WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON??

let's see - I always seem to start out with the best intentions -- something like "this week, I am going to blog about something - for 10-15 minutes per day" --

Did it happen -- NO

not because of anything huge - but just because i didn't make the time for myself to do it -- I have a big problem with that - I very rarely take time for myself and then I feel the resentment sort of BUILD UP in me -- the "I am worth an evening of SCRAPBOOKING" -- I should be able to take the time to PAINT MY FREAKIN toenails -- the idea that getting my hair trimmed is important (i miss you ashlee) -- and all the other things most moms tell themselves

but the truth is -- I DO DESERVE it -- not only deserve it but I require it -- I find that i am a better WIFE and MOTHER when I do it -- so starting today I am going to carve out some time for myself

dipped in HONEY

about two weeks ago Noah said something that I don't want to forget - so I am adding it here

We were talking about Mr. Tucker's TREE (it is a maple and I have loved it since the first time we viewed the house -- it is right across the street - just a little to the left ) anyway -- we were at the bus stop talking about how beautiful it was - and how God created such great beauty in even the smallest of leaves -- and then Noah said -- "Mom, it looks like he dipped it in HONEY" -- and I must admit -- when you said that I got a little choked up --

so thanks for letting me post that here -- hopefully i will scrapbook it soon --- I know i have some pics of Mr. Tucker's Tree around here somewhere ;)

THANKSgiving

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving
and we had SO MUCH to be thankful for.
It was great being able to celebrate with my sister in law and her family. This year
I WAS PROMOTED
- you see I am usually the paper products and plastic utensils girl - but since my mother in law went out of town - I was able to HELP with some of the cooking -- now don't get me wrong - my sister in law is no dummy - SHE kept all the more difficult (combo dishes - those containing more than one item) things for herself but here is all the stuff we made -- and it was all so YUMMY

Me
Green Beans (del monte - but i added some bacon)
Ham (Black Forest - our fam's fav)
Corn (HO HO HO green giant) frozen with a whole stick of BUTTER
Mashed Potatoes (my hubby made these)
PIES - Apple PUMPKIN and Pecan (all courtesy of SAM'S CLUB)
Rolls (brown and serve)
and the big one -- THE MAC AND CHEESE -- (i followed Paula Deen's recipe on this and I was so glad I didn't screw it up) THANKS PAULA!

Melissa (sister in law)
Dressing
Turkey Breast
Sweet Potatoe Casserole
Brocolli and Rice Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
deviled eggs
and some sort of blueberry and grape jello concoction

It was so fun to help out -- who knows maybe next year I will get to make some casseroles ???? :D :D ;) :D

LEAF FIGHT

What kind of Mom would I be if I didn't let them THROW some LEAVES

Fall Pictures

My Noah =-= with his "MOM do I have to take a Picture?" SMILE :D -- He has been in this picture FUNK for a while now -- it sure would be easier on him if he would just SMILE for the Camera -- after all MOM isn't going to give up SCRAPBOOKING anytime soon ;)

Fall Pictures

this one IS posed but still cute ;)

Fall Pictures

This is SO Makenna - I love how this photo is just HER - being a KID - playing in the LEAVES -- not posed - just her

The Eve of Thanksgiving

This evening I am thinking of ALL the GOODNESS that God has heaped upon me and I can't help but think WHY ME? I did nothing to deserve this GREAT life that I have - but He gave it to me anyway

As I sip on my Starbucks coffee (breakfast blend) with my GINGERBREAD creamer - (i am in love with all things GINGERBREAD lately - not to mention the Bath and Body Works SPICY GINGERBREAD CANDLE) I think of how THANKFUL I AM FOR THE FOLLOW

*God gave His very BEST - His own SON to die in MY PLACE so that I could have a relationship with HIM
*I was born in a country were I can SPEAK my MIND and my BELIEFS without fear of persecution
*I am BLESSED with the GREATEST HUSBAND in the WORLD -
*Noah - my sweet son - whose HEART is BIGGER THAN TEXAS
*Makenna - my beautiful daughter - whose CREATIVITY and ZEAL inspire me daily
*and for all my FRIENDS and FAMILY both IRL and in cyberspace :D

TODAY 11-20-06

ok so it is no longer my birthday and i am feeling the need to make up for all the SLACKING i did over the weekend

i need to

CLEAN
LAUNDRY
SCRAPBOOK
THANK YOU NOTES
COOK DINNER
EDITED PHOTOS

so now i guess i should get started

SUNDAY 11-19-06

Sunday

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY -- strange even saying it cause it doesn't FEEL like anything special anymore -- just another year - another day -- is that what happens as we get older -- days turn to months which turn to years and before you know it YOU ARE OLD -- nah -- just kiddin -- i am still VERY YOUNG -- VERY VERY YOUNG -- at least that is what i am going to keep telling myself

Got the Ham for Thanksgiving today -- BLACK FOREST -- our fam's FAVORITE -- I love going to SAM's or CostCO -- those places are so FUN!

Saturday 11-18-06

Saturday

just figuring out that i didn't have a camera with me last night BUMMER - told dh that he would have to do it all over again because if there are no pictures - THEN IT DIDN'T happen ;) ha ha ha

Heath and I spent today returning stuff - did a little Christmas Shopping - and most importantly HAD STARBUCKS -- YUM -- that has to be one of my most favorite things -- STARBUCKS - i love that place -- oh and we went to CHINA VIEW -- my fav chinese resturant

Picked up kids and we all watched ELF together -- Will Ferrel is HILARIOUS - love him

and then dh had some buddies over to watch a UFC fight (i cleaned up my scraproom)

Friday 11-17-06

Friday
Today is the kids last day of school -- Makenna had to have 24 apple slices for her thanksgiving feast today -- Noah's feast was yesterday - he only needed two bananas -- NO CUTTING involved -- :D

The kids are staying at the in-laws tonight because heath and I are going out to dinner -- should be fun -- he won't give me too many details and his story isn't staying the same so i think SOMETHINGS UP???

EDITED
YEP I was Right
heath had a whole SURPRISE thing going -- he had two of my closest friends (and their hubby's) meet us at the resturant -- We had so much fun just hanging out -- we were at the table for 3+ hours -- Hope the waiter doesn't despise us ;)

Thursday 11-16-06

Thursday was a great day at work --
We had our Thanksgiving Feast and all the parents/ siblings were invited to come and eat -- FUN STUFF -- out of two classes only one child didn't have parents there to eat with her :( not to worry though she got to eat with her teacher -- which she thought was WAY COOL - I was requested to dine with one of my students and his family -- they were so sweet -- the little boy even decided that i needed a nickname and dubbed me Miss Shawnna PUMPKIN -- with "pumpkin" as my nickname -- he was precious --
SO NOW I AM OFF FOR 11 DAYS -- wow -- what a great way to go into the holiday -- I love work days like today

LONG TIME NO POST

ok -- so though i don't have many readers - i like to pretend that i have a following ;) ok now i am LAUGHING and my kids are looking at me strangely -- really though -- i didn't even realize it had been so long since i had posted on my blog -- so for all of you who have been waiting patiently - INSERT MORE CHUCKLES -
I AM BAAAACK!!

HAMBLY HEAVEN

ok - so i shouldn't have
but i did
i bought some
SCREEN PRINTS
by HAMBLY
and just to note
they were 50%
off -- NOW which
one of you scrappers
could have turned down
that deal ???!!!???

More SHOPPING

So a little more shopping today
it was much more FUN today
totally gettin' into the spirit of giving
and that got me thinking - "WHAT IF
I KEPT THIS SPIRIT ALL YEAR" - what
if we all did --

the world would be a much happier
place to live in - don't you think??

GIFTS

Well - we have started our Christmas shopping - and i must say - it doesn't seem like we get as much for our $ as we used to - I feel extra stressed lately - when i should be JOYFUL in my gift giving - i find myself a little down about it - i am praying that God will give me peace about it - seems like i just don't want to spend $$$ -- i think i am always worried that something is going to happen - like the fridge will go out -- or something on the a/c will go out (this one happens a lot - so it seems) you know what i mean - those big ticket things that you never plan for - and it is not only the money spending that has me anxious but the wondering if the gift RECEIVER will like the gift -- ok so "like" isn't what i am shooting for - I want them to LOVE it -- I want it to give them the "awwe" feeling -- the "this person really cared enough to pick something for me" feeling -- Maybe i am just putting to much pressure on myself -but for me Christmas is the only time i really get GIFTS -- my family and my husbands' family always give $ for birthdays and such (which almost always goes toward some extra bills) - so i guess when i am shopping i just want to get them something EXTRA SPECIAL --

What are your CHRISTMAS SHOPPING stresses or joys?

Halloween

ok -- i know this is late - but honestly, i have tried to post it several times - blogger must have a bone to pick with me or somethin :(

so here are my CUTIE PIE KIDDOS -- super duper cute aren't they ???

Makenna was Little Red Riding Hood (although i don't think i got one single picture of her with the hood on/up) and Noah ended up being a Storm Trooper - Originally he was going to be the BIG BAD WOLF - but somehow that was lost in translation and he thought i said he could be a werewolf - once he realized i wasn't going to budge on the WEREWOLF thing - he decided to be the STORM TROOPER -- but i must say - i didn't mind the change because i was having trouble finding a BIG BAD WOLF costume anyway - It was kind of strange because this is the first year he really wanted to be something SCARY - while searching Target online he was picking the zoombies and the grimm reaper costumes -- SCARY --

does this mean my little boy is growing up?

question for you: DO YOU LET YOUR KIDS WEAR SCARY COSTUMES FOR HALLOWEEN??

Excuses

This weekend God taught me a Great lesson
it started by me needing to go on a Retreat
for work -- kind of like a training weekend
from Friday thru Saturday -- I really didn't
want to go -- I had been under the weather
and was coming up with every excuse to skip
out on the event
>didn't want to leave my kids - after all heath
and i had just spent the previous weekend
alone and i MISSED my kiddos
>didn't want to mess with the hassle of taking
the kids to my sister in laws - driving in traffic
to drop them off and them having to drive back
through traffic to pick them up
>didn't want to do laundry before the weekend
just so I would have clean clothes to wear to
this retreat - and the house looked disasterous
>didn't want to share a bed with people i work with
i don't like sharing beds with people (except for my
hubby that is) just seems WEIRD to me
>didn't know if i would LIKE one of my roomates
(very UNchristian of me HUH)

I could go on and on I had it all worked out in my head
I didn't NEED to go - It was going to be horrible
but you know what -- IT WASN'T HORRIBLE - It
was great - and God really should me that HE is in
CONTROL - (he shows me this A LOT - but i am a
little hard headed, if you know what i mean) The
kids were fine and had a great time with their cousins
the house didn't fall apart - and in fact it looked better
when i got home than when i left -- THANKS BABE --
Heath was able to come home to drive the kids there
My roomates were great and i really enjoyed getting
to know them better (hopefully i won't be so quick to
judge from now on) and just for kicks He provided
me with my own FOLD OUT SOFA -- I didn't have
to share a bed with a stranger after all --

GOD is GREAT even in the LITTLE things - like fold
out sofas

Anniversary cont.

these are the flowers
my hubby got me for
our anniversary
isn't he SWEET!

9 years together

Today Heath and I have been married for 9 years.

WOW

today i was thinking about how drastically my life has changed in the past 10.5 years that we have been together - all we have been through - the death of my son, Aasin- our marriage at such a young age - the birth of our son Noah and our daughter Makenna - accepting CHRIST as my Lord and Savior - moving around so much ;) - all of our financial ups and downs - and the regular day to day stuff - trying to make time for each other - as well as time for our FAMILY -

when i think about the number 9 i can't even believe it -- I can remember being married for 3 years - but sometime after that it seems we must have hit a time warp -- NINE - that is a big NUMBER -- 9 -- WOW -- where did it go -

no matter what the number I can say this -- i love my husband more today than i did NINE years ago when i said "I DO" -- and if you would have asked me on that day - "could you possibly LOVE heath anymore tomorrow than you do today" my answer would have been "NO WAY -- it isn't possible for me to love him anymore" - but see that is what is so amazing - Not only did GOD bless me with Heath and his love for me - but he blessed ME with LOVE - a love for HIM - a love for Heath - and a HAPPINESS that I thought I would never feel

so here is to Happily Ever After --
No matter what

"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9

54 hours

54 hours ? what does that mean you ask ??
the number of HOURS that my husband and I spent ALONE this weekend --

Our Anniversary (9th) is on Wednesday and we were supposed to go to a beach house in galveston (that was cancelled at the last second) so instead of just scraping the whole thing we decided we would have our romantic getaway at our VERY OWN HOUSE -- IT WAS FABULOUS --

I couldn't believe that heath had made all the Beach House plans by himself -- (it wasn't his fault it was cancelled) He arranged for childcare - someone to feed the dog and the turtle -- EVERYTHING -- I was IMPRESSED -- and so thankful -- so even though we didn't do what he had planned (he was more upset about it than i was) I was SO THANKFUL that he put some thought and effort into it -

We really did have a blast -- after all -- we know where the BEST RESTURANTS are here -- and all the great SHOPS --etc. We rented several movies and just cuddled and slept in -- went to the mall -- just did whatever we FELT LIKE DOING --

I so missed him when he went to work today -- bummer - back to the REAL WORLD i guess

The kids had a great time at the in laws -- they were able to spend their allowance $ - and they made carmel apples - went to the park --

Whoo Hooo

I FREAKIN WON SOMETHING from CK

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/contests/files/contest.207.html

So excited -- I haven't won anything on CK before and I am always entering their give aways ---- FUN --

bummer

bummer

just read that Rhonna is closing her blog - Cathy Z already shut hers down and Tara is no longer a Garden Girl at 2peas -- WHAT IS THIS WORLD coming to???

- GASP -

These ladies have all inspired me in so many ways. I will for sure miss stalking Rhonna and Cathy on their blogs, and I will SO MISS seeing Tara's creations at 2peas.

Thanks Ladies

myspace

finding so many old friends on myspace -- where have i been?? -- and why didn't i sign up sooner?

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=118716171

Stop this Train

Layout I did last week

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1002301

Friday - Saturday

I have been horrible about keeping up with my blog lately - SORRY

Friday -- had a WW meeting -- gained 0.4 pounds but i am thinking it was just the CLOTHES ;) seriously - we had a 75 degree day and i had a long sleeve shirt on and pants instead of my usual sleeveless shirt and gaucho attire -- that could be it, RIGHT?? really though i am getting so frustrated measuring out EVERYTHING -- takes up a lot of TIME - and as a working MOMMY i don't have lots of that to spare -
after the meeting Molly and i spent the day together -- I AM SO THANKFUL that God has brought us together - she is a great friend and we are having so much fun together -- and no i am not saying this because she bought me a starbucks coffee on friday ;) we ended up getting the kids off the bus and playing down at her house - and we all had dinner together - and can i just say that her hubby did some amazing work in the kitchen -- i was seriously impressed -- KUDOS to you MIKE!

Saturday -- nothing out of the norm -- heath had to work and i read A LOT -- and tried to do some laundry - straightened up the house -- nothing to exciting

RECAP

Friday 10-6 -- went to Weight Watchers meeting - lost 1.6 pounds - not bad - would have liked to loose more but i am not complaining - at least i lost and didn't gain -- rode 6 miles on my bike -- WOW -- making my total for the week 26miles

Saturday 10-7 my nephew stayed the night with Noah -- they played so well together - not one single disagreement -- HEATH WAS OFF of work - enjoyed having him home with us

Sunday 10-8 - heath bought shipley donuts -- can you say SABATOGE-- bought me two MAPLE DONUTS my fav -- i couldn't resist - after all if i didn't eat them they would go to waste -- no one else likes maple -- POINTS are RUINED for the day -- i couldn't even find out how to look up the point in the book -- THAT MUST BE A BAD SIGN ;)

Monday- 10-9 kids were out of school -- PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE DAY -- it went very well -- Makenna scored 100% on her bench mark tests and Noah wasn't very far behind her -- Teachers had nothing but positives to say about the kids -- WOW -- that is a GREAT FEELING -

Tuesday - 10-10 WORK -- came home with a little headache that turned into a migraine - went to bed at 6 pm and didn't get up until 6:30 the next morning -- OUCH

Wednesday - 10-11 WORK -- usual day -- made the kids chili dogs for diner and then realized i couldn't / didn't want to eat them -- the hot dog itself had 5 points - not counting the bun or the chili and cheese(the good stuff) -- :( -- i really wanted that darn CHILI DOG -- so i ended up eating 5 points worth of DARK CHOCOLATE hershey kisses -- i should have just eaten the freakin hot dog

also did a layout on Monday -- here is the link if you would like to check it out http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=1&cmd=display&layout_id=1002301

Happy Birthday Nicole

to one of my very BESTEST friends
I wish you a lifetime of BLESSINGS and HAPPINESS
I luv ya girl!!!

I am STILL HERE ;0)

I am still here
Heath has been working a lot of hours
several open to close shifts -- but almost
always CLOSING so he isn't here at all until
the kids are in bed asleep
Which is HARD for THEM and ME (and i am sure it
is tough on Heath too -- I am really starting to feel it
- I am a little run down -- I guess there are times like
this that make me think "Heath giving the kids their BATHS is a
BIG DEAL " I really miss him being here in the evenings

Makenna is really testing me lately -- she seems to ask WHY anytime i say something she doesn't like -- URGHHH -- That is SO disrespectful - so hopefully today I made it clear that saying "WHY" is the same as ARGUING / and is TALKING BACK -- we shall see ;0)

Noah had a tough time on the bus today - he is feeling lonely and even told me he was "all alone - just like a MONK" where does he get these things - i just don't know but we talked through it - hopefully tomorrow will be easier for him

I am going to Weight Watchers tomorrow -- EEEEKK --- nervous about weighing in --- I feel off the wagon last week end as far a food is concerned but i have rode my bike 4 times this week already - going 4 miles every night -- but today i went during the day before the kids got off the bus and i only did 2 miles -- it was +90 degrees so i am thinking it was still ok -- i was dying out there in that heat -- OUCH --