Day 35

I am so thankful for courts and the court system and for child protection services and social services.
I cant say a ton of WHY I am thankful, but an obvious-and part of the reason-is for my kids and that we finally get to adopt my peanut in May and have her baptized in God's Graces (Im sorry, but I HATE Not having children baptized. I cant stand it. I dont like it at all).

But for other reasons. For other families. For other situations. Thank you God. Thank you God for people who do their job, right, and do the right thing and help others.

day 34

hahaha SO Ok I am a cheater pants for Monday. But whatever.
Ok for this "Tuesday" I am thankful for only having 37 more days of school and of being a teacher so I can stay home with my children during the summer. I know, lame again, BUT think about it. teaching is my calling. I did not pick teaching because I get the summers off or weekends off. Granted, I come in the summer and do work, I work on the weekends correcting and doing "Teaching Stuff". But I really really really try and keep everything at school. I dont bring correcting home. I dont go to school on the weekends. I try super hard not to stay late or go super early unless it's for meetings.
I am truly thankful that teaching IS my calling and all the perks that come with it. I am counting down the days until I can spend all day with my kiddos.
YAH! THANK YOU!!!!!! Thank you God for making me a teacher!

because she inspires me

haha. My friend Taryn. She did this on her blog. Now I will do it. Here ya go!!! I kinda liked these way back in high school! haha!

A to Z...all about me!

A is for age: I am 28. Will be 29 in August. Which will lead to 30. Which scares the shit out of me.

B is for breakfast today: Peanut Butter and Jelly Toast. What can I say....Im a kid at heart.
C is for currently craving: Chocolate. Always friggin chocolate. thats my issue!!!!
D is for dinner tonight: I dont know. I am taking Brent out on a secret date tonight and I am not sure where we will go out to eat. So I am not sure! I can guarantee it will have an alcoholic beverage to accompany it!
E is for favorite type of exercise: Well I run. But then I get bored. So I like to lift. Dance. I dont know. I like to dance. But run. 
F is for an irrational fear: Snakes. AND IT'S NOT IRRATIONAL!!!! Oh my gosh. I HATE THOSE DARN THINGS!!!!!!!!!!
G is for gross food: ummm I dont know. Horseradish, I cant do it. I can do a lot. Or stuff that Brent loves that his grandma makes. Seriously. I dont like what he is "constantly dying for".  
H is for hometown: Thief River Falls, MN
I is for something important: My husband, kids, family, and friends.
J is for current favorite jam: I am assuming jelly......not music....so Grape!
K is for kids: 3. Devon 7, Anthony 4, Zaylee 15 months. Yes I want more
L is for current location: Country Town North Dakota
M is for the most recent way you spent money: yesterday was a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latee from Starbucks....4.61. Yah I know. whatever. I love it. 
N is for something you need: I need a lot of things. Well not really. I need to be easier on myself. 
O is for occupation: Teacher
P is for pet peeve: When people talk about themselves and how great they are. I mean its one thing to talk about themselves as in sharing information BUT it is another to be like blah blah, I rock. Blah blah, 
Q is for a quote: LIve, Laugh, Love. 

R is for random fact about you: umm I don't know any RANDOM facts. I worry constantly. About life and people. 
S is for favorite healthy snack: Peanut butter on a banana
T is for favorite treat: Chocolate peanut butter ANYTHING!!!!!
U is for something that makes you unique: I have one of the biggest hearts ever. You can crush on me, spit on me, and do whatever, but I will still probably do you a favor because I dont want you hurt. This always doesnt come off this way, but it is true. 
V is for favorite vegetable: Broccoli
W is for today’s workout:umm nothing. Well Brent is so home for a week....so....well....hehe
X is for X-rays you’ve had: on lady parts to see whats going on
Y is for yesterday’s highlight: When Brent came home and my cheerleading banquet. 
Z is for your time zone: Central

ANSWER!!!!!!! (day 33)

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, lasts 40 days not counting Sundays and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. 

There are 46 days because Sundays are not included during Lent. Some say that Sundays aren't counted in the 40 days of Lent, because every Sunday carries with it a part of the glow of Easter Sunday. So it's not all gloom and doom. But even on the Sundays, the theme of repentance (turning from our ungodly ways) holds true. When you repent, you please God whether you fast or not, and that is what most counts for Lent. Others say that Sundays are not included because Lent is a serious time but Sundays are always a day of celebration in the Christian Church.


THANK YOU GOOGLE!!!!!!!!!!
hahahaha Day 33...thank you God for google. There I am done for MOnday! HAHAHA

Day 32

So for some reason, did I count wrong? Isnt there 40 days of lent?!?! And according to this, and I did not even count monday yet, I should have only 8 more days left. hmmm And Easter is not until next week. BUT I know Holy Week.....does that count?!?!?! I should do something special for Holy Week..........I will think on that. Anyway, any of you Catholics out there get where I messed up?!?!?! hmmmm Maybe I will google it. haha. Google has all the answers.
So on this blessed Sunday, I am SO thankful for cheerleading. We had our cheerleading banquet today and I just wanted to cry. The seniors made a video montage of the year. And during that video I was sad. I was sad I am not able and was not able to be there and be the coach they needed me to be this year. Even previously. Just because of my kids and stuff. This year especially, because I try put being a mother first, but previous years that didnt always happen.
Well then came the eating and awards part. Well then I handed out my awards and I wanted to cry because I am handing out awards for the last time. Some of my "babies" I wont be able to see graduate next year or the following years. See, I always did JV in the fall, Varsity in the winter, so I always helped the newbies come in and get them started.
Well then my advisor hands me a 5 year service award. Tears are brimming. THEN she announces my resignation, and I see the girls all go WHAT! And I start crying. I go "Its not because of you!!!! Its because of my husband and now he works elsewhere and I am a single mother! And I want to be here and help all I can! ah!" And I cant stop. bah. Embarrassing. Anyway. Then I just feel bad, I am going to miss banquets and certain things. Competition. BUT. I am a mom first and for most. I am. My dedication right now is to my children. I want more children. So I need to be focused on them and myself, and my marriage. Cheerleading will always be there, and I hope one day when my kiddos are in high school/middle school I can go back. Well.....when Devon is what 15, Anthony will be 12 and Zaylee will be 9. All higher grades. ANd hopefully my younger babies will be in older elementary. Nothing like "just daycare". And who knows when and how long Brent will be "oiling". Who knows.
So that is my peace. Thank you God for cheerleading, and helping me see through it all what is most important in my life to me.

day 31

So on this Saturday (ugh, I NEED to stay on top of this!) I am so very thankful for my sister being able to take my kids literally at any given moment in time and usually I give her only like 1 day warning. She feeds them, takes them, plays with them, deals with their mess. She is willing to meet me at any given spot to make it easier for my schedule. She is just a great and awesome helper. She is an amazing sister. I am so thankful to have her. I KNOW I dont thank her enough. I know I dont. I wish I could pay her all the time she sits too. Which I dont. I barely pay her. And she is the one who is buying food for them and whatever. Picking them up from birthday parties and just being awesome. I just dont have enough words to give of thanks and praise to my sister.
THANK YOU GOD for giving me my sister. I know I already did a post on her and Josh. But, sometimes I just really over look her and what she does for me. Through all the years. We used to talk everyday. Not anymore, but just because of we both are working, married, getting married, kids, etc. etc.
She is just........she is my little sister. If anything ever happened to her I would die. well.....kill the person or whatever hurt her first, and then die. But, I am SO thankful for her.
I LOVE YOU SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cooking adventures with Lady Lynn!!!!!!

hehehehhee. So here me and kiddos are, ready to cook, or whatever we did. haha.

so Anthony wanted to make shakes so bad. He has had this shake obsession ever since he could say the word...shake. And it was always hard because he is lactose intolerant....remember.......so he cant have yogurt or regular ice cream and whatever. so its always been a challenge to make a GOOD shake. Not JUST a shake. Anthony picked out all the fruit!!!!!! He helped me clean and whatever it all! Blueberries, strawberries

here he is peeling and cutting a banana

Here he is cutting the banana

so we had kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, bananas

devon cleaning the kiwi

so add fruit of choice! He doesnt look thrilled.....but he really was

next add milk!

add ice cream. Lactose free. Momma here was testing it out to make sure it didnt taste like cardboard, like majority of lactose free ice cream tastes! It was really nummy actually, and it was only 150 calories for the ENTIRE pint!!!!!!! wow!

add ice cream

blend and pour!

enjoy!!!

slurp!

NUM NUM

and then we made a chocolate peanut butter popcorn. I didnt take pics of steps. BUT super easy. Ok. I popped popcorn in a popcorn maker. Then I melted a cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and a 1/2 stick butter. Then pour over the popcorn in a big bowl. Then stir gently. Then I put the wax paper on the pan, and pour the popcorn over the paper. Cool......

AND ENJOY THE DELECTABLE YUMMINESS OF CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!!!

hehehe. OH! I did sprinkle salt over the end product. Just to add a bit of something. :0) It super tasted yummy and satisfied that chocolate/salty craving!!! 

Day 30

So on this Friday....I am SO thankful for DAYS OFF. haha. I know it is a dumb thing to be thankful for, so I guess I should say I am thankful for my daycare lady and the teachers that directly teach, love, and even "deal" with my kids. Anthony is not an easy guy. He isnt. Sometimes, and even more recently, I am getting very concerned about his behavior too. I knew Devon has obvious "issues", but because Anthony was with us since he was a baby, I never thought he would have trauma or anything from being adopted. And maybe it is not even because he was adopted. Maybe it was because his birthmom smoked marijuana everyday while she was pregnant. I dontk know. But his anger and his disposition.....it is so....just very intense. HIs whole everything is very intense. So I thank my daycare lady and his teacher for loving him and putting up with him and doing the best that they can do with him He is so beyond smart and they know how to work with him, and to get him to work. My daycare lady just loves Zaylee up, and she is not ever afraid to go to daycare or cries when we drop her off. I am so thankful that she takes awesome and amazing care with her. Even devons teacher. You can never thank a teacher enough!!! giggle.
Thank you God for amazing people who work with my kids, and who take a day off so I can have a day off so I can be with my kids. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Day 29

So I am a little behind. bah. I cant believe this. I was going to be so on this. Well this "thursday" I am thankful for being a leader. I am not always a leader, but over all, I am very comfortable in a leadership type situation. I am ok with taking charge. I do really worry about what everyone thinks about me and about the job that I am doing. But I am thankful.
I am president of our schools PTO, and I feel comfortable taking over the meetings and doing things like that. Assigning jobs, and doing jobs. I like it.
I CANNOT take all the credit. I have two great ladies that working with me co-operatively, Ashley and Amy. AMAZING. I also have a parent on the board who accepts a lot of the responsibilities.
Anyway, thanks you God for putting me in leadership situations and giving me those qualities that I need.

Thursday- MY Friday

WOohoo! haha. Today is my friday here at school, and I am SO pumped. I am so excited. Zaylee had a bit of a fever yesterday. Woke up at 330 am, and kinda was awake until I had to wake up at 530. long night. grrr.
So I am so excited though about to plan our peanuts baptism on May 13th which, I actually realized IS MOTHERS DAY oops, and then her adoption party on the 15th of May.
I am pumped because even though her baptism will be on Mother's Day, what a better gift?! I am planning her party. It will be garden themed, with butterflies. See, I had this whole theme in my head before I got her date. NOW I got her date, and I want to change everything. Which I kinda already purchased some things, so that kinda sucks, but I do think it will work out. I always do this.
I know there will be a party, so I pick a theme. And then once it comes closer, it just doesnt seem right, so I change it. bah. I should not pick a theme until I am out there purchasing stuff and then going with it, because seriously that is what I do!!!! haha.
So butterflies. Pink and Navy blue. Centerpieces will be tin pails filled with various kinds of white flowers with pinwheels in the center. I will have a dessert bar/favor bar. Since I am inviting my WHOLE congregation (they always do a mother's day brunch after Mother's Day mass anyway, so I guess we got volunteered to do it, and which is fine honestly, because I want to!!) so I am thinking planning for closer to 75 people. I dont know, I will have to count the normal attendance on a Sunday, and then plan on my guests. Anyway Dessert bar/ Favor bar. I want suckers in like a fake grass thing sticking up, I was brownies, Special K bars, and maybe cupcakes. I am going to put treats in jars that guests can take. I will have a variety of things. hmmmm maybe some jelly beans in little organza bags. I have some I believe.......oh I am excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need a big beautiful pink and navy blue cake with butterfly accents....uh oh...I better get a hold of amy now.....well Amy...if youre reading this.....may 13th.....I need a big cake with cupcakes on the side....hahahaha. Oh my poor friend!! At least I am giving her a month and some advance!!! hahahaha. Because I will probably forget to message her until RIGHT before again. bah.
AH I am so excited. SO much to do today. Need sub plans ready, lesson plans ready, news letter ready. PTO meeting tonight. AH! Stupid person is coming tonight to give me a "physical" for life insurance for Brent's new job. LAME. bah.
Anyway! HAPPY THURSDAY/FRIDAY! hehehe

day 28

I am having a hard time being thankful today. I am just having a rough time.
I just think sometimes that all of my daily stress that I have been building up and then one day it just overtakes me and then I feel super sad and want to cry and it just brings me down.
Well I guess I can be thankful that I dont give up. I keep going and I dont let it beat me down. I dont give up on Brent and me. I dont give up on my children. (I made an appointment today for Devon today to see a counselor and that was hard for me).

Thank you God, even just for getting me through each day.

day 27

I am thankful for (as I sit here and stare at the screen for 15 minutes now). I am thankful for certain roads that I took and certain things that had happened. I guess....what I am trying to say, I am thankful for the path that God chose for me. I know this isnt the path that I wanted. This wasn't the situation I wanted for me. BUT I am happy and thankful. I love my husband and my kids. I love things in my life and I am thankful for where I am today.

Thank you God for the path YOU chose for ME.

not a daily thank you......

but just a general "what's up". I have just been blogging thanks everyday for so long, that I really haven't had a time to reflect or just talk recently.
That's ok though I guess because I either just whine and complain, or really nothing huge is going on anyway. boo.
ugh I actually just remembered I have a morning meeting in like 2 minutes. UGH
which is so funny and ironic because I wanted to blog about how I have no time!!! Why do I not have any time for anything these days?
And why is it that everyday I am SO stinkin tired. I am going to bed at 9. I get up at 530. That is seriously plenty of sleep. But I am so stinkin tired in the day I am like falling asleep. Even by 8, I could honestly be going to be with the kids. hmmm I dont get it. I have stopped taking my vitamins because I ran out and I need to order more. I wanted to order a different mix this time, and I am waiting for brent to make the next order because I am not sure what all he wants either. boo hiss.

On another note. I really need to go to the dentist, and I have been avoiding it like the plague. haha. kind of looks like plaque. hahahahahhaa. Anyway. I am SUCH a teeth fanatic too.  I mean I love peoples teeth. I hate it too. Teeth are what I am always looking at. I brush twice. I chew sugarless gum. I use mouthwash, I floss. ALL because I hate gross yucky teeth. BUT at the same time, I am so stinkin scared to go to the dentist. Not sure what my issue is.
hmmmmm unsolved mystery.

ok off to my morning meeting. Will update more later..........

Easter Wreath

Here is a crafting pic for you again!!! I am all about wreaths recently, so here is my Easter Wreath......

I got this wreath wire from Hobby Lobby for 2.97. I am actually regretting the wreath size. I wish I would have gotten the once size smaller. I guess I thought it would be better bigger, but I think it would be better a bit smaller or thinner. It is, like, too thick I think. 

I found this bushel of grass/flower thing from Gordmans for 2.00

Floral wire that I found in my basement dungeon of doom, but it is .99

I took a grass section, and I wired it to the wreath

A close up. You can never have too many close ups!

I continued. See I actually wanted to have the grass go all the way around the wreath. But I didnt have enough of the grass, so I then had to re-plan. You see where you can see the wire wreath part under the grass area.....see not my favorite. I wish it were thinner. 

SO I had to change my plans about the wreath. Luckily in my basement dungeon of crafting doom, I have this bag of eggs, for .99.

I wired the egg again to the wreath. 

A close up of the finished wreath, a top picture. 

The finished picture!!!! I do like how it turned out! I like it a lot. It is cute. I did add little spots of hot glue here and there because the eggs would turn, so I decided it needed something. 

I like it!!! And funny, when I was in Gordmans looking for things for the house, I had seen a bunch of wreaths. I loved them!!! Every single one of them were 14.99 or higher. Well this wreath was a total of 5.00. Maybe 7 if you count the eggs I already had and the floral wire that I already had, But for me, it was 5 bucks. 2.79 for the wreath base and 2.00 for the grass bushes. SCORE! 

I did it again! I made a gorgeous craft!

Day 26

It is always so hard once it gets closer and closer for Lent to be done. I am glad I did this because I do take so much for granted and I do not realize how I am have that I can be thankful for.

I am so thankful today for the things that I can do and the things I am able to accomplish and do. I am and have been all alone for a while now. I have been this house "alive" and the kids on a schedule, and still maintain majority of our normal schedule. I think of all the house projects, the moments where I had to move snow, the lawn mowing, the yard work, the house work.

I am able to cook supper, play with the kids, wash the laundry, clean the house, and still maintain a general happy attitude through it all, all at the same time. I know not everyone can do that. I can. I am SO thankful I am able to do that.

God thank you for making me who I am! I am not the best person in the world, but I am trying to be the best person I can be.

Day 25

On this beautiful Sunday I am so thankful for this beautiful and awesome weather. Today was wondrful. The kids and I cleaned the basement and then we went for a walk after supper. I just had so much fun today. It was just to appreciate all the beautiful things in the world and how beautiful and wonderful is.
There are just so many beautiful things all over. Just amazing and intricate.
Thank you God for everything so beautiful.

Day 24

On this Saturday I am thankful for finally hopefully our "ends" meeting. I dont have to much to say about this, but it seems like pretty much for our marriage, we have had ups and downs with money situations and making things meet and that yes we have always been able to live comfortable, we have always been able to provide for ourselves, our kids, and been able to have fun and purchase "fun things". But ever since Brent has left for this job now, I have noticed a huge difference. He has been gone for a month....and we are able to have all our credit cards payed off hopefully by next week. We are able to pay for things to get our house where we want it, we are able to actually talk seriously about getting remarried again, going to Disney, and being able to plan for the future. We will be able to get new vehicles next year (before christmas), and purchase new and great things!
I am just so happy things are coming together for us finally! Sometimes it is worth going through some pain, to be able to reap the benefits.
Thank you GOD for finally having our "ends" come together.

Day 23

UH. Why can I never be on time with this. ugh.

So today I am so very thankful for my staff at Emerado where I teach. They are just wonderful supportive people. I know I have some issues with some there, but honestly, it is small and petty, and stupid. Majority, if not all of us....we are there for the kids. We are all exhausted and run down by them. We are all shaking our heads at them, but we honestly truly love our kids. We do. For the most part, we are very supportive of each other and we are willing to help each other out.

I am thankful for my fellow staff, principal, and everyone who works with me!!! Amazing, Simply amazing. :0)

Day 22

I am very thankful today for modern day medicine. For someone who has dealt a lot with the Dr.'s and treatments and whatever, I am really grateful. Granted, all of my doctoring is dealing with my infertility, but even know with my severe endo. All the pain I was in. How badly it could have gotten. Luckily now I am taking a shot, and am on this little pill so my lack of hormones dont drive me crazy, haha, it means a lot to me.
Granted I think way "back then" not a lot of people had issues like ours these days. But because we do, I am grateful I do live in a time that there are "cures" or at least "fixes". I am not entirely sure how to describe it. I am just so grateful. I keep thinking back of all the pain I used to be in. LIke physical pain. Now, I feel amazing. No more pain. I hate thinking I have to take this pill everyday though. And every three months I need to go in for another shot. But it is that or daily constant pain. What is my trade off.
I bear the cross I was given.
I am excited because the dr. did give me a tiny glimmer of hope saying that maybe we could even, with this menopause treatment, be apart of a treatment so I can get pregnant. Maybe it would work. I have read about it before, with success stories! I am not sure if I want to do it.......I am not sure. but, it is something there if we decide we want to try!
I will be honest, I want more kids. I do. Not RIGHT now. But I do. It is always that question, how do I get there............so! Who knows. BUT
Thanks GOD for modern day medicine and for not being in daily pain!!!!!

Day 21

Today, now that we are half done, I am thankful for parenting classes. Tonight I went to my 4th love and logic class, and I have to say I am really liking it. This is what I needed. I think....maybe everyone......can use a parenting class now and then. I mean...why not!? It doesn't mean you are a bad parent! I mean even though right away I was embarrssed and associated it with "parenting classes" that my kid's biological parents were forced to take, but never did.
I thought maybe it would put me in that category. But man, once there, and lucky me, it is at my school with majority of fellow teachers, and like 3 other "parents" from the school. BUT I am feeling wonderful after the classes. I am doing a lot of the techniques, and I am finding myself yelling a lot less, arguing a lot less, demanding a lot less, and I am genuinely loving my time with my kids and not feeling so stressed every night. I am finding myself thinking.....wow! I have so much more time and pleasant time, available with my kids!!!! LIke today, I was like.....what do I do!!!!!! We made popcorn, and I made hamburgers and we talked. We have been taking pictures and enjoying little snacks. They are playing outside and we are doing things together as a family. It is ........so refreshing. I honestly just love it.
Why wouldn't anyone want to take a class to better themselves as a parent and as a person!!!! I mean, even some of the greater parents could use a reminder or a helpful hint to help them with something.
I guess what I am trying to say, even I used to think that parenting classes are for the "weak" parents. The parents who do not know how to parent. Certainly NOT me. lol. But I found out today that thank GOD I realized that anyone, and everyone, can take a parenting class and that it is ok. I am happy that it is making me a better mom!

Day 20

On this "Monday", I am so thankful for music. It is something that really determines how I act or feel. If you are listening to a happy peppy upbeat song, I feel upbeat and energetic or whatever. I am so.....I guess maybe I am so thankful for music because I think I am a very musical person.
I love music and I see and feel rhythm everywhere. I how I walk, talk, dance, everything.
I can go from listening to Avril Lavignes "Smile" and feel like I want to Mosh Pit right here behind my desk, to Lollipop by Lil Wayne, and feel all sexy and slutty. In fact that is what happened right now as I was typing. On my playlist. haha.
Music makes life so interesting. From humming to singing to playing instruments. It makes life colorful. It can make my bad mood a good one, it can be the food for my pity party, and it can make my party interesting. I would be so lost without it.
Thank you GOD for music. Is nature, the radios, in life. Thank you!!!

Day 19

DAy 19 of lent, and so on this "Sunday", I am so very thankful for my friend Amy. (I posted about her in the previous bridal shower post). I know I said previously I have so many friends out there that have done so much for me, but I really need to give her a little shout out, because she has saved my butt so many times. I have known her since college, and right away I just hit it off with her. I liked her spunk, her personality, and we both just really wanted the same thing. We both wanted to be teachers, moms, and good catholic wives.
Well we both got married, we both have children, and now we both.....kind of have no desire to be a teacher and want to stay home with our kids! hahahaha. No I cant speak too much of that on Amy's behalf, but we both are just so devoted to our kids and our husband and our "household duties".
Amy is an amazing person. She puts up with my crazy kids when we come over for play dates, she listens to me vent about how stressed and overwhelmed I can get, but she totally gets it that I adore and LOVE my kids and I want more. She doesn't think I am crazy. (well maybe she does...hahaha. She is great at hiding it! haha)
She literally has made me cakes for all of my recent events, and I will continue to go to her, and spread the word for her to make these gorgeous cakes, because I want to make sure she CAN stay home with her munchkins. haha. AND the best (or maybe worst), I am so flipping forgetfull, I ALWAYS forget to order the cake until the week of or like days before. YET she has always pulled through for me, and seriously, WOW does this girl deliver. All of my guests just go on and on about what an AMAZING, delicious, moist and beautiful cakes she can make!!!!!! I tell her what I want, and she just surprises me!
Anyway, I just had to give that quick thanks to God for her, because I am truly blessed to be friends with some of the greatest people.
And I HAVE to say she is also an amazing person to get that I am so super busy and that I really really want to have play dates or a momma night out or whatever, and she is so welcoming to let me join in on playdates when I can and stuff, and not be like on the TV shows where if I cant make it for months, then I am "out". haha.
THANK GOD for Amy!!!!!!!! You mean a lot to me!!!!!!!!

bridal shower!

OK because I am a crafting NUTCASE. I will post pics from my sisters bridal shower
It was Tiffany Themed:

The cake. It was amazing!!! I DID NOT make it. There is no credit I can take. There is this amazing person out there, her name is Amy Lents and she can be found at http://amyscookingadventures.blogspot.com/

These were the favors. I had Robin Egg candy wrapped in a plastic wrap, tied with a ribbon, and then but in the boxes. Then I made coasters by taking tile and spray painting it with blue spray paint. Then I coated it with a sealant (sorry, I didn't take pictures while I was doing my process). The pens, well were super easy. I just took a pen. Wrapped it with ribbon. Secured with hot glue on top and bottom. While I was almost done wrapping to the top, added the flower with a bit of hot glue, wrapped the ribbon around it, and Voila!

close up of candy

oh yah, for that added touch, I wrapped the coaster with a bit of tulle

Favors!

My centerpiees

The table

The gift table. I had a huge 11x14 picture of them, and then the guests signed around it. That was the guest book. 

My gift to her. Kinky vodka, a glass full of a veil, beads, lei, a huge diamond ring necklace, a blinky button. All fun things to go out for the bachelorette party. 

The head table. I did not have any control over the table skirt. grrr. I thought it was hideous! gross. But I tried to decorate it as much as possible

My balloon backdrop. It was supposed to be a heart, but clearly I did not have enough balloons. Awe well. I know now. BUT it was still kinda neat. 

The rose balls

YAH! Happy Bridal Shower sister!!!

Day 18

Today is Saturday (well supposed to be), and I am so thankful and grateful that I am sill married. I know, dumb thing to be thankful for, but really think about it. How many people these days do you know that goes through SO much shit, struggles, problems, and STILL stick together.

If you dont know me, well thats an issue, but Brent and I are like oil and water. I love things clean, orderly, on task. I love family time and to be loud and to cuddle as a family. I am strict and firm on my children. I do not accept bad mouthing and backlash. I expect great things from them, and I will not settle for less from them. They are amazing, competent, wonderful, smart children. I love to spend time with family. I want people to be nice and to get along. I hate confrontation. My heart is on my sleeve and I show my emotion in everything that I do. I love to shop and to spend money.

Brent is a wonderful caring man. He loves mess. He thrives on confrontation and gets uneasy and wants to "leave" when things finally get easy and settled. He hates order and wants to fly on the seat of his pants. He expects great things from our children but think it is ok that they bad mouth and walk all over him. He sometimes thinks it cute. He loves to be a family and spend time together, but he wants to be constantly busy. He wants to always take the road less traveled and never wants to settle. He wants to save money and live "on the land". He always says what is on his mind, even if it hurts other people. He is not selfish, but thinks everyone should fend or take care of themselves, but on the other hand is sometimes TOO helpful to people or situations when I think he should just worry about his own family. He loves his family to death, but it wasnt first on his priority like it is mine to get one or to add to it.

Anyway, get my drift?! We have gone through a lot. Like through anything, nobody knows how it is as the other side until they have walked that road. I know everyone has their own struggles, everyone has their OWN hurdles and problems to go through. Brent and I have struggled through trying to decide when to have a family, through doctoring, infertility, miscarriages, adoption struggles, adoption loss, foster care, job loss, trying to attain a job, house searching, moving, sibling loss, depression, me and my stupid lady town issues, now with him gone and then coming back home, Oh my Gosh!!!!! He came home and surprised us this weekend, and it was just hard for him to be back home. It was like a honeymoon phase right away where "oh I missed you, youre so beautiful, I want you"...on and on and on. Then after a while, it was like...he is not there for our daily routine now. It is different. Our kids are different. He has not been home for 4 weeks. We have changed. The house has changed. I know it is very hard on him too. And with him only being able to be home for 2 days, I wanted to make sure not to rock the kids too much, so I kept telling him that let the kids do their chores still, or whatever to keep things as normal as possible. Well then he doesnt agree and then we fight.

Then I was thinking, how are we still together. We are so different. I can't believe it. How and why?! We both want so many different things, but at the same time, it is ALL the same.

When he left on Sunday I was bawling. I just cried and cried. He called me later and asked what was wrong. We talked for a really long time and I told him how concerned I was that I feel like now we are going to seperate more and I don't feel loved right now. But man do I love him.
Luckily we talked it out. Obviously we are working this out together and it will be hard. But the most important thing, I wont give up. I wont give up on him, me, or us. I love him. So I am thankful that my love for him has endured all of this. I see and hear of so many people that just fall out of love or just want to seperate before it gets too messy. To me (now I am not judging ANYONE. I dont know their life. I dont know their struggles), but me.....I wont give up on Brent and I will fight for my marriage.

So THANK GOD my love for brent and our marriage has lasted, and will continue to, to hopefully the end of time!!!!

Day 17

ugggh I am so far behind!!!!!
I know for sure, today I am so thankful for man many friends that I have. Friends that I had in the past, present, and I know future. I wish I could name them all.
I was actually going to list names, but you all know me and my memory, I would feel horrible if I forgot a name unintentionally.
So, I HATE saying that if you are my friend, you know I am thankful for you.....because I know that is not the truth. In fact most people dont know how much they are appreciated for all the little things that they do. So, I guess I will start today and saying thanks to everyone that I know.
Thank you guys for making little impacts on my life. They do not go unnoticed. I love you guys! And I will try super hard to thank everyone!!!!

Day 16

I am so very thankful that I have crafting ability. And yes, I can be grateful and thankful. I could have been blessed with so many other talents. Granted, I am not the best, and I am not the most unique or greatest. BUT I do have talent. I enjoy doing crafts. I enjoy being crafty and planning parties and doing things like this. I loved helping with Savannahs baby shower. I am loving my sister's bridal shower. I love it. I wish I had more time to devote to it. There are so many projects that I need to finish and complete. There are so many other projects that I would want to start, but I know and realize that I have no time.
I am so thankful.
Thank GOD for my artistic ability. I love doing and making projects and it makes me happy!!!!

Day 15

This is why I am doing this, I am sitting here and I am thinking....what do I have that I am thankful for?? I think NOTHING. BUT I mean really......I have a ton!

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

THANK YOU God and everyone for little comments in a day. Little "likes" or comments on my facebook. Little things. Little comments of asking how I am doing. Little things. SO many people do so many things, and I am sure a lot of the people do not even think about what they even are saying. They just do it, no big deal, moving on. But those little things, make me giggle, or laugh or loud. I think about it in the back of my mind all day, and it truly just lifts me up. It really makes me happy.

Thank you God for people and their little comments. Thank you for people who show that they care, without even probably realizing it!

Day 14

ugh I need to quite slacking. I guess that is the one thing about this, it needs to be me blogging and being thankful no matter what my life schedule. ugh.

OK so, for Tuesday, I am so grateful for my students. They are so amazing and keep me going. They really make me think about what I am and who I want to be. There are so many times I catch myself being a little snippy and or just tired and exhausted because they take SO MUCH from me. They literally drain me. They are all so "needy" with their wants and needs of love and attention. But, They keep me going with their.....little personalities. I don't know. They just keep me going. I just love them. They make me going back everyday, and they are what keep me coming back, and they are who I think about when I am gone. I care for them.

Thank you God for my second grade students!!!

Day 13

Today I am so thankful for Adoption. Just to have the choice. Just for people to have the choice. Granted, in my situation.......the biological parents did not have a choice. BUT they did have a final choice to say yes and do the right thing for their child.
I could go on for ages about adoption. Sometimes I read that adoption is nothing but baby snatching. And while I will not get into that, because I just can't. It's too....I cant even give the argument any amount of my time. Just like someone saying abortion is right. To me....I just cant give it the breathe that I would take arguing against it.
I know adoption is not for everyone. If I would have been a teen and had gotten pregnant, I could have done it. I could have kept my baby. Some people just can't and I am grateful for adoption. That is really all I am going to say. I am grateful for the option. I am grateful of how my life went this way. I know I will probably never be able to have babies in my belly, and I am ok with that now. I really am. I am grateful for adoption because then I can be a mom. I hope to continue to expand my family. Yes I want more kids. People are stupid to think I only want 3. I have always wanted a big family. I want more babies, and thanks to adoption, I will be able to.
So thank you GOD for adoption that I ended up getting "stuck" with these three hooligans!!!!!!!! haha

I love you MORE than words can ever say!!!!

Wreath

For some reason I am like huge into wreaths. I love wreaths and for some reason I want a wreath for everything. SO I decided my newest little peanut needed a wreath!

I took a piece of carboard. Cut it into a circle. Cut a circle out of it and then wrapped it with ribbon I found in my basement dungeon of doom. I like the flatter wreath look than the big bulky one in Z's room. 

Now take all sorts of new and old scraps of ribbon and cut away. It was like maybe 8 inches long (do a test ribbon depending on how much hang off you want, and how big your wreath is). LIterally I have like a 60 pieces!!! Wrape it around the wreath and tie double knot. You can see my process here. I just literally grabbed a ribbon, tied, randomly twisted the wreath, and repeated. No order. No rhyme or reason. 

keep going till its full. I decided that it needed something else, so again I found the same flowers I added to diaper cake and attached it to the bottom of the wreath.

So I made a name plate in which I took cardboard scrap. Cut it nice. I then used puffy paint and wrote her name. Then I spray painted it purple, and brushed it with sparkly purple paint. I hot glued it on, and TADA!!!

body scrub

buy cute jars!

This was all a huge guesstimate with measurements but it worked out! So started with 3 cups of sugar. 

I added 3 tablespoons of EEVO (Rachel Ray hehe), and 6 tablespoons of Virgin Coconut Oil in the liquid state (you have to throw it in the mic for like 20 seconds. WATCH IT or it will get hot. You dont want this. Just melted. Be PATIENT! [that means you Taryn! haha])

Add 4 tablespoons of Lemon Juice. I made my citrus, but I read if you wanted it different you could add any other "juice" or oils

I threw in like a tablespoon or two of orange peel

I felt like it needed more lemon smell so I added 2 tablespoons of Lemon Flavor. Here again you could add peppermint, mint, or strawberry, or whatever the heck have you. MIx all together. And spoon it in the jars. My 3 cups of sugar and whatever have you filled about 5 jars (they were 4 ounces). I made 15 jars so I had to do this recipe 5 times. But it was super easy and fast, so no biggy. And by the end I was just throwing stuff in! I can wait to experiment more with scents.

Next I took fabric and cut it with a rotary cutter

cover jar

secure with lid

take flower head off of flower, hot glue

TADA!!!!!!

Very cost effective:

Sugar: I bought a HUGE 5 lb bag for 2 bucks, but obviously didnt use it all

Lemon Juice: $1

Orange Peel:$1

Lemon Flavor: $1

Jars: $10.00 for 12 jars

Fabric: purchased remnant at the end aisle $1

EVOO: $10.00 for a big bottle, but I barely used any

Coconut Oil: I honestly dont know how much because I had this in my cupboard

Flowers: I bought a bunch that had 7 flower heads for $2