After the fun of celebrating my birthday on Friday night, we decided to stay in on Saturday. That is until the afternoon when both girls got VERY bored and started talking about places we could go. Lexy even went as far as to write out her own list of things to do. So we got dressed (yes we were all still in jammies!) and headed up to do the first thing on Lexy's list which was to ride the escalators at the mall...what you don't go to the mall to do that??? Considering that the money situation is tight right now we thought the escalator idea was excellent! We went up and down the escalators about a dozen times and looked in a couple of stores and then headed to our next destination which was dinner. We decided on Denny's...kids eat free on Tues. and Sat. nights you know! After dinner we finished our evening by visiting Toys R Us (another place on Lexy's list) where the girls "shopped" for Christmas ideas while we took notes. A very inexpensive but fun afternoon!
On Sunday I had my orientation at Target from noon to 3pm so I knew I had to be organized to get everything done. After cleaning the bathroom and straightening the living room/kitchen I started dinner in the crockpot. Then I made my grocery list, all before leaving. The orientation went fine, it ended up lasting only about 2.5 hours and most of that was spent watching a very boring video on how to say "can I help you find something?" and safety tips (so you didn't poke your eye out or cut a finger off like the people in the video). The only thing that I'm not really going to like about this job is the fact that they don't have set schedules, you just work whatever they put you on the schedule for...so with my first schedule I will have to miss Lexy's last soccer game and one of Brooke's football/cheer games...doesn't make for a happy mama!! I went to the grocery store on the way home and was so happy that dinner was already almost done thanks to the crockpot. I fixed the rest of the dinner and we sat down to eat...
Now, I have been trying a couple of new recipes every week since the beginning of the year and we had yet found one that was inedible...until last night!!! I had made an orange chicken recipe that I found online and even though Dad & Karen had given me a recipe that they had tried that was very good I choose to try the one I found...mistake! After the first bite I knew that we would be visiting the fine dining establishment of Sonic for dinner :-) Oh well one out of the dozens...could be worse!
Monday, September 28, 2009
My Birthday
I had a great birthday this year! My dad and Karen (Papa & Grammy) came down and we all went to my favorite bbq restaurant for dinner (my mom and Tom were suppose to be there but mom had to work) and then went back to our house for presents and to eat the most chocolately cake that I've ever seen or tasted (thanks Karen!). I got a necklace/earring set from Brooke, a huge dark chocolate bar from Lexy, a mug filled with flavored hot cocoas and chocolates from Papa & Grammy and a gift certificate for a pedicure and $ from Mom & Tom. I got my present from Mike awhile back when the laptop I wanted went on sale :-)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Robin is a good BFF!
This morning Robin took me out for breakfast and surprised me with this great gift for my birthday...
She included all my favorite things! In the beautiful box, there was chocolate and candy and a frame and some scrapbooking stuff and a craft book and magazine and smell-um-goods, etc....she really outdid herself at making me feel special!
Robin and I have been friends for about 8 years now and I am SO blessed to be able to call her my best friend. We always have a great time together and she is someone that I know I can count on at anytime. She's there if I would need her in an emergency, for a shoulder to cry on, to celebrate something or to just have a laugh with. I think I would probably go insane without her...possibly we'll go insane together and share a little white padded room :-)
Thank you Robin for being an awesome BFF!!!
Focus Friday
Last weeks goals...
1.) Walk/organize and get EVERYTHING listed on Craigslist. Still doing these, I only have a couple more items to get on Craigslist!
2.) More interviews and hopefully get hired for a part time job. If I do get hired, contact the adoption agency to get things started! Got hired on at Target and will do orientation on Sunday. I'd really prefer something closer and with better hours for my family but I'm going to take it with jobs being so scarce around here! Once I get started I will contact the adoption agency!
3.) Enjoy my birthday. I will try to enjoy it....birthdays just aren't as much fun when you're an adult! But Robin is taking me out to breakfast and then Mike, the girls and my dad & stepmom are taking me to dinner.
4.) Buy at least one more Christmas gift. I've been trying to buy one or two a week to get a start on the season. This one didn't get done since there was no extra money :(
This weeks goals...
1.) Continue to walk and organize the house. Sell as many things that are listed on Craigslist as I possibly can to get them out of here!!
2.) Try to get a rountine down for working without feeling guilty. On the evenings I work I won't have much time at all with the girls and none with Mike and I won't be here to fix dinner.
3.) Buy my mom's b-day present.
4.) idk
1.) Walk/organize and get EVERYTHING listed on Craigslist. Still doing these, I only have a couple more items to get on Craigslist!
2.) More interviews and hopefully get hired for a part time job. If I do get hired, contact the adoption agency to get things started! Got hired on at Target and will do orientation on Sunday. I'd really prefer something closer and with better hours for my family but I'm going to take it with jobs being so scarce around here! Once I get started I will contact the adoption agency!
3.) Enjoy my birthday. I will try to enjoy it....birthdays just aren't as much fun when you're an adult! But Robin is taking me out to breakfast and then Mike, the girls and my dad & stepmom are taking me to dinner.
4.) Buy at least one more Christmas gift. I've been trying to buy one or two a week to get a start on the season. This one didn't get done since there was no extra money :(
This weeks goals...
1.) Continue to walk and organize the house. Sell as many things that are listed on Craigslist as I possibly can to get them out of here!!
2.) Try to get a rountine down for working without feeling guilty. On the evenings I work I won't have much time at all with the girls and none with Mike and I won't be here to fix dinner.
3.) Buy my mom's b-day present.
4.) idk
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Family Fun Apple Orchard Style
We had a great weekend!
Saturday Lexy had a soccer game at 9am (btw who thought 9am was a good time...it's still cold and the grass is still wet!), Lexy woke at 7:30 and was ready to go! Even being down two players, Lexy's team made quite a few more goals than the other team (they don't keep score at this age). Lexy did take a nose dive to the ground at one point hitting her nose but she quickly went back to the game after being reminded that she wouldn't get snack afterwards if she didn't play :-)
After the game we went to visit a local apple orchard. Neither girl had ever been apple picking and were excited to go (they both LOVE apples).
This is one of my favorite pics...
The girls spent the night at Robin's house and from all accounts the evening went great...the night not so good, Brooke said Lexy came to her crying in the middle of the night and Brooke had to console her and fix her a bed by hers but it was Lexy's first sleepover so that was to be expected, I'm just glad Brooke was there to console her!
Saturday Lexy had a soccer game at 9am (btw who thought 9am was a good time...it's still cold and the grass is still wet!), Lexy woke at 7:30 and was ready to go! Even being down two players, Lexy's team made quite a few more goals than the other team (they don't keep score at this age). Lexy did take a nose dive to the ground at one point hitting her nose but she quickly went back to the game after being reminded that she wouldn't get snack afterwards if she didn't play :-)
After the game we went to visit a local apple orchard. Neither girl had ever been apple picking and were excited to go (they both LOVE apples).
This is one of my favorite pics...
Later that evening we dropped Lexy & Brooke off at Robin's so that we could spend some alone time for our anniversary...thanks Robin & Shilah!!! We went to Applebee's for dinner and then rented a movie.
The girls spent the night at Robin's house and from all accounts the evening went great...the night not so good, Brooke said Lexy came to her crying in the middle of the night and Brooke had to console her and fix her a bed by hers but it was Lexy's first sleepover so that was to be expected, I'm just glad Brooke was there to console her!Yesterday I used some of our apples from the orchard to make a dessert that I came up with, Caramel Apple Crumble...
Friday, September 18, 2009
Soccer, Cheer and Good News
Life has been full this week! We have had Lexy's soccer practice and a game, our Anniversary, a football game that Brooke cheered at and we have another soccer game on Saturday morning!! Next week looks just as packed and Brooke starts drama practice for the school play that she not only will be helping to direct but that she has a part in as well! Wow the mom of TWO kids doing activities is VERY busy but I love it!!
More good news...
Life will be getting even more busy in the next week or so when I start my new part time job at Target. I will only be working 15-20 hours a week so hopefully I can work around all the girls' activities. I don't like the fact that I'll be away from the girls and Mike to work but I am excited that getting this job makes it possible for us to afford all the little extras for the girls, Christmas and best of all...we can start working towards getting our adoption homestudy done!!
Focus Friday
Last weeks goals...
1.) Continue to walk/organize/post items on Craigslist. Still working on these!
2.) Enjoy family time...we have soccer practice, soccer game and football cheerleading this week :-) Wow what a busy week and we have another soccer game on Sat.!
3.) Celebrate Mike and I's 15 year anniversary. Because we have such wonderful friends we will be celebrating our anniversary on Sat. by dropping off Brooke & Lexy at Robin/Shilah's and going out to Applebee's a watchng a movie!
4.) Continue to put in applications and prepare to talk with a new adoption agency. I put in a few more applications and had an interview at Target yesterday. As soon as I get a part time job we will begin the process of being accepted into a new agency's adoption program :-)
This weeks goals...
1.) Walk/organize and get EVERYTHING listed on Craigslist.
2.) More interviews and hopefully get hired for a part time job. If I do get hired, contact the adoption agency to get things started!
3.) Enjoy my birthday.
4.) Buy at least one more Christmas gift. I've been trying to buy one or two a week to get a start on the season.
1.) Continue to walk/organize/post items on Craigslist. Still working on these!
2.) Enjoy family time...we have soccer practice, soccer game and football cheerleading this week :-) Wow what a busy week and we have another soccer game on Sat.!
3.) Celebrate Mike and I's 15 year anniversary. Because we have such wonderful friends we will be celebrating our anniversary on Sat. by dropping off Brooke & Lexy at Robin/Shilah's and going out to Applebee's a watchng a movie!
4.) Continue to put in applications and prepare to talk with a new adoption agency. I put in a few more applications and had an interview at Target yesterday. As soon as I get a part time job we will begin the process of being accepted into a new agency's adoption program :-)
This weeks goals...
1.) Walk/organize and get EVERYTHING listed on Craigslist.
2.) More interviews and hopefully get hired for a part time job. If I do get hired, contact the adoption agency to get things started!
3.) Enjoy my birthday.
4.) Buy at least one more Christmas gift. I've been trying to buy one or two a week to get a start on the season.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Way Back When-esday & Wordful Wednesday
1994 Tomorrow Mike and I will be celebrating our Anniversary...15 years (19 together)!!! This was the photo put in our local newspaper to announce our engagement. This photo, to this day, hangs on our refridgerator as a reminder to us of how far we have come and how in love we were then and still today. It makes me smile every time I look at it :-)
To check out who else is playing along join Cheryl for Way Back When-esday and Angie at Wordful Wednesday !
Monday, September 14, 2009
Makes My Monday
Over at Twinfatuation, Cheryl has us share weekly about what Makes our Monday. She says...share on your blog what warms your week's beginning: Post a picture and tell the tale.
This week the video below makes my Monday!! Over the weekend Lexy asked if I wanted to hear her apple chant from school and this is what she sang...
How precious is that??!!!! I asked if I could video her and she said "yes, you can put it on your blog too"... she knows me so well :-)
Cake, Cake and more Cake
Over the weekend we celebrated four birthdays. Mike's birthday was on Friday. He stayed home and I got to take him out for breakfast and that evening the girls and I took him to dinner and then came home for presents (the girls picked their own for him) and cake (that the girls and I made).
Then Saturday we helped celebrate Ryan's (Robin's youngest) 5th birthday and on Sunday helped celebrate Sierra (7) and Shyann's (2) birthdays. Lots of fun and CAKE was had by all this weekend!
Then Saturday we helped celebrate Ryan's (Robin's youngest) 5th birthday and on Sunday helped celebrate Sierra (7) and Shyann's (2) birthdays. Lots of fun and CAKE was had by all this weekend!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Focus Friday
Celebrating Mike's birthday today but didn't want to forget this.
My goals for last week are...
1.) Take pictures and post the leftover garage sale items on Craigslist to get it out of my house and make some extra money. I've done about 1/2 of these and already sold one item!
2.) Continue to organize and walk. Walked 3 days this week.
3.) Spend some time looking for a part time job. Put in one new application.
4.) Enjoy Mike's birthday and spend quality time with my family Doing this today!
It's amazing how when I slowed down and focused on small steps I felt much better about our situation and things started happening! Feeling much more at ease and excited about things.
This weeks goals...
1.) Continue to walk/organize/post items on Craigslist.
2.) Enjoy family time...we have soccer practice, soccer game and football cheerleading this week :-)
3.) Celebrate Mike and I's 15 year anniversary.
4.) Continue to put in applications and prepare to talk with a new adoption agency.
My goals for last week are...
1.) Take pictures and post the leftover garage sale items on Craigslist to get it out of my house and make some extra money. I've done about 1/2 of these and already sold one item!
2.) Continue to organize and walk. Walked 3 days this week.
3.) Spend some time looking for a part time job. Put in one new application.
4.) Enjoy Mike's birthday and spend quality time with my family Doing this today!
It's amazing how when I slowed down and focused on small steps I felt much better about our situation and things started happening! Feeling much more at ease and excited about things.
This weeks goals...
1.) Continue to walk/organize/post items on Craigslist.
2.) Enjoy family time...we have soccer practice, soccer game and football cheerleading this week :-)
3.) Celebrate Mike and I's 15 year anniversary.
4.) Continue to put in applications and prepare to talk with a new adoption agency.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Soccer Mom
I'm now officially a soccer mom!!
Lexy had her very first soccer practice on Wednesday night. It only lasted 45 min. (suppose to be 30) and that was the perfect amount of time for Lexy. She paid attention to her coach, she waited in line for her turn and she loved kicking that ball!! She even got to try her hand at being the goalie and loved it. It rained for most of the practice and the kids didn't even notice :-)
Lexy had her very first soccer practice on Wednesday night. It only lasted 45 min. (suppose to be 30) and that was the perfect amount of time for Lexy. She paid attention to her coach, she waited in line for her turn and she loved kicking that ball!! She even got to try her hand at being the goalie and loved it. It rained for most of the practice and the kids didn't even notice :-)
The fun of having two kiddos in activities is about to begin!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Twos-day
These two girls make my "Twos-day" wonderful! Brooke and Lexy were playing together one afternoon and decided to "do" each others hair and make up. Lexy was done with Brooke and Brooke was getting ready to make Lexy beautiful! I love catching these moments between my girls! As a child I used to wish I had a sister to do this kind of stuff with since my brothers weren't really willing participants :-)
Head over to Who Says 8 is Enough to see who else is playing along!
Exhausted
I am just plain tired, exhausted and run down both physically and mentally!
I knew that when we chose to stop fostering that it would be tough on me, this has been a huge part of my identity for eight years. But I wasn't ready for the overwhelming feelings it has brought on, especially when I hear of a little one coming into foster care that we would have taken. I feel that because we stopped fostering that we not only closed that door but that we closed the door to adopting again. One of the reasons we stopped fostering was to explore other avenues that we had been putting on the back burner but we can't really start exploring those things until we have some extra money for a home study, etc....and we won't have that extra money until I find a part time job...and those are not easy to come by right now. And I'm lonely not having anyone at home during the day to take care of and I'm overwhelmed with my to do lists and worried about money and not thrilled that I'll be closer to 40 than 30 by the end of the month!
Are YOU exhausted yet???
So I've decided to start working in small steps each day towards some of the goals that I want to accomplish b/c the big picture is too big and distant right now...
On Friday I e-mailed a local foster agency that has a seperate adoption unit to find out some information on them and if they had a need for possible adoptive parents for an infant or infant with sibling.
Over the weekend we had our garage sale on Sat. (Friday it rained) and made enough for car tags/taxes and a little extra for Brooke and I to have fun at a craft fair yesterday...one Christmas present down (retail therapy is good)!
I've started walking several times a week (thanks Robin & Shilah!) to help keep my mind in a better place and to hopefully shed a few of these very unwanted pounds.
I'm in the process of cleaning out all the foster paperwork (already 3 garbage bags full) in my cabinet...kind of a cleansing, getting myself ready for the next step activity.
I'm organizing my paperwork, desk, calendar, mind, etc. so that I'm looking ahead and focusing on what I do want and can quickly find information as to not miss an opportunity that puts me a step closer to a goal.
Since I missed doing Focus Friday, my goals for this week are...
1.) Take pictures and post the leftover garage sale items on Craigslist to get it out of my house and make some extra money.
2.) Continue to organize and walk.
3.) Spend some time looking for a part time job.
4.) Enjoy Mike's birthday and spend quality time with my family.
I knew that when we chose to stop fostering that it would be tough on me, this has been a huge part of my identity for eight years. But I wasn't ready for the overwhelming feelings it has brought on, especially when I hear of a little one coming into foster care that we would have taken. I feel that because we stopped fostering that we not only closed that door but that we closed the door to adopting again. One of the reasons we stopped fostering was to explore other avenues that we had been putting on the back burner but we can't really start exploring those things until we have some extra money for a home study, etc....and we won't have that extra money until I find a part time job...and those are not easy to come by right now. And I'm lonely not having anyone at home during the day to take care of and I'm overwhelmed with my to do lists and worried about money and not thrilled that I'll be closer to 40 than 30 by the end of the month!
Are YOU exhausted yet???
So I've decided to start working in small steps each day towards some of the goals that I want to accomplish b/c the big picture is too big and distant right now...
On Friday I e-mailed a local foster agency that has a seperate adoption unit to find out some information on them and if they had a need for possible adoptive parents for an infant or infant with sibling.
Over the weekend we had our garage sale on Sat. (Friday it rained) and made enough for car tags/taxes and a little extra for Brooke and I to have fun at a craft fair yesterday...one Christmas present down (retail therapy is good)!
I've started walking several times a week (thanks Robin & Shilah!) to help keep my mind in a better place and to hopefully shed a few of these very unwanted pounds.
I'm in the process of cleaning out all the foster paperwork (already 3 garbage bags full) in my cabinet...kind of a cleansing, getting myself ready for the next step activity.
I'm organizing my paperwork, desk, calendar, mind, etc. so that I'm looking ahead and focusing on what I do want and can quickly find information as to not miss an opportunity that puts me a step closer to a goal.
Since I missed doing Focus Friday, my goals for this week are...
1.) Take pictures and post the leftover garage sale items on Craigslist to get it out of my house and make some extra money.
2.) Continue to organize and walk.
3.) Spend some time looking for a part time job.
4.) Enjoy Mike's birthday and spend quality time with my family.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Way Back When-esday & Wordful Wednesday
September 2007
Brooke, Ashley, Sheila, Tori, Lexy
COUSINS!!!
August 2009
Brooke, Ashley, Lexy, Sheila, Tori
I love that Brooke and Lexy have cousins around their ages. It makes for a good time for all when we get together. And I'm really excited that CJ & Jess are adding one (or two) more cousins to the mix in March!
To check out who else is playing along join Cheryl for Way Back When-esday and Angie at Wordful Wednesday !
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