2010

I know it's clique to say that 'time goes by so fast' but it really really does. It's almost scary sometimes how quickly it seems the year has raced by us. The holidays have again come and gone, and this year had some unique events, but was overall a wonderful time for us.

Quite suddenly, we found out that my sister in law's father passed away in his sleep the day before Christmas Eve....this of course was devasting to their family, and a very hard time of the year to say the least to plan a funeral. I know from losing my dad suddenly how very hard and tragic this is....we did get to have our nephews over to spend the night on Christmas night and all four kids had the best time together! In fact, the dreaded nighttime routine went quite smoothly---of course they were exhausted! My nephew Luke yelled AUNT LINDSAY AUNT LINDSAY at about 2:30 in the morning and when we went in,,all he wanted was a drink! They were very sweet and had a blast.

My step-dad also lost his mother after a long illness, so they were making arrangements for her funeral which was this past Monday. It was a nice service and everyone was pleased.

My Christmas tradition is DECOR IS DOWN ASAP AFTER the 25th! I LOVE Christmas decorations, but I am ready to get it all cleaned up and put away when it's over. This year I finally went through old decor, and tons of other stuff, clothes, toys, sheets, comforters and stock piled 5 massive bags that we took to Goodwill. I am the very opposite of a hoarder, I probably throw too much away (except for the kids art work and stuff).

This weekend we have various parties to attend and I will be doing some more cooking, I truly love cooking now more than just about any other hobby and trying out new recipes hasn't made anyone too upset in our family!

I can't believe it's almost 2011.........

Happy Holidays

It's a fun and hectic time of year for most people. This season, I feel like I have literally shopped and shopped and shopped some more. I think it has to do with (in my case), starting TOO early with shopping. What happened was that I literally started forgetting what I bought. I even forgot what I had purchased for my nephews. Between co-workers, secret santas, nephews, parents, teachers, etc. 'Santa' had to finally drag everything out and take inventory. Good thing I did too, b/c the gifts weren't exactly even....Dalton had more big things, while Tatum had tons more stocking gifts. We are ready now.

Reindeer food---check
Santa cookies (making tomorrow)---check
teacher gifts---check
Santa's massive load of gifts---check!

And this holiday season, as I prepare my grocery list to make yummy treats I AM SOOO EXCITED that my in-laws bought me a FABULOUS new cookware set...top of the line! It just makes baking and cooking that much better! Christmas to me, is really no longer about anything I get. I know growing up I was very blessed to have wonderful Christmases.

These days, I find it more gratifying giving gifts to the people I love and care about more than getting gifts. So that is why my holiday cookware was such a treat!!! ---(Oh and don't get me wrong, I do not go without---Tatum looked at me the other day as we were shopping at Charming Charlie's and said "Mommy, you sure have a LOT of handbags").....I put it down straight away!

The holidays are here and it's time to remember once again how thankful I am to have the blessings in my life that I do. Wishing everyone a fun and happy Christmas and new year!

The innocent child

As the end of the year approaches, I reflect on all of the activities and adventures my family and I have had.....it has been quite a fun year. With that said, I must be a bit sappy...

The moment I saw their faces, heard them breathe, and felt their touch,
I awoke to the most amazing love I had ever known.
Who could have imagined your heart could love, cherish, hurt for and long for another human as much as it now did.
I often say "I love you more than ever today" and they giggle and ask HOW Mommy!!??!!!
The answer is my love grows deeper every day for my innocent children...

Thank you God, for allowing me to have two wonderful children that brighten my life every second of the day.

The poor reindeer

Recently life has been pretty calm en Casa de Rice....sure we've had a few sick times here and there, but overall nothing too remarkable has happened. The weather and having some kids 'under' the weather forced me to make my very own Thanksgiving dinner by myself this year...and I must say, it all turned out quite nicely....except the gravy, must work on the gravy. We also had family pics done, which is so cool, but also very expensive and very hard to choose...I generally hate any and all pictures of myself, so making the process even harder.

In other news, our doggies are practically potty trained! They don't really go to the door yet, when they need to go, so that is next on the training list. Their mommy is so very proud of them!!

Christmas has arrived at our house for sure. I THINK I am about done with buying gifts, but just as I feel about ready, I remember something else and out I go again. I have shopped smart this year, taking advantage of really great deals, and for that I have saved some $$$.....of course when I see FANTASTIC deals when I am out buying for others....sometimes I accidentally come home with something great for me :)

After seeing Santa this weekend, Tatum felt better about the reindeer/eating issue. Let's go back a few weeks. My little veterinarian was quite worried and concerned that the sweet reindeer just simply could not do their job on carrots alone. She was downright upset. So, of course, it being 2010, we 'googled it' as she asked to do. I found a site that basically helped parents out by saying "Oh yes, the reindeer love cookies too." I said, "SEE? They do like cookies, it says so right here."

Her response? "You seriously don't believe everything you read...do you mommy?"

She is smarter than I am.

I'm Floored.

The past two days have been spent stacking piling and pushing funiture aside so that our new wood floors can be installed. Two kids, two dogs, two big people, trying to navigate around construction and still 'live' there has been interesting. I will say my biggest fear with this particular project was how in the world they would match our existing wood floors to the new wood floors....this is where I was really holding my breathe. TWWWWALLLLA! A perfect match! Today when we get home the downstairs should be complete so that we can start the clean up, move stuff back into place project. Tomorrow the team will be laying wood upstairs in the hallway and then Monday new carpets on the stairs and then DONE! It's a messy job, but it will be worth it. Some funny things we have noticed: the carpet muffled sound in our house....it's even louder now! This comes in handy when I am singing at the top of my lungs and the echo sounds so cool, but not so lucky when two kids are talking over each other.... anther thing, the dogs pissing playground has now been tossed, REALLY hope they can pick up on potty training with the smell gone and a re-focused mom and dad training them. Speaking of dogs, everything was in such array last night, at one point we couldn't 'find' Zippy....we looked and looked and looked. I thought maybe he was outside or had been swallowed up by the stuff we had piled high in every corner of the house. Nope----I found him sitting inside the car in the garage with the doors shut....no one remembers him outside and by the way this is the 2nd time in a week I have found him in the car like this.....crazy dog.

I am excited to decorate this year with my new wood floors!

A shot of courage

After looking into the flu shots this year, I decided it would be best if we all skipped the mist and did the shot. First of all the shot is not a live virus, and I just feel like it's a better choice. To each their own! Nevertheless, much 'shot' talk has been taking place in our house. Tatum was pretty mad about not getting that nose misty stuff, so we'll see how she reacts today when it's game time. Dalton had almost talked himself into everything being okay today. We showed up at his preschool and though he was not his usual happy self, he wasn't crying. We got checked in and walked into the room where the nurses were giving the shots. Two kids in there....screaming.....crap. He looks up at me, tears filling his eyes and he says:

"I USUALLY GO WITH THE FLOW.....BUT THIS IS CRAZY!!!!"

Luckily, I am wizard in the department of distraction. I say, "DALTON, tell them about your halloween costume..I bet NO ONE here would believe how SCARY it is!"

D: "Well....sniff sniff....it...sniff is pretty scary...it's actually freaky" (side note...actually is one of his favorite words to date).

Smart assistant nurse brings bag of candy over while shot nurse gets ready to aim.

Aim. Fire. Done.

Me: GREATTT JOB!

Dalton: "I WOULDN'T say that DIDN't hurt mommy."

Alas, Dalton loves him some chocolate and the mini twix seemed to comfort the wounds so to speak.

I am much more worried about my drama diva getting her shot today. I am sure I will have more to write about that later.

The Pumpkin Theif

I love fall.....I really love when the air feels crisp and you can sit out and enjoy the fire pit and watch two stinky little people eat smores---! This past weekend we had fun with the Skeleton Scurry, a little run/kid vendor booths/pizza event....Tatum dressed as Lo the Warrior Princess and Dalton went as the 'Unknown Phantom.' The weekend seemed to be going smoothly, until I noticed that the GIANT Green pumpkin gourd Tatum and I had so lovingly picked out the weekend before along with several other unique harvest decorations was jammed like a stake through the heart on a neighbors mailbox...I was sad....then I was MAD....I get it, you are 14 and that is just SO funny, but really it's not and I wanted to grab the little turds and beat them. Of course it was a good learning experience for the kids (eh hem, after I got done saying "I'M GONNA KILL THEM")....we talked about how it's NOT nice to do that to someone else's property, and it's like stealing, etc. They both were VERY sincere about it.....(I know I know.....I am sure they will smash a few pumpkins at some point) but still, it was important to talk to them about why that isn't cool.

In other weekend news....not like anyone DOESN'T know this, but MU upset #1 OU for probably one of the best football games I have ever seen in my LIFE! What a fun game to watch! And now here is where I KNOW I am old...after the game, I thought "WOW,I am SO glad I am not there, I bet that place is insane." And I went to bed.....


A busy week ahead!

Let's try this again...

The frustration of posting a really cool blog only to somehow completely wipe it out is, well, FRUSTRATING!!!! I don't have time to re-cap much, but to say that my brother got married last weekend, and my two sweet babies were quite gorgeous in their duds....they were waited patiently and had so much fun, but as we all were, they were quite ready to go home when it was over. I also got a nice case of pneumonia right in the middle of everything and even though it's a week later, I am still not 100%.....working on it. Here are a couple pics of the kids.

Oh nuts.

I know I am weird. I just don't dig hot hot weather. I am great with summer in the beginning, but by mid-July I have checked out of the 100 degree weather. Fall is my favorite time of the year, granted with global warming it certainly seems that we almost go from HOT summer to COLD winter without seeing much of Mr. Fall.....but those few weeks he is here are oh so wonderful. Pumpkins, Halloween, long boots, and sweathers OH MY!!!! Puts this girl in a great mood. I love to wake up, walk outside and take a deep breathe of crisp fall air. Not too mention blasting up that fire pit outside! So, the weather seems to be heading in that direction and so many other things are happening at the Rice house......it's almost too much to even mention! Everyone is doing well for the most part...

I usually include some 'kid' stories, b/c quite frankly they are so funny and I feel like if I don't write about them, I will forget! The latest OBSESSION in our house primarily with Dalton is his Halloween costume. He is going as the 'lost phantom' or something freakishly dark and disturbing this year....Tatum is going as 'lo' Perseus' love in Clash of the Titans... this was the conversation in the car this weekend:

Dalton: Mommy..Daddy...hey guys??!! Why can't kids trick or treat by themselves? Alone and stuff?

Us: Because you are too little and someone could take you....so you don't do anything like that without mom and dad around...or an adult that you know.

Tatum: I would scream and run away if someone tried to take me!

Dalton: I would Kon Fu them (Kung Fu) and hi-----yaaaaa them!

Tatum: I would kick them in the nuts.

Us: Looking at each other in dismay and trying not to laugh and realizing they both had NO idea what that means b/c they weren't laughing at all.

I sat there and thought, do I tell her not to say that again when she doens't know what it means? I am sure she heard it at school,,,and my next thought was..nope, when push comes to shove, a good kick in the nuts to a 'bad guy' isn't so bad after all!!!

Going Organic

I think we all know that eating organic would be the ideal--fruits, veggies, meats, everything void of pesticides and crazy antibiotics. Lately, I have tried to make even better choices for our family meals and snacks. Like making buffalo burgers (much healthier and so delicious), pad thai with gluten free tofu, organic sprays instead of tons of olive oil, etc. Unfortunately going organic also means a hit to the pocket book. For example, the buffalo meat from Mama Jean's was appr. 3 times the price of it's ugly step sister ground beef! I also made this fantastic sandwich the other night! Focaccia bread thinly sliced down the middle, light brushed with olive oil and put on the grill, then 3 whole red peppers lightly dusted and grilled whole, egg plant, goat cheese and a garlic spread lead to a tasty finish! I am loving to cook (when I can) and try out new recipes. It is cool to make food FRESH...and I like that Tatum can't wait to have sushi with miso soup tonight(because she loves the kale and tofu in it!) What are some of your favorite dishes?

A happy coincidence

Five years ago today my sweet angel boy was born. He was about 2 weeks early, but big and healthy and ready to meet his family. We were so thrilled. This day also marks the 16th anniversary of my dad's sudden death. As I think about how out of all the 365 days of the year that a baby could be born it would be on that day, I feel that this 'coincidence' is a blessing of promise, and of new beginnings. So often I wonder what dad would think, or I have dreams that he and I have conversations about life in general. August 27th will always be a bittersweet day for me. Bitter with the loss of a great dad at such a young age (for all of us)---sweet that a little angel was born on that day to help represent love, hope and promise.

We miss and love you dad!

Happy birthday to my HYSTERICAL, brilliant, adorable little man....we love you so much!

Look Ma....no hands!

The one thing that seems to be constant here in SW Missouri...IT IS CRAZY hot outside. You hit the door and immediately at 7:30 a.m. the heat and humidity starts to make you sweat. In my case, that usually means in work clothes...yuck. It's really gross when you are wearing heels and your feet sweat and you slide around. I almost lost it twice on the walk into work the other day.....I have always said by mid-July I am ready for this part of summer to be over.

Last Saturday was no exception. We were up at the booty crack of dawn to head down to Joplin for my soon to be sister in law's bridal shower. I loaded up both kids and we were off. After a long day, we were back in Springfield by 4:00, and hit Sam's Club. Of course it was 'no tax weekend' and we had to park 8 blocks away and walk in the heat. That place was crazy busy, lines were 10 poeple deep and our quick little stop ended up taking over an hour. I was practically dragging everyone back to the car and Dalton said, "Mommy, I think our car needs a bath."

In fact, our car DID need a bath, so I took it over to the Sam's Club car wash and after pulling up realized it had been newly renovated, adding the 'put your car in neutral' and let the machine take over. COOL! I hurriedly ran my debit card and waited for the light to turn green, all the while telling the kids..."WATCH THIS...MAMA ISN'T USING HER HANDS AND THE CAR IS GOING TO KEEP DRIVING!!!"

Tatum and Dalton both started saying: "nu uh....I bet you can't do that........SHOW ME MOMMY!" (appropriate for living in Missouri).....so I pretzel myself around the steering wheel dangling my arms and....then my legs to prove that this was some car wash magic going on.

Then the blast from the car wash hits me in the side of the head. Yup. I forgot to roll up MY WINDOW after paying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so distracted trying to prove my 'no hands, no feet' trick I forgot the number one rule in car washing.....roll up your window before proceeding.

Dalton did ask me after we had finished the car wash....'Mommy, was THAT part of the car wash show too?"

Uh...not really!

A pain in the neck

I woke up this morning early... turned over, and bellowed out with pain. It was a VERY badly pinched nerve and the bottom line was I could barely move around. Driving into work in the pouring down rain and not being able to turn my neck also proved quite a feat. Dalton said "Mommy, you look funny, like (he mimics me here turning like frankenstein---then giggles profusely)...this and this and this!!"

My very large, big strong 4 year old who I (yes, I still do) carry into his pre-school class, put his arms around my neck and I about lost my cookies with the pain. I am not sure how I did it. Might it be the new 50 minute hard core workout I mixed into my routine? Maybe. Or how about the 1.5 hours of cleaning up a very strong little weiner dog (Zipper), who single paw-dly crapped in his crate, got himself so covered in it and then with the hot weather let it bake into his fur? That could have also been part of it. Either way, ibuprofen, biofreeze gel, etc. is not doing the trick.

Back to work, and also making plans for the weekend! Stay cool in this horrible Missouri heat!

A brother for Buttons

This was an unplanned adoption, but we are now a family of 6. December 24th 2008, Santa so kindly sent us a sweet little dappled daschund Buttons Rice. OH YES, she has had her moments...all you have to do is walk through the house and see the 'spots' of Buttons chewing wrath! She is however so sweet, and CALM.

Last week, I was preparing for our "Girls Just Wanna Run" event and a co-worker mentioned that her parents had a farm in Arkansas and lived pretty far out and that a daschund had showed up on their deck and had not left after more than a week. They made calls, posted flyers, and no one claimed him. She also mentioned that a family friend was a retired vet and that he had seem him, said he guessed him to be appr. 1.5 years old and in good health.

We talked some more about him and then she told me that where her parents live, there is NO WAY a dog that size could survive for long. Wild coyotes, and wild dogs, etc. would snatch him up. He was probably dropped and abandoned. Her dad planned to shoot him (I KNOW WHAT THE???) after she said that I said, either way, bring him back here and I will find a good home for him.

Fast forward to later that night and Dan and I both decided that we should give it a try and see how he was and how Buttons was, and the kids, etc. So on Saturday night, Stephanie dropped him off and now we have two weinie dogs running around. I am not happy to report that he did some serious chewing on the carpet....it's basically destroyed in one room---but that was my fault for leaving him unattended for 5 hours. He is quite sweet and such a boy..very strong and muscular. He is at the vet right now for his shots and then later this week, he gets the boys clipped off!!!

That Fish is POISON

Two parents, sick at the same time=crazy house. It all started with two bad pieces of salmon. I ate some, Dan ate some and 24 hours later, the wrath of food poisoning took us both under. Dan took the first hit, feeling bad mid-afternoon and from that point it got worse. I will leave the gory details out of this post, but let's just say I quietly excused myself to sleep in the spare bedroom and closed all doors, because I thought our neighbors could probably hear him (yes it was that bad). I wasn't feeling 100%, my workout had about killed me that day, but I just thought I was tired.

Then just like the ghost of Christmas past, I bolted up about 1:15 a.m. and headed straight for the potty.......what happened after that was a blurr....I crawled back to the bed, and we both laid there like we had been beaten...weak, tired, in pain, I made claims that my tonsils had been ripped out. At some point Dan's poison stopped sending him to the bathroom, and about 4 hours later mine did too. But even though the tornado had passed, it still left a lot of destruction. How he managed to get up and take both kids to school, I have no idea. I don't even remember calling into work, or what I said, or texting a co-worker to take over some duties....

It took another night and part of a day before we felt ok again. We might not be having the salmon for a few weeks, at least.

35 days in....

To my Jillian Micheal's workout and I am a believer in this workout more than ever. No, I have never been 'fat' ---chubby as a pre-teen...YES, but not fat. I had issues in my latter teen years with weight and being obsessed with it (not healthy), but as I have gotten older and more mature in my thinking, I have realized quite a bit.

First of all, I will never be skinny---you know the Calista Flockhart-type girls, and that is okay with me. In fact, really okay with me. I want to be trim and toned and healthy. In the past 3-4 years, I have started working out at a very regular pace. Mostly I have focused on cardio, but in the last few months, I just wasn't happy with the results. I felt I was spending a long chunk of time on this 'workout' and not seeing anything from it. Now, doing 20 minutes a day of circuit training is really all I need. I try to fit in some running a few times a week on top of it, but that is about all. I never thought I could sweat so much in 20 minutes but this workout is really different.

The pressure to be thin is so intense on girls and women (on men too, but nothing like it is for us ladies). Sometimes that really pisses me off, that we as girls fall into the trap of trying to look like the movie stars. I look at my beautiful daughter and remember that she is watching me, my habits, my attitude toward myself, etc. and it's important that I set an example for her!!

With that said, I am thinking about all the yummy non-healthy foods I will be making for the holiday weekend!! Hope you all have a safe and fun 4th.

Pain

Pretty sure every inch of my body hurts. Knees, feet, shoulders, back, arms, etc. I think my hair even hurts. I helped Dan move a bed and mattress and box springs up 2.5 flights of stairs, that could be part of it. I am still kicking my own butt at the Jillian workout, that might be part of it too. Either way, I am in pain. As we were lifting the VERY heavy new bed up the stairs, both of us were watching the way we turned so as to not damage the light fixtures, etc. We made it to the first landing and Dan yells out "PI--VOTTTT" Anyone who EVER watched 'Friends' remembers this episode when Ross and company get stuck in the stairwell moving the couch. After a few minutes of laughing, we muscled up again and got it up there. It looks good I might add.

Okay back to being productive---or trying to be anyway.

Welcome Weekend

I have to admit that I honestly think this might have been one of the longest weeks of ALL time. Working this past weekend and then the whole week really REALLY takes it out of you, and I am ready to chill out a little bit. I have been doing the Jillian Michael's shred (I will be honest, no weight has been lost which makes me frustrated, but I am going to stick with it). The one thing I have noticed is that all the levels are different and not just difficulty, they are all working different parts of the body. Unfortunately, I have pulled a serious muscle and pinched a nerve in my shoulder/neck. Also I can tell the knees are hurting a little bit from all the strain...does this just mean I am an old lady??!!!! Hopefully all the blood, sweat and tears will pay off.

The other BIG thing on my agenda is re-doing the spare bedroom upstairs. I have been looking for a great deal on a queen bed that matches our furniture up there and then probably going to do overstock.com for the mattress. Can't beat that deal. Of course, I have my comforter, and all the trimmings picked out at Target and even the new rugs......I literally go to Target and 'visit' my goodies. We are following the tight budget of only getting the things we can easily afford, so it's a little bit at a time, but that is okay. Confession: I hid a rug behind a comforter at Target so no one would hopefully see it until I get to it this weekend....I know, I am weird.

Next weekend is my cousin's wedding, so facials, and body scrubs here I come....I am really hoping to get some great pics of our family. The kids will be all dressed up in their flower girl and ring bearer attire, and I will try to pull off a strapless yellow bridesmaid gown....yikes. Dan will be in charge of our camera. My concern is my hair. It's SO long right now, which I really like that, but I am terrible at fixing my own hair, putting it up, etc. NOPE...can't do it. So let's hope the hair salon that we are going to doesn't make me look like Lady Gaga.

Wishing all of you a fun weekend!

And I'm spent.....

This has already been a long week. Working all day Sunday and then jumping into a busy week has left me feeling tired, and I think my attitude could do for a little time off. Not really in the picture any time soon, so I better just grin and bear it. Lots of changes going on....today work has made me a little crazy and frustrated, so I am looking forward to just chilling out tonight. My cousin gets married in a little over a week and I have been working my tail off to get in good shape. Getting older, physically just sucks. Emotionally it's awesome. You learn how to totally brush your shoulders off, and 9 times out of 10 not give a flying fish about MOST things that could have potentially really pissed you off 5-10 years early.

With that said:

It is hard to keep my mouth shut when I KNOW I am right and someone else is just full of it.

Listening to my son laugh his tail off at a movie seems to make things always so much better.

I make dinner, and good dinner almost every night----this equals tired mommy.

I have projects I want to do ASAP around the house and I have the patience of a crazy person, so it's hard to not want to jump into this right now.

My best friend from high school just had her 4th baby today----which is super cool for her. Congrats Steph and fam :)

If you have an ego the size of Texas, chances are you and I will NOT get along.....

I am not friends with people who are so superficial...it makes me sick. Be real for crying out loud. My time is precious and I choose to spend time with real friends only........

I am very blessed with my family. How I got so lucky I do not know.

These are my random thoughts for today. I wish everyone a great day and night. And stay tuned for some VERY funny stories to come.

Okay...who is with me on this?

I have tried, ok let me re-phrase this....I have really worked hard most of my adult life to be in shape. NO, I am not fat, but there is a reason why. AND NO I am not a supermodel, there is a reson for that too. I am 31, I have two kids, I work 40 or more hours a week, sometimes on the weekends and I try to manage, birthdays, weddings, gifts, lunches, dinners, bath times, and laundry like most of us do. But I have made a commitment to be in the best shape of my life. And I really think I have found the combo. Very unfairly, the best things in life seem to take the most work to accomplish. Relationships, jobs, parenting, friendships, etc. and so eating right and exercising is no different. It's physical but mostly mental, and I want to start a mini 'we can do this thing' group. Here is what I have been trying to do: run 2-3 miles 3 or 4 times a week. Start small, try to walk or run a mile, and then build up to it. But the truly amazing thing is the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I have been only doing it one week, and I have seen weirdly amazing results. You will put in appr. 25 minutes a day...sounds easy? It's not. It's 20ish minutes of HARD work. But you will finish it and feel such a high of success, it will bring you back the next day. Make it a habit. I want to hear from everyone who is working through the process of 'looking realistically great.' I say that, b/c Lord knows I will never look like Gisele....but I can be strong and tone and also not look like an NFL linebacker. Buy some light hand weights at Walmart, get a mat if you have hard floors, and buy the 30 day shred for $9 at Target. Then please leave your comments. I want to hear how it works for you and that will inspire me to keep pushing myself. Best of luck to us, and our new toned backsides!!!! As a side note: you can NOT eat like a 17 year old boy. Sorry, you will have to drink some more water and cut the sugar and bad fat------then watch your body change in front of your eyes...

Goodbye Kermit

I woke up last night about 1:30 and my legs felt like someone had beaten me. They were cramping so badly that I must have been sweating pretty hard in my sleep b/c I woke up in terrible pain and soaking wet. I went downstairs to pop ibuprofen and get something to drink. I wasn't really that concerned b/c 1.) I had worked out a lot and done a ton of lungs, and then the next day really pushed myself hard again. Bottom line was my eletrolytes were way out of balance and that was causing my legs to cramp like I had been shot. (I have not been shot, thank goodness, so perhaps they didn't hurt that bad---but bad enough). I couldn't sleep. I was up and down for the next 2-3 hours, and then somehow the motrin took over and I slept. I am a little draggy today.

It was a great weekend other than that and the frog homicide, yeah that's right, there was a straight up frog murder at appr. 3:25p.m. central standard time at the home of Rice Family. Dan and the kids trecked over to the clubhouse pool and I did my thing, cleaning up, etc. I went out to the garage to sweep it out and I picked up a damp clothe and a little kermit the frog jumped straight at me. (Not a huge frog fan, so I yelled something). Then I thought,,,hey it's just a little frog, and the kids would LOVE to see it. So I trapped it with a cup. The adventure scientists (or so they have called themselves) came home and were fighting for a few minutes of holding the frog. Yuck, but whatever. Tatum of course, using her vet like skills, actually was rubbing the frog's belly and the frog shut it's eyes like "AWEEEEE."

Dalton then grabbed the poor little thing, and I told him NOT to squeeze it, etc. Tatum decided it best to let little frog jump back to his family, etc. Great idea. So she ever so delicately put 'frog' down into the grass. Dalton scooped him up and pulled his arm back like he was going to throw him. I yell..U BETTER NOT! So he gently lays 'frog' on the ground. And then steps on him.
WHHHHHHHHHHHHAT?????????????! ARE YOUUUUUUUUUUU DOING!!!????

It's kinda a blur after that. Tatum bellows how horrible this vicious act was... and how, and I quote "Dalton you just don't have an appreciation for small animals like me!!" Dan points the frog killer to his room as he walks head down passed all of us. I just could not believe that. He has for the last couple months been on a 'bad bug' stomping spree. Fine. Kill the june bugs, and nasty beetles, etc. but not a poor wee little frog, who, and I just couldn't stop thinking of The Princess and the Frog, had unfortunately been in the wrong yard at the wrong time. R.I.P. little frog. Sorry about that, if I would have known that Jeffrey Dahmer would have unleashed his wild side, I would have never captured you for 'adventure science' purposes.

Dalton promises to keep his stomping to only 'bad bugs.'

Dalton's Big Adventure

I have bittersweet memories of going to the dentist. I loved my dentist growing up, he was so great and always made 'the worst of cavities' seem not bad to us. Today I took Dalton Patrick to the dentist. This might be the only child in the WORLD that gets totally pumped for the dentist. He loves to floss his teeth, take the x-rays, and, in the end, proudly beam with pride as Dr. Scott says "no cavities and WOW, what a great job with that flossing!" Today was no different. He proudly walked in the door (board shorts and spikey hair), and announced "I LOVE THIS PLACE!" There were no less than a dozen kids sitting in there, most of which had a terrified look on their face. Skipping ahead, when we were all done at the dentist, I promised him a happy meal at McD's. So we sat down to his lunch and there were 3 older gentlemen sitting behind us. I would say easily in their late 80's and older. They were talking SO LOUD that after about 10 minutes I could see people getting up and actually leaving. I know they can't hear, but I mean they were REALLY loud. Dalton kept looking over my shoulder and I knew at some point he was going to say something, because he too was trying to talk about the 'new Shrek movie' and the old folks were so loud I could barely hear him. He looked at me finally and said, "MOMMY what is the DEEAAAALLL? Why are those old Papas yelling everything they SAY???!!!!"

Of course this evoked laughter from the others in the crowd that CAN hear. Luckily the three fellas behind us did NOT hear Dalton make this annoucement. I am not being mean, I will probably be there someday too, yelling just to hear myself. Wait a minute, I do that already at home :)

Organize

If you know me at all, you know that I suffer from bouts of OCD. Now, I don't wash my hands 50 times, or knock 5 times before I enter a room, etc. but I do have some serious issues when I feel things in my life are out of control. Or maybe just out of MY control. Yes, I am a little bit of a control freak. I can't STAND when my house is a disaster---it drives me bonkers. I realized this weekend that my Explorer looked like I had been living out of it for weeks. There was a massive bag of clothes intended for drycleaning, donut covered child seats, and dirt and crap from all the tables and chairs we hauled last week for Tatum's party. Okay, so my point is I woke up Saturday and it was time, once again to do some organizing. Dan helped with the closet under the staircase. He is very patient and can tackle the really REALLY big messes. I usually get overwhelmed and use inappropriate words (bad bad, I know). I hit the kids closets. Honestly am I raising fashion super stars? The kids have more clothes and shoes than Carrie Bradshaw! Then, I did the REALLY OCD thing. My closet is pretty big, but there is just no more room left for all my clothes and shoes. So I started to purge some of it. Then I organized my shoes by color and style: Boots, sandals, heels, casual, and then by color.....
Next up was the kids toys. Dinosaurs go in one bin, barbies go in another, jungle animals need their own space too! I still have more to go, but I think I have come to grips with what all this 'organizing' means.......garage sale......

Sonic's got it...and the other ones JUST DON'T

It was appr. 9:45 last night...as I sat there finishing my tivo'd Grey's Anatomy (I am behind on episodes), and it just hit me. One savory bite of a double cheeseburger and tots from Sonic. Just. One. Bite. I started to beg and plead and offer up promises to Dan. I have to have that burger bite....or 5. He must really like me. At almost 10:10 P.M. I took one long loving look at probably one of the worst and most unhealthy things I have ever consumed and I attacked like a T Rex. 4 bites after this I pushed it away to Dan. Then I really went overboard. I took out those crisy in all the right places tots and used those little ketchup packets and.....well........I ate like a total fatty. I am having a little 'eaters remorse' today, but decided that after how many grilled chicken this, and tilapia that, sometimes you just need some Sonic burger.

Happy Birthday Tatum Brynn

Yesterday my sweet baby girl turned 7. How is that even possible? I was just holding her yesterday it seems like and now I have this amazing little lady. We had a good weekend. Saturday Tatum and I went to my cousin's wedding shower. Tatum looked adorable in her new summer dress from Gymboree and matching shorts underneath (you never know when you might need to do a cartwheel!) and bows. After that she and grandma went shopping and picked up some other summer time fun clothes. Nana hooked her up too with some precious little summer dresses and some $$$ for her Kangaroo Account at the bank. We had a nice lunch after church and the kids played and we headed back home. I wanted to swing by Lowe's and pick up some plants for the front porch area. Dalton helped me pot the plants, and they turned out great! Then we to see how our little garden is doing and sure enough----it's really coming along!!! I see some serious lettuce coming in. I am a dork, but I am loving the idea of growing our own herbs and veggies.

This week is a busy one.....aren't most of them??!!! I will get some new pics posted up here asap.

Happy Anniversary

It's been 8 years ago today that we got married. I sat there last night and tried to wrap my brain around the fact that time has gone by this fast. I remember every little detail, the huge wedding party, the reception, London, moving and finding out that our little Tatum Brynn was on the way!! Now, she will be 7 on Sunday. It's just crazy. It has been quite a journey.... but a fun journey! I love my family!

I lay in bed last night with Dalton and Tatum (Dan was at MSU for a retirement reading by an old professor)....and we read and read our books and then we sang songs and I just soaked up my little angels. Today Tatum is being tested for the enrichment program. She has already been going some and she likes it. Dalton on the other hand, has been training to be a full time pirate. He looks at me last night and says "ARRR MATEY.....I needs a drink of water and to go pee pee ARRRR."

Until next time........

Grow little Garden

We had a garden when I was growing up, it was always fun to pick tomatoes and bring them inside. I remember squash and cucumbers too. I think we grew green beans and other stuff. But this year marks the first that we planted our own little garden. All four of us went down to check it out yesterday and sure enough there were sprouts all over!! We were all oooooing and ahhhhing over it and the weiner dog jumped right up on the tomato plants! I yelled, so did Tatum and Dan swatted her little butt. Bad Dog.

I think the basil and thyme are coming up really well. Not sure what everything is. I got so excited I just started planting and lost track. Which makes me FAR from a master gardener, but oh well, I must start somewhere. I love to get my hands dirty and plant flowers and I just love love love the idea of growing fresh food and herbs. Wow, I sound like Paula Dean or something!!

My baby girl's birthday is this Sunday...7 years old. I can not believe it. Her party is on the 8th, I have been so behind this year and haven't sent out invitations! I must get on this, along with 9 million other things to do just like everyone else I am sure......

It's funny when I think about how much I have changed in the past several years. For example, I always liked to cook, but now I find it therapeutic and I really love to feed my family good food. Food that is healthy (albeit last night's breakfast dinner was not!) Yes, I must say that the 3 big pancakes, two biscuits with jam covering them, two massive sausage patties and a huge bowl of eggies just hit the spot for Mr. Dalton. I couldn't even believe my eyes as I watched him eat it. Where does he put it? He is so big and tall.....I like that he is a big boy! Now, if only he would give his mama more kisses then we would be good. Gotta get going on another project! :)

JUST BREATHE......THROUGH IT.

I love my children more than my life. I would take a bullet for them. I treasure every silly moment, every wonderful new idea and thought. The times when I hear "I love you" or "this was the best day ever." With that said.......I DO NOT enjoy the clothing crisis that my beautiful wickedly smart, amazingly talented daughter is into right now!!!!!!!!!!!! The melt down of tax day 2010 was that she couldn't wear a dress and flip flops on PE DAY.......there was crying and nashing of teeth....her tears...my teeth. Then her belly hurt....well duh you just cried over your clothes for 45 minutes, of course your belly hurts. So as I take her into school and she is holding her tummy (now before anyone gets all "wow Lindsay has no heart or soul" she has been doing this off and on and she is fine). If I don't see blood, a fracture, fever or puking....you are fine in my book. Call me old school. She is still following me as I check her in. I sit her down and basically do this: "honey...remember the boy who cried wolf?" ummmm yes.....sniff sniff....Well he cried wolf so many times that no one believed him..and when the wolf was ACTUALLY there one day, no one came to help him and then the wolf ate him, or something like that. Sooo, unless you are REALLY sick, then let's not do this.

Walking out of the school my high heel got caught in the sidewalk crack and I tumbled down hard on my knee. So yup, I am in pain. My tummy hurts. Maybe I should go home :)

Say what?

Some conversations my kids have had this week. I want to write a book or do stand up or something b/c this material is just too good.

Dalton to Tatum: why do girls get to call tank tops meatball straps?

Tatum laughing hysterically to me although I am completely confused: HE MEANS SPAGHETTI STRAPS MAMA!!! He started laughing too.

Dalton getting dressed this morning, laying on the floor insisting he is too tired to sit up. "MOOOMMM, I am so not into this today." Oh yeah? Me either, get up and get dressed.

I walked in Sunday and the TV was up so loud and Tatum was sitting wide eyed.

The lady on the screen: "Do you want to learn to draw?"

Tatum: YES YES.

Lady: Have you ever thought about taking your art skills to the next LEVEL?

T: YES, I LOVE TO DRAW!!!!! (remember she does not see me watching her).

Lady: The art institue at California blah blah blah blah blah wants you to be the artist you have always wanted to be. It's simple really, blah blah blah.

T: running to the white erase board to write down the number and calling after the TV 'Hold on, that is too many numbers!!!"

I walked around the corner pretending not to know what was going on. She tells me she just simply MUST go to the 'art institutional' they can draw really neat barns, and tigers.

I tell her that sounds like fun, but there are a couple issues: she is 6 years old and really needs to think about finishing 1st grade for now. 2.) this place is in California, let's go look at the map and see how far that is 3.) you can't live with me when you are 35 and still do not have a job. Now draw me a pretty picture I can treasure and frame. Ahhhhh kids.

I have no title for this blog entry today. I can't think of anything really. I just had my GTS strength training class, it was good (by good I mean really flippin hard). But I survived. My intern is a 22 year old cross country runner at Drury and he is in immaculate shape. Now, it's not quite fair to compare myself to a KID who runs 8 or more miles a day! BUT, I can't seem to help it. I WANT TO BE lean like that.

I have some obstacles: 1.)My age. 2.)My gender (women seem to have more fat then men---thanks a lot EVE for that whole forbidden fruit thing!) 3.) TIME--it's not so hard when you are young and it's part of your actual job to run. Add two little kids, 40+ hours of work, making dinner, soccer practice, swimming lessons, grocery shopping...you get it. 4.) My feet are HORRIBLE. In fact, it's a miracle I can do anything. I have suffered for YEARS with flat feet that hurt non-stop and my wicked high heels don't help that at all. But I am not about to wear ugly shoes....not going to do it. 5.) I have a COUPLE things I indulge in......calories I mean.

My only few advantages: 1.) I hate chocolate-just do NOT like sweets at all. 2.) I am OCD and very strong willed and if I want something bad enough, I usually find a way to get it. Within reason of course. 3.) I guess, maybe, kinda I am athletic. I sure was strong as an Ox in high school.

Speaking of healthy, I am slamming a diet dr. pepper as I type. I know it's not great for me, but I am hitting the wall and I need a little pick me up.

On a different note, the weekend was a bit short with our special event taking up most of the afternoon and evening on Saturday. When we have weekend events I always just feel my days are off, I woke up today (monday) much more tired than usual. We did get to plant our first little garden yesterday. Tatum helped me and it is cute. I just want to get some big trees planted soon. Dan raked the dead grass up with this machine (I am sure it has a name but I have no idea what it is) and then watered and seeded the back and front yard. The landscaping is looking good, but I still have many things I want to do inside and outside the house. But with no credit cards and following or trying to follow the Dave Ramsey plan, we restrict ourselves much more on the extras.

The other good news is the weather is AMAZING.......76 degrees and feelin' great. Cheers to a great week to everyone.

Tank tops and flip flops

One thing, among many, that the parenting book doesn't prepare you for is the fashion crisis that you will be thrown violently into when your daughter/son feel their apparel is not 'of code.' Now, if you know me at all, you can probably imagine that my response isn't "oh honey, you can wear whatever you want." My kids do NOT run the show. But, I do attempt to keep them looking fly on the cheap if possible. Tatum only wants to wear bedazzled tank tops, flip flops, skirts with shorts underneath (for recess purposes) and now she is in the hair in a pony tail phase. She will walk into my closet in the morning while i am getting ready and say things like.."OHHHH, I wish I WAS a mommy, then I could wear nice jewels and high heels, and short sleeve shirts with sweaters.....!!!" And all I can think is R U KIDDING ME??? I would take your flip flops, jeans, and sneakers any day of the week! There was also the pajama meltdown last night. I don't want to re-live it, let's just say it was dramatic. While Tatum is going to break me (or my bank account) with her wardrobe, Dalton may quite literally eat me out of house and home. It's like his legs are hollow, I have never seen food consumption at that level for that size human being. He eats two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks, all his dinner and usually two more snacks. He is going through a growth spurt and I know it...I can't imagine how much he will eat when he is 16!!!! I love those little people more than anything in the world!

Back for more torture....

It was another torture day of strength training. If you are looking for something that really kicks your butt into shape then do this GTS machine combined with a teacher who is pretty hard core and you will see what I mean. I got there and the ladies were giving me grief because I didn't have much weight on the bar, so they bumped me up and (all in jest of course and I was giving it back to them :) they were saying things like "you are young! Come on add more weight!" I really did a pretty good job, but the a couple of the arm workouts KILL me. My left arm is just not as strong as my right arm, and with sports injuries, dislocated elbows, etc. I struggle with that. It's 30 minutes of intense hard cardio/strength training.

I walked out and my whole body had the shakes, but I guess no pain no gain right? The good news is it's getting nice out and I want to look my best for summer, so I guess this is the way to do it!

Germs

I really...really.....really hate to be sick. I also hate when my kids are sick or anyone I know is sick. This weekend started with Tatum getting a fever and then finding out her little buddy Connor (who has diabetes) was rushed to the ER after a day of the flu in a diabetic coma. It was terrifying. I 'started' to feel a little off Saturday night, but didn't think much of it. I went to go visit Connor and his family up on the Peds floor here at Cox, just to check on him. Bless his heart he was so sick. He did smile at me when I walked in, and I could see that he was so weak. They had to put his IV in his neck, his little veins in his arms wouldn't work. After leaving there, I started to REALLY.. REALLY feel bad. Then I felt even worse. What if I was sick and was up there on the PEDS floor? Anyway, I started on my regime of OTC drugs to help my terrible chest cold. I actually slept all day yesterday. I have extreme OCD in some cases and it was killing me to be away from work this close to an event. But I had to make a mature decision. Get better now or later....and I can't afford to be sick later this week! I feel better today. Tatum is better today, and her little buddy Connor went home today. So that is the best news of all.

It's like what Dalton said.... "I know STUPID, isn't a very nice word, but sometimes things are just stupid"

Well, I think germs that make us sick are STUPID.......and I don't care if it's not a nice word :)

I hope everyone out there steers clear of this stupid virus that is going around!

Death by Strength Training

I always thought of myself as somewhat 'strong.' Like I can carry heavier stuff than most chicks, maybe it's that I am just cocky and think I am stronger. Maybe b/c I was very athletic growing up and I have attempted to keep that, not sure but today was the 'torture day.' So many people do the GTS classes and they love them. I really hope I get there.........I do my usual workouts but this is something altogether different. I didn't even add weights today and I am dying. It's 30 minutes of INTENSE EVERYTHING. I can't even explain it, except I think I might have fooled the instructor and she thinks I am 'a natural' or something. I AM NOT. I can barely move, tomorrow and the next day will be worse. I was worried even walking out of the gym to my car. That I would pass out. It's muscles I am CERTAIN should not be used for anything. So I get to the car. Then I start to feel sick, like really it's going to just come flying out of me. I then realize PROBABLY why. For a portion of this time you are basically laying upside down at times and I have terrible motion sickness, so I think that is what caused me to feel sick. I got back to my office, threw up (water), and felt better. Just like if I get motion sick in a car. Same thing, get sick feel better. I know if I continue this class for the next 8 weeks I will look JUST like a gorgeous celebrity, so I guess there is that.......ha!

That MIGHT have happened if I hadn't inhaled a subway like a ravished pig. More later...

Happiness

2010 has been a year for changes for the Rice Family. We now have very little debt, we are paying things off, and it just FEELS GOOD. I guess when you start out on the roller coaster of marriage, law school, kids, moving, jobs, etc. etc. you just have no choice but to be at the mercy of craziness. Dan taking a new job with Jack Henry as corporate counsel was an amazing thing that happened in the past year. What a wonderful company, a huge raise and little to no travel! My job continues to be my job, I like what I do, ready for some new challenges and I am not shy about sharing that with ANYBODY......in this econony I think I am pretty lucky though.....

I do however wish to lose about 10 pounds. I NEED to do this for myself, I will feel so much better.....the first order of business is the calories at night time. I am great throughout the day, but that is where I am weak. I do eat healthy though!

I also have two amazing kiddos that just impress me everyday. They are smart, funny and getting so big. Tatum is becoming such a girl. She is very much into her hair and clothes these days. She wants to have short hair.....I want her to keep her hair long. She brings me pictures in today of the hair style she wants....UM NO KATE GOSSELIN you will not have that hair style....EVER...

Dalton continues to fight the bad guys and is learning a LOT from his sissy. She reads to him all the time and he is starting to write much better. He is only 4, but the earlier we get him going the more advanced he will be like his sister.

Dan is wonderful. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I look around and I see all these men who are just horrible to their wives, have put them through so much, etc. and I feel so lucky!!! This is happiness.....now to just drop those pounds!!!!

Oh, how can I leave out my friends and family and my sweet dog Buttons. (who chewed another hole in the crotch of my good pants).....let's not talk about that; I am talking strictly about happiness and that did not make Lindsay HAPPY at all.

For crying out loud

I think (I'm sure) I blogged about the 'toe incident of 2009.' Tatum and the door of The Meyer Center didn't agree. She had only her leotard on for her gymnastics class and her poor little naked toe was sliced and smashed in a horrible way, I was there, it was horrible. I was certain the nail would fall off but after almost 3 months, it simply grew out. Now, the dead part was still on there and needed to be cut off....but to a six year old, heck to a fully grown adult, that was scary. We negotiated, and begged and pleaded and she finally lost her cookies and was wailing "NO FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, NO DO NNNNOOOOOTTTT CUT IT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD" ---I'm thinking..yeah, literally.

"DON'T CUT THE STINKIN' TOE NAIL MAMA, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD"

I am not sure if it was her yelling this, or if it was the 'stinkin' part but I had to turn away and not laugh, she would have been even madder if I had laughed.

That night, while she slept her daddy and I snuck in and clipped it off. She woke up the next day and was like a new woman. She was so excited to have that 'STINKIN' toe nail off. It's perfect timing too, she has a date with her dad for the father/daughter dance this Friday and she needs to be in tip top shape to boogy down; they have a dj and everything for crying out loud. Awesome.

The Body Wrap Questions.....

I am VERY ready for this week of work to be over. It seems to be dragging on. And on. Tomorrow the agenda is: take Buttons to the vet for shots, run by a boutique to check out their stuff, cable guy coming (between 8 a.m.-12 p.m) I always love that, they give you a four hour window and usually show up about 12:15! I am sure we will play, go to the store and then off to a friend's house for sushi!! I am a little mad at myself for not losing a few pounds before my birthday weekend with Maggie next weekend, but oh well. I am doing this body wrap at a local spa here called 'slenderquest' has anyone ever heard of it? If so, have you done one and does it work? I googled it and it seems to be the real deal. I am working with the spa director over there on some community partner advertising and flipped through their brochure and saw this treatment and it caught my attention. I guess they spray you down, slather you in this mud product then wrap you tightly for awhile......I don't know, it sounds pretty rough! But I will give it a shot. I guess you really have to drink a LOT of water, so that will be my goal next Thursday...then I am off to KC for my Maggie weekend.

Buttons Rice

Last Christmas Santa (well an elf of his that lives close, is retired, etc.) helped bring Buttons the wee little dog into our lives, and although we weren't totally sure before we had her, she is absolutely precious. She is smart, sweet, LOVES to snuggle, she is just good all around. There is just this one problem. The peeing and the pooping. She did better when it was warm out and she could run around outside, but she is stinking up the carpets badly. We are going to put wood floors in the living room and study, that will help, but it won't fix the problem. We did the crate thing and (though I guess it's rare) she will still pee and poop in there too, so then we come home to a massive disaster every night. We put her in a bathroom, toys, water, etc. she chewed up the sides of the door. It's frustrating, when the stinch of pee hits your nose...yuck. We have steam cleaned the carpets several times too!!!!!! I feel like a bad adoptive parent that hasn't done right by my baby. Maybe we should hire a pet therapist.

Dude...where's my car?

I mean really.....is it just me? I have 'where is my car dementia.' I leave walmart, come out with 25 bags of stuff, it's bitterly cold and I walk the parking lot for-EVER trying to find the damn car. What is the deal? It's not like I have 7 cars in my collection, I drive a black explorer most of the time, or a silver audi...I really must have looked like a fool today leaving target. It's over lunch I was in there for less than 20 minutes and it wasn't like the parking lot was packed. I luckily had only a few bags, but the wind feels like ice going through you and I truly could NOT for the life of me remember where I parked. Some older gentleman must have been watching me because he pulled up in his old cadi and asked if I needed help finding my car.

Hi little girl, want a piece of candy?? NO WAY...I am not getting in a stranger's car, even if I do look like a fool. I was shivering but graciously declined. I don't want to end up at the bottom of a lake :)

I did find my car, but it took about 5-10 full minutes before I felt it was safe to use my frozen hands to actually navigate driving back to work.

I am ready for the day to be done, go home and make some salmon with lemon and fresh dill, asparagus, etc. play with cheech and chong and watch some dexter.

I am a little ticked off at the wee daschund, Buttons scratched the bathroom door up very badly and so now she is back in her crate during the day until she can win back my trust, that is for a later post.

A Bright Future

I am feeling so good about things. For one thing finances. Listen, I got married when I was barely 23, had Tatum 5 days after my first anniversary, and have moved 5 times or so in the past 7 years. Dan in law school, school debt, daycare debt, etc. you get what I am saying. It has been overwhelming, but with some great consolidations, we are going to be coming out so far ahead and that is very exciting. We both have pretty good jobs, well Dan has a GREAT JOB, and together we do quite well, but when you look at how young we were with kids, and moving, and school, it all added up quickly. But the light is there and we are really going places!!! We have great families too that have helped us out, babysitting, etc. along the way and that has made a huge difference. For example, this weekend will be the THIRD working weekend for me and Dan helps and so that means the THIRD weekend that the kids have to stay with one set of grandparents. We are lucky to have them around to help out with that.

Now I am looking at a little over a year and no car payments,,,,WOW!!!! This is all sounding so great to me right now. I have made financial mistakes in the past but frugal has been our attitude for quite awhile now, and it will pay off in the end. Now, if only I could get a raise, then I would be sitting pretty :) !!!!!

The other thing I am excited about is my girls weekend in KC with my BFF Maggie in a few weeks! OH MY I need to get in tip top shape for this b/c we plan to look GOOD!!!! She has it all planned and I am along for the wild ride and that is going to be fun. I am so blessed to have her in my life,,Maggie I LOVE YOU!!! Can I lose 8 pounds in 3 weeks? I doubt it, but let's give it a shot.......!

It's Thursday....

Not much to comment about today.....I am pretty much wrapped up on this weekend's upcoming event, the t's are crossed the lower case j's are dotted, etc. so hopefully it goes well. I feel special event-ed out these days....! I am hungry, that silly diet frozen lunch didn't cut it, and now I am faced with major hunger!!!

My good friend Dave sent me this pic I am going to post yesterday....how funny is that??

Re-thinking things...

It must be the timing in my life, but I am in the middle of re-thinking things. In my career I mean, I have decided to keep Dan, Tatum, Dalton and Buttons!! :) Do you ever have that 'what will I be when I grow up' feeling? I sure do, although I have truly enjoyed what I do for the past 6 years, I am thinking it's time for a change. Where that will lead me? I have no idea.....will it be in 2010? Don't know that either......what I do know is that I need to be challenged, use my creativity, etc. I know I have a big personality, and that intimidates many people, but mostly I just feel passionate about what I am doing/saying.

My thoughts for Thursday!!!

Here is what I do know:
1.) You don't have to be a jerk to be a good leader, you have to care about people, be fair, be consistent, and always work hard.
2.) You aren't better or certainly smarter than me, or the guy that just walked across the street, so stop acting like it, I hate big egos.
3.) God will always take care of those who have a good heart and do his will......I don't see as much of that as I wish I did......
4.) I know personally I need to watch my mouth,,, it's a liability :)
5.) I truly think you only have a handful of true friends in life. These are people who would be there for you for anything....they don't care about your status, your job, your weight, your car or how many square feet your house is, they just love you---everyone else is in the 'acquaintance' category......