lovely

Today is a beautiful day. Not much has happened, other than church and some good family time. J has been out working on his car with his Dad while his mom and I are just enjoying eachothers company and the nice breeze coming in through all the open windows. (Big sissy is riding her bike up and down the street while harassing daddy and papa as often as possible! and Monkey is napping.) What a lovely day.

thankful

Well, there has been a multitude of things keeping me pre-occupied this week. That plus my ever present funk I was in has kept me from writing the past few days. On a plus side, my in-laws came into town this week and it has been a much needed distraction. It's funny how God knows exactly what you need at any given moment. Since I missed "thankful Thursday" I think I will have a thankful Friday. :) I am done wallowing in my own self pity. Enough is enough.
So today, I am thankful for grace. I haven't been the most pleasant person this week and I am SO thankful that the people who love me and have given me their grace and understanding. I am thankful that even though I am clearly and obviously an unworthy candidate God has given me His grace. Today I am going to let go of all the gunk that is clogging my engine (yeah, I'm not too sure where that metaphor came from) and accept grace. Because no matter what is going on I need to remember that I AM SIMPLY BLESSED.

blah

Well, it's just been one of those days. Call it a funk, a fog, whatever it is; it's cast it's ugly shadow on me today. I think I'll go peek at the kiddos sleeping, that always makes me smile. ;)

formal complaint

Dear Neighbor with THREE dirt bikes,

I love the outdoors. In fact, I love dirt bikes and quads just as much as the next guy or gal. HOWEVER, I do NOT love when you work on your bikes during the day and then proceed to rev their engines during my monkey's nap time. I also am curious as to why your two teenage boys never go to school. I can understand if you guys home school, but if that were the case, then they should be INSIDE learning at some point throughout the day. I also wonder, WHY do you never go to work?!?! How can a four person family ALWAYS be at home? How do you earn your money. Perhaps you are paid by the other neighbors to not rev your engine when it's dark, which I thank you for. In conclusion, I am begging that you STOP this nonsense immediately! Thank you for your time.

Until my next formal complaint,
Jessica

Cup of Joe

We have had TOO much food this weekend! All I want to do is sit down with this cup of coffee and eat nothing for a week! Okay maybe just till tomorrow! ;) I hope everyone has had a great weekend.

festive weekend...

My hubby turns 27 tomorrow! Wowsers! :) We have company coming (cousin and husband) for the weekend and I have A LOT of baking and cooking to do. The fastest way to J's heart is through his stomach and I plan on being right in that heart all weekend long! I plan on filling the next few days with all of his favorites. Oh and for those of you wondering, yes ALL weekend, I believe that people deserve a birthday WEEK if possible, but a birthday weekend will do. Enjoy your weekends everyone!

EXHAUSTED!

Yesterday was tedious! I spent, wait for it... SEVEN hours in my 5 year olds room cleaning, organizing and donating toys. OH DEAR. Here is where I confess that when my husband was on his second deployment we came up with the idea that Daddy would send Big Sissy (who wasn't a sissy at all at the time) boxes from Iraq to show that he was thinking of her. (Now of course I was the one who was packing these boxes and sneaking them onto the porch, but she will NEVER know this.) Any who, I went a little overboard, after I saw the joy on my sad lonely daughters face I just couldn't stop. I didn't buy expensive stuff that threw us into debt. BUT I did buy way too much crap (I mean how many kaleidoscopes does one kid need?) I think Daddy sent a box at least once a week. So, it is obvious that this little girl has accumulated way to much "stuff" over the past few years. It was time to get rid of it all, well at least most of it! I was having anxiety every time I opened her closet. So I hunkered down (a saying my husband uses quite frequently) and blessed that mess. And even though I am exhausted today, I am so happy it is done. I literally went in there this morning and laid down on her floor and stared at the closet in joy. :)
Now only if cleaning the bathrooms could give me this much joy.

HEW MON GO

This morning I was driving to the gym when Big Sissy CRACKED me up. It went a little something like this...

Big Sissy: Do you know what my favorite word is Mommy?
Me: Nope, what is it babe?
Big Sissy: HUMONGOUS!
Me: Wow, that's a good one! Sounds kinda funny when you say it huh?
Big Sissy: It sounds even funnier in Chinese! In Chinese its HUMONGO!
Me: Babe, I don't think that's Chinese.
Big Sissy: YES IT IS! It's easy to pronounce Mommy, HEW (long pause) MON (another long pause) GO! See, its easy to learn Chinese!

So I haven't decided what my favorite part of this conversation was, perhaps the fact that she used the word pronounce, or maybe it was the fact that my 5 year old claims to know Chinese with NO formal (or informal, or any) training at all! :) She is a serious hoot.

So we were driving along and I decided to see if she knew what humongous meant...

Me: Babe, what does humongous mean to you?
Big Sissy: Well, it's kinda hard to explain Mommy. You see that building up there? (she was talking about the grocery store that was about a half mile up the road)
Me: Yes?
Big Sissy: Well, it looks tiny, like I could squish it with my foot. BUT, when we get closer it will be HUMONGOUS! That's what the word humongous is all about Mommy!

I ADORE getting little glimpses into her fascinating brain! She is just a joy! I can't wait till Monkey starts talking fluently!

helping hand

I don't know what it is, but my husband has been an ASTONISHINGLY huge help lately. Don't get my wrong, he is always willing to lend a hand. However, the past two weeks or so, he has gone out of his way to offer me assistance BEFORE I ask for it. He's even been taking the initiative to just do things he knows I need done. For example he lead the girls upstairs with him tonight so that I could make my new recipe in peace. (Which turned out delicious by the way) After dinner, he took both girls upstairs without a word and bathed them! After their baths he took the stinky raw chicken trash out. I know these all seem like simple things. But I guess when they just happen (all in the same evening) I am floored. I'm not going to ask what's up, I don't wanna jinx my good fortune. I would just like to say that I appreciate my husband. I know he wont read this, but I think there is something to be said for lifting up your spouse to others. I'm blessed.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I made PINK, CHOCOLATE CHIP, HEART shaped pancakes for my loves this morning. Happy Valentine's day everyone! I hope your days are filled with love!

simply joyful

Earlier today it was nap time for our monkey and Daddy headed upstairs with Big Sissy. He was headed to his "man cave" to play some silly video game and Big Sissy just wanted to play in her room. :) (I guess they both just wanted to play!) So I sat down on the couch and absorbed the silence. It was BLISS, pure bliss. I sat in silence for quite some time, I think I even lost track of time. All of a sudden I heard LOUD noises coming from my eldest's room. So, I rush up the stairs in full blown "gonna chew your head off for almost waking up the baby mode". When I get to the hall and approach her door I am more able to detect what these loud noises are. They are LAUGHTER, ultimate, priceless, pure, PRECIOUS LAUGHTER! My husband was in there playing with her and the two of them were laughing so hard and so loud that I froze in my tracks. My 'mean mommy' just melted away. The sound was simply joyful. I stood there listening for a moment frozen in the laughter. I went from thinking that there was nothing greater than that silence I had been sitting in, to KNOWING that hearing the ones I love laugh (obnoxiously loud or not) is hands down the BEST sound ever!

Oh and side note: I'm glad I didn't stop the fun because they didn't wake up monkey, in fact she napped longer today then possibly ever. So maybe laughter is music to her ears too!

Valentine's Day cards...

My daughter is VERY crafty! She decided that this year she wanted to make her own cards to hand out at school. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous that they were going to look tacky! But I was SO WRONG! She had a vision :) and with my help she made some adorable little cards. Here is what they final product looked like...



I wrote their names on the front, she drew a picture on the inside, signed her name on the back and decorated the front with foam stickers. She did such a good job, and now I feel a little guilty for being worried. But at least I know to trust her imagination!

husband project day 2!

I am still participating in Christine's Husband Project Challenge over at A Leap of Faith! Today was all about doing something for your husband that brings him back to something he loves to do. SO, I have asked a friend to watch the girls for a couple of hours and we are going on a motorcycle ride this weekend. He LOVES to ride and never gets a chance to go anymore. I can't wait to tell him to get on his gear, we're taking a ride through wine country! :) Thanks Christine for prompting me to do something great for my husband! :)

Wondering Wednesdays

Okay here is a BIG thing I wonder about...

Woman / Girls that wear a full face of make-up to the gym... WITH their hair straightened or curled!?!?!? Seriously people? Now here is my disclaimer, I go to the gym at 8:45 a.m., If I'm going in the evening then I GET IT, you came from work or you're just not a mom and had time to do your hair and makeup that day. BUT at 8:45 in the morning it just doesn't make sense! WHY?!?! Can you tell this really bugs me. Coming from a woman that hardly has time to put on make-up (let alone CURL my hair) when going to church, I am utterly perplexed! Now don't get me wrong I LOVE MAKE-UP, in fact I use to be a make-up artist (way back in the day!). But come on people, no one cares if you look like crud at the gym, you're gonna sweat for Pete's sake! At least you SHOULD sweat! Oh well, I guess I'll let it go for now, but for any of you out there who do this, please explain to me the reasoning behind it! :)

The Husband Project

I follow this blog at http://cecoakley.blogspot.com. It's called A LEAP OF FAITH. Christine over there is doing a challenge right now. Today is the first project, I tried it and it was AWESOME! My husband had no idea why I was allowing him time to unwind, but it made him so pleasant to be around! :) If you are looking for any new ways to bless your husband head over to her page and give it a shot!

young love...

Yesterday when I picked up my daughter from school, what she had to say cracked me up! "Mommy, P wants L to be his girlfriend. But I don't care because he isn't old enough to have a girlfriend anyway! I don't want a boyfriend, not until I'm like 16!" LO AND BEHOLD she is so wise! haha, for all of you wondering, I WILL type that up and have her sign it! Do you think a five year old's signature will hold up in a court of law?!?!? Because I have every intention of bringing it out to ward off any future 'loves'. :)

Company Coming

Well tonight my parents and grandparents will be getting here. I am SO STINKING excited! I love my family if you can't tell. :) Big Sissy's official party is tomorrow so we will have a FULL house. And I just realized that I totally forgot to get goodie bags together for the kiddos. UGH, it is going to be an early morning for this Mommy. At least Walmart is open 24 hours! I'm sure I'll figure something clever out. Have a good weekend everyone and enjoy the super bowl! :)

Thankful Thursday

Today my BABY GIRL turned 5... that's right FIVE years old TODAY!!! I can not comprehend how five years have passed so quickly! She is the most precious and wonderful gift (along with my other bundle of joy) that God has given me. Today I am thankful for her! YAY for birthdays!

Wondering Wednesday...

I wonder why God made calories! Food is so delicious... I don't want to get fat... but I LOVE TO EAT!!! I made this for dinner...



It's Shrimp Penne in a HEAVY cream, tomato and wine sauce! UGH, I feel 10 lbs heavier already. BUT it was so worth it! :) Good thing I ran 5 miles this morning!

And I made these last night, they're Pumpkin Snicker doodles (thanks to a recipe by "For love of Cooking")...



I wonder how many I can eat in one sitting?!?! I kid, I kid!

I wonder what else yummy food I can make this week! I guess I have food on the mind, so that's it folks, simply FOOD!

Meal Planning

This my friends is the meal planner I made last week with my mom's group AND I LOVE IT! I went grocery shopping yesterday and I was so organized! I wasn't just winging it, like usual. I got exactly what I needed for the meals and I didn't end up buying all the extra stuff, because I "might" make this or that. Nope, it took the guessing right out of it. I actually spent about $30 less than usual also! I can't wait till I have about 6 weeks perfected, then I can rotate them around! Inside I have dividers in the back to organize my successful recipes (Dinner, Sides and Desserts). I also put plastic protective pocket sheets in their for my actual Weekly Menu Plan, Grocery list, and Current Recipes. Trust me ladies, you need to make one of these! Unless you're totally NOT OCD like me! :)

grocery store debacle...

Grocery shopping with two kids is... lets just say, it's interesting. Monkey is now at the age where she SCREAMS the entire time she is strapped into a shopping cart. Which means, she wants to walk along side her Big Sissy. It's adorable to watch, UNTIL she tries to rearrange every item on every shelf. And Big Sissy, she wants to hold the list and check off the items when we get them. It's all too much for me! I wouldn't find it so overwhelming if it weren't for the people (who have obviously never had children) who glare at you for moving at a snails pace! COME ON PEOPLE! They're kiddos, AND they're adorable, get over it! :)