Word on the street...

I started thinking about things I wanted to work on, this upcoming new year and was pretty quickly overwhelmed by my list. That discouraged me. My list was nothing major, but there were numerous things. Some were attainable, some not so much.

Then I found this. What a perfect idea.

My word for 2010 is FOCUS.

This little five letter word has helped and hurt me through many a thing in my life. Sometimes I have too little, others too much.
This year, I'm hoping for just the right amount.

Here's to you finding your word on the street. ;)

~Chat soon!

out and about...

Botanical Gardens, St. Louis MO

We love acting like tourists when Susan and co. is in town.

I wasn't in love with the idea of going. 3 girls under 5-lots of fragile flowers and expensive trains. Nightmare waiting to happen, I was sure. Even tried to convince the family not to go. They didn't listen.

Good thing.

We had a great time. Minus Adam, he was working.

~Chat soon

Christmas All Week Long...

Christmas Eve tree.
Christmas Eve at Adam's parents.
Christmas morning.
Christmas celebration at Mom and Dad's.
AND the finale...
Susan in her 'crotchless' underwear a.k.a. a NURSING BRA! Adam in his camo lounge wear.

HA! Won't be able to find him...

~Chat soon!

and here we are...

I didn't like that post without pictures-so if you were hear earlier-here are some pictures from the holiday season. :)
the day after Christmas.
i love this day.
sort of.
its the day where our kids get to dive into everything that they haven't yet discovered, relax, and eat all the scraps that are left over.

we had a great Christmas. it was so great to be around people that love us and are loved by us. lots of laughs, jokes, stories, and jabs were shared. along with food, drinks, and fun. no pictures to share, i didn't take any. GASP!

i do hate to see the holidays close. BUT since my sister comes in today. they aren't even close to closing, really just opening! can't wait.

now, here is to wading through gifts, and leftovers, and hopefully catching a nap amidst it all. :)

hope you enjoyed yours as well...
~chat soon!

Merry Christmas to All...

And to all a good night!
~Chat soon!

THE program...

So last week was THE Christmas Preschool Program. I was excited. We had good seats. BUT the kids were arranged by classes and we were unaware that the classes had special spots. (duh!) So THIS is the best picture I got. Anne was cute and sang her lungs out. Next year, I'll send a messenger to find out where the kids will stand, I guess. Dumb mom! ;)

~ Chat soon.

Peace On Earth?

Hopefully some have it this holiday season but, those of us dealing with Kate are far from it! HA! Two year olds are the best. :)

~Chat soon.

Check this out...

After many years of saying "I wish I could sew". I have given it an honest attempt the past few months. I have two women in my life, my mother and my aunt, that can drive their sewing machines like race cars. My mom has made us umpteen outfits and Aunt Linda has shared many of her sewing projects with the girls. They're professionals in my eyes.
I can say that I am far from 'good', but acceptable, maybe. (don't look on the inside, it would make you shutter!)

Here is how it all panned out:

I found some fabric on sale. Thought it was decent.

I googled, how to make a simple skirt.

I watched a YOUTUBE video.

I did not use a pattern.

I struggled with a piece of elastic and kind of felt like I was wrestling during the process.

I broke a needle. It ALMOST stuck into my jugular! NO LIE. It scraped my NECK! Wierd.

I was enlightened to find out that the side of the material I thought was going to be the outside was actually the inside. BONUS! (the inside, was much nicer. :) )

I whispered some bad words.

My finger was spared from the needle a few times.

But after it was all said and done...

I have a skirt to wear on Christmas Eve that I MADE!

It's the little things that make me tick!
~Chat soon

Let It Snow!

You would have thought it snowed three feet instead of the 1/4 inch we got overnight.
The girls had a blast. Even made 'deck angels'.... Wierd little things-they are! :)
~Chat soon!

Here Comes Santa Claus

We spotted Santa TWICE this weekend.

Kate didn't think much of him during the first visit.

The second sighting was much better. :) (he also brought presents that time!)

~Chat soon!

A Good Man...

So this past weekend was a busy one. We had a Santa event on Saturday morning, Christmas get together Saturday night, and planned to have my parents for dinner on Sunday evening. All while trying to get caught up with cleaning, laundry, odds and ends of household things.

Suddenly, the garbage disposal goes kaput. Total nastiness descended in our kitchen sink. I was guilt-stricken, reviewing all the garbage I tend to shove down the disposal. (funny how those words make up it's title)

Never muttering a cross word, Adam headed to the local hardware store for a new "Badger". Fitting brand name for a garbage disposal isn't it?

My parents, by this point, were on their way. Kitchen was a wreck, every rouge bottle of cleaner and dirty sponge that slipped out of its spot was now on the cabinet. No side dishes were ready for dinner, it was a disaster.

Adam starts to put the garbage disposal in. Kate insists on 'helbing'(helping). She calmly sat down next to him to hold the 'blashlight'(flashlight) It was apparent, she wasn't movin'.

Once again, Adam says nothing, except "You may want to get the camera for this one, Sara."

Long story short, another trip to the hardware store, Dad and Adam getting the disposal in, dinner being saved, the kitchen cleaned up, to only find out the DISHWASHER ISN'T WORKING, our weekend ended kind of sour-ly. (A simple oversight on the installers part caused the dishwasher to not drain, and we have all working appliances back in the kitchen!)

I think I have found myself a keeper, for he still has YET to mutter a word about the evidence of c.r.u.d. found in the garbage disposal, courtesy of me AND he let our favorite little two year old sit between his legs while fixing the sink.

WHAT A GUY!
Sometimes there is nothing better then a little pat on the back!

Love you, Bud!

~Chat soon!

p.s. he also surprised me with..... a new car last night after dinner...HOLY MOLY!

weekend..

this was a weekend, right? whew! it's been busy. that's okay. it was a fun kind of busy. i'll post picture today sometime, hopefully. cleaning and making cakeballs and chocolate pretzels today. yum. oh and trying to finish some felt garland project i started and hoping to be done by Christmas eve!

hoping people still read this even after my last post about perspective. it ruffled a few feathers, or just made some nervous-wasn't meant to be directed at ANYONE! just getting a lot off my chest, little as it may be, it does get full. ;)

merry Christmas!
~Chat soon

Perspective

This week a conversation, that has proved itself to be quite sticky, has arisen at the workplace.
It is about MORALE.
It's been ugly.
Some believe the morale is poor, others think not so much, some think it may very well be, self inflicted.

I personally, am a glass half full kind of gal, always have been. I *try* to find fun/joy in most things I do (except laundry, I believe it is sent from the d.e.v.i.l.). It's just me. I can imagine that some of the people I deal with on a daily basis, find it annoying, but tough.
Kill 'em with kindness, has always been my motto-long before I knew that was a phrase.

Things get tough, they do for everyone. My worst day, isn't nearly as bad as people endure on a regular basis. I come from a solid family and upbringing, I am blessed to have my parents and in laws in the same town, a sister and her family that are wonderful, I have two beautiful girls, a doting husband, and friends that are great. All in all, I have been dealt a sweet hand.

That annoys some, especially people that are irked by happiness. That is OKAY. But I have a message, we ALL have crosses to bear, some are little, light weight smooth crosses, some are heavy and large and have sticker points. All in all, we are Loved the same, we have been put here to do something, it may not be obvious at this time, but eventually it will be. It may very well be that the cross we are bearing is part of the plan.

I don't usually search out people's misfortunes as an avenue to assure myself that my life is blessed. But the stories that are here and here are just too sweet, read them. You have to be tough, and make it through the whole thing.
It at times is emotionally awkward, and can lead to tears, but in the end, you will walk away thanking the Good Lord for all you have. :)

If you read this, thanks for sticking through the whole thing...it's been a long week, and my glass is starting to empty a touch. :)
I just needed to get all that garb off my chest.

~Chat soon!

Starting Young

So if you know anything about us, you know that we are very conservative politically speaking. We don't excuse it, or hide it. It's us and our beliefs. Everyone has their views and opinions and we respect that.

That being said...

Adam was watching President Obama's speech two or three weeks ago (time escapes me). He was half listening and playing games with Anne while watching.

As the speech went on, Adam's body language and muttering, clued Anne in that he wasn't exactly 'happy'.

Anne says-"Daddy? What's wrong?"

Adam says-"Oh, I just don't like this guy too much."

Anne says-"Well, then I think you should switch him!" (meaning change the channel)

Adam says-"That's what we are hoping for, but we have three years to wait!"

~chat soon!

Deck the halls...

The girls are reminding me to stop and enjoy the magic and peace this holiday season.

~Chat soon!

'Tis the season...

On Thanksgiving, we somehow got on the subject of Christmas trees. My aunt and uncle were telling us how they go and cut down their tree at a Christmas tree farm. We always get a live tree, but from a tree lot. There is nothing wrong with that, but the idea of bundeling up and trudging through a field, actually, sounded well, more exciting. Aunt Linda and Uncle Don gave us the info on the farm and today we made the trip.

Besides Anne deciding to take off-running at one point and me not being able to catch up with her, we had a really great time. The weather was freezing so it sealed the deal that Christmas was here!

Thanks Aunt Linda and Uncle Don, you may have helped us start a new tradition.

P.S. We got the Balsam Fir-I figured it out the website, mom. :)