookies I need for my play group's annual cookie exchange next Saturday. Michelle's parents have a HUGE kitchen with tons of counter space, which is why I wanted to bake over there. Unfortunately, it took me so long to get the dough ready to make the cookies, that I only ended up baking one dozen, which I ended up leaving there to thank Michelle's parents for letting me use their kitchen.
I think the thing that took up most of my time was crushing up the peppermint candies into a fine powder. I usually use a food processor to grind up the mints, but I couldn't find all of the pieces to mine, and I didn't think to ask if Michelle's mom had one to use. So, I ended up double bagging the candies and pounding the crap out of them with a meat tenderizer. And, boy, are my arms sore today!
After baking my one dozen cookies (and a batch of ready-to-bake sugar cookies), I realized that it was getting pretty late, so I decided to close up shop and start cleaning the kitchen. I had made a HUGE mess, and it took me some time to get it all back to perfect.
So, to sum it all up, I worked in the kitchen, on my feet, ALL DAY LONG, and really didn't have much to show for it. Unless you count my sore feet, my out-of-whack back, and my whiny toddler (because she missed her nap). Okay, so I DO have my cookie dough, which is currently chillin' in my freezer, and I DO have my peppermint and sugar mixture ready to go.
All I have to do now is roll out my dough and form my cookies, bake them, top them, and package them for the party. I figure that if I bake one or two dozen cookies per day, I should be able to get them all ready to go by next Saturday night. Wish me luck!
P.S.
Tracy P. is hosting a Cookie Exchange on her blog tomorrow, so I will be posting my recipe on my blog tomorrow for that. Just in case you were wondering what all of the crushed peppermint was for.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Dear Readers,
I'm busy, and I'm tired, and I just don't have the time I need to be able to keep up with my own blog, let alone all of yours. I'm sorry. I promise to do better in the future. But it isn't going to happen tonight.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Break the Cycle
Have you noticed that little button over there on my side bar? The one that says "Pink Changing Lives" and shows a picture of a bag with the phrase "Beauty that Counts" on it? Well, if you haven't already, you should click on it and learn all about how Mary Kay helps women's causes all over the world.
One of the causes that Mary Kay is involved in is Break the Cycle. It's an organization dedicated to preventing domestic violence. Break the Cycle is trying to get a law passed that will require domestic violence education in high schools. Currently, only two states have this requirement.
Please click here to sign the online petition. Let's all help Break the Cycle of domestic violence against women.
One of the causes that Mary Kay is involved in is Break the Cycle. It's an organization dedicated to preventing domestic violence. Break the Cycle is trying to get a law passed that will require domestic violence education in high schools. Currently, only two states have this requirement.
Please click here to sign the online petition. Let's all help Break the Cycle of domestic violence against women.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Square
A strange thing happened to me tonight. While I was waiting outside of Emily's Girl Scout meeting, I was invited by a nice old lady to join her square dancing class. There was a man there whose partner was late, and he needed someone to fill in for her. I wanted to say, "No," but I really didn't have any reason to, so I went ahead and joined them.
I had no clue what I was doing, of course, and for a while there I felt a bit like a pin ball being bounced and twirled around without a clue where I would land. Thankfully, no one let me fall down. However, after about fifteen minutes of "dancing" with them, I actually started to get the hang of it. I even got some complicated little move down.
Here's the amazing part: Not only did I have fun doing it, but I got a pretty good workout during the process, too. If I didn't have other places to be on Thursday nights, I might have considered signing up for the class.
I had no clue what I was doing, of course, and for a while there I felt a bit like a pin ball being bounced and twirled around without a clue where I would land. Thankfully, no one let me fall down. However, after about fifteen minutes of "dancing" with them, I actually started to get the hang of it. I even got some complicated little move down.
Here's the amazing part: Not only did I have fun doing it, but I got a pretty good workout during the process, too. If I didn't have other places to be on Thursday nights, I might have considered signing up for the class.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
C-C-C-Cold
It's been really cold around these parts today. I hate it when it gets cold like this because all I want to do is stay in my warm bed all day. I just can't get myself motivated to do anything when I'm shivering.
So, I obviously have nothing new to blog about today. Maybe it will warm up by the weekend. Hopefully.
So, I obviously have nothing new to blog about today. Maybe it will warm up by the weekend. Hopefully.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Merry SITSmas!
Merry Christmas
May you all get that special gift you've been dreaming about.
And may I get that special Target gift card I've been dreaming about!
Make sure you head on over to SITS to check out their Merry SITSmas celebration.
Monday, December 1, 2008
SITSmas Preview
Tomorrow is the big Merry SITSmas celebration over at The Secret is in the Sauce, AKA SITS. All of the SITStas are going to post a holiday card on their blogs and then link the up over at SITS. And to top it all off, the SITS gals are going to be giving away one cool prize every hour!
But even better than that, is the HUGE Grand Prize that was just announced this afternoon. What is it? Only the best thing possible at this time of year... a $200 Target gift card! Oh, yeah!
So, make sure to check out the Merry SITSmas celebration tomorrow. You won't regret it.
But even better than that, is the HUGE Grand Prize that was just announced this afternoon. What is it? Only the best thing possible at this time of year... a $200 Target gift card! Oh, yeah!
So, make sure to check out the Merry SITSmas celebration tomorrow. You won't regret it.
Facebook Find
So, I guess I should start off by stating that I FINALLY jumped on the Facebook band wagon. Due to some gentle prodding from some friends, and the seemingly constant barrage of articles about the site, I decided to sign up.
I'm not one of those people who tries to rack up as many friends as possible, but I was interested to see who from my past was on Facebook, so I decided to look at the list of my high school classmates. That's when I found him.
A long time ago, I was this tiny little girl who liked to hang out with enormous football players. I never dated them; we were all just friends. One day, I got a class ring from one of those guys to wear while I was working so that people would think that I had a boyfriend and would stop hitting on me.
Somehow, I lost touch with the guy before I was able to give him back his ring. I've held onto it all of these years so I could give it back to him if I ever saw him again. And now, I've found him on Facebook. I sent him a message letting him know that I still have his ring, and hopefully, we can get together soon so I can give it back to him.
I'm not one of those people who tries to rack up as many friends as possible, but I was interested to see who from my past was on Facebook, so I decided to look at the list of my high school classmates. That's when I found him.
A long time ago, I was this tiny little girl who liked to hang out with enormous football players. I never dated them; we were all just friends. One day, I got a class ring from one of those guys to wear while I was working so that people would think that I had a boyfriend and would stop hitting on me.
Somehow, I lost touch with the guy before I was able to give him back his ring. I've held onto it all of these years so I could give it back to him if I ever saw him again. And now, I've found him on Facebook. I sent him a message letting him know that I still have his ring, and hopefully, we can get together soon so I can give it back to him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
