Sunshine on a snowy day

I am SUCH a slacker!  I haven't been on the computer much since Thursday night so I haven't posted anything.  I also, just now found out that I was given an award by two great bloggers that I follow.  They are wonderful bloggers and I get a lot of inspiration from both of them.  You can find them at:  Peterson St. Louis and  Acting Balanced.  I hope you go and visit them when you get the chance.  It was such a nice surprise to find on this cold, snow covered day. 

So, I am going to do my duty and share this great award with someone else.

It's the Sunshine Award!

Here are the rules:

•Put the logo on your blog or within your post.


•Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.

•Link the nominees within your post.

•Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.


•Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.






Here are the bloggers that I am passing this award along to.....

Motherhood Uncensored - her shred blog is helping to get me back on track now that I have shoes to start the shred all over again.  Check out her regular blog here.

Wee Shenanigans - Momma Shenanigans is a wonderful blogger and may have been the first blog I ever followed.  She had a great sense of humor, wonderful giveaways, and is an inspiration.

In the Trenches of Mommyhood - She is definitely in the trenches. 

Finding yourself, Despite yourself - Fidget is a gluten free mommy who doesn't hold any punches.  Her stories about her family are funny and familiar.  She also posts some pretty yummy recipes.

Write Brained - She is a great writer and makes some pretty cool jewelry too.

Muffin Tin Mom - She has given me some wonderful ideas for Monkey.  Especially for snack time!  Muffin Tin meals rock!!!!

Xmas Dolly - It's always Christmas at her blog (Well, at least the background is)

The pursuit of mommyness - She has some great tips on how to network as well as great support for us SAHMs or those who wish to be!

Cardiocanyography - A wonderful mommy who received a heart transplant just after her son was born.  Yet another story that proves Organ Donation saves lives.

Mamalogues - A wonderful blogger with some funny stories, great discussion topics, and other items that will keep you interested.

a little pregnant - This blog was a great inspiration while we were TTC Monkey.  Great inspiration for me.

Miss Britt - I actually found her on Twitter.  She is funny and is working through some hard issues, but she doesn't pull any punches.  SO glad I found her blog.  She inspires me to be a better writer.

I really hope that you all take the time to visit these wonderful blogs.  I hope you find some inspiration along the way. 
 
P.S. Derby kicked my ass yesterday, but that is another blog for another time. :)

Happy Birthday to me

That's right, today is my birthday. I am the ripe old a young 30 year old woman and I'm o.k. with that. I know a lot of people who have had issues with their 30th b-day, but really, it's not that bad. I am getting to do things now that I didn't get to do when I was 20 so it's all good.


Let me start off by telling you that normally my birthday and Christmas is one of the worst times of year for me. I get very anxious. Not because I am turning a year older, but because of the gifts. I always tell people they don't have to get me anything. Mostly it is because I HATE the feeling of "expecting" gifts when we can't reciprocate the favor. At Christmas the anxiety gets MUCH worse. I truly appreciate anything anyone does for me, but I feel an incredible amount of guilt about it also. However, this year has been a little different. I haven't told anyone that I did or didn't want anything really. Honestly it hasn't come up much and it is kind of nice that I don't have that anxiety.


However, this year the huz did a great job for my B-day present this year. (It certainly wasn't pizza that was ordered at the last minute because he forgot. True Story and I still married him ladies! :) ) Music has always been in the forefront of my life. There has never been a situation that music couldn't help me to cope through. Trust me, we have been through the wringer and music was always there. In the spirit of that, a few years ago my mother-in-law got me my very own MP3 player and I LOVED it. It was the best thing ever. I sat at my desk and listened to it daily so I didn't have to remember how much I HATED my job. I listened to it in the car with the adapter I bought, I took it everywhere with me. Then the unthinkable happened. The media store where I bought all of my music closed!!!! They were no longer going to support my MP3 player. That was over a year ago. I did still use my MP3 player, but I couldn't change anything off of it. Well, the huz got me a brand new 5th generation iPod nano!!!!!!!!!!!


Let me tell you, I couldn't have been more excited! I immediately started to download iTunes and to convert any of the music I still had on my laptop. I see endless opportunities for myself and this iPod. We are going to become the best workout buddies ever! Especially once the weather warms up enough for me to go skating outdoors. The soundtrack of my life currently includes 738 songs. Not as much as I used to have, but we will change that. I have already added several albums and songs to my wish list on iTunes and will start downloading soon. In the mean time, I have been looking for a good holder/arm band for my iPod so I can use it while working out. I haven't found a lot out there for the 5th gen nano yet, but I am still looking. So, thanks hunny! I LOVE it and plan on wearing it out!


Let me go back for a second. I lied when I said that I haven't asked for anything this birthday. I asked for the new nursery to be finished finally and this past weekend the huz, my dad, and my step-father-in-law came over and got it finished. Thank you SOOOOO much! It has been a good thing for me and for Monkey to have her own playroom now. It will be a good thing for Mouse to have a room with her sister in the next week or two when she grows out of the basinet. (She is growing like a weed!!!!!)


So, thank you everyone for everything that you do. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart! And, so far, 30's not that bad.

Wordless Wednesday.....It's too quiet in here

One day I realized that it was just a litle too quiet in the house so I went searching for Monkey....

And this is what I found!

She apparently felt the need to hide from me while eating the crackers she stole from the snack shack (aka pantry).  Notice that she is still in her PJs.  It was right after she got done eating breakfast.  I swear she tries to make people think that I starve her half to death!

Long Lost Love

I have a love in my life that has just recently returned.  By recently, I mean last night.  I have been missing this love for almost 3 years now.  This long lost love is Roller Derby. 

That's right folks, I have delusions dreams of being a roller girl.  I was a newbie with the Arch Rival Roller Girls in 2007.  Then I got preggo with Monkey after 3 long years of trying.  I left my dreams behind to be a mommy.  No complaints here, just dreams that went unanswered for awhile.  When I had my chance to go back for tryouts last year some rather unfortunate events took place involving Monkey and I couldn't return.  Now after having Mouse, I am still happy to be a SAHM.  It is the best for me and for them.  I am no longer miserable in a job that I hated and I feel almost confident that they are being properly taken care of.  However, there has been something missing for the past 3 years.  Derby was it. 

It is really hard to explain to people who don't get it.  I LOVED skating when I was younger and was good.  I had always missed skating, but thought I would look stupid going to the skating rink as a grown adult and trying to hang with the kiddos.  Then I read an article in our local paper about Derby.  It got me totally pumped.  I looked up their information and found out that they usually have a few people at a local rink a certain night a week so you can ask questions.  I mulled it over for weeks and weeks before I actually decided to go.  I was like a little school girl again.  I was SO nervous thinking that I wouldn't be anything near what they were looking for.  I mean, hello, one glimpse of me and you would never say Roller Girl.  I'm not fit or thin or Derby.  I was there for a whole hour before I worked up the nerve to actually talk to the girl who was there from ARRG.  The huz went with me just to help boost my confidence, which didn't really help.  Then, I talked to her and she was SUPER nice and gave me information on when and where practices were.  The next week began my love affair with Roller Derby.  I LOVED it and I loved the girls.  I've never had a lot of girl friends and getting to hang out with the bravest, smartest, and best girls I have ever met was great.  I've missed them. 

So, I took the plunge last night and went to info night and signed up to try out for the team again.  I have the next 3 Mondays of Booty camp where I am sure my ass will be handed to me more times than not by the hard, wooden floor that we skate on.  Then, the monday after that (the 4th monday) I will have try outs.  I honestly don't know what to expect for try outs. I would LOVE to say "I've got this, I am totally going to rock and make the team", however I am realistic.  I haven't been on skates in almost 2 years.  Save Halloween this year when I was dressed up as a roller girl while 8 months preggo. :)  Yes, I am a freak.

Now I think Jillian Michaels and I are going to have to get close again.  I have taken far too many a few days off and I have no one to blame but myself.  I am also finding myself a little more conscious of my health and different ways to switch up my workouts to keep myself interested.  For example, I went to the store the other night to get curtain rods for the new nursery (which is finally done!!!!) and I picked up a Shape magazine.  I also happened to purchase a New Moon sky bar and a heart shaped Reeces Peanutbutter cup. Don't judge.  I am sure the cashier was thinking "Wow, look at that fat ass trying to convince people she is getting in shape by throwing in a magazine with this junk".  I have one thing to say to her "I have no regrets!"

So, Jillian Michaels and I will continue our hate/hate relationship and I will keep you posted on whether I make the team or not.

Survey Time

I borrowed this from Lori over at Peterson St. Louis.  I thought that it was neat so I thought that I would post mine.

1. Grab the nearest book to you, turn to page 18 and find line 4. What does it say?


"opportunities to gather in groups to share, laugh,"

- Party with a purpose - Pat Pearson, M.S.S.W.


2. Before you started this survey what were you doing?

Adding bleach to our crappy dishwasher and reading blogs


3. With the exception of the computer what can you hear?

The T.V. and the men folk discussing what the next step is for finishing the new nursery. (FINALLY!!!!)


4. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

Last night.  We came home from playing Warhammer 40K at a friends house.


5. Do you usually remember your dreams?

Yes...

6. When did you last laugh?

This afternoon.

7. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

A Currier & Ives clock, a thai inspirations wall sconce from PartyLite, and a key holder.


8. What is the last film you saw?

Legion

9. If you moved to another state where would you go?

I would choose florida


10. Tell me something about you that most people don't know.

I can twitch my nose like Samantha from Bewitched. (Much better than Nicole Kidman EVER did in the movie ramake IMHO)


11. Do you like to dance?

Not really, but onlybecuase I can't.


12. Would you ever consider living abroad?

If I could choose the destination, yes.


13. What is the last thing you downloaded on your computer?

The ducky border for the previous post.

14. Type of music you like most?

Depends on my mood.  I typically listen to a lot of different things as evidence by my music player on this page.


15. Type of music you dislike most?

I think that it might be called Death Metal.


16. Are you listening to music right now?

No.


17. If you could change something about your home what would it be?

Get a basement, remodel the kitchen, remodel the back room, Create a mudroom


18. What was the last thing you bought?

Coconut M&M's and a diet root beer


19. Have you ever driven a motorcycle?

No.

20. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?

No!

21. Do you have a garden?

No, the dogs would dig it up.  I want one SO bad though.

22. Do you really know all the words to the National Anthem?

Absolutely

23. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

I am SOOOO tired!!!  Why couldn't (insert Monkey or Mouse here) have slept in?


24. If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?

Dead - Brandon Lee

Alive - Fergie or Taylor Swift


25. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Probably the Contaier Store or Pier One.

26. What time is bedtime?

For Monkey, 8:30p.m.  Me: Whenever Mouse decides she is ready for bed...typically 11:30.

27. How many tattoos do you have?

One and looking for more.


28. If you don't have any, have you ever thought of getting one?

See above

29. Who was the last person you ate dinner with?

The Huz

30. Is the glass half empty or half full?

Depends on the day


31. Are you a good cook?

Oh, God no!  I would like to say that I am learning though.


32. Do you know how to pump your own gas?

Yes.  Though, the huz does it for me whenever we are together.


33. Do you touch type?

If that means typing without looking at the keys, then yes.  If it doesn't, then I have no clue!


34. What time do you get up?

Depends on Monkey and Mouse.  Sometimes 3:00, something 4:30, then almost always at 6:30 or 7:00am.  All after going to bed at 11:30 or later!!!!


35. What is your favorite time of the day?

Nap Time!

36. Where did you grow up?

Three tiny towns in MO


37. How far do you live from there now?

I actually still live in one of them

38. What are some of the different types of jobs you've had in your life?

Dispatcher & 911 Operator, Pricing Administrator, Fireworks Technician, Waitress, Pharmacy Tech, E.M.T., SAHM

39. What is most important in life?

Family

Who, What, Why?

So, since I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open this AM, I thought I would just write down a few of the crazy things that happen to go through my head at any given time.

Why does Mouse only wake up in the middle of the night when it is my night to take her?

I have often wondered what babies dream about.  Especially when they have a little half smile and one hand or foot twitches.  Do they dream of being back in the womb or of giant bottles?  Will we ever know?

I was absolutely insane to even attempt Level 2 on the Shred last night after 2 days off!  Not that I got through the entire thing, but still.  I feel it!

Who designed the roads and what drugs were they taking?  Does anyone who has this job in MO know how to even draw a straight line?

 

Why doesn't my husband understand that not only do I want a Dyson, but he needs the Dyson?  For his allergies. That's my story and I am sticking to it!

I wonder if the moles have learned to stay away from my backyard this coming summer.  The dogs would be upset, but my yard would suffer less.

"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Go! Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle, Go! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Go! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, Go! Hooold stiiiillll."

I really need to dust the top of the entertainment center.  The kids are both sleeping so now would be a great opportunity.  I'd have to use the stool O death to do it though.  What would happen to the girls the rest of the day if said stool did finally kill me?  No one would find me until 10pm or later tonight! Nope, not going to dust today!

Why do we keep the stool O death?

Wordless Wednesday....First Haircut

These pictures are of Monkey's first real haircut.  I say real because the haircut was a result of getting a bad haircut at the ER the night before.  She had fallen at my mom's house (which she STILL feels terrible about) and needed three stitches just behind the hair line on the top of her head.  Aunt Meaghie came over and cut her hair while she was occupied with Oreos and Nick Jr.

She actually did very well considering she was up until 3am screaming from her fear of Dr's and having to get the stitches.  That is why she was still in her jammies. We decided that it was a good day to make it a PJ day.  I shouldn't have been surprised that after getting her haircut she looked exaclty like the huz did when he was her age.  If my scanner wasn't protesting again, I would post his picture so you could compare.  Maybe after I beat up on it a bit, I can update with his pic!