Thoughts by Cakes...

Lessons Learned...

2012-02-05T17:17:00.000-06:00

As I sit alone in my house, I am ~~bored~~ inspired enough to make another post. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to take a day off of work to do absolutely nothing. For the first time. Usually when I've taken off, it's because: the kids or I am sick, doctor's appointments, traveling, catching up on things around the house, etc. But this was a day of blissful nothingness. And it was amazing. I realized that day that I have not had more than 8 consecutive hours alone, actually by myself, since I got married nearly 10 years ago. So this weekend, Kevin offered (out of guilt or maybe just good husbandry) to take the kids with him when he went out of town. And here I am on my 22nd hour of alone time (including 10, yes 10 hours of sleep) feeling bloggy. So here you go.

You know the saying, "If you're not learning, you're not living"? Well, that should mean that if you are living, you are leaning. That being said, here are some lessons I've learned (or been reminded of) while living this past week.

1) If left alone with 6 leftover cupcakes, I will eat them. All of them.

2) I enjoy days alone far more than nights alone.

3) When you suddenly blurt out "I love you" to your students for no apparent reason, you are sicker than you think.

4) A well placed compliment can turn your whole day around.

5) My parents are the best grandparents any kid could ask for.

6) Kids really do grow up way too fast. Really.

7) I'm either extraordinarily cheap, or really hate shopping (or both) if I can't find something to buy...with a gift card...by myself...without people waiting on me to get home.

8) A couch looks much bigger when it's not covered with piles of laundry.

9) Much like school, birthday parties (as fun as they are) are best when they're over.

10) You know you're doing something right when your son can teach his church class about the Stations of the Cross and say "giving up video games for lent isn't a big sacrifice if Jesus can die on the cross for us". And your daughter can do a beautiful retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in her own wonderful 8 year old words and be able to understand that it represents God's love for us.

20 Questions...

2012-01-16T18:35:00.000-06:00

I know we all know this game. But did you know it was also once a board game? Well, my family happens to own that game. And for them, all I need to say is "BILL COSBY"! For everyone else, let me explain. One night many years ago, my family was playing this game. It was my sister's turn, and her category was "person". She asked something along the lines of, "Are you a man?" The answer to which was yes. Then she quite confidently shouted the previously mentioned Bill Cosby as if there was no other person it could have been. ...And she was right! So now, anytime we play a game and we are not quite sure what the answer is, we all shout, "Bill Cosby". And it actually worked once.

In addition to it being a board game, it is also a pretty amazing little electronic device called 20Q. Here you get to think of the person, place, or thing, and 20Q asks you questions. You hit buttons to answer yes or no, and usually it can guess what you are thinking in less than 20 questions. Pretty cool.

But today, I'd just like to focus on answering/posing questions that are not answered with a yes or no. Rest assured, they will be things I know you've always wanted to know about me. Some will just be things that I've wondered about, that maybe have never made sense to me (so maybe you'll be able to answer them). And I'll end with the 10 questions that James Lipton always asks on Inside the Actors Studio. Let's get this thing started...

1) Why do the Cialis commercials always have the man and woman in bathtubs? Two separate bath tubs? I mean, it's a commercial for an ED medication. It just doesn't make sense. Maybe if they were both in the same tub together, but not like this. It bugs me.

2) Why are the Cowboys you favorite pro football team? This is a perfectly reasonable question these days, especially since they haven't really done anything great in the last 15 some odd year. Well, the short and sweet answer is this: I am not a fair-weather fan. I am loyal. We were not really a football watching house growing up (except for our high school). But when they were in the glory days of the triplets, I couldn't help but get caught up in their awesomeness. And I've been a fan ever since. I have faith that they will be great again. Someday.

3) If you hate the Texas heat so much, why don't you move to another state? Well, aside from the whole "uprooting-the kids-this is where my job is-having to start over" thing (which I know people do all the time), the truth of the matter is that I am far too much of a family oriented person. I simply need to be able to see them as often as possible. I can't imagine being much farther away and getting to see them (in-laws included) less than I do now. It's just not me. You will all just have to put up with my griping during the summer. :)

4) Why do kids insist on doing the same things over and over, knowing full-well they are going to get in trouble for it? My sister's 20 Questions answer, Bill Cosby, answered this question best: brain damage.

5) What is the scariest moment of your life so far? When unbeknownst to me Mason was hiding from me at a restaurant, and after searching the place the only thing I could think of was that he had been kidnapped...even Hannah was worried. As I was rushing out of the front door to check for cars leaving, he popped out from behind the cashier station and said, "Surprise Mommy!" I was both relieved and furious at the same time.

6) Who would you cast to play you in a movie about your life? Well, I think that answer is obvious...Jessica Biel, of course! (don't laugh too hard, now) Now she would have to gain about 50 pounds to be close to accurate, but who ever said it would have to be accurate? I mean, you can see the resemblance, right? (just google some pics, and you'll see...HA!) :)

7) If you could have a super-power, what would you choose? OK, I'm not so sure that this is a power than any movie super hero has ever had (well, I think the little girl in the Incredibles did, actually). And the character, Bella, in the Twilight books ends up being able to do this after she gets turned into a vampire: shield. The power to shield those around you (like a force field) from harm. I think the Incredibles girl's shield protected from physical harm, and Bella's protects from mental harm. So ideally, I'd like to have a shielding power that did both. That's not to say that I would want to shield everyone from everything. Just those Jack Bauer situations we all get in where a loved one is being tortured.

8) What is one thing that most people have probably done that you have never done? I've already told you how I've never smoked, not even a cigarette, not even once. So here's a new one. I have never flipped someone off...not even in a joking manner. I've never even held up my middle finger by myself when no one's looking just to try it. I don't know, I just can't bring myself to do it. I know...I'm such a square.

9) What exactly does the phrase "bread and butter" mean and/or where did it come from? Two things here. Bread and Butter pickles? It just doesn't make sense. They don't taste like bread and butter. They don't have bread or butter in them. Are you just supposed to eat them with bread and butter, because that doesn't quite make sense either. And as for the expression that could go something like this, "He was the bread and butter of that team." Does that mean that he was the best? Or does it mean he was the base or foundation of the team like bread and butter are the base of a good meal? I don't know...I'm just grasping at straws here. And there's another one...grasping at straws?

10) What is your favorite movie remake? Well, I'm sure there are plenty of other good ones out there (there are also plenty of crappy ones, too), but these are the 3 that first came to mind that I truly enjoyed: Father of the Bride (I'll be honest, I never saw the original. But for me, this is the original and there just is no topping it.), Cape Fear (I did actually see the original of this, and I think the Robert Deniro one far surpasses it.), and Foot Loose (It stayed true to the glorious cheesiness of the original, but added just enough to freshen it up a bit...a job well done.)

...and now for the James Lipton Questionnaire...

11) What is your favorite word? hope

12) What is your least favorite word? I don't know if this is the worst for me, but it is up there...it makes me cringe: the "n word"

13) What turns you on? a sense of humor

14) What turns you off? pretentiousness or douche-baggery

15) What noise or sound do you love? cliche yes, but it's still true...the sound of my loved ones laughing

16) What noise or sound do you hate? the sound of my dogs licking themselves. yuck.

17) What is your favorite curse word? The one that I say the most often is probably damn, but my favorite to say (which I don't really say that often) is: son-of-a-bitch. But it has to be the whole thing...all 4 words.

18) What profession, other than yours, would you like to attempt? I think this list is probably longer than it should be: author, nurse, storm-chaser, ghost hunter, baker...(not necessarily in that order)

19) What profession would you not like to do? I know that there are many, but as I sit staring at the piles of laundry on our couch, the first one that comes to mind is: hotel laundry attendant.

20) If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome home.

And now, for your viewing pleasure:

The real James Lipton...

And the spoof by Will Ferrell...
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/hl-4956918/saturday_night_live_inside_the_actors_studio_season_26/

Feeling Stressed...

2011-12-30T21:58:00.001-06:00

As we approach the new year, I am: happily thinking about how I get to plan a 7th birthday party for the best little boy in the world; thankful that Kevin and I both have jobs to go back to on January 3; and getting excited about my beautiful Hannah playing softball in the spring. But I am also feeling uber stressed about money with the change in my insurance that's coming.

Now let me start by making a disclaimer. Trust me. I know that this is a bit of a "first world" complaint. I know that there are people all over the world without a roof over their heads, with no food to eat. I absolutely get the whole "let's put things in perspective" thing, and I thank God everyday...multiple times a day. But that being said...I'm going to gripe and stress and whine here, and I don't want to hear any of that thrown back at me. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I just need to vent a little bit.

So here it is. In an effort to save money, our school district decided to switch insurance providers. Before they did this, though, they sent us information to look over so that we could voice our opinions. So I looked it over, and I voiced my negative oppinions...which is not something I normally do (so that should be your first big clue as to how bad this change was going to be for my family). I got a response back that very kindly said something to the effect of, "Oh, I'm very sorry to hear of your circumstances...thank you very much for your feedback...it will be used to help us make our decision."

Here's another disclaimer for you: I'm sure that this change in insurance has probably saved the district quite a bit of money. Which means it has probably helped to save some jobs. I get it, and I am so happy for those people that get to keep their jobs. HOWEVER...

There were 4 plans for us to choose from. So I pretty much just had to pick the one that would suck the least. I don't want to get into all of the nitty-gritty details, but suffice it so say that it all comes back to me and my pesky leukemia. It's just screwing everything up. I didn't like any of these plans, so I tried to get coverage for the kids elsewhere. But this country's new health care plan screwed that up for me too. "No child can be denied coverage." Sounds great, right? And it truly is: if a parent has coverage, then his/her children are automatically covered...regardless of how sick a child might be. That's awesome. Really. But that means that insurance providers don't need to offer children only plans anymore. Well that sucks. Since no one else will cover me with my leukemia, the only way to get my kids covered is through my work. So there I was, back to square one...picking the plan that sucked the least.

Well, I did that. And not only is it going to be about $175 more per month, but my meds are going to be $65-$165 more. The coverage of some things is not as good either. Add in higher (albeit slightly) office visit and general prescription copays, and there we are....screwed over. It's not like we're getting raises to help off-set some of the cost. Things are going to be tight around the Prickett household, that's for sure. (and I thought things already were...) And I know that all of the other district employees I've talked to about this are going to feel the pinch, too. But I think that those with serious/chronic illnesses are getting the worst of it.

Allright. I guess that's enough self-centered whining for one day. I'm glad I got that out. Now I'll go back to focusing on all of my blessings and reminding myself that things could be worse (and are for a lot of people).

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The Day Before Christmas...

2011-12-24T16:57:00.000-06:00

'Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the place
All the prep work was done, and even the test-tastes.

All the stockings were hung, and had been for quite a while.
With arguing children hoping Santa was in denial.

The children were drving their parents a bit crazy.
Their uncle took them to the park so as not to be lazy.

With Grandma in her church clothes, and the rest of us too,
To Christmas Eve mass is where we all flew.

When what to my wandering eye should appear,
But kids dressed as Mary and Joseph drawing near.

With a little old donkey they went to a manger
To bring into the world its glorious savior.

More rapid than eagles, His praises were sang.
Prayers were said and bells were rang.

Now Mason and Hannah, now Logan and Taylor.
On to the family Christmas Eve dinner.

As I cleaned up the dishes and we passed presents around
In through the door, Kevin came in with a bound.

He was dressed all in clothes warm enough for the cold
We were glad to see him...both yound and old.

Now that all were here (except those in Georgia out of sight)
We could truly say, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"!

:)

It's a Wonderful Movie...

2011-12-21T13:20:00.000-06:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It is the time of the year for family, friends, shopping, baking, church-going, anticipating, giving, celebrating, singing, and....movie watching.

There are so many Christmas movies out there, but these are my favorites. I know, I know. Some of these aren't actually Christmas movies, so much as they are movies set during Christmas, but whatever. They're awesome, nonetheless.

In no particular order, here we go:

Hillarious. Classic.

Touching and quotable. :)

Best soundtrack.

Simply magical!

Fan. Tastic.

The kids love it, too.

Never actually seen the whole thing, but the parts I have are superb.

Gets me every time.

Love, love, love.

I mean, come on!

Cheesy, but I still like it.

A relatively wordless blog for me today, but now it's your turn. What are your favorite Christmas movies?

25 Random Things, Part 6...

2011-11-20T22:19:00.003-06:00

Here I go again on my blog! I think this is the longest I've ever gone without blogging. I've thought about it many times, but I just haven't found the time...and if I tried, I could not get my scattered brain to come up with a blog topic. So today, it dawned on me. It's time for another 25 Random things! So let's get started...

1) The song above has always been one of my favorites. It reminds me of my days at the Pizza Hut in Abilene. I would play this song on the jukebox during slow times of the day. And maybe tried to reenact some of those car-top dance moves on some of the tables when nobody was looking. And yes, you're right. It was awesome!
2) On school picture day, even the teachers have to get their pictures taken for the yearbook. And one of the "perks" is that we get a free photo package. But what on earth am I going to with 30 pictures of myself, hmm?
3) I went to see Breaking Dawn (the newest Twilight movie, for you less awesome folks out there) with some friends from school 2 nights ago. I've never once said they're the best movies ever, but they are good mindless fun...which is just what I needed.
4) I'm so looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving. I love my family!
5) The worst part about being so busy lately is that I haven't had time (or energy) to bake. I miss it. So guess what I'm doing with my time off next week?! H-e-l-l-o stand mixer...long time, no see!
6) Kevin is watching Fast Five right now. And some how the terrible acting has me in a trance. It's like a car wreck...I can't look away.
7) I'm going to go see the new Footloose with my mom, sister, and newest sister-in-law when I go home. Delightfully cheesy fun, here we come!
8) 3 out of the last 5 items were movie related. Don't worry...I bet there will be more.
9) I've really been chomping at the bit to decorate for Christmas! It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year". But I refuse to do it before Thanksgiving. I just can't.
10) It appears that I have a very warped sense of how old I am. Sometimes I feel like High School was only yesterday. Like I'm still a good 10 years younger than all of the parents of my students. But then I look in the mirror and see that's just not the case. I am about the same age as most of them now. I have the same crows feet and laugh lines that I see on their faces. When did that happen? Sheesh.
11) I stumbled across this quote recently: “The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” ~ Lane Olinhouse I'm finding it quite fitting today (and everyday, really).
12) I saw the trailer for The Hunger Games movie the other day. OMG...I'm so excited! http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2402131481
13) I just spent what might be some of the best $10 I've ever spent: a DVD 3 pack with The Money Pit, The Burbs, and Dragnet. I love me some old school Tom Hanks!
14) Bradley Cooper is The Sexiest Man Alive 2011. Maybe not my top pick, but I ain't complaining.
15) I'm about to start reading The Best of Me, the latest Nicholas Sparks book. Looking forward to it.
16) When Kevin and I first started dating, he watched WWF wrestling fairly regularly. I can't say that I ever cared too much for it, but there were a few guys that I enjoyed: Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kevin Nash were good, but The Rock was the greatest. As we know, The Rock is now Dwayne Johnson. But he came back to wrestling last Monday, and I have to confess...it was pretty awesome.
17) My friend, Katie, pointed out that the music we listened to in High School is now called "Old School" on the radio. Ouch.
18) You know who I love? I love Mayhem. You know, from the Allstate commercials? Fantastic.
19) Even Kevin's got a touch of the baby fever. So much so that we really started wondering if it would be possible for me to go off my medication for a year or so to have another baby. So I checked with my doctor. And I think I knew better, but to make a long story short...it's a no go.
20) What is the deal with those Latisse eyelash growth commercials? It sure seems like a lot of risk for some eyelashes. But maybe that's just me.
21) Claire Danes has always been able to make me cry. Ever since My So Called Life...when she cries, I cry.
22) I found Starburst Jelly Beans at the store the other day. I have to say...I was pretty stoked.
23) I have always wanted to ride in a limousine.
24) Kevin and I watched a few middle of the night episodes of Saved By the Bell a week or so ago. It was glorious. I grew up with those Bayside kids. They were the best. They were certainly better than the California Dreams kids. And WAY better than The Suite Life kids these days. But maybe I'm just biased.
25) While we were in Vegas, we stumbled accross a little art gallery in one of the hotels. It was for a guy named Peter Lik. (I know...the jokes that come to mind with a name like that...) But I fell in love! His photos are a-mazing! I would LOVE a coffee table book of his, but they're like $80-$100...which is rediculous. But just check these out! http://www.lik.com/thework.html

Two Down...

2011-10-29T23:09:00.000-05:00

If you remember a few posts ago, I started a bucket list for myself. Well last weekend, I was able to scratch 2 of those things off the list. Last weekend I went to Vegas...and saw Garth Brooks in concert. Can I get a what, what?! All-in-all, it was a pretty fantastic weekend.

Here's the story:

Thursday
Kevin, my brother-in-law, 2 of their friends, my friend Katie, and I go out to the Casinos on Freemont Street in old Down Town. You know, the place with the neon cowboy and cowgirl. But it also has a giant (over 5 football fields long) LED screen canopy that makes it seem like it's daytime, even at 1:00 in the morning. And let's not forget the topless ladies, cross dressing guys, and people in costumes (from Kiss and Elvis to Zack Galifianakis and the baby from Hangover).

Friday
We walked (and walked, and walked, and walked) the Strip. Who knew there would be so many stairs, by the way? We start out at the Venetian. We go to Caesar's Palace and the Mirage with everyone. Then Kevin and the others who have already seen what Vegas has to offer split off and go do some more gambling while Katie and I tackle Vegas on our own. We went just about everywhere to see as much as we could (including an outdoor establishment with a very cute server where we got a very refreshing beverage, and hanging out at the House of Blues) so that we could get an idea of what we wanted to go back to. We experienced a couple of Vegas buffets, and got ready for the big night.

We had a taxi drop us off at the Wynn hotel with 10 minutes to spare. When we get to the door, we ask the guy where the theater for the Garth Brooks concert is. He tells us that it's actually at the Encore right next door. (Now, if you've ever been to Vegas, then you know how sprawling these hotels are. They span quite a distance.) But he says that it's OK, because all we have to do is go left and there will be a sign and a door that will lead us to the Encore. Well, we speed walk left...and keep going, but there's no sign. So finally when we get to a door, the stupid curve of the hotel has brought us all the way around to the opposite end, putting us a good half mile from the entrance we needed. So what's a girl to do? That's right...we run...down the strip...at night...in our 3+ inch wedge shoes. OMG, you should have seen us. We only tripped twice (once each). For anyone who knows how clumsy and out of shape I am, you'll know what a feat that was. So we finally make it into the right hotel and have to subtly speed walk to the other end of it to get to the theater (right on time, mind you), only to have to walk to the end of a long winding line waiting to get in to the theater. But we made it, so that's all that matters, isn't it?

And the concert? Well...I'll blog about it later, for sure. But let me just say that it was pretty much the best, coolest, most amazing thing ever!

Saturday
We wake up and go back to our favorite Casino (New York New York) for breakfast. We hung out for a little while, then Kevin and I went on a date. And by date, I mean: walk all the way to Caesar's to go to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill for lunch, decide after looking at the menu that the lunch menu didn't have anything that Kevin wanted to try, walk all the way back to New York New York, call everybody else, and have lunch together there. After lunch, we went to a crappy duelling pianos performance, put on our Rangers gear, and settled in at the Excalibur bar to watch the game. We were super excited, and super optimistic...until around the 6th inning. Then we couldn't take it anymore. So we had dinner at Peppermill (a Vegas-y breakfast/lunch/dinner/bar/diner place)...with the largest portions ever. Then the gang dropped Katie and me off at the Bellagio so that we could see the fountains at night. So cool! But then we had to walk all the way back to the hotel...again. Once we got back to the hotel, at only 11:30, we weren't quite ready to go to bed on our last night. So we stopped by Dick's Last Resort (located inside our hotel) and listened to a band finish their set and watched a couple of hootchies dance with each other (thus keeping us and everyone else from dancing). But then the band finished, the DJ took over, and the skanks left. So we got our groove on with some other people, including 2 couples from Canada...who told us that they were from Canada...over and over. But they were a lot of fun. We danced for a good 2 hours, and then called it quits.

Sunday
The next morning; between all of the walking, climbing stairs, running down the strip, and dancing, we woke up quite sore. But we powered through and headed back to New York, New York to have our gourmet desserts for breakfast. Then we said good-bye to Vegas and flew back home, exhausted but pretty satisfied with our trip.

A HUGE thank you is in order for my parents. They stayed with the kids while we were gone and chauffeured them to and from school, softball practice, a football game, school testing, movies, and church...plus shuttling us to and from the airport. I've said it before, but I'll say it again...they are the coolest!

Plexers, Wuzzles, and Logic Oh My...

2011-10-11T22:15:00.113-05:00

Some of you might be thinking...what on earth are plexers and wuzzles?

Well, they are word picture puzzles that tend to get you tholostught. I LOVE them. I think they are so much fun! My first experience with them was when I was a kid. My mom got a sheet of Christmas themed plexers (from one of her sisters, I think), and I've been hooked ever since. They are super clever. Some, of course, are easier than others, but they're a great way to tease your brain every now and again.

I don't have much else to say about them, so I'll just share a couple that I found online, as well as links to some others. Have fun!

For more, you can check out:
http://www.wuzzlesandpuzzles.com/wuzzles/ (which just might be one of the coolest websites I've ever seen...)
http://www.princeton.edu/~distract/allpuzzles.html (look under wacky wordies for some themed plexers)
http://myfunteacher.com/plexers.htm

And while we're on the topic of brain teasers... Did anyone else love Logic Problems as a kid?! (OK, yes. This post is really allowing me to unleash my inner nerd.) In case you weren't as ~~nerdy~~ awesome as me when you were in school, this is an example of a logic problem ('m sure you'll recognize it when you see it):

If you're interested, here's a fun little website with some logic problems that you can play online (but be careful...you could easily waste hours on here...): http://www.puzzles.com/projects/LogicProblemsArchive.html

ENJOY!

One Hundred...

2011-09-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

Alright, alright. Calm down everybody. I'm excited too, but there's really no need for confetti. :) Yes it's true...this is my 100th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know some people blog religiously...several times a week. As you know, I am not one of those people. I just don't have the time. So I figure 100 posts in just under 2 years is still pretty good. My posts have ranged from serious to funny, personal to general, sarcastic to thoughtful, whiney to grateful. I don't get near the amount of comments that I used to (whether here or on facebook), but I don't care about that near as much as I used to either. This has just been a creative outlet/way for me to vent. And if anyone else has gotten anything from it (memories, a laugh, a new perspective), then that's just icing on the cake.

So I was thinking that on this most momentous of occasions, I would do a little recap of sorts. I'm going to link some of my favorites from the last 100 posts! Sounds like fun, right?! Well get ready, folks. Here it comes!

Memories...

Ending of an Era...

Favorite Things...

Top 5...

Autobiography...

The Kids' Latest... (which is not really their latest anymore)

Old Already...

Firsts...

The Power of Prayer...

October...

Movie Mash-Ups...

Feeling Lost...

Letters to Myself...

Photo Challenge...

OK, so maybe that was more than a few of my favorites. :) Oh well. I guess that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed the look back at my at my first 100 posts...I sure did!

My Dad's Stronger Than Your Dad...

2011-09-24T14:35:00.001-05:00

You know how kids like to say that kind of thing? Well, today I'd like to take my turn and say...My Parents Are Cooler Than Your Parents. :)

Case in point...

That's right. My mom is wearing leather pants, and my dad is wearing a skull cap and leather chaps. I know...it's bad ass! They love riding my dads Harley together. They're even part of a motorcycle gang! Ok, so it's not a gang exactly. But it's still pretty awesome. They are members of the Patriot Guard Riders. They are a divers group of motorcycle riders from across the country, and their mission is to "attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family in order to: show their sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities; and shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors."

Point #2...

What other parents would take their children to a lake at an old fort to conjure up a ghost...at midnight...3 nights in a row?! So maybe it's slightly less awesome, seeing as how Mom brought the holy water with her, but not by much. It's still one of my favorite memories! Besides, what better way for your youngest daughter's new boyfriend to get to know the family? Yup. Kevin was there, too. We had been dating for approximately 3 1/2 months. Classic!

Point #3...

They are quite simply the best grandparents in the world! Grandkids get a red Radio Flyer wagon? Well, I guess Grandma and Granpa better get one to have at their house so the kids never have to go without their wagon rides. Wagon rides just not fast enough for those grandkids anymore ("Faster, Grandpa...faster!")? Well, Grandpa better get himself a brand new bike with a bike seat so they won't be disappointed anymore. Still not fast enough?! I guess it's time they took a ride with Grandpa on the Harley! What do they want for Christmas? How about Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Jenga, etc... Gotta keep those kids entertained. Kids getting older? "Well, I guess we better get new grass in our backyard so the kids don't get stickers in their feet when they go out to play on the new swingset that we built for them." I joke that they are spoiling the kids, but really, they just love spending as much time with them as they can, having as much fun as they can. Simply the best!

There are many other wonderfully awesome things I could say about my parents (quoting movies, teaching your daughter how to take a tequilla shot, getting virtually anything you want with just two letters...LD, etc.), but I'll spare the rest of you the further realization that I'm right...my parents really are cooler than your parents!

9/11/11...

2011-09-11T14:33:00.000-05:00

In the weeks leading up to today, I have watched several documentaries and seen many recaps, and have cried many tears just remembering the tragic events of 10 years ago. In light of today's significance, I wanted do a blog that would put all of my thoughts and feelings into words. However, I have found that someone else already has.

The following is a post from Deacon Greg Kandra on his blog that I follow, The Deacon's Bench. It says everything that I wanted to say, and says it far better than I probably would have been able to. So here you go:

**Anyone who saw the 2002 Super Bowl saw something unforgettable. And it had nothing to do with sports.

It was held in New Orleans, in the Super Dome. The half time entertainment was Bono and U-2. There must have been 100-thousand people in the stadium, cheering wildly. Bono stepped onto the stage and the lights dimmed and the crowd roared and the band began to play.

If you watch video of that performance, you can hear Bono, over the music and the cheering, speaking into his microphone: “Lord, open my lips that my mouth may sing forth your praise.” The same words spoken at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Hours in the Catholic Church.

And in fact, what followed turned out to be a kind of prayer.

As the song began, and the music swelled, behind the stage a massive banner started to rise, coming up from the floor of the stage, rising toward the ceiling, hundreds of feet above. Around the world, I imagine, millions of viewers were transfixed – stunned and moved what they were witnessing.

On the banner were projected the names of all those who had died on 9/11, less than five months before.

And the music continued, and it went on, Bono and U2 singing about a place “where the streets have no name.” And the banner kept growing, and the list kept getting longer. It seemed like it would never end. Name after name after name, like a visual litany of the lost.

Then the banner reached the roof of the Superdome. And it collapsed, rippling to the floor. For a brief moment, we were back there, and it all was happening again.

To see it so clearly was devastating.

And at the end of the song, with the crowd on its feet, screaming wildly, Bono opened his jacket and there, inside, was sewn an American flag. He stood there in defiance, and in pride, and in solidarity.

There have been so many other tributes and memorials and remembrances since that day – but nothing like that. It was raw, and it was real. An Irishman stood on a stage in New Orleans and paid tribute to a tragedy that struck New York and Pennsylvania and Washington and he said, in effect, I’m with you. Inside, I’m one of you. This is my tribute, my remembrance, my prayer.

It is difficult to capture what this anniversary means to us as Americans, as New Yorkers, as Catholic Christians. The things we feel are almost beyond words. We are still, in many ways, groping in the dark, struggling to find a way to deal with what happened, and how much our lives and our world have changed. Yet, this day, as we come before the altar of God with our prayers and petitions, our grief and our anger, we hear these words from the ancient prophet:

“Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.”

In the gospel, Jesus says it again: “Forgive your brother,” he says, “from your heart.”

But how? I wish I knew. I wish there were a mystical way to click on a forgiveness switch in the human heart. I wish I knew how to love all my enemies and pray for all my persecutors and “forgive my neighbor’s injustice” – even this most heinous injustice of all.

I think perhaps that forgiveness – like conversion – is a journey. The human heart isn’t necessarily converted over night. We don’t all have that electrifying moment on the road to Damascus. For many of us, it grows out of what Flannery O’Connor called “a habit of being.” It happens over a lifetime.

Conversion is a daily choice. So, is love.

And so, I believe, is forgiveness.

Like all of the challenges of our faith, it is something we need to pray for – to pray to able to do what we are called to do.

To love our neighbor.
To love our enemies.

To forgive our neighbor’s injustice.

C.S. Lewis put it beautifully. “To be a Christian,” he wrote, “is to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven it in us.”

A couple weeks ago, we heard Christ tells his disciples: “Take up your cross and follow me." Well, one of the heaviest crosses is the call to forgive. Even when something seems unforgivable. Especially then. But by God’s grace – and by Christ’s example – somehow, we pick up that cross. We bear it on our backs. And we begin the long walk.

We may carry it on our backs, but what is more important is what we hold in our hearts, and it is this: that love is greater than hate; that hope is stronger than despair; that vengeance is no match for forgiveness.

This Sunday, we pray to remember that. And we pray, very simply, in remembrance.

We remember: all the lives that were lost, the martyrs who were born, the heroes who did what no one thought possible. We remember.

We remember sacrifice.

We remember courage.
We remember greatness.

At the Super Bowl, the song that Bono performed was “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Bono has said that he wrote the song about growing up in Dublin, where everyone could tell who was rich, and who wasn’t, by the street they lived on. And the place he was singing about was a city where that wouldn’t matter anymore.

It was his vision of heaven:

I’ll show you a place
Where there is no sorrow or pain…
And the streets have no names…

Our prayer is that we may one day know that place and walk those streets, in gratitude and in joy, with those we remember this day.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Well said, Deacon Greg.

But I Don't Wanna...

2011-09-05T22:01:00.000-05:00

So, it's official. I'm going to start exercising tomorrow. But like my title so subtly suggests...I REALLY don't want to. In fact, there's almost nothing I want to do less. But I just can't stand it anymore.

I've got a few options:

~ I can just do my usual work out videos, which are fine. They target specific areas. So, that's good. This also leads to variety in the work out, so it's not the exact same thing every day. So I guess that's a bonus, too

~ I can do a couch to 5k training. You know, it gradually takes couch potatoes like myself from their laziness to running a 5k (about 3 miles) in about 2 months. Running is supposed to be really great exercise, and I know a lot of people that LOVE it. But I just don't know if I can get over the fact that I would actually have to run.

~ I can train for another 1/2 marathon (walking, of course). I figure if I'm actually diligent about the training this time, and if I don't have to have a bone marrow procedure 2 weeks before the race, that maybe it won't be quite so excruciating this time. And we did actually end up walking faster than some of the joggers we saw there.

OR

~ I could always try dance-walking.

...but I don't know if I can afford to lose any friends. :)

Wish me luck!

30 Day Movie Challenge...

2011-08-27T23:14:00.002-05:00

Alright, alright, alright (said so coolly by Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused), it's time for another facebook challenge! Song Challenge...check. Picture Challenge...check. Movie Challenge...here goes nothing!

Now, as much as I love music and as hard as that one was, I think this one might be even harder. But we'll see. There are a couple of different versions of this challenge floating around out there, but this is the one that I liked the best. I thought it was a little bit deeper...it would tell you more about me (and let's face it...I know you want to know all there is to know about me).   :) And while there are probably several movies that could be used in multiple places on this list, I'm going to try not to double up anywhere.

Day 01- The best movie you saw during the last year
Day 02 – The most underrated movie
Day 03 – A movie that makes you really happy
Day 04 – A movie that makes you sad
Day 05 – Favorite love story in a movie
Day 06 – Favorite made for TV movie
Day 07 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 08 – A movie that you’ve seen countless times
Day 09 – A movie with the best soundtrack
Day 10 – Favorite classic movie
Day 11 – A movie that changed your opinion about something
Day 12 – A movie that you couldn't finish
Day 13 – A movie that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A movie that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 16 – A movie that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A movie that disappointed you the most
Day 18 – A movie that you wish more people would’ve seen
Day 19 – Favorite movie based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 20 – Favorite movie from your favorite actor/actress
Day 21 – Favorite action movie
Day 22 – Favorite musical
Day 23 – Favorite animation
Day 24 – That one awesome movie idea that still hasn’t been done yet
Day 25 – The most hilarious movie you’ve ever seen
Day 26 – A movie that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27 – A movie that you wish you had seen in theaters
Day 28 – Favorite movie from your favorite director
Day 29 – A movie from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite movie of all time

Day 1 = While there are some that made me laugh or cry more than others, I think this movie had a fabulous combination of both; Crazy, Stupid Love.
Day 2 = Most people can appreciate the skill it takes to be a comedic actor these days, but not many people recognize Tom Hanks's achievements in Turner and Hooch.
Day 3 = Music and Lyrics (I can't get enough of Hugh Grant's motorcycle dance)
Day 4 = This movie didn't actually make me sad, but UGH, it was depressing! Revolutionary Road
Day 5 = This one's a tie between Noah & Allie in The Notebook and Holly & Gerry in PS I Love You. They were both beautifully tragic love stories.
Day 6 = Everybody's Baby. (the baby Jessica story) I vividly remember watching this as a kid and being amazed by the story. Now, as a parent, I almost get teary-eyed just thinking about it. (almost)
Day 7 = Definitely The Sixth Sense. Need I say more?
Day 8 = Although there are many movies that my family and I can quote throughout, this is one that I have seen enough times that not only can I quote it, I can sing along to it. The Little Mermaid.
Day 9 = Yikes! Talk about difficult. This question combines my love of music and movies. I am taken back to many a road trip to South Dakota in my youth (I'm talking Footloose, Rocky 4, Cocktail, Dirty Dancing, Top Gun, etc.), but I think I'm going to have to forgo all of those and say Forrest Gump simply because the music (like the movie) spans several decades.
Day 10 = I'm not a big fan of classic movies...at all. But one of the only old "classic" movies that I have seen that I can actually stand is It's a Wonderful Life.
Day 11 = The Wedding Singer. While I had always enjoyed Adam Sandler's brand of stupid comedy, this movie (although it was a comedy at heart and had it's moments of stupidity) was one of the first to reveal that he had a bit of a dramatic streak in him...that he's not just a stupid comedian.
Day 12 = I don't think I even lasted 15 minutes through Kill Bill. Sorry. I know many of you love it, but I just couldn't get with the Tarantino-violence-horrid language business (I've never seen all of Pulp Fiction either.....I know...GASP!)
Day 13 = Although I proudly admit to loving Footloose, I think it qualifies as a guilty pleasure. It's just so wonderfully cheesy (especially the whole "getting so pissed off I'm going to dance by myself in a warehouse" thing) that I can't get enough of it!
Day 14 = Sheesh, I don't know. I guess I'm pretty predictable.
Day 15 = I don't know how much I relate to this character as a whole, but the scene in Speed where Sandra Bullock's character drives the bus into the baby carriage only to find out it was full of cans gets me every time. I'm just so certain that is exactly the way I would react.
Day 16 = Sorry... I've got nothing...
Day 17 = I don't know if this disappointed me the most, but it's the only one I can think of right now. I had heard such good things, and it got Oscar attention, but I was very disappointed with Black Swan (and I typically like both Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis). It just wasn't my cup of tea, I guess.
Day 18 = Again...nada
Day 19 = Favorite book turned movie should be a given...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. And my favorite movie based on a comic is X-Men Origins: Wolverine (I've always loved movies that give good background information, and ones that span decades...not to mention Hugh Jackman...yummy.)
Day 20 = These may not be my top favorite actors, but I do enjoy Sandra Bullock a lot and Matthew McConaughey has be one of my top crushes for quite some time. And this fantastic movie has both of them, so why not? A Time to Kill.
Day 21 = Transformers. The special affects blew my mind the first time that I saw it. I still think it's SO awesome.
Day 22 = Dreamgirls. Loved it.
Day 23 = I have already used my all-time favorite, so I'll cheat and list a bunch of others that are all probably tied for 2nd place: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Finding Nemo, Up, Kung Fu Panda, and Despicable Me
Day 24 = Hate all you want, but I would LOVE to see a movie about the life of Michael Irvin. I think his is an awesome story...very movie worthy.
Day 25 = I'd have to say Bridesmaids. I don't think I've ever laughed that hard or that much in a movie. Ever. (and I've laughed a lot, so that's saying something)
Day 26 = ??? I have such good taste that I just can't fill this one out.
Day 27 = The Abyss (the director's cut). I love this move, and the director's cut actually explains things. It would have been awesome to actually see on the big screen.
Day 28 = I'm taking a few liberties with this one. I would not say that Stephen Herek is my favorite director...at all. In fact, I didn't even know his name untilIi looked it up for this post. But he did direct a movie that I really wanted to use on this list. So when I looked up the movie, I found out he directed some other movies I enjoy, too. The wonderful movie I wanted to use is Mr. Holland's Opus (again, it has great music and spans several decades).
Day 29 = This was the first scary movie I ever saw.  I watched it at a Girl Scout sleepover at the Embassy Suites in 3rd grade. I remember being freaked out, but loving it. Watcher in the Woods.
Day 30 = It's virtually impossible to only pick one. But Armageddon has been at the top of my list since it first came out. It's got a little bit of everything: action, comedy, drama, great music...and pure awesomeness.

So that's it. I did my best to complete the list this time, but I just couldn't ~~waste~~ devote any more time to this post than I already have. I'm sure that if I completed this list again next week (or even tomorrow, for that matter) that I could have completely different answers for almost all of them.
Now, it's your turn.   :)

I just can't resist...

2011-07-30T22:13:00.000-05:00

Today's blog will be relatively wordless. Here are just a few of the things in my life that I have a weakness for:

~ babies

~ "true" ghost stories

~ cupcakes
~ alien/ufo/crop circle documentaries

~ pizza
~ JFK conspiracy documentaries

~ quoting movies

~ procrastinating

~ family game night
~ singing along

~ laughing at Cakes
~ crying at almost every movie ....no, not this badly, though

~ TV
~ being sarcastic

~ coloring inside the lines
~ seeing the silver lining

So how about you? Do you share any of these vices with me? What can you not resist?

Because I Feel Like It...

2011-07-28T23:24:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm feeling the need to blog. But today, I'm also feeling a bit under the weather. My sick brain is kind of all over the place today. So that being said, I'm going to do a rather random post today. Here goes nothin'.

* Kevin and I have started watching the show, Breaking Bad. It's really pretty good. It's just strange seeing the dad from Malcolm in the Middle in this kind of role. Pretty interesting concept for the show, though.

* Hannah and Mason want to make a web page to showcase their sweet, sweet dance moves. That way, viewers can send in clips of their own moves for Hannah and Mason to deem worthy to join their dance club. Hannah's not really all that great, but Mason's actually pretty awesome. He's got some street dance, hip-hop kind of thing he does. Greatness.

* I have a bit of an attitude problem right now. I've really enjoyed this summer. Nothing much to it, but it's just the break I needed after last year. It has really made the idea of going back to school that much harder to wrap my head around, though.

* I could really go for a cupcake right now.

* The grass in our back yard is so dead, Hannah looked out the window this morning and said, "Mason, I think it snowed last night. Look how light the grass is!" Then she looked at me and winked (or at least tried to). Smarty pants.

* I can't wait for good TV to come back. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I've got the premiere dates marked on my calendar. Right along other only slightly more important events.

* I've done a lot of reading this summer. Probably the best book of the summer was "The Help". If you haven't read it, you should. The movie comes out in August (I think), and it looks good, too.

* One of these years, we're going to take the kids to Universal Studios. They don't really have any desire to go to Disney World. Plus, Universal Studios is the place that has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I mean, come on. Who doesn't want to see that, right?

* Kevin has a sick obsession (literally sick...literally obsession) with popping pimples. It GROSSES me out! Even the kids have learned that if they have a tiny pimple (or even an ant bite) somewhere, they do everything they can not to mention it around him. Eeeeww.

* You know how certain actors get type-casted as a certain type of character? It really makes you wonder (or at least it really makes me wonder) how close they are to that in real life.

* What do you think? Are dinosaurs and birds related?

* I just love the commercials that try to make the simplest of tasks seem oh so hard. When all they really do is make the people doing those tasks seem ridiculous. That is, until they get the help of whatever product is being sold.

* Speaking of commercials, there's one I think I will always remember. It's a local (Abilene) commercial. I think some of you may already know which one I'm thinking of. It's for Abilene Portable Buildings..."family owned and located on Butternut and Treadway". I guess you could say it's a testament to the advertising that it has stuck with me all these years.

* I'm going to bed now. Good night.

Bucket List...

2011-07-12T13:53:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that most of you have seen the movie, The Bucket List, by now. But just in case there are any of you that haven't (and even for those of you that have), here's the trailer:

But even before seeing this movie, I'm sure we had all thought of things we wanted to do in our lives. Maybe we didn't have those things on an actual list or have an actual name for it, but we had goals and dreams. Bucket lists are also known as Life Lists. Rather than thinking of them as things you want to do before you die, you just think of them as things (big or small) that you want to do in your life.

I'm going to take this time to start a working Bucket List of my own. It will be a work in progress that I will add to over time (that I guess I actually started when I was a kid). And there are some that am I pleased to be able to cross off already. Feel free to put yours in writing as well. :)

My Bucket List (in no particular order)

: ~~get married~~

: ~~have kids~~

: ~~become a teacher~~

: get a pool

: go to New York City

: see New England in the fall

: go to Washington DC

: visit the Smithsonian

: adopt a baby

: ~~see a tornado in real life~~

: go on a Haunted Ghost Tour (in New Orleans would be best)

: ~~get paid to bake~~

: ~~write a children's book~~

: become a published author

: ~~read the Bible (the whole thing)~~

: ~~make photo albums for Hannah and Mason~~

: keep up with the kids' photo albums

: make a family album for you and Cakes

: go to Vegas

: see Garth Brooks in concert

: see Aerosmith in concert

: go on an African safari

: travel to Italy (Venice, Rome, and Florence specifically)

: visit the Louvre

: ~~be a godmother~~

: truly make a difference in someone's life

: be a grandma

: celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary with Cakes

: get a new, bigger house with more room for the kids to grow and play

: buy a boat

: buy an RV

: travel the country, road trip style

~~: learn to hoola-hoop~~

: save money (in an account that actually grows over time...instead of getting spent)

: figure out a second career

: take the kids to Universal Studios

: go back to Pensacola Beach (or any of the neighboring beaches)

: go to Hawaii

: ~~take the kids to meet my family in South Dakota~~

: get a new family portrait at least every 5 years

: sing Karaoke

: go to a costume party

: volunteer with the high school youth group at church

: have our house be the house that our kids and their friends want to hang out at

OK well, I think that's enough for now. The more time that I give this, the more things I think of. It's a start anyway. And as I said before, it's a work in progress. Some of them are silly, some of them are trivial, and I'm sure some of them may never happen...but here's hoping.

Photo Challenge...

2011-07-08T21:35:00.000-05:00

So I know you've been eagerly awaiting this post about facebook's 30 Day Photo Challenge ever since you read my ever-so-awesome song challenge post the other day. Well, wait no more! Here it is. And just like last time, I will not do all 30 here, but I will go ahead and give you the full 30 day criteria. And even though a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm going to go ahead and add my thoughts to them as we go. So...are you ready for more awesomeness?!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of something/someone you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most weird things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of a memorable night
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture of a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

~ Day 1
: I am probably the coolest nerd you'll ever meet.
: I married for money ;)
: I have a brand new bathroom.
: I love my family.
: I love how I was raised.
: I feel at least slightly inadequate most of the time.
: I have 2 awesome and vastly different kids.
: I have leukemia.
: I have my mother's grace.
: I love to bake.

~ Day 2
Well, despite the fact that she curses like a sailor and sings songs about chicken vaginas, Mom is the person I've been closest to the longest. She got me through gymnastics and piano lessons. She's the one that told me how cute it would look if I cut my hair super short. She taught me how to sew and cook. She encouraged and supported me through High School. And she has become an amazing friend to me since then.

~ Day 3
LOST...need I say more? I don't think so, but just in case you don't already know how amazing this show is and how I feel about it, you can check this out.

~ Day 7
I'm not a very materialistic person...at all. So for me, my most treasured item is my family. Not just the ones pictured here, of course. ALL of them!

~ Day 8
This was Kevin on the day of our wedding. The photographer told him to "gaze adoringly at his ring". All he could manage to do was think, "What the _ _ _ _"?! Honestly, there were so many of Kevin's pictures I could have chosen for this, because he is such a good picture taker. :)

~ Day 11
Landry...UGH! Especially the folding part. I don't know why, but I loathe it. Maybe it's just because it's NEVER done. Even if everythings clean, folded, hung, and put away, there's still the close that we're wearing at that moment. So unless everyone in the house walks around naked and doesn't bathe or wash hands requiring towels (which I'm pretty sure would be traumatizing for everyone involved), it is literally never ending.

~ Day 12
Board games...YAY! I have blogged before about how they are one of my favorite things. They bring people together and bring out the laughter, and they're just the bomb-digitty!

~ Day 14
As a mom, I would be remiss if I did a photo post without including my kids. And what better place than the ones I couldn't imagine my life without?! I mean, come on...just look at how cute they were! And even though there not itty-bitty anymore, they still are utterly amazing.

~ Day 15
One of these days I'll have to blog about my bucket list, but I'll go ahead and tell you that going on an African safari is one of the things I want to do before I die. I just think it would be so amazing and awe inspiring to be so close to those incredible animals, in the natural habitat that God created!

~ Day 16
Who inspires me?

JUST KIDDING!

I think I've blogged about this before too (in bits and pieces anyway), but my parents are an inspiration to me: their faith, their devotion (to each other, their friends, and their family), their integrity, the way they still flirt with each other, the example they set as parents, the fact that they've been happily married for almost 38 years, etc. I'm SO lucky to have been raised by them and am SO blessed to still have them in my life.

~ Day 20
This is another thing on my bucket list and could also have been used for Day 15. But I think it's more appropriate here, because I see this as much more of a traveling thing. I would LOVE to go to Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice specifically). Rome has so much history, art, and the Vatican. Florence, I truthfully don't know that much about, but the architecture is beautiful (and to be honest, I've just wanted to go there ever since I saw "While You Were Sleeping"). Venice is so picturesque with the waterways and gondolas. Ahh...one of these years...

~ Day 23
So, I cheated a little bit. It's not one book, it's a series. But I'm counting it as a whole. If you haven't read it yet, you really should. I'm not even going to bother describing it to you, because I wouldn't do it justice. And just based on the description, you might not think it sounds good anyway. And trust me, I didn't either. It is SO not my usual type of book to read. But despite my doubts, I trusted the recommendations I got from friends and cousins, and I gave it a shot. And "holy adictive books, Batman"! It's AMAZING!

~ Day 24
I didn't want to get too heavy here, but I didn't want to go completely light hearted either. With all of the technology we have, I truly find it amazing that there are so many diseases we don't have a cure for yet: cancer, diabetes, leukemia, AIDS, alzheimers, etc. So many people of all ages are suffering. That is what I wish I could change.

~ Day 26
My faith...as a Christian...as a Catholic means a lot to me. I'm not one to be very vocal about my faith, but I hope that it comes through in my actions. Sharing my faith with my kids is also very important to me, and it meas SO much to me that Kevin takes an active role in that as well.

~ Day 27
This is a picture of me with my little brother, Josh. When we were little, we were like 2 peas in a pod. As we got older, I'm affraid I became more of a typical big sister and deliberately tried to get him in trouble. But once I got into High School, we became friends again. I can't believe the little turd is actually getting married in a few weeks!

~ Day 29
This picture with my Dad always makes me smile. I think of how I used to wrap my little hands around his big arms and say, "Like a rock, Daddy!" And I remember how I would look up at him and ask, "Daddy, are you happy to me?" I've always been a daddy's girl at heart.

~ Day 30
The little baby girl in my arms here is someone I miss. Her name was Reagan, and she was my cousin's daughter. She was born without a brain...only a brain stem. Even in her short time here on Earth, she lived longer than was expected. And I can't explain it, but I had a deep connection with that little girl. I know that she's healthy, happy, and at peace up in Heaven, but I think of her and miss her almost every day.

Laughter...

2011-06-30T23:04:00.000-05:00

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person." ~Audrey Hepburn

Thanks to my friend, Shelly, for introducing me to this quote. It just might be one of my favorites. It just epitomizes how I feel about laughter. I've said before that it is one of my all-time favorite things. Not that that's deep or even unique at all, but it is what it is. And it is one of the things I love most about Cakes. As a matter of fact, I've been told recently that this couple reminds people of us:

And I must admit...they are so very us! I can literally see us having that exact conversation. We just have so much darn fun together! We laugh at each other, we laugh at other people, we laugh at our kids, and sometimes we laugh at nothing at all. Not only has our sense of humor has helped us have some very fun times with each other, our families, and our friends, but it has helped us make it through some difficult times as well. To paraphrase a quote from Henry Ward Beecher, "A marriage without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs - jolted by every pebble in the road".

But laughter is not only good for your marriage, it is also good for your health. We all know that "laughter is the best medicine", but did you know that with laughter there is also:

a reduction in stress and tension
stimulation of the immune system
an increase of natural painkillers in the blood
a decrease in systemic inflammation
a reduction of blood pressure

It is also said that our cardiovascular and respiratory systems may benefit more from 20 seconds of robust laughter than 3 minutes on a rowing machine. So does that mean that every 3 minutes I laugh is equal to 27 minutes of cardio?! Wow, I'm in better shape than I thought I was in. :)

I guess that's it. So for now, I leave you with this:

Song Challenge...

2011-06-20T20:07:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a shortened version of the 30 Day Song Challenge on facebook. One of my friends from High Shool did it a couple of months ago, and I thought it seemed like a cool idea. I just never got around to it. And even if I did, I'm not sure that I would have stuck with it for 30 days. So, I'll just go ahead and do it all at once (not all 30, but I will list the original 30 day criteria for anyone that wants it). So bear with me...this will be quite long (I'll try not to comment on all of them), but it will also probably be super awesome.   :)

day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - your least favorite song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

~ My favorite song: Don't Stop Believin' by Journey = Sure, he's goffy looking, but man he can sing. I've loved this song for years!  And I've said before that I love music so much, it's too hard to really pick just one, but this is definitely up there.

~ My least favorite song: Barbie Girl by Aqua = Aaaaaccccckkkkk! Do you remember this one?! I'm sure there are others that are pretty low on the list, but this was the first terrible one that popped into my mind.

~ A song that makes me happy: Love Shack by the B52's

~ A song that reminds me of someone: Seventeen by Tim McGraw = This song (as well as most Tim McGraw songs) reminds me of Kevin. Not only does he look and sound just like Tim McGraw (ha ha), but we had also just started dating when that album came out, I was seventeen, and Kevin and I listened to that album all the time. Good times.

~ A song that reminds you of a certain event: Welcome to the Jungle by Guns 'n' Roses = Oddly enough, it reminds me of my Confirmation retreat. For whatever reason, I could not get that song out of my head!

~ A song I know all of the words to: To Be With You by Mr. Big = There are oh-so-many I could have picked, but if you can pick an 80's ballad, why not do it, right?

~ A song that I dance to: Crazy in Love by Beyonce = And yes, I look just like her when I do.

~ A song that describes me: I'll Stand By You by The Pretenders (this was a tough one...any other ideas?)

~ A song that I want(ed and had) at my wedding: My Girl by The Temptations = Awe...father-daughter dance.

~ A song that I can play on an instrument: The Dance by Garth Brooks = I can play it on piano...not quite up to tempo and not very well, but you can recognize it. :)

~ A song from my childhood: Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs = this was on my first casette tape I ever got. I loved it and would listen to it ALL the time!

~ My favorite song from this time last year: Airplanes by B.o.B (featuring Hayley Williams)

Well that's it for my songs. I didn't even do half of them. That wasn't so bad, was it? In fact, I'm pretty sure you know how awesome that was. Anyhoo...stay tuned for an equally mind-blowing 30 day photo challenge to come.

Letters to Myself...

2011-06-04T11:55:00.001-05:00

As my 30th birthday approaches, I am feeling both nostalgic and optimistic. I have such amazing memories, and I can't wait to make many more! That being said, today I'm going to write 2 letters: one to my 20 year-old self, and another to my 40-year old self. I'd love to see what the rest of you have to say to a prior/future self, so feel free to join in on the fun and write some letters of your own!

Dear 20 Year-Old Me,

     Hey, good lookin'! I know you don't think you are, but what I wouldn't give to have that body back! So, don't be so hard on yourself. Go ahead, take those shorts off and be seen in your bikini bottom. You really can pull it off (it turns out Kevin was right about something)!
     Welcome to Denton! Get ready...you're going to make a lot of memories here (in fact, all those things you used to dream about are going to happen here...maybe a little differently than you imagined, but they're going to happen). I know you're busy working full time, going to school full time, and planning a wedding, but make sure you try to find time to build some friendships, too. (Spoiler alert...the girl you met at work, the one who works upstairs in the mall...she's going to stick around. I'm actually going out with her tonight!) And speaking of wedding planning, make sure to thank your mom a lot. She's doing all of the hard work, since you're not there. (It turns out to be the best day of your life...the perfect wedding, so make sure you show some appreciation.)
     Your next 10 years are going to fly by. But they are going to be filled with memories and life-changing events, blessings and challenges. Without giving too much away, I want to leave you with a few pieces of advice:
*Your sister is going to need you next year. Try harder to get your professors to let you reschedule your case study observations. I don't know if it will work, and I know you don't like conflict, but please try.
*Don't take it so personally when your daughter cries constantly. You're not a bad mom. It's not something you're doing wrong. She's colicky. (Get ready to have some high water bills, though.)
*Don't freak out when graduation has come and gone, summer has come and gone, and you still don't have a job. You'll get a call the day before school starts. It will all work out.
*Get your son into some baby modeling and rake in some sweet, sweet cash. Extra money can always come in handy.
*The ladies you're going to work with at your new school will become your besties. It'll take most of the first year to really find that out, but they will. (And you will have such good times with them: birds and bats flying overhead, tranny dances, and more!)
*You'll be switching doctors in 2006. You'll think it's super convenient to have Kevin take the kids to their first appointment while you go to your first appointment. But I think it will work out better to schedule the kids' appointment for another day, keep the kids in daycare, and have Kevin come with you to yours. Trust me.
*Keep your faith strong. You've done a pretty good job of this already, and take it from me, you will continue to do so. But there's always room for more. You will have some tough times, but your faith with get you through them. Read the Bible more often (you'll feel better when you do). And keep going to that church in Lewisville. I know it's a farther drive, but it just feels right. Remember your favorite verse: Philippians 4:13.

Love,
Your older and wiser 30 year-old self

Dear 40 Year-Old Me,

     Wow, 40 years old! I remember when that seemed so old! I hope I do what I need to in my 30's to make 40 look good on you! I know my 20's were pretty amazing and filled with blessings and trials. How did my 30's treat you? Did you actually survive teenage Hannah? Tell me it wasn't as bad as I'm fearing it will be! Wait. If you're 40, then that means Hannah just graduated High School! How is that possible?! I'm starting to tear up just thinking about it. And that means Mason just got his drivers license! He hasn't gotten into a wreck yet, has he?! Yikes.
     Does Hannah have a boyfriend? If she's anything like you (which I think we both know, she's not)this could be the one she marries. OMG. Has Mason gone on many dates, yet? I bet you're so proud of them. I think of how amazed I am now when they're only 6 and 8 and haven't really had a chance to accomplish much. I can't even imagine all of the amazing things they've done (and all of the trouble they've gotten into at 16 and 18). Have they become best friends? Has their fighting stopped at least?
     How are Mom and Dad? Are they still riding that Harley together? Have Brad and Heather finally moved to Texas? What are Ryan and Evelyn up to? How are Jaime and Jody and their twin preteen boys?! Did they ever have more kids? How many kids do Josh and Megan have and how much do they love their favorite Aunt Tracy? Are they still in San Antonio? How are Matt and Sheila dealing with their empty nest? Do they have grandkids yet? Has Joel found the right woman to marry? Is he still in Odessa? How are Michele and her kids? I hope they are all doing well.
     Whatever the answers to all of these questions are, I'm sure it's been an amazing journey getting to them. If your first 30 years are any indication, I'm sure you've only gotten better with age! I hope that your relationships have gotten stronger (all of them). I hope that you've learned to speak up. I hope that you've gained confidence and a sense of contentment about yourself. I hope you've remembered your teenage years when you've dealt with Hannah and Mason. I hope you've earned a lot more laugh lines and learned to love them. I hope you're more in love with Cakes than ever. I hope Ashley's still coming over every other weekend. I hope you're still hanging out with your besties. I hope that you're still talking to God every day, and that your example has helped your kids to do the same.

Love,
Your 30 year-old self

Change...

2011-05-28T22:18:00.000-05:00

Oh the times, they are a changing. I've never been a big fan of change. I like what I know and what I'm comfortable with. Change is new. It's different...and unknown. It's even a little bit scary. But it can also be exciting at the same time. And like the cartoon says, sometimes change can be good.

Without giving anything away, or speaking prematurely (even though things are "definite" as of yesterday, I don't think they're set in stone yet...the ink's not even dry) I know I can safely say that there are a lot of changes happening at my school. And as of yesterday, I am one of the ones making a change. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I'm OK with it, but I think it is also very bitter-sweet. And I'll save more on that for another day...hopefully it will all be finalized before school actually starts next year. :)

As my team (the group of 2nd grade teachers I am lucky to work with) prepares for change, I am reminded of the last time our grade level had a major change. It was 4 years ago. We've changed a little each year since then, too, but that year we lost 3 people all at the same time. It was very difficult, but then it also brought 3 new people into my life that I am lucky to have been able to work with and be friends with. But as I am feeling sentimental in the face of change, I would like to reminisce about that old team for a moment. Those ladies were and still are some of my best friends. I mean, who else would (at the beginning of the school year when we all had more important things to be doing) take the time to use spare fabric to recreate cheesy high school senior portraits of each other? And who else would use those pictures, along with some other lovelies to create the best hospital room decorations when one of their own was diagnosed with leukemia?

And as much as I miss working with these ladies, I know the ones that have moved on are happy doing bigger and better things. And as I've said, it enabled me to meet, teach with, and become friends with more amazing women. So, I'm sure that this change (whatever it finally ends up being) will be for the best and will work out just fine.

So for now, I'll leave you with a couple of quotes and a song:

~ "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." ~Antole France

~ "Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."

Long Time No Blog...

2011-05-08T00:05:00.000-05:00

Sheesh. I'm terrible. You'd think I was busy or something. :)

Well, in an effort to put a smile on some of your faces, I thought I'd share the music that brought a smile to mine today. While driving to and from t-ball this morning, I was taken back to another time with 2 songs that I just LOVE to sing to:

4 Non Blondes = What's Going On

and

Blind Melon = No Rain

True...they're not the best songs ever written. Far from it. But they're just fun to sing, and they sure brightened up my day a little bit. Then on my way home from a movie with one of my besties (yes, that's right...I have besties), I heard another gem:

Spin Doctors = Two Princes

Well, that's all I can muster for today. But I hope at least some of you enjoyed this musical trip to the past.

Happy Mothers Day to all of you mommies out there!

Books...

2011-04-10T21:55:00.000-05:00

Come on, sing it with me: "Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high. Take a look. It's in a book. It's Reading Rainbow." Reading Rainbow... Did any of you ever watch that show? I don't think I ever really did. But I've developed an appreciation for it throughout my years of teaching.

Anyway, I thought it would serve as a fun introduction for the wonderful topic of books. I idn't start loving books until I didn't "have" to read them anymore. You know, when I wasn't being forced to read for school. Now, I'm not saying that teachers shouldn't still require the reading of these books. Of course they should. I'm just saying that for whatever reason it didn't work for me. I thought of books as work, instead of fun. Now, though, I have a completely different attitude. A good book is entertainment...an escape...a way to relax and get caught up at the same time.

What brought about this change of heart, you ask? Well, as I've said a few times before...I am a self-professed nerd. As I was doing my student teaching, the Harry Potter books were still relatively new and were all the rage. So I figured, if I was going to be a decent teacher and be in on what the "kids these days are into". I started reading out of dutiful soon to be teacher obligation. But I finished reading the first 4 of the books (which was all that were out at that time) over Christmas break out of sheer enjoyment. That was it. The nerdy beginning of my relationship with books.

Seeing as how I've already gotten a little wordy, I'll try to keep the rest of this as short as possible. But I'm going to share some of my favorites, with the hopes that you'll share some of your own. And I'll end with some great quotes that were shared with me by a friend at school. Here we go:

Favorites
(in no particular order)

* The Harry Potter series
* The Hunger Games series
* The Twilight series
* The Notebook, The Choice, and the rest of the Nicholas Sparks books
* Little Women
* My Sister's Keeper and the other Jody Piccoult books that I've read so far

Coming Soon
(books I've yet to read, but am eager to)

* The Help
* The True Blood Collection
* Water for Elephants
* Bitter is the New Black and other Jen Lancaster books

Quotes

* "It's not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish." -S.I.Hayakawa
* "My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter." ~Thomas Helm
* "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

:) :)

Pranks...

2011-04-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

In honor of April Fool's Day...

Classic

The link above is for a classic prank on Ashton Kutcher's old show, Punk'd. I never watched the show much, but I did see the Justin Timberlake episode. The prank was so terrible, yet it couldn't help but be funny at the same time.

Now I, myself, have never really gotten into April Fool's Day...or pranks for that matter. Many pranks are mean spirited and can end up being hurtful. Other pranks can be found annoying or just piss someone off. I would, however, like to reminisce about a few pranks in my memory:

~ My mom has always been afraid of snakes. And when we were kids, we all knew it. Well, my brothers would love to scare her (I do believe it was a tradition that started with Brad and was lovingly passed on to Josh). Being that they're boys, they had one or two rubber snakes as toys. And it wasn't unheard of for them to drop them from the top of the stairs as she was carrying laundry through the hallway. She would stop. Frozen. Mouth gaping. Silent. I mean, not a sound escaped her for several long seconds (I don't even know if she breathed).

~ I have written about this next one before, but this time I think I'll give my dear, sweet older brother the benefit of the doubt by calling it a prank (rather than a mean spirited, intentional, repetitive, nightmare causer). In the moments before I went to bed, Brad would sneak into my room and hide under my bed. (I wonder how long he had to wait under there sometimes) He would wait for me to turn off the light and get into bed. But he had to time it perfectly...after I sat down, but before I picked my legs up. He would simultaneously grab my ankles and scream. Scared the living daylights out of me every time.

~ Have you ever smelled Corn Nuts? If so, you know they only smell good to someone who's eating them at that time. I've never had much of a problem with the scent, myself. But a great friend and co-worker of mine HATES the smell. So one year the other 2nd grade teachers and I decided it would sure be funny if we bought a whole bunch of Corn Nuts, put them in open containers, and scatter/hide them all over her classroom. We also thought it would be good to give some to her students to eat in the morning and tell them to give her a nice breathy "Hhhhello" when the saw her. But we ~~ran out of time~~ had a change of heart.

~ That same wonderful year at school, I had another fabulous friend and co-worker that was (still probably is) very afraid of snakes. Well, it just so happened that I had just bought a tiny plastic (not even that realistic) snake for Mason. So, again, us brilliant 2nd grade teachers thought it would be hilarious to hide it in her room. Well, it got put in her lunch in such a way that when she opened her mini-fridge the lunch tipped over and the snake fell out. She screamed, got on a chair, and I believe she told her kids to stay away so that they didn't get bitten. It was greatness, and she was SUCH a good sport about it!

How about you? Are there any pranks/practical jokes that you've done, had done too you, or even just heard about? If so, please share them!

I'll leave you with another video. This is something that I am literally surrounded with everyday...between the kids at school and my own ~~monsters~~ sweet angels at home. You know, saying mean things just to take them back by saying they're "just kidding".

Just kidding

Friends...

2011-03-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

It seems all to often that something happens in my day-to-day life that reminds me of something that happened on Friends (even though my life is about as different from those on the show as you can get). But nonetheless, it is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. Don't worry, this post won't be anywhere near as ~~brilliantly thought provoking~~ lengthy as the one I did about LOST. But it should still be a fun trip down memory lane.

Sometime last year I posted something on facebook asking people to tell me their favorite Friends episodes. There were a lot of great answers. I thought I would try to find as many clips of those episodes as I could, and include some others just for fun.

~Recommended by:
     * Chris Andrews = The one with the quiz
     * Katie McSween and Kim Dickson= The one where no one's ready (although I couldn't find a clip
        of Monica changing the outgoing message...sorry)
     * Heather Roth = The one with the lobsters
     * Jaime Peavy = The one where Chandler and Phoebe flirt
     * Angie Rhodes = The one with all the football
     * Jenny Goodwin = The one with unagi
     * Dakota Moncrief = The one with the ATM vestibule

~Some others for your viewing pleasure:
     * The one where Ross says pivot
     * The one where Ross gets a tan
     * The one with Gladys
     * The one with the cheesecake
     * The one with seven

And I know there are many...MANY other hilarious clips out there (not to mention some of the more touching moments that I completely left off). So PLEASE fee free to add some of your favorite Friends moments.

Lent...

2011-03-13T22:42:00.001-05:00

I think we all know about Lent being the season of preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. So, we won't get into all of that. But today at mass, our Deacon referred to the season of Lent as "a cycle...but not a circle." He said something to the effect of: although it comes around each year, I would hope that we are not in the same place in our relationship with God that we were the previous year. Hopefully, we are just a little further along...a little closer. In that regard, I like to think of the cyclical nature of Lent as a spiral that keeps coming around, but also keeps moving us along on our faith journey. I would also like to share a link to a Blog that I occasionally read. I think this post is beautifully written. (click here)

All that being said, I have a confession to make. This is usually SO not like me (not the confession part, but what I'm confessing to). Are you ready? You're not going to believe this.....I can't. I. Missed. Ash Wednesday. I know, I know. I felt (and still feel) horrible about it. This is in no way a justification, but it is the only explanation that I have. And it's a terrible one: I was just so selfishly wrapped up in myself and my complaining about work and the week that would never end. I didn't realize what day it was (aside from being the Wednesday of one of the longest weeks ever), until it was almost over. I was very humbled and ashamed by that realization.

That led to a lot of reflection and contemplation about what I was going to do for Lent. I won't tell you what I'm doing, because (just like advertising your tithing) it kind of negates some of the goodness behind it. But I will share a link to a website I found that gives scripture verses to go along with an alternate view of "what to give up for Lent". (click here) On that same note, here are some things that were in our church bulletin this morning:

Give up 10-15 minutes of sleep ~ Instead, use that time for prayer
Give up buying nonessentials for yourself ~ Instead, give that money to someone in need
Give up looking at other people's worst points ~ Instead, focus on their best ones

We also had a conversation with Hannah and Mason about Lent and why we give up things as a form a sacrifice. They each decided on something to give up. And they also decided that it would be good if they tried to do one kind thing for each other every day. Not a bad idea. (We'll see how well it works.)

And now, I will just leave you with this...The Prayer of St. Francis. (click here)

Star-Crossed Lovers...

2011-02-22T12:43:00.000-06:00

So, Kevin and I took the kids to see Gnomeo and Juliet on Sunday. I thought it was very cute. It got me thinking about the other versions of the play that I have seen.

We had to watch (I mean got to watch) the original 1968 version in my Freshman year of High School. Despite the nude scene, which we were warned to act maturely about, I found it to be very dull and slow moving. And it did little to nothing to help us understand what Shakespeare's words meant.

The next year, though, Romeo + Juliet was released. It was the version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. I found it to be the exact opposite of the original. In other words, I actually thought it was entertaining. And I found that the acting made Shakespeare's words very easy to understand. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it was a bit weird at times.

I found this website that compares the 2 movies, if you're interested.

It has also gotten me thinking about other stories/movies that share the star-crossed lovers theme. Here are the ones I came up with:

* West Side Story
* Twilight
* Titanic
* Dirty Dancing
* Tristan and Isolde
* The Notebook

How about you? Are there any others you can think of? Or do you have any thoughts on Romeo and Juliet?

Love Songs...

2011-02-13T22:07:00.002-06:00

Can you feel the love tonight? Well, I can. And I'm not a stickler when it comes to Valentine's Day, but in honor of love, I though it would be fitting to talk about some of the greatest love songs ever (in no particular order).

Movie Love Songs
~ "Everything I do" by Bryan Adams = from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves...(video)
~ "Kissing You" by Des'ree = from Romeo + Juliet...(video)
~ "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers = from Ghost...(video)
~ "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel = from Say Anything...(video 1) (video 2)
~ "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith = from Armageddon...(video)
~ "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin = from Top Gun...(video)
~ "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker = from Officer and a Gentleman...(video)
~ "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston = from The Bodyguard...(video)
~ "Come What May" by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman = from Moulin Rouge...(video)
~ "When You Say Nothing At All" by Alison Krauss = from The Other Sister...(video)
~ "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion = from Up Cloase and Personal...(video)
~ "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge = from When a Man Loves a Woman...(video)

Other Great Love Songs (which I'm sure have also been in movies)
~ "At Last" by Etta James...(video)
~ "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart...(video)
~ "Remember When" by Alan Jackson...(video)
~ "With or Without You" by U2...(video)
~ "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton...(video)
~ "Love, Me" by Collin Raye...(video)

...yes there are MANY I'm leaving out, but that's where you come in!

Love Song Dedications (I spent many a night in middle school and high school wishing someone would dedicate a song to me on the radio. So, right now I'd like to live vicariously through Kevin and dedicate the rest of these to Cakes...just a few of our/his favorites...it's kind of a mixed tape via blog!) :)
~ "Free" by Zac Brown Band...(video)
~ "All My Life" by KC and JoJo...(video)
~ "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova = from Once...(video)
~ "You're My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw...(video) (because, you know, we are just like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
~ "Faithfully" by Journey...(video)
~ "More Than Words" by Extreme...(video)
~ "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera from The Karate Kid II...(video)
~ "Amazed" by Lone Star...(video)
~ "Beth" by Kiss...(video)
~ "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks = from Hope Floats...(video)

Well, if you managed to make it through without gagging, I hope you at least enjoyed the music. And as always, it's your turn to post some of your favorite sappy love songs. Happy Valentine's Day to you ALL!!

Magic Eye...

2011-02-02T17:32:00.000-06:00

Do you remember these things? I used to love them. And I remember that they were all the rage back in the day...way back in the 90's. :) There are tons of them available to you through a Google search (hearts, duckies, sharks, sailboats, and even one of the M&M guys). I must confess I've wasted about an hour just browsing through the images this afternoon.

I am always reminded of that scene in Mallrats (click here) where that poor guy has been trying and failing for days to see the sailboat that everyone else seems to see so easily. It's greatness.

But while I was looking around at all of the "magic eye" stereograms out there, I stumbled across a generator (click here) that lets you create your own. I tried as hard as I could to get the image to embed directly to this post, but it was just too big. So if you want to see the one I made (and we all know you do), you'll have to go here.

Then I got started looking at photo mosaics. You know, like this:

(It's said that they are the magic eye pictures of the 2000's.)

And I found another really cool website (click here) that will generate photo mosaics of your own pictures.

Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, although there was nothing deep or insightful (or even particularly sarcastic) here today, I hope I at least inspired you to have some fun wasting some time. I just couldn't justify having 3 extra days stuck at home due to ice with no blog post to show for it. So here you go! If you do end up making any of your own images, please share them (the links) in a comment. I'd LOVE to check them out.

Feeling LOST...

2011-01-18T21:31:00.010-06:00

Well, it is around this time of year that LOST used to come on. We've been going through a little bit of withdrawls in this house. After all, it was the best show ever made. While I am missing the show dearly, Kevin has taken its ending quite a bit harder than I have (he went through a little TV depression where he didn't really want to watch anything, because no show could ever compare). I finally got Kevin to suck it up and watch the last season again with me, and it brought back all those old feelings...and tears...and questions.

So, in honor of the greatest TV show ever (and to help fill my blog quota for the month)here it is...a tribute!

...spoiler alert...

My Favorite Characters

~ Charlie Pace and John Locke = For me, it is probably a tie between Charlie and Locke for my absolute fav. They were both so incredibly well rounded and well written. I loved what they did with those characters from start to finish. Charlie, the recovering heroin addict, falling in love with Claire, becoming a best friend to Hurley and a father figure to Aaron, and dying in one of the most dramatic, selfless, and memorable TV deaths ever. And just when we thought that was the end of Charlie, we got to see him in visits to Hurley, and even more poignantly in the "alternate universe" of season 6. Locke, the scared and wheelchair bound weakling, being healed by the island, being ever faithful in a higher purpose, becoming a leader, and even a man to be feared. Even after being killed by my next favorite character, we got to see him come back and so believably play someone menacing.

~ Ben Linus = When Ben appeared on the show, I knew right away that he was not who he claimed to be. Maybe that's because I was biased. I was introduced to Michael Emerson's creepy brilliance on The Practice when he played a man "pretending" to be a serial killer (check out these links here and here...that last one with the ominous music from LOST dubbed over it). Ben was so good at being bad. But even he had his redeeming moments. He was just so enjoying to watch!

~ Sawyer = Ah, the good hearted bad boy. I've always had a thing for bad boys. Sawyer was a sweet talkin con-man. When he came to the island, he never really entirely lost that side of himself. And it was that part that made him the quick with the one liners and spot-on nicknames for other people. His bad attitude made him a great character. And although he was a big part of the Jack-Kate-Sawyer love triangle, his character was never better than he was when he was with Juliet. Seeing his heart broken at the end of season 5 (and in replays in season 6) was heart wrenching to watch. And I loved his "alternate universe" character, too!

Sheesh, I could probably go on and on about many of the characters (like Hurley's kind heart, Kate's strength, etc.), but I won't.

There are several surveys out there to tell you which LOST character you are. Usually, I come up with an answer of Locke, Claire, or Hurley. This one had me pegged as:

It's a tie!
You are part Locke. You believe that goodness exists in everyone and you let faith and your intuition guide you. Sometimes people try to take advantage of your generosity, but you don't let a few bad apples bring you down. You are at one with nature and you are the first person on everyone's list when they plan a camping trip or hike! You believe in destiny- not coincidences, and you live life to the fullest.
You are part Kate. You're a tough cookie with a soft centre. Because you are extremely independent, you sometimes find it awkward to let your guard down around strangers. Instead of surrounding yourself with superficial people, you prefer to keep a few close friends. And if anyone were to hurt one of your friends they better look out! You keep a close eye on those you care about and are ready to be there when needed.

Which character are you?!

My Favorite Quotes

"You're not John Locke. You disrespect his memory by wearing his face. You are nothing like him." = Jack

"Hey, Freckles." = Sawyer

"All I'm going to get out of him is a snappy one-liner and if I'm real lucky, a brand new nickname." = Jack (talking to Kate about Sawyer)

"See you in another life, brother." = Desmond (and Jack)

"If we can't live together, then we'll die alone." = Jack

"If you say 'live together, die alone" to me Jack, I'm gonna punch you in your face." = Rose

My Favorite Moments

OK, there are just too many. I will preface this part of the post with the fact that I am leaving many (beyond many) out. But that's the fun of a blog, isn't it? You can share some, too!

(...and I am deliberately leaving off my favorites from the last few episodes, because I don't want to ruin anything for those who have yet to watch and love the genius of this show.)

...no particular order...

~The first "appearance" of the smoke monster = Of course back then, I didn't even watch the show. From the previews, it just looked (and sounded) like some sort of dinosaur island. I didn't see the point. Looking back, though, knowing the importance of the smoke monster, I can say that that scene was awesome.

~What?! John Locke was in a wheelchair?! = I can't remember if we found out about this before or after we found out about the island healing Rose. But it really doesn't matter, because this episode was so much more dramatic. It gave us the background behind John's loyalty to the island. Amazing.

~ Oh, Charlie = Oh man, this scene still gets me every time! Isn't it interesting how his act of self-sacrifice both worked and failed at the same time? And then later when Hurley has to tell Claire?! OMG.

~ Ben calls Keemy's bluff...but it wasn't really a bluff = How's that for devastation from a man we thought had no feelings?! It had us wondering just who they were dealing with. What was going to happen next?

~ We have to go back! = What?! It worked? They got off the island? But wait. What happened to Jack? He was so sure that leaving that place was the right thing to do. And...what's going to happen next season if they're not on the island anymore?! Ooh, it was pure shock, awesomeness, and panic.

There are just too many! I have to stop. But PLEASE share some of yours!!

The Finale

Again, I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. So, let me just say that I thought it was brilliant. It was the perfect ending, and I can't imagine it ending any other way. It was very bitter sweet. It answered some questions, but in keeping with the true (frustrating) spirit of LOST, it left other things unanswered. But I think that is kind of the underlying theme of the show (and life for that matter). There are some things that we're not meant to understand. Not all questions get answered. But having faith, even when things are hard and we don't understand, is kind of what faith is all about.

For those of you who have already watched it, here is a site that I linked on facebook after the finale aired last year. I think it's good enough to link again.

Anyway, there it is. I could go on, but I won't. To those who have never seen LOST, or those who gave up on it somewhere along the way. I highly recommend renting or watching via instant Netflix (or something else like it) the entire series. And to those who have seen the whole series, I highly recomend watching it all over again. No, it won't be the same (kind of like watching The Sixth Sense again) but it is still amazing. And just like reading a book for the second time, you will pick up on things you missed the first (or 2nd...or 3rd) time around.

"Not leaving, no. Moving on." :)

Dear So and So...

2011-01-09T09:32:00.008-06:00

Well, it's that time again. I was looking back through my blogs and I realized I haven't done one of these posts since March of last year. Sheesh! I guess I've had other snarky things to talk about. Here we go!

Dear Guest/Kids' Bathroom,

What is your problem? Why do you never smell clean? Even after washing the shower curtain and bath mat; scrubbing the shower, sink, floors, and toilet; and Febreezing everything, I can still smell stink! I'm hoping it's just me. Maybe your stink is just stuck in my nose. Hopefully other people can't smell you when they come over. I'm just so tired of you. I don't understand. Is the smell just embedded in the floors and walls now? Is there no hope? UGH!

Frustrated and slightly grossed out,
Cakes

Dear Feet,

Why are you so hard to find shoes for? I know you're huge, but I know you're not the only pair of big woman feet out there. Now, I am not one of those shoe loving women that has to have tons of shoes (although I think that might just be because there aren't tons of shoes available), but I don't think that me wanting closed toe shoes (that aren't sneakers) to cover you in the winter is all that unreasonable. I'm sorry that department stores don't carry shoes big enough to fit you without having to special order. I'm sorry that I can't afford to spend a small fortune on you. I'm sorry that you don't get to look as cute as all the other lady feet out there.

Apologetic and maybe a little bit jealous,
Cakes

Dear First Snow,

You look so beautiful! I love watching you fall. I just got done drinking a glass of hot cocoa with the kids while we stared out the windows at you. It was lovely. We were prentending we lived in the mountains (or Mason said the North Pole or South Pole) and we got to do this all the time. I'm looking forward to making a snowman or two out of you later. Thanks for turning this rainy Sunday in to a fun day!

Very appreciative,
Cakes

Dear KitchenAid Stand Mixer,

How have I made it so long without you? Or maybe the better question is why I have put off getting you for so long. I always talked myself out of needing you, because (let's face it) you're expensive. I said things like, "I'm sure my cookies won't turn out as good if I don't mix them by hand." or "I probably wouldn't use it enough to make it worth the cost." But the truth is...I love you! I'm so glad the other cakes decided to spoil me with you, knowing that I would never buy you for myself.

Very fortunate,
Cakes

Dear Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief,

Although I have never read your book, I am really enjoying your movie. For anyone who remembers anything about their Greek mythology from books like The Odessy and The Iliad, you're really very clever. For those who don't remember, you're still probably plenty entertaining. I think I just might have to read your books now. Thanks for entertaining me today.

Possible new book fan,
Cakes

Dear Jury Duty,

Is it wrong for me to be so excited about having you?! Most people dread it, but it's getting me out of the classroom for a day so yeah, I'm a little excited. :) I probably won't be lucky enough for you to pick me, but something tells me I wouldn't mind too much.

Looking forward to it,
Cakes

A New Year...

2011-01-02T14:15:00.006-06:00

A belated Happy New Year to you all (however few of you there are that actually still read my ramblings)!!!

**I've said this before, but it still holds true this year. I'm generally not a fan of resolutions. That's pretty much due to the fact that I'm not very good about keeping them. My heart's in the right place, but either due to laziness...or forgetfulness (or maybe a little of both) those things just don't get done. So for the sake of saving time (for me anyway) I'm going to stick with my "resolutions" from last year (check out that link to read the brilliantly worded post). Now, don't scoff! I actually did make progress with most of those things, but there's always room for improvement, right?!

Now on to better (or at least more fun) things...

**With a new year comes new experiences. The first new experience of the year was Six Flags. We took the kids (along with our friend, Ashley, and her son, Ashton) to Six Flags for the first time yesterday! We got season passes as part of Christmas this year. Now, it's definitely not going to be something that we do every year (it would take the excitement, newness, and "specialness" out of it). But nonetheless, we went. And it was AWESOME! Although I've gotten older, I still love the rides. I took some preemptive Tylenol to keep the headaches to a minimum, and I was ready to rock and roll! I was amazed and quite proud of how brave Hannah and Mason were. When I was their age, I was not nearly as adventurous...and neither was Kevin. They must get it from their Aunt Jaime and their Uncles Brad and Josh...and their Grandpa.

Anyway, they were incredible. They went on every ride they were allowed to go on (which was almost all of them), and even some that they weren't quite tall enough for (that was all Kevin, by the way). Hannah was all about it. There was no stopping her. She wasn't even scared...just excited! Mason got a little scared before and during some of the rides, but he was all smiles after (maybe he was happy to be alive, but he also screamed about how awesome it was). Check out this link for a super-sweet video! Some of the coolest rides were closed, but it was still fantastic! Everything was decorated for Holiday in the Park, we got free refills on our hot chocolate and there were fire pits all around the park (both of which were very needed, because it was super cold), and there was even a snow (ice) hill for the kids to sled down!! The kids had a wonderful time, and so did we. It is sure to be a fun-filled year. We told the kids that their tickets are good all year...for as many times as...we want to take them. :)

Even without Six Flags, I can't wait to see what this year holds for us...and the rest of you! And as Nina Simone, Michael Buble, and Muse (depending on which version you prefer) have all said, "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life" and a new year "for me....and I'm feeling good".

Traditions...

2010-12-18T09:21:00.003-06:00

So, in class this week we were talking about Christmas traditions from around the world. They simply defined a tradition as something that you do every year: birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc. And while that's true, it seems that me slacking off on my blog has become a weekly tradition. Sorry.

Nonetheless, now that my vacation has started, I'm here. (On a side note, you may have noticed my love for commas. I am a bit comma-happy, and I tend to overuse them. I just figure that anyplace I would pause in conversation deserves a comma...if only for dramatic effect. Oh, and I realize I overuse ellipses too...but whatever.)

As the countdown to Christmas is nearing an end, I thought what better time to talk about Christmas traditions (not around the world, but among our friends and families).

When I was young, Christmas always started the weekend after Thanksgiving. That's when we would buy our tree and decorate the house. It was also usually when Advent would start. We would spend the next 4 weeks getting things ready for the big day. We would buy and wrap presents, bake cookies, and write letters (or in my case, terrible poems) to Santa. But we would also light the candle on the Advent wreath, read Bible stories, help out and church, and celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Sometimes we would go to South Dakota to be with our extended family, but I don't remember much about those. What I do remember are the ones we spent at home. We always went to the children's mass on Christmas Eve (they do a short little reenactment at that mass). We would eat supper, and after we got the kitchen cleaned up we would open presents. We all had our own spots around the living room (Brad at the table in the corner, Mom on the love seat, Jaime on the bricks between the fireplace and the TV, Dad and Josh on the couch, and me on the floor next to the piano). We would get the gifts from under the tree and pass them out to each of our designated spots. We would then try on any clothes we got, play with the toys we got, set out cookies and milk for Santa, and go to bed. When we woke up, we would go down stairs to find our stockings full, a gift for each of us under the tree, and that the cookies had been eaten!

When I met Kevin, it was just another sign that we were meant to be together when I found out that his Christmas traditions would fit like a puzzle piece with mine. They always opened all of their presents on Christmas morning, which left him available to spend Christmas Eve with my family, and I was available to spend Christmas morning with his.

And now that we're married, not much has changed...theirs just a little more travel involved. We still buy our tree and decorate our house the weekend after Thanksgiving. We still celebrate Advent as a way of preparing ourselves and our kids for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We still buy and wrap presents. Then in the days right before Christmas, we drive home to Abilene so we can enjoy the time with our families. We still do Christmas Eve with my family (including the Children's mass...only now it's my kids who participate in the reenactment). We still have our spots in the living room...only now we have spouses and children to fill out those spots. And after the gifts have been opened, clothes have been tried on, toys have been played with, and cookies have been set out for Santa, we put our kids to bed. The grown ups get to stay up late watching movies and/or playing games, eating Santa's cookies, and filling stockings. In the morning, we get to watch our kids wake up and be amazed by the fact that Santa ate his cookies and left more presents. Then we go to Kevin's side of the family and open presents with them. But more importantly we play games with, talk with, laugh with, and spend the day with them. And when we get back home, we get to see that Santa remembered to visit our house, too!

Kevin and I are so blessed to have both of our families in the same town. It truly makes holidays so easy. We get to share the joy of gift-giving with everyone, while not missing out on quality time with anyone. This year is sure to be one of the best Christmases ever! All of my siblings will be together with spouses and kids in tow. But this year we will also be joined by a newcomer to our family...my baby brother's fiance. I'm so excited to be able to spend so my time with my family (both sides), get to know my future sister-in-law a little better, watch Hannah and Mason spend time with their cousins (all 11 of them), and celebrate the birth of our Savior with everyone I love most.

So Merry Christmas! What are some of your traditions?!

Albums...

2010-12-04T11:03:00.005-06:00

So, the Grammy nominations came out Wednesday night. And I think that I'm pretty pleased overall. Eminem got a stellar 10 nominations. Lady Antebellum, Bruno Mars, and my boy Jay-Z got several as well. I could definitely pass on Lady Gaga, but I think it should be a good show!

In honor of the music, I thought I would do a blog that I never really thought I would do before. I've always heard people who talk about "albums that changed their lives". And I would always think, "Really? It changed your life?!" I mean I am a music lover to the core, but I never really got that statement. But now, I think I was being a little too broad, or a little to literal...or something. A life changing moment, or album for that matter, doesn't necessarily have to be something huge or noticeable to others. So keeping that in mind and keeping in the spirit of the facebook thing (that I somehow missed), this post is going to be about: Albums That Changed My Life!

Here's the criteria: any number of albums that either literally changed your life somehow (even in a small way) or the way you look at life (or looked at life at the time). They sucked you in and took you over. These are the albums that you use to identify time, people, places, memories, and emotions.

In an attempted order by date (of my appreciation, not necessarily it's release):

1) Ropin the Wind by Garth Brooks = This is the first album that I remember loving (I'm thinking around 5th and 6th grade). I can remember individual songs that I thought were awesome long before this, but we're talking albums here. I remember listening to this tape (yes, cassette tape) over and over. It was then that I made my life goal to see Garth Brooks live in concert. It's still a goal that I have, by the way...just in case you ever get an extra ticket. :)

2) the Forrest Gump Soundtrack = So we're flashing forward a few years to around 8th grade. I went to see this movie with my dad and my sister. I enjoyed the movie, but I didn't fall in love with it until high school (when it became one of my all-time favorites). But I was able to instantly fully appreciate the music. The music spanned the 50's, 60's, and 70's without being corny or cliche.

3) the 1996 Grammy Nominees compilation = I didn't actually get the CD until the summer before 10th grade, but the music was a showcase from my Freshman year. I can't even give this album a review that will do it justice, so check out this one on Amazon. That was a great year for music!

4) Big Ones by Aerosmith = So a lot of Aerosmith was before my time. I remember getting this CD for my cousin, Jeremy. Then a year or two after that I finally got my own, and I was in rock heaven. I would do some serious jamming out in my bedroom. But more importantly, this album got me interested in finding and listening to their earlier stuff. And it inspired me to make another life goal to see Aerosmith in concert. (So, ideally Garth Brooks and Aerosmith need to put on a show together...that sounds likely doesn't it?)

5) Crash by Dave Matthews Band = Ah, this is Junior year. I was 16, and I was sure that all the guys who had asked me out since middle school (who I had always turned down, because I wasn't old enough to date) would be ready to try again. I was sadly mistaken. They all had girlfriends, and so did the guys I actually liked...and so did just about everyone (or so it seemed). I spent many a night shut away in my room feeling sorry for myself and seeking solace in the unique music of DMB.

6) Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day = This was still my Junior year. When I wasn't busy being depressed about my lack of dates, I was very involved in and loving my Life Teen youth group at church. It was the year that solidified my strong faith and the year of my confirmation. We went to a Third Day concert in Abilene, and it was the best thing I had ever been to. I bought the CD and never looked back. It is still one of my favorites: singing praise and rocking out at the same time...pretty awesome.

7) A Place in the Sun by Tim McGraw = Skip ahead a little to the summer after I graduated. This album was pretty much the soundtrack of my first year with Kevin. Virtually any time Kevin and I drove anywhere, this CD was playing. I vividly remember him singing the songs as he walked throughout the Pizza Hut while we were working. I would just rest my head on his shoulder and listen to him sing. Of course, I would also pretend to be Faith Hill and sing an awesome duet, but whatever. This one still makes me smile.

8) Monster Ballads by various awesome 80's rockers = So even though I grew up in the 80's, I was a little young to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of the rock from that decade. But it was at this point when my love and devotion to this music started. I remember playing Here We Go Again by Whitesnake over and over on the juke box at Pizza Hut. There's nothing like a good power ballad to help you really belt it out!

9) Country Grammar by Nelly = This was the summer after my Freshman year of college. I already had a general appreciation for rap and hip-hop from people like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. But this album, with it's sweet beats, smooth rhymes, and entertaining lyrics spoke to me. This was the beginning of my love affair with hip-hop. I don't do gangsta rap, but this album paved the way (for me) for: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem (not slim shady), BOB, and others.

Now that I'm thinking about it, it seems rather strange that I don't have one for the last 10 years. Maybe I'll do some more thinking and save that for another day. But anyway, how about you? Do you have any albums that changed your life?

50 Favorite Things...

2010-11-22T20:37:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not Oprah. And I don't have one of those fancy blogs that has sponsors who do give-aways. So, don't get your hopes up. There will be no things given away for free here. Sorry.

But I was inspired by a friend and parent of a former student of mine to come up with a list of 50 of my favorite things. It can include anything from the simple everyday things to the more rare or extravagant things. I think the purpose of this is to help give yourself a reminder of all of the good things you have in life that bring you joy. You should also have a goal to do at least one of those things each day (the more, the better).

So, here we go. In no particular order:

1) playing with my kids
2) reading
3) baking
4) watching movies at home
5) laughing (probably my #1 fav. and it goes hand-in-hand with many of the things on this list)
6) going to church
7) watching tv
8) visiting my family
9) playing board games (something I don't get to do very often anymore, but have loved since I was a kid)
10) staying in a hotel (I get relaxed just thinking about it)
11) date night
12) a good cry (you know, via a book or movie...or song or commercial...)
13) going on vacation
14) family pictures
15) hanging out with friends
16) singing
17) dancing
18) listening to music
19) doing anything or nothing in particular with Kevin
20) catching up with old friends (via facebook or get togethers)
21) blogging
22) doing small acts of kindness (just a little something to brighten someone's day)
23) brainstorming (I'm much better at coming up with ideas than I am acting on any of them)
24) word play
25) doing crafts with my kids
26) being pregnant (I never felt healthier than when I was pregnant)
27) short hot baths (so hot they hurt at first)
28) looking at old pictures
29) writing
30) listening (Ever since middle school, I've kind of been the one that people have come to with their problems or stories. I've always liked listening. I've felt honored to be the one they come to. I don't pass judgement, and I don't offer suggestions/solutions unless I'm asked. I think sometimes people just need to vent or get things off their chests and that sometimes that in-and-of-itself is more help than anything I could say anyway.)
31) taking a nap
32) passing on traditions/childhood favorites to my kids
33) holidays
34) pedicures (I've only had two in my whole life, but they were both wonderful.)
35) getting complimented
36) road trips
37) coloring (yes, in coloring books)
38) finding new clothes or shoes that actually fit
39) giving gifts
40) praying
41) sitting in silence
42) taking care of others (Even in high school, I was known as motherly.)
43) happy hour/girl's night
44) weekends away (whether with Kevin or with the girls)
45) watching movies at the theater
46) eating cereal at night
47) watching my kids sleep
48) cooking with Kevin for our friends and family
49) sleeping in a freshly made bed
50) watching football (I've watched the Cowboys since middle school. In high school, I was one of the few in the band that actually watched the games. I loved watching my little brother play when I could. As time consuming as it was, I was stoked to be able to start Mason down the football path this year as well.)

So, that's that. It took me much longer than I thought it would to make that list. I'm sure there are things that I left off. I'm sure that this list will change as time goes by. But for now (until I can think of anything better) this is it. So let's say that rather than being a list of my top 50 favorite things, it's really a list of 50 OF my favorite things. And at the very least, it has shown me just how much joy I take in doing the things that I do every day.

Any thoughts? Do you have a list of your own? The ball is in your court!

When I Grow Up...

2010-11-16T19:24:00.006-06:00

Now how cute is that?! Have I mentioned that I have baby fever? Anyway, I digress...

This is something that we've all thought about hundreds of time in our lives. When we're really little, it's usually the fantastical (super hero or princess). A little later, it's a little more practical (firefighter or ballerina). By the time middle school rolls around, we're starting to get a more realistic idea of what we want to be when we grow up that is actually based on our strengths and interests. Then comes High School and College. That's when we either solidify our previous aspirations, or completely change our minds.

For me, it went a little something like this:

Elementary School: (I can't seem to remember what I wanted to be before that) I always wanted to be a mom. I just idolized my mom (and still do). I wanted to have 4 kids like she did. I wanted to make Halloween costumes like she did. I wanted to sing and dance in the kitchen and make cookies like she did.

Middle School: Due to an assignment we had at school that required us to design, decorate, and make a scale model of a bedroom we'd love to have, I got it into my head that I would like to be an interior designer. Also due to that assignment and reflection on the kind of teacher that would give an assignment like that (and my other favorite teachers over the years: Mrs. Webb and Mr. Coffee), I figured I could also be a teacher. I didn't think the teacher/interior designer/mom was unrealistic at all.

High School: The prospect of having to decorate people's houses with gaudy florals or other things that weren't my taste kind of turned me off of the whole interior designer thing. But with having 2 more of my favorite teachers of all time (my band director, Mr. Gibson and my AP European History teacher, Mr. Thomesen), I was pretty sure that a teacher is what I wanted to be. I was either going to teach 1st grade or high school. I figured that in 1st grade they're still cute and sweet, and in high school they'd be able to understand and appreciate some sarcasm.

College: By this time, I was certain that teaching was what I wanted to do. But I still wanted to be a mom more than anything...I always did. And that dream came true a little sooner than planned. Then I finally narrowed it down to Elementary school and after observing in Kinder and 1st and student teaching in 3rd and 5, I was hoping for a job in 2nd grade. That dream, too, came true...at the last minute.

Now: I am so, SO lucky. I am so blessed to be able to say that I have become what I wanted to be when I grew up. But at the same time, I find myself asking, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" I know I've blogged (and ranted) about this before, but there it is. And I'm pretty confident that I'm not alone in that. I think that a lot of people love a career that they've chosen, but still come to a point when they want something different, too. So I still don't know the answer to that question: baker, nurse, lottery winner...who knows?! But I have faith that the answer will come soon enough. :)

So how about you? What did you want to be when you were little? How did that change over time? Is there anything else that you want to be now?

Absence...

2010-11-13T20:11:00.003-06:00

Is it true? Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? If so, then you must REALLY love me now. Sorry, it's been so long since I've blogged. Things have just been...well...not great lately. Work has been overwhelming, extra-curriculars for the kids have been exhausting, and my health (although still stable on the leukemia front) has been iffy at best (upper respiratory infections, an ear infection, acute gastroenteritis, and just overall yuckiness). Suffice it to say, I haven't had blogging on the brain much. Not that I haven't tried. I've sat and stared at a blank screen on many occasions. I've even started numerous blogs that I just didn't think were blog-worthy after all.

Work is still overwhelming, I'm still not feeling great, but we're on a bit of a hiatus from the extra-curriculars for a while, so I thought I'd try to catch up a little bit.

Some thoughts on absence:

Absence can be a breath of fresh air: a break from your kids that you love, the rare day that the most difficult and annoying child in your class is absent (because those are always the kids that have the best attendance), the moment your pain (physical, mental, emotional) goes away

Absence can be a strain: having your spouse work an opposite schedule and not be around to help with the kids and chores (I don't know how single parents do it), taking a day off of work (even if it's truly needed, it's such a pain to prep for a sub), the absence of money

Absence can be annoying: absent-mindedness (especially your own...it's so frustrating when I can't seem to remember anything), the absence of manners

Absence can be heartbreaking: the absence of faith (I think that would just be a very sad and lonely way to be), the death of a loved one

So, is it true? Does absence make the heart grow fonder? I think it depends on the situation. What do you think?

Movie Mash-Ups...

2010-11-10T21:01:00.005-06:00

So a while ago, there was this episode of Cougar Town (one of my favorite shows) where they played this game called Movie Mash-Ups. Of course, they used it as a drinking game, but I still thought it was a pretty awesome idea. Basically, you pick 2 movies that have a shared word in the title. But one of the movies has to have the word at the end, while the other has to have it at the beginning. Then you briefly describe the plot of the new combined movie for people to guess. For example: A single woman tries to stop her friend's wedding from being disturbed by 2 uninvited guests. ....(My Best Friend's Wedding Crashers)

Here's a clip you can check out if you want.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/180222/cougar-town-movie-mash-ups

So, I thought we could give it a shot. I'll try to come up with some for you to guess:

1) An arrogant and outrageous leading man on a San Diego news station covers the story of a disfigured recluse who befriends and mentors a young boy.

2) A group of middle-aged men create a college fraternity that leads a group of children to compete in a battle of the bands competition.

3) Three bachelor's are left with the task of caring for a new baby who is then adopted by a successful business woman who moves to the country and develops her own brand of baby applesauce.

4) A group of office workers hate their jobs and while facing layoffs, they decide to rebel against their mono-toned boss. But then they must rescue a princess from another planet before the villain sucks all the air out of her planet's atmosphere.

5) A aging patriarch of a mafia family passes control of his empire to his reluctant son whose plans for his daughter's wedding get out of hand with the help of a flamboyant wedding planner.

6) A depressed middle-aged father gets a crush on his daughter's beautiful friend who has been held in an enchanted castle and has fallen for her beastly captor.

Now you give it a shot. Post your answers and some movie mash-ups of your own!

THE Moment...

2010-10-20T22:43:00.004-05:00

So, I was watching one of our many TV shows last night. The younger brother was asking his older, wiser, married brother, "How did you Know?" You know, when was the moment when you knew that the person you're married to was the one you wanted to be with for the rest of your life. The older brother, of course, replied with a story about an ordinary, nothing special moment when he "just knew" she was the only woman he wanted to eat chili dogs with for the rest of his life. Totally cliche, but still very sweet.

Here's my moment:

It was the summer of 1999. Kevin and I had been dating for 3 months. I don't even think we were Cakes and Cakes, yet.
We went to see Notting Hill at the movie theater in the mall in Abilene. (I know, romantic right?) It was the first of many Hugh Grant movies that we would enjoy together. Something happened during that movie. I don't know if it was the scene where Julia Roberts said, "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." or the one where Hugh Grant was reading to a pregnant Julia Roberts on that park bench at the end...or maybe the one where we get to see half of that really weird roommate's butt hanging out of his underwear. :)

But when we came out of that theater and got to the car, there was a moment. Not just A moment...THE moment. Call me a walking cliche, but we both just KNEW. Yes, it had only been 3 months, and it's not like we didn't wait another 15 months before getting engaged, but it is the moment that we both knew we'd be together forever.

So, how 'bout it? When was YOUR moment? How did you KNOW?

October...

2010-10-10T18:05:00.003-05:00

October is a very important month for 3 reasons that have a special place in my heart. The first of which we are all very aware of:

Breast Cancer Awareness
This is a cause that is very important to most of us. It can be seen everywhere from batteries to yogurt and from soda to professional football. Susan G. Komen is practically a household name. I think it is WONDERFUL how aware we all are about this disease, especially given the statistic that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. My Godmother, Eileen Roth was diagnosed with it 5 years ago. Thankfully, they caught it early, and she is cancer free now. My mother-in-law, Beth Prickett, died from it 19 years ago...when Kevin was only 14. I think about her often, never having met her. I can't imagine what it must be like for Kevin, his brother, and sisters (and everyone else who has ever lost someone to this disease, or any other for that matter). We must continue to pray for and support this cause.

The next 2 causes are not as well known:

Domestic Abuse Awareness
This covers so much more than just a husband hitting his wife. Yes, that is the most talked about. But it technically covers a much broader spectrum: physical and/or emotional abuse used by one person in a relationship (married, dating, friends, family, living together, or not, any age) to control the other. Going with this definition, I'm sure that many of us know people or may even be people who have been affected by this type of violence. 3 years ago this month, my Aunt Pam was shot and killed by her husband...a tragic end to a long abusive relationship. It has had an imeasureable affect on my family. My mom, sister, and I will be participating in a walk-a-thon to help raise money for this cause on Saturday, and thanks to many of you, we have each met and surpassed our fund-raising goal. Thank you for your continued prayers!

Diversity Awareness
As an educator, I see the importance of diversity awareness and acceptance in the school setting. And as a human being, I see the importance of it in life on a daily basis. This typically isn't something that people raise money for or wear ribbons for, but it is something that I believe in. Most of us know about the Beatitudes from the Bible (Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc...), well these "Beatitudes for Diversity" were included in my church's Sunday bulletin, and I thought they were quite moving:
~Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech,
for you help us persevere until we are understood.
~Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,
for we find havens of relaxation in your companionship.
~Blessed are you who never bid us to “hurry up,” and more blessed are you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us,
for often we need more time—rather than help.
~Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures,
for the delight we feel when we surprise you outweighs all the frustrating failures.
~Blessed are you who ask for our help,
for our greatest need is to be needed.

So during the month of October let us remember our losses; pray for awareness, progress, and healing; and celebrate our successes and differences!

A Blog About Nothing...

2010-09-23T19:39:00.006-05:00

So, I'm sure many of you remember the show, Seinfeld..."the show about nothing". Well today's post is going to be a "blog about nothing"...pure randomness. ENJOY!

* Seinfeld was a show that I didn't fully appreciate when it was on. I watched a few episodes here and there, and then I finally started watching it every week towards the end. I always thought it was funny (I mean, pirate sleeves, the Elaine dance, Kramer winning the Tony Award, and the soup nazi?! Super funny). But it wasn't until I started watching reruns, that I truly began to appreciate the brilliance of that show.

* If I was pregnant, I would have a lot more to blog about. (There goes that baby fever thing, again!)

* My sister-in-law was recounting the slumber party she threw for her 11 year old daughter and said that she heard enough "I know, right's and OMG's" to last a life time. I remember when I was in middle school, it was "like this...like that...like totally...like, like, like"

* That reminds me of that Snoop Dogg song lyric, "It's like this and like that and like this and uh. It's like that and like this and like that and uh. It's like this." I know, lyrical brilliance isn't it?!

* I saw Charlie St. Cloud a couple of weeks ago, and I must confess...I've got a bit of a crush on Zack Effron. I never got what the hype was about when he was all High School Musical. But now...he's older, buffed up, and quite dreamy!

* I am in desperate need of a date night.

* Who decided that football games at 8:30 on a Saturday morning where you have to be across town by 8:00, which means we have to leave the house by 7:40 were a good idea? Did I mention that it's a Saturday morning...the one day that I'm supposed to be able to sleep in? Ugh.

* I wonder why Mason feels the need to inform me every time he needs to poop. He can be in the middle of doing something in another room, and he'll just stop and yell, "Mommy! I need to poop!". Not that he needs help or anything. Maybe it's just because he takes so darn long that he doesn't want me to worry if I don't see him or hear from him for a while. Who knows.

* So, I did my 30 days of excercise with my DVD. I really liked it (Not the excercise part. But just the knowing that even if it didn't show in numbers, I was doing something good for myself). I even did it for the first week of school. But I haven't since. And I don't feel bad about it. So unless you: have 2 school aged kids who aren't old enough to drive, work 50 hours a week, have to cook and clean when you get home, have more work from your job to do at home, have football practice & church class, have groceries to get for home and work, and have leukemia...I don't want any lectures about it.

* Wow! That was much more attitude-y than I had planned for it to be. Oh well. I meant it to be light-hearted snarkyness. So, please take it that way.

* I'm $14 short on my Domestic Abuse Walk-a-thon goal. So, if you're reading this and you're interested, you can send me a check made out to "Noah Project Walk-a-thon".

* I am really wanting to settle down and read a good book. I can't imagine when in the world I'll actually find time to do that in the near futures, but I'm feeling the need to. I can't see it happening before Christmas, but who knows...

* I've got to go...Grey's Anatomy just started. Peace out!

An Ode to Fall...

2010-09-11T23:09:00.006-05:00

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways (in no particular order):

1) Football: OK, so maybe my Cowboys lost last night, but that's OK. It was a crappy game, and #71 (whom Jerry Jones needs to fire, by the way) was probably about 1/3 of the problem. If not for his penalty on the last play of the game, we could have (would have) won. That's not to say it was all his fault...there were a lot of mistakes made. But anyway, at least the Longhorns have won both of their games. Even my high school team, the Cooper Cougars, has won both of their games. It's early, and I have faith in the Cowboys. I just love the excitement of it all!

2) New TV: Yes, I watch too much of it, but I don't care. It makes laundry, grading papers, and even the rare times I get to just lay on the couch much better. Although 2 of my all-time favorites (LOST and 24) are not coming back, I am still looking forward to the return of: Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, Parenthood, The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town, How I Met Your Mother, Desperate Housewives, Community, Fringe, Private Practice, Glee, and I'm sure there may even be more that I'm missing. I'm so excited!

3) Cooler Weather: Don't laugh. I know it's still plenty hot. But at least we're not in the triple digits anymore! And besides, this is only the beginning. I love a crisp chill in the air and wearing jackets & sweaters. So yes, it's not cool yet, but it won't be too much longer...I can't wait...I hate being hot!

4) Soups: I can eat canned soup and soup from restaurants all year long, but I just don't feel right about making my delicious homemade soups until Fall and Winter. My stand-by's are Bacon Cheeseburger Soup and Chicken Tortilla Soup. But last year Ialso found pretty good recipes for Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup and Broccoli Cheese Soup. I just love all of the chopping that's involved. Yum...I can almost taste it now.

5) Holidays: 2 of my 3 favorite holidays are in the fall...Halloween and Thanksgiving. I just love how excited the kids get at Halloween. I enjoy planning and making (at least partially) their costumes. And I love the colors and decorations, too (although I don't have much). As for Thanksgiving, it's a close 2nd to Christmas. It has all of the same good food and the same good family time, but it's a bit more relaxing...plus it's got the Cowboys. (But Christmas is just Christmas, and it just doesn't get better than that.)

Those are some of the reasons why Fall has become my favorite season (and let's not forget the colors and scents that come along with this season...they're delightful)! Yes, I know it's not technically Fall yet...but it's close enough.

So now it's your turn...tell me about your favorite season and why you love it.

4 Years and 7 Days Ago...

2010-09-04T14:40:00.007-05:00

I know, it's a clever title isn't it? But it's not exactly accurate. I just thought it sounded better than 4 years and 11 days ago (that doesn't have the same Gettysburg Address feeling, does it?). And it also goes to show you that in the hustle and bustle of the first two weeks of school, I let my 4 year anniversary date go by unnoticed. Now, that's not to say that I forgot that I have Leukemia. It's just that I was too busy to notice the technicality of it being 4 years since I was diagnosed.

This realization has made me reflect back on that day and the week that followed.

I briefly summarized that day on my second ever blog post (along with the months that preceded and followed it), but I'm feeling the need to reflect in more detail. But here is what I posted then: August 25, 2006 = The first day that our new insurance goes into affect, I get myself to the doctor. I'm not that worried. I get in at 3:30. I tell him about the mass and about my bruising. He starts asking me questions: "Have you been having headaches?"--yes, but I haven't had my eyes checked in 2 years...I probably just need glasses. "Have you been having night sweats?"--sure, but isn't everyone...it's been 104 degrees outside. "What about fatigue?"--of course...I'm a teacher and a mother of 2. By 4:00, he's testing my blood (so they can rule out anything serious). By 4:15, the hematologist/oncologist is telling me that I have leukemia. By 4:30, I am being admitted into the hospital to have my first bone marrow biopsy done.

This time, I'd like to start at 4:20 on that day: So, I had just been told that I had Leukemia and that I had to be admitted into the hospital. The doctor's office was connected to the hospital, so a nurse was just going to walk me in to the ER. What's the first thing I think? "Wait, what about Kevin and the kids?" Kevin had dropped me off so he could take the kids to the pediatrician down the street. He would be back soon to pick me up. (Looking back, I'm still not sure I went about this the best way, but I still can't think of an option that would have been better either.) I knew I didn't want him to get there and have to be told by a nurse about what had happened. I didn't want him to hear it from a stranger...I wanted him to hear it from me. But they wouldn't let me wait for him. They said I had to go right away in order to get the necessary tests done that day. So, I decided to call him. (Now, I'm thinking about my husband who had already had to deal with losing his dad to a heart attack and his mom to breast cancer. How do I possibly tell him that now his wife has leukemia? It seemed like too much.) I didn't know how else to do it, so I just took a deep breath and tried not to cry too much when I told him. The pediatrician and nurses kind of kept the kids while he collected himself, and then they met me at the hospital while I was getting ready for my first bone marrow biopsy (having no idea what to expect, or really even what that meant). When I remember the look on his face when he saw me, it makes me cry every time. I had just laid so much on him, and then I had to leave him to call in to work, keep the kids, and call my parents to let them know. (I can't imagine what that conversation must have been like...having to tell your mother and father-in law that their daughter is sick...getting that call from your son-in-law.) But throughout all of that, I never really thought much about me. I had a very peaceful feeling about that for myself. My fears and sadness only came in when I thought about how much this was all going to affect the people in my life. I can only imagine how I would have felt if the situation had been reversed, and I'm so sorry about that.

That evening, I was told that I would have to be in the hospital for at least 5 more days (Saturday through Wednesday). I wasn't worried about the kids. (My parents, my sister, my little brother, Kevin's sister, and Kevin's brother were all on their way. And my parents were going to stay at least until I was home.) I was worried about school. The next week was only going to be the 3rd week of school, and you just don't miss days like that at the beginning of the year. I didn't have anyone's phone number, so I just had Kevin call my friend, Tosha, because I knew her number was in the phone book. And that very night, I was visited by my her and some of my other besties from school who assured me they had everything taken care of (lesson plans, copies, helping the sub, and anything else that would come up that week).

In case I had forgotten, or had taken it for granted, I was vividly reminded during the days that followed my diagnosis of how blessed I was (and still am) to have such wonderful people in my life who care so much about me. I truly don't know how we would have gotten through that week without everyone. From taking care of the kids, the house, and groceries, taking care of school things, keeping our spirits high, keeping our minds occupied, and even decorating my hospital room, Kevin and I really couldn't have done it without our friends and family.

So, here's a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped us through that week and who continues to help us in any way they can...the biggest of which is prayer! But I'd like to give a special shout-out to a few (in no particular order): Kevin, Mom & Dad, Sheila, Jaime, Josh, Joel, Tosha, Katie, Karen, Kristin, Melanie, Angela, Lisa, Micah, Elliott, Sandy, Sheila W., and many others. I love you all and appreciate everything you did (and still do) more than words can say.

Chicken Vagina...

2010-08-27T21:54:00.005-05:00

Ok, due to a sheer lack of brain power left for anything other than nonsense, I thought I would devote an entire blog post to something that I've mentioned several times in passing: mistaken lyrics.

Some of you might remember the story of my mom mistaking the Barenaked Ladies lyric, "Chickety China, the Chinese Chicken" for "Chicken Vagina the Chinese Chicken" and her shock and horror after hearing it. But I have a few others that I can't remember if I've posted on here or not.

But first, I have a link for a wonderful song for which almost none of the words are understandable (which allows for a rather hillarious and random translation)...Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam.

Much to Young by Garth Brooks = I heard "lonely women and baboons" but it was actually "lonely women and bad booze".

If I Didn't Have You by Randy Travis = I heard "I'd be floundering around like chimpanzee" but it was actually "I'd be floundering around like a ship at sea".

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey = Hannah heard "the smell of wine and sheep buffoon" but it was actually "the smell of wine and cheap perfume".

So that' it for me. I'm keeping it short and sweet today. But I'd LOVE it if you would post some of your own mistaken lyrics.

Go for it!

Positive Thinking...

2010-08-19T21:42:00.002-05:00

Ahhh.....the power of positive thinking...

"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." ~The Little Engine That Could

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me." ~Stewart Smalley (SNL)

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it might annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." ~Herm Albright

As I sit at home recovering from a long day that was capped off by Meet the Teacher Night, I am forced to acknowledge the fact that summer is really over...that a new school year is really starting. And as I consider the fact that my 7th year of teaching is about to begin, I realize that I am left with two options: I can dread it and fret over it and think about how trying it will be, OR I can think about how great it's going to be to see my friends each day and how fortunate I am to have a job like this. And since I am typically a "glass half-full" kind of girl, I'm going with positive thinking.

SO, how about this:

~Instead of thinking about how I have 20 kids to reign in on a daily basis, I can think about how those 20 kids are giving me a much needed escape from my own kids.

~Instead of thinking about how many papers I'm going to have to grade, I can think about how it will give me something to do while baseball season drags on.

~Instead of thinking about all of the paperwork that has to be done in a given year, I can think about all of the opportunities I'll have to improve my handwriting.

~Instead of thinking about dealing with 20 sets of parents, I can think about getting in good enough with 20 sets of parents to get some pretty decent gifts.

~Instead of thinking about how I'll be out of the house for 10-11 hours a day, I can think about how Hannah and Mason will be out of the house for that long, too...which hopefully means less mess. (I mean as long as I have postivite thinking, I might as well throw in some wishful thinking, too!)

~Instead of thinking about how incredibly worn out I'm going to be, I can think about how at least now I'll actually have an excuse for not getting things done around the house.

Seriously, though, I am going to think positive thoughts about this year. It's a fresh start and a new beginning. Now that doesn't mean I'm not going to gripe and complain from time to time (oh, trust me, I will), but as for now I'm going to focus on my mantra for the year, "It's gonna be great." Nothing fancy, no bells and whistles. Just something short and sweet that I can say over and over again if needed: It's gonna be great...it's gonna be great...it's gonna be great.

Do any of you have any positive thoughts to share (instead of thinking ___, I can think ___)?

Come on...you know you want to...

Just Feeling Snarky...

2010-08-15T10:08:00.004-05:00

So, I thought about doing something deep and insightful (cuz, you know, I'm a pretty insightful person), but I thought better of it. I'm just in the mood to be snarky, so here we go...

Dear Summer,

I have such split feelings about you. While I love not having to work and being able to get some color back on my pasty-white skin, I just can't stand this heat! So I'm torn. Part of me is saying, "Summer, please stay", because I'm just not ready to go back to work. But the other part of me is saying, "For crying out loud! I'm SO tired of sweating!!"

Confused and Sweaty,
Cakes

Dear Football Season,

I'm SO glad you're back! I can't wait to see what you have in store. I don't want to jinx anything, so I'll just leave it at "How 'bout them Cowboys?!" and "Hook 'em Horns!"

Excited and Hopeful,
Cakes

Dear Sinus Infection,

Please go away. I really don't like only being able to breathe out of one nostril...it's quite annoying. My head hurts, my nose is raw, and how much snot could really be in there anyway. I mean, really?! Ugh...

Stuffy and Whiny,
Cakes

Dear Fall TV,

I'm counting down the days. There are only so many Rangers Games and Wipeout shows (which I do actually enjoy) that I can watch. But there's just nothing else on! I mean, you can't actually expect me to do anything productive rather than watch TV, can you?

Ready and Waiting,
Cakes

Well, I guess that's enough for now. If you have sarcasm you'd like to contribute, go right ahead!

Live From New York...

2010-08-06T13:57:00.012-05:00

Yes, Saturday Night Live has been around for what seems like forever. Yes, there have been times when it sucked (OK, maybe a lot of times). But there have also been a lot of times when it did its job and made me laugh. Here are some of my favorites (some of the few that I could actually find clips for anyway) from the old school to the new school...and in between. I've got them organized by actor...check 'em out!

~ Will Ferrell: Ah, as I'm sure Mom would agree, there are just too many to choose from! I'll give it my best shot and just pick a few. How about Jeopardy, Cowbell, Hot Tub, and many, many others!

~ Val Kilmer: I know, I know...not who you usually think of when you think SNL, but he did an episode in 2000 that had a couple of gems! Unfortunately, there is only one clip available online. The one that I was not able to find was Behind the Music: Rock and Roll Heaven. It was all about dead rock stars in heaven with people like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Buddy Holly, and Jim Morrison (played by Kilmer). He put together this super band and Will Ferrell played Jesus (head of the record label in Heaven), and when he heard the band, he was like "Oh my Dad!" Anyway, the one I did find was the Iceman sketch.

~Amy Poehler: I really enjoyed her on the short lived reoccurring sketch, Appalachian Emergency Room, but once again, I couldn't find any clips for you. But there's always Kaitlyn (you know, the annoying girl with her step-dad, Rick), and one legged Amber.

~Alec Baldwin: Schweddy Balls....need I say more? And what about this one?

~Chris Farley: Here are some classics...Van Down by the River, and Chipendales.

~Justin Timberlake: No, he's not a cast member, but he never fails to crack me up: Plasticville, Single Ladies, and perhaps the best skit ever (right, mom?)...D*** in a Box!

~ Miscellaneous: Landshark, McGruber, Debbie Downer

The Power of Prayer...

2010-07-26T14:03:00.003-05:00

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." ~Matthew 7:7-8

I actually started typing this post on Saturday night. When I got to church on Sunday, that same Bible verse was part of the gospel reading. Our priest said his homily (sermon) all about prayer: it's many forms (spoken, silent, going to church, the act of helping others, etc.), and how it is essentially just time spent "hanging out with God" in one way or another. I am taking that as a sign that I am right on track...this is the post that I should be doing (focusing on the verbal aspect of prayer). So let me continue...

I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I have seen it work wonders. And as the scripture says, I believe our prayers (whether big or small) will be answered in one way or another at some time or another. Now, sometimes our prayers may not be answered in the way we wanted them to be, but I have to trust in God's plan, because I have also seen how that plan (however different it may have been than mine) has worked wonders, too. There are things that we can't understand or explain...and there are things that are so unspeakably hard, that all we have left is prayer and faith in God. That being said, I've always figured that the more people you have praying for something, the better. So, I'd like to use this as kind of a prayer chain. If you have any specific prayer intentions you would like some help with (whether big or small), just add them as a comment, and we can all start praying.

As always, I'll get the ball rolling...

**A very dear friend of mine has a cousin whose son has been battling cancer for some time now. After getting to enjoy his Make a Wish trip together, the doctors told them that his cancer spread and is incurable. Please pray for this family during this unimaginable time.

**For all those who have gone before us: Francis Roth, Don and Irene Mason, Pam Huber, Bob and Beth Prickett, Jimmy Prickett, sweet Reagan, Teena Wood, Art Lantzy, and many others...

Fill Ins...

2010-07-24T23:42:00.009-05:00

So, in honor of my fun new background, I wanted to have a fun new post. Now, I've seen some other blogs do "Friday Fill-Ins" posts before. But since it's not Friday, I won't use one of the "Friday Fill-Inn" pictures. And since I've never really found one that I wanted to take part in, I'll just kind of pick and choose some of my favorites and add some of my own. For those of you who don't know, all you do is copy the "fill-in" promts and post them in a comment using your answers to "fill in" the blanks.

Here we go:

1) _______ is/are the food that most reminds me of my spouse/significant other.

2) I've always wanted to ________.

3) I laugh every time I see ________.

4) When I think about my childhood, I often remember ________.

5) ________ was in my thoughts today.

6) My dad always said ________.

7) I could use a ________.

8) The smell of ________ makes me think of ________.

9) Friends don't let friends ________.

10) ________ never fails to make me smile.

So, here are mine...

1) Sandwiches are the food that most reminds me of my spouse. (Not only does he enjoy eating a good sandwich, but he is an awesome sandwich maker! He makes special sauces and just makes really unique and always delicious ones.)

2) I've always wanted to go on a cruise. (And I figure the best way to do it would be with a big group of families. You could have your own family time, group time, date time, whatever. One of these years, it'll happen...)

3) I laugh every time I see that Orbitz chewing gum commercial. (You know, the one where the 2 ladies are yelling at each other and calling each other names. And the one chick calls the other one a "lint licker". It's hillarious. If you don't believe me or don't know what I'm talking about, you can check out the link. You might not think it's funny, but it gets me every time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjQZCq8CTvk&feature=related )
4) When I think about my childhood, I often remember playing outside. (During the summer, we would just play outside and stay there until it started getting dark. I don't ever remember being bothered by the heat. But these days kids (yes, my own as well) are just so sensitive to the heat.)

5) School was in my thoughts today. (As much as I don't want to think about it, and as much as I love spending every minute of every day with my own kids (did you sense the sarcasm?), school is getting closer and closer.)

6) My dad always said "When you're hot, you're hot...when you're not, you're not...and when you're snot, you're slippery." (OK, so maybe he didn't ALWAYS say it, but whenever he did, it always got a chuckle out of me. I know...it doesn't take much, does it?)

7) I could use a little bit of liposuction. (Nah, I'm just joking. But I have ordered an exercise DVD set, and will be starting it soon. I'm not telling you what it is, yet. But I'm hoping that just the very act of going from doing nothing to doing something will have a positive affect on all of my jiggles.)

8) The smell of chlorine makes me think of the time spent at the Fairway Oaks pool when I was too young to be self-conscious. (Ah, good times. Back when pools had actual deep ends and diving boards.)

9) Friends don't let friends have saggy boobs. (A good friend of mine had to have a bra intervention with another good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless)...her "girls" were much perkier after that.)

10) My kids never fail to make me smile. (Even though they sure know how to pull out all of the annoying stops, they are pretty sweet and funny...and generally good kids.)

Now, it's your turn. You don't have to elaborate like I did (I do tend to be a bit wordy), you can feel free to just simply fill in the blanks. By the way, what do you think of my new background? Is it "me"?

Baby Fever...

2010-07-19T22:43:00.002-05:00

I'll start with a short little parody of Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher":

I've got it bad, got it bad, got it bad,
I got baby fever.
(guitar/drum break)
I've got it bad, SO bad,
I got baby fever!

So, there it is. I've had it for a while now (about a year), but it's been particularly strong in the last couple of months. I just can't get babies off of my mind. They seem to be everywhere I turn! Sometimes it will be cute babies at stores, church, or restaurants. Sometimes it will be pregnant women left and right (even friends and co-workers that I'm super excited for...and maybe a little bit jealous of). Now that both of my kids will be in school, I guess it's only natural. But still....as I said before, I've got it bad.

To make matters worse, the kids have a bit of baby fever, too. They've been playing with Hannah's dolls more frequently. Hannah keeps saying how she wishes she had a baby sister and Mason, of course, is wishing he had a baby brother. They've asked why I don't want more kids. I've tried to explain that I'd love to have another baby...that I always wanted to have more than 2 kids. But I just can't right now...that the medicine I have to take won't let me have another baby. You know how there memories are, though...they can't seem to remember, and they keep asking.

For those of you who don't already know, the medicine I'm taking is an oral chemotherapy drug. It is designed to target out any rapidly multiplying cells. This is great for destroying leukemia cells, but sadly, it would also have the same affect on a pregnancy. So, almost 4 years ago when I got diagnosed, Kevin and I accepted the fact that we would be a 2 child family for a while. (And we are SO incredibly blessed to have our 2 healthy kids.)

Anyhoo...the urge is there. As Yoda would say, "The force is strong with this one". Yes, there's always adoption. And I have always been very open to the idea of adoption. In fact, ever since seeing some 20/20 or 60 Minutes episode about Romanian orphanages where they were literally rolling in babies on bread trays...and babies that were old enough to sit up would just rock back and forth in their cribs, because they didn't have anyone to rock them, I've even half-joked about adopting a Romanian baby. Adoption, however, is expensive and not at all anything that we are in a position to do any time soon. Which brings us back to baby fever.

It's even playing a role in future career endeavors. I've been toying with the idea of going back to school and becoming a labor and delivery nurse. There's not really any other kind of nursing that I think I would like to do...maybe pediatric, but I still think labor and delivery would be my calling. But then I think, "Do I really want to be a nurse, or is it just that pesky baby fever talking"? I think it's too soon to tell.

But either way, I'm SO looking forward to working in the nursery at VBS in 2 weeks. That way, I can get my baby-fix. At least temporarily... :)

Childhood Toys...

2010-07-11T18:56:00.004-05:00

So today, we went to see Toy Story 3. I loved the first 2, had heard nothing but great things about this one, and I was not disappointed. It had the same clever humor and sentimental sweetness the first 2 movies had and then some (yes, I cried...did you really need to ask?). But more importantly...it inspired my post today.

I know we all had favorite toys when we were kids, and I can't wait to hear about yours, but I'll get the sentimental ball rolling with some of mine.

Barbies
My favorite doll was a redhead from the Barbie and the Sensations set, but my favorite clothes (store-bought) were from the Barbie Jeans set...totally 80's chic! But I LOVED all of the homemade clothes that my mom and aunts made (being no stranger to sewing and sewing machines, I can't imagine how time consuming and intricate those little clothes must have been to make...but I really appreciated the variety and the amount of clothes it allowed me to have!) Does anyone remember the disappointment when you put the scissors down, let her hair out of the ponytail hold, and saw "the layers" that Barbie had? I just couldn't understand why it didn't work out to be the cute "bob" that I wanted it to be. I also remember that since we didn't have her Dream House, we had to take their heads off and make them stay seated in order to play with them in our doll houses. Sure, maybe it was a little morbid, but it worked for us!

She-Ra Dolls
Ah, She-Ra...the female counterpart to He-Man. I'm pretty sure I wasn't that into the cartoon or anything like that. I actually don't think that any of the dolls were mine, but Jaime (my sister) and I would use them in our doll houses. They were small enough that we didn't even have to take their heads off! We would be happily playing when all of a sudden, their would be an "earthquake" or a military invasion of GI Joes, courtesy of Brad and/or Josh (my brothers). Good times...

Pound Puppies
These were the cutest little puppies! We never had the big ones, but we had several of the little ones. They made great pets for the Cabbage Patch Kids. And even though the scale was way off, Barbie loved them, too. My favorite was the little dalmation-like one. "Dalmation-like", because it still had the same droopy face as all the others, but it was white with black spots. I think it was Jaime's, but it was still my fave.

Cabbage Patch Kids
Between my sister and me, I think we had 4 or 5 of these (including 2 preemies) I can't quite remember. I know we had a blond-haired one and one with brown hair...I could be making up memories of a red-headed one (my memory's not what it used to be). Though I loved the store-bought and home-made clothes, my favorites were our old baby clothes (some of which were home-made, too)! My very favorite was my Cabbage Patch Preemie. Her name is Stacy. Notice, I said "is". She is the one toy that I held onto and passed on to my kids. Periodically through High School and home visits during college, I would pull her out of the box she was stored in and make sure that she was still OK and give her a wardrobe change. She was one of the first dolls that Hannah had, and she is still taken good care of. I just couldn't let her go.

As I got older I started loving board games. At first it was games like: Life, Parcheesi (both of which I only really played at my BFF, Jenn's, house), and Girl Talk. But then it grew to games like Outburst, Scattergories, and Taboo (which are still some of my favorites). Well, I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. Now, it's your turn...what were some of your favorite childhood toys?

Spiritual Favorites...

2010-07-08T20:20:00.009-05:00

This post was inspired by my high school youth director (shout-out to Cathy). She posted one of these verses (the first one I listed) on her facebook page today. I was first introduced to that scripture in the weekly Bible study that she would have, and it has been one of may favorites ever since. Anyway, I thought I would post some of my other favorite scriptures/songs today, so here we go:

Bible Verses/Passages

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:4-7

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 1:3-6

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. ~Psalm 136:1

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 5:3-10

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~Psalm 46:1

***As half of these are from Philippians, you may have guessed that it is my favorite book of the Bible. Even though Paul was in prison, he was just so thankful, joyous, and positive!

Songs
***Some of these are traditional hymns and some of these are the more modern "praise and worship" songs, but they are all worth a listen (or at least a Google for the lyrics).

: We Are Many Parts (goes with 1 Corinthians 12)
: On Eagle's Wings (goes with Isaiah 40:31)
: Lead Me Lord (goes with Matthew 5:1-12)
: As the Deer Pants for the Water (goes with Psalm 42:1)
: Your Love Endures: by Third Day
: Awesome God: by Michael W. Smith
: I Can Only Imagine: by Mercy Me
: Lord I Lift Your Name on High: by Sonicflood

I apologize to any of you who thought that this post was a little too "preachy"...that was not my intent. But for everyone else, I'd love it if you shared a few of your favorite verses/songs (or maybe even some thoughts about mine). I intentionally left off some from my lists (in what will probably prove to be a useless attempt at getting more comments), so please...share away!!

BTW...

2010-07-03T10:23:00.002-05:00

Text speak is everywhere! It's gone beyond actual texting and has invaded facebook...and actual conversations. Does it make me old, that I just can't get on board with all of the text speak going on? Well, that's not completely true...there are a very select few that I will actually bring myself to use (and I will translate for anyone out there who does even less text speak than I do):
~BTW (by the way)
~OMG (oh my gosh)
~WTF (what the f***)...not anything I would ever actually say if it were unabbreviated, so I'm not sure why I'm OK with this...like it doesn't still mean the same thing, but whatever...
~IDK (I don't know)
~BFF (best friend forever)

One that I never use is LOL (laughing out loud). I don't know why I'm so against it. Maybe it's because its so overused, or maybe it's because it's misused, IDK. But rarely, will I actually laugh out loud at something I read. And I understand that it doesn't have to be used literally, but I still just can't bring my self to use it. Oh, well.

Here are some others that I know, but don't use (not for any particular reason...I just don't):
~ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing)
~LMAO (laughing my a** off)
~CUL8R (see you later)
~TTYL (talk to you later)
~ILY (I love you)
~2GTBT (too good to be true)
~B4 (before)

Kevin and I had a rather hilarious conversation with a couple of my cousins earlier this week at a family reunion about this very thing. We came up with a couple of new text phrases that we think might catch on.
~TAC (taking a crap)
~INS IJS (I'm not saying, I'm just saying)
~SOS (sh** out of service)

What do you think?! Feel free to start using these whenever you want...pretty soon the whole world will be TAC whether they're SOS or not. INS IJS. :)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on texting. Are there any you use all the time, or any that you refuse to use? Any that you know about that I left off my very short list?

TTYL :)

Daddy's Hands...

2010-06-20T00:33:00.004-05:00

OK, who out there remembers The Judds? Well, when I was a kid, they were pretty big (if you listened to country, anyway). I remember jamming out to one of their cassette tapes while swimming in my friend and neighbor, Chrissy Cruise's, pool. But I also remember their song, "Daddy's Hands". I remember even at that age how much it made me think of my Dad. And as I've grown up and matured (well, grown anyway), I've gotten an increased appreciation for the lyrics and how well it applies to him. So, today, in honor of Father's Day, I'm going to post the lyrics so that you can appreciate them, too. Then, you can check out the link at the bottom to watch a youtube clip and listen to the song (it's not quite as good as The Judds' version, but it's still very touching).

I remember Daddy´s hands, folded silently in prayer.
And reaching out to hold me, when I had a nightmare.
You could read quite a story, in the callouses and lines.
Years of work and worry had left their mark behind.

I remember Daddy´s hands, how they held my Mama tight,
And patted my back, for something done right.
There are things that I´ve forgotten, that I loved about the man,
But I´ll always remember the love in Daddy´s hands.

Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.

I remember Daddy´s hands, working 'til they bled.
Sacrificed unselfishly, just to keep us all fed.
If I could do things over, I´d live my life again.
And never take for granted the love in Daddy´s hands.

Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX4QVGykIA4&feature=related

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!! I am so proud to be able to call you my Dad and to have had you as an example of loyalty, work ethic, and integrity. I've just got one question, "Are you happy to me?"
~~I love you!!

Love and Marriage...

2010-06-14T08:16:00.008-05:00

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female", and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.
~ Matthew 19: 4-6

9 1/2 years ago, Kevin swept me off my feet by asking, "So, what do ya' think?" (No, really...that's how he proposed.) And 8 years ago, today, we got married. It was truly the best day ever! We planned for a year. And when I say we, I mean my mom and me. Pretty much the only input that Kevin gave (not that I was controlling...and not that he wasn't asked for more) was just that there was to be NO Kenny G allowed! It was a simple, but beautiful wedding at my hometown church. We were surrounded by friends and family, I had a beautiful dress, and my dad stopped crying long enough to take some decent pictures after it was all over. You can't ask for much more than that! Aside from the flowers being, shall we say, not quite what I had in mind, everything else was...perfect!

After that we went on the best vacation ever...our road trip honeymoon! We drove to New Orleans, ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (took our picture in front of Forrest and Jenny's wedding attire), and stayed the night. We drove along the coast into Florida. We stopped for a couple of hours to enjoy the beautiful Pensacola beach, swam yards away from dolphins, and went to a dock to take a picture of ourselves "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay". We continued to Orlando, had the most amazing time getting rained on at Sea World, and went boogie boarding at Cocoa Beach. We drove down to Miami, stayed in a cute Art Deco hotel, drove down "A1A, beach front avenue" and ate in South Beach. We drove across Alligator Alley, saw an actual alligator on the side of the road (sure, it was a baby, but whatever), and drove all the way up to Tennessee. We went to Nashville and stopped at the Country Music Hall of Fame, but we didn't want to actually pay to go on the tour, so we just took our pictures next to autographed pictures of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (because we sound just like them, of course). Then we went to Memphis, had some great Bar-B-Q, and went to Graceland...pretty awesome. Finally, we drove through Little Rock (didn't stop and see anything there...not such an exciting place) and made our way back to Lewisville. 4,000 miles and not a single fight! We had a few missed turns, but we had A LOT of laughs, and had some baby names picked out (good thing, too, because a month and a half later, I got pregnant)!

I have my parents to thank for setting such a wonderful example of what marriage should be like. I don't ever remember seeing them fight. Sure, there were arguments (or as my dad would call them..."discussions"), but they always seemed to either resolve it or let it go for the time being. Their bedroom door was always left open...so it was just kind of an unspoken thing between us kids to stay away on the occasion that it was closed. Although they were never afraid to gross us out or embarrass us by telling us stories about "Tarzan and Jane", or kiss in front of us, or give little pats on the behind. (You remember the stories, right Jenn?) I know...gross, right?

People often say that marriage is hard. I don't think that's necessarily true. It's all the stuff that comes with it that's hard: money (or the lack thereof), parenthood, and other responsibilities. And sure, there might be a couple of things that Kevin does that annoy me (I know...just a couple...that's funny, right?!), and maybe I might have some things about me that aren't always so wonderful (although I can't think of what they would be), but I think all of those hard things in life would be infinitely harder if I didn't have him. I'm just so blessed to have my best friend with me every day! (I love you, Cakes)...OK, everyone can stop gagging now...the mushy stuff is over.

WOW! Once again, I have kind of rambled and made this post a bit longer than I had anticipated. Oh well, I think you've come to expect that from me. Anyway, I'd love to hear some wedding/honeymoon/marriage stories of yours, too. Happy Anniversary to me!!

Summer Book List...

2010-06-08T23:44:00.004-05:00

Since I tend to be quite busy during the school year (both actually, genuinely busy as well as just preoccupied with too much TV), I usually save the bulk of my reading for during the summer. I might find time to read a book or two during the year or over Christmas or Spring Break, but for the most part, summer time is reading time.

I don't really know that I have a specific genre that I love. I really enjoyed the first few Janet Evanovich books (which are mysteries with some comedy and a love triangle thrown in). My favorite author is Nicholas Sparks (I won't call those books romance, because that brings to mind tawdry Harlequin romance. I will describe his books as love stories.), but I'm all caught up with him...I've read them all. As you all know, I am a big nerd. This, of course, means that I have also loved the Harry Potter and Twilight series (which, just in case you have fallen off the face of the planet, are fantasy...magic, vampires, suspense, and love). Last year, I was introduced to Dennis Lehane (he wrote Shutter Island and Gone Baby Gone), Jodi Picoult (she wrote My Sister's Keeper), and Jennifer Weiner (she wrote In Her Shoes). So, I'm kind of all over the place as far as genre is concerned.

Right now, I've got a list of books/authors that I have in mind. Here's what I've got so far:

~ The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: by Stieg Larsson
~ A Drink Before the War: by Dennis Lehane
~ Good in Bed: by Jennifer Weiner
~ Handle with Care: by Jodi Picoult
~ Bitter is the New Black: by Jen Lancaster

If you have heard anything about these books (or have ever read them yourselves), please let me know. If you have any recommendations for me, please pass them on as well. I know that some people swear by Jane Austen. But I figure if I've never enjoyed the movies, or even thought they were that interesting, that I wouldn't enjoy the books either.

I am relatively new to this whole "reading for fun" business (I didn't really start doing a lot of it until about 4 years ago). But I am SUPER excited about hearing what you guys are reading...or what you think of any of the books/authors on my list...or if you have any suggestions for me. So help me out, and let's get our READ on!!

Bizzle Dizzle...

2010-06-07T16:46:00.004-05:00

For those who may not keep up with Snoop Dogg the way that I do (you know, we're BFF's, right?), Bizzle Dizzle is just his way of saying "Birthday". There, now that everyone has had time to picture me and the D-O-double G hanging out, I'll move on...

Birthdays were always a big deal in our family. Now, they weren't the super expensive extravaganzas that people seem to have these days. But they were always done up right. We always had a theme with decorations and a cake to match. Mom was SO creative! I LOVED seeing what she would come up with. There were a few times that we got to have our parties at a place (our favorite party place was Crystal's Pizza), but for the vast majority of the time, we had our parties at home....and I loved every one of them. I've tried to carry on Mom's birthday party philosophy with my own kids, and so far I think I've done pretty well.

But right now, in honor of my 29th birthday, I want to take a little trip down memory lane with some of my favorite birthdays (I was going to have pictures, but unfortunately my scanner is not working. So, we'll just have to use our imaginations!):

~9 years old~ It had "the right stuff, baby". Yes, that's right...it was a New Kids on the Block theme!! We had plates and napkins to match, and my mom decorated the cake to look like the album cover. It was pretty awesome...

~10 years old~ Beach theme. The cake was a life buoy. The table cloth was a big turquoise beach towel. We had pails with all kinds of water/sand toys as favors. And what's even better is that the pink plates with the turquoise towel TOTALLY matched my pink and turquoise school t-shirt. Yeah, it was pretty rad.

~11 years old~ One of my all-time fav's. It was a black/white/polka-dot theme. The cups, plates, and table cloth were all white with black polka-d0ts (they had some color around the edges so they didn't all just blur together). I had a domino cake (white with Oreo dots), and we scattered black dominoes all over the table. It just turned out super cute!

~12 years old~ Summer theme. The cake was a giant pair of sunglasses. We handmade place mats in the shape of orange and yellow suns. It was on a back drop of a sky blue table cloth. We had fun plastic cups that we drank lemonade from. It was so sunny and happy...totally fit my personality, right?!

~13 years old~ Picnic theme. We had a table cloth made out of this cute material (red/white checkerboard with black ants all over it). The cake was a watermelon, and we drank out of mason jars.

~14 years old~ Cooper Cougars theme! It was the summer before I started high school, so we decorated with everything Cooper High School! I had a cougar paw print cake. We had the traditional cougar head with the mouth open, making a "C" place mats. We decorated with pennants and red/blue painted cowbells for making noise at the football games. It was greatness!

~18 years old~ It was oh-so-maturely decorated in lavender and sage green (which were the colors I was going to be using in my dorm room). And so, naturally, the decorations were all things that I would be using in the dorm: posters, bed spread, pillows, cups, etc. It was SO not a kid's birthday...it was just pretty!

Now, my kids know what their birthdays are like, and they've seen the pictures of my childhood birthdays. They just don't understand what happened. Why is it that grown-up birthdays are SO boring?! They just can't believe there are no decorations, no presents (well, maybe there will be one every once in a while), and if there is a cake, it certainly isn't a fun cake! I try to tell them that we just want their birthdays to be that much more special. But they're not buying it. They are SO not looking forward to being grown-ups...just for the boring birthdays!

Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't have pictures for this trip down memory lane. But hopefully some of you (Mom and Jenn for sure) will be able to remember, and hopefully the rest of you will be able to picture them. Either way, thanks for letting me reminisce as I get one year closer to the big 3-0!

Fascinating...

2010-06-04T17:19:00.002-05:00

Yikes. First, let me apologize for the long absence. The last few weeks of school tend to leave a person with their brains fried...zero creativity. But as I sit here watching Scooby Doo Alien Invaders with the kids, I'm feeling a bit inspired. I've mentioned before, that there are a couple of things that I believe in and find completely fascinating: aliens and ghosts.

With as awesome as I know God is, and as vast as this universe seems to be, I find it pretty naive to think that we're the only ones out there. Don't worry, I'm not going to get into any scientific or theological discussions right now...my brain just can't handle it. Instead, why don't we just talk about movies?! I know there are many others that I'm leaving off, so if there are any you'd like to add...with an antecdote of your own, please feel free!

Alien Movies

~ The Abyss = Not your typical alien movie, but it is pretty amazing, and it is one of my favorites. But the only way to watch it is if you watch the director's cut.
~ Close Encounters of the Third Kind = Not one of my favorites, but it is a classic. My 6th grade science teacher was also my homeroom teacher. During study hall he would play this movie (when he wasn't playing documentaries about JFK's assassination).
~ Contact = Again, not one of my favorites, but I did find it very intriguing.
~E.T. = A classic! And now, my kids like it, too!
~ Independence Day = Oscar caliber....no. Awesome....yes! "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!"
~ Star Wars (the entire collection) = Do I even need to say anything?
~ War of the Worlds = I'm SO not a fan of Tom Cruise, but I did really enjoy this movie!
~ Signs = One of the best! I jump every time!!
~ Spaceballs = Pure comic genious!!! "I see, your schwartz is as big as mine."

Ghost Movies

~ The Changeling = No, not the one with Angelina Jolie. This is an older movie. And it's a Halloween theater viewing tradition in Abilene. Cheesy and old...but a classic.
~ Ghost = Awe, I cry every time.
~ Ghostbusters 1, 2, & 3 = Good ghost watching, family fun. (not yet for my kids, though)
~ The Shining = Oh, man...am I right?! "Redrum, redrum, redrum!"
~ The 6th Sense = Really only awesome once. Still good to watch, but it will never be the same. Simply the best surprise ending ever.
~ The Amityville Horror = The old one is better, but the remake is more worth watching... just to see Ryan Reynolds chopping wood!
~ The Blair Witch Project = O. M. G. This was amazing when it came out! Kevin and I went to see it together, and we totally bought into it....totally thought it was real.
~ Beetlejuice = A classic. "oooOOOOooooOOH....uuuh, uuuh!" (Mom and Jaime, please tell me that quote made you laugh!)
~ Watcher in the Woods = Aahh, my first horror movie. And it was made by Disney! I watched it while on a Girl Scouts sleepover party at Embassy Suites. It was scary, and I LOVED it! Come to think of it, I need to watch it again. I don't think I've watched since I was 8 or 9. Oh, memories!

Alright, that's it. Here's hoping I get my blogging mind back quickly. But like I said at the beginning, please feel free to add to the lists. It's always fun to hear what everyone else has to say.

In Case You Were Wondering...

2010-05-20T17:44:00.002-05:00

WARNING! This post is not for the faint of heart. This post is for those of you that have been curious (maybe morbidly curious) about what a bone marrow biopsy involves. And after just having had a doozy of one today, I thought what better time than now to get into it.

First a little background info...
When I got my first one almost 4 years ago, I didn't know what to expect (and I think it was better that way). I had just gotten diagnosed with leukemia 30 minutes earlier, so I guess you could say I had a lot on my mind. But anyway, while it was a bit painful and quite uncomfortable, I think I was in too much of a shock to focus on that. All I really remember from it was feeling the rocking back and forth, the strange (but very quiet) sounds, and the mental image of a cork screw.

Now for the details...
Well, now I know what to expect each time...and it stresses me out. And I even have bad dreams for a few nights before. But anyhoo, back to the cork screw. Well, that's basically what it is! It makes perfect sense. They have to get into your bone, but they don't use a drill (I guess since this is a procedure that gets done over and over, a drill would leave far too big of a wound). So they use this tool that looks like a long and very thin cork screw. They numb the area (the back of your hip, right at the top of one of your butt cheeks) as much as they can, and then the Dr. starts twisting and screwing it in (hence the rocking back and forth I remember from my first time). As they go deeper, it becomes more painful (sometimes very sharp and sudden), and they stop and add more anesthetic. The sounds are the sounds of metal on bone, and you can't hear it as much externally as you can internally. Once they're in there, they take an even longer needle/syringe and send it down through the hollow center of the cork screw thing. They suck out a sample of marrow and remove the syringe. Then they insert another needle thing (which is best described as one of those things you see on the Sargento cheese commercials where they stick it in a wheel of cheese, twist it, and remove a cylindrical sample of the cheese) and they use that to remove a sample of the bone.

And as for today...
First, let me tell you about my Dr. He is a very kind middle-aged, Middle-Eastern man. Every time I see him, he asks about my parents whom he met maybe once, my sister and her twins, my brother who went to Afghanistan, my brother in the Navy (all of whom he's never met), and Kevin. He remembers those things very well and that is very comforting. However, he can't seem to remember saying the exact same things to me every time. For the first 3 years, every time I got a biopsy done, he would comment on my dense bones by saying (verbatim), "Wow, it must be that West Texas beef!"...every single time! Now, for the last year, the last 2 procedures I've had, we talk about Kevin Costner movies. It sounds completely random (and it is a little), but it all starts when he asks how Kevin is liking working for the post office. And then he says, "You know, Kevin Costner made that movie, The Postman..." And then he goes on and on about how weird and boring he thought it was, and so was Waterworld; but Dances With Wolves, JFK, and The Untouchables were great. Maybe he thinks he's taking my mind off of what he's doing...but he's not.

Once again, I digress. So we went throughout all of those conversations, was the biopsy itself. The numbing medication is never quite enough for my "dense West Texas" bones. I always have sharp, blinding, bursts of pain where he has to add more medication. The first couple of attempts were unsuccessful. There was apparently a lot of scarring on that area of bone which made the marrow very difficult to extract (that in and of itself was painful enough, but nothing I'm not used to). So he numbed a new spot and had more luck there. However, in order to do so, he had to climb onto a stool to get more leverage and use a larger/longer "cork screw". After he got in a little ways, I told him it was hurting quite a bit. He asked if I could just hang on, because he was almost there and it would be over soon if he didn't have to stop and get more anesthetic, so I said OK. So I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and tried to take deep breaths while he extracted a good sample of marrow (This, even on a good day, is the worst part. It's a painful, foreign sensation...like the opposite of a thick painful shot. You can actually feel it leaving your body.) A couple of tears came to my eyes, but I made it through. After that, they re-numbed for the removal of the bone sample, and that went off without a hitch.

So anyway, that's about it. I don't say all of this to complain at all...it is what it is, and I can take it. I don't say all this to get anyone to feel sorry for me, either...I'm very blessed, and I know that things can always be worse (and I'm thankful they're not). I just know that there are some people out there who have wondered and have never wanted to actually ask. So there it is. I'll be sore for a good 5 days, and I should hear something back in a week or two.

That's all for now...in case you were wondering!

Recipe Rut...

2010-05-15T10:36:00.004-05:00

I am in a recipe rut. Even though I've got lots of recipes, it's been hard to find something I want to cook lately. I'm either too tired and what I want will just take too much work, or nothing sounds good. So, I'm looking for something super tasty, something different from my usual, and something fairly simple and/or speedy to make. I thought maybe a recipe exchange might work.

I've participated in many things like this before: kitchen towels, cute underwear (new, of course), recipes, etc. And I've tried it in a couple of ways: old fashioned chain mail letters and email. They never worked out for me. I would contribute my portion, but I never once got anything in return. Well, now I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for better results by giving it a shot with my blog.

And, once again, I'll get the ball rolling. I'm going to go with delicious and easy to prepare dishes with some of my favorites from several recipe categories:

Main Dishes

4 Step Chicken
This is very simple, very quick, and it can be changed up in a variety of ways...

Step 1: Cook the chicken. (You can lightly dredge it in flour or bread crumbs if you want a slight crunch, or you can just season it on its own. But either way, you will cook it in a pan with a little bit of vegetable, canola, or olive oil.)

Step 2: Add the aromatics. (Remove the chicken from the pan, so it doesn't over cook. Add things like onions, garlic, herbs, and spices or any combination of them to the pan. Let it cook until tender.)

Step 3: Deglaze the pan. (Use chicken stock, lemon juice, or wine.)

Step 4: Finish the sauce. (Add a tablespoon of butter to the pan to slightly thicken the sauce. It will also add flavor and sheen to the sauce. Put the chicken back into the pan to soak up some of the flavors of the sauce for about 1 minute and then serve.)

Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 slices American cheese
1 bag frozen tater tots

Season and brown the ground beef (I like to add diced onion to mine). Put into 9x9 or 8x8 square baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spread enough of the soup (I like to use the cream of mushroom with roasted garlic soup) to cover the top of the beef. Place the cheese slices on top to cover the soup. Use enough tater tots to cover the cheese. Put in the oven for 35-45 minutes (or until cheese is melty and tots are crispy) at 350 degrees.

Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup
2-3 chicken breasts
1 small-medium white or yellow onion
1 can beef broth/stock
1 can chicken broth/stock
1 can tomato soup
1 can rotel
1/2 can water
1/2 can corn
1/2 can black beans (rinsed & drained)
dash Worcestershire sauce
small (3 oz.) cream cheese cut into cubes

Cook chicken, let it rest, and cut into cubes or bite sized strips. Saute onions until soft. Put all cans, Worcestershire sauce and cream cheese into a 4 quart pot. Add chicken and onions. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for 1 hour. Serve with strips of corn tortillas (or crushed tortilla chips), shredded cheese, and/or sour cream.

Desserts

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
1 stick butter
1/2 c. milk
2 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/4 c. peanut butter
dash vanilla
3 c. quick cooking oats

Melt butter in a 4 quart pot. Add milk, sugar, and cocoa. Stir completely, bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 2 minutes. Add peanut butter. Mix until smooth. Add dash of vanilla extract. Stir completely. Mix oats until combined. Remove from heat and drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool in refrigerator for 15 minutes, until set.

Lemon Cake
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 pkg. (3 oz.) lemon jello
3/4 c. water
4 eggs
3/4 c. vegetable oil

Mix cake mix and jello together in mixing bowl. Add water, eggs, and oil. Mix well. Pour into 13x9 pan or bundt pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let cool slightly. If using 13x9 pan, leave cake in pan. If using bundt pan, remove cake from pan and transfer onto a plate or cake stand. While still warm, prick full of holes and spread on glaze.

2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. lemon juice (warm the juice and the sugar will dissolve better)

OK people, it's your turn. I'm really hoping this works. I can't wait to try something new, simple, and delicious! :) :) :)

Word to your mother...

2010-05-09T13:35:00.006-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!! This is going to be a post in honor of all of the moms out there; both the ones I've known and the ones I never had the opportunity the know. But first...

Here's a video of Christina Aguilara's "I Turn to You". For those of you that don't know, it's a song that she did for her mother. You're welcome to watch the enitre video, but pay close attention to the section between 2.42 and 3.22 for these lyrics: "For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain, For truth that will never change, for someone to lean on. For a heart I can rely on through anything For the one who I can run to oh I turn to you!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbb2D4fL5Q8

Now, imagine that it was me singing it. Ahh yes...there it is...the effect I was going for. :)

Just some of the moms I know/have known

~My mom is amazing. I know that everyone says that their mom is the best (and I'm not going to take that away from anyone), but let me just say that my mom is better than your mom. :) Really, though, she is wonderful. She means the world to me. She is one of my best friends. If I'm half the mom she is, then I'll be doing a pretty good job. All of my best traits, I got from her (including my singing and dancing skills). I'm so proud to be her daughter.

~My sister is incredible. She tried for a long time to get pregnant, and when she did, it was twins! She is wonderful with those 2 boys. This is truly the happiest I've ever seen her. She is still her, shall we say "spunky" self, just a more joy-filled version. I'm so happy for her.

~My sister-in-law, Sheila, is another example of the kind of mother I want to be. She raises her kids with such a Christian spirit. She does her parenting with such joy, peace, and a sense of humor. And she has been an amazing help to Kevin over the years (what with all her praying and praying and praying).

~My mom friends at work help me stay sane. They understand the stresses and the guilt involved with being a full-time teacher, wife, and mother. They gripe with me, laugh with me, and they inspire me every day.

~My 2nd mom, Teena Wood. When I met my best friend in 3rd grade, her mom became a part of my life, too. She was such a fun, kind, and funny woman and she passed away almost 6 years ago. Every time I shake a mustard bottle or make snickerdoodles I think of her (only those who knew her will get that).

~And all of the other moms in my life: my aunts, my grandma Roth, my cousins, and my other sister-in-laws...you are all strong amazing women, and I am so blessed to have you.

The moms I didn't get a chance to know

~My grandma Mason. While she did get to know me when I was a baby, she died when I was so young that I don't remember her. I know the stories that my mom tells, and I see the pictures that she has, but I don't have any memories of my own. I think about how my mom and her sisters turned out, so I know she must have been amazing. I am convinced that she was my guardian angel as a child, and I pray that she would be proud of the mother that I am today.

~My mother-in-law, Beth. I never had the privilege of meeting her. Like my grandma, I've heard stories and seen pictures. She was a beautiful woman. The way her children talk about her, and the way their faces light up when they do is evidence enough for me that she was an incredible mother, too. I often think about what she would have thought of me. I imagine what it would be like to talk, laugh, and make meals in the kitchen with her. I wish I could have seen her with Hannah and Mason, and every day, I hope that she thinks I'm doing a good job with them.

So, again, Happy Mother's Day to everyone! And so we can end on a lighter note, just picture me singing that Christina Aguilera song again.

:)

Calling all Wine Snobs...

2010-05-03T22:59:00.002-05:00

OK, I know there are a lot of people out there in the world that LOVE wine. And I happen to know a handful of them...and at least a few of those read this blog. So, Kevin and I need help. We are looking to go beyond Arbor Mist (I know, I can hear the hisses, boos, and moans now). What we're looking for right now is red wine. Kevin's looking to lower his cholesterol (no, wine isn't the only thing we're doing on that front), and I'm looking to increase my classiness (as if that were even possible).

We found a wine that we like when we were out at dinner with a friend (how 'bout a shout out to our friend Elliott)...Riunite Lambrusco. We can find it at the local liquor stores and even at Walmart (which may mean that it's not so good after all). It's a chilled, sweet red wine which I think is more up our alley than a room temperature red.

But I think we may be open to trying some different reds...we just don't want to have to snurl our lips with every sip. So, to all of you wine-o's out there...please post a comment suggesting a good red wine or two.

Thanks!!! And happy drinking!

Firsts...

2010-04-24T22:44:00.002-05:00

Let's open up a little bit and talk about some firsts. I'll get the ball rolling, but then I want to hear some of yours, too!

First Celebrity Crush
Patrick Swayze...oh, man. I was in 2nd grade. I think it may have had more to do with the fact that my older sister, Jaime, and my mom had a thing for him. But I joined the band wagon, and I mean really...who wasn't on that band wagon back then. I got my first poster of him from my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Caples. There was some kind of "celebrities for education" program and he was the spokesperson one month. I guess I had mentioned my crush in class a few times, because when they got the new posters with the next celebrity for the next month, she gave me his. And looking back, as a 2nd grade teacher myself, I think that was probably pretty weird. I mean, I don't go around giving the girls in my class posters of Zack Effron or the Jonas Brothers, or anything. But then there was that one poster (you know the one I'm talking about) of him in the overalls, half undone, sitting down with his chest glistening with sweat...it was delightful.

First Kiss
This one's far too embarassing to publicly share. But there are several of you who will read this and remember me coming to you, describing how it happened, and asking, "Ugh...is his tongue really supposed to fill up your whole mouth and just flop around like a dying fish?!" It was NOT good.

First Job
After applying at literaly 32 different places, I walk in to turn in my application at Pizza Hut and get interviewed and hired on the spot. I started out as a CSR (customer service representative), better known as a "phone girl". Due to my incredible skills on the phone, I quickly move up to waitress. I was pretty awesome at it. I really had a great time at that job. I enjoyed almost all of the people I worked with (everyone but Paula...the day time buffet waitress...she was trashy and down-right mean). I made pretty good money on tips and even got a couple of phone numbers. The most shocking, though, was when I was waiting on this family of 5. Everthing went fine, I got an average tip, and while the mom was getting the 3 kids cleaned up and ready to leave, the dad came up to me (within eyesight of his wife) and gave me a napkin with his phone number on it and told me to call him sometime. I was floored! It was also the place I met Kevin. I was waiting tables when he came in to interview for a delivery position. I know, super cute isn't it? A waitress and a delivery boy...it's the stuff movies are made of.

First Date
Well, this one's tricky. What I thought was my first date was actually just me being friends with a guy who was in the closet. I didn't find out until the next year that it wasn't actually a first date...because that was when he came out...and then did my hair for prom! So, I guess my actual first date (as lame as it may be) wasn't until I was 17...my senior. year. I went to a movie with a guy named Dakota (who actually may be reading this right now, so that's kind of weird). Who knows, I may find out that it wasn't technically a date either. But anyway, he came to pick me up in his old white checker cab, which everyone called "The Shaggin' Wagon". So, there I was thinking Dad would be all tougher-than-nails. But actually, he went out front and talked cars for a few minutes before we actually left....no big deal. We went to the move had some good old fashioned "is he/isn't he...should I/shouldn't I" hand holding moments, and a sweet kiss at the door when he dropped me off. Not more than 2 weeks after that, I went on my first date with Kevin. And the rest, as they say, is history.

First Car
My first car was a '96 Ford Explorer. I bought it in 2000. I put $4,000 down (and that's the only time I've ever had money to put down on a car), and had payments of $230/month....pretty sweet. It was white with a tan leather interior. There was a 6 disk CD changer in the console with a remote to use for changing the CD's/songs. I really loved that car. It got me to and from Abilene and San Angelo for 6 months. It got me from back and forth between Denton and Lewisville for school and work. It made a drive to South Dakota and back, and it safely took Cakes and me on our 4,000 mile honeymoon road trip. It also carried me safely through my first 7 months of my first pregnancy. It was a great car.

OK, so you've all either learned a little bit more about me or taken a little trip down memory lane. Now it's your turn. What are some of your firsts?!

Words of Wisdom...

2010-04-20T17:50:00.003-05:00

Although I was never a big Aaron Tippin fan, I always thought the song "You've Got to Stand for Something....or you'll fall for anything" had a good message and was cleverly worded at that. When I stumbled across these little sayings today, that song came to mind. I think some of them are good....... or at least semi-witty and mostly true. And for a lack of anything else to write about (I've just been busy, what with the kids, school, the house, errands, meals, grading papers, Dr.'s appointments, meetings, and things like that), I thought this would suffice. I added some thoughts/examples in italics next to some of them...

* Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. (This is very similar to the traditional "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.")

* Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If life gives you lemons, squeeze the juice into a watergun and shoot other people in the eyes.

* If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. (example: "Hey, you cut your hair!" instead of "Wow, what did you do to your hair?")

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

* Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. (If I weren't such a naturally gifted dancer, I'd say that this was a philosophy of mine.)

* Always forgive your enemies....nothing could annoy them more.

* If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side. (Even when things are crappy, they could always be worse.)

* Everybody is somebody else's weirdo. (...except for me, of course)

* The early bird catches the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese.

* If you can't learn to do it well, try to learn to enjoy doing it badly. (Ahh, I really liked this one. Always try to have fun with what you do...whether you're good at it or not. Life's too short...let's enjoy it while it lasts!)

It's the Simple Things...

2010-04-10T23:23:00.002-05:00

"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honor; duty; mercy; hope."
-- Sir Winston Churchill

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
-- Antonio Smith

So this post isn't going to be anywhere close to as deep as either of these quotes, but it will be about some of the simple little things that have brought joy into my life recently...

~ Games: I had the pleasure of playing Catch Phrase for the first time....it is a very fast paced, loud, addicting, and fun game. I was also able to play Cranium last night with my husband, little brother, and friend. Now usually, Josh (my little brother) and I are an unstoppable force. But since neither Kevin nor Ashley were that into the idea of the game, we decided not to totally destroy them...we split up our game winning powers and played against each other. It was still fun...and, of course, my team won. And yes, I realize that it's not the games that were important. It's the time, interaction, and laughter with family and friends.

~ A 2nd Fridge: After about a year of coming home from the store and getting frustrated trying to cram everything into our fridge, or portion out some of the drinks, and only buying 1 gallon of milk at a time...we finally got a second fridge! No, it's not fancy. Kevin found it for $40 on Craig's List. But it does it's job. It is in the garage, and it holds all of the drinks that we can now buy in bulk, and it allows us to actually have room in our regular fridge. Is it lame that I find so much happiness in a 2nd fridge? But I guess it's not actually the fridge that's got me so excited, but it's a convenience...and one less thing to have to think about.

~ Nice Weather: The weather has been so nice these last few days! The kids have gone outside and played for hours (not all at once, but totaled throughout the day)! They have fought less and sweated/laughed more! Although I haven't been feeling well a lot of the time, I've managed to make it out there with them a few times. Trampoline, roller blades/scooters, and good old fashioned imaginative play...you can't beat that! And it's not the weather itself that has made me happy, but what the weather has allowed: good-natured fun (with less arguing and hurting each other), imagination, laughter, and smiles from the kids. Who wouldn't be happy about that?!

~ Texting/Facebook Wall Posts: Over the past few weeks, I have been doing more texting and posting on to people's walls on facebook. I was never a big fan of texting, but it's growing on me. I still don't know many of the texting short-hands, and I usually prefer to just type it the right way. But it is just a quick way to touch base with someone. It's the same thing with the facebook posts. It's a simple way (even if you're just leaving a sarcastic comment) of letting someone know that they're in your thoughts. Even though I'm not in the same town/state as some of these people, it's comforting to know they're never more than a click or two away. So, again, it's not really the technology that's doing something for me...it's the ease of staying in touch with your loved ones.

So to wrap things up, I think the unifying theme for all of these is: family, friends, and convenience. And the most important of these is convenience. JUST KIDDING! But it is nice, though isn't it?

Easter Weekend...

2010-04-02T21:39:00.004-05:00

Here's The Plan

Friday:
~ Take a 1/2 day from work and get the kids to Good Friday mass.
~ Get a head start on laundry.
~ Make delicious and colorful Easter sugar cookies.

Saturday:
~ Wake up early and get Mason to his soccer game.
~ Dye Easter eggs.
~ Get Hannah to her friend's birthday party.
~ Take care of last minute erands.
~ Make blackberry wine cake.
~ Make sweet tea.
~ Finish laundry.
~ Get Kevin to help me clean the house.
~ Hide the Easter eggs and the Easter baskets (complete with a series of riddles for the kids to use to find the baskets).
~ Go to bed at a reasonable hour.

Sunday:
~ Wake up early to find the previously hidden eggs and bakets.
~ Get everyone gussied up for Easter mass.
~ Get to church on time (which means early).
~ Go home and start a mini marathon of cooking a meal for 11-13 people: ham, rolls, broccoli rice casserole, green beans with bacon, mashed potatoes with gravy.
~ And have it all go off without a hitch.

Here's How it Really Happened

Friday:
~ I did take the 1/2 day from work, and I got the kids and myself to Good Friday mass. Apparently the church thought it was summer already...the AC was on full blast...the kids and I froze...and they complained the entire time.
~ I got a head start on laundry...not much else to say there.
~ The kids and I made sugar cookies. You might notice I left off the word delicious. Well, when we came to the part where we add the salt, I thought to myself "Wow...2 teaspoons is a lot of salt." So I checked and double checked the recipe. Yep, that's what it said. So, we make the cookies and we taste the dough. Something seems off, so I check the recipe again. Yep, 2 teaspoons. We roll, cut, bake, and decorate the cookies. OK, the frosting helped, but they're definitely a bit salty. So I check the recipe again (not that I can do anything about it now), and just as I thought (I can't believe I didn't see it before), the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Yikes!
~ I then look down at the floor to clean up the crumbs and sprinkles and I see that a drop of blue food coloring landed on my new pink Converse shoes! This sets me over the edge...I'm mad now. But with a little bit of elbow grease and a lot of Spray n Wash, you can barely see it. Crisis averted.
~ But from then on everything else I tried to do either ended up making a mess or frustrating me some other way.

Saturday:
~ We woke up early and got to Mason's soccer game just in time. His team won their 2nd game, and Mason scored his very first goal!!!
~ We dyed eggs without making a mess on the table or their clothes (quite an accomplishment with Hannah and Mason).
~ While Hannah was having a blast at her friend's party, Kevin, Mason, and I ran all the errands we needed to.
~ Kevin fixed the computer in Hannah's room, and then I: cleaned the whole house, continued the laundry, baked a cake, and made the tea while Kevin took a nap. I know, I shouldn't have expected anything else. But in all fairness, he did have to wake up for work at 5:45 (which means that I had to wake him up twice between 5:45 and 6:00).
~ I finished laundry, hid the eggs and baskets, and placed the clues where they belonged while watching a movie, and went to bed at 1:00 (I know...rediculous, right?)

Sunday:
~ I woke up at 7:00 to make orange rolls for breakfast.
~ The kids were up at 7:15 to find their eggs and baskets. They totally loved the riddles they had to use to find their baskets. They both said this was the best Easter ever (of course, that's what they say every year...but whatever). Then while eating orange rolls, they had a very meaningful conversation about Easter. (Here's just a sample) Hannah: Mason, did you know Jesus died for all of us? Mason: Yeah! And he came back to life...he's amazing!
~ We got dressed and ready...and got to church on time! The kids were apparently done being sweet and thoughtful, though. They whined and argued off and on throughout most of the mass. Not to mention Mason being a typical brother and stepping on the back of Hannah's heels on the way to communion
~ We got home, changed clothes, and I cooked from 11:30-2:20. Our company came over, we all enjoyed ourselves, and everything went off without a hitch!
~ I am now officially exhausted (more so than usual), and I can't wait until next weekend.

It was a VERY happy Easter!

Old Already...

2010-03-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

OK, here it is....I'm getting old. There, I said it. I know, I know. I'm only 28 (29 in June), and yes, I do realize that it's not actually old. But I also realize that the "getting old process" which started at the mere age of 21 is now in full swing!

So let's back track a bit to where all of this oldness started: that's right...kids. I had Hannah 1 month before I turned 22. And as we all know (whether you've actually got any or not), kids make you old. And Hannah specifically was enough to make anyone age a few years in the first two weeks! Then came the task of trying to finish school (summer school and student teaching included), with a newborn at home. So, we can add a couple more years there. I then graduated, taught my first year of second grade, and had Mason when I was 23. I know...it's alot...that's got to be another 3-4 years right there.

So, at that point my actual age was 23, but my "life age" was 32.

Now, let's skip ahead a few years to when my actual age was 26. I had 3 years of teaching under my belt (I think you get to tack on an extra year of age for every year that you teach), so that's 3 more "life years" as well. That is also the year I was diagnosed with leukemia. That in-and-of-itself is enough to add 5 years, but let's also take into consideration how old it makes me feel physically and how the average age of people with CML is 56, that's another 5 years...at least.

Are you keeping up? At that point I was 26, but my "life age" was 45.

So now that I'm actually 28, almost 29, all of this "life age" is starting to show. There's pretty much no amount of make-up that can make my eyes not look tired anymore. I'm starting to get the faintest of crows feet and some more defined laugh lines. I think my eyelids are sagging, too. So if we factor looks into the equation, I'd add a good 3 years there. And let's not forget that all this time, I've been married to and living with Kevin. I love him dearly, and he is amazing, but bless his heart...I think I can add a year of age for every 2 years we've been married.

So that's it. My actual age is 28, and my "life age" is 52. But let's look at the bright side, now that I'm done complaining:

*I look pretty darn good for 52.
*I have had enough fun, smiled enough, and laughed enough to have laugh lines at 28.
*I am married to a wonderful man. He's my best friend, a reliable source of laughter, and a constant companion so that I never have to be lonely.
*I have 2 terrific kids that I am so lucky to have. I see so many people that try to hard to get pregnant, and I truly, truly know how blessed I am to have them.
*I have a job that is stable and that I am good at. Don't get me wrong...I'm not tooting my own horn. I'm just saying, again, that I am blessed to have it.

So, I'm getting old....what else is new?!

Dear So and So...

2010-03-20T10:19:00.004-05:00

I feel the need, the need for.....sarcasm! So, I figure it's time for another Dear So and So post. Read, enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment or even your own Dear So and So letter...

Dear Rain,

I think I've had enough of you. I know that our ground really needs you, and that you're important...yada, yada, yada. But every time you come around, you make my joints hurt even more than they do on a normal day. Having my knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and fingers be so stiff and achy makes me quite grumpy. I don't appreciate it.

Tired and Achy,
Cakes

Dear Spring Break,

I've really enjoyed spending time with you. You've been both restful and fun. But it seems like you just got here. You don't really have to go, do you? I mean just a couple more days couldn't really hurt, could it? You came into my life at just the right time, and it just seems wrong to let you go so soon. But I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder. Please come back soon.

Already Missing You,
Cakes

Dear Luke,

Sometimes all I can do is roll my eyes and shake my head at you. You are one of the most annoying dogs in the world. Sure, you're cute...in an Ewok meets Gremlin kind of way. But cute's just not enough for me. I really need for you to stop peeing and pooping in the house. Yes, I admit you've gotten better, but come on! I know Kevin fell through on his whole "I promise I'll train him. I'll be home with him all the time" guarantee, but still.

Frustrated and Disgusted,
Cakes

Dear Date Night,

Why are you so elusive? I know people that seem to enjoy your company quite regularly. So what's wrong with us? We've come very close to finding you, but then at the last second, you get away. Why is it so easy for some, but so difficult for us? I understand that you probably like feeling rare, unique, and almost mysterious. But I'd really appreciate it if you eased up on the game of cat and mouse just a bit. I promise we're pretty fun, and we'd love it if you gave us the chance to get to know you.

Determined to Find You,
Cakes

Dear Summer,

I can't wait to see you again! It feels like it's been such a long time. Last time we were together, I know we didn't do much, but it was still great spending time with you. But I've actually got plans for our next visit, so it should be even better than last time! We've only got 11 more weeks to go. I know it seems like a long wait, but hopefully it will go by quickly.

Looking Forward to Our Reunion,
Cakes

Favorite Moments...

2010-03-19T10:56:00.002-05:00

The great minds of Salt-N-Pepa once said, "I wanna take a minute or two and give much respect due to the man who's made a difference in my world." Well, I would like to take some time to give my respect to quite a few more people than that. I am going to limit myself to listing only 1 or 2 moment(s) per person (which will allow a part 2 and maybe even a part 3 at some point). So here are some of my favorite moments with some of my favorite people...

Mom
~ Watching "9 Months" with her is great. When that delivery scene comes on, she and I start laughing hysterically before it really even starts getting good. And when it does start getting to its funniest parts, we laugh until we cry. It's the BEST!
~ I love when she and I are cooking together, or even just sitting in the kitchen together and just chit-chatting. It's very easy, comfortable, and safe. She is one of my best friends. It's very enjoyable for me, and it's one of my favorite parts about going home.

Dad
~ My High School youth group did a reenactment of Jesus' Stations of the Cross for church. I played one of the women that Jesus comforted and consoled (the 8th station). Anyway, with the music that we had, the lights dimmed, and the very obvious acting skills from all of us, it was very powerful. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. Afterward, he told me how moved he was and what a good job we did.

Brad
~ One day when he was home on leave, he surprised me by having lunch with me up at school. He sat there and ate lunch with me and my oh-so-cool friends just telling stories and answering their questions. And I think there was another time he surprised me by picking me up from school. There was just something cool about having my older, military brother spend time with me away from home.

Jaime
~ Playing Girl Talk. For those of you who don't know or don't remember, it was basically a board game version of truth or dare. Anyway, we would sit up in our room and play that silly game. If there was a question we didn't want to answer (like either of us had anything to hide at that point) or a dare we didn't want to do, the rule was that you had a take a zit sticker and put it on your face (like either one of us needed stickers to have zits). It was great fun, and the worst dare in that whole game was to eat a ketchup sandwich. I know it doesn't sound that terrible, but I tried and failed...I couldn't stop gagging...I had to take a zit!

Josh
~ Aside from the times he would beg to be dressed up like a girl, some of my favorite moments with him were when we were just hanging out. Maybe I was talking to him and his friends upstairs (yes, actually talking and not lecturing or guilting). Maybe he and I were just running errands for mom. Or maybe we actually went to a movie or something. It was during those times that I really felt like I was getting to know him as a person and not just as my brother. And I think it was those times that laid the foundation for our relationship as friends.

Kevin
~ My favorite moments with Cakes revolve around music and/or laughter. So when I do a part 2, it will be similar in that respect. But this time, I'll talk about our honeymoon (get your minds out of the gutter). We drove just over 3,000 miles, so we had lots of time in the car. We filled that time listening to (and singing to) great music. We figured out baby names. And we played a lot of 20 questions...which got to be a great source of laughter. We didn't have a set schedule, so we could stop when we wanted to stop, take pictures of things we wanted to take pictures of, and we could just be silly. It was the best vacation ever!

Well, I think that's all for now...it's already plenty long. If you are not represented here, don't freak out...you're still probably one of my favorite people. You'll just have to be patient and wait for part 2...or part 3...

Peace Out!

The Kids' Latest...

2010-03-16T10:41:00.004-05:00

MASON:
So, Friday nights are late night movie night for Hannah and Mason. They get to watch movies in mommy and daddy's room until they fall asleep...and Kevin and I get to watch whatever else we want in the living room. Well, this past Friday was one of those nights. Kevin and I are in the living room watching something (probably catching up on our DVR'd stuff from the week), and Mason comes running in. He says, "Daddy! Daddy! I've got a secret for you!)

Well, Mason is big on secrets. He loves to tell us sweet little secrets like "I love you", or "You're the best", and other things like that. And his secrets are never that secretive, since he hasn't mastered the art of whispering.

So naturally, we didn't think anything of it, and we were prepared to hear the usual. So Mason runs in and climbs up into Kevin's lap. He leans in to Kevin's ear, cups his hand around his mouth to really shield this secret from me, and in his loud "whispering" voice he says, "I tooted on Hannah's face!"

At first Kevin and I are speechless. But that quickly turns into Kevin's typical kind of hysterical laughter where he can't help but writhe in his chair. And I (being the grown up) try to stiffle my laughter and tell him that that was not nice, and he should not be doing that. So, he just runs back to our bedroom laughing all the way.

Well, not more than 2 minutes later he comes back into the living room. He says, "Do I have to go to bed now? Hannah's asleep." We say, "No, you can stay up a little later." And then it dawns on us. I say, "Mason, was Hannah asleep when you tooted on her?!"

With the cutest devilish look on his face he says, "Noooo". And he giggles mischieviously as he runs away.

OMG! What a normal, disgusting brother he is!!

HANNAH:
So, Im bringing Hannah home from school one day last week. As we're driving down the road, she says, "Mommy? If you saw a tiger, would it try to eat you?"

Well, as random as that was, I give her a straight answer. "Well, honey, it depends". Not wanting her to be afraid when we go to the zoo I say,"If we were at the zoo, no it wouldn't try to eat me. It would be in its cage, and I would be a safe distance away. That would not happen." But also trying to be honest, I explain, "But if I were in the jungle, and it was just me and the tiger...then, yes. After all, I'm just meat to a tiger."

She looks and sounds confused when she says, "What do you mean, you're meat?" I say, "Well, people are just another kind of animal. Tigers eat other animals for their meat. So, I'm sure it would just look at a person as another animal...as meat."

She still looks and sounds confused when she says, "Oh. Well, I knew we were beans. But not meat."

Now I look and sound confused when I ask, "Honey, what do you mean you knew we were beans?"

She matter-of-factly says, "You know...we're human beans."

OMG, I fought back the laughter and the urge to just gush about how cute she was, and I explained "Oh, you mean human beings. The word is be-ings...not beans."

To this, she gives me the standard "Uncle Joel face" (for those of you who don't know, it's pretty much just a look of puzzlement mixed with shock and frustration at how stupid the other person is) and tries to wrap her mind around the word. "Be-ings?! Really? Huh. That's a wierd word."

I'm thinking really? The fact that you thought we were beans was OK, but realizing we're meat and learning a new word is too much for you?

Writer's Block...

2010-03-10T17:55:00.005-06:00

So, does it count as writer's block if you can't think of anything to blog about? I really don't think it does, but that's what it feels like. Even though I'm pretty sure it just has more to do with the fact that my brain is completely and utterly fried. I have never been so ready for Spring Break before!

I've sat with this laptop just staring at the screen day after day. I've got several started and unfinished blogs. I've just got nothing worthwhile to say. I know how disappointed you all are! I can just see your concerned faces and hear your worried thoughts. But let me assure you, I will be alright. I'm sure after a few days of no school, my mind will be refreshed and ready to go! Plus, let's not forget the fact that February was a big blogging month for me. I did write 6 incredibly thoughtful, sarcastic, and funny blogs in one short month. I don't want all my fans to get too greedy. :)

Anyway, that's enough of my fake ego. I just didn't want you to think I was slacking. I just can't seem to pull myself out of this writing funk!

I'll leave you with this: A guy walks into the psychiatrist's office wearing only Glad Wrap shorts. The shrink says, "Well, I can clearly see you're nuts."

:)

Autobiography...

2010-03-01T20:15:00.003-06:00

Once again, I'm stealing an idea from someone else. My wonderful brother-in-law, Joel, included a section in his latest blog where he listed some titles for the chapters of his life so far. I thought I'd give it a try...

Don't Stop Believin' ... A Musical Memior

Chapter 1: My Girl (by The Temptations) = Welcoming baby Tracy to the world....everything from how adorable I was to the adorable things I used to say
Chapter 2: We Are Family (by Sister Sledge) = Growing up Roth....everything from being abused and neglected by my older siblings and having my creativity stifled with coloring books to favorite memories...like game nights and ghost hunts
Chapter 3: A Little Help From My Friends (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) = This section will be devoted to those friends that have been in my life since elementary, middle, and high school)
Chapter 4: Your Love Endures (by Third Day) = Truly discovering my relationship with Christ for the first time....my experiences in my wonderful youth group and confirmation class
Chapter 5: Amazed (by Lonestar) = meeting, dating, falling in love with, and marrying Kevin....and how much my parents loved him from the very start! ha-ha!
Chapter 6: It Won't Be Like This For Long (by Darius Rucker) = Motherhood....the good, the bad, and the very often ugly....but also funny
Chapter 7: ABC (by The Jackson 5) = Teaching....I'll try to do the job justice, so that people know just how hard it is...yeah, yeah, it's rewarding...but that's not nearly as fun to read about
Chapter 8: I Will Survive (by Gloria Gaynor) = Leukemia....being diagnosed and living with it...what it's like, and how blessed I still am
Chapter 9: Family Tradition (by Hank Williams Jr.) = My grown-up relationship with my family...who are now also my friends...and the importance of traditions
Chapter 10: Lean On Me (by Bill Withers) = My friends from my Denton life....the love, support, and most of all...the laughs
Chapter 11: I Can Only Imagine (by MercyMe) = Thoughts, prayers, and hopes for the future....God has a path and a plan for all of us...what will the rest of mine be?

So there it is...the best I can come up with for now. I would, of course, include a CD with my book that had these as well as other songs that have helped color my life.

:)

Deep Thoughts...

2010-02-25T23:22:00.003-06:00

Do you remember that segment they used to have on Saturday Night Live..."Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handy"? Then you also know how they weren't actually deep thoughts at all, just random weird thoughts. Well, these aren't really going to be like that. They are going to be more on the serious side of things.

~Inadequacy or Humbleness~ Definitely inadequacy. I am confident that I am pretty decent at most of the things that I do. But I don't think I can honestly say much more than that. Some people might call that being humble. But isn't being humble when you down play the fact that you know you're really good at something? Well then, that isn't the case for me. Not that I'm feeling sorry for myself, either. I've come to terms with that fact.

~I am very fortunate to never have experienced deep personal loss. I've lost the parents of some friends of mine (one of which was like a 2nd mom to me). 3 of my grandparents died when I was too young to remember them. My aunt died 2 1/2 years ago, but with her in South Dakota and us in Texas, we never had a chance to get close. Kevin's uncle died last year. And the daughter of a cousin of mine died when she was a baby. I only met her once, but I did feel a connection with her. This is not to say that I wasn't VERY sad and affected by these. But I just know that what I felt is nothing like what the children, parents, brothers, and sisters of these people felt. And with all of this, I've only ever been to 4 funerals. Yes, I cried a lot at each of them, but like I said, it doesn't compare to the ones that were truly truly close to these people. And for that I am thankful.

~Inspirations~ I get inspired by a lot of things. Sometimes a good song or even a movie will do the trick. Although I don't do it often enough, when I read the Bible I am inspired and filled with hope. When I go to church, I leave feeling inspired and at peace. But mostly, I get inspired by people. My kids inspire me to be a better mom, because they deserve the most that I can give them. My mom inspires me (by having modeled it my whole life) to be a better wife, mother, sister, and Christian. My dad inspires me to take pride in my work and never to do things half-assed, as he would say. My friends inspire me to find the humor in all of the crap that each day brings. Sheila and Joel inspire me to strengthen my personal relationship with Christ while not letting go of my sense of humor and sarcasm. Kevin inspires me to believe in myself and not take myself for granted.

~Peace Maker or Push Over~ I don't know. I tend to bottle up my frustrations. I do this usually because, I figure it's not worth the confrontation. I don't do well with confrontation. I suck it up, and move on. There are a few things that I try to stick to my guns about, though. But even then, I feel like I end up giving in more often than not. So rather than fight (or in my case, cry) about it, I leave it alone, and get quiet and pouty. So am I a peace maker, because I avoid conflict, ignore a lot of things, and accept the fact that I'm not going to get my way? Or am I a push over because I back down and put up with things that I don't want to argue about? I think the jury's still out on that one.

~I believe in making the world safe for our children, but not our children's children, because I don't think children should be having sex.

........OK, that one wasn't mine. That was Jack Handy's. But I figured we could use something light-hearted to bring this post to a close.

:)

It Happens...

2010-02-20T11:05:00.004-06:00

A few of these things might be better under the category sh*@ happens, but I didn't think that would be very appropriate. Anyway, here goes...

~There are 2 grown adults that I'm pretty sure could benefit from a good slap across the face. They repeatedly frustrate me. Oh well...it happens.

~Today I was nice enough to get donuts for the kids. After I pay, Hannah starts to get teary-eyed because I won't let her get chocolate milk...even though we have milk and chocolate syrup at home. I tell her to be grateful for what she's getting. When we get home and I make their milk extra chocolatey, she spills ever so slightly which gives Mason 1/2 a sip more than her. And in her whiniest of whiny voices she says, "Awwwe, Mason has moorrre than me!" I just ignore it and think, "You know what Hannah? I love you, but it happens."

~As soon as I start feeling better from my rib infection (yes, that's right...a rib infection), my neck, back, and knees start killing me again. And my sinuses flair up. ..... It happens.

~Almost every night Mason cries when we force him to eat even the tiniest amount of vegetables. Now, we're not talking brussel sprouts and spinach here. We're talking buttery corn, salad with lots of ranch, broccoli and carrots with pasta in a cheesy sauce. He knows the deal...you eat what we eat (at least a little bit). Yet every night, he seems surprised that we're actually making him do it. Come on, Mason...every night...it happens.

~I love writing this blog and my notes on facebook. It's very intrinsic, fun, and sometimes therapeutic for me. But no matter how much I tell myself I'm just doing it for me, I get very disappointed when I don't get the comments I wanted. I need to keep telling myself, "It's OK...it happens."

But GOOD things happen, too!

~Just when you think that all 19 of these 2nd graders have lost their minds, one of them replies with a "Yes, ma'am"...or actually says "Thank you". Really! It happens.

~One minute I'm pleading with Hannah and Mason to get their rooms clean. The next minute, they come to me and say, "OK, I did it. Do you want me to do anything else?" ... It happens.

~Just when I spend a week in pain thinking I'm going to need to have my gallbladder removed, it turns out to be a bacterial infection that was easy to treat with a $4 Kroger medication. It happens!

~Every day this week, Hannah came home with some kind of prize/token for good behavior. She had a reward ticket, a sticker, a pencil, a positive note, and the grand prize of having lunch in the classroom with her teacher. She said, "Wow, Mommy! This week was so good, I think I'll do my best more often!" Ah yes, the light bulb finally turned on. It happens.

~Mason started soccer this week. He's actually excited about getting exercise. I hope his excitement lasts. The cycle of laziness may be ending. (Knock on wood...cross your fingers) It happens.

Favorite Movies...

2010-02-14T19:55:00.001-06:00

I started this post as one of my 25 Random Things. And as usual...I got carried away. But here are some of my favorite movies by certain actors/actresses...in no particular order. It's all I've got for now, but feel free to give some other names that I can comment on now...or tell me some of your favorites by these same people!

~ Hugh Grant: Nine Months, Music and Lyrics, Love Actually, Notting Hill, Two Weeks Notice, Bridget Jones Diary

~ Sandra Bullock: Miss Congeniality, While You Were Sleeping, The Proposal, A Time to Kill, Hope Floats, The Blind Side (even though I haven't seen it, yet)

~ Matthew McConnaughey: A Time to Kill, How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days, TheWedding Planner, Dazed and Confused, We Are Marshall

~ Tom Hanks: Turner and Hootch, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, A League of Their Own, Big, Toy Story

~ Will Ferrell: Old School, Anchorman, Elf, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers

~ Meg Ryan: Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, City of Angels, In the Land of Women, Top Gun

~ Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, Notting Hill, My Best Friend's Wedding, Runaway Bride, Steel Magnolias, Stepmother

~ Richard Gere: An Officer and a Gentleman, First Knight, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, The Jackal

~ Ryan Reynolds: Definitely Maybe, Just Friends, The Proposal, Waiting, Wolverine

~ Drew Barrymore: Everafter, Music and Lyrics, Boys on the Side, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer

~ Vince Vaughn: Old School, Wedding Crashers, Dodge Ball, The Breakup, Four Christmases

~ Adam Sandler: 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, Billy Madison, Happy Gillmore, Spanglish, Big Daddy

~ Ben Stiller: Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Along Came Polly, Tropic Thunder, The Heartbreak Kid

~ Diane Keaton: Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride 2, The Family Stone, Something's Gotta Give, The Other Sister

~ Claire Danes: Little Women, Romeo and Juliet, Le Miserables, Brokedown Palace, The Family Stone

~ Jennifer Aniston: Office Space, Rock Star, Bruce Almighty, Along Came Polly, The Breakup

25 Random Things (part 3)...

2010-02-12T10:14:00.005-06:00

So, I realize this is only the first time for me to do this on my Blog, but it is part 3 for all of my facebook friends. Basically, it's a lot like a lot of my other random posts, but it's going to be exactly 25 things this time. OK, here we go...

1) I LOVE how my kids have begun to develop the same love of music that Kevin and I have. They both love to sing, although Mason's idea of singing is more like humming with a word or two thrown in for good measure. They both seem to appreciate a variety of genres of music. And neither one of them can manage to hold still when a good song is on...just like their mommy (I never quite could stop my booty from shaking)!

2) My pet peeves: negativity/bad attitudes, inflexibility/unwillingness to change things, rudeness/meanness, and disrespect.

3) I don't really have a "passion" in life. I see people on TV shows that drop everything to pursue their dreams: singing, being a Dr., acting, cooking, dancing, playing a sport, etc. I don't really have anything that I enjoy that much, or that I'm that good at. I guess you could say that my passion is my family and friends. I would do anything for them...does that count?

4) There is a State Farm commercial that makes me cry every time. Here's a link, in case you haven't seen it...or could just use a good cry: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fW8jMWiLXo

5) One of my favorite songs on the radio right now is Ima Be by the Black Eyed Peas. Ooh when that song comes on, I can't help but dance! My heartfelt apologies go out to all of the drivers who have seen me shamelessly groove to this song while driving (keeping 1 hand on the wheel and my eyes on the road, of course).

6) I used to be really in to bras. In High School, that was my splurge. I worked, and I didn't have bills, so occasionally I would just go buy new pretty bras just because. Trust me, no one was seeing them. It was just a little something I did for myself. Now I just can't bring myself to spend the money on new bras unless the ones I've got are virtually falling apart. It doesn't matter if I've lost weight and "the girls" are merely swimming in the old bras. It's still hard for me to rationalize spending the money on myself. What happened?! Why did shopping for myself (not just with bras, but any new clothes/shoes) go from something I felt good about to something I feel guilty about?

7) Cellulite...check. Rolls when I sit...check. Jiggling even after I stop moving...check. The knowledge that if I just worked out from time to time some of that would go away...check. The desire to do anything about it....NOPE!

8) I confess...I have no desire to see Avatar. GASP! I know, I know. I'm sure it's good in it's own way, for what it is. Yes, I know the concept. Yes, I know the special effects are amazing. But I'll just wait for the DVD to see blue people with tails that can plug themselves into things, thanks.

9) Words that I spell using "tricks": together (to get her...by my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Webb), bananas (in the song Holla Back Girl by Gwenn Steffani), dessert/desert (I want 2 desserts, so dessert has 2 s's), principal/principle (your principal is your "pal")

10) I think I thrive on being busy. I am far more productive during the school year when I have so many things going on at the same time than I am during the summer. I think it forces me to have a schedule that I have to stick to. There are deadlines that have to be adhered to, and it makes me get things done. However, even if I make myself a schedule during the summer, in the back of my mind I know that it's not a real schedule, and if I don't stick to it it's no big deal. So, I often let things go, forget what it is I'm supposed to be doing, etc.

11) That being said, if my schedule/calendar/to do list is not right in front of me...it's forgotten. As soon as I step out of my classroom, if someone asks me what's happening later that week, I can't tell them. If the groceries are not on the list, they don't get bought. My life is on Sticky Notes!

12) The kids have really gotten into all of the old school cartoons lately. They're on Boomerang. You know, Tom & Jerry, The Jetsons, and The Flintstones? Crazy, huh?

13) How surreal is it for shows that I watched as a kid (The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, etc.) to be playing on Nick at Nite?! I mean, when I was a kid, Nick at Nite was a place for black and white shows like Donna Reed and Leave it to Beaver (which aired 30 years prior). But now a mere 20, 15, and in some cases less than 10 years later classifies a show as being old enough for Nick at Nite. What's wrong with that picture? I'm not that old, yet!

14) I like to multi-task. Sometimes it's actually true multi-tasking like when I'm grading papers, watching TV, and making sure the kids are brushing teeth and getting ready for bed all at once. But sometimes it leads to starting one task, getting bored with it, switching to another task until I get bored with it, etc. But, if I do end up doing something like that I won't ever just leave those things unfinished. I won't let myself stop until all of them are done.

15) My wedding was a perfect day. Sure, Dad cried so much that he had to have is pictures retaken after the ceremony. Sure, I ended up with what looked more like weeds than flowers on my cake. Sure, my boquet was mostly white roses with a few lavender ones sprinkled in when it was supposed to be the other way around. But it was truly a wonderful, blessed, joyful day in which I think everyone was in good spirits and enjoyed themselves.

16) I was a terrible Matron of Honor to my sister. Unfortunately at that time, Hannah was just at baby. And anyone who knew Hannah as a baby know that that means she was crying...all of the time! I spent a good chunk of my time at Jaime's wedding shower upstairs nursing Hannah. My brother-in-law, Joel, had to keep Hannah in the cry room at church during the ceremony, because the wouldn't stop crying. And I missed almost all of the reception, because Hannah was STILL crying. Sorry, Jaime!

17) I've always wanted to go to: New York (heck, all of New England), Italy (especially Rome, Venice, and Florence), California, Africa (on a real safari), and Hawaii.

18) The kids got hamsters for Mason's birthday (and an early birthday for Hannah). Their names sound like a folk band from the 70's...Bootsie and Cotton.

19) Kevin, his brother, and a friend or 2 are going to Canton, OH to see Emmitt Smith smith be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in August. I'm quite jealous...but it'll be good for him to have a guy's trip.

20) I've forgotten what it feels like to just feel good.

21) I worry that I let my health effect those around me too much. As much as I try not to let it affect the kids or my work, it just does. I'm tired, so I'm not as active with the kids as they'd like. When I don't feel good, I can be cranky...I know I let it out on Kevin (sorry about that, Cakes), but I hope I don't come off as irritable at school, too.

22) It's taken me quite a while to finish this post, because I got side tracked with an idea for another post. (I know, the suspense is killing you, isn't it?)

23) I'd like to have all of the Harry Potter DVD's for my collection. I had been thinking I'd just wait until they all came out and ask for the boxed set as a gift....but then I just realized how expensive that might be. So to anyone reading this that is someone who gives me gifts, maybe giving me 1 DVD per gift giving occasion might be a better idea.

24) I'm on a "bland" diet per Dr.'s orders right now, which of course means that I have serious cravings for: a double cheeseburger from McDonalds, a butterfinger Blizzard from Dairy Queen, a cuban sandwich from Hooters, and some white chocolate cupcakes from Candy Haven.

25) I'm anxiously awaiting Mom's next 25 random things note on facebook.

Top 5

2010-02-10T11:23:00.000-06:00

When I first got into facebook, I did a lot of different Top 5 ideas. I did it using their "flair" application, which gave each of my top things a cute picture/button. Well, I'm not going to go through the trouble of finding pictures for my top things here. I will, however, enlighten you with my oh-so-thrilling thoughts/justifications/stories that go along with them.

~ TV Shows ~
1. Lost = (One of the smartest, most interesting, and most frustrating shows ever made.)
2. Friends = (I can watch the reruns of this show and laugh just as hard, if not harder than I did the first time.)
3. The Cosby Show = (I appreciate this show more now than I ever did when I was a kid.)
4. Grey's Anatomy = (This show never fails to make me cry.)
5. 24 = (Such a creative concept...and Jack Bauer kicks a**!)

~ Funniest Movies (...well, it's hard to pick just 5) ~
OK, I don't have a story to go with each of these, and if I think about it for much longer, the list will keep changing, because there are just so many movies that I love to laugh at. However, I will say that there appears to be a bit of a theme...Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Vince Vaughn...except Space Balls which is just a classic that no top 5 list would be complete without
1. Old School
2. Role Models
3. Wedding Crashers
4. Anchor Man
5. Space Balls

~ Ribbons I Wear (...or would wear if I had them) ~
1. Purple: domestic abuse = (This is in honor of my Aunt Pam who was abused for many years and was shot and killed by her husband. And for all of the others who have endured abuse...and to those who currently are, in hopes that they get out before it's too late.)
2. Yellow: support our troops = (This is in honor of my brothers who proudly serve in the Navy and the Army, my father who was a US Marine...as well as all of the other men and women who have, do, or will serve.)
3. Pink: breast cancer awareness = (This is in honor of my Aunt and Godmother Eileen, my friends and co-workers from school, my mother-in-law, and all of the other women who have battled this disease.)
4. Pink/Blue: pro-life = (This is for all of the babies that have had their lives taken away from them, and for all those who have had their lives cut short due to the decisions made by others, including: euthanasia, the death penalty, and other forms of murder...it is not our place to decide who should die or when they should die.)
5. Orange: leukemia awareness = (Although I wasn't very aware of this until I was diagnosed myself, this would be more specifically in honor of those who have not responded to treatment and have a far more difficult time with it than I do...especially the children)

~ Chick Flicks that Make Me CRY ~
1. Steel Magnolias = (According to several quizzes, I'm a Shelby. How can you watch this movie and NOT cry?)
2. The Notebook = (Also one of my very favorite books...such a wonderful love story.)
3. PS I Love You = (A recent addition to this list. I just love the idea of it. It's romantic and heart breaking all in one. Plus, it's got some pretty good eye candy!)
4. Terms of Endearment = (An oldie, but a goodie. Although there seems to be a lot of cheating going on, I can't help but love it. And OMG, when Deborah Winger is saying good-bye to her kids in the hospital?! It kills me every time.)
5. Sleepless in Seattle = (This is one that if I come accross it on TV, I can't change the channel...it's just too good. I mean, it was like, "magic".)

~ Chick Flicks that Make Me LAUGH ~
1. While You Were Sleeping = (This is a favorite quote source for my family. We often use quotes from this movie in every-day conversation. "These mashed potatoes are so creamy".)
2. The Holiday = (This one could actually be on both lists...actually all of these could be (have I mentioned that I cry all the time?)...however, it has more laughing moments than crying ones, so I think it qualifies.)
3. Music and Lyrics = (I LOVE Hugh Grant. His quirky British ways get me every time. I can't get enough of his little motor cycle dance!)
4. The Proposal = (Another recent addition. But I LOVE Sandra Bullock. This is one of her bests. And you get to see Ryan Reynolds in almost all of his glory...I mean, really!)
5. 50 First Dates = (Kind of cheesy/funny, but I still love it!)

~ Books ~
OK, so I cheated. I had to do 7 to try to make up for the nerd factor here. But once again, you will notice a theme: Harry Potter, the Twilight series, and Nicholas Sparks books. I can't help it! They're well written, entertaining, suspenseful in different ways, and just fun to read. And well, Little Women is just about the only "classic" that I enjoy.
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
2. The Notebook
3. Breaking Dawn
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
5. Eclipse
6. The Choice
7. Little Women

Well, that's all for now, but don't be surprised if you see another Top 5 posting in the future. It was fun to write, and I hope it's fun to read.

How about you? Any Top 5's you want to share?!?!?

Time Flies...

2010-02-03T18:58:00.002-06:00

~ My little Mason will be 5 years old tomorrow. How can it be possible?! I know it's a cliche, but sometimes it really does seem like only yesterday that he was a baby. First it's gonna be dismissal from speech, then it's going to be Kindergarten in a few months. Next thing you know he's going to be playing High School football, going to parties, and having girls flocking to him left and right!

~ No matter how good or bad, or how slowly a school year seems to be going at the time...before you know it, you're planning the 5th 6 weeks and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

~ Just when you think that you've got plenty of time to get everything done, time is suddenly up, and you didn't get half of what you wanted to accomplish done! I've got a to do list that seems to get 3 things crossed off and 4 things added on!

~ My best friend from all the way back in 3rd grade is having a birthday today. It really got me thinking...and I just can't believe she's been a part of my life for 22 years! Happy Birthday, Jenn!

~ Kevin first came into my life 11 years ago, when he walked into Pizza Hut in Abilene. I was a waitress, and he was a delivery driver. We were friends right away...I couldn't get enough of his sense of humor and love of great music. It only took 2 months for us to start dating, and I've had the huge (and annoying) task of waking him up ever since (although back then it was through many a repeated phone call...and I do mean many)!

~ The greatest show ever made (Lost, in case you didn't know) started it's final season last night. It's an amazing show that never ceases to amaze and frustrate me every week. I can't wait to see what it has in store. And I can't believe it's been on for 6 years already!

Anyway, whether your having fun or not, time sure seems to have a way of slipping right through your fingers. These are just a few of the realizations that have come to me in the past day or 2, but they really help you to see how important it is to make the most your time while you've got it. Do the things you love with the people you love...everything else can wait (at least for a little while).

**I choose to take my advice from Ellen DeGeneres: "Procrastination is not the problem. It is the solution. It is the universe's way of saying stop, slow down, you move too fast. Listen to the music.....so procrastinate now, don't put it off"!