Schmidt Wit

Back to Front

2011-04-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

I have decided to change my major. When I grow up, I am going to be an artist. Anyone who knows me, knows I have been creative, all my life. A gift from my grandmother that just keeps giving. It's funny, because now that I have commit myself to this idea, it seems silly that I ever went for anything else. I do LOVE psychology thought.
To me the brain is fascinating. The way it works, the way it adapts, the way it heals. The neural connections a thought travels through, reactions it produces and how quickly it all takes place. . .it amazes me. I was thinking yesterday, it's a little bit sad that there will be no more brain learning, at least not while I procure my associates, and then I looked around. There were 6 psychology magazines within arms reach, and I realized, I don't have to give up brain learnin'. Not when information is so easy to come by.
That's when something funny hit me. I am going to be an artist, with a hobby of psychology. I can be so backwards sometimes. I LOVE IT

Look how artistic the brain is all on its own

Why in the world would she ask that?!?!?

2010-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on facebook, I asked the question, "Has anyone else noticed the limitations being married puts on who you can be friends with". The responses that I got were mixed, but not really surprising. "ummmm no?" "ohhh ya!" "That's just how it goes..." "It does? Who want's to be friends with who?" and "Yep! But if you are married to your best friend it doesn't matter, right?". All of these responses were from women. So to the two who haven't noticed, I ask, have you made friends with any men since you have been married? Not a man and his wife or girlfriend, not a man your husband works with or introduced you too, I am talking about a man you have met in your day to day life. Do you talk often outside of the place that the two of you have in common?
How do your husbands feel about this friendship?
I am not saying that I am ignorant as to why this is. I know that if Cory started talking to a woman all of the time, I would have some insecurities about that. My question is why are we built that way? Why is jealousy our first reaction to a friendship with someone of the opposite sex? I am curious if it works the same way for gay people. Is it considered taboo for them to make friends with another homosexual of the same sex?

Stay tuned. this is an ongoing though/wonderment so chances are there will be more blogging about it. But I have done that thing where I think myself in circles and nothing makes sense anymore.

The 3am brain scramble.

2010-09-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever woken up on the middle of the night, and your brain just takes off running? That was me last night at 3. Cory had to leave for work early, and that is what time the poor guy what to get up. And this is how the next 2 hours went for me.

Ick 3am. Poor Cory
Bed's all mine

mmm back to sleep
. . .feel like I'm living a teenage dream.
I hope Riley doesn't wake up when Cory leaves,
Should I turn on the light and read?
No, only 3 hours left.
man its a good book.
DJ got us falling in love.
Riley will learn to read soon.
alphabets confusing
is there anything K can do that C can't?
Don't think so.
Maybe I should just get up.
seriously? its only 330
but I have been getting up early lately
not this early
try to focus on one thing
horse
man my brain draws good
why don't my hands draw that good
wish I could draw
Cuz it goes on and on and on. and it goes on and on and on.
D-E-A-R, D-E-E-R, B-E-A-R. man that has to be hard to explain to a kid. if d-e-a-r and d-e-e-r are pronounced the same why isn't b-e-a-r pronounced beer. or d-e-a-r pronounced dare.
man brain, shut up.
420 man! fall asleep would you.
maybe I should read just to clear my head.
no. I would end up staying awake.
Back to the horse.
neck head shoulder.
impressed with the detail
stop
just the horse.

did I sleep?
I think so
530
well I guess I'll get up.
at least it'll be quiet for a while

What is going on here?!?!

2010-03-12T03:25:00.000-08:00

I live a fairly simple life with fairly common stressers, money, parenting, the occasionally deployed husband. It has gotten to the point now that most of the time these things aren't as stressful, but more of a pain in my arse. Life had gotten boring and I was feeling under stimulated so I decided to make a big change in my life, I decided to go back to school as a full time student. Now all of the sudden everything is a stresser. I few weeks ago I blew out my knee skiing, laying me up on the couch for 2 weeks, and calling into question whether I would even be able to go to school. A few days before I was supposed to register for classes I found out that the program that had approved me for 6k of free school money temporarily shut down leaving me in the lurch, so we ended up using money we were planning on using for some much needed family fun time to pay for classes instead. An MRI shows that the knee I thought was getting better, actually has extensive damage and a possible fracture, and will most likely require surgery. It is going to be 3 weeks before I can get in to see an orthopedic surgeon, which seems like a lifetime to wait when you are barely mobile and like an idiot REALLY hurt it again today. Two days after registering and paying for school I found out that the free school money program was opening up again to previously approved students making me think that I had missed it by two days. Luckily I didn't. I can get them to approve payment for my classes and the school will refund me my money which is great and I am very happy about but it is one more thing to take care of in my super hectic life and all of this on top of the fear of failure and the unknown that comes with going back to school....No wonder I can't sleep

My heart tells me....

2010-03-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have always been quiet about religion, keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. And if you would have asked me 10 years ago what I believed, I would have said I don't know, but please don't try to push your god on me. I have never been Christian, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. A few years ago, I started researching religions and found one that just spoke to me. There was no "converting" involved. It was everything I had believed all of my life and hadn't had a name for. . . Paganism. Unfortunately there is a stigma attached to paganism, that made it uncomfortable for me to..well...come out, for lack of a better term. Not that I ever felt the need. I believe that a persons relationship with their deity or deities is a very personal one that should be kept private, but I never want to hide who I am. I don't want to be stashing books or other religious paraphernalia, when people come over, and I will not lie about it when asked. I am very comfortable with my relationship with my god and goddess, I just don't want to be judged for it. I do not believe in the devil or hell. I do believe that all life is sacred, and I believe in the "creed" harm none and do what thou will. But my biggest belief is that paganism isn't the only way. It is what works for me. I will not go door to door preaching my beliefs to anyone. I will never tell anyone that their beliefs are wrong, as I said a persons relationship with their deity is a special one that no one meddle in. I do have one pet peeve, the expression "god fearing" Why should anyone fear their god? The god and Goddess are my friends. I speak to them as I would a friend and I love them, and they love me as friends do. So why the fear?
That said...I will never ever tell my children what to believe. They will find what is right for them when they are ready. I will tell them what I believe, and Cory being a christian, will tell them what he believes. I will help them research Buddhism, Judaism, or any other religion. When they ask me what happens when people die I will tell them that no one knows but different people believe different things, and give them some examples, and then ask them what they think happens. I will encourage them to believe in something and give them things to think about, but their religion will be up to them.

Come on people...Who's the real bad guy here

2010-02-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

Please check out this article first, and then read on friends
eighty-one-year-old catholic preist and nun abused after weapons protest

I don't even know where to start with this.The article is a couple of months old, and I did read it back when it was still news, but it is a story that won't leave my head because it bothers me so much . For the people reading this blog who don't actually know me (of there are any). This is the base where Cory is stationed, and before we bought our house, was where we lived. These people who broke in to the base, broke in to the super duper top secret area, that even I as a wife am not allowed to go, unless it is to pick up or drop off Cory at the boat, and when I do go down there, it is a no lolly gagging or meandering situation. Straight to the boat and straight back off the premises. There are mp's on the road that will stop you if you look like you are taking a tour and they will escort you back up if they think you shouldn't be there.

The thing that bothers me the most is that the people who wrote this story, spun it to make the military look bad. Yes, they were old and yes they were a priest and a nun, but they broke into a top secret facility, where deadly force is authorized. They are lucky they weren't shot... and should be great-full for that. It seems to me that breaking onto a military base is an act of terrorism That is just my opinion of course. These people were charged with misdemeanors and then released.

Yes the ground probably was cold and wet. That is Washington in November...cold and wet, and yes they sat there for 4 hours with bags on their heads. But if the mp's don't know who you are or what your intentions are they can't just let you go. these people wouldn't give any information but their names. That really isn't conducive to speeding up their release. They had bags on their heads because they were in a top secret area, with the possibility of seeing things that shouldn't be seen, not because the were about to executed by a terrorist.

There are other things I could say about their reasoning for doing what they did, but that isn't what this is about. I hate it when the military is put into a bad light, and not just because I am married to a military man. These people defend us and protect us. They leave their homes and family's to go over seas to fight a war that can't be won. They patrol our waters to keep us safe at home. And some make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I understand that there are people who don't agree with the war. I am one of them. but I support our troops. They aren't the ones starting the wars. They act under orders from people who sit in offices. I don't understand the people who don't support our troops, but I know that in this country, people are lucky enough to be able to voice their opinions and the Naval base doesn't try to stop the picketers outside of the gates. If these people had done that they could have gotten their point across, without ever having laid on the wet ground with bags on their heads and they probably wouldn't have that pesky criminal record to boot.

Cheesy but true

2010-01-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about them but I LOVE bald eagles. Growing up in Michigan, I had never seen one in the wild. There was one at the Detroit zoo that was a bit of a celebrity. He only had one leg. He had lost it somehow in the wild and the zoo gave him a place to live. I remember seeing him and feeling sad that he had lost his leg, but I didn't feel any other connection than that. There are some that live in the upper peninsula but I think I have been there once. I don't remember the first bald eagle I have seen but I remember several others, and every time I see one I can't help but stare at it (unfortunately this also applies when I am driving)

Cory and I were married on the San Juan Islands Orcas Island to be specific (that's another animal I feel a connection with but that is a different blog) I remember walking around a building to get some pictures taken and a huge eagle came winging through at eye level right between us and the building. It was AMAZING. I have only ever seen one other flying that low to the ground and that was one that I got to look it right in the eye. It may sound strange but I lost myself for a second, watching that bird fly by. Time slowed my jaw dropped and my eyes locked on that yellow eye. I haven't had anything like that happen to me since. I spot them a lot, sometimes several in a week. I think it just depends on how often I get out of the house lol. But it seems like I always see them during a change in my life. The day I was married, on the drive out from Michigan to here there was one perched on a post on the side of the road. A few weeks ago I went to start making official plans to go back to school and half way to where I was going there was a big bald eagle landing in a tree. Maybe they are my lucky charm. I don't know, but there is something about them that just amazes me.

Me Myself and I

2010-01-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

I have been having some issues lately. Firstly I seem to have lost my creativity. And secondly I seem to have lost myself. My life has changed a lot in the last 5 years, and in that time I had to put myself aside and take care of the new additions to my family. So several weeks ago I posted something on facebook asking for ideas on what to write about. I guess what I was looking for was not so much a theme, but several different subjects to write about. The things suggested to me were mostly themes, and I did create 2 new blogs because I liked the ideas. One for my thoughts, troubles and ideas about learning photography, and the other one is about being a mother and the funny things my kids do because, even though I have no followers yet, I hope to, and I hope to touch other mothers who maybe feel like they are in it alone and reach out to those mothers when I am feeling alone. This blog though, I want to be about ME. Just me. My thoughts oppinions and ideas on all things NOT kid related. I am more than a mom and I know it, but I don't remember or know anymore, the woman I was before I had kids. So that is what this blog is going to be. Thank you to everyone who helped me figure out just what it was I was looking for, and stay tuned. I have a mildly opinionated and agitated blog I am planning on posting later, I just don't have time to write it right now. Mommy duty calls ;)

Resolution Schmesolution

2009-12-31T08:50:00.000-08:00

Many many moons ago, when I was still a wacky and ignorantly insightful youth. When I was struggling to find a place in the bustling, cliquey hierarchy of high school, I choose to be the outcast. Not to the extreme of course, but I took pride in being different from everyone else. I didn't want to "fit in". I didn't want to be the statistical average. I was my own person and I was comfortable there. I was "unique".

Once, before the holiday break, we had a teacher ask "what is your New Years resolution going to be?" And just to be different I answered that my resolution would be to never make another New Years resolution. And so far I have managed to stick to it LMAO

Now this is where the ignorantly insightful comes in. Just within the past year I read something that I found inspiring and spot on to what I believed to be true in my heart. And that amazing tidbit was "why wait?"

Think about what most people make as their resolution; to loose weight, to quit smoking/drinking, to spend less, to give more. These are all life style changes, and as humans we are creatures of habit. Changing your life is hard to do. And there is absolutely nothing that requires it to be New Years in order to be done. And the problem with saying that you are going to start something on a particular day sets you up for disappointment because when you find yourself falling back into your old habits, you feel as though you have failed and then you say "oh well maybe next year". My grandma was famous for saying "I am going to start my diet on Monday" Every time we saw her she said the same thing. Once my mom said to her "which Monday mom?" Maybe what she should have said to her is "why Monday mom?"

So this year if you find yourself less than successful in your resolution endeavors, don't quit and don't wait for a new year or week to start over. Try again tomorrow and take baby steps. Remember ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DO OVER"

Good luck and Happy New Year

I need a life

2009-12-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

It's not even 8am and I am beyond bored. I am wondering what in the world I am going to do today. There are definitely things around the house that I could do and I probably will. I feel like I ever use my brain for anything and it is so boring. What in the world can I do today to stimulate my brain. Hmmmm. I just don't know. I think I need some things to think about so my friends I beseech you. Give me some ideas. Maybe some things to blog about. I like writing in my blog. It forces me to think and I get to sort out my thoughts in the process. So please make some suggestions for me. Just no politics please. I don't understand them and I really don't want to. :)

2009-12-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

Why is there no way to telescope down a path you are thinking about taking? All I want to know is what I should be when I grow up. I realize that I am nearly thirty years old and by definition "grown up" However. I don't feel grown up. At the moment I feel used up and under stimulated. I want to go back to school. I want to be in a classroom with grownups. I want to learn things, I want to think about something other than laundry, dishes, and poopy butts. The question is what do I go to school for? I am really leaning toward teaching elementary school kids. I like the idea, but I don't know. I remember having teachers that seemed so unhappy with life (I didn't know it then of course but looking back) and lets face it I don't need any help in the depressing department. So how do I know? How can I be sure that I am investing time and money into a future that I am actually going to enjoy? I honestly believe that everyone should have a career that they love. How do I know if I will love teaching? I am a little embarrassed to admit how much and how many times we have invested in my future. I don't want this to be just one more time we waste copious amounts of money for a job that I am not going to do. I wish there was a way to stand before a path you are thinking of taking and peek down the road to see what it is like. I am really starting to feel like a flake of all trades master of none.

When I grow up I wanna be famous.

2009-12-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

buuuut that's not going to happen, so it's time for plan B. Unfortunately I never can up with a plan B. I never really came up with a plan A. I was always the girl that just wanted to get married and have babies. How very 1950's of me right. Well Mission accomplished, now I want a career too. How fickle is woman. I don't want just any job. I want an awesome job. A job that I am made for. A job that utilizes my unique talents. And there in-lies the first problem. What is my talent? It certainly isn't anything obvious. Not to me anyway. I can't sing or dance. I have minimal artistic ability. And I can't contort myself into a small box so the circus is out. Honestly the only thing that I can think of that I am good at is being funny. Stand up comedy doesn't really seem that appealing to me, so what does that leave? Hmmm. The other thing is I am not really passionate about anything. I mean I have the normal momma bear, don't mess with my kids thing goin' on, but I don't think people get paid for that. I have thought of a few things but I don't really know if any of them are right for me.

There is photography of course but at this point I don't really think I am any good. I am taking the correspondence course and I can see if that helps me any. I have though about taking a photography class at a school, but what if I am really no good? Do I really want to pour a bunch more money into something that isn't going to pan out.

Maybe an elementary school teacher. I know that I learned best from the teachers that were funny. But do I really want to deal with that many kids? And isn't part of the reason I want a career is to get away from my kids? (I love 'em I really do, but I'm not a saint. I need a break.) Do I really want to deal with kids all day? Is that really a break?

I have it on very good authority that shrinks get into the business because they are crazy. Well I have that going for me. I definitely have my issues, not to mention a son with Asperger's syndrome. Maybe I could be a head doctor or maybe a child psychiatrist. That definitely sounds interesting and at this point it seems to be the idea with the least amount of buts. This is the only one. This is a very professional field. I don't know if I am a "professional" type person. I like to be free and easy. Is being silly and quick with the one liners considered professional or frowned upon?

Why isn't there a test to tell you what kind of job is right for you. That would be super duper right now.

Where does creativity come from?

2009-12-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

Some one please tell me. I need to hunt some down. I love crafty things but everything I do is a pattern that some other amazingly creative person created. I feel like I used to be creative but not any more. Yesterday I went for a walk around the block with Riley and he had the lights off the top of one of his police cars (They are magnetized so he can pop them on and off the car). The lights flash when you push a button and he would stop when he saw a house with pretty Christmas lights or a camper in someones driveway and he would put the light up to his eyes and push the button and say "I'm takin' a picture of the Christmas lights" or "look at that reindeer, I have to take a picture" I thought it was so funny and an amazing use of his imagination. Now I am in a photography class and I am feeling so generic. I feel like there is absolutely nothing amazing about my pictures. How do I learn to see something amazing in things that aren't. Those are the pictures I love. The ones of a pile of mushrooms at the grocery store, that even though it is just mushrooms is an amazing picture. Turning mundane things into art has always amazed me. So how do I learn to stop taking these things for granted and actually see them? I don't know. How do I start coming up with ideas that nobody else has ever had? I don't know. I feel blocked. Creatively constipated if you will. I know that the more you exercise creativity the stronger it gets, but how do you exercise it when you can't even figure out how to move it?

I can fix this

2009-12-12T19:10:00.000-08:00

As you may have guessed, there are parts of my life that I am unhappy about. My house is a mess, my son tests my patience/sanity every day all day, I am chubbier that I have ever been in my life, and I am constantly cranky, and I feel like a slave to my house and kids. Who am I? Where did I go? Where am I going? It feels to me sometimes that I am swimming in a river against the current. I paddle and I kick the same way every day and I am not making any progress. If anything I am floating down stream. It's exhausting. . .I am exhausted. But I can't quit. These are all things I can't just give up on. My kids need me, my house needs me and I need my health and maybe to feel pretty again. I can't let my life consume me. I didn't ever want to be this way. I drive behind the minivan with the plate frame that says Frannie's mom or Danny's wife and I think to myself "god who are these people, don't they have any identity other than wife and mother?" As I sit here thinking about my life (which I have been trying to avoid doing) I realize I am that person, the only difference is that I refuse to "own" it. I love my husband and I am proud of my kids but I am my own person. In high school I was fun and strange and wacky. I was voted most unique in my AFJROTC class 2 years in a row and when my athletic younger brother came to high school and was immediately more popular than me I was furious when people started addressing me as Aaron's sister.

I know that these are things I can control and I can fix. But when I look up from the bottom of this whole I am in, t seems like a loooooooong way up. I know that I can't jump out, I am going to have to climb. . . . . .And it is going to be hard. I know that there is help out there. Sparkpeople.com and flylady.com are two websites that have, at times, made a huge impact in my life. I mean a website that makes me want to exercise and drink nothing but water, and another that makes cleaning less of a chore and more of something that will make you feel good everyday. . . . .I mean that must be sent straight from heaven. But complacency is a mighty foe of mine and he always tends to win out. Even when I am excited about something.

Diligent baby steps are key. Even when I think or even know that the life change I make is a habit I have to stay DILIGENT. I can't get too excited to take that next baby step either because it would seem that I am easily overwhelmed or at time (ok most of the time) I shift my focus to the new project and let the last project fade into the past. So what should my first steps be.

I think I am going to work on drinking more water everyday (which may sound weird but if you read up on it, it is like a miracle straight from the tap) and Maybe going for a walk around the block with the kids every day. So what will I accomplish with these two tasks. Well that water will make it easier to loose weight, slim down the bloat, make my skin glow and maybe help me to start feelong good about myself again. The walk with the kids holds a lot of potential. Just walking around the block pulling the kids in a wagon is quite a workout for me right now. So I will be burning calories, getting out of the house (weather permitting) and that always make me feel better, and spending some quality time with the kids. With out the tv or computers or phones. Just us. I could use some suggestions for rainy days though. It will need to be something free and easy. Something I can't easily make an excuse to not do. Hmmmmmmm Anybody have some suggestions

If you can't blog anything nice, don't blog at all. . . . . . .well screw that.

2009-12-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

So it has been several months since I have even logged onto the blogger. I don't know why, I guess I just didn't have the bug to write. Lately however, my life has been hard and stressful and really dragging me down. Granted I am not facing the kind of hardships and stress some people are and I should be thankful for that. I am a lucky woman with a good life. I have a wonderful husband, two beautiful kids, I am healthy, and I wouldn't trade my life for anything. But I can occasionally throw myself a pity party can't I?!?!?!?!?. In the last year My husband has gone back to a boat, first he went out to sea with a boat that wasn't his to "help out" and then very shortly after he got back from that trip he went out again with his boat. About a month after he came home he found out that he made Chief, which is great, but the next 10 weeks were consumed with a type of training that ate up Cory's time like it was a big bowl of movie theater butter popcorn. A couple of weeks after Cory finished chief training I found out that I was pregnant, and a couple of weeks after that I lost the baby. Two weeks later Cory was gone again. Off to Guam and into a refit that wouldn't quit. He came home about a month ago and is leaving at the end of the month. This year has been full of constant change and I think that is very hard for me. I haven't had a chance to adjust to anything and neither has Riley. Maybe that is why he is so hard for me to deal with. I look back on old blogs about how much I was enjoying him, and as awful as this sounds, I can't say that right now. He is a constant source of anger frustration stress and guilt. I feel like I am always yelling at him. He is always into something, doing things he knows he shouldn't and now he is being sneaky when he does things he knows he shouldn't. He whines and crys about everything which is a patience annihilator for me. I am learning what it means to love your children differently. I feel like I am failing as a parent and forgetting who I am. I feel so needy lately. I don't want to be needy. I don't want to feel like I need help or that I can't handle my life alone. Why is this so hard? I have everything I have ever wanted and I still feel like poop.

hey peeps wanna know what I am doing?

2009-03-20T22:46:00.001-07:00

Check me out on twitter.com My screen name is haschmidt :)

My personal hell

2009-02-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

I know this is going to sound awful but I need to vent and what better place to do that than a blog. Cory left last friday and I am doing ok I have delt with Rileys shall we say adventures with a little more humor and less stress. I am trying to have patience and less anger. I have gotten up from nap time to find the dog locked in his room and him outside in the car wearing only a shirt and a diaper. I didn't freak when he came out of his room with wet hair and when I asked him what happened he brought me a bowl with pee in it and said "went potty". I even managed a calming breath when he painted his chest and some of his hair black with my mascara, but now it is tuesday and I am supposed to have the morning off. He is supposed to climb on the bus and out of my hair for a few hours and give me a quiet morning to get things accomplished while he is at school. But this morning I woke to anice dusting of snow on the ground. And when I say dusting I mean I can still see not just the grass but the ground and what do you know. . .school is canceled. Why? There has been more snow than this on the ground before and they have still had school. ARG Looks like another day of "stop, get down, don't, leave it, don't touch, no scissors, get out of the bathroom, leave my stuff alone, and get off the table" and hours and hours of Wow wow wubbzy

Oy

2008-12-03T21:03:00.001-08:00

So I am trying to not blush at the thought of how neglectful of my poor blog I have been over the last couple of . . . months. . . but what can I do about it now. Write about whats been going on. . .thats what. So lets see October came and went in a hurry. We meant to adopt one kitten but fell in love with two. They are brothers and pretty much a riot. Indy (see left) is curious and full of adventure and loves me best and Fritz (see right) is a bit of a spaz and loves to sit in Cory's lap while he plays his video games. Halloween came and went with as much excitement as a three year old who doesn't really get it can muster. He was Mickey Mouse and he thought that was really cool but after about 10 minutes he was done with the ears and I was holding his bag and trying to stop him from going into every house we went to.

Then of course came November and election day. I never thought it would happen but I didn't vote. I have always voted in presidential elections (well all 2 times I was old enough too) and I have always wondered why other people didn't well I didn't know who to vote for. I liked Obama for alot of the things he said about the economy and I liked McCain for his views on homeland security. So I was confused and decided not to vote. I wasn't surprised that Obama won and I am kinda glad but poor Cory really didn't think McCain would get beat so badly.

Sisser (a.k.a.) Katlyn had three teeth pop in in four days just in time for thanksgiving, (look close and you can see her bottom two teeth in this pic) and thank goodness she didn't get grumpy at all her fourth tooth came in two days after thanksgiving and now with all four front teeth it is seriously time to start thinking about weening her off the breast lol.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We went to our friends Casey and Josh's house and they made a yummy spread turkey and stuffing and sweet taters to name a few. Riley had a lot of fun playing with Aiden and Brendan and stealing rolls off the table and poking his finger into the middle before dinner was even ready.

The next day I lost my virginity. Thats right I had never done black Friday before and my good friend Casey was a trooper and went out with me at 5am. It was fun to go out just me and her and not have any kids. It was also fun to get so much Christmas shopping done for so cheap :) I plan on going again next year but I think I will skip Wal-mart.

Saturday we went and got our tree. I have had a fake tree since I was a teenager and because I am my mothers daughter I am nervous about having a real tree, but as a result of 3 garage floods over the last couple of years we had to get rid of the artificial tree I have had since I moved out of my moms house (darn mold). So we went and cut down our own and it was really fun. Riley chased after Brendan and Aiden (yes Casey was there again, {she's my buddy}) and we got a really beautiful tree. Oh yeah I almost forgot we found out that Josh is the incredible hulk that day too :)

And finally it is December. It took four days but we finally got the tree decorated today. I had to go and get LED light for it first because it makes me worry less about fire but after that we had a green light (as well as red yellow and blue). Riley had a lot of fun decorating the tree and every time Cory unwrapped an ornament Riley would run back from hanging up his last ornament and say "want dis one too" That boy can make my smile almost as easily as he make me scream. I tell ya there is nothing closer to being bipolar than raising a toddler

A submariner's son

2008-09-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

On monday afternoon during what was supposed to be nap time I listened to my son playing in his room and once again I was suprised and laughing my ass off. This is the adventure I eaves dropped on.

"Get dressed"
"Go to store"
"I be back"

"AAAOOOOGAA. . .AAAOOOOGAA. . .DIVE. . .DIVE"

I swear it's moments like that that make me wish time would stop

Where does he get these ideas you ask???

Bathtime

Oh what a beautiful morning

2008-09-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the morning I had. I was Riley's first day of school today and he even rode the bus. Yesterday he flat out refused to ride and today I managed to wrestle him into his seat and five minutes later the bus depot called and said that he was just fine. For the first 45 minutes I sat on the couch completely perplexed. What was I to do with all of this sweet freedom. Well it may not sound exciting to all of you, but I cooked myself breakfast, ate it without having to yell at anyone to stop trying to steal my food, I did the dishes, drank all my coffee without a toddler stealing any of it, left my bedroom door open without worry of a certain young boy going in there and emptying my jewelry box. I cleaned the living room without having to re clean anything vacuumed the floor without having to make sure I didn't run over any body's tiny toes. I cleaned the windows and nobody was right behind me smudging them up again. I emptied the dish washer and cleaned out the rabbit cage without any interference. It was amazing Oh yeah I even pulled weeds. It was awsome

The Best News A Woman Can Get

2008-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

1. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidents,which can help lower blood pressure

2. Heart Healthy flavonols promote blood flow

3. Cocoa contains the same type of healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil (but tastes much better).

4. chocolate releases endorphins in the brain, which act as pain-relievers and stress-reducers.

5. Consuming chocolate releases seritonin in your body, which can boost your mood.

6. All those antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals, a fundimental cause of diseases like cancer and heart disease.

7. Studies show that chocolate raises levels of the good cholesterol while reducing levels of the bad kind.

8. (This one is very important ladies) Essential oils found in cocoa CAN DELAY SIGNS OF AGING - they strengthen your bones, hair, nail, and skin

I would like to thank the Hungry Girl for this vital information

This Girl

2008-09-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

All my life I have wanted a daughter. Whenever I pictued myself as a mother it was with a daughter. I wouldn't trade my son for the world but I wasn't complete without my daughter. This girl had me completely amazed the first time I laid eyes on her. This girl can melt me with a smile. This girl fills me up with pride and love. This girl is Beauty. This girl full of wonder and love. This girl is sweet and precious. This girl This girl proves that dreams come true.

This Boy

2008-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Never before have I been able to be so angry with someone and then be completely smitten a couple of hours later. This boy has the power to make me want to run screaming from the house and then later make me so happy it feels like my heart grew 10 times it's normal size. This boy changed my life in a way that can't be understood by anyone but a mother. This boy is a constant source of happiness and pride, surprise and amazement. This boy is a rewarding gift. This boy is proof of magic and miracles. This boy is love.

The sweetest thing

2008-09-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

My brother and I didn't get along at all during our childhood. I would think it fair to say we hated each other. My mother says it was always that way, so naturally I was worried what would happed when we brought Riley home a sister. We got lucky and he loves her. She loves him too and it is really cute to see her watch him as he runs around the house and hearing her giggle while Riley jumps up and down in front of her makes me smile every time (I try to not to take it personally that she belly laughs more for him than me lol) but yesterday was the most adorable thing I had ever seen. Katy was starting to get upset in her exersaucer and Riley came over to check on her. She stopped whining and looked at her brother. He gave her a sort of half smile and she just broke out in the biggest smile. It just made my heart melt. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful and beautiful babies.

I Believe

2008-09-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but they are not entitled to force those opinions on others.
I believe that tolerance is mandatory.
I believe that as long as no one is getting hurt, (including yourself) people should be able to do whatever they want.
I believe people should not be judged by what they believe but by how they treat others
I believe no one is 100 percent correct in religion
I believe children have the power to make life perfect
I believe in fate, destiny and karma
I believe in keeping it real
I believe laughter is one of life's most precious gifts
I believe fun is vital, and like sleep and chocolate, there is no such thing as too much
I believe war is stupid and sadly, sometimes necessary
I believe our troops are heroes
I believe family is more important than ANYTHING
I believe that in a country founded on freedom of religion, the beliefs of a presidential hopeful should not matter.

Weight Watchers Rocks

2008-08-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Yayyyyyy! I have been at it for just under 2 weeks and I have already lost 5.9 pounds. This is the best diet ever. I haven't really given anything up. I have the same thing for dinner as the rest of my family and most of the time I am full. I haven't even been exercising. I am so excited. Hopefully the rest of the weight comes off just as easily. (I know it probably wont but a girl can dream)

Husbands just don't understand

2008-08-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

I think I am pretty luck as far as husbands go he's a good man and a great dad and he is everything I have ever wished for but why oh why does it have to feel like I am asking the world from him when I ask him to get up with the kids in the morning? I have to get up with Katy in the night (lately more than once) and if the kids sleep until eight he still gets to sleep in. Why doesn't he see how exhausted I am? It's not like I don't tell him. Why is it that when we are getting ready to go some where I will be getting my self ready and he will be done getting ready but I still have two kids in pj's and a diaper bag to pack and he is playing on the computer? Why do I have to be visibly stressed out before I get any me time, and why is it my oldest listens to him and not me? Why do I have guilt when I ask their father to do something for them after he gets home from work, and why do I have to instruct him on what to do when the house is trashed and I need help to clean it? Why can't he just look around and pick something to clean?Why doesn't it occur to him that after a day of being drooled on pooped on climbed on and spit up on I may not feel like a sex goddess and that after being clung to all day I want my space?Why is it that the "most rewarding job" leaves me feeling taken for granted, misunderstood and completely frustrated?

Yo Yo Yiggity Yo

2008-08-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am new, I am strugleing with my coolness, I am feeling old, I am a mom, I am a wife, I am researching my religion, I am funny, I am serious, I am happy, I am tired, I am loved, I am in love, I am searching for ideas, I have oppinions, and I am going to tell you all about it.