Lake Tahoe and an Exciting Announcement!

Howdy, Peeps! Boy oh boy, is it good to be home!!! We had a great time in Lake Tahoe but Buglette had a difficult time sleeping, my little Miss Creature of Habit just loves her schedule and routine and her own bedroom! She ended up sleeping every night with Hubby and I in our bed! Argh!!! She would wake up and want to play, at say, 2am and then jump on the bed, make silly noises and then one night, she, all of a sudden leaned over and blew zerberts on Daddy's chest! He got to laughing so hard it made Bug and I laugh and of course at that point sleep was a memory! But what a memory that will be for us! The lack of sleep didn't kill us though, because my mom and dad went with us and stayed in the other bedroom so when they got up in the mornings they would take Buglette and we got to catch up on sleep. Let's give a big "hip hip hurray" for grandparents! We had snow in Tahoe and got to play and sled, fun, fun, fun! We got to see a few movies... mom and dad and I took Bug to see Disney's A Christmas Carol and Dad and Hubby and I went to see 2012. Both were good!

While we were there we got some pretty exciting news!!!! Bug has been invited to go with my in-laws to a Christmas party at the White House on December 1st!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, holy cow, good gravy, hip hip hooray!!! She is just too excited! We booked our flights right away and are leaving on the 28th of November. Just she and I are going and Daddy will be staying with Buglette and have help from my Grandma whom the great grandkids call GG. Hubby didn't want to travel anymore (he does plenty for work) and needed to stay home to work anyways. We will be gone for 4 and a half days. We are flying into Philadelphia to head to my in-law's farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. We will be there for a day and a half enjoying some family time before traveling to DC on Monday. The party is on Tuesday and we leave on Wednesday. A pretty quick turnaround trip but Bug didn't need to miss anymore school and I just can't stand to be away from Hubby and Buglette any longer. Please pray for our safe travels... I just hate to fly without Hubby and I especially hate to have our family splintered apart for any length of time. Your prayers would be much appreciated! I will post again when I have pictures of us in Tahoe and a funny story to share!

Off on a Trip

Howdy Peeps! I will not be posting any new blogs from Nov. 15th thru Nov. 23rd. The family and I are heading off to Lake Tahoe for a little vacation in our timeshare! Yep, we are bringing all the sleds, snow pants, boots, gloves, and snowman makings! I will be taking lots of pictures and blogging about our funny adventures when I return! Hmmm, eight hours in the car with a 17 month old, I bet you're envying me aren't cha???

Shot Drama

Yippee! Woo hoo! (read with sarcastic tones please) I just got home from taking the girls (and myself) to get H1N1 vaccinations! What a scream (yeah, literally). We got there expecting a long line but, no, we just filled out our paperwork and went through a screening process then went in. I went first. Ok, it burned but I lived. Then, with Buglette in her stroller it was Bug's turn. I had to force her to sit down. Ohh, this isn't going to be fun. Then they wanted to have me hold her so she wouldn't move. By now she is crying and saying, "I don't feel good, Mom, I'm nauseated" and I'm telling her to be brave because she's getting her sister all worked up! Sure enough, Buglette started crying! So now they're both going and I can't really do anything about it. The nurse then decides to start talking to Bug about her shot (which isn't helping) while I give the nurse the look saying 'just give the shot now'! Then Bug brings out the coup de gras by saying, "wait, I want to pray first!" So, we're praying (as I give the nurse the 'shoot it now' look). No such luck... after praying and screaming and gettin' her sister to cry it's time for mama to bring out the stearn voice, "hold still, be quiet" and she finally gets her shot! Buglette goes next screaming and squirming while I just muscle my way through that one. Whew. I'm exhausted.

Thank the Lord it's done. I'm going to lay down for a bit...

Sweetness and Light

Hey Peeps!!! How are you all doing? I'm good just sitting down now to type a new blog! I want to tell you about my bible study leader Laura. She has just blessed me so much these last 5 weeks. She is a mom to a boy 10 and her daughter is 8. She is a widow. Now, before you go gettin' all weepy when you read that (like I did when I heard it) she is a very strong, capable woman. She has been a widow for 6 years when her husband died in a motorcycle crash. She has been full of sweet words and love for all 5 of us at her bible study table. She is filled with the spirit and it's for real. I say it's for real because I have had the unpleasurable experience of being around 'spiritual' ladies who aren't very Godly and there is a difference. Anyway, not a sour note comes from Laura and she sings of what God has done for her and her kiddos and praises His name. There has not been a Thursday morning when I have sat down to worship and then study at the table when she hasn't presented us all with gifts! One day was bookmarks and book plates (to tell whose book was whose) another day was journals with a pencil, I even have a sweet little plant next to my computer she gave to me! She even decorated the pot! So sweet!

Just remember ladies, people are watching us. Do we exude the love of Christ in us or are we gloomy girls who say we love Him but our faces and our words tell another story? Yep, if you're unhappy you are telling a different story about what is going on in your heart. Laura has some things to be unhappy about, she misses her hubby, her kiddos are not growing up with their daddy and money is tight. But she sings of God's glory simply because she chooses to focus on her blessings. Sure, she asks for prayers and we pray for her but she then leaves it up to the Lord and sings of His love. Her kiddos are blessed and so am I for her example. By the way, she does all this crafting with her daughter because then they can spend time together. She once handed me something that she felt was 'less than perfect' because her daughter helped and knew I wouldn't mind because I love to have my Bug help me. I cherish that memento because of what it means. Perfection? Nah, I wouldn't want perfection!

Cultivate sweetness and light and you will receive sweetness and light

For the Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them. 2 Timothy 1:7

Yep, I'm Southern!

Well, this happens to me just wayyy too much... I was in Walmart doin' the week's grocery shopping (and peekin' at a few other things, who am I kiddin'?) I was in the craft section probably drooling over some Christmas fabric that I have no idea what to do with (I can't sew :o I know, sniff, sniff) when a nice lady next to me was obviously trying to decide which fabric to choose from out of children's Christmas fabric. I just jumped right in and gave her my two-cent's worth and told her that whatever she was doin' with it I'm sure would be beautiful and to enjoy her gift of sewing since not everyone can do it! She then looked at me with sweet blue eyes and said, "oh, honey, I'm so homesick, what part of the south are you from?" Huh????? Well, I'm from southern California! I get asked that on a regular basis! Is it my voice? Hubby says I do have a bit of a twang to it. But, no, I think it's my ability to just poke into other's lives like I belong there! I'll just see someone out and about who looks friendly and is, maybe lookin' at somethin' I like too and I just can't help myself! Oh, and if they smile at my girls, well then that's an open invitation to me! I always try to be kind and sweet and offer a smile and a nice word. I guess southern ladies harken from a time in the past (unfortunately) where that was just a way of life. People weren't too busy to stop and chat or too self-absorbed to say 'hi' in the Piggly Wiggly line. It always makes me happy! Plus it goes a long way if Buglette is pitchin' a fit while people wait behind me to unload my cart! Humor just breaks all that 'I wish she'd keep her kid quiet and hurry up' stress! To be honest, I used to be someone who would look at other people's screamin' kids and think 'oh, I'm glad I've got a handle on Bug, she would never act that way'. Oh, God does have sense of humor! He gave us a baby girl who makes me work like a dog in stores to keep her entertained and somewhat quiet! Anyway, I think if we just acted like we were southern the world would be a better place. Slow down, Peeps. Enjoy life along the way! What on earth are we all in a hurry for anyway???

"NO, I'M NOT SOUTHERN, BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD"!

A 'Fall' Thought, A Bargain and a Blessing of a Blog

I know I told all of you that I love fall but did I also mention I love trees with changing leaves on them? Well, Peeps, (that's you all, I needed a name to call all of you and this seemed to fit) I do just love colorful trees. I was at Bug's school this morning (tell you why in a sec) and saw the most beautiful tree with every color on it... reds, yellows, oranges and greens. I stopped and picked some of those beauties right off the ground. I'm sure I looked like the crazy lady with the stroller to all of the high schoolers watching me but hey, I no longer care what high schoolers think of me (as of, gulp, 1991!) As we were driving I was thinking about my leaves and my love of them and this came to me (of course, we know the Lord gave it me). These leaves are so beautiful and yet they are technically dying. Their transformation is happening because they are dying. So beautiful even in death. To me, more beautiful in death. Just like Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of mankind, He was beautiful, His gift was beautiful in death. Of course He was beautiful in life (then and now) as are green leaves in spring and summer but His beauty really was apparent when He accomplished His purpose in His death. My leaves seem more beautiful to me in their death. Just yet one more reason for me to love fall!

Ok, back to why Buglette and I were at Bug's school, my kiddo was awarded Student of the Month!!!!! Yea Bug!!!! Way to Go!!!! We are so proud of you! I got to go and surprise her by showing up to chapel when she was awarded her certificate and her coupon for a free kid's meal at Black Angus Steakhouse (woo hoo! dinner solved!).

Oh, my Peeps, good gravy, I have so much to tell you today and if I don't I will surely burst! Sometimes God just gives us one blessing right after the other and yesterday and today have been my days I guess. I found (through a teacher at Bug's school) a great second-hand store for kid's clothes in my area! The minute she told me about it we were in the car!!!! It's called New 4 You and the owner buys kids clothes as well as other items for kids/babies from other moms or yourself, pays you for them and then turns around and sells them. I was so excited I could feel my feet barely touch the floor! I love love love my girls to look cute but I LOVE a bargain even better!!! I spent $30. on three (yep, three) Gymboree outfits for Buglette; full, complete outfits with socks too!) They don't even look worn! One is for a Christmas gift! I also have plenty of clothes every month or so that I have to pack up and take to a thrift store to give away cause darnit if kids don't grow soo fast so now I can make a little money back on what I've put into their clothes. I even have a high chair in the garage to sell to her! They also have clothes for Bug's size which is awesome because I can do a one-stop-shop!!! Woo hoo!!!

My last blessing (so far) is that I stumbled onto this website/blog that has just blessed me beyond measure!!! It's called Sugar Pie Farmhouse.com/blog and is just too sweet for words. Sugar Mama (no joke, that's what she calls herself, but she looks like one classy lady) has made homemaking into an art!! She makes me feel proud to do what I do (that's hard to do) and is so loving and sweet in the process. She is from the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri and I've been there a few times and loved it, so I can relate to what she's talkin' about. She advises everyone to "put on an apron, light a great smelling candle, put on some music and go to work making your house a home"! She does wear aprons! I think I may adopt this! (hey, some of them can be slimming) Her sight and blog are just the bees' knees! Check her out so we can all drool together, Peeps!

Oh, and PS, Christy, thanks for your sweet thoughts, you made my day brighter!

Past Due Pictures and Halloween Fun

Just as promised, here are the pictures of my mantle after I re-did it... I forgot to take a photo of the before. Does anyone else do that? Anyway, before the mirror was a deep red with gold on it, I had a flower arraingement on the mantle with some photos and two candlestick lamps on each side. Now, it's so much more dramatic and eye popping! I love it!

Also, I redecorated our downstairs bathroom to something more my taste. I've posted some of those pics also! Oh, also I just today did some new things to my laundry room. Laundry room you ask? Why do you care? Well.... I hate laundry so to make doing it a little more palateable I must have a cute laundry room! It works, try it! So there are some pictures of my laundry room too!

Halloween was great. We went to Bug's BFF's for a family party. All the kids trick-or-treated and then came back and we ate dinner (chili and all the fixin's) and then the kids played a lot of cute, fun games. We really had a great time. Bug was Princess Leia (Star Wars) and Buglette was a leaf fairy. They both looked so cute! Bug has been fascinated by all the Star Wars movies since her daddy and I grew up on them. She at first wanted to be the Statue of Liberty but we had a hard time finding what we needed for that costume and when we found the Leia one she changed her mind. Buglette just loves to hear us say how pretty she looks so we knew she'd pick something 'girlie'. We were in Target and sure enough she saw it and pointed to it right away. Leaf fairy it is!

Hope your Halloween was great too! Now it feels like we've begun the holiday season! Hey, don't shoot the messenger!