:D

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

YOU CAN DO IT

8 batches of cookies down

now i have brownies and 4 batches to go

YOU CAN DO IT SHAWNNA

DON'T GIVE UP ;)

ok this post was kinda just a pep talk for myself

ok so i have accomplished quite a lot lately but i have a few things still to do - working on gifts for 4 people (should finish those tonight) - tomorrow i will dust and vacuum- hubby is going to the grocery store for me in the morning - ISN'T HE THE BEST FREAKIN HUSBAND IN THE WORLD?! - and then Sunday morning I will start cooking -- oh and I can't forget I need to clean the bathrooms -- maybe i can talk hubby into doing the toilets for me -- Nahhh - I better not push my luck ;)

Today I set up the little wooden block Nativity that the kids made for us while they were in preschool -- and it made me smile :D - they are growing so fast - I wonder what is in store for their lives - what things will they accomplish -- I wonder if Mary wondered the same things about Jesus???


Blessing to you this GLORIOUS Season

WOW

stumbled upon this over at Etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=991

i find it very cool -- now how could i incorporate this style into my scrapbooks -- i see little "birdies" in my future -- FUN


and here is her blog
www.theblackapple.typepad.com

I'm late... I'm late

I'm late... I'm late
for a very important date
(like JESUS' birthday celebration)
No time to say HELLO
GOODBYE
I'm late
I'm late
I'm late

I so feel like that little white rabbit on Alice in Wonderland
so many projects so little time

Yesterday Makenna requested that we make a GINGERBREAD CHURCH -- really what mom could refuse that --

i somehow forgot about the kids P.E. Teachers - Music and Art Teachers too -- and the kids seemed devastated when I didn't have anything for them -- so now i will surely be up until 2 a.m. whipping up some goodies -- after all I don't want them to feel UNAPPRECIATED -- the kids adore them

So tomorrow it is Decorating and Parties up at the school -- should be fun -- Makenna is SO VERY EXCITED -- Noah is really looking forward to being at home -- I am looking forward to having them both here ALL DAY too -- we have some fun stuff planned

HIPPOS = PURE JOY

ok -- i am confessing

i love this

i have listened to it at least 100+ times

hope it brings a big smile to your face

http://www.minibite.com/christmas/hippo.htm

Christmas is NEAR

Christmas is NEAR
so very near
I started making some gifts last night
every year i promise not to wait until the
last minute and every year i save the "handmade"
gifts till the very end

pictures to come

Foster Care

FOSTER CARE

there I said it
OUT LOUD even

Heath and I have applied for a info packet on Foster Care -- I have wanted to do this for SO LONG -- it just seemed that we always said that we needed to do something first -- ex: fix the a/c - get new carpet - stop MOVING AROUND -- etc....

Well now is the time
I feel like God has just been REMINDING me over and over lately
like running into people who have adopted - emails from friends who are foster parents - it is on my mind constantly -- and even in my DREAMS

I am so EXCITED - and nervous too -- things like what if they don't think we would be good enough -- what if we don't get approved -- Is my HOUSE CLEAN -- just reading about what the home study includes made me anxious -- but I know that God has a PLAN - He already has the perfect child choosen for our home - someone whom we could HELP and someone who will TEACH us a thing or too as well

So my question for you today is - are you doing what God is CALLING you to do? --

for once I can say without a doubt -- I AM TRYING - really trying -- Really LISTENING to Him -- and ACTING --- sometimes the acting is the hardest part for me - sometimes I try to tell God "now just isn't a good time" He must get so aggitated with me -- I wonder if He rolls His eyes at me sometimes -- ;)

Merry Christmas to you all !!!!!!

DAY OFF

i almost forgot that i took tomorrow OFF to volunteer in Makenna's class -- YEAH -- that means only ONE more work day until HOLIDAY VACATION -- Wow - LIFE IS TOO SWEET

link to layouts

http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/userprofile.asp?user_id=179059

random things to do

clean off my computer desk
finish the last 5 loads of laundry before we dirty up MORE CLOTHES
rewrite my to do list
take out trash
fix Leaning Tower of Pisa (Christmas Tree)
make layout for CJ and mail
mail 2 things I sold on Ebay
call the school about due date for yearbook $$
clean bathrooms -- actually CLEAN the WHOLE HOUSE
finish sewing makenna's Christmas outfit
write in the books that we are giving our preschool kids for Christmas (only three days left of PreK and then I am OFF until January)
???? and about 6000 other things ---

"Our Family has it ALL"

Noah was home sick from school today -- and he said the cutest thing while watching our two dogs play

"Our Family has it ALL"
i am sure to a 7 year old boy we do --
actually when i forget about debt and bills WE DO

to a little boy
2 dogs +1 turtle +1 sister +1 mom +1 dad = HAPPINESS

it really made me let go and be joyful in the little things -- stop thinking of all the really NICE expensive gifts I would LOVE to get for my hubby kids family and friends -- and to be thankful for all the GIFTS that have been given to me (and all of us) already -- God has such a fasinating way of opening my eyes -- :D

Tagged

A - Available or single: only available to HEATH :D
B - Best Friend: my Husband
C - Cake or Pie: CUPCAKES with buttercream icing
D - Drink of choice: Starbucks or Sweet Tea
E - Essential Item you use everyday: toothbrush - paper / pen - sharpie - pony tail holder - headband (when i wash my face) ??? wish i could say i use my Bible everyday but not every single day - I should WORK on that
F - Favorite color: RED and GREEN no wonder I love Christmas
G - Gummy Bears or worms: worms
H - Hometown: Krebs/McAlester area - OKLAHOMA
I- Indulgence: capping off a trip to target with a HOT cup of ANYTHING from Starbucks
J - January or February: both - heath's bd is in Jan. and Valentine's day is in Feb
K - Kids & Names: Aasin, Noah, and Makenna
L - Life is Incomplete Without? Jesus Christ - my hubby - and my kids
M - Marriage Date: 10-25-97
N - Number of Siblings: 3bro, 1 sis (all are 1/2 siblings)
O - Oranges or Apples: gala apples
P - Phobias or Fears: lately- car rides
Q - Fave Quote: can i quote a whole chapter?? John 14 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me...... I go to prepare a place for you.....I will come again and receive you.... where I am, there you may be also... JESUS
R - Reason to Smile: JESUS -- do you know Him??? I would love to introduce you :D
S - Season: summer or fall
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: ????
U - Unknown Fact about Me: I am pretty darn sensitive (or did ya already know that ??)
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: Asperagus -- I want to like it - i just DON'T
W - Worst Habit: obsessing
X - Xrays: I have had lots of these -- I played sports in school - All of them
Y - Your Fave Food: chocolate
Z - Zodiac Sign: scorpio

Wednesday NOVEMBER 29

look what Santa brought EARLY for Makenna -- (daddy is a sucker for dogs and honestly - I was just tired of being the bad guy) so this is the newest addition to our family -- A beagle (6wks old) named ISABELLA (makenna named her of course)
Noah wanted to name her Brittney - and he was pretty presistant but Makenna wasn't having it - When I asked if maybe he had a friend in his class named Brittney he said no - so then i had to ask - WHY do you want to name her Brittney -- his response "BRITTNEY SPEARS, MOM" with sort of the DUH look on his face -- OH MY GOODNES -- how does he even know who Brittney Spears is ?????????

any way - back to the dog
A month or so ago Heath had the idea that he would take the kids up to the pet store to look at the animals - they ended up at the parking lot in Wal-Mart looking at FREE puppies -- and lets just say it ended VERY BADLY -- the kids wanted one Heath wanted one and I vetoed the whole deal --- anyway Makenna comes up with this idea that she is going to ask Santa for a puppy - (i guess santa trumphs mommy in her mind) ;) I tried to explain that Santa knows that Mommy and Daddy said she could get a puppy (or a pet of some kind) on her next birthday (she will be 7) that was how it ended and then one of Heaths employees needed to get rid of the puppy she bought -- FOR FREE -- she has papers and came with FOOD , a crate, puppy clothes, hair bows, snacks, you name it -- SO Makenna ended up with her puppy and really it is only 6 months till her birthday so it isn't that big of a deal

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??