Goodbye, 2011.

This year's finale is a quiet one. *Perfect*

If I had to sum 2011 up in one word, it would have to be: over. Kidding. I'd have to say it was weird. Yeah, that is the best I can do. It sort of made me feel like, oh my goodness! I'm a grown up now. I deal with big people stuff. I make decisions based off what is best for me and these other people that share my home and heart. And I'm responsible for creating their good memories, protecting them and opening their eyes to the world around them. Which sometimes (unfortunately) goes hand in hand. When did all this happen? Obviously, I've always kind of known this all along, but I was really tested a lot this year. And my Mama Bear instinct is intact.

We've dealt with some big stuff, but came out with all of our fingers and toes. And for that, I am thankful. Along with it, we have had some really great highlights: Logan coming out of surgery without a spica cast (BEST EVER MOMENT OF 2011), Washington DC & Delaware (kids first time to see the ocean), our St. John's trip where we stayed in a cabin on Lake Superior (HEAVENLY), completing my 50 mile bike ride, and the list goes on. We've grown stronger friendships, met more people, grown more comfortable in our new area, experienced a lot of good things to even out the struggles. And quite honestly, 2011 was vastly easier than 2010. If we keep this pattern up, 2012 show pass by with hardly any hiccups. Ha!

I know a lot of people aren't fans of New Year's resolutions. I AM. Why not try to change for the better? My biggest struggle is remembering what mine were. So I'll write mine down for the sake of remembering. I'm not sure if I'd consider my last year's resolutions a success or not.

This year, I am going to:

1. Give running a good shot. I have some personal goals that for now will stay that way- personal. But it's specific and I will know if I met it or not. (certain mileage and speed)

2. Enjoy my kids more. This means more time out of my day to spend with them in some way: on the floor playing, Uno, playground, beach, outside, etc. I really need to do this. We were just checking out some old videos and my kids have *sob* grown too much, too fast. I feel like I haven't soaked it all in. It's hard to remember when you are going from day to day. The days are long, but the years are fast.

3. Be more Urho-like. BWAHAHAHAHAHA. If you get it, you get it.

4. I actually have more, but I don't (gasp!) share everything with you.

I hope that your year was fabulous, but this next one is even better. And if it's not, I hope that God will bless you with the knowledge, resources and people you need to get through it as unscathed as possible.

SO HERE'S TO TWENTY-TWELVE!!

Close to perfect

This one tells me, "I wish I had a fashion bwain wike Hawey". I don't know, my love, I think you have a fashion brain. Judging by this outfit, you will never be a wallflower. (You can't tell by the picture, but her leggings sparkle and her shoes light up. And yes, she wore that outfit to church on Christmas morning. Maybe I'm crazy, but I want my kids to feel free to express themselves. I learned that from my sister Tara. She's good like that.)

Christmas was really good. Last year was a little lonely and I kicked myself for not going to MN since we are living so much closer. (It's all relative.) So I swore we would this year. Alas, it was not so. Soon we will be heading that way for an earlier-than-planned plate removal surgery (Logan), so... We spent our 6th Christmas away from family. I'll admit, I was really bummed at first. But, with so many people in our life dealing with tough circumstances, including my Aunt Christine who reads my blog and has many times sent me kind words when I was dealing with stuff, I guess I realized how lucky I really am. I've got a lot to be thankful for.

Needless to say, once all prep was done, I just kicked back and enjoyed it. Christmas Eve was quiet and was ours alone. Just how I like it. Then Christmas Day hit. Stockings, church, lunch with Zane's co-worker and his family (they have absolutely no family here), and then off to my Aunt Ginny & Uncle Roger's house. Later in the evening, Uncle Mark came from the hospital with his youngest kids. And so we got to visit with a lot of cousins that I wouldn't normally see. It wasn't what we had originally planned, but somehow it turned out perfect.

I hope yours was perfect, too.

BUSTED!!

We set up the trail camera to capture the action.

And what to it's wandering eyes did appear...

And then he saw the plate of cookies. I'm not judging. They were good cookies.

This trail camera that I bought for Zane has really been worth the money.

Just a note: if you ever decide to moon somebody's trail camera, make sure it is

on before you go through the effort of trudging into the mosquitoey woods.

I would never do something like that, but I wouldn't put it past you.

And I just thought that you might need that piece of advice.

Anyways. I hope that jolly man (pictured above) brought you everything you wanted. And more.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Christmas program

As you can see, Logan was thrilled to have his hair styled.

Apparently, we should have stuck with just-rolled-outta-bed look.

He ended up wearing the same sweater as last year.

He told me, as he was supposed to be getting ready for the program, that he hated the shirt I bought him. I was fine with it. I'd rather return it than have him wear it once.

The girls, however, were raring to go.

And more than happy to have their hair fixed.

Izzy sung her little heart out.

I swear I could hear her above everyone else.

The world is her stage, so she was in her element.

They all did well. It was a beautiful program.

When I see my kids in this environment, I realize how lucky we are to be here.

The laundry/entry:

We finally got it done: ZZtop put up more hooks and I painted.

Oh, plus he earned bonus points by making that shelf for me.

I need to find some baskets to put in them.

Actually, I already found them.

I just have to buy them- and a rug.

That door is going to be gray to match the room.

The white looks horrid against the cream walls.

This curtain brings out the redneck in me.

I may have hung it up with duct tape.

Whatev. Note: It appears really wrinkly in this picture.

Not sure why. I actually ironed it.

Strange, but true: I used the iron.

So, is that a good compromise?

Soft color pallette like beachy...

this, that, and the other thing.

Life's been kind of bullet-pointy these days.

*my tomato cages are down. early this year. ;)

*the plant skeletons are not. frozen ground. whowuddathunkit?

*only four Christmas cards left to get out the door.

*i didn't order enough this year.

*to order more or not to order more? that is the question. i like to have them for my kids for their memories.

*i think i just talked myself into ordering more.

*then i'll have 4+ left to go out the door. hmph.

*i made scones (thanks to my sisters for inspiration) for the first time yesterday.

*they are so good, that if you make them, you might eat six. maybe.

*i wouldn't, but you might.

*i'm ready for christmas.

*bring it on!! no, not really. i love this time of year.

*i saw valentine's day stuff out at joann fabrics today. not even a lie. i might boycott them.

*or "chew on fat bricks" if you have a strong finnglish accent. (per my old bf, julie's sister and cheryl's daughter. good memories.)

*i woke up (refreshed) one hour before my alarm today and caught my migraine before it hit. yay!

*my hair was fixed today and the kids had a good breakfast waiting for them and they still were rushing out the door. whatev. my hair looked better than normal.

*i made it to my training and managed to eek out six returns (the store kind) before picking up the two little toots. plus, a hug in a cup. courtesy of one of my besties. *muah*

*i *sigh* temporarily gave up coffee and assorted other acid-y foods to be kind to my "snummy" (per izz) while it heals from all of the things i take to kick those migraines to the curb. i realize i took exedrin today, but that's where i draw the line. i'll compensate in other places. thanks.

*my hug in a cup was a non-coffee type. in case you were wondering.

*we have a five year plan. and we're doing a good job of sticking to our guns thus far. it's not so much a "plan" as a wish list. we all know who is really in charge. and it's not z or i.

*the plan is solely based on what we think is best for the kiddos. if it was up to z and i, we'd be in alaska.

*i'm eager to check the mail every day. gosh, but y'all have some cute families.

*i knew today would be busy, so i doubled my soup yesterday. guess what we are eating again today? haha, suckahs! if i don't like it, i can splurge on something when i go out for "coffee" (h20 for me, thanks) with my gal pals. heehee. don't tell the suckahs.

*i passed my finals and my tax prep cert- yay! and started software training today. i have two quick tests to take still. it kind of seems like i'm drifting towards working... part time, of course.

*neeeeeeervooooooooooooousssssss!

*my brain is overjoyed to be finally working again.

*we'll be here for Christmas again this. year six on our own.

*it's good because we can really enjoy our kids, sad because you always want to be with your family- or most of it ;) - during Christmas.

*but we'll be seeing family soon enough, as Logan has his pins and plates removed in iceville this winter.

*i need to remember to pick up tights for Maddie and Haley for the Sunday school Christmas program. (that was strictly for my benefit, seeing as i haven't remembered thus far)

*i'm working on a good new years resolution/goal for the new year. miles or hours or what? i almost made it to boston!! woot, woot. i want something different and challenging.

*boston kept me motivated.

*and there's nothing wrong with a little motivation. Much like the ones that will be walking in the door soon with hungry snummies. Time to reheat.

TTFN!

HO HO HO!!

A certain little stinker did not dare sit on Santa's lap. Let's face it: the only reason she might actually get anything in her stocking is because she can get away with people thinking she doesn't know any better. It's a good thing that there is a Santa, because her mom is quite tired of finding her artwork all over the house and isn't convinced she needs anything for Christmas. Especially when she decorated the dryer with permanent marker. BTW: dry erase marker works wonders on that.

*I'd stay and chat, but a certain someone is suspiciously quiet. That, unfortunately, is never a good thing.*

Rice Krispy Bars on crack

I mean, seriously? Who, in their right mind, wouldn't eat two whole rows of these babies?

Answer: I actually have a friend that wouldn't, but I love her anyway. :)

It's September, right?

I don't know how it happened, but old man winter had snuck up on us for a couple of days there. It's been beautifully mild, leaving my propane tank fuller than it was at this time last year. YAY! Yes, my happiness with winter is directly proportionate to how much money my tank sucks out of me. So far, so good. It wasn't until the snow fell that I realized that we haven't even pulled the tomato cages out of the garden, much less trimmed the plants that need trimming, etc. Or even put away the bikes and stroller for the year. I didn't notice the stroller was out until the snow blanketed it, making it look like an oddly shaped bush in our yard. Oops. Well. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE DECEMBER?! Next time, I'd appreciate it if someone gave me the memo. Thanks.

The sands of time.

Life is like a sand dune. Ever changing. The majority of the time, imperceptibly. A grain of sand at a time. Over time, those tiny grains of sand create a shift in the landscape. It isn't always discernible, unless you take a step back and really consider it. And compare it to how it once was. Other times, the wind comes in great gusts and the sands pelts our bodies like sharp little daggers as the whole scene changes before our eyes. And we endure it. If we don't, we'd be lost in the landscape forever. And if you look at the changed scenery, you will find that even though it may be unfamiliar, doesn't mean it isn't beautiful. Even though it doesn't look how you had planned, doesn't mean it isn't perfect for you.

I heard that quote- that last sentence I wrote- this past week and I'm really trying to wrap my head and my heart around it. My brain believes it to be true, but telling my heart that is a whole 'nother story. Lately, we've been reminiscing about the places we have been. And talking about the places we may go. You know that saying "You can never go back"? I never understood it until now. You can go back physically, sure. But you can never go back to that time. No matter what it was. The landscape has changed to much for it to ever be the same. You can go back and create a new life for yourself, but you will never recapture what you once had. Whether you want to or not. The changes may be gradual, but they still happened.

Consider this. We lived in NM up until a year and a half ago. Yet, it is still different. I have friends that have moved. A friend that lost a husband and since remarried. (not that it would change our friendship) Friends that have made other life changes. And a friend still figuring out where her life is taking her. ( I hope you find it.) And so I couldn't go back. But part of what made that time so special is because we knew it was temporary and we lived it to the fullest. If only we would do that everywhere we went.

So I need to do that. Live this life with that zest. See what there is to see, do what there is to do. And enjoy where my life has taken me.

There's a reason my Dad is grinning.

After just a few years of working, my Dad is officially retired!!

I remember living in the UP and my dad was commuting to MN to work. He'd leave for who knows how long. When you are little, it felt like forever. In reality, it was probably a week or two. I'd wait and wait for him to come home. He would give me whatever he got from work- a little day planner, a pen, or some other little treasure. Chances are, it only happened a couple times. But when you look back, those couple things are remembered as "always".

One time, I was lucky enough to hitch a ride to MN with him. I wasn't it school yet and I'm sure my mom was glad to have a little break from me. Even though I was a perfect child. ;) Anyway. I spent the week with my cousin Hannah while my dad worked. On the trip there, we were lucky enough to stop and eat at McDonalds. A very rare treat. I can picture this clearly to this day. My dad and I were sitting at a two-seater table against the wall. I was eating my cheeseburger meal. (orange pop, of course. I loved and still love anything that smells or tastes like orange) And I looked over to my right and there was a big guy eating his meal. He had his back to me. He was wearing a green jacket. And much to my dismay, his big, hairy plumbers crack was on display. And I quickly looked back at my food. But instead of seeing my cheeseburger, I saw his crack. And I could not stomach another bite of it. My sweet Mickey D's burger. Half eaten. And I remember my dad wrinkling his forehead and asking me if I was going to eat that. I didn't dare tell him why I couldn't eat it. He tried to coax me, but it was useless. That burger was forever a plumbers crack in my mind. There you go, Dad. That's why I didn't finish my burger.

You are welcome for that story.

So, obviously, commuting to MN wasn't going to last forever and we moved to MN. And we got to see my Dad come home every day. I remember just waiting for him to get home. And when the front door opened, we'd go running to see Dad. And we'd take his gray lunchbox from him and bring it into the kitchen. I always hoped I'd find some kind of uneaten treat, like a candy bar, just waiting for me. My dream never did come true.

And today. He no longer needs to wake up at the crack of dawn, make himself a pot of puuroa and head off to work. He can sleep in, go for coffee at Daniels and then spend the rest of the day restoring his truck or fishing. Or whatever he wants. He worked hard. He provided a good life for us. He deserves to be retired.

Enjoy it, Dad! You deserve it. The kids can't believe their luck that you will be around during the day when we come to visit. They are already scheming the things they will do with you. Just to warn you.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Thank you to those who participated.

The winner is JAN!!!! Yay!!!

Walking in a winter wonderland.

I love a snow like this. Where the snow clings to anything that it can grab a hold of, like glitter to glue. Where the wind doesn't whip the beauty out of it, creating an uneven landscape. Especially this time of year, where it brings with it the Christmas spirit. I love it so much that I even forgot about my morning cup of coffee. Skipped over that, but inserted an hour of vitamin d with the little ones. *happy sigh* It is the most wonderful time of the year.

Me and the rockstar. Hanging out. With our drying rack. And iphoto.

Unforgettable

I knew I could count on you. You hit 20 comments, el magicalo numbre. (I'm bilingual. English. Spanglish.) Thank you for your comments. I hope I don't have to pull teeth to get you to talk again.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a success. Mine was, well, memorable. That's really the only word that I can come up with to describe it. It wasn't good, wasn't bad. It was memorable. We had made plans to spend the night at the Marriott in The Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Then we were going to wake up and watch the Thanksgiving Day parade. It was a perfect opportunity to do our own thing with no family around to share the holiday with. But things don't always go as planned, do they?

That was painfully obvious when were awoken by fire alarms screaming at 1:45 am. Well, that's not the complete truth. I was still laying awake at that time. But everybody else's snores came to a screeching halt.

Long story short, there was an electrical fire on floor 51. They were experiencing problems all the way up to the 60th floor. Rumor has it. We were on floor 31. So we were safe all along, but I can tell you this much: You don't fall asleep and sleep peacefully after something like that, never mind the firetrucks outside and the foot traffic in the halls. So we packed it all up and headed home. They were not sad to see us go, as they really needed rooms for the guests who were stuck there. And we never did see that parade.

ZZtop, however, did see Lauren Alaina in the stairwell. She was complaining to him that she was supposed to be up in a matter of hours to sing the national anthem at the Lions game, which she flubbed. (Poor girl, she's only 16. I couldn't get the words right myself. Much less running on basically no sleep) Anyway. He didn't know who it was until he was reading the news online and saw a clip of her. (Not available anymore, sorry.) I couldn't believe he didn't recognize her. I guess when you are running up to the 31st floor, you probably don't look back at the person chattering away behind you.

So. We were back home by 4:30am. Missed the parade. But had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at Cracker Barrel where my kids really did behave perfectly. Not even lying about that last part. Although, it is admittedly a little lonely when the extent of your Thanksgiving plans (that work out) are hitting up a local restaurant. Regardless, I was counting my blessings. (And I'm not complaining. We had invites.)

So. There it was. Thanksgiving 2011: Unforgettable. Here's to Christmas being a little less memorable. In a good way.

Tell me something funny. Or anything, really.

I don't think that I am going to talk to you until you start talking to me. The lack of commentating on this blog makes me a little sad. I'm not blogging again until the comments hit a certain number in my head. I'm on strike.

Ideas:

1.) If you could move anywhere in the world (and not have to think about the consequences), where would you move?

Me? Alaska. Without a doubt. Second choice? Hawaii.

2.) If you could go on vacay anywhere, where would you go?

I could go on and on. But mostly: Italy, Greece, Fiji, Germany. I just came up with Fiji. Just now. In case you were wondering.

3.) If you could be granted one wish right now, what would it be? (I'm not talking world peace here- something more selfish than that.) Me? I'd be living in a smaller house, closer to my family.

4.) What do you want for Christmas? I want a bouquet of flowers each month. It's true. And. I want to be able to afford to buy presents for every foster child in the country. I'd also love to provide them homes.

5.) What is your favorite thing about winter? Christmas. It can be spring after that, thankyouverymuch.

6.) What is scarier, a shark or a lion? Depends where I am at the time. From right here? A lion. The shark might take a bite of me, find me disgusting and leave me alone. The lion would think I'm delicious. You can never trust a cat. Ever.

So there you go. Talk to me!

The strike officially starts........ nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnow.

I've got it!

I *finally* decided on a prize for my Thanksgiveaway!!

And I hope you will like it. No. Scratch that. You will like it.

I am giving you options. If I draw your name, you can pick from one of the following:

1. Andean Nation music songs of winter: (cd) It reminds me of New Mexico, where I saw these people performing at a craft show. It is really beautiful music. No words, just a different type of music.

2. Kenny Rogers, The Gift: (cd) with my very favorite Christmas song ever, Mary Did You Know?

And if neither of those interest you, well, then...

3. Tell me your favorite Bath & Body Works scent and I'll send you something!

How is that? I know I mentioned Pampered Chef, but I have always wanted to give away #'s 1 & 2, so.... Trust me. It's a better prize this way! If you really had your heart set on Pampered Chef, we can chat. If you win. Get your entries in! I'm getting responses and I'm loving it. You can enter here, on the original post or email me at mindijo1 @ live . com. If you emailed me and I did not respond, then I did not get your entry. Thank you! As for the rest of you who haven't emailed me, don't be a stick in the mud! Join in, it's fun.

Less is more

As I shared with you before, I've been slowly purging my house.

And it feels. so. good.

Less is more. Less is definitely more.

It does, however, make me feel a little ill about how wasteful we are.

Some things we legitimately used up or grew out of.

But somethings really were a waste of money.

A waste of space in the landfill.

We reused, burned and gave away what we could.

But still.

We need to learn to live on less for so many reasons.

And by "we", I mean society as a whole.

Spending less, leaving less behind.

Waste is, well, wasteful.

Tell me your best tips on spending less and leaving less.

I know that some of you practically have a Masters in living on less whether you need to or not.

And I eat up frugal tidbits like chocolate.

Please share with me.

I'm hungry for more.

Thanks. Gotta go study for my final (yay!!) that is today. (Yikes)

Choices I can live with.

Life is full of choices. (warning: this is going to be a deep post) And if we don't own up to our bad choices, we have a hard time making changes for the better.

Which is why I'm getting bangs. I happened to glance in the mirror the other day and what I saw horrified me. Had I been wearing a dress, people would assume I was Amish. This no bangs, hair pulled back business has got to go. Seriously! I'm making myself look overly mommish. An Amish mom. (Nothing wrong with the Amish. I just don't want to look like one.) And lets face it, bangs are fab. The only thing that could make the whole look better is an infinity scarf and brown or cream leggings for more versatility with my wardrobe. That, and a little black dress to wear on dates with Zane. I mean little. Like I-hope-I-don't-see-any-elders-from-church-when-I-wear-this type dress. That would be fun. The dress, not the elders bit. Oh, and flats that jazz up jeans. I'm thinking red. Or green. Or yellow. Something to add a POP! of color when I run to Kroger. And a big, thick rockstar wrap bracelet that hugs my wrist and doesn't move. I should stop. Otherwise we will be here all day.

I told you this was heavy stuff.

And I still need to talk about my house. You know you want to listen. I've made some important decisions. My remaining kitchen walls will also be painted the same blue as my door wall. Except the wall by the laundry room. That will be covered in chalkboard paint. How fun will that be? We can write notes, quotes, grocery lists, the kids can color pictures, Zane can tell me he loves me, it'll be grand.

And. My laundry room. Remember, you voted on it a while back? I'm not completely feeling the beachy theme, I won't lie. I'll stick with the color pallette (somewhat), but I'm switching it up. I'm thinking gray and white strips. Maybe yellowish stencils on one wall. Kind of a modern look. It'll be perfect. And lots more hooks to hang up coats, backpacks, purses, etc. It'll be grand. You'll love it. I just know it. And if you don't, then go sit on a pin.

So. That's what I've been dreaming of during my homework time. One more week of class and then the final, and that's when the world starts to change. Whaddya think?

Oh. And. I really loves Jack's Salsa. Yummmm. You can really taste the cilantro.

The proof is in the pudding.

The proof that the time I have spent on Pinterest isn't all for naught:

I have a goal to clean 40 areas in my house before Christmas, thanks to the site. The idea is to burn, give away or throw out as much as possible to make more room for what will inevitably find its way into our house, come Christmas. (On account of how perfect my kids are. BWAHAHAHAHA!) I'm actually trying to discard more than they are going to aquire. Up until now, I have 26 unfinished areas to knock off the list. The two most daunting are complete. That would be the toy area in the basement and the boy's room.

It's amazing how he takes the name "pack rat" to whole new heights. And not in a good way. I was already afraid of heights, but this put me over the top. He keeps everything and treasures nothing. Amongst the most peculiar: my bracelet, a jar full of dead fireflies, a bag full of rocks, his friends brother's pants, (I don't get that one, either), a stuffed monkey I have never seen before, (and quite honestly, never will again. heh.) and a million other random thingamajigs. And to think it's not the first time that I have dared to take the plunge and deep clean under his bed and in his closet since we have lived here. My guess is, he'll make an appearance on Hoarding: Buried Alive unless he can snag a minimalist for a wife.

Soooo. That's what I love about right now. A deep-cleaner house with each passing day. And making up words and phrases.

Don't forget to participate in my Thanksgiveaway!!

Oh. And I really love bagels. A lot.

What do you love about right now?

I stumbled upon true beauty via a friend's (Kari) blog. This woman is beautiful, in and out. (You must click on her link at the top of the page that tells you where to start.) I want to be her a little bit.

Somewhere in her blog, she asks her daughter "What do you love about right now?" It's such a small question, but evokes so much happiness. How can you not only see the blessings with those words? Or at least look for them? Whether it's the music of your child's laughter or the stillness of the air outside, there is something beautiful about each moment. If only you choose to see it. Maybe it's "smaller" than whatever pain you might feel, but it's something. During a rough time I find myself doing this, but in my mind I'm telling myself to find the sunshine. Which, might not make sense, because I actually love a rainy day more than anything. It's just that sunshine is more universally equal to happiness. And I don't hate sunshine anyway.

So, what do I love about right now?

*my house is quiet, except for Zane's slow breath of sleep and Kaija's footsteps.

*and the little one with the footsteps found her way to my lap.

*our plans for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade are made.

*I may not have close family here, but I have really great stand-ins.

*the days aren't as cold as they could be.

*I'm not in the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe I'll enjoy Turkey day this year.

*Yet, I'm almost done with Christmas shopping.

*My sink is full of dishes. It means we have food to fill our bellies. Not everyone does.

*My loves, really, are countless. Big, small.

What do you love about right now?

Haley.com

For Kylee and friends. :)

Kaija-bearsy

She's been a little stinker in her short life. I think for a long time she had a chip on her shoulder about leaving NM and her other mommy. But. She's getting better. Unless you count the fact that she colors all over anything that doesn't run away from her. And then sometimes even the things that can move.

(Just for fun, lets toss in the first day back to school.)

I think the kids all like their teachers, although Logan wouldn't want to admit that out loud.

They were just talking about Mrs. B the other day. We miss her. Give her a hug for us the next time you see her, Ky.

Maddie with her depleted stash. She has a cavity. Surprise! That's it. That's all she has going on. She is still her usual, easy kid to have around.

This is old, but I love it just so much:

And the trick-or-treaters. Bundled up for Halloween in MI.

It's a little different than NM, where you don't have to accommodate for cooler weather.

Haley has had the hardest time adjusting to MI, hands down. She misses her BFF just so much! We all do. Love and hugs.

And Logan. That's a whole story for another day. But he's doing well.

What it is.

Oh, how I love the internet. I just googled my symptoms and found out that I wasn't dying, after all. All of my symptoms fit into one small tidy package. Anemia. Duh. I've dealt with it for years now. As a matter of fact, I have never once been able to donate my blood because of it. Bad blood. Duh, Min-dizz. I've just been so over-the-top tired, but yet I've been a little insomniac-ic. Yes, that is a contradiction, until you sit in my shoes. Maybe it's because of that fatigue that my mind isn't connecting the dots. I'm just sayin'. But they connected! That's what counts, people. I'm going to go in and have it all confirmed with bloodwork, but I think this mystery that's been plaguing me is solved.

Which is, btw, precisely why I have not been exercising lately. It made me feel a little sheepish that immediately following the post where I tried to act all tough, my exercise regimen took a serious nosedive. Okay, it wasn't immediately after. But close enough. I figured I had jinxed myself. Maybe soon I'll be back to burning off those Baby Ruth's from my kids Halloween stash that I call dibs on every year. Then again, maybe I'll just keep them where they land for warmth over the winter. Save some money on the propane bill.

Sooooo, Cheerio. Ooh. Cheerios. Yum. I should go eat some. Totally to prevent high cholesterol, of course. And to save on the propane bill. Where was I going with this? Who knows. I really don't. So I'll stop while I am ahead. If I ever was ahead.

Oh. And. I got to hang out with Gram and her boring banter. It isn't that boring, after all. Oh, how I love the internet.

Wednesday Workout #3

Disclaimer: I have not tried this workout. But my computer was out of commission for so long and this Wednesday came up so fast, I just pulled it out. It's on my to-do list. It looks tough, I won't lie. But I am going to try it someday this week.

The 100 workout:

100 jumping jacks

90 crunches

80 squats

70 leg lifts

60 jumping jacks

50 crunches

40 squats

30 leg lifts

20 jumping jacks

10 min run

Thanksgiveaway!

More often than not, my bloggity blog brings me happiness. And mostly because of you. Yes, you. With the month of thankfulness around the corner, I'm doing a thankful challenge/giveaway in honor of you. Like I mentioned yesterday, I'm going to make you work for it. Except it isn't really going to be work because you will reap the rewards from it, whether you win the giveaway or not. (This challenge is a spin-off of the one that Leanne had and I WON!! I LoVe the concept. Sorry- no links. I don't know how to copy and paste with my new computer)

I really love the idea of paying-it-forward. Whoever coined the concept is brilliant. When I lived in NM, I got really sick for about a week one winter. Just your run of the mill winter type sick that hit me really hard for whatever reason. And for a few days, I just couldn't get off the couch for much of anything. And my friend Irene (love her dearly) happened to call me. I sounded like complete crap- I couldn't even fake it that I felt good. And she immediately hung up the phone and arranged to have meals delivered to me. Seriously. It's one of my favorite friend moments in my life. And I'll never forget it. Some day I am going to pay that forward. That does not include new baby/serious illness/expected medical moments. I just mean a friend that is temporarily under the weather and can't make supper for her family. We just all need a break some days.

I'm not expecting you to pay it forward, necessarily. I just want you to do something for someone that you would not normally do. Or never have done. I want it to be someone that you are really thankful to have in your life. Double points if it is ME. Kidding. Seriously kidding. Do something that they will definitely take note of and will make them feel really good. Make it a favorite friends moment. It doesn't have to be extravagant, just meaningful. Bring somebody a surprise lunch with a sweet note, bake them fresh homemade cookies, double your supper and give half to a friend, bring them a "hug in a cup" aka Starbucks, drop a card in the mail just because, etc. Anything that you can think of that you haven't done before. And I give you until the end of November. You can enter on the comments or in an email to me: mindjo1 @ live dot com.

The prize is to be determined. I'm thinking Pampered Chef, though. Drawing will be Thursday, December 1st. Be creative! Be thankful.

back atcha!

Oh, I am feeling the LOOVE. Yes, pronounced with an "oo" sound. MUAH! And today is a better day. Even though it is the day of sad goodbyes.

I won't lie, I wasn't lucky enough to know Evan personally. But. I know his family. They are sort of a natural extension of ours. My mom and Greta are really good friends. Like, talking or texting daily. Most likely. My siblings are friends with their kids. My dad, friends with Kenny. Our families are just kind of tied together. Although I'm older than G & K's oldest, I can understand that suddenly empty space in their family and the pain that is filling it. I can look at my kids and fathom a small percentage of the pain G & K must be experiencing to lose a child. So my heart hurts for them. You know? It's just one of those things. It hurts to know that people in your life are hurting.

Still struggling with the road, but I'm trying for the high one. It feels better already. Mostly because of all of you. Look at you, sending me love! Even when I'm a bit vague about it. There are times, I won't lie, when I blog really honestly about going through a harder than normal time and I get a lot of support from y'all and it sort of embarrasses me for a minute. It's weird. Why be embarrassed by it? Obviously, nobody has a life filled with only roses. That would be bo-ring! And you would never appreciate the good times if you never had the bad. Am I right?

Anywho. I really appreciate you, I really do. I'm sending the love back atcha. Tomorrow I am going to do a giveaway post! But you need to work for it. Stay tuned. I would tell you all about it today, but I want it to be its own separate, happy post.

Oh, and I really hate brown paper bags. They give me the chills. Cardboard does, too.

Heavy and hurty

It's been a heavy month. Heart heavy. Heavy heart. Hurty head. Headache inducing. Heartsick. Homesick. Head hurts, heart hurts.

That's not why I was gone, but it's probably why it's good that I was gone. We had computer problems, amongst other issues. Most incredibly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, some not as much. Some that leave me wondering when it's good to make a stand and when to let it be. And I still wonder. What is right? What is not? Sigh.

If you have nothing good to say... Which would leave me with no inner battle, if people just practiced that. And I have nothing good to say. So that's why I'm trying really hard to not say anything at all.

But more than anything, I want to be home. Home, where I really know people and they really know me. Where I run into people that know where I came from. That I never have to guess how people will react, and completely strike out. But, mostly home where I can wrap my arms around friends and tell them that I'm so sorry for their loss. If only you could mail a hug. Or twenty. And have one mailed to me.

Head and heart hurt. Home and heart sick.

I'm baaaaaaack! I'll explain later.

But for now, I wanna go home. I'd give my left eyebrow if I could make it there in a wink. Wait. My right eyebrow. It doesn't behave as well as the left one does.

Let's be honest here.

I'd totally do another 50 mile bike ride. Or more. You didn't hear me say that second part. I said it in my head. I didn't think that the day I finished. Or the next. Or the next. But now I think so. It was such an accomplishment. My eyes (must have been allergies) filled up with tears when I saw the parking lot at the end of my ride. I'd love to push myself that hard again. To be totally honest, I really underestimated how much of a challenge it would actually be. Thankfully, my rumpus was not that sore after the fact, thanks to my granny seat. Granny seats rock. But my back! Oh, my aching back. It was the only sore thing. I'm not used to backpacks. Not even with my Tax Prep class. Which I don't really love, btw. (My opinion will pry change a million times about that by the end of the coarse) Tax prep and all it's info is overwhelming. Taxes suck. Even though they are necessary. Unfortunately. They probably paid for that bike trail I rode on. Heh.

I was really intimidated by the thought of going on a bike ride with 6 ladies, 5 of which I didn't know. But. I loved it. It's so important to me to have friends of all ages. Everybody has so much to contribute in life. Quite frankly, it was nice to hear about "older kids" issues and get a little heads up on what is to come. One of my bestest friends in NM was the lady who worked at the nursery at the gym I went to. Her grandkids were the same ages as my youngest kids. I really valued the advice/wisdom she shared with me. And she was hispanic, so it was really interesting to compare our two cultures. I learned a lot from her and miss her dearly. You just never really know who will touch your life the most.

So. Long story short, I stepped out of my comfort zone and ended up having boatloads of fun in the process. And was basically upstaged by a lady twice my age during the bike ride. And I'm willing to do it all again. Biking, comfort zone, being upstaged.

Oh! And I found a fabulous deal on a mirror that I have been searching for. It's my reward and souvenir from the trip. Just the other day, I became friends with the spray paint and gave it a facelift. It's completely fantastic.

And, no. I'm not pregnant. And I do have boobs. Somewhat. But thanks for wondering. What? Oh my hair? It IS super sweet. It's called I-could-have-used-a-shower-but-instead-wore-a-hat. It's hard to duplicate. But worth the effort. Thank you. You should be jealous. Just keepin' it real, people.

The detailing on the mirror. I know it's fuzzy. But have you seen my camera? It blows. It's one of the first point and shoot digital models available. So, it's memory card is like the size of MN. The thing is older than most of my kids. If not all. Come over with your fancy-schmancy camera if it bothers you so much. I'll fix your hair like mine. It's a good trade. Wait. I just remembered. That isn't me in the pictures. It's my friend. You'd like her.

One last thing. I LOVE peanut butter and (homemade) jam sandwiches. You were wondering. I could tell.

Workout Wednesday #2

I tried this workout yesterday.

It's not much if you do it once,

so I did it three times.

And between each move I did a minute of cardio.

A minute of strength, a minute of cardio.

Cardio bag of tricks: jumping jacks, mountain climbers, jump rope,

jog in place, high knees, burpees, football run, kick boxing, etc.)
Click on image to enlarge. I had to print mine to read it.

Then I did abs to cool down. And I stretched. It took me an hour.

aye-yah-yiye!

*I did it. I agreed to participate in a 50 mile bike tour this weekend. Yikes. The part that scares me the most? There are seven of us and I don't really know these ladies. Except my aunt, the organizer. Yikes. Oh, well. I am going to be able to add 50 miles to my trip to Boston. So it makes it all worth it. That, and the beautiful fall colors that are making an appearance. This state is really beautiful, isn't it?
*I don't like the new FB. I realize it is a free service. But I feel more out of touch on it.
*This Tax Prep class is a lot to soak in. But I love it. My brain is being put to use!!
*My friends back in NM are planning the annual Halloween bash for people/families in the same field of work as ZZtop and I'm missing out. Boo. I didn't hate the weekly lunches with the girls.
*Kaija + crayon = a house that looks like an art gallery. Including my walls and counter tops. UGH. Besides banning every writing utensil from the house, how do I stop the madness?! BTW: it's what I get. I always swore that I wouldn't be one of those moms with scribbles all over my walls. So. Now I am. Be careful what you proclaim. Even if it is just to yourself.
*My company is gone. Which means life should slow down. That isn't necessarily a good thing. I like it busy. And I like having people around me.
*Still waiting on Logan's x-ray results... Don't know when our next trip to MN will be.
*But we have had Logan in PT 7 months post-op and he still walks with a limp. Sigh. I didn't realize it would take that long. We are, however, thankful that he can walk without pain.
*This is my favoritist season. All the sights, sounds and smells- apples, pumpkins, leaves... Sigh.

Enjoy it!!

Workout Wednesday #1

Years back, I lived on a diet consisting of mainly mountain dew and greasy food. And chased it down with a cigarette. Then when I started to have kids, I realized what a mistake that whole idea was. I had most likely shaved years off of my life before the thought of seeing my kids and grandkids growing up was even more than a passing thought. Yikes. It was for that reason, and the fact that both of my Grandpas had died of a heart attack, that I got my butt in gear. And here I am, years later and I still haven't stopped for longer than a six-week-after-baby-hiatus here and there. and there. and there.

I am forever trying to compensate for the abuse I put my body through in the past. And continue to. I still can't resist grease. It just isn't my go-to anymore. Sniff. And I kicked the tobaccy (it wasn't wacky) a long while ago.

Anywho. I'm actually not here to preach or pretend like I'm some sort of know it all. My apologies, if it sounds that way. I'm not going to list all the reasons why you should exercise. You already know. And, quite frankly, if you don't exercise- it's your loss. Not mine.

HOWEVER. I am going to try to show you why your excuses don't hold water. You don't have a good reason to not exercise, except that you plain old don't want to. That's all. FYI: Nobody actually wants to at first. It isn't until you have been doing it for a while and start to see results that you get hooked. And then you still have days that you don't want to.

*You could have time if you made it. That being said, I realize there are days really are too busy for exercise. Don't beat yourself up over it.
*Prego? Walk. You actually should. The more I exercised, the more it helped in labor and delivery. I did an hour long, high-impact cardio class just hours before giving birth to Kaija. I had her within a few hours of going into labor. And I only pushed twice, if I remember right.
*You can work around most injuries. I taught class with broken toe and a knee that bothered me. It can be done.
*Sick? or just had a baby? Please. I'm not a drill sargeant. Those are very valid excuses.
*And you don't need a gym. Most of the workouts that I am going to post can be done at home. I squeezed this one in today while Kaija napped. It's short and sweet, but perfect for when you are pressed for time and homebound- like I was today. Also, no equipment needed!

Workout #1:
30 jumping jacks
5 push-ups
25 high knees (Jog in place with knees up really high. I did a total of 25/leg.)
7 burpees
10 crunches
7 squats
5 push-ups
10 crunches
5 push-ups
7 squats
30 jumping jacks
1 minute wall sit (your break! yay!)
5 push-ups
25 high knees

Repeat at least twice, but as many times as you want!
*As with any workout, modify for injuries and make it harder/easier depending on what kind of shape you are in.

Well.

There you have it, Dr. Urgent Care. Today I was "absolved of my parental guilt" by the ENT. I like him. Always have. And always will. Especially now. He couldn't tell exactly how bad the ear was, but he assured me it would be okay. Both her ears and keeping the q-tips around.

Dear Less-Than-Nice-Doctor Urgent Care Doctor

It's not that I don't agree with what you were trying to insinuate. I realize that I am not the world's best mother. Never have been, never will be. I don't even care. I just need to be Logan, Maddie, Haley, Izzy and Kaija's best mom.

However. I do defend myself on this: Q-tips are not the worst thing that a person could have in their home. They can be used for a number of things, including dusting corners and crevices. Which I do ALL THE TIME. The fact that I had a child trying to be extra helpful and cleaning another child's ear- when I was not home- isn't the end of the world. Yes. I realize how dangerous it could be (which is why we came in in the first place) and hopefully we get good news from a real doctor the ENT tomorrow. sinceyouweren'tsmartenoughtogivemeananswer


I made an educated guess -not from your sparkling personality- but from the fact that you were not wearing a ring, that it's a good possibility that you don't have children. And. You had time to go online and become a rent-a-Dr a Dr. That, and the fact that you don't realize that accidents do happen when you have kids. So I should probably give you a little leeway, because I used to think I had all the answers before I had kids, too. Then they came along and proved me wrong. But then again, it is me. The questionable mom.

Anyway, thank you for your valuable opinion. It's greatly appreciated, as I tend to surround myself with idiots/people who have questionable items in their houses. So you know how hard it is to engage in intellectual conversations these days. What with all the Q-tips laying around. Good luck in the future. I'm glad you didn't choose to go into customer service. Oh, and I won't be able to make it for a re-check with you. It kills me.

Sincerely,

The Mess of a Mom

P.S. I'm glad I didn't tell you your shoes were cute, because when I got a better glimpse- they actually were a little outdated. Not that that matters. It just seems that someone so incredibly brilliant, like yourself, would know these things. I'm just saying.

P.S. You should really read my previous post. It helped me to bite my tongue.

Why you should be kind.

Ohmygoodnessibawledlikeababywhenireadthis.
This story hit me in a place that most things don't. It makes you think.
I think it really hits home because there have been times in my life that
I really would have worn a sign. "My emotions are running high from just having a new baby".
"We have yet another hip problem to deal with". "I just lost my father in law".
Honestly. It would make life easier, in a way.
What's your sign? (You can sign in anonymously)

And many more.

Every once in a great while, I go through and delete posts. I have my reasons.

The downside to it all is that I have no idea how many posts I've done through the years.

But I do have friends that know exactly how many posts they have done. Like Jenny.

And it's her 500th post, which is cause for major celebration. Obviously.

And she has a contest going. And I've wracked my brain.

Written and crumpled. Written and crumpled.

And I couldn't come up with anything over the top awesome.

So instead, I will count my blessings. The blessings having a blog brings.

I meet people I wouldn't have otherwise met

Formed a network here before I even moved

Reconnected with past friends and family

Laugh and cry through lifes ups and downs

See the beauty others have to offer through their posts

Hear what others have to say

And weigh opinions

Discuss and debate

Get it off my chest

Catch a glimpse into others lives

Realize I'm not the only parent to not have all the answers

And. I'm not the only one with a HH

And who else carries the cards for the club

Share a cup of coffee from afar

Draw inspiration

Form friendships

Received a smiles in the mail

Hopefully sent some, too

Bonded over medical conditions

Found support in unexpected ways

Had my voice heard

Questions answered

Great recommendations, from recipes to books

Shared my dreams

And enjoyed every minute of it

Here's to 500 more!!

MUAH!!!!!!!

Give me a break, give me a break...

I'd take a piece of a Kit Kat bar.

I knew before my toes touched my carpet today that I really wasn't feeling up to snuff. And I decided to give myself a break.
And I feel guilty. How lame is that?!
I gave myself a SAHM's version of a sick day and I still feel guilty over the luxury.
Still in pj's.
Caught up with the Kardashians.
Laughed with Ellen.
Made sure the price is still right. It is.
And I feel guilty instead of enjoying the perfectly good excuse. I almost never allow myself those little pleasures. And definitely not all on the same day.
Guilty that the only good that sounds appetizing is Pirate's Booty and I'm eating it like it's going out of style.
In my pj's.
In the recliner.
In my house that needs a thorough cleaning.
Oh, and to make up for it all... I'm not even going to attempt to exercise today. Nope. Not going to happen.

Guilty or not, I'm making a stand for all of us Moms that rarely give ourselves a break. Yay, me! Just promise me that you'll do the same next time you wake up feeling less than awesome. Then maybe I'll feel less guilt. If not for yourself, then for me. Just like I'm doing this for you, too. All in the name of friendship, right? Thanks. You are nice.

Awesomeness.

You, my friend, are awesome. I hope you know it. (There is a link there. Check it out. It's AWESOME.)

Beached whale.

Well, all-righty then. We are going with the beach theme. I must admit, I was a little bummed. Magenta sounded fun. HOWEVER. The beach theme will match my washer/dryer better, be easier to do and cost less. I have three beach scenes that I bought over the summer and now I will have a spot for them. A few less accessories to buy. Heaven knows I like blue. I currently have three rooms with some form of blue paint on the walls.

Thanks for your input! And I'm always surprised by the number of votes I get. I'd love to hear from you quiet people who vote but never comment. I'm just sayin'. Makes me wonder how many people do not vote or comment.

Book It!

Regardless of the noise levels over the summer, I was able to sneak in some great reading and thought I'd share. (Although, the majority of them are from Leanne's blog, if you'd just dig around there under "literature".)

Between Two Worlds- by Zainab Salbi. This is a true story about the daughter of Saddam Hussein's pilot. One line in this book pretty much sums up the strongest message (IMHO) of this book. "Any society that stops questioning its leaders is vulnerable to dictatorship..." It's amazing what can actually happen in our world. We need to take a stand against the things that we don't agree with. This book will open your eyes to the way women suffer in this world and how it's accepted as the norm in some cultures. It should be at the top of your list.

Kate Morton- great author. Read her books. You will not be disappointed.

Slave My True Story- by Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis. According to the date of publication and the "about the author" section of the book, this girl is approximately my age. It's horrifying to me that in this day and age, there are actually slaves. My age, no less. This is a must read book. Meaning, you MUST READ IT. I am so fortunate to have been born when, where and to whom I was born.

Dancing Under The Red Star- by Karl Tobien. Another true story that makes me thankful for the when, where and whom of my birth. This story is about a young girl whose family was transferred, by Henry Ford, from Detroit to Gorky, Russia right before the reign of Stalin. Another example of a tyrant running a country. It's amazing how easy and blessed my life is. And how we, thus far, have had relatively decent leaders who have not completely overturned our lives, as a whole. Another must read.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay- by Suzanne Collins, I think. It's crazy the imagination some people have. Seriously. I kept thinking that through this series. While it's so unlike my usual books, I could not put the books down. They are so good.

Look Me In The EyeMy Life With Asperberger's- by John Elder Robison. So interesting. Maybe not the actual storyline itself, but it gave me a greater understanding of Aspberger's. I recommend this book. It would be interesting to get this perspective from someone on the other end of the autism spectrum. I realize that is unlikely. But I would love to read that book.I do not, however, recommend his brother's book, Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. I'm sorry. It was creepy and made me uncomfortable.

The Book Thief- by Markus Zusak. Why aren't you at the library getting it?

Sing Me Home- by Jodi Picoult. Hmmm. It wasn't as good as some of her others, but it wasn't the worst, either.

Bringing Adam HomeThe Abduction That Changed America-by Les Standiford. This was interesting because it's a true story about John Walsh's son that was abducted. It was hard because it's a true story. And you hear things you don't want to hear. But I wanted to know the story. And I got the story.

Dirty Sexy Politics- by Meghan McCain. So-so. Nothing earth-shattering. I'm actually not 100% sure why she felt compelled to write a book. Basically, she went on the campaign trail and didn't conform to rules that go with campaigning. And she didn't like everyone. Other than that... Oh! One thing that did confuse me- I'm pretty sure that she said in this book that she was a straight woman. Didn't she come out of the closet? I read the sentence more than once to make sure my eyes didn't deceive me. Even still, I feel like I must be mistaken. Anyone else catch that? It was at the end of the book, so maybe you didn't get that far... ;)

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid-by Jeff Kinney. SO FUNNY. You don't even have to be 9. Although, it helps if your 9 year old checks out the book at the library. I'm just sayin.

Mrs. Mike- by Benedict Freedman. One of my mom's favorite books of all time. It's a good book.

I'm always looking for a good book to read, so please recommend a few to me. My list is dwindling, causing me to have a small anxiety attack.

May God bless and protect this country.

Now and forever.

Misk-ellanious.

Get out and vote!!------------->

The picture (below) is sideways, but you get the idea.

If you don't, I really can't help you. Sorry.

That's a whole 'nother set of issues.

Now I just hope your monitor is adjusted so this green doesn't come out to funky.

Also, I hope your monitor isn't adjusted so that it

looks like my house has random items laying around.

I hate when computers do that. So. Anyhow.
I start school next week! Wahoo! Time to go out and buy
new jumps and a new outfit. And a backpack. ;) They are on clearance right now.

Other than that...
My windows are supah dupah clean. If you need a guy, I got a guy for you.
Seriously. I have 30+ windows in my house. And two sliding glass doors. He charged about
$100 less than I was expecting, as this wasn't my first rodeo.
FYI, I don't do windows. Because I can't make them disappear like I want them to.
So, yeah. You need a guy? I got a guy.

Aimee, you can come here now. Hurry up before Kaija touches the window.
She's getting tired of wearing gloves. ;) Oh. Wait. Never mind.
She just licked the window.

Oh. And.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION MONTH TO MY
WONDERFUL FRIEND AMY!!!!!!
May you be blessed with rain in Texas. Raining Converse, that is. Or at least ONE pair.

Your choice.

Is it weird that I want to stand in my bathroom and twirl?
I painted it the other day and all I can scream is: LOVE!!!!
It's fabulous. Green and fabulous.
So that leaves me with my next tackle: the laundry room/mudroom.
I've picked some color schemes over there to the right.
Vote on what I should do. Thanks. You're nice.

Wishing,washing.

And that's how it goes. I find out that I'm going to have overnight guests and it's all systems go. Suddenly, it's imperative that the dust balls underneath my bed are gonzo. Because, duh! That's exactly where people look when they come over. Always.


I worry about the wrong things. I remember one time, a friend of mine came to visit and I tackled the apartment with gusto. I had everything spit polished. Or so I thought. She sat down and jokingly ran her finger across my candle holder. The tip of her finger resembled a furry little mouse. Duh. Dust the stuff you see, Mindi, don't waste your time organizing your pencil drawer.


Thankfully, I have relaxed since then. And, it's my family that is coming. They already know what kind of mess I am capable of. After all, they lived with me for a lot of my life. It still is, however, a very good excuse to clean the nooks and crannies that are overdue for TLC. So, if it isn't done by Friday, it isn't going to be done for a while. Had these visits not coincided with my kids going back to school, I would have been more lax. In the past month, I've been twitching over the deep cleaning this house so desperately needs. Kids home 'round the clock = more cleaning for me. And so the combo of the two put a very hot fire under my rumpus.


Disclaimer: Just because I blogged about this doesn't mean my house is going to be immaculate when you come. It will hopefully be cleaner than it was. And you will never know what kind of a yardstick "was" was, will you?

On another note, we made the hard decision (any decision that Zztop and I need to make together is hard. We wish and we wash.) that we will be unable to make it to MN for Christmas again this year. There's a lot that went into it. Part of it? We will be there for Logan's pins and plates removal later in the winter. So. For now, that's the dealio. You know how we operate. Wishywashy, squishysquashy.

Speaking of hard decisions, I *think* we have really figured out, in our heart of hearts, where we really want to be. I'm not announcing it here to jinx it. But I think we know. I feel really at peace about it and have not second guessed it since, which usually happens when I really do come to a decision. That being said, it is still mostly out of our control, so... Life can change.

For the record, I like it here at the moment. Zztop and I balance each other out on this. When I hate it here, he likes it. When he hates it, I like it. Right now, I'm the happy one. It might have to do with the change of the season. There isn't much I hate at the moment.

So, here's to making decisions that hopefully stick. Just not on my clean walls, thankyouverymuch.

Counting on my dreams

Ooh, my quality of life just improved. The kids get on the bus later than last year. Much later. That means we get to sleep in. More sleep = a happier me. This, however, may mean that I won't be getting up a half an hour earlier than the kiddos. Because they will probably wake up on their own with this new schedule. Earlier than they need to. And I'm not waking up a half an hour earlier than early. Sorry. Not happenin'. Trust me. I'm down with this new plan. (is that last sentence still cool?)

Also. I realized in the commotion of switching to a new bank that I made a $137 oversight. In my favor. Ha! Even better than finding a $20 in your pocket.

Which sort of makes me wonder if I'm doing the right thing by going back to school for Tax Preparation. Oh, yes. And I'm really excited about it. If I like it, which I'm 99% sure I will, I am going to go for my Accounting degree. YAY! This is kind of a huge thing for me, but I'm really happy to do this for myself. My history has shown that when my baby gets to be this age (over a year), life gets easier and I start looking for something for myself. I've never dared to take this step in the past. Which is weird, because I've done other things- like the Fitness Instructor thing- that weren't necessarily a long term goal of mine. I guess the things that you really want just hold so much more value and therefore the chance of failing at them is a greater risk. But greater risks also mean greater rewards. So why not do what I really want to do? That being said, I'm incredibly nervous and excited in equal portions. It's kind of life changing for me, if you can understand that. I'm really allowing myself to do something that I've wanted to do since high school. Kids to raise or not. I've realized that if you don't embrace your opportunities for happiness, who will?

So here's to fulfilling life's dreams and ambitions! And getting more sleep in the process.

It's been a long time since anything has made me laugh as hard as this did. My favorite office people (T-bag, A-game and Kristy) take note. My shoulders are still shaking from the aftershocks.

Color me healthy. No, seriously. Try to.

I did one thing today that I pretty much swore I'd never do. No, you weirdo, I did not healthify chocolate chip cookies, thankyouverymuch. I told you I would never do that and on that, you have my word. I made homemade crackers. Not that I have anything against it. Certain circumstances, like dietary restrictions, make it reasonable to make something like that. It's just not something I was ever planning on doing. But. I did. And they were pretty good. The kids helped me cut them out with miniature cookie cutters, so it was a fun thing to do with the girlies. Heaven knows I have enough girls to include in things.

Oh. And a second thing. I made healthified popsicles. Hoo boy. I didn't make them in a these-are-just-as-good-as-ice-cream-sandwiches way, I made them in a these-are-a-funner-way-to-eat-your-veggies way. And I told my kids as much. They have the choice to take 'em or leave 'em. The girlies all claim they are delicious. Logan hasn't taken the plunge. Hey, if they are falling for it...

Plus, a third thing. I healthified dessert. Well, it goes like this. I love dessert. And I rarely reward myself with (homemade) dessert. That being said, I'm not against a cookie here and there. Or Dove Dark Chocolate. Anywho, healthified homemade dessert = less guilt. And, it actually was good. If it wasn't, I wouldn't waste the calories. Trust me. Win, win. It included my two favorite fruits: nectarines and raspberries. So why not? Of course, this is coming from the lady who decided, halfway into the abs challenge, that two months of really healthy eating was over the top and proceeded to make up for lost time with two varieties of Oreos and pizza. Heh. Hey, if it isn't good- don't waste your time putting it in your mouth. (When I Z suggested we invite someone over to share this dessert, I quickly vetoed him. I'm not pushing health upon my guests. I will feed them the sinfully delicious variety. Plus, it didn't make a big pan and I wasn't against cleaning out the remainder myself.)

The links that I included are from two different websites that I've stumbled upon. The eighty twenty website is new to me. LoVe. I love her concept. It suits me well. As a matter of fact, it's like she stole thoughts from my head. And the other one? Well. She doesn't buy snacks for her kid(s). She makes them all from scratch. Which is great in theory, but something tells me that she doesn't have as many kids as I do. But it got me thinking, maybe I could be a little healthier with my kids meals during the school year.

And I've set some goals for myself.

1. Wake up a half an hour before my kids, to enjoy the calm before the storm. Idea taken from Molly Shannon. Great idea. On the rare occasion that I do this, I never regret it. I'm hoping that over the summer I've learned to love waking up to an alarm clock. Heh.

2. In that time, I can start on a real breakfast for my kids. Cold cereal will be for weekends. I need to keep those bellies full. Some grades eat really late and I don't need my kids to be distracted by their bellies screaming from hunger. I'm ahead of the game and have been baking things like muffins and pancakes in excess and freezing them for an easy breakfast.

3. Pack healthier lunches. A water, good sandwich, something healthy (yogurt, fruit, string cheese, etc.) and healthier treat (dark chocolate or something).

Hoo boy. This is a lot of goals and I'll probably crash and burn two weeks into it. And my kids will be waking up ten minutes late because the snooze button has become my friend and they will be trying to shovel as much cold cereal as they can into their mouths before the bus comes and grabbing a Lunchable on the way out the door. Actually, scratch the Lunchable part. For the same price, they can eat an equally questionable, but warm school lunch. But you get the picture.

Picture. Oh, picture! That's right. Isn't my cayenne pepper beautiful? I can't wait to try it in my Migas tonight. YUM-O. I should have waited until it was completely red, but I got ahead of myself. It's just so pretty with all the different colors it is wrapped in.

So. I can't talk anymore. I have an Oreo in my mouth.