365 - Day 127

1. 3 day weekend!!!

2.  I was able to read a story to Belle's class today to conclude her Star of the Week.  Great to see how excited she gets to have me there.

3.  Nothing as sweet as an unsolicited compliment from a child.  Truest form of flattery!

365 - Day 126

1.  A quiet evening to relax.

2. Finding the cake my girl wanted for her birthday party after calling numerous bakeries.

3.  Good music and the ability to sing at the top of my lungs in the car.  Totally set the mood for a good day.

365 - Day 125

1.  Waking up to E saying "Stace! Staaaace! Staaaaacy!  Let's go downstairs!  Hewooooo?!? Mommy?!?!?" He's such a funny little dude.

2.  Midday snuggles with my best little man.

3.  A game of Chutes and Ladders with my sweet girl.

365 - Day 124

1.  Time for me! Love getting my hair did!

2.  A video of my friend's son laughing hysterically.  Completely cracked me up!  So cute!

3.  The show "I Survived, Beyond and Back." Hubby and I have been enjoying watching it.

365 - Day 123

1.  Officer Young for giving me a warning, and only a fixit ticket when we both realized my license had expired.  Today could have been 1,000% worse if he was a jerk.  SO glad he was a nice guy and showed me mercy!

2.  Getting in and out of DMV no worse the wear.

3.  Belle had a great day at school sharing her Star of the Week poster/items.

365 - Day 122

1.  "Auntie Karina" came over for dinner tonight.  Loved catching up!  So thankful to have her in our lives!

2. The girl and I finished getting all of her Star of the Week items ready and packed.

3.  Just ordered the girl's costumes for her upcoming dance recitals.  Such a pain to navigate the confusing order site, glad it's done!

365 - Day 121

1.  Last night I told the kids, "Please, please, puhleaaaase sleep in tomorrow, okay?" They.Actually.Listened!  Both slept in until about 9:30 this morning (which is soooo much nicer than 6:30!).

2.  I was able to check off every item on an extremely long to-do list today.  Exhausted but feeling accomplished!

3.  Fire in the fireplace.  It's chilly outside!

365 - Day 120

1. It is finally the weekend.  After a very long, hard, exhausting week I get to spend time with and enjoy the people I love the most.

2.  An easy day.

3.  Watching a video of my girl and her friends dance.  They've come a long way!  So proud of them!

Bedtime with Bubby

Elias has been loving singing "Moon, Moon, Moon" and doing the hand motions (thanks Laurie Berkner Band!).  He insists on practicing a few times a day and singing it at least 3 times every night.  I was hoping to catch it on video last night.  He did a little, and was then distracted by his Toy Story books.  Please excuse my singing!

Raising an Independent Woman

When someone tells me I can't do something, it seriously irritates me.  I take it as a challenge.  I've never been one to follow the roles of what a woman/man should/shouldn't do just because of their gender.  Sure, there are some things I'd rather the hubby take care of, and some things I'd rather do.  But, I get my panties in a wad if I'm looked at as a weak girl who needs a man's help.  I suppose it's the bra burner in me. 

Last week I was playing one of the Super Mario games on our Wii.  I was stuck at a certain part, and my hubby asked, "Need me to do it for you?"  To which I snapped, "Hey buddy, I passed New Super Mario Bros Wii ALL BY MYSELF BEFORE YOU EVEN PASSED IT!  So NO, I DO NOT NEED YOU TO DO IT FOR ME! I'm an INDEPENDENT WOMAN!"  I may or may not have snapped my fingers and rolled my neck.  Poor guy meant no harm and I threw him some major sass, followed by hysterical laughter from both of us and Belle was there to witness the whole thing. 

For the last week being an "independent woman" has been a running joke and cause of laughter in our house.  Belle in fact told her dance teacher the story in the middle of dance class causing both her teacher and me to be in tears laughing.  As funny as it is, it's allowed me and Belle to have a lot of conversations about being an independent woman.  I'm proud that I'm raising my daughter to not let others set limits for her and to know that being a girl isn't a disability.  There is nothing she can't do if she sets her mind to it!  All my independent women, holla'!

365 - Day 119

1.  My Gram.  She's my last living grandparent, and the kids' only great-grandparent. 

2.  The girl and I stayed up waaaay too late last night doing homework last night, but tonight we had none to do!

3.  Taking a step forward towards forgiveness. 

365 - Day 118

1.  A day closer to the weekend.  I know it's a stretch, but I'm not feeling too great and the weekend is helping me push through this week.

2.  Laughing hysterically as Belle told her dance teacher a hilarious story during class and having her teacher and me both in tears.

3.  Having the funny video I posted yesterday of Elias lift my spirits today when I needed it.

It's Spicy!!

Elias has 2 addictions of late.  I'd like to share one of those with you.  He is addicted to Altoids.  Yes, Altoids.  You'd think those are too hot for him, right??  Well, you're right!  They are!  But he LOVES them.  He loves to sneak and find my purse and get the "spicy".  Saturday morning I found him on my bed with my purse indulging in the spicy.  I happened to have my camera handy to capture the moment.

365 - Day 117

1.  My wonderful MIL came over to watch the boy so I could get into work early today.  So thankful for her being willing to come help at the drop of a hat!

2.  Screams of "MommEEEEE" as my key turns in the door never get old. 

3.  Singing "Moon, moon, moon" with my munchkins before bed and seeing that they learned the words and hand motions all in 1 day.

Is it nap time or strip time?

Poor quality picture since I grabbed my cellphone to snap this.  This is what I found when I went to check to make sure Elias was taking a nap.

His response when seeing me? "What happen to da pants? What happen to da shirt?"  Um, yeah dude, WHAT HAPPENED?!?!! What a little rat!  I've said it once, and I'm sure I'll say it a million more times, good thing he's cute!!

365 - Day 116

1.  A day spent with my most favorite little man in the whole wide world.

2.  Nap time!  Well, we'll see if he naps, but it is nap time!

3.  Chicken Tortilla Soup.  Thanks for the recipe Sis!

365 - Day 115

1.  Yummy breakfast at the IL's house.

2.  Finding a bunch of warm shirts/sweaters on clearance!  Score!

3.  Not having to go to work tomorrow.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

2010 was wonderful, yet challenging at times.  All in all it's been a year where I've tried to focus on the blessings in our lives and not the negative.  Yesterday was the true test of this.  To say it was a crappy day is probably putting it lightly.  It's a new day though, and I have a fresh perspective.  As awful as it is to be disappointed by people, I think seeing people's true colors can be empowering.  I saw a lot of colors yesterday.  A lot that upset me, disappointed me, disgusted me, and made me very sad.  I also saw ones that uplifted me, encouraged me, blessed me, and inspired me.  In the spirit of my goal of 2010 it seemed to be the final lesson.  I see those who truly matter are my family and dear friends who I know truly care.  I go into 2011 with the same goal in mind, be thankful.  Be thankful for all that I have and all of the wonderful people that surround me.  I will go into 2011 with my eyes opened, surrounding myself with those who have qualities that I wish to have.  To let that that doesn't matter slide to the wayside, and to add distance to those who show qualities I wish not have in myself.

So, thanks 2010!  Sometimes you sucked hard, but other times you were amazing!  All in all, me and mine not only survived you, but came out thriving.  2011, I look forward to a new year of blessings, challenges, and growing.

365 - Day 114

1.  Breakfast and time spent with friends we cherish.

2.  A new day.  Yesterday sucked.

3.  Date night with my hubby.  We've been needing some time together.

365 - Day 113

1.  Getting my computer up and running.

2.  Having good friends, and knowing who they are.

3.  Going home to those who matter the most.