To-Do, To-Do, To-Do....

It seems like my To-Do List isn't getting any shorter and Christmas will be knocking in a couple more days. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not getting anything done or if I am adding more things to it?? It is probably a mixture of both, if that is possible!

Today we are making rolled out sugar cookies, putting together a Gingerbread house, baking and icing said sugar cookies, going out into the world to purchase a couple of last minute items today (with ALL 4 of my children) start wrapping gifts so I know who I have forgotten!
Which by the way, I know one of those forgotten gift receivers is Hayleigh!!
How can I forget to buy my youngest a Christmas gift? It's quite easy honestly. She doesn't NEED anything. We have an abundance of toys, dolls and clothes from the other girls! She's happy as a clam playing with all of that and old cell phones!! I just have no idea what to get her!!
If the older two weren't so observant Santa could just recycle some things around here!!

Okay, back to my To-Do's......
I WILL stay on track today and get this done! Plus, I want to enjoy the 16 days of my children being home and not have schedules to stick to. If I keep them entertained maybe there won't be so much bickering and pestering going on! (Yeah, right! A mother can dream! Right?)

There May Be A Name Change in My Future!

Well, my blogs future anyway..
I'm going to finish something this week!
It wasn't Monday like I planned on and it wasn't yesterday. I'm hoping for this afternoon but I highly doubt it. It does HAVE to be done by Friday though.
What is this I am talking about?
A craft? Fixing something around the house? Sewing one of my children's pants back together?

No, it is something much harder for me than ALL of my "To-Do" and "Haven't Got It Done" lists combined!!

I am going to tell my neighbor that I am FINISHED watching her little boy! I have let things build up to the point of no return and I have to put my foot down. This is the only way I see that happening.
I am such a quitter!!!!
There! I said it!!! I'm a QUITTER!!! I am by no means proud of it but this 'Babysitting' job is causing major problems at my house!
I am neglecting my own children to take care of another for a measly two dollars an hour.
I know money isn't everything but if I'm going to be neglecting my own children to care for another who needs more attention than I can give by all means pay me more so I can pay somebody else to watch my kids!!!
It's not helping my marriage either. This morning our doorbell rang at 7 because I hadn't opened my front door yet!! I may be out of line but isn't that a little rude? I mean, would it be too much to ask for you to Knock first???

There is a whole list of other things I've been letting happen by not putting my foot down. But I don't want to air everything. I'm a little embarressed by the way I have been letting people treat me!

On another note, Sean has given me his full blessing to go gung-ho with working my Scrapbooking business. That's a super-duper plus! He has been surprising me everyday for the past couple of months! I think he's getting pretty excited about turning 30 on Saturday!!

3 Months and 2 Days....

since my last post and I probably wouldn't be able to tell you a single thing that has happened!
Well, that would be a lie.... so I think I will just start fresh!!
Because if I start dwelling on the things I haven't blogged about in the past 3 months I will probably just start crying!! (One of which was me not telling Taylor's birth story) My heart still aches a little everytime I think of that. But there is next year and that one post I didn't do is probably the real reason I haven't been blogging.
So, back to the reason why I am blogging.....
Drum Roll please.......RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
(Did anyone else have a 'Clark Griswold' moment there? I sure did!!)
I GOT A LAPTOP FROM SEAN FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!
I know, I know, it's not Christmas yet, but we ALWAYS have a hard time keeping presents from each other. Plus I picked out and ordered it so I guess it really doesn't count! Right?
I have been dreaming about the day that I had my Laptop and I could be sitting somewhere Blogging!! (Instead of stuck off in some other room by myself) And this day has finally come!!
I'm going to be a blogging son of a gun!! Of course after I finish EVERYTHING that has to be done before Christmas.
I guess I will start blogging after the New Year :(
I'm going to make my little To-Do list right here so I can come back and check it and hopefully blog a little!

1. Clean entire frickin' house before Christmas because Sean's parents and brother's family are coming down to spend New Years with us! (That! My Wonderful Friends will be a couple of posts in and of it's self!! I'm sure I will be hiding in a closet somewhere typing about that one while they are here!!!)

2. Finish up a couple of Craft's for a PTA Money Raiser at the girl's school.

3. Finish up Christmas Shopping and wrap all presents before the girls get out early on the 18th. (which reminds me about 4)

4. Make treats and attend each of the older girl's 'Winter Parties' ( I understand why they do that, but Merry CHRISTmas anyway!)

5. Bake some goodies and desserts for Teacher Appreciation days next week.

6.7.8...10....15.....20..
I thought there was more. Maybe I should have listed what I have to clean inorder to do an overhaul on my house, but then I may not have any friends anymore because you would know how messy and cluttered my house has really gotten!!

That's enough for this post or I may not be able to come up with anything else to write this year!
I think Hayleigh is ready to get out of the tub now and Sean is blown away by me typing in the bathroom. I probably need to go and check on him to see if he has recovered yet..
My reply to him was 'How do you expect me to be the next Stephanie Meyer if I can't type whenever the mood hits?'
He just walked right on out of the bathroom!!!

Comfortable Shoes

The past couple of weeks I have been feeling euphoric and I really couldn't understand why. I can't recall that I've ever felt this way for so long. Don't get me wrong, I still feel a little beat up some times but it doesn't take me long to get over it. I've always been afraid to be happy too long for fear that something bad or disappointing is sure to follow. But I've been pushing that away and just living in the moment, I guess you could say.
I'm realizing that no matter what happens, God, my family and friends will get me through it.


My title is not talking about real shoes but how I've become comfortable with myself and where I am in life right now. I have some wonderful friends right now. It's taken me awhile to build up these friendships. I've found some real 'crazys' and for awhile I figured it was me. I am the crazy one because I can't keep friends. But that's not true. I've had to weed out the crazys before finding the good ones. I hope you good ones know who you are. I know I haven't always been the model friend but I have been working harder on that. I've had friends leave me and I don't want to do that to you all.

And I think that's what's playing a big part in my euphoria. I'm becoming stronger in my faith than I have ever been. I have always prayed and talked to God but I feel like my relationship with Him has become much closer than I've ever allowed it. I think this has allowed me to become more confident of who I am and allowing me to be a much better wife, mother and friend, I hope.

I cannot believe how fortunate I am to have my husband. It is so nice to be living with my best friend. We can talk about anything and I think it's just the fact that we do talk. Our favorite time of the day is at bedtime. The kids have finally fallen asleep and we can just sit and talk. No interruptions. This is our time. We catch up on what happened during the day. I cannot even imagine what it would be like if I didn't have him to talk to.... I've caught a glimpse of it and I don't like it... When we argue over something and both of us decide to give the silent treatment. It rips my heart to pieces and one of us usually gives in and starts talking to the other. It's never lasted longer than 24 hours because we are both acheing to talk to each other.

I'm also excited about the girls being in school again. But probably not for the obvious reasons. They love school. They love their teachers this year, again. And I'm just happy they are attending the same school two years in a row. We haven't got to do that since Madison went to Pre-K. I'm just happy that they were able to return to friends without making ALL new ones. I also was able to return to familiar faces. Even as a grown up that is one of the scariest feelings for me. Trying to make to friends!

So, here's to the good times and the bad because what would life be like if it was always predictable?


“Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back.”~Arthur Rubinstein

I ALWAYS go back to Wal-Mart.....

I decided to run into Wal-Mart this morning after Hayleigh's checkup to grab some paper towels. I remembered that H still had some money left over from Christmas so why not spend it? Dakoda and H had played with some Play-Doh at a playdate a couple weeks ago so we went 'whole hog' and purchased a whole bunch!!
D also wanted to go outside and look at the 'fwoers' so we ended up buying a couple of mums. Of course they had just been watered so naturally they were dripping. I set them on the bottom of the cart and didn't think anymore of them.

We finally made it to the checkout line. I put the 'fwoers' on the belt and the rest of our purchases. When it was my turn, the cashier didn't ask, "Did you find everything okay?" or "How are you doing today?" NO, she whispered, "Nothing like putting the dirty plants where the food goes!"
I wanted to say: Really? Cause where do you think most of our food comes from???? I'd rather my BOXED food be sitting in some wet potting soil then soaking in blood from a package of hamberger!!!! Wouldn't you????
But I didn't...... I just grabbed my flowers off the spinny thing and put them back in my cart. While she hatefully grabbed some paper towels from the next checker and wiped it up.
After that little incident she asked me how I was doing like nothing had happened!!!

I guess this is why I have my blog though......so I don't bite a real persons head off.....I just talk about them here.........

Disappointed

I feel a little disappointed with myself.
I thought for sure I would be posting ALOT this summer. Boy was I wrong. I've done good to get one post a month up. There have been so many things I've wanted to blog about and either I haven't made it to the computer to do it or I sit down and forget what I wanted to say.
All I can think, is school will be starting in two weeks and I hope I can get back into the swing of things.
Oh and if anyone has a laptop they want to give away....look me up cause I think that would help me out ALOT!!!
I wouldn't have to keep running upstairs to my computer!! :D

Why Do I Do This To Myself??

For whatever reason I did not read Twilight when it was the craze! I think I had my suspicions that I would become addicted to it and I was not ready for that yet. I did wonder what the big deal was and why everyone was so crazy about it. I did not realize the craze was Edward Cullen instead of the story itself.

Last Thursday the kiddos and I went swimming at a friends house and before we left she handed me Twilight to read. I started reading it around 1:30 pm Friday afternoon. That was my first mistake. I very hesitantly would put the book down when my children needed the silliest of things... i.e. food, diaper change, nap. How could they be asking me for these things while I was reading?? Did they not understand what Mommy was reading? This book was almost as important as the Bible!! I said ALMOST!!!! and I'm kidding!! The Bible is VERY Important!!

I even managed to feed everyone supper and help Sean restring the weedeater. And after everyone was in bed I continued to read. I could not believe the feelings I had while reading this story. I kept having flashbacks of when Sean and I were dating in High School! I felt like I was Bella!! Except for the whole VAMPIRE THING!!

I finished the book 14 hours after starting it. I practically crawled into bed at 3:30 Saturday morning and had THE MOST Bizarre dreams EVER!!!! Sean thought I was crazy and maybe I was.

That was not enough. I HAD TO WATCH THE MOVIE!!!!! So, Tuesday the mailman delivered it and I watched it!!

I AM OFFICIALLY ROBSESSED!!!! I just can not quite thinking about him. Vampire form or not, HE IS HOT!!!! I know he is younger than me. I never thought I would have such a crush on someone besides my husband!!!

But then I got to thinking, even though this is not healthy..it is safe. There is NO WAY I will ever meet Robert Pattison or that he will EVER know I exist. So, even though this is in no way a win win scenario...it is safe.

But I do have this song that I would love to sing for Rob if,

a) I wasn't married

2) I didn't have children

c) I met him and he had feelings for me

I know...I can hear you laughing at me. But isn't it perfect???

That's probably all I should say now before I seem TOO crazy!

But I do need to go and check out my two new FAVORITE Blogs!!!

Inappropriate Twilight Obsession and ROBsessed

July 2, 2001

5am - I wake up starving!! I was not supposed to eat anything after midnight last night and that includes breakfast this morning!!

So I take a shower, shave my legs of course and get my clothes on.

5:30am - I watch Sean drink his coffee and eat a egg sandwich....it's so not fair!!!

6am - Sean takes my Nike duffle bag and pillow out to our black Neon.

We pull out of our drive way for the last time as a family of two!

7am - Arrive at the hospital and 'waddle' up to labor and delivery.

9am - I have IV's coming out of my body! Pitocin is started at a VERY low dose.

What was I thinking? I shouldn't have gotten pregnant!!!

10am till 12pm - Pitocin is gradually increased.

What's the big deal about labor? This is a breeze!!

12pm - 3:30pm - I am only allowed to eat ice chips and "gross lemon sherbet thingy"

After this baby comes out...I'm eating the biggest burger EVER!!!

3:30pm - The Doctor comes in and Breaks my water.

Dr. L: Wow, you have a really tough bag of water! *jab, jab, jab*

Me: *whispers* ow!!

Dr. L: Let me try this AGAIN!!! *jab, jab, gush!*

Dr. L: Oh, there we go!

Me: *a little louder* OW!!!!!

3:45pm - 8:40pm - My mom, grandma, aunts and brother arrive.

A lot of pain, crying, uncomfortableness and a little bit of demerol, way to early!!!

8:45pm - I feel the urge to poop!!

Apparently that meant I was ready to have a baby and the only thing I could think of at this moment was that my va-jay-jay would never be the same!!

8:50pm- 9:00pm - A lot of 'I can't!!! I'can't!!' 'It hurts!!' 'Help me!!'

9:01pm - A beautiful baby girl was born!!

Madisonann Augusta weighed 9 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long.

I would have loved to show a precious newborn picture of my baby, but I can't get the darn thing to scan!! So instead you are seeing what she looks like today!!

I'd have to say it was well worth not eating for 24 hours!!!

I love you Madi!! Think you for being such an awesome first born!!! Just like your momma!!

I can't believe it's already been 8 years since the day I had my first baby!

Sometimes it feels longer and I feel older than I really am.

Oh to be 19 again and be so naive about what's to come!

I have grown up so much these past 8 years. (On the inside and out)

I'm gonna end up Higher than a Kite....

I bought this ugly little night stand 3 weeks ago tomorrow with high hopes of turning it into something cute. The longer it sat in my garage the more I was wondering, "What the hell did I spend my 5 dollars on?" I could have bought me an Arby's Roast Beef sandwich and felt better about it!!

But then, I brought out the 'Almond' Spray paint and went to town!! I made sure the kiddos were safely playing elsewhere and began my project. Only to find out later that someone was enjoying eating dirt AGAIN!!

(I know this is the wrong date on the picture to coincide with my post. I didn't get a picture of her eating it this time, but she had done it before so I used that picture!)

Now, doesn't this look so much better?? Sean even liked it! and that's saying something.

Later he told me, he was really wondering what I was going to do with that "Piece of Sh_ _!" I bought! But now he was impressed with it!

And of course, I had to add a touch of red!!

This little beauty now lives in our living room. I have to wait to put things on there because a certain little girl who enjoys eating dirt also enjoys pulling EVERYTHING off of EVERYTHING!!

Another quick trick....

This past Saturday Sean was working and since I was going to be hanging out with the girls ALL day by myself....I decided we needed to make a little trip to Wal-Mart!!
I was wanting to do a little 'transforming' and what better way to do that by myself than to purchase the kids a 'Slip n' Slide'??

The two older girls had a blast and the two littles took naps!
Perfect!!

I took our old glider we have had for maybe 5 years? It was a Mother's day present, I just can't remember which one. Sad? I know!!

This is how pleasant this thing was looking. Who would want to sit on that thing? Right?
Well, I'll tell you who!! Me and you and anyone else who drives by my house.
Especially after I painted it!
What? you painted it???
Why, yes I did! I used fabric paint and an itty-bitty paintbrush.
(I never said I did things the easy way!!)

And there she is......I even have Red, White and Blue on my Front Porch!!

If you have been to any of my previous homes...

you may have realized that I LOVE to decorate my home with Red, White and Blue. Anything with the United States flag on it is game for being displayed in my house.

I have decorated this way in two homes before this one and finally after almost a year here. I am starting to get my "Americana" game on!

Over Memorial Day weekend I started a little project. I had four off white coffee mugs that were in my cabinet but not really being put to use. I pulled 3 of the 4 out and spray painted two.

While they were baking, I mean drying in the sun, Sean hung the shelf.

I placed a couple of my garage sale finds, from many months ago!!!

The apple and the apple swag are from long ago also. (That was way back in the day before Home Interiors & Gifts filed bankruptcy!)

I stuck a little flag in there that we got from the Rodeo Parade awhile back and I hung my mugs on the hooks.

I don't think it could have turned out any better!

A little catching up to do.

My last post was 20 days ago. (No, I'm not counting the one I just did on the GCS)
Where have the days gone? Was I doing something productive or just wasting them?
Honestly, I'm not too sure. It has been quite a blur.

I felt like I had pretty good traffic flowing to my Etsy shop. Thank you everyone who checked it out!
On Thursday last week I had my first customer! Yeah!
She ended up buying 24 dishcloths from me! She wiped out my shop and requested custom white ones!
I was beyond happy, I was friggen extactic!!
Thank you so much for your order and I will be putting them in the mail tomorrow!!!!

Once I get this disaster area cleaned up and in working order, I will be making more things to put up in my shop. It looks quite bare right now!
If any of my wonderful readers would like to request something, go right ahead. I seem to be having a block right now!!!

Now I must go and feed my children...

I'm hoping I'll have better and more frequent posts coming up.
I had a wonderful one I wanted to post last week but by the time I made it to my computer....I had forgotten.
Nice? right?
........the children.........why do I keep forgetting about them?

What Rock Have I Been Living Under?

Last week......I really don't remember what day it was.?.?.? I decided to make grilled cheese for me and the little ones.

We were out of cheese slices so I used Velveeta..................................................

I know, I know...

I am probably the only person on the planet Earth who has NEVER made a Grilled Cheese with Velveeta!!

But I hadn't and now I will be damned if I ever make a grilled cheese without it!!!

I have eaten a grilled cheese just about every other day since I made it that way!

Somebody should have lined me out sooner!!!

I will NEVER EVER EVER make a grilled cheese with American slices AGAIN!!!!!

I am not denying myself and my children that warm melted goodness!!!

I Did It.....

So on top of everything else going on around here......I decided to open an Etsy shop!
What was I thinking? I don't know....I thought it would be kind of fun.
I only have a couple of things up right now. There are more things in the works.
I am trying to upload a couple of things at a time, in between feeding the kids, changing diapers, giving baths.....this seems to be a slow process!

So, without further adu, I introduce to you GirlyThingsbyJessica!!!

Don't be too disappointed at first. I only have one thing for sale right now, but as I said before,
I am working on others!

I have been bursting at the seams to share this!!

Also if you have any ideas, please let me know. I'm open to just about anything right now!!!

The Days Are Passing Quicker.....

then I anticipated! That's a good thing for now.
Sean left Sunday morning for 2 weeks...2 weeks.
I do not like this whole single parent thing.
I will tell you, I haven't been as lazy as I usually am.
The house is decent looking, everyone is getting fed and baths at night!
It's kind of been nice with him gone...one less mouth to feed, less laundry
to do and one less person to pick up after.
I better not get too excited about this.
I still have a whole 'nother week left!! YIKES!!!

Need a Job in Dallas?

I sure would like to make some extra money....but my morals or should I say my children are getting in the way!

There is a strip club in Dallas called Cabaret Royale...and they are hiring!!
They are having a Job Fair today and are planning on hiring 150 to 200 people!
Just imagine how quickly I could get my van paid off!!!
I did tell Sean that I would be very uncomfortable giving 10% of that too the church.

I just thought it was funny to see THIS on the news the other night!!
I heard on the radio yesterday, when the owner was being interviewed,...the DJ told him
'Thanks for stimulating the economy, along with other things!' haha!
(I know, I'm very immature for my age!)

The Job Fair is called, 'Jobless to Topless'...and I just can't take the chance going since I have 4
daughters of my own. It makes me think back to the picture from THIS POST
They've already been dancing on table tops (the coffee table, while singing Hannah Montana songs!) and pole dancing (around the swing set). I know that doesn't mean anything, but I sure don't want to add fuel to the fire!!

Communication is Key.....

This morning Sean told me......

"Oh, yeah, when I talked to mom the other day....(meaning Saturday!) she told me my Great Aunt's Birthday is coming up.

Me: Oh, yeah?

Him: Yes, and I just wanted to say, You know that I really, really, really, love you? Right?

Me: Yeah, but, what are you wanting me to do????

Him: Oh, well, since you asked.....My GA just wants a 'Card Party' instead of an actual party or with presents or anything.......so......could you make her a couple of cards?.......She needs them by Saturday.

Me: Uh, sure......You do realize it takes 2 days for the mail to get to her? and I still have to take care of the kids while I make the cards? and she probably won't get her cards till Monday now...because I'm probably gonna miss the mail today!!

Him: So you'll make them then?

Me: Sure, but I'm not promising ANYTHING else will get done today!! :)


So....this is what I came up with.......
The cupcake one is from the girls and the second one is from Sean and I.
Cute, Huh? Nothing like spur of the momentness to get something done!!

I know I haven't formally come out and said it.....but I am a Consultant for Close To My Heart and I used left overs from their 'Tickled Pink' Scrabooking Kit. It already has the glitter on the pages!! *giggle* (For the card on the right)

I NEVER thought in my whole life I would be so super duper excited about glitter. But I am!!

The cupcake card was made with the 'Daydream' Kit.

Super cute too if you are in to the whole 'Princesses and Pink' thing like I am!!

And while I was at it, I thought I'd make a couple of Birthday cards for my Bestie's little boy's birthdays that I missed awhile back.

I really enjoyed making these. I hope I can keep it up..........Yeah, Right!!

It's Looking A Little Greener Over Here!

I just wanted to share a couple of things we've started doing around our house to be a little more 'green' and my frugal attemps.

For starters I am only buying groceries once a week now. I haven't been to Wal-Mart in awhile because I have only been buying groceries from Kroger. Usually every Wednesday night after we get the 'Sale flyer' from Kroger I make my shopping list for the next week from that. I have only been buying 'good deal' items and that's what we live on for the next 7 days. I have only been spending $90 a week on groceries and I am super excited to be feeding 6 people off of that!!! (7 if you count the little boy I keep during the day!)

Now, I have to admit that I don't have to buy much meat because my parents usually send beef home with us when we visit them. But I ALWAYS buy chicken, pork and sometimes ground turkey when they are super cheap. This last shopping trip, I did spend $120 but it was for Easter and we wanted some extras to eat!

And when I go shopping I am sure to take in MY BAGS with me so that I don't have to use the plastic ones!! This was hard for me at first. I would leave them in the back of the van and be at the door before I would realize I needed to go back and get them. So, I would turn around and go get them, with baby on hip and ALL 3 children following me! (Sometimes I feel like a mother duck with all her babies behind her. Does anyone else ever picture themselves that way?)

Okay, back to what I'm talking about:

We also made our own compost bin using a tutorial from The Happy Housewife

This has probably been one of the hardest things for me to do believe it or not. Just because I have to remember what NOT to throw in the trash anymore.

We also recycle because the town we live in picks up recyclables every Thursday. You don't even have to sort it. Just put it ALL in ONE bag and they pick it up! Recycling has never been so easy!!

I'm also cloth diapering which is saving a ton of waste! I don't have a picture of the diapers I'm using right now. But I seriously can not believe I waited so long to do this!

We also hardly ever use paper towels any more. The holder has been empty for 3 days and nobody seems to have noticed. I have a basket of cloth napkins on our kitchen table that the kids use for just about every kind of clean up, i.e. spilt milk, water, cleaning glasses, boogers!

And now for our newest venture:

Hanging our clothes out on the line!!

I told my mom I was doing this and she asked if I was crazy. She asked me if I remembered how stiff everything got and that the birds would probably poop on my clothes!! I told her that I remebered and if the birds did poop than I would just wash them again!!

And, YES. I did have to hang some pants on the fence.

I waited too long to do laundry so I was trying to get everything caught up and I ran out of line!

Are you doing anything green? I'd love to hear about it!

Want another laugh?

Is it wrong that I think this is funny??

How about the same thing over and over and over again???

Or how about with another child?

What can I say? Cheap entertainment!!

And in case you are wondering....yes, that is an alley we are playing in...and yes, It is our alley....and No! That is not our driveway!!! It's the neighbors!!!

I hope you all are having a good Wednesday!

The Devil was in church THIS MORNING!

I woke up earlier this morning than most. I needed to wash my hair and fix it before the kids woke up and Sean left for work VERY early this morning. I made my punch last night for the reception after church so I wouldn't have to worry about that this morning. I woke the girls up, fed them breakfast, the older two got dressed and then dressed Dakoda while I got Hayleigh ready.
Sounds like everythings running smoothly, right? Yeah, I thought so too.
Loaded everyone in the car and I even remembered to put the punch in. We had enough time that I let Dakoda load a little bag of hers with a coloring book, markers and ponies. (What was I thinking? I know better than to let my kids take something fun to church!! I ALWAYS pay for it later!)
We got to church at 9:25 this morning and it doesn't start till 9:30. (Had the world ended?)
My little Angels helped me carry everything in and put the punch in the Fellowship Hall.
We arrived in time for the big girls to get their palm fronds and walk in with the other kids during the processional. (This is a big deal for us. We usually don't get to church until 9:35 or 9:40! )
After the processional M and T came and sat with me and the little girls. It was going great at first. Dakoda was coloring, Madison was sitting nicely, Taylor was coloring even though I had told her three times already it was for Dakoda. Hayleigh was quite and content with her sippy cup for.....oh....3 seconds.
Then, my children left and satan took over!!!
Dakoda had snuck change into her purse. Not just a couple of dimes and some nickles. Oh no, that would be okay. I'm talking $10 in pennies. At least that's what it sounded like when she turned her purse over on the seat and DUMPED. IT. ALL. OUT!!!! Pennies are rolling everywhere, Hayleigh scoots off my lap the fastest she's ever moved. The lady behind me is passing change back up as more falls off the chair. I'm about in tears.
During the prayer.....Taylor was practicing her thriller dance! I gave her 'THE LOOK' told her to fold her hands because we were praying. Hayleigh is head banging my lip! I look back at Taylor and she has slid down to the floor and is doing Gymnastics exercises!!!! Where is Dakoda you may be asking? Oh....wondering down the aisle TALKING. ON. HER. CELL. PHONE!!!!
I have to give Madison credit. She was sitting in the chair nicely. When we prayed she was standing with her hands folded and head bowed.
As soon as the prayer had ended I told the girls to gather their stuff because WE. ARE. LEAVING!!!!
Madison looked at me and said, "To go home?"
Me: YYEESSSSSSS!!!!!!! (In as much of a whisper as I could muster!)

And then......you all are gonna love this part!!
I thought that I could just SNEAK my kids out of church! Yeah, like that was gonna work!!
I had Hayleigh in my arm and nudged Dakoda out of our seats. Madison was following. Taylor chose not to listen to me at that time and proceeded to lay in the pew.
We almost made it to the door, Taylor decided to follow and I. STEPPED. ON. THE. BACK. OF. DAKODAS. FLIP FLOP!!
And DOWN SHE WENT!!! crying and carrying on!
EVERYBODY!!!! I MEAN EVERYBODY! WAS LOOKING AT US!!
I could not have drawn more attention to myself if I would have stood up during prayer and announced that WE WERE LEAVING!!

Madison held the door open. I set Hayleigh down in the hall. I went back to get Dakoda and her flip flops. Madison was still holding the door and Hayleigh was coming back in. (Are you kidding me? Really?)
All five of us made it out of the door and Taylor asked, "What are we doing?"
I lost it, tears flooded my eyes, I told her to go back in and get her coat and bible because we were leaving.
I had to go to the Fellowship Hall first and dump the punch in the bowl. Dakoda was crying because she didn't want to leave.
We made it back to the car and I loaded everyone in practically blind. I was crying so hard I couldn't see. My 'waterproof' mascara was running down my face.
I DID NOT yell at them though. They knew I was upset so they asked questions and with as much calmness as I could I answered their questions.

I've realized there are some changes I need to make with myself and by doing that.....I'm seriously hoping that my children will come back.

Happy 1st Birthday Pictures! (Only a month late!)

Tea Time

On Friday I helped a lady from our church have a birthday party for our Pastor's daughter.

She turned 8 and wanted a Tea Party theme. Mrs. Smith had the BEST house for this party!! Her house was built in 1910 and was laid out perfectly for Tea.


I was in charge of invites, cake and cookies.

I barely got the invites sent out a week before the party and I had to make them and mail them from Missouri while I was visiting. (I forgot my stuff when I left TX so I had to start all over!! GO ME!!)
Included in each invite was a Pink card with "Princess __girl's name___" on each. They brought the card with them and the 'butler' announced the Princesses as they arrived. Very fun!


I baked the cake Thursday night and iced it on Friday.
What kind of cake was it you ask?

Well a Teapot of course!!!!

I had so much fun making this and ALL the little girls AND moms LOVED it!!
I also made cookies with the girls names on them.



The party started at 4:30 so as the girls arrived Butler Rob took each girl into the parlor and announced them to Princess Abby. After they had been announced they took thier dress up clothes into Mrs. Smith's bedroom and laid them out on the bed.



Next stop was the kitchen table where they placed flowers and ribbons on a white hat. Another lady was there hot gluing the flowers on.
(I know this was a party for the big girls to attend and the younger two were just tagalongs. But they were off and gone too quickly for me to get their picture making their hats. I know, I know....and the mother of the year award goes to......)

After the hats were made the girls were off to get dressed up. They came out of the bedroom in their dressup clothes and hats on! Mrs. Smith had an assortment of shoes and jewelry for the girls to wear! THEY LOVED IT!!!



Next was Tea. The girls went out to the porch, chose a chair and put little white gloves on after they sat down. It was adorable....I think they were in Heaven!!!

(Finally, I do have two more children!)

Abby's Aunts served the tea....the girls were asked "One lump or two?"
And the cookies were passed around!

One little girl cracked me up....I gave a little girl sitting next to her a cookie and
she said, "I want a cookie just like hers!"
I said, "Yours is a little different......""I want a cookie just like hers!!!!"
Me: Honey, yours is different because it has your name on it.
Her: Oh..........


Then the cake was brought out, 'Happy Birthday' was sung, and she couldn't blow out the candles because the wind had picked up.


Presents were opened and a little modeling ensued.
The girls tried on each others clothes and walked out into the living room, one by one to model.
Of course Taylor came out bearing tummy. It was a belly dancer costume and she had bangles on her arm so she gave a little 'shake'! Oh, to think what her daddy would have done if he would have seen that!!!


Finally, it was time to pack up and go home.

Where are you?

Spring?.....
Where are you?
I know you stopped by last week. There is evidence everywhere!
The trees are green...the grass is green....there are even little flowers popping up everywhere!
It warmed up so nicely! I even enjoyed the rain showers since it wasn't freezing outside!
That was a terribly mean trick you played!
Please come back!!!

Bag Tag! You're It!!

I was tagged by Donella at So Not Domestic to do a bag tag. She tagged me back in February and I'm just now getting this up. If you look closely at the pictures you WILL see that they were taken last month! Unfortunately if I'm playing by the rules, I can't go grab anything cuter So I'm using pics of my handy dandy diaper bag! Yay! NOT!!

Here are the rules for the tag:

1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today.

2) I want to know how much it cost. :) And this is not to judge, this is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.

3) Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your diaper bag/non-diaper bag.


I don't even know how much this cost. I'm sure under $20. My mom bought it for me right before or shortly after Taylor was born. (Holy moly that was almost 6 1/2 years ago!!) I didn't use it too much with Tay because I had several other diaper bags as well. I think I used it maybe once with Dakoda and then put it away. I ended up using it with Hayleigh because it is actually very well made. The one we recieved from the hospital tore where the strap attaches to the bag. Didn't last very long at all!












Crazy I know! How does one live with a bag filled like this? I guess I don't pay attention to it until I'm digging around trying to find something! You just never know, you may need a dollar, some playdoh and a headband!!

I'm just gonna say this is an open tag and if you want to participate go ahead!! I'd love to see how much better all of your bags or purses are!! LOL

WANTED: A Good Friend

I am happily married to my best friend and mommy to my four wonderful daughters. I am looking for someone to be my friend.
Yes, I already have several. But they ALL live so far away. I don't have anyone here. I've tried.......there is one gal who I thought was going to work out because it all seemed like perfect timing....but I am quickly realizing there are problems in this relationship and I am very slowly trying to work my way out of it.
I've finally realized that I do not need to put up with somebody who:

1. puts me down all the time.
   
2. Makes sarcastic remarks to me ALL the time! (don't get me wrong, I like to 'josh' around, but I'm not nasty about it!)
   
3. is nasty to my kids (that's my job! I feel like slime when mean things slip out of my mouth at MY kiddos, I don't want anyone else doing it!!)
4. tells a story about a special needs child she use to work with and then makes the remark that I probably don't know what the average IQ of somebody is (Hello, lady!...my IQ was 135 when I was 14!!! It's not easy playing dumb!)
5. doesn't like the way I am parenting and proceeds to tell me about it!(her kids are going to need therapy when she's done!)
6. talks trash about ALL the things her husband does and how they are wrong (at least her husband washes dishes and picks up the kid's toys!) ((Sean's been helping this week so I won't complain about him!))
7. EVERYTHING is that man's fault through her eyes, but from the outside looking in, I'm thinking she has ALOT to do with it!
   
8. and a whole lot of other things that have slipped my mind at the moment!

Now that I've finally gotten that out, I guess I should call her and break up with her!!




I just want to tell my friends that are reading this, if I have EVER done any of the things on this list to you....I am SORRY with ALL OF MY HEART!
This hurts and sucks and hurts some more. People should NOT treat others this way.

I know this probably seems like a desperate cry for friendship, but I really just wanted to blog about this and get it off my chest! Everyone here in bloggyland seems to be so understanding of that!
Anymore thoughts on how I should handle this would be greatly appreciated.
Julie, thanks for your input, I have to see her tonight, and we will see how that goes.

Another Birthday!

Yesterday my 3rd baby turned 3!! I can't believe how fast the past 3 years have gone by. (I know every mother says that....but isn't it so true?)
I remember the 2 false trips to the hospital and then having to be scheduled for an induction.
It snowed a little on the drive to the hospital that morning. We arrived at the hospital late. I was scheduled for 6am and didn't get there till 6:15. The nurse was a little short with me I almost forgot to have Sean take my 'before delivery' pic. I had my sheet on already and then I waddled back into the bathroom to put my shirt and pants back on so he could take my picture.
Finally, I was ready.....my nurse started hooking me up to everything and started the 'pit' around 7am. There was a swarm of student nurses at the hospital that day and they ALL wondered if they could take part in this miracle! Why not? I said. I'd already birthed 2 babies and I wasn't as shy any more! ha! I labored pretty quickly. I let them crank the pit up as much as they would dare. It hurt like you wouldn't believe but I wasn't one to be in labor for hours! I did that with Madison....Taylor was quick and I wanted this to be as short and sweet as possible! Around 9am I felt ready to push so everyone swarmed in and started getting everything ready. I remember 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' was on. Between contractions my doctor would turn around and watch the show and answer the questions. She was answering one question and I practically shouted....I HAVE TO PUSH NOW!!!! So she turned back around and caught Dakoda!! at 9:26am.
I haven't told too many people this, actually my husband, doctor and nurses are the only ones who have known this up until now......but you know how most people are afraid of pooping while having a baby? Well, I was over that fear since this was my 3rd. But who would've thought you'd pee all over your doctor?? Not me in a million years did that thought ever cross my mind!! Until a Thursday morning on March 23rd 2006 at 9:20ish am. I had fluids running through my body for the previous 2 hours and nobody ever thought once to ask me if I needed to go the bathroom. Well, there was that one push I gave and Dr. Warner got a shower!!!! How embarrassing was that?? So, now world, you know my pee-pee story!!

Back to who this post is really about.......
Yesterday was a horrible day. Dakoda cried, screamed and cried some more. I think that maybe she was already 'birthdayed out'. We had a little party here before we went to MO and then we had 2 while we were visiting. By the time it got to the 'real day' she was done!
I did get her calmed down for a little bit with an ice cream cone!!

Happy Birthday my little Princess!!! I love you!!!!

On the Road Again!!

Actually it's been 2 months, but time sure does fly around here.
We are going to visit family this coming week since it is spring break.
We will be celebrating the two little girls birthdays and I'm sure I'll be pissing some people off because I won't be spending equal amounts of time with them. Plus, I have to pay the money we owe!
I haven't talked about that in a long time because I have found my piece with it and we are just going to pay him, I'm going to have him write me a receipt of payment and we are never borrowing or owing him any money again!!!

So if you want to see me, give me a call and I'll try to meet you somewhere. (Yes, I'm talking to you Julie!)

We will not be back until next Sunday evening. I will not get to blog and will probably be behind on reading everyone's amazing posts because my mother still has dial-up. I cringe at the thought of how much farther I'm going to be behind! Will I ever get out of this hole??
Not to mention I have started babysitting again and that really takes away from my computer time!!
Everybody have a good week and I better finish more like finish start packing because I'm wanting to leave in less than 2 hours. I really don't see that happening.

I'm Sooooo Behind!!!!!!

It's been over a week since my last post and I can't seem to make the time to get it done!!!
There is soooo much I've been doing and that has happened......I have pictures sitting on my camera I need to put up....I made a pettiskirt for Hayleigh and I need to start Dakoda's.......My baby had her 1st Birthday.......my house is a disaster area and I just don't want to clean it up......(it's just easier to keep throwing more on the pile instead of putting it away!).....and the cloth diapers arrived in the mail Friday and we've been successful with that since Saturday............I collected quite a bit of cookie money from the other moms that needs to be deposited in the bank.......Hayleigh is getting angry in the highchair at this moment because she is out of Blueberries and I'm typing........I don't want to go to a playdate today because I am tired of the way the 'smothering-mother' treats my baby.............I've already missed two weeks of playdates with her and I just don't have a good excuse today!!............I need to clean my house up because I start babysitting next week and I don't want more to be piled up on top of what 'already is'!! (If that makes since?)

Okay, off to soothe the crying one and get ready to leave!!! Blah!

OMG!!!

Hayleigh is about to turn 1!!
On Monday in fact!
So why did I have the 'hair-brained' idea to do this? Why didn't I do this sooner, Like last year or maybe 3 years ago when I had Dakoda?

I JUST BOUGHT CLOTH DIAPERS!!!!

Last night I decided I would wake up this morning and research the cost! I will save about $100 or more. I just figured on this for 1 year. I'm sure she won't be potty trained by 2, but the way my luck goes sometimes.....She might!!

I just placed my order and they should be arriving next week! AFTER she turns 1.
Am I crazy??? Or was this a good idea?

My name is Jessica and I am a cloth diapering mother...
Who woulda thunk that!
Maybe I should change my title to....Why didn't I start that sooner?

Theyyyy'rrrreeee Heeeerrrreeeee!!!!!

I'm just gonna lay this out for you like I see and feel it! Ever since we moved into this house. I. ALWAYS. FEEL. LIKE. SOMEBODY. IS. WATCHING. MEEEEE!!!!!

It's usually when the older girls are at school and the little ones are napping or when EVERYONE else is asleep and I'm the ONLY ONE awake!

Just a little bit ago I came out of the laundry room and glanced upstairs because it looked like someone ran into my scrappin' room.

Then I was taking a shower and I could have sworn somebody was in my bathroom!

This happens a lot in the evenings.....I'll be sitting in the living room. The little heater is running and the ceiling fan circulates the air.....The rooms all nice and toasty.....Then, BAM there is a coooool little breeze blowing through the room.....I know, I get *piloerection* EVERYTIME!!!

(Merriam-Websters Dictionary- involuntary erection or bristling of hairs due to a sympathetic reflex usually triggered by cold, shock, or fright or due to a sympathomimetic agent ) just incase you didn't know!

Now, I'm not scared, it's just a little annoying! I don't like PEOPLE watching me so I don't want anything else to either! As long as they aren't hurting my kids or my hubby or me, they can stay. If for some reason they start acting nasty, then I'll just have to go Supernatural on their butts!!!

This is Jensen Ackles, a.k.a. Dean!!

He's Hawt too!!!

I've lived with ghosts before. But I knew them. I don't know who the ones here are.

Swoon

I was sitting on the couch earlier while Sean was watching wrestling. I usually try to find something else to do because I don't enjoy watching his 'soap opera'. I forgot that I use to watch on Monday nights.
This little hottie is the reason why I used too and why I shall start again!!

I HEART YOU JOHN CENA!!!!!!

Not Me Monday #1

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

1) I DID not get Thanked infront of everyone after church yesterday for putting on the Valentine's Dinner (And the guy sitting behind me DID not ask his wife, "Who's That?")

2) I DID not sit in front of the computer ALL afternoon yesterday instead of cleaning my house!

3) I DID not just finish cleaning up the kitchen from this weekend!

4) I DID not honk the horn at Taylor while she had her head stuck in the fridge and make her cry!

5) I DID not pick up dog poo off my bedroom floor because I DID not forget to let the dog out!

6) I DID not cry because Taylor used the rest of my body wash!

7) I DID not sit down and crochet a washcloth instead of folding laundry!

8) I DID not feed my kids leftovers TWICE yesterday!

9) I DID not turn the doorbell off so I wouldn't know if the neighbor's kids were coming over to play!

10) I DID not give Hayleigh cough medicine from the last time she was sick so I could go to sleep last night!

11) I DID not just lay Hayleigh down for a nap so I could type this without a baby attached to my booby!

NOT ME!!!!

So? What didn't you do?

I Know...I Know.... I'm Lame

Yesterday I realized I was needing some new shoes to wear to the Dinner. So I ran up to Payless and they were having their BOGO. (When don't they?) Usually I can't find anything or I don't see anything that I. HAVE. TO HAVE. or they have something really really cute, but only in the smaller sizes...grrrrr...

Not yesterday my friends. I think I found a heck of a deal!

Not one pair but two!!!

I purchased my first and second pairs of heels. I have never bought heels before!!

This snazzy little pair cost $19.99

And these little beauties. What a steal!!

Pair #1

Pair #2

Oh, and please excuse the 'honeycomb' vinyl in my bathroom! That WILL. BE. GONE. next year with tax return. I'm sure the money this year will end up going to 'Dear Sir'.

I usually only participate in the BOGO when buying my children shoes. But I hadn't bought any for awhile.....so, why not.

Pair #2 was regular $26.99, the sale price was $17.99 and I got them for $8.99!!

Whoo-hoo!! I am quite excited!!