Diet Changes

I didn't make a new years resolution this year.  Instead I decided to just continue my effort to eat healthier and less!  Both of these tasks are very difficult for me.  I love food, especially unhealthy junk food.  I also have a love affair with carbs!  They are not good to me.  I gain the most weight when I eat carbs on a regular basis.  I really  have to limit my carb and sugar intake.  Also, I've decided to drink more water.  In the past I drank plenty of water.  However, lately I've been slacking.  Being healthy and at a descent weight is such a struggle for women.  I can't speak for men, mainly because I'm not one.  But as a woman who can feel the pounds adding up when she simply smells cheesecake, I can tell you, it's a challenge!  Sometimes I think I'd rather be fat and happy than to fight the cravings everyday.  Then I remember how horrible it feels to weigh 225lbs.  I remember I have 4 beautiful children that depend on me to grow very old.  Not to mention, I would like to see them grow into successful adults with children of their own.  The love I have for my husband and children keep me on task.  The love I have for feeling good most days has it's perks too!

Sick Kid

My daughter woke up at 4am yesterday morning because she was vomitting.  By 6:30am she was finally able to keep down a glass of water.  She had no fever during any of this.  She wanted to go to school, but was afraid she would vomit if she ate lunch.  I told her I would pick her up early, before lunch. She made me promise it would at least be after P.E.  She ate lunch at home, roman noodles & gatorade.  Thankfully, she kept it all down.  Needless to say, she's back in school today, for the full day.
Now I'm hoping my toddlers do not get whatever that was.
Let's pray for an easy, healthy day.  I have a few papers to write and a house to clean.  With me luck!

Pass it on...

Giving a shout out to a new hair stylist, Brittani Bourbon.  If you're ever in Atasocita, Texas, give her a visit.

http://bmbourbon-hair.blogspot.com/2010/12/prices.html

5356 FM 1960 Rd E
Humble, TX 77346-2502
(281) 540-0090

Weekend Trips

I've been thinking about taking a short weekend trip soon.  We are avid campers.  However, the weather is predicting freezing cold weather.  My children have never seen "real" snow.  They've seen snow, it's just never enough to even build a snowman.  I would like them to see enough snow to build a snowman and make snow angels!  My husband and I have discussed just driving north until we find that snow, if it is indeed as cold as they say it's going to be.  If the temperatures are right we believe we can find it in about 5 hours.  We are a family of 6.  Therefore, we drive everywhere we go.  We've driven 18 hours before with our twin toddlers.  I think we can handle 6 hours.  Maybe the Panhandle or Oklahoma or Arkansas will have the snow we're looking for! 

Vote PLEASE

This small town in Shepherd is asking for your votes.  They are tiny and could use the votes.  Please vote for Shepherd High School in Texas.  Then pass this on and ask those you know to vote also.  Give a shout out to the small towns.  They deserve love too! 
Vote for this small town in Texas, Shepherd High School. (Register your email address, then go to your email & confirm it. Next, VOTE!) http://contest.stumpsparty.com/activation.cfm

Pet Peeve...

Why do noncustodial parents tell their children when they turn 12 years old they can move in with them?  Show me in the custody papers where it says that?  First of all, a judge decides where they can and can't live.  Second, if either parent can be proven unfit & the child is underage, the judge won't even consider which parent the child wants to live with.  Just because parents may not be together anymore, doesn't mean they aren't parents anymore.  You don't use your child to hurt the other parent under any circumstances.  You definitely don't make promises about where they can live without going before a judge first.  It's a mean, petty play.  I would like to see custodial and noncustodial parents all remain good parents and still hold your childs best interest as most important.  Parent your child, talk to your child, love your child and never give up on your child!

I tried not having coffee this morning.  I had a cup of steaming hot chocolate instead.  However, I don't think it did the trick.  Here it is 1:52pm and I'm exhausted.  I even took a nap with my kids today.  I think I'll have a big pot of coffee in the morning to make up for it. 

Have a great Tuesday my wonderful followers! 
Feel free to comment!

Reality Begins... AGAIN

Many kids will be getting up this morning for school.  Many will be getting up tomorrow morning to go back.  Either way it's back to real life, same ol, same ol!  Dragging myself out of bed this morning was hard enough.  But dragging the kids out is just torture.  Back to "what do I do next", "I can't find my shoes", "There's nothing to eat", "I am hurrying".... ect, ect!  I'm not the mom that can be happy because the kids are going back today and I can get some much need peace and quiet.  I still have kids at home too.  So my peace and quiet won't come until they start school.  Well, it's off to start the morning routine.  More later.

StepParenting

Let's discuss being a step parent!  It can be a wonderful experience.  It can also be the worst experience you've ever had.  In my own personal experience I've learned that one of the biggest keys to being a step parent is to let the biological parent be the disciplinarian.  You certainly do not allow the child to walk all over you.  But when it comes to laying down a punishment (ex. grounding), leave that to the other parent.  Being a step parent is hard enough, if you do the discipline you will only be the bad guy.  It's easier for the child to think it's the step parents fault and be mad at them.  If the step parent does the punishments the child forms the opinion in their head that the biological parent wouldn't have choosen that if the step parent hadn't been in the picture.  In our house we don't use labels.   My husband already had our oldest child when I met him.  I love that child very much as my own.  That child made me a mommy.  In our house we firmly believe you don't marry a man that already has children unless you plan to love that child as your own.  Of course, we also do not believe it's the blood pumping through our veins that make us a parent/family.  Love isn't determined by DNA. 
Well, there's my ramblings for the day.  Hope everyone is geared up for a happy new year!

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Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone. 
I do not want to hear anymore sad stories about people who are sad because they don't have their loved ones at Christmas.  I do recognize their grieving and miss someone terribly.  But this is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I can't think of anything greater than that.  Because of God giving his only son for us we have life, we can be forgiven.  Our loved ones that passed away and believed and asked for his forgiveness are living in Heaven.  That's because of our Lord.  Look past your own self for just a minute and take time to celebrate the Jesus' birthday.  It's worth putting your own feelings aside for. 
I do hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!  God Bless!

Just me ranting!

I'm not against social networking.  In fact, I love it.  It's fun!  But do we really have to be ugly or mean or fight over status posts?  I've seen several getting angry about this  number thing people are doing on their status now.  They are "tired of it" & going to "delete people" if they don't stop playing the game.  Seriously, how childish can one be?  Who cares if they play the game?  It's all in fun!  If you choose not to participate, that's your choice.  I'm not participating, but I certainly won't be deleting anyone who is.  I changed my profile picture to a cartoon picture last week.  Gee, hope that didn't offend anyone.  What is the point in spending your day being angry  over something so petty?  Let's be adults about this.  I will never understand how people can have so much anger in themselves.  You life is what you make of it.  If you choose to be angry and stressed out, you will be.  If you let go of all that, you'll find a much happier life waiting for you.

Next on my ranting list:  what happened to todays youth?  Why are they so rude and disrespectful?  These kids ranging from 12 to 20 blow my mind.  They have no manners.  They think they are adults and know everything!  I've ran across a few lately that need some serious discipline.  When a 12 year old looks 25, there's a problem.  When a 19 year old starts treating the adults in her life with disrespect & displays a complete lack of manners, there's a problem.  Anyone else seen this kind of behavior lately or is it just me?

Maid?

How many moms out there think they were put on this earth to be a maid?  Well, today is my pity party day!  After making my child's bed, picking up her dishes & putting them on sink when she was finished eating, making a cup for the other child, taking him breakfast in bed, cleaning the water mess my husband made on the kitchen counter, then making sure everyone was ready and out the door....  I'm pretty sure I was put here to be a maid.  Yes, I know it's all part of being a mom.  But come on now, do something for yourself.  They can't all be completely dependent on me 24/7!  I need a moment too.  This all took place before I had a cup of coffee!  There's my complaint for today.  Oh wait, I have another, how many times do I have to say no before my children will understand what it means?  Sometimes I wonder if the language they hear me speaking is not English.  Is it possible they don't understand me?  Haha!

Christmas Shopping

I have done the majority of my christmas shopping this year online.  It's great.  Only 3 gifts I physically went to the store and purchased. 
Here's a little something I want to share:  If your child finds out, by whatever means, that Santa isn't real, get over it!  He's not real.  Does a man really come down your chimney and bring your kids gifts?  If he does, please send him my way because I've been buying those gifts myself all these years.  I understand wanting your child to hold on to that belief as long as possible.  It's youthful and fun.  But if they happen to find out the truth, don't be mad.  It happens and it's inevitable!  It's ridiculous to be angry about it.  My child questions it all the time.  I simply tell her if she chooses to believe then he is real and he's real in her heart if she wants him to be.  I tell her to make her own mind about it and don't listen to what others have to say.  She says, "well then, I think he's real."  I realize that won't always be her answer and I'm ok with that too.  Yes, I want our children to be children as long as possible.  But I certainly will not be angry at another child for telling my child that santa isn't real.  It's called life.  It happens. 

Exhausted

I'm not sure what's going on today.  But I am exhausted.  I was ready for bed at 7:30pm.  I attended a Thanksgiving event at my daughter's school today.  It was fun.  My 3 year old twins loved it because they were allowed to participate.  They also released a lot of energy, making naptime much easier.  I guess mommy should have napped too. 
After school we did a little shopping.  Of course, anyone who has kids knows that a simple shopping trip turns into a major ordeal when you have 3 kids under 8 years old with you.  That could possibly be the reason so tired this evening. 
On a positive note, my twins have slept this entire week all night long with no pullups!  There has only been one bed wetting incident.  I am so proud of them.  They potty trained as soon as they turned 3 years old.  But with them only being 3 months shy of being 4 years old, it has taken them this long to accomplish the sleeping through the night without wetting the bed part of potty training.  But alas, they haved conquered it.  Good job baby boys! 

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

I know I should be preparing for the Thanksgiving holidays.  This time would be best utilized if I started cleaning.  My house needs a thorough cleaning before friends and family come in for the holidays.  Instead I'm sitting at my desk blogging and watching 90210.  Yes, I watch the teen show!  I have a 20 year old daughter.  I try to watch shows that she watches in order to keep up.  It gives us things to talk about that she finds interesting.  Plus, I get to keep up with the things she's in to and enjoys.  I've always watched the shows she watches.  It started as a way to make sure they were appropriate.  Then I realized there were more benefits. 
I want to discuss adult acne today.  Since I turned 30 I've had more acne than I've ever had.  My teenage years were never this bad.  It's horribly disappointing.  I've tried every over the counter product I can find.  I've been told it's probably due to hormones.  Someone please send me suggestions, ideas, tips... anything helpful! 
Did anyone else notice the price of Christmas cards that you make online yourself have gone up this year?  I was making my Christmas cards on a website the other day and when I went to check out I was a stunned.  Last year I got more cards for less money.  That caught me by surprise. 
I've almost finished my christmas shopping.  I've used Kmart layaway online and ebay!  No lines, no waiting.  Great shopping experience so far.  I'm hoping to go to Canton, Tx in December to do a little shopping.  I've never been.  But I'm told it's awesome. 
More later!

tv time

Somehow I've managed to get in a little tv time today.  I'm watching an older movie called Monsters Ball.  It's not over yet.  So I can't comment on the whole movie.  But so far, wow, sad! 
My twins are actually being pretty good today.  As long as you don't count one of them throwing a toy and breaking my daughters window.  On a normal day it's a bunch of that type of activity around here.  So for it to be almost noon and that's all the excitement I've had.  GOOD DAY!  Of course, it is Friday.  It's hard to mess up Friday! 
I found out today that a girl I know from high school is a workout instructor.  That explains her smokin hot body.  I wish I had the drive and determination to just take a walk everyday.  I know I need to.  But still, I don't do it. 
I want to write a book.  Acutally, I have wrote a book, or two.  But I want them to be successful.  I realize that is the dream of many people out there.  I can dream too can't I? 
One last thing, I got a new cellphone.  It's called the Epic by Samsung.  Seriously, it rocks!  I love it. 

fighting again

I'm sitting here listening to my twins fighting again.  They are only toddlers.  They fight as much as they get along.  It drives me nuts.  Ideas?  Pointers?  Tips?

Odds and Ends

Well apparently I'm not a very good vet.  Our Lola passed away.  It's now suspected it was parvo.  None of the other dogs are sick.  Of course, none of the other dogs are puppies either. 

On to another note:  Does anyone else have a difficult child in the mornings?  My 7yr old daughter is in the 2nd grade.  However, every morning she is crabby and acts as if this is her first time to get ready for school.  Some days I just want to scream! 

How was everyone's Halloween?  Ours was great.  I love seeing the kids get so excited about dressing up and trick or treating.  They really do have a lot of fun.  It's also a plus that mommy gets her chocolate fix and doesn't feel so guilty about it! 

I woke up at 3:30am and couldn't go back to sleep.  I tried desperately to use the layaway system on kmart.com.  But everytime I would have about 3 items in my cart, it would delete the cart and I would have to start over.  So I guess I'll just have to drive the hour to kmart.  Blah.

It's now 7:08am.  I'm having coffee trying to wake up.  Having got up so early, I'm now ready for a nap.  Oh well, we all know that will never happen. 

Have a great day.

I'm a vet too!

So now I'm a vet too.  All the things a mom is qualified to do and I've just added another.  No sick kids today, just sick dogs.  One died the day before yesterday and I wake up this morning to find another sick.  We wormed her this morning and gave her a bit of honey.  Let's hope she can pull thru. 

Is that a real Halloween costume?

When did halloween become sexual?  Halloween makes me think of ghosts, gobblins & pumpkins.  I imagine people in scary or funny costumes.  However, I see more and more costumes that look like stripper attire.  Cop costumes that barely cover the bikini areas seem to be very popular.  I find it tacky.  It's not restricted to the younger generation either.  I see women of all ages wearing these costumes.  I certainly don't want my little girl to think that's an appropriate halloween costume.  In our house halloween is just fun family time for trick or treating and dressing up.  I realize times have changed and progressed.  But does that mean we have to turn our childrens halloween fun into a rated R peep show?