Christmas Christmas time is here.

Here's to two days of family and no fighting:) Here's to watching two little boys show us all the magic of Christmas. Here's to playing games in pajamas on Christmas night. Here's to my husband who finally got tired of me getting lost and got me a G.P.S for my car. Here's to my inlaws who stay over night after night even though they live in the area just so Christmas doesnt have to end. Here's to Christmas. Maybe the best one ever. Logan said as I put him to bed. I am sad for one reason only....Because it is over.

Merry Christmas:)

(Yes Phil does have a dress on dont ask and if you look at the one with Phils family you can see our bird on Phils shoulder and some extra "snowpeople" jumped in the picture... Phils family is a little Crazy)

Almost there...

Some wise, slightly older, but still very cute man said to me this week "How come no matter what age you are no matter how fast the rest of the year goes the two weeks before Christmas seem to take forever?"

These are a few of my favorite things.

Snow out my window enough to go sledding
flurris and snowmen at the days neer beginning.
Fresh snow in the backyard with no sign of spring
These are a few of my favorite things.

Candy canes swirls and trips down the hill
Bundle up tight and so to not get a chill.
Children who have Christmas carols to sing.
these are a few of my favorite things

Boys in snow boots with there warm little mittens
Shopping is done so I can play outside with them.
Days that are perfect becuase of the snow
These are a few of my favorite things.

When my life bites
when the scars sting
When I am feeling sad
Im gona remember my favorie things
And then I wont feel so bad.


Today was perfect...snow...my family. I imagine this is the way the song would be written today. I am a happy women:)

When Christmas Come To Town - 12A

Carla does this help you? I may be partial since I have boys but this is a great Christmas movie...check it out.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Who needs elves when you have Rob and Logan?

Third times a charm.

I had a really bad day. Sometimes the pressure of managing 80 people and answering to 75 residents and there families bites. Sometimes it is to much. But then I come home and my buddy says " Dont forget Mom it is date night..we are supposed to go skating. " and I think. I have been skating so much lately I should maybe buy some roller skates for myself. This is three times in a month. But Rob was so much better. We skated fast. As you can see from the picture we were away from the wall. As that may not mean anything to you but that is huge for us. It was fun. And suddenly it didnt matter. Nothing but Rob and I skating. I think maybe that is the answer to world peace.
Admission to the skating rink for two: $12
Cost for video games to play during the limbo: $2
For just a minute not having a care in the world: PRICELESS

Trotting the trot with the turkeys

Couldnt of asked for a better day...With family and friends or friends that are like family(yes that is Dan Boyle). It was a nice day maybe one the of the best. Maybe it meant more this year. Too bad I needed to be reminded of all I had to be thankful for... How could I not be thankful for a family that all packs up and heads to the track to run around at Thanksgiving.

A look at the past and a glimpse into the future.

So today I went somewhere I hadnt been since college. I used to go once a week in high school with a group of friends. We had such a good time. We used to think we were so cool as we decided who it was we should couple skate with and as we held hands and went round and round the rink. Today I once again found myself at the very same skating rink. And again heard it was time for a couple skate yet this time I knew who my partner was. Yes today I took Rob to learn how to skate. He was invited to a birthday party there and I decided he should learn before the party..and so we went. It was a bit like a donkey on ice at first but he got better. It was funny to think there I was couple skating around the rink with Rob and he was proud. I am sure there will be many more for him, couple skates that is. He probably will not even remember who it was he had his first with, but for one split second nothing mattered to me either but the boy I was couple skating with.

Are you caught in the middle?

Philip and I went out. That is news enough worthy of a blog. We hardly go out as much as we used to b/c we have no babysitter. But Philip did all the arranging and we went...And that is only the beginning. We got to go see Casting Crowns.. That was such a great experience..One thing I respect in artists is the ability to write good lyrics. And they may be one of the best.You can relate with them.. One of my favorites is.

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Isnt it funny how some of us have to hit a low to be reminded of what it is about. I have another meeting this week with the people I dread. The last two weekends have been a nice ecscape from it. Its not over yet. But when it is over I will never be the same and I dont think I will be caught in the middle anymore.

THANK YOU

You will never know how much I needed that.
Heres to the third weekend of October 2008
Smandy

Frustrated....

That I let my Mom get to me. I feel disgusted at myself that I cant make it work. I get so frustrated that I cant fix it. I am disgusted that we cant get along. Not even sure who she is. How can something that was so close be so far apart in such a small amount of time? How at 33 can you redefine home/family? Its so hard for me to not play the peace keeper role. Who would of ever thought I would be a child of divorce with step parents.

A co authored blog: myself and Kenny Chesney.

This is on thing I have really tried to learn these last few month.


Don't blink
Just like that
You're six years old and you take a nap
And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growin' like mine did
Turnin' into moms and dads
Next thing you know
Your better half of fifty years is there in bed
And you're prayin' God takes you instead
Trust me friend
A hundred years goes faster than you think
(So) (But) don't blink

The absolute best thing about being a Mom

When the kids go to bed YOU GET TO PLAY WITH THERE TOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

I am riding away in the rescue heroes airplane, and man it sure was fun now I see why Logan and Rob love it so much.

September 11.....

My memories of September 11th have to do with exactly 6 years ago today I had the absolute miracle of hearing Robs heart beat for the first time. He was 16 weeks along inside me and I remember thinking oh my gosh should I really bring someone into this world.. Today 6 years have gone by and today we went Home Depot to buy weed killer . We get all the way up to the counter and Rob says Uh Mom I need to tell you something. I say ok what. He says you really should pull the weeds out not spray that stuff on them. I say why is that honey. He says it is bad for the worms. You dont want to kill worms do you Mom? I think, you know what I really dont care there worms truth be told I dont care if they die or not. So I say you know what I am only going to spray the driveway so I think it will be fine. I continue on and he says." If we dont take care of the world Mom who will." and so you guessed it I returned it to the shelf. I guess tomorrow I will pull the weeds out cause God forbid I hurt the worms. And then at dinner we talked about the world trade center and Rob said you know Mom I dont get why anyone would want to hurt the world do you Mom. And to think 6 years ago for a brief second I was worried.....

Random thoughts to satisfy my friend.

I hate being called out. I wont usually be outdared, so please stop calling me...you know me well enough to know I cant take it...
So this is what I have been up to. I am thinking about a job change. In fact I am sure I am going to make one by next summer. I have been adding some part time jobs to my life now b/c I was/am afraid I might have a hard time being hired eventually. And a funny thing I actually like these jobs. Ok here's what I have done so far...I have handed out lipton tea samples in the store....I have handed out dog food samples at Petsmart and I have handed out things at the stadium and you know what I don't mind it at all. Time goes fast, I make good money and knowone asks me for anything I am not the one calling the shots. I am not the boss. That is so refreshing. I guess I am burned out. No I am not going to be the dog food girl forever but when this whole thing is said and done I think I will hang up the whole nursing home chapter. I am not sure what I will do all I ever wanted to do was work with old people. All my adult life is been that. So I think its exciting and Phil thinks it is funny here I am with my Masters degree happy as can be handing out dogfood. I wonder where I will end up. So that is where I have been lately working a little extra to try to figure it out till this is all over.

Another stage in life....

So Monday came I took Rob to kindergarten we went in and took his backpack off and I left.,..That was it. Today I walked him down the street all the while he talked about what he did yesterday, people he met, things he did, things he saw and we got to school and he walked inside I watched him walk in down the hall and I walked away..just me and then it hit me somewhere in the middle of the hill home. This is why people cry it is sad. It almost seems unreal that this is really happening. He loves school. I asked him what he likes best and his answer was everything Mom I love everything... But a funny thing happened today at my house. At 8:30 it was quite the boys were already in bed and all of a sudden again that feeling hit me. The boys spent most of the summer up until 10:30 or so. I will adjust to this new phase of life. I do sometimes have issues with change.(I know this comes as a surprise to so many of you) I spent the first two weeks of kindergarten home because I was "sick" from all the change. So here's to my son the kindergartener. Already doing better than his Mom did with school. I did hear him pray tonight thanking God for a nice teacher and a nice class. I made it..until next year with Logan.

Did I ever tell you I hate being called out.....

Ok I have thought about this a few days I will try to add a few things to the blog that you may not know.

HERE YOU GO IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.. THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME.
1. A am hooked on MTV/tween reality shows ex: Degrassi, The Hills, Sweet Sixteen, reruns of Dawsons Creek. I know I am 33 but I cant help it.....This is a non judgement blog its only going to get worse from here I promise.
2. I can not go to sleep without a glass of water near by I never drink it, I dont wake up for it but I need it just in case.
3. I am addicted to craigslist. I look at it every day I look at jobs, things for sale. I sometimes post on it...I am mesmorized by it.
4.. I can not go into a bookstore (think Borders) without having to go to the bathroom number two..stop laughing again I dont know why leave me alone.
5. I have a habit of taking toilet paper and twisting it I always have some in my pocket at all times ALWAYS , it makes me calm. My family makes fun of me. I can't remember when I started but I ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE IN my pocket.
6. I hate birds. I am afraid of them. They try to peck you. I know I am 300 times bigger than them but I hate birds yet recently I brought one home for the boys becuase they asked me for one.
7.My idea of a perfect day or date always begins with a big soda from Quicktrip.
8.My brother and sister nicknamed me the Bull growing up it had to do with my temper towards them.
9.My Dad used to have ladders on the side of the house and my friends in high school used to throw rocks at my window and put the ladder out and off I would go right out the window.
10. In 7th grade I was a chearleader. I can imagine it either.

I realize I peaked around number 6 but I hope you learned something like never to go into a bookstore with me.

How Can It Be?

In two weeks my little buddy will go into Kindergarten? How can that be possible. I swear I was just in the hospital room about to kill Philip for thinking it was ok to eat white castles while I was in labor. Or when Philip and I left the hospital without Rob when he was in ICU. How can he be ready for kindergarten. He told me he is so excited becuase he is going to wear his nice pants and go into school and get a girlfriend. I am not sure why he thinks this is ok but I am glad he knows he needs to put on nice clothes to meet a girl. I am sad he is going to school. I cant believe it . I wonder how I will feel watching him go in and leaving. I cried when I took him to sign up. Maybe we should have another (just joking Phil dont get excited.)

MEET ME AT THE MUNY...

But I was not to see Peter Pan again. And now I tell his story to my children, and they will tell it to their children, and so it will go on, for all children grow up...except one."
-Narrator


We took the boys to see Peter Pan this week at the Muny,. They love Peter Pan and Captain Hook. It was so fun. The boys loved the outdoor seats, the orchestra, the idea that here was a theater right in the middle of Forest Park so close to the zoo. I was amazed how well they sat and enjoyed it they loved it. When Peter flew Rob said " Now that's the real Peter Pan." It helped me see the Muny all over again seeing it through there eyes. I forgot how great the Muny is. When it was over Logan wanted to know what the next show was so they could come again. I was happy to introduce the boys to live theater and the MUNY.


Peter: Well I will not grow up! You cannot make me! I will banish you like Tinkerbell.
Wendy: I WILL NOT BE BANISHED!
Peter: Then go home. Go home and grow up. And take your feelings with you!

This explains it

When I came home from work today this is what I saw.



It's a sad day when even Rescue Heroes and Siderman ride around in a Barbie minivan...