Wow!

Wow!! Where has time gone? Since I last posted, we've moved (a mile away and just for 2 months), Justin lacerated his kidney(4 days after we moved) (5 days in the hospital and a $20,124 helicopter bill), hubby started his business back up (going well), Halloween happened (Jaroms still wearing his costume and claims he's Iron Man), Thanksgiving happened (so much to be thankful for), and Black Friday...ohhh, black Friday!! How I love Black Friday. It gives me a rush like none other!! The crowds, the deals, the sleepless night...such a high! Wow!!

my big secret

My VT's came over today. I really LOVE when they come. They're so young. I feel old and decrepid every time they visit! Like I should have some words of wisdom for them. Something that they'll remember in years to come...they'll tell their kids something like "a wise old lady I used to visit teach once told me..."
But I can never think of anything. Instead I tell them things that don't really matter. Things that they probably forget the minute they leave. Except today...I told them my BIGGEST secret (at the moment). Not the one that should be turned into a movie but another one. And they probably don't even realize it. Ohhhh, I can't wait til I can share it with the world...but I doubt any of you will care.

Facebook vs. blogspot

I've been a tad bit lazy with this blog over the past several months. I feel like no one is really into blogs anymore...they're all caught up in their facebook frenzy (me included). What is it about facebook that keeps you coming back for more? and more. and more. I mean, do I really want to know if you changed your profile pic? Or if so and so is now friends with so and so? Or if your kid, who I never met, fell off their bike...or if it's your childs birthday (whom I've never met) or if your having a Tupperware party 3 states away!! I must! Because I keep going back. I think if there was a war between facebook and blogspot, facebook would win. Which is sad, because you get to really reveal yourself on blogspot. What do you think? Facebook or Blogspot? Who are you loyal to?

Vibrant and Carefree

I got off of work an hour early today...just in time to see a new purchase of my hubby's (which I can't divulge quite yet). Not a half hour later Steve and I were sitting in the back seat of a friends truck staring down at the BIGGEST scorpion I have ever seen...and I've seen a few in my time. Went to Sonic where I ordered a Coke Zero (still not quite accustomed to the taste) and a Diet Water for the hubby. We had breakfast for dinner (which is always one of my favs). I tried Creme Brulee for the first time tonight..quite tasty...I really wanted more but I didn't want to bully the kid that was eating the last of it...I should have...but I decided to be nice. We had the most awesome of storms tonight...it reminded me of the produce section at Safeway (except this was REAL thunder). Just before the storm, when the wind started to kick in, hubby and I headed to Sarinah's for a quick visit. We drove. And don't ask me why but I sat in the back of the truck. I just had this desire to. I sat on the wheel well, closed my eyes, and let the cool wind blow thru my hair. I felt young again. Vibrant and Carefree!! And then it ended..and reality hit. Man, I wish Sarinah lived further away!!

basking

Today, I think I'll...
make a fruit smoothie for breakfast...
which by the way, my recipe is SO much better than Jamba Juice,
I'll work from 4-230, I'll do some laundry on my lunch and breaks,
take my kids to the library when I'm off,
make chicken tacos for dinner,
go to my monthly Bunco gathering this evening,
come home, wrap my arms around my hubby, read the kids their nightly story and
bask in this wonderful life I'm living!!
(now tomorrow may be a different story)

Cankles

About a month and a half ago I started taking thyroid medication. The pharmacist AND the doctor both said there were no major side effects. Immediately I noticed that if I don't take it with a TON of water then my mouth gets really dry SO I take it with a ton of water. And then about 3 weeks later I noticed some swelling in my ankles and feet...nothing major but I could definitely notice. Called the doctor, she said it was nothing and to ease up on the sodium if it continues. But you tell me, is this nothing? Because it's a huge difference from this which was just two months ago. Can you say Cankles?!
Any solutions or suggestions would be gladly accepted.

mine

Forgive me for boasting but this kid is soooo freakin' cute!! And he happens to be mine.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Man vs. Food

A picture story...with a few words.

Man pulls watermelon out of fridge and prepares self for challenge..man assumes the position (and tries not to laugh when he sees that we have the camera out). Man brings arm down at lightening speed and makes contact with the watermelon..and with much determination on his face...he splits the watermelon in one chop.
(This is actually right after he hit it as his hand was bouncing off of the watermelon) Defeated, the watermelon lay there split in two...and man shows watermelon his respect.

what would you have done?

Last night I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart. Upon entering the store, I stumbled upon a group of 3 women and a 2 or 3 year old boy who was crying the whole way out of the store. Every 5 or 6 seconds one of them would yell at him to stop and proceed to spank him. She'd swat him a couple of times, he'd wail, she'd tell him to stop and then spank him again. Two things ran thru my mind as I tried not to look as we crossed paths...1) Now how smart is that? Because you know, every kid I meet just gets spanked and immediately stops crying. and 2) should i trip her and watch her fall flat on her face?! That would serve her right!! But then I thought that would send me straight to hell and probably get the kid beat more because she'd be mad. So, I walked in the store, raised my eyebrows at the greeter and went about my business. So, what would you have done?

making memories

Last week, while anxiously awaiting the arrival of our best friends Scott and Lori, it dawned on me that in the 15 years we've been hanging out we have no pics of just the 4 of us. Of course, we've got tons of the kids...but none of us. So I told myself that while they were here, we would take some. Of course, as always, time flew by. And before we knew it we were on our last day with them. So I broke out the camera...knowing I wouldn't get what I was hoping for but hopeful, none the less.Uncle Scott and aunt Lori only have 2 kids...Chris and Mariah. Chris is 20 and Mariah is 14. Unfortunately, we never get to see the whites of Chris' eyes anymore...and such beautiful eyes they are! He's too old and mature to come visit us these days. He's into his own things like...his band! Which I hear is doing well...they are touring up and down the Coast and in a month or two they are going to Oregon and Washington. I hope he remembers us little people when he's big and famous. Chris and our older son Josh are the same age and back when Josh was still at home, he and Chris were just like these 2!!! Who think the world revolves around them.Mariah is freakin hilarious! When she and Steph get together, they are absolutely crazy! They sit around and speak to us in various accents, they do their make up and hair all day and they take 15 showers each! The end result is this...not 1 beautiful girl, but two!!They just informed us that they're going to college together and are going to be roommates. I'm not sure I like this plan. Because if they're anything like their mama's, they'll be in more trouble than they can handle...Heaven help us!!It's our tradition that whenever Uncle Scott and Aunt Lori come, we go to Old Country Buffet. Don't ask me why...because we could eat so much better somewhere else, for a lot less money but the kids all look so forward to it now that we can't possibly let them down. Which is obviously not the place to take pictures. Not only because we're too busy laughing and thinking back to prior visits at this fine eating establishment but because we get so dang full...and it's hard to look good when you're that full. Here's a fine example of that. And just when Steve was willing to give me a great pic of the 4 of us, the "center of our worlds" jumped in the pic...as though it were all about them!! Good byes are always the hardest. My kids never want to let them go! One year, Steph and Mariah cried so hard they hyperventilated...Mariah was in their car with her hands up on the window in such dramatic fashion and on the other side of the window was Steph with her hands on the window begging her not to go, trying to run with the van, hands still on the window as they drove off. It was so bad Uncle Scott had to stop the car and let Mariah out just for one last hug. So then Lori and I start balling and...well, it was too much!! Another year, Jared chased the van down the street crying begging them not to go...another tear jerker for Lori and I. One year, it was raining REALLY hard so when we opened the door to walk them to their car, the kids just took off!! Running in the rain...ALL OF THEM!! This was back when Josh and Chris were still in the picture and though they didn't want to admit it, they didn't like good byes either. Finally after 15 minutes of running in the rain they tired themselves out and Chris and Mariah just got in the car, they drove off as we stood out in the rain waving. I think Lori and I cried that time too. Oh well!!!...these are the memories that will make our past so fond in about 20 more years. Maybe then we'll get the pic I want :)

And the Winner is...

Jolene!! I can't believe you didn't post the last 2 days of the challenge!! What were you thinking?! Jolene was smart enough to put hers on auto pilot...she pretyped them all and then scheduled them to automatically post. Pretty clever huh? And to lose it all in the last 2 days...you should be ashamed of yourself!! But I guess that means Congratulations to Jenifer! Who sometimes had to type from work or early the next day but had 31 posts none the less. Great Job Jenifer!! And for that you will be receiving a gift card from one of my favorite places...SONIC!! And if you use it right (during happy hour) you could get a lot out of this one little card. So I will get it to you in the next couple of days. Thanks so much for posting!! Sorry I failed to comment a lot...haven't been my normal energetic self lately. It took all I could do just to post on somedays. I'd like to give a shout out to Bonnie and Alli too as they both did excellent at regular posts as well. Thanks ladies. Lets keep this up!!

water and ice

Water and Ice is one of our favorite places to visit during the summer. We make weekly, if not, daily trips there. Not only do they sell the best Hawaiian shaved ice but they see Thrifty Ice Cream. Who doesn't love Thrifty Ice Cream?! Although when I get there the shaved ice looks so good I choose that over the Ice Cream.
Another summer favorite is Sonic....OH how we love Sonic!! Lemon Berry Slushes! White Coconut Slushes!! Coke!! mmmmmmmm.
Random fact - I love summer...even in Phoenix!

not the black ones

Scott and Lori are here. We're all having so much fun...as usual. Of course, we've spent time in the pool, sat out under a shady tree, gone to water & ice, Wal-Mart, and Safeway...and the best part...they got to watch me work all morning!! Because there's nothing like hearing me take 800 calls from customers who have left their fiance's ring in the glove box to customers who can't turn in their truck because they're in jail to customers who were locked in their storage facility all night. They just loved listening to it all. Random fact - I love Red Vines...but not the black ones.

in my opinion

I can't believe it...I failed at my own challenge!! I didn't post last night. But I have a good excuse...I was tired!! Exhausted!! practically dead!! I love my job but the hours are taking some getting used to. We're expecting our best friends in town tonight from San Diego. I'll be in dreamland before they get here but they understand. I love them! We have the best times when they are here...we don't stop laughing. Random fact - I grew up in San Diego...on the beach half the time and on a softball field the other half. I love San Diego...go back whenever I can. I have such fond memories of that place. There's no memory like a childhood memory...at least in my opinion.

all for a car

So I worked the 4am to 2:30 shift....it killed me. First off, I didn't get enough sleep last night. I kept waking up thinking I was late for work. And secondly, 10 and a half hours is a long time to be sitting in the same spot. I do like it though. By the time Jarom gets up I'm halfway done with my shift. And I take my lunch right when he gets up. My sitter gets here right before I go back up to my office and it all works out perfectly. At least for today it did. Next week will be easier because the kids will be home to help me when Jarom gets up. I just have to keep telling myself that this is all for a car. Once I get my car, I don't have to work so hard. Random fact for the day - my first car was a Honda Accord...I ran that thing ragged!!

wish me luck

I have to work at 4 am tomorrow!! I know not how I will do this. Thank goodness it is in my own room and I only have to get up 15 minutes early otherwise I'd really be in bad shape getting up any earlier than that. I could kick myself for signing up to work this early. But I did it with my kids in mind. Wish me luck..as this is the first time I log in at 4 am. Random fact - My favorite diet drink is slim fast...mmmmm, stawberries n cream on ice.

only a number

my random fact for the day is this - I love sleeping with my kiddos. It makes me feel "needed" and "loved". And they love to sleep with me too. So it works out great. It just doesn't happen too often...Steve says their getting too old. I say...Age is only a number!! Much too overrated in my book!

in case you were wondering

My parents packed up their car and left yesterday. They decided they needed a little break from us so they headed to Lone Star State. There's something about Texas that I just love. Back when times weren't so tough, I'd go 2 or 3 times a year. The kids and I would load up the car and drive...and drive...and drive. And after 15 hours of nothing but blaring music and singing at the top of our lungs we'd finally reach our destination. And oh, how we loved it. We'd drive by all of our favorite places and talk about times past, we'd eat at our favorite places, and we'd chill. Until the humidity would remind us of why we love Arizona and then we'd hop in the car and come back home. And we all know... There's no place like home!!

Random fact - I was born in San Antonio, Texas....in case you were wondering.

exhausted

seems I'm saying this more and more lately but it must be because it's true...I'm tired!! Exhausted actually. We had a party over here today for my friends son who is graduating. Random fact - I love to look out of my back window and see a yard full of people and pool full of kids for these are great memories in the making for my children.

Corporate America

My 2 week training downtown is officially over. How happy I am that I don't have to wake up so early or get home so late. Truth is, though, that I like the whole Corporate America thing. I think it would be cool to work downtown, live downtown, ride the lightrail everywhere. It's a whole different lifestyle. But even cooler than that, is this...which I wouldn't trade for the world!!
Random fact - I don't have a single pic of all 7 of us dressed up.

Bunco

Went to Bunco tonight...SO fun!! We laughed so hard all night long. And now, I want to be a cop for the lightrail system. Random fact-I've been in 3 bunco groups in my life...this one is definitely my favorite!.

softball

Tonight I'm tired...I'm really tired. So my random fact is this...My favorite sport is softball. I love it. I love to play it and I love to watch it.

missed the freak show

I fell asleep on the lightrail this morning...it was some of the best sleep I've gotten in 2 weeks. So I thought, I should try that again on the way home...and I did. And I liked it!! Now I know where to go when I want some good rest. Either that, or I'm just so exhausted any sleep feels good right now. I don't know why I'm so tired though. I've been going to bed before 11 every night. I do get up to pee every hour on the hour but then I fall right back to sleep. Maybe it's uninterrupted sleep that I need. Who knows. I did miss the daily lightrail freak show but that's okay. There were no bags under these eyes. And the freaks will still be there tomorrow. Random fact for the day...I love my sleep!!

Nickname

I copied my random fact for the night, due to lack of sleep and braincells. It is an idea from my friend Jolene...what's your nickname...and I have a few. My parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents call me Mija (sounds like me-ha), By brothers, cousins, best friends and anyone who knew me under the age of 18 call me Juls, and sometimes my little brother lets the past catch up to him and he calls me Jubes. My kids call me Mom, my hubby calls me Woman, babe, and in his cell phone I'm "mi carino" which I'm not sure what that means. Oh, and my church family calls me Sister Wright. I think that's it. I love them all and answer to them all so feel free to call me whatever you want. As long as it's not bad.

schmucks

Some of my nieces and nephews think I am so mean!! Which totally cracks me up because I think I am such a softee when it comes to kids. Hubby and I have such different ways of dealing with them. My kids totally know what they can get away with when it comes to me. And they know they can't get away with anything when it comes to hubby. Whatever hubby asks of them always gets done...immediately!! However, whatever I ask of them always gets done too. The difference is that when they're done doing it for dad everyones in a bad mood because they got in trouble for trying to schmooze their way out of it. When they're done doing things for me, they're always laughing because I take their schmoozing lightly. I joke with them and tell them what schmucks they are and what they look like when they're mad and pouting. For the most part we have fun. Don't get me wrong, hubby has fun with them too, but after the chores are done. I don't know what even got me thinking of this...other than the fact that I found some photos that one of the schmucks (Jarom) got ahold of in my computer. And thought to myself that even when they're bad...they're so stinkin funny!! Take a look at his handy artwork. Here we've got a beautiful sunset. Taken when we were traveling from Tx to Az one March evening. Apparently, Jarom found it a little boring in it's original state and added his own touch...Next we've got one of my favorite pictures, the legs of the family, including my niece and nephew. Again, another added touch from Jarom...this time a little more agressively. This last one though, has me wondering if we need to put the boy in therapy. Here was a beautiful full body shot of him from this past Christmas. Dressed in his little Christmas suit looking as cute as all get up. Obviously, he didn't like the suit as much as we did. Look at that...you can't see any of him!! Now that I think about it, I wonder if one of those older ones helped...this is too good to have been done all by himself...Little brats. Random fact for the day...I love kids! I really love kids.

time

It's funny how time flies. One day you're looking your newborn baby in the eyes wondering how you could ever love something so much and the next you're seeing him off to college. It feels like just yesterday we moved into where we are now yet here we are 2 years later. Jarom's no longer a baby, Josh now has a baby, Stephs in Jr high, Justin's almost 16 and Jared's in the double digits!! I want them to be little again. But they're not. I want to live in my old house again. But I don't. And so, time will keep ticking...and my babies will keep growing. Justin will leave on his mission only 3 years, then Jared, then Jarom. And slowly they'll move out. Until it's just Steve and I...
random fact - I hate time. It makes things go by so fast!

in no certain order

I love DVR. It ensures I can watch whatever I want whenever I want. In our house, there are a few shows that are set to record the series...faithfully! They are, in no certain order, NCIS, Dateline, 20/20, Young and the Restless, American Idol, and Undercover Boss. I've been getting up at 5am all week. Guess what I'm doing tomorrow (Saturday)? Other than sleeping in, I'm watching all the shows I missed this week!! I can't wait!
random fact - I LOVE Dateline!!

3 pounds

I decided to weigh myself on Monday at work. After stepping off of the scale I vowed never to let Coke touch my lips again. I have since been eating broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, and Coke Zero for lunch. I switched my breakfast to a yogurt and a banana. So today I was walking by the scale again. I decided to see if it made a difference yet...it did. I lost 3 pounds!! Random fact...I miss my Coke.

tattoos

When I was 19 years old, I drove to my parents house one Saturday night, sat down at the table with them and advised them that I would be getting a tattoo. A floral band around my ankle. Probably some small daisies or maybe even plumeria but it would be around my ankle for sure!They had just gotten home from a party and so Dad was a little tipsy. Just to set things straight my parents don't drink anymore. But when they did, Dad was always very serious and a little emotional when it came to me. So when his only daughter told him that she was about to tattoo herself, lets just say, he didn't take it well. He was so sad. A few minutes later, as mom and I were still sitting there talking to eachother I looked to the end of the table and there sat dad...just shook his head, stared down at the ground and said "she's gettin' a tattoo"...totally oblivious to the fact that I was sitting right there at the table with him. Well, I have always and still do look for approval from my parents. There's not much I do without first consulting with them. So, when Daddy made it completely clear that he was not okay with this, I dropped it. Random fact for the day...I don't have any tattoos.

for the birds

I've been taking the light rail into downtown lately. Get up at 5, leave home by 6, get to the light rail by 6:40, get downtown by 7:40 and do it all again after work. I get off at 2:15, get on the light rail at 2:30, back into Mesa at 3:20, and home right before 4. Anyways, spending all of this time on the light rail has taught me one thing...there are some serious freaks in this world!! Random fact for the day I hate getting up early!! 5am is for the birds!!

Beck

My friend Becky from Tx came to town this weekend. I was so happy to see her!! We hadn't seen each other in 19 years!! and it was like we picked up right where we left off. That's how friendships should be...don't you agree? Anyways, we talked, ate, laughed, ate again, laughed so hard, and then...We. Did. Zumba!! O-my-goodness!!! I've have never seen anyones hips move so fast in my life!! This girl can dance! She even had my hubby sitting on the bed in a trance...just watching her hips. And I can't blame him...it was like nothing I'd ever seen. She's an instructor so I was expecting greatness but not like that!! Anyways, we had a great visit.
Random fact: my family drinks out of pickle jars....which is one of the reasons we laughed so hard! Here she is modeling my fine china..Thanks for coming Beck...can't wait til next time!!

Breakfast in bed

What a wonderful Mothers Day!! I got to spend it with My own beautiful mother and my 2 mother in laws. We BBQ'd chicken and baby back ribs....sooooo yummy!! I got lots of wonderful gifts from various people but I have to say that my favorite thing was breakfast in bed. My daughter got up extra early to make me breakfast and serve it to me in bed. The menu consisted of PopTarts (golden toasted) and Iced Milk...breakfast of champs!! I love it!

random "me" fact for the day...Frosted Strawberry PopTarts are my fav!!

tomatoes

Steph and I have been growing some tomatoes this year...along with some cilantro and some habanero peppers. We've never planted anything edible before. Every year I do a garden but it is a floral garden. So this has been new to us and to be honest, we have done no research. We just brought it home, watered it and loved it. We noticed some green, grape sized growths on our tomato plant recently...lo and behold, a few days later, they started turning red. How happy were we!! SOOOO happy.So happy, Stephs eyes began to look like little tomatoes to me.

random fact..I love tomatoes!! Especially little ones that I can just pop right into my mouth!

What I've always wanted

My mother took me out for a much needed pedicure yesterday. Back when we weren't poor, this was something I was able to do quite often...like every 2 to 3 weeks. Now, it's something I do only in my dreams. It had been almost 2 years since my last one so when mama suggested it, I gladly accepted. One of my favorite things about getting a pedicure is picking out the color. Not that it ever changes but I like reading the names of the OPI colors. They're so...random. One of my all time fav colors is one called "I'm not really a waitress red", I wore that one for like a year straight. Then there's "that's an el of a color!" which, too, is very pretty and quite addicting. That one accompanied me for about 6 months. My new fav, which I have at home and is the only one I use..I even took it with me yesterday is "What I've always wanted". You can't tell by the pic but it's somewhat shimmery and the shimmer is like a gold tinted shimmer....hard to explain....but it truly is what I've always wanted! So thanks mom! Love ya! And my feet love ya too.

the midwest

Today was another really busy day. And tonight is another really sleepy night. So I will give you 1, only 1, random fact and then go to bed. I once hitch-hiked across the midwest...Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. I truly am lucky to be alive!

bugs

busy day....so tired...my random fact for the day is simple...I hate bugs! Not only do I hate them but am deathly afraid of them. I do believe that someone must have tortured me with them as a child for this fear I have is not normal.

average

I am 5'5 and my shoe size is an 8 which according to answerbag is average for both. Guess average isn't so bad after all. I could be 4'9 with size 11 feet. Now that would be bad.

A - 36

My friend Jolene has decided to take the challenge. And she's doing quite well I might add. Anyways, she has decided to do the ABC's of me to take up for 26 days of her month...smart thinking. Although I will not do the whole alphabet with her, I will copy her today...and a few more times this month...Maybe. So today, she is on A for Age...what?! I have to reveal my age!! Who the heck cares?! It's only a number, right? Well, obviously, Jolene cares. So for Jolene, and the rest of the inquiring minds who just have to know...It's 36...I'm 36 years old!! Born on a Tuesday evening in March in San Antonio, Texas. And you? How old might you be?

I love it

This morning we slept in, which felt so good. We usually wake up promptly at 7:30 for church and leave here at 8:45 but this morning at 5am when my head was pounding like nothing I've ever felt before, I decided to sleep in and miss church. Something I already regreat doing. Why? Because I always feel so guilty missing church. I feel like I'm not setting a good example for my children. Anyways, we got up at about 9:30, I showered, and Steph made breakfast. Then we decided, who knows why, that we would watch Rocky. And when it was over, we decided we would watch Rocky 2, and before I knew it, we had watched all 5 Rockys'. Which brings me to my random fact for the day. In case any of you didn't already know this. I love to fight. Isn't that horrible? I do. Of course, I wouldn't just walk up and pick a fight with someone but let me tell you, I sure wouldn't back down if someone challenged me. I know now that I'm a bit older and a lot heavier I would probably get my butt kicked but I'd still love it. I also know that it's not a Christlike thing to do and no lady who wants to be called a lady should ever do it which is why I haven't gotten into a fight in quite a few years. Would still talk the trash though. A horrible thing I know. But none-the-less, a random fact you didn't know about me before.

The month of me

I know facebook has been out for awhile but for the most part I think most of us didn't become as addicted as we are until recently...like in the past year recent. For myself, at least, this addiction to Facebook has really affected my enthusiasm for and attitude towards blogging. For starters, I think more people are on facebook so the minute they log on, they can see what you have written. With blogging, you have to hope they remember you have one and check it to see what you have to say for that day. And don't ask me why but most people don't tend to comment on blogger. You write something on facebook and everyone comments. So, for the most part...I think people are just facebooking a little more and blogging a little less. I, for sure, know that I have slacked waaaayyy too much when it comes to blogging. SO in an effort to keep up with the blogging community, I have thought of a challenge for us all. It is for those of us who "never know what to write about" or "don't think anyone wants to hear what I have to say". We will call it "the month of me". Everyday in the month of May we have to write one random thing about ourselves. If all you want to say is that you love onions, then that's all you have to say. BUT you have to do it every day to win the challenge. I'll start. K?
I love Dove products!! I use their shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, mousse, hairspray, EVERYTHING!! It all just smells soooo good. What's your brand of preference when it comes to the shower? C'mon peeps...you can do this. Oh and the grand prize...A giftcard...for one of my many mentions this month...but I can't tell you what....yet!

the whole family

Last night, I was feeling a bit tired by 9:30. So I shut off the lights, locked the doors and went to bed. I decided to make my rounds though and make sure all of the chitlins were snug in their beds. I checked on Justin...who has the only room downstairs...and sound asleep he was. As I made my way upstairs into Stephs room, then Jareds, then Jaroms I came to the harsh realization...this WHOLE family snores!!

wonder

do you ever wonder how you ended up here..what series of events led you to where you are today? You know, like, if I wouldn't of been working that night I may have never met him. Or I wonder what would have happend if I would have kept working there...etc, etc. Tell me about your wonders...all of them.

February thus far

OOOOOOHHH, how this blogging stuff has been neglected. I don't know what has changed in my life from last year to now but I can't seem to ever find time for this blog! Every day I tell myself that I will update the blog and every night I find myself NOT doing it. SO, since I failed miserably to blog at all in the month of February, here's whats gone on in my world:

Steph turned 13 - should I be excited about this? Because I wasn't. I no longer have a little girl.

My baby brother got married - on my baby girls birthday!! Wow!! A married man. He's no longer my baby brother.

This is my newest sister in law, Paula. Doesn't she look sweet? She is.Along with the celebrations of the month we did have some tears. THIS is my daughters spine. If you're thinking it's a little curved...it is. So for the next year and a half to two years she will be wearing this.. What a gloomy day that was for her...perfect weather for the occasion though. This was the sky driving home that day. Crazy huh? And this is what it did to our neighborhood parks. But since we don't see too much rain in AZ, we wecome it! And last but not least... Jarom started sleeping in his own bed!!

Weather photos courtesy of my baby girl..on the drive home from getting her brace.

shoes and socks

I find it very suspicious how you can put a PAIR of socks in the washer but when the load comes out of the dryer the pair has gone their seperate ways and only one lonely sock makes its way back to you. I have a basket where I keep all of those lonely socks. There they sit until their mate decides to find its way out of the dryer. Sometimes that's an hour until the next load comes out and sometimes thats a week. But here lately we haven't done very good at matching those socks up right away. Needless to say it made for an abundance of "unmatched" socks in the basket. So last week I decided I would finally match them all up. Wowza!! Who knew we owned that many socks?! Not I! I matched 58 pairs...and, of course, there were still some stragglers waiting for their mates to return. Needless to say, our drawers were overflowing and the kids were happy because they didn't have to do the matching. I didn't think to take a picture until it was too late and they were already put away. That night though, as I made my way upstairs to bed, it was like going thru a maze trying not to step on all of the shoes my family had left all over. So I thought I would be nice and pick them up (and take a picture if need be)...I mean, how long could it take. So I walked the whole downstairs and in 3 minutes I picked up all of these...

18 pairs of shoes!! And 2 without their mates. Is that not the most ridiculous thing you've heard? I was so bloomin' mad. I left them there til morning, woke the kids up an hour early, made them put all of their shoes away, put all of their folded clothes away, sweep, and clean the kitchen...which must of cured them because the house has been clean ever since!

I won't stop trying

I failed miserably at blogging at least 4 times a week. I failed to even blog once this week but hey...I won't stop trying!! This weeks news:
~hubby had a birthday...you don't even want to know so don't ask!! Let me just say this...the smoke detectors almost went off.
~It rained. And it rained. And it rained. Then, it flooded. Now it's beautiful again...for a few days at least.
~I got a new cell phone (same #)...it's pink and really cute.
~Jarom (my 3 year old) has NEVER wet the bed...so when he woke up wet the other day I said "Jarom, did you wet the bed?" to which he replied "uh, No mama, the bed wet me!!" So stinkin' cute!! How do you get mad at that?!

Offensive MVP

We had Justins football banquet on Monday night...potluck style. So the menu consisted of some fried chicken, pizza, lots of lasagnas, someone cooked a ham, someone else tried to make enchiladas but they looked a little dry and cracked and bit like cardboard so I didn't have any. Then of course we had potato salad, pasta salad, watergate salad...all kinds of hodge podge. It's a good thing my Soupa-Star was recognized otherwise it wouldn't have been a very memorable night. So let me get on with my bragging so that I can go make myself some breakfast!

Justin Andrew Wright, son of Steven and Julie Wright is the Offensive MVP of the year! Scoring 114 points out of the 266 total points scored this season with an average of 12.7 points per game, he rushed 146 times and ran the ball 1161 yards!! He made 16 Rushing Touchdowns and 1 Receiving touchdown, 4 - 2 point conversions, and 4 successful kicks out of 6 tries! And lastly, he made his mama proud!! So you can see how recognition made the night worth it...I'll get over the trauma of the food soon enough. We love you Justin!! Good job!

Only in Arizona

Imagine if you will, dropping your child off across the street from her school. Many other children are being dropped off at the same time and there are children walking from every direction to the school entrance. As you sit there waiting for traffic to move, you are watching your daughter and her friend at the crosswalk when all of the sudden, from the corner of your eye you see an animal of some sort running thru all of the children. Actually, he's not so much running, as he is trotting...happily, I might add. When upon taking a closer look you discover this animal is none other than a WILD, HUNGRY, probably RABID COYOTE!!

What would you do?

I just sat there in amazement and prayed that mine wouldn't be the child trying to pet it. She wasn't.

right there on my sofa

Tonight, as I was watching Texas get slaughtered by Bama Jarom decided he wanted to cuddle with me. And with those beautiful little eyes of his, he looked up at me, kissed my cheek and said, "mama, you're a good mom!".

And right there on my sofa...I melted.

I'm loving it

The kids went back to school today.
I'm loving it!! (sung like the McDonalds commercials)

effulgent

Last Sunday, while being ever so attentive at church, I took notice of the song we were singing. There within the lyrics of that hymn lied a word that I was unfamiliar with. Now I know some of you may think less of me when I tell you what the word is but at that point I decided I would write down at least one word a week during my Sunday meetings and get the proper definition. I actually wrote 3 down last Sunday but tonight I will share with you the word that started it all. And that word is:
effulgent - shining, resplendent, with radiant splendor.

What did you learn last week?

I resolve to

Here I am on this 1st day of the first month of the new decade trying to come up with some sensible resolutions. I usually do pretty well...til about March. So tonight as I sit here listening to my hubby snore, I resolve to:

~go to bed earlier...especially on school nights...by midnight for sure.

~drink less soda (to help w/ prior resolution) and eventually wean myself from my daily addiction.

~drink more water...it does a body good

~read at least 8 books this year...I know that doesn't sound like a lot to some but for me it's plenty...I read 6 last year and was feeling quite accomplished and rather "smart".

~and finally, to blog at least 4 times a week...even if it is rambling that no one but myself cares about.

And you...How many books did you read last year? You thought I was going to ask what your resolution was, didn't you?