We all have at least one of those incredible women in our lives.  You know the one who read you bedtime stories, changed your diaper, cheered you on at all your baseball games or ballet recitals.  Yes, mom.  Some of us are lucky enough to still have our mom's with us, some of you will celebrate with the mother of your children, don't forget grandma's and mother-in-law's too.  It's that one day of the year that we are reminded to stop and thank mom's for all that the...

I don't want to make it sound like I regret being able to spend time with my boys when they were little.  I am so glad that I had that time with them.  I just never thought I would be in the situation I'm in now.  I thought my marriage would last forever.  I also thought that when I was ready to go back to work, it would not be difficult for me to find a job.  It seems I have been wrong on both accounts.

I am not divorced yet but my marriage has been rocky for years a...

Okay, here's a isn't my kid kee-yute story!  You know how all of us parents think our kids are just the funniest things ever and we have to tell stories and everyone else has to play along while rolling their eyes behind our backs.  Well today we got valentine cupcakes at the store and my son was reading the toppers and goes "ox, ox, love, sweet".  Ha ha.  I had to explain that the OX means hugs and kisses.  My kids are growing up too fast and the cute kid...

My in-law's just had a baby girl last night.  They're first.  This isn't my first time being an aunt but it is my first time being an aunt when I actually live close enough to see the baby on a regular basis.  I'm going to visit tonight.  Even better that she's a girl.  I have already bought a pink knit cap with crochet flowers, a pink flowered sleeper with matching recieving blanket. 

My baby days are behine me but I love babies so much, especially newborns.&nb...

Okay this is a whine.  You've been warned, don't read my whine and then leave me a comment about how much worse your life is and quit whining. 

This was my second Christmas without my husband home.  I don't know which is worse, the fact that he wasn't here or the fact that I don't really even care if he's here anymore.  It's just that I've come to expect the absences.  I know that's part of military life and I've acclimated to it.  I remember when we first joine...

I don't know what my problem is.  I 'm just having the hardest time getting into the holiday spirit this year.  I'm just not feeling it.  I haven't done half of the things I normally do.  No baking.  No Christmas cards.  Note to all those who sent me cards.  I loved them all and have decided that I will send the earliest Valentine's cards instead of the latest Christmas cards.  I know that I am a lazy procrastinator at heart.  I have such good intenti...

~naps

~striped socks

~sleeping on my hubby's shoulder

~littlest pet shop toys

~a fresh made bed

~comments on my blogs

~shoulder rubs

~Christmas cards

~discovering a great new song

~driving around looking at the Christmas lights and decorations

~fabulous clearance finds

~a winning bid on Ebay

~funny tshirts

~kid's artwork

~singing Itsy Bitsy Spider

~looking at photos on Flickr

~fruit loops and milk

~jumping on the trampoline

~swinging

~sing...

So many of us don't need more stuff.  There's stuff everywhere.  We have to buy stuff to hold our stuff.  We rent storage areas to keep all the stuff that doesn't fit in our overflowing cabinets and closets.  I say let's stop buying so much stuff.  Where is all the stuff you got and gave for Christmas last year?  Think really hard.  Is it buried in a closet?  Did you already pass it on at Goodwill?  Does it reside at the bottom of the colorful, plasti...

Well this is a new one.  My son is in second grade and brings home an agenda with his weekly behavior on it.  Generally it's all good.  Occassionally, we have a talking in class but today it was a new one.  I was tipped off by the fact that when he brought it to sign he was covering up Friday.  Like that wasn't going to make me go, what happened on Friday?  So I look at - it says licking his desk?  What!?  Ewww?!  Why?!  LOL?!  He didn'...

Is there anything worse than sitting down in your home and going WHAT IS THAT GODAWFUL SMELL?  Well it happens way to regularly around here.  Generally the culprit is my sons shoes or his stinky feet that came out of his shoes.  Why is it such a challenge to wear socks?  Ugh.  It is awful.  I just bought him new Vans.  The old ones were so horrible that I really think they should have been burned except I was afraid the toxins would kill wildlife in a fifty mil...

Well I just got back from a three hour visit to the E.R.  My oldest has mild asthma but allergies at this time of year sent it into overdrive.  I felt horrible because I kept asking "are you SURE you need to go to the E.R?"  Yep, he was sure.  Poor kid.  Why do ER visits never happen when my husband is home?  I'm always the one.  Why are there always such freaky people in the ER too?  I had this one woman totally giving me the skunk eye.  What did I d...

My son wants to quit football.  My hubby and I agreed that he has to finish out this season.  If he doesn't want to play again next year, that's fine.  Of course, my hubby is out of town and I'm the one who has to listen to the pouting on the way to practice.  "but I don't want to play",  "I'm not going to get out of the truck", and  "What if I just sit there".   Argh. 

I explained to him that number one, his team is depending on him.  If he quits...

One of my favorite projects to do with my boys every year is packing a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.  This is a annual project through Samaritan's Purse, a Christian Charity.  They send shoeboxes filled with goodies to children around the world for Christmas. 

We are so blessed in this country.  Even the poorest children in our country generally have toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap etc.  If their family isn't able to afford school supplies, there are now ...

I really miss my husband. I'm trying to convince myself that it's not all bad and really it's not.

I don't have to shave my legs. I don't think anyone else notices if my legs are prickly.

I can drive the boys to school and get a few more minutes sleep in the morning. Why does that bus have to come so early?

I don't have to watch NHL playoffs every night. I don't mind some hockey but during playoffs it does get a little old. Of course, cheering for my guys, Teemu Selanne and H...

Well the day I dreaded has come. Both of my daycare kids can now climb out of their cribs at naptime. No more just laying them down and shutting the door. Well I could do that but then like today, they will be knocking on the door. I thought someone was outside, I go and check nope, no one there. Here the kids had climbed out of their cribs and were knocking on the bedroom door like "yeah, right. Now that we can do this we're not going to take a nap. Napping is for babies"!

Of course...