When Shopping Trips Go Bad

I use to pride myself on having a good shopper.  My kid has always been a champ at rolling the aisles or racks in a cart or stroller.  Of course, there were the occasional grabs from the shelves or pulls of the clothes racks, but all in all, he rocked at shopping.  A real mother's dream I tell ya!

Until.  Now.

Perhaps with age (his being a little over 4) comes wisdom, but as of late, shopping has not been fun with this little charmer.  Let me re-phrase that, it's been torture.  He's smart enough to know that he can really rock momma's world if he disrupts the shopping.  It's button-pushing at it's finest, folks.  

This was the high point of our Target trip.

If he's not throwing a temper tantrum, he's throwing stuff out of the cart, or kicking me, or wanting to get out of the cart, or standing up in the cart, or screaming to be held, or hitting customers as we roll by, or saying he needs to potty right in the middle of grocery shopping after we've already made one trip to the restroom.  Ugh.

I know some of you can relate.  And, I hope this is just a phase and it ends.  Soon.  I can't take much more.  A girl's gotta eat and have clothes, so no shopping is out of the question.  And, almost as much of a nightmare as shopping with Crazy Preschooler! 

Bucket List: 2012

My friend Brandi told me what her great grandma used to say..."Whatever you spend your day doing on January 1st is what you'll spend the whole year doing."

I guess that means choose wisely.

I'd like to think that if the first day of the year goes well, you're sure to have a banner year. If that's the case, then my year will be great!

I've made a few resolutions, but I'd like to think of them as more ideas or plans. Seems less oppressive when you call them by a different name. I shared two of my resolves on the blog yesterday. The rest of my "bucket list" for 2012 goes like this:

Attend another Queen Bee Market with the bestie

Be a better momma, wife, teacher, person 

Have a booth at a craft show or market and sell the awesome creations my BFF and I create

Disneyland

Make/do a even small percentage of things I've pinned on Pinterest

Kick my soda habit

Take my photography to the next level

Spend less

Give more

Make and use more "natural" cleaning products

There you have it.  With my previous two life suggestions, that makes an even dozen on my bucket list for 2012.  I'm excited about what the year will bring.  I've got a wonderful family, awesome friends, and a great, big, gracious God.  Who could ask for more?!



Meanwhile, back at The Headquarters (aka: my home), I've got fun projects in the works.  Stay tuned....

My Triumphant Return to the Blog (Take 2)

Happy New Year!

To quote LL Cool J, "Don't call it a comeback.  I've been here for years."

No, really, I know I have been absent for a while.  I tried to make a return in the fall, but as we can see that was an epic fail.  However, now I'm back in my element and I've made some New Year's Resolutions.  One is to be blog-present.  Even if it's just for a quick hello.  Because, really, who doesn't love when someone says hello!?

To kick off my blogging of 2012, I'm going to introduce a New Year's Resolution within a resolution.  {Whoa, mind blown}.  One of my other resolves is to do a Project 365 (or 366, since it's a Leap Year).  I will take and post one photo everyday for the entire year.  You can go to my other blog and read about Project 365 here and check out my Day 1 photo.

In regard to this bloggity-blog, there will be some awesome posts to come in the new year.  I've got a few tutorials up my sleeve, maybe some fashion, and just more about my general awesomeness. 

Here's to a fabulous 2012!

My Cup {Heart} Runneth Over

I'm full of emotion today.


I have been very pensive about my son the past week or so. His birthday is coming and that always makes me thoughtful. I not only remember what a big boy he's becoming as he turns a year older, but also that his birthday marks the day he became our son forever through adoption.

Today I visited his school and observed him (through one way windows...if he had seen me, there would be nothing to observe!) as he interacted with his peers, sang songs, did little dances, and was just a cute little boy at preschool. He has come so far in the past year since he has been at his school. He's doing and saying things he couldn't do before. Part of it is that he's getting bigger, but a lot of it is that he has an awesome teacher in an awesome preschool program. My little boy is growing up! The same chubby baby I held for the first time one Thursday afternoon in the local CPS office. He was prayed for and God was faithful.

After the visit to David's school, I did a little check on Facebook. Two different status updates from two separate friends brought tears to my eyes.

One friend posted about the 15th birthday of her twin sons whom she lost at birth. Today was their birthday. Fifteen years ago she was overwhelmed with joys of birth and pain of loss. All on the same day. Now, this beautiful, strong, loving woman has a very active pre-teen. But, she also longs for a sweet baby girl to call her own. We spent some time last week talking about foster care and adoption. Two things very close to my heart. And hers. My heart ached for her today as I could only imagine the heartache she must have been feeling. However, because she has the hope of Jesus Christ, she knows she will see her babies again one day and never have to let go of them.

Another friend posted how she met her 3rd child today. You may remember my friend Lara. I have mentioned her before on the blog, but more recently I asked for prayers for her family as she and her hubs were going to Uganda to adopt a precious boy from an orphanage there. She and Jon arrived at the orphanage and were escorted over to their new baby (really he's an adorable 4 year old!) Read about it here. But, fair warning, you will need some tissues as you read Lara's account of that morning and their meeting. Again, God's grace is evident as people all over the world (literally) prayed for this little boy and this family, and for them to be united. My God is big and faithful.

The circle of life. Two angels are in heaven and two boys are hugged tightly here on Earth. God's grace and faithfulness are evident. Matthew 19:14 says, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Those twin boys will celebrate this birthday in heaven and their sweet momma will join them one day. Another promise is made: I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him (1Samuel 1:27). My son and my friend's son, and many others, are prayed for every day.

My heart is full. I'm sinking in an ocean of His grace.

My Two Dads

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Do you remember that show My Two Dads from the late 80's?  I'll admit I watched it a few times.

Anywho, I don't have two dads, but there are two important dads in my life.  One is my own father and the other is my hubs, dad to my sweet boy.  And since Father's Day is Sunday I thought I would give these two dads some much deserved props.

A few months back I wrote a post all about my great dad.  I love that guy.  He gives good advice.  He's funny.  He's smart (smarter than he gives himself credit for).  Also we have some differing opinions on some things (like tattoos), but he still loves me very, very much. And even though we don't get to see him as often as we'd like, when we do get to visit, he is an awesome Grampa.  That makes my heart happy! 

Recently I also wrote a post about the hubs.  He is a mostly super fantastic husband, but he is also a super terrific dad.  David is certainly a daddy's boy because my husband is so good with him.  They play and have these silly games that they make up.  Andrew gives David jobs to do so David can help wash the truck or do yard work.  They go fishing A LOT.  They cuddle in the bed and watch Barney.  Daddy even sleeps in his bed sometimes when David cries in his sleep.  Their relationship is very special and that makes this Momma happy!

So, Happy Father's Day to my two dads.  I am so blessed by both of you!



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Random Summer Vacay-ness {and a WINNER!}

I'm nearly a week into my summer vacay and I have spent an equal amount of time busy and relaxing.  So far, David has gone to summer camp for 3 days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings), Momma ran around crazy doing errands on Monday morning, we did the movies on Tuesday and made a trip to the local Game and Fish Office, Momma volunteered at church on Wednesday, Thursday is the water park, and Friday will have me spending some quality time at the local Social Security office.  Do I know how to live, or what?!  I also don't want to forget to mention some good Momma and David naps, in particular the 3 hour one on Tuesday.

The rest of the summer looks to be more of the same.  Though I am hoping for less running around crazy with errands.  There for sure will be a visit to Disneyland for a mini-family reunion, some definite cooling off in the mountains, and hopefully a jaunt over to San Diego for some beach and zoo time.  Oh, how these 8 weeks will fly by!




And now, for the moment you all have been waiting for....our 5-0 Giveaway winner is....

Gin Kelsey @ Life as Topher's Mama

Yay, Gin!  Send me an email with your address, and I will be sending you your fabulous tote!

My Current Obsession {Awesome Starbucks Tumbler}

This cup changed my life.

If you know me, then you know I like to say that:  It changed my life.  I say it about a lot of stuff.  And I mean it every time.  Every time.

This is the same cup that I couldn't decide which size to get, spent 10 awkward minutes in Starbucks choosing, got the smaller one, regretted the purchase, tried to return it, kept it, regretted it again, then got the tall one a week later as a gift from a friend.  I thought it would be freakishly too tall, but now I think it is freakishly totes awesome.

And the best part about the cup is what I have been drinking from it.  You see, it's seriously difficult for me to NOT drink ice cold Coca-Cola on the rocks all day long.  So, when I drink something other than diabetes-waiting-to-happen-in-a-shiny-red-can it's a big deal.  My current drink of choice is ice water and few squirts of this....

I drink it like, well, like water.  But, I still have a place in my heart for Coca-Cola.  And a place in my kitchen for this...

Thank you Mique @ Thirty Handmade Days for this awesome free printable

    

Anyone Other Than Me? {My Story: No Apologies}

Could I have been

A parking lot attendant

Could I have been

A millionaire in Bel Air

Could I have been Lost somewhere in Paris

Could I have been

Your little brother

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone

-Lyrics from Dancing Nancies Dave Matthews Band

Anyone who has known me for about 5 seconds knows I love Dave Matthews Band.  Or Dave Matthews solo.  Or Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds.

I digress.

I was listening to my man, Dave, it was a live track, and I was rockin' out.  Singing the lyrics at the top of my lungs, out of tune, mind you, I couldn't help but think: Could I have been a millionaire in Bel Air?  Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris? Could I have been your little brother?  Obviously that last one, is not really possible, but you get the idea.  Could I have been anyone other than me?

I would really hate to think of a world without a Lauren Gross.  That would be a sad, sad place.  Luckily for all of you, that's not the case.  While I suppose I could have taken a different path in life, I would still be the same ol' me.  And, right now, I am satisfied with who I am.  I mean, with the exception of the baby weight I carry (even though I never got pregnant or gave birth) and my addiction to Coca-Cola, I am pretty awesome.

I am me.

I have a story. 

And I'm not apologizing for who I am.

I will not apologize for being a parent.  I will not apologize for how I raise my child.  Not for the choices I make with my time or my money.  Not for the choices I make as an adult, a wife, or mother.  I will not apologize for trusting in my God.  I will not apologize for having a hope because of Jesus.  Not for where I go.   Not for where my husband goes.  Not for the time we spend apart or the time we spend with our son as a family.  I will not apologize for the life I live.  I will not apologize for the things people think they know about me or my life.  I will not apologize for trying to be the best mom/wife/friend/teacher/person I can be and making a million and half mistakes while doing it.  I will not apologize for being awesome, for being lame, for being a hypocrite, for being right, for being wrong, or for being forgiven.  Because I am all of that and more.

That's me, folks.  Love it or leave it.  Really, you'll want to love it.  You won't be able to resist.

And no one knows me, my son, my husband, or my story like I know it.

And I will be the one to tell my story.       

I Have Tattoos {And My Dad Hates Them}

I have 7 tattoos.

I got my first one in Venice Beach , CA, on a girl's trip with a sorority sister when I was 20.  It's a sun on the top of my right foot.

Tattoo #1: the sun on my right foot.  Yes, I am aware that I need a pedicure.

My second tattoo was done in Mission Beach, CA, at age 21.  It's a taurus symbol, my astrological sign.  It's that forgotten tattoo because I never see it (it's on my lower back), so I never really think about it.

The third was a red star on the inside of my left heel.  It was Pacific Beach, I was 26.  I love stars.

A tiny ichthys was tattoo #4.  I was 27, and in Reno, NV, for a friend's college business school graduation.  There was a group of us and it we all got a wild hair.  The tattoo is just below my toes on the top of my left foot. 

The fifth I got on a whim (I guess I got most of them on a whim).  It is a blue star on the inside of my left wrist.  I got it a few months before we adopted my son in 2008.  That one is for him.  Did I mention I love stars.

Stars on my left wrist.  The blue star is #5 for David, and the black star is #7 for the baby I lost.

The sixth and seventh tattoos were done at the same time (well, the 7th was done when I got #6 re-touched).  The 6th is the outline of a sparrow on the inside of my right wrist.  It looks as if it is flying off my arm.  There is a gospel song titled His Eye is on the Sparrow.  It is my reminder that if God can take care of a sparrow, then He will surely take care of me (Matthew 10:29-31).  It is my favorite tattoo.

My sparrow on my right wrist.

Number 7 is a tiny black star just below the blue star on the left wrist.  It is for the baby I lost.

I have ideas for tattoos number 8 and number 9.  Maybe I'll get them done this summer.  Maybe. 

My dad hates every single one of my tattoos.  He calls them idiot marks.  I get it.  I know why he hates them and why he calls them that.  But, I like them, and that's what counts.  After all, I'm the one who has to wear them for the rest of my life.

And I'm cool with that.

Somebody's Having a Birthday {Spoiler Alert: It's Me!}

Hellllloooooooooooo.  It's my birthday!!!

Love this day, not totally loving the age.  Howevs, I don't think of myself as *cough* 35.  Many peeps tell me I don't look that old.  Please, stop.  You're flattering me.  But, really, don't stop.  The thing is, when I think of myself, I don't think, Oh, yeah, that's a gal in her mid-thirties, for sure.  I actually have to remind myself that I'm not 25.  Like, the other night when channel surfing landed me on MTV watching the Real World Las Vegas for a minute 30 minutes when it hits me that I do not relate to these children young adults  because I'm like 10-15 years their senior.  Oh.  Yeah.

Well, it's good to be alive.  It's good to be living this life.  It's good to be having this awesome birthday when awesome people love me and give me awesome presents.  Awe. Some.

So, for my birthday, I thought I'd make a list of 35 random things about me, past and present...

1.  I traverse hallways dotted with nerf gun bullets and step over a variety of bouncing balls in my house at any given time just to get to the bathroom. 

2. I love Coke, not Pepsi.

3.  I could eat orange Tic-Tacs like nobody's business.  I mean, tilt-my-head-back-and-pour-half-the-container-in-my-mouth.

4.  I wanted to be a lawyer.  I even took the LSAT and applied to law school.

5.  The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies and in high school I played an Oz person in a school play.

6.  Speaking of high school, I was on the girls' varsity golf team.

7.  One of my favorite perfume scents is Grass by GapBody.  It smells like, you guessed it, fresh cut grass.

8.  I used to own a pair of mid-calf high black Doc Marten boots.  I liked to wear them with cut-off denim shorts and my favorite Beastie Boys t-shirt.  A picture of fashion, I know.

9.  I have one brother.

10.  I despise don't like birds in real life, but I love anything that has a picture or image of a bird on it.  I even have a bird tattoo. 

11.  My grandmother and mom were both born in Great Britain and didn't become US citizens until 1993 and 2001, respectively.

12.  My first car was a red Honda Prelude.  Loved that thing.

13.  I have more stories than is publically acceptable that involve me laughing so hard I peed my pants.  Two stories involve a shopping cart in a apartment complex parking lot and my bestie, Adam.

14.  I lived and worked at a Christian camp for a year and a half just outside Yosemite in California.

15.  A vintage Dairy Queen print hangs in my kitchen.  It was a wedding gift.

16.  The house we own is the only house the hubs and I looked at before buying.

17.  I met Robert DeNiro.

18.  I used to work for the Governor of Nevada.

19.  I went to the same high school as Carey Hart, the BMX racer and husband to Pink.

20.  I'm named after my paternal grandfather.

21.  My grandma makes my favorite dinner that I like to call "Chicken and Rice and Everything Nice."

22.  When I was very young I would curl up in my grandma's high back velvet chair and eat Kit-Kat bars while wearing a bathing suit, scarf, and boots in the middle of summer.

23.  My grandfather and I would have "cocktails" each evening.  His being vodka on the rocks, and mine being a Coke.  We'd sit at the wet bar in their living room and talk about our day.

24.  One of my son's first outfits was from Neiman Marcus.  I don't even have an outfit from Neiman Marcus.  The hubs calls it Needless Mark-ups.  And, for the record, I didn't buy it.

25.  I love writing with Sharpie fine-tip markers.

26.  I currently go by the following names:  Mommy, Mrs. Gross, Lolo, LG, LD, Scootch.

27.  I have gone by following names in the past:  Laur, LB, LBC, Bar-None.

28.  I have summered on the Jersey Shore.  But I was only 14.  Nothing like the MTV show.

29.  I love Hearst Castle.  If you haven't been there, go.

30.  Disneyland is my favorite place on the planet.  I have been there at least 100 times.  No exaggeration.  I would go back 100 more.

31.  Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite.

32.  I own a pair of Birkenstocks that I've had since I graduated high school.  Seventeen years is a long time to have a pair of shoes.

33.  I have moved no less than 15 times, in my lifetime.

34.  I am addicted to Chapstick Original Flavor.  I have several tubes planted around my house, car, and classroom so that I am never very far from some dry lip relief.

35.  You probably would never guess, but Marie Callendar's restaurant has really good cheeseburgers.  My dad and brother and I used to go there for burgers a lot when I was little.  I love their fresh strawberry and fresh peach pies, too.

Well, here's to 35 more years, and 35 more random facts about me!

God's Plan for My Shark Steam Mop

I try not to take lightly the subject of God's plan or will for my life.  Though my thoughts and actions do not always follow reflect it accordingly, I trust Him.  I know He has a plan and purpose for my life.

So, it is no surprise that when several months ago I was called by His Divine Authority to purchase a Shark Steam Mop I followed God's calling.  Who am I to get in the way of the will of God, anyways? 

My Shark Steam Mop sat unused for a long time.  God's specific plan for the use of said mop had not been revealed to me.  In other words, I was just too lazy to get it out and mop my floors.  (Please don't judge me for having dirty floors.  I have a cleaning lady.  Please don't judge me for having a cleaning lady, either).

It was a beautiful spring day when God would finally call me to the ministry of the Shark.  I didn't really see it coming.  But that's God for ya.  He doesn't usually say, "Hey, Lauren!  On April 11, 2011, at approximately 4:30pm, I'm gonna call you to do something."  I wish He did that.

When I walked in my front door, I was met with a really unpleasant smell.  It was bad, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  My son found the source.  He had gone to the laundry room to let the dog out and began yelling, "Mommy, Sarah has poopy! Sarah has poopy!"  Ah, that's the smell.  And lo and behold, there was poopy.  Poopies.  Plural.  Many small piles, actually puddles, of doggy diarrhea strewn across 50 square feet of tile.  Thankfully it was tile.

I'm sure you can figure out the rest:  I wipe it up, then steam mop the heck out of the floor.  I steam mopped like I had never steam mopped before.  And, actually, I hadn't ever steam mopped before.  It was the Shark's maiden voyage.  I'm guessing the Shark would have preferred a more glamorous first run, but, that's the breaks.

The Doggy Diarrhea Disaster of Spring 2011 could not have been a better time for God to reveal His plan for my life, and for my Shark Steam Mop.  I am so thankful for my God and for His calling me to buy that Shark Steam Mop.  Hallelujah!

P.S. - This is not my first run-in with poop, canine or otherwise.  If you are so inclined to read more about my excrement adventures read here, here, here and here.

 

When I Grow Up

I want to be a full-time crafter and/or photographer.

I want more children.

I want a bigger house.  Preferably one that I build myself.  Not literally, but I think you know what I mean.

I want to take David to places I have been like Sequoia National Park, and to places I haven't been, like Mt. Rushmore or Washington, D.C.

I want to be 50lbs. lighter.

I want to run a half-marathon.

I want to be free of the chains that bind me, like materialism or my addictions to Coca-Cola and watching TV.

I want to help people/do things/make things happen in the name of Christ.

I want to start a Diaper Bank in my community.

I'm not really grown-up yet, but someday I will be.  And when I am, I hope I get to do all things I wanted to....when I grow up.

One of Those Days, But With a Happy Ending

Tuesday was One of Those Days.  You know the kind.  One of those 15 hour days that end with a headache and heartburn.  That was my Tuesday. 

I was tired, so I overslept.  The hubs worked VERY late the night before, so he was still asleep.  My normal 5:30am wake-up was delayed almost a half hour.  It was a scramble to get myself and my son ready for the day plus take care of the dog.

Oh, and did I mention?  David had to be at the lab to provide a urine sample.  Lucky me got to take him.  I kneeled on the floor of a bathroom with a not-yet-potty trained toddler asking him to pee on demand into a small cup.  Fun!  After 15 minutes on that floor, with a hurt knee and an aching back, we had nothing to show for it.  I handed over the empty cup and the toddler to the hubs who, after his late night of work, pulled himself out of bed and met us at the lab.  I told him the cup must be filled and returned to the lab by noon.  I wished him luck and sped out the parking lot at 7:52am to get to school by 8:00am.

There was no time for coffee or breakfast for me in the chaos of the morning, so as I greeted my students in the classroom I was downing a Coca-Cola and eating a bag of Cheetos.  A picture of health.  I also had brought no lunch, so I ate another bag of Cheetos, drank another Coke, and washed it all down with an ice cream sandwich for lunch.  Feeling a headache and heartburn coming on. 


Thankfully the day with my 2nd graders was run of the mill.  It was just the usual amount of craziness.  But to end the school day on a high note (sarcasm level: high) I got to have a parent/teacher conference.  I didn't have the best news.  Commence heartburn and headache.

I left my day job to head home for my 2nd job, Head Mommy in Charge at Gross Family, Inc.  My task: put dinner in my family's mouths.  Simple enough.  Nope.  I was met at the door by my boys heading out to the pediatrician for the test results from this morning's lab visit.  I saved my husband by taking the kiddo so the hubs could return to work.  After more than an hour at the doctor, David was given a clean bill of health and we were headed to our next destination, which unfortunately was not home.

New dinner plans: grab a pretzel and soda at Target while we shop for my nephew's birthday gift because we had only 30 minutes to eat, get a gift, and be across town for a 7 year old's cake and presents event.  Heartburn and headache, worse. 

I stuffed my face with the pretzel as I signed the card, put the gift in the bag, and raced down the highway.  We ended up being only 5 minutes late, I slapped a smile on my face as I ignored my heartburn and pretended my headache wasn't that bad.  The strawberry cake with chocolate frosting and crazy toddler weren't helping my heartburn.  Or headache.

To make a long story, only slightly shorter, I finally arrived home nearly 13 hours after I left that morning, feet-aching, acid-refluxing, head-pounding, and eyes-hurting.  I showered myself and my kiddo, and put us both in Momma's bed, cuddled up next to each other.  We both fell asleep quickly.

So there is a happy ending to this crazy day, this crazy story, this crazy life.  I am blessed by His grace that abounds when I am tired, cranky, and just fall short.  I am blessed by my child, who is a gift beyond words, even when he is tired or cranky.  I am blessed by my husband and my family.  I am blessed and I am covered by grace.  His grace is sufficient, even when I am not.

Thank God for happy endings and new beginnings.  There is always tomorrow. 

 

What a Week!: The Medical Chronicles of One Family

You know that saying, "When it rains, it pours"?  Well, that pretty much sums up this week for our family.

On Monday the hubs spent the better part of the day working in Lake Havasu.  His back breaking labor sent him to the chiropractor on Tuesday.

For a while now, David has had an issue with his eyes.  They get watery and a bit goopy as a result of his allergies.  Well, if you don't already know, a little goop (that's a technical medical term) excreting from the eye will cause any person working in a school to go into a panic.  It's not pink eye, people!

So, the little guy began rubbing one of his eyes and of course it started to swell shut a bit and turned pretty red.  Daddy was on the ball and made an appointment with the pediatrician for Thursday.  The pediatrician made a referral to the opthamologist, and he prescribed some eye drops for not pink eye (another technical medical term).  It's inconclusive whether or not it is an infection (again, not pink eye), or if there is some foreign matter under the lid irritating the eye.

Thursday was also the day Momma had a sore and swollen nose plus sinus pressure and a headache.  I self-diagnosed thought it to be a sinus infection.  A trip to the urgent care, and I learned my diagnosis was correct.  Who needs medical school?  I was out the door with a 'scrip and back home for some rest.

Finally, Friday!  Momma is tired, David is cranky, and Daddy is limping around.  But, it's almost the weekend, a 3-dayer, I might add, and I think, I just gotta get through today and we're golden.  Fast forward to mid-morning and David's school calls with a report that he has blood in his urine and his little wee-wee is turning blue.  The pediatrician is called and he sends us to the ER.  Seems the little guy has an infection in his privates.  We're sent home with some more meds.

So, to recap, that's a chiropractor, a pediatrician, an opthamologist, a trip to urgent care and the ER, and six prescriptions for one family of three.

What a week!  Let's pray better health is on the horizon.       

The Best Laid Plans: Updated

Update: I didn't do everything listed below, but I enjoyed EVERY minute of my vacation. Back to reality tomorrow!

It's vacation time for this working momma and I always have the best intentions to do so many things. But, you know what they say about the best intentions, right?
Here are just a few things I want to do during this break:
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Make matching homemade Christmas shirts for my son and his 4 cousins to wear on Christmas Day for an adorable photo opportunity.
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Get a pedicure.
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Drink lots of hot tea and eat lots of butter spritz cookies and homemade fudge.
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Take naps.

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Make all of these things...

Scrap Fabric Tree

Homemade Gift Wrap




Pom Bib Necklace




Photo Blocks
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We'll see how much I get done. No matter what I will enjoy every blissful moment of my time off.

P.S. - For the what-for's and the how-to's click the photos for a link to each tutorial.

Mama's Newest Obsession

New year, new obsession, right?

I got this super duper awesome camera for Christmas (thank you, husband!).





Now, my new obsession is photography. And, not just photography, but also photo editing. What I am really loving is the newest craze in photo editing which is to make your pics look like old school polaroids.

There has been A LOT of photo taking going on in my house. Also, I have been practicing some serious time-suckage on the computer playing with my photos. Picasa is a free photo editing program from Google that you can download in just minutes. Once you have it you can transform your photos easily. To get the "polaroid" effect (called color process), there is a link to Picnik where you have even more editing options and you are able to save the photo to your Picasa.

Here are some of my fun results:

How Do You Know You are a Yuman?

I have only lived in a few places in my three decades on this planet. I was born in Las Vegas, NV, and raised in Henderson, NV. After college I moved to a Christian camp above a tiny mountain town called Oakhurst, CA, about 45 minutes north of Fresno, CA. Now, I reside in Yuma, AZ. It's been my home for 7 1/2 years now. To native Yumans (as residents of Yuma like to be known) that's nothing. To those who are in and out of here in a blink of an eye because they are military or Border Patrol families that get transferred, it's an eternity. My husband and his parents are natives, as are my closest Yuman friends, so I feel like a native myself sometimes, especially since I have resigned myself to the fact I will, in all likelihood, live here for the remainder of my life.

Most people who find that I have relocated to Yuma from a glitzy and glamorous place such as Las Vegas will ask, first, why did I move here, and second, do I like it. The answer to the latter is a simple yes. I like it. That usually leads to another inquiry as to why I like it, particularly in comparison to my former home. My response: I guess when you know you are probably never leaving a place, you might as well like it.

Anywho, since I fancy myself a "naturalized" native of Yuma, I have come up with some tell-tale signs that you are a Yuman.

1. When asked, people will tell you in summers how long they have lived in Yuma. Typically this only comes from people who have not been in Yuma very long or won't be here much longer. Example, "This is my 3rd summer in Yuma." This happens because the summers are so severe and so harsh they consider it a badge of honor to have spent one or more summers here. Whatever, it's a dry heat.

2. You know that you shouldn't, or rather, cannot, make an unlighted left turn in the winter. This is a result of the dramatic increase of traffic in the winter months as a result of the mass influx of senior citizens in diesel trucks escaping the snow and ice in their home towns to enjoy the "warm" winter months of the desert southwest. And eat lunch at Sam's Club.

3. You consider Mexican cuisine to be the 7th food group. Yuma has more Mexican restaurants per capita than any other city in the world. Even cities in Mexico. Or at least it seems like it.

4. Flip-flops are appropriate year-round, any-occasion footwear and you have more than enough pairs in your closet to prove it. Reason: it's hot!

5. You will attend the grand opening of anything. It doesn't matter what it is, if it is brand new and it is opening in Yuma, you will be there. Yumans get very excited about new businesses, so they come out in droves to check something out the week that it opens its doors.

6. About 90% of people will give you a crazy look and say "Where?!" when you tell them that you live in Yuma, AZ. Next, they will ask if it is near Phoenix (or Tucson) because they have a brother/sister/aunt/cousin/college roommate that lives in Phoenix (or Tucson).

7. You personally know one or more farmers. I'm talking about people that own a farm and/or are responsible for the growth and harvesting of a variety of crops. Like, acres and acres and acres of crops. These people will often dress in jeans and Red Wings (the men) and tell time in agricultural seasons, like "last melon season....". Their vehicles are often very muddy, as well. Yuma is the Winter Lettuce Captial of the World, you know. For a city girl like me, this was a biggie. I never met a farmer before I moved here. I only knew about these mythical creatures from movies and books.


All joking aside, I do love my home. Yes, it's hot, and holy heck, those snowbirds are enough to make you start drinking wine-in-a-box, but it's a good place. I am sure there are more that could be added to this list. What are your Yuman-isms?

Best Year Ever: The Top Ten of 2010

Year in review....



Andrew and I entered our mid-thirties (GASP!)



Mommy and David went to Sea World for the first time



David and Daddy took up fishing as a hobby



A trip to Christopher Creek, AZ, with Nana and Papa



A new big boy bed for David



David celebrated his 3rd birthday



Disneyland with the Bender Bunch

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David started a new school

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Daddy slayed his first elk which net us 285 pounds of elk meat. I can hardly contain my excitement.



Santa brought David a battery powered Jeep (Mommy helped Santa by going out at midnight on Thanksgivng to get it)

Happy New Year!

It's a Dog's Life

My poor dog.

Andrew and I got her shortly after we were married and she was our first baby. She was allowed on the furniture, she slept with us, we took her with us on drives or to visit the in-laws. Life for Sarah was great. Then came David. At that point everything changed. For everyone, really, but certainly for Sarah. She was no longer the baby. We didn't give her the attention she deserved, or had become accustomed to. Then to make matters worse for the poor girl, we brought home a puppy last summer. If I could imagine what Sarah was thinking it would be something like this: "WTH? Do you people hate me?! First the kid, now the puppy! What did I ever do to you?! Can you please get these two small creatures to leave me alone? And can someone please pet me. PLEASE?!"

I'm not proud of my behavior.

Today I finally took Sarah to the groomer for a much needed makeover. I was certain that after dropping her off the groomer would be placing a call to the ASPCA to report my pet neglect to the authorities. Sarah was so over grown she resembled a small light colored bear rather than a mild mannered Cocker Spaniel. And she smelled. Bad.

Well, a small fortune and a few hours later, the authorities were NOT alerted, and Sarah was a new woman, er, K9.

Here are some pics of my first baby, looking pretty and feeling like herself, again.....

Sarah was only permitted on the sofa for photo taking purposes.

Getting pampered can be exausting.

Time Flies Regardless If You Are Having Fun

If the fact that I haven't blogged since mid-October is any indication that I have been living mi vida loca, I don't what is. Seriously...where DID November go?! Here are just the highlights of my past 45 days or so. Please don't mind the absolute randomness of the following....

I wrapped up October putting on my school's annual Fall Festival on Halloween. Oh, and did I mention my husband was out of town for like 3 out of 4 weekends in October? P.S. - David was the most adorable pirate on Halloween. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself:

November began with me hocking rocks at my friend Lara's Stop & Shop for Adoption and my sister-in-law's wedding.

Veteran's Day was horribly windy, but David and I braved the parade anyhow. We also tried out the new paint-your-own-pottery studio in old town Yuma, Wild Imagination Pottery Studio. Note to self, and others: Paint-your-own-pottery has a lifespan of about 5 seconds for a 3 year old. Oh, and my hubs was out of town...AGAIN. He redeemed himself by bringing home an elk from his hunting adventure in Northern AZ. (Sarcasm level: HIGH) I cannot wait for that delicious elk meat! (Sarcasm level: VERY HIGH) I am not a deep freeze kind of gal, but in order to house all that gamy wild elk meat, I may have to become one. That doesn't make me happy.

Andrew went out of town one...more...time...before year's end (if you are keeping track, that brings the count to 6 out 7 consecutive weekends Andrew was MIA). I finally got a turn at leaving the ol' house, too. I had to attend the annual Lutheran Educators Conference in Palm Desert, CA. Can we say PAR-TAY!? Actually, despite how boring and milk-toast it sounds, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed some much desired, but not needed, retail-therapy.

Thanksgiving was, thankfully (pun intended), uneventful. We spent the afternoon with Andrew's family. It was good that it was low-key because I had to physically and mentally prepare for my midnight shopping adventure for Black Friday. But that's a blog post for another time. And, since my hubs was finally spending a weekend at home, I got to go out and spend some time with friends, childless. I consider it a payback for all the days of single parentdom I spent in October and November. Lastly, we rounded out the holiday weekend with cookie baking and Christmas decorating.

And that brings us to present time. So, to summarize my last month and a half: I put on a festival, sold rocks to support adoption, attended a wedding, watched a parade, painted pottery, saw my first dead elk, traveled to CA and back, celebrated Thanksgiving, completed 90% of my Christmas shopping, hung out with friends, baked and ate cookies, and decorated for Christmas, mostly with a 3 year old in tow, but without a husband, and all while holding down a full-time teaching career. I suppose I didn't have time to update my blog.

I am glad that's over. Bring on December!