ok girlfriends.....my blog is moving..
http://ifonlyihadstolenthedonutmoney.blogspot.com/

I hope to see you there...:)

It's going to seem like a complaint but I am just talking.
I had all the kids get in the shower and take baths (yes, that is a big deal, it's summer..I forget to tell them to do that..I'm honest)..I was all excited that they were clean and somewhat ready for tomorrow morning. (I teach Zumba in the a.m.)
Well, the neighbor knocked on the door asking them if they can play....and I heard him say they were just playing video games so it wasn't like they were headed out to ride bikes or something....
well, as I sat down here to blog...one of them came back in and sat next to me and I think the "dog smell" is worse than BEFORE the shower. :/ but I know I KNOW!!!! who cares, they are kids, let them live, blah blah blah...give them baths and make them shower more often so it's not some huge event....la la la....

in sweeter news..I have a precious 4 year old that just came and laid his head on my shoulder as I am typing. Oh precious, he is...( my YODA sentence :P)

LOL!!!!!!!

This is an old picture...I was searching my pictures to put up a really recent one and Siler saw this and says "wait! Go back! Click on THAT one"

I can't really remember the story behind this one..it was someone's birthday..maybe his? I don't know..I just remember Sophia was babysitting and I came home to this. LOL

oh shoot...I was going to add pictures from this weekend but this is not my laptop!!! DUH!

I know there is a way I can get this Picasa and my Picasa to connect but I am thinking you are probably friends with me on Facebook anyway and have seen all my beautiful children all together again. :):):):) 

Earlier this summer, I was on Focus on the Family IMOM and downloaded a page of 50 things to do this summer....Celebrate Christmas in July was number 16. :P

We are doing it.

Next Wednesday on July 25th

My family will all be together

with a Christmas Tree

a traditional turkey dinner

gifts

MUSIC

hot cocoa

and I am HOPING to get our "Christmas" picture :) :) :)

well, it's 9:20...time for my eyes to close :)

Good Night :).

it's a GRAB A POPCORN long one

So there was this Radio Flyer rocking horse at "thee" Consignment shop, Thursday. I was there with Sophia, her Alex, who we call Boy Alex, and Kiley. It was $30. Boy Alex wanted it soooo much for his sweet Kiley...and even got in line with it and decided last minute that $30 was too much to pay for the horse. I was so proud of him and so sad for him at the same time, he reaaaaally wanted it. :)
We get in the van and Sophia was like "I cannot believe you were going to pay $30 for that horse!:P Now if it was $15..I could see that :)" and Boy Alex was so cute...he was like "I was just envisioning Kiley sitting in it watching Backyardigans" aaawwwww
Late Thursday night....when Sophia and my girl Alex were here visiting...Sophia remembered that toys were 50% off Thursday through Saturday and that horse is a TOY!!!!
SO my yesterday morning started as MISSION GET BOY ALEX AND KILEY THAT HORSE!
LOL
So yes, Friday morning in the summertime, I wake my children and say "get in the shower, we have somewhere to be!" It is soooo cracking me up now.
well, Sophia ended up calling me as I was walking out the door so I asked her if she wanted me to come get her for this mission and she says "Yes! You do not need to buy that horse :), I'll get it! :)"
 :) I said" I am walking out now, you have however many minutes to get ready" I hear "ohshoot" She's so cute. I can see her running around like "oh crap oh crap" and I am feeling for her because it's hard enough to get oneself ready fast but adding a 5 month old to the mix, well, we have all been there. :)
I get one mile down the road, notice I need fuel so I pull in to the gas station and she texts me "READY!" I don't know why that was sooo stinking cute and endearing to me...but it was. :P
SO at the rate I am telling this story...it would be another month before it would be over because that was 9am..and I didn't catch a breath til 6:30....
I had woke up totally tired and sore but it didn't matter how crappy I felt, I was on cloud nine and felt like I was in a dream, that Alex had actually come back. I wanted to have a party.
I totally understand how the Prodigal Son's Father felt...
So we grab Sophia and Kiley
Go through McDonald's for breakfast
Get to the consignment store and Sophia gets THE HORSE :) :) :) :) and hangers so she can consign clothes
we go back to Sophia's so she can get her car and she brings boxes of clothes over so she can get them ready at my house and we can all hang out. :)
we went to the grocery store and bought a box of brownie mix, a gallon of chocolate milk, and angel food cake, some kiwi and bananas :P, some whipped cream...oh yea, we were having a party :P
oh, can't forget the cans of Superchill root beer and Cream soda (as I drool....I looooove cream soda)
Alex ended up coming over and bringing her boyfriend, can you guess his name?
 Zach! So we have my Alex, Sophia's boy Alex, my Zack, and now Big Zach :) :) :) :) :)
Super Fun! :)
I cannot tell you how awesome it was, just hanging out in my living room....I had all 6 kids home at the same time! I wish I would have got a picture!!!!! But, it was big Zach's first visit and I mainly focused on him. He's very nice. He's heading off to college August 15th...he wants to be a surgeon but he's not sure on what yet. He said when he dissected a cat, he enjoyed all of it. *gross* :):):):):)
After our company left, I had to high tail get the girls ready..they both had sleepovers at friends houses....
Got them dropped off, got home, saw Mike, sat on the couch and ZZZZZZZZZZZZ..there it was. I was done for the night! I did wake up when Siler came in asking for socks because Mike was outside watching Zack skateboard. Zack is getting better every day. He's so cute!
Siler ended up not staying out long and came in to "snuggle with Mama".(he says it so cute!)
Then Zack and Mike came in and we ended up all watching a movie from Netflix called Babysitters Beware. and then I officially got to call it a night....:)

Not sure if this is supposed to be awful and embarrassing...but we polished off the whole pan of brownies, the whole gallon of chocolate milk, the whole angel food cake and the whole can of Redi Whip....6 of us! Shaking my head...:P
we will be having fruits and veggies today! Parties over :P (I saw a picture yesterday that said something about Life Expectancy being longer if veggies smelled like bacon..LOL)

Wow, I haven't blogged like that in a long time. It was nice spending my morning with you. :) ttfn

Thank you, Jesus! My Alexandria came over last night! It felt so wonderful to hug her and hear her and laugh with her!!!!!!!! Thank you, Jesus!!!!!

The fighting between these children is unbearable.
I don't know how to distract them or redirect their anger or just get them to stop!
I didn't just sit down here to vent. I was actually just coming by to say," Hey!" :)
Now my gorgeous hubby is calling me...:) Guess it wasn't time to blog. :P

7-11

I have not been here in months..I feel like I should have some cool opening statement.

I am laying in bed. The boys just got out of the tub and Mike just pointed out that my Zack is getting hair on his legs..:P
I see teen boys everywhere I go and am in denial that my boys will be that big someday. It's a constant reminder to enjoy them NOW.

Mike and I went on a date today. Sophia and Kiley came and sat with the other 4 children.
We went to Cheesecake factory where we both ordered salads of the "skinny" menu. LOL
We went to Macys where I visited the MAC and Lancome counters while he browsed the men's section for shorts. :)
Then we went wine tasting...YUK! Bleh! BLAH! I do not like wine. I have tried several times.I give up. :)

Then, because the 5 wines I tasted..I guess equalled more than I needed...I became somewhat intoxicated and depressed. I am totally smiling now because it was seriously pathetic. So now I am tired (nothing new) and have a headache (also, nothing new) but whatever whatever....that was our date. :)

Came home and watched my Zack on his skateboard. He is getting so good at it. ( and now he is laying here next to me reading what I am typing, out loud..so I am going to stop here for now :))

I may be back soon...

I have been gone so long...and blogger has changed! I have no idea how to navigate through this! :P

First things first...

This is my Granddaughter Kiley at almost 3 months!!!!

I have the feeling (if anyone is reading this) that we are probably friends on Facebook and you see the abundance of pics on there..but just in case :P Isn't she Adorable?????

I woke up crying this morning because (AND THIS IS JUST TALK!) Mike and I were talking about a possibility of moving to Chicago and I cannot imagine not being able to see her as often as I do!!! and I don't think Sophia would let me take her :P

well, I could type forever but it would come out very bipolar so I am just going to stop here and say HEY!!!! :D I hope you are having a wonderful day!!!! :):):):):):)

My Granddaughter is Here :)

Sophia (Mommy) and Kiley :)

Alex (Daddy) and Kiley :)

Aunt Samantha and Kiley :)

Pictures just CANNOT capture this girl's sweetness!!!!! :)

HOW FUN WOULD THIS BE?????!!!!!

Celebrity Cruises is looking for an instructor for each of their five Trans-Atlantic Cruises next spring (April 15 – 30, April 16 – May 1, April 21 – May 5, April 22 – May 6, May 5 – May 19). The trans-atlantic cruises are 15 days long.
The Requirements For The Job Are:

• Need to be Zumba Gold Certified and/or Aqua Zumba certified
• Can lead a minimum of 2 classes a day
• Can lead a mixed demographic of age and nationality
• Flexible in a changing environment
• Someone who will treat the Celebrity Cruise’s guests as though they are their own clients

Celebrity Cruises Will Provide:

• A Trans-Atlantic Cruise from the US to Europe for the instructor plus one guest (one shared stateroom)
• Round trip Air fare for the Instructor plus one guest
• One night hotel stay for any required international travel
• Pre-paid onboard Gratuities for Instructor plus one guest
• 50% discount on bar purchases

SOMEDAY LADIES!!!! SOMEDAY! :D

slick roads..yuk!

It's Friday night..I haven't showered in what feels like DAYS! oh, I guess that makes sense since I taught two classes yesterday and haven't showered since...there probably are things I should keep to myself...!
I hurt myself yesterday at the first class..to sound dramatic but this is how it felt...I felt like I shattered a couple small bones in my foot/ankle/leg area...YeeeeeeeeOUCH! Of course I just keep smiling and dancing through the pain...we instructors believe we are invincible :P
I went ahead and had class last night at my home but I did it with my foot wrapped and no shoe on, to remind myself to NOT JUMP on it...I think we did okay...it didn't really start bothering me until like the 3rd to last song and then I stayed off it the rest of the night (hence the no shower thing :P)
Today, I have meant to do many things..shower, laundry, etc....
1.I DID pay bills (I felt like that took me all morning)
2.OH! I did cut Mia's hair 20 minutes before the school bus came...I mean, I was FINISHING it when THE BUS PULLED UP! lol...
3. I tweeted :P
4. I emptied the dishwasher? I am digging for stuff I did
ok..the most important for real....
5. I played with Siler...TOYS....that's what he said..I asked "what are we playing?"" TOYS!"
THEN he got me to play Wii...UGH! I am not a mom that should play Wii..blood pressure raising thinking about it
I did get my camera out to take pictures of him but he turned that into "the RUNAWAY game" He did not want his picture taken today and he would laugh hysterically at me trying to do it..
He also got a kick out of changing Zack's Mii on the Wii...gave him blue eyeshadow eyes and blush and then mean eyes and a beard and then a mustache and all kinds of silly stuff...

Now I am sitting here, dirty and tired..no motivation and I really really need to do laundry, for real, no joke....

I ordered the VOLUME 1 of Adventures in Odyssey...I want to start at the very beginning with the kiddos :) Volume 2 is on its way :) I figure, my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can use them..I'll get them ripped on the computer and hopefully whatever comes after the flash drive will support the cds and mp3 rips :P LOL if not, our family will enjoy them for now :)

Sam is spending the night with a friend
Mia is in the kitchen cooking Kale and Tomatoes with Mike
Zack and Siler are love hate playing together

Alexandria, is somewhere down the street, she said..the roads are sooooo slick (according to Mike)..I wish she was home, where I knew she was safe...but I am sure she is fine

Sophia, last I heard, was doing her MIL's hair...we are 15/16 days away from due date..do you count the day you are on? and do you count the actual day? so today is the 20th and she is due Feb 5th..how do you calculate? :):):)

well, I have rambled on about who knows what...I have no idea if my want to nap or my need to shower and laundry is going to win...

well shooey!

I took two pics today..or at least I thought I did..but when I went to remove the memory card from the camera..it wasn't in there. :/

1 was a picture of my breakfast..my new version of a banana split :)

1 pineapple Greek Yogurt
a handful of fresh strawberries
a banana
almonds
coconut

mix it all together..and YUM

I did put a little bit of chocolate syrup in one corner to see if I liked it but it actually was not good.


The other picture was a piece of scotch tape that said KICK ME that I found taped to my hardwood floors..Good Times :)

I tackled my laundry room today, on accident...definitely WAS NOT in "the plans"

Hardly slept last night...Sophia has been having LOTS of contractions....I laid with my phone in my hand and any time I dozed off I woke myself to make sure I didn't miss anything. :/ I know I ,at least, got 2 hours sleep...I should go catnap while Siler is playing X-BOX..I have a class to teach tonight and right THIS second, I don't know how I will get through it...but I know I will and I know it will be fun :) and TOMORROW I rest from all exercise :)

Hope your day is lovely....it's sooo cold here  BRRRRRRR!!!!!
xoxxoxoxoxox

I should cut and paste all I typed earlier to have it up here to read before you see the pictures..but I am just letting you know that if you want to read first..just keep scrolling :P

ingredients I happened to have on hand one morning

took so little time to make

I only prepared for me though...all others were sleeping..

but man it was good to the last bite!

I had asked Mike to start the grill for the chicken..I had just finished my ZUMBA class and needed some protien but I didn't have a clue what else to have with it.... ended up making Texas Cavier (Mike LOOOOVES it) and threw some beans with it on tortillas and it was really good last minute unplanned :)

This wasn't as great as I hoped...I wanted the zucchini, squash, mushrooms but didn't know what to do with them
some whole wheat pasta and I was trying to stay away from the whipping cream..I should have just stuck with it..the butter and cream and parmesan..YUM!!!! but hey..I tried.... :/

I also tried to bake turkey bacon :/ I set off the smoke alarm :/

I had leftover zucchini, squash and mushrooms and threw them in eggs the next morning..YUM!

but THIS!!!! OH YUMMMY! mostly AVOCADO, some beans and lots of Pico de Gallo.Y U M!!!

HOLY GIDDINESS :P

Sophia giddy about holding her friend's baby girl :)
The bags behind her were one of the games we played at the shower..
you had to guess what was in each lettered bag that spelled out
B A B Y S H O W E R

Got caught being obnoxious..thanks a lot Amy!

The prizes the ladies could choose from when they won a game :)

Sophia and some of her best friends through the years

we were trying to watch a VHS video that my girlfriend brought from her baby shower 16 years prior
we did a WORDS OF WISDOM FOR NEW MOMMY and
my girlfriend asked me if I remembered what I said at hers....
such a LONG story but Sophia had got her head stuck in a chair when she was 2 so I told my friend to not take her child somewhere with chairs that heads could get stuck in...oh my gosh..it's on video and I was so embarrassed at what I saw!

the timed word scramble..I think I stressed the guests out :P lol

My gift to Kiley :)

It is my ever so dramatic recorded reading of THAT'S WHAT GRANDMAS DO :)

Kiley's blessings :)

Jan 15th already! I feel like so much goes on here but I don't have much to report.

I guess I will start with New Year's Eve...I went to get tested for TB for a new job and it is negative. woo woo! :P
New Year's Eve....I did some laundry..I watched something on tv...I can't remember..I think it was Sweet Home Alabama? and I looked over some ZUMBA stuff...I waited for the New York ball to drop and I hit the sack...SO TIRED!
New Year's Day..I attended my first ZUMBA class in 8 weeks...it was fun but it was exhausting...I didn't feel like raising my arms or dancing with "pep" but I made it through the hour. :)
Monday night I decided I wanted to try another ZUMBA class...it was at 7:45PM! (like my bedtime!) I talked a couple of my girlfriends into going :) It was a SEEEEXXXYYYYY dancer....holy moly I never blushed so much :) but she was AWESOME energy and an AMAZING teacher if you wanna feel SEEEEEXXXXYYYYYY....:D
I taught my first class on Thursday morning the 5th...Totally Bombed. Seriously Bombed. 1.) I needed an oxygen mask..I couldn't breathe..I think I was waaaay overzealous in my playlist...I didn't give us time to breathe in between songs..2.) I am pretty sure I was trying to be someone I am not...I hear all these things about all these instructors that all these people like...and every once in a while, I get caught up in what I hear instead of JUST BEING ME. well, not being me just plain SUCKS. (pardon language ) I taught that night also and eh...it was "ok" but anyway..I got two classes under my belt..

Next on my agenda was getting ready for Sophia's baby shower ..it was on Sunday the 8th...My girlfriends, Amy and Marelle..were my lifesavers in many many ways for my shower and I could NOT have pulled it off without them...I was amazed and so grateful for them.
I had waaaay too much food but better more than not enough. :) Sophia is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and Kiley's gifts reminded me of a Mary Poppin bag....they just kept coming and coming...she is truly loved and blessed!

I wish I knew how to attach pictures in this blog because by the time you get to what you are reading...I "hopefully" have the pictures here but you had to get through them to get here? :P
Goal to learn how? so stressful to me. :/

so after Sophia's AWESOME baby shower..my mind was FREE  :) It's not that I was super stressed about it..but you know, when you finish something...it just feels good to have it behind you :)

Somewhere between the New Year and the Baby Shower....I did something that just made me GIDDY! I don't remember if I told about our Christmas new TV and XBOX (that is not what excited me!) but since we got a new flat screen, we didn't have a need for the large armoire entertainment cabinet we already had...so I transformed it into my office..LOVE! I hopefully had pictures of that posted :P

I started a brand new ZUMBA class ..it's at a City Recreation Center..and it starts at 7:15 (close to my bedtime) but I wanted to see what it would be like to live the night life once a week. :) SUPER FUN! SUPER DUPER FUN!!!!! I had sooo much fun!!!!!! I can't wait until Tuesday again :)

Choir at church has started up again... Sam and Mia are excited but my boys dropped out.It's okay..they might like it later...and it will be okay if they don't....:)

We had a snow day ..didn't play outside..I got 9 tubes of blood drawn..didn't know how there could be any left after that! Mike and I are trying to lean towards the vegan side of eating...I can handle giving up most meat most of the time..but cutting out yogurt, cheese, butter? um , no. I did give up the WHIPPING CREAM in my coffee. it's not as bad as I thought it would be :) I had starting taking pictures at the beginning of the year of my meals..I didn't tell anyone but I was wanting to make a picture food journal...talk about accountability :P half the time I am too lazy to go get my camera :P and the other half...I am not eating anything I want to capture :P LOL...

well....as far as my family goes....Mike was really stressed at work , this guy had quit making Mike's pile of work that much more...he was having a very hard time finding a replacement..but luckily that guys came back and now Mike can breathe again..Thank you Jesus. :)

I am patiently waiting for my Granddaughter's arrival... Sophia has LOTS of Braxtons and lots of times they are a steady 5 minutes apart and we are sure it's time..but NOT YET :)

Alexandria (my way private one who will probably be totally ticked at me when and if she sees this) is not talking to most of us...expecially Sophia....she did not come to her shower and wants absolutely NOTHING to do with her, or the baby..it's devastating to me...but there is nothing I can do about it and I had to remind myself this morning that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD..All relationships can be restored..He can make ALL things New..and if they never talk again..I have to be okay with that. :)

Sam, Mia, Zack, and Siler...all good..they play lots of video games..since we have the XBOX in one room, A Nintendo 64 in another and a Wii in another and can't forget about their DS games..Mom of the Year right here..I am expecting DFS at my door any second...I really should make them do some other activities! Sam and Mia like to YouTube and do craft stuff...Mia made a dress today....they would LOVE to cook with me if I would gather the patience to let them.

I am trying to incorporate more stuff into my life...besides changing our eating habits..I want to run (a little) add come weights (in moderation) and some yoga (I need to stretch this body out!) So far I ran one mile, did 30 minutes yoga and I plan on going to the gym in the morning for a Body Pump class..I haven't been to one in over a year..it should be FUN. :)

well, I have lost track of anything I have said..I feel like I have been typing for hours so I should have covered most everything :P until next time. :)

Siler's party cont'd :)

BIRTHDAY BOY SILER!!!!! :) :) :)

SMILE!!!

Come on Siler! SMILE!!!


OH MY GOSH MOM! AGAIN??? :P


It's my cupcake batter, I'll lick it clean if I wanna!



My new camera made it look daylight with the flash on!  We had a candlelight dinner for Siler's celebration.....
Gourmet chicken nuggets and toasted ravioli :) YUMMY!!!!!

yes, that is Sophia and her Alex at the table :) and Siler looking so cute! :D

Kids Art that I LOVE and wish I could preserve :)

RHINESTONE SETTING and a new notebook :) :) :) :)

Sam and Mia got new rhinestone setters for Christmas....you would be so proud of me how long I sat and did this with them ..you know my lack of patience or love for crafts...bleh! and I didn't know when I ordered them that they are for ages 15 and up :/ *SIGH* but we started a project and eventually we will finish it :D


I love this big boy and I think he loved his new notebook..a gift from his sister, Alex :)