Christmas time!

Wow, it's so hard to believe that in 4 short days it will be Christmas Eve. Christmas seems to have snuck up on everyone this year. For once in my life we have all of our presents bought but still nothing wrapped. We have had 2 Christmas celebrations with family already so the kids are getting to enjoy some of their new toys before santa pays a visit. This is the first year we have done it this way and so far its working out really well. They won't be over whelmed with all of their new things and each new toy is getting played..

I have even gotten the ambition and made some cookies as well. It was started to look like I wasn't going to have time. I am sure Ill make a few more different kinds tomorrow and in the days to come but at least I got a jump start tonight with the peanut butter crunchies and chocolate chip cookies.

What is your favorite christmas cookie?

12 Days of CatMas

A very dear friend of mine sent me this cute poem today and I wanted to share it with all of you.


THE 12 DAYS OF CATMAS

On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me.

On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me!

~ Author Unknown

Can't believe my baby is 3!

I posted about Collin turning 5 but forgot to come and post about Tara turning three. With being 3 now comes the whole new territory of independence. We hear so much of the I do it myself. I can do it. No let me do it and the list goes on.

Now if she would just potty train already we would be smooth sailing. All in good time I am sure that will come too. I will try to post some pictures of her 3rd birthday a bit later. For now I must go get them something to eat.

Wow Time got away from me yet Again!

I didn't have time to write at all in November as things were just crazy busy with school, karate, girl scouts and many countless other things. I am hoping that some day soon things will calm down haha. I think I said that before. Here is to trying to post more often. And most of all I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Something for moms to stop and think about..

Holidays and every day life sometimes tend to make us forget about the simple things. A friend of mine posted this on one of the messageboards that I frequent and I thought it was a great read so wanted to share it.


TAKE TIME
Take time to hold us on your lap, to joke with us and make us laugh.

Take time mommy, this time will go so fast.

Take time to give us extra hugs, to teach us a nursery rhyme or song.

Take time mommy, we won't be little long.

Take time to tuck us into bed, to read that story you know by heart.

Take time mommy, soon these days will part.

Take time to exclaim over what we color, to admire things we make from clay.

Take time mommy, we're growing up and away.

Take time to imagine or make believe, to play some childish or silly game.

Take time mommy, soon it won't be the same.

Take time to let us help you work, to teach us the many things you know.

Take time mommy, enjoy us as we grow.
Author unknown

5 years old Already!!

5 years ago Yesterday 10-5 he was just a little bitty baby.








And now 5 years later 10-5-08



He had a great birthday and ate lots of good food. He also enjoyed his presents. His baby sister was just as excited as she was. Right in there helping to unwrap them.

Also it seems he has become a big boy over night. He told daddy that he no longer wants to sleep with his comfort blankies because he is a big boy. Now if we could just get him to sleep in his big boy bed we would be all set.

Happy Birthday Big Boy! We love you!

Yikes!

It has been a long time since I have written anything. Where did the last two months go?? Well I will tell you real quick like. School started and all the extra running of a busy mom of 3 began. Allyssa is in the 3rd grade this year. Collin is in his second year of PreK and Tara well she gets to stay at home with me for a while yet. Hard to believe though that next year it will be just her home with me. The other two will be in school all day.

I have also taken on the duty of teaching 3 and 4 year sunday school class at our church. I am also co-leader of my daughters Girl Scout Troop. I always have something going on. But in short thats what I have been up to the last few months trying to develop a good steady routine and get everything done that needs to be done.

Mama Mia !!

This has been the greatest movie I have seen in a long time. If you like music by Abba it is a must see. It is totally based off of their music but it is so worth the 5.00 to see. I knew my hubby wouldn't like it so I took my 8 year old with me. It was awesome. She enjoyed the one on one time with as well as the movie. She lost interest towards then end but she did ok for the most part. I would definately go see it again if the opportunity came my way.

If you have seen it, what do you think?

Good, bad or otherwise??

Date Night!

We got to see Poison in concert Friday night. My family came through and watched the kids for us. We even got a good sit down dinner before the show started! Go Us!! It was a great time. We saw Sabastian Bach as they were the opening act. I would definately see them again.

Meaningful Monday!!

I thought I would take some time this week to share some of the top 10 tips on how to stay safe during a tornado. There are many do's and don'ts but I will just touch base on the big ones.


1. Immediately seek shelter
2. Avoid windows/doors so you don't get hit with flying glass
3. Stay far away from exterior walls as they will be the first to go
4. DO NOT open windows, its a waste of time and really isn't going to help you much at all
5. If in a basement get under the stairway or something very sturdy
6. DON'T stay in your vehicle! Seek shelter instead.
7. Lie flat in a ditch or some such low lying area if you can't find shelter. Shielding your head with your arms.
8. If you live in a mobile home be sure you have a plan in advance as to what you would do in time of crisis.
9. Take shelter as soon as you hear of a possible sighting or your town siren goes off.
10. Have a weather radio, and extra flashlights and bottled water ready in your storm room or area you will be going . Wouldn't hurt to have an extra blanket.


Following some of these simple steps, I can promise you it will save some lives.

Tornado Season is in Full Swing

Friday evening we had some interesting weather in our part of the country. Almost all of the counties around us were in tornado watches/warnings for quite some time. My family had made plans to meet some relatives for dinner at a local bar/grill well .... little did we know that we would be in the path of a severe storm. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as what it could have been but still bad enough.


We had just finished eating our dinner and having a great time visiting when all of a sudden we looked at the sky and it was awfully dark. My dad and a few other people were standing outside watching the clouds and my 8 year old daughter comes running in the side door crying. "Mom that guy over there says I need to come find you and we need to go into the bathroom" I was like what is she talking about.

Come to find out the city of Stewart had just blown their tornado siren and we should have taken shelter into the bathroom. Well no one takes cover and people are leaving left and right. My daughters says mommy the clouds are trying to meet together and form a funnel. I thought great just what she needs to see.

Not long after that the wind comes up and everyone that was outside is trying to get back in and it was so strong. We should have taken cover but we didn't. There weren't many people left at this time. All of a sudden it was pouring cats and dogs and then it started hailing. It didn't last real long though and soon it was light enough that I was able to load up the kids and come home again.

Some of the folks in Willmar weren't as lucky as us though. The tornado that hit there that very evening has been rated an EF 3 with winds topping the scales at 136-150 mph. Scarey !

Progress Finally

Last week was a very busy week in our house. We had swimming lessons, tball, kickball, karate and I am sure there are many more things that I am forgetting to list. The most important one though was having our house landscaped FINALLY! We have been waiting since Spring to get this done and FINALLY the company came on Tuesday like planned and finished up on Wednesday. It looks so nice now. All that is left is to get the rest of the yard smoothed out and grass seed planted and were good to go! It has been so worth the wait. Now I have plants to take care of and next year I have a small spot in the front that I had the landscapers edge for me but left it black dirt so I can put my own flowers in. Now this is what home owership is all about.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game.....

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

We recently enjoyed an evening away from home at the metrodome. The Minnesota Twins hosted the Detroit Tigers in our home playing field. DH and I took our oldest two children to watch. They both really enjoyed it. Of course we had to have hotdogs, pop, cotton candy and an ice slushy to celebrate the fun time we had. We had awesome seats too. Not quite in the nose bleed section but in the second to bottom level and right behind 2nd base seats. They were also known as the cheap seats but well worth it none the less.

The final score was:

Detroit Tigers 3
Minnesota Twins 6

WOOOHOOO Game worth seeing for sure.

An email I would like to share with you all

Sometimes we get too busy and forget about somethings and we take things too seriously as well. So here you go. Enjoy!

To: YOU

Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help.So,have nice day.
I love you.
P.S. And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
Should you decide to send this to friend;Thankyou. you may have touched their life in ways you will ever know!Now, you have a nice day.
God

You just gotta love conversations with 8 year olds.

So the other night my daughter and I were talking. I was cutting something up for supper and she asked if I had ever been cut with a knife. I said yes one time and it was an accident while I was at work. She proceeds to ask more questions of course such as:

Allyssa : Did you have to have any stitches?

Me: No. It wasn't bad enough for that.

Allyssa: Have you ever had stitches before?

Me: Yes, in fact I have. It was just two tiny ones though.

Allyssa : When?

Me: To be honest it was the day that you were born?

Allyssa: Oh my god mom! No way. Are you serious?

Me: Yes! I am serious but it didn't hurt at all.

Then she asks me ....

Allyssa: Do I have to have a baby?

Me: I told her point blank no she didn't have to have a baby if she didn't want to but if she did and the time was right it would be ok. And you also have to have sex first in order to get pregnant.

Allyssa: (looks as white as a ghost) Mom you didn't just say that? So you have had sex?

Me: Yes honey I did and thats how all of you came along.

I walked out of the room laughing while she looked as white as a ghost and puzzled trying to figure out what we just talked about.

Goodness!

Where does all this laundry come from?? You would think I had six kids for the amount of laundry i do a week. I guess it doesn't help when you have a 2 year old that thinks she can change clothes whenever she feels like it so you never know whats clean or dirty. I just seem to think that I have it all caught up and put away to find my hamper over flowing again. Its just crazy how often my washer gets a work out. I just wish I could hang my clothes outside to dry because I love the smell of fresh hung laundry. Maybe some day soon that will happen. I am sure there are quite a few whom can relate to what I feel about this mountain of laundry I have piling up downstairs. How many times a week do you do laundry? Are you ever really caught up?

Wow Finally!

Wow! Where does time go? My days seem to just run one right after the other and no stopping in between. I guess thats what happens when you have 3 kids under 10. There is never a dull moment here. I believe that to be the reason I am slightly or maybe mostly insane on all days ending in Y. Its summer time and lots of activities going on. Every day is filled with new surprises.