Wheelbarrow Manor

Little Boys

2012-01-06T10:07:00.001-06:00

Campo handed me a bracelet I had left in the car and told me that when I wear it I will look very beautiful!

Awwww...sons - nothing like them!!!

They melt your heart - then they turn around and hit their sister and the magic disappears!!

Rick Santorum's Sweater Vest

2012-01-05T21:44:00.000-06:00

I have been taking my Project 365 pictures! I just haven't transferred them to the computer yet. But I'm proud of myself for keeping up with it. Okay, okay - it's only been 5 days but I'm NOT good with consistency so I'm proud for whatever I can do!

I've been having so much fun with politics this week. For one thing, I'm just SO glad that it's finally 2012 and we can see a possibility for a light at the end of this LOOOONG tunnel that has been the Obama-nightmare. Just the thought of the possibility of him being gone makes me feel so much more hopeful than I even felt two weeks ago. For another thing, we've been watching debates and hearing news stories about candidates for soooooo long. It was great to actually have some actual movement in the field with the Iowa Caucuses on Monday. I haven't been very excited about any of the candidates besides Governor Perry but he seemed to simmer our pretty quickly. About a week ago I started hearing more about Rick Santorum and reading about him...and liking him more and more. By Monday I was really rooting for him! What a neat guy - Catholic, pro-life, super conservative and not afraid to stand by his convictions. Father of 7!!

Are you following Rick Santorum's sweater vest on Twitter yet? On a more serious note, my mom sent me this video. It's pretty long but he tells a really neat story at the end - if you want to skip ahead maybe go to about 13 minutes.

It's going to be an interesting next few months!

Project 365 Day 3

2012-01-03T21:40:00.001-06:00

I had to set the alarm today...it was SO hard getting up. I had to go to training. Great trainer - super interesting content. Just SO hard to get up!!! And I have felt tired and run down all day. I'm blaming the alarm clock. So the alarm clock is my picture of the day!

The girls go back to school tomorrow. They're excited and ready to get back and see their friends. Campo is excited to have not one, but 3 whole mommy days this week!!!

I'm anxiously watching Iowa caucus news and crossing my fingers for my newly emerging favorite - Rick Santorum. Not sure why it took me so long to get on board with him but there is so much to like about him!!!

I'm hoping the alarm clock will be nicer to me tomorrow!!!

Making a Family Binder for Organization & Project 365 Day 2

2012-01-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

Today I am working hard to get organized. Over the past couple of years I've found some great tools to help me. One is the Motivated Mom's chore planning system. It gives me chores to do each day that don't take very long, but that get my house completely clean every week. It also has prompts me to do things such as clean out my purse every Tuesday and wash walls and clean the top of the refrigerator - things I would never do until something forced me too - such as my purse being so full it's spilling over and breaking the kids' backs to pick up! Click here to visit Motivated Moms.

Another life saver that I swear by is a plan called Make 5 Dinners in ONE Hour. This has completely transformed not only the way I cook, but the way I think and feel about dinner time. She gives you 5 recipes and all of the ingredients to make those recipes. She then walks you through preparing each of the 5 recipes and storing them away in the fridge or freezer. This way, each night (or morning if you're doing crock pot), you have a meal already prepared and ready to be cooked. No chopping, no prep work, nothing beyond the one hour you spend initially putting it all together. I LOVE IT. In fact, the past several weeks I have gotten away from doing it and dinner has been so hard. We've ended up eating out a lot more or eating junky food. I did the week's meals earlier this afternoon and wondered why I ever stopped following this plan!!

Anyhoo - today's main chore has been to make a family binder combinging all of the paperwork that goes into following these plans. I will have a section for my weekly Motivated Mom's papers. I laminated my recipe and ingredient lists so that I can use a dry erase marker to mark off ingredients I have and to help make my grocery list.

Side Note - I LOVE MY LAMINATOR - here's what I use Scotch Thermal Laminator 15.5 Inches x 6.75 Inches x 3.75 Inches, 2 Roller System (TL901)

These will go in the binder too. I'll put a section for calendars, kids important papers, invitations, etc. I was really on a roll making my binder until...I realized I loaned my 3 hole punch to someone and am not sure who it was or where it is. FRUSTRATION!!!

So, I took a picture of my organizing as my picture submission for today since that is the main thing that I have been up to!!

Big Bear's Birthday - Project 365 Day 1

2012-01-02T15:44:00.001-06:00

Big Bear is 8 years old!!! I am hardly able to believe that 8 years have passed since she was born. She is so smart, beautiful, and fun loving. We are constantly amazed by her willingness to try new things - SO NOT like her mother! She loves to read and devours books like crazy.

I'm going to take a stab at the 365 Day Photo project. It's about taking a picture a day for a year to document your life. You want to be able to look back and remember the year through pictures. This is the first one. Even though Big Bear's birthday was on New Year's Eve, we had the family celebration yesterday and this picture reflects what yesterday was all about.

Pink and Green Birthday

2011-12-18T17:16:00.003-06:00

We had Big Bear and Me Too's birthday party yesterday. Me Too's birthday is in November and when I called ASI to ask about scheduling a party, the soonest date they had was Dec. 17th. That got my wheels spinning for a double party since Big Bear's is on New Year's Eve. It ended up being way cheaper than having two parties. And since the girls all do Adventure Princess together, many of them know each other so it was tons of fun. I decided to do a pink and green theme. Me Too's favorite color is really purple but pink is a lot easier to find. So here's what the party room ended up looking like...

Big Bear's green side

Me Too's pink side.

Most of my inspiration for the crafts you see are from...where else...PINTEREST!!! Best place EVER!!

The puff balls turned out super cute I think - even though the pink one is kind of sideways. I found this craft here. They are super easy and fun to make - check out her tutorial but it's just cupcake liners on a styrofoam ball. I think I'll add liners to the bottom which I left blank to go on the little candle holder that I got from the Dollar Store and spray painted white.

The G & the K were also super fun to make. I found the little balls at Hobby Lobby a long time ago and knew they'd be adorable super glued onto chipboard letters. I had tons left over so I put them in some little glass votive holders and super glued ribbon to them. I stuck a little flickering candle light that I had gotten from the Dollar Store long long ago when preparing for Me Too's Rainbow Birthday Party.

I forget where I got the idea to do the popcorn for the goody bags. It was sometime after a failed attempt at melting crayons into shapes with cookie cutters. I don't know how people do that...I've read tutorial after tutorial and blog post after blog post and can't make it work for me. They turned out cute but WAAAAYYYY more expensive than I expected - long story but it had a lot to do with my not being either smart nor able to speak up when things go wrong. That's another blog post for another day when I feel like spouting off.

See the little box up there? I found those (the pink only shown here but of course there is a green one too) at Hobby Lobby as well. They were on clearance - probably because there is no way to latch it. There is what looks like a latch but it doesn't actually work. I had NO clue what I'd do with them but got them anyway knowing I'd figure something out. And I did - just hours before the party! I had decided to make candy coated marshmallow treats and realized it would be fun to use the boxes to display them!

Last is my cupcake stand. I painted these Dollar Store plates using stencils that I made with my fun fun toy...my Silhouette Cameo!! I super glued them to a candle holder that had been clear glass but I spray painted white for a Christmas display. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how these turned out.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it all turned out.

And the kids had a blast. They have such sweet friend with such sweet families.

In fact, we stated specifically on the invitation NO PRESENTS. Apparently, our friends don't follow directions!

Here's a video of the kids having fun!

Hope you enjoyed our pink and green birthday as much as we did!!

True Story from Inside Planned Parenthood

2011-12-02T02:02:00.001-06:00

What a fascinating story from LifeNews about a woman's experience at Planned Parenthood. After walking in to a PP for a pregnancy test because she bought into the lie that they provide women health care, she was first separated from her mother and husband and then badgered by a nurse regarding whether she wanted to keep the baby - or "it" rather. After walking out she said:

I said I felt like I was being choked in there, like something very dark and ugly was in there trying to take the lives of innocent babies.

Thank God this woman had the strength to stand up for her convictions. Too bad she had to go through what she did because she was naive to what PP is all about, but God uses everything for good if we let Him and now she can help others with her story.

Read it here.

My Christmas Wish - UPDATE

2011-11-21T16:34:00.001-06:00

I am BEGGING my husband to hook up with my parents and in-laws to get me a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas.

There is SO much you can do with this machine but mostly I want to cut vinyl for some of the crafts that I do. I want to make labels for things with it. Cut out cute decorative things for the house. The list goes on and on!!!

But before they go out and spend the money, I'm entering every giveaway I can find!! One of my favorite blogs, Tatertots and Jello, is doing one. If you would like to enter, go HERE and do so!!

UPDATE: Well, I did NOT win the giveaway...but I did get my Christmas Wish!! Silhouette was having a great Black Friday deal and hubby let me go for it! I can't WAIT for my machine to get here!! I will have a hard time doing anything else!!!

Happy Birthday Doug!

2011-11-21T08:31:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was Doug's birthday! Happy birthday! For his birthday, he got to sit around all day watching Nascar and football while I toted kids around to soccer games and a fun little ballet performance that a friend's daughter was in - The Nutcracker and the Nativity. All of the characters of the Nutcracker gave baby Jesus lots of presents and Clara came to know Jesus and gave Him her most prized possession, the Nutcracker. My girls LOVED it!

But on Saturday, I had tons of fun making Doug's present (and lots of Christmas crafts too).

I got a little serving tray at the Dollar Store and spray painted it with white primer. Then I painted the middle with chalkboard paint. I made the little Daddy, we love you because you... using Picnick.com. Then I took pictures of the kids with their tray. I know, Campo should be on the other end of the bench. He was first and the girls sat on the other end and I wasn't thinking. By the time I finished the project, I was NOT going back to redo! Eventually I will because it's really driving me crazy. Then I uploaded all the pictures into Picasa and made a collage, printed and put it in the frame!! So much fun!! The only cost was the tray ($1) and the frame which I got at JoAnn's with my 20% off coupon last week. I can't remember how much it was but not more than $9 all together!!

Doug took it to put on his desk at work this morning!

You Don't Know Me

2011-11-17T16:06:00.001-06:00

Twitter was suggesting that I follow Al Gore and NPR today. They don't know me AT ALL do they?

Insane Asylum

2011-11-15T08:24:00.001-06:00

Yesterday afternoon was one of those afternoons...you know them. The kids were hyper. I was tired and didn't feel good. The kids were hyper. I couldn't get anything done. Did I mention the kids were hyper? They wouldn't follow directions...AT. ALL. By the time Doug got home I was just DONE. The kids didn't get better throughout dinner. After they left the table I just slumped down and told Doug that I felt like I was running an insane asylum but that I was pretty sure that even insane asylums were much calmer and more organized than our house. Doug very calmly responded, "Well, they've got good drugs there." Hilarious. That was a mood changer. I, of course very briefly, entertained the envious wish that I could find some of those drugs to administer at home. It was just a brief though. I wouldn't...um...really do that.

Doug has always had the ability to calm me down when I'm losing it. Actually, we kind of do a good job at balancing each other out that way. It seems like when one of us is losing it, the other one has it together and props the other up. I think that's why we work so well!! Everyone should have someone in their life like that.

What do you do when you're losing it during the "witching" hour?

Pinewood Derby

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Both girls are involved in Adventure Princess this year. One of our favorite events is the Pinewood Derby. Last year Big Bear made a dinosaur and won an award for Most Animal Like. This past weekend we got to do it again and Big Bear had big hopes of another award. She decided to go for Most Animal Like again.

She made a shark this year. And won again!!

Me Too got to make one this year too! Her car was a rainbow. She LOVES rainbows! No award but it was adorable and fit her personality perfectly!

Doug, Me Too and her car!

Doug and his girls. He's SUCH an amazing dad. I am a blessed woman.

Doug and Me Too

Campo and I hung out and enjoyed the show!

Laundry Room Redo

2011-11-13T20:34:00.001-06:00

Our laundry room is a little offshoot of the garage. It has concrete floors and is painted in lime green sherbet.

See - lime sherbet. Pretty gross. Why would anyone EVER paint anything this color? And every time I would walk out there I just felt yucky. And I walk out there A LOT. Usually in socks. So forever I've wanted to paint and do something to the floors. Someone turned me on to the stick on laminate squares you can get at Lowes (and Home Depot I'm sure). I've had them since summer - maybe even last spring. Long enough that when we needed a few more, they were discontinued. But it was SO hot this summer - there was no way we could have done this project then. So when Doug told me he had Veteran's Day off I knew that was the perfect day!!

We painted, put in the laminate flooring and a new light fixture. I got some pretty baskets and semi-organized the messy shelves. Take a look!! We're so proud!!

Old yucky light

New pretty light - sorry for the bad picture. It's hard to take a good one of a light in a dark closet.

Pretty new floors!! I can walk out in socks without feeling gross!

Nice shelves!

Overall view

My pretty new baskets!

Back to Blogging?

2011-11-12T12:25:00.001-06:00

Look at me!! I'm blogging!!! I went through Wheelbarrow Manora long period of being stressed out about blogging and then decided it was not something worth stressing about.

I was going to shut it down because I thought maybe it's "life" was over. Do you believe blogs have "lives"? Do you know what I mean by that? I chose the name Wheelbarrow Manor because we had gone through a long period of really being IN the wheelbarrow - white knuckling that wheelbarrow to be really honest about it. But it's been a while since we were in that position.

I was going to start a new blog...but I couldn't think of a name or an inspiration for it. The fact is, no matter our work, financial or other life circumstances are, we always NEED to be in the wheelbarrow. When we try to get out and control things ourselves, that is when we get in trouble.

The truth is, I think I got away from the reason I started blogging in the first place, which was to document the lives going on in the Wheelbarrow Manor. Doug and I, our kids, our journey. The secondary reason I wanted to blog was to shed light on the beauty of the Church's teachings on being open to life and using NFP versus contraception. Along the way, I got wrapped up in the blogging world - wanting to have lots of followers and be well known in the blogging community. I lost focus and perspective and when it wasn't going how I wanted, I got frustrated and didn't want to do it anymore.

So, I'm not going to put any pressure on myself. I'm just going to focus on blogging to document our lives. There are many exciting things going on in our lives and I'm excited to post them here for posterity...and if anyone happens to read and enjoy sharing in our lives then all the better!!

57 in 2011

2011-03-19T08:16:00.000-05:00

I guess now it's 41 in 2011...doesn't sound as good to the ear but it sounds AWESOME to me!! It's still a LOOOOOOOONG way to go...but better than where I started!!

Pray for Fr. Corapi

2011-03-18T20:10:00.001-05:00

Pray NOW and pray HARD. This is such upsetting news...

A Call for Prayer
On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed “credible” in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure, which was in recent years crafted to respond to cases of the sexual abuse of minors. I am not accused of that, but it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on "administrative leave" as the result of this.

I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty “just in case”, then through the process determining if he is innocent. The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known. I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process.

All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned.

57 in 2011

2011-01-21T16:23:00.003-06:00

57 in 2011...that's my goal. I don't do New Year's resolutions but I guess this sort of is one. I think of it more as a goal that I have and plus it's kind catchy and sing song-y and let's face it, you can take the teacher out of preschool but you can't take the preschool out of the teacher.

So to reach this goal, I started back at Weight Watchers two weeks ago. I'll have to say I have a love/hate relationship with the new PointsPlus program!

Yes, you get more daily and weekly points which is great but the points totals of many of the foods I eat went up as well. For the first couple of days, I was quite frustrated by this fact. Things I ate for lunch and breakfast on the program long ago when I lost weight are now much higher in points and not as easy to fit into the day. However, after doing a lot of reading and studying the PointsPlus values, I started to realize that this is a much healthier program.

A big difference now is that most fruit have a 0 PointsPlus value. So for the past two weeks, anytime I feel a little hungry, I'm reaching for an apple or banana whereas in past attempts at Weight Watchers, I'd look at a 2 point banana versus a 2 point snack and of course choose the snack. I was making less healthy choices and still using 2 points! Now I'm able to fill up on fruit or carrots or whatever, not add to my daily points total and I'm making much healthier choices. And I'll have to say, I'm not sure if it's the fruit I'm eating or just a mental change that I've made, but I am making healthier choices overall this time. In past attempts I spent much of my time trying to see how much I could get away with while staying in my range.

So how is it working for me??

GREAT!!

I lost 2.4lbs the first week and 2.2lbs this week, my second week on the program. I did struggle the first week like I said. I think a lot of it had to do with starting the program before I went to the grocery store for the week. I was trying to do the program with the only the foods that had gotten into the program around the house. Once I made my list (admittedly that first one took a LOOOOOONG time) and loaded up on good foods it was a lot easier.

The thing I love the most is all the extra weekly points you get. You can use a little every day, all in one day to have a big blow out meal, or not at all! I was worried last week because one day out at the mall I got something to eat that I thought was A LOT less in points than it ended up being. I also had some wine...okay, a lot of wine!! But, I didn't even use up all of my weekly points and ended up having a great weigh in!

The other thing I love about Weight Watchers is the meetings. So many people sign up to do Weight Watchers online or go and weigh in but don't stay for the meetings. This just does not work for me. I need to go and listen to the leader talk, listen to others share their experiences whether success or failure, and get tips and encouragement from others going through the same struggles I am in this journey.

My biggest struggle right now is figuring out dinners for next week. I've noticed that Weight Watcher's recipes always have LOTS of ingredients. I prefer fewer ingredients! My brain doesn't go as crazy that way! So I'd love folks to share good recipes if you've got them!!

I Am NOT A Democrat!

2010-12-21T09:42:00.004-06:00

We're enjoying some downtime here at Wheelbarrow Manor. It's nice to be home with no where to go. There is still a lot to do though. I have to get the playroom ready for Santa and grandparents to load us up with a new bunch of toys! We are very blessed!

We got Big Bear and Me Too up at 2am last night to see the eclipse. The red moon was really neat! Big Bear is very interested in anything science-y.

One of the best things about being home is getting to spend time together like we don't get to do when school is in session and we're rushing around from here to there. Sometimes this means some interesting conversations. I would like to share one I just overheard!

So Big Bear, Me Too and Campo were in the other room. Apparently Campo said something and Me Too was arguing with him...nothing new there...and Big Bear told Me Too that she was being a democrat. Me Too yelled at Big Bear and said, "I am NOT a democrat." Big Bear answered, "Well you won't let Campo think what he wants to think. That's being a democrat."

I was literally crying I was laughing so hard. I don't think she really did know what she was saying but it was still SO funny!! And very close to the truth as I know it!!

Representative (elect) Kenneth Sheets In Action!!

2010-12-02T08:10:00.001-06:00

It's freshman orientation for the incoming class of State Reps in Austin. This is a very interesting little video on what they're up to. And we get to see a glance of Kenneth!

Book Review: Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

2010-11-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

We've had a gold bow at the top of our tree for, oh...how long have I been married? 11 years? So that's how long I've had that tree topper. It's pretty - the bow at the top and then long ribbons that trail down the tree. Last year I started thinking we needed something new but that's about as far as I got. This year I will be getting something new for our tree - a star. And it's all because of a sweet book I read - Little Star by Anthony DeStefano.

Everyone feels insignificant, unimportant, and incapable of achieving greatness at some point in their lives. Well, at least I know that I have...many times. Many must have thought the same thing about the Baby Jesus when he was born. Everyone was expecting a king, victor and deliverer. Instead, they got a delivery...of a tiny baby...in a stable. For all we know, Jesus may have felt all of those things growing up. Even if He knew He was meant for greatness, He may have wondered how he, a regular boy just like his friends in most ways, would ever achieve anything.

Little Star felt the same way. No one thought he was capable of accomplishing anything. He was tinier than any of the other stars. When they heard that a King was coming all of the stars began competing to shine the brightest to celebrate his birth. But when they saw the king, where he was born and who his family was, they felt they had been duped.

But Little Star does see the greatness in this baby King. And Little Star searches to find how he can serve this great person who has just come into the world. We learn that even the smallest and most insignificant of us can achieve amazing things as long as we are serving God...just like Baby Jesus did!

So this Advent, I am going to get a star for the top of my tree and as I gaze upon it, I will ask God what His plan is for me. This way, despite my inadequacy, I can achieve greatness for His kingdom.

Pick up Little Star by Anthony DeStefano today. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is adorable. My own children loved it and then I read it to my Pre-K class at school during Sun, Moon and Stars week and they loved it as well. In fact, the minute I finished reading it, they begged me to read it again! It will be a great addition to your Advent/Christmas collection!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2010-11-25T17:42:00.001-06:00

I hope you feel as blessed as I do today!!

Broccoli and Olive Salad

2010-11-24T19:39:00.003-06:00

Growing up my grandmother always made the most delicious broccoli and olive salad. Several years ago she announced that she didn't think she made it very well and that liked it better when other people made it. Usually me or my mom end up making it. I volunteered to make it this year.

We've talked a lot about how hard this Thanksgiving will be for my grandfather - his first one without her on more than 65 years - but I don't think I've spent any time thinking about how I am going to feel tomorrow. So I was caught by surprise at how emotional I got making the dressing and veggies for the salad tonight. I was overcome with a feeling of history or legacy (I don't think that's really a feeling but you know what I mean) as I made it. It was such a direct connection to her. I thought about how she made that salad for so many occasions with such love in her heart.

As strange as it sounds, I felt her presence with me as I went through the motions of making that salad. And I suddenly realized how incredibly sad tomorrow will be in many ways. I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful family with whom I can share that sadness.

But it won't be all sad - we will be thankful for her life and celebrate the legacy that she left behind. More than just recipes - love and family and faith.

Website to Post Your Gripe About TSA Screening

2010-11-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

Do you have something you'd like to say about the new TSA Screening tactics? Here's a website where you can send the Obama Administration, Congress and the travel industry your gripes. Read more here.

Intimidation Tactics in the Texas House Speaker's Race?

2010-11-20T07:45:00.003-06:00

Seems so...

On Tuesday, a Texas House committee will talk about the name of the Texas House member that allegedly threatened that there would be punishment for any Texas House member that wasn’t on the Straus support list, as alleged by Rep. Bryan Hughes.

Read more here including a letter from the representative who is making the allegation of intimidation.

Straus Is Worried!

2010-11-19T12:00:00.000-06:00

100% NARAL rated Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, the Republican who relied on Democrats to get into his job and then obstructed major conservative reforms in the Texas House of Representatives, is worried he might be voted off the island.

Red State reports that Joe Straus is getting a little concerned about his position as Speaker of the House!

Check it out!

Kenneth Sheets Supports Ken Paxton for Speaker

2010-11-19T05:00:00.001-06:00

I am so proud of my State Representative, Kenneth Sheets. Okay, Representative Elect Kenneth Sheets. Out of the gate the first major issue for him seemed to be who to support for speaker of the house. There are 3 men running for the position. The current speaker, Joe Straus, does not have a record that reflects true conservatism. He is not pro-life - he has a 100% rating from NARAL. From a post on Red State:

Joe Straus has a 100% rating from NARAL, but the same people saying Straus is conservative also say he is pro-life. I’m sorry, but pro-lifers do not get 100% ratings from NARAL nor do their spouses sit on the boards of abortion organizations.

Pro-lifers are not honored by Planned Parenthood, but Joe Straus was.

He placed several Democrats in key positions, including the Chair of Calendars.

The Chair of Calendars is the second most powerful leadership position in the Texas House because he sets the legislative calendar. If you want to kill conservative legislation, put a liberal in as the Chair of Calendars.

The flip side of Joe Straus is Ken Paxton.

Ken Paxton, on the other hand, received a 100% rating from Empower Texans. In contrast to Straus, he received a 0% rating from NARAL, a 97% rating from the Young Conservatives of Texas and an A+ from the NRA. Rock solid, you say? It gets better. Paxton sponsored legislation that would create stronger spending limits in Texas government in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and was lead author on cutting-edge transparency legislation in 2007.

Read more here and here.

So I've been reading all of this and getting more and more passionate about the fact that Joe Straus needs to be OUT and Ken Paxton needs to be IN. For the very first time in my life, I called a politician to ask them to vote a certain way. Okay, to be honest, the representative called me to ask about something else and then I told him how I felt. But I intended to call him! He politely informed me that he was still undecided. But then today I got the following. I'm so proud of Kenneth for his courage in following his convictions as well honoring the values of the people in his district!

Kenneth Sheets Endorse Ken Paxton for Speaker

Election Day...And Night

2010-11-09T21:59:00.005-06:00

Sorry I've been MIA lately. No major excuses besides just, well, life!! Sometimes it just gets the best of me! Let me fill you in on what's happened with Kenneth Sheets and other stuff!

Election Day 2010 - POURING rain...and I was standing out in it. I was a poll greeter for Kenneth Sheets. Myself and a candidate for judge would stay in our cars until someone would arrive to vote and then we'd jump out with our signs. After lunch time I decided to leave since traffic was slowing down and my car battery was dead! I got a jump and finally got to go home, take a shower and get warm thanks to my mom picked up my kids at their respective schools. Thank God for her that day or I don't think I would have ever warmed up.

Now you would have thought that I would be exhausted after that, and I was, but election day adrenaline was pumping and I was ready for the Dallas GOP party. We headed out to the Hotel Palomar where most of the Republican candidates set up camp to watch election results. We got there and found Kenneth's suite where spirits were extremely high as the early voting totals had come in and Kenneth was winning! We tried to temper ourselves a bit because there was a long night ahead and anything could happen. At some point we all made our way downstairs to the big party. I have never felt anything so electric. The energy in that place was unbelievable and even now, several weeks later, I'm getting chills as I type! I have never experienced anything like it and don't even know what to compare it to!

As I stood there looking around and taking it all in, Kenneth's campaign manager Ronda showed me her cell phone. There was a text from their consultant informing her that 5 of the "deathzones" or areas that would be tough for Kenneth to win, had gone his way. He said that it looked like Kenneth had won. We are all screaming!! As much as we believed wholeheartedly in this man, he was a relative unknown running against a well liked two term incumbent and no one really knew how it would go. We headed back up to the suite to wait some more for results to keep coming in and to let Kenneth get his thoughts together for his speech. Once the concession phone call came through, we all headed back downstairs and Doug and I got to be up on the stage with Kenneth and all his supporters and staff as he made his victory speech.

It was one of the most incredible nights of my life. I will never, ever forget it. I can see how people get lured in by the energy and excitement of politics.

In other news...Big Bear had her Pinewood Derby and won an award!! A separate post will be coming with pics and more details. Let's just say, I've never seen a smile that big!! Me Too turned 5!!! A separate post will be coming on that too. Her birthday party is this weekend so I'll wait until I have those pics and details. She has strep throat right now but started antibiotics today so I'm hoping she'll be up for having the party. I'm hoping that I am up for having the party as my throat is suspiciously getting sore and throughout the day I have felt worse and worse. Luckily, Doug off early tomorrow so if I need to run to the doctor I should be free to do so! Campo is chugging along! He is turning 3 in just a few weeks - acckkkkk!!!!

Oh and I started working with my first Handwriting Without Tears client. I did his evaluation and report and am now tutoring him once a week. He is a 3rd grader and I'll have to admit I was quite intimidated by the thought of working with a 3rd grade boy at first. But, after I left the house yesterday, I texted my husband and told him that I hope Campo is JUST like this boy at that age. He is very well mannered, very sweet and very cooperative. And his mom emailed me this morning and said that when his dad asked him how it was he answered, "Kinda fun". I'll take that!!

That's it for now!!

Fox's Kelly Wright

2010-10-30T16:26:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to be going to a Texans For Life Coalition Dinner with Kenneth and Michele Sheets tonight! I was happy to see that Fox's Kelly Wright is the keynote speaker. I've always liked him a lot when I've seen him on television but did sort of wonder why he'd be speaking at a pro-life dinner. When I found out he'd be there tonight, I Googled him...as I do most people I meet (watch out!). Now I'm really excited to be going. It seems he has quite an amazing story. Jill Stanek explains that his conception occurred when his mother was raped by her pastor. She turned down the abortion that she was offered. I think this is going to be an amazing and moving story to hear. Thank God this mother courageously recognized that the way a life is brought into the world does not mean that the life has no value and that the baby should not be allowed to live. Thank God that this mother courageously chose life for her baby!

I'll have more to report after the dinner! Maybe not tomorrow though. I don't know if I'll get to blogging tomorrow between Mass, my hour at 40 Days for Life, a Halloween party, and then trick or treating!!

Handwriting Without Tears Recommended for Texas Educators!

2010-10-28T19:11:00.003-05:00

The Handwriting Without Tears printing and cursive curricula for Grades 1-3 has been recommended for adoption by the Texas State Board of Education, under Proclamation 2011. See how the HWT curriculum meets Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for Language Arts.

Contact me for evaluations and/or tutoring!!

Thick Skinned or Running Scared?

2010-10-26T20:15:00.004-05:00

I received a copy of a letter written by the wife of Kenneth's opponent - we'll call her Lady Vaught or LV for short (and we'll call Kenneth's opponent AV for short). It is a last ditch effort to light a fire under their supporters to help the campaign and most likely to illicit some campaign money since from what I read Kenneth's campaign has out raised theirs.

I'd like point out a few problems that I saw in the letter.

Heroic Media is a group that attempts to get the word out, through the media, to women who have unwanted pregnancies that there are alternatives to abortion. LV calls them a fringe pro-life group. Too funny. Actually, Sarah Palin is currently the keynote speaker at several events for this group - including one coming to Dallas in a few weeks!! Oh how I want to go!! Off the subject though! The website has a testimonial page with quotes from Bill O'Reilly, Laura Ingram, Michael Reagan and Col. Oliver North...you know, fringe types - HA! Here is a little bit from their home page:

When a woman is in an unwanted pregnancy, she often feels trapped and scared. Heroic Media’s television, billboard and internet messages reach her where she is. They don’t judge her. They let her know there are countless hopeful solutions.

Our advertisements (click here to view our TV commercials) connect her with resource centers that provide the hope and help she and her baby need. In fact, in markets where we’ve run consistent campaigns, the abortion ratio has dropped 24 percent! And, our messages are encouraging communities to rethink their position in favor of positive, life-affirming attitudes.

Hmmmm...that's not sounding too wacky to me. LV is very upset in her letter that this group would dare to have a gathering in the home across the street from her. She mentions that the pro-life movement "presented itself - almost literally on her front doorstep." She sounds pretty rattled by this close encounter with pro-lifers and it makes me wonder why this would be so unnerving to her. But, it also highlights what many of Kenneth's supporters love about him and why many of us are so involved in trying to get him elected - his pro-life stance. And stance isn't even really the correct word to use - he doesn't just say he's pro-life, he lives it out. Publicly. Unashamedly. Literally right out there on his "front doorstep"...and that is what his opponents' wife points out.

The second inaccuracy is the incident at the League of Women Voter's debate. She alleges that a Kenneth Sheets supporter "shouted down" one of their supporters and called them a "babykiller". I was standing there during most of this incident and the person asking the questions was not shouting at all and was not speaking to them as a Kenneth Sheets supporter. She is a constituent of District 107 and was trying to find out information about the person currently representing her district (AV), however, AV was not available to answer those questions as he left immediately after the debate. The AV representative who was left behind to answer questions in his absence was getting quite flustered, red and upset. Kenneth was not involved in this incident as he was busy being available to answer questions to the people who gave of their time to be there. He was also very quietly helping to stack chairs since the library had asked that the campaigns help to clean up. I remember being very struck by this humble attitude of service. The bottom line is that Kenneth has no control over what AV's constituents want to know about the person who was elected to represent them. Neither he nor his campaign asked this woman to "scream epithets" (which she did not do) at AV’s campaign as LV accuses in her letter.

LV makes a big point in her first paragraph to state that she has developed a thick skin since her husband entered politics. I couldn't help but wonder if her skin is really as thick as she would like to think or if she might need to work on that a little more. However, I am hoping that one week from today, this will be a moot point for her and she can just go back to keeping her street clear of those horrible fringe pro-lifers.

READ LETTER HERE

Five Questions - Get To Know Kenneth Sheets

2010-10-25T21:03:00.002-05:00

He may not have become an astronaut but he sure is headed to high places...namely Austin, TX!!! Read this article to find out what that means!

World Series Excitement

2010-10-24T18:42:00.003-05:00

There is just so much fun stuff going on right now. I just feel a constant underlying excitement about the upcoming election. The anticipation of Kenneth Sheets' win (learn all about him here) as well as the hope that the Republicans will make great strides on all levels of government has me buzzing all the time. I've got my own personal satisfaction about getting my Level 1 HWT Certification and the anticipation of all that will bring for me. And now, as if that isn't enough, the Texas Rangers are in the World Series for the first time ever!

This town just can't get enough of our Rangers! Which is a good thing since the Cowboys are so completely horrible - boo hoo. A World Series in Arlington is about the only thing that could bring Dallas-ites out of our bad Cowboys slump!

I admit I am not a huge baseball fan these days. The long games don't seem to hold my attention. But...having lived in Dallas all my life, I of course am thrilled for the team and have kept up with most of the games throughout the playoffs.

The other night while trying to go to sleep, I remembered the allure that baseball held for me as a little girl though. My dad worked for a radio station when I was growing up which meant we never had a hard time getting tickets to events. I remember going to a lot of Ranger games growing up. I loved taking my glove and hoping that we would catch a fly ball - even though when they actually did start coming towards us it terrified me. I remember loving it when the crowd would taunt the umpires. Of course I loved the pink ice cream I always got! And I remember having a huge crush on Buddy Bell!! So, so funny!!

Anyway, these childhood memories welled up in me - the sounds, the smells, the excitement - and made me feel so proud of this accomplishment. Especially with the new ownership who seem like such class acts! And I love that both of the teams playing were underdogs in their series who beat powerhouse teams with huge payrolls. It's is going to be exciting to watch this truly historic series!!

A Big Accomplishment

2010-10-22T10:24:00.004-05:00

I've gotten some exciting news this week! After 21 hours of training, countless hours working on reports and case studies, giving a presentation and passing a 100 question multiple choice test I have passed my Level 1 Certification in Handwriting Without Tears!

Handwriting Without Tears is an amazing program that teaches handwriting for kids PreK - 5th grade using developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory materials that are fun and effective. I've been using this program with my own kids, in my Pre-K class, and my daughter's 1st grade class. Not only is it very effective...it is a blast!! I love singing and dancing and having fun with kids but also knowing I'm teaching them such an important skill!

I hope to start offering tutoring, summer camps, and in service or informational trainings to schools, parent groups, etc.

I'm very excited about this new venture and very proud of my accomplishment after working SO hard! I didn't know how much work it would be going into it which makes it even that much more satisfying to me!

Meet Kenneth Sheets - Candidate for TX State Rep - District 107!!

2010-10-19T19:50:00.000-05:00

We met Kenneth Sheets at a retreat at our church called Christ Renews His Parish, commonly known around our St. Thomas Aquinas parish as CHRP (pronounced “chirp”). It is a profound weekend held twice a year, one weekend for the men and one for the women. People come away from this retreat renewed, refreshed, and on fire for the Lord.

To say my husband was not excited to go is a huge understatement. Sitting at the table next to him was another man who was not too excited to be there (actually there were several at the table in the same frame of mind) named Kenneth Sheets. But both Doug and Kenneth were touched by the Holy Spirit on the weekend and both continued on throughout the 6-month formation process that follows. They became friends, and at some point during this time, I met Kenneth and his sweet wife, Michele.

Soon after he and Doug were on the team that hosted the next men’s retreat, Kenneth was called into active duty as a Marine and sent to Iraq. Doug continued to get occasional emails from Kenneth and we would see Michele from time to time.

Since Kenneth returned from duty, Doug and I had run into them both at many different events at church. Last December, I was asked to be on a committee at our parish for the Catholics Come Home program. Kenneth and Michele were also on the committee. I really enjoyed getting to know them even better and working with them.

It was during this time that Kenneth told us that he was thinking about running for State Representative for District 107. I was so thrilled to know someone running for such a position and even more thrilled when I got home that night and discovered I was in his district! I was mostly thrilled that he was running as a Republican so I could vote for him!

Since he told us that it was official that he was running we have supported his candidacy and been so excited for him...BUT...we haven't really been able to "do" as much for his campaign as we'd like and I've felt badly about that. We walked for him in the neighborhood July 4th parade and we've done little things like take food to some of the folks that were block walking for him and that type of thing. However, I do have my famous phone phobia so I never could bring myself to do phone calls and block walking terrifies me. I have been feeling guilty that I haven't done more of that kind of thing. So when the opportunity came up to interview Kenneth for my blog, I jumped at the chance! He and Michele carved out time between block-walking and the 7:30pm “last chance” Mass where Michele served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. (Seriously? How does she have the energy?) They sat down with me and Doug at our home. We put all the kids in front of a new movie they had gotten from the church library and we had a great talk with Kenneth and Michele Sheets!

I did not have a tape recorder so I'm going to "summarize" their answers! I had prepared some “getting to know you” questions that revolve around the issues that I blog about – Catholicism and faith, marriage and family and pro-life.

THEIR MARRIAGE, ICE ROAD TRUCKERS AND OPTIMUS PRIME

I asked about their marriage. The campaign has been a whirlwind of activities, events and meetings. I asked how they had been able to stay connected during all of it and how they would stay connected during the times that Kenneth would be gone to Austin. Kenneth answered first by saying how blessed he is to have Michele as his wife. She keeps him sane and grounded. They have really been relying on each other during all of this.

The hardest part has been communication…so many things happen during a day that sometimes it’s a challenge to keep each other up to date. Then Michele pointed out that the 4 months that Kenneth would spend in session in Austin is a much shorter time than when he was serving in the military and based in South Carolina and then Iraq. Plus, unlike Iraq, she can go to visit him in Austin! Also, they often try to delay dinner each night that they are attending separate events, so they can eat together, and watch Ice Road Truckers. Ice Road Truckers? Aren’t they too cute?

I was impressed with their solidarity as a couple during this process. You can really see that they are in this together.

Next I asked Michele what her reaction was when Kenneth told her that he was thinking about running for office. She blushed and started laughing, a little embarrassed because of where she got the quote that she used to answer him! Her response was from the movie Transformers and is actually quite profound! “Fate rarely calls us at the moment of our choosing.” – Optimus Prime.

Michele said it all started at dinner with friends, talking about their frustrations with Obamacare, which was about to pass. They were commenting that they wanted to do something with their frustration. Someone mentioned that no one was running on the Republican side for State Rep in District 107 and that Kenneth should run. This comment kept being repeated and he started to seriously consider it. Kenneth said that there were 4 people he had to ask before he could make it official. The first was Michele. The second was his boss, along with higher-ups at work. The third was his boss in the Marine Corp Reserves. And the fourth was God. With each person, he kept waiting for someone to answer him with a resounding “NO”. After the first three “yeses” he was SURE that God would give the out he was waiting to hear. He never got it…in fact, things just kept working out. Kenneth and Michele both agree that it was strange how everything kept laying out right in front of them with no glitches. It was pretty clear that the candidacy was supposed to happen!

FAITH

Kenneth was brought up in a non-denominational church. His parents taught him good morals and values. It was his best friend in the Marine Corp that introduced Kenneth to Catholicism. He decided to convert in 1996. Michele grew up Baptist so when she and Kenneth met they decided to meet somewhere in the middle and attend Methodist church. One weekend, however, she ended up attending a Catholic mass and loved it. She called Kenneth and told him that she was converting. She attended RCIA (the program which brings new Catholics into the church and teaches them about the faith) and converted in 2002. She has been volunteering her time and talents with the RCIA program ever since and Kenneth often joins her!

Michele's work with RCIA is just one of many examples of how Kenneth and Michele live their faith. Kenneth is a 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus. Michele is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. Both are involved in parish activities such as carnival, parish potluck dinners and the before mentioned CRHP retreat activities.

I asked Kenneth how his faith would play a role when he is elected in November. He said that he would pray a lot about the decisions that he would make. His faith affects his morals and that would, in turn, affect the way he does his job. He knows that there could be a lot of temptations that go along with this kind of position. His faith will certainly help him in those situations as well.

Also because of his faith, Kenneth is pro-life. He has received endorsements from Texas Right to Life and Texas Alliance for Life (click here for a personalized Pro-Life Voter's Guide from TX Alliance for Life). I asked Kenneth what kind of role he would be able to play in Pro-Life legislation at the state level. He told us about a bill that will be coming up that will give the woman the right to see a sonogram and to hear the heartbeat before an abortion is performed. Kenneth has pledged to support that legislation.

Issues

The last question I had was about the issues that would be most important for our district. Kenneth feels that the most important issues for our district are the same ones that our state faces...the economy, jobs and the budget. The state of Texas is facing a budget shortfall in the next session. Kenneth believes that spending should be cut and the budget prioritized.

He pointed out that recently both the city of Dallas and Dallas county raised our taxes. He has signed a pledge that he will not support a tax raise for the state. To raise taxes would take away the incentive for people to come here to live and do business.

Kenneth also told us that 4 new congressional seats will be added to the state of Texas. The way they draw up these districts should be done in a way that will reflect conservative values. He also supports realigning communities of interest. For example, Lake Highlands where I live is currently split up into 3 districts - 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

This Blogger’s Humble Opinion

I’m passionate about politics but wouldn’t say I’m that knowledgeable about all of the issues. My eyes glaze over when the discussion gets too technical about taxes and things like that. I mostly look at the candidate’s character and their stance on pro-life issues. BUT…I feel that I am a good judge of character. Long before Kenneth Sheets decided to run for Texas State Rep, I knew deep in my heart that he is a good person, a sincere person and a person of character. I see this in his actions at church. I see this in the way that he is with his wife and the way that he talks about his wife. I see this also in the choice he made in Michele because she too is a good person, a sincere person and a person of character. I see it when my children light up at the sight of him. You should see him play with them!! Too cute…this man is very in tune with his inner child!

I am very proud to know Kenneth and Michele Sheets and am so excited that they have stepped up to answer the call to run for Texas State Representative for District 107. I can’t wait to vote for him and to see all of the good things he is going to do for the State of Texas and for my District.

Early voting begins TOMORROW - October 18 - click here for a list of early voting locations.

Michele, Stevie and Kenneth

Where Have You Been All My Life?

2010-10-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Finally...the website I've been looking for all my life! I have so much trouble finding good ideas for Catholic crafts and activities to do with my younger kids. It's pretty easy to find materials for older ones - word searches and harder crafts and things like that - but not for the younger ones. But today I ran across this amazing site - Catholic Icing.

You will find cute things such as making an alphabet of saints crafts, a neat prayer and activity to do while carving pumpkins, and some fun All Saints Day games are examples of what you'll find right now. These are easy, fun crafts for little ones but older ones will enjoy as well.

We will sure be doing some of these fun activities!!

Personalized Pro-Life Voter's Guide

2010-10-17T13:00:00.001-05:00

Ronda, the campaign manager for Kenneth Sheets for State Rep, District 107, sent this out today:

I'll leave you with a quote from Bishop Mike Seitz at the Render Unto Caesar Conference, a few months ago: "When you enter a public forum, don't check your faith at the door."

VOTE PRO-LIFE!

Texans...here is a great resource to find great pro-life candidates to vote for in your area from the Texas Alliance for Life! Just put your address, city and zip and it will give you a personalized report! How great and easy! Check it out before heading to the polls for early voting!

Click here for voting locations!

Komen and Planned Parenthood

2010-10-16T17:34:00.001-05:00

Komen for the Cure Donated $730K to Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz in 2009. It's so frustrating to me that as a pro-lifer, I can't support Komen.

Overheard at Wheelbarrow Manor

2010-10-15T18:33:00.005-05:00

If you were a fly on the wall at Wheelbarrow Manor, you might hear the following...

Campo just said THE cutest thing...well, to me anyway! He said "I'm going to tell you something to your ear". Translation: he was going to whisper it! I didn't realize that is what he meant until he grabbed my head, turned it to him and started whispering LOUDLY into my ear!
GO RANGERS!!!! BEAT THE SKANKEES!!!
A discussion about the word SEXY. How do you tell a 4 and 6 year old what the word SEXY means? I found out the answer the other night! Big Bear, Me Too and I were watching Dancing With The Stars the other night before they went to bed. We must have heard the word SEXY about 500 times. Seriously. So about the time I was going to put them to bed, Big Bear started saying "I'm sexy, I'm sexy." Me Too said, "I'm sexy too" and then followed with "What does sexy mean?" Big Bear said that she supposed sexy meant fancy. I was sitting and listening to this and trying to figure out what to say about it. After a quick prayer for the right words I got them to bed and decided that would be a good time to address it before one of them went to school the next day telling everyone how sexy they are...especially Me Too whose PreK teacher thinks that the way one of the characters on Mama's Family dresses a little too risque for her taste (seriously!!). So I explained that sexy refers to grown adults and more specifically to men and women and that only men and women who were married should be sexy. I explained the sexy is a word that we ONLY use for grown ups - not ever for children - and that we should not go and talk about being sexy to our friends.
So what do you think? How would you explain the word SEXY to a 4 and a 6 year old? It's a hard one!!

Fair Fun!

2010-10-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

We made it to the Texas State Fair last week! It was super fun! The girls decided they wanted to ride their first roller coaster. It was a little one in the kiddie ride section. We thought it would be little and slow enough that they would have fun. Boy were we WRONG! I was watching Campo ride another little ride and could hear poor Me Too's screams over the very loud rides. Doug finally gave the ride operator the cut off sign. Big Bear got off the ride and immediately said, "Never, ever again". Me Too didn't stop crying for about 20 minutes. She said that she did NOT like the fair at all. Once she started to settle down she did mention that some cotton candy might help her feel better. It did the trick!

It was actually heartbreaking for me. I am terrified of rides. I was very hesitant to let them go on the rides in the first place but everyone else seemed to think it was fine. So to hear those screams of sheer terror just made my stomach do flips. But...all in all, everyone survived and my children now know that roller coasters aren't for them!

Other than the ride disaster, we had a wonderful time. We had yummy food and saw lots of animals. The best activity was actually the only free one! It was an exhibit called Little Hands On the Farm. The kids enter a farm yard and are given an apron and a bucket. They go from building to building doing different activities such as feeding the chickens and gathering an egg or milking a cow and getting a carton of milk. By the end of the exhibit, they had a bucket full of items that they "sold" at market. They were paid some funny money which they then took to a little store where they could "buy" some snacks. It was precious and the pictures are adorable!

Campo on a very slow ride that did NOT scar him for life!

The awful dragon roller coaster that terrified my poor girls.

Campo loving the car show!

The family with Grammy and Big Tex!

All of us in front of Big Tex!

The family in the animal building!

The kids at the Little Hands exhibit!

Feeding the chickens!

Kenneth Sheets Commercial

2010-10-06T16:45:00.003-05:00

Kenneth's commercial began airing today! It's SO good. It makes me prouder than ever to know him and Michele! And I love how proudly he declares that he is a Republican. It's very interesting to many of us that his opponent NEVER mentions his party affiliation on any of his materials.

My interview with him is almost done. I'm hoping to have it out...soon...maybe tomorrow? God willing and plumbing cooperating. I was supposed to work on it last night BUT...we had plumbing issues arise last night...arise being the key word as the water was rising in the toilet and then up through the bathtub. Fun times. Probably TMI...but in other words, it will be out soon!

Kenneth Sheets Interview Coming!!!

2010-10-03T18:33:00.002-05:00

I just finished interviewing Kenneth and Michele Sheets! Kenneth is running for Texas State Representative for District 107. Besides being a strong pro life conservative, Kenneth is an amazing person. His wife is an amazing person as well. And together as a couple...well, you'll be blown away like I was by their strong faith that is guiding them through this exciting campaign journey. I came away from my time with them inspired by their faith, enthusiasm and energy. Be on the lookout for the full interview...coming soon!

Great way to support Obama's opponents in 2012

2010-09-24T11:24:00.001-05:00

Ditto for me if I go before 2012! Or if I go in the next couple of months, give to Kenneth Sheets for State Representative...

Check out this cute story that Barbara posted at Mommy Life about a man who wants people to support Obama's opponent in the 2012 election in lieu of flowers for his funeral!

Progress

2010-09-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe my sweet little baby girl got her very first progress report yesterday. The progress report is the precursor to the report card. That will come in 3 weeks. The good news is that she got all 4's. For those who are old like me, that is all A's. These days they get a grade of 4, 3, 2, or 1 - 4 being the best. I think like a 4.0.

Big Bear also got her first list of spelling words this week and will be taking her first spelling test this Friday.

How, how, how do you stop this whole growing thing?? I want my babies back!

Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up...Too Early Anyway

2010-09-15T21:35:00.003-05:00

A Michigan couple is crying unsportsmanlike conduct after their 6-year-old daughter was removed from a flag football cheerleading team because they complained that one of the team's chants was too risqué.

I'm heartbroken for this little girl and her parents. I applaud the parents for taking a stand. I feel so badly for them that it backfired on them in such an unexpected way. The little girl will not understand what is going on right now...and probably not for a long time. But one day when she is grown up and raising children of her own, she will admire her parents so much for what they did for her.

Read more here.

Here is the cheer that the 6 year olds are being asked to do:

"Our backs ache, our skirts are too tight, we shake our booties from left to right."

We are in such a hurry to grow our kids up these days. A friend of mine has a kindergartner who was invited to a slumber party!?! My friend feels that her daughter is too young for this - especially since it is a family that the parents don't know very well yet. That and the kids are 5 YEARS OLD! I admit I was a little bit behind in the maturity department growing up, but I know for sure I wasn't ready for a sleep over at 5. And I don't think most 5 year olds I know are either.

If you think about it, keep these parents and their little girl in your prayers. And, as hard as it might be, I'm going to lift up some prayers for the other parents from the team that sent this family packing.

Box Tops For Education

2010-09-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

Big Bear loves collecting Box Tops for school! She got so excited recently when I brought her 12 that I had gotten from some boxes of granola bars that my mom bought for everyone to snack on after my grandmothers funeral.

Schools collect them and turn them in for cash. Her school, like many, has a contest and the class who brings the most gets a party. The child who brings the most gets some sort of prize. I've heard of moms buying Box Tops off of EBAY so they're child will win the prize. Big Bear may not win but she'll have a lot this year. Every once in a while she gets her bag down and counts how many she has collected! Right now she's up to 63! I love that it is so easy to make her happy!

Fun Birthday Party!

2010-09-11T14:45:00.006-05:00

We were invited to a birthday party for some good friends today. It was a lot of fun. There was a petting zoo with rabbits, chickens and goats. They got to ride a pony named Cinnamon. Campo didn't ride Cinnamon until late in the morning and apparently Cinnamon was wanting to have a snack. He/She kept stopping to eat the grass and all of the jerking around scared Campo. He didn't last too long!

Next we all played putt putt golf. We've never played putt putt before but it's been something I've been wanting to do with the kids. There was yummy sandwiches and cake of course. It ended with a big pinata that all the kids took a whack at and then got lots of candy!

We had a blast!

Not Looking Good For You, EBJ

2010-09-07T16:03:00.002-05:00

There's more to the story about Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. First it came out that she gave scholarship funds to her own grandsons, grand-nephews and staffer's children, all who were not eligible for the money because they were related to members of the CBC and they did not live in her district.

Now, her opponent Pastor Stephen Broden, has received a copy of a letter that shows that not only did she award this money to her family members instead of needy and deserving kids, she wrote a letter asking that the checks be written out to the kids and sent to them directly instead of to the colleges they were going to attend. Read more here.

And the Front Burner, D Magazine's blog, shows the nice home her grandchildren lived in and asks if they really needed the scholarship money over some other children who come from EBJ's district.

If you live in this district (30th Congressional District) please, please, please do what you can to support Pastor Broden!!! Vote for him of course. If you don't live there but want to support good, honest, well meaning Republican candidates, please donate to his campaign here.

What Is Your Calcutta?

2010-09-05T11:35:00.004-05:00

How important can our one small, unspectacular life be? Consider this: the good that each of us can accomplish, even with limited resources and restricted reach, not even a Mother Teresa could achieve. The family, friends and coworkers whom we alone can touch, with our unique and unrepeatable mix of gifts and qualities, not even Mother Teresa could reach. No one else on the planet, and no one else in history possesses the same network of acquaintances and the same combination of talents and gifts as each of us do.

There is no need, then, to travel to far-off lands to contribute to Mother Teresa’s mission, or to follow her example. Wherever we are, with whatever talents and relationships God has entrusted us, we are each called not to do what a Mother Teresa did, but to do as she did -- to love as she loved in the Calcutta of our own life.

This excerpt from a wonderful post (read the rest here) that really got me to thinking...what is my own Calcutta? Where am I called to be Mother Teresa in my own life?

For now, I think it is my home and my family and possibly even the children and families that I interact with at the school where I teach Pre-K. I am constantly struggling with the feeling that I don't serve enough or do enough. But...when I stop to reflect on and pray about my life and my situation, I realize that I am doing what I am called to do in the way of service right now by raising small children, being a wife and getting children ready to enter kindergarten and begin their school careers. When I stop to really think about it, I am doing a lot of the same the work that Mother Teresa did - caring for the needy, tending to the sick, feeding the hungry. I just need to remember that as I am doing this work, I need to be doing it with the intention of introducing the face of God to those who do not know Him yet through my actions.

Since [the poor of Calcutta]were left with nothing and no one to mirror to them the face of God, Mother Teresa was sent to show them in his name, in concrete works of love, how beloved of God they were.

Well...I don't always do a great job at that face of God part. They definitely did not see the face of God in my face this morning when they were not behaving at an event we were attending. If they did, it was the face of Jesus at the temple while turning over the moneychangers tables!

I saw a beautiful example of someone being Mother Teresa in their own Calcutta over the past few weeks and showing the face of God to everyone around her through it all - my mom! My grandmother was admitted to the hospital 3 weeks ago and in a two week span, things went from bad to worse until she passed away a week ago today. My mom was by her side every minute. She stayed at the hospital with her, comforted my grandfather, and kept the family informed and updated. Even when it wasn't pleasant to watch what my grandmother was going through, and most of the time it was not, my mom was there doing what she could to love and comfort her and my grandpa. One thing that helped all of them was that they prayed the rosary a lot. Even when my grandmother was the very sickest, my mom would pray a decade with her which was about all my grandmother could handle sometimes. My mom was there with Granny while she slipped away from this world into Jesus' arms. Afterward, my mom put aside her own exhaustion and sadness to be with my grandpa and help him make arrangements. She has been by his side every minute - watching him suffer even though she is grieving as well. And since the funeral last Thursday, she has been there helping clean out the house. I know she has to be so tired but she hasn't complained and or stopped thinking of what others need - even having the foresight to get granola bars for everyone to eat in between the funeral and the ride to the cemetery when there wasn't time for lunch. She has reflected God's face at every step of this ordeal - always giving Him glory and depending on Him for her strength.

The importance of Mother Teresa's example, even for those who bear much milder Calcuttas, is in showing how far faith and love can reach in this life -- even in the night, even buffeted by pain, with every wind against it. Her victory in the night is proof that the exercise of faith and love is ultimately our free choice, never beholden to circumstance, a decision accessible at all times.

May we always make the choice, despite our circumstance, to remember that God can give us the chance to help others - to help them through their own pain as well as to help them know the face of God.

Major Garrett Leaves Fox News

2010-09-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

What a shame that Major Garrett is leaving Fox News. I always liked him and from what I read, he was highly regarded by all as truly being Fair and Balanced.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Garrett lived up to Fox's fair-and-balanced motto: "I have always thought Major was one of the smartest people in the briefing room. He's tough, and I'd say the slogan actually did fit him."

Eddie Bernice Johnson Scholarship Scandal

2010-09-03T17:57:00.001-05:00

This is just horrible. Hoping and praying the Pastor Stephen Broden sends her packing in November!! Oh and kudos to CNN and
Anderson Cooper for doing such a great job on this story!

Stevie's Super Stuff

2010-09-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

For the past few weeks I've been doing Weight Watchers in an attempt to lose weight. I have done it tons of times before and haven't been able to stick with it. This attempt is different somehow. I can't explain what it is that is different than the other times that I've tried. It's just different and it's more like it was one time I was successful in sticking with it and lost 40lbs long ago before I ever had kids. It's an internal motivation that I've been trying to get back for a long time and don't know how I finally got it!

But, I do know one thing that has helped a TON! It's one of my favorite new meals to have when we have one of those fend for yourself nights. It's the new Lean Cuisine Market Creations. They are dinners that come in steam bags. You just put the bag in the microwave for about 6 minutes and when it's done, you're dinner is ready!

They are delicious! But more importantly, they are hearty. I'm used to frozen dinners being kind of whimpy. The pasta is small. You can usually hardly find the meat in them! These are completely different from anything I've ever had! For example, in the Asiago Cheese Tortellini you will find huge tortellini pasta. It's cheesy, creamy and the vegetable are fresh and delicious. Not frozen tasting at all. My other favorite is the Chicken Alfredo. Again, tons of pasta, tons of chicken, creamy and delicious!!

Now, you're probably thinking that with all this pasta and creamy yumminess, these meals must be TONS of WW POINTS...right? NO!!! For the two I mentioned, the ENTIRE bag is 5 points!!!! 5!!!! Awesome! Just my kind of meal - fast, easy, cheesy, creamy and low in points!! Try it today!!

(I was not paid for this product endorsement. I bought the product for myself and just loved it and wanted to share!)

New School Year

2010-09-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

A new school year has begun! I have a brand new pre-K class, classroom and co-teacher and I love all of them! This year I'm in a tiny classroom with no windows except out into the hallway. I thought it would really bother me but it is not bothering me at all! I only have 8 kids and just happen to have 8 of the most wonderful ones to teach this year! And my new co-teacher...I thought I'd like working with her...and I actually love working with her. We complement each other very well. Here are some pics of our classroom...

Our school focuses on one Fruit of the Spirit each month so this is our "Fruits" tree!

I'm so excited to be loving school again. Last year was a VERY hard year. I keep telling everyone that I have the class this year that I earned last year! Here's a picture of me teaching Handwriting Without Tears - I'll have to post more about that at a later date!

My Granny Is Gone

2010-08-31T15:33:00.004-05:00

It's been a hard couple of weeks for my family. About two weeks ago, my grandmother was admitted to the hospital to have antibiotics administered for a colon infection. She was supposed to be there about 24 hours and then go home to take more heavy duty antibiotics.

She never made it home.

The first night she was there she had an "episode", for lack of a better term, where she couldn't breathe and was placed on a breathing tube in ICU. They kept her sedated for several days to let her body recover. Once they woke her back up, they did tests and found a huge mass in her colon and confirmed that she had something wrong with a valve in her heart. So she continued to have "episodes" where she couldn't breathe and the nurses would rush in to revive her. The doctors told us one thing one day and another thing the next day - or sometimes even the next hour. My uncle called it a slow roller coaster ride. One minute we all had hope that they might be able to do a procedure that might help, the next minute we were all down and not knowing what would happen.

This past Sunday, the 29th, I got home from Mass and felt an overwhelming feeling that I needed to go to the hospital and see her - and I felt it would be the last chance. So I spent the afternoon there. I only saw her once that day but got to tell her I loved her. I'm so glad I went because while I was spending very special time with aunts, uncles and cousins in the waiting room they came to tell us that her kidneys were shutting down and that while they could do any number of procedures on her, none of them would ultimately help too much. She decided that she wanted no more of the medical stuff. She was at peace with the Lord, had gone to confession and had anointing of the sick earlier in the week and was just not up to the fight anymore. The decision was made to let her go.

None of us were sure how long it would take but felt like she would make it through that night. She had been awake and alert all day - even cracking jokes!

We all left about 7pm that evening and about 8:30 I got a call that she was gone. She had made her decision and stuck to it by golly!

I can't believe she's gone. I'm happy for her. She has a daughter and many family members in Heaven and I'm so happy she's there with all of them. But I just HATE that she is not here anymore. I HATE, HATE, HATE it. I'm definitely in the anger stage of grieving right now. My granny was the sweetest and most amazing lady. Here are some of the thoughts I've had about her in the past few days...

- She was one of two people who call me Steph. Some of my family still calls me Stephanie, most people call me Stevie but only Granny and my brother call me Steph

- Her laugh was one of the most amazing things about her. Everyone has commented on her laugh. It came so easily and it was so genuine.

- She loved hearing about what was going on with me and my siblings as well as with my kids. My mom always mentions in passing that she talked to Granny and was telling her about whatever was going on with us.

- I remember when Doug and I started to try to get pregnant. On Mother's Day we went to have Mass at my Granny and Grandpa's church and they asked all of the mothers to stand up. I wished so badly that I could stand up with my mom and grandmother but I was having what I thought were physical signs that I wasn't pregnant. A couple of weeks later I found out I actually was pregnant and had been that day. I immediately remembered my grandmother had mentioned how special it was to have 3 generations represented that day. So I called her and said, "Granny, do you remember how you noticed that we had 3 generations at Mass on Mother's Day? Well, we actually had 4"! Of course, she started her Granny laugh and said how special that was and how happy she was to hear this news. She always delighted in my children.

- She always sent a card for every birthday and it was always signed Love, G & G. I can't stand the thought of my next birthday without that card.

- Granny loved family and genealogy. She loved searching out our family roots and she loved old family pictures. I used to love looking at the old pictures she'd dig up - I had no idea who any of them were but I loved looking at them with her just the same.

- For about the past year I have felt that I didn't have a lot of time left with my Granny and Grandpa and told myself to go out to visit them regularly. Especially this summer I had planned to go out there a lot. I didn't. I am trying to deal with my anger and disappointment in myself for not doing this. I am a terrible grand-daughter.

- My Granny and Grandpa were going to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on the 15th of September. 65 years - can you imagine? I feel sick thinking of my grandfather spending that day without her here.

I'm going to stop now because I am about to start crying. I have a lot to do to be ready to go to the viewing tonight. Busy week coming up. I'm excited to get to see family though - especially my brother! I am depending on my Lord and His Word. I am depending on his Holy Mother and the comfort she gives us. But it's still very hard right now. And harder yet for my mom - I'll have to post about her later. She is a rock and I can only hope to be about half the person she is and was the past couple of weeks dealing with all of this.

I'd love prayers for my family right now - mostly for my grandfather and my mom and her siblings who are dealing with all of this.

Stevie's Super Stuff

2010-08-26T16:18:00.008-05:00

I have a problem...I CANNOT hang pictures!! I can't ever find where my husband keeps the nails, or thumb tacks or whatever you're supposed to use to hang stuff. I hate using a hammer. I know sometimes there are things in the wall that you aren't supposed to bang nails into - don't know what they're called, but know you're supposed to use some sort of tool find them before hanging something. See what I mean? I just don't know how to hang things!

This becomes very frustrating when I get something new and cute that I want up right now. A pile grows for my husband to work on, but when he gets home, that's the last thing he wants to do!

So, the other day in the store I found 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips

I was intrigued. Could these little strips be the answer to my picture hanging dilemma?

I think they just might be! Check this out. I bought this cute little decorative pie tin to put up in my kitchen. So, I thought it would be a good test for me. You put the little strips onto the item you are hanging like this:
Then you peel the backing off the other strip and press your picture against the wall for 30 seconds. Then you gently pull the picture off the wall (the two strips come apart) and let the strips adhere to the wall for one hour.

When you are done, here's what you get!
I can't believe I hung that all by myself!!! And this...

and this...Can you believe it? I know, you can because you can hang pictures. But for me this is ground breaking and life changing...it represents freedom!! I no longer have to wait for someone else to hang something for me. I can do it all by myself! (...I know, it just takes something ever so little to excite me!)

(I was not paid for this product endorsement. I bought the product for myself and just loved it and wanted to share!)

Moneybomb: Tell Pelosi "We Have Had Enough!"

2010-08-24T08:43:00.005-05:00

Got this from Dallas GOP today. Please help out! It goes towards helping great candidates like my friend Kenneth Sheets who is running for State Rep in District 107!

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is swinging through Dallas Tuesday to raise money for the Democrat candidates to support her liberal agenda in Washington. With redistricting right around the corner, she will be relying on support from her fellow liberal candidates running for the Texas State House from right here in Dallas County.

Do you want to to help stop Nancy Pelosi's agenda from staying in Texas?

Speaker Pelosi has ignored the will of Texans in pushing a risky health care bill, massive government growth, out of control spending, and a failed $862 billion spending bill.

And the same trial lawyer groups and unions who support Pelosi's liberal agenda in Washington are also supporting the campaigns of liberal Democrat State House candidates right here in Dallas County. What are these candidates expected to deliver in return? More of the same.

Help us defeat these Democrat candidates this November by sending a clear message to Nancy Pelosi and her supporters: We Have Had Enough!

The Dallas County Republican Party is launching a moneybomb that will end at 11:59pm Wednesday night. Our goal for this campaign is to rase $10,000 for 2010.

Please consider making a $25, $50, $100, $250 or $1,000 contribution to our Moneybomb immediately.

Thank you again for all of your support.

First Day of First Grade!

2010-08-24T08:26:00.005-05:00

Big Bear had her first day of first grade yesterday! She was so excited - I thought she'd never fall asleep on Sunday night! She finally did and was up early Monday morning. Doug got to go into work late so we all got to take her to school for her first day.

After dropping her off I had to rush straight to my school for First Aid/CPR training. Uggghhh!!! That is NOT a fun day - let me tell you! Campo and Me Too went to babysitting with the other teacher's kids.

Needless to say, it was a LONG day for all of us. We basically came home and all crashed until I scrounged up enough energy to order some pizza!

I'm so glad that Big Bear loves her teacher, her class and her school! I think it will be a great year. Now, if I can survive this week of classroom prep and training, we'll see how the year will shape up for the rest of us next week!

Oh...and...guess who is room mom for Big Bear's new class????

Bush T-shirts Outsell Obama T-shirts at Vineyard

2010-08-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

Obama's heading to Martha's Vineyard for their 6th vacation this year. For the record, it's been about 6 YEARS or more since I've been on a vacation but whatever. Apparently, the Vineyard is not as excited about this visit as they were for the last ones.

“Last year, Obama gave you goose bumps, but I don’t think you’re going to see that this year,’’ said Alex McCluskey, co-owner of the Locker Room, who sold more than 4,000 “I vacationed with Obama’’ T-shirts last year. But so far this year, he said, his hot item is T-shirts of former President Bush asking, “Miss me yet?’’

Sardines for School Lunch?

2010-08-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

I have the world's pickiest eaters. Big Bear has even been in therapy to help her overcome some sensory integration issues that have kept her from being able to enjoy food. Last week was her last session. She's come SO far! But I'm nervous about life after therapy! So, I'm trying to get creative! I've always been intrigued by Bento lunches - a Japanese style of packing lunches with food made in cute shapes and things. Plus, the push is on from the school to try to have trash less lunches as much as possible.

So in my searching - I found this cute blog called What's for lunch at our house? with a fun giveaway with items from a website called Mimi the Sardine! She has really cute place mats, or "smacemats" as Campo calls them, and other things like Bento boxes, tablecloths and aprons! My kids are obsessed with "smacemats". I'm hoping to win the giveaway though because I usually only get them at places like the Dollar Store. Check it out!

Obama's Faith: Pew Research Poll

2010-08-19T21:55:00.004-05:00

A new national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that nearly one-in-five Americans (18%) now say Obama is a Muslim, up from 11% in March 2009. Only about one-third of adults (34%) say Obama is a Christian, down sharply from 48% in 2009. Fully 43% say they do not know what Obama’s religion is. The survey was completed in early August, before Obama’s recent comments about the proposed construction of a mosque near the site of the former World Trade Center.

More here.

As a Christian, I am called to live my life so that others know that I am a Christian. Or if they don't know that specifically, they should wonder what I've got that they don't - or what I know that they don't. Now...I am not saying that I pull this off all the time, but I sure hope I get close. I wonder what people would say about my faith if the Pew Research Center polled people who know me?

I'm disappointed in the results of this survey about Obama, but not surprised. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I was at the library and saw a book with the title "The Faith of Barack Obama". I'll admit that I made the comment to my husband that it must be an awfully short book. Snarky...I know! But, it was made because I do not see any evidence of his faith. There are never pictures of him going to church. I hear reports of him skipping the National Day of Prayer. I found this interesting article reviewing a speech that Obama made at the National Prayer Breakfast that makes my point better.

Never mind that the president skipped last year’s National Day of Prayer, covered up religious insignia at Georgetown, canceled the flyover at “God & Country Day,” and gives regular shout-outs to atheists whenever it is, in fact, least appropriate.

Like today. During his speech at the Prayer Breakfast the president was sure to point out – again – that not everyone in America believes in God. He’s right, of course, but wouldn’t you think that at a prayer breakfast, he’d direct his remarks primarily to the population that prays? The humanist salute to solstice does not, in fact, count as a “prayer.”

While today’s speech was perhaps the president’s most muscular discussion of faith to date, it was rife with incongruities and contradictions that reveal just how incomplete his understanding of American faith actually is, regardless of what Ms. Kornblut tells us an unnamed adviser said.
The worst misstep of today’s speech? When the president said that “God’s grace” is expressed “by Americans of every faith, and no faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose.”

Uh, no it isn't -- unless my definition of atheism is different than his. Most atheists insist that God’s grace most certainly is not expressed through them, and that there are no “higher” purposes. While we may all come together for “a purpose” – like relief work in Haiti, poverty, AIDS, or world hunger – no atheist I know would consider this God's work.

But wait, there were other bizarre moments today:
Christ is nowhere to be found: The president is supposedly a Christian, yet there wasn’t a single mention of Christ or Jesus in today’s speech.

Check out the entire article...it's a good read.

I admit that struggle with being judgmental. Only God knows Obama's true heart. I hope that it is in the right state. But I also wish that if he is going to call himself a Christian, he would take it upon himself to truly let that light shine out to the world as we Christians are all called to do. As for me, I'll keep working on doing that as well. With God's grace, I will do better on the Pew Poll than he did!

Santa to the Rescue...What Would You Say?

2010-08-19T14:22:00.005-05:00

We got out of the house for a little bit and went to walk around the Big Water...which is what we call Northpark Mall. Big Water is what Big Bear named it when she was a little girl because it has a fountain with water that shoots really high - almost to the ceiling. Their other favorite is the ducks and turtles - a little area in the middle of mall with...you guessed it, ducks and turtles.

Of course we had to stop in the toy store. A very upscale toy store because Big Water is a very upscale mall. Everything in this store is quite expensive. We discovered that there is a line of Dinosaur Train toys. Now you have to understand that hardly a day goes by in this household that a Dinosaur Train episode isn't viewed. I think we are up to 19 episodes on the DVR. And on a day when we discover a new episode has recorded...well...you'd think we had won the lottery from the amount of jubilation - on the kids part of course, but mine as well because it gets a little old hearing the same show over and over! Anyway, seeing their beloved characters in toy form was a big deal! To my children this was akin to the founding of the Deep Sea Scrolls or some such. And after glancing at the prices, you would have thought they were as monumental as the Deep Sea Scrolls! Like I said, it's an upscale toy store!

So let me take a minute to brag on my kids. They are amazing. Did we have a huge fit because we didn't get the toys? Did they cry, scream and throw themselves down on the ground? Nope! They just said they would add it to their Christmas list!

As we sat eating lunch and talking about this amazing and monumental new discovery and how they couldn't wait to get the toys for Christmas, I mentioned that I'd have to do some research online to find them for better prices. At this point, Big Bear asked, "Well, Santa Claus doesn't care how much they cost, does he? He'll bring them to us".

**GULP**

What do you say to that? No, not a rhetorical question - what do you say?

I didn't know what to say. But guess what I did first thing when I got home? Here's some of the cute stuff Santa will be bringing this Christmas since Amazon's prices are way better than the upscale Northpark store!

Look at this Link

2010-08-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

I love, love, love this blog and wanted to share it. It's called Michelle Obama's Mirror's Blog! It's very clever and always funny...poking fun at some of MO's more...um...interesting outfits as well as the actions of the first couple. Here's an example:

Then yesterday was one of Lady M’s favorite events of the whole year: the luncheon for the National Design Award winners.

Mrs. Obama got a big laugh when she told the luncheon guests: "All of you have spent your lives pushing boundaries — we know a little bit about pushing boundaries — or just outright ignoring them altogether."

Boundaries, conventions, laws, the Constitution: they’re just guidelines really.

Here is another particularly good post. Actually, this one makes me slightly sad - especially the compare and contrast pics at the end. But the captions under the picture of the two first ladies in the White House is funny!

Check it out when you're in the mood to giggle.

Nail in the Coffin?

2010-08-15T09:50:00.003-05:00

Could Obama's endorsement of a mosque at Ground Zero be the nail in his coffin? I sure hope so! It just shows how out of touch he is with common sense, reality and the American people. At a White House dinner celebrating Ramadan, he commented that “as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country.”

NO ONE is disputing that fact that Muslims have the right to practice their religion in this country. This has NOTHING to do with the issue at hand - AT ALL.

He obviously has no respect for the families of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. And he shows, again, that has no respect for Americans...or America.

Somewhere Fun

2010-08-15T09:41:00.002-05:00

Campo came in asking to go somewhere. I told him we would be going to Mass in a little bit. He didn't seem satisfied with that answer and kept asking to go somewhere. This prompted Me Too to comment:

I think he wants to go somewhere fun...instead of Mass.

Huh...tell us how you really feel Me Too!

Encourage Your Priests

2010-08-11T09:04:00.002-05:00

This is a neat website I just ran across (thanks MommyLife)that gives us some useful tools to encourage our priests. Things like submitting short video or written tributes to your parish priest to Spiritual Bouquets - cards you can print out and send to your priest letting him know that you've prayed for him. I somehow don't think my particular pastor would be a Collar-Holler type - but these little cards are super cute, especially for a little kid to give to their favorite priest.

This website was started by Tom Peterson, founder of Catholics Come Home. Good stuff - check it out!

Oh Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby

2010-08-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

4 sisters, 3 in Chicago and 1 in California, each had a baby - all within 4 days! Apparently they weren't all due at the same time - thank God all the babies and mommies are fine. The first question that popped into my mind was...How does Grandma know where to go first?

Read the full story here.

My New Blog!

2010-08-10T08:40:00.001-05:00

I started a blog on which I'll post my dad's homilies two different ways. I'll transcribe (is that the right word?) them so that they can be read and I'll post the audio so they can be heard!

Two more will be coming very soon!

Check it out here!

Whiny and Complain-y

2010-08-06T10:27:00.003-05:00

I feel whiny and complain-y today. I know complain-y is not a word but I'm making it one for today.

First of all - it's SOOOOO HOT!!! I can't take it anymore! It's been over 100 for the past several days. In the afternoon, I can't get my house any cooler than 80 and yesterday it was 81! Miserable!!

Second, the kids were supposed to go to Parent's Night Out at the rehab place where Big Bear goes for occupational therapy. 3 kids for 3 1/2 hours - for $25!! You can't beat that!! But Big Bear woke up at 3:30am to get sick. She is running fever and has a sore throat - although she seems much more energetic than I would expect.

Third, my leg has been aching since about the time that I woke up with Big Bear. It just aches from up above the knee and all the way down.

Fourth, Doug has to work tomorrow morning. He has to start working every other Saturday morning and that just bums me out.

Okay - I'm done whining. Sometimes it just makes you feel better to get it all out. Now I'll look at the positives...

First, at least we have air conditioning and a nice house for that air conditioning to cool us off - at whatever level of cooling that is!

Second, we've had a lot of nights out recently so it's not like I really NEED a night out like I do when it's been a while since we've had time to ourselves. And, like I said, Big Bear seems kind okay right now. Maybe it's just a short lived little bug.

Third, actually I'm having a hard time coming up with something for this one. My leg REALLY hurts and I don't know what could be causing it.

Fourth, at least Doug has a good job!! In this economy and the way things are going these days, that's a GOOD thing!!

Had Enough? Vote Republican

2010-07-28T15:12:00.002-05:00

Pre Order your yard sign right now from the Dallas GOP HERE! You can probably guess which one I got!

Donate to Kenneth Sheets Campaign NOW!

2010-07-28T14:49:00.002-05:00

If you live in Texas State District 107, candidate for State Rep Kenneth Sheets needs your support...your vote and financial support. If you were ever going to donate to his campaign, this is the time to do it.

Conservative Republicans of Texas has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar EVERY DONATION WE RECEIVE FROM YOU! With your support, we can turn a $25 donation into $50 or a $100 donation into $200. WE NEED THAT SUPPORT THIS WEEK.

Conservative Republicans of Texas is offering this support only until the end of the month – July 31st is this Saturday.

Anything you can give - $25, $50, $100, $250 or more will make a huge difference for us!

It's a great opportunity for Kenneth to really raise some money for his wonderful candidacy!

You Are Not Alone...EVER!

2010-07-28T14:40:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, I find a little time to be alone in the day. Sometimes I'm folding clothes back in my bedroom while the kids play or maybe I'm cleaning and working in the kitchen. I cherish these quiet alone times when I get them. Often though, one of the kids will pick up on the fact that I'm by myself and they'll bring all their toys to wherever it is that I happen to be at the time. They'll say, "I'm here now mom so you don't have to be alone anymore". Little do they know how happy I was stealing those few quiet moments for myself! But it's so sweet that they are worried about me being alone. To them that is one of the worst things in the world! They can't possibly understand how those little moments are the ones that keep me going in an otherwise harried existence!! It makes me happy to have sweet and caring children.

Going Shopping

2010-04-14T09:07:00.002-05:00

Today Me Too asked me to babysit her dog (her stuffed animal dog) for a little bit. I said sure. She started to walk away and turned around to tell me that she was going shopping. I thought this was so funny but also interesting because I don't know where she got that. Although I wish I could, I never leave my kids with a sitter to go shopping. We really can't afford sitters and don't do anything without our kids unless we leave them with my mom or sister-in-law who are generous enough to babysit for free. My sister-in-law is only available in the evenings so we use her for date nights. My mom helps me so much with picking up Big Bear up from school, helping me get kids to therapy, and watching the kids for things like doctor appointments or for me to volunteer at Big Bear's school. So I don't ask her to babysit for frivolous things like shopping. I don't know where Me Too got the idea to have a babysitter so she could go shopping...but I like her way of thinking!!

Easter 2010

2010-04-11T15:07:00.003-05:00

Our Easter morning started as many probably do...stress trying to get everyone dressed and out the door. That is always a huge task but this time we were doing it way earlier in the morning. We decided to go to the 7:30am mass to avoid the ginormous crowds that we have at our usual 9:00am mass. It is way worth it! But it also meant that Campo was woken up and pretty much whisked out the door without much breakfast. He wasn't happy about his button up shirt and little clip on tie either. But what he didn't know was that there was his favorite cereal in a baggie waiting for him in the car. Once he got a hold of that, he was okay.

The rest of the morning went great. The kids were well behaved during mass. We met up with Grammy afterward and went to eat a big breakfast. We were just early enough to miss the breakfast crowds!

After Easter baskets and naps we went to have an early dinner with Grammy and Grampy, my uncle Mark and cousin Lilly and my sister Emily.

Take Five: Meditations With Pope Benedict XVI

2010-04-11T14:40:00.002-05:00

Take Five: Meditations with Pope Benedcit XVI by Mike Aquilina & Fr. Kris D. Stubna is a wonderful book to help with daily prayer time. I am addicted to books like this. Some people I know can just sit down and open up the Bible and start reading or praying and have very meaningful quiet times with Jesus. I need a little more help with mine! I like to have more insight, more to think about and a little direction. Take Five does this. Each day starts with an excerpt from one of the pope's writings about a particular topic. They are short and easy to read and understand. The next section gives you points to think about from the reading and about the topic. The section called Just Imagine is a passage from the Bible. And the last section is called Remember which gives you a short phrase or quote to remember, or think about for the rest of the day.

This meditation book is very practical, easy to use on a daily basis, and extremely meaningful because it is all based in scripture and writings from our Holy Father.

One day I was struggling with a decision. I had actually made the decision already but was very nervous about going forward with it. I picked up Take Five to read and pray before bed and read this:

If you stay united with Christ, each one of you will be able to do great things. This is why, dear friends, you must not be afraid to dream with your eyes open of important projects of good and you must not let yourselves be discouraged by difficulties. Christ has confidence in you and wants you to be able to realize all your most noble and lofty dreams of genuine happiness. Nothing is impossible for those who trust in God and entrust themselves to him.

This was from a Prayer Vigil with Young People in Loreto, Italy (September 1, 2007). It spoke so profoundly to me and to the situation I was in. It was truly God speaking directly to me and telling me that everything would be okay regarding the step I was about to take and that He would be with me in it.

That is what I really love about this book. I would love to say that I keep up with reading all of the pope's writings and speeches. I wish I was the kind of person who could print out each encyclical and read it the moment it comes out...or even years later. I'm just not. I'm not a big reader and I'm really not smart enough to understand most things. But with this book, I can read the pope's beautiful and inspired words. It's like he's saying them directly to me!

I encourage you to go out and get this book to add to your daily prayer and study time. It will enrich your time with Jesus and bring you closer to Him!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Take Five - Meditations with Pope Benedict XVI.

Trying Out Blogging from Microsoft Word

2010-01-23T13:40:00.001-06:00

Who ever thought of such a thing? Someone obviously did! And I am just trying it out. Why? Because it's there and because I am a very curious person!!

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

I pray that God blesses you in the coming year!!

Six...Yay!!! Boo!!!

2009-12-31T21:29:00.002-06:00

Big Bear is 6 years old today. It is so hard for me to believe that she could be that old. She is changing so much - saying things that blow us away, reading everything she sees, and physically growing taller.

I was thinking a lot yesterday about her birth. She was due in late January. I went to my regular doctor appointment with my mom. We were going to go have lunch and do some shopping afterward. Instead I ended up being admitted from the hospital and having a baby the next day! She wasn't getting nutrition like she was supposed to and so they needed to go ahead and get her out.

I remember sitting in the hospital room after my mom left and before Doug got there thinking about how upset I was that it was happening this way. It was early and I wasn't mentally ready. I was disappointed that her birthday would be New Year's Eve. It is too close to Christmas!! I was worried that it would it would always get overshadowed by all of the other holiday stuff going on. My friend called me and when I told her that I was disappointed by how it was all happening, she just could not understand what I was talking about. I felt really guilty for having the feelings I was having. Of course I was happy to be having my baby. I couldn't wait to see and hold her. But it just wasn't happening the way I thought it would. It was such a mixture of emotions.

What I've come to realize is that Big Bear's whole life will be this way for me. Every event, every birthday and every milestone in her life is a mix of emotion for me. Turning 6, starting kindergarten, or losing a tooth - all are happy and normal childhood events but they are all also somewhat bittersweet for me. Every birthday makes me so sad that she is one year closer to being old enough to leave me. Every milestone is making her more independent. And while I feel those things for the other kids, I've noticed it's just not quite the same intensity as when I go through it the first time with Big Bear. Maybe that's just how it is with first children.

I am so proud of the wonderful kid she is becoming! She keeps reading things and it takes us all by surprise! The other day someone said a word, can't remember what, but she said, "Oh, that's an action word". And it was! I just can't believe how much she's learning at school! I feel so blessed to have such a great kid as my bittersweet firstborn baby!!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-26T20:51:00.010-06:00

We had a fabulous Christmas! We started out Christmas Eve with 4pm mass in the snow! YES! SNOW - in Dallas! Amazing! Doug stayed home with Campo since he had been feeling well and not eating all day. Those do not make for a happy baby under normal conditions but add in waking him up early from a nap to get him ready for a mass where if you were lucky enough to sit, you were practically sitting on the person next to you. If you weren't lucky enough to sit, you were standing of the church in one of the two rows up unlucky folks or standing in the vestibule which was so packed I almost couldn't get through to go to the restroom. If you weren't lucky enough to get to stand in the church or the vestibule where you could actually hear and somewhat see Mass, you were standing down the hallway where you couldn't hear a word or see the church. I'm not even sure if that actually counts as mass!

Afterwards we came home and had dinner with Grammy, Grampy and Emma (now called Hemma by Campo). The kids opened their Christmas pajamas, sprinkled their reindeer food, and left cookies and water (we convinced them that Santa would be really tired of milk by the time he got here) for Santa and headed to bed. I also headed to bed since I felt horrible. Lucky Doug got to stay up and assemble a tricycle!

The next morning Grammy, Grampy and Hemma ventured out in the snow/ice/slush to see what Santa brought the kids!

They were so excited about their new presents!

We had a great morning. That afternoon we headed over to Grammy and Grampy's to enjoy even more family, and of course, food!! Big Bear dressed her big dinosaur in a party dress.

Saturday we headed out to Granbury to visit Doug's parents and cousins. Tons of great presents, more great food, and lots of fun! And I mean LOTS of presents!

And LOTS of fun!

There was still a bit of snow out there so the girls made a snowman. Okay, he's not that big, but he's cute!!

It has been a great Christmas holiday!! Thanks to all my family for their generosity with their gifts, their love and their continuing and constant support of my family!!

2009-12-25T19:22:00.003-06:00

A couple of years ago I started playing Fantasy Football with my husband. I quickly became addicted!! Additionally I found that it was something really fun that he and I could do together (I blogged about it here)and it made watching football games so much fun! My daughter even got in on the action!

This year started out pretty slow. I didn't think that my team would go anywhere! But, with two more weekends of the regular season to go, I'm in 2nd place! Me and 2 other players (both guys - not that it matters...but it does!) are neck and neck. The 3 of us keep changing places. It is so exciting. I REALLY want to win!! Not only for the money but for the bragging rights!!

I'll let you know how it ends up! We'll know a week from Sunday!

Maybe Now...

2009-12-25T14:48:00.002-06:00

I'll blog more! It's been a while since I've blogged. Usual reasons...busy, tired, and sometimes lazy! Often the only time I have to blog is at night after the kids go to bed but I'm always too tired. Sitting at the computer is the last thing I want to do at night when I have free time. I just want to laze around in front of the TV. I don't know how many times I've wished that I had a laptop so that I could sit on the couch or on the bed and write my posts. Yes...I am that lazy!

Well, thanks to Santa, my wish has come true!! I got a laptop for Christmas! So exciting! So here I am, mere hours after getting my new toy, and my theory that I would blog more if I could do it from the couch has proven true! I am sitting on the couch, catching up with the episodes of Glee on DVR and blogging for the first time in months!

The family had a great Christmas morning. The kids got tons of great gifts and there were a lot of smiles! Grammy and Grampy and my sister were here. Later we skyped with my brother and sister-in-law and nieces in California. Tomorrow we will head west to Granbury to have a whole other Christmas celebration with Doug's side of the family.

Okay, well I'm off to get roust the family up to head to Grammy and Grampy's house to see my grandparents and have dinner!!

Merry Christmas to all! Looking forward to blogging more in the weeks to come!!

Happy Black Friday!!

2009-11-27T09:01:00.000-06:00

Take Five - Meditations with Pope Benedict XVI, Daily Prayer/Meditations, Prayer and Spirituality

2009-10-14T16:36:00.002-05:00

Be on the lookout! I get to review this!! I'm going to be checking the mail every day so impatiently waiting for it to come!!

Take Five - Meditations with Pope Benedict XVI, Daily Prayer/Meditations, Prayer and Spirituality, Catholic Books at The Catholic Company

If you are interested in reviewing books for the Catholic Company Reviewer program, visit here!

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Great New Website...As A Mom

2009-10-01T15:55:00.002-05:00

A Sisterhood of Mommy Patriots...

On Friday September 25, 2009 Glenn Beck had a special entitled “The Mother’s Challenge: A 9.12 Project.” During the final thoughts section Dr. Frank I. Luntz said, “If you begin everything with ‘as a mom…‘ You win.” That thought, and a brilliant comment by Nancy, during a discussion of the feeling of being alone, referring to her friends calling themselves “Sisterhood of the mommy patriots,” were the inspirations for starting this site.

I love the idea behind this new site. Not sure how it will play out but I'll be paying attention.

Kindergarten...one week down!

2009-08-30T16:48:00.003-05:00

We survived the first week of kindergarten. So far, so good. This kindergarten stuff if tough! Having to get up EVERY morning...I'm used to having two days off!...and get her somewhere only to turn around and go back 7 hours later! Get the little ones down early enough to be able to turn around and go back! Answer Me Too the 1000 times she's asked me when she gets to go to kindergarten. Make sure Big Bear has her lunch, homework, etc. Tough stuff!! But she just loves it. One day last week around 5pm she announced that she was ready to go back. I had to explain that she had to wait until the next day! Her teacher seems so great and I've already gotten to know a few moms...at least by sight. Our first PTA meeting is Thursday and I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure that one day those things will be a beating to me but for now it is exciting and new.

We went to the high school football game this weekend to see our nephew play in the marching band. The girls had never been to one, despite our intentions to go to one for the past several years...just never panned out for some reason. They loved it. Big Bear decided that instead of being a paleontologist, now she wants to be a mascot. She would not deviate from her new passion despite our best efforts to explain to her that she could be a mascot in high school and THEN a paleontologist later!

I took some pictures with my phone and am going to try to figure out to get them from there to here so you can see what cute and spirited fans the girls were!

Tomorrow I go back for the first day at our school. Me Too and Campo will both be in new classes too. It's going to be strange going to school without Big Bear. We will really miss her tomorrow. It's going to be a crazy week with all of us having to be lots of different places at different times! My mind is constantly racing with what is coming next, how will we coordinate people and things, what do they need to take with them, how will they get home...ARGGG!!!

Off to make dinner now!

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-08-24T09:58:00.003-05:00

Big Bear did so great! She was so excited! The whole family walked her in. We put her gigantic backpack (it has nothing in it but a sweater and change of clothes!) and lunch in her locker. Then we went into the classroom. The teacher had some puzzle pieces with their names on it and some markers set out in a circle. The kids were supposed to find their names and start coloring...which is exactly what Big Bear did. In fact, I'm just realizing we didn't even have a hug goodbye...she just walked right over and started her work!

I, on the other hand, did not do great. My goal for today was not to cry in front of her...and I did it! I held off until I walked out of the classroom and then lost it. The principal was standing there and gave me a big hug. I felt like a huge dork but saw several other teary eyed mommies in the KG hallway too.

Anyway, it's quiet around here. But it was nice to be up and dressed and ready for the day so early. We got home and I took Me Too and Campo outside to play since it was still cool. I usually don't have it together enough to get outside when it's not 1000 degrees! It's going to be fun to run to the park and things like that once we get into the swing of things...well, I say that but actually we'll be running to Campo's therapy for the next several weeks. More on that in another post at another time.

Alright, me and the two little ones are going to run some errands...something I hardly even did with three. It just seems a little more do-able with only 2! Maybe this won't be all bad!

Here's some pictures!

First Day of School

What in the World??

2009-08-21T07:28:00.000-05:00

I woke up to the second incidence of a man moving out of the house across the street AFTER the police visited in less than two years. Wow. And there's a 6 year old who lives there. What in the world has he been through. It makes me want to cry.

Christmas in August

2009-08-19T08:47:00.001-05:00

My kids are watching Rudolph, as in the Red Nosed Reindeer. They've been dying to watch it since yesterday and I finally gave in when the explanation that it is still 100 degrees out side did not hold any weight with them. Weirdos!

White House May Push Health Care Through

2009-08-19T08:10:00.004-05:00

White House may push through health care without Republicans

The Obama administration is looking hard at pushing through a health care reform bill without Republican backing, top Democrats close to the White House told CNN. Democratic success could depend on an obscure tactic called reconciliation, a type of budget maneuver that requires only a simple majority -- 51 votes -- to pass.

This is the part that really scares me...

f we have to push it through this way, no one is going to remember how messy it was," a top White House adviser told CNN. "At the end of the day, they'll remember we got health care reform done. A win is a win."

In other words, Obama does not care what the American people think...he knows better. We are seen as the little children who do not know any better and even though we might not like it at first, we'll be happier because our parents stepped in and took over.

This is not good.

The Principal Called...

2009-08-18T19:21:00.003-05:00

And Big Bear hasn't even started school yet! No matter how old I am, the principal still makes me nervous! No, she did call but it was one of those fancy schmancy call-everyone-at-one-time voice messages. She was reminding us that tomorrow night is Meet the Teacher Night! YIKES!! It's really here...the dreaded and feared kindergarten. I'm no longer one of those moms with little kids who can make play dates any old time or fly out of town on a moment's notice with the family. Not that I really did too many play dates at any old times...they were usually at the same times that I'll be able to make them once Big Bear is in kindergarten. And, considering our financial situation, we NEVER fly out of town on a moment's notice with or without the family. In fact, we NEVER fly out of town with a lot of notice either! But, you know what I mean. I'm now tied down by a schedule...drop off, pick up, volunteering at the school and such. I'm a...school mom!!!

On another note, I'm also about to become a soccer mom! Big Bear and Me Too are both going to be playing soccer this fall. This is something I never anticipated. I think I played one season? And although I don't remember for sure, I'm thinking I didn't like it for the same reason I didn't like basketball several years later...too much RUNNING!! I really don't think Big Bear will like it either, just knowing how she is...a little too much like me sometimes. But I do think that Me Too will enjoy herself. She'll be playing with a bunch of kids from her class at school and she loves those kids. She has a freakishly lovey dovey close class for only being 3 years old. Seriously, it's adorable how much those kids enjoy each other!

Okay, that is all for now. I just wanted to share my exciting phone call! I'm sure there will be more to share after Meet the Teacher Night! Big Bear...I'm not worried about. Me...another story! It'll be amazing I actually survive this kindergarten thing!

Countdown Begins...

2009-08-17T12:18:00.002-05:00

We're down to the one week countdown. One week from today, Big Bear will be sitting in her kindergarten classroom. I just can't wrap my mind around this huge life altering change! Our schedule is going to change, Big Bear is going to change...it's just too much! I'm really going to miss her terribly!! Today I'm busy washing her uniform clothes. Many of the public schools around here have uniforms. Big Bear's school doesn't have a mandatory uniform but they have about 90% compliance with it and you don't even have to ask me twice about it. Uniforms are great in my opinion. She can wear khaki or black shorts, pants, skirts, or jumpers and black, red or white shirts. My mother in law went crazy buying uniform stuff which is a huge blessing. We had to run up to the school where I work to get her Epi-Pen that I need to take along with some paperwork from the allergy doctor so the nurse has her tree nut allergy stuff all in order. Wednesday night we go to Meet the Teacher night. We'll get to see which teacher she has, who her classmates are and where she'll be spending most of her time - her desk and stuff. We'll also pick up her supplies. We paid several months ago for the pre-packaged school supply pick up. Sounds like a great deal to me! I don't have to run all over town collecting supplies and trying to make sure I get just the right thing. All we have to do is find her desk on Wednesday night and there it all will be!

Okay, that is all for now! Just needed to update. I tried to find a countdown widget but couldn't get anything to work! Oh well! I have a countdown widget in my head that is ticking constantly!!

Saying Goodbye

2009-08-05T21:32:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is going to be a very sad day for me. It is the last day of the summer session at the school that I teach. That part actually makes me happy! But, I have to say goodbye to two teachers who I will miss a great deal. One in particular I have known since I was in first grade. We were very good friends my freshman and sophomore years in high school but then went out separate ways as we made new friends in different groups. After high school I never really saw her but would run into her mom or get a Christmas card and knew what she was up to. I knew she was the assistant director at the little day school where I now work. A few years ago I called her to find out information about sending Big Bear there. From that phone call, not only did I end up sending Big Bear there, but I also ended up finding a job I didn't know I was looking for! I was still struggling with the fact that I wasn't a stay at home mom and desperately wanted to be one. But this job, teaching at this school, afforded me the next best thing...a job but one in which my children were very near by while I worked. Anyway, my friend is going to work full time. All of her kids are in school now and her family needs the extra income. I am going to miss her so much. What a blessing it has been to reconnect with someone from my past at this time.

I really enjoy teaching pre-K. I know it is not my forever job...however, it is my wonderful, couldn't have asked for a better situation for now job. My kids are down the hall from me all day long. I know their teachers very well. I know all the kids in their class because I pass them in the hallway, peek in the classroom, and even sometimes get to share library or playground time with them. I can watch them during the day when they don't know it - eating lunch, interacting with their classmates, sitting in group time or laying down on their nap mats. This brings me to the really hard part of tomorrow. It is Big Bear's very last day ever in preschool...in the school where I am so close to her. She will never walk into the school with me in the morning. I'll never peek at her in her classroom again. I won't pass her in the hallway anymore. I won't know her classmates or teachers as intimately as I do now. She is going off where I can't be with her. I can't hug her when she's having a bad day or smile while watching her practice for the Christmas program. I know this is supposed to be a happy time...she's so happy and excited about it. But I'm just not...I'm so, so sad. Nothing will ever be the same. I know in my mind that it has the potential for being much, much better but my heart is so sad right now at the fact that it won't be the same as it is now.

Here are some pictures from her very first day at our wonderful school...

This is from her second year there...although it's obviously not a first day picture. I don't have any and I'm not sure why! I know it is a horrible picture but it has her brand new backpack...you can see the box in the background. So it's close enough to the first day?? I know - it's awful!

And from the first day this year...

Next up...first day of kindergarten pics!

My Cousins Wedding

2009-07-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

My cousin Melissa got married a few weeks ago. It was the first time that Big Bear and Me Too have ever been to a wedding. I was so excited for them to go - I just knew they would love it! And they did! I thought they would be most impressed with the bride in her beautiful dress and flowers and all. Nope...it was the flower girls that caught their attention! When the flower girls got to the front of the chapel we couldn't see them anymore. Me Too was wondering where they were, why they dropped flowers on the floor and then stood up on my lap - luckily we were in the back row so she wasn't obstructing anyone's view - so that she could try to get a glimpse of them. As we left the chapel Big Bear told me that now she wants to be a paleontologist and a flower girl when she grows up! The girls were more than thrilled to get to dance the night away with the flower girls whom they admired so much! They are the daughters of the groom so I'm looking forward to trying to reunite them some time in the not so distant future. In the meant time, the girls will be content with naming all of their stuffed animals and dolls after their new beloved flower girl friends.

Here are some pictures!

Interrupting

2009-07-19T22:22:00.001-05:00

Big Bear was telling me a story today about...what else...dinosaurs. The dinosaur went up to a volcano and guess what? The volcano started interrupting. Those darn volcanoes...no manners.

In the Wheelbarrow Again!!

2009-07-18T10:33:00.005-05:00

Campo went for his 18 month appointment on Thursday. It was one of those appointments where you leave with your head spinning and your stomach feeling sick. I felt that way when I left Me Too's appointment where they said she had to have her adenoids out...turned out to be no big deal but at the time I all I heard was the word SURGERY. And that word scares me.

Let me give a little background before I get to what we were told on Thursday. Campo was sent for his first swallow study when he was 13 weeks old. The reason why is that he had basically been congested for his whole life! Literally! First we suspected reflux and treated that. Reflux got better, congestion didn't. Then it was suspected that he had an allergy to cow's milk and soy...he did and other symptoms improved but the congestion didn't. He also had a lot of trouble with nursing and then taking a bottle. Feeding times were a battle. He'd take a few sips, pull off and cough and cry. Here is what I wrote about how we did feedings back then...

He would start to eat, pull off and scream, choke and cry. Feedings would take forever because we'd have to get him calm, put the paci in and then once he was going on the paci, we'd stick the bottle in his mouth. He'd go for a little bit and then start the whole thing over again. Aggravating! For him and us!

So they sent us over to have this swallow study done and I thought it was all a bunch of baloney! Who had ever heard of such a thing as a problem swallowing. Turns out...there is such a thing and Campo has it! When he drinks, instead of the liquid going straight down, it shoots out to the side and sometimes he even aspirates it (it goes into his lungs). You know when people take a sip of something and start coughing and they say it went down the wrong pipe...that is what happens to him. Every time he takes a sip of something it goes down the wrong pipe. We've been very lucky that he hasn't had any further problems from it like chronic pneumonia. So since he was 13 weeks old we've been thickening all of his liquids. The thickener we use is expensive as well as just being annoying to always have to have anywhere we go and to make sure other people who are taking care of him understand how to do it and the importance of doing it. Then when he started drinking out of sippy cups it became a whole new issue of finding a cup that didn't have too fast of a flow and once we did, making sure we always have a cup with us wherever we go. He can't just pick up a juice box and have a sip. We've gotten adjusted and used to having to do this. However, we kept being told he's most likely outgrow it. But this last time we had a swallow study the doctor walked in and said, "Oh wow - this is a big one. We're not used to such big ones in here". My reaction of course was to worry - is there something wrong? Then a couple of friends and family members asked how long he was expected to be doing this...I wasn't sure. So I started to wonder if there was more we should be doing, someone else we should be seeing about this, therapy, etc? So my main objective going into the 18 month appointment was to get answers to these questions.

Our beloved pediatrician, Dr. Durso, who we have seen since Big Bear was 2 weeks old had left the practice to work at Medical City Hospital where I have had all 3 of my kids and where we've been for RSV, swallow studies, Upper GI's, and even ear tubes. The nurse practitioner we see had told me that Dr. Durso would be filling in that day so I made sure that Campo got in for his appointment to be able to see her. She walked in and the first thing she said was that she had seen his name come up a few months ago for a swallow study and began asking me about what was going on. She also was surprised that he was still having to thicken his drinks and felt that he should have outgrown it. After discussing what all had been going on, she recommended that he have an MRI to rule out something called Arnold-Chiari Malformation. Arnold-Chiari malformation is a rare genetic disorder in which parts of the brain are formed abnormally. Malformations may occur in the lower portion of the brain (cerebellum) or in the brain stem. If he does have it, chances are he'll have to have surgery on his skull. There's that word again...SURGERY. And this time...on my baby's SKULL!!!

The MRI is scheduled for Friday the 24th. He has to be put under for it and I'm not crazy about this either. So that is where we are right now - playing the waiting game. I am always commenting about how fast life goes these days. It seems like we move at lightening speed and I'm always wondering where the time went. But right now it feels like time is standing still. Everything has just stopped. I'm at a crossroads. One path leads to everything being just fine (besides probably having to take Campo to therapy sessions to strengthen the muscles) and the other leads to everything being really scary! But I have to wait to see what path we'll be heading down. I have to wait until next Friday for the MRI, then wait for the doctor to call with the results of the MRI...if he has this strange thing we'll probably have to wait even longer to get to see a specialist, then wait to see what they say...it goes on and on. And in the meantime, I am stressed and worried but trying not to be until there is something definite to be stressed and worried about!

I know we are supposed to be still and know that God is God and that He is in control. That sounds great to say...it is VERY hard to do in a situation like this. But I'm trying, I really am. The past several months in my prayer time I've been getting the message over and over to be still, to rest in God...I think it has been preparation for this. I would appreciate your prayers that I can accomplish this. I would also appreciate anyone who knows anything about Arnold-Chiari Malformation (some call it syndrome?) sharing your knowledge with me!

In the meantime, we're back in the wheelbarrow again! Sure hoping for a short ride!!

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-06-24T14:28:00.002-05:00

Technically I haven't weighed in yet today but I haven't posted on my progress in a while. So far I've lost 8.8lbs. That's in 5 weeks. Yay! I wish it was a little more of course, but overall I'm pretty pleased. I still don't feel like I've lost much and no one is noticing yet of course. It will be nice when that starts to happen. That is when you really start feeling motivated. I'm at the point right now where my excitement is waning and the weight loss is slowing. I would have blown it by now if I wasn't going to meetings. Tonight's weigh in will be interesting. Iwent out to dinner on Saturday, celebrated Father's Day on Sunday and then had cake and cupcakes for my birthday on Monday. In the meantime I've had 3 sick kids, one who has been SUPER grumpy and hard to deal with during the illness, so I've been very stressed out. Again, knowing that I had to face the official weigh in at the meeting is such a big help in not completely blowing it during the challenging times.

This Makes You Feel Warm and Fuzzy

2009-06-24T14:25:00.002-05:00

North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map as Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of missiles in the coming days.

VBS+First Day=Crazy

2009-06-15T18:21:00.003-05:00

Today was the first day of VBS for us. Big Bear has been the past two years and knows the drill but it was Me Too's first time to go as a true VBS'er instead of hanging out in the nursery. Campo, of course, is putting in his time at the nursery. And last, but not least, I did my part as a volunteer. Truth be told, I don't know who loves VBS more or gets more excited about it, me or the kids. It really is a lot of fun. You always get to meet new people but what is more fun to me are my VBS friends. There are certain people that I only ever see once a year at VBS. Some I look forward to seeing, others I forget about every time until I see them. So fun! Me Too and Campo had a little trouble at first but quickly got into the groove...Campo even got comfortable enough to drink some bubbles! And no, he's not burping bubbles!

What was really fun was getting to see Grampy. He came over to speak to the kids at the end of the day and the girls really got excited to see him!

Here are some pics. Notice how unhappy Me Too is at the pictures with Grampy. She was tired and hungry at the end of the day. She really did have a good time!

VBS 2009

Book Review: The Angels and Their Mission

2009-06-12T15:32:00.004-05:00

My most recent Catholic Company Book Review is The Angels and Their Mission by Jean Danielou. Truth be told, I've had a hard time with this book. I picked it because I wanted a departure from the family/NFP/mom books that I've been reading. I felt like having a change and broadening my horizons...well, I did that with this book for sure! The cover of the book should have been my first clue that this is not a book about cute little angels flitting about heaven. I was really wanting a book that explained more about angels - the different hierarchies of them etc. In this book, Jean Danielou went a quite a bit beyond that and was definitely writing to an audience more well versed in the subject of angels, and even in the subject of church fathers, than I am. At the first mention of Pseudo-Dionysius I was like, what is a fake Dionysius verses a real Dionysius. And then he mentions Origen and I couldn't figure out why Origen was capitalized or what he was trying to find the origination of. Now that you all know how uneducated I am in our Church Fathers...I'll continue with the review.

I quickly figured out that this wasn't exactly what I was looking for when I chose this book and I admit that I had a tough time getting through it. And I've had a tough time figuring out how to review this book. I did something that I never do when starting out...I looked at another blogger's review. It was my friend Julie D's at Happy Catholic. I know that she loves angels and the curiosity of what she wrote versus what I was thinking just got the better of me! What I read was both shocking and exactly what I expected. Huh?? I know, right? The part I expected was that this was a pretty easy read for her. She's way smart and very knowledgeable already about angels so this for her while, as she puts it "not light, bedtime reading", was pretty easy for her to get through. What shocked me was that the part of the book that absolutely blew my mind because it was such a new concept for me was front and center in her review and apparently a new concept for her too.

Just as, at the Nativity, we see the Word descend, surrounded by the angels of heaven, and meet the guardian angels of earth, so now we see Him rise, accompanied by the angels of earth, and meet the angels who guard the gates of heaven. but these do not recognize Him, because He appears united to the human nature that He assumed and bearing the marks of His Passion. Thus, they question the angels who are accompanying Him to find out who He is.

[...]

Thus, the mystery of the Ascension completely amazes the angels of heaven. for what it reveals to them is really a mystery, hidden up to then, an entirely new reality, disconcerting at first glance

I love the image of the angels just being blown away by Jesus coming back to Heaven and they don't even recognize him because of his human nature! Wonderful! Love it!

This book is a tough read, but it is well worth the time and effort it takes to get through it. It has opened new thoughts and concepts to me. It has made me more interested in exploring and studying the Church Fathers which I admit to knowing nothing about. The chapter on The Angels and the Spiritual Life states that the angels try to help our spiritual life progress. I think they did just that in guiding me to read this book.

This book was reviewed as part of The Catholic Company's reviewer program. Read more reviews here. Order the book from The Catholic Company here.

Weight Loss Links

2009-06-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Now that I've gotten my big behind firmly planted on the weight loss bandwagon...here are some great websites that are saving my life!!

Hungry Girl - Cute site! Lots of recipes, tips and fun facts. Even information on saving money!

Gina's Weight Watcher's Recipes - Love this website. She's got tons of recipes for things that she's made lower in fat, calories and/or WW points. There are some good ones but watch out! Some are for experienced cooks and, to me, some of the ingredients are hard to find. I have one recipe that I've searched and searched for one ingredient...I have all the others! Frustrating! So be sure you know what you're getting into! On the other hand, I have discovered a couple of new things that I've never tried before and like now!

Life Is Sweet - This lady also has some great recipes. I can't wait to try the Mexican Tortizza!

I remember how much fun I used to have trying to find new recipes and foods when I was on plan a long, long time ago. It became like a game to try to figure out just how well I could eat yet stay within my health and point guidelines...and still LOSE!! I've tried to get that back for so long...I'm so excited that I'm back in the game!

Splash...No Swim

2009-06-05T14:59:00.003-05:00

We were invited to go to the KC pool with some friends of ours today. The KC pool is a big deal. If you are a Knight in that council (I think that's the word...) then you belong to the pool. This is a different council than our parish one. This one is several parishes that go in together. (I'm probably not explaining it right...my hubby isn't a knight so I'm not up with all the lingo). Lots of neighborhood people want to belong there because it's really nice so they stay on waiting lists for years until they get that lucky phone call. We've never gotten on the exclusive wait list because even if we got that lucky phone call, we wouldn't be able to shell out the cash!

Anyway, the kids were so excited. I was so nervous. I wasn't sure how keeping up with 3 kids at the pool was going to work...especially now that I have a toddler. My girls haven't started swimming lessons yet and we don't go to the pool much so they aren't very good swimmers. You can imagine my relief with both Big Bear and Me Too were telling me that they only wanted to play in the kids pool. The KC has a really great kids pool with a big shade over it. It slopes down and the deepest part is only a couple of feet. There is a lifeguard right there too which makes it nice when you're trying to look in several different places. We've taken Campo swimming over at my mom and dad's house as well as just the little pool out in the backyard...you know the little blow up kind...as well as had a sprinkler on. He will have NOTHING to do with any of it. He cries when I try to put his hands or feet in the water to splash, he cries when I show him the sprinkler, and he even cried watching the rest of us swim one day until someone took him inside. He loves baths so the only thing I can figure out is that the pool/sprinkler water is cold and he must not like that. But, I feel like I have to keep trying so at one point today Me Too and the family we went to the pool with all really wanted to go to the big pool. So we headed over with Big Bear throwing a tantrum the whole way because she just wanted to stay in the little pool. I got in the water with Campo and he started screaming his head off. Me Too got in and immediately started screaming her head off. And Big Bear was already screaming her head off on the side of the pool. We were quite the sight! I tried to calm everyone down but they just all started screaming louder so we went back to the baby pool and stayed there the rest of the time. My kids just really aren't pool kids. It's my fault for not exposing them more...I'm just really not a pool mom. Oh well, my only hope is lessons which we'll be starting soon. Maybe that will help all of us! But, for now, we'll just stick to Big Bear and Me Too mostly just splashing in the tiny pool in the backyard or going to the spray park.

I look at it this way, at least I'll save money! It cost me $12 to get in...and all they did was splash! But, at least I got a little sun and some time to chat with my good friend!!

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-06-03T21:07:00.003-05:00

What a shame to come up with such a cute post title right before we're going to start going to the Saturday morning meeting. Blah. Oh well!

I lost 2.6 tonight! For a total of 6lbs in two weeks! Yay!! Whoo hoo!! Go me, go me, go, go, go me! Could've been a lot more if I'd worked out a few more times but Campo has been sick and getting up at ungodly hours of the morning on top of it being a crazy busy week. But, as of this morning, everything is done and we have about a week and a half until VBS starts to just relax and have "lazy days" as the girls call them. You know, those days where you stay in your pajamas all day unless YOU decide you want to go somewhere? Those are the kind of days when I don't put on make up all day! Love em! The girls love em too! I usually get a work out in on those days. Anyway, all in all, I'm very proud of myself, pleased with the results, and looking forward to getting back to being a WW leader myself again!!