Just another day in the Baker house...

I have been accused of being a slacker *gasp*!!!! So, I am back...:)
Last Friday, I picked Bishop up from school & he had something very important to tell me. He informed me that there was a girl in his class named Samara & that she told him that they were getting married. He looked at me & said, "So, I am going to have a wedding & you need to be there, mom." When his dad got home & learned of the upcoming event he informed Bishop that when you get married you have to move out. Bishop assured us that he would NOT be doing that:). I have heard nothing else about it so I have no idea where the relationship stands at this point:).
We made it through that to deal with THIS conversation....well, Brad did anyways.:) He graciously volunteered (uh huh...RIGHT) to go give the kids their bath, I stayed downstairs to enjoy some internet surfing....to my enjoyment, this is the conversation that I got to hear:):
Bishop: "Daddy, what are these?"
Thoughtful silence...
Brad: "Those are testicles, Bishop"
Me...starting to laugh to myself downstairs...:)
Bishop: "What are they for?"
Brad: "BISHOP...don't pull on them like that...you have to be gentle with them."
Me rolling on the floor...
Bishop: "Oh...sorry...but what are testibles for?"
Brad: "They are called test-i-cles and they are what make you a man"
Bishop: "So girls don't have them OR a penis...how come girls don't have them?"
And Brad knowing that this conversation was headed nowhere a 5 year old could understand gave the answer of all answers. "because God made it that way."
I was literally crying...I was SO glad that he had taken bath duty that night....:)
On to Shayden. She has decided that toilet paper basketball is the GREATEST game ever invented. Her favorite new pasttime is to go into the bathroom & tear off tiny pieces of toilet paper and throw them in the trash. It makse the bathroom floor look SO lovely. She has also decided that she knows how to blow her OWN nose..and her baby dolls as well. So, I am now resorting to HIDING the toilet paper. If you come to my home & go to the bathroom only to see an empty toilet paper holder...DO NOT BE ALARMED! Just look around...I am just hiding it from the wee one.
I am done for today...have a Wibderful Wednesday!

A little political...

US POSTAL SERVICE ISSUES RECALL July 26, 2007 8: 10 AM AP Washington , D.C.

The US Postal Service has issued a recall of a stamp they created with a picture of now U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton to honor her achievements while serving as the First Lady of our nation. The problem was discovered when claims had been made that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes, and that mail which had been sent using the "Hillary" postage was not being delivered. Senator Clinton demanded a full investigation into the allegations. A special Postal Service Investigation team was formed and after several months and millions of dollars spent, made the following findings :

*The stamp was manufactured properly.
*There was nothing wrong with the adhesive.
*People were just spitting on the wrong side.

Mini Van Mama

I don't think I make a great mini van mom. Stop right there. What was the stereotype that came to mind when you read the words, "mini van?" You saw polyester blends, no makeup, and bad music didn't you? And you would expect me to tell you my kid is perfect. Well, I don't fall into that. I wear trendy clothes, I wear make up, AND I listen to Loudacris & Lynard Skynard on my radio. And I am here to tell you my kids are FAR from perfect...I just love them anyways. The point is...I was not meant to drive a mini van because the other mini van mom in the carpool line CANNOT understand where to pull up to. I beat her there today because I had donuts for Bishop's class (see...I rock:)! I pulled ALL the way around just like the SIGN SAYS! She showed up and pulled half way around & stopped...she didn't even pull up behind my car. WTF?!?!?!
I think I forgot to mention on my blog that the other day I was having a rough day. The day my wallet went missing. Minivan mom on a power trip was doing like normal & not pulling around. I got out of my car & asked her to move....I was nice, but I told her we were supposed to pull ALL the way around...just like the sign says:). Apparantly it did no good....
Mini van moms have clean cars...mine is a DISASTER. Mini van moms don't jam to vanilla ice just to watch their one year old dance in the backseat. I just don't fit in & I am afraid I never will...
Guess I'll have to get a hummer...:)
Just kidding...

Fall...:(

Um...did I miss something? Like the leaves changing & nice, crisp BEAUTIFUL weather. Nice days that required a jacket but not a winter coat?!?! SHEESH! It went from cool to COLD.....brrrrrrrrrrrrr! I had two crackhe...er...people tell me that they were SO happy about this. I am not...I do not have any cute jeans yet. I do not have many long sleeve shirts that I am excited about. And what about shoes...I like FlipFlops. And the hour that my kids spent outside will now be spent inside.....SCARE BEAR. :(
Anyways...it was a crazy day. I lost my wallet...or we don't know what happened to it. I had it yesterday at the fair and now it is gone. 2 debit cards, account numbers, 3 social security cards. reciepts, a check that needed to be cashed....the list goes on. Sucks. Did I mention it was a COACH wallet. SUCKS DOUBLE! But...I had a phone call that put that in perspective and that is also a BIG prayer request...I found out that one of my closest friends father passed away last week. Most of you know Rebecca. It ws all very sudden and unexpected so she is still in shock. Please pray for her & her family...they are having a really rough time.
Thanks guys....bundle up tomorrow!!!

Life in living color...

WHOO HOO!!! We painted today...or rather my father, husband, and mother in law painted today. (My mom was a slave driver and helped me clean my house...she rocks too.) I LOVE IT!!! I am not even going to tell you the colors...you just have to come see it:)! We painted an accent wall in the living room & finally covered up the AWFUL paint on the inserts in the stairs. We painted our bedroom & bathroom & even a wall in the den!!! IT is BEAutiful:)! SO, thank you to my wonderful, seXy, hard working husband....my super hot, perfectionist MIL, and my fabulous painting pro daddy for working your tails off to make our house look more like a home;)! I guess we will have to have a house warming party now...:)

I'm a believer....I'm in LOVE....HEY

We went to church tonight which is something that we have neglected. I have many excuses & they are just that....excuses. We need to get on the ball and find a church closer to our home but alas if we aren't going to do that we just need to get our butts to church...so we did:). Something that I have realized in the last few months is that people are becoming SO busy that we forget that we are here for a bigger purpose. Work is necessary...but people just seem so involved in SO many things. Most churches don't even have Wed evening activities for kids anymore because people are just too busy. Too busy for God?!?! I am looking for a church that will get us involved there....children activities, sports. I want our lives to be centered and focused around CHRIST. Not football on M-F and dance on T, TH, S...I definitely see a place for all of these things but these things should not be consuming our childrens every waking moment outside of school. WHEW....I will step down now but that is just how I feel & I am tired of apoligizing for it. That is what I belive. My son will play sports in the spring but it will not consume all of his time ( Please no hate mail...I am not knocking anyone on this...activities are important & I encourage them...some people just take it a bit far!) . And we will STILL have dinner together!!!
Our preacher preached about God...shocker, I know;)! But he reminded us that God never leaves anything incomplete...he ALWAYS finishes what he started. When we are in the middle of trials & tragedy...we can't see the finish line but he does. After it is all over we look back and say...OH, I get it. So this is for my friends who are hurting right now. You are NOT in a sinking ship...and it is okay if you panic...God has the paddles & he is rowing to shore & He can do it without you. He can do it without me...we are right there with ya:). But in 6, 8 months...maybe even a year...we will all look back & say, Gosh God rocks. He NEVER quits:)! I love you dearly my friends....
AH...sappy, huh? Well, I needed to say all of that. I am going to try to start an interesting new ministry...thanks Shawnee. Your goofiness has inspired me:)!
Have a FAB evening:)! HUGS!!!!!!!

If you don't find this amusing, then you don't have a husband. Or you have a perfect husband who never annoys you in which case you must drink...a LOT:)! Anyways...I have found us Halloween costumes, girlies!!! We will ALL be desperate housewives. I have it planned...we don't need to buy a thing...we ARE the costume:)! Who knew a tv show could make our jobs seem so seXy & appealing?! I can't wait...:)

Goofballs

There should be a drug that cures stress....

OH...that's right, there is...it's called ALCOHOL:). But partaking in it everytime you feel a little stressed would get you labled a "problem."
What do YOU do to destress...I mean, I know the main things...pray (believe me I have done that), how showers, crying...anything else I should know about because I can't sleep at night. I KNOW in my heart that things will be fine...I KNOW this....but convincing my head what my heart knows is just difficult somedays. Money has been an issue but it is quickly becoming a bigger issue. That causes fights & rifts & just all out drama....don't you wish you lived here?!?
Brad's job is stressful...angry, stupid customers, not enough $$, too many hours for me to get a job....ah...the list goes on but I am tired of people thinking I am "playing the victim." I am not out for sympathy...I am just venting. I am praying about our situation & trying to determine what I need to do to help out besides not eating:)...evey little bit helps right?!
There should be a positive to every blog so here is mine....I have had a long day so I am going to go drink a glass of wine...hey, that was a rhyme...hAHA HA HA...I am so funny....
goodnight:)

Don't mess with THIS cowboy;)!

Rule #1....Post to both blogs...CHECK:)!!!

It's official...the blogging challange has begun. Shawnee & I are going to post a blog a day for one month...starting today. Anyone else care to try!?! Hopefully it will help my stress level & I can start sleeping again:)!!! I am also giving up bread as of today. Not all bread products but plain bread...buns, rolls...even the homemade bread my neighbor mad:e:(
For my first blog of the challange I am going to just catch up on a few of the things I have WANTED to blog on but have not had time...
** Shopping with children sucks. Capital S. It is a sure thing that at least one, possibly two, will have a HUGE humiliating melt down. And everyone will stare & you will want to melt into the floor. You swear that you will never do it again but another Monday rolls around & you must & thus begins a pattern that ruins your Monday forever. I will have nightmares about today's shopping trip for AWHILE!!!
** There is NO such thing as customer service anymore. Cashiers are rude, service people ignore you....it is truly sad. It makes me scared to think about how rude people will be in twenty more years.
** Hillary Clinton is a smug wench. I can't stand her...she was on tv the other day spouting off, "When I am president," SCARE BEAR!! Surely America is not that stupid....
** Save the Cupcake...Save the World...
** I have quit watching the nightly news. It is far too depressing. I miss the weather & I actually miss staying caught up on stuff but it seriously makes me depressed to watch it. There is way too much evil & hatred in the world. Let's start passing kindness & love forward, okay?!?!
** My neighbor is making some CUTE barrettes! The little kind that snap shut & hold the hair out of their eyes but they are wrapped in ribbon & have bows....they are FABULOUS! She is selling them for $4.00 a pair & I highly reccommend them! She sells bows too and she momograms anything...
** Shameless plug number 2...Brad is trying to meet a sales goal. If you or anyone you know needs pest control...please call or reference him. He will work with your schedule & he just rocks:)!!!
** Bishop will be FIVE at the end of this month!?!?!?
** Please continue to pray for our troops....they need it!!!!!
** I am done...I better save somthing for tomorrow!!
I LOVE YOU GUYS...seriously....I am passing the love forward......now you pass it to someone else!!!

Just another day in the neighborhood...

These are pictures taken yesterday. Both Bishop and Shayden LOVE to be outside...LOVE IT! I don't know what we will do when it gets cold. Shayden literally walks to the front door & CRIES to go outside. Bishop loves to drive his jeep and even though she looks scared in the picture, she loves to ride with him. We strap her in good and off they go! It is SO hilarious. Bishop actually stopped and got out to rebuckle her in one day....such a GREAT big brother!

They are both changing so much. Shayden isn't a baby anymore & Bishop is a big boy these days. School has made such a difference in him...he has matured SO much in the last month. He still loves school & his teacher. He doesn't even mind homework. I had to pick him up early to take Shayden to the doctor & he cried...he did NOT want to leave! He is learning to write and is doing a GREAT job. Shayden is just getting too big. She no longer has that baby face...she looks like a toddler. *sniffle* That is hard...she is still very much a diva. She knows what she wants & she knows how to get it. She is picking up on a few words....her newest words are: please, thank you, Papa, JenJen. My only concern is that her new favorite hobby is throwing her babydoll on the floor and stepping in her belly & then giggling. I would consider counseling if the baby didn't squeal when she did it but I think that is where her glee comes from...making the baby make a sound. I hope that is the case...:)

I was going to upload a bunch of pictures but my computer is being SLOW. I did get them on myspace so if you want to see pics from homecoming & the jeep riding....click on the "Shana @ Myspace link" and then click on "pics"...there is an album labeled Homecoming. And if you need help with a mum,..call me...I have discovered a new talent:)!!!

Three days and counting...

We have made it through the first three days of school. *whew* It is going well...Bishop LOVES it, I am getting used to driving back & forth to his school & Shadow & Shayden seem to be adjusting to Bishop's absense. We are settling into somewhat of a routine...as routine as we can get I guess:). I try to put Shayden down for a nap when we get home from dropping him off so I have time to clean & RELAX for 5 minutes:)!
Bishop assures me daily that he is not learning ANYTHING. They just play and eat snacks and go to the potty. Works for me....;)

What else is new in the Baker household:

~ Brad is now certified to sell Sentricon....a termite home defense system. If you need one, call him:) Heck, if you need any kind of pest control, call him...he does good work:).

~ Shayden is quickly turning into a toddler...she is JUST like Bishop at this age. She LOVES to turn off the television & empty my desk drawers. She has learned to love junk food & BEGS for it as only she can. Plastic hangers are her vice....

~ Shana is adjusting to this new life. Being a school mom is quite interesting. Car lines, lunch money, checking folders & worrying about checkmarks is a whole new ballgame. It has been stressfull but it will even out soon....I think:).

~ Shadow is better....we don't know if he is sick or was just missing Bishop during the afrernoon but he seems to be feeling better.

~ We are going home to Oklahoma for Labor Day and can't wait!! I want to relax at the farm:)

~ If you are on our Bunko team...look for an upcoming date soon....we need to gamble!!!

Have a FAB holiday weekend friends!!!

First Day of school....

Well, I survived. I left Bishop at his new school & I didn't cry....that much:). I WOULDN'T have cried if Brad hadn't sent me a text saying, "He will be fine....I love you & can't believe our baby is growing up." Brad is not one that speaks in emotional terms very often so that made me cry. Bishop did GREAT! We walked in....he wasn't a bit nervous. We walked to the cafeteria...I showed him where he would go get his lunch & then where to sit. He kind of scared me when we were waiting in line to pay for his lunch.
He looked up & said, "Mom, is this the FIRST day of school?"

I said, "Yes, it is."

He replied, "Is it LONG time until the LAST day of school?"

A little nervous that he was already wishing for the last day, I said, "It is a long time until the last day...you will get to come here EVERYday!"

His response made me feel oodles better....he said, "YESSSSSSSS!!!" as only kids can:)

I waited with him until his teacher came & so far, I just love her. I can't say much for the principal....but his teacher seems very comfortable in her shoes. She is very sweet & made me feel really comfortable leaving him there. I wathced from a distance as they all walked to the classroom & stood at the door & watched him put away his backpack & sit down on the circle where his teacher told him too. I was quite proud (except the nose picking...we will have to discuss that:).

Here are a few pics from today....

Huey, Duey, Luey, & Puey

When we first moved into our new house, we discovered that we has a birds nest on our porch. Knowing that there were eggs in it, we neither one had the heart to knock it down. Everyone told us we should because of the mess (& it WAS a mess!) but we just couldn't do it (ironic considering Brad is in PEST control:)!!! We dubbed the mommy Daisy & the daddy Daffy (we're original...I know:). Finally the babies came & we named them (from left) Huey, Duey, Luey, & Puey. I got the greatest kick out of these birds as they began to get used to us being there & quit flying off everytime we opened the door. They have since flown the coop but some people have assured me that they are the type of birds that come back to the sameplace. Against EVERYONE's wishes...I hope they d0:)!!!

Birthday Bash

Well, it's OFFICIAL!! I am 25;)!! Just kidding, I am PROUD to be 28...I would rather keep celebrating my birthdays than stop having them!!! The party was a blast!! THANK YOU to everyone who came & helped me celebrate!!!!!!! We danced, we laughed, we drank, and then we danced some more;)!!! It was amazing...I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends!!!!!!

Birthday Wishlist

1) A FAB party with all of my friends in attendance...we will eat, drink, & be merry:)! OH...I've already got that!

2) New bedding...I am having trouble deciding on some but I WILL.

3) A fryer...odd gift but I need one...and the new ones are just like the ones I used at restaurants...fun:)

4) Anything with little C's on it...I am not picky in this department...:)

5) CLOTHES...Brad, don't pick them...get your mom to help...

6) Shoes too...:)

7) And let's not forget jewelry...:)

8) More tanning would be great...

9) A pedicure....I sound really vain don't I?!?!? I'm really not...I just like to look good...does feeling better about yourself because you like your appearance make you vain?!?!

10) Stuff for my house...picture frames, candle holders, baskets, flowers...I have a LONG ways to go...

11) The new monopoly game...the one with the landmarks on it...something to laugh t in 25 years...and maybe I can beat Brad on a new board...I think the old one is jinxed!

12) My boytoy....that's what Bishop said he was getting me....I can't wait to see what that is:)!!!

13) Cards....homemeade ones...that people cut & glued & wrote themselves...I AM the craft lady :)?!?!?

There.....I did my Thursday Thirteen early since I will be gone on Thursday...

Fun in the Sun

I just wanted to post pictures of the kids on the slip n slide:)! It was Shayden's first time & she actually enjoyed it:).

Slippen' and a sliden'

Sometimes I MISS being a kid:)

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Just two of the cutest kids in the world:)!!!

MISS PERSONALITY!

Shayden & one of her boyfriends, Chase!

Shayden likes to float in the baby float:)!

Bishop jumped off the DIVING BOARD!!

The princess...

THIRTEEN THINGS I THINK ARE SUPER COOL RIGHT NOW

1. Nickelback...can you say YUM! They are all gorgeous & they sound amazing!

2. Keeping with music...I have also discovered Fergie. My husband loves her for reasons other than her vocals but the girl can sing!

3. Big sunglasses...I can't wear them because mine are prescription (STOP...I know I am old!) but they are super fun!

4. Desperate Housewives...it is finally back on track...who will get married, who will split up? Will Gaby & Carlos get back together?!?! Hmmmmmmmmmm

5. Gaucho pants & babydoll t-shirts...a girl's best friend:)

6. Sushi...it is NOT all RAW people! Try it...if I can learn to love it so can you, I promise!

7. Gaudy jewlery...I say, the bigger the better. Fake is just as fun:)!

8. Wedge heels...I LOVE THEM! I have one pair and I want more.

9. Saturday night church services. It is SO much easier if you have kids. And the preacher doesn't have to rush for the next service!

10. Movie taverns...eat, drink, & watch a movie.

11. My girlfriends & I going out for a prom night...you laugh but it will be a riot!

12. Chaise lounge chairs. I love them....my next couch will have one!

13. Forever 21 baby clothes....Shayden can dress just like me...so cool:)!

Blessings abound...

Things are slowly settling down. And by settling down...I don't by any means mean SLOWING down...just getting back to the normal level of chaos that we are used to:). All but a few boxes are unpacked, our house is beginning to look & feel like HOME...it is a GREAT feeling! I walked in today & just felt HOME...I had to sit down & thank God for that. I wanted to sit down & just enjoy being home...it was a GREAT feeling!!! We still have many things we want to get done...I even want to get the downstairs bathroom painted before Shayden's birthday party...we'll see:)! And our new neighborhood decided to have a community garage sale THIS weekend so I even get to try to get rid of all the stuff we decided we didn't want...whoo hoo!! That was nice of them:! (If anyone reading this lives nearby & wants to add some stuff...call me.) We got our pool key in the mail today so I guess I have to go buy a swimsuit...ugh!!! We plan on hitting the pool most days this summer so if you are in the mood to swim...give us a buzz,..we would love the company!!

This blog is not without a favor. I have a prayer request for all of my prayer warriors out there. I was chatting with one on my bosses this evening & it came out that he has been diagnosed with cancer & will be seeking treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. I was very disturbed & upset to hear this. I have grown to like him a lot in the last year. It is early stages & he is seeking experimental treatment...please pray for complete healing and peace for him & his family. His name is David! I told him I would get my prayer warriors on the ball!!!

Thanks guys!! Have a fabu week!!!

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Surreal,,,

My life seems so surreal right now. I drove home to a beautiful new home. I pulled into a driveway & walked through a GARAGE:)! I walked up the stairs of my new home to see my shoes in the closet (thanks to my FABU hubby!) Tonight there is a tornado watch & we don't have to worry about driving into town. Brad is across the street,..talking to NEIGHBORS...real people. I, personally, think they seem a bit odd but hey, they are neighbors, right?!?!? I am loving our new home...we have been here three short days & I just feel like I am home. I loved my old house...it was great, but I love being in town. The country was nice but I like being able to order Chinese food or grab something besides Sonic:). I like living a block from the park...heck, I like having SIDEWALKS:)!!!

To top off the new move, Shayden decided to start WALKING...yes, walking! I got her ready for bed on Sunday night & was going to let her "walk" to brother (aka teeter for two steps & fall into his arms:) & she just took off!! Bishop & I just gawked at her in shock!! Of course, we tried this for awhile & her absolute favorite thing to do is toddle over to Bishop & collapse in his arms...they would both crack up. It was the most beautiful thing to watch! The only sad thing was that my mom & dad AND grandpa had JUST left. They commented on the way out the door that she would take off soon...they just didn't know how right they were!!

I am still trying to get used to things. I am searching for a preschool for Bishop & trying to figure out where things are. I have decided that I don't like the local Wal-mart so I will try to do my grocery shopping when I go to work on Wednesdays. That was random but oh well...

The dogs are adjusting...for the first day, Shadow just sat in the dining room chair...I don't think he knew what to think. Shelah just lays in the living room by the couch...it is the only familiar furniture:). We are getting close to unpacked...it will be a LONG process. There is so much we want to do but my main goal is to have it "organized" by Shayden's birthday party which is the 16th of June & all are welcome by the way!!!

I should go...I need to do laundry...

Thanks for all of the prayers...they have been felt. Thank you to all of my fabulous helpers...I could not have done it without you....I felt like the luckiest girl in the world on Saturday!!

To Brad...you have been amazing...more than amazing. You have done SO much for me...you are my rock on earth. I love you more than I could ever put into words...

LOOOOOOOOOOOONG Day....

A day in the life of a stay-at-home mom....

6:00 - Brad's alarm goes off for the first time.
6:15 - Brad's alarm again...
6:30 - You guessed it...Brad's alarm again:)
7:00 - Brad FINALLY gets up & on this morning (this is not normal people!) goes & fixes Bish a waffle
7:15 - Shayden starts to stir in the next room so I go & get her bottle ready

By 8:40 somehow we are all ready to go...

9:02 - We drop off Bishop at his class & headed to Jenn's to get her
9:20 - We got everyone loaded & headed back to the church for Bishop's field trip
9:23 - Stop at Sonic for necessary caffiene
9:30 - Pick up Bishop to drive to Gainesville for a field trip to the zoo with 45 other 3 & 4 year olds
10:15 - arrive at zoo & spend 2 FABULOUS hours looking at giraffe's & bears...whoo hoo:)!
12:15 - We head back to Justin to grab lunch
1:15 - Eat lumch & have about 20 minutes of adult conversation
2:00 - arrive home & put Shayden down for a nap
I spent the next two hours SCRUBBING the master bath & packing boxes...OH...& let's not forget LAUNDRY
4:00 - get ready for work...grab kids & head to Mc'D's
4:45 - arrive at work & am bombarded by 10 kids ready for crafts...whoo hoo again:)
8:30 - arrive home after entertaining 40 kids at McD's...parents, I am NOT a babysitter...they are still YOUR responsibility!!!
9:00 - get kids to bed...whew
9:05 - type ridiculous blog because I don't want to go fold clothes...:)
9:30 - I'm off to pretend to fold the clothes while secretly watching Jericho...:)

Good night...HA...in like 2 more hours...

*sigh*

:)

Flash Flood

Wow. I guess if you have never been in a flash flood then you don't realize how scary it is. I was scared to death. When I got home from picking Bish up from school, I turned on the weather & there were storms with rotation in them all over the metroplex. Being the chicken that I am & yet being smart enough not to stay at OUR house, I drove into town to hang out with a friend. As the afternoon wore on, we decided it was safe to go home. In theory we were correct....
There was a traffic tie up in the five short miles between our house & Jennifer's (thank you Jenn for putting up with us, by the way:). We soon realized it was because there was water over the road. Some cars were crossing it, others turned around...Brad went across, I turned around. Brad got scared...he realized the new saying around here, "turn around, don't drown" made sense. I was smart but was also now 45 minutes from home instead of five. What should have taken me five minutes ended up taking me an hour and a half??!! I was so terrified. It was pouring down rain & there were wrecks everywhere and water was creeping up on the roads. I was wondering if I was even going to make it home the back way. Bishop was crying, I was crying, Brad was freaking because we couldn't get home...it was horrible. PRAISE GOD that Shayden stayed asleep. Lesson learned...ALWAYS have a spare bottle in your car...ALWAYS have a bottle of water...and ALWAYS go pee before you leave...!
We survived & when the storm with tornados hit later, our house didn't blow away so...WHEW & THANK YOU GOD:)!!!

It was a wild day...certainly NOT your typical Tuesday afternoon...I think I have decided I prefer ordianary:)!

Have a FABULOUSLY, ordinary Thursday my friends:)!!

Not for sale...

I have a mild obsession with bedding. Now, if it were brand new & luxurious bedding then one might think that was normal. It’s not. I have had the same pillow case since I was a child…& quite honestly, it was my parents so it is left over from the seventies. If you have EVER been to my house, you have seen it…it is green & blue & basically obnoxious. It has faded & is VERY thin but I refuse to give it up. The pillow inside of it is worse. It is not even really a pillow at this point. It is some ratty old stuffing inside of a case. I also have an attachment to my very old down blanket. I have had it since I went to college. It has survived several duvet covers & is now just a blanket. It is so worn out that there are places without feathers…just two pieces of material sewn together…it isn’t even all that warm anymore but I refuse to part with it too. The other blanket on our bed is a Cabbage Patch blanket…not from the recent Cabbage Patch craze but from the one when I was a child. It is ridiculously thin & looks ridiculous on a married couples bed but Brad & I actually FIGHT over that one...yes, fight. It has been washed so many times that it is super soft so we both want it. This is all sad I know…I have no idea why I have such attachment issues with my bedding. We will get new bedding to go in the new house but I can promise that all of these will go too. I let go of the duckies…the junky old pillows & blankets ARE staying…!!!

You guys are laughing again, aren’t you….*sigh*…

Blessings Abound

If you can watch the Home Makeover show without crying then you are STRONG! We are not regular watchers because it is just horribly heartwrenching to watch. But tonights episode is based out of Lawton, Oklahoma (thank you Elizabeth) and we drove by when they were working on it so we wanted to see the story behind it. It is absolutely heartbreaking...it literally makes my heart ache. I pray that their spirits have been lifted in their new home & that God will continue to work on & through them.

So often we take so much for granted...I am guilty. We are SO very blessed...it is in watching shows like this that I realize that we are so lucky. So, thank you Lord for all of the blessings that I take for granted...walking, talking, seeing, hearing...a loving family...we are SOOOOO blessed!!!

These pictures were taken today...Bishop being the great big brother that he is took Shayden for a walk up & down the sidewalk in front of Mom & Dad's house. A sidewalk...I can't wait to have one of those where I live....

Happy Sunday!!

GLORY TO GOD!!!

Fabulous Friday

I haven't blogged on the house in a while because it has been such an emotional roller coaster. One minute things are fine, the next...disaster. It has been quite stressful & very draining. I had no idea that buying a house was this traumatic. At the moment, things seem good. We should close on this house on Thursday, and close on our new one next Thursday. Keep praying...we haven't signed on the bottom line yet!!

Some things have changed since we started this process. We are not getting anywhere close to what we were asking for our house. (Thank you Countrywide & FHA....I hope you don't believe in Karma...:) That has been our nightmare...but thanks to my wonderful parents we are proceeding anyways. Since we aren't making the amount we thought, we were not going to be able to afford a new house. They decided we needed to be back in town & wanted us to move so they stepped in & are helping more than I can ever thank them for. I don't even feel like they should but my very unselfish parents told me, "You will inherit everything we have when we die...we have it to give so why shouldn't we get to watch you enjoy some of your inheritence?"

If you thought people like this don't exist anymore, I am here to tell you THEY DO. They are amazing, selfless people who have done nothing but encourage not only me, but Brad, and many of my friends throughout the years too. So, thank you MOM & DAD...I don't deserve you guys anymore than I deserve such a loving & forgiving Heavenly father. The best thing I can do is try to show my children the same unconditional love & support that you have shown me....I know you learned it from two pretty special people too:).

I love you....

FRIDAY FEAST

Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of bread?

I am not a huge bread fan BUT I ate at an Italian joint last week called"Pazzo" and the bread they served with marinara was VERY good:)!!

Soup: When was the last time you bought a new pillow?

It has been a while...we have memory foam pillows though so they last awhile!

Salad: Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?

I plead the fifth....more than I probably should...

Main Course: What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?

That would be a question for my mom....I don't remember stuff like that!! Bishop had 103 once & I freaked!!

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.

When I drive, I SING:)!

When I shower, I SING:)!

When I am bored, I SING:)!

And if Sanjaya can make it to the finals on AI, then I should try out:)! HA!!

SHE IS STANDING...but she doesn't know what to do next:)!!