rules shmules

When I started this blog, I told my husband it would strictly be for the purpose of updating our family and friends on our precious daughters, and that I would NEVER use it to plug any personal agenda or gains.

Rules are meant to be broken right?

As most of you know I sell Premier Jewelry on the side of my main job (you know, mothering!), and use the money to support my habit of buying diapers. HA! I have only been selling it for two years and was doing pretty well at it - until baby number 2 came along. Needless to say, nothing has been the same since baby number 2.

Anyway, I am trying to book a few parties here and there just to get it up and going again, and I thought I would ask all of my lovely blogging friends first.

Now I could go on and on about how you get tons of free stuff and I do all the work and blah blah blah. But if you have hosted or attended any of these types of parties, you know how it works.

If you live in the good ole OKC and would like to host one, thats ok too. We are always looking for a reason to come visit our family and friends. (FYI - we will already be in town the first weekend in May).

Ok, that is it. Thanks for enduring my selfish plug, but hey, its my blog, I can do with it as I see fit - right?

What kind of post would it be if I didnt include pictures right? I could include pictures of jewelry or something silly like that, but no, I have something much prettier in mind.

So for your viewing pleasure, here are my darling babies.

Little Miss Independant

Kinda makes me want to break out into a Destiny Child's song and throw my hands up atchya, but I will save you the flashback to my 10th grade year - now onto the post...

So my two years going on thirty years first born is waking up with an extra skip in her step these days.

She hops out of her bed, sticks her chest out, and walks with a little extra gusto as she begins to take on the day.

"No mommy help," is a phrase I hear a lot these days. That and "Ellie Kate do it," or "I a big girl."

So what, that's it? No need for your mommy anymore? Forgotten are the 14 hours of excruciating labor, followed by three days of C-section recovery, 12 months of difficult breastfeeding, and yet mommy is right there - taking care of all your needs, and now you are saying you don't need me anymore? *insert excessive sobbing here*

Well, maybe not exactly. I mean, yeah, you might put your shoes on by yourself, but sometimes (or every time), mommy is right there to tell you that they would probably work better if you put them on the right foot.
And sure, you are a panty-wearer, potty-going, flush and wipe queen. And you insist on dressing yourself every morning, but until wearing your underwear on the outside of your pants is the new fad, mommy will be there to trick you into trying to go potty so I can quickly rearrange the order and put them on correctly. But don't you worry - You are still dressing yourself! I would never take that dignity away from you.
And you love to cook dinner for your beloved daddy, but mommy will always remind you that the oven is hot, and maybe you should go make daddy some yummy wooden chocolate chip cookies in your new play kitchen.
But its just not the same, Mom! This is the one that makes the REAL cookies!
So until that day, you know, that dreadful day that you leave for college, get married, and have babies of your own, I will be there to help guide you into your journey of independence. (And ever after that, I will always be a phone call away) Take it slow baby girl. It's breaking mommy's heart!

Detox 101

So inquiring minds want to know how the detox is going. So let me give you a little peak into my world...

This is an average breakfast. Scrambled eggs with spinach and an SP Complete shake with one banana. When it comes time for the noon feeding hour, I feast on something similar to this... mixed green salad with carrots and usually just oil and vinegar dressing, but this salad has a dressing made from a recipe provided by the purification headquarters.
You think I am starving??? No way. This dinner is sweet potato (with cinnamon :-)), green salad with oil and vinegar, and a few slices of chicken breast.
Sometimes I snack on raisins, carrots, celery, squash or another SP complete shake. I try to keep my fruit intake as minimum as possible (because you are suppose to eat two vegetables for every one fruit).

Wanna know the results this far?????

13 pounds have disappeared. No longer hanging around my hip or waist - nope its floating around in the atmosphere somewhere - staying very far away from me.

It isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I mean, its only 21 days! While the first few days were difficult and cravings were strong, I not feel like a new woman full of energy and able to make healthy eating choices.

This was never meant to be a weight-loss program for me, although it is a major plus! Rather, its a lifestyle change. One I will be implementing after these 21 days are over and hopefully for years and years to come.

So goodbye toxins...hello new me!

P.S. Still have question? Feel free to ask, I will conspire with the powers that be (aka JB and Cindy) and get all of them answered for you. I would highly recommend everyone embark on this program. You won't regret it.

I dream of Graco no more!

Today was my Christmas.

For those of you who are out of the loop, read my God-send story here.

So now that we are all on the same page, let's begin.

It was Ben and I's plan to leave and go to the ONE store in our area that sells this exact stroller in this print as soon as he got home. I found myself sitting and watching the clock most of the day. At 3:50, when both girls had awoken early from their naps (not by their mommy, I promise), I couldnt stand it any longer. I threw the girls in the car and off we went!


I purchased my stroller (and a new safe sippy for Peyton) and the girls walked me to my car, stroller in tow. As I was putting the girls in the car seat, the saleswoman says, "uhh, ma'am, its not going to fit."

WHAT!!! No please, it has to fit! But no matter my pleading, it was not going to fit in the big bulky box. So while I had tried to cheat my way into getting my stroller a few hours in advance, I was stuck. I now had to wait for my darling husband to come home and go retrieve my beloved stroller.

He did, and all is well in the world.....
Isn't it beautiful? I mean, just the picture on the box is enough to leave you speechless.

The girls were dying to try it out - look at those grins!

Switch. Of course, they wanted to see what it was like in the other seat, so we had to switch them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you - the cadillac of strollers, the object of my affection, my dream, my third baby, my step into independce with two children, my zoo walking, mall shopping, neighboorhood hopping brand spanking new Graco Quattro Duo Rittenhouse stroller. *insert Hallelujah Chorus here"

Isn't she a beaut? Try to contain your enthusiasm. Hold back the tears. I know, its amazing.

I wasnt the only one going bonkers over this thing. Ellie Kate thinks it is the neatest thing since the introduction of sugar into her diet. And this video was after she had calmed down a little...

All jokes aside, we love our new stroller, and it will be very well used over the course of the lives of our MSC. Thank you Jesus for providing this for our family. May we always remember this act of kindness and use our resources to help others as well.

Guess what my kid did today????

If you are squeemish...look away.


You wont be able to take it.


Its so gross.


But just imagine trying to get it out.


Yeah, that was my job.



I guess it could have been worse....



I mean, there could have been FOUR peas stuck up her nose.



But no, THREE was enough for her....

30 seconds to put them in, 30 minutes to get them out.

You owe me one baby girl!

Facebook can make your dreams come true!

I had planned on sharing some simple, every-day happenings on our little nest today, but after an ordinary walk to the mailbox that turned into tearful walk around the neighborhood - I knew I just had to share...

This story actually starts a few weeks ago (at least, I think). I have been saving up my money for some time to buy the double stroller of my dreams - you know the one I posted about here.

However, when I realized it would take me years to save up that kind of cash ($269 to be exact). I opted for a lesser dream. I had $150 saved, so I did was any thrifty, experienced mom would do - I headed to craigslist.

I searched and I searched, but with no avail. Either they were asking too much, the print was too gender directed, or the seller didn't want to split up the car seat/stroller set. Bummer.

Once I had done what any thrift mom would have done by headed to craigslist, I then did what any respectable facebook would have done - I posted my woes as my status on facebook.

To be exact, I posted my status as, "looking for a double stroller on craigslist." This status update created quite a flurry. People wrote me asking what kind I wanted, how much I wanted to spend, links to strollers for sale, and ideas for other places to search. I thanked all, but still, had no luck.

Last week, when Ben's grandfather passed away, we had to get to Oklahoma, and in a hurry. We were really short on money because it was days from being pay day. We have some money in savings, but would Dave Ramsey have really constituted this as a reason to dip into the emergency fund? We agreed that probably not.

Can you guess how we payed for it???

I bet you don't need more than one guess.

Yep, that's right - gone was my $150. I was happy to share it because Papa did so much for us and there was no way we would have missed out on such a tremendous celebration of his life, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad that my double stroller dream had been lost.

Or so I thought.

This brings us to the present day. Well, actually the present yesterday.

After an emotional weekend and a quick return to regular life, Ben and I felt we had a lot to talk about. I was having "one of those days" where I was feeling lonely, out of sorts, and just down in the dumps. I need to talk to my best friend, so off Ben and I went.

We threw the girls in the stroller and headed on our way, with a quick detour at the mailbox. After prying it all out (because there was 5 days full of mail in there!), I cam across this envelope.

Hmmm, no return address. That's interesting. Ben opened it up while I went on to other mail. I saw out of the corner of my eye when he pulled out this simple, but God-sent note:
It took me a while to process exactly what is said. I think I read it like four times before I finally looked at Ben and he looked at me and said, "is this for real?"

I wasn't sure. Surely somebody wouldn't send us the exact $150 that we had just been obedient to the Lord in using this weekend. No way. That stuff never happens, well ok, so it happens all the time, just not to me.

I was still in denial, never expecting to actually see $150 in that envelope. I was kind of scared to open it, not sure what I would find.

Little did I know, this letter did not contain $150. nope, not even close.

This envelope contained $250. GOLLY JEEPERS! Tears immediately came to my eyes and I quickly started searching for a sender. I have my idea of who it is (and its a fabulous person who reads this blog), but I am sure he/she wants to remain anonymous, or they would have signed the letter. Besides, this money, although came from the obedient hands of a gracious giver, is from the Lord, and that is how Ben and I see it. It came just at a time when I felt no on really cared, no one really understood, and nothing would ever be the same again. Isn't God amazing.

So thank you, whoever you are for being obedient to the Lord and giving of your resources to help a family in need. We are so undeserving, and we will forever be grateful.

Leave it to God to take my cookie crumb dream and turn it into a masterpiece.

Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." The Lord truly did abundantly above all I could ask or think. Thank you Jesus and thank you fellow facebooker!

Papa

This is Papa Ramsey.... What a great guy.

I feel like that word is used to loosely these days. I mean, we say, "wow, that was a great hamburger;" or "Did you see that great looking guy over there?" But when I use the word "great," I mean it.

Just so you aren't confused, let me define the meaning of a great man:

A man that loves Jesus more than he loves life.

It is a man who had four post marked checks sitting on his counter, ready to be mailed to several Christ-centered charities.

A great man takes care of his ill bed-ridden wife for nearly 5 years without ever complaining.

A man who buys snow cones for his granddaughter's entire soccer team.

It is a man that loves his family more than anything else on this earth. And not only does he say he loves them, but he shows it each and every day.

A man who is so accepting of his grand son's girlfriend, even if she was probably the 30th girl he had met :-).

A great man is a man who gives of himself mind, body, and resources just to help another.

He remembers every birthday.

A great man always insists on picking up the tab, just because he wants to bless his family.

One who will drop everything to make sure he sees his out-of-town grandchildren and great grandchildren when they come into town.

A great man is one that is so quick to forgive and forget.

He razzes a girl the first time she meets the family, but makes sure she knew he was just kidding before they parted ways.

Is the biggest cheerleader to each and every one of his grandchildren - even when they are just sitting on the bench.

He never holds a grudge against another.

It is a man who calls his 2 year old great granddaughter 4 times just to sing her happy birthday and then proceed to listen to her jammer on and on about nothing.

He is the man responsible for shaping my husband into the man he is today.

A great man is a man who leaves no regrets.

A great man is a man who yields over 250 people, both young and old, to his funeral because he touched so many lives.

A great man is one who leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Papa Ramsey is all of these things and he is in our hearts forever. He may have only been my papa for about 4 years, but he made more of an immense impact on my life and I loved him very much. Goodbye Papa - we will see you soon.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

So here in our neck of the woods, it is pretty stinkin yucky out. It was my plan to go to the zoo today with some fellow Bible study ladies, and I made the mistake of telling Ellie Kate that we would be going to see the monkeys today. BIG mistake.

Because when she woke up this morning, looked outside and said, "A mess!" she still was certain that we would be going to see the monkeys.

To get her mind off of her tree-hanging buddies, I did something I dread doing - I let her watch a movie. I made up for it by giving her healthy, organic popcorn - HA!

Here is the evidence of our rainy day - My popcorn is sitting on my brand new stove/oven - isn't she a beaut? Most pictures to come soon!
Ellie Kate, looking very in-charge with her popcorn and remote.

So there it is - the evidence of my bribery in lieu of the zoo. I hate doing it, but every now and then, a little movie never hurt no one. Tomorrow, its back to our one Barney and hopefully back to the outdoors!

On a happier note, I HAVE A FULL BLOW PANTY WEARER! No more diapers for us! Woo Hoo! One down, one to go!

Way to go Ellie Kate! Mommy is so proud of you!

Now I know my ABC's....

My darling first born is growing up, and I CANT STAND IT!

My dad use to always tell me "I am going to put bricks on your head to keep you from growing." I remember laughing at him and thinking, "silly dad." Now I, however, want to put bricks on my kid's heads to keep them from growing.

Ellie Kate is becoming a little lady everyday, and she will be in kindergarden before I know it. Then it will be junior high, high school, college graduation, and then the dreaded bride's room when my Ellie Kate will be somebody elses!

Stop. Stop. Stop. I can't even think that far.

So picking out wedding dresses may still be far in our future, but things ARE happening fast - at least faster than I would like. And here is the proof. My sweet first born singing her ABCs. Wow, you go girl!


P.S. Please excuse the overdone gasp at the end - this is one proud mama!

P.S.S. Detox is going great for all of you inquiring minds. On day three - and feel much better today. Felt pretty cranky, tired, and hungry yesterday. Today I feel like a new woman! Three days down, 18 more to go!

Let the detoxification begin...

See these delectable morsels piled high upon my baking rack? - as of tomorrow, they will be nothing but a symbol of a former me.

You see, as of tomorrow, I will be opening a new chapter of my life. Don't worry, it will still be me, only a healthier version, and who doesnt love that?

So goodbye chocolate chip cookies; goodbye pepperoni pizza; goodbye jelly belly jelly beans - HELLO DETOX.....



Ugh. Wish me luck!

Whew.

I.Am.Exhausted.

I can't believe it is Friday and I haven't posted to my blog in nearly a week! Oh wait, maybe I can believe it.

Ben has been so busy this week, I have been in single-parent mode. I hate those weeks. I have an immense respect and admiration for women who do it day in and day out. *insert high five here*

So today when my fabulous husband came home and reminded me that he would be attending a weekend men's conference, it was all I could do not to break down and cry...oh wait, I did (sorry babe).

Needless to say, I got on the phone with some of my fellow mothers-in-crime, and we planned a play date to two goals in mind - endure through a Friday night without our husbands, and exhaust our kids out so they hit the sack by eight o'clock.

So at 5:30, I loaded the girlies in the car and headed over to my friend Melinda's house. Here is a little proof of what unfolded in the next three hours...



After a few minutes of silence that prompted a quick search for all two-year olds, we found Jaxson in the dogs cage. He was lovingly placed there by my darling Ellie Kate.

These two girls ran like crazy, until they would hide behind the front door and all we would hear is "Where Ey Kate"

I had to include a picture of the darling children under the age of one. Maybe not as, uh er..flamboyant, but there time is coming, I am sure. (Aren't Peyton's baby legs so cute!)

By the end of the night, we were so exhausted, the kids sat and watched The Wonder Pets - for about two minutes. What I should have done was included a picture of the three of us moms, half coherent on the couch.

Phew, that is all I have to say. OH, and please come home soon, honey!

Aren't they so cute!!