mummmm greek food

So I love Greek food. I mean absolutely love it. And I finally got brave, researched recipes, and made some this weekend. I was throwing a birthday party for my mother, who also loves Greek food. I made Tabbouleh (A refreshing grain salad mix of parsley, Bulgur, wheat, garlic, fresh tomato and mint topped with olive oil,) Tzatziki (Yogurt dip seasoned with grated cucumber and mild garlic,) Hummus (A blend of garbanzo beans, Tahini, fresh garlic and lemon topped with olive oil,) pita bread, and lots of other things. But the before mentioned where the new recipes that I was trying out. They all turned out so great. I really enjoyed them. I linked to the recipes that I used, and of course, if you know me at all, you know that I tweaked them. :)

I also wanted to share a recipe that I made up the other day. I was making burgers for dinner, and had wanted to have baked beans to go with them. But I didn't have any. I did however have a bad of died pinto beans. I have been buying more and more bagged beans, using them to supplement protein in our diets. So here is my recipe for baked beans. They where soooo yummy.

BBQ Baked Beans

1 lb bag of dried pinto beans
bay leaves
2 cans tomato soup
1/2 brown sugar
1 T mustard
2 cloves pressed garlic
4 T Captain Morgans Spiced Rum
Salt
Pepper

Place sorted and rinsed beans in crock pot. Add water so that it double covers the beans. Add salt, pepper, and bay leaves. (how much depends on your taste preferences. I used 3 bay leaves, about 3 T salt, and 3 tsp. pepper.) Set on high and cook for 6 hours, or until tender. Meanwhile in a medium bowl combine tomato soup, brown sugar, mustard, garlic, and rum. Mix until well blended, and refrigerate.

After beans are done, drain and add BBQ sauce mixture. Place back in crock pot and cook for another two hours.

It may seem like a lot of work, but I promise the results are well worth it.

Rest In Peace Beaner

On one of the blogs that I read regularly, there was a post. A post about a woman, needed to decide what to do with her baby. She had upon discovering that she was pregnant first had decide weather to abort or not. I was rejoicing as I read that she determined to keep her child. And then she had to decide weather or not to put the baby up for adoption. She decided to keep her child. There where circumstances that I couldn't possibly understand. I couldn't possibly know. But this guest post on this blog that I sometime read and mostly get laughs from, had suddenly touched my heart. I started reading while pregnant, and just after Makayla was born.

Today, as I sat enjoying a few moments of peace before my girls woke up, I log on to catch up on my blog friends. And I read this. Beaner died of SIDS back in October. I am filled with grief. And then as I sit crying, I feel guilty. It is not my grief to have. It was not my baby. Oh, Father in Heaven, thank you that it wasn't my baby. I feel guilty again. I sit for a moment. I pray, Lord please touch her heart. Heal that hurt that I am so thankful that I don't know. I can not type, I cannot see. My vision is blurred by my tears. I don't understand. It brings back questions that I don't have answers to.

I hear my girls. They have woken up, and are playing together in Makayla's bed. I wipe my tears. I will go to them. And hug them, and Cherish them. I will try to remember, always remember, the joy it is to have them in my life. Even when I am tired of cleaning the dirty diapers, the messy toys. Even when I sometimes wish that I could go to the bathroom by myself, I will remember. And Cherish them for as long as possibly, and I pray that is a very very very long time.

It happens suddenly...

In our house, there are rules. There has always been rules, and I am sure, sort of a nuclear Holocaust, there will always be rules. And as with any rule, there are consequences. If you follow the rules, A happens. If you don't follow the rules B happens. I grew up that way, and so did my husband. I think its very good for my children. And I will say, that although we have rules, we do sometime break them. (IE eating of the cookies before dinner, so much so that it sometime results in little eating of dinner.) And I am okay with this. For if I was to follow every rule, all day long, that is all I would ever do. Enforce rules. I wouldn't have time to eat, sleep, or think for myself. So breaking of the rules is necessary, and sometimes that includes letting my children think they pulled one over on mom. (Now, let me be clear this does not apply with really big things like teaching her sister to play in the toilet, or the use of a knife to cut open the box, even if she feels that she has "grown bigger enough" :)

But sometimes, I find that I must have not been following the rules enough. I must have over looked that attitude one to many times. For all of the sudden I am hit with something. It might be big, such has the throwing of a tantrum in the middle of walmart, because we can't "eat here." Or it might be as little, (well, less noticeable anyways) as when I ask for her to put away a toy, she says, "I can't, I am playing with moon sand." It is in these moments that I think, I can't believe she just did that. My little precious three year old, when did she become a teenager. And it is in these moments that I vow to do a little better, try to be more proactive in making sure she doesn't act like a heathen, and tell her that she will not play with moon sand for one more minute if she talks that way to me again, and demand that she put the toy away. To which she agrees, because after all wasn't she just testing the limits?

We really should be paid more... :) I think I will go get that extra hug for today!

Where has this week gone

So we spent most traveling. The weekend before Christmas we went to see some of Bennett's family, and attend a 90Th birthday party. And then the day after Christmas we went down to see Bennett's dad and step-mom. But traveling with two young children is no joke, and I am glad that its over for now.

The girls I think enjoyed their Christmas, and I enjoyed mine. Bennett got me very thoughtful gifts, and of course the thing that I love most, his Christmas card to me. Every year he finds the most beautiful Christmas cards, and writes the most beautiful messages in them. I look forward to it every year. I thought at first that he hadn't done it this year, but he had. And I am glad that he did. It made me cry. I love every minute of it.

Okay, so the funny for the day. My kids are great! They are always coming up with things that make me laugh. And I enjoy it. It always catches me off guard, because it is always something different. When Makayla woke up from her nap this afternoon, she was a little more fussy than normal, I don't think that she was done with her nap. So I take her back to the computer with me, where I have been working all day at installing updates, and defraging, and what not. Trying to get it to move faster than it has been. Anyways, so Alyssa comes up, and is talking to Makayla, and all of the sudden whacks her on the head. It wasn't hard, and Makayla barely noticed, but I responded quickly..."Be gentle. Be gentle." Alyssa looks at me, and sweetly says her new favorite "get out of JAIL free card" line, "It was an accident." And then just as smoothly she turns to Makayla and says, "I'm sorry, I thought you where a drum."

I couldn't stop laughing. I probably laughed for a good five minutes, and I have laughed every time I have told that story this evening, including now. I am so thankful for those little moments of comic relief. They make my days of endless toys, dishes, laundry, and bills to pay that much easier.

:-)

Yo Gabba Gabba

For those of you that haven't watched an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba, I highly recommend it. Every mother should be subjected to that kind of torture! My daughter now routinely sings "it's your turn, it's my turn" when ever she wants me to do something.

Well, I haven't gotten to finish posting about our holiday adventures, but hopefully I will soon! I do not, however have time tonight. :0

But I had to post about my ... I am not sure what to even call it. Alyssa has been in a fine mood lately. She has always been a strong willed child. And conventional methods of dealing with her behavior have never worked. And believe me we have tired everything. She has always kept me on toes. But lately she has seemed worse. Everything I say is meet with disapproval, and distain. It seems like all I do all day long is correct inappropriate behavior. I am exhausted. And tonight I had definitely meet my match.

It had been an exhausting day. It started out that I was tired. Makayla kept me up most of the night. She isn't feeling well, as she is teething. But after going back to bed this morning for a nap, while Bennett watched the girls, I felt better. We went to the park and feed the ducks...and then went to a place in the mall called Jump'in Land. It's an indoor play place, complete with token games, tubes to climb through, and a host of big inflatable jumping things. It was a great time. Bennett spent time playing and chasing Alyssa all around the place. But when it was time to go, you would have thought that we where telling Alyssa that she never good again play.

I managed to avert that crises, but just barely. So tonight, when Alyssa was throwing a fit, because I had washed her hair, I had finally had it. I set her in her room, put her in her bed, and told her that when she decided to act like a big girl, then and only then may she come out. I walked out and (gasp) closed the door. I took one look at Bennett, and told him I needed a minute...and to let me know if she came out of her room. And with that I walked outside.

It worked. When in just moments she came out of her room. And she hasn't thrown a fit since. Could I have found the magic solution? Probably not, but for now I am going to enjoy this moment. :)

Dryden's Christmas...part 1

Things have been hectic and crazy, and I haven't been able to post anything. I don't even know what the last thing I posted was. And I also know that there is no way that I will be able to post everything that I want, there are things that will be left out inevitably.

We, for the most part, have had a wonderful Christmas. It started a week and a half before Christmas. My mom, Grandma, Aunt, and sister-in-law come over for "Christmas Tea." We never get together, just us, the ladies of my family. I really enjoyed the break to be able to just sit, drink my tea, and visit my family. From there everything gets a little blurry. There was the finishing to the decorating, and the shopping. There where gifts to finish, and baking to do. And before I knew it it was December 23rd, and I was out at 10pm trying to find something to get Bennett. I had known what I wanted to get him, but being that I had to wait until the last minute...long long story....I couldn't find that item anywhere. SO it took a little longer to be able to finish. On December 24th, I was determined to finish everything, and be of sound mind before the end. But as the morning wore on, I was beginning to find that I was beginning to see that nothing was going to get done. The girls where in a mood, and everything was moving in slow motion. That evening my mother had her traditional Christmas Eve celebration. It was great to be there. It's been five years since I was able to enjoy Christmas Eve with my family, and I enjoyed it immensely. My parents blessed us with a video camera. We were so surprised.

Christmas eve wore on as we finished wrapping the girls gifts. We finally went to bed around midnight, and thanks to girls that aren't old enough yet to know any different, everyone slept in until around 9 am. Bennett and I woke up, Makayla was soon to follow. Alyssa however slept on. Finally about 9:30 I decided that I better wake her up. I mean, I had lots left to do after we did Christmas morning, and we needed to leave for Christmas at my Grandmothers around 2pm. I walked into the girls room, gently sat on Alyssa's bed. "Alyssa, its time to open presents." I was meet with a very grumpy girl. "I trying to sleep." And she rolled over and pulled the covers over her head. That's my girl.

Okay, so there is more that I would love to share, but I am tired and hungry. So I will continue later....Night!

Back safe and sound....

Well, I made it through my trip. And I want to tell everyone about it....but I have no strenght left today...Maybe tomorrow...Hopefully!


:)

Marshmallow Brains

Christmas cookies are baking, stew is on the stove, dishes are everywhere, and its icing outside. They say that it isn't supposed to get too bad, but we will just have to see. Bennett is on his way home, and he said that the roads are getting pretty bad out there.

Now, let me clarify. There is a big difference between bad here in Texas, and bad in places like NY are too different things. When you have a little ice here, things shut down. There is a run on the grocery stores. Things get bad.

Now, up there it takes a really bad ice storm to shut things down. And from what I understand they recently had one, so they know.

Anyways, I have said all of this to paint the picture for the story that I am about to tell you. Alyssa came up, and so sweetly said, "Can I sit in your lap?" I look down and smile. She doesn't ask very often. She is growing up so fast. At a rate that my heart cannot process it. I know that I have but a few short moments in time, before she will be in her own house hold, cooking her own family dinner, looking out at the weather, and she will be the one saying a prayer that her husband will arrive home safely.

I draw her up into my lap. She is so beautiful. "Why did you childs?" (that's they way that she says children) I think for just a moment before replying, "so that I could have someone to love. Someone to make cookies with. Someone to show things to."

"No, I say, why you want childs, you know before Makayla was born." Hummm, I am not sure how to answer this. Perhaps she is feeling like she doesn't enjoy sharing mommy with Makayla. "I wanted you to have a little sister to play with," I reply.

"No, I mean, I have a baby in my tummy, whats her name? and hold on, wait right there." At this point she runs to the refrigerator, and grabs a picture that she drew of the baby in her tummy. Every since Makayla was born she as been compelled to tell everyone she meets that there is a baby in her tummy named Curly.

So at this point I am at a loss. I mean, what do I say. The baby in her tummy, this Curly is very important. I want to encourage her to use her mind, her imagination, and learn. I want her to dream. But at the same time I don't want to allow her to .... I don't know. I mean, come on, telling the lady at the counter of the store, "hey, I have a baby in my tummy, her names is Curly, and she will come out when she is big enough," is only so funny the first 100 or so times. After that you begin to hope they don't understand her. And it won't be so funny when she gets older. I mean, right now she is three. What about when she is thirteen. I know that she won't be saying these things when she is thirteen, or at least I hope that she isn't. But the concept is the same. I want her to grow.

So as I sit there and contemplate on how much she is growing, and how to help her along life's pathways, she goes about her way, doing her own thing. Daddy gets home and he wants to know why I have a orange dot on my nose...."we had to have them..." I explain. And then Alyssa shows him the presents under the tree. My mother-in-law sent them.

"Mommy can we open them now?" All day she has been asking. Again I tell her, "Not until Christmas day." She walks away for just a moment, and then comes back..."Can I move the Christmas Star to 25?" As I laugh hysterically, I remember that I have nothing to fear...Curlies will come and go. There will be other things. And she is going to grow up just fine. After all, I am not raising Marshmallow brains. :)

Baby Food...

So, I have been reading this other blog lately. Actually I am practically obsessed with it. I look at it more than any other, well, just about. Everyday I am checking to see if I may be able to save some money. Check it out!!! I swear, you too will be obsessed. JANE4girls $800 Annual Budget

And in that spirit, I was on a quest to find coupons, today it was the baby food coupon. And while I haven't found a site that says, hey, we will give you baby food for free....(if you find one, let me know)....I did find what I feel like is a pretty good deal, I mean, I am buying the stuff anyways, right?

If you send in 48 Proofs of Purchase from any Beech Nut product, they will send you 4 $1.00 off coupons for their baby food.

Okay, now that I have "shared the wealth" I am off to do a little holiday baking....after I do the dishes of course. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

So the other day I made over my blog to look festive. I really like it, especially since I love snowmen. I have been really busy ever since, decorating the house, getting gifts ready, and, oh yea, being sick. I came down with some sort of virus. Nasty. It really reminded me how much I hate feeling sick. I hate it because, I have a family, and they still need me. Children still have to be feed, diapers still have to be changed, life still goes on. And while I was sooooooo thankful it was over the weekend, and Bennett was able to help, there are still some things that he can't do...ie nurse Makayla. But for now I feel much better, and I am excited to get busy today, and continue working towards Christmas!

Day off, or is it off day?

So I officially haven't done squat today...well that's not exactly true...I am the mother of a three year old, and a five almost six month old. So I have done quite a lot today actually. But I haven't done anything else. I have had one of those days where I have felt blah all day. I woke up feeling blah. I woke up with that thought of, if only. If only I wasn't holding two children. If only I hadn't stayed up later last night reading after they went to bed. If only they didn't have colds....if only, if only, if only. But my husband taught me long ago not to live with the if of life. So I got up.

Well, its 9pm, and I am not ashamed to say, I am still in my PJ's. I did however manage to brush my teeth, and comb my hair, but just barely. I did change the girls cloths, twice actually, (long story.) And I did managed to make two and a half meals. (the half was just cereal) But did I get any of those things on my to-do list done? No. There are still Christmas decorations that I want to finish putting up. I still have Thanksgiving platters that need to be put away in there cabinets. As always there is a mountain of laundry that needs to be done. I could go on and on with this list.

But then, looking across the room at Alyssa, I am reminded. I am reminded that all of that stuff doesn't matter. (Well, it matters to me, but in the big scheme of things, it doesn't really.) I am watching my daughter playing Star Wars Lego's on the XBOX with my hubby. They are so adorable. I swear they look like cookie cutter images. They both have the same stance. Sitting cross legged, elbows on their knees. Faces upturned to the TV. Alyssa keeps talking to her character...please turn around...come on...that's it...up up...it is all I can do to keep from laughing out loud. And Bennett, he has got to be the best father in the whole world. To truly understand what I am talking about you would have to understand him. He loves video games. And he is pretty serious when it comes to the games. But he is being so patient with her. And although I can tell, being his wife, what a strain the whole thing is on him, he is being great!

So, what. I didn't get my to-do list done. I didn't even start on it. But I did play with my children. And I did enjoy a day of laziness. I don't think that it is going to change the world one bit. :-)

Christmas is in the air!

Okay, so one of our family traditions is that we try to decorate the house for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. Well we have started. It's wonderful! We have Christmas music playing. Alyssa being three this year is really excited about Christmas. Mostly I think that has to do with the fact that for the past few months whenever she asks for a toy or something from the store, I say maybe for Christmas. I believe that she thinks all her dreams are going to come true.

We have special ornaments that we put on our Christmas tree. We get a special one each year. Well, just about each year. We have one from Hawaii, one from the Christmas that we spent in Alaska. I have one from Alyssa's first Christmas. One from Bennett and I first Christmas. And many many others. But probably my favorite one is the "Parents-to-Be" 2004 one. I found out that I was pregnant with Alyssa just after Bennett had left for a 6 week deployment, (right after our first anniversary.) I wanted to come up with this amazing way to break the news of our first baby. While shopping one day I found the "Parents-to-Be" ornaments. It was perfect. And the look on his face when I gave it to him was great!

I love the traditions of our family. My mother has the tradition of a Christmas eve party. We have special things to eat, punch to drink, play games, etc. While Bennett and I where in Hawaii, we tried to keep that tradition alive by having our own parties. We have added to it by reading the Christmas story. We have another tradition of our Christmas journal. Each year we write things about our lives, and the things that mad that year special for Christmas.

So my question to you today is what kind of traditions do you and your families have. What are the things that you pass down to your children. Or what do you remember that was special about your Christmases as a child. I would love to hear your stories.

What a day!

Thanksgiving was beautiful! The night before, was not. Kayla has a cold. Ever few moments she would wake up, screaming, mad because she couldn't breath. Top all of that I didn't feel well. What was a scratchy throat, had turned into full blown, nasty bad, sore throat. What a time for this to happen. What do you do, call off Thanksgiving. Well that wasn't really an option. So armed with lots of pain killers, and many many cups of hot lemon water with honey, I made it through the day. And it was wonderful to get to see all my family, and celebrate the things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my family. I am grateful that I have a wonderful husband, who I am so in love with, but more than that he is my best friend. I am thankful that we have a wonderful house, a great car that runs, we have food on our tables. Bennett has a job. I am thankful that we are all healthy, except for the cold thing, (which hasn't happened in a long time.)

I am so thankful. For so many things. I could probably write for a long long time. But I have children that need me. That is another thing that I am thankful for. I have beautiful children that love me, and I get to be there mother. What better thing could there be.

I hope and pray that you had a wonderful thanksgiving. I hope that you where able to take a moment and think of the things that you are thankful for.

Almost There!

Thanksgiving Count Down!

T-26 hours till dinner is served.

My mother is on her way over. She and I had wanted to do some baking together. She was going to try to be here around lunch time...its now three and she just called me from Walmart. I love her!

I made rolls, (I have a tradition of making homemade rolls at Thanksgiving,) while having Makayla strapped to my front. Motrin eat your heart out! (and yes, my back is hurting, but it isn't hurting just so I will fit in....only Alyssa saw me.) They, that is the rolls, not the children, are in the oven rising. After which I will bake them, and then try to successfully resist the urge to eat them all before tomorrow evening. Lord give me strength!

The house is sort of, kind of, ready. Our room looks like some sort of bomb went off. But, every other room is unpack, and tidy. Save for the girls toys in the living area, but hey, those aren't really ever going to be picked up and stay that way. Oh, and I still have to de-doggie the back bathroom. We had been keeping the puppies in there at night until we found them homes. We have found all but one of them homes.

If you read this in the next couple of hours, come back later, I will be posting more of this crazy count down.

:-)

random

What a morning! Its a great morning. It will be a productive day. If I say it enough, it will happen right?

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite Holiday of the year. I really enjoy family and friends, gathering around delicious dishes, all prepared in that same way our grandmothers have been preparing them for years. I love the usually crispness of the air outside. My favorite is when its cool enough that you need to wear long sleeves, and perhaps a light jacket, but not cold enough to where you can't stay outside a while. I love enjoying cooking, that begins days before, carefully planning out my menu. I love dressing. It is my favorite of all the foods that I usually make.

This year I will be hosting Thanksgiving at my house. Which really isn't any different from the last few years, except that this year my family will be coming. And they are coming out in force. I believe my count is now at 19...possibly 20. Which is exciting...and a little nerve racking all at the same time. I want everyone to enjoy the holiday.

I have so many things left to do today. (I did just move) I want to get everything done on the house today that I still want to do, that way this next week I can just focus on cooking and all that kind of fun stuff this next week.

But for this moment, I am going to enjoy the moment. Sitting in my chair, Bennett fixed me a cup of coffee, writing on the computer. Bennett and the girls are watching Saturday morning cartoons. Bennett got back from his business trip yesterday. It is so good to have him back home. So I will enjoy this mome....well there it went, Kayla is fussing. She is done watching cartoons.

Moments come and go so fast.

I must be a mumbling idiot!

So I saw this TV report. Basically it was talking about how moms today have different things to teach their children, and mainly there daughters than moms of 5o years ago. My first thought was "wow you may really be on to something." But ultimately that isn't what made me so well really outraged. According to them, the people that they interviewed, and talked to...they where the "make at least 100K a year crowd." And they where able to help their daughters learn how to live financially.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think anything is wrong with women that make that much. It doesn't bother me if a woman decides to work out of the home. I personally believe that is her decision to make, and it is between her and her family. However, I didn't care for the insinuation that if I don't make that much, or if I chose to work from home, and don't work outside of the home at all, that I am some how inferior and don't have anything to contribute.

I got to talking to my husband about it. And the more I thought about it, the more it made me mad. I am a stay at home mom. That is my first job. But I have other jobs. I even run my own business from my home. But first and foremost for me, is the fact that I have two young children, and I am taking care of them. And just because I stay at home doesn't mean that I am not intelligent. It does not mean that I run around in my PJs and don't get out of bed till noon. It does not mean that I can not contribute to the next generation. And I know alot about finances. I contribute greatly in that department.

So my question is, how have you experienced this? What do you think.




******************************************************************************

So the other part of my day, was I had to meet a lady that was adopting one of our puppies. (three down, only one more to go) On the way Kayla is screaming, and I pull over at a gas station so that I can nurse her, and hopefully get her to go to sleep, so that the rest of our 45min drive isn't so terrible. I say, "now try and be quite so that I can get Kayla to sleep." To which Alyssa replies, "but then I can't hear my signing time song." Now I am trying to figure out what in the world she could be talking about. I didn't bring the signing time CD. "baby I didn't bring it, I am sorry, we will have to listen to it when we get home. Now try to be quite." "No, the one in my mouth." It took me a minute to realize that she had been singing the signing time songs, and now that I had told her to be quite, she couldn't hear them any more. :)

Alien Invasions!!!

It's 4:14 am, do you know where your children are?

Yes, yes I do. My oldest is sleeping in my bed....where I should be at...and my youngest is playing in the floor in front of me.

Wait a minute...strike that...the oldest has now joined the youngest in the floor. Did someone play a cruel joke? Is it really like the middle of the day? What happened to my daughters. What happened to my youngest who loves to sleep through the night. Please of please, do not let that be over. I don't think I will be able to endure if that is true. Seeing that my oldest still routinely gets up in the middle of the night. But I was used to that...I mean we have been doing that for what...oh three years now! But the little bundle, she sleeps, she was this wonderful gift. This gifted child who since she was just a few weeks old, preferred sleeping in her bed...alone....and all night long.

I am beyond exhaustion. I think the moving is finally catching up to me. Plus all of which Bennett has been having to go into work an hour earlier, and so we all feel off schedule...maybe that's all it is....PLEASE. Oh please let that be it.

I think that I am in need of peas. Yes, that's it. Just a few good hours of peas and I will be okay. I mean, I have gone on far less sleep. Gosh, when I was in college, I worked a 35 hour week, went to school full time, and had a very busy social life, and I only slept about 4 hours a night. And I don't think I felt half as tired then as I do now. Crazy is it. I must be getting old. But of course then it was I who chose not to sleep. It wasn't a cute little, drooling, pooping, smiling, giggling, crawling, sitting up on her own, trying to pull up, five month old.

My three year old, (who by the way thinks that this is the way we should live all the time. She is up often this time of night,) just came and asked, "Can I pick Kayla up?" When I said, no she needs to just stay on the floor and play, she replied, "But she wants to sit with me!" Truly they are so adorable together, it just about makes up for the sleep deprivation.

I have heard other mothers talking. In blogs, in mommy and me groups, etc. Many children aren't sleeping. Many children who usually are little angels, are turning into little monsters at night. I think it may be aliens. Yes, that must be it. Aliens, who know, to be able to take over our world, they must first make all mothers so tired, that they can't fight back. They must be planning an invasion. Be on the look out. They may have found other ways to fight back as well. I will be looking, and watching...I will let you know what I find.

:-)

No, I am not sleep deprived.

I make you smile!!!

So it was one of those days. You know the kind...it started something like this...

Mommy...Mommy...Mommy...open your eyes....

***baby monitor confirms my suspicion's that Kayla too was waking up***

I roll over...where is Bennett....I want to sleep in...

Mommy, can I have boobas.


I knew then that I had the high probability of having one of "those" days.

I got up, made some breakfast. Took a shower, got the girls bathed, and dressed. We all got ready to go to Wal-Mart. I just needed a couple of thing. (of course that to made me know that it was going to be one of those days, you never go into Wal-Mart with the whole family, and just get a FEW things.) I did however get some nice Thanksgivingy (is that a word?) things, and sad but true they where already on clearance...I mean, its sad, we haven't even gotten through the first full week of November, and things are already on clearance. I also got the girls matching outfits for our picture taking session this next weekend.

After what seemed like hours...and it very near was, we were done at good old wally world, and went to get some lunch. Lunch went fairly well, we got Arby's which was nice, cause I haven't gotten fast food like that in...well really since we moved into our new house. We went out into the parking lot, got the girls in the car, got behind a truck to pull onto the road, and suddenly she is backing up...Bennett couldn't back up himself, because there was a car behind us. He laid on his horn, but she just kept on coming. Now my front bumper has a huge crack in the right hand side. And to top it all off, did she stop, NO! In fact I believe she went faster.

Does my day stop there....no, then we went to Lowes...which was enjoyable. We looked at kitchen stuff, and bathroom stuff, for when we redo those. I really had a good time. But once again we stayed forever, and my feet where getting tired. We head out to the car, and had to make one more stop. After that, we got back in the car, and of course Kayla doesn't want to be in the car. So she cried just about the whole way home. One more stop at Wal-mart, (for something we forgot,) one stop at the drug store, and one stop at a convenience store, and we where finally home. I get all of our stuff in, set Kayla down. I sit down myself, and I must have looked pretty pathetic, because that is when Alyssa, my three year old says, "I can make you laugh mommy, its okay!"

And I did laugh, really big. So after everything, the day has been pretty good.

:-)

Does this day end...

Well, its .... (looks at clock at bottom of the screen)...later than I though. Almost midnight. And I am about to go to bed...at least I hope so. Alyssa took a really late nap...she didn't wake back up until 7:30ish. So, needless to say she was up late. But I have finally got the sleeping beauties off to slumber world, and hopefully I will join them there myself soon. But I had to just jot a few lines down. My mind seems way to crazy to sleep. I have so many thought swirling through my head, that I know even if I where to go and lay down, I would not be able to find sleep, and its peaceful rest.

I have had a pretty good day. Mom came over again today, and it was good to just spend a few hours with her. Yesterday she was here and we watched a movie. Becoming Jane It was good, I really enjoyed it, but of course I really like Jane Austen as a writer, so ... I did find this site where I can read her books online...which I find cool. Then last night I watched a movie with Bennett. This movie I didn't like. I shouldn't have bought it...but it was one of those impulse buys at the front of Wal-Mart. For the most part, I never get them. I resist the temptation, no matter what. I do not need Frebreeze in a small key chain form. There isn't enough frebreeze in there to cover up the smells that accompany motherhood, and having pets. Nor do I need the latest seasons best of things.

But on my last trip to that great Wally World...there was a bin of movies. 2 for $10....and that is another way that they get you...I just had to take a look. (Since we moved we have no TV channels what so ever...we still have antenna TV...and yes, I know...February 17....they tell us so every day...many time a day....but now I am getting off topic)

So, anyways, there was a movie called Just Follow the River...or something to that effect. Its about this early colonial woman, that is kidnapped by Indians. It looked good. I bought it...I should have known. It started out okay. I have always enjoyed historical movies. When the movie begins, the woman is taking care of her six year old son, and is very very pregnant...due any day, and she is saying good-bye to her husband as he goes out to work. The next thing you know, Indians strike, and she and her son, are carried away as slaves. A lot goes on...and possibly to really understand, you would have to know, and see the whole thing....but I got so mad, that I couldn't ever watch it again. At one point she actually leaves her baby, who is being wet nurse, because she is out of milk, and runs away. I must point out that their lives where not in danger. Her son had already been taken to another camp, and then she just leaves her baby behind because she "just had to get home to her husband." Maybe I am the weird one, but I do not believe it would be in my power to leave my baby behind. It would have killed me. I looked over at my husband and said, " I love you, but there is no way I would leave our children..." Thankfully he agreed with me.

End the end, she gets her kids back, and I guess all turned out well. I however did not like it, and I wishing that I hadn't spent the $5 on it.

Well, I really must try to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be another day of unpacking, working, and getting rid of the puppies, (I hope.) But that in of its self is a whole other story.

Election '08

Here I sit. Watching...waiting....praying....groaning....

Election '08. It doesn't even matter who you are for, this election has been a roller coaster of emotions. No matter what the end result, I feel like America as we know it will change. The only question left being decided is into what?


As I went to go vote today...I paused. I felt like it was a big moment, as I am sure many Americans did. It may just be my age, I am younger, but it seems like this is such a huge election. So much at stake. As I made my selections on that bright computer screen, I though, it does matter right? I mean, I am just one woman. I am mainly just a stay at home mom, take care of my kids, my family...can I make a difference? Will it matter tomorrow that I voted? When I am sitting with my grandchildren someday, will this be one of those moments in history that I want to tell them about? Will we, as a nation, as the world, look back on this election, as the thing that started it all?

Or, will it be just another election? Will it just be another battle between "red & blue?"

I guess in the days and weeks to come we will find out. History will tell our story. It will sing our song.