Monthly Archives: January 2008

First Cabbage Patch Dolls

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I remember my first Cabbage Patch. She was a newborn and her name was Christina. I remember her birthday was September 1st and one September 1st when I was 6 years old we had a birthday party for her. All of the neighborhood kids came over with their dolls and my mom bought cupcakes. We lived in Lodi – amazing the little things we remember. Yesterday the kids got a package in the mail from Aunt Ksee. Jayden got another transformer to add to his collection – talk about excitement!! Ella got her first newborn cabbage patch kid. The Birth Certificate says her name is Lauree Janelle and was born on January 20th. Ella loves her. She tries to chew on her face and sometimes gets frustrated, but when I hold her up so she can see her a big smile goes across her face. Her first real baby doll…. so sweet!

And then there’s Jayden. My mom bought him a boy cabbage patch doll. I honestly for the life of me cannot remember its name, and the birth certificate is probably packed away with all of my scrapbook supplies in the garage, but I had to share a picture of Jayden w/his little mexican soccer player cabbage patch doll. He is shirtless, because I guess Jayden decided that the needed to show off the doll’s muscles lol.

Wednesday Letters

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Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright was a very good book. After a couple dies their children find letters that their dad wrote to their mom every Wednesday of their marriage. So touching. It kept me interested to find out what the next letter was going to be about. It was sad. The whole point of the book was to learn about forgiveness and how important it is. I’m not going to give too much of this book up, but I highly recommend it. It will make you cry, smile and the end is very touching.

Guilt

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Why is that no matter how good of a parent we are we are still faced with guilt almost every day of our lives. Maybe this isn’t the case with every parent, but it is with me. I’m a good mom. I know I’m a good mom. But let’s give last night for an example. I was busy working downstairs and I looked at the clock and though ‘Uh oh…I need to get upstairs and tuck Jayden in and get him into bed.’ I went up there and he was sleeping. I didn’t get to tuck him in. Didn’t get to read him a story. That guilt ate at me all night long. He did brush his teeth though, because his mouthwash was out…very odd for him! Makes me so proud!

Food is such an issue in our house. Like my post yesterday, Jayden has issues with food. I cannot force this child to eat anything otherwise he WILL throw it up. He’s pickier than I was as a child and that’s pretty darn picky! I feel guilty when I pop chicken nuggets in the microwave. Crap, I even feel guilty when I make him fish sticks. No matter what he eats I feel guilty that he’s not eating veggies or something super healthy. However, he does eat fruit all day long and prefers wheat bread over white bread and that puts a smile on my face 🙂 And he drinks water, which some kids HATE…well, Jayden would rather have water than anything to drink.

Another overwhelming guilt that I have is that my one on one time with Jayden is nothing like it used to be. He was an only child for 6 years. That’s 6 years of having my undivided attention. 6 years of the world (well our world) revolving around Jayden. That changed drastically. All of our attention shifted quickly to Ella. Rushing her to the hospital so many times right after bringing her home. Having to be away from me while I was at the hospital in Portland and he was home w/my husband. Through it all he is still sweet. Still loving. Not jealous. And I feel guilt. I feel guilty that Ella sometimes takes up all of my time and I can’t go read him a story at that second. I can’t peel that orange, because if I move she’ll wake up, please just wait 5 more minutes. And he waits. Very rarely will he get his feeling hurt over Ella getting put in front of him. I know things will get better, and I know Jayden understands, but that doesn’t help the guilt I feel inside.

I guess this post is just for me to talk about how it’s hard that no matter how good of a mother you are, you still have this overwhelming guilt inside of you that you should be doing better. Are there other moms out there that feel this way?

Declutter

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These weeks have been flying by! It’s another Works for me Wednesday. Last week was backwards week and I actually got to ask for advice. I asked for tips on how to help my son to learn how to read. Thank you so much to all of you for your wonderful advice. I’m going to use it!! We’ve ordered the most suggested book out of my comments “Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons.” I can’t wait to get it and start on this.

If you’re anything like me clutter drives you nuts. I hate clutter (when I do my Random I HATES I might consider adding this to the list…stay tuned for that). I have found a great method of getting rid of clutter by taking baby steps.

First off set a timer. You can do so much in 15 minutes…so set it for 15 minutes. Grab a bag and rummage through your house grabbing anything you want to throw away. Don’t stop – work your butt off for that 15 minutes. You can even set up a box that you throw things in that you want to donate. The key thing here is 15 minutes….. set a timer and the second that timer goes off STOP! Then set your timer again for 15 minutes and do another task – like clean your kitchen, but only for 15 minutes!! After doing 2 15 minutes sessions set the timer for 15 more minutes and plop your butt in front of the computer, or with a book…whatever just for some little you time.

Try it…. sounds weird and like it won’t motivate you, but I promise you it will.

One little trick that might help before you do anything is SHINE YOUR SINK first and once that’s shining and gleaming things just come together. I promise you they do.

So set your timer and let things in your home start coming together. Remember it takes babysteps.

This all comes from the Flylady Go check out her website if you haven’t before. For other tips head over to Rock In My Dryer

I NEVER Thought I’d See The Day

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That my husband would not work graveyard. My husband and I got together in July 2000. A month later he started working graveyard and has worked graveyard ever since. It’s just the way of life for us. I let him sleep til 2pm and then he wakes up and we have all evening together and then I get my time and he goes to work. Simple, works, I get my own bed all to myself 5 days/week. I always wanted him to work days. I always wanted to have a normal life. I always wanted to roll over and kiss my husband goodnight (not that I don’t do this on the weekends)

My phone just rang and I heard the rumor that his work might be doing away with Graveyard and thought ‘Wouldn’t that be nice?’ Well, it’s happening. His new schedule will be 4am-1pm. Well, that sure is a different “days” schedule.

Pros:

  1. I will get to kiss my husband goodnight Sunday-Saturday
  2. My life will somewhat resort back to normal
  3. My husband won’t have to leave in the middle of his favorite TV show – and I won’t have to watch shows twice – yes, I watch Gossip Girl and others and then have to watch them all over again while pretending to be surprised. And yes, he watches Gossip Girl among other shows that would shock you.
  4. We’ll get a second car
  5. We’ll have all day to do whatever we want as a family (should this really be in the pro section?)
  6. My husband will no longer be lounging around in his boxers all day… this is because he will not be sleeping on and off on my couch w/a blanket…. DRIVES ME CRAZY!
  7. He will be able to take the kids to the park or somewhere fun and not be too exhausted so I can get some work done w/the kids.

Cons:

  1. When he’s really getting on my last nerve he won’t be leaving at 9:30pm
  2. We actually will be spending more time together, which could cause irritation (hopefully this doesn’t happen)
  3. 4am?!?!?! WHAT were they thinking when they made up this shift? So that means that he’ll wake up at 3:15am and wake us up from being loud and then I’ll get pissy and then there will be drama ~ caused by me… Miss QUEEN DRAMA! Don’t mess w/my sleep – especially when it already gets messed with by Miss QUEEN DRAMA in training.
  4. He used to have weekends off. Well, now he’ll work Tues-Saturday ~ okay, this really isn’t that big of a difference. He’ll get off at 1pm on Saturday and normally he sleeps til 1pm on Saturday.
  5. I will actually have to get Ella dressed and drag her along w/me in the morning to drop Jayden off at school….brrrr it’s so cold, poor baby girl…. and if it ends up snowing anymore this will be no good.

Okay, so those are my Pro’s and Con’s at the top of my head. After all these years I’ve come to be really used to this schedule and while I’ve protested for him to switch I can’t believe he’s actually switching. I wonder what time he’ll be going to bed every night since he has to wake up at 3am.

Gag Reflux

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My son has the worst gag reflux. It drives me crazy. If something is put in front of him at the dinner table that he does not like he starts gagging and then throws up. Yes, this beautiful child of mine has thrown up on my kitchen table and made us all not want to eat our food.

One day the office at Jayden’s school called and I had to come and pick him up because he got sick in the cafeteria. I walk in the office and he was completely fine. We get in the car and he tells me that a kid chewed up his food and opened his mouth and that made Jayden throw up. UGH!

Today I pick up Jayden and he tells me that he threw up at lunch today. Luckily his teacher is on to his gag reflux and doesn’t send him home (I’d hate for him to miss school over this) So, I ask him why he threw up and he told me “Because people make me sick.” I laughed my butt off and unfortunately couldn’t hold my laughter and laughed in front of him. So, he probably at this point thinks he’s hilarious. Oh they joyous things that come out of this little boy’s mouth.

Any advice on how to get him not to do this would be awesome!

Enchilada Pie

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It’s Kitchen Tip Tuesday!! Today I thought I’d share my favorite recipe with you. This recipe is perfect if you’re having a dinner party, because it feeds many and makes their mouths water.

14-16 White Corn Tortillas
1 1/2 Large cans of refried beans
1 Packet of Lowry’s Enchilada Sauce (it comes in a white packet where the taco seasoning packets are)
1 6oz can of tomatoe paste (Enchilada Sauce requires this)
2 1/2lbs of hamburger
2lbs of Cheese (I use Colby-Jack)
Olive Oil (or whatever oil you use)

Preheat oven at 350

  1. Cook enchilada sauce according to the directions on the back of the packet
  2. Fry your tortillas by placing them in the oil flat and getting slightly hard (very important that they’re still soft.
  3. Take each tortilla and dip in enchilada sauce and after you dip lay it on the bottom of your casserole pan – what’s left over after layering the bottom is for the top 🙂
  4. Cover the tortillas with the beans
  5. Cover the beans with cheese
  6. Then comes the hamburger that you’ve cooked
  7. Then dip the remaining tortillas and put on top of the meat and then cover with the rest of the cheese and pour the remaining sauce all over

Bake on 350 for 30-45 minutes and then serve ~ goes great w/a nice green salad w/red wine vinegar and oil.

For other Kitchen Tip’s visit Tammy’s Blog

Random I LOVES

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Here are a few random I loves…..

I love to make frozen grape juice & frozen orange juice together. Mix 1 can of frozen grape juice w/1 can of frozen orange juice w/5-6 cans of water and enjoy as the flavor dances all over your tongue…. mmmmm…!!!

I love to dip grilled cheese or grilled ham in cheese in ketchup and ranch or in the mayo/ketchup mixture (Thousand Island Dressing) sounds gross, I know, but try it please and come back and tell me how much you loved it (or hated it).

I love TV… I am a complete TV Junkie w/a million tv shows that I cannot miss. It’s a problem. My list could go on and on and I really didn’t need to have any shows added to that list, but a dear friend of mine turned me on to One Tree Hill. I just started from the first season on DVD, but I’m recording the new season and already cannot wait!!!! UGH! Why oh why does TV have to be so addicting?!?!?!! Okay, so here’s the embarrassing part of this love ~ I LOVE TEENAGE DRAMA SHOWS. The OC, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill – they had me from the first time they opened their mouths on the first episode ever aired.

I love fruit snacks/fruit roll ups. I always have. I remember being like 9 or 10 and pretending to be sick and I’d watch my mom drive away to go to work and I’d run to the pantry and literally eat all of them. My favorite was Beary Bears. I really loved those…they don’t make them anymore 🙁

I love Olive Oil. I couldn’t imagine cooking with anything else.

Monday Goals – 1/14/08

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Parenting: Buy Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons ~ most of my advice on my WFMW tip request pointed me in that direction, so we’re going to give it a whirl.

Marriage: This week I need to work on thinking before speaking. I say this because lately I’ve been working a lot and the little things that normally wouldn’t bother me are completely bothering me… so, instead of saying some rude little snotty comment I’m going to just stop and take some deep breaths and then hopefully I won’t be so snotty (can you believe I’m actually admitting that I can be snotty?? Who knew?!?!) when addressing the situation.

Household: Work in the current Flylady zone and do ALL missions from Kelly and find a housekeeper to come and deep clean once a week

Work: Get through entire box of stuff that was sent to me

Faith: Read through the lesson that I missed at Relief Society on Sunday since I was a loser and didn’t attend church (horrible of me!)

Self: Drink at least 5 glasses of water/day, finish reading Wednesday Letters, and do at least 20 minutes of exercise

15 People

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I saw this on a blog entry on one of my friend’s myspace and I thought it was kindof cool. Basically, she lists 1-15 and each number stands for a different person. She says her true feelings about them, but never lists their names. So, you don’t know exactly who she’s talking about but she gets to say what she wants. I’m having one of those days… so here I go – 15 People ~ if I know you, you could be in my list, but you’ll never know.

  1. You are a wonderful friend. I can’t even begin to explain what you mean to me in words. In such a short time in my life you have impacted it in the most positive way ever. I pray for you every night and hope that God blesses you in every way that you want to be blessed. Thank you for every thing that you have done for me, my family, my heart, my soul and my faith.
  2. I guess when your entire world was falling apart all around you I was the one that you needed. But now that things seem to be going well in your life you don’t need me anymore, which is fine… but I never wanted to hear you complain all those hours about something that did no use in complaining about. I was wrong about you. Even though you don’t need me to vent to anymore doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you to make sure everything is okay with you. I’m sure you’re embarrassed that after all that drama you still went back to him, but I don’t care about that. UGH you don’t know what a friend is.
  3. You are the center of my whole world. Nobody can make me more angry than you can, and nobody can make me smile like you can. Many, many years of ups and downs – mostly downs, we are finally on our most amazing up and I love it… and I love you.
  4. I don’t agree with your choice in life, but I love you so much. I wish that you would kick that guy to the curb. He doesn’t love you. He’s using you. And it breaks my heart. But I love you so much and no matter what I will stand by your side.
  5. The two of us have been through more together than most would even believe. You have literally screwed me over time after time after time and yet all you have to do is smile that sly little smile of yours and my heart melts. Ever since you were a little boy it’s been like this. I am proud of you. I hope that you begin to make good choices and start using your brain before you act. I love you!
  6. I worry about you. Things have changed so much and sometimes I cry, because I feel helpless like there’s so much I wish I could do for you, but I can’t. I will be here for you no matter what and I hope you always know that. I love you. I don’t know what is going on your brain, but you have to start using it. Life can’t keep going on like this.
  7. You look like a man. I think you’re phony. I don’t like you. I never will.
  8. You need to open your eyes and get it together. He doesn’t love you. You are being used. You have been being used for a long time. And if you don’t stop doing what you’re doing you will end up dead and that’s sad. Sometimes I don’t like you.
  9. Sometimes I see a glimps of you and I see a person I like. I don’t understand how you can come and go the way you do. You’ve done it my whole life and I tell you I love you, but I don’t. I don’t even know you.
  10. I still love you. I probably always will.
  11. You are not a detective. So why is it that you think you are? I think it’s time to take a step back and focus on reality and not this little fake world you’re obsessed with. And who cares if they’re fake or not… it’s not your problem.
  12. The sun does not rise nor set w/you. Why people think this is beyond me. I think that what you did was pathetic and deceiving and people always will remember.
  13. Your babies are adorable and I think you rock as a person. I’m glad we became friends.
  14. You are fake. Our conversations are so superficial. I will never forget the horrible things you have said about me. Even if I am nice to you now, I still remember, and I still think you’re fake.
  15. You need to stick up for yourself and maybe put your family before her family, because you don’t know how much it hurts the people involved.