Thanks ZB! I Made a book!

Thanks to my great friend ZB...I have made a book about 2007 from my blog and other photos! I am so excited! It is 38 pages long and I chose to do hardcover. it came out to $32 a piece, but that's nothing if you think about the time and cost of supplies to do scrapbooks...I may never scrapbook again! J/K but this is an awesome idea for presents! Anyway, I can't wait to finish this year just so I can order the books! I have put a link on my page to the site I used called www.blurb.comIt is under my links of "Fun places to visit" on the right hand column. It was super easy and so much fun (I think I'm addicted!) I have spent the better part of the past 2 days on 2007 and 2008, but again, for the cost and the end product! WOW! Thanks again ZB for the example!

Camping...

We had so much fun camping for 2 days. The kids had a blast playing by the creek and throwing wood into the fire. Today as we were leaving, we stopped at this red rock formation and let the kids climb.





















Super Boy said his favorite part of the trip was having roasted marshmallows (and smores) and Super Girl had so much fun putting on various helmets! What an odd child! I forgot the camera, so all the pictures are from my phone.






To end it all, the kids had some special daddy time...











Here's a slide show of more climbing photos...enjoy!

Did I Win the Lottery?

I figured that with the amount of complaining I've done about Tall Boy, I had better even up the score with some love. I think I either won the lottery or I am dreaming, so I'd better document this before I wake up to my real life...

Ok, so today we are preparing to go camping tomorrow. Tall Boy is going to the dump and OFFERED to take BOTH KIDS WITH HIM! Of course I jumped at the opportunity. Also, we are having a date tonight (no kids allowed) that includes dinner and football. It will last over 6 hours! And to top it all off, I was going to do an errand today, and while he's out, Tall Boy is doing it for me!

Now for the camping trip. I don't have to plan the food! I don't even have to pack for my husband! All I have to do is pack for myself and the kids, do some dishes and clean up the front room a bit...and for the Piece de resistance...everything Tall Boy has ASKED me to do, was done in a loving tone and soft voice!

Seriously, I think I REALLY hit the Lotto today!

Photo Shoots, T-Ball, and High Chair Snoozin'

Today I went to my friend's house and she took pictures of my kids for "practice". We had so much fun! We took about 500 pictures between the 2 of us and we are hoping for a dozen or so "good ones"! Kids are so much fun! Thanks ZB for all the fun! You are an amazing woman and your camera's pretty good too! (Ha ha ha, inside joke) We definitely need to keep in touch more! Here are a couple "raw" photos I took...we'll see hers another day.







































In other news, T-Ball ended last Saturday. Super Boy had so much fun playing this season. Super Girl had a lot of fun too...she just has to do everything brother does!


















Super Girl also had a cute moment not too long ago, she had so much fun that she couldn't even stay awake for her favorite activity...eating!
We plan on going to a football game Saturday and then camping on Sunday and Monday, so I should have some more pictures and other fun stuff soon! Thanks for all your help, support and smiles! I'm hanging in there and cherishing the small moments. Just yesterday, Tall Boy and I watched a movie together and enjoyed some tender moments...I live for those moments. Anyway, I am looking at the big picture (thanks Erka) and choosing to see the good. Hopefully by focusing on those good moments, they will become more abundant. Again, thanks to all my great friends who always help me through these bumps...you are all amazing!

Better Days...

After my last vent, I felt a little better, but what helped the most was having a girl's day yesterday. I went to my friend's house and watched PS I Love You. It was funny and cute, not nearly as sad as I thought it would be (which was a good thing:) But we ate pizza for lunch, had popcorn, caffeine and chocolate...it was just what I needed. Our kids played, we talked and enjoyed one another's company. I don't know why everything seems to build up so heavily sometimes, it is just amazing that 1 great day can wipe away all the negativity and hostility that has been built up (or almost all of it). I should keep track of these really bad days, maybe it is tied to my depression issues. Anyway, thanks for listening, it helps so much just to put all the junk out there and have so many friends to let me know that I'm not alone and that I am loved and appreciated. You are all amazing!

Random Thoughts...

I have had quite the week, and I just thought I'd share some of the things that have been on my mind.

I can't believe Kindergarten is almost over...this week is end-of-year testing, Super Boy already did his. Then Monday is Memorial Day. After that there are only 7 days of school left! Super Boy keeps asking me how many days until he's in 1st grade, so I guess we'll have to make a countdown calendar or chain soon.

Super Girl is so amazing...she is getting so big! She understands so much, but still doesn't speak much. She still has a Binky (my fault, I think I'm more attached to it than she is!) and that might be part of the problem. But she gets so frustrated and it makes it hard on all of us. She throws tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants or needs and we can't tolerate it or allow her to think she can do that all the time and get her way. So this week the School District is sending out a team to evaluate her speech needs.

I am feeling very under-appreciated and overwhelmed as a wife and mother. I don't have the energy or desire to play with my kids like I used to. I still make time for them, and I especially love my one-on-one time and snuggles, but I love it when they play on their own and I have some time to myself...is that so awful?

Also, since when does wife and mother translate to maid and slave? I have been keeping the house in order for the most part. I have had the whole house clean except the dining room, and what does Tall Boy do? He never says anything nice about the clean house and then he throws everything on the table in the dining room into trash bags. That's his idea of helping. He never talks to me about anything. if we ever talk it's because I initiate the conversation, and most of the time he makes me feel like it's an inconvenience for him or an interruption of something much more important. He doesn't care about Super Boy's education and makes me feel stupid for caring about anything.

Tall Boy just doesn't seem to care about anything anymore, could he be struggling with depression too? I know it's not just me who has noticed, our closest friends even see it. Most days I feel like a single mother. He has been doing better with the kids, playing with them when he comes home and tolerating them more. But he has his moments where he just loses it and starts yelling and spanking. I have already talked to our religious leader about my situation, and he talked to Tall Boy, and that's when things improved with the kids, but nothing has changed for me. What else can I do?

Is this his way of punishing me for "making him get a job"? Why can't he see that his moods affect the whole house? How much am I supposed to tolerate before I give up? I have to do what's best for our kids and myself, but when someone is so unwilling to change, when is it time to say goodbye? I am so frustrated, but I am afraid to bring stuff up. After I do, I can't take it back. What if it makes things worse? We have been married for 8 years and I don't know that I'm ready to call it quits, but I don't know how much more I can tolerate. Anyone have some advice? Anyone going through this too? I am open to ALL suggestions.

Thanks for listening...

Everything I learned in Kindergarten

Super Boy had his Kindergarten program today. They sang some very cute songs. my favorite was "Everything I learned I learned in Kindergarten" I will try to post the video, but here are the lyrics...



Oh everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
in kindergarten, in kindergarten,
oh everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
to last my whole life through.


Hold hands and stick together,
share everything, play fair in all you do.
Put your things back where you found them,
clean your mess when you are through,
say your sorry and live the golden rule.


Oh Everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
in kindergarten, in kindergarten,
oh everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
to last my whole life through.


Some art, a little music,
the numbers and the letters a to z.
Make good choices, do your best work
discover your own world,
share a smile, be the best that you can be.

Oh everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
in kindergarten, in kindergarten,
oh everything I learned I learned in kindergarten
to last my whole life through.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have been treated very well today, and I hope all you women out there (even if you're not mothers yet) have been shown how loved you are! I asked for a barbeque so I don't have to stoop over our tiny gas grill anymore. My wish was granted!
Super Boy made a book at school of his classmate's favorite cookie recipes. It was wrapped in blue paper with the stem of a flower drawn on it, and his hand print was the flower! Very cute!






At church, the youth in my congregation gave me this plate. The picture in the middle is of Christ with a little boy and girl. They made them at an activity night.










My kids made cookie flowers from Mother's shortbread cookies and gum drops...












And my daughter's class made these cards...




















All and all, it was a great day! Hope it was happy for everyone else too!

My attempt at a photo shoot, and more home improvements...

Hello all! I decided that Super Girl looked too cute today, so I took her outside and tried to get some really cute photos with tulips in the back ground...let's just say that Super Girl had other ideas!

These are the best ones (I think!)






















Also, I have made some more improvements at home...

I finally moved the big bookcase upstairs, and put some of my favorite things on top (candle with holder and my wedding bouquet!) Books haven't made it quite yet...hopefully I'll have the energy to do it today!
I also managed to hang a few pictures and our corner shelf!












Then I put knobs on our kitchen cabinets that need to be locked so Super Girl doesn't get into too much trouble!






To top it all off. I got baskets for shoes and a new end table that is in the dark wood color scheme I like!





That's all for today...see ya next time!

New Sectional and TULIPS!

We finally got a new couch/sectional for our living room upstairs! It has 7 pieces, 3 of them are recliners and 1 is a chaise lounge! It is a brown green microfiber and SO COMFY!!!












Also, I cut our tulips from our front yard...SO PRETTY!!!

Welcome May!?!

If April showers bring May flowers, I guess May flowers bring SNOW?!? This is what we woke up to this morning...what a way to start the month!

In happier news, I went to a roll making demonstration last night and won the dough the lady made while doing the demo. I made rolls and a scrumptious brown sugar and cinnamon sugar pull apart with the scraps! I also made some honey butter to go along with it! I taste tested and everything is delicious! I might have to work out a little harder this week! :)

I also just got my new sofa table today...isn't it just beautiful with my daffodils on top?! :)