Easter And A Bridal Shower

I haven't written in what seems like forever. I was so busy planning Easter and then Samantha's bridal shower, I just didn't have time. I had plenty to write about, just not the time. So here is a re cap of everything.

Easter was nice. Morgan was sick on Saturday night so I was up with her all night, but I managed (with some help) to get everything done. My plan was to have everyone arrive at 2 and hang out for a while then we would do the outside (plastic) egg hunt, and then we would come inside and eat. But I was so tired and the weather was rainy and cold so that didn't happen. What did happen was that everyone was her by 2:15 and sat around talking and watching tv until 5:30 when the food was finally ready. Had I not been up all night with Morgan I would have been more on top of everything and my timing would have been adjusted for no egg hunt and dinner would have been ready earlier. But it was what it was. Everyone had a lot of fun and the food was delicious. Here are a few pictures.

My Easter Tulips

Coloring eggs. She wasn't feeling good but pretended to have a good time.

Carter tried to make her feel better. But it didn't seem to work.


This was actually the day after Easter. She refused to take her outfit off until Tuesday.

Carter decided to rest in David's car seat.

Morgan making him comfy.

David took his seat back.


Dessert table.


The best appetizer in the world. Jalapenos with cream cheese wrapped in bacon. I put them back in the oven on broil for a few minutes to get the bacon crisp, after I took this picture.

And then on Monday after Easter was over I started assembling the favor bags for the shower. I made 25 bags and each one had a scrubbie soap, two candles, citrus slice soap, rootbeer float bath salt and raspberry lemonade bath salt (which I don't have a picture of). I made all of this.

And my Mom made the food except the cake which was made by my friend Hillori.

And some beautiful ladies showed up for our tea party.

A New Year, A New Me. Hopefully.

I am not usually a resolution making kind of gal. But I figure I will give it a try and maybe I will do something better this year. And if you all know what I am supposed to be doing it will be easier to do them than make excuses to you all why I haven't done anything. So here I go.

1. Lose Weight. Like 40 lbs. This is a big deal. Not only do I need to lose weight for appearence sake. As someone who has had Gestational Diabetes twice, I am at a higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes if I get over weight.

- I am going to buy a Wii Fit and join the YMCA. They have child care for me to use while I work out. When the weather gets nice I am going to start walking the trail behind us.

2. Organize. Not insanely with labels on everything. Just enough so that I can find wht I am looking for and put stuff away easily.

3. Make time for myself and do stuff for myself. I spend so much time doing everything for Roy and the kids I never do anything for me. and when I do I feel guilty for spending money on myself or for not being with Roy and the kids. I know this is a common Mom thing. If anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with this one, let me know.

4. Find a way to earn some money while I am at home. I am making my checkbook covers still but selling two or three a month is not really doing much for me.

5. Save money. This is a two way resolution. I need to actually put money away and I need to spend less. I am going to start cutting or printing coupons. And using them. I am also going to start going to Sams Club and stocking up on stuff to have here so that I don't have to go to the store more than once every two weeks.

That's all I have for now. I think that is pretty good for someone who has never made a NYR. I will give updates every now and then throughout the year.

Have a Happy New Year.

New Year's Eve

Before we moved in with my parents last year we used to have a poker party on new year's eve. Last year my Mom and I made a great dinner that nobody else enjoyed. Not because it didn't taste good, but because Roy and my Dad were in bed at 8. PM. We were mad.

This year I think Chris (Roy's brother) is going to come over. You see with him you don't know until the last minute. Which makes food planning a little hard in this case. Either way, I am going to make appetizers (as a meal, am I the only one who loves this?) and we will play some Pop Culture or 80's Trivial Pursuit, or my new addiction, Mario Kart on the Wii. And drink. Now you think we are lame. I know. Just wait until Cinco De Mayo, you will change your mind. We are not big on going out tonight. There is too much craziness. So tonight we will be watching the countdown on tv together. And knowing my kids, they will still be up to ring in the new year with us. At least Morgan will be.

Have a safe and fun night tonight.

What A Difference A Year Makes

It's late. I'm tired. And I'm not even hosting this first event. It is officially the holiday season. I made the potatoes earlier this evening, I boiled the eggs. All I have to do tomorrow is finish the deviled eggs, heat the potatoes in the crock pot, make a green bean casserole, bathe 2 kids and myself, get us all dressed, pack a diaper bag (and not forget blankies, since the car seat straps aren't adjusted for winter coats and it is supposed to snow), clean up my huge mess in the kitchen and the rest of the house, since we are going to visit the in laws on Friday (no shopping for me) and I want to put my tree up on Saturday, and get out the door by 2. No biggie right. Right.

This is the normal scene in my house on any holiday. Just wait until Christmas when I have to wrap presents (I know I could do the wrapping before Christmas Eve, but I don't and I don't have any high expectations of that changing this year).

I should go to bed now, but I am too awake for some reason. I have been thinking a lot about where we are this year compared to last year. What a difference a year can make. At this time last year we were thinking more about the fact that in two days we would be living with my parents than that we would be getting together with family to celebrate. You see, Roy is a carpenter (as I may have mentioned) and last October he lost his job because the company he worked for was sold. At the time we thought it was a blessing in disguise. We were wrong. Or maybe we were just a year ahead. Either was, I was 5 months pregnant and we had no income, no insurance, and were soon to be homeless with a then 22 month old. Of course my parents weren't going to let us become homeless. They gave us their basement.

We have had a lot happen in the past year, but I really don't think the end result (meaning our present state of living) would have been possible without my parents. They supported us when we had a rough spot in out marriage and weren't sure if a fourth anniversary was in the cards for us, they helped me when Roy was working almost 200 miles from home and was gone 5 days a week, they tried their best to act like they didn't mind us being in their home for almost a year. Without the support they gave us last year we might not be where we are today (our bills are paid, and if you know me that might be a first in all of my adult life, and we have a pantry full of food).

I am thankful for my children and husband, who love me no matter what.

I am thankful to have a roof (and a pretty nice one at that) over my head.

I am thankful that everyone I love and care about is healthy.

I am thankful for my entire family.

And I am especially thankful for my parents. Not only because of the past year, but for all of their guidance and support. They have truly been great, I am just sorry I didn't know it all along.

I love you all.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Holidays Are Coming, The Holidays Are Coming.

I am having a hard time believing Thanksgiving is this week. It has been unseasonably warm here lately. Everyone has the idea that Colorado is the coldest place in the US, it's not. The average temp has been in the high 60's to low 70's.

But we aren't here to learn about Colorado weather. We are here to talk about the Holidays. I am officially excited about the holidays. I went to BigLots on Saturday (for organization stuff, more about that later) and ended up buying tree ornaments instead.

My family used to buy presents for everyone. And it was so much stress. Some people in my family aren't too easy to shop for. Most of us buy whatever we want or need for ourselves. So last year we decided that we would only buy presents for the kids.

That wasn't to say you couldn't buy presents for everyone, just don't expect anything. It was so nice. I was able to sit back and do nothing. Yeah okay, not really. I had Morgan who was almost two last year and I was pregnant with Carter. I was constantly doing something. But I enjoyed it. I was able to shop without the stress I usually had from not knowing what to buy my Grandma, or having too many ideas of what to buy Matthew. And I am very much looking forward to the same thing this year. All I have to do is make sure Santa can get his hands on a Clipo table and all will be fine. I am not expecting too much trouble with that. And you know, shopping for Carter will be pretty easy.

Plus our social calendar is already full for December. And as you all know. We never have a full social calendar.

And I know that it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, I love that day too. I love hanging out with my family, and we get to see one of my Mom's friends and her family. She has three kids that Morgan loves (well she loves the girls, she tolerates the boy). And this year we have Carter, who is becoming the life of any party, and David is here too, even though he isn't too exciting right now, he is fun to hold and next year will be full of some much needed chaos in this family. So I am waiting anxiously for my leftover turkey turkey sandwich.

And I am trying to decide if I want to go shopping on Friday or not. I will keep you posted with that decision.If anyone reading this (Kelly) wants to meet me for some shopping Friday morning, let me know.