Sneaky Momma

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-11-09T23:00:00.003-06:00

Today's Secret Sneaky Friend is......Courtney over at Courtney and the Boys!!!!!

Courtney and her husband have two young boys. Courtney is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom. Her family is just precious and she is able to capture many candid moments from behind the lens. She does some amazing edits, too!

Welcome, Courtney!!!!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

I started blogging in March of 2007 with the sole purpose of capturing the quickly-changing life of my little family. I scrapbook, too, but I needed an outlet that I could actually stay "up-to-date" with and not miss all of the little things. As time went by, I found that I could connect with other women and men in the same season of life as me through their blogs, which has made being a stay-at-home mom much less isolating!

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney

Without hesitation, my wedding ring! What a precious symbol of my commitment to my husband. :)

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

Um....a little of both? I have an almost-five-year old and a 2 1/2 year old who both attend preschool 3 and 1 day a week, respectively. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you'll find me in the carpool lane at a fabulous church preschool minutes from our house. Tuesday mornings are story time at the library, and every other Thursday morning is MOPS. I guess that does sound pretty structured, but we reserve plenty of time to be spontaneous and go to the park, the Children's Museum, a friend's house, or whatever floats our boat that day.

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn

Assuming we were on an island with housing and a grocery, I would have her show me the secrets to her cooking....she's the best!

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky

Like I said earlier, I began blogging to document the life of my little family. Along the way, I have "met" some amazing people who I've grown to love. I feel like I have also deepened my relationship with the Lord through prayer for my bloggy friends and their children...what a blessing!

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

My middle name is Lynn, which is the name of my only aunt, my mom's sister. She is one of the most phenomenal people I know. Since I lost my dad 11 years ago and my mom to ovarian cancer 4 1/2 years ago, she has stepped in to be the rock that I need in my life. She has to be the most positive person I know and has a complete love of life, which I adore. I aspire to be like her.

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

Honestly, my high school self had absolutely no idea where I'd be at this point in my life. I had no idea what I wanted with my life career-wise...I ended up being a first grade teacher for 5 1/2 years until I became a stay-at-home mom. I thank God for leading me down that path, because it was definitely my niche during that stage of my life, and I also have no doubt that it helped prepare me for stay-at-home momhood! I have also fallen in love with the most amazing man and been given the gift of two perfect children. I think my high school self would be pretty darn impressed with my current self!

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

Undoubtedly, my mom. I became a "mid-life orphan" at the age of 28 and I still miss my parents every day of my life. My mom and I were completely in sync. She "got" me. She accepted me, in spite of my faults. She guided me, nurtured me, and taught me about the Lord. And most importantly, she set the example of how to be a phenomenal mom.

Well, that, and she shared her chocolate with me. :)

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

Devon and I attended the same small private college. He had already graduated but had come back to visit during Homecoming of my senior year. When we were introduced to each other, he told me where he was living, and it happened to be less than a mile from where my mom lived! After we started talking, I felt like I'd known him forever, and I knew he was "the one."

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

A hot bath, a glass of wine, and laying down in my new Sleep Number Bed!!!!

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti

Yep! I pretty much wear my heart on my sleeve and talk to anyone who'll listen! :)

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

I love the sound of my mom's wind chimes....sounds like home. I also love the sound of the garage door going up around 5:45 p.m....that means my hubby's home! I pretty much can't stand the alarm clock in the morning.

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

Oh, wow...that's a tough one considering how much I love food. I guess it would be something from my mom's famous collection of recipes like Combination Chili or Sweet and Sour Franks.....and they would definitely have to be made by her!!!!!

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

NEVER!!!! Bleck! I absolutely positively cannot stand feet! And I wouldn't wish my own feet on anyone!

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell

My oldest was notoriously the world's worst napper. The most I could EVER get out of him was an hour, but it was usually less. God sure made up for that with my second, though! Ellis naps for a minimum of two hours a day, but usually hits around three!!!! Hallelujah!!!

If you could go back in time and erase one super embarrassing moment what would it be?- Mama Sewell

That would have to been when I sneezed and tooted at the same time during a high school History class while I was sitting behind a boy who I had a crush on. Doh!

If you got to spend the day with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

Michelle Duggar....I want to know how that lady does it! ha!

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey

Smashbox Primer!

Big thanks to Courtney for being a guest on my blog today!
Head on over to Courtney and the Boys and spread a little comment love!

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-11-05T07:49:00.004-06:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is.........Vicky over at The Westra World!!!

Vicky is a stay at home mom. She and her husband live in (brrrrr!) Minnesota with their two fun-loving little boys. Vicky is such a supportive presence in the blogging world. Her comments are incredibly sweet and thoughtful. She takes the most amazing photos. You really ought to check them out!!!!

Welcome, Vicky!!!!!!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

I want to keep track of the day to day events in our life as they happen. A wise person told me when I first started blogging to define my purpose for blogging and that I would probably need to revisit that purpose from time to time. So true! Because I love the unexpected friendships that have developed, the conversations that ensue, the community that grows. But on an off day (or two!) when commenting is low I always come back to this record I've created of our life that will go forward in time, and I am satisfied... its enough.

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky
So many things! Finding myself again, after exiting that baby tunnel you seem to go into when your children are small and need you so much, and now I'm coming out the other side. I've rediscovered my love of writing and reading, I participate in a great online community that is equally as great as my irl friends, and I'm discovering how much I enjoy photography.

How did you get into blogging?- Deb Somewhat accidentally! I didn't think I could actually figure out how to do it. And my husband warned me to be careful because if I said anything too controversial "bad things could happen." Two days later my blog was marked as spam and locked by blogger! Of course I figured I'd committed a bloggie crime and would go to blogger jail.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb Not really. But I didn't know my full name was Victoria until that fateful first day of first grade. My cousins had teased me about how hard first grade was and I laughed at them. And then the first thing the teacher wanted me to do is find my name on the board and I didn't know it!

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb I dreamed of this life in high school! I wish I could tell that high school girl to just chill and relax a bit, because it was all going to turn out better than I had hoped.

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine My husband told me this story the day we were married. He said when his family transferred to our church his mom had seen me standing with my family. We were maybe 5 or 6 years old. She thought I looked exactly like the kind of girl he should someday marry! We knew each other a long time, but didn't date until we were in college. We dated on and off for awhile but he has always said his mother was my biggest champion :)

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom
In a hot bath tub with a good book :)

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom
I love sharp wit! I love people who always have a good comeback or just a humorous way of viewing life.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi
Love the sound of skates cutting the surface of a clean sheet of ice. Love the crack of thunder and the silence of a blizzard. I hate the sound of snowblowers, snowplows and a shovel scraping concrete in the winter too.

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell
Um, yeah, I've never had one :) I don't know why???? I love massages and facials!

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey
Okay, don't laugh... Dove soap! Love, love, love, their newest commercial. I have seriously used Dove to wash my face for years and my dermatologist agrees its a keeper!

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Vicky! Any parting thoughts?
Thanks Jill, for letting me play along! Its been a blast "Getting Tue know" so many fun bloggers!

You can catch Vicky over at The Westra World!
Head over there and make a new friend today!!!!!

SSF Scheduling

2009-11-03T08:08:00.000-06:00

I am down to a handful of scheduled Secret Sneaky Friend interviews. I have contacted each and every one of the remaining SSFs with details of their upcoming guest post. If you have previously contacted me wishing to be a SSF and have not heard from me, please check your email/spam folder/comments section of your last post. If you did not receive an email from me, please contact me soon (bbsneakymomma-fb at yahoo dot com, or any of my other email addresses) and I will get you on my schedule.

Unfortunately, I am no longer scheduling new guests. All good things must come to an end and it's time to wind this one down. I have had so much fun getting to know all of my blogging friends better and introducing you to one another. I hope you have had as much fun as I have had! :)

My Name is Jill.....

2009-11-02T10:56:00.001-06:00

...and I am one busy gal!

We've had a lot going on in our house these past two weeks. The good first:

Our oldest daughter has been prevacid free for 8 days, symptom free for 4 days!!!!! This is a huge blessing. We're hoping that she continues not to have any problems and that we can kick that nasty stuff once and for all. Be gone reflux!!!!!!

We had a great Halloween. The girls wore their new M&M shirts, with black long sleeved shirts and black pants. They were so cute. I made them M&M trick or treat bags to match.

We had a fun little party for the kids over at my parents' house. Afterwards, we took the kids trick-or-treating around their neighborhood. We went to a lot of houses, and got a lot of candy. The candy that hasn't been devoured was hanging in a white Walmart sack on the front door this morning waiting for Lane to take it to school. I do believe we've had enough!

I've been blessed with a few really fun blog orders lately. I had so much fun working with Steph on this one. She was such an absolute blast to work with! I am currently working on an order for a super sweet gal who paid someone else to work on her blog. Her first designer completely bailed, leaving her with an unfinished blog. No refund, no explanation, nothing. Crazy.

When I am not filling an order, my fingers are quite busy. I am hand-stitching a quilt for my grandfather (Grandaddy) out of my late grandmother's (Monnie's) clothes. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but................

He isn't doing too well. As a matter of fact, he started his first round of chemo on Wednesday. He's been told that if he does well with chemo that he will have surgery in six months, which may prolong his life for two more years.

One of the side effects of his chemo is that he can't get cold. If he drinks something cold, he gets a feeling like shards of fiberglass going down his throat. His doctor's have told him that he needs to stay warm, too, which is why I'm shifting into high gear to get his quilt finished. Hopefully, it will be done this week.

We are taking his care day by day. He is not totally sold on going through with the treatments. He will live with my parents when going through the really rough days. On those days, I will be checking in on him some, taking him lunch, etc, as my parents are at work. I am so glad that I am in a position to be able help him.

His life story is amazing. I cannot wait to share it with you. He is a REAL Christ follower, one who does amazing things for others for the right reasons 100% of the time. I cannot wait to share his story with you, but right now I just do not have time to do it justice.

So, that's what we are up to. Running around like chickens with our heads cut off! I have big plans for the makeover blog, as well as the tip blog. Don't know how I'm going to get it all done, but I'm sure it will involve neglecting this poor little ol' blog a bit more until things calm down a bit. My next Secret Sneaky Friend is a fun one, a person who has been a great source of support for several blogging friends. Her interview won't be published tomorrow, but it will most likely be published this week. Stay tuned! :)

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-10-26T23:00:00.001-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is.......Miti over at Pieces of Me!

Miti and her husband are the proud parents of an absolutely adorable little boy. Miti is a stay at home mom, and a crafty one at that! She is a talented cake decorator, as evidenced by the wedding cake she made for her sister not too long ago.

Welcome, Miti!!!!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

I started blogging to journal all of those special moments in life, especially as a mom. There's way too many sweet, funny, innocent moments to keep track of; unless, of course, you blog about it. Even then, you don't have to remember it. Memories are now just a click away.

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney

Well, I'm gonna state the obvious because it is the most important piece of jewelry I own. That would be my wedding ring. After my little boy was born, I wasn't able to wear it for 2yrs because somehow it got too small. Imagine That! I felt so weird not wearing it. It was as if a part of me was missing. So, I said that's it! No more trying to lose this baby fat and I went to get it enlarged. So, now I'm happy to say that I'm never ever gonna take this ring off again. I'll just have to lose circulation in my finger the next time around.

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

Well, since I'm a stay-at-home mom, I'm able to keep a pretty laid back schedule. We come and go as we please. It's a great perk.

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn

Wow, this question makes me wanna cry and smile all at the same time. It's really hard to put into words how much I love her. Every girl dreams of having a Mother-In-Law like mine. She was such a beautiful person, always and I mean ALWAYS, thinking of others before herself. She made me feel like part of the family even before it was official. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007 and passed away within 6 months. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. She was SO excited about becoming a grandmother. It breaks my heart not having her here. So when I read this question, my eyes begin to water because there's nothing I wouldn't give to be able to spend another day with her. She LOVED to travel, always on the go and I think being stranded on an island with her would have to be one of the best days of my life. I would love to just sit and talk to her about being a mom, about the everyday silly things that my little boy does. I can just hear her giggling with a BIG smile on her face. I miss her SO much!

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky
Like many bloggers out there, I've gotten to know some really amazing people from all walks of life. They've become my friends. I know some may think that's just bizarre, but really it's not. When you write about everything that's going on in your life, your good days and your bad and they respond with words of encouragement then that's when strangers become friends. That is why I call my followers my Penless Pen Pals. I never thought I would consider someone I've never met a friend, but now I do. I've gotten to meet a few face to face as well.

How did you get into blogging?- Deb

One day I just got my laptop and started exploring. That's when I stumbled upon Blogger. I checked it out and thought, "hey that sounds like fun." And here I am today, being sneaky and getting ready to celebrate my blogoversary in 11 days. Did I mention I'm having a giveaway?

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

My parents got this crazy idea to name me not after just one person but three, my three older sisters. The idea was to use the first two letters of their names to make mine. But, THANKFULLY, they didn't follow through with it. My name would have been Dajoan (Da-ju-on).

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

When I was in high school, I thought that I'd have a fancy job working in a big city; but, here I am, living in the country, married to the most amazing guy in the world. Oh, and to top it off, there's a really cute, little guy calling me mommy every 5 seconds. And I couldn't be happier. So, although I'm not where I thought I'd be, I'm right where I wanna be. My high school self would be very proud.

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

Anybody that was raised by two amazing people would have to say their parents. My parents made me who I am. Their whole parenthood has been full of sacrifices for my four sisters and I. They literally gave up their whole lives in Costa Rica for us. I don't know what I would do without them.

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

It was a blind date set up by some of our best friends. It actually was the first REAL date I had ever went on. I never dated in high school and so I was a bit nervous but I knew that he had to be a pretty cool guy if my friends liked him. So, I said yeah, "I'll go out with him." We all went to a movie and dinner. I've been smitten ever since. I'm still amazed that I got it right the first time around.

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

I love Ellen DeGeneres. She's got such a great personality.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

Man, I think I'd be here ALL day if I started talking about embarrassing shopping trips. That's life with a toddler, I guess.

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti

Yay, this is my question! Well I think I'll answer this one since I like to talk to myself every now and then. I asked this question because I, for one, am not a talker in real life, that is unless you're one of my really good friends. When you first meet me, I'm pretty quite but the more I get to know you, then the more I talk. I feel like I can be more open when I write in my blog or at the Five Moms and a Blog. So, what you see there is what you'd probably get from me if you were one of my really good IRL friends.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

I don't like rain at all, but I LOVE the sound of it when it's time to go night-night. Did I just say "night-night"? Man, that's way too much mommy talk. Which brings me to more lovely sounds, like my little boy giggling or singing his little head off. He LOVES to sing. Sounds I hate? Temper Tantrums, first and foremost! Cursing! Crying. My dog barking nonstop in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

I've got just three words for ya Heidi - LASER HAIR REMOVAL. It's not my fault I'm Latina.

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

I've never had one. I'd rather spend my money getting new clothes or shoes and just doing my own nails, BUT that doesn't mean I WOULD turn it down either.

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell

It depends on how long the drive is. Then once we get there, I'm stuck in the car FOREVER, cause if I know what's good for me, then I BETTER NOT wake him up.

What is the most surprising part of blogging? Amanda

Several months ago, I was invited to be part of a group blog. Seriously?!! They want ME out of all the bloggers out there?!! I really was surprised! I couldn't believe that they wanted me to be part of it. So, together with Mimi, Erica, Nan and Tarah we started Five Moms and a Blog. It was (and still is) an honor to be associated with such amazing women! I'm having so much fun with it!

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

Well, since my husband IS the only guy I've ever dated then I'll just stick to that. Besides, there's no one in the world I'd rather go on a date with than him. But it might be fun to go on a PLAY-date with some celebrity mommies like Jennifer Gardner or Sarah Jessica Parker.

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Miti! Any parting thoughts?

Ahhh Man! It's over?!! Just like that?!! I was having so much fun. Oh well, I guess all good things must come to an end. Thanks again Jill! (And sorry if I put anybody to sleep.)

You can catch Miti over at Pieces of Me and Five Moms and a Blog! Check her out. You'll be glad you did!!!! :)

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-10-21T23:00:00.002-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for today is.......Camily over at La*Teed*Ah!

Camily lives in Texas with her husband, Mike. Together they have two adorable little ones, a boy and a girl. Camily is a very talented professional photographer. I was so blessed to have won a photo session with her not too long ago. The photo of the girls in my sidebar was taken by her. She is amazing! I am happy to call Camily an IRL friend! :)

Welcome, Camily!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

Hmmmm. I love blogging, and have finally decided I'm ok with blogging as frequently or infrequently (like I've done this month) as I want. For a while there, I felt like there was pressure to blog all the time and it took the fun away from it. But now that I've let that go, I'm loving it again. So, back to the question. I love that I can share the little day to day memories with my family, especially those that are out of town. And I love looking back on old posts and seeing memories I'd forgotten about. So I guess I'm a selfish blogger!

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney

OK, obviously it's my wedding ring. But I also have this necklace that I wear all the time that has two little charms on it with my kids' names engraved on each one. I love that necklace. Love it!

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

Oh, I'm the master of routine! Ha! I'd like to say that we stick to our routine, but there's a lot of go-with-the flow mixed into that routine. I mean, with kids, how can you not go with the flow?

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn

Build a life raft and get off that island! My mother and law and I get along fairly well, but we are both strong-minded, independent women with definite opinions on how things should be done, and we don't always agree. OK, usually we don't agree. As my dad says, in our tribe, we're all chiefs and no indians (but at least we recognize this about ourselves, right)?

How did you get into blogging?- Deb

My friend, Andrea, started a blog after the birth of her first son, who has CMS, a rare neurological disorder. I loved reading her blog, and it was the first thing I'd look at when I signed onto the computer. One day, she said "Girl, you need a blog. I'll help you." And she did! She knew I'd love it.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

I get this question a lot. My name is Camily (pronounced like "family"). My dad made my name up when they couldn't think of anything they loved. He said it was an inspiration. My middle name (Michelle), is also my mom's middle name, and I carried on the tradition with my daughter.

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

I'm pretty much where I thought I would be, I think. My high school self would say "OK, time to get in the gym!" I also thought I would have married earlier and had children at a younger age. Mike and I got married when I was 30, and had our son when I was 32 and daughter at 35. But I wouldn't change a thing (other than those extra pounds)!

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

My parents. No question. They taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do if I worked hard enough. They have always guided and supported me and taught me how to make my own decisions. No matter what, I know that they believe in me and will support me in all that I do. What a great gift to give your children.

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

Oh gosh. I was sick of dating! One night a friend called and wanted me to go play pool and hang out at The Fox & The Hound (sports bar). I was so sick of it all. She really wanted me to go, so I gave in and went, but I just had on jeans and a t-shirt, didn't fix my make up or do anything special. I saw Mike at the table next to ours and thought he was so cute and I just kept thinking that he looked like the nicest guy. He didn't seem to notice me, so finally I went over to him and started talking. I ended up inviting him to the Cowboys game the next day and we've been together ever since. And he IS the nicest guy!

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

In a world where money is no object, I would spend a day at the spa--mani/pedi and massage. But in reality, I'll settle for a clean kitchen, warm bath, and a reality tv show without interruptions!

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

I love to laugh! My son is hilarious and he makes me laugh a lot. I loved Sienfeld, but I'll admit to even laughing at the crude jokes on the HBO specials.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

Holy Moly. Lots of our shopping trips are embarrassing and I generally feel like all of the employees in the store are happy when we leave, but one trip stands out in particular. In fact, I blogged about this when it happened. That would have to be the shopping trip to Walmart (and I really don't even like Walmart) when Matthew was 3 and he'd just accomplished potty training recently. Until that fateful day when he got diarrhea at Walmart. Oh yes. And we were all the way on the other side of the store away from the bathroom. We abandoned our cart and go running--sprinting--through the store to try to make it to the bathroom. We get there and Matthew didn't quite make it. I got him cleaned up and we went back across the store to retrieve our cart so that we could just leave. When it happened again. We RUN back to the bathroom. It was closed for cleaning. Matthew was trying SO hard to make it. The cleaning lady said "I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait." I told her she was about to have a lot bigger mess to clean up than the bathroom. She let us in and It was not pretty. I left that day without groceries. It was a long time before I went back to that Walmart!

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti

Yep! Love to talk!

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

Love the sound of my children laughing, rain, a creek in the mountains, the ocean. Hate fingernails on a chalkboard and arguing.

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

Ask me again in 10 years. I'm not ready for that yet.

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

Mexican food. Either fajitas or enchiladas, chips and queso and margaritas!

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

When it's flip-flop season, every 3-4 weeks. When it's cold, who knows?

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell

Matthew is 5 and rarely naps, but when he does, it's for 2 hours. Molly is 2 and will generally nap for an hour and a half.

If you could go back in time and erase one super embarrassing moment what would it be?- Mama Sewell

I don't think I'd erase anything. Even the Walmart Diarrhea story will make a great story later.

If you made the laws in our country what changes would you make to our justice system regarding crimes against children?-Mama Sewell

I don't have a problem with torturing or public execution when it comes to crimes against children. And I'm not kidding.

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

I like my husband--so I don't think I'd want to go on a date, but I wouldn't mind having dinner with the cast of Twilight, The Office, Sienfeld, or Lost. I guess that would be four different dinners. And I'd want to invite friends. And not cook. Or clean. So definitely at a restaurant.

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey

I LOVE all of my face-washing products. LOVE them. I use the RE-9 Anti-Aging set from Arbonne. It's expensive, but I can see a huge difference in my skin since I've been using it. I'd sacrifice eating out for a while to pay for it.

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Camily! Any parting thoughts?

This was so much fun, Jill! Thanks for having me of SSF!
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You can catch Camily over at La*Teed*Ah! Go check her out and make a new friend!

FFF

2009-10-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much for the prayers and well-wishes. Lane returned back to work on Wednesday with a slight cough. Our oldest still feels pretty yucky, the little one is still incredibly fussy (what's new?) but seems to be on the mend. No fever since Monday, which is a true blessing. I think we caught it really early, and thus were able to treat it before it got bad.

I managed to avoid it for the most part. I ran a slight fever on Wednesday, accompanied by a headache and tiredness for a few hours. That's it. Thank you, Tamiflu! :)

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On a different note, I've decided that I only want one thing for Christmas. I've heard it's for sale:

Okay, maybe that's a little out of our price range. I'd settle for this:

This is a bit out of our price range, too, but that won't stop me from asking Santa for cash to save up for it. :)

That's all I got. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-10-12T23:00:00.001-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is........Kelli over at Random Thoughts of a Supermom!

Kelli and her husband, Jason, live in Mississippi with their three young boys. She is an ace in the kitchen, often sharing recipes on her blog. Kelli is so creative! She is always posting simple instructions on how to do adorable craft projects. What a gal!

Welcome, Kelli!

What do you want most from blogging?

I think I mostly just want to have a little bit of adult interaction! When you spend the majority of your days at home with little kids, it is nice to have adult conversations {even if they are through email}. I am also amazed at the encouragement and inspiration that I have found out in the blogosphere! There are so many wonderful women sharing a ton of amazing things...and I feel really blessed to have found some great women {and moms} to read about and learn from!

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose?
I would have to say my engagement and wedding rings....though recently I have only been able to wear my wedding ring because my hands have been SUPER swollen from my RA. That makes me sad too....because I love my engagement ring!

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow?
I am definitely a routine kind of person. We are just getting into a new routine this year because my oldest son Henry started Kindergarten this year. Our normal day starts at around 6:30 am. I get the boys up and they get dressed. Then we head to Henry's school for drop off, then over to Grant's preschool to wait 30 minutes until time to drop him off. Then Eli and I head back home to do laundry and dishes {which never seem to end at my house!}. We go back to get Grant at 11. Then it is lunch time and naptime. I usually have to wake up Grant and Eli so that we can go pick up Henry, then it is home to do homework and play in the yard until Jason gets home. Dinner is usually around 6 except on Wednesdays {church} and Thursdays {soccer practice}. After dinner, Jason gives the boys a bath and puts them to bed! After the boys are asleep Jason and I usually watch Jeopardy and whatever show happened to be recorded on the DVR.

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do?
Work diligently on a plan to get us rescued!

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging?
I am constantly amazed that their are some many moms out there who can relate to all the stuff that I am going through! I can't tell how many times I have gotten comments or emails from people saying they have been through some of the same stuff that I am dealing with....and I love to read a blog and relate to someone that well! It is nice to have someone to share the fun stuff with, but also to commiserate about the not so good stuff with too!

How did you get into blogging?
About a year and a half ago, a local family found out they were expecting quadruplets and the mom started a blog. I read her blog and then clicked my way around blog land and found some great stuff to read. After a few weeks, I decided I wanted to join in on the fun. So I started blogging about my everyday life and about all the fun crafty stuff that I love to do.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?
My middle name is after one of my mother's cousins who died as a teenager. My mom said that when she named me Kelli everybody thought she had named me after some character on a soap opera....but she swears that's not where she got the name.

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say?
I think so...considering that I am married to my high school sweetheart and we live in the town we grew up in! I think in high school I thought I would live away for longer than just college...but it is nice to be near family....especially when you have three little kiddos that need babysitting!

Who has had the most influence on your life?
My parents and grandparents have been very influential in my life. But, I would have to say that my husband has probably had the most influence on my life...mainly because we have been and are planning our lives together, so his decisions are mine too.

How did you meet your hubby?
We went to high school together and had a ton of classes together throughout high school. Jason and I actually played soccer together on a {very sad} coed soccer team during our Junior year of high school. We starting dating in January of our senior year and then went to different colleges in August of that year. We dated for 4 years long distance and got married a month after I graduated.

What is your favorite way to relax?
SLEEP!

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?
I LOVE sitcoms! Friends and Seinfeld are my absolute favorite things to watch...and they still make me laugh even if I have seen the episode a million times!

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids?
I can't think of any specific trip...but I have had a few that involved poop and/or vomit, as well as lots of tantrums and meltdowns!

Are you a talker in the real world?
I am a big talker...if I know you and I am comfortable in the situation. I think I am a little stand-offish in new situations, so someone who meets me for the first time may not think I am much of a talker, but I am.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?
I love the sound of naptime {QUIET}! I hate the sound of metal being scratched, and I'm not particularly fond of my alarm clock either!

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why?
Tummy tuck!! And I am so serious about this one...in a few years I may consider this even if it isn't free! I have a ton of 'baby' weight to lose, but it doesn't matter how much you lose that little baby belly isn't going anywhere!

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?
Mexican food! And then a HUGE tub of Marble Slab peanut butter ice cream for dessert!

How often do you get a pedicure?
I used to swear I would never get a pedicure because I HATE for people to touch my feet. During my last pregnancy I finally broke down and gave it a try. It wasn't so bad, and I really liked having pretty toes. I probably average one pedicure every three to four months...and I am in desperate need of one right now!

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?
On a good day, Grant and Eli will nap for a little more than 2 hours. Just enough time for me to get the toys picked up and sit on couch for a little rest myself!

What is the most surprising part of blogging?
I think the most surprising thing to me is that other people want to read about my {relatively} boring life. I don't think that anything SUPER exciting ever seems to happen to me...but people still follow my blog and read about my oh so normal life!

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Kelli! Any parting thoughts?
I just want to say THANKS to Jill for letting me join in on all the Secret Sneaky fun!

You can find Kelli over at Random Thoughts of a Supermom! Head on over there and learn how to make this....or this (YUM!)

Hiney Update

2009-10-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

We're back from the pediatrician. Our whole family is now on Tamiflu. The girls weren't tested, but exhibit all of the symptoms except for high fever. The pediatrician told me that she feels strongly that it is H1N1 (hiney!) and should be cared for as such.

Now that we know that the girls have the same thing as their daddy, I have moved to the back of the house in the hopes that I can avoid it. So far, so good. I start on Tamiflu tonight, as I fall into the high risk category. Lane feels a lot better (says it's the easiest run of the flu he's ever had), but now has to take care of the girls all by himself. Poor guy!

I just hope the girls have as easy of a time with it as their daddy did. :)

Woe Be GONE!

2009-10-11T21:40:00.001-05:00

You guys are so sweet! I feel so much better now. I just couldn't let that last post remain at the top any longer. What a downer!

The girls took a wonderfully long nap today that gave me just enough time to chill out and dig myself out of my woe-is-me pit. I appreciate each and every comment. It's amazing what positive support from my blogging friends can do to help turn it all around. Thank you!

Both girls had a fever when they woke from their nap, which has since subsided. They complain of body aches and headaches, as well as other, yucky signs of the hiney (literally!) flu. I'm pretty sure they have it, but am at peace about it for now. Thank you all for your prayers. I really appreciate them.

Think I can convince Lane that HE needs to take care of the girls and I need to be the one that is quarantined since I am the only one who doesn't have this stuff yet? Hmmmm......not a bad idea at all! :)

Oink Oink

2009-10-11T15:53:00.001-05:00

Warning: This is a stressful, get-it-all-out-so-I-don't-explode! post.

Lane started feeling better Friday morning. He felt great all that day and all day Saturday. Last night at about 4:30am, he woke up with chills and a fever. First thing this morning, he went to an urgent care center. A test confirmed that he has the flu. They did not test for H1N1 (does anyone else look at this combination of letters and numbers and think 'hiney' or is it just me?) because apparently all strains that have been tested in our area are coming back H1N1, so it's pointless to even test. Instead they treated him as if he has it. To the tune of $150.

Guess who just used the overdraft protection on their checking account? Guess who's figured out that the bank is closed tomorrow and there is no way to remedy the situation? Thank goodness that checks still take a couple of days to clear or else we'd be in big trouble.

Anyways...

Our youngest woke up this morning with a cough and our oldest is irritable and keeps getting that 'I'm sick' look in her eyes. A quick call to our pediatrician was returned with a recommendation to give nebulizer treatments to the little one every four hours along with an appointment for both girls to be seen tomorrow morning. I hope they go ahead and test the girls for H1N1. Just so we know, you know?

I have an appointment with my doctor in the afternoon. I have diabetes (yep), a heart defect (yep) and severe asthma (yep), so I'm hoping they'll go ahead and give me a prescription for tamiflu to try to prevent it, if in fact that's what 'it' is.

I am trying hard not to be worried or irritated that our family is having to deal with this. I'm trying not to be intimidated by this virus. I'm trying not to think about how much this little blip is going to cost our family.

I'm not being very successful.

Anyone out there who has had the swine flu in your house? Care to share your experience? :)

FFF

2009-10-08T23:04:00.002-05:00

Is it me or are the days just zooming by? It's crazy! I cannot believe that our hundred degree days are gone and that crunchy leaves are just around the corner. I am super excited about taking the girls to a pumpkin patch again this year and all the fall activities we have planned for the next couple of months.

We took the plunge and put the girls in the same room to sleep. We're still working the kinks out, but it seems to be a great arrangement for everyone. We'll see how it goes. :)

My husband came home tonight with a low grade fever and a sudden onset of the blahs. Great. Sounds like a fun weekend at our house.

Professionally, I did my first columns-below-the-post layout this week. I love learning new things. I was so excited to be able to deliver the look that my friend, Elaine, has been wanting for awhile. Click here to check it out! Say, "Hello!" to my dear blogging friend while you're over there, will ya? :)

I am excited to see whose pictures I am going to be working with on my holiday layouts. It's weird to be working with candy canes and Santa Claus when our jackets have not been taken out of the closet yet. If you are interested in entering my giveaway, do so soon because it ends at noon.

I've been experimenting with the new editor in Blogger. Jury's still out, but as of right now, I'm not sure I'm a fan.

Yesterday, I took the best nap. I decided it was time to cash in on one of the privileges of being a stay-at-home mom, which was the ability to read a book in the middle of the day. I got the girls down, then got into bed with a great book. The little one woke within an hour and came to me for cuddles. We both ended up falling asleep for well over an hour. Bliss.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! I'm sure mine will be less than lovely. Bah.

A Holly Jolly Giveaway

2009-10-07T11:36:00.001-05:00

I'm having a giveaway (kind of!) that you may be interested in entering over on my makeover blog, Blogs by Sneaky Momma. :)

I am looking for a model family to use in examples of holiday headers over at Blogs by Sneaky Momma. If selected, I would need 4-5 photos of your family (kids, group shots, etc.). A link to your blog will be prominently displayed on the example page (if desired), along with a 'thank you' for allowing me to use the photographs.

Winner will get a Holly Jolly Mini-Makeover ($15 value) of their choice, to be installed whenever they wish.

Head over to my makeover blog to enter! Good luck!

Told you I had Christmas on the brain!!!! :)

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-10-05T23:00:00.014-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is........Tiffany over at The Boren Life!

Tiffany is hands-down one of the most genuine people I've ever had the privilege to meet in the blogging world. Her positive attitude is absolutely contagious! Tiffany has two small boys with her husband, Jason, who is currently serving our country in Iraq. She is one busy mama!

Welcome, Tiffany!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

I began blogging as a way to bridge the miles that separate us from our families and friends. We are a military family and have, until recently, lived a good distance from loved ones for nearly 13 years. I didn't know much about blogging other than the mom forums I had been part of and even turned down a request to be a blogger for one as I thought it would be to difficult to do frequently given our demanding lifestyle. However, doing a blog for our family appeals to me because it not only keeps our loved ones in the loop but also provides a "scrapbook" of our journey. I print/publish our blog every year so it can be tangible for our boys in the future. You know, give them some light reading on road trips and such. It should come in pretty handy too when we have daughter-in-laws entering the picture. Oh geesh!

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney
Yeah..other than my snake skin underwear it would have to be my wedding ring.

Just kidding about the underwear.

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

Oh dear. Thank goodness you're asking me and not my mother! I would say I have a definite routine with my kiddos. They know exactly what to expect and can pretty much predict our mornings as they are the same every day except Saturday. Saturdays are our freebies! Afternoons are pretty laid back once we finish lunch and naps we hang out, play games and take in play dates, park trips, or just snuggle up with some books. I think its a good balance. I did recently cut out many evening commitments because it was getting way too hectic and let's face it, not easy peazy with just me running the show around here!

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn
I would talk a lot. Not entirely sure if she would, but I would. A-LOT. Mucho. Yep, talk. Let's just leave it at that.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb
Unusual? No. Significant? Yes! My Dad likes Tiffany & Co. I think my mom does, too. :)

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

Hmm....tough one. I'm not sure my high school self imagined I would leave my college sorority, cheerleading life to join the Army to learn about dental health. I was really into dance and my boyfriend at the time. Tho he being the reason I turned down an opportunity to go away to a performing arts school after HS and pursue my dream (idiot!) it was a blessing we broke up. I think my HS self would say, "Wow! I didn't ever dream I would have been around the world by age 22 and have found my soul mate all because of the Army." And I would kindly reply, "Be all you can be Sistah!" :)

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

Aside from becoming a Christian and growing closer in a relationship with Jesus Christ (which is by far the best thing in my life), my mom has had the most influence. She's always been very honest with me. It didn't make me agree with her all the time, especially as a teenager, but I always pondered deeply the things she told me. "Do what is right, even if no one else thinks it is", "following the crowd will lead you nowhere", "it's impossible to please everyone". She's shown amazing courage and strength her whole life and to have that example is inspiring. I am so thankful to have her in my life and for the unconditional love she extends me.

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine
We met shortly after I completed Basic Training and Dental Specialist school in the Army. I went to my very first "drill" which happened to be Annual Training (a 2 week summer training event all Reserve units partake annually). The meet-up location was on Fort Knox. (Ironically this is where we are stationed out of now, some 15 years later!) I followed another gal all the way there since I had no clue where it was. She backed into my vintage Camero on the trip down so we immediately engaged in conversation about the damages etc once we arrived. Jason said he and the other guys noticed me right away, "the new girl", and were disappointed to see that I had showed up with the only known homosexual female in the unit! WHAT??? I had NO clue!

I noticed Jason once I settled all the details of the car stuff and I was immediately love struck. Never believed in love at first sight until that very moment. He was really tan from doing landscaping work (his summer job while in college at IU) and he had the most perfectly straight and white smile I had ever seen. It didn't bother me that his eyes were piercingly crystal blue either. Not one bit. Nor did it bother me that he was fit as a fiddle as a result of his martial arts activities. Nope. I was smitten as a kitten before we even had our first chat a week later.

We hung out and became friends for a while, as I still had a boyfriend! YIKES! But had no problems moving onto a steady relationship once I was single. It didn't hurt that he told me he was enamored with me the moment he saw me as well. What a guy!

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

Cuddling up on my husband's chest and just being together. When he is off saving the world, I cuddle up with a good book or good blog. :) That is if I'm not falling into bed after I tidy up the house, run the dishwasher, take the garbage out, play with the semi-neglected dog, get clothes laid out for the next day, clean the........ ....... ....... you get the picture.

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

My brother T.J. could imitate Jim Carey's facial expressions so well and that always made me laugh! He was so funny! In addition to him, I love punny humor.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany
Going to Lowes with both boys, who both had potty accidents. One of which included, ahem..."watering" the lovely flat of pansies I had just placed on the bottom rack of the buggie. Yup, there was a trail of pee from the checkout line, which we had to evacuate, all the way to the bathroom on the other end of the store. Don't these store planning folks know there is going to be some kid who needs to potty and can't make the 5 mile trek to the bathroom???!! It was a gloriously fun trip :) I even went back to the store once I noticed I had forgotten to use my $25 coupon. I didn't care that I was half way home or that most of the people who had seen me drag pee through the store would still be there. Embarrassment does not take the bargain hunt out of the Boren girl! Oh no, sir!

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti
Hmm....I bet you can figure this one out on your own. :)

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi
Love=The conversations of my boys when they are playing together.

Hate=The screaming of my boys when they stop playing nicely together or when one gets hurt.

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

C-rap...just one!? I bet all the Super Sneaky Friends say that!

Well, before kids I would have told you that, "God made me special and I don't want to mess up anything he created". Well, being pregnant actually messed some stuff up so I think that's probably why God created plastic surgery, right? Maybe not. ----- So, I would opt for the "mommy job". Yes, I know, it's a series of stuff but if it's free I'm arguing that they are all lumped together as one procedure! That would include the girls upstairs to be put, well..... back upstairs and made firm but not Pamela Anderson firm AND for the looser skin to be just snipped off my abdomen. I stay in pretty good physical shape but I can notice a looseness in my abdominal skin that without extreme low fat diets will not go away. And I'm not willing to give up my bon bons, ladies! Isn't that what SAHM's do...sit around and eat bon bons? Puh-leeze!

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

Oh gosh.. Hmm....I'm preoccupied with the thoughts of what landed me in the slammer. Okay.. let me think here.... uhm..... I would say it's a toss up between a slow cooked tender pot roast with potatoes and carrots and a shrimp bowl from my favorite Japanese restaurant, Nikkos, in Statesboro, Georgia. Since it's my last meal can't I have them both?

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell
Sadly, my oldest (4) gave up his nap recently (I actually gave up trying to force him) so he has quiet time in his room for about 1 1/2 hours. My youngest (2) still takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon. The oldest will tucker out every once in a while and just lay down on his own for a nap but not very often.

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey
I would never want to go on a date with a celebrity. I can't think of anyone more incredible than my husband to go on a date with.

If you got to spend the day with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey
Wow... I'm not much of a star struck person so this is tough. OH.. I think that older lady contestant from Britain's Got Talent would be a hoot to chat with! Don't you?

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey
It's a tie between sleep and de-stressing.

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Tiffany! Any parting thoughts?

What a joy to get to know you Jill, and to have the opportunity to meet new friends through the creative venue of blogging! It's been such fun!

You can find Tiffany over at The Boren Life! Head on over there and meet a Boren family that isn't 'boren' at all!

Free Flowing Friday (on Thursday)

2009-10-01T18:07:00.001-05:00

It's Friday....almost! Wooooo hooooo! Time to spill what's on my mind, no editing. 'Cause, let's face it. If I had to make it perfect, I wouldn't have time to write this post!

Anyways...

I am super excited to announce that I have been asked to be a guest blogger on Scrapblog! They caught wind of my header tip and loved it. I should be appearing on their blog within the next couple of weeks. Crazy!

Just in case you didn't know, I have a whole 'nutha blog out there that is chock full of blog tips. I'm pretty sure you know that already, but if you don't, you can check it out by clicking here.

I feel like such a nerd. All I ever talk about is blog stuff. Okay, no more of that for this post. I promise.

My oldest daughter is now down to 1/4 a prevacid a day. We just may be able to get off this stuff!

My youngest daughter is potty training herself. Seriously. I'm thrilled! Now if only she would stay in bed when she's supposed to....

Grey's: Um, I actually grieved for George last Thursday. I sincerely hope that they are able to make this season work with all the craziness that is going on with the cast. Don't know what I'll do without my weekly Grey's fix.

Anyone watch House? It is one of my favorite shows, but unfortunately, it also falls on my husband's favorite night to watch tv. How I Met Your Mother, 2 and a Half Men, and Big Bang Theory take a backseat to our favorite coldhearted doctor. I'm a big fan of these shows, too, so it's not like my husband is a tv hog. Boo hoo.

Tennis season has begun. Ugh. We're counting down the days until Thanksgiving.

Anyone else really excited about Christmas? I typically start thinking about Christmas about the time Thanksgiving rolls around. Don't know why I've already got it on the brain, but I am excited!

Guess I should start thinking about Halloween. Wonder what my kids are going to be this year. Last year, they wore Bob and Larry t-shirts with their blue jeans. This year, they have new M&M's shirts that they could wear, or we could dress them up as princesses. I'm just not certain I want to dive into the costume box just yet. It's not as if we can go all out costumes this year and revert to simple t-shirts next year. Once we take the plunge, we're committed to costumes for the rest of Halloweens to come.

Okay, I'm fresh out of things to talk about. :) I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!

SUPER Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wanna know why today's Secret Sneaky Friend is a SUPER Secret Sneaky Friend? Read on to find out! :)

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is.....Trudy over at Third Time's a Charm!

Trudy lives in Minnesota with her husband, Steve. After a long wait, they are excited to be expecting their first child together! In addition to her little bean, Trudy is also a step-mom of six. She is one busy mama!

Welcome, Trudy!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

My hope and prayer is that blogging will continue to be the creative outlet from my writing and for sharing personal stories about myself. I truly believe that nothing connects people more than real, raw, no-holds barred life! My writing tends more toward the non-fiction, personal life stories anyway, so it works well. Making such awesome friends has truly been an unexpected and delightful bonus!

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney

My wedding ring, no brainer. I only take it off to sleep and shower (and not always even then). It signifies and connects me to the most important person in my life!

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

We are expecting our first child right now, Praise God!! I expect it will be difficult to do this with an infant, as they tend to create their own schedules.

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn

We lost my mother-in-law this past March so I would probably tell Carol how much everyone misses her and that we wish we still had her with us. I would also tell her how sad we are that she won't be able to hold her new grandchild next Spring. (If we have a girl, her second, her middle name will be Carol).

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky

I have met so many fantastic friends through blogging. I honestly had no idea the blogging world was this big. I have met such wonderful, inspiring people, many who I know I will meet someday in real life!

How did you get into blogging?- Deb

Initially, my IRL friend Stacy from Rx For My Soul got me into blogging back in 2006. I blogged for a couple years and then things slowed way down. She had a blog and we just followed one another and commented on each other's posts. Then, I found another IRL friend, Kelly from Raising Delia on Facebook and was led to her blog which is all about her beautiful daughter, which got me interested in starting to blog again.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

I was named after a friend of my parent's, Trudy Abas. I never knew Trudy myself but always remember the story about how she broke my father's nose on the beach one day. They were all having a water fight and Trudy had a metal pail. She went to throw water on him and the pail flew right out of her hands and nailed my dad across the nose!

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

That's a tough one. I some ways I think I am where I imagined I'd be but not where I hoped I would be, if that makes sense? I always imagined I would be married and have a family but just didn't think I would be in my late 30's when both of these things transpired! For so many years I watched other school friends get married, move into homes, start their families, etc...while I remained largely unchanged. I didn't get married until I was almost 37 and am now 38, living in a 2-bedroom apartment and pregnant with our first child together. I had a child at 22 that I placed for adoption and I also have 6 step-children! However, that being said, I think my high school self would say something like "It would have been nice to see you graduate from the school of hard knocks a bit earlier in life and perhaps graduate somewhere around the middle of your class, rather than magna cum laude!"

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC
Without question, my maternal grandmother. I did a post about her here, where I shared the eulogy I gave at her funeral just over 4 years ago. She was my best friend in the world and I will always miss her desperately.

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

My husband and I met online at MySpace over two years ago. It was love at first sight and if you care to, you can read all about that right here!

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

I would have to say just kicking back in a comfortable chair with a great book. When the weather permits, this would be outside on a beautiful evening with absolutely NO distractions! Of course, I live in the frozen tundra (otherwise known as Minne'snow'tah) so that's not always possible. If I can't be outside, I also like to relax in the bathtub with some candles and scented bath oils, with that same great book or some nice music!

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

I love good clean humor, can't stand crude, offensive humor with lots of swearing. I like humor based on personal stories and experiences, so I suppose you could say I love

self-deprecating humor. I also love sarcasm and tend toward the sarcastic myself.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

More to come on that I'm sure!

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti
I can definitely be a talker, my husband would say I am for sure. It really just depends on the situation and the mood I am in. Sometimes I tend more toward the quiet, reflective side.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

I love the sound of a baby laughing, that belly laugh that is just so incredibly contagious. I hate the sound of nail clippers...it truly makes my skin crawl.

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

I would likely pass on this, even though it was free since I'm not entirely sure that plastic surgery was God ordained. Though I could use some improvements (read: many), I know I am just as God created me to be. Of course, being pregnant again...God only knows what havoc will be wreaked on my body, but still, I'm happy as I am.

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi
I would have to say a big fat sirloin steak slathered in fresh mushrooms, with a giant helping of my aunt's homemade potato salad, a nice vegetable and a glass of red wine. For dessert, I would have a gigantic cup of the best coffee in the world alone with a slice of chocolate cheesecake!

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

I just had my first EVER pedicure this past summer. My sisters-in-law invited me to go along with them. I think I'm in love now. Unfortunately, it is a luxury we just can't afford right now. If money weren't an option, I'd probably be there every two weeks!

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell

I hope the baby will nap lots for mommy and daddy!

If you could go back in time and erase one super embarrassing moment what would it be?- Mama Sewell

This would be the time that a truckload of my friends and I were heading off to the lake for a morning dip. A bunch of us, including my ex-boyfriend, were riding in the back of the truck. We were at a weekend festival and had just consumed several mimosas for breakfast (not to mention still being drunk from the previous night's activities), so that could quite possibly (read: totally) have been a factor. I was the last one to jump down from the back of the truck. The tailgate was, of course, down but for some reason I did not think it was. So I proceeded to step over the 'not there' tailgate and fall 4-5 feet out of the truck onto the hard concrete below. I can only imagine what a sight this must have been for everyone else. I remember lying there on my back looking up at a half circle of people staring down at me with expressions that were half shocked/terrified and half "I want to bust out laughing so badly right now". My ex walked me into the lake so I could wash off my battered knees/elbows/hands, etc...it was pretty ugly. I think I was crying more from shame and embarrassment than physical pain. Of course, I would undo a lot of those 'mimosa-induced' moments if I could!

If you made the laws in our country what changes would you make to our justice system regarding crimes against children?-Mama Sewell

Pass. I get in trouble when I get too political about things.

What is the most surprising part of blogging? Amanda
I know I keep saying this, but I would still say the most surprising part of it would be all of the great friends I have made through blogging.. I have been so very blessed. I am also surprised at how much I have been able to really come into my own writing through blogging!

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey
Mr. Johnny Depp...but it would have to be one of those weekend long dates, you know like the ones they used to take on "Love Connection" (oops, did I just date myself)? Johnny is my absolute ultimate everything. I heart that man so much.

If you got to spend the day with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

That would again be the incredible Johnny Depp, probably at his villa in France.

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey
Aveda Blue Oil...I love this and always have to have it on hand. Please don't tell my husband how much I pay for it though, thanks. It's a balancing oil that's good for ridding me of tension and upping my energy levels!

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend today, Trudy! Any parting thoughts?

I just want to thank you Jill for doing this every week. I always look forward to reading your super fun interviews and getting to know other bloggers. It was even more fun answering these questions for myself! So, thanks again Jill. I do have a parting question though. When are you going to come out from behind your cushy interviewing chair and let someone interview you? Let me know...I'd love to be the first!

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

You can catch me over at Trudy's place today for an interview! Isn't she a sweetheart?? Or should I say SUPER Secret Sneaky Sweetheart? :)

Check out Trudy's blog for a near-daily dose of warmth and friendliness!

Whew!

2009-09-28T15:09:00.001-05:00

I've been so busy lately. I've been keeping up with everyone on their blogs, but have hardly found the time to comment. Why must it be so time consuming to communicate this way??? :)

I recently did a blog for a new blogger. Kortney over at Kortney's Krazy Life is a homeschooling mom who is just now getting her feet wet here in the blogging world. She is such a sweetheart. I had so much fun working with her. If you get a chance, head on over to her blog and give her a warm welcome. She would be thrilled!

Not too long ago, I did a makeover for Diana over at To Everything A Season. Diana was the winner of the giveaway I held via the Friday Freebie in August. I had so much fun designing her blog. When I was finished, she asked me for my address and shirt size. I forgot all about it until a couple of weeks ago (the day before my birthday!) I opened up my mailbox to find a package from Diana! Inside was a beautiful long sleeved t-shirt with a cross on it. Thanks, friend!

Turns out, Diana and her friend Pam made it. Click here to check out some of her work!

I have a lot of housekeeping to do, blogwise. I hope to get around to all of the blogs that I have been missing these past few weeks. It's like I'm here, but not here, you know? It's a very weird feeling!

Anyhoo, I pray that all is well with you and your families. We're doing good here. Counting down the days until tennis season is over (it's only just begun!) and we get Lane back fulltime!

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-09-21T23:00:00.001-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is......Deb over at Folksy Musin's!
Deb and her husband Sven live on the Texas gulf coast with their two precious children. In addition to taking care of her family, Deb is an elementary school music teacher. Her sense of humor has me busting a gut while earnestly nodding my head in agreement everytime I read one of her posts!

Welcome, Deb!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

*I want to preserve my personality and outlook for my kids. I think we change a lot as we grow older, so the mom they know when they are teenagers may not be the mom they have now.

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney
*I know I should say my wedding ring, but I wear a stainless steel plain band that I routinely replace. Sven (my wonderful husband) gave me a beautiful ring for an engagement present, though: a pale, pear-shaped amethyst surrounded by seed pearls and set in gold. That ring, plus my grandmother's pearls, and I'm set for life.

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia
*I work full time, my life is all about flow. I often run about the house chanting, "Kiss my grits!" (Joke for people who remember the 1970's.)

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn
*Read. A lot.

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky
*I think the first time someone I didn't know commented on my blog, I was stunned. I mean someone I didn't even "know" from blogging, just popped in, left a comment, and I've never heard from him since. He has some sort of auto-repair blog; I have no idea how he found mine!

How did you get into blogging?- Deb
*First of all, I'd like to say that the woman asking this question has an unusual sense of poise and is quite charming. The story is pretty straightforward: a friend of mine from an online forum started a blog that took off and became very well-received. This friend was kind enough to suggest to me that I would enjoy blogging. Once my blog was up, she made sure to visit every day and comment, and gave me the names of several other supportive blogs to stalk.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

* My mother's best childhood friend. I was supposed to be Christopher, but...surprise!

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

* I think my high school self would be surprised that I ended up married to that geeky band guy.

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

* My mother, my husband, and my children

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine
* He offered to teach me trombone lessons, then invited me to go out with a big group of friends to a nightclub. Imagine my surprise when no one else showed up! And the trombone lesson lasted 7 hours. He didn't charge, though.

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom
* Writing, reading, watching movies, listening to music...I'm easy.

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom
*I'm a fan of bizarre, observational humor, but I don't like the blue material. Jim Gaffigan is my current favorite.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

* I haven't had one yet.

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti
*Not until you get to know me. Then, watch out.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

* Sound I love: the rain against the house. Sound I hate: breaking glass

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

* Liposuction from the chin down.

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

* I don't know, but it came off of a cow.

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

*Never had one. I hate it when people touch my feet.

If your children take naps, how long do they nap for?- Mama Sewell
* Until I fall asleep. Really, it could be 10 minutes or six hours, but as soon as my lids fall, they're rarin' to go.

If you could go back in time and erase one super embarrassing moment what would it be?- Mama Sewell

* There are literally too many for me to choose one. Let's put it this way: when I get nervous, everyone knows.

What is the most surprising part about blogging? Amanda

* How easy it is. When it stops being easy and fun, I'll stop.

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey
* Rob Pattinson. Because I respect his ideas.

If you got to spend the day with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey
* Rob Pattinson. Because our date would go so well.

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey

* Burts Bees face mask. Smooth the skin and terrify the children.

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Deb! Any parting thoughts?

*It has been such a blessing to have the blogging community in my life. I hope to have my blog for many years to come.

You can catch Deb over at Folksy Musin's! Head on over there and make a new friend who will make you smile everytime you visit her blog!

My Birthday :)

2009-09-17T21:52:00.001-05:00

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! You guys are truly the best!

I can't believe a week has come and gone since then. Wild how fast time flies sometimes!

I had an amazing birthday. My incredibly romantic husband had been hinting for weeks that he had something special planned for my birthday weekend, and boy, did he deliver!

On Saturday, we dropped the girls off to spend the night with my parents. Once they were settled, Lane drove us toward the big city, all the while keeping where we were going under wraps. As we entered downtown Dallas, I began anxiously looking for a nice hotel. I saw the elegant flags out front and immediately knew where we would be staying: The Adolphus!

As we entered the hotel to check in, we were immediately greeted by a photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, who had stayed there a few years ago. We headed to the elevators and saw a pianist performing on a piano that had been owned by the Guggenheims. We also saw a couple having tea in the sitting area. Way too cool!

The room did not disappoint. The temp was set at a chilly 53 degrees. Ahhhh....wonderful. It was newly decorated, yet you could tell that care was taken to preserve the time period it was built in. The bathroom had a marble topped vanity, as well as one of those rain-style showerheads. We've gotta get one of those!

Anyways...

Lane took me to dinner at Bob's Steak and Chop House. It was awesome! I must admit, there was a bit of "What on earth was he thinking???" when I heard the name 'Bob' in our supposedly romantic dinner destination. However, all qualms were erased the moment that Lane opened the thick mahogany door to reveal a dimly lit, romantic atmosphere complete with linen tablecloths, the whole shebang. I quickly discovered that it is one of the best steakhouses in Dallas, and it was easy to see why. There were no fewer than five people that waited on our table. The steaks were melt-in-your-mouth amazing and the french bread and butter were to die for. Our banana bread pudding (YUM!) was on the house, once the waitress discovered that it was my birthday.

After dinner, we had a couple of drinks back at the hotel. The bartender (who was wearing a tux!) made me a peach bellini. It wasn't Olive Garden, but is was good nonetheless. We took our drinks out of the bar to a secluded area of the sitting area and snuggled on a couch while hearing nothing but the sounds of each others voices. A rare thing indeed. :)

The next morning, we woke up and headed to one of my favorite mexican food restaurants for a brunch of sorts. Then we went back to my mom and dad's where the girls were waiting to celebrate with us. We had a HUGE sandwich and yummy birthday cake.

The kids had a blast playing in their Ranger's shirts while we rooted on the Cowboys!

All in all...a WONDERFUL birthday! So wonderful that I took very few pictures, living fully in the moment rather than recording it. My wheels are already turning regarding what I am going to do for Lane's 40th birthday in May. It's gotta be good, but how am I ever going to top this??? :)

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-09-14T23:00:00.002-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for this week is .......Heidi over at Sacred and Profane!

Heidi and her husband live in Montana with their four children. She works from home, which makes her one busy momma! Heidi's posts are full of sarcasm and wit..a breath of fresh air for moms who need a two minute escape from their little ones.

Welcome, Heidi!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

A cult following. Is that asking too much?

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Whitney

Sarcasm. Wait..is that not an accessory? OK..um..my wedding ring.

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

I’m all about routine. I used to get all “I need a xanax!” when my routine was disrupted but I’m learning to go with it a bit more. Working from home with a 3 year old and 1 year old, plus the 2 older kids and all the SAHM responsibilities as well means I HAVE to have a routine, or nothing gets accomplished. Ever.

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Robyn

Swim for it.

How did you get into blogging?- Deb

Way back in the beginning, when blogging was unknown and only a few people had a blog, my friend Laura had one. It looked like fun so I went and got a Xanga. Then ALL our mommy friends on the parenting message boards we were on got one. It was fun for awhile but I had a major fallout due to some things that were posted and the nature of people reading them. So, I took a 5-6 year hiatus.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

My name is Heidi – what do YOU think? LOL My middle name, Lee, is after my bio-dads brother.

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

I’m only kind of where I imagined I would be. I knew I wanted a family and I wanted to be the neighborhood “go to mom” so that part is there. But I also thought I’d have had some sort of cool career and been in some different circumstances. If my high school self saw me now she’d probably tell me to color my hair, lose some weight and shower for the love of pete!

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

When I moved up to Montana, from Utah, I had to get a job. *sigh* LOL Rob worked in the shipping department of the computer store that hired me for sales. He was a cute nerdy guy, his friends thought he needed a date with me and I ended up being smitten. We went to lunch one day, dinner that same night and except for a "break" of about 3 days we’ve been together ever since.

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

With a book, silence and deliciously sinful food and/or drink.

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

I just love humor. I love to laugh. I can’t pinpoint any one kind of humor or comedian that hits that nerve for me – it’s different based on my mood. I love sarcastic, dry humor. I like 12-year-old humor. I love funny stuff about being a mom. I like humor that you have to think about to get. I love the stuff that’s easily reached. It doesn’t matter..I just love to laugh!

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

Probably the one where (before the boys were born) the girls were sitting in the cart “tongue wrestling” in the middle of a jam packed walmart. Or maybe it was the one where the guy in front of us farted and Cara told him to say excuse me? Or perhaps the time right after we lost a baby at 15 weeks that Cara held court in a crowded public restroom and told all of the women in there about the baby that just died in my tummy? Hmmm…it’s a toss up.

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti

Um, yes.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

Love: The wind rustling through the trees. Rain falling gently. Laughter.

Hate: Teeth grinding. Teeth scraping on utensils. Doors slamming.

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

Lipo. Suck it ALL out, baby.

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

Chicken Fried Steak with extra gravy, Hashbrowns, Eggs, Cheesecake, a brownie, Starbucks.

If you made the laws in our country what changes would you make to our justice system regarding crimes against children?-Mama Sewell

Ugh. Pet Peeve. Soap Box. *sigh* Our justice system is so skewed towards making sure that the OFFENDERS rights aren’t violated that the victim ends up being revictimized by the whole process. Did you know that if someone sexually assaults a child they get LESS time than someone that has drugs with intent to sell? Not that selling drugs isn’t bad, but you can get 5 years for Sexual Assault of a Minor and get 10 years for possessing a baggie of pot. Where is the logic in that? Where are we placing our values? Sure we want our kids off drugs but don’t we want them to not be attacked by monsters as well?

Once you go to the police and the state decides to prosecute, you no longer have any say in the matter. Your case can be pled down and out. You can sue civilly, but that’s a whole other trial and a whole other year or two of legal proceedings. The state typically likes to treat you like a mushroom: keep you in the dark and feed you (manure). You’re told as little as possible. You may show up for a hearing you’ve been stressing over only to find it’s been postponed and no one called to tell you. Or that the hearing isn’t taking place because there were some closed door meetings and an agreement was made. You are nothing but a pawn in a badly plaid chess game.

Get in, sit down, shut up and eat your peas, please.

Did you know that in some states they will not let a child testify via closed circuit television because the “accused” has a right to face their “accuser”. So these terrorized children have to be further terrorized by sitting in front of the person that terrorized them and recounting the details for the judge and lawyers? Thankfully most judges will clear the gallery due to the sensitive nature of the situation, but there are still lawyers and parents and bailiffs, court reporters – no less than 10 people staring at this child not to mention the person they fear the most in the world. Mental terrorism, anyone?

Did you ALSO know that (at least in my state) the Crime Victim Compensation fund has gone bankrupt? Yep. So now there are few to no resources for people to call upon to help their families heal when they need to. Restitution is a joke – does anyone ever get paid back, monetarily, by their assailant? I doubt it.

Victim’s advocates try to help but they are so short-staffed, over worked and underpaid that there is no way for them to keep up.

You want to talk legislation? Guess why a lot of bills meant to protect children don’t get passed? Because lawmakers tack on lesser bills about things like the trafficking of chimpanzees. I actually posted about his here. http://heidisacredandprofane.blogspot.com/2008/09/passing-bill-for-oprah.html so I won’t keep rambling on.

Do I have the answers? Not all of them but some of them seem like common sense. And I’ve just gone on and on and on about this for far too long, haven’t I? *ahem*

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

If I wasn’t married and neither was he? Tim McGraw. Yum. Otherwise I’d love to just go hang out with John Cusack. I love him – he’s so funny!

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey

Sleep. Too bad I’m all out.

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Heidi! Any parting thoughts?

Sure, thanks for having me. Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

You can find Heidi over at Sacred and Profane. Head on over there to find out why she dyed her hair purple or to enter her weekly Friday Freebie. Be prepared to have a good laugh...or several!

A Birthday and 32 Blessings

2009-09-10T22:25:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, I will turn 32 years old. I’m not sure what my husband has up his sleeve as far as celebrating goes, but I know that I’ll enjoy it. I am so excited!

I know it’s been done before, countless times by others, but I thought I’d share with you 32 of my favorite things.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Rain falling on a bright summer day

2. Sonic Happy Hour- I’ve developed quite a love for diet Sprite. : )

3. Grey’s Anatomy- not sure what this season will be like, but really enjoyed the last few

4. Books!- I am such a bookworm. I prefer to read books in one sitting. As my girls get older, I am able to read more and more, which is awesome.

5. Red roses- I love getting roses from my husband. <3

6. Kate Spade- specifically her black nylon collection

7. My wedding set- I am a simple gal with a love for fine things. My husband-to-be picked out the EXACT engagement ring that I would have picked out for myself, without my input. A stunning 1 carat diamond solitaire, six prongs on a thin gold band. My wedding band sets it off beautifully. What a guy!

8. Braum’s Peppermint Ice Cream- big chunks of green and red peppermint flavored hard candy in a scoop of creamy vanilla- YUM!

9. Tex-Mex- I could eat Mexican food for every meal. Not authentic Mexican food, though. It’s gotta be Tex-Mex or I’m not interested

10. Peach Bellinis- I seldom drink alcohol. I don’t like the taste unless it is disguised with lots of calorie ridden fruit juice. 600 calories for one drink? Just not worth it. But a peach bellini from Olive Garden? Order up!

11. A pedicure- not just any pedicure, one at a really nice salon with a pipeless system and a massage chair. Ahhhh….bliss.

12. Tiny hugs and kisses- nothing like little arms being wrapped around my neck and hearing the words “I Love You, Mommy” or “I Wub You, Mom” to turn my day around

13. 'S' swirls- we had these on our wedding cake and our house is decorated with them. Beautiful.

14. Surprising my loved ones- big surprises, little surprises- I find joy in it all.

15. HTML- who would have ever thought I would be bilingual? : )

16. Wedding cake- almond cake with almond frosting- simple, simple

17. Cats- past and present furry friends who have seen me though everything- life’s a little easier with a warm bundle at the foot of the bed

18. Getting packages in the mail- see #27

19. My husband in sunglasses- The first time I ever laid eyes on my husband, he was wearing sunglasses. To this day, seeing him in shades makes my heart go all a-flutter.

20. Having cash in my wallet- it’s nice to have a couple of dollars to splurge on a drink or a little treat every now and then

21. Good books that have been made into good movies- Not to be confused with good books that have been made into crappy movies.

22. Making memory items for my loved ones- I love making things for my girls. Each of them have scrapbooks detailing their first two years of life. My eldest has a handstitched quilt that I made from her baby clothes. My youngest will have one, too. : )

23. Hiking a familiar trail and seeing god’s untouched beauty- I was a camp counselor for several years. These memories are first and foremost in my mind as I think about my adult life before my meeting my husband.

24. Knowing that I've made a difference in the lives of others

25. Watching a big fireworks show with my loved ones- beautiful

26. An uninterrupted soak in a ridiculously hot bath at the end of a long day- yet another thing that gets easier to do as my girls get older

27. Ebay- I’ve gotten wrapped up in the thrill of outbidding way too many times.

28. Dublin Dr. Peppers- Just because I seldom partake of these doesn’t mean they cannot make the list. An ice cold glass bottle of Dr. Pepper made with Imperial sugar-YUM!

29. Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day- My absolute FAVORITE time of the year. I love it all: the Christmas lights, the commercial santas, spending money on those I hold near and dear, and, of course, the reason for the season

30. A well-made family photograph

31. The ocean- where we got engaged, where we spent our honeymoon, our first anniversary, our first family vacation…the ocean holds so many memories for my family, both now and from when I was a child

32. Celebrating another year of life with my loved ones- being blessed to be simply here, surrounded by the most supportive, loving family in the world- doesn’t get any better than that. : )

I could go on and on!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Free Flowing Friday

2009-09-04T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's that time of the week again where I simply spill it. Whatever is on my mind makes it to the post. No editing, just my thoughts being typed out as quickly as possible. :)

I love Fridays, which signal the end of the week when my hard-working husband comes home and is able to help out more with the girls. Woo hoo! Not that I need a break or anything...

There is one downside to Friday, though. Friday is trash pickup day at our house. An event that takes place between 7 and 8AM. The big, loud garbage truck comes rolling down our street, banging and clanging the back door all the way. I am unbelievable grateful that our trash gets picked up, don't get me wrong. It does stink (ha, get it!) when my girls get up an hour or two earlier than normal, though.

I am REALLY looking forward to my birthday next weekend. My sweet husband has something special up his sleeve, but I have no clue as to what it could be. I know it involves dinner, but no other details. Oooooh, the suspense!

Our beloved portable dvd player bit the dust and we had to resort to other forms of entertainment to and from the hill country last weekend. Our daughters sat in the backseat, pretending to pick apples off an apple tree. Then they would toss them to each other and take a bite. They did this for a good fifteen minutes, repeating the same process over and over and over again. It was so cute!

I went for my annual 'fun' visit to the woman doctor on Wednesday. Funny how I always used to hate those visits before I had children. It was so nice getting to catch up with my doctor and the nurse who requested to be by my side while having my first c-section. I got to know them pretty well in the last few months of each of my pregnancies. What's neat is that they remember details of each of my girls' births, such as my first daughter's head full of dark hair and my youngest's droopy ear (which corrected itself, in case you were wondering!).

I did three new makeovers this week. You can see them here, here, and here if you're interested. I am working on a super fun one today. Can't wait to get started!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Ours will be long, which is a true blessing. :)

Our Brave Little Girl's Battle With Reflux: Part Three

2009-09-03T08:38:00.002-05:00

Catch up by clicking below!

Part One
Part Two

Our little one was completely off a bottle at one year. The puking/excessive spitting up went with it. It really helped getting her off a liquid diet. She was (and still is) a very good eater.

Over the past two years, she has done remarkably well. Our daughter rarely shows signs of reflux discomfort anymore, but when she does, it presents itself in two ways: screaming out in her sleep (gravity can't help when her body is horizontal) and unbelievably horrible behavior.

Most children who have reflux issues in infancy outgrow them before they are a year old. Our youngest child fell into this category. She had milder symptoms than her sister and only took prevacid for a couple of months.

The only way to determine whether a child has outgrown this disease is to reduce their medication and see how they respond. We've tried weaning our oldest daughter off in the past by following our doctors' directions to no avail. Within a few days or so without the medication, it would be obvious that she still needed it and we would have to go back on the drug.

This time, we are trying a different approach. I did a lot of research by talking to other parents who successfully weaned their kids off the drug. We were advised to go very slowly and not to stop at the first sign of reflux. As with the removal of most long-term drugs, the body will go through a period of withdrawal. It's important to figure out what are signs of withdrawal and what are signs of true reflux.

The first few days were filled with AWFUL behavior issues, but we pushed through. Once her body adjusted, she was fine on the new dose (7/8 a dose). We kept her at that dose for a week, then reduced it to 3/4. This time, there were only two days of hell, followed by the quick return of our sweet little angel. Every time we reduce the dosage, her body takes less time to adjust.

Our three and a half year old is now down to 3/8 a dose. No screaming out at night and no behavior issues in sight, other than typical three year old fun. :) The other day we saw a true sign of reflux (she vomited a little while laughing and trying to do a cartwheel at the same time). Thankfully it seems to have been an isolated incident. Everyone has reflux issues from time to time, we just have to see if hers are severe enough to still need the medication, rather than be controlled by natural means, which would include avoiding lots of fatty foods and not eating before bedtime.

If we are unsuccessful in this wean, she will have to have an endoscopy w/biopsies and a ph probe to determine how bad her reflux is, as well as whether it has caused any damage to her esophagus. The endoscopy would be done under general anesthesia, something that scares me to no end. She would come home attached to monitoring equipment via a tube through her nose leading down to her stomach that would measure how many reflux episodes she has in 24 hours.

You can see why we are trying to wean.

We consider ourselves to be VERY blessed. There are some kids out there with reflux issues far worse than what our little girl has been through. Our daughter has never been hospitalized. Her food sensitivities in infancy did not result in full blown allergies. She eats and gains weight well.

We head back to the GI doc in October. She needs to be completely off the med by then, with no reflux problems, to avoid the invasive procedures.

We're praying that during the time between now and her appointment for clarity as to what His will is for our daughter as far as the reflux is concerned. We would like for Him to reveal to us in an unquestionable way, whether she needs medicine (and the invasive procedures) or will remain healthy without it.

Of course, we would prefer the latter, but we want to be in accordance with what He wants us to do, be it invasive testing or a total absence of medication. Those are our only choices at this point. Until the appointment, we will continue the slow wean of this drug, pausing if reflux symptoms occur and resuming as her body adjusts. Heck, we'll even backtrack if we need to, depending on what her body is telling us.

It seems as if everyone either has either had a baby with reflux or know someone who is having issues. I want to share with you a site that has been a great source of support for us. It's now called Kids Health Support, formerly Moms Wearing Puke. :) I encourage anyone who is dealing with an infant with reflux to check it out. I met several of my blogging friends through this site. It's awesome!

Does your child have a reflux story? I sincerely hope not, but if they do, I'd love to hear it. :)

Secret Sneaky Friend

2009-08-31T23:00:00.001-05:00

My Secret Sneaky Friend for today is……Kelly over at My Voice, My View!

Kelly lives in New York with her husband and their four children. Family activities keep her hoppin’! Kelly is very creative. She loves to express herself through her writing. Her poems captivate me on a near weekly basis. : )

Welcome, Kelly!

What do you want most from blogging? Lauren

I like this opportunity to connect with other people from all over the world. I have connected with so many insightful, sincere, creative, funny and kind bloggers. Blogging has enriched my day to day experience in so many ways. I'm grateful for all of the friends that I have made through blogging. I look forward to reading posts everyday.

Do you have a daily routine with your children or do you pretty much go with the flow? Alicia

We don't have a strict routine with set times for certain activities. Once school starts (tomorrow!), the routine is dictated by the school and soccer schedule. We are on the go most of the time after school. Trying to schedule a family dinner can be a challenge with all this running around.

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your blog or yourself during your time spent blogging? Vicky

I'm thrilled that I have followers who want to visit with me each day! I like having a chance to write and share my feelings. The blog has also been a great place to share my worries and concerns. It can be the best support system for a tired mom like me :)

How did you get into blogging?- Deb

I can remember exactly what event triggered my blogging. My husband was chained to his laptop on his favorite recliner. I looked over at him and he could tell that I wanted some conversation time. He said to me in a joking way, "Oh, please don't tell me that you want to talk?" The next day, I started my blog. I knew that I could find someone out there who wanted to hear my "voice". I'm always on the hunt for a good conversation. My husband is glad that I have conversation buddies now. He's not totally off the hook. I'll trap him into a meaningful conversation every once in a while.

Are you named after anyone significant or unusual?- Deb

My mom thought that she was being original by naming me Kelly. I grew up in an Irish American neighborhood in NYC. When I started first grade, there were 7 Kellys in the class. Now I seem to only run into other Kellys in the blogging world.

Are you where you imagined you'd be in high school? If your high school self saw you today, what would she say? Deb

She would say, "Are you still trying to pull off that curly hairstyle?"

Who has had the most influence on your life?- CC

My parents' unconditional love, faith, support, generosity, guidance and humor helped shape my way of looking at the world. I strive to follow their example as I try and figure out what it takes to be a "good" parent each day. It's a challenge, but I will often take a moment to think, "How would Mom or Dad handle this situation?"

How did you meet your hubby? Elaine

Picture two 17 year old kids working in a discount store for $3.35 an hour. I was a girl from the city; he was a boy from the suburbs. I remember thinking that this new stock boy was "safe and probably not a serial killer". That really did cross my mind. (My husband is a very nice guy who does everything for me and the kids.) Seven years later, we were married. At my reception, my brother-in-law called us the "homeless married couple". We spent so much time together hanging out that we were never home. We had to get married so we could actually have a regular place to be together. I know that this is not the most romantic story. That's why I read novels for my romance:)

What is your favorite way to relax? septembermom

Considering this is my question, I should repeat that mantra to myself each day, "relax, relax, relax". Every night around 11 p.m., I cuddle up in bed with my book. I also love to relax to music. If I get the chance (without the kids), I find walking to be very relaxing.

What kind of humor/comedian makes you laugh?- septembermom

My father and I used to laugh at the old Pink Panther movies. I also like sarcastic humor. Seinfeld was one of my favorites.

What was the most embarrassing shopping trip with your kids? Tiffany

Once my son said to me, "Mom, do you really think that would fit you?" Of course, a couple of shoppers were close by to hear him. I'm happy to report that it DID fit me.

Are you a talker in the real world?- Miti

Once I get started, I enjoy a good conversation. I love email too because it gives me a chance to keep connected with my buddies even during those late evening hours when all the kiddies are asleep.

What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?- Heidi

I love babies giggling, beautiful music and happy kids. I hate loud fans, screeching cars, and when the TV is on way too loud. Sometimes I think my husband is trying to entertain the whole block with the latest action movie!

If you could have free plastic surgery - one procedure - which one and why? Heidi

4 kids = tummy tuck

You're on death row (naughty, naughty!) and you are getting ready to eat your LAST MEAL. What is it?- Heidi

Chicken parmigiana, cheese tortellini, lots of bread and the biggest piece of chocolate cake you can find

How often do you get a pedicure? - Mama Sewell

I have never had one. My daughter and I have been playing pedicure shop all summer. It has been a fun way for us to bond. She loves pink so I had pink toes all summer long :)

If you could go back in time and erase one super embarrassing moment what would it be?- Mama Sewell

I wore a wedding dress with a huge train. It took like 5 people to figure out how to bustle it. At the reception, the slip under my dress came undone. That was a lot of dress to try and gather together!

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

There is something about Hugh Jackman. I'm getting flustered. I think I better stop my fantasy now.

If you got to spend the day with one celebrity, who would it be? Kelsey

I love to write poetry. It would be an amazing honor to sit with Maya Angelou. Every word she speaks is golden.

What is your favorite beauty product? Kelsey

I love my Oil of Olay moisturizer. I REALLY love it now that I'm in my 40's!

Thanks so much for being my Secret Sneaky Friend, Kelly! Any parting thoughts?

Jill, thanks so much for asking me to participate. This was fun! I love your blog and I think that you're terrific!

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You can find Kelly over at My Voice, My View. Go say hello and wish her a happy early birthday!

Free Flowing Friday

2009-08-27T23:18:00.000-05:00

Whew! What a week!

My friend, Jacki over at Counting My Abundant Blessings has purchased one of my makeover packages to give away in honor of her 100th post. Head over there if you get a chance and give her some bloggy love! She would be tickled pink if you would enter her giveaway, too. I would love to work on the blog of one of my readers. The giveaway ends Sunday.

Speaking of makeovers, I have been swamped! It seems that is the way this line of work is. A few days of downtime, then WHOOSH! three or hour people wanting makeovers at the same time. It's a tremendous blessing that a hobby has turned into a business. Doing what I love and lovin' what I do...can't complain about that.

Want to check out my newest gigs? Click here to see my first photography (commercial) blog or here to see an adorable scrapbookish one. :)

Enough of that. :)

We are headed out of town this weekend to visit my husband's family. Of course, yesterday, I started hearing a loud clicking sound coming from under the hood of the car. It was a mad scramble for my husband, who had to get the car to the shop somehow during his workday. The verdict? $600. I don't even know what's wrong, but I know it's set us back that much. Good thing is that we'll be able to make the trip this weekend without having to get a rental car.

Speaking of my hubby, he made it to the big show! One of his First Five blog posts was chosen by Mama Kat as a prompt this week. Wooooo hoooo! Way to go, Lane!!!!!

I feel kind of silly for not posting the third (and final!) installment of my daughter's battle with reflux. I just have not had the time to sit down and write it. :( To satisfy your curiosity, she is doing great. We are on half a dose of Prevacid now. Awesome.

My birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks (September 12th, mark your calendars!). I have already spent all of my birthday money. I got a beautiful Kate Spade purse, as well as the wallet and cosmetic bag to match. I absolutely adore it. I just hope everyone is still planning on giving me money. :)

I won a giveaway not too long ago over at Following Him. Elyse sent me the most beautiful assortment of stationery. Included in the package were several packs of notecards and a adorable magnetic notepad, which I really needed for our refrigerator. I'm all set!!!! Thanks so much, Elyse!!!! You ROCK!!!!!

I'm off to enjoy a nice long soak in the tub. I'm reading Any Minute by Joyce Meyer. I'm so glad she has started writing fiction. She is an awesome teacher, but I find it hard to sit and read all the way through one of her books. I loved The Penny. I'm sure this one will be just as good.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Bathtub, here I come!