Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness

This post is going to be extremely brief due to being short on time but I really wanted to take a moment to plug another generous blogger. Katie over at Chocolate-Covered Katie is hosting a pageview Charity Drive. The more people that visit her blog, the more money she will raise for The Enough Project. I wish that I would have found this out earlier because the drive ends today but if you have the chance, please do stop by her site and check out Chocolate-Covered Kindness!!!

I know she is blessing so many people through this and you can help to just by stopping by her site. I hope you have moment to do so!!! Have a blessed day everyone!!

Pajama Staycation

Hello Everyone!! I hope that you all had a splendid Thanksgiving!! Ours was great. Sadly, I managed to take ZERO pictures. We went to eat dinner at my parents' house. I wish I would have taken pictures cause everything was so DELISH!! My dad made one of his best turkeys this year! We also had all the goods on the side: stuffing, potato salad, rolls, collard greens, corn, sweet potatoes, gravy (of course!!), cranberry sauce, and let's not forget dessert - which we had pumpkin pie, apple pie, and rice krispy treats!!! Everything was so good that I wish I had more room in my stomach! For the most part, that is all I have to report for Thanksgiving since I took no pictures. Everything is always low-key at my parents' house. When we go to my in-laws' house there is a lot more going on. Maybe next year we will go there (or go to both like normal).

Oh wait! I did forget that the boys went outside and started working on our garden after we got back. I don't how they did that cause I was completely ready for sleep, even though it was only 4pm. All they did was start digging up the ground. They dug out about 10 of these 1-foot squares of grass. Taylor told me that he was going to use it to make Tyler a "Lawn Chair". While, I thought he was joking, he really did make Tyler a LAWN chair. It was pretty funny. It even included an end table. :-) Very creative!
On to our PAJAMA STAYCATION!!!

We decided that today was going to be an absolute chill day. Originally, it was going to be all three of us but then the hubby decided that he had to work. :-( But we still decided to make the best of it. Last night we prepared EVERYTHING so that today we wouldn't have to make anything, wash anything, or make any effort other than for our simple enjoyment. So, last night, we cut up fruits and veggies, made sandwiches, made a pumpkin, and made some rice krispy treats. We made sure that we had enough food for us to last through the day.

So, we started the morning with mini muffins, lots of fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, oranges), bagels, and some nature's valley trail mix bars.

At about 11:30ish, I started bringing out the sandwiches. We made tuna, PB & J, and just jelly. All the sandwiches were cut in to four squares. I don't have any pics of this because hubby had already left for work and I was using his cell phone to take the pictures (still camera-less).

Throughout the day, we spent the whole day hanging out. We played a couple of games of Yahtzee - I won once, and Tyler won once, we watched a movie (Disney's Tarzan), we did a couple of crafts, we started some Christmas decorating, and did LOTS of snacking!

We cut out and decorated some self-standing stars, using poster board, glitter and sticker stars. Tyler originally put puff balls on his star but then decided he didn't want them.

Later, we decorated our Christmas stockings. I don't know why we didn't do this year, but I guess that's a good thing because it gave us the opportunity to do it this year. We used glitter, foam stickers, and puff balls. Tyler and I decorated the hubby's stocking for him since he wasn't here (and he's not really that into doing artsy-craft type things).

After that, I started busting out some of the dessert-type snacks, like Chips Ahoy Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies, Rice Krispy Treats, Pumpkin pie.

I, of course, went straight for a Rice Krispy Treat!!

Amongst all this goodness, we managed to start putting up Christmas decorations, and we watched a movie, and just enjoyed each others' company. It was quite a much-needed, relaxing day. We should do this more often. We didn't have to once think of what to eat. We just snacked ALL day! It was the best way for us to spend BLACK FRIDAY!! Much better than crazy shopping. :-)

How did you all spend your Black Friday??

Tomorrow we are hoping to get in a couple hours up in Angelous Oaks to enjoy some of the great nature that we have out here while the weather is so nice out here. We're not sure if we are going to be able to do this cause hubby is planning on working a half-day, but that usually turns in to a whole day. Hopefully not this time.

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and is enjoying the rest of their Thanksgiving weekend!!

Weekend Wrap Up

I know that Friday really was not that long ago but it seems like it was so far away that I really have to think about what happened. So, as I sit here I remember that I did not work at all on Friday. It was kind of nice to not work but at the same time we certainly need the money. I pretty much spent the day at my son's school. There was an Awards Assembly. It took like 2 hours!! The sad part is that the folders that were supposed to hold the certificates for the kids in my son's class somehow got misplaced so they actually did not get the awards until just before lunch. So, we sat there for two hours for nothing!!! But then after the awards assembly, Tyler got to run in his first official race. Every year his school holds an annual Turkey Trot, which basically is about a quarter of a mile. Tyler actually got 8th place out of all the 4th grade boys!! He was so excited! I unfortunately have no picture cause I lost my camera (or it got stolen - a whole other story). But his teacher took a pic of him racing but he hasn't emailed it to me yet. :-( But I will sure to post it as soon as I get it. As far as Friday night is concerned, I honestly can not remember what we did on Friday night. Hmmm.... I must be getting old.

Saturday was a relax day. We slept in and wore our PJs for the first half of the day. Tyler and I watched an old movie, Ernest Saves Christmas, while eating our breakfast. If you have never seen it, it is one of those movies that are so stupid that it makes you actually laugh. It's very cheesy. Taylor, unfortunately, had to work all day on Saturday so we didn't get to hang out with him too much until the evening. Tyler and I pretty much just lounged around all day. He had some chores to do that hadn't been done earlier in the week and then it was just hang out time. We did some cuddling up (which loves to do - but won't admit in front of friends, of course), drawing, and he played with his LEGOS. When Taylor got home, the three of us all had dinner together. And again, I have to say that I don't remember what we had for dinner. It must not have been very exciting. Then after dinner we played some Scrabble while having hot chocolate. It was some good family time. Then after that we were all pretty tired so it was time for bed. :-)


Sunday morning, I got up and decided that I wanted some pancakes. I just used the Bisquick boxed stuff where you just add water. But then I added some cut up bananas and pecans. It was sooo good. We even sprinkled some extra pecans on top. On the side we had scrambled eggs and some good, crisp grapes. Mmm.... Pardon the not so great pics as I am still using a cell phone since my camera is MIA. :-(

For lunch I made some PB & J sandwiches. I made Tyler's look like a face. I joked that it was his face because I made the Cheez-Its look like his teeth. We always joke that Tyler really big teeth. Does that make us bad parents???


Let's compare pictures.... Don't you think the sandwich looks like my son??? :-) j/k. We joke about this all the time. It's a good thing that he thinks it's funny, too!
Much of the rest of the day was pretty drained because Tyler started having attitude problems so that kind of cut his day short. Blah!!!

And then there is today - Monday. It was pretty uneventful. I went to work for only about 2 hours, which was not that exciting. And I came home to Tyler have an attitude with Taylor. More blah!! And then in the afternoon, I had to coach our basketball team. I am only the assistant coach (which is nice, since I'm pregnant) but the head coach is out of town for Thanksgiving. :-) It has been interesting getting to know the girls. I never really thought that I would want to teach or coach high school students but this actually could be a lot of fun - if we get a full team soon. It's a very small school and so far we only have four girls. We shall see...

For now, I am tired. It's only 10pm and I feel like it's midnight. I guess that's what pregnancy does to you. :-)

Oh! I almost forgot to post the picture of me wearing the maternity outfit that my awesome friend, Beth, got me. It's interesting how just simply wearing a maternity outfit suddenly just makes you look more pregnant. :-)


Happy Monday!!!

Blessed!!

This morning I was extremely blessed by one of my beautiful friends. Her name is Beth. She knows that recently I have been struggling with what clothes to wear due to the pregnancy and that I don't have a lot of money to be buying clothes. So, she showed up this morning with a wonderful gift for me. :-) She went out and bought me my first maternity outfit. I like it so much. I don't think the picture does it justice (since it was on a cell phone) but the outfit is right up my alley. She knows me so well!! I will be sure to take another pic when I wear it for the first time this weekend!!

Some darker blue jeans (with a stretchy belly) and a maroonish-red shirt - perfect colors for me :-)

What a wondeful treat to start my day with! She is so thoughtful.

Have a great Thursday everybody!!

'Tis Tuesday

** Just so you all know I wrote this email on Tuesday but for some reason I did not post it... hence the title, "Tis Tuesday"**

I am amazed that it is already Tuesday... but at the same time, I also think "Is it only Tuesday??". I can't believe that I am actually going to be able to write another blog so soon. I hope this means that I will be getting back in the habit. I was going to write this post last night but I just was exhausted once the child was in bed. Blah! No excuse, right?!?!? :-)

I did want to share what he had for dinner last night. I thought it was quite good. Something simple that I have never tried before. And it was especially good, cause my son decided he wanted to help. He really likes helping me cook. Maybe in a few years, he will be doing all the cooking for us. :-) Anyhow, here's what he had:

- Chicken wings baked with poultry seasoning and A1 Sauce.
- Green beans
- Steamed rice
- Strawberries (which by the way were a great deal at the 99 cent store.)

I was going to add some pictures right here of the meal but for some reason I can not find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. I actually took pictures of our meal and now I can't show them.... I am so lame. Totally slacking. I guess that's what happens when you take an unintentional hiatus. :-)

And as for dinner tonight, I made turkey burgers, homemade french fries, and we had some more of those delish strawberries. We had to make sure to eat in a somewhat speedy way as I had to be at an athletics meeting at 6pm. We did pretty good. We started eating at 5:20 and still made it on time. :-)p

So this week, on Thursday, we will be having our first actual practice. It should be quite interesting as only 4 girls showed up to the meeting. We will actually mostly be doing conditioning which kinda bums me out that I'm pregnant cause I would much rather be doing the running with them. :-) Just what I need to get my weight down to my goal but now I can't think about that because I am actually supposed to be gaining wait now. Grrr...

Anyhow, I hope everyone has had a great Tuesday.

Some pics of our boy

This is just going to be some pics of our boy and us. I don't really have much to report for the weekend. It was pretty much just spent enforcing consequences on our lovely child. He has a bit of a problem with the five-finger discount and we are trying to nip that in the bud early. It's really hard, though, cause he has been doing it for so long with his birth family. Anyhow, enough of that negativeness. Here are a few pics of us:

Our first family photo ever. July 2008

This is Tyler's first trip to a beach (and his first trip to San Diego). November 2008.



Tyler's first time up to Idyllwild for some hiking. March 2009

That will be all for now. I hope that everyone had a great weekend. As for me, it went by way too fast!

Opportunities Galore!!

So, here I am... writing another post almost a month after the last one. What is up with that??? I really want to write more often but it just doesn't happen as it should. One thing that should make it easier is that I finally have my computer set up.... Woo Hoo!!! So, in my last post, I actually stated that I don't want to work at my job anymore. Well, recently, I have been directed towards two GREAT opportunities that are definitely more up my alley. They are:

1) I've been volunteering in my son's classroom a lot recently. It is a Special Day Class for ED kids. Well, the teacher's assistants (or paraprofessionals, as they like to call them) are being forced to take all their vacation time during school days this year, due to budget cuts, instead of cashing out on them at the end of the year. So, my son's teacher, asked me if I would just apply to be a substitute assistant because he knows that I have plenty of experience with behavior challenges. He basically said that I help out so much in the class already that I might as well get paid for it. I thought that was a great idea! And it will work perfect with when Tyler is in school.

2) My wonderful friend, Bobbi (who you may all know from N Her Shoes), told me about a great opportunity where she works. She told me that her hubby is going to be coaching the girls' basketball team and would need an assistant, and they both thought of me to do it. I wouldn't get paid much but I would get paid a little to do something that I really enjoy! There is a coach's meeting this week and I'm already excited and nervous!!

Both of these opportunities were presented to me this week and I couldn't believe it. God just works in amazing ways. I am definitely more inclined to work with the youth than to do a mindless job day in and day out. Now, don't get me wrong, the people that I work with and work for have been amazing but the actual job that I have to do everyday is not fulfilling in any way. So, those are my wonderful opportunities.

UPDATES:
My last post stated that two important dates were coming up for our family. The first one was the day I was supposed to find out if I was having a boy or a girl. Well, unfortunately, the technician said that the baby was not in a position where they could tell. I personally took that to mean that we are having girl but that is certainly UNOFFICIAL. So, as of this time, I still don't know. :-(

The second important date was for our court hearing with our son. We are very happy to report that the judge FINALLY terminated parental rights... it only took them 4 years after Tyler was pulled from their home... i just don't understand that. Anyhow, the birth mother was at the court hearing and she appealed - just as we expected. This is actually a good thing because now we can move towards just getting the appeal over with. The judge set another court date for Dec. 14th for the birth mother to present any evidence she may have as to why the courts should not terminate her rights. I can't believe that she still expects to get her son back after all this time of her not getting it together - and still not getting it together!! Anyhow, we are moving a step in the right direction. Now all we can do is wait right now. But if any of you remember on December 14th, we can certainly use your prayers.

I wanted to close this post with some pics of us with Tyler but they were taking FOREVER to download so hopefully I will be able to post those tomorrow. I do apologize for the lack of photos. However, if you are interested, you can see the short video from the day that we told Tyler that we were going to be his parents. Click here if you are interested.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!! :-)