Do you know your ABC's??

A Sign from God

On Monday, Matt's school made the announcement to staff and coaches that he would be resigning and going to another school in the area. This was a VERY difficult decision for us as he loves his current school. The new job is an opportunity he felt he couldn't pass up and will be good for our family. We have prayed about it...A LOT...and both decided Matt taking this new job was the right thing to do.

After the school made the announcement, he/we have been flooded with e-mails, calls and people approaching us to let us know that they are happy for us, but very sad that he is leaving. It has been such a blessing, but through it all, I started to doubt if we were making the right decision. How could we leave a place that we were so loved? I know how much we had prayed about it and how we were both in total agreement that this is what we felt was God's will...but I was starting to have doubts.

Today, I saw this sign in front of a church...

"Don't put a question mark where God has put a period."

That was my sign from God. No more doubting. I love a God who knows exactly WHAT we need and WHEN we need it!

Threading...OUCH!!!

Today I went into a store at the mall to have my eyebrows waxed. I had never been to this store before. When I sat down, the lady pulled out a spool of thread instead of the usual wax. I had heard of Threading before, but had never had it done. She said it wouldn't hurt that bad. She was wrong.

Below is a picture of Threading, but I can guarantee you that my face did not look as peaceful as the lady in the picture while it was being done! It is something that has been done for a long time in Eastern countries like Egypt and India. It is supposed to be better for your skin and last longer than regular waxing. It hurts. I am just sayin'....maybe it's better for my skin...but it hurts!!! We'll see if it lasts any longer! I don't like pain.

P.S. For those of you with light colored hair who don't have to get your eyebrows waxed...be thankful you will never experience Threading!

A Lesson Learned!

My 8 year old taught me a valuable lesson. She didn't mean to teach me a lesson. She doesn't know she taught me a lesson. But she did.

Yesterday, Britlyn was home from school. After 4 snow days off of school, she was off for Teacher In-Service. (Ridiculous...I know!!) She was helping me with some housecleaning and the little 3 year old that I babysit (we'll call her Miss G), wanted to help too.

So, I gave the vacuum cleaner to Brit and asked her to vacuum the rug under the kitchen table. Then I gave the hand vac to Miss G and asked her to go around the edge of the kitchen floor and suck up the crumbs.

I was in the laundry room doing laundry but could see them doing their work. Once Britlyn was done and they had both turned off their vacuums, Brit took the hand vac from Miss G and started going over what Miss G had just done. She wasn't ugly about it...just matter-of-fact. I asked her what she was doing and she said that Miss G had missed a lot of the crumbs and she was getting them. Miss G looked on...a little saddened that she hadn't done a good enough job.

And then it hit me....I do that ALL OF THE TIME with Brit! She helps me. I go behind her and "fix" it. I don't tell her she did a horrible job. I just want it done the way I want it done. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I like things done perfectly.

Yesterday I realized that without ever saying a word, I am teaching Britlyn to do the EXACT same thing...and probably crushing her spirit. And she will pass that down to her kids.

So, I am making a commitment to relax. If my kids want to help me...and it's not done the way I want it done...that's OK! They need to know that I am proud of them and thankful for how they help me...no matter what!!

P.S. This DOES NOT mean that once my kids are in bed or gone to school, I won't go back and fix what was done to my satisfaction. Come on...perfectionism is NOT cured overnight! :)

December Recap!

I realized today that I have not posted an entry on this blog since December 15!! Well, let me be real honest here....I have been so busy since the beginning of December, I barely have had time to breathe!!

So....here is a quick recap of our VERY busy December!!

My friend Mel and I took Britlyn to see the Nutcracker. It was the first time any of us had been. Although it was REALLY good and something I think every mother should do with her daughter, I will not be seeing a ballet on a regular basis. By the end, I was in serious need of some dialogue!! Great music, beautiful costumes, talented dancers....but can't they talk...just a little bit!?!






















We got to decorate the tree together as a family (and with some friends)....TWICE!!! After we spent several hours on the first one making sure to get it just right (thanks Mel), we went upstairs only to have Brit come running up to tell us the tree had fallen. That's right, toppled over, broken ornaments, water everywhere (it's a real tree). UGH!!!! We found out the trunk was crooked and had to get a new one. It took me several days to work up the initiative to decorate tree #2, but it turned out beautifully!










Brit's choir from church sang at a nursing home ending with the big finale of Hallelujah Chorus. That's right....her children's choir of 10 sang the Hallelujah Chorus. Let's just say this: it was interesting and we were very proud of her! :)
The girls had fun at a PJ party decorating Gingerbread cookies at their friend Aiden's house. It was fun...and messy!











My sister and brother and their families came from LA for Christmas! My sister and her family basically moved in for 3 weeks!! I LOVE having them here! I hate when they leave. :( We need cousins nearby!
We then enjoyed Christmas with our kids on Christmas Eve morning. It was nice seeing their happy faces as they opened their gifts. We are so blessed!










Christmas Eve we spent the night at my parents so we could all wake up together on Christmas morning. (Matt thinks this tradition is ridiculous since we live in the same city, but he complies for the sake of the family!) We enjoyed a fun day and great food (thanks Mom!) with the family!

Christmas night about 10:00 PM, we headed down to Florida to spend a week with Matt's family. (Driving through the night is another topic for anther time!) AAAAHHHH!!! Florida in the dead of winter....there's nothing better!!! We really enjoyed the time there! We spent New Year's Eve at Daytona Beach and visited with Matt's grandparents, went to some movies, shopped! We always hate leaving...especially when we were leaving 80 degrees to go to 20 degrees! :(

So there's our December! January hasn't slow down at all, but that's another post to come later!

It doesn't take much to make me happy....

A couple of months ago, I reached into my purse to pull out my keys, and the key to my van had come unattached from my key chain. The little circle that goes onto the key chain broke...making it impossible for me to attach it to the key chain!



It was annoying to carry only the single key, not be able to attach it to our key holder in the laundry room, constantly be digging for it in my purse. So, finally, I decided to call the dealer to find out how much it would be to purchase a new one. Of course, they can't just replace the black part of the key, the WHOLE THING has to be replaced. And do you want to know how much they wanted for a new key?.......






$185.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right...you read that correctly...$185.00 to buy the key and have it programmed to work with my van. No way!!! I am NOT paying that kind of money for a key. I decided there has to be some sort of solution for this problem. There is no way I am the only person to deal with this.

Enter the Click Slicker! I love the internet! After searching for a few minutes online, I found the Clicker Slicker...a little leather pouch that you put your key in and attach to your key ring. Guess how much I paid??? $13.99 plus $3.00 shipping!!!!!

Don't tell me I need to pay $185.00 to get a new key...my key is now the proud new owner of the Clicker Slicker!!

Life is good...and I am happy!

P.S. I purchased the black one in hopes that it would blend in a little better!

A Day in the Life...

of a Black Friday shopper. That's right...I'm officially a true Black Friday shopper! I am NOT normally a morning person but each year my mom, aunt and cousins get up VERY EARLY on Black Friday and shop. This year I decided to join them!

Here is how it went down...

Thanksgiving Day

Before Meal: Discuss plans for shopping

After Meal - 3:00 - Sit down with shopping ads and discuss who needs what and who will go where.

6:00 - Cousin Wendi decides the plan is not "firm" so we sit down for yet anothe planning session!

9:30 - Go to bed

Black Friday

2:45 AM - Get up after a restless night of sleep because Aunt Sheila has warned me that I BETTER be ready at 3:15 AM!

3:14 AM - Aunt Sheila picks me and Mom up! Music is blaring in her car. She is chatty. I am good to go at this point, but prefer not to talk!

3:30 AM - Get in line at Kohls. It's freezing! Discuss with Mom and Aunt Sheila who will get what and who will get in line to reserve a spot.

4:00 AM - Kohl's open. It's crazy! People rushing for carts and 1/2 price GPS systems.

4:20 AM - Done with Kohls. Head to Macy's. Stop for a granola bar to give us energy.

5:00 AM - Macy's open. Shop. Try on clothes. Look at purses. After 30 minutes in the purse department, Aunt Sheila finds a purse the size of a mini suitcase, but decides to keep looking.

6:30 AM - Head into mall and shop various stores that are open. Sears....Aunt Sheila looks for a purse. Dillards...Aunt Sheila looks for a purse. No luck.

7:00 AM - I'm starting to crash. Need...caffeine...fast. Get a Diet Coke and mini Cinnabon. Ready to go again!

9:00 AM - Meet up with Cousin Wendi. Let me tell you...she has shopped...she's a pro at this!!! Back to Macy's for more shopping. Mom buys outfit. Mom returns outfit. Aunt Sheila decides she hasn't found another purse she likes better than the first so decides to go to the purse department and get it. It is gone. Aunt Sheila is disappointed...so she consoles herself by buying 2 pairs of shoes...2 pairs of the same shoe in 2 different colors!

10:45 AM - Leave mall and head to various other stores

12:00 PM - Go to Olive Garden to meet family for lunch. Aunt Sheila looks like she just might fall asleep in her Chicken Scampi! Mom gets slap happy...and laughs uncontrollably.

2:00 PM - Head to Target. I promised Brit I would take her shopping after lunch. I'm REALLY ready to be done at this point.

3:30 PM - Done!! AAAHHH!!! Head home to Cincy. Car is so crowded with our purchases that we can barely move and have boxes and bags under our feet!

I have to say I think this might be an annual tradition for me. Lots of good shopping, lots of good deals, lots of fun with family!

I hope I don't have to see 2:45 AM for another year...it's an ungodly hour!