Shiny Happy People. . .

19 layouts. . .DONE!

Unbelievable I know, but true! I cannot express how happy it makes me to be COMPLETELY caught up. I have come close before, within one or two layouts, and thought that I was truly happy with that, but this, this is a whole new level of joy. Pure JOY!

It's a Big Big Bed. . .

Annie has moved. . .to a Big Big Bed! She slept in it last night for the first time, and did great! She was excited and a little nervous. She tucked Big Lulu ( a giant lamb) in on one side of her, and trusty ole' Woof Woof on the other side. This morning she told me that Big Lulu "got a wittle (little) scawed (scared)" but that she took care of her. How sweet!

It's a Big Big Car. . .

The long long process of finding and buying a new car is finally over. This has been one exhausting and frustrating experience, but it does have a happy ending. Hubby finally slept well for the first time in weeks, with our shiny new Suburban in the driveway. Yes, it's a great big all american SUV. We went for the giant SUV over the minivan, mainly for the extra space and the 4 wheel drive. Not because a minivan would be social suicide! (lauren!) Afterall, ALL my good friends drive a minivan! We drove to Kansas City and back on friday to bring it home. It was a happy, happy day. To make the day even better, just before pulling in my driveway my cell phone rang and I heard a voice on the other end say "I like your new ride!" Thanks Janelle! So far we really like the car, hubby has said "I never knew I could love a car this much!" I'm glad your happy honey, and I'm glad your sleeping again.

We are a house of shiny happy people!

I must choose my other hobby for a bit.

I am scrapbooking this weekend.

This was my original hobby, well, unless you count cross-stiching, but I gave that up long ago.

Scrapbooking has taken a back seat to blogging lately, not that I did much of it at home before I started blogging.

After several mishaps that involved some or all of the following: my children, drinks, siscors, markers, my layouts, my pictures, stickers on top of stickers. . .

I have resorted to only scrapbooking outside the home.

But today I shall return to my first love of hobbying, for a while anyway. I am off to a "scrapbooking retreat."

It's just down the road.

I really do enjoy it. It gives me an outlet for my "artsy" side, and it allows me to preserve my memories in a way that I enjoy.

It's also quiet, with lots of chocolate and coca-cola. Ahhhhh.

I will return to bloggy land soon, just as soon as I finish 19 more layouts.

Thursday 13

I am posting this on Thursday at 12:36 am.

I am breaking Alana's rule by posting after midnight, gasp!

I feel that I must do this, though, because I don't think I'll have time tomorrow (actually, today.) and I really want to do this list!

13 things I'm loving about Annie!

1. Her incredibly vibrant personality. (that would be water from the hose dripping from her chin!)

2. Her humor, she is always being funny to get me to laugh, and it works!

3. Her beauty, she is gorgeous.

4. Her love for Dora. Cute!

5. Her love for family. (here she's putting lip gloss on great grandma Ellie.)

6. Her incredible tan.

7. The way she talks and talks when I'm tucking her in. I know it's a stalling technique, but it's so darn cute how she doesn't take a breath as she tells me thing after thing. It makes me realize how much is going on in that little head of hers!

8. Her sweetness with Austin. She adores and dotes on him.

9. Her patience with Ellie. She doesn't like to be bossed, but she puts up with it so she can play with her sister.

10. Her dancing and singing. She makes me dance and sing too.

11. The way she loves her daddy.

12. Her love for "Woof Woof", her favorite stuffed dog.

13. Every tiny inch of her little body. (my own "mini me!" look at the screen :)

Annie is growing up. She'll be 3 soon, and I'm seeing her change right before my very eyes. She is looking and acting like a "little girl" instead of a toddler. She is amazing and I love her so much.

this one's a keeper

The fabulous and famous BooMama has introduced me to a new and now favorite group...Monk and Neagle! Thanks to the fabulous BooMama, I received one of their not even available to the general public CD's. How cool is that?!!! The awesome BooMama (i realize that I'm going a bit overboard, but just in case you read this BooMama, I wanted you to feel proud!) has asked us to write a review, if we so wish, of the CD. So, without further ado, here is my very first, incredibly hard hitting, album review.

The Twenty-First Time by Monk and Neagle:

Track 1 - Beautiful You:
What a happy song! I love that God has a "beautiful voice" and that he "taught the stars to shine." This song has wonderful wordplay's.

Track 2 - The Twenty-First Time:
This is a song that truly makes me think. It makes me want to stop and pray for those I see that are less fortunate, or who are having a rough time in life.

Track 3 - Hallelujah, Jesus:
A fantastic praise and worship song! This song makes me want to close my eyes and lift my hands, and I'm baptist!

Track 4 - Stars would fall:
I really like the chorus on this song, and to be called a Queen by the one who loves you is something special! Whoever this song was written for should feel incredibly loved.

Track 5 - What Soldier's Do:
This song makes me cry. I think of all the families that are missing each other. I picture the 10 year old boy waiting for his daddy to come home and tuck him in at night, and I picture the daddy, sitting in the dessert, but dreaming of taking his little boy fishing. . .tears.

Track 6 - Yours Forever:
I love the percussion and the great upbeat tempo in this song. It's a great song to wake-up to!

Track 7 - More Than That:
Poignant lyrics that really touch my soul. My favorite "I'm ready to be who you made me to be."

Track 8 - Wonderful Angel:
This song has that "Island Feel" and I love it! It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and young and in love with my fabulous hubby!

Track 9 - Fallin':
A song with a beautiful melody, it relaxes me.

Track 10 - Into Orbit:
A great song with great energy.

Track 11 - What Soldier's Do (The Remix) see above, track 5.

Thanks again BooMama and Monk and Neagle. I love free stuff, but I would have paid good money, I'm talkin' full price, for this one!

If you wanna check out Monk and Neagle you can click on their banner below.

Baby Steps

Ok, so now i am realizing why i haven't been doing much cooking lately, (well, at least one reason!) we seem to be busier than i realized! Since posting that I would cook 7 meals in a row, We have not eaten dinner at home, as a family ONCE!

Monday: we had a family birthday dinner.

Tuesday: we had a business meeting + dinner out. I did cook dinner for the kids last night, before hubby and i went out though.

Wednesday: (tonight) we have T-Ball! I am planning on cooking before T-ball, mainly because if I don't the fresh basil i bought will go bad!

Thursday: (tomorrow) the girls will be spending the night at Grammie's house, and therefor eating dinner there.

Friday and Saurday: the girls will be at Grammie's too, Have I mentioned that my mother is a saint?

Sunday: as of right now i am planning on making Rotisserie chicken with grilled potatoes and grilled zucchini.

So, i am not counting this as a total failure. We haven't had fast food since monday at lunch, and i'm going to try to make it the rest of the week too. And tonight's menu is Chicken Quesadillas and Summer Squash with Fresh Basil and Grape Tomatoes.

Baby steps, people, baby steps.

Seriously, tomorrow!

Ok, first of all, Thank you all for your wonderful food suggestions and comments. Not only did ya'll help me (mentally) get out of my cooking rut, but you were also VERY supportive!

I have to confess that I forgot when I wrote my post yesterday, that we're going out for dinner tonight for a business meeting. BUT, I will not make a liar out of mysef, so I will be cooking for my kids!

They will be dining on the little smokies wrapped in crescent rolls (thanks janelle!) and green beans! They also had turkey and cheese roll-ups for lunch (thanks dawn!) and they've had grapes, banana's and pretzles for snacks! They have had all their food from home today! It's miraculous!

We also have a menu for the week, and I plan to stick to it! I'll keep you updated on the recipes we've tried and if we liked them or not.

Thanks for the help!

Tomorrow, I promise.

I just have a minute, 'cause I'm pretty sure Austin is eating cat food. So. . .

Thank you for all the great meal ideas! They really did inspire me!

This morning I went to the grocery store and spent $120 on Real Food!

Yeah me!

And soon my family will be saying, Yeah mom! (i can dream!)

We'll be cooking tomorrow night. I know, I know, I said staring Monday, but Michelle and Chris are having us over for dinner to celebrate Jason and Chris' dad's birthday. So, tomorrow, I promise.

And I'll let you know how it goes.

Hopefully I'll still be inspired tomorrow!

Oooo! I almost forgot (gotta love that Edit button!) I got my Monk and Neagle CD today! I feel so COOL!