HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATE!!!!

Happy Birthday Tate! You are 8 today . I can't believe it.. Where has the time gone?
It seem like just yesterday that you were born. I love you so much. Have a great day buddy!!!!

Thanksgiving

This is one of my favorite times of year. It is cooling down, kids are off school for holiday breaks and I get to spend time with family. We have lost a couple of family members over the last couple of years and this time of year really makes me miss them. I am so thankful for so many things in my life. As I get older I realize how much I have to be thankful for. Kalvyn listed 10 reasons that she was thankful and it motivated me to do the same.
1.I am thankful for my family, immediate and extended.
2.I am thankful for our health. Sometimes I take this for granted but we have it good.
3.I am thankful for my friends. I really love all of my friends. They each have their own great qualities that make me feel like I am surrounded by greatness.
4.I am thankful for my marriage. My parents were divorced when I was 4 and I always thought a family was a mom and kids. I love Rick so much. He truly makes me complete.
5.I am thankful that I have God in my life. No explanation needed.
6.I am thankful that I live in a free country. Again, I take this for granted until I watch the news.
7.I am thankful for all the mistakes I have ever made, big and small. They make me who I am today. You can't learn unless you admit you make them.
8.I am thankful that I don't have to struggle to feed my kids. I can't imagine them going hungry.
9.I am thankful that I am able to stay home with my kids. It's hard work but I wouldn't change it for anything.
10.I am thankful for education. We may not have the best education system here in AZ, but at least we are able to get an education.

Happy Thankgiving..

Busy Weekend

Whewww.. That was a busy weekend. We started Friday night going to see the "Twilight" movie. Kalvyn,Jordyn and a few friends went to the Harkins Tempe Market Place for diner and a movie. It was a lot of fun. The movie wasn't as good as I hoped. I really didn't expect it to be as good as the book. Rick wants me to get the books on cd so he can listen to them on the way to and from work. shhh. don't tell anyone!
Saturday we had soccer at 9:30. It was the best game of the season. Tate won 5-4. We then hit a remote control airplane show. After that we ran home and got ready for Tate's birthday fun. We picked his friends up at 3 and were off to laser tag. The boys had a ton of fun! We all came home and had hot dogs, cupcakes and jumped on the trampoline. Around 7:30 a mom called to see if we decided to adopt her son.. haha. We dropped everyone off at home around 8pm. It was a very long day.
Sunday we had diner at my dads for Thanksgiving. It was fun for the cousins to get together and play. Rick and I hit the hot tub and then it was lights out...It was a very busy weekend.

BAD Day!

Today was a tough day. I must be having PMS or something. As you may remember, we had taken in a dog from someone that Rick knew. Lucy. Well, after 6-7 weeks of cleaning up throw up almost daily, cleaning up pee numerous times a day, dealing with her running out the door anytime anyone opened it, NUMEROUS health problems $$$$$$$, we have decided that this was not working out. I am a person that takes on something and really likes to commit.So this was very hard for me. Lots of guilt feelings. We have wrestled with this for a couple weeks. We thought she might get better, get used to our family, other dog, routine, rules. She hasn't, not one bit. The poor thing was simply used to breed at her last owners home. She has never been socialized, doesn't know how to act around another dog or people for that matter. We found her a new home. The kids, mostly Tate, were heart broken. I cried many times today. Then we go to Home Depot. This annoying sales person was following, borderline harassing us, to sign up to have our kitchen cabinets looked at. I totally gave him a fake phone number so he would go away and leave us alone. I couldn't deal with anything else today. I got to the car and starting crying. Rick hugged me and asked what what wrong. I told him I felt like a bad person today for giving that sales guy a wrong number. I don't lie, It makes me feel terrible. RIck laughed. He knew where I was coming from . I really feel like a bad person today...
I do have to admit, the peaceful, harmonious feeling is back in our home tonight. I still feel like a bad person though...:(

Painting

Seriously, if anyone ever hears me say that I am going to be painting, please slap me, hard. Rick and I painted the entire inside of this house 4 years ago. I vowed never to paint again. Well, we are redoing Tate's room for his birthday. The first step of that is painting his BLUE room a lighter, more neutral color. I started this weekend and after about 30 minutes it all came back to me. I HATE PAINTING! Once you start you can't stop though. It's even harder with 2 "helpers". I am almost done, thank goodness! I will post some pictures of the redone room when it's all done.

Brothers

Brothers...
I have a brother that is sandwiched between me and my sister. The poor thing had to deal with two sisters.. I never knew the bond between brothers. Tate and Blake are so great with each other. They love to rough house, run, scream, explore, hug, fight, read together. I can tell these guys will be friends for life. I know they will always be there for each other even though there is 6 years difference in age.

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you Grandpa Warren, for all you have done! We love you so much! Hope you can make it back to Arizona this winter... Love you!

I can see the light.

Thank goodness this is finally behind us. All 5 of us have been sick this week. Rick and I spent Friday night and Saturday sick.. I slept 13 hours...and a nap. I feel so much better today, we all do. We slept in and we may go see a movie..It is a cloudy cold day. It's great to be alive!

Someone tell me this is a joke???!!!

Please, please tell me...I could use a good laugh. We have had a week around here. Tate threw up all day Sunday. I thought we were on our way to getting back to normal...today Blake started throwing up every 10 minutes..seriously, every 10 minutes. Of course he is so little he can't let you know it is coming... Kalvyn has a 99.9 temp. She missed school yesterday and today .She was seen by a doctor today because her throat hurts so bad. Strep is going around. Well, no strep..which is good,but why does it hurt so bad? Just a virus. She has been miserable all night. Right after she went to bed, about 8:30.. Rick and I were sitting on the couch talking about what a tough day it has been( he had a dental emergency today as well,to the tune of $1200.0,fun), Kalvyn comes running in throwing up. She had a cup in her room she grabbed and most, yes most of it made it..some didn't. Rick is cleaning up her room and she will sleep with me tonight. We have a custom in our home..kids throwing up sleep with mom. That we we can prevent throw up all over the floor, bed, ect. I hear them getting ready and I grab the "bowl" and they aim..gross! So now we have two vomiters.. Any takers on a bet that I won't get any sleep tonight?

This Weekend....

This weekend started out with a bang.Kalvyn had her 1st dance recital at Shepherd. She did SO GOOD. I really don't remember being as sure of myself as she is. Confidence is a great quality and she has it when it comes to performing.
Tate had his class party..It was loads of fun.. I left with a headache which has been here on and off all weekend. I think I am fighting something off. We went trick or treating at Ricks moms house. She always
has a big party with yummy food.(that is my niece Jordyn...she loves Blake and is really good with him)Saturday was soccer and recovery from Halloween. Today was a weird day . We got up and ate breakfast with the intention of going to church . Tate started feeling sick and threw up all day long. He seriously hasn't been sick since the beginning of kindergarten. THe poor thing felt so bad he was in bed all day...Needless to say, he won't be at school tomorrow.

Blake thought it was pretty funny all the weird sounds coming out of Tate today. He fed himself a whole container of yogurt all by himself without making too much of a mess. Rick and I took advantage of not having anything to do and just relaxed. I really think I am coming down with something...just not quite feeling right... Here's to a better day tomorrow.