Mission Accomplished

or at least the main mission for today
ALL TAXES ARE DONE - had to finish
the OK one since we lived there some too
this year -- stinks that i couldn't e-file that
along with my federal - something to do with
partial year residency - I think it is that they
just want to keep my $$ a few days longer :D

this is actually the latest I have EVER filed
I am normally one of those obnoxious Feb 1 filers ;)

Post

also about Noah's conversation with Heath at lunch yesterday

Post

reminder to self -need to blog about Makenna's purchases this weekend :D

another day at home

ok this makes 3 days off from work

and while i am getting a few extra

things done - I SO need to get out

of the house for a bit -

The kids are doing much better

both have some congestion now

(not sure where that came from)

but they are still taking their meds

like little troopers --

Makenna was really missing school

today :( I assured her she will be going

back on Monday. Noah hasn't really said

much about it though he did declare the

following last night

"I don't need to go back to Public School.

You should just Homeschool me - All the

kids keep making me SICK"

it was quite funny - he is the type that

would be cool just hangin out with his

Momma all day - I am sure that philosophy

will be long gone in no time (he almost 8) but

I will hold on to it for as long as I can ;)

sharing another layout

this one is of my cutie pie nephew

(he is 2 now )

SICKY ICKIES

So - Guess what -- WE are all sick --
STREP THROAT is in the house again

really how many times can one family
get this ????

Heath and I were both able to get shots
yesterday so today I feel like a brand new
person -- ALMOST HUMAN ;)
and the kids are on the liquid - so far
they aren't really whinning about taking it
but they will be on it for 10 days so ask me
about this later

Sharing another layout - hope you like it :D

Sharing a layout

Not much going on here --

had a little stomach bug

or bad mexican food

(not sure which)

but thought it would be

a great time to share some

of my art/layouts with you

:D :D :D

My kids think .....

My kids think I am the QUEEN of Super Mario Brothers (nintendo ds) -- and though I can't take all the credit (it is my nephew Cristion's game) but in a few hours (broken up into 3 days) I made it to level 8 tonight and they were estatic (sp?) -- thrilled -- AMAZED even --

If I had only known my nintendo skills would have won them over, i would have busted them out LONG ago

So today's advice -- have fun - go play with your kids - who knows what you will do today to astonish them ;)

Daily Grind

Mondays are always CATCH UP days for me -- my day to clean - do laundry - Pay Bills - and, well, catch up on any paperwork / mail that has piled up --

Today is no different in that aspect - I have a huge amount of laundry to do -- :D :D :D boy I just LOOVE laundry (that was sarcasm for those who don't know me very well)

I am also wanting to do the Snapshots album over at TSR -- (see "kits" on side bar) but i feel i am already behind. ???? who knows ???

Today i got out a Prayer Journal from last year -- it was so incredible to see how far God has brought our little family -- and though things are not perfect I know that He will perfect the work that He has started

Church was interesting yesterday -- we are doing a series on Desperate Households and yesterdays sermon was "Desperate in the Bedroom" it was full of LOTS of great especially for those who were raised with the SEX is NAUGHTY/DIRTY/SINFUL philosophy --

Artic Blast

(look VERY closely or you will miss the tiny icicles that have formed on the tree branches)

that is what the news is calling our cold weather a little over dramatic if you ask me - but SCHOOL was CLOSED today so that means the kids and I get to hang out - TOTALLY FUN - and they played barbies/GI joes for almost 2 hours without a FIGHT - can we say MIRACLE (noah would NEVER admit to playing barbies with his sister so he always uses his
GI Joe doll - i mean ACTION FIGURE)

so here is to enjoying the
ARTIC BLAST
(raising my mug of hot chocolate) :D

They say it's your

They say it's your Birthday
dunna dunna dunna dunna
Well it's my Birthday too, Yeah (not really)
dunna dunna dunna dunna

ok so I wasn't blessed in the singing
department but that doesn't mean
I love you any less ;)

Happy Birthday Babe -- Love you
more and more each year - You're
the BESTEST BESTEST Husband
in the whole wide world (trust me
-we girls - compare) YOU WIN
HANDS DOWN -- :D :D :D

LIVE in the words of MLKjr.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thought this quote was great for my Ali Edwards challenge - to LIVE - that is my word -- powerful words spoke by a POWERFUL (but humble) man :D

Visions of Cheeseburgers

Visions of Cheeseburgers
that is what his sign read

and though we couldn't
give him one hundred bucks
we could run through the drive
at whataburger and get him a combo
meal

and don't get me wrong - i am not
saying this to boast - because we
really didn't do anything that special
but what i realized is that God helped
me out of my slump - He helped me
to focus on someone ELSE - and really
haven't we all wanted a burger so bad
we could taste it (at one time or another)

So I am so thankful that we happened
upon this man at the right time -I am
happy that we felt God leading us and
we acted on it (sometimes I don't) I am
happy to say that I saw the JOY in his
eyes when my husband handed him the
bag and drink (as the stop light was green)
and said GOD BLESS YOU -- maybe that
small act planted a seed :D :D

Memory

the past few days have been tough - I don't see how a TV show can stir up so many memories and emotions

Thursday - I remembered feeding my son, Aasin, for the last time - A memory that must have been trapped like an air bubble - well
below the surface of my brain - and for some reason yesterday it ascended to the top - and while one minute I was excited that i could
remember his tiny face - his lips and his nose so vividly - the next minute I was left with the - all to familiar - lump in my throat - a feeling of trying to catch my breath - and a piercing ache in my heart -

*******************************************************************
wrote the above yesterday - tough day - really tough -- Those of you who have lost loved ones know how these feelings sort of creep up on you - you do your best to think of the happy times and remember them when everything was "smooth sailing" but for some reason this memory resurfaced - most would probably wonder why this would be so upsetting but nursing my son in the moving car that day over 10 years ago would become my biggest regret - a moment that would change me forever -

and though i felt better once my words were typed I saved the above portion as a draft not knowing if i would share it or not - but today i realized that YES I would post it - I want to remember this - this MEMORY - of my son - sometimes I feel like I can't hear his little chuckle anymore - I can't visualize his smile- but thursday for a few seconds I felt as though I was watching a recording of him - of a precise moment that we shared on the last day of his short life - So maybe this post will help me hang on to this memory --

ONE little Word Challenge

I am participating in Ali Edwards' One little word Challenge

My word for this year is LIVE -This year I want to REALLY LIVE for Christ and for my FAMILY and even for ME some too!

I am going to try to focus on all of my BLESSINGS -and I am going to LIVE everyday without regret or worry - or the "what if's" the "shoulda's" and even the "if only's" - This year I want to get closer to the person GOD has planned - for me to be -- this year I am going to LIVE

here is a quote I borrowed from Steph's blog -you can see her lovely art work here

http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/2007/01/a_good_way_to_s.html
"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievement of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you. "

Christian B. Larson

It is a NEW YEAR

well as you can see I took a break from blogging over the holidays - it was great to just relax (after the CrAzYneSS of Christmas GIFT making of course) but today I stepped back into the real world - the kids had to go back to school :( and I had to go back to work :( :( I really enjoyed being home - I think heath enjoyed the benefits of that as well -

I can't believe it is 2007 - where has the time gone -- I AM GETTING OLDER -- CraPola -- I have so got to get in better shape -- the past few years I have packed on the pounds -- and I am not talking 10, 15, or even 20 -- this is SERIOUS -- very unhealthy -- so of course i - like everyone else made a commitment (i refuse to call it a resolution - i just hate those - i can never keep them) to get healthy -- but wait i am jumping ahead of myself

FIRST COMMITMENT
1. read my bible DAILY (i will do great with this and then somewhere in the busy ness of life i put it on the back burner)

2. work out 5 days per week -- I would like to make this everyday but really who are we kidding here - and eat better - (i kind of lumped these two together)

3. Be a Better WIFE -- work on my nagging -- seriously sometimes i can't stand to hear MYSELF

4. Be a Better MOTHER -- do more things with the kids that THEY want to do - not just the things that i am WILLING to do -- play with them without being asked to - spent one on one time with each child daily

5. Be more ORGANIZED -- don't laugh - but i used to feel like a PRO in this area but for the past 2 years I have really fell off the wagon -- COME ON SHAWNNA GET IT TOGETHER :D

ok -- so those are my commitments/goals -- but they are NOT - i repeat - NOT - frEaKin ReSoLutionS :D

: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