I Love the Holidays......and all the crap that comes with them.

The past two weeks have been very hard on my system. Not necessarily bad, or a reason for BAH HUMBUG, which I am not, but none the less very rough. It all started just over a week ago. I work two jobs now as many of you know. The mall I work at has a "Midnight Madness Sale" that actually starts about 10pm on Thanksgiving Eve. I was slated to work the first shift which I did of our Black Friday sale, so I worked from 9pm on Thanksgiving until 9am Black Friday morning. Oh I forgot to mention that was after we had to call 911 at my mom's house I Thanksgiving to take my Grandma to the doctor because she had Pancreatitis, what a mess. So on no sleep Chris picked me up at work, we ran to Toys R Us and Meijer hoping to catch a few of the Black Friday specials they were having, which we did. The back in the car, drive through for lunch, and a 5 hour drive to Ohio to visit family. We came back on Sunday, and it was a fun, much needed visit. Then comes Wednesday night. I go back to work at Crocs, where I leave around 9:30pm. I get home. Katie starts screaming in her room around 10:15pm, she has the flu. I held her all night, until about 3 when Braeden started throwing up too. finally around 4:30 in the morning they both fell asleep, me too for 30 minutes, my alarm went off at 5 to get up and get ready for work. Yay for no sleep AGAIN! LoL!!! So I went to work, hurried home to my still sick children, got them to fall asleep again, and I jumped in the shower, this time it was off to COURT. My final court date for my divorce. I am now officially single again. Crazy, it has been 10 years for this one. So, Thursday night I was exhausted, feel right asleep. Friday comes and nothing. Friday night....I GET THE FLU!!! Seriously, do I need sleep? Apparently, not. I can function without it lol. Saturday morning I get up, drag myself out of bed, and take my kids to Breakfast with Santa because I had promised them the night before and already bought the tickets. I love the holidays I really do, but I can do without Black Friday, and the cold and flu Season. So Sunday rolled around and we decided to really the Christmas spirit and have a little fun with the kids (after recovering all morning from the flu and no sleep) and we built a Gingerbread house, like we do every year. And yes, my kids do eat it! I hope it gets better from here on out, otherwise I am taking a vacation in January from my holidays!!

GIve Away

I found this on a friends, friends blog. Good Luck to all of you!

Vote for Values......2008

This morning on my way home from work I was the 649 person to vote in my precinct in Kendall County Illinois. Hehe. I know that is alot more than needed information, but I feel pretty cool. I saw a sign at the local gas station that said Vote for Values. I think that sums it up pretty well for me. I am an education woman, but I don't speak well, or write well. Heck, try as I might I may not know all there is to know about politics. But I felt so proud walking to to vote today. Win or lose, I know I did the right thing. As a school bus driver I have had lots of questions from students about who I was going to vote for, and I never tell them. I just let them guess (even though I am wearing a red white and blue elephant jibbit in my crocs). I have had to experiences I want to share. One happened this morning. After the kids asked me who I was going to vote for I took a poll and asked them. First I said Obama, then I said McCain. When the McCain students raised their hands a black students said to them, "Stupid White People." I has so angry. A few weeks ago I had a third grade student tell me he was going to "Vote for Barack Obama because he feels that black people should have the right to be president." All I can say is what the heck are they teaching these kids in school!!! So that was totally off the subject, but I am proud to be an American, and I am proud that I exercised my right to vote today. And, Katie is great full because she was with me, and all the kids that came with their parents got candy!!! Here is to the future.

Tell Me Tuesday......My Favorite Teacher

I was really blessed to have lots of great teachers while I was growing up. I just ran into my 7th grade science teacher and can I tell you....she is just as excited about sciene now as she was back in the 7th grade! My absolute favorite teacher though was Mr. Lademan, my 8th grade history teacher. He was awesome! He was fun, warm, willing to help, and really made learning just plain cool! I remember studing the stock market. We broke into groups and over the course of serveral "months" we bought and sold stock, based on the actual happenings of the economy around the time of the great depression. The winning team received a bunch of "plus tickets" that could be used as currency in the end of the year 8th grade auction. I also remember more the time we were studying the civil war. We talked about the actual distance that men on the battlefield had to stand from each other while using mukets and bayonets. So Mr. Lademann marched us down to the football field, gave us all tennis balls, had us stand 15 or so yards apart, and then ordered us to "FIRE". A few bruises later we got the point, they were really close to each other!! Anyway, here is to Mr. Lademann!! Thank you!

Happy Birthday Kathryn Marie!

I realized I haven't posted in what 2 months? What is my problem! lol. So I am going to start off with Katie. She turned 2 just last Monday. How the time flies. I love that little girl so much, and to think I only wanted boys....








My mom and I took Katie To Libby Lu to get her ears piercred. Here is the before...


...And the after. Yes her eyes are closed, the gun got stuck, but she didn't shed a single tear! I can't believe she is such a big girl!

Tell Me Tuesday-My Bucket List

I like this post. I am sure I could make it huge and long and ramble on more than I usually do, but here I go with the first few things to pop into my head.

1. Get married barefoot in the sand-Seriously, I am doing it my way this time. Not everyone gets to do it twice...
2. Buy a nice single family home-I love my townhomes and duplexes but one without common walls would be nice.
3. Buy a brand new car-never done it, I have always had great great used ones, but a brand spanking new one would be fun.
4. Go back to Switzerland-I loved it so much the first time, I need to go back someday.
5. Go to the Summer Olympics(in Chicago 2016 I hope!!)-I am an olympic nut. I love the swimming and water polo events, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see them in person.
6. Go on a cruise-this may happen sooner than I think. A disney cruise for Thanksgiving is in the works. It is still warm enough there in swim right?
7. See my kids start families-I know this is all sentimental, but it would make me so happy.
8. Lose all this DAMN weight!!-Ok sorry for being vulger. I am trying right now. I want sooo badly to get back down to my pre-college/baby/kids/depression/fast food weight. Thank heavens for the gym and personal trainers right?
9. Be ORGANIZED!!-Can I pay someone to come into my home and get everything all organized for me? I would LOVE it.
10.Personal Chef-I have always said, if I won the lottery I would get a personal chef.

Tell it to Me Tuesday-This summer.....

This one is great Chelsea!!

I have so much on my plate for this summer. I have had quite the interesting year and I have alot of work to do. So here are my plans.

1. LOSE WEIGHT!!! OK, now I know everyone wants to do this, but I am sooooo doing it. I have lots to lose. I joined a gym which I have been going to, and paid extra for the daycare there. My kids love it. My DS4 asks me if we can stay longer every time I go. I also am paying for a personal trainer once a week. I am serious about this goal. I can't have this weight affecting my health anymore so off it comes!!

2. Get organized. This means my house and my schedule. I am on a life changing mission here ladies!

3. DECLUTTER!!! Awesome Flylady advice. I very wise friend once told me that we need to live in the present. Keeping all that old junk around is living in the past. Besides, who wants pictures of the ex-husband to be hanging around??

4. Be a FUN MOM!! I was always a snuggler mom. You know the nurturer. Now that I am the one with my kiddos the most, I need to learn how to be a fun mom. Starting with swimming lessons, and a Just the two of us class my my DD and I this summer. Some of my dear friends from work and I are planning a mom and kids only camp out too.

5. Be happy!! I am a new me. I have has so much drama and unhappiness in my life for so long and its ALL GONE!!! Yay!! I may not be a perfect church goer or member, but I love the church and it's in my heart. My friends are always in my mind and my heart. Let's be honest, being here with my kids and working I am lucky I know my own phone number let alone yours. CALL ME!!! I always love to hang out. And thank you so much to those of you who have called, you have no idea how much I love that!!

So all in all, here is to a wonderful summer, and after that rest of the year. I can't wait for you all to see me when I am thin again, and back to the real me!

Let's Go Fly a Kite....

The kids and I had a fun filled weekend starting with the 2008 Naperville Kite Festival. Before we went, Braeden would not leave the house without a tatoo, and Katie just looked cute with her girly one.

To bad there's no more Bozo show, Braeden hit every bucket!!

Here are the kiddo's and some "other" family standing in front of the kite flying fields. These pictures don't do justice, the squid and penguin kites were enormus.

The kids loved playing with these "spikey soccer ball" kites.


Hey nice legs!!


I french fried myself a little bit, but I did remember to put sun block on the kids, ya me! Later that night after everybody napped and cooled off we went to see Kung Fu Panda. Super cute movie. We went to the 7:20 show and there were alot of adults. Even they laughed throughout the movie. Fun for all ages, I recommed it. I however do not advise bringing your 21 month old daughter who refuses to sit for the show.

Life's a Beach

I never went on many family vactions as a child, but a few times we did head to the Rocky Mountains and I adore them. I am such an outdoor person, I love it. However, these are not my favorite vactions. For me my favorites were the two opportunities I had to head to the beach with family. They were not exotic beaches, or super expensive mainland America beaches either. They were Jekyll Island, GA and Gulf Shore, Al. From these two encounters I have found myself to understand, I AM A BEACH LOVER. I cried the first time I left, I was 26!! There is something about the water that fills my soul, and makes me such a happy person. That is where I feel most at home, so being at the beach lets me soak that all in. So I need to add my second favorite vacation?? White water rafting on the New River in West Virgina. I need to do that again someday. I would actually like to be a river guide.....

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Dave was leaving with the kids on Wednesday night, when Braeden said something that had to come from the wisdom of his young mind. Katie saw the step down to the garage coming as they all were walking out of the house. She turned around and crawled down the step backwards. Dave says, "Way to go Katie practice safety first" to which Braeden replies, "Safety first? I don't practice safety first." Dave kindly responds, "Yes Braeden this is obvious, your leg is broke." Maybe it was one of those times you just had to be there, but I was laughing so hard it brought tears to my eyes. Happy Mother's Day everyone.

When it Rains it Pours

These words are spoken so true! My tiny little family had yet another set back. My dear dear papa (my dad), had a heart attack in the middle of the night on Saturday. Thank heavens he is alive, and going to get through this. I would like to forget the entire month of April 2008. 4 people close to me have all suffered some kind of trauma! Torn tendons and ligaments, full blown double pneumonia , a broken leg, and now a heart attack. If this continues I am going to have to change the name of my so called "magazine", because for me right now bad things have come in 4's. All I am hoping now is that all of these April showers are going to bring some wonderful May flowers.

The Cast

As a mom this was truly one of the hardest days of my life. I consider myself pretty strong, but after listening to my child scream in pain as they wrapped his leg in the cast, I broke down, and cried. Everyone kept telling me how wonderful he was. I admit he was great, he screamed but did not kick or try to escape. He would try and curl into a little ball, then they would have to straighten his leg, and reposition his foot, and this caused his to scream even more. All in all he has to be in this cast for AT LEAST 8 WEEKS!!!! Please come visit me, I am going to need a break!! He cannot put any weight on his foot or leg for at weeks, so he even gets a wheelchair!!



This is his broken leg, and the swollen foot. If you ask him he will tell you his ankle is broken because that is where it hurts. Can someone explain this to me? He has a spiral fracture to his Tibia, why does his ankle hurt?


Here we have the final product. Bring you little ones over to sign it! Braeden thinks it is cool to have his friends sign his leg.

Tell it to Me Tuesday

My creative writing skills (which I do not have to begin with) are running very low. So, seeing how my life is rolling at the moment the title of MY magazine would be THREE. This has a multiple meaning, one being that three has always been my lucking number. Second, three is the date of my birth (April 3rd). And last, bad things they say come in three's and I have certainly had my three as of late. Braeden breaking his leg (more on that to come), my mom was in the hospital last week with pneumonia, and Chris tore the ligaments and tendons in his arm at work last week. I am sooooo starting this magazine!!! The magazine could revolve around 3's. It would be 33 pages long, always issued on the third day of the month, and the March (03), issue would be a special one. OK, really I need some uplifting in my life LoL!!!

All the B's.....

So, my Sunday evening started with a phone call from Dave at 7:30 saying....Braeden has a surprise for you. We have been in the emergency room for over 3 hours and HIS LEG IS BROKE!!!! At what point do you think he was going to tell me!!! I am ok his leg is broke (he crashed his bike pretty hard), but please please tell me next time you are taking my son to the emergency room!!! I was furious. I am over it now, but he brought my kids home and this is what I have.





My Darling Katie fell asleep with her soccer ballon.....





So what a great Sunday evening. We have bikes, breaks, balloons, Braeden and Bird(Katie's Nickname). Happy evening to you all. Braeden can sure use the good wishes, he is a very sad little boy!

Tell Me Tuesday.....Benjamin Franklin said: ”Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”

In Sarah's words I should be able to come up with a great response to this weeks pondering thought.....And I have. I am great at keeping secrets so I must have killed my friends. JUST KIDDING!!! Can I take anything seriously? I agree with this quote. At fist I thought, no no I don't. There are times good friends can truly keep secrets, and times I know I have kept a secret. But truthfully somehow it always will come out. Maybe right away, or months down the road, or even years. Most people have that ONE person they always confide in. Whether it be a spouse a friend, a PET. Who knows. Someone somewhere knows. Big brother is watching you.

The New Me

This is the new me. Well, only as I need it to be. I am slightly near-sighted, so I am not blind, but these wonderful glasses help me to not get headaches. OK, I know that was completely improper English grammar, but I know you still love me :) So, what is the honest opinion, good or bad? I feel weird wearing the bigger chic plastic frames. I feel a little white and nerdy. Haha for Wierd Al. I had a busy weekend, more on that to come.

Tell it to me Thursday?

Well I missed my Dear Friend Chelsea's post so I am going to do it now? LoL. I wish someone had told me.....This is a scary place for me to go. See for me, not all my friends know some of the true reasons behind my separation and soon to be divorce. Many of them think most of what happened fell on my shoulders. Truth be told there are lots of skeletons in his closet as well. Ask me sometime. SO, I wish someone had taken be by the shoulders and looked me in the eye and told me that I needed to stand up for the truth, and righteousness, even if it meant going against members of my own immediate family. I know this is kind of serious, but this is a lesson I have learned the very very hard way. The church is true, people aren't and I see that more and more everyday. I should have fought harder for what I know is right. Now I know, and hold it even dearer to my heart than before.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Did anyone know my birthday was last Thursday April 3rd?

APRIL FOOL'S BABY

Yes it is true, no joke about it...Braeden is an April Fool's Baby. Not to mention the fact that I had in completely natural because my doctor wouldn't let me have an epidural!!! Happy 4th Birthday! You make me so happy, and I am proud of all the things you are learning now. You are still my cuddliest baby, and my most emotional :) Love you lots and Huggies!

Easter Update

Did you all miss me posting? I am back. I have been in Ohio with Chris and his family for Easter and springbreak. Guess what....I have NO pictures. Silly me loaded my last bunch of pictures on my computer at home and LEFT MY MEMORY CARD THERE!! I am a bit upset about it lol. The kids had a great Easter. We went to Chirs's dad's house. We had lunch with his sister and dad and stepmom. Then his sisters and their boyfriends hid eggs for the 4 kids to find. The had candy and money in them. Good money too!! Katie got 4 eggs and $2.75!! Braeden had somewhere around $7!! They had quarters, 50 cent pieces and Susan B. Anthony dollars! I guess Chris's grandma and grandpa used to hid money like that in the eggs because the kids always thought the money would be worth more someday so they would save it all. After a few hours there we came home to Chris's mom's house and had dinner here with his brother, brothers wife their son and his girlfriend and their daughter. My kids were so spoiled!! They got to go swimming in the hot tub with the big kids who are sohpmores and seniors in high school. And the boys played video games. Every boys dream right? I will have to buy a disposable camera so I can get some pictures of this week lol. See you all soon, hope you all had a blast.

Bye Bye....

I am thinking about making this my very last post. Hardly anyone reads my blog anymore, so taking the time to post stuff has really become unfun. I know there are alot of you I only talk to through my blog, so to those of you...goodbye, I will miss you. It could have been fun. So, unless anyone has a great reason for me to keep blogging.....so long and thanks for the fish.

Not the Brightest Crayon in the Box....

So I decided to find out my crayon color. HA. I really think this one sounds like me lol, if you know me well that is, and most of you really don't. What color are you?

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors.You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius.Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way.While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/">What Color Crayon Are You?

We Listen To a Prophet's Voice

We Listen to a Prophet's voice and hear the Savior too. With love he bids us do the work the Lord would have us do. The Savior calls his chosen seer to preach the word of God. That men might learn to find the path marked by the iron rod (Hymn #23). I had the great honor having the man who wrote the music to this hymn as one of my religion teachers, but that is besides the point. President Hinckley was truly a wonderful man, inspired by god. He became prophet shortly after I was baptized. He was the man I followed religiously all throughout college. I was amazed by the things he said and taught. I went to conference one year while I was attending Ricks, and I was amazed at how everyone stood when he walked out to sit down. But the interesting thing was how uncomfortable he looked. He was to himself, a simple man with a great calling. I was also honored to hear him speak at the inauguration of the new Rick's College president David A. Bednar while I was a sophomore there. Both of those men were amazing, they were able to captivate an audience full of starving college kids for hours, truly an amazing feat. What is also amazing that President Bednar went on to become an apostle. We are so luckily to have these men, leading us through these Latter Days. I know I am rambling, but I had a full heart, and I needed to empty it a bit. Thanks for reading.

The Time has Come

Well ladies (and others who read this)I think it is time for me to introduce you to the newest part of my life. I hadn't posted about this yet, mostly because it hasn't been the right time. It is time now. I can't truly post about the goings ons in my life if I don't tell you about the wonderful man in my life, Chris. He is truly a best friend, and everything I need to get through this difficult time in my life. My kids love him, my parents and grandparents love him, and so do I. He teaches me all sorts of stuff I need to learn and know. Soooo, I am hoping as my friends you won't judge and can just be happy for me. People don't always get it right on the first try....

This is Chris and I at a concert in September

This is Chris and Katie opening Christmas presents, she loves him, and follows him everywhere!
This is us at the Rainforest Cafe in Chicago before going to see Phantom of the Opera, he can't be to bad, he wore a puple shirt!! And a tie!!